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An honest 21 Day Fix Review with my results, before and after photos and more. I loved the workouts and the focus on portion control.
This edition of Fit Friday is dedicated to my 21 Day Fix review. I was a little hesitant to share my review because I’m actually working on launching my own 28 day transformation program (more info coming really soon on this!) but my program is different and I know many of you are curious about the 21 Day Fix so I want to share my results and thoughts on the program.
I experimented with p90x years ago but it wasn’t until last December when I tried Focus T25 when I started to learn more about the different Beachbody programs. While I found Shaun T motivating and LOVED the short workouts T25 offered, I didn’t really get the results I was looking for. Around the time I was finishing up my 12 weeks of T25, I saw that the 21 Day Fix was coming out.
It appealed to me for several reasons — not only does it include quick, 30 minute workouts but it also comes with a detailed nutrition plan. Most Beachbody plans come with some sort of eating plan but the 21 Day Fix includes an 84 page eating plan/guide and is more heavily focused on following the nutrition plan in order to see results. It also comes with handy dandy little containers to measure your portions.
Knowing that the eating plan was focused on portion control is what sealed the deal for me. As you all know, I eat healthfully on a regular basis — with a few treats here and there. Life (and healthy living) is all about balance for me and it’s what I try to focus on with my health coaching clients as well. That said, I do really love food and struggle with portion control with certain foods. I’m human. 🙂
Knowing that the 21 Day Fix was focused on portion control, clean eating and 30 minute workouts, I thought, “What the heck, I’ll give it a try!”
Oh, and Autumn Calabrese’s abs didn’t hurt either. 😉
21 Day Fix Review
So what comes with The 21 Day Fix:
21 Day Fix Eating Plan
- A simple eating plan where you don’t have to worry about counting ounces, cups, and calories.
- You get seven color-coded containers that are different sizes for measuring green = veggies, purple = fruits, red = protein, yellow = carbs, blue = healthy fats, orange = seeds/dressing, teaspoon = oils.
- You figure out your calorie level, which is based on your weight. There are four different calorie levels and each involves a different number of containers. I was in the 1,200-1,499 calorie range and was supposed to eat 3 servings of veggies, 2 servings of fruit, 4 servings of protein, 2 servings of carbs, 1 serving of healthy fats, 1 serving of seeds/dressing and 2 teaspoons of oil/nut butter per day.
- You’re encouraged to drink plenty of water, but you can still have coffee and tea.
- There’s room for treats like wine, oatmeal cookies, trail mix and chocolate as well. <— woot woot! Fair warning on this one, for wine the portion size is 4 oz a.k.a 2 sips. 🙂
- The book includes a list of food ideas for each container and a few basic recipes.
21 Day Fix Workout DVDS:
- Total Body Cardio Fix — Includes moves that keep your heart rate up and your muscles engaged.
- Upper Fix — Targeted resistance training helps to shape your chest, back, shoulders, arms, and abs.
- Lower Fix — Firms and tone your entire lower body (glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves) while you blast fat and burn calories.
- Pilates Fix — Strengthens your core, elongates your muscles, and firms your hips and thighs.
- Cardio Fix — Gets your heart pumping and your body moving with body weight movements like jumping jacks and burpees.
- Dirty 30 — 4 rounds, 8 exercises.
- Yoga Fix — Active rest workout that helps to improve balance, flexibility, and strength.
These before and after pictures crack me up — they were taken right after waking up in the morning or right after my workout. Don’t judge. 🙂
My results:
I didn’t see the crazy results that I’ve seen in some of the 21 Day Fix before/afters online but I think that’s because the plan is similar to how I already workout/eat and I don’t have much weight to lose. This wasn’t about seeing a lower number on the scale for me. It was more about challenging myself, building strength, and firming up my stomach (which is my problem area).
- I lost 1 pound and 2.5 inches.
- I gained strength — I can see more muscle definition in my arms, legs and abs.
- My stomach seems flatter and my waist is smaller.
My thoughts:
- The eating plan is super easy to follow — especially if you’re already eating healthy and fine with eating simple meals. There are plenty of recipes out there if you want to get creative but I found that keeping things simple made it easier to make sure I was eating the right size portions. We grilled out a lot and I steamed, grilled or roasted lots of veggies. I’d make extra so I had plenty for lunches throughout the week. I also ate a lot of salads and made a few simple recipes like this tempeh and kale.
- I ate all the same foods I normally eat, I was just more mindful of my portion sizes.
- Before following the Fix eating plan I was eating way more fat and carbs than the plan recommended. I was also skimping on my protein intake. The portion size for protein is much larger than the portions I would usually serve myself, where as the healthy fats and carb portions were smaller. Examples: 12 raw almonds = one healthy fat serving. 1/4 cup steel cut oats = one carb serving.
