Beachbody Ultimate Reset RESULTS!

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for sharing this Reset journey with me! This was a hugely rewarding experience and I am glad I could shed some light on it for those who are wondering about it and who are questioning whether this is right for them.

I am just going to cut right to the chase and let you know what my husband and my results were from the 21 day Reset cleanse!  (To the right is a little pic of me after the Reset, feeling lean and light!)

Results

Scroll down for before and after pics!  First let me say, this cleanse is about SO much more than losing weight!  We did plenty of that of course, but here are some things we experienced aside from weight loss that makes this Reset SO worth it!

• Better sleep (length and quality)
• Calmness of mind
• Reduced/eliminated cravings
• Learning a new TRULY clean way of eating and new recipes
• Elimination of bloating and a feeling of "lightness"
• HUGE feeling of accomplishment after 21 days!

Now, drumroll...  Here are our weight loss results!  I lost 14 pounds, went down a pants size, and lost several inches all over.  My hubby lost a whopping 33 pounds!!!  He of course went down many inches all over, and feels amazing!  He kicked his caffeine habit, no longer totes energy drinks to work, and sleeps better than he has in ages (and he used to rely on sleeping pills so this is huge)!

We will be doing the Reset again in August or September - join us for support!!  And read more about our journey in my past Reset posts!

Could YOUR body use a Reset?

5 Signs your body is toxic:

• #1 Do you find it very difficult to lose weight?
• #2 Are you tired, even after a good night's sleep?
• #3 Do you have high Cholesterol, even when you eat right and exercise every day?
• #4 Do you have cravings for coffee, sugar, or junk food?
• #5 Do you regularly suffer from bloating or constipation?

Those are the symptoms of toxic overload, and if you recognize one of them, you're not alone. Our environment is full of toxins. They're absorbed in the food we eat. They end up in the water we drink. Right now, they may literally be trapped inside your body. If you fit any of the above criteria, think about joining my challenge next month! It's not just about looking good, friends. It's sooooo much more!
If this sounds like you, message me and we can chat!  I would love to help you check out the Ultimate Reset and see if it's something you would like to try.  

Click here to RESET!!

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The Ultimate Reset: Files and Resources

Here are some menu and schedule spreadsheets I used during my Reset - they helped tremendously! Print them out and put them on the fridge! :)

Phase 1 Menu and Supplement Schedule
Phase 2 Menu and Supplement Schedule
Phase 3 Menu and Supplement Schedule

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Ultimate Reset Phase 3 Recap: Home Stretch!

So, week 3 was somewhat low key and "uneventful" for us, which is  GOOD thing.  The food was good, we felt good, no complaints!  Here is my last recap before our big results!!

The Food

The food this week was really tasty!  We did not eat any grains, though they were optional.  I personally did not miss them, but it's nice to know they were there in case we needed them.  We had fruit every single morning.  Overall, this was a really filling breakfast, but on days when we were extra hungry we made sure to have some green apple or coconut meat on our plates.  Yay for fiber!  My kids also enjoyed watching Mommy bash coconuts open with a hammer, and used the empty shells as helmets for their stuffed animals and our puppy. :)  Lunch, I will admit, got a tad repetitive.  I was getting a little sick of the microgreen salad so I started adding other veggies to it, and the menu also calls for other things to be added on certain days.  For example, we had Moroccan Carrot Salad on our greens one day, and Carrot Seaweed Medley (much better than it sounds) another day.  So that helped mix things up!  Dinners were great!  The only one I didn't care for was the roasted fennel.  Maybe I didn't cook it correctly, but I just wasn't a fan of the taste.  Our highlights were:

• Asian Cabbage Salad (recipe below!)
• Curried Cauliflower with Lemon Kale
• Mediterranean Roasted Beets (I know, gasp!!) and Coconut Collard Greens
• Asian Stir Fry with Braised Greens
• Carrot Seaweed Medley ( this is a stir fry of edamame and carrots and other veggies)

How We Are Feeling, and a Bit About Water

Like I said, this week went on a pretty even keel.  Moods were stable, the physical symptoms pretty much went away aside from some soreness occasionally, and we were sleeping great!  Our energy levels were high, and we were enjoying the food AND the fact that we weren't having to stir up a Detox supplement 3 times a day. :)  Hubby and I both had a couple days where we were hungry and craving more food, so we made a couple snacks with our Tropical Strawberry Shakeology and that helped so much!  Drinking TONS of water helped a lot, with hunger and also keeping things regular.  My strategy was not to graze on my water all day, but to drink about 24 oz. every time I had a supplement, so then by the end of the day I was confident that I had enough water.  I am not a huge water drinker so this worked well for me.  For those wondering, your first choice should be distilled water.  Second choice: Tap water filtered through a reliable reverse osmosis or carbon filtration system, not a pitcher filtration unit. Last choice: Bottled water, preferably SmartWater® or Penta.  These should all have Mineralize added.  We bought gallon jugs and kept one in the fridge at all times.  You just add 1/4 tsp of the Mineralize to each one.  You do taste it a little at first but after a few days you don't notice it at all.  Post-Reset, we will continue to drink our water this way, in order to achieve optimal hydration!  :)

Ultimate Reset Asian Cabbage Salad

This is a great salad to take on the go - just make the dressing and add before you eat it.  That way you can also tailor the dressing amount to how much you prefer.  I added a tiny bit of honey to my dressing to make it a little sweeter.  Just don't add too much - 1 tsp max.

