My experience with the *new* 3-Day Refresh program. (I’m a PB addict)

Okay Okay!!
I’ve had a LOT of questions about the new program from Team Beachbody called the 3-Day Refresh. I HAD to try it because I cannot expect you to spend money on something that I wouldn’t spend my money on! I firmly believe in knowing the products I’m promoting to make sure I feel they are legit, quality, and worthy of being in your home. That’s why I have over 13 home workout programs! Alright…that’s a lie. I have 13 home workout programs because I get bored easily and need a lot of different choices for challenging myself during my basement workouts!! I love it!!

What is the 3-Day Refresh? To put it simply, it is 3-day program of specially formulated shakes, healthy snacks, and easy-to-prepare meals that have been scientifically designed to help you break the cycle of bad eating while improving the way you feel. Chances are… you’ll lose a few pounds/inches too!! This is perfect for those who want to kick bad food habits or lose a few pounds for a special event such as class reunion, wedding, vacation, holiday, or just to feel better.
How is this different than other cleanses? Unlike juice fasts or liquid cleanses that are high in sugar and low in protein (which can leave you feeling weak and sluggish), the 3-Day Refresh is scientifically designed to help support your metabolism while nourishing vital organs. Plus, you actually get to eat delicious, real food during this program. This is NOT a starvation diet and is NOT intended to have you running to the bathroom due to an angry GI tract.

Now, onto my experience. I have ulcerative colitis and fully anticipated a flare up. Other programs/products have caused flare ups (Diarrhea) and cramping. This NEVER caused ANY of those symptoms and to be honest… I was shocked.
Now, I eat fairly well 80% of the time, so healthy eating is not difficult for me. However I did learn that when someone tells me NOT to eat a food item, I focus on it. That’s why I do not tell my clients to throw out all the food in their cupboards and start fresh. That is just not my style because it doesn’t work for me and won’t work for most. That being said….. there is a long list of items you can eat! PB and tuna are NOT on the list…. And I struggled with that. Although, I didn’t cook for myself in 3 days which was awesome!

Details:
Day1:

  • Wake Up and drink 8-12 ounces of water.
  • Breakfast was Shakeology + a fruit.
  • Mid-Morning snack: Fiber drink. (TIP> drink this quickly after making it or else it gets thick. Add a little lemon juice to make it tastier).
  • Lunch: Vanilla Refresh (protein drink) + 1 veggie/1 fruit/1 healthy fat.
  • Snack: an option from the fruit/veggie list.
  • Dinner: Vanilla Refresh (protein drink) + dinner recipe list provided. No worries…they are easy!

You are to drink tea (optional) and plenty of water.
Repeat for 2 more days. 

I was NOT hungry to be honest. The special fiber drink and protein drink kept me full. My problem was the inability to eat PB and tuna (I love canned tuna with relish & mustard) YUM.
Did I cheat? YEP. I have a goal to run 100 miles this month, and I know as a long distance runner that I needed different carbs to fuel that 5 mile run, so I needed to eat a few pretzel crisps with hummus. I will also admit that I had a couple spoonfuls of Peanut Butter. GASP!
Like I said earlier…. I am great at portion control and controlling cravings when I’m allowed to have anything I want. When I’m told “NO”……I focus on it.

So….what were your results??
For me, the point was not to lose weight and to be honest…. Fast weightloss is probably due to decreased water retention and less food intake over 3 days. It’s not healthy to focus on fast weight loss, however, this program creates it naturally.
I lost 2.8 pounds and 3 inches. (1.5/waist, .5/hips, .5/chest, .5/thigh)
However… I FEEL much leaner and have conquered the bad cravings the July 4th holiday created. Holidays get me every time!!!!

Did I think this program was simple?
Yes….The program is super easy to follow.
Was it challenging? Most definitely!
I struggled with cravings sometimes…. And as a runner, I needed the extra carbs for a good run. A good run is crazy important for my brain and self-esteem!!
Was I ever hungry? Day 1……a little but on Day 2 & 3…. nope.
Would I recommend this program? If you need to break bad food habits or looking to lose a few pounds for event…… yes, I recommend it!!

THIS MONTH ONLY (JULY), you can get this program for FREE when you order a month of Shakeology. And, a month of Shakeology is 30-35 meals! This type of order is called a CHALLENGE PACK. When ordering a challenge pack this month, I will send you a FREE gift (value of $25.00). Certain rules apply, so you need to talk to me prior to ordering!! Please email me at Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com

For the updates on monthly deals; I’ll post them on my website each month!
www.YourFitness-411.com

I’ll also tweak any food regimens to help power you through a plateau or change your body for FREE.
Thanks for reading and have a great summer!!
3 day refresh

’21 DayFix’ or the ’24 Day Challenge’?…..which program will help you to lose weight?

Team Beachbody’s 21Day Fix or Advocare’s 24 Day Challenge?  Hmmm…..