- Although it’s heavily promoted, I didn’t use Shakeology. It’s pretty pricey so I actually signed up to a be a Beachbody coach so that I can get the discount. I might try following the full 21 days again and incorporate Shakeology to see if the results are more significant.
- I feel like the plan might be harder for vegans in terms of the protein options. I think you’d have to eat a lot of soy products and protein powder to get your protein in because beans are considered carbs on the plan.
- I LOVED the workouts! I would buy the plan just for these. Every day you’re doing something different — from weights to cardio to pilates and Autumn is really inspiring and motiving. The workouts are only 30 minutes so the time goes by quickly. I was always sweaty afterwards and found myself sore the next day as well. That’s one big difference between the 21 Day Fix and T25. I was consistently sore with the Fix workouts and never sore with T25. I know being sore isn’t the ultimate goal of a workout but it felt good knowing that I was challenging myself and gaining strength.
- I like the fact that all you need is the DVDs, floor space, a mat and one set of heavy weights and one set of light weights (or a resistance band) to get the workouts in.
- I was part of a 21 Day Fix accountability group on Facebook that I checked in with each day. I know accountability is a big factor for me so this was really helpful and made the process of following the plan more enjoyable.
Overall, this was a fun challenge for me and I liked the program a lot! Although the plan wasn’t too different in terms of what I was eating or the amount that I was working out — it felt good to pay more attention to my portions and switch things up workout wise – I definitely challenged myself by lifting heavier and pushing myself through the tough workouts.
My only complaint about the program is the name, 21 Day Fix. I get it, we all want fast results but it makes it seem like a quick fix or a fad diet, which I’m not a huge fan of. I’m all about changing habits and making lifestyle changes that promote living a healthy, balanced life rather than trying to change drastically for three weeks and then going back to old habits. Overall, the plan guidelines are a bit more strict/regimented than how I eat and exercise on a regular basis but the foundation of the plan is legit — clean eating (real, wholesome foods), watching your portions and working out regularly with varied workouts. At the end of the day that’s the basics of living a healthy lifestyle. I get it though — Healthy Lifestyle Fix doesn’t exactly have the same ring to it. 🙂
If you’re interested in learning more about the 21 Day Fix, definitely check out the 21 Day Fix on the Beachbody website. Like I said, I signed up as a coach to get a discount on their products so if you do want to buy the 21 Day Fix or another Beachbody program, feel free to purchase through my account. I’ll get props for it and I can help you get started if you have any questions. 🙂
I was looking at “TO PURCHASE THROUGH BRITTANY’S ACCOUNT” and see what you get by purchasing, I’m not so sure it would be a good idea to purchase through your account. On the same page or window purchasing the 21 Day Fix Essential Package on the top of the page you get a FREE Bonus WO DVD Plyo Fix WO included when you purchase through your coach or Team Beachbody sounds like a “scam” because at the very bottom of the same page you would probably ADD the same Plyo Fix WO DVD for $19.95 so what are you trying to say? I don’t want to purchase a package through you if I’m not going to get the Bonus WO DVD for FREE. I’m just repeating what Jackie’s reply above mentioned. Do you or don’t you? I’d rather get it from the website but I’m not really trusting the website because the last time I ordered from them it took them almost three months to get the last product because they lied that they never received my order yet they took my money from my bank account and tried to get me to pay again. At first when I had ordered other programs I had no problem getting them quickly but the last order last year that’s when I decided I wasn’t going to get ripped off again. So is it FREE or not purchasing through you? I’m almost sold by your web page.
Hi Cynthia! Sorry for the confusion. I think the text letting you know that you get the free bonus Plyo Fix DVD is confusing. Basically when purchasing through the link I provided, you are purchasing through a coach (me) so you’re going to get the bonus dvd for free. Hope this helps!
Are there others that have lots of weight to loose using this program or T-25? Where do you find info on the extra workouts that are available if they are not in the set?
Hi Jackie – there are definitely people with a lot of weight to lose that do T25 and the 21 Day Fix. Are you talking about the extra workouts for T25 or the extra workouts for the 21 Day Fix? Either way there is info on both on the Beachbody website. 🙂 Which program are you more interested in?
I just finished my first 21 days! Lost 12.5 inches, but only 3lbs. I started another round, and this time my mom started it with me. She has been trying to lose weight, and everything she tried failed. After seeing my results, she is determined to lose weight! I planned out her first week of meals/snacks, and we prepped as much as we could. She’s only on day 3, but i’m so proud she is so determined! She had made a few comments that her dinner, is too much and she cannot eat it all. Is it ok that she doesn’t eat it all? I’m not sure what to tell her… help anyone?!