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp. fresh ginger juice (grate a piece of fresh ginger and squeeze juice into a bowl)
2 Tbsp Bragg Liquid Aminos
1/2 head Napa or Savoy Cabbage (or regular green cabbage)
1 carrot, shredded
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 green onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
Himalayan Salt to taste

Mix the first 5 ingredients in a small bowl.  Toss with remaining ingredients and let marinate in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.  Serves 1.

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Ultimate Reset Days 11-14: Phase 2 Recap and Results!

Phase 2 has been pretty uneventful and easy for us I think!  I have had a rough last few days due to my kids being sick and home all day with me, but they seem to be on the mend so I am grateful!  I still managed to prep and cook all of our meals with no slip-ups, and everything we ate was really tasty!  Here are some highlights:

• Fruit Plate nearly every morning - score!!  I did try the mashed chickpeas and they were ok, but I decided to have fruit the second time they came up in the menu this week.  Love that flexibility!
• Mediterranean beets - who knew??  I was a big beet-hater when we started this.  Either my taste buds have changed, of the method we used to cook these was better for me, because I loved them!  They were paired with coconut collard greens, which were also extremely delish!  This will be a repeat meal for sure.
• Kambocha squash with tahini sauce - again, who knew?  I had heard mixed reviews of this online but really it was very good!  If you like hummus, this would be right up your alley.  I'll post the recipe below!
• Kambocha squash, tahini, and coconut soup, basically a serving of the squash blended up with coconut milk to make a soup.  This was creamy and fabulous.  It also really helped warm me up since I am still freezing all of the time!

Yes, I am still cold...

I'm glad to know that this is a common symptom of detox, but I will be happy when I am not so cold all the time and I can return my thermostat to a normal level!  Luckily, we haven't really had any other side effects except a little soreness on and off, AND my monthly cycle is kinda out of whack.  That is a common occurrence on the Reset, so no big deal, just posting here for the sake of disclosure!  :)  As far as good side effects, I seem to be sleeping much better - still having crazy dreams too.  I am waking up very refreshed and have plenty of energy throughout the day.  I just feel good!

RESULTS!

This week has been slower in the weight loss department, as expected.  I have read that people tend to lose the most in week one and three.  Seems counter-intuitive with the Detox supp, but it was definitely the case for us!  It just really depends on when your body chooses to "let go" of the waste, etc.  Everyone is different.  We didn't do measurements this time, but weight-wise, I am down 11 pounds total, and hubby is down 26 pounds!!  He looks so different - his stomach is obviously going away, and his face and neck are slimming down.  You "de-puff" everywhere with this program - it's truly amazing!  We are really happy with the continued progress.  On to week 3!

Ultimate Reset Squash with Tahini Filling

Ingredients - makes 2 servings
½ medium kabocha (or acorn - I used buttercup) squash, seeds removed
4 Tbsp. sesame tahini
2 tsp. miso paste
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 400° F.
Cut the half squash into 2 pieces and place it cut side up on baking sheet.
Combine tahini, miso, garlic, and oil in a small bowl; mix well.
Cover squash evenly with tahini mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until squash is fork tender. 1 serving = 1/4 of the whole squash
(Check on your squash at 20 minutes and if the sauce is browning up too fast, cover loosely with foil.)

Nutrition
Calories: 267
Total Fat: 21 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 217 mg
Carbohydrate: 18 g
Fiber: 5 g
Sugar: 0 g
Protein: 7 g

TIP:  Add 1 finished serving of squash to 1/4 cup of coconut milk in the blender to make a soup!  Add water if too thick, then warm over low/med heat, and serve.

A little funny from me - spent my St. Patty's Day with something green, but it's not quite the same!  :)

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Ultimate Reset, Days 8-10: On to Phase 2!

Yayyy, here we are in Phase 2!  The first few days proved to be pretty easy for us.  Here is a recap!

The Food

• Breakfasts:  (Day 8) fruit plate, (9) mashed chickpeas, nori gomasio (toasted seaweed and sesame seeds blended together), and avocado, and (10) fruit plate.
• Lunches:  (Day 8) microgreen salad and avocado, (9) microgreen salad with pinto beans and rice, and (10) sweet potato and roasted red pepper bisque with Greek salad.
• Dinner:  (Day 8) pinto beans and rice with steamed zucchini and string beans, (9) roasted red pepper and sweet potato bisque with roasted asparagus and slivered almonds, and (10) quinoa lentil pilaf and steamed broccoli.

What I love about Phase 2 is that you can double up a lot of the recipes in order to use the other half at lunch the next day.  Less prep!  Highlights of the past few days' meals were the sweet potato and roasted red pepper bisque and the roasted asparagus - yum!  I'll post the soup recipe below - it was super easy.

The Dreaded Detox Supplement

This is really not as bad as everyone has said.  I find the Alkalinize to be way more foul.  :)  I add my Detox to about 8-10oz of cold water (with Mineralize of course), squeeze in a little lemon juice, and stir really well. Then chug it before it settles.  Also, swirl it around a bit in between chugs to keep it mixed.  The texture is the worst part I think, the taste is kind of like iced tea - kind of...  As for the "effects", I didn't really notice anything immediate.  It's not like it hits you and you run off to the loo or anything.  I would say it does change your "movements" but nothing too severe.  For the record, you drink this supp 3 times a day.