I’ve had personal experience with both of these programs and I must say that BOTH of them will change your body and eating habits.  By now, we all know that food is the major culprit of the growing waistlines in this country.  Over the years, our food has gotten sweeter, manufacturers know this and cater to that by sweetening most every processed food out there (yes, even milk) and if they don’t do this, typically people will not purchase their products!  As the foods get sweeter, we develop habits of eating the wrong foods.  I blame manufactures on this too because their advertising and labels can be VERY misleading and trick people into eating foods that really aren’t as healthy as they seem!  Regardless, all this is leading to wrong food choices and higher numbers on the scales.  It’s disheartening because it’s not only adults being affected, it’s children too.
Therefore, both of these food challenges change the way you view food.  And, that’s ALWAYS a good thing!  Both products promote healthy habits, water intake, and clean eating.  However, there are some very different aspects to each program too.

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21 Day Fix:

  • Includes 7 30 minute workouts.  Exercise is an important aspect to body health.  Exercise boosts brain power, memory, moods and decreases stress levels along with making the body look great!
  • No weighing food, No calorie counting, No Weight Watcher points…. It’s a basic container system.  You figure out which caloric range you are in, and then the instructions tell you how many containers of each food category you get per day.  (Protein, veggies, fruit, complex carbs, healthy fats, seeds, oils and sweet snacks).  You simply eat those foods each day.  You decide which foods you want to eat each day.  Love cottage cheese?  That’s a red container.  Want a whole grain waffle?  That’s a yellow container.  How about a glass of wine?  Better save your yellow containers and exchange them for wine.  J
  • The program is 21 days in length.
  • The focus is on food (portion control and making better food choices, however allows for sweet snacks and wine occasionally) and exercise.
  • No pills and not a consumable product other than if you choose to use the nutrient dense meal replacement Shakeology, with it.  Recommended but not necessary to achieve results.
  • Program can be repeated as often as you wish, however you will learn what to eat and portion control and incorporate that into daily life.
  • Program is $60 and if you order it with Shakeology, (meal replacement) the total is $160.00

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24 Day Challenge:

  • This program does NOT come with an exercise program.
  • The food program is based around the 3 food categories:  Protein, Carbohydrates, and Healthy fats.  The program clearly lays out when you should eat from each category.
  • There are foods listed that you are to avoid.  And alcohol should be avoided also.
  • 2 parts to this program.  The first part is a 10 day ‘cleanse’ but it’s not intended to give you diarrhea or make you ill.  It’s a high fiber cleanse.  Not all bodies respond well to the fiber drink.  The focus of the first 10 days is to rid your body of toxins.
    The second phase of this program is 14 days long and referred to as the Max Phase. It involves fueling your body in order to achieve maximum results.
  • Timing of food intake is crucial to this program.
  • This program involves supplements and many pills.  It’s a consumable program meaning you take the product and then need to order more.  It comes with clear instructions on when to take the pills and when to eat food.  The pills and food work together to help your body lose weight.
  • This challenge is 24 days in length and may only be done 1x every 90 days.
  • Post challenge, you have options of continuing without supplements and with the knowledge of food and timing of eating the food (proteins, carbs, fats)….or you can continue with a variety of supplements to assist the body with weight loss.
  • Spark is the energy drink that is recommended to use with the program since you are encouraged to not drink coffee.  Spark has the artificial sweetener, Sucralose in it as well as some of the other products.
  • Roughly $200 for all the products in this program, however it can be personalized so that you only use the basic necessities, which varies pending your needs and lifestyle.

Both programs have helped people to lose hundreds of pounds!  Both companies offer large support systems for their customers and you have ‘coaches’ or ‘reps’ to help answer any of your questions.

There are positive and negative aspects to both programs.  Personally, I favor the 21 Day Fix because I found it to be easier and more ‘natural.’  I have memorized the portions of each container and it’s easy to do!!  I am a runner and in order to run long distance, I need to add an extra container of carbs though to power me through the miles.  Once again, it’s all about paying attention to your body!!

I have family members who have found a lot of success with Advocare’s 24 Day challenge too!!  They feel healthy and empowered taking herbal supplements.  I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 11 years ago and I became very malnourished and ill (fiber drink wreaked havoc on my intestines) while doing the 24 day challenge.  I was put on steroids and it took about a month before my system calmed down.  However, my husband and in-laws loved the challenge and it worked well for him!  I have many friends who use the program and LOVE it!!

You need to decide which program fits your lifestyle the best and which one you will stick with.  BOTH programs encourage food changes and food education, and that’s why they both are popular programs.
If you need assistance determining which program is best for you…. Contact me!  I have experience with both and have seen success with both…. Therefore, I will help you decipher which one you would be most successful using.  Losing weight is the ultimate goal and both programs teach you food lessons, which I find valuable!!  If it doesn’t ‘teach’ you anything about something you make decisions with all day long (food)…… then it’s not a program you should be using.

Feel free to contact me at any time.  Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com.
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Have a great day & remember…. You are what you eat!  Don’t be cheap or fake!!

XOXO – Lisa Bashford

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Need a way to track your food and fitness?  Contact me! I have a beautiful 30+ page Health & Fitness planner to help you stay on track!  Simply download it! Use the address above to email me for more information!