3 Day Refresh Results

So I have been so off track since finishing my first round of the 21 Day Fix Extreme.  It's like I can't stop treating myself.  I don't say no to anything that is bad when I know I should.  I mean I haven't been horrible, but there have been days where it's like really, Ashley! What are you thinking.  This past Saturday I went out for a friends birthday and we had fried food, beers, and shots.  Obviously I'm not 21 anymore, so the next day I was hurting.  I had more bad for me foods - sub, mac n cheese, chips, wheat thins, ice cream. Yes, it was a rough weekend.  So, I decided Monday was the day to start the 3 Day Refresh and BOY DID I NEED IT!  I just need to detox from all the crap I have put into my body.

What is the three day refresh?
Glad you asked.  The 3-Day Refresh is a scientifically designed program that helps you fast-track your weight loss, kick-start healthy eating, and get a clean break from bad nutrition habits. 3-Day Refresh is a simple, straightforward program that will help cleanse your body and improve the way you feel— without starving yourself. Unlike juice cleanses or liquid fasts which tend to be high in sugar and low in protein (leaving you feeling weak, hungry, and sluggish), this easy-to-follow program helps support your metabolism while nourishing your vital organs. For 3 days you’ll follow a program of 3 shakes a day, a fiber drink, plenty of filtered water, plus a wide array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats throughout the day to keep your energy and metabolism going.

How did it go for me?

Day 1:

Started my day with Chocolate Shakeology and 1/2 a banana.  I wasn't that hungry when I woke up because I ate so much crap over the weekend.  I didn't get hungry until about 10:30 when I had my fiber sweep.  Some people don't like the fiber sweep, but I really don't mind it.  Mind you I have to drink it quickly because it becomes very thick.  So if you are thinking about trying the 3 Day Refresh keep this in mind.  It reminds me of Iced Tea.

I had a bunch of errands to run during my lunch at work, so I didn't notice any hunger until about 1:30 when I got back and settled in at work.  I had 5 carrots, 1/2 an apple, avocado, and the Vanilla Fresh.  I don't mind the Vanilla Fresh as is, but some people prefer to mix the fruit serving in.  The taste of it reminds me of something else but I can't put my finger on it!  if you have tried Vanilla Shakeology, it does not taste like that.  So don't worry if you don't like the Vanilla Shakeology flavor.




It was 3:50 and I was getting ready to head home when I decided I should eat my snack.  I was not hungry at all.  I had 5 more carrots and avocado.

When I got home I did PiYo Core and felt great.  I prepped all the food I had bought at lunch for the week before finally sitting down to eat my dinner around 7:50. I had the Vanilla Fresh blended with ice to make it colder, and the Cherry Tomato, Onion, and Cucumber salad.  It was really good, but then again I'm in love with balsamic vinegar. I got a little hungry around 9, but more so I'm sitting watching TV and thinking of food hungry.

Day 2:

Today was a little bit more rough for me.  I got up earlier than normal which threw me off a bit.  I had my Chocolate Shakeology with 1/2 a banana on my way to work.  But by 8 I was hungry.  I had a feeling my boss was taking us out for a lunch so I was worried day one would of been ruined. I know I could just say No, but it's hard to say no to a really fancy lunch paid for by your boss.  Luckily he decided to schedule the lunch a different day!.... he didn't decide to do that until about 10:30, so that is when I had the Fiber Sweep.  I didn't want to waist it if we were going to be going to lunch and I had an extra at my house if I needed to restart the 3 days.  Last time I did this I forgot day 3 when I went to work.

I was more hungry for lunch than I was yesterday. At 1:00  I had the same lunch as yesterday though and it was very filling.  The Vanilla Fresh really helps fill you up.  I should mention that our office had a Lunch and Learn catered by a vendor and there was a ton of subs, chips, and treats making the office smell amazing.  There were tons left over as well. I managed to steer clear of them even though all I wanted was a meat sandwich or chic fila nuggets! #reallife

I had my snack of 5 carrots and avocado at 3:45 before I left work to go home.  My workout was PiYo Buns.  I loved it, but it was a reminder at how much my knees needed the rest of PiYo.

For dinner, I was really hungry but Mark didn't get home from work until later, so I waited for him to eat. It was 7:30 before we ate.  Mark grilled a bunch of chicken for the rest of the week's lunches and some dinners.  It smelled soooo good.  I had a bit.  I couldn't resist.  And one bite of grilled chicken wasn't going to set me off track. For dinner I had the same recipe from the night before, tomato, cucumber, and onion w/ balsamic and basil. I also had the Vanilla Fresh, and some Vegetable Broth. I was really tired so I went to bed around 9.  OH! I had Mark taste the Vanilla Fresh because I wanted to see what he thought it tasted like. He said it reminded him of cake batter.

