From September 8-September 28, I participated in Laura Peifer’s 21 Day Reset. She offered me the opportunity to participate for free in exchange for discussing my experience on my blog. In addition to the food reset that I did with her, I signed up for the unlimited package at the local Pure Barre studio. Because I was “attacking” from two fronts, I’m not sure which program caused every change, but I know I benefited from the combination.
The 21 Day challenge included:
- A whole foods challenge to cleanse your body, mind and spirit
- New, seasonal meal plans to energize and lighten you, while releasing stored toxins
- Learning the 6 foods that can mess with your metabolism
- Group support and tips to keep you motivated and committed
- Opportunities to share our challenges and work on more positive messages to ourselves
Laura’s program offered menus and daily emails. I’ll be the first to admit that my crazy September did not allow me to make the most of the program. I made very few of the meals, but did lean heavily on her suggestions and emails. I (mostly) gave up dairy, wheat, sugar, and processed foods. I say mostly because Ragnar fell in there and we all know what I ate then didn’t follow ANY healthy eating guidelines.
Here’s what I discovered from this challenge:
- I am definitely sensitive to dairy. This really does not surprise me as both of my boys had issues with dairy as babies.
- Wheat makes me bloaty if I eat too much.
- Sugar is a trigger food for me (as is any type of bread.)
- I need to plan more as my inclination every day was to reach for handfuls of nuts and slices of cheese. Not eating cheese was perhaps the hardest thing for me.
- Almond milk is a decent replacement for milk in my coffee and it’s a change I can live with.
In the end, I lost 5 pounds (which unfortunately leaves me with at least 5 more to go) and had more energy and just felt better in general, despite totally failing at getting extra sleep.
Here are some of the food options that I’ll be keeping going forward:
1. Oatmeal – I started making it with a chunk of cooked sweet potato, half a banana, and a small spoonful of almond butter. Sweet, yummy, super filling, and it helped provide the carbs my body craves for running.
2. Salads with fruit and homemade dressings – I love salad and I found that adding a bit of whatever fruit needs using + a tasty vinaigrette made me not miss the blue cheese or ranch dressings that I love.
3. Stuffed peppers without cheese and with quinoa – I make stuffed peppers at least every other week. I was afraid that removing the cheese would make them less enjoyable. Nope. I just upped the salsa to give it more flavor. When I was feeling wild and crazy, I sprinkled on some nutritional yeast to give it a slightly cheesy flavor.
Now let’s talk Pure Barre.
I managed to go to 8 classes in 3 weeks. I never got tired of the classes (and actually liked the “routine” of it.) Each class was basically the same, but with changes in exactly how we hit each muscle. I saw the most improvement in my core strength as I went from barely able to plank to being able to do their entire plank series. In fact, in my last class, I made it through every single exercise without a break. So, even though I see very little in the way of outward changes to my body, I did get stronger.
So, here’s why I’m done. The main concern is financial. The cost doesn’t get below $20 per class until you buy at least 15 classes and the unlimited monthly option is $250. (To compare, Revolve offers a single ride for $15 and unlimited monthly rides for $100. The closest yoga studio to me is $20 for a single class and prices go down from there. A no-commitment, unlimited month is $165.) For a class that uses very little in the way of equipment and crams the room full, I find the price too high.
My other concern applies to basically every class I could take – when you add in commute time and trying to work with the specific class times, it just takes too much out of my day. I can often cram a 4-6 mile run in between meetings or right before I pick up the boys or after Beer Geek gets home. To take an hour long class, it takes at least an hour and a half out of my day and I have to block that time on my calendar. Hence the reason I’m not even using my last week. I have too many commitments this week that prevent me from making their specific class times. And I really could not run on the same day as the class as I just don’t have that much time in my day, which means I barely ran in September other than Ragnar.
Short story? I like the workout and will probably buy a DVD, but I’m unlikely to go back to the studio.
Did you make any big changes in September? How did they pan out for you? I’ll be continuing to keep dairy and wheat out of my diet and will be continuing to add some form of cross training to my weeks while at the same time getting back to running.
Disclaimer: Laura allowed me to participate free of charge and I paid the “new client” unlimited price at Pure Barre. All opinions are my own
I have done one of Laura’s resets in the past and found it very worthwhile. She is a great coach and how lucky she offered you a membership in exchange for a blog review. I would jump at that for sure!
I haven’t tried Barre, but in general I find the classes in my area very expensive. And the time and travel kind of annoying. Guess I am a workout at home/running kinda gal.
