Three Day Refresh: (CLEANSE/DETOX) Review

HAI HAI HAIIIIIII. 

So I just finished up this body detox/cleanse called the 3 Day Refresh and I thought in true MWM fashion it would be only fitting for me to recap my experience for you! 

3 DAY   REFRESH: WHAT IS IT?

Like any other detox, but on overdrive, the Refresh is meant for a quick cleanse of your body! Ideal for just coming back from a sugary packed vacation or for getting out out of strange health journey ruts, the refresh will help to kickstart your fitness journey (or reboot it) by providing you with max energy, getting rid of bloat and detoxing your body from all the junk you've been putting into it. More often than not this WILL result in a little bit of weight or inch loss, but everyone is different! 

 CAN YOU EAT DURING THE 3 DAY REFRESH?

 Yes! Unlike other cleanses the refresh allows you to eat apiece of fruit for breakfast and lunch. You are also allowed veggies for lunch, snack and dinner, and healthy fats for two of those meals! This is NOT a lot of food, I know! The rest of your nutrients, vitamins and protein will be delivered through a daily dose of Shakeology, a daily finer sweep, and two vanilla fresh shakes (all of these supplements will be provided to you in your package). 

 MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

 DAY 1 DISCOVERIES 

 1. This isn't as bad as I thought.

 2. I do NOT eat enough vegetables.

 3. I do NOT drink enough water! 

 DAY 2 DISCOVERIES: 

 1. I can't believe how much energy I have.

 2. I'm getting pretty hungry. Can't WAIT for my next shake.

 3. Last night I had a really good sleep. 

 DAY 3 DISCOVERIES: 

1. I FEEL AMAZINGLY ENERGIZED 

2. I forgot what it was like to feel so lean!

 3. I am noticing my hunger a lot, I'm excited for this to be over!

 THREE DAY REFRESH PROS

 Lucky for me, I actually had a very pleasant experience with the 3 Day Refresh! I had never felt more lean and energized. I wasn't COMPLETELY hungry the whole time. I learned to love love love the taste of vegetables (AGAIN) and consuming a minimum of three servings a day is now becoming a habit on my second day post refresh. Every night I got a really really good sleep and woke up with energy at 7am. I wasn't relying on food or constantly thinking about my next meal which I really liked. Another thing that I liked about it was the actual supplements. I know some detoxes call for weird kayan pepper lemon concoctions but I actually ENJOYED the Vanilla Fresh shakes and didn't MIND the fiber sweep (drink it quick - it thickens instantly!) 

 WILL YOU POOP ON THE REFRESH? 

 Hehe. Poo. While some people face serious constipation on this cleanse, every case is different. For me in particular, I was constipated the first day but had the best shits of my life on day 2 and 3. I'm so glad I let you guys in on that secret. Literally, so liberating. A definite pro! 

DID YOU LOSE WEIGHT?

I ended up losing 4.6 pounds on the Refresh, and honestly these pictures don't do it justice (I wish I had done better ones! My clothes fit a lot better and I'm convinced I lost as least 3 inches as well!

 THREE DAY REFRESH CONS 

 I don't have a lot to say in regards to cons, however I will let you in on some of my struggles. 

 1. I was hungry pretty much every day. The hunger wasn't overwhelming, but it was definitely there. Especially at night! If you are planning on spending the money on this, PLEASE please try to stick to your guns. I got hungry every night around 8:30 and went to bed within the hour to ensure I didn't derail my progress, so you will have to set an earlier bed time! 

 2. I injured my back on the first day of the refresh and I didn't work out for the three days, which is recommended. This wasn't an issue for me as I was in pain and home all day anyways. HOWEVER. If you are in a fast paced job I don't know if I would recommend doing this on busy days. Try to set aside three days where you know you won't be busy (perhaps on a weekend when you are off work)? The reason I suggest this is because I have a feeling one of the reasons I wasn't HANGRY was because I didn't have much to do on my three days! I mostly just did house work and puttered around.  

3. The lean feeling is addictive. I've never felt more lean and in control! And I obviously love that feeling - who doesn't! Bloat is so uncomfortable, but I don't think its completely realistic to have your "refresh body" at all times! So try not to get too attached to that feeling! It's kind of like how Bikini competitors sometimes get so immersed in that world of being lean and shredded right before their stage shows, when in reality its not realistic and actually unhealthy to keep that figure for too long! So try not to be hard on yourself if on day 4 when you start introducing other food, you don't feel as ripped as you did on day 3! On the other hand, yes you will be hungry, but one thing I struggled with was DREAMING about food! At least once during each day I envisioned when it would be over so that I could go to Wendys and CHOW DOWN! I wouldn't want to undo all my progress so thankfully, that hasn't happened yet! 