Day 3:

This morning I weighed myself and I am down a little over 3 lbs.  I feel less bloated and just better in general. Also, this might be TMI but this is the first time I "went to the bathroom" since Monday morning and I'm usually pretty regular as in daily.  I started my morning the same as all my mornings with Chocolate Shakeology mixed with water, ice, and banana.  I had a cup of green tea around 9:30 and then lost track of time and all of a sudden it was 11 and I hadn't had my fiber sweep.  I chugged that down as quickly as possible pretending I was chugging beer in college before it got think.


I took my lunch from 12-1 and wasn't hungry so decided to read outside on the nice day. When I got back I had celery, apple, avocado, and Vanilla Fresh.  It's surprisingly a super filling lunch.  Once again, around 3:30 I had a snack of carrots and avocado.  It's kind of funny, since I changed the way I eat carrots taste completely different.  I used to have to dip (and by dip I mean drench) them in ranch.  Now I really enjoy them as is.  They are really sweet.

Dinner did not go as planned.  I went to a paint nite with my mom and some friends.  I was seriously "haa-angry" in the car there and knew that a small salad would not do to calm that anger.  I had a turkey sandwich.  I didn't want to ruin everyone's night because I was hungry. I'm ok with my decision.  I was seriously so hungry at 4:30, but that was the first time I was hungry like that the whole time. 

Drum roll please................... Results - I lost 4 lbs in the three days.  I am now at the lowest weight I have been since starting my weight loss journey.  I am ready to keep going and lose a bit more! Hopefully this helped get me over my hump and I can continue to eat healthy and do my workouts to tone up and reach my goal. 

Are you interested in trying the 3-Day Refresh?  Shoot me an email ashleyfrancisfitness@gmail.com  I'd love to get you set up and coach you through it! 

First Stitch Fix - Month 1

Get Your Stitch Fix Here

I was so excited to try this service I stalked the tracking for three days.  I am a creature of habit and I buy the same style and then when I find something I like I buy it in multiple colors.  I don't think I'm alone on this.  I knew this would get me out of my comfort zone! 

So you might be asking yourself, "how do they know what style you like or what size I am?" Well let me tell you friends, you fill out a simple survey online.  You fill in your size and what sizes you typically wear.  They also show pictures of a bunch of different styles and you let them know if you like them or not.  Also, it asks you the price range that you like to spend.  So you can put more expensive for work clothes or you can put the cheaper the better for all of them! 

Of course when it arrived I threw myself on the floor with the box and ripped it out.  Who wouldn't?! It was like Christmas morning.  

I got 2 tops, a sweater, cross body purse, and a pair of jeans! 

I loved all of them, however since I've been on my weight loss journey I think that I am bigger than I really am. So, sadly, a lot of the clothes were too big.  What a bummer because I LOVED it all! I did decide to keep one shirt and the purse.  The purse is my favorite color! I got to wear both of them on Saturday when I went to a birthday party.

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad (21 Day Fix Approved)

I am seriously always searching for new lunch and dinner ideas.  I get so tired of eating the same things.  Especially for lunch... salad after salad.  Time for something new and exciting.  I also LOVE LOVE LOVE buffalo chicken and blue cheese. 

I grilled my chicken outside when I was prepping for the week.  You could cut it into pieces and cook it on the stove or in the oven.  However you prefer to have your chicken cooked!  

I made two lunches with this recipe. 

Ingredients 
Chicken
Cabbage Coleslaw mix (1 green container) 
Broccoli (1 green container)
Quinoa 
Hot Sauce
Blue Cheese 

Directions: 

Cook your chicken - I grilled mine, but you could make it on the stove or in the oven.

Cook quinoa according to directions.  I cooked 1 cup of dry quinoa and had a lot left over when I measured using my yellow container (21 Day fix friends)

Steam your broccoli

Heat up coconut oil (or whatever oil you like to cook with) in a large pan.  Add your cooked broccoli and cabbage coleslaw mix to the pan with hot sauce.  You can decide how much hot sauce you would like based on your preference.  Let this cook together for a few minutes. 

Portion your food - one yellow container of quinoa, 1 green container of broccoli and slaw mix, then I cut up chicken and filled my red container and added it, lastly I filled a blue container with blue cheese and topped it with a little extra hot sauce. I prefer spicy. 

I let it cool in the Tupperware container for a while before storing in the refrigerator for lunch.

I heated it in the microwave for about 2.5 minutes stirring occasionally.  

This was very filling and tasted excellent! I highly recommend this recipe!

