21 Day Fix

This is not a new program.  It's not "hot off the press" and I was not among the very first to do it.  Nope.  I resisted.  See, I get you.  I'm like you.  Heck, I am you.  I'm the girl---the COACH, for crying out loud!---who hemmed and hawed and hesitated and made excuses.  I did.  Gosh that's not easy to admit.  But hey, we're all friends here, right?  And we speak the truth and we don't judge.  So.  Moving on.

Do you know what my biggest hesitation was?  These gosh darn little containers.  And really, not even so much the containers, but the idea of meal planning around them.  Mercy.  I was overwhelmed.  Remember---I'm the same girl who let spaghetti squash intimidate her.  We all have our quirks, right?  Sigh.

Everyone I spoke to about the program told me the same thing; they could not eat all of their containers at first. Re-read that.  This is a "diet" (it's not, but let's use that word for the sake of the point I'm making here) and people were saying they were unable to eat all the food.  Since when is that a thing?  What are we used to hearing?  "I'm starving.  I can't function without eating.  All I've had is a saltine and water."  Yeah, that's not how this goes down.  Or so I heard.

I also heard that the containers were a little confusing at first, but then someone learned that each container has (duh!) a precise measurement.  So rather than 1 purple or 2 reds, you know it's 1 cup and 3/4 of a cup.  Brilliant.  That might help some folks, right?  It did.  Again, so I heard.

Then there were the workouts.  I heard that Autumn was really sweet, super spunky and motivational.  And she will Kick. Your. Butt.  In 30 little minutes.  Or rather 30 sweat filled, hard-working, total body inclusive minutes.  Sweet and spunky my butt (which I need to get moving!). 

And then it happened.  I hit "that point" (you know the one---that mythical place you cannot see or predict that things change and suddenly ACTION is all you can think about) and I was ready to give in and try this program. 

Remember, I'm a Coach, so I'm in the business of helping others.  So reaching out for help myself was a little outside of my comfort zone.  Yeah.  Fun.  But I did, because action was all I could think about.  And results.  Because thoughts and feelings lead to actions and actions lead to results.  I was thinking and feeling a little sluggish, a little in need of a reboot and a lot in need of someone to help get me back on track.

I texted a fellow Coach and friend and laid it out there.  I hit send and I waited.  Within minutes, she responded with the tech equivalent of a high five and a meal plan.  Suddenly it did not look hard at all.  And I mean at all.  I was almost embarrassed that I had overcomplicated (shocker!) this whole thing and made myself crazy.  Remember--we're not judging, right?

As I would do with any of my Challengers, I took my BEFORE pictures and my measurements.  And I wasn't totally disgusted with what I found.  But that didn't matter.  I didn't need to be "there" to know that I wanted to be better.  And better I would become over 21 days.

Seriously, folks.  It's 21 days and the workouts are 30 minutes each.  Really.  If we can't all carve out that kind of time for ourselves, we've clearly got bigger issues.  Anyway....I stuck to the plan, I did the workouts and I started to notice changes.  They weren't huge, but they were noticeable and that motivated me.  Of course my Coach was there, too.  More than once she'd text me in support and offer reminders when my resolve weakened ever so slightly.

In three weeks, I lost 6 pounds and 6 inches (funny how that worked out).  But I gained a lot more.  I started and completed another program, I got back into the groove and I really paid attention to how and what I was eating.  Remember I said it's not a diet?  It's not.  It's a solid rebuild of our eating habits.  And that can (and should and has) last a whole lot longer than 21 Days.

None of us is perfect and none of us is immune to temptations, slip-ups and needing help.  I mean, my gosh, that's what keeps me going as a Coach; knowing that despite all of that, people are always looking to improve and begin writing new chapters.  And we're not immune to hesitations, either.  Whatever it is that's holding you back from trying something, from reaching out--I get it.  I totally understand.  I also know that wishing and waiting doesn't do a whole lot.  But taking action, now that's how things get done.  You're so much more capable than you might think you are.  Get out of your own way, give the excuses a well-deserved kick to the curb and get going.  We can get going together if you'd like! 

I not only rekindled my love of working out regularly, but my love of Coaching was reinvigorated with this awesome program.  So excited that it's on promo pricing until the end of the month* so I can, hopefully, introduce you to it as well.

Oh yeah, those pictures I took....I'll share those, too.  Why not?  I am most certainly a work in progress and I am always happy to share the journey.  There's room for you to march along in the Progress Parade, too.  Let me know...


*June, 2015

My daughter joined in, too!  Lead by example!

Pasta 'n Shrimp FIX Style! Innnnnnnnnndeed!

I know I've not done a super fantastic (or even super. or even fantastic. or even fair, really) job of sharing my 21 Day Fix story.  And I will.  I should.  I mean, it's nothing earth shattering, except that it kind of is.  No, I didn't lose a gazillion pounds and no I'm not totally shredded.  But we'll get to that in another post.

What I can, and will, share now is a 21 Day Fix-approved recipe that went over really well.  With everyone in our house.  Even the babe had a taste--and gave it a drooly endorsement.  I did not disclose, upfront, that this was a meal from a "diet" partially because I really didn't see it that way and partially because I didn't want eye rolls.  

What I did want--and got-- was a positive response to this yummy dinner.  And THEN I hit 'em with the fact that it's on the plan.  Speechless.  And I did a victory lap around the kitchen.  That's when I got the eye rolls.

But whatever.  Alright, enough pretense.  Here's the deal!!

What You'll Do:1 cup of whole grain penne 2 yellow
6 large or jumbo shrimp, uncooked (fresh or thawed if frozen)  1 red
Mrs. Dash seasoning, pinch
1 teaspoon of coconut oil (or olive oil)  1 spoon
5 asparagus, chopped  0.5 green
Cherry tomatoes, halved  0.5 green*
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
Lemon juice
1 tablespoon of crumbled goat cheese  0.5 blue

What You'll Do:Remove the shells and/or tails from the shrimp and season with a large pinch of Mrs. Dash seasoning.
Cook the whole grain penne according to the package directions.

While the pasta is cooking…
Heat 1 teaspoon of coconut oil over a medium heat. Add the chopped asparagus. Sauté for 3 minutes. Add the halved tomatoes, minced garlic and red pepper flakes (optional) and sauté for 1 more minute.
Add the shrimp and a squirt of lemon juice. Cook for 2-3 minutes until shrimp is pink and fully cooked, flipping the shrimp over halfway through.

Drain the whole grain penne and add to the skillet.

Top with the crumbled goat cheese.

The warmth of the pasta and shrimp causes the goat cheese to get a little creamier and gives the impression of sauce without being super heavy.  Mmm.  My mouth is watering.  And Abby just walked in and saw the picture and said, "Mama, is that what we're having for dinner tonight?  Please, please, please?"  She was less than thrilled when I told her we weren't having this.  Tonight.  But guess what may have just earned a spot in the rotation for later in the week?  Yup!

You almost don't need a salad with this since there are so many veggies in there, but you certainly could throw one together if your heart desires.  And heaven knows we don't always get enough veggies.  So what the heck?  Go for it!

Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to let me know if there's something you'd like me to write about....I feel a couple guest blogger posts coming your way soon.  Stay tuned for that!
 
*Hubs isn't a huge fan of tomatoes, so we swapped in some roasted red peppers