There came a point last month when I was sore when I woke up in the morning. I didn’t even sleep in a weird position—I was aching just because. I realized, very quickly, that I needed to get my shit together and get into better shape, and take it seriously.
So, to hold myself accountable, I’ll be logging my pre, during, and post-program progress on the Beachbody program 21 Day Fix Extreme.
Here goes nothing, but very much something. (Soreness, please leave.)
About 21 Day Fix Extreme
21 Day Fix Extreme (21DFX) is an advanced-level Beachbody program that promises impressive results in only 21 Days. It’s like the ultra-upgraded version of 21 Day Fix (created by the same trainer, Autumn Calabrese), created for high-caliber athletes.
There are seven workouts; are all around 30 minutes and include a warm up and cool down session. Autumn breaks the exercises up by rounds, usually with two per round, and repeats each round. Depending on the day, the moves sometimes last for a minute, other times 30 seconds, there are one-leg-at-a-time moves, etc. Equipment varies, but usually includes light and medium weights and an exercise band.
I did this program haphazardly on-and-off before my wedding. I wasn’t very good at it (I half-assed it mostly), but I remember it kicking my butt when I pressed play.
Before Starting
Initial Feelings
I’m nervous, especially to put pictures of my body out there on the chance that there’s zero visible improvement. However, I do think that I need a little push to keep myself going and to stick with what I started. I’m 25 years old, and I want to feel like a million bucks in this season of life.
Starting Stats
I’m going to wait until my second round to record my inches and stats. Mostly because I didn’t measure before I started day 1. Oops!
My Goals
Here’s what I want to accomplish over the next 21 days:
- Improved fitness. I want to feel like I’m in better shape, and that I’m headed in the right direction cardio-wise before hiking season arrives.
- Tone it Up. I want to notice at least some kind of physical change, even if it’s small. I won’t be weighing myself, so I’m hoping for a better fit on my pants or a little trim off the tummy area.
- Nutrition. I really want to eat a lot of salads this month and maintain a caloric deficit. My Fitness Pal is a great app for this, and I tend to see results when I stick to it.
- Finish It. I have an ugly habit of starting programs and never finishing them. I want this to be the time that I see it through from start to finish. Dedication and discipline over motivation. I can do this.
Here’s what I want for the long-term:
- No more random soreness. I’m good with a soreness that I earn from working hard, but not from something as lazy as sleeping.
- Get into better shape for snowboarding season. I’ll never forget how much it hurt the next day. If I’m better prepared, I think I’ll get much more out of the experience.
- Hiking harder trails. I want to be the hiking guru that dominates Colorado’s hiking landscape, even the hard ones. I know I hold myself back from difficult trails because I really don’t want to deal with type-2 fun.
- Cosmetic changes. Look, I want my jeans to fit a little better, in case I ever have to wear them again.
The Challenges
The main challenges I’m facing are pretty straight-forward: I often quit fitness programs mid-way through (mostly if I skip a single day, then it’s all-or-nothing and the nothing kicks in); the weekends are the hardest for me; this program is difficult; and it’s hard for me to stay on-track with food if Chad isn’t in it with me.
Stay Tuned
A fitness diary is forthcoming. I promise. Let’s go!
Good luck, you’ll rock the numbers!