End Result 21 Day Challenge

I realize I never did a final result post.

Well in the end I lost about 8.5 lbs in 3 weeks.  Not too bad.

I would recommend the 21 day challenge to anyone looking for a jump start to their diet.  I wouldn't buy all the supplements, and I don't think a cup of coffee or some equal in your green tea would derail your progress.

If you have the willpower- I don't believe in the food of MFF...just cutting down to 1,200 calories a day.

Again, it's a good jump start.  But if you can just count calories you'd be fine.  In the end it cost about $700 just for 3 weeks of food- that's pretty steep.  But I personally do better one any diet or gym routine if I am spending more money.  I never cheated on this program because I didn't want to waste $700 and 3 weeks of my life.  Just like I'm sure to go to Shred415 4x a week when I'm paying for the monthly unlimited.   I make sure to get my monies worth.

Home Stretch?

It's Monday of my last week.  Sure doesn't feel like it.  I would expect it would become easier and the weight loss would follow suit, but it seems to be just the opposite. I feel ravenous.  I feel grumpy.  And the scale just piddles about, a little up and a little down.  I've taken to eating my 3rd snack- the protein cookie.  Which my husband calls garbage cookie, because well it smells like it, and I must say it kind of tastes like it.

Falling on my old weight watchers roots I think- why can't I just have a bowl of broccoli?  Or a banana?  I'd take some cauliflower!

It probably doesn't help that it's the week before my period.  I know men couldn't care less, but it does give me bottomless-pit-syndrome.

It doesn't help my last experience with the location was less than stellar.  My husband went to pick up my foods, he came back with 2 bags.  As I unloaded and sorted, I realized I was missing a lot of food.  Food we paid for.  I was annoyed because I didn't even have one full meal (they forgot all snacks) and I would have to get back in my car that's valet parked (I live downtown) just to get my food.  I called and said they must have forgotten a bag.  They said the looked.  They asked me to list of the items I was missing.  They said to come in and they'll take care of it.  A minute later they called me back and asked who picked my food up?  I replied my husband and then they said that they gave him all the food and to speak with him.  I further explained that he gave me the food and I'm still missing food.... They then asked me to read every item off again, which I did.  Then they said they would comp one item.  Then I had to explain that I had already paid of everything.  Then they said they would comp me $5.  Then out of nowhere some guy finally came up and said they found the last bag.  Annoying.

I have been quite religious with the program....aside from 2 flaws.

Flaw #1. I don't eat on their schedule.  I stick to breakfast around 10am, lunch around 1-3pm, snack around 4-5pm, dinner around 6-7pm, and snack around 9pm. 

Flaw #2. I had 2 bites of cake.  On separate occasions.  But I still feel guilty and needed to air it out. 

I don't think these items have ruined the MFFs experience...as in, I don't think they caused me not to lose weight or something.

Also, I haven't had a cheat meal.  Which the nutrition coach didn't seem to care about.  But I might have to do that this week...

My Fit Foods Staff

I am currently halfway through the 21 day cleanse.  After an initial 4-ish pound loss, the weight loss has slowed dramatically.  Sometimes going up a few tenths of a pound or down.  I will say that I chose not to have a cheat meal during my first week.  I really wanted to stick with the program and I didn't think a cheat meal would be productive to that in the first week.  I do think this week I might have a cheat meal...maybe sushi?

Anyway, I wanted to talk about the 'support' and customer service from my fit foods staff.  First, the nutritional coach.

MFF Nutritional Coach

So it seems every location has one nutritional coach.  This person isn't a certified nutritionist, or from what I can gather, has any proper training or certificates in nutrition education, other than going through a My Fit Foods training.  I think that's a little concerning.  From when I first went into MFF I met Lauren (their nutritional coach) and said I wanted to start the 21 day challenge.  She let me know she was booked for the day but that I could set up an appointment in a few days- which I did.  When the day came, she called me in the morning to remind me of my appointment- great.  Because I had actually put down a different time in my calendar.  Not sure who was in the wrong.  When I got there, right on time, she asked for my name again.  This immediately annoyed me.  You met me a few days ago, you called me this morning, and I saw you write my name in your calender.  To top it off, WE HAVE THE SAME NAME.  I understand she meets with many people, but just look at your schedule.

