Shakeology Cleanse Day 3

I was worried about how Day 3 would go, since I had given in a little on day 2. But, I decided that I would push forward. It was hard, but I stuck to my guns and to the eating plan.

Overall: I was hungry the first day, but I quickly adapted. I wasn't lacking in energy any of the days, and I actually have felt like I have more energy. Being a teacher and NOT being exhausted at the end of the day says a lot!

Now the "numbers" results... Well, I knew when I woke up this morning that today would not be a good weigh in day. I felt bloated, and blah. I would guess overall I lost about 3 lb, but I will check again tomorrow if I'm feeling better. But, 3 lb in 3 days isn't bad!! Thankfully, I also took measurements. I lost 4.5 inches over all - in just 3 days! That says a lot more than just weight. Besides, the point of a cleanse isn't weight loss. Weight loss can come with doing a cleanse, but it's not the reason. Cleanse are to do exactly what it says - cleanse the body of toxins and give it a nutritional reset. My body feels great and I'm actually craving (literally) fresh produce, where as before I wanted chocolate, sugar, carbs, and proteins. I think the cleanse was good, as it has taken my body and mindset back to what it naturally craves - fresh produce, greens, veggies, clean carbs, and clean, light proteins.

Shakeology Cleanse Day 2

Day 2 was filled with non-cleanse related stressors. So, I have to come clean and admit I caved a bit! I got super stressed, and reached for some chocolate covered coffee beans (I know, right?! So good!) and a mini hershey bar. Everything else was on point though with my cleanse. I figured it would mess with my results, but I was so stressed at that point I didn't particularly care.

My energy levels are still good. I wasn't near as hungry and I didn't need or end up having that 2nd serving of fruit (which is optional anyhow). I weighed in this morning and I was down another .8lb. Not bad for 1 day WITH me cheating! So, total loss for day 2 on my cleanse is -1lb in 2 days! I aim to keep day 3 in check and end my cleanse with a bang.

On another note, I am following the 21-day fix workout program, and the sides of my booty are SUPER sore. WOW! I love how fitness feels, though! :)

3-Day Shakeology Cleanse

The countdown for the end of the school year, to summer, and to me heading back home to Arkansas is in the works. We are in the sub 30 days, now and I am really amped-up to head home in amazing shape. I haven't seen my boyfriend since January AND it's the summer. I have been working really hard on my fitness and nutrition, and I'm down 16 lb since the holidays. Of course, I have a bit to go to be in bikini shape. I plan to give myself a bit of a boost with the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse and then begin the 21-Day Fix Extreme meal plan along with the 21-day Fix workouts. If you aren't familiar with Shakeology, check out my previous post on hands down the absolute healthiest meal of my day.

Here's the low down on how it goes:

This cleanse is WAY different than others I've done or read about. With Shakeology, you are seriously getting the most amount of nutrients in to a powerful lower calorie shake. With just ONE glass of Shakeology, you get the nutrients equal to eating all of the following:

• 1 bowl of exotic fruit (like goji berries and acai)
• 4 cups raw broccoli
• 7 whole carrots
• 10 cups raw cauliflower
• 3 cups romaine lettuce
• 4 cups uncooked mushrooms
• 3 raw onions
• 4 red radishes
• 1 cup of peas
• 4 cups nonfat yogurt
• 1 shot wheat grass

With the cleanse, you'll drink 3 (that's right THREE) glasses of shakeology a day. That is one nutritional powerhouse if you ask me!

As for tonight, I've weighed and taken my measurements. I will weigh daily on the cleanse, but I won't measure again until Wednesday morning. The cleanse will be over on Tuesday. I can't wait to share my final results and feedback on the cleanse.