Thanks awesome, Janelle. Best of luck to you and your mom this time around! Autumn really recommends getting in all your containers each day so I would try to do so BUT if your mom is really full and is eating at least eating some portion of the containers for dinner, it should be okay. I wouldn’t recommend overstuffing yourself but I also wouldn’t recommend completely skipping containers. Hope that helps! 🙂
That’s funny. I am a fulltime student and mom with my youngest at four. I recently purchased TurboFire and found it a little too intense. I am thinking about getting 21 day fix now, mostly for the portion control part of it. How is the program working for you so far? I have about 15# I’d like to lose, 175-160. Thanks!
Hi! I’m thinking about purchasing this. It has a 30 day money back guarantee so why not right? I’m 5’0, at around 123-125lbs. I’ve already lost about 80 lbs & my weight has just been fluctuating a lot while trying to lose the last 10-15lbs. I work out a lot & I do change it up all the time because I get bored easily, also as to not reach plateau, so I’m pretty sure I’m not losing the weight because of my diet.
Anyway, my question is, do you have to eat ALL of the servings? You said, “I was in the 1,200-1,499 calorie range and was supposed to eat 3 servings of veggies, 2 servings of fruit, 4 servings of protein, 2 servings of carbs, 1 serving of healthy fats, 1 serving of seeds/dressing and 2 teaspoons of oil/nut butter per day.” Would it hurt not to eat some of those servings?
Oh & what if I wanted to make a crockpot meal (this is my go to way of cooking)? Would I just put all the ingredients in the container they belong in before mixing them up into the crockpot?
Thanks! 🙂
Hi there! Autumn does strongly recommend that you eat all the servings. It can be challenge especially if you’re like me and would rather than carbs/fruit/veggies over protein but it’s doable. And you’ll get the best results if you follow the plan and eat all the servings!
For the crockpot meal, you could put all the ingredients in the containers they belong in before mixing them into the crockpot or if you want to be less rigid about it you could measure/estimate your portion once it’s done. For instance, if you made chicken and veggies in the crockpot, I would just measure it out once it’s been cooked. Does that help?
Sorry, that’s supposed to say *and no spiking or falling energy*
I’m on day three of the 21 day fix. I am overweight for my height, and seeing as my youngest is four I can’t really blame it on baby weight 😉 just not eating healthy or maintaining a healthy lifestyle through three pregnancies (all boys!) and life afterwards. Being a full time student and a mom (only recently stay at home, before working at least one job sometimes two), quick and easy or high in fat were my go to eaters. Once I started to focus more on my health and weight (about two years ago) I had more energy and lost weight. Then I started the depo (yeah, I know some do gain weight and some don’t – well I did – like everything I worked so hard to get rid of). I can’t say that portion control didn’t have anything to do with it, I too have found that my eating is out of balance and actually no where near enough for my current weight even to lose. That was my biggest surprise – I wasn’t eating enough – probably because I felt so self conscious anyway. Not only am I seeing weightloss already with increased portions, water weight I’m assuming, but I’m also noticing an increase in energy and spiking or falling energy throughout the day. I’m sore though, I’ll give you that, which is surprising since I just finished Turbo Fire.
Hi! Thank you so much for posting your results! I have been doing the 21-Day Fix for 11 days now but haven’t really seen any dramatic changes. The eating plan is somewhat similar to what I typically eat, although I usually go lower carb. I would like to lose about 5-10 pounds but I’m not overweight so this is more of a personal preference. This is the first time I have stuck with a fitness/eating plan and I am determined to see it through. However, I have been a little discouraged because I haven’t really seen any changes so far. Other stories out there show some dramatic differences. Your post reassures me that each of us is different and therefore all our results will vary. I know I am eating healthier and getting stronger even if it doesn’t necessarily show on the outside.
Hi! I ordered my package and can’t wait to start the program. Do you know maybe if its ok to have a fruit- vegetable smoothie for a meal?
Hi Marta! That’s awesome — congrats! Yes, a fruit and vegetable smoothie should be fine — you’ll just have to measure the portions and make sure it fits with your daily container requirements for that day. 🙂
Hi… looking for honest answers to help me make a choice. I am 52 years old. Weigh 200#’s, down from 400#’s (walking and biking and reduced portion size) I have thyroid disease, not going to do shakeology. Still have issues (sore knees, lots of loose skin) T-25 or 21 day fix? Also what does it mean when they say they did 10 rounds on 21 day program?
Hi Jackie! First off, congrats on the weight loss you’ve already done!! Both are great workout programs. Overall, I think my preference would be the 21 Day Fix because it gives you the workout program but it also gives a meal plan. The key to sustainable weight loss is nutrition as you can’t out exercise a bad diet. Let me know what you end up deciding to go with!
10 rounds means that they completed the 21 day period 10 times so a total of 210 days.