Then we sit in her office and I fill out a question sheet, which she then asks me all the same questions even though I wrote down the answers.  And she sits across from me and has her speech memorized, "flip to page 4, that will tell you about x,y,z.  The next page says..." But when it comes to actual feedback to what I say, she has nothing.  I ask if there is a lot of fiber in the meals and she says not really.  I say that's interesting because within 10 mins of eating a meal I have to poop.  She seems totally repulsed and uninterested in that.  Shouldn't she be concerned on how the food affects me?  Thank god I never told her about that time I shit myself...The same with asking her about other supplements and changing the timing of meals and anything else...she can't answer them.  She avoids them.  

So my point is, it seems this person has memorized the MFF bible...that's it.  She's unable to respond to specific situations or answer questions.

Then while going through additional supplements, she recommends one.  Which I later find in my bag...I don't mind but I would have liked a direct question if I do indeed want it.  But, she sends a prescription email that does include my additional supplement as well as my additional snack we had discussed.  Then comes the continuing emails- Day 1, Day 2, Say 3, Day 4, one week, Day 10 (1/2 way).  What annoys me about this is it's just a copy and paste.  Not I'm not expecting something personalized within every sentence.  But it the area that mentions supplements it states "other supplements if recommended" and lists them all and other vague all encompassing statements.  

She did call me at the start of week 2.  I didn't answer, nor am I calling back.  I don't know what she expects me to say.  Any feedback other than, "it's going well" seems to frighten her.

MFF Staff

Every time I go into this place, it's more awkward than the one before.  It seems you either get swarmed with people talking you into a program, or you get flat out ignored.  They are too busy talking to come and grab your prepackaged food.  (Which thank God they go through line by line because every time I've been missing items or had things I specifically did not want and had emailed to state that.)  One time I came in and some charming gentleman introduced himself, asked me how it's going and what have I had to give up for the program.  "Um, life...and a ton of money."  Maybe I'm just awkward and don't know what they are looking for.  Do they expect me to say it's the best thing, that I have so much more energy and sleep so much better?  No, I've lost some weight on your 1,200 calorie diet.  Yesterday when I picked up food I was asked how my day was and I said actually awful.  They inquired why and when I told them I was laid off, just hours earlier....the girl responded that it could be worse, because another man had just came in and he had been laid off on his job, he can't afford his mortgage, and he just lost custody of his child.  Hmm, maybe he could afford his mortgage if he wasn't paying near $1,000 for 3 weeks of food?

This post was more of a rant.  But I just want to warn you- don't expect much from your nutrition coach...and do expect to feel extremely awkward when within the four walls of My Fit Foods.  

Beware of sharts

Gross title.  But I guess I aim to tell the truth.

The food, while certainly edible, isn't exactly amazing.  Everything has this spice to it.  I don't know why my almond crusted chicken needs to be spicy.  I assume it cayenne pepper.  Which is kind of silly to me.  I think the thought process is spicy foods speed up metabolism so lets make everything spicy.  But spices, like ice cold water, BARELY speed up metabolism.  Not enough to make everything have the same underlying spicy taste.    But 'the bible' does suggest drinking water ice, ice cold.

Anyway.

The spices and the massive amounts of supplements do not agree with me.  This is the morning of Day 4.  Yesterday, Day 3, from the beginning I didn't feel so great after my supplements and breakfast.  Prior to my initial meeting I had tried some of the food and when the 'nutritionalist' asked what I thought of it at our consultation- I asked if there was a lot of fiber in the dishes.  She said not really.  I explained nearly 5-10 mins after finishing any dish, I have to poop.  She kind of just ignored my comment.

