Phase 3 on the Ultimate Reset Journey

I cannot believe 21 days has passed and I am finally writing this post after compiling my results and thoughts from the last 3 weeks.

You can read about why I did the Ultimate reset here and what phase 2 looks like here.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Week 3 is 100% fruit and veggies and vegan. For me it was the hardest by far. Not because I was hungry or didn't have energy but because I feel like I am very dependent on carbs, at least mentally. So to cut out all rice, beans, quinoa etc was a big step.  I found myself looking forward to LOTS of veggies at dinner and ate a sweet potato almost every day.

MEAL PREP:

I followed my 3-2 method again for the meal prep which consists of having the same meals Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then the same meals Tuesday and Thursday. I bulk cooked and made everything on Sunday so I was set for the week. An example meal plan for phase 3 can be found here. I actually plan on continuing to follow this method post reset because it really is a great way to prep and to save time for a busy week. 

Overall my energy level has been VERY consistent. I felt a little more tired this week but was excited to see the results and work my way back to a normal, healthy eating routine. Seeing all this prepped food in my fridge was pretty motivating!

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

My tips for success during week 3 are to focus on the end goal. Its really all about mindset. Follow the plan. Do your yoga or meditation (which I did almost everyday and then walked or hiked the other days) and remember why you started. I also recommend....

- Drinking LOTS of water. Do not skip this step. I incorporated LaCroix and lots of peppermint tea. I probably drank 2-3 cups of tea a day.

- When you plan to start the reset, plan it over a time when you don't have a lot of commitments at restaurants or eating out. (i.e. not eating candy over Halloween was HARD!)

- Mix up your veggies and fruit. Try new things. Be open to the recipes.

THE RESULTS

Overall I lost 12lbs and 4.5 inches. I lost weight all over and not just in one place. I think I noticed the biggest difference in my legs, stomach and arms. I did this program to lose a few pounds but never expected to feel so amazing and to have truly changed my relationship with food. I also did it to reset set my mental habits with food. I still have a little ways to go but I am very proud of the work that I put in and know that I am on the right track. My biggest take away. Think about how you want to feel and what nutrition is going help you feel that way....I am pretty sure that reese cup for Halloween is not the answer! :) 

I hope you enjoyed following my journey! We are onto the recovery phase which is reintroducing foods back into your diet. I plan to use a lot of the recipes I learned including this amazing Asian Stir Fry in our everyday meal planning. 

Enjoy!

ASIAN STIR FRY

1-1/2 tsp coconut oil

1 tsp sesame oil (my favorite is Trader Joe's Toasted Sesame Oil)

1/2 medium carrot, cut into thin diagonal slices

1/4 cup broccoli florets 

1/4 red bell pepper, sliced 

1/4 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise, sliced

1-1/2 tsp Bragg a Liquid Aminos

Heat coconut and sesame oils in large skillet or wok over medium-high. Add carrots; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add broccoli; cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes. Add bell pepper and zucchini. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until tender-crisp. Turn off heat. Add Bragg Liquid Aminos. Mix well. 

This is for one serving. 

Add 3/4 cup of quinoa or 1/2 cup of brown rice. 

Phase 2 on the Ultimate Reset Journey

I have officially made it through Week 2 (and almost through Week 3) and wanted to share my journey and what to expect during Phase 2!

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE RESET? 
Check out my Phase 1 recap here!

WHAT TO EXPECT WEEK 2
Week 2 you officially start a "vegan" diet and eliminate all animal protein and dairy. It sounds harder than it really is. You still are eating carbs and lots of fruit and veggies. The recipes are pretty amazing for this week. The flavor from all the spices and lemon/lime combinations are really yummy.

This lentil lime salad is my FAVORITE! I plan on making it again for everyday lunches after the reset is over.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked green lentils1 medium carrot, shredded

¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro1½ tsp. sesame oil2 Tbsp. fresh lime juiceBraggs Liquid AminosHimalayan salt (to taste; optional)¼ tsp. ground cumin (to taste; optional)Ultimate Reset herbal seasoning blend or fresh herbs like basil and oregano (to taste; optional)1. Combine lentils, carrot, cilantro, oil, lime juice, Braggs Liquid Aminos, salt (if desired), cumin (if desired), and seasoning blend (if desired) to lentils; toss gently to blend.2. Let salad marinate, covered, in refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

Preparation:1. Combine lentils, carrot, cilantro, oil, lime juice, Braggs Liquid Aminos, salt (if desired), cumin (if desired), and seasoning blend (if desired) to lentils; toss gently to blend.2. Let salad marinate, covered, in refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

TIPS FOR SURVIVING WEEK 2
At this point my energy has all pretty much evened out. I am not missing caffeine at all and am sleeping amazing! The biggest change I made with week 2 was planning my meals using a 3-2 planning method.  Here is the meal plan I followed.