 *** 

 All in all I rate the Refresh two HUGE thumbs up. Even though I had concerns during it, most of them were mind over matter. I have yet to binge on anything completely detrimental to my progress, because in those three days I had to learn to control my "boredom eating." The pros far outweigh the cons! 

 WILL I DO THE REFRESH AGAIN? 

 Absolutely! To keep my body in tip top condition (inside) I am considering doing it 3 or 4 times a year. It's inexpensive compared to other detoxes and for only three days its a good investment and not hard to follow! I would definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to get out of a little weight loss rut, anyone who wants to just clean up their system or anyone who wants to begin to reverse bad habits. It will NOT be the be all end all for your fitness journey. It is not a miracle working fast acting magic pill. But it definitely is a great kickstart, and a great "refresh!" 

 I JUST WANT TO BUY IT NOW!!! WHERE CAN I GET IT! 

 PLEASE PLEASE talk to me first! But I know as good as anyone else the impulse to just try something. So if that feeling takes over, select the 3 Day Refresh on this page -  you can purchase the refresh HERE! 

 Be sure to reach out to me when you do :) 

 Check out this video I made recapping the refresh!

 xo Meaghan

Shake it Up With Shakeology

Before you think anything, YES I am a Team BeachBody Coach. And yes, you might think it'll be a good thing for me to "sell" you a product directly from TBB. However, I can completely assure you that this is an honest review of a product that you will legitimately feel better with. I was a skeptic once too!

So, Shakeology is basically your morning/pre workout/post workout/WHATEVER YOU WANT shake to ensure your results for fitness programs and your fitness for lyyffeee yo! It is SO much more than a protein shake. A meal replacement, your daily vitamins/supplement fix, 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies. All in one shake, with an awesome taste. 

Is it a scam?

ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN NOT.

Honestly, when I was doing Insanity I kept seeing commercials for Shakeology at the end of each work out, about how its an integral part to your progress and results. But I didn't want to spend the money on it, and I thought it was just any other protein shake. But it's not. Shakeology is your daily serving of dense nutrition/vitamins. Heck, it's even called SUPER FOOD. This might turn you off. Are you a natural-path? Vegan? Gluten Free? Not an issue. Shakeology is the most natural thing in my diet, in fact the only real  reason why it doesn't have the organic stamp on it is because that will raise the price for US customers. Its your fruits, veggies, proteins, good carbs, vitamins... ALL IN ONE SHAKE. And, it's a meal replacement. It weighs out to being about 4 dollars a day for the month. And, if you're a uni student like me, even though we say we're broke as jokes, I know we spend this much on Starbucks, or for a bagel and coffee at Timmies (for all my Canadian homies!) or 10x more at the bar on Saturday night! Dude, we've all been there.

Once I started the 21 Day fix, I decided I'd do the work out program how it's intended to be, which is with a daily dose of Shakeology, so I bought the challenge pack. (Challenge pack is basically a workout program of your choice with a month supply of Shakeology for a dirty discount. You end up saving up to 60 dollars sometimes when you buy them both as opposed to separately. And sometimes, the CP's are on promotion! If there's one thing that a broke student loves, it's dirty deals!).

After a week of drinking Shakeology I lost 6 pounds. No joke. Just Shakeology for breakfast. The thing is, if you are on the fence about trying it, and already like working out, sometimes its that "make or break" that will help you lose the last 10 pounds. Sometimes it's the kick start you need. And, if it's not for your body, do it for your overall health! There is not a bad thing that you can say about this product. Since drinking it, my energy has been up tremendously. I have stopped taking afternoon naps so much, and it honestly sounds dumb, but I feel like it has put me in a better mood overall. Once you feed your body the right things, you'd be surprised and delighted with how much it can do and how great you can feel. Not only that, but Shakeology curbs cravings! I have a serious sweet tooth, and it doesnt help that I work part time in a bakery. 

So lets recap real quick! I feel like I am getting a bit wordy, and want to give you the facts from a personal standpoint of what Shakeology has done for me and my family members who drink it:

- It  CURBS my appetite/sweet tooth. It's like having a cheat meal everyday!

- It aids in digestion and regularity.

- It helps with my MOOD (I'll go into that further)

- I sincerely do not get hungry for snacking until it’s time for my second meal! 

- It got rid of my CHRONIC BLOAT! (I gain almost all of my weight in my core! Dear fat, PREPARE TO DIE.)

Fun fact: I actually stopped drinking Shakeology for two weeks because my order got all messed up. And that week, I kid you not, I had five cheat meals. I was so disciplined, and the cravings crept up. I also found myself becoming increasingly; I skipped workouts with more ease, and, with deepest regret to my family, for some reason I was a TOTAL BITCH for those two weeks! I was moody and anxious and it wasn't until two weeks of not having it and noticed my mood change, that I became an AVID Shakeology supporter. But really, I could spill out three hundred blogs on how awesome Shakeology is, and until you try it I'll never be able to fully convince you. So I'm asking you to take a leap of faith. Give it a shot, and if you really hate it, or feel like it's not helping you, there is a bottom of the bag money back guarantee, and at least you will have tried it out! 

