I had let the holiday season take over my life and my better judgment. I had given up good eating and exercise habits. I had stopped writing. I hadn't had a moment to myself.
It was not good.
But one part of where I was mentally, emotionally and physically wasn't just holiday backlash. It was part of a bigger problem.
Since we moved to our current home over three years ago, I had gained weight. A lot of weight, for me. (As of January 1, I weighed the most I had ever weighed outside of pregnancy.) I had tried many, many times to lose that weight, as I was gaining it, over the last few years. I used the same methods I had always successfully used to lose/maintain weight or increase fitness--stepping up my workouts and making mostly healthier choices with food. But suddenly it stopped working for me. I'd work really hard and not lose a pound. Then I'd get discouraged, give up and slowly gain even more.
Vicious cycle, as they say.
So, three and a half years and almost twenty pounds later, I found myself scrolling through my Facebook feed in early January when I happened upon a page someone I knew had "liked." It was for Danette May's 30 Day New You Challenge. In a moment of kismet, I clicked on the link, read through everything, and, rather impulsively, signed up. (It was only $47, so I figured it wasn't a huge amount to lose if it was a flop.) A few days later, on January 9, I began the 30 day challenge.
I finished that challenge last week and that morning I took my measurements. I lost 9 lbs and 9 inches in those 30 days. I look and feel better and I know I'm healthier for it.
I feel so passionately about this experience--not only because it worked, but because it's a very sane, healthy approach to weight loss; no drugs and nothing crazy-- that I felt I had to share it with all of you.
So what's this program all about? Here are the basics:
It's called Danette May's 30 Day New You Challenge. It lasts 30 days and costs $47. For that you get weekly clean-eating meal plans, including recipes for 3 meals and 3 snacks each day (the plan tells you exactly what to eat and when to eat it); weekly mindset meditations to listen to each day to help get your mind right for getting healthy; weekly workout plans complete with workout videos (most weeks you do a 12-18 minute workout with Danette on four of the days and then walk for 15 minutes or do some other light exercise the other 3 days); and access to an online Facebook support group of other people going through the challenge with you, as well as mentors who have been through it and are there to answer your questions. The meals, snacks and drinks are all clean--no processed foods, no white sugar or white flour. And you give up caffeine and alcohol for the first ten days. (After that, one cup of coffee per day and 1-2 glasses of wine per week are permitted.)
What about my take on things? Here it is:
The first 3 days of the challenge include a detox. This is the hardest part of the challenge. You will be hungry. It's definitely a willpower thing, especially that first day. Have some support at the ready for the start. (I'd be happy to be your support. :-) And the whole first week you'll get your own personalized set of detoxifying symptoms. For me, I had some headaches and lethargy and skin breakouts. The other thing you need to know is that there is a fair amount of food shopping and prep involved. And you kind of have to commit to not eating out much during the 30 days--it'll just make it easier on you not to eat out. You really have to commit to the whole thing overall. But, if you do, if you really commit and follow the plan, I think you'll be really happy with the results. I know I have been. (And I'll keep you posted on my own progress.)
**Note: I have never been able to stick to a prescriptive eating plan for more than a few days--ever--before this one. But on this one, I felt good; it made sense to me; I had support; and it was the right time--I was ready. Plus, with the meals and snacks (most of which are really good), I really wasn't hungry after the detox days.
Other thoughts:
The program introduced me to foods and meals that I hadn't had before and discovered that I really liked. And other than still craving tortilla chips...which I will have for a cheat meal one of these days ;-)...eating like this had killed most of my cravings for unhealthy foods and my desire to randomly snack.
I also really love the meditations--so much of this is mental, and I think they helped. I liked them so much that I'm adding other meditations to my daily life too. (I'll share more on that in another post.)
The Facebook support group and mentors were really helpful--but it was also kind of addictive. I spent a lot of time reading through everything each day. The whole program was a bit addictive--but I think maybe it needed to be. I was super focused on it the entire 30 days.
The workouts were great--challenging but short. I like getting my workout in in about 20 minutes! Before this, I always devoted 30-45 minutes to my workouts. I also like that Danette's workouts are very mentally positive and up-lifting. It's not all "look great in your bikini" but more "feel great in your body." As she says, "Love the body you live in!"