• I prepped EVERYTHING including breakfast lunch and dinner for Monday through Friday on the weekend. It took me about 2 hours total. (I broke it up in 30-45 minute increments). This ensured that I stayed on track and it saved me time during the busy work week. 
• The 3-2 method basically means you eat the same meals M-W-F (3 days) and then the same meals T-Th (2 days). So you double or triple your recipes but only have 2 sets of breakfast, lunch and dinner to make.
• I stocked up on lots of variety of hot tea. I probably drink peppermint tea (made with distilled water) 3-4 times a day.
• Each day on phase 2 and phase 3 I opted to eat the fruit. Its 3 cups every morning. This was easier than prepping additional items so I made sure to have ALOT of variety. Beacuse of this, I also used frozen fruit from Trader Joes (Mango, Pineapple etc.)
• I also made the switch to use some fresh spices and some dry spices. It made the prepping easier and the grocery bill less expensive!
• You eat a LOT of sweet potatoes. You will learn to love them!

I do miss yogurt a little bit but surprisingly I do not miss the meat or the sugar. My chocolate Shakeology every afternoon totally satisfies my sugar cravings and my need for chocolate. I am proud to say I made it through Halloween without ONE piece of candy. I don't think that has happened EVER. (And yes I saved a reese cup to have later!)

I am also still holding strong with yoga everyday or some sort of movement (aka walking, Pilates etc.)

I am super excited to move into Phase 3 and share my FINAL results! Until then, its 7 more days of LOTS of water, super clean eating and will power!

Phase 1 on the Ultimate Reset Journey

I did it. I made it through week 1. I honestly can't believe I did it but I tell you the feeling you get when you stick to something 100% is pretty great, no matter the results!

For those of you that haven't been following my Instagram (I have been documenting my daily meals there), I wanted to give you a sneak peak into what Week 1 on the Ultimate Reset is like!

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE RESET? 
Beachbody Ultimate Reset is a unique program that helps support digestive and overall health, energy and mood. It also helps active individuals get even more out of their workouts because it helps restore the body and makes it more efficient. Its an all-natural alternative to harsh "cleanses" and starvation diets that helps return your body to optimal health—naturally. You eat REAL food. This is not a cleanse or liquid diet. 

WHO SHOULD DO THE RESET?
Anyone can do the reset anytime however its recommended 1-2 times a year. For me personally, I wanted to reset my habits with food but also dial in on my nutrition to help me understand better my relationship with food.  You can learn more about it here. The reset takes some planning and some time so make sure that you have a strong why when you start.

GETTING STARTED:

First there is the prep. There are menus online where you repeat the same meals 3 X a week but my first week I wanted to stick to the plan 100%. So I printed out the grocery list (thankfully that was provided and easy to interpret and went to work. 

Because I work full time I did most of my food prep on Saturday and Sunday and prepped enough meals from breakfast, lunch and dinner through Friday. That way during the week I could just grab and go.  Here is a great meal plan for week 1.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

The first week you eat a lot of vegetables, protein and healthy carbs. Think oatmeal, lentils, rice, quinoa, fresh veggies, eggs, salmon etc. The only food groups that are removed the first week is red meat and dairy.  (There is a vegetarian / vegan option as well). 

Breakfast consists of something like this...Oats with cinnamon, plain Greek yogurt and raspberries.

Lunch consists of something like this...A mixed green salad with homemade dressing and then some sort of rice or quinoa pilaf with lots of veggies.

Dinners consist of something like this....Black bean and rice tacos with avocado and cucumber salsa.

Overall I did really pretty well the first week, but the first 1-2 days were hard. You also cannot have caffeine. My #1 tip of getting through the first week is to cut back caffeine prior to starting. After 2 days however I felt really good. Here are a few changes I have noticed: 

-->My energy levels are crazy consistent. 

--> I wake up wide awake and sleep very soundly

--> No headaches. None. 

--> All allergies are gone (i.e. crusty eyes in the morning, sniffles etc.)

--> I am not hungry. 

--> I don't think about food all the time. (This is big for me)

TIPS FOR SURVIVING WEEK 1:

My tips for surviving week 1 are the following....

-->Plan ahead.

Give yourself at least 2-4 days to prep and really understand the program.  If you drink Shakeology you also need to switch it to the vegan version. Shakeology is not required on the program however I will say a chocolate smoothie is sort of the best part of my day. I also bought ALOT of decaf tea. Everything from peppermint to vanilla roobios to chai. 

-->Drink the recommended water.

This helps tremendously with cravings and hunger. And it makes you feel better!

-->Stop or lessen your caffeine the week before.

Do not skip this. It will make your first week MUCH easier.

-->Have a support system.

There are days that will be hard. And days where you will want to give up and not prep and just throw in the towel. Setting up a support system and understanding your why is key.  I personally also scheduled a yoga workshop during this time to help me relax. 

-->Plan your activity.

It is recommended to do light activity on the reset. For me this is a big change so I am doing a 21 day yoga program. Plan your walks, yoga, hiking etc. so that you have something to look forward to. Getting outside, meditation etc. are all great things to reconnect with your body. 

As we head into week 2 I will be transitioning to a fully vegan meal plan. Stay tuned for more details!