Looking for more information on the 21 Day Fix or any other Beachbody programs send me an email at ashleyfrancisfitness@gmail.com or my website CLICK HERE

Jambalaya Recipe (Chicken, Sausage, Shrimp & Veggies 21 Day Fix Approved)

Ingredients:
Chicken
Sausage (or chicken sausage)
Shrimp
Celery
1 Red Pepper
1 Green Pepper
1 Zucchini
1/2 Yellow Onion
1 Can diced tomatoes
1 bag brown rice (Uncle Ben's Boil in a Bag)
Garlic

Spices:
2 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Garlic Powder
3 tsp Cajun Spice
3 tsp Paprika
2 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Thyme


1. Heat oven to 350

2. Place tin foil in a raised baking dish (usually make brownies in mine) where you can put the chicken and sausage and cover the top with another piece of tin foil.  Bake for about 25-30 min

3. Start by dicing your onion into small pieces. I used 1/2 an onion. Check out my chopping onion blog for a trick to do this quickly with no tears LINK HERE

4. Heat pan with about 1 tsp of coconut oil

5. Cook your rice according to the directions on the box/bag.

6. Place 2 tsp of minced garlic and chopped onion in the pan.  I had the heat on medium so that it wouldn't burn as I chopped the other veggies.

7. Chop about 5 Celery stalks then add that to the pan and stir everything together.

8. Chop the Red and Green pepper and add to pan.

9. Chop one zucchini into round disk then chop the disks into half and add to the pan


10. Stir everything together.

11. I bought shrimp already steamed at the grocery store.  I peeled and added them to the pan at this stage.  You could buy frozen shrimp and cook them to add.

12. Add your can of diced tomatoes and stir

13. I then added all of the spices listed above into the pan and stir it up really well. Place the lid on the pan to let it all simmer together and helps add a little water with the steam.

14. When the meat is finished cooking take it out and cut on your cutting board and add to the pan.  Stir everything together and let cook together for about 5 minutes with the lid on.

15. You can stir your rice in with everything or you can measure it out and mix it in your bowl.

For fix friends you can measure out 1 Red, 1 green, and 1 yellow or however many servings of everything you need.

I used regular sausage because it is what I had in my freezer.  If you wanted to you could use chicken sausage! 

ENJOY!

Do you want to eat clean and lose weight with simple portion controlled eating?  Email me at ashleyfrancisfitness@gmail.com or visit my page MY PAGE and check out the 21 Day Fix! I'm here to coach, support, and encourage you along the way!

Chopping an Onion - Trick

Have you ever had a problem chopping an onion?  

For me my eyes water like crazy and burn! I learned this awesome trick and have not had ANY issues!! It's amazing and it takes 1/4 the time it took me to chop regularly.  

I hope this helps you too.  

Start by cutting the ends off your onion and pealing it.  

Next cut horizontal lines in your onion about 1/2 way down. 

Next cut vertical lines 1/2 way down in your onion creating a "box" with the cuts

Then turn your onion on it's side and slice

MAGIC! You now have diced onion in about 2 minutes!!

Turkey Sausage, Pineapple, Peach, Eggplant Quinoa Bowl

Another new recipe.  I just love trying and inventing new things.  It makes dinner just a little bit better.  I'm so glad that I can share with all of you.  I am always open to suggestions on how to tweak a recipe or spice it up, so please feel free to leave feedback.  

Tonights dinner was inspired by turkey sausage that is pineapple and bacon flavored. Purchased at Costco.  I used pineapple bacon flavor, but I think a spicy one would be a a little bit better.  I am going to try that next time.  I also think you could do everything in the oven/on the stove if you can't get outside to grill. 

I think it would be amazing with fresh fruit, but Food Lion did NOT have anything.  Therefore I improvised and bought canned fruit.  

Ingredients 
1 package of Turkey Sausage 
1/2 jalapeño
1 can pineapple (or fresh pineapple if in season)
1 can of peaches (or fresh peaches if in season)
1 egg plant 
1/2 cup Quinoa (or brown rice if you prefer) 
Olive Oil
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder

First things first... turn your grill on or your oven, however you chose to cook your sausage.

Start by chop up your vegetables.  Slice your eggplant and place it in a large bowl with olive oil garlic powder and onion powder.  Slice and dice your jalapeño.  Next, place your Quinoa and diced jalapeño in a small sauce pan that has a lid.  Cook your Quinoa according to the box.  For most Quinoa it's at a lower temperature for about 15-20 minutes until most of the water is gone.  

While that is cooking your Quinoa, place your sausage and eggplant on the grill checking until it is finished. Place your sausage and eggplant on the top rack to stay warm.  Place pineapple slices on the grill and peaches.  I have a special vegetable cooker that I placed the peaches in so they wouldn't fall through.  You could simply heat the peaches up in the microwave before mixing everything. 

Once everything is finished cooking, slice your meat, fruit, and eggplant.  Measure everything in your 21 Day Fix containers. Add everything together in a bowl or on a plate.  My portions were 1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow, and 1/2 a purple and 2 tsp. 

Enjoy! 

Do you want to eat this way and lose weight? Email me to find out more! ashleyfrancisfitness@gmail.com

It's not a diet... it's a way of life :)