How We Feel

The hubs has not complained of being particularly tired, although I know he had a couple nights where he didn't sleep well.  That is somewhat normal for him pre-Reset.  I have been sleeping well and still having bizarre dreams!  I have been going to bed earlier also.  The other night I was so wiped out and was sure that it was really late and I had lost track of time - nope!  It was 9:30.  :)  But overall we feel rested, and I can tell that I have a lot more patience with the kids, I don't get stressed out as easily as before the Reset, etc.  My moods are on an even keel.  It's great!  The only "negative" side effect right now seems to be that we are freezing, at night especially.  I have been turning up the heat at night and wearing extra layers with socks.  That is of course normal, and I have heard it pretty much begins in week 2.  It's just a detox thing.  Drinking tea helps.  I AM feeling slightly burned out on the prep and all the work that goes into planning everything, but it's so worth it, and I plan to get caught up on  more prep and cleaning and stuff this weekend when my hubby is around more.  This leads me to my next topic...

Things that will make your life easier on The Reset!

• paper plates (Don't hate me, you should see all the dishes in my kitchen.  You use a LOT within a day!)
• lots of Tupperware/storage containers for prep/leftovers, all sizes
• a giant fruit bowl.  You'll need it.
• a lemon juicer with a built in measuring cup
• shaker cups or bottles for your supplements, or even a kids' cup with a lid that you can use to shake small amounts.  My husband had these plastic "jars" from making freezer jam and they work awesome!
• insulated lunch bag and containers if you plan on taking things to work.  Microwaving foods is not recommended on the Reset, so something that can keep things warm would be great.
• a Snuggie - see above about the COLD!!

Stocking up on a few key items will help you SO much.  If I think of any more I'll add them here!  As promised, here is the recipe for the fantastic soup we had!

Ultimate Reset Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

Ingredients

1 medium sweet potato

¼ red bell pepper

1-2 cups vegetable broth or water (I used water here and it was great)

1 tsp. finely grated peeled ginger root

1½ tsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp. miso paste, diluted in 1 Tbsp. hot water

Bragg® Liquid Aminos, Himalayan salt, and herbal seasoning (to taste)

Directions

Boil 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan.  Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Cook in boiling water until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, roast a whole red bell pepper on gas stovetop or grill, turning frequently until evenly charred on the outside OR in your oven at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 10 minutes or until skin is charred.

Put pepper in bowl and cover with towel for 10 minutes to steam. Clean off skin by running under cool water. Cut in quarters, remove seeds, and chop one quarter into ½-inch cubes. (Set remainder of pepper aside for another use or to make another batch.)

Place sweet potato, red pepper, broth or water, ginger, oil, and miso in blender. Blend thoroughly, adding more liquid to achieve desired soup consistency. If needed, transfer to a pot and gently heat on low until hot. Add aminos, salt, and seasoning as desired. Serves 1.

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Ultimate Reset, Day 7: Results From Phase 1!

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to give you a recap of the end of our Week 1!  I am so excited to be moving on to Week 2, even though there is a new Detox supplement added that is a doozy!  More about that later...  On to the results!!

Results - Ultimate Reset Week 1

I am happy to report that I have lost 8 pounds in 7 days, as well as 3 inches between my waist and hip measurements.  I an visibly see the difference in my stomach and it's crazy!  Even my legs look smaller!  In an obvious attempt to upstage me, my hubby lost an astounding 20 pounds the first week!!  We could not believe it, but what great motivation to continue!  In addition to the weight, we are both  more rested in the morning, and hubby has been getting up earlier.  Aside from a few cravings, we have been full and satisfied from the food - definitely NOT starving!  We don't miss the caffeine either - we have plenty of energy.  The soreness we experienced the first several days is now virtually gone and we feel fantastic!

The Food

On day 7 we had oatmeal with apples and yogurt for breakfast, more of the zucchini cashew soup (check out the recipe in my last post) and a microgreen salad for lunch, and baked tempeh, steamed veggies, and brown rice for dinner.  It was a good food day - everything was tasty!

Snacks

I did have a snack today because I felt like I needed a little extra something to get me to dinner.  The Week 1 snacks are a little different from Week 2 and 3, but here are some examples of what you can have:

• 1 to 2 cups raw veggies (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, pea pods, bell peppers, etc.) + ¼ cup hummus
• 1 small green apple + 12 raw almonds
• 2 celery stalks + 1 Tbsp. almond butter
• 1 hard-boiled egg + 6 to 10 whole-grain crackers

Looking Ahead

Week 2 is just around the corner and there are some changes to the supplements and meals.  The diet changes to a vegan one that includes grains, nuts/seeds, veggies, and fruits.  The portions also look to be a little smaller in Week 2 so I am curious to see how that will go.  We are also going to be drinking the Detox supplement 3 times a day along with our existing supps!  It is basically supposed to scrub out your colon of all nastiness - sounds fun!  But make no mistake, this is a gentle cleanse, so no running to the bathroom or anything like that.  Your body is just being given the things it needs in order to "let go" of the junk.  :)

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The Beachbody Ultimate Reset: Day 6, Relief!

I just want to let out a big sighhhhhh with this post! Day 6 was pretty fantastic after the roller coaster of days 3-5! I had no real aches and pains other than a little soreness in my back that was barely noticeable, and my shoulders were a little tight - but they usually are. I guess I carry tension there? Anyway, I felt good! I had lots of energy during the day.  I went to bed slightly early for me and I feel like I got a lot of good quality sleep - complete with some crazy Reset dreams. They aren't kidding when they say you will dream more - I've had some doozies this week.

