21 days complete...and a couple more!

Hello friends!

So my first round of 21 Day Fix is now complete!  That was a fast 21 Days!  I am so pleased with my results.

I am so glad I took before and after photos.  They always say to do it, but it can be a very humbling experience to take photos of yourself before you start a workout program. No one wants to see those photos. But I am so glad I did it as I can really see the progress I made in 21 days.

Throughout the summer I was doing Cize and Les Mills Pump. I was doing sometimes 2 workouts a day and I didn't see nearly the same results as I did during the 21 Day Fix.  It really comes down to what you are eating.  In the summer I was doing all the workouts but I know all my snacking was working against me.  So by having an eating plan and having it be so simple with the containers, it really helped me achieve my results.  I still kept my eating plan on the fridge and I would plan out what I would eat every day.  I found that staying on track really helped when I was at work. As I am teaching, I can't just leave the classroom and grab a snack. I have very specific times when I can eat, so at recess and lunch time I could keep myself in check.

This week, since I dropped down a category, I lost one of my beloved yellow containers.  So now, I only was able to have 2 yellow containers per day. I thought this would be a challenge, but since I planned out my meals, I would have a yellow container as part of my morning shake (milk) and some sort of carb with my dinner. I really didn't miss having a carb at lunch time.  Again, my most difficult time came right before dinner, but now since we are trying to eat earlier with the girls, this has also helped with my my snacking.

So...I am going to take a week off from the 21 Day Fix. I plan on doing another round in October but I want to put some more variety in my daily workouts.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do this week so my husband suggested trying the "Challenge du jour" on Beachbody on Demand.  The Challenge du Jour is a different Beachbody workout from the huge collection of workouts.  Before I left school today I decided to check what the workout was....it was Plyo Fix Extreme from 21 Day Fix Extreme. OMG, I was worried. I had only done 21 Day Fix Plyo and that was tough, but extreme.....that was a different story.  It was tough!  I am curious what workout it will be tomorrow!  Can't wait to see what it is!

Thanks for reading and I will be doing another round of 21 Day Fix in October.  If this is something you would like to try, send me a message.  I would love to have some friends go through this with me.  It is always so much better having a support group!

Take care!
Kristin

21 Day fix- 14 days in!

Hello friends,

So I have now finished 14 days of my 21 Day Fix round.  Boy am I glad that I started this round the week before I went back to work.  I was committed to the 21 days so I didn't have any excuse to not get started each day.  I reminded myself it was only 30 minutes and really that was not a huge part of my day.  I find the hardest part of my workouts is just pressing play and getting going....

So this is me after 14 days. What I have noticed is that I am getting leaner in my mid section (yeah!) and my legs are also getting leaner.  I was noticing that today when doing Total Body Cardio.  I feel stronger all over and I can see more definition in my abs.  The workouts are really helping but I feel the best success is through eating properly.


It is so easy to find excuses to workout so to combat this challenge I come home from work I get changed ASAP and get my workout in right away.  That way no excuses can creep into my head and I can't really talk myself out of getting it done.  I did have to change up my schedule one day and had to workout after putting the girls down.  That was really hard to get motivated because I was really tired after the long week.  This is how I felt!

I am also leading a challenge group of ladies right now and I also didn't want to let them down and not get my workout it.  So....after a long week, I went out to my garage and hung out with Autumn and her 21 Day fix crew and did Cardio Fix. I'm glad I did afterwards!

This week the eating has been going great. The visual schedule continues to keep me focused on what I am eating throughout the day.  I have dropped 5 pounds so I will be falling into a different container category.  So just a couple of alterations need to be done to my schedule.  I am sad that I will be losing one of my beloved yellow containers.  I find that if I eat properly and balance out my red containers I am really not missing out eating all my cereals.

Here are my tips that really help me with working out:

• Schedule your workout as part of your day when it works best for you. I do mine ASAP after work.  Maybe another time works better for you like the morning, but when it is part of your schedule it helps with accountability.  Like a personal appointment every day!

• Find a way to keep your eating in check. I like to print up the weekly calendar and put it on my fridge.  Some people like the app on your phone.  

• Use the containers and measure properly.  Eye balling and guessing can either mean too much or too little.  And they are so colourful too!

• If you are struggling getting going, a friend suggested putting on a timer for 15 minutes.  Once the timer has gone off you should be mid workout and already in the swing of things.

I have also been doing much better with drinking my water at work.  I have been keeping a water bottle on my desk that I try and finish before each natural break.

I plan on doing another round after these 21 Days.  If you would like to join me and be part of a challenge group send me a message mmekrode@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!

Kristin

21 Day Fix- week 1 review

Hi everyone!

So I decided to do another round of 21 Day Fix.  I started the week before going back to work because I needed to be in the middle of a program so I wouldn't have any excuses to get started.  I decided on the 21 Day Fix because the workouts are 30 minutes (which is key for me) and I love these workouts.  But mainly, I needed a good excuse to get back focused with the containers.

All summer I had been working out and getting results.  But I was still hanging onto weight around my mid section.  This weight just wasn't wanting to come off!  And it wasn't because I wasn't active enough.  It had to do with my eating.  I wasn't eating poorly at all.  I was just over eating the wrong food!  I love love love breads and cereal (and granola).  So basically I was working out hard and by sitting on the couch with containers of Shredddies, I was working against myself.

This is me before

So last Sunday I committed to starting the containers again.  I have a calendar that I printed up off the internet and it is on the fridge.  Trust me, if I could make one as amazing as this I would, but I just don't know how.  If anyone knows, please, please message me!  I need help in this department BIG TIME!  Every night I have been writing out my meal plan on the calendar and that way I know what to eat and it helps keep me away from snacking.

After week 1 I am seeing results.  I haven't weighed myself again....yet.  For me, it really isn't about the numbers, but more the inches and how strong and fit I feel.  A dress my husband got for our anniversary back in July now fits with ease.  :)

I am eating everything that I want but with more veggies and fruits.  I found that there were many days in the summer that I maybe had 1 serving of vegetables a day (not enough!).  I am also focusing on drinking more water throughout the day.  My goal is to drink a shaker cup of water between each break at school, one before recess, one before lunch and then one before 3 pm.

This week my favourite workout was Upper Fix. I love working my arms.  It makes me feel strong.  I have also been trying to do the Ab Fix 3 days a week as well.

Looking forward to starting week 2.

Thanks for reading,
Kristin