I just need to get motivated to work out at home, instead of just running…
Giving up cheese would be killer for me! I do love making all kinds of great salads and always use my own dressing. Don’t know if you’ve explored all of the flavored olive oil and vinegars out there but they make a huge difference.
Got some good dressing recipes? My best one has beer in it and I don’t always have the time to make it…
I’ve been using lemon flavored olive oil with a raspberry balsamic. I also have some spice infused oils and vinegars. I use those instead of dressing they are really good.
I am a big fan of barre and I also teach it! It can be cost restrictive, try Youtube though, there are lots of great free videos there!
Ooh, thanks for that suggestion. I will!
Laura’s program is awesome. I followed it very loosely and learned a lot. I plan to put 100% into after the marathon. I have not tried Barre, but I feel if you love it and will do it, it is worth the price. If not, find something else.
I just can’t justify the costs of it. Luckily, my first love is running and now that I’ve cut back on races, that’s not tooo expensive LOL.
So glad you could participate, Erika… and you learned so much about your body! That’s one of my favorite parts… adding foods make in and the “aha” moments about how they really make you feel. Congrats on losing 5 pounds, too! I haven’t tried Barre yet but would love to- like you, it’s tough to fine the time to get to a studio, and to justify the cost.
It was a wonderful experience for me. Thanks!
It is crazy to me how much Pure Barre is! I really want to go but my gym offers barre classes for free and is $45 a month. At this point I just can’t justify it.
I need to find a gym that offers a barre class and check it out…
I love Pure Barre, but agree way too pricey. I usually buy groupons and specials and then do the at home DVDs. The DVDs are good but lack the good tunes from class. I worked with a trainer this month and I can say it isn’t for me, I don’t like being on someone else’s schedule and the driving at random times was eating into my day.
I’m not a music person, so the lack of good tunes won’t bother me. I’m keeping my eyes open for a special…
yes, i am with you on pure barre. as you know, i love it so but the price is a tough pill to swallow. i need to figure out what i’m doing because i had a few classes gifted to me but now those are over and i don’t like going too many days w/out my pure barre 🙂
I’m thinking video + occasional class to do a form check…
Cheese is my downfall. I have up a lot of dairy when my boys were babies for the same reason. I don’t miss milk in the least. I love almond milk in my coffee and baking.
I can’t bake with almond milk because one of my boys is allergic, but I def. don’t mind it in my coffee. I’m having such a hard time not eating cheese (and the cheese I bought is lasting way longer than it used to now that I’m not constantly snacking on it…)
I enjoyed the reset and was suprised that it was as easy as it was. I actually followed a lot of the principals already with the exception of sugar…the first three days were really tough. I didn’t realize how much sugar I actually consumed! My headaches lasted about 3 days which was rough. I just bought a 10 class package for Pure Barre from the Gilt City discount. I agree, it is so ridiculously expensive that after the classes are done, I probably won’t be able to do any more.
My problem was timing – hard to stay on when you have Ragnar and a beer tour in the 21 days LOL. But I definitely felt better when I minimized certain foods.
Ok you so have me motivated to want to try this!!!
You totally should!
I have never done a reset. I have a feeling that if I ever do, I would find that I have a serious weakness for bread and sugar
It was really interesting. My cheating on the reset really showed me my issues LOL.
Well done on the reset! I have never done a 21 day program like that – but it sounds wonderful—and helpful! As for Pure Barre…. I might have been able to swallow the price – I just did not like the large size of the classes and always felt like I was on the verge of injuring myself with bad form. I know a lot of people love it – but I guess I just don’t love it enough.
Yeah, I felt like I got a good workout, but it was always crammed full and I just can’t justify the expense right now.
Good job!! I have given up dairy before, but not for long. CHEESE!!! CHEESE!! But I have sinus issues and it might help. Ahh, decisions :). Visiting from SITS!
Thanks for stopping by! And I am having a super hard time with no cheese. I love cheese…
I can see how doing classes is so less user-friendly than just popping on your running shoes when you have some free time and hitting the road. I used to go to the gym all the time when my kids were in school but I was tied to a schedule a lot tighter back then. Drop the kids at school then straight to the gym. Now I don’t have those times to meet I would find it a lot harder to make a class whereas I can be spontaneous when I run. If I want to run Sunday afternoon at 3:37, I can run then.
I was going to a class right after I dropped off my son, but they discontinued that one. I was so sad.
Hey!! I’m over from the SITS linkup (like 4 days late! lol). I tried a Barre class for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it!! It would be such a great addition to my workout routine! Price and convenience (the studio is like 35 min away!) definitely play a factor in me not being able to commit to going there. And I’m training for my first half marathon – which is in less than a month! – so I’m busy with that! 🙂