The container system

These little containers are beginning to become my friend.  Back in April when I really started getting into Beachbody programs and signed on with Beachbody on demand, (lifesaver, seriously programs galore!) I started the program 80 Day Obsession.  However, I did not do the meal plan.  I honestly didn't think I needed it.  At the time I was doing my own thing with food and thought if I work out hard enough I can just eat normal and the good would outweigh the bad...WRONG!  That may have worked 10 to 15 years ago, but not in my mid thirties. 

The meal plan is a stricter version of the meal plan with 21 Day Fix.  I never did the meal plan with that one either, but that's how I understand it from what I've read and heard.  Some things that were allowed before are no longer allowed in 80 Day Obsession, like wine. 

I was counting macros at the time I began 80 DO, which is essentially what this is but the containers control way more of the KIND of food you eat rather than with counting macros you eat whatever you want as long as it "fits".  Which I liked counting macros, don't get me wrong, I'm  in no way bashing it AT ALL.  But with these containers you see exactly what you don't get enough of.  For me this would be vegetables.  I always thought I liked veggies, but what I'm figuring out is that I like my veggies cooked.  And who has time to cook veggies 5 times a day, which is what my plan calls for.  Five of those green containers, filled with veggies.   

Now, the containers look small, but the plan I am on wants me to eat 1800 calories a day.  That's a lot!  What's not shown in this picture is the teaspoon.  I also get 5 of those a day, which consists mostly of peanut butter.  There's a list of other approved foods like olive oil, butter, mayo and other oils but I need my PB.  Which I stick on celery...

You're put in a category of A, B, C, D, E (I'm on plan C with the current program I'm doing) and I think that's it, but one of the further down categories are up to 2200 calories a day. When you weigh more you need to eat more.  And when you're working out this hard your body needs fuel.  That's how you should start thinking of food, FUEL.  We are fueling our bodies.  Oh and also it changes with the program you do.  There are 2 categories a program can fall into.  Some programs burn more calories than the others, so natually you eat more food.

Anyway, what it reminds me of is, remember the color by number coloring books, well this is eating by colors and all you have to do is keep track of how many colors you need to eat that day.  Beachbody even has a free app on the app store that you can download that will keep track of all of this for you.  I mean, it doesn't get any easier than this people.  Programs in your home, support groups that really support you, containers to measure your food in, an app that saves all that information that you carry with you everywhere. 

The thing that kept me from signing up to be a coach for so long was I was afraid people were just going to tune me out.  It's uncomfortable when someone tries to sell you on something and you just want to say no and don't want to have the awkward moment.  At least that's how I am, always avoiding the uncomfortable situations no matter how much of a bind saying "yes" would put me in.  But I think the programs themselves and the trainers really sell it.  It all sells itself essentially, I'm just trying to get people to give it a try and see how amazing it is.