As you all know, I’m not a huge fan of strict programs, diets or quick fixes …but what about those times when you want to tighten up a bit? You know maybe after a vacation, a birthday weekend, the holidays…times when you may have indulged just a bit and you want to just buckle down and focus. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to sit here and tell you that my diet is all Swedish fish and Dots if I’m trying to lose a little body fat. I definitely take certain things out of my diet at certain times, especially when I want to see some quick changes.
I know for myself as well as my clients, having some guidelines to follow short-term can increase accountability. It’s not about doing a crazy cleanse or a 12- week competition prep plan, it’s just about tightening up your nutrition for a short period of time and using your biofeedback tools, during that time, to transition into a more sustainable way of eating. I’m not talking complete deprivation, or handing out specific meal plans and saying, “here, eat this”. That’s just foolish, and I can tell you from experience, will most likely lead to bingeing once you “mess up”.
I’m talking about challenging yourself to fuel your body with foods that will kick-start some major fat burning, and to exercise in a way that will do the same. Focusing on the role hormones play in fat loss, not just the old way of calories in versus calories out – which we know doesn’t work….
Since I get requests from my coaching clients ALLL the time, I decided to go ahead and put something together. Myself, along with over 30 women in my Lean in ’14 coaching group, just completed the challenge, and I gotta tell you, the results were AMAZING!
WHO IS THE PROGRAM FOR?
- Women who want to ignite the motivation flame, see some results, and continue on their fat loss path long after the 15 days.
- Women who want to learn more about how hormones affect their body and as a result, feel lighter, tighter and less bloated.
- Women who want to learn more about the power of habit, willpower and positive thoughts as they relate to losing body fat.
- Women who want to experience secondary benefits like more energy, clearer skin and an effective way to manage stress
- Women who who feel “stuck” with their fitness and fat loss goals and want to learn the most effective and efficient ways to exercise to optimize fat burning.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAM NOT FOR?
- Anyone unwilling to put the work in, both in the kitchen and with their mindset, to create a foundation for a lifestyle change. Although this is only 15 days, you have to be willing to put the effort in. Like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it, and the mindset piece is just as – if not more important – than the diet and exercise piece.
- Anyone who is looking to lose weight fast. Although weight loss was a side-effect of the challenge, it is not the primary focus. The focus is to listen to, and learn from, the feedback that you are getting everyday from your body.
- Anyone who wants to be told exactly what to eat and when to eat it. You will be guided through this, but it is not a “here take this” type of program. You will be responsible for making your own choices and meals. There will be recipes and suggested meal plans, but it will only work if you listen to your body, not my meal plan.
- Anyone training for a figure competition or for performance of any kind. Exercise will be part of this plan, but it is not the primary focus. The focus is to start burning fat more efficiently, which takes some adjusting. If you are training for an event where you must exercise intensely on a regular basis, I suggest skipping this program until after the event.
Go ahead and put your name on the list and you’ll be the first to know when it’s ready to go! http://bit.ly/ZEo9Qg
Check out what people are saying about the challenge!
Alison H:
| Weight | 168 | 157 |
| Chest | 38 | 36 |
| Waist | 34.5 | 31.5 |
| Hips | 40.5 | 38.5 |
| Thigh | 24 | 23.5 |
Sandy T:
Seriously, do this program:
- If you are ready to make a mindset change. By doing this, I really became aware of how much I was eating – that little nibble there, that little piece there. For a long while, I had been kidding myself that I was ‘doing the right thing’. Now, I realize I was just fooling myself. This challenge has allowed me to refocus. Eating whole foods can be delicious and exciting, and although it takes a little more work and preparedness, the results are worth it! I am definitely going to incorporate these changes into my everyday life. I do not feel deprived and know that when ‘life happens and ‘temptations abound’ I have the tools to make the better choice.
- If you are ready to see results. I had really hoped, but didn’t think I would see and feel the results. Was it tough? Yes! Did I want to quit? Yes! Did it get easier as the days went on? Yes! Are the results worth it? Yes, yes yes! Sure, I have lost a few pounds, but I have also lost inches all over. My clothes are looser and I am definitely not as bloated as I felt before I started this. On day 19 now, and still seeing results and going strong.
Boost your self-confidence. I am guilty, like most, of the self-hate that a lot of women have around diet and body image. By focusing over just 15 days on me, I definitely feel better about myself. This in turn enable me to really stick to the challenge…my only ‘cheat’ was a chocolate chip cookie (when Keri said so) – other wise, I did not stray at all. That has never happened…and what a feeling of accomplishment!
| Weight | 139.1 | 133.4 |
| Chest | 35 | 34 |
| Waist | 31 | 29.5 |
| Belly Button | 35 | 32.5 |
| Hips | 37 | 36.5 |
| Thigh | 22 | 21 |
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Michelle A:
So here are 15 things I learned from the 15 Day Challenge:
1. Sugar is not necessary in my espresso but half n half is.
2. I can go out to a party and bring my own food and drinks.
3. I was really overeating fruits and having just one or two servings a day is
perfect
4. Feeling bloated after wine is a real thing
5. I don’t need to salt my food at all
6. I feel awful after a night of nachos and pizza
7. Walking is wonderful
8. Giving into cravings just increases your cravings
9. I get hungry more often but a quick bite of protein fixes that immediately
10. Sleep is really important when battling cravings
11. BCAAs become a sweet treat
12. FOOD PREP IS A MUST
13. People might think you are pregnant when you don’t drink
14 I lost 1/2 an inch on all site measurements and the scale dropped 5 pounds (the first time this has happened in a year)
15. Keri Herbert Mantie is so knowledgeable and supportive that she makes this challenge a lifestyle change and NOT a quick weekend cleanse soon to be forgotten. Thank you for challenging me to go beyond what I thought I could handle and introducing me to new, healthy habits. I can’t wait to see where the next 15 days lead me.
