21 Day Fix- Week 1 Review (I did it!)

21 Day Fix Week 1 is COMPLETE! Whoohoo. Cheers from the crowd. Check. I did it. Feeling great, loving life and gotta tell ya...it feels so GOOD to be IN CONTROL. This is what this program brings me--> Control over my diet, control over my workouts, control over my life and my body. Am I control freak...well...maybe just a little...but that's

a secret. SHHH!! But seriously, when I'm working out inconsistently, don't have a plan, and am eating whatever healthy MIGHT be in the fridge, it just feels chaotic. NO PLAN = EXCUSES = LACKLUSTER RESULTS. So, let's see how this planned worked DAY BY DAY.

Sunday: Day 0 --> Pre-Game

Week one wasn't ideal for me to start. I had a three day business trip to San Francisco planned which means LONG travel days, early mornings and eating out each day. Let's face it though, no week is the PERFECT week to start. So, you just gotta start and this was my mindset going into the week. I set my mind to 100% to leave no room for 'little cheats'.

For Day Zero, pre-game day, I went grocery shopping for the Monday-Tuesday as well as the snacks I needed for the travel days. Meal Planning is the key to success and while it wasn't a big meal plan and prep day, It went down. PLAN FOR SUCCESS.

Monday, Day 1:

Whoop, whoop, Woke up excited to start a new program and even more excited to start knowing that I was 100% in and committed in my challenge group, both for myself but also for my fellow challengers. Early morning this morning, woke up and headed out to pick up a friend from the airport before work started. So, workout had to wait til later in the day. Grabbed my shakeology, hoped in the car and headed for the airport. After picking him up, we headed to Starbucks so that I could work from there. Blonde roast coffee plus soy milk for me. Lunch was out as well and I was determined to get something COMPLETELY on plan. We headed to Superfood Bar on Magazine as I knew it had great options without all kinds of oils and craziness that a lot of restaurants add to make your 'healthy' food taste yummy. I got a kale salad with a delicious beet dressing. Seriously, yummy. No guilt here. :)

After lunch, I worked from home until it was time to put away the computer for the day. If I don't get my workout in early in the morning, I like to get it in between 5-5:30 so that I'm finished working out before Chris comes home. Workout of the day was (drum roll) Total Cardio Fix.

Day 1 COMPLETE - Just Breathe and Believe

Whew. It was a good one. Can we say surrenders? :) The program starts off with the hardest move of the day, which I love because, well, its hard and at least you know that, "Okay, I got through it and that's the hardest part". The move was for sure tough, but completely doable so a great boost of confidence knowing we got that one out of the way. Mantra of the day is "One day at a time, one pound at a time". There are 4 rounds, two moves per round, you complete each move twice. Each move uses multiple muscle groups so that you can get maximum results in the shortest period of time. Sounds like a great plan right! I love the rounds as it makes it easy to mentally get through. "Only one more move", "Only one more round", "Two more and I'm done". Then all of a sudden its cool down time and the workout is done for the day. Success. Feeling great. Wonder if I'll be sore tomorrow? ;)

Day 2:

6:30am alarm clock makes for an early workout kind of day. Truthfully, I have been getting up with the sun lately, which means my alarm clock rarely even rings because I'm up and at it before it has the chance. It's amazing how you WANT to wake up when you have something that you WANT to accomplish so badly.

Day 2- Upper Body Fix

Workout of the day was Upper Body Fix. Whew. Okay. I'm game for some upper body, triceps beware. ;) Mantra of the day: "It doesn't get easier, you get stronger". Strength is the key to a fit body. Dear push-ups...I don't like you. I'm left leaving this workout if I'll ever like push-ups...

You know it, the rounds are setup the same as Total Body Cardio --> 4 rounds, 2 moves per round, Repeat each move twice before moving to the next round. My legs are a little sore from yesterday, but not so much that I can't walk. The good kind of sore when you know you've put in good work. Gotta like that.

