21 Day Beachbody Ultimate Reset-- My Summary

I have completed my 21-day journey on the Beachbody Ultimate Reset. But at the same time my journey has just begun. I have a fresh perspective and a new found appreciation for food the way it was intended to be consumed. Here is a brief summary of what I have experienced and learned through this process.

Why did I choose to participate in the Beachbody Ultimate Reset?

1. I wanted to take another step in taking care of my health.

2. Curiosity. I was curious; What would it feel like to rid my body of toxins? How much toxin have I really been storing in my body? How would it effect my stress level?  How hard would it be? How different would I feel? What would I miss?

3. Timing. I thought of using this as a stepping stone, my own reset (mind/attitude included). I viewed it as giving myself a fresh start, fresh perspective. Having been somewhat frozen by overwhelming personal issues this could be my push to get back on track.

4. I kept seeing so many others post their experience/ success with the program (the one post showing pictures with the difference in cellulite pre and post reset was especially intriguing) I thought "Why not me?"

BeachBody 21-day Ultimate Reset-- My Diary--Day 21

Day 21! Is it the end of the journey --or a new beginning?

The Final Showdown!

Breakfast - Enjoyed my beautiful fruit before I got back on the road for home. Today I added a few cherries and grapes.

Lunch - I had to plan for lunch on the road. I had plenty of shredded carrots but not all the ingredients for the carrot-seaweed medley (I am looking forward to trying it another time). So I made the Moroccan carrot salad I missed before I drove up a few days ago. It was easy to pull off the road and eat it. Also very tasty, again combinations I would not have thought of.

Dinner -  I may be sounding like a broken record. However, I have to admit again that dinner was easy to prepare and very tasty. I don't think I ever roasted vegetables in the summer before, I usually try to stay out of the hot kitchen as much as possible. I loved the combination of flavors and the simplicity. This continues to reinforce to me that it really isn't tougher or more time-consuming to eat healthy meals. It is warm enough today that it was great to have the avocado-cucumber soup chilled.

Dinner 21--satisfying, delicious, no frills

                                                                                                           I loved it.

For three weeks now I have been doing my body a favor from the inside out. I have gained so much more than simply weight loss or a notch on my belt. I have gained a new appreciation for food the way it is meant to be eaten. I have come to appreciate even more how simple it is to make heath a priority. I have absolutely enjoyed keeping my mind open to new foods and new combinations, and new ways to prepare. Not once did I get bored with recipes or miss any of the foods I omitted (okay, at first I would have loved a little dessert, but it is not important to me now)

Tomorrow I will get on the scale and I’m hoping I will get follow up lab work to compare my before and after results. And-oh yes, I think I may just start my day with fruit.

The Beachbody 21-Day Ultimate Reset--My Diary--Day 20

 The Ultimate Reset--Day 20--Phase III--Day 6 of RECOVER:

Heading into the home stretch.
Day 20 means tomorrow is the last day of my reset. I’d like to say now that I am very pleased with the way I am feeling. I understand now that it is not just my body that has been reset, but my mind as well. I don’t look at food in the same way at all. I never thought fruit alone for breakfast would sustain me (I was nervous when omitting the detox mixture that I wouldn’t be full enough). I never thought I would be okay with omitting dairy and animal protein. I didn't see how I would get enough protein in my daily diet. I didn't have any idea how great I would feel.

Breakfast- So today I am again enjoying my beautiful fruit breakfast. Every day it seems the fruit is more appealing, tasting sweeter.

Lunch: Jicama-Avocado Salad

Lunch - The jicama-avocado salad was super simple to make and a hit—one I know I will repeat. There was a long period of time in my adult life where I ate salads because I thought I needed to, not so much for health as weight loss. I have learned to really enjoy salads, often prefer them, and the variety of ideas in this program has been great.

Dinner- was also very simple; Asian stir-fry vegetables. I was still not at my own home so did not have all of the ingredients (almost all) so I am encouraged to make this again with all the spices. I had all the veggies but know it would have had more flavor with the sesame oil and fresh ginger. Still the plate of veggies was so colorful and appealing, and utterly satisfying. I braised kale to go along (don’t remember if I ever “braised” anything before). It was quick to cook; another trick to add to my cooking repertoire. I opted out of the brown rice with dinner, since I felt I didn't need it to be satisfied. I am anxious for tomorrow and the days/weeks ahead.

Dinner-- Asian Stir-Fry and Braised Greens

The Beachbody 21-Day Ultimate Reset--My Diary--Day 19

The Ultimate Reset--Day 19--Phase III--Day 5 of RESTORE:

 Traveling when you are on a special meal plan is always a challenge. Luckily I am traveling by car so I was able to bring with me what I need. It is not like I will be away from civilization either, there are plenty of choices for grocery stores nearby if I find I am missing anything important.

