So I'm about a week into my 21 Day Fix journey and I'd like to share some of the things I've learned so far. For those of you who don't know what the 21 Day Fix is, it's basically a diet and exercise guide that lasts 21 days. After you calculate your daily calorie intake, the system tells you how many servings of each food group you should be eating everyday. It also provides daily workouts for you, too! It can all be tracked with the easy to use 21 Day Fix app. Below I have posted how to calculate your calorie bracket, what each of the colored containers are for, and how to figure out your meal plan.

*You don't need the containers to carry out the program. Below are the measurements for each container.

Now that we've gotten the logistics out of the way, let me tell you a little about my personal experience.

I have been struggling with my weight for a few years now and have been desperate to lose it. I've tried many things but nothing seemed to work. I started the 21 Day Fix meal plan without the workouts and have already seen a weight decrease.

TIP #1: Before staring the program, mentally prepare yourself. This is not a restrictive diet, but you need will power to make it work. At first, the proportions may seem too small but after about 3 days your body acclimates to the diet and you don't feel as hungry.

The main take away from this program is not too starve yourself, it's to learn how to correctly portion out your meals and make sure each meal is balanced.

Prior to the program, my diet was very carb heavy. Now, I am allowed two yellow boxes a day. This forces me to eat more fruits, veggies, and proteins, while limiting foods heavy in carbs and fats.

TIP #2: Find a 21 Day Fix buddy. Having a partner to give you support and keep you in check is super helpful. I've been doing it with my cousin and we love exchanging recipes and sending each other pictures of our progress.

This leads me to my 3rd tip.

TIP #3: Track your progress! I weigh myself every other day in the morning right when I wake up. Some people also like to take before and after pictures. You're going to want to see how your body changes, so this is a big must. The app also shows certain features to help you track your progress.

One of the things I was worried about was finding recipes that would fill me up and that I wouldn't get tired of. Lucky for me, there are plenty of websites with plenty of options. Below are a couple of my favorites.

TIP #4: Here are a couple of my favorite websites to find recipes:

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Lunch

Dinner

Snacks

*Also try Pinterest!

TIP #5: I find it easiest to plan my meals ahead of time. There are a ton of different ways to organize your meals, a quick search in Google images comes up with a variety of templates to make it easy to divide your proportions. Here's an example:

TIP #5: Drink lots of WATER. You'll feel fuller, more energized, and lose more weight.

My last and final piece of advice is to not lose hope. You will have days where you go over on the carbs, or just have to eat a piece of chocolate. It's okay. You are only human and slip ups happen. It's important to carry out the program and keep yourself motivated.

You'll surprise yourself if you continue the program all the way through, and dare I admit it's kind of fun finding ways to fill all the containers?

I truly think this is a sustainable lifestyle and has so far taught me very valuable and healthy habits for the rest of my life.

Good luck!