Tuesdays I teach PIYO Live at Yoga Krewe at 7pm. I'll tell ya...I was a little nervous about teaching as the class is pretty intense and has A LOT of leg work. But, duty calls and I got a second workout in. It was a pretty fun class actually and my nerves turned into smiles and hopefully some strong, sexy fit legs later. Two workouts for the day was QUITE the accomplishment and I am happy to say that my meal planned kept me well nourished and sustained for all of that intense exercise. So, far so good! Rocking and rolling on Day 2.

Day 3:

Shakeology. I love you.

Travel day! Wow. This was a day. Missed my alarm clock. BARELY made my flight. I'm talking woke up and it was less than an hour before my plane left...BARELY made my flight. But I made it. Before I left the house I QUICKLY grabbed my Shakeology cup and a scoop of powder, put it in the cup and RAN out the door. This saved me. No joke, no drama, this SAVED me. It got me through my 4 hour flight to LAX (and some sleep). Next up was an 1 hour flight to San Fran where I arrived VERY ready for lunch. Long story short, it was 2:30 my time and 12:30 their time before I got lunch. Not ideal, but still kept to my plan. Spinach salad with egg and dressing on the side. Got some PB to hold me over as a snack later on while doing store checks and a banana (because you can always find a banana).

Rather than going out to eat with the crew, I decided to go back to my hotel room and regroup. Ultimately, I got a quick dinner of tuna tacos (minus the crispy taco) at Morton's at the bar. RESISTED having a drink (how in the world did I do that). For me, that's TRUE dedication right there. Eat at the bar without a drink...patting myself on the back for that one. Christmas miracle. Then back to the hotel room for some Cardio Fix.

Now, Lower Body Fix was on the schedule, but the fitness center didn't have a TV and I wasn't quite ready to be the girl in the fitness room with her computer and Autumn playing. Maybe a little bit down the line... LOL. Cardio Fix didn't require weights so I switched the days on up.

Day 3- Improv PIYO (Non-21 Day Fix)

But then this happened, my work computer wouldn't play the DVD. Say WHAT? So, called the front desk and they brought up a DVD player. Awesome. But then, the DVD player didn't have a remote so I couldn't get to the right program and I didn't want to do Total Body Cardio again. So, I called Beachbody to see if I could access it On Demand, which I couldn't without signing up for Premium which I just don't want to do right now. So, I ended up practicing some PIYO moves for about 10 mins and heading to bed. Not ideal, but sometimes you just have to say WHEN.

Oh, I do have to give a SHOUT OUT to the Kimpton Hotel Group for having yoga mats in all of their hotel rooms. I wish every hotel room had this as a must have accessory. We girls need a hair dryer and a yoga mat. YES! Second shout out for bring up a DVD player when my work computer decided that it wasn't "legal" to play my 21 Day Fix DVD. Minus a shout out for charging $9 for bottled water. So, we're up 1 Shout Out for the hotel. :)

Overall, it was a LONG day and I was thankful for #1 having nutrition in my body to get me through and #2 the physical strength and mental tenacity to end the day a smile.

Day 4:

Day 4: Cardio Fix Hotel Style

Rise and Shine! Even though I was on Pacific Coast time, I woke up at my normal Central time. Got my workout in and LOVED it!!! Let me tell ya... I LOVE Cardio Fix. I completed it IN MY HOTEL ROOM with little space to move around and I was a nice sweaty mess. Mess being a good thing.

Day 4: Pilates Fix Hotel Style

We were out and about all day doing store checks, but stuck to my plan and ordered to plan while out. After we got back to the hotel, I doubled up and did Pilates Fix before dinner. Funny enough, this PIYO teacher is not a big fan of Pilates. EEEK. Okay I said it out loud. I'm not. Ugh, core and me = HUMPH. Let me tell ya. This workout is NO JOKE. My abs and legs can feel it. DUDE. Okay, enough whining...

Doubling up for the day is not ideal, but sometimes you just gotta flow with it and the definition of travel is FLOWING WITH IT.