The Food 

• Breakfast - Baked tempeh, avocado, and steamed spinach. This was pretty good. For breakfast? Eh, I am not sure. The tempeh did have a smoky maple type taste to it but it felt weird eating it for breakfast. Hubby opted for eggs, toast, and spinach. 
• Lunch - Microgreen salad and quinoa salad. Yum! I love the quinoa salad, though I do add less lemon than what it calls for just for my tastes. For the microgreen salads we've been having, I find that I prefer the creamy garlic dressing and Josh likes the Greek. Both are really tasty! 
• Dinner - Roasted root medley and zucchini cashew soup. The medley has beets in it, just so you know... I ummm... I don't really love beets. I tried some with an open mind tonight and could not do it. They taste like dirt to me, no matter how they are prepared! The other veggies were awesome though; we definitely will be repeating this dish in the future!  Now, the soup? LOVE. I will post the recipe below for you. Hubby and I both loved this meal. 
• Snack - Apple with almond butter - I was STARVING today for some reason. The root medley portion seemed really small and dinner just did not fill me up. After trying to get some extra water down, I caved and went for the snack. I normally would not have one after dinner since the guide advises against it (they prefer you have it between lunch and dinner) but I really was trying to avoid a binge! 

Things I Learned Today!

I watched this great video today from Carl and Isabelle Daikeler. It was them talking about their experience with the Reset going into Week/Phase 2, and they also answered questions. It is almost an hour long but it really helped answer some things for me! For example (I am paraphrasing but you get the idea):

• Q: Is it safe to lose a lot of weight in a short period of time? A: Yes, since this is a cleanse you are losing water and waste for the most part, maybe a little fat, and VERY little muscle if any. 
• Q: What should I do if I am starving on the Reset? Can I eat more? A: Yes, you should increase your portions at meal times and see how you feel, and use the snacks provided in the guide. If you stick to ONLY foods from the Phase you are in you will be fine, but be sure to assess your hunger to see if it's more out of habit than anything else. [See, this is great!  I would have loved to increase my portion size at dinner since I was sooo hungry - next time this happens I will do it!]
• Q: Can I make substitutions? A: Yes, as long as they are in the same Phase of the program that you are in. You may switch dinners with dinners, lunches with lunches, etc. and you may also switch your dinner meal with your lunch meal if that works better for you. [Just a side note here, I would personally not switch my breakfast with another meal, because fruits are better for you to have in the morning. They help to regulate your blood sugar levels after waking and since they are a form of sugar, your body will have a chance to use it throughout the day.  That's why the reset was designed the way it was.] 

Here is the video if you want to check it out - it's really informative!

Shakeology?

Another thing I knew about but learned more about today is the "rules" for using Shakeology with the Reset. First, you can only use the vegan varieties, and only the approved recipes in the back of the guide.  My personal fave is Tropical Strawberry.  The Vegan Chocolate is good, but not quite as good.  :)  You can use it as breakfast in Phases 1 and 2, breakfast in Phase 3 (half serving), or a snack in all phases, but only a half serving.  It's great to have options!  Shakeology plus the "Reset in a Crunch" section in the guide (where there is a chart that shows some quick and easy substitutions) really make it flexible.

And now, as promised...

Zucchini Cashew Soup Recipe

Ingredients
1 1/2 medium zucchinis, cut into chunks
1 oz. raw cashews (17 cashews)
Himalayan salt or Bragg® Liquid Aminos (to taste)
Herbal seasoning or fresh herbs, like basil or dill (optional; to taste)

Directions
Soak cashews in 1/2 cup water for 1 hour.  Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan on medium heat, then add zucchini chunks and cook for 4-5 minutes.  Drain and set aside.  Combine cashews (with water), zucchini, salt or aminos, and seasonings in blender and mix until smooth, adding water as needed for desired consistency. Pour into saucepan and reheat gently, but do not boil. Can also be served cold. Serves 1.

Nutrition
250 calories
17 g fat
3.5 g saturated fat
0 mg cholesterol
30 mg sodium
21 g carbohydrate
4 g fiber
9 g protein
1,036 mg potassium

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Ultimate Reset, Days 3-5: The Rough Patch

I'm baaack!  I have been taking a break from updating every day but I am getting caught up now!  The last few days were a bit rough so I was just not feeling up to typing it all out.  But now that I am back to feeling great (yay for Day 6!!) I am ready to tell you all about it.  Brace yourselves!

Why You Should Start Your Reset on a Wednesday (Maybe)

I was told (and it says in the guide) that Days 3-5 are typically the most challenging on the Reset in terms of being sore, feeling tired, emotions running high, etc. so hubby and I decided to start Wednesday of last week and he also used a vacation day in order to get the weekend off.  If the weekend is not typically your downtime, plan accordingly.  Wednesday is not the "correct" day for everyone, but I'm glad we did it that way.  The kids were home from school so that added a little bit to the stress levels of mom and dad, but I think it was still worth it for us to be able to stay in our jammies and veg out, and support each other as needed!

Emotions

This was the most pronounced thing I noticed, at least for me.  My moods were out of control LOL!  I woke up in a foul mood at least 2 of the 3 days, and felt grumpy throughout the day.  I also experienced higher levels of stress and irritability, as did my hubby.  The kids had us on our last nerve more that a few times, and  we could have used a break!  This is where babysitters come in handy, people.  Or DVD players.  On Saturday (Day 4) the stress was so bad that we dropped the kids off at Granny's and rolled out to the mall!  I spent a little more than I wanted but it was worth it, 100%.  I needed something to take my mind off of food, water, and supplements!  (Although we did take our water with us - staying hydrated!  And another note, if you are out and forget your water, you can buy Smart Water and add a few shakes of Mineralize to that.)