Breakfast- By now you know the drill—breakfast was, once again, a delicious bowl of fruit. Okay, ‘till now I have not missed anything but this morning there was coffee brewing and bacon cooking. Although they are both not important to me, or a part of my regular diet, the smell of both of them was awfully enticing.

Lunch- Today everyone was going for a walk by the creek and then stopping at a little café (one of my favorite places) for lunch. I stayed on track and ate my lunch before we left. Then I was able to sit and enjoy everyone's company while they ate their lunch.  I added bok choy and zucchini along with the green onions in the hearty vegetable miso soup. The micro-green salad I have had  so many times is still appealing. I finally had used up all the dressing and needed to make more.

Roasted beets, kale, and tempeh--not my favorite dinner

Dinner- So honestly tonight’s dinner was not my favorite on this program. If anyone had told me even six months ago that my dinner would be roasted beets, tempeh, and greens I wouldn’t have believed them. I didn’t feel like going to the store for collard greens so I substituted kale as my greens and still used coconut milk. I think the collard greens are a better combination with the coconut milk but it was still okay. In my opinion, the beets are much better when combined with other veggies such as in the roasted root medley recipe from before. Tonight felt more like I was eating simply because I needed to, and not for any measure of enjoyment (or even curiosity).

I am out-of-town at my mother’s house with my brother and niece and nephew (my kids are home working) so of course there is a surplus of cookies in a cookie jar—Isn’t that what grandmas do? As many times as the lid has come off that jar I have not been tempted. That is pretty amazing, and a wonderful feeling.

The Beachbody 21-Day Ultimate Reset--My Diary--Day 18

The Ultimate Reset--Day 18--Phase III, Day 4 of RESTORE:

Hmm...Another First—Roasted Fennel Bulb

Breakfast-  A beautiful plate of fruit. I am still enjoying fresh melon and berries. Today I added kiwi.

I am surprised at how long I can survive on only fruit for breakfast. Although today I did find myself getting a bit hungry before lunch. I kind of miss taking the detox (never imagined myself saying that) and I am looking forward to the day when I can once again have Shakeology for breakfast.

Lunch-Spinach salad. Not the typical spinach salad you might get served in a restaurant,. none of that bacon and heavy dressing here. It is deliciously piled with nutrients. I enjoyed it with the addition of the jicama and avocado.

Lunch--Spinach Salad

Dinner- Very interesting; Roasted Fennel Bulb—a “new taste sensation”.  I made enough of the broccoli and asparagus to share with everyone but nobody really cared about eating the fennel. It was easy to make, isn’t something I care to eat all the time but may be in the "once-in-a-while" file. I froze leftover fennel bulb and it will be easy to take out and make another time.

Dinner--another new one to try--

There still seems to be plenty to eat. I am feeling satisfied, not feeling left out of anything. It is interesting, really, how all food is tasting good to me. Flavors seem to be alive. It must be because I am eating it in its purest form. I’m feeling good about staying with the program and knowing how my body is appreciating the choices I am making. Only a few days left, I am wondering how it will be, what I will do when I am finished. I will find a way to carry on much of what I am learning and appreciating here.

Ultimate Reset--Day 17--Phase III--RESTORE-Day 3

Day 17--Taking the Ultimate Reset on the road...

I started the day out like the other days of this phase; with a beautiful plate of fruit before my walk. I packed up all my food for the next four days. I knew I was going to be on the road during lunch so I planned to make the Moroccan carrot salad to take and pull off the road to eat it. Then I discovered I had already packed everything I needed to make the carrot salad, other than that I was all set to hit the road. So I found some leftover Asian Cabbage Salad, decided that would make a suitable substitute and headed out.

I pulled off in order to take my supplements at least a half  hour before I would eat my lunch. All went well until the roasted sesame seeds called to me. I put a few handfuls in my salad, then continued to eat many more handfuls on my drive. Well, If that’s the worst I do, it’s really not so bad.

The squash and green beans for dinner were very tasty—I still didn’t feel like I was really missing anything. Even though as I looked around, everyone else was eating chicken enchiladas which I love (and normally would have devoured). I felt very satisfied.

Beachbody Ultimate Reset--Day 16--Phase III-RESTORE--Day 2

I feel an abundance of energy today. I am looking forward to the week ahead.

Breakfast—Fruit—why not make it pretty? Sure tastes great
Lunch—Microgreen salad

Dinner- Curry Cauliflower and Lemon-Pepper Kale
I didn’t have curry so I improvised with some other seasonings and was surprised at how much I liked it. Cauliflower has always been at the bottom of my list. I don’t dislike it, just don’t love it and often just don’t bother with it. Tonight it tasted pretty darn good, I ate it all!

Tomorrow I am heading out of town to visit family for a few days. I am loading up a cooler to take everything I need to stick to the meal plan. I am curious to see who will want to share what I am eating. I picture my main courses being a side dish for their main entree. Sticking to the plan my be a challenge but I know that preparation will be the key to my success.