So I’m going to be honest. Many of you know that I got into health and fitness because I wanted to break the cycle of my family history. I knew I needed to make a change. And I did. But, over the last few years and as life happened, I got lost in taking care of others. While I continue to tell my clients that self-care is a must, I wasn’t doing it for myself.
During a recent doctor’s visit (I’ll get into more details on that in another post), I knew I needed to refocus. After talking with my wife Lisa, we decided we needed a jumpstart, and we knew the way to do it would be with Beachbody’s Ultimate Reset. The plan is fully based on nutrition, clean foods, supplements and Shakeology to detoxify the body. No exercise is allowed during the 21-day program.
I’ll be honest; it’s not for the faint of heart. We had kicked around the idea of doing the Ultimate Reset several times in the past, but the timing never seemed right. Given the results at my doctor’s appointment and the fact that Lisa has the summer off from teaching, we knew the time was right. So we made the commitment and took the challenge.
We learned a lot over those 21 days. We also got some AH-MAZING results in just 3 weeks. But, you’ll have to read further to see those. For now, let me tell you the top 10 lessons learned from Beachbody’s Ultimate Reset healthy detox cleanse:
Our body clocks were out of whack.
I admit I love coffee and the caffeine boost it adds. I had some serious caffeine withdrawal the first couple of days, but as the program went on, I realized I had more energy than when I had been relying on caffeine. My energy seemed more level throughout the day, but when it came to bedtime, I was ready to sleep. Thanks to the detox, I was much more in tune with my natural body clock.
Your relationship with food can change.
By the end of the program, we began to look at food differently. We saw it as nutrition and fuel for our bodies needed. We didn’t feel beholden to cravings or boredom as a reason to eat. We also realized that we could become vegan, not that we plan to, but we saw that it wouldn’t be as difficult as we had thought.
Cortisol is a bad word.
We learned a lot about cortisol during the Ultimate Reset. Basically cortisol is a hormone your body produces to aid in metabolism, which seems all good and fine. The problem happens when stress comes into play. If you’re living a high-stress life (and who isn’t anymore?), you produce more cortisol, which causes your body to store more calories, especially in the gut area and around your organs. Yeah, not so good. The Ultimate Reset helped flush out a lot of that stored up cortisol. I saw a lot of it release from my abs, but I can’t talk about results quite yet….
Planning is essential.
The Ultimate Reset comes with specific nutrition guidelines and recipes. You can’t just wing it and prepare meals last minute. Meal planning is essential in making this program work, but I argue that meal planning is always essential. You cannot out-exercise a bad diet, so if being healthy is important, then put time into meal planning and prep, so you don’t fall into the trap of grabbing what’s fast, easy and often not as nutritious.
Our shopping trip for a week…plus one non-Reset item for the girls to snack on. Can you spot what that is?
Nutrition is 90 percent of a healthy life.
Nutrition is DRASTICALLY underrated when it comes to weight management (we didn’t workout at all during this!). When people say there is an 80/20 rule when it comes to staying healthy with nutrition and fitness, I’m almost willing to wager that it’s like 90/10. ESPECIALLY as we age. Lisa’s results are proof of that. She had been KILLING her workouts and been consistent for years, but NEVER got this kind of result.
A partner is a must.
Lisa and I did this program together, so we were able to celebrate and commiserate with one another. We could talk to each other about the recipes that didn’t work (I’m looking at you, Cucumber Soup) and the ones that were surprisingly tasty (you’ve got to try the Creamy Zucchini-Cashew Soup). We could help each other stay strong when all we wanted to do was hit the Starbucks drive thru on day two. Not everyone can do the program with a spouse. That’s fine. Find a friend or accountability partner instead. There are also online groups where you can chat with others who are in the midst of the Ultimate Reset. These connections make a huge difference.
The timing has to be right.
The Ultimate Reset is not a program that you can wander in and out of. It is 21 days of being committed to following the instruction booklet and trusting in the process. As I said, we had thought about doing it before, but the time never seemed right. When you choose to do it, make sure you can be committed for 21 days. That means no big trips or travel plans. We did a short three-day trip. It took a lot of prep and packing up a cooler. We made it, but we wouldn’t recommend traveling any longer than that. Plus, when you travel, you want to try new things and enjoy different foods. So plan the reset for a time when travel won’t interfere.
Our kids are watching.
Okay, I know that sounds both strange and creepy, but hear me out. Our girls know we are committed to healthy living, but it’s not just because of things we say. It’s also in our actions. By watching us do the Ultimate Reset, they saw just how dedicated we are to making wise choices for our bodies. They may not have participated, but we know it did make a lasting impression on them.
Coffee tastes good.
I’m just being honest here. I made it 21 days without coffee. I broke through the caffeine withdrawal and I survived, but when the cleanse ended, I went back to it. Now, I won’t be returning to drinking two cups in the morning and another two in the afternoon to give me an energy boost. Instead, I’ll start my day with one cup and leave it at that. I discovered that I really do like the taste of it, and I like the social aspect of grabbing a cup of joe with the family. But now I will be drinking for the taste, not the caffeine.
A reset can totally boost your confidence.
So, we both had some pretty impressive results (I’m almost ready to share them), but our confidence wasn’t boosted just because we lost pounds and inches. Completing a program like the Ultimate Reset gives you confidence in just what you can accomplish. I gave up coffee for three weeks. I gave up STARBUCKS for three week. I didn’t even eat Costco samples during that time. Seriously, folks, I was committed! And you know what? I felt great when I was done because I ran the race strong. I didn’t just start strong and peter out. I kept going and stayed focused. I had faith in the program and in myself that I could do it. And I did it. Talk about a boost to the old self-esteem!
Okay, okay, so you’ve been patient. Now is the time for the results. Drum roll please….
MY RESULTS we pretty mind blowing and actually surpassed my expectations. Here are the stats in just 21 days:
- Down 14 POUNDS
- Down 9 INCHES
- Lost over 2% body fat – so I’m down to 8%!!
As for Lisa…
- Down 12 POUNDS!!!
- Down 7.25 INCHES!!! (3 from her waist!)
- In ALL the right places (if you know what I mean…hubba, hubba)
If you are ready to take a step in the direction of TRUE health and wellness, but NEED the structure of a set program, consider hopping on our Ultimate Reset healthy detox cleanse. It’s comprehensive and teaches you lifelong eating habits beyond the 21 days. If you are interested, click this link or contact me for more info.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out these results. Be sure to share them with a friend. I’d love to connect with you on Facebook and Instagram.
Also, check my Pinterest board and YouTube channel for more nutrition and fitness ideas and inspiration.