Cravings

 This was interesting.  I consider myself to have a pretty clean diet overall, and I was careful to REALLY clean it up before the Reset because I wanted the transition to be as painless as possible.  My cravings were under control pre-Reset so I figured there wouldn't be a problem.  Well, the weekend proved to be challenging in this respect.  First off, hubby had the bright idea to get the kids a pizza on Friday night.  Pizza is my total weakness!  I have to say, I was very irritated at him for this (see "Emotions" above LOL) and found myself wanting that pizza BADLY.  Adding to the joy of that experience, we had nori rolls that night, which I utterly butchered.  I am pretty good at rolling sushi - I have a mat and they usually come out great!  Well, on this night, I did not make my brown rice sticky enough and they basically fell apart.  I made hubby's second and his came out better since I added a little water to the rice.  But yeah, overall a very unsatisfying meal while your kids are eating pizza two feet away from you.  We also had the cucumber salad with it and I just could not eat another cucumber.  I was so sick of them LOL.  Anyway, my advice - don't tempt yourself!  Just don't!  This is only week one and you are going to crave things.  Don't rely on your willpower to save you if you can possibly help it - that is tempting fate a bit too much.  Wait until week three to get goodies for the kids, seriously.  You'll be more in control.

Physical Stuff

At this point, I was still having minor headaches on and off, and by Day 3, my shoulders, neck, and back were starting to get sore. All very normal, just toxins leaving the body!  Day 4 was also pretty big for soreness, and I had to lay on the couch a couple times and just rest my back because it was sore.  I did a little stretching for my shoulders and neck - not sure if it helped.  I also took a couple hot baths with Epsom salt - highly recommend!  On Day 4 I also took a nap - I was SO tired!  I felt kind of foggy and groggy for the rest of the day.  Luckily, all of these things were virtually gone by Day 5.

Day 5 - the light at the end of the tunnel!!

Ok, so as I said, most of this stuff was pretty much gone by Day 5, which was great!  I did get out the Rumble Roller though and did my back and shoulders - ahhh.  I think it really helped!  I had no headaches on Day 5 either - YES!  I had a good amount of energy during the day and made it to the store to get a few remaining things for week 1 and a good start on week 2.  Walking past all of the things I used to routinely buy was pretty crazy, and I was feeling pangs of jealousy toward my non-Resetting peers, but that was short-lived.  I noticed as I walked through the store that my formerly-snug jeans were now sagging quite low and I had to keep hiking them up!  My stomach looks so much flatter already and that is great motivation.  My next weigh in will be on Day 8!

Food Recap

I will try to make this brief, while still giving you an idea of what we had!

Hits:

• Fruit Plate and Yogurt (breakfast) - I will never get sick of this!!
• Lentil Lime Salad (lunch)
• Quinoa Salad (lunch)
• Stir Fried Veggies and rice/quinoa (dinner for 2 nights)

Misses, or at least "Meh":

• Nori Rolls (dinner and lunch) - we subbed the lunch on Day 4 out for the "in a crunch" option
• Japanese Cucumber Salad (dinner) - I am so over the cucumber, please make it stop

A Final Note on Food

This weekend I really realized what a strong social connection we have to food.  Pre-Reset, the weekend meant socializing with hubby, and that automatically included alcohol and "good food", indulging a little, etc.  What I wouldn't have given for a cold beer at the end of day 3 or 4 - I felt I needed it!  Seeing it all behind me now, I am proud that I didn't give in.  This is a mere 3 weeks out of my life, and I am doing something SO good for my body!  I am giving myself a gift more meaningful than a nice bottle of wine or a rich dessert.  Those things will be waiting for me after the Reset, so for now, I am letting them go!  It's kind of like the mantra I say to myself while doing my shot of Alkalinize (which by the way, has not gotten any tastier), "This is so good for me!  This is delicious!  This is nourishing my body!"  Makes it all go down a little easier.  ;)

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The Ultimate Reset: Day 2 Recap and Review

Ahhhh, Day 2 was a fun day to wake up to!  I had made it through Day 1 unscathed and felt pretty darn good.  The mild headache I had the night before was gone, no real body aches, and I was feeling pretty rested.  I decided to get on the scale, just to see if all the careful planning and hard work from yesterday was doing anything at all.  I didn't really expect much - a pound, maybe two lost?  Instead, I saw that I had lost FOUR pounds in one day!  That was great validation that things were happening!  I decided not to weigh myself again until next Wednesday because I know there can be fluctuations and I don't want to be disappointed.  I have always been a bit scale-obsessed, so I am exerting some self-control here.  (OH, and by the way, hubby was down SEVEN pounds!  His stomach also looks smaller - it's amazing.)  And let me also reiterate here that this is NOT just a weight loss program.  I will be happy to lose a few pounds, but this is more about eliminating cravings, cleaning out my insides (LOL), and getting back to "factory settings"!

Day Two:  The Details

As far as how we were feeling, for me, it was about the same as Day 1 - just a mild headache off and on.  Later in the day, I noticed some shoulder and upper back pain starting, but nothing major.  I was also pretty sleepy as the night went on, and just felt like loafing on the couch - which is why this post is coming to you today instead of last night!  Hubby fared MUCH better than on Day 1.  His headache was still there but much less severe, and he wasn't having any nausea.  He just said his muscles felt a little tired.  Not a big surprise, since he is on his feet all day at work.