I know some people can be put off by the price. But are you ready to make a change? Start to view your fitness as an INVESTMENT. Invest in that body. Invest in your health! Give up your bagel and coffee at Tims, or latte at Starbucks and invest in the four dollars a day for the healthiest meal you'll ever eat...or...drink :P. 

Let me go into little more detail for a minute....If you are one of my potential clients, and I have recommended a challenge pack to you but you are still not convince, I need to quote MYSELF for a second. Here is what I wrote in a blog about the 21 Day Fix being on sale...

You have probably noticed if we have talked that I ALWAYS recommend buying the CHALLENGE pack, which is the package that comes with 30 days of Shakeology, as opposed to the fix on it's own. You probably WILL see results without the challenge pack but let me explain something about Shakeology- the only 100% natural and effective supplement I take. If you've ever looked at a person with a body that you just want SO badly, someone who is defined and toned and trim - they are PROBABLY taking a supplement of some kind. Don't be naive, and don't be turned off by the idea of supplements. Shakeology - your daily dose of dense superfood nutrition. Vitamins, minerals, probiotics, antioxidants, meal replacement. Tip NUMBER ONE: The better your nutrition, the better your body burns stored fat. Shakeology will tenfold better your nutrition. It's clinically proven and doctor recommended.

"BUT IT'S SO EXPENSIVE!"

Yes. It is expensive. And rightly so. There are over 90 ACTIVE ingredients in Shakeology. It is so natural in fact that the shelf life is only about 90 days. So it does go bad, faster than other supplements will (I work in a grocery store, a lot of supplements have a long shelf life, which is kinda scary - PRESERVATIVES YO!) It goes bad within about three months because there are REAL superfoods in it. It is ALWAYS in powder format, it is not in pre packaged shake form (like slim fast or anything like that) because as SOON as you mix it with liquid, the ingredients become active and stay that way for only about a half an hour. GET IT IN YA! The shake goesBAD. For all my whole food lovers - shakeology is NOT something that you need to be 100% against just because its a powder meal replacement. 

Additionally, there are a lot of arguments made against Shakeology to promote more inexpensive protein powders like Body By Vi or Garden of Life. In actuality, Shakeology can't be compared to these. It has more calories than Body By Vi because more calories are needed to replace a MEAL. You NEED TO EAT to lose weight. You do. It has more SUGAR than Body By Vi. Where Shakeology contains 6 grams of sugar, BBV contains only 1. But wait. Shakeology sugar is natural from the fruits that are in it. The one gram of sugar in BBV is Sucralose, for your tasty enjoyment. An artificial chemical sweetener. Raw Meal (Garden of Life) contains 26 grams of sugar. No thanks.

Shakeology is more expensive than all of your other protein powders because it's NOT just a protein powder. Shakeology is more expensive than other protein powders because it has more holistic benefits, and it OFFERS more! (I.e. regularity, increased energy, craving curb, improved heart health, improved digestion, vitamins for hair, nails and teeth, the list goes on). Yes it is expensive. No wonder. It is also money WELL spent. I would rather spent 4 dollars a day on Shakeology than 8 dollars a day on Wendys. Guaranteed you have spent more than four dollars on a meal before. Don't get confused by buying something in bulk. Break it down for yourself. If you were to buy every ingredient in it separately and have a daily dose of it for a month, you would be spending well over 700 dollars.

Certified Insane

Now, you know I couldn't design a fitness blog without talking about my first love. It is probably the hardest workout you'll ever do, but I can tell you, you will feel like a MILLION BUCKS after doing it, Every. Damn. Time. Shaun T will always be my favourite trainer. He is so motivating, he pushes you so much to DIG DEEPER, and truly believes that anyone can get their body to do amazing things if they put the work in and are ready to get sweaty! And that definitely shows in the 8-week program Insanity. In fact, if you do Insanity for 8 weeks, you'll probably get a a year's worth of results, and I'm not playing! This is NOT a game folks, this program will kick your ass, but it's the creme of the crop!

So, I started Insanity full on back in September of 2012, and I'll be the first to admit, I actually didn't finish it. What's even worse? I had TWO WEEKS LEFT. And it wasn't because I couldn't do the work. In fact, by the home stretch I could do power jumps and oblique pushups like a friggin champ. But I was graduating university, and as the second month of Insanity comes, the workouts do get a bit longer. I couldn't justify taking over an hour out of my study/rehearsal time (I was a theatre student) to work out, shower, blah blah blah. So I took a couple weeks off for exams, and when I tried to pick up from where I started, it was INSANELY hard. I became less motivated because I was frustrated with myself for getting tired or take more breaks, when two weeks ago I was kicking the program in the face. So unfortunately, my consistency with Insanity fizzled out.