Beachbody On Demand

If you're like me, then you've probably hesitated to jump in and buy a fitness program (or anything else for that matter) without testing it out to know how you'd like it. I am very frugal, so I nearly agonize over purchases. This was made easier this month for me - at least on the fitness program front! Beachbody rolled out "Beachbody On Demand." I decided to test it out today, and I was AMAZED! I logged in, clicked the "On Demand" button and saw where I could stream my workout! Available are workouts in my "library" - meaning I've bought them before; full programs with workout calendars and nutrition guides; and newer programs that you can try out. You also have the option to look for a workout based on the type - cardio, strength training, etc. You can also look based on the trainer. It is SO easy to use and seamless. I saw PiYo was available for me to try out, and I have been on the fence about getting the program. As soon as I clicked on the link my video was loaded and my workout was ready to begin! 38 minutes later, I am now hooked on PiYo AND on Beachbody's On Demand service. It's amazing for people who aren't sure whether they will like a program, who travel a lot, or who like to change up their routine! I'm so excited, I may just stream another one tomorrow. :) LOVE IT!

My transformation story...

There is not much more personal to talk about for a woman than how she looks - more specifically her body. This may be the case for a man, but I'm not male so I really don't know! :) It's easy for me to talk about nutrition, how to feed my body, and the workouts that I love. It's not so easy for me to talk about how incredibly unhealthy I've been, and to point out my flaws and where I struggle. But, I think it's time for me to open up about my transformation story.

I've never been knows as the "skinny girl." As a young child, I was never overweight. I have always had a rounder face, and was always a little bit chubby. I thinned out as a cheerleader, but never lost my chubby cheeks. High school came, and so did the extra pounds. I went to an all-girl high school. I, along with the other girls, would get to school and grab breakfast. Breakfast would ussually consister of a Dr. Pepper and some powdered donuts. I remember a friend of mine driving me to school and we would each get 2 packs of Burger King's Cini-minis. (My stomach hurts just thinking about this!) Once lunch time came, if it wasn't pizza, baked potato, or chicken nugget day then I hit up the vending machine for chips, a candy bar, and another soda. Of course, I gained weight pretty rapidly. I had absolutely no clue how to feed myself properly. At home, my mom always cooked very healthy foods and refused to get any junk food. In my mind, all food was created equal. At this point I had done a few 5k's, but I was more of a walker than a runner.

Let's fast forward to 2011. At this point, I was going through a divorce. I needed something to embrace to keep myself busy. I wanted a healthy habit. I was fond of exercising at this point, but I still didn't know a lot about nutrition and I was definitely not a runner. I got the idea in my head that I wanted to be able to run a 5k. I started a training plan and much to my surprise I quickly was able to run the full 3.1 miles. I then decided I wanted to be able to run a half-marathon. Through out my training and dealing with injuries during training, I was able to learn so much about nutrition and how it affects my body. Along this journey I learned about my intolerance with gluten and about the power of protein.

Life got busy with being a single mom, graduate student, having a full time job, and having a parent that was sick with cancer. It was getting harder and harder for me to get to the gym and get a decent workout in. The kiddo had homework, and by the time that was finished it was just too late to get to the gym. A friend of mine was a Beach Body coach and introduced me to my first program - Slim in 6. I completed it pretty quickly, because I had been doing fitness boot camps. Next I did p90x, and finally I found (and fell in love with) Turbo Fire. If you've been reading PLPB for a while, then you know I just LOVE Turbo Fire! In a matter of about 5-6 months, I went from a solid size 12, to a very small size 6. Yes, it was due to Turbo Fire, but it was also due to MINDFUL nutrition. The following pictures show the transformation. The first one was in November of 2011. I was well in to my running at this point, but my diet hadn't changed. The second picture was once I started focusing on my nutrition, drinking Shakeology, increasing my protein intake, and using Turbo Fire. This is such a good remind to me that it doesn't matter where you are in your own fitness journey, as long as you are ON the journey then that's what counts. Respect the process, and love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle.