The Food

Our meals were pretty tasty!  Breakfast was yogurt and oatmeal with blueberries, which Josh said he would willingly have every day.  Lunch was a Greek Salad with Greek Dressing - delish.  I'll post the recipe below. Dinner was brown rice with black beans, corn, and a mixture of avocado and pico de gallo (the kind you can buy pre-made at the deli).  It was very filling and tasty BUT I found myself getting soooo hungry a while afterward.  I have decided that this is due to one of three things:  I was at my mother in law's house, and she keeps cookies, ice cream, and all kinds of goodies stocked at all time - in plain view.  My kids were enjoying being spoiled by Granny while I watched on LOL.  So some advice - do not put yourself in these situations if you are not certain you can resist.  I did, thank goodness.  Second, I wonder if the carb content of the dinner made me crave things more.  Prior to the Reset I was following a Paleo-ish style of eating, because I find my body responds very well to it.  Now that I am Resetting, I am still following the meal plan from the guide, but eating a little less of the carbs like rice, etc.  However, cold turkey no carbs has generally worked best for me!  Luckily, our grains are cut down next week, and pretty much eliminated in week 3.  Third possibility:  I was used to eating every 3 hours with working out and everything, so my body may just be rebelling against the new schedule   Oh and for the record, Josh enjoyed the food and loved the Greek dressing, and declared that he was enjoying having salad every day - it will definitely be a staple in our house!

Looking Ahead to the Next Few Days

I have been told (and it's in the guide) that days 4-5 are the "worst" days as far as feeling kinda crummy because you are detoxing.  With this in mind, Josh took the weekend off just in case.  I am looking forward to it because he generally works long hours and pretty much ALL Saturdays.  So it will be nice to have him around for some family time.  Hopefully that won't be dampened too much by any side effects.  I will keep you posted!  :)

Ultimate Reset Greek Dressing Recipe

Ingredients
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
½ tsp. Himalayan salt
1 tsp. herbal seasoning blend
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Directions
Place oil, red wine and balsamic vinegars, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, mustard, salt, seasoning blend, and parsley in a blender or food processor (or your Ninja!), in 2 or more batches, if necessary; cover with lid. Blend until smooth.
Refrigerate dressing if not using immediately. If dressing solidifies when cold, hold at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir before serving.

Nutrition
Calories: 127
Total Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 150 mg
Carbohydrate: 1 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugar: 0 g
Protein: 0 g

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The Ultimate Reset: Day 1

Day 1, complete!  I am going to try and keep this brief because I feel like vegging out with some quality TV (LOL) but here are my thoughts on Day 1!  (See my overview and "unboxing" of the Reset here.)

The Good

Things for me today went on a pretty even keel.  The food was pretty tasty and satisfying, I felt fine - no aches and pains, just a mild headache (which is actually pretty normal for me unfortunately), and only a little bit of gastrointestinal "discomfort" early in the day.  I'm not sure what to attribute that to - if it was the Mineralize in my water, the other supplements, or just a fluke.  So not bad!  I also had lots of energy and don't really feel tired just yet (at 8:20 pm).  My husband, as of the last time I talked to him, was feeling kind of sickly - headache, body aches, nausea.  Poor guy!!  Between the both of us, I am the healthy eater, so I am not super surprised by this.  His main goal for the program is to break his food addiction, and he is well on his way!  I am very proud of him for weaning himself off caffeine, as recommended in the program guide.  I'm sure that will help him in the next few days!  As a side note, he is on second shift so that adds another dimension to our planning.  I have to cook all three meals by 2:30 pm so he can stay on schedule and take dinner to work.  He also packs his afternoon and evening supplements, which are Optimize, Alkalinize (which he has to drink the in the car before work!), and Soothe - along with his two BIG cups of water with Mineralize.
As for the food, the Microgreen Salad was by far the best thing I ate today, mainly because of the Creamy Garlic Dressing, AND I discovered I like jicama!  Very tasty! I also enjoyed the Miso Soup, but my husband gave that one a big thumbs down.  Too bad we will be having it a few more times this week!  He might skip it...  For the record, our breakfast was toast, eggs, and steamed spinach, and our dinner was baked salmon, baby potatoes, and steamed asparagus.  I did NOT prep a lot ahead of time for today - it just wasn't that "preppable".  Tomorrow's menu lends itself very well to prepping ahead so that makes me happy.  I will be getting some things together tonight to make our lives easier tomorrow.  :)

The "Bad"

There really weren't too many things that were bad about today - it's just an adjustment.  I feel like I spent the majority of my morning (and early afternoon) cooking, which I kind of did!  This would have been MUCH easier if Josh and I were on similar schedules but he is around 2 hours behind me, so it makes it tricky.  But still do-able!
Second thing, like I said, is that I did have a little "issue" with the bathroom this morning but it was short lived.
Third, Alkalinize.  Yep, it's pretty gross.  For those who don't know, it's a green powder you mix with water and drink (once a day).  It tastes a lot like salty grass, almost like spinach too.  It wasn't horrible, but not my favorite thing.  I did it with a small amount of water as a "shot", followed by a lemon wedge.  :)

Tips for week 1:  (I may add to this as I go on!)