So yesterday, I had a normal poop after breakfast.  My stomach wasn't feel great.  Then a few hours later while I was standing in my kitchen (thank god I work from home), filling up my water bottle I thought I had a little gas to pass.  But I quickly discovered it wasn't just gas.  This was my first experience with a shart and let me just say, I wasn't thrilled.

The rest of the day my stomach was upset.  Around 1:30 (hadn't eaten since breakfast) I felt a little better and did a Jillian Michaels' workout.  Around 5:30 I had my first snack, and even though it was 'picnic time' (just crackers, cheese, apples, grapes, etc.) my stomach still felt off.  I went to the gym around 8pm and was able to hold strong until about 8:45 when I wasn't feeling great and feared history was going to repeat itself- so I left.

I got home and forced down dinner (Pesto chicken- first thing no spice- thank god!) and a chobani yogurt at my 2nd snack...also as something my stomach knows.  Still all evening I really didn't feel well.

So onward to day 4.  Let's hope today is better.

I got another scale, that should be more accurate.  As my old scale has some shady behavior and only goes to the 1/2 pound, not the 1/10.  But to be consistent with my first weigh in I am continuing with the old red scale.

Starting weight: 159
Day 3 morning weight: 157
Day 4 morning weight: 156

21 Day Challenge

I decided to blog my experience with My Fit Foods 21 day challenge for a few reasons.  In some ways I believe it will help hold me accountable, but also, when I was seeking out real reviews and experiences, I could only find a handful of them.

I am living in Chicago and using the new My Fit Foods in Old Town on North Ave.

As I looked over the menu and reviews, I thought I could just go in and start the challenge.  When I showed up, I was let know I needed an appointment with a nutrition coach to start me off.  I introduced myself to her and she gave me a little knowledge (woman's meals are generally the 'small's and there is breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks) but set me up with an appointment for Sunday.

I took home 6 meals and some snacks to try out in the mean time.  They were alright.  But I have to admit, I wasn't sticking to a full day of them.  I either ate out one meal or had more treats during the day.  Though I plan to be fully committed to the 21 day challenge.  I was just trying to adjust.

I looked over the menu and prices and in my mind, I thought I would come to the store and 'shop' to collect my meals.  And I would simply only buy 1 'snack' a day to cut expenses, and why do I need to pay $4.00 for a snack bar with all the same elements as a Luna bar that costs $1, or $2.50 for Chobani when I buy it by the case at Costco, OR, $4.75 for a hardboiled egg and some grapes?!  Unfortunately, that is not how it works...

You select 2 specific days per week to pick up your food.  And your food will all be chosen for you.  Of course, in your consultation you can specify items you don't eat or aren't interested in, and can always reach out to the nutrition coach to make changes.  For example- I will let her know not to send me any more Chobani.

The consultation is pretty standard.  Weigh in and measurements, what do you want out of the program.  A review of the My Fit Foods 'bible'.  A review of the basic guidelines and rules, and the supplements and cleansing drinks.  Oh yeah, there's those.

Every morning when you wake up you need to take the My Fit Cocktail.  And twice a day a plethora of supplements.


My Fit Cocktail
4-12 oz of water
4 oz of cranberry juice (My Fit Foods brand)
1 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg)
1/2 squeezed lemon

It's honestly not awful, but it's not good either.  They say you'll get used to it in 4 days.  I guess we'll see.











The Supplements
Fish Oil
Milk Thistle
Multi-Vitamin
Cinnamon
Antioxidant

And then I was given an additional L-glutamine to cut sugar cravings.





You don't get a discount for the 21 day Challenge and it's not a set price.  You are paying per item.  Though you can set up a house account for various amounts that give you 'money back'  I paid $500 up front and got an additional $25 credit.  The next option was $1000.  From my research it seemed most Texas women spent between $500-$550.  Unfortunately it seems Chicago prices (along with taxes) are up and I'll be spending at least $700.

After the consultation I walked out with all my supplements, cocktail ingredients, and 2 days worth of food for a whooping $152.97.  I'm interested to see what the cost will be for a normal pick up without supplements.

And for my stats: 5'5" and 159 starting weight.  Yuck.