I’ve always loved exercising, but dieting? Not so much. I’m the type of mom who bakes cookies “for the kids” and then eats 12 when they’re taking their naps.
When I first heard about The 21 Day Fix, I assumed that it was just a gimmick.
Another fad diet? No thanks.
Cheesy exercise DVD? I have a million collecting dust.
But then a friend from high school tried The 21 Day Fix and lost a ton of weight. Meanwhile, I had been slowly gaining weight for the past few years (five pounds here, ten pounds there) and realized that my current exercise program and lack of a diet wasn’t cutting it.
After talking to my friend, I realized that The 21 Day Fix wasn’t just a gimmick. It wasn’t just another exercise DVD that was going to collect dust. And it just might work for me.
An Honest Review of The 21 Day Fix
The 21 Day Fix is an exercise and diet program that focuses on changing your lifestyle.
Change is possible, even if it takes hard work and dedication. You’ll need both to make it through the program. On a positive note, it’s only 21 days, but if you want to continue to see (and keep) results, you’ll need to make healthy eating and exercise a lifestyle.
Like any new program, there are positives and negatives to The 21 Day Fix. I listed the pros and cons of both the exercise and diet plan below.
What are the positive things about The 21 Day Fix?
The truth about The 21 Day Fix workout
The 21 Day Fix exercise routine is an excellent workout. Whether you love going to the gym or would rather work out in the comfort of your own home, The 21 Day Fix will challenge you.
I love going to my local YMCA, but there are days when I just can’t go (the kids are sick, the classes don’t match my schedule, etc.). The 21 Day Fix videos gave me an option (other than the couch) for the days when I couldn’t exercise.
The videos are also surprisingly intense. There are modifications for each exercise, both to ease into the workout or to push yourself if you need a challenge.
Even though I regularly attended group classes at the YMCA, I struggled to make it through a lot of the 60-second exercises. The 20-second rest periods between each exercise were my motivation!
But my favorite part of The 21 Day Fix? The simplicity of the plan.
The videos are set up in an easy to follow sequence. Every day, you’ll do a different video (there are seven core videos that you’ll do three times over the course of the 21 days).
The videos are short (around 30 minutes each) and straightforward.
You also don’t need a ton of exercise equipment (small weights are required, and you may want to use a mat if you don’t want to get rug burn on your elbows like me).
The truth about The 21 Day Fix diet plan
I hesitated to start the diet plan. Like I said, I’m not a dieter. I’d much rather do my own thing, assume that I’m a relatively healthy eater, and occasionally steal my kids’ cookies than “diet.”
However, once I finally started the eating plan, I was shocked.
The beauty of The 21 Day Fix eating plan is that it focuses on changing your mindset about portion control and overall eating habits. I felt “full.” I never once felt like I was starving or depriving myself.
Want a slice of cinnamon raisin toast with your yogurt in the morning? You can have it! Want a glass of wine with your dinner? Feel free!
The catch is that you can’t have wine, bread, cheesy potatoes, and cookies all in one day, but with a little planning you can still enjoy your favorite meals.
After following The 21 Day Fix diet, I felt better than I had in a long time. The best part? I lost weight and my family could see a difference in me after the first week.
What are the negatives about The 21 Day Fix?
The main drawback of The 21 Day Fix (and Beachbody in general) is the sales approach. The checkout process is difficult to navigate because there are a million “free” offers. I really felt like yelling, “Just send me my DVD!”
Also, in between each video, there’s an advertisement for another Beachbody product. I just skipped the advertisements, but it was still annoying.
Beachbody has great products that speak for themselves, but the sales approach was disappointing. For something that’s supposed to be simple, like The 21 Day Fix, the checkout process was surprisingly frustrating.
As you’re navigating the checkout, make sure that you check “no” for everything.
Confession: I did sign up for a free 30 day trial of Beachbody On Demand, so clearly the sales tactics work, but just be aware of them. Make sure that you’re only buying what you really want, especially if you’re trying to save money by exercising at home instead of a gym. Also, Beachbody’s customer service team is amazing, so even if you subscribe for a trial, they’ll help you cancel without any problems.
Is The 21 Day Fix a good value?
At first, I thought The 21 Day Fix seemed expensive. I’m used to buying exercise DVDs in January when they’re on sale. That said, The 21 Day Fix is actually a series of seven 30-minute videos, plus you’ll get an eating plan and portion control containers.
The videos are well-made (not like the cheesy exercise videos that I’ve bought in the past) and motivating. Autumn Calabrese, The 21 Day Fix trainer, is clearly well-educated and carefully explains the proper way to do each exercise.
The eating plan comes with 7 portion control containers, guidelines and an explanation, and sample recipes.
Should you buy The 21 Day Fix?
All in all, The 21 Day Fix is an amazing way to lose weight. It encourages a healthy lifestyle through both diet and exercise. Best of all, it simplifies the process.
I’ve been trying (or not trying, since I ate my kids’ cookies) to lose weight for the past couple years. With The 21 Day Fix, I was able to undo years of weight gain in just a couple weeks and I feel better than I have in a long time.
If you’re looking to lose weight, tone up, or create a healthier lifestyle, The 21 Day Fix is a great motivator. Try doing it with a friend (you could even do it as a different activity during your “Mommy Mornings”) for extra motivation. 😉
The 21 Day Fix is a program that works quickly but is also sustainable. Even after finishing The 21 Day Fix, I’ve continued to track my diet and exercise daily for continued results.
It’s a great program (just don’t let the checkout process confuse you).
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Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
Thursday 17th of November 2016
You had me in your first paragraph. That is SO me. We will make cookies or brownies, eat them together, and then I'm the one eating most of them after that!
I have heard really great things about the 21 Day Fix program. A friend of mine had really great results, and when I was over at her house I looked at the program and book. It looked really well done and do-able. I have considered it before, but have hesitated on spending the money when I can just try to watch my portions. But I think that if you're having a hard time with that, then it would be a really great program. I'm tempted to buy it too just for the exercise dvds. Maybe I'll give it a go sometime soon. For now, I've been trying to wait to commit to anything like that until my baby is a little bigger and I'm sleeping a little more consistently!