(P.S my fiancé just told me he can’t believe how motivated I was and how, for the first time, I wasn’t just dieting and cheating)
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Kerrianne O:
Thank you very much for letting me be a part of this challenge. I learned so much about myself and how different foods effect me and most importantly I learned that I don’t need to eat certain foods and I will still survive 🙂
During the 15 day challenge I was surprised to find that I never felt deprived of any food. When I was getting ready to start, I wondered, “How am I ever going to make it without eating pizza?” Well, I made it and never craved it. I watch my family eat it twice and didn’t feel the urge to take a bite. Another thing that surprised me was how much energy I had throughout the challenge. I woke up in the morning feeling rested. I no longer needed coffee to get me through afternoon slumps. Overall, I felt great. I am so happy I was able to be a part of this challenge.
| Weight | 122 | 116.2 |
| Chest | 32.25 | 32.25 |
| Waist | 26.5 | 25.75 |
| Belly Button | 28.5 | 27.25 |
| Hips | 31 | 30.3/8 |
| Thigh | 21 | 20.25 |
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Amanda G:
Wow. That is all I have to say about the 15 Day Challenge. I won’t lie, I HATED IT the first three or four days. I felt AWFUL. It made me so tired, so cranky, constant headache, and I had no energy. Wow (again), was all I could think- I could not even believe that my body was THAT addicted to sugar and carbs, that without them, I felt the worst I’ve ever felt. I literally could not believe it.
Even though I was miserable… I stuck to the plan. I was proud of myself. My entire diet in the beginning consisted of meats (mostly grilled chicken with whatever spices I had in my cabinet), eggs, raw veggies, some cooked veggies sautéed in olive oil or butter, nuts, water, coffee, and tea. I will admit- the one thing I tried to give up but really couldn’t, was the light cream in my coffee. And without my coffee, my headache would get so bad I literally could not see straight (talk about addictions! Woah). I will say this though, being more conscience of what I was putting in my body, made me realize how much coffee I was drinking and really made me be able to cut down. So during the 15 Day Challenge, I would have one coffee in the am with milk or light cream and that was it– no more afternoon coffee. I used cinnamon in my coffee instead of sugar- which now I would never go back to sugar.
After the forth day, I will admit I started to feel better. I had to remind myself that I was doing this for myself, not only to attain the weight I want, but for my health- and that is what kept me on track.
I honestly cannot really remember when I stopped having cravings, but I do know that when were told to have a cheat item (I think it was around day 12?), I totally overindulged and felt miserable. That awful feeling helped me to get right back on track and eat healthy, where as before I would have thought to myself “I feel awful, I might as well finish out the day with more junk food and start fresh tomorrow”. I’ve completely lost that mindset. I’m now more on track with a mindset of: every bite counts- so if it’s not a healthy choice, I think about it before I put it in my mouth, try to chew it slowly, enjoy it, savor it, and then walk away from the bag/box/cabinet/whatever!
Throughout this challenge, I learned a lot about myself, my eating habits, my discipline, and my overall health in general. I also learned that I love eating chicken for breakfast, eggs are awesome but if you eat too many you feel like you’re going to turn into an egg, peanuts are not NUTS- they are a LEGUME- and they are off limits during the 15 Day Challenge (oops), and as much as I LOVE pizza, white wine, and beer… I love even more waking up early and feeling good about myself, feeling well rested, refreshed, and ready to start the day. IT IS SO WORTH IT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY!
Lastly, the one regret I have after this challenge is not getting before and after photos and measurements like I kept meaning to get. This is awful, but I am so self conscience, that I would not even let my own FIANCÉ take pictures of me in my lululemon leggings and sports bra- I asked my sister to! (I attempted them myself but I really suck at selfies and mirror shots). My sister and I are on completely opposite schedules and the days kept passing and I never got my photos or measurements taken. I’m totally bummed out. I lost TWELVE pounds during this challenge- holy cow! I know!! It seems crazy to me too! I just wish I had the darn measurements! …next time!
THANK YOU KERI – YOU ROCK!!
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Amy P:
| Weight | 162.8 | 158 |
| Chest | 37 | 36.25 |
| Waist | 33 | 32 |
| Belly Button | 36 | 34 |
| Hips | 40 | 39 |
| Thigh | 23.5 | 23 |
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What can you expect from taking the 15 Day Challenge?
- A better understanding of how your body reacts to certain foods
- More energy, clearer skin and less cravings
- Action steps to turn this into more of a lifestyle