Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

At first I was skeptical of the claims and thought it was just another exercise gimmick (remember the shake weight? OMG too funny!). Fifteen lbs in 3 weeks is just not possible unless you're quite a bit overweight (there's 52,500 calories in 15 lbs so be realistic!). I wanted to lose between 10 and 15 lbs but more importantly I wanted to get my fitness routine back on track. Over the years it has devolved into 30 minutes 4 or 5 times a week on the elliptical machine (no weight lifting) and I pretty much ate anything I wanted. When the package arrived I was a little surprised at how small the containers were (they look larger on TV) but trust me, it's MORE than enough food. I began by reading all the documentation that came with the containers and reviewing the workouts so I would have an idea of what the routines entailed then I got busy organizing my eating plan. You have so many choices that planning a menu from them was easy. I set up a color coded spreadsheet with days of the week outlining the exercise and foods for the day. I made the dressings, spice mixtures, and anything I could ahead of time then portioned and packaged it (snacks too) in microwavable containers. The only thing I left as cook to order was for the evenings where fish was on the menu. It was a quite a bit of work in the beginning but as the weeks progressed, it became much easier and nothing is better after a hard day than coming home to an already prepared HEALTHY yummy dinner! I even set up my spreadsheet so that it would crank out a shopping list from the items plugged into the menu. I started on a Sunday, taking pics and measurements and I did the Yoga Fix just to get my body familiar with different sorts of movement again. I actually broke a sweat! Next day was Total Body Cardio Fix and it kicked my butt! I could barely get through the warm up without huffing and puffing but by the end of the first week, I had lost 2 lbs so I stuck with it. By the third day the belly bloat was gone! I looked 10 lbs lighter and I felt like Superman!! By the fourth day, I was actually pushing food away! In the first few weeks, I stuck religiously to the containers, if it fits (and it's on the list) you can eat it but let's face it, one cup of greens does not a salad make so I "cheated" quite a bit with lettuce but not the goodies that go on top. I've never been a fan of oily, goopy salad dressings so all that was needed was one of the dressings from the plan or a sprinkle of vinegar or lemon juice. As the weeks progressed I got sick of salads so I would "cheat" once in a while with a big bowl of pasta or a scoop of ice cream, etc, but never ever cheated by skipping exercise. I was HOOKED! As to the 3 Day Quick Fix, in a word, blech. Plus, it's super inconvenient. I was having to run home every two hours to heat something up and it just didn't work for me. I gave it a valiant try twice but couldn't get through the three days either time, then I chucked it all together and ate foods from the "regular" menu and exercised once per day instead of the recommended two a days. Now here I am, 10 weeks later, 16 lbs lighter and 18 inches smaller and I'm still going strong!! My "heavy" weights have become the "light" weights and I can actually do nose/chest to the ground on your toes pushups when before, I couldn't do one, not ONE! It's incredible how fast I progressed and Autumn's friendly, non-drill sergeant style is a nice change from other "programs" I have followed. This one WORKS but you gotta put in the effort. There's no shortcut or magic pill. Now, the incessant advertising of other Beachbody programs and products between the workouts is annoying but you can fast forward through them. The warning in the beginning releasing them from liability if you're an idiot and try to be Arnold in day takes about a minute so when it's time to change discs, I just let it run while I grab my water, towel and weights cuz you can't fast forward. Once that's past, you'll be right to the main menu and can pick your workout for the day but you'll have to fast forward a vitamin commercial or that blasted Shakeology. I didn't do Shakeology either. I'm skeptical. It seems to me to be too MUCH of a good thing and I have a hard time believing that you get the full benefit as most of what's in there, you'll probably eliminate in the bathroom. Meaning, you'll pee it down the drain as your body won't be able to absorb or get benefit from the ingredients that quickly. Plus, its hella expensive and I have a protein powder I've been using for years as a meal replacement for about a third of the cost that tastes great and keeps me full for hours. Another criticism would be that there's no age or sex categories for the eating plan until you get to the maintenance stage but even then, it's just separated by men and women as they have slightly different container allotments but still no differentiation for age. Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this program regardless of your age or fitness level. I'm female, 48 soon to be 49 and haven't seen the inside of a gym in years. It works!! I have abs again and none of the old lady "bat wings" that were starting to develop. I look forward to my exercise EVERY day when in the past, I was more like, ugh, time to go to the gym. Its fun now! Buy it, live it, lose the weight and feel GREAT!! ***UPDATE*** Ever wonder what happens after the initial success that someone experiences with these programs? I do, so I thought I'd share mine in hopes that the peeps that said my review was helpful would get some benefit or encouragement to start or continue. Its my 6 month anniversary today and I'm still hard at it but to be honest, I'm a bit bored with the routines (still waiting....patiently...for 21 Day Fix Extreme, c'mon Autumn!!, us "Fixers" need a bigger Fix! Haha.). I never enjoyed the Total Body Cardio/Cardio Fix workouts. I dreaded them in fact. Squat thrusts? Ugh. Hated 'em in 6th grade, double hate them now! LOL. Also, I don't care to hop around with weights which are part of those workouts. So, to combat boredom and still get some cardio I tweaked the program by substituting Shaun T's Dance Party (FUN!! Not like work at all!!) for my cardio days and then I do upper/lower fix, Pilates and Dirty 30! Love Dirty 30!! My favorite by far. I've also taken to giving myself a day off from exercise once per week. I regularly add more weight to keep it challenging and my initial dumbbells are a thing of the past!!. Don't worry ladies, you won't become a muscle head and get "buff" you'll get sleek, sexy and toned! If pressed for time, I pop in the 10 minute fix for abs but never skip a day when exercise is planned cuz I don't feel like it, I'm too tired, or whatever excuse I've used in the past. My weight loss has leveled off now but I've actually lost more than I originally set out to do. More important than the scale, is the way I look and the way my clothes fit. Muffin top? Belly? Back fat? Bat wings? Faaaggghhheetttaabowwwttt it! Haha. I'm FIT and SOLID with DEFINITION (booty included), not skinny and jiggly. If you're still debating, I've had continued success even all these weeks later and I feel better than when I was 25..its completely doable! Its hard to imagine a day without my Fix and I hope anyone that takes it on, enjoys it as much as I have. Its part of me now!! Just keep in mind, you can undo all that hard work in the kitchen. My containers are still my best friend, cuz its sooooo easy to over-portion...especially when there's that last little bit in the yogurt tub or when there's four or five pieces of fruit that won't fit. If it doesn't fit, save it for later or freeze things like extra fruit for smoothies. Now...go get your fix on! You'll love yourself for it!! Good luck!! ****BREAKING NEWS***** :) 21 Day Fix Extreme has been released! You bet I plunked my money down as soon as it was available! Its on its way now and a quick tracking finds it taking a little rest in Vegas as I write this which means it should be at my door in just a couple short days! Maybe even by tomorrow!! Woot woot! I'll be sure and give my two cents after I've had the time to run through at least one cycle so stay tuned!! **Final Update** I just completed the second round of Extreme and as promised, my review is up!