NONETHELESS.... it will always be my number one program, Shaun T will always be my number one fitspiration, and I am hoping in the next few months I will do Insanity again with flying colours. 

Here are my results after completing only the first month of Insanity. I wish I had taken more pictures after the next two weeks!

Excuse my crappy webcam quality and sweaty post work out faces :) I lost approximately ten pounds and went down 2 pant sizes after just the first month :)





Get prepared for a whole lot of plyo. The workout focuses on MAX interval training. You push your body as much as you can, to the max, for three minutes. And instead of slowing down, you stop completely for a 30 second-minute break. Then, you do it all over again, alternating moves and going through two - three circuits three times each. You are literally outsmarting and confusing your muscles so much, it's a total rush. Not only that, you're targeting multiple muscle groups at once. That means, more calories burned, and more fantastic results for that body you're working so hard on!
The other great thing about Insanity, is that there is no equipment involved. It's you and your body, and using your own body weight for resistance, which kinda makes you feel like a master of your soul for 45 minutes! People still say this is the hardest work out every put on DVD. But, that by NO means, means that you CAN'T do it, even if you're a beginner. I started Insanity not knowing how to do one pushup and getting tired from running up the stairs. And NEARLY (had it not been for school and my own excuses) finished it without any injury. That's another thing I wanted to point out. If your joints aren't completely savvy or you have a history of injury when doing super athletic things, maybe start with something different. FORM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. And there is a lot of plyo and jumping around in Insanity, which can be hard on the knees. 

Here are some even more INSANE results! While I was doing this, my friend Steve was as well, and he actually finished the program. And when I say finished, I mean totally and COMPLETELY nailed it. 

"It was literally the most painful 9 weeks of my life. I ended up losing over 20 pounds, dropped 3 jean sizes, and I'm currently sitting at a measly 10% body fat!" - Steve

So there you have it! If you want to embark on your Insanity journey, message or comment me for tips! Stay calm, breathe in, and most importantly, DIG DEEPER. 

21 Day Fix Review

Well, well, WELL.

What can I say about the 21 Day Fix? Besides the fact that it is totally UNBELIEVABLE!? If you are unfamiliar with it, the 21 Day Fix is a fitness program designed and created by fitness expert and cutie-pa-tootie Autumn Calabrese. The jist of it is simple - portion control, meal prep, and 30 minute work outs. Now, if you're familiar with my page, you know that I tried a few different work out programs before this. Insanity, Jillian Michaels, Zumba/yoga classes, gym membership. And while all of those were excellent for EXERCISE guidelines, every meal plan that came with it kinda got tossed to the side. No one wants to read a book full of recipes when they're just starting out - ain't nobody got time for that! So when I heard about the fix, I KNEW I had to try to to up my discipline with food. I SCREAMED when I got the package, and tore it open.

The Meal Plan 
The thing is, if you aren't TRYING to eat even moderately healthy while you are working out, you're almost wasting your time! That is the harsh truth of it. So Autumns program is perfectly designed for people like me, who don't know how to calorie count, who don't wanna spend endless amounts of time reading through ingredients and counting macros!

My saving grace for this program... COLOURED CONTAINERS. HELLO!? First of all, simple, but totally effective. Secondly, who doesn't want a bunch of really cute and colourful tupperware!? AM I RIGHT? Here is a breakdown of the containers that you get with your package.

1. Fruits
2. Veggies
3. Proteins
4. Carbs
5. Healthy Fats
6. Seeds and oils

The beauty of it is, not only does her nutrition guide tell you what to PUT in the containers (and there are tons of great options), it also tells you how many of each one you're allowed to eat per day! Easy, no? Even more...the containers act as your measurement. Who wants to sit around measuring ounces of cheese? SCREW THAT. If if fits in the container, go nuts!

The thing that I love about the fix meal plan, is that it really isn't strenuous or difficult to follow. There are tons of options, and it's not really a DIET. The word diet tends to scare people off. This isn't all that restricting folks. You're not going gluten free, or fat free, or dairy free, or whatever free! Just making quick and easy healthy food choices based on what you're allotted for the day - and trust me, after the first day or two, it's MORE than enough food.

Final selling point for me about this meal plan - Autumn understands that we're all human. And at certain points, we all get cravings (though Shakeology can help with that). So Autumn even gives you back up plans in case you want to have a cheat snack! It's simple. You want a 4oz glass of wine? No problem! She just might ask you to substitute that for one of your carbs that day. Have a chicken salad rather than chicken and quinoa. Bada bing bada boom - little harm done. She even has a recipe list of treats that people can make if they are jonesing for something sweet, or want to go eat out. It doesn't get much better than this!

