I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to break a habit, get a 21 day fix, in other words. I also read that it takes seven days. Like a lot of dieting topics the information is conflicting and confusing. Sometimes though you need to hit a reset button and bring you back to basics. That’s exactly what I’m doing right now by doing the 21 Day Fix*.
I didn’t realize it, but during the last year with the whole process of buying the house, prepping our old house to rent then the new one to move into and the actual move there wasn’t a lot of time. My schedule didn’t consist of working out, working and my family, which was the norm. It was all that, plus home repair projects on two homes, packing then unpacking and more home repair projects once we were in the new house. In that time my workouts grew shorter and my need to eat comfort food and eat during stressful times increased by about 75 percent. By the time summer hit my clothes weren’t fitting badly but they weren’t great. Muscles were weaker and my desire to find my way back to fitness was depleted. I didn’t want to work much less work out. Now that summer is over, the kids are in a school that doesn’t require me driving them to and from each day, I have a bit of my life back. It’s time to get serious about my health again. It started with running again but I want to feel good and strong again.
The 21 Day Fix, is a program that incorporates calorie restriction in precise food group breakdowns and measurements while having you work out 7 days a week, ideally with a mixture of cardio and weight training to maximize weight loss. The elimination of sugar, fatty and refined, processed foods is an obvious one. I’m not doing it because I think it is the holy grail of programs. It is for motivation’s sake. I have friends doing it right now and so is H. We are keeping each other going. While today is Day 1 for them, my brain was ready last week so I’m on Day 6.
The scale may not move much or at all. That’s fine. This isn’t a numbers thing. Already my clothes are fitting better, I survived PMS and its cravings all last week and didn’t break. My runs are longer and faster already and that gets me excited. Yes, I’m always hungry and think that part of the program isn’t quite right, but I am getting back to the part of me that isn’t sluggish and tired. I’m enjoying finding my way back to the way I cooked and ate my food a year ago. It fueled me and made me feel good in mind and body, which in turn helped my spirit. I feel comfortable in my own skin again instead of like I’m cramming myself into my clothes with half the lung capacity and body strength I had before.
Here’s to Day 1 for my team and a great 21 days and beyond!
*TMC was not paid for this post or asked to review the product or service. This is something I am doing for me with no endorsement. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