T25 Day 20

I'm check in on my progress with T25. It's not time for progress pics, measurements, etc but each day is a day for me to check myself. I have 10 days until I do my progress pics, and I am eager to see how far I've come. T25 has 2 rounds. The first round is called "alpha" and the second round is called "beta." Alpha round helps provide you the foundation and beta takes it up a notch (or several!). Even though I'm on day 20, I can still tell that alpha is PUSHING me. I think the "Lower Focus" workout is my favorite. I LOVE working my legs. I have a love/hate relationship with Total Body Circuit. It kicks my butt, yet I feel like a total bad-a when I am done! I've been much more intentional with providing my body with the correct nutrition. It always amazes me when you can FEEL your muscles are stronger. I can be walking and tell that my legs and/or core are so much stronger. Isn't it just amazing how are bodies can become so much stronger and accomplish so much more??!! I love that feeling!

I am also pretty pumped, because I finally ordered the 21 Day Fix. My goal is to be in my best shape by summer time. I know some people say it's only  February, but we all know that summer bodies are made in the winter! :) I may go ahead and order a new swimsuit for motivation OR maybe just new sneakers. :)

My story

I joined Beachbody as a customer several years ago when a friend of mine asked me to join his Slim in 6 Challenge Group. I got my membership and ordered my Slim in 6 Challenge Pack. While I had already been on my fitness track, I gained so much emotional and mental strength from the challenge group. From my coach to my fellow challengers, I was primed and ready to tackle my nutrition and fitness!

Over the past couple of years, I've continued to use Beachbody programs like P90X and Turbo Fire. Our body compositions are based 10% on exercise, 10% on genetics, and 80% on nutrition. WOW! Along with my clean eating, I incorporate Shakeology in to my diet. It packs an amazing nutritional punch, and it's the healthiest meal of my day. I'm so busy, it's great to know I'm still fueling my body properly.

After boasting about Beachbody  products, I finally decided to become a Beachbody Independent Coach. This not only increased my own accountability, but it also helped fuel my passion to help others on their journey and get paid for it. What I love about coaching is that my assistance is completely free. I don't charge people to guide them along their journey, just like I provide my own tips and recipes on Piece Love and Peanut Butter for free. I have a passion for helping others and a passion for fitness.

I've lost about 25 pounds with the help of Beachbody programs like Turbo Fire and P90X. Being a single mom, it's hard to get to the gym. Thankfully, I can get a powerful workout at home and not have to worry about my little one. As a Beach Body Coach, I don't have to worry about childcare to teach others about taking control of their own health and reach their goals. I can do it from my home!

If you are interested in joining my Beachbody Team as a Coach or to get free fitness and nutrition advice from me, visit my Team Beach Body Coach page. Join with the free membership - there's nothing to lose!

Join Erin Lynch Fitness

Piece Love and Peanut Butter, launched in December of 2011. This blog was a great way for me to reach others in hopes of impacting their own life decisions about their health. Piece Love & PB evolved and developed over the years, and in October of 2013 Erin Lynch Fitness began. Erin Lynch Fitness is another way to help me continue to reach and help others as an Independent Beachbody Coach. 

Join Erin Lynch Fitness

Did you know you can join my team in several different ways?

Free membership

You can join Erin Lynch Fitness, choose to have me as your coach, and have access to loads of information and tools all for free! There's no catches at all. Are you ready?

Yes! I want want a free Beachbody membership.

Become a Beachbody Coach

If you are interested in becoming an Independent Beachbody Coach, then I encourage you to check out this video. You don't have to be an expert! Actually, many Beachbody Coaches were once customers just like you. For me, being a Coach helps with my own accountability. I workout, get discounts on my programs and Shakeology, and get paid for showing others how to do exactly what I do.

Yes, I want to become an Independent Beachbody Coach!

Club Membership

With the Club Membership, you get all of benefits of the Free Membership plus a lot more perks! With the Club Membership, you get:

• 10% off of all of your purchases
• Personalized meal plans and recipes
• Community support, motivation, and accountability
• VIP access to celebrity trainers
• Exclusive Beachbody video content
• Daily prizes up to $1000 each day for working out

Yes, I want the Club Membership!