• Prep as much as you can the night before - cook your oatmeal, cut up veggies/fruits, make soup and dressings, cook rice/beans/quinoa/etc.  It doesn't seem like it will save all that much time but it truly does!  Just keep in mind that microwaving things is not advised on the Reset, so think about how you plan to reheat things.
• Drink your water!  Whenever it tells you on the schedule to drink your Mineralize, don't go for the minimum of 12 oz.  Do at least 24 oz, and by the time your day is over, you'll have had a TON of water, which will help with detox, headaches, and joint/muscle pain, etc..
• Realize that discomfort is temporary.  Headaches and pain is a sign that your body is detoxing - it's a good thing!  You also may notice some bloating at first, and here is a great explanation for the experts on why this happens:  

The bloating of week one typically comes from two instances:
- The body being overloaded with toxins. As a protective measure, until the body's filtration systems (liver, kidneys, skin, bladder, etc) are better able to handle the amount of toxins, it retains water.
- Previous bad habits of not hydrating properly. In this case, the body hoards water (similar to how it will store fat in starvation mode).
In both instances, drinking plenty of water will help. The more you drink, the more toxins your body is able to flush. When the toxins are not considered so much of a survival risk, the body will release the excess water. When the body is certain the good hydration practices will continue, it will release the retained water.
We highly recommend a gallon (minimum) of water per day, in week one. Consider drinking a gallon and a half, if you had a great amount of bad habits, prior to Reset.

• Try to relax.  If you miss a supplement, take it when you remember it.  If you have a food slip-up, MOVE ON and keep going.  You have not ruined your efforts, so stay the course!
• Try to wean off caffeine and sugars prior to starting the Reset, in order to make your experience easier.
• You do NOT need to eat all of your food if you are full.  Practice conscious eating and stop when you have had enough.  The portions are just there in case you need them.  There are so many different types of people who do the Reset, from small to large, fit to unfit, and everything in between.  You can adjust to what works for you, but only eat if you are hungry!  My husband is learning this concept.  :)
• Set reminders on your phone (I recommend your phone's built-in alarm, or a to-do app like Wunderlist 2 for Android or Awesome Note for iPhone.), post your schedule on the fridge, and get organized.  There are some great resources on the Beachbody Ultimate Reset:  Phase 1 group page on Facebook - SO much good info there!

I'll be back tomorrow to recap Day 2, but for now, here is the recipe for the dressing I loved today!

Creamy Garlic Dressing

Ingredients
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic, crushed
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. Himalayan salt
½ tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. raw honey (or pure maple syrup)

Directions
Place oil, vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, salt, mustard, and honey in a blender or food processor; cover with lid. Blend until smooth.
Refrigerate dressing if not using immediately. If dressing solidifies when cold, hold at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir before serving.

Nutrition per 2 Tbsp
Calories: 119
Total Fat: 11 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 235 mg
Carbohydrate: 6 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugar: 5 g
Protein: 0 g

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My Ultimate Reset Journey: Day 0!!

As some of your know, I am starting The Ultimate Reset by Beachbody TOMORROW!!  I am beyond excited to start, and I want to share my experience with you.  First off, you're probably wondering what the Reset is.

What is The Ultimate Reset?

If you're feeling tired and sluggish, give yourself a comprehensive inner-body tune-up. In just 21 days, the Ultimate Reset™ can help you gently restore your body to its optimal "factory settings," to help you have more energy and greater focus, enjoy better digestion, lose weight, and reclaim your overall health.
The Beachbody Ultimate Reset includes six essential supplements. These Ultimate Reset Supplements are uniquely formulated to help restore your body to optimal health. You'll eat three healthy, filling meals every day, while the supplements work together gradually to gently shift your body's internal settings.
You also get the complete Ultimate Reset Program and Nutrition Guide, two DVDs full of motivation and meal-preparation videos, the Ultimate Reset Caddy to conveniently carry your supplements on the go, and exclusive 24/7 UltimateReset.com online content including daily cleanse tips, recipes, shopping lists, and support from your Team Beachbody® Coach and fellow Reset participants.

Here is a video I made of the "unboxing" and a little info on how the program works.  if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask, or check out the copious amounts of info on my Ultimate Reset site.

After reading many many many people's experiences on Facebook, some from my own team, and from various blogs, I have come to learn allll kinds of crazy things that may happen to you while on the Reset, as well as things people struggled with.  I'm not skeered!  But, I have a few concerns and, in the interest of honesty and research I will share - and then keep you posted on how things are going!

Kinda worried about...

• Being cold.  I am a naturally "chilly" person, and it is March in Michigan, so you do the math.  Out bedroom also has a wicked draft so I am planning to bundle myself pretty heavily.  Not a huge deal, but again, a concern.
• Being the ONE person this doesn't do anything for.  What if this doesn't work?  What if I feel the same after Day 21?  Regardless, I am committing!
• Proceeding after the Reset.  Luckily, there is section in the guide that goes over this, but transitioning back make me a bit nervous.

NOT worried about...

• Muscle soreness.  Shoot, Chalene Johnson and Shawn T. have kicked my ass enough times that soreness no longer phases me - bring the pain!  Plus I like the idea that soreness means DETOX!  Good stuff.
• Meal prep time.  I make our meals from scratch on most days, so a little veggie chopping does not bother me.  I like to cook!
• Being tired/going to bed early.  I don't know about you, but any excuse to sleep more is fine by me.  I look forward to relaxing a bit and enjoying the experience.

So there you have it, my Day 0.  I'll be back tomorrow with my take on Day 1!

