What is the 21 Day Fix, exactly?

So you see me hash tagging and posting about my and my challenger's results using the 21 Day Fix, but what is it exactly, and how can it work for you?

What is the 21 Day Fix?

21 Day Fix is a home fitness program that you do for 21 days and it comes with a nutrition plan based on colorful portion control containers. The workouts are 30 minutes long and are a mix of strength and cardio, with a little Pilates and yoga, too. The eating plan is portion controlled using color coordinated containers that you use to plan your meals for the day, no calorie counting involved, and based off clean eating principles. 

Who is 21 Day Fix for? 

This program is for the beginner to intermediate exerciser. For someone at the advanced level, this program is good for maintenance. It is awesome for anyone trying to learn how to eat cleaner, more nutritious foods, and for anyone who can't stand doing the same workout day after day. 

Is this Program worth it? 

The 21 Day Fix workout program by Autumn Calabrese was created to help you lose up to 15 lbs in 21 days through simple fitness and simple eating through its portion control eating system and seven, 30-minute workouts each week.

The Pros of the workouts:

• The workouts are challenging, but not too challenging.
• There are great modifications that allow you to keep working when the moves are a bit above your level (side plank leg lift? Yea... still can't do that one :).
• The warm-up and cool-down are a part of the 30 minutes. I appreciate that because I am limited on time. 
• There is a different workout for each day of the week, so you aren't doing the same moves day in and day out. 
• Autumn clearly explains and demonstrates each move, and reminds you of the little things to keep tucked and squeezed as you are doing the move (I never remember to keep my belly button pulled in...anyone else have that problem?).
• The Pilates and Yoga days offer rest (active recovery) but also a more well-rounded fitness program (they may not be calorie burners, but they focus on your core and flexibility, two very important pieces to overall fitness).
• This may not be a pro for everyone, but I like that there is workout everyday. The pilates and yoga allow for an active recovery day, but knowing there is a workout each day keeps me that mindset of daily fitness. 
• It promises big results (up to 15 pounds in 21 Days) which is totally possible. I have worked with 22 people in the last 2 months and all of them have lost 10-15 pounds plus countless inches.
• It's only a 3 week program, so after 3 weeks I can decide if I want to continue or try something new without the guilt of giving up 3 weeks into a 12 week program.

The Cons of the workouts:

• Between each move is about a 20 second rest, which is sometimes not enough, so I have to hit pause for an extra 20...or so :)
• It's only a 3 week program (uh Brooke...didn't you list that a pro?) Yes, but some people want a longer program than 3 weeks. 
• It costs money...WHAT?!? Yes, you do have to pay for the program (but in my opinion your return on investment is well worth the cost).

The Pros of the nutrition plan:

• No calorie counting.
• Ensures you eat a balance diet.
• Based on clean eating principles.
• Once you get the hang of it, meals are simple and easy.
• You still get to eat real food, food your family will enjoy too.
• There is a lot of variety in the food choices.
• You don't have to give up a food group.

The Cons of the nutrition plan:

• At first, it's not easy to master the container system.
• It is hard to change your mindset to the idea that eating nutritious does not mean eating salad and bland foods.

What I didn't expect to get out of the program

When you think of fitness programs like 21 Day Fix you think about the 30 minutes you spend working out. You think about the weight you might lose, the muscle definition you may gain, or maybe even or the endorphine high that you get after workouts.

Yes, those things happened for me as expected, but what I didn't expect was to learn how much food has affected my life all these years, or to fall in love with working out. Yes I know that very poor nutrition and inconsistent fitness have been taking a toll on my body, but I didn't know the positive effects real food and daily fitness have on your body. I am talking beyond weight loss.

I sleep better.
I feel better physically.
I feel better emotionally.
I feel better mentally.
I have more energy everyday.
I don't feel lethargic day to day.
I am more positive and optimistic.
I am happier.

I learned how addicting processed foods can be and how they alter your taste buds. I have always wondered how people can just turn down certain foods, like ice cream, cake, chips, french fries, oreos, etc. Well I guess I still don't know how some people seems to do it so naturally, because some days it is still very hard for me. But I am learning that as you start to eat foods that make you feel good, inside and out, real natural foods, you stop wanting the foods that are just a quick high. Those foods that leave you feeling worse and leave you wanting.  I thought those foods were comforting me, when really there were just a drug. The only thing they did was make me crave them more, nothing else, yet somehow they convinced me for so many years that they would make any emotion better.

I learned that I wasn't even close to a eating balanced diet, but following the 21 Day Fix Meal plan has really helped change that. It has helped me learn how to eat better, what are good choices to eat, and how to make clean eating easy and delicious! Not only that, but eating real foods fill me up so much more than any processed food ever did. I eat less now, not because I am restricting my calories, but because I am full!

Working out everyday helped me learn the value of daily fitness. I NEVER thought I would like "exercise." NEVER!! I feel SO much better after my morning workout and on days I miss it, I can tell, and I feel worse! Even missing the yoga day makes me ache for my workouts! I was never like that before this program but 21 Day Fix has made me fall in love with fitness! Now I make sure I can fit my workout into my schedule everyday!

The Final Verdict

The program changed my mindset on my own lifestyle and was the catalyst for finally making the healthy changes I have been wanting and trying to make for so long. I highly, highly recommend this program!