The Work Outs

It's a half an hour. You spend more time contemplating working out, than you actually do working out! It could be different for everyone, but my honest review is that the workouts aren't EXTREMELY difficult. I remember doing the first fifteen minutes of Insanity and thinking I was gonna either throw up or pass out. Autumn keeps the work outs CHALLENGING, and you WILL get sweaty, but you can absolutely take them at your own pace. It all depends on the heaviness of your weights and whether or not you want to modify some of the moves - either way, if you push yourself, you'll see results! Not only that, but I got my mum to do them with me! She was so cute waking up with me in the morning. And she followed the 21 Day Fix Modifier (Kat) the whole time. I honestly think the woman doing the modification makes the 21 Day Fix that much more enjoyable. She may not be a tiny bikini model, but she's there, everyday getting 'er done! And that's wonderful. Sometimes, when you get a workout DVD, or go to the gym, you feel intimidated and almost put off because you're surrounded by people that are totally shredded. Even though you KNOW that those people worked their tails off to get those results, theres still that small feeling of bitterness, thinking that you will never get there, right? The people working out in the 21 day fix DVDS aren't all parading around all the time in tiny shorts/with their shirts off. It's little things like that that make this program such an awesome motivation for people just starting out, or for people who have been working out for years! That everyone is on their OWN journey.

Eesh. I'm rambling. Lastly, Autumn targets different muscle groups and focuses on isolating specific parts of the body for each work out, that way you never get bored. Cardio with weights, upper fix, lower fix, pilates, yoga, cardio without weights - YOU NAME IT, it's all in here! Plus, she gives you a little bit of insight as to how to weight train. It may just be with dumbells, but I can tell you right now I didn't know what a bent over row was until I started with this! These are all things you will learn.

Anyways, if you want more info, and to not read my LONG WINDED but super honest endorsement of this AWESOME life changing program. Just watch the video here. Please, please PLEASE. Follow me on instagram and message me if you have any questions, or if you want me to be your free coach, and we can get down to the nitty gritty even more! 


My 21 Day Fix Results with Shakeology after only 2 and a half WEEKS.
Many inches lost!

Where My PIYO People At!?!?!!

This review is so long overdue!!!! Ha. Semi-intentional rhyme. I'm sorry to my readers who actually read this thanngg faithfully. I need to practice consistency more consciously but shits HAPPENING! No excuses for me though!

So as you may know (if you follow me on social media), I spent the first two months of 2015 doing a low impact yoga/pilates program called PiYo. For 8 weeks I had to give up my love of weight lifting and HIIT cardio to reflect, wind down, and focus on the stretch and strength of my own body weight.

Why? To be honest I'm not really sure. I had the program sitting around for a while and I think a part of me was afraid of derailing my progress if I stopped lifting free-weight, so I put it off for a while. But I decided shortly after Christmas that I needed to start the year off on a good note. I needed to start it off with drive, an intense mind/body/spirit/connection, and of course balance. 
You see, I'm not the best at balance. I LOVE to work. I LOVE to push myself. I usually find myself juggling fifty things at once and rocking the hell out of it until I eventually crack under the pressure and end up debilitated for days at a time. Despite me being FRIGGIN AWFUL not so good at sports I'm actually super competitive. Mostly with myself. So since I adopted this "work is in my blood" mentality, I realized soon I did need to sort of wind down and regroup. After all, who was I working out for? Was is to look good to everyone else? Or feel good about myself? GINTOT!!!!!!! (Gee! I never thought of that!) 
So even though I rocked the crap out of the latter half of 2014, I also found myself with five different jobs, an inactive social life and a face full of acne. NOT TO MENTION, this girl FULLY commits to the holiday season...EVERY...DAMN...TIME.

 In four weeks (without looking at the scale) Between november and December I'm highly certain I gained like, ten pounds of bloat alone. Too many holiday comforts, but hey, totally worth it!

I thought focussing on strength and stretch would be the perfect remedy for all of this. And I was right!

...

So I'm just gonna give you the low-down here and will try to make it as concise as possible. I'm going to touch on the many many pros of the program, my own results, what to expect and some of the very few drawbacks.

MY PERSONAL RESULTS
(Because I know thats REALLY what you all wanna see, above everything else ;)

Doing this program was absolutely INCREDIBLE for my core strength. Was is slow-paced? Yes. Was it boring? I didn't think so. I've been doing HIIT and weight lifting for (holy crap) a little under a year now, and I never felt more core strength than I did when I was doing PiYo. I needed this, because core is one of those areas that I have the hardest time seeing PHYSICAL results in. And to be honest, I still do. Abs don't really peak through for me (yet). HOWEVER. I can tell you without a doubt that because of the emphasis on core and breath that this program had to offer, EVERYTHING ELSE became easier. I went back halfway through the program to do a high-intensity cardio day. I remember being SO nervous because I had been doing low impact for four weeks and thought I would be drenched in sweat and vomit within the first five minutes. What i found was quite the opposite. I SAILED through the cardio workout, having to take VERY few breaks, and felt little to no soreness after because of the flexibility I had been working on. The same was true when I started lifting weights again. The PiYo mission statement is simple. "You don't have to go low for me, but you do have to have great alignment." What does that mean? Chalene Johnson couldn't give a single care whether you can touch your toes and put your nose to your knee. All that matters is form. Not how flexible or strong you are. And because of the reiterated emphasis on form that she provided, weight lifting, running, plyo, EVERYTHING has become a LOT easier. THANK YOU PiYo!

