Take before and afters- I know that you really might not want to. And you probably think it is not even a big deal. But please, take a before and after picture. Actually, take several. Take one from the front, one from the side and one from the back. Make sure you wear something that will actually show results. So no baggy shirts and sweatpants. I took mine in a bikini. (Ya, I know. Not a pretty picture.) You might think you don't ever want to remember this time again, but believe me, down the road it will feel good to look at those to see how far you have come. To compare with the now and see how much you have changed.
Take your measurements- Just like with the pictures, it might seem silly. You might think you don't need them. But I'll tell you what- When the scale shows that you have lost ZERO weight and then you take your measurements and see that you have lost inches from every part of your body, that makes it all worth it. I have had rounds where I have lost nothing, or next to nothing and then I see a 3 inch loss from my waist and that feels pretty darn good.
Have ice ready to add to your water- This might seem silly, but for me, it is important. I have never been an ice person. If I go somewhere and get a drink I ask for light ice. Or if the old me grabbed a can of soda, I wanted it room temperature. If I fill up a glass of water I never put ice in it. But the new me, the me that drinks 90 oz of water every day, wants a big glass of water that is ice cold. Nothing is better than a glass of ice water right after you finish working out. And it is so important that you are getting enough water! Make sure you are drinking half of your body weight in oz. (So if you weigh 200lbs, you need to drink 100 oz each day!)
Meal plan and prep- Those days that you have nothing prepared to eat, nothing ready when dinner time is coming around, those are the days that you try to justify running to the Drive-thru, or grabbing a pizza. But DON'T do it! Instead spend a little while browsing Pinterest to find recipes and check out the ones I've tried and shared HERE. Write down your grocery list and stick to it! (And stick to the outer limits of the store) Then take the time to prep your food. I notice that I eat a lot better when I take the time to wash all of my veggies, have them cut up if needed and put into a container, ready for me to grab out and eat.
Follow the eating plan- I can't stress this enough. If you don't follow the meal plan, you are not going to get the best results possible! I know this first hand! After a couple of rounds I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the portions. I started to eye things a little more than I measured and it was not in my best interest. Especially when I finished my next round and not only did the scale barely moved, my measurements didn't either. It was a total bummer!
Stick with your containers- Portion control is something that I have struggled with for the majority of my life. Even if I would make healthy choices, I still overate. When I started 21 Day Fix, I won't lie, I was worried that I wasn't going to get enough to eat and that I would still be hungry. But there are actually so many food choices that I'm finishing my meal and feeling full.
Do it every day- Do you want to get healthy? Lose weight? Get in shape? Do the exercises every single day. I did 2 rounds before I skipped a day. I thought I'd be fine, but I swear that next day, it felt like a killer. And every now and again I'll skip and day, then another, then another. Pretty soon you are just starting over again. Are you tired of starting over? Then stop giving up! (Also, share your progress. I love sharing on Instagram, so check me out! ---> HERE)
Do the warm up AND the cool down- You might think that you don't need to do this, but yes, you do. They give you a warm up and cool down for a reason, and that is so you don't hurt yourself, or get cramped up. So do them! Plus, it is only just a couple of more minutes and it feels good at the end to wind down a little.
Have the right equipment- You need two sets of weights, or a resistance band. Also, I use a yoga mat, but you don't really have to have that. For the weights, it's okay to start small. I felt silly with my 3 and 5 pounds weights until we started doing the reps and then I was grateful. But pretty soon it felt too easy and I was able to go up a set (to 8's) and that felt pretty good!
Don't get discouraged- I know it is easier said than done. Sometimes you eat something not on the "approved food" list, or sometimes you skip an exercise. Sometimes you work your butt off and don't see the scale move. I get it, I've been there. But you have to just keep going. Sometimes your body plateaus. Sometimes it needs a little extra push. Don't get discouraged and just keep up your good work!
One last little piece of advice. Measure yourself on Day 1 and Day 21, but in the mean time put your scale away. Don't step on it, don't check to see how you are doing. Just leave it alone!
I am not a doctor, a dietician, or a certified fitness expert. My advice and thoughts should not replace that of a Dr. As always, before starting an exercise plan you should consult your physician with any questions.
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