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Les Mills COMBAT Review

As some of you know, I have been trying to get my hubby to work out with me for a while now.  He tried TurboFire - too intense.  He tried Chalean Extreme - too hard.  I know he wouldn't mind me telling you that he is out of shape, and has a hard time hanging in there with exercise.  He wants to get healthy, so we are actually starting The Ultimate Reset on March 6th!  There is NO working out during the Reset (except Tai Cheng or light yoga), but after the Reset, he expressed interest in trying Les Mills COMBAT.  I have also been wanting to try the program so I ordered it and received it the other day.  It has been sitting on my dining room table, tempting me - until today...

I decided that, in the interest of research, and "testing out the DVDs" I would try Power Kata 45.  So I downed some E&E and got busy.  I had SO much fun!  I am not going to go into the details of every single move, but basically... there is a warm up, then different segments - Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Muay Thai, etc.  Each segment breaks down the moves first at a slower pace, then you ramp it up and do it at top speed.  Then you get a little rest in between segments.  It's intense, but not a non-stop workout like TurboFire for example.  Then there was the music - so good!  I will definitely use the "Music Fired Up" version next time now that I have gone through it once.  Here are the tracks (complete list below):

COMBAT 45: POWER KATA

1a. "Walking In Memphis" by Marc Cohn
1b. "Trouble" by P!nk
2.    "The Final Countdown" by Europe
3.    COMPOSER TRACK
4.    "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" by Fall Out Boy
5.    COMPOSER TRACK
6.    COMPOSER TRACK
7.    "See The Light" (Styles & Breeze Mix. by Paradise
8.    COMPOSER TRACK

I think this would be a great program for someone who is at pretty much any fitness level.  There is a person who does the modified moves that don't involve any jumping.  Those who want to take it to the next level of intensity can also use the COMBAT gloves or even weighted gloves.  There is no complicated choreography like TurboFire, so that might be good news for those who found TurboFire too confusing.  But, being a true Turbo junkie, I loved all of the kicks and punches!  I could actually see my arm muscles popping out as I was punching, which was really cool and motivating!  So that was Power Kata.  I will be adding more to this review as I do the other workouts!  (UPDATE:  I am SORE today!!  I am pretty surprised considering I had so much fun yesterday doing it and it didn't feel super strenuous, if that makes sense!  I wondered if I had gotten a killer workout or not, and apparently I did!)

Here is a little preview...

Complete Les Mills COMBAT track List:

COMBAT 30: KICK START
1a. COMPOSER TRACK
1b. "Starstrukk" by 3OH!3
2. "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" by Fall Out Boy
3. COMPOSER TRACK
4.  "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence
5.  COMPOSER TRACK
6.  COMPOSER TRACK

COMBAT 45: POWER KATA
1a. "Walking In Memphis" by Marc Cohn
1b. "Trouble" by P!nk
2.    "The Final Countdown" by Europe
3.    COMPOSER TRACK
4.    "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" by Fall Out Boy
5.    COMPOSER TRACK
6.    COMPOSER TRACK
7.    "See The Light" (Styles & Breeze Mix. by Paradise
8.    COMPOSER TRACK

COMBAT 60: EXTREME CARDIO FIGHTER
1a. COMPOSER TRACK
1b. "Loud" by Without Danger
2.    "Cum On Feel The Noize" by Quiet Riot
3.    COMPOSER TRACK
4.    "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler
5.    "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte
6.    COMPOSER TRACK
7.    COMPOSER TRACK
8.    "Turn To Me" (Supreme & MOB 2010 Remix. by Trinity
9.    COMPOSER TRACK
10.  COMPOSER TRACK

CORE ATTACK
1.    "Fire Burning" by Sean Kingston
2.    COMPOSER TRACK
3.    "War" by Edwin Starr
4.    COMPOSER TRACK

WARRIOR 1: UPPER BODY BLOW OUT
1.    "No Limit" by Sonic Rush Project
2.    "No Easy Way Out" by Robert Tepper
3.    COMPOSER TRACK
4.    "The Final Countdown" by Europe

WARRIOR 2: LOWER BODY LEAN OUT
1.    "Bring The Beat Back" by Sheep Trick
2.    COMPOSER TRACK
3.    "The Warrior's Code" by Dropkick Murphys
4.    COMPOSER TRACK
5.    "See The Light" (Styles & Breeze Mix. by Paradise
6.    COMPOSER TRACK

INNER WARRIOR: STRETCH AND STRENGTH
1.    COMPOSER TRACK
2.    COMPOSER TRACK
3.    COMPOSER TRACK

POWER HIIT 1
1.    COMPOSER TRACK
2.    COMPOSER TRACK
3.    "Promises" by Nero
4.    COMPOSER TRACK
5.    COMPOSER TRACK

SHOCK PLYO HIIT 2
1.    COMPOSER TRACK
2.    COMPOSER TRACK
3.    COMPOSER TRACK
4.    COMPOSER TRACK
5.    COMPOSER TRACK
6.    "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore
7.    COMPOSER TRACK

COMBAT 60 LIVE: ULTIMATE WARRIOR'S WORKOUT
1a. COMPOSER TRACK
1b. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba
2.    "Love Drunk" by Boys Like Girls
3.    "Miracle" (SAD Remix. by Cascada
4.    COMPOSER TRACK
5.    "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop
6.    "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer
7.    COMPOSER TRACK
8.    COMPOSER TRACK
9.    "Fire Burning" by Sean Kingston
10.  COMPOSER TRACK
11.  COMPOSER TRACK

LES MILLS COMBAT 30: LIVE
1a. COMPOSER TRACK
1b. "Loud" by Without Danger
2.    COMPOSER TRACK
3.    COMPOSER TRACK
4.    "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence
5.    "Miracle" (SAD Remix. by Cascada

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