Another thing that I noticed after doing PiYo was that I was just in a darn better mood. Partially because my body was being given a stretch daily that it needed, and partially because of the INSTRUCTOR.

Dudes.... like... oh wow. Deep breaths. I'M FACKING OBSESSED WITH CHALENE JOHNSON SHES MY LIFE!!!!!!!! 
Okay so the instructor and creator of the program, Chalene Johnson, is legitimately amazing. I'm partially convinced we are soul mates. LOL! Is that weird?!?! Me and my friends joke about my Cha-ddiction all the time. TOTAL Chaddict. And it all started with PiYo! Within the first minute of the DVD the woman just has you smiling. She is encouraging, caring, and patient with you. She also is a mind reader. Anytime my form would slip, Chalene would say something on camera that I just NEEDED to hear. I think one of the reasons why I liked her as an instructor so much was because of her ability to kick your butt in the "gym" while maintaing SUCH a positive attitude. She smiles a lot! She reminds you to be grateful while you are working out. She points out positive things unrelated to working out that you wouldn't even notice. Like, while I'm in a pool of sweat on the floor she just slips in a "I'm so blessed to be able to work out with you today!" Or an, "I LOVE this song!" The woman just kept me smiling. 

She's very modest! I never thought that would be a reason for enjoying a workout program but it was for me! 
Like, you know when you go to the gym, and you're SUPER motivated. And then you get there and you see a TON of girls looking flyyyy as funkkkk in their brightly coloured spandex, and they somehow make sweat look good - not a single hair out of place? 
And then you see a bunch of dudes benching more than your body weight, shredded as hell, not even breaking a sweat? 
And then you're just like. "Okay... wheres the cheesecake bar at!?" And would rather go home and wallow in self-pity instead of DOING the work you CAME to do?! (Haha no joke, that happened to me once! Me and my friend left the gym and had cheesecake and cried. #rockbottom)
 Ahaha Chalene Johnson does NOT make you feel that way! Which is so refreshing in the fitness industry. I mean, obviously if you are comparing yourself to people that have been in the gym for years it has less to do with them and more to do with your sense of security (WORKIN ON IT!). But the fact that Chalene is so modest in the way she dresses and acts (congratulating and encouraging her workout buddies) was very very comforting for me. I'm a bit convinced that my love for PiYo is 10% to do with the workouts and my results and 90% to do with Chalene Johnson. But as I said, I'm a chaddict. BACK ON TRACK.

I decided to do the program with a friend of mine, Sarah, who SPANKED PiYo. Both of us ate clean for 8 weeks (I had a couple weeks where I fell off track, I won't lie). Drank our Shakeology, and worked out roughly 6 times a week. After not working out in years, and in fact, THINKING that she wasn't making any strides in her physical fitness while DOING PiYo... THESE were Sarah's 8 week results.

PiYo Results: Down 12lbs, 25cm

THESE RESULTS ARE UN.REAL. So it goes to show, for those of you who are worried about doing PiYo because you are afraid low impact will hinder your progress, you couldn't be more wrong.

As for me, I was able to shed all the excess weight that I gained over Christmas. (Almost) Clear up my acne, and left PiYo with a super positive attitude. My actual WEIGHT LOSS number is unknown, because I'm a bad girl who forgot to take my stats. Number one things I noticed in my self were a tighter core and a lifted BUM. (The hamstring to bum swerve is getting real! Thank GAAD. Trying to grow this thanngg ;))

BEFORE PIYO

AFTER PIYO

WHAT TO EXPECT:

So, if you've decided that you WANT to give this program a shot. I'm all for it! Expect 20-45 minute workouts, 6 Days a week. There are no weights, and more than half the time, NO shoes!!! (BONUS!) 

A couple of things to keep in mind - your nutrition is the most important. Remember that! Alignment is key. Chalene will work on that with you.

Pro's to this program? It helped my mental and physical well being. Weight loss - check.
 Instructor - CHECK CHECK CHECK. 
Length of workouts - Good. I don't like working out for too long, to be honest. I'm busy doing the life thang! But this is an important part of your day, so GET IT IN!