Shower then headed out with everyone to watch the NBA Finals Game 1 which had the Golden Gate Warriors in it so everyone in town was PUMPED. Last pat on the back of the trip... had water at a sporting event over dinner. Seriously...what is happening to me. Staying strong and will be happy that I skipped the beers when I see my results come Day 21. True GIRL BOSS.

Day 5: 

Travel Day HOME. Can't tell you how much I wanted to be home. Get me home. Get me home, please. The travel part was a blur. A lot of airport searching for good options. A lot of wishing that I was anywhere BUT an airport. I really don't want to relive it so I'll skip over it.

Lower Body was the workout of the day and I got it in around 6pm. Lower Body is my JAM. Squats...hell yeah...lunges...hell yeah... squat then lunge.... I've got it. So, its no wonder that me and lower body got along. Standard format as we've seen before --> Four rounds, two moves per round, repeat each move twice.

 Day 6:

Road Trip

The weekend!!! Whoop whoop. <Party dance> Saturday mornings are studio mornings at Yoga Krewe. I usually teach an intro class at 9, but fortunately was able to instead take class at 9am instead. So, rather than do Yoga Fix, I subbed in a Level 2 Vinyasa Flow class instead. Next week, I'll let ya know how that one goes. I know, I know, technically I didn't stick to the program, but balance and time management is important as well and this was a great option for me to get in my workout, at work and open up some free time for the day. Win, win.

Quick Stir Fry

Chris and I took a trip to Zachary to visit my brother and his family. 2 hour road trip up and back rewarded with a lot of baby cuddles, nephew giggles and catching up time in between. HOW I don't have a picture of these memories is beyond me, but I guess it just goes to show that living in the moment often comes without pictures but with great memories planted in the brain.

The drive home turned into a LONG trip with two bouts of traffic and two HANGRY passengers. Next time... snacks will come along with us. Lucky for the both of us, we arrived at home with both our heads and quick healthy dinners quickly in our bellies. I made a quick stir fry that took 10 mins to cook. If you are ever STARVING but want a REAL MEAL....stir fry-s are the way to go.

I will admit... I did have several drinks after I got home. I was stressed out and didn't have the willpower to resist my want for a drink to take off the edge. So, my 100% week turned into a 90% week, but that's okay and I'm taking it as a stepping stone and tomorrow will be better. I'm real and sometimes my willpower just caves and the drinks come in nice crystal glasses.

Day 7:

 Sunday FUNDAY!!! We made it to the end of the week. Sundays are all about preparing for the next week, enjoying time with my love, resting, napping and watching Game of Thrones. I hit up Costco and got all of our basics, then Rouses (our local grocery store) for all the littles. Check. Grocery shopping for the week DONE. Feeling proud.

Whew. No Joke. Dirty 30.

Next up...house shopping with a Shakeology in hand. Needed a quick lunch and BAM...shakeology never lets me down. I made my favorite recipe of 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology, 1/2 banana, 1 cup soy milk, 1 cup water, some ice, 1tbsp of PB and BLEND...mmm... so yummy.

First bikini pic. Happy and Confident.

Had my nap time and then up and at it for Dirty 30 FIX. Since, I am off on my schedule this week, everyone in my Challenge Group had already completed the program and from what I heard it was a good one. Seemed to be everyone's favorite workout despite the scary title and well... it was pretty awesome. Mantra of the day: "You can't wish for it, you've got to work for it." What a great way to end the week, working for the goals (not wishes) in mind knowing that you are putting in the work so that you can achieve your goal. It's very empowering and gratifying knowing that you put in the work for the week and will see the results in Days/Weeks to come.

Staying consistent will get results. I'm excited for Week 2 and proud of Week 1.

We ended the week with a dip in the pool. It was so nice putting on my bikini feeling like, HEY... I'm smaller and more fit than I was last week. Confident and happy ready for Week 2. Let's do this!

UPDATE: Check out Week 2- Day 8 here.