The 21 Day Fix

I am crazy excited about the 21 Day Fix, a new program from Beachbody that is available ONLY through your Beachbody coach starting Feb 3rd. Here's the lowdown on the program:

• 21 days of fitness in 30-min workouts, 7 days a week
• 21 days of learning proper portion control
• 21 days to fix your old habits and create HEALTHY new ones!

What is the 21 Day Fix?

The 21 Day Fix is a nutrition/fitness program that simplifies weight loss with easy portion control and 30-minute workouts. You can actually lose up to 15 pounds in 21 days! It's simple, it's fast, it works.

Beachbody trainer, Autumn Calabrese (trainer, single/busy mom, and a national-level bikini competitor) designed this program. She was inspired after seeing a client consume an entire 1,300-calorie salad in a single sitting. Nowadays, our portions are super-sized and hurting our weight loss and health. We often overeat and eat the wrong things, without knowing it. As a single mom, she knows how hard it is to eat right and exercise. So, she designed the 21 Day Fix with 30-min workouts and a simple eating plan. 

How does it work?

Everything is laid out for you; use the portion-control containers and complete your daily workout during your 21-day commitment. You can lose up to 15 lb in 21 days!

The Container System

The 21 Day Fix comes with a container system to teach you how to create healthy portions - simply and intuitively. Just put your choice of food in the color-coded container - if it fits, you can eat it! There's no guessing or calorie counting. I still struggle with proper portion control and I know so many others do, too. That's why I'm SO excited about this program.

The Workouts

The 21 Day Fix workouts will have you burning calories in a 30-minute session. The workouts are designed for someone at ANY level of fitness from beginners to advanced. 

Is it effective?

Beachbody really BRINGS IT with this new program. It's the only program that combines portion-control containers and exceptional workouts that Beachbody is known for. Equal emphasis is placed on fitness and nutrition to help anyone lose weight and keep it off. Effective plans are sustainable plans! 

You can achieve your weight loss goals with this program. Whether it's 10 lb or 100 lb, you can do it with the 21 Day Fix. 

Who is it for?

Let's get personal...

I love that this program tackles real and serious issues that people face. As a single mom, I struggle with fitting in time for fitness and time to be mom. Because of this, I get up before the break of dawn to workout. I don't want to lose this precious time with my sweet boy, but I know being healthy is important to me and him.

Also - I've said it over and over that you can't outrun a bad diet. You just end up erasing all of your effort and sweat that you poured out at the gym (or living room!) There's nothing wrong with food - food is fuel! But, there is a huge difference in how you fuel your body and results. I used to think exercise meant I could eat what I wanted - until I realized after months of training for my first half-marathon that my weight hadn't budged, except maybe 5 lb. 5 lb IS a lot, but keep in mind I wasn't always active. 4 years ago I HATED running. It was so hard for me. I was a walker, but at least I was a fast walker! When I was going through my divorce in 2011, I got it in my head I wanted to run, then train for a 5k just for fun. Eventually, I started training for distance races. I began running around May of 2011 (as a bigger size 12) and well in to my half-marathon training in January of 2012, I was a solid size 12.  I saw this lack of change, and it was quite upsetting considering my accomplishments and hard work. I was one of those girls that thought, "this is just how I'm made."  Long story short, I started to adjust my diet and the pounds starting melting off.

The Commitment

Are you ready to commit to 21 days with me and the Fix? If you are serious about committing and reshaping your life, then join my "The FIX" challenge group! All I ask for is your 21-day commitment, and you'll love your results! The FIX Challenge Group Starts February 17th!

Follow these steps to join:

1. Sign up! Visit www.beachbodycoach.com/erinlynchfitness to join Beachbody AND get me as your Coach for FREE!
2. Get your Challenge Pack! The 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack is on SUPER SALE for just a few weeks. Order your Challenge Pack when once you have listed me as your Beachbody Coach.
3. Contact me! Contact me to join The FIX Challenge Group or if you have any questions. 

You give me 21 days - I'll give you my best support, encouragement, and accountability to see you through.