 Downside of this program? Hard to find one. It's hard getting used to low impact if you're used to high impact. I urge you to stick with this program and give it a chance. The only drawback? It's difficult to go back man!!! I started weight lifting again a couple of weeks ago and its HARD. My body feels tight. So if you're gonna to PiYo, you will probably end up incorporating into your workout routine for the rest of your liiiaaffee. You NEEDDDD to stretch it out.

The other thing to be aware of is that, there are only so many effective workouts you can do that are low impact without weight. So, a lot of the moves will be repeated. Which MIGHT be a little boring, but I didn't find so at all. I think Chalene and the fact that you're getting yourself into cool poses sort of makes up for it!

If you have any more questions, before purchasing this program PLEASE reach out to me! I can provide you with advice and accountability :) After all, thats what I'm here for!

Ciao now brown cow, we OUT.

21 Day Fix ON SALE

Yippy Skippy! I'm excited to write this blog because I HATE spending money. Even though I'm a compulsive spender at times (I like buying shoes I will NEVER wear and shopping online). So, here's the deal. I KNOW I already wrote a blog reviewing a program I did called the 21 Day Fix but I want to write another one with an emphasis on the promotion price this September. There are a few things that I'd like to go over with you. 

I have had a LOT (and I mean, a LOT) of girls ask me for loads of information about the 21 Day Fix and seem pretty stoked and ready for it. A good percentage of the women that I talk to about it, shortly after fall off the face of the planet. Maybe you are one of those people. Be aware that my feelings are not hurt by this. However, this affects me for one reason only - I don't want you to think that I am LYING to you. It's kind of me in my own head, right? Some people can't FINANCIALLY justify buying a challenge pack to invest in their fitness, and it could be nothing personal at all! This might put a few things into perspective for you. The 21 Day Fix CHALLENGE pack is on sale right now for

$150.00 CAD. 

I want to go over a few things with you. 

1. When you buy the 21 day fix, you are purchasing DVDs that you will have for a LIFE TIME. At home workouts that you can pull out whenever you are unmotivated to go to the gym that aren't completely impossible but will also make you sweat. 

You will also get tupperware that is colour coded and a very very VERY simplistic meal plan that will help you achieve your goals. Everyone has their preferences. But for me, buying a 300 page book from Chapters telling you all the reasons why you should eliminate carbohydrates in order to get to your weightloss goals does NOT work. Where do you start? How do you portion? How do you read macros? What the hell can you even eat? I see a lot of this: "I eat really healthy because I wanna lose weight, so I pretty much ONLY eat salads now! YAY ME!" I did this during Insanity. Did I see results? YEP. At first. After two months, NO BUENOS. I wasn't eating enough with the amount of resistance and plyo training I was doing. Enter plateau. You do NOT have to figure this out on your own. You do not have to post a facebook status about how to effectively lose weight and have a hundred different comments by a hundred different people telling you a HUNDRED DIFFERENT THINGS! It will confuse you even more, or will hinder your ability to stick to ONE CONSISTENT plan.

Eat clean. Train for a half an hour every day. Get results. But how do I do that when I have NO background on fitness or nutrition? Thats what this program will teach you! Beginners and intermediates alike, this program will TEACH you things that you would not be able to figure out yourself in such a short amount of time. There is just TOO much information out there.You WILL eventually learn, but I'm such a no fuss no muss kinda gal that this was the perfect way to educate me and provide a solid foundation for my fitness knowledge. Stop telling yourself that you won't stick to it. It is 21 DAYS and I am there answering all of your questions every step of the way. 

Exercise, Portion control. Healthy eating. This is why I recommend the 21 day to anyone trying to build lean muscle or get rid of excess fat fix first and foremost. It's the perfect and easiest program for that. And again,  it's on sale. It will likely NEVER be at this low price again. At least not for a while. Think about that.

2. You have probably noticed if we have talked that I ALWAYS recommend buying the CHALLENGE pack, which is the package that comes with 30 days of Shakeology, as opposed to the fix on it's own. You probably WILL see results without the challenge pack but let me explain something about Shakeology- the only 100% natural and effective supplement I take. If you've ever looked at a person with a body that you just want SO badly, someone who is defined and toned and trim - they are PROBABLY taking a supplement of some kind. Don't be naive, and don't be turned off by the idea of supplements. Shakeology - your daily dose of dense superfood nutrition. Vitamins, minerals, probiotics, antioxidants, meal replacement. Tip NUMBER ONE: The better your nutrition, the better your body burns stored fat. Shakeology will tenfold better your nutrition. It's clinically proven and doctor recommended.

"BUT IT'S SO EXPENSIVE!"

