Guide to Starting the 21-Day Fix

If you are looking for a way to combine workouts and a diet in a single program, the 21-Day Fix is perfect. This is a structured program that is good for anyone who just wants to be told what to eat and what workouts to do. It really simplifies the weight loss process, even including portion control containers for all the food you eat. Here are some different tips and guidelines for starting the 21-Day Fix.

Tips for Beginners Starting the 21 Day Fix Workouts

Usually a beginner is defined as someone that is just starting out with a routine, plan, or project. When it comes to exercise and diet routines a beginner can be defined as someone new to working out and eating right. This means you will face strain on your body, some aches and pains from the new program, and some growing room and learning curves for your new eating options. What you need are some tips to get you through those first 21 crucial days.

Consider Using a Journal

One of the things you may find is that you are stressed, worried, or feel like you are unable to complete the program. This is normal and natural. Most people will hit a brick wall where they feel like they can't keep going or that they aren't meeting the expectations of the program guides. A journal can help. It helps you get out your thoughts and helps you vent when you have had bad days. Here is the trick. It also allows you to see your good days, your achievements, and your goals. It lets you see how far you have come and gives you the motivation to keep going. 

Allow Yourself Some Breathing Room

You are a beginner. Everyone must start somewhere and usually that is at the bottom. You have to work your way up the goal ladder to reach your ultimate goals with the program. All of that being said, you need to allow yourself some breathing room. You need to allow yourself the small stumbles you will take along the way. This means not being too hard on yourself or giving up simply because you didn't make it through the workout that day, didn't feel like you were in the mood, or you may have gone off the diet slightly. Allow yourself breathing room to be human and to not be perfection. 

Make Sure to Rest During the Day or Evening

You have to rest. This doesn't just mean resting to give yourself a break. As a beginner doing a workout you are going to be doing physical actions that you may not have done in awhile or at all for that matter. You will feel soreness and aches that need to be rested. If you don't rest you could end up with issues that will make it impossible for you to complete your workout goals. Make sure to take a break, take a rest, and get back to it full force the next day.

By putting these tips into action, and remembering that you will get better and it will be easier over time you will be able to succeed. Even if you haven't succeeded with other programs, keeping the right mindset in this one will work. 

4 Ways to Stay Accountable for Your 21 Day Fix Workout
Staying accountable is something you have to do in your daily life with other goals. This is no different for your goals when it comes to your workout and diet routine. In fact, staying accountable during the first 21 days are crucial to your success with the 21-Day Fix plan. If you are not used to marking down and keeping accountability trackers, then there are some tips and ways to consider. 

Journaling

Journaling is one of the ideal ways you can use to make sure you are staying accountable for your day. You can just jot down what you have accomplished for the day, use a checklist, or write down your thoughts and feelings on the day. All of this helps you stay accountable for what you did, what you didn't do, and helps you look back on how far you have come. Keep in mind that journaling is not just for negative thoughts. It is also to write down your accomplishments. Make it a positive action of accountability. 

Apps

There are literally hundreds of apps for both iOS and Android. There even apps for Windows smartphones and tablets. Among these apps are ones designed for fitness tracking, accountability, and even specifically for 21-Day Fix. These apps can be quick and easy and allow you to see what you are doing. You can also keep track of weight loss and actual workouts and food intake. This is an ideal option if journaling isn't something you want to do. 

Groups

Groups are a great way to stay accountable for your workout goals and especially with 21-Day Fix. Groups can be something simple like just checking in and giving the time you worked out and what you ate. It can be personal where you discuss your issues and problems or encourage others. The point of the group is that you are not alone or on your own to get your 21-Day Fix on track. 

Social Media Posts

Social media posts will help you stay accountable easily. You can just write a quick Tweet that simply states what you did. You can even connect your social media to your workout apps so that it automatically posts for you. This gives you an accountability check that you and others can follow. 

By putting these four methods into effect, you can stay accountable for your diet and exercise. Just remember, accountability is not about perfection. It is about reaching your goal and learning from your mis-steps along the way. 