Yes. It is expensive. And rightly so. There are over 90 ACTIVE ingredients in Shakeology. It is so natural in fact that the shelf life is only about 90 days. So it does go bad, faster than other supplements will (I work in a grocery store, a lot of supplements have a long shelf life, which is kinda scary - PRESERVATIVES YO!) It goes bad within about three months because there are REAL superfoods in it. It is ALWAYS in powder format, it is not in pre packaged shake form (like slim fast or anything like that) because as SOON as you mix it with liquid, the ingredients become active and stay that way for only about a half an hour. GET IT IN YA! The shake goes BAD. For all my whole food lovers - shakeology is NOT something that you need to be 100% against just because its a powder meal replacement. 

Additionally, there are a lot  of arguments made against Shakeology to promote more inexpensive protein powders like Body By Vi or Garden of Life. In actuality, Shakeology can't be compared to these. It has more calories than Body By Vi because more calories are needed to replace a MEAL. You NEED TO EAT to lose weight. You do. It has more SUGAR than Body By Vi. Where Shakeology contains 6 grams of sugar, BBV contains only 1. But wait. Shakeology sugar is natural from the fruits that are in it. The one gram of sugar in BBV is Sucralose, for your tasty enjoyment. An artificial chemical sweetener. Raw Meal (Garden of Life) contains 26 grams of sugar. No thanks.

 Shakeology is more expensive than all of your other protein powders because it's NOT just a protein powder. Shakeology is more expensive than other protein powders because it has more holistic benefits, and it OFFERS more! (I.e. regularity, increased energy, craving curb, improved heart health, improved digestion, vitamins for hair, nails and teeth, the list goes on). Yes it is expensive. No wonder. It is also money WELL spent. I would rather spent 4 dollars a day on Shakeology than 8 dollars a day on Wendys. Guaranteed you have spent more than four dollars on a meal before. Don't get confused by buying something in bulk. Break it down for yourself. If you were to buy every ingredient in it separately and have a daily dose of it for a month, you would be spending well over 700 dollars. 

3. Lastly, what on earth is in it for ME? 

I recommend the challenge pack to you not because I want you to spend more money, but because it will work BETTER for you. It will get you to your goals quickly, and effectively. You may get there without it, but it might take longer which can be discouraging, and you won't get the other holistic benefits that drinking something like this each day will provide.

Get yourself out of the mindset that I am just a sales person trying to get you to spend more money so that I can get a commission off your product. Almost everyone in a Multi-level-marketing company is selling the products and signed up to promote them  because they BELIEVE in them, and use them themselves. I truly believe it would BENEFIT you. In all honesty, as of right now, make PEANUTS as a BeachBody coach. But I love the way it makes me feel. I'm an avid and loyal customer, love helping people, and like getting a discount (which I would get if you bought or not) since I try and review so many of the products. Not everyone in this business is trying to get you to spend money so that it will go into their pocket. You'd be hard pressed to find a person who is in this business for that reason alone... but that's an entirely different blog post!

BACK ON TRACK.

If you have ever considered the 21 Day Fix Challenge pack, NOW, before the end of September, is the time to take the plunge. I want you to get it while it's ON SALE so that you spend LESS (and think about it, that's less commission for me!) I want you to do this because I know that if you commit to it, the meal plan, the workouts, and shakeo EVERYDAY for 21 DAYS, it will WORK FOR YOU, the same way it did for me, and some of my friends: 

Kenzie, down 17lbs in FIRST CYCLE of The 21 Day Fix

Benefit: Fat loss (inches and weight)

Abby, up 2 lbs in muscle after one cycle of the fix

Benefit: Muscle growth and definition

Jessica, 30 days of Shakeology and 21 Day Fix Meal plan

Benefit: Built lean muscle and fat loss

Shelby, down 13 lbs after cycle 1 of the 21 day fix

Myself, down 8 lbs after cycle one of the 21 day fix

(Profile photo is KEY, so many inches down, even within the first WEEK)

Myself, down 13 lbs after continued use of the 21 day fix workouts, meal plan, and Shakeology. 

I think I have said all I needed to say folks! I wanted to write a blog describing details of the sale and it's benefit so that if you were on the fence, this could be a push for you in the right direction. You save over 70dollars this month in your purchase of the 21 Day Fix + Shakeology, and again, it's down to 150 bucks. 

You might spend this in three months at the gym. You might spend this on two or three nights to the bar. 150 dollars for workout DVDS, containers, a meal plan, a fitness REGIMENT more or less, and a months supply of supplements is NOT that expensive. In fact, it's pretty much a steal. Any fitness coach or personal trainer that gives personalized meal plans, workouts and supplements will ask you to pay at least that, and probably more. I saw once an offer on Instagram of a woman selling all of the above for the low price of 600 dollars. SAY WHAT? Yes, you can lost weight without spending money at all. It will take you a lot longer and cause you a lot more stress having to figure things out ENTIRELY on your own. If you're willing to invest that 150 dollars NOW, and see the same results that me and my girlfriends have, WHY WAIT? Don't hesitate to message me if you have any other questions.