5 Foods You Can Always Find for 21 Day Fix
When you look at the 21-Day Fix diet, you will likely fixate on foods that you have not eaten. For some people these are foods like almond butter, coconut milk, or kale. Your first thought may be that you will never find those locally. This is especially true if you are living in a small or rural town. You may be thinking that you will be unable to meet the needs of the program when it comes to diet. The truth is, there are at least five foods you can always find for your 21-Day Fix if you know where and how to look. 

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

All major grocery stores, health stores, and whole food markets carry boneless skinless chicken breast. You may not be able to find it in an organic option, but you can find it. You can even find it in bags and pre-frozen individually. Chicken breast can be used in dinner and lunch options so it is something easy to grab. It can also be dressed up with your daily dressing or with vegetables that are on your daily plan. 

Spinach

Spinach is not only a good vegetable for multiple uses, like wraps and as part of pasta meals. It also offers you a jolt of iron. In fact, it offers more iron than most steaks. So, with that in mind remember that spinach can be found in most stores and farmers markets. You can also grow spinach easily in your home throughout the year. 

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is available from a number of manufacturers and is available at most stores. You can even find it at gas stations that have a supermarket section. This is a great base for snacks, as a replacement for sour cream, and can be used as a breakfast with fruit and nuts. Remember to avoid the greek yogurt options that have fruit already loaded. Go with plain or vanilla and add fresh fruit yourself. 

Fruit

Fruit is something you can find fresh, frozen, and dehydrated. You can even find it canned. It is one of the easiest items on your list and you can find most fruits throughout the year. For example, you may not be able to get mangos but you can find citrus fruits and berries easily. Go with what you can find and go with fresh first, frozen next, and canned in dire emergencies. 

Almonds

Almonds are one of  the nuts that you can find nearly anywhere. When you stop at a gas station, you can find them prepackaged. When you go to the grocery store you can find them in various forms. Also, you can find them in whole food stores and health food stores as well. You can even order them online. 

These are only five of the foods. You can also find things like applesauce to substitute for cooking oil or apples to be the fruit during any season of the year. If it helps, go through the approved foods at the store. Check off what you can find and mark off what you can't. This will make your choices easier. 

What Additional Products Will Make 21 Day Fix Easier?
The 21-Day Fix program offers you workouts, containers, guides, and in some kits a Shakeology drink mixer. Though this is all great to get started, you may want to have a little bit more to make the program easier. You may wonder what items would help you and what will help to step up during the first crucial 21 days. Here are a few of those additional products that can help.

A Journal

You may be thinking that a journal means keeping a large paper journal and writing it in everyday. The truth is a journal can be on your smartphone or tablet. It can be paper or digital. The point of the journal is to jot down your thoughts as they happen. This will make it easier to avoid taking your bad thoughts to heart and making them manifest to negatives in your daily life. For example, on days you may not be able to complete the full workout or you may falter on your diet you can take those thoughts to your journal. Instead of telling yourself you are a failure, you can turn them into something positive and reset your goal for the next day. 

Additional Containers

If you are into meal planning, then you may find that one set of containers just isn't enough. In fact, some people have been known to stop the program simply because of the time it takes to prepare the food, put it into containers, and then clean the containers just to start all over the next day. For that reason, one of the additional products you can purchase are additional containers. This will allow you to prep for a day to several days in advance, leaving you more time and less frustration or stress over the meal planning alone. 

Water Goal Jug

One of the keys to dieting success is drinking as much water as possible. In fact, you may already know how much water you need to have in a day. You can keep up with this goal by grabbing a water goal jug. This is a jug that is in a one gallon amount and marked for specific times throughout the day. Each time you have marked, go drink that amount of water. You will get your amount in for the day and do it by a goal. This can also make you feel good about achieving something else healthy in your day.

These options are all just that, options. They are not necessary, but they can help you with your journey and with adapting the routine and mindset you need to make this fix stick. 