Interested in giving it go? The next challenge starts in early March. (1/19 Update: The 30 Day Challenge has new start dates throughout the year. Go to the link below to find out when the next one starts.) Click this link to learn more:
http://59894eyms6z7rh6pp2w509aobx.hop.clickbank.net/?pid=265&tid=amylorbach2017 (12/29/17 Update: New Link! Click Here to sign up for the next 30 Day Challenge: http://mbsy.co/l3l9M) (3/28/19 Update: Danette May is making changes to her referral program so these links no longer work. Once the program updates are complete, I will share a new referral link. Until then, you can just go to her website.)
Do I get anything for you using my link? Yep. A t-shirt. I moved from the 30 Day Challenge group to Danette's Forever Fit group so I could continue on the plan with more support. She offers us "alumni" the chance to refer people if we liked the program and win a cute t-shirt. That's it. You can also just go to her website to find out more. I can live without the t-shirt. It's more important to me that you join if you think it's right for you. Like I said, it has really helped me. (1/19 Update: DM changed how she thanks alumni for referrals. She now sends small gift cards.)
If you'd like to learn more about Danette May and what she does, you can check out her website here: www.danettemay.com. She also has lots of Youtube videos and is on Pinterest and Instagram, so check her out there for more information. I find her relatable, believable, supportive and helpful.
So, that's all I have to say about that. Oh, wait, one more thing-- my husband did the eating part of the program with me and lost 10 lbs too. So it works for women and men! I highly recommend getting your spouse on board too, if you can. Having my husband's support and doing it together helped A LOT! And I think it was good for our relationship, too!
Until next time, go get your healthy on!
(1/19 Update: After a rough second half of 2018 that got me way off track, I am participating in DM's Fit Rise January Reboot to get back on track and rejoin the DM lifestyle. So on 1/7/19 I will be right there with everyone in the 30 Day Challenge. New posts to come!! Good luck to everyone who's beginning the journey! xo)
I am diabetic can I do this plan?
ReplyDeleteI am not a doctor, and neither is Danette May, so you should check with your doctor first. But, I can tell you that numerous people with Type II Diabetes who have participated in this program, reported in the Facebook group that they were able to follow the program and had great results. People with various health issues reported being able to decrease or come off of certain medications after sticking with this program. I think it's a great approach to healthy eating, exercise and lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI just did her 30 day challenge from July 2018 and loved it too< Curious to see if her 30DC from last year is the same meal plans, workouts, etc. If you're interested and you still have it....We can email exchange the plans :o)
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry. Sorry I missed your comment last year! The meal plan, etc. from one to the other is essentially the same. The more recent ones were just updated and streamlined/made prettier.
DeleteI’m a 58 year old female. I take two total body tone classes a week and know how to use gym equipment. Are the exercises in your plan geared for older women? And what is the fee after 30 days if any?
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen! Thanks for stopping by. Let me see if I can answer your questions with a few thoughts...First, there are A LOT of women 50+ who have successfully participated in this program (and are continuing to do so). (My 60+ mom did it with great success last year!) The workouts are designed to be down by everyone. DM offers modifications for most exercises to accommodate differing ability levels (meaning she'll give you ways to make them easier or more difficult to challenge you at your fitness level). The workouts also start easier and gradually get ore difficult as you adjust to the activity. The first week's workout is a gentle pilates workout for while your adjusting to the other components of the program. Once you've completed the 30 day challenge, all of the recipes/eating plan, workouts and meditations are yours to keep. So you can just continue using them as you work toward your health goals. Or you can choose to join DM's ongoing lifestyle program now called Fit Rise. (Which has more of everything-- more recipes, more program, more workouts, more meditations and more support group.) You can do it on a monthly basis or annual. I started off with it monthly to see if I liked it, and then switched to the annual as it became part of my life. I don't remember the annual FR fee, but I think it worked out to around $15/mo. I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any further questions. And good luck! I will be doing the Fit Rise January Reboot, so I'll be there right along with you!
ReplyDeleteso I am a 53 year old mother of 3. I need to lose 35-50lbs. I have dieted without much success (I have thyroid isses, and although I am sticking to plans have had zero success). I eat well, although I tend to be the type that "forgets" to eat. I am interested in this program but am concerned about the exercise involved and the amount of time to plan and execute meals. My oldest daughter would likely join me on this plan as she has digestive issues and should eat clean, but the rest of my family are pretty set on the meal, potato and limit the veggies way of eating despite my attempts to change it. I will end up giving up eating the way I want to eat because it gets hard to make 2 different meals. Are the meals on this plan easy to execute while I'm making dinner for the rest? Also, I used to do yoga before I had kids but with the added weight and issues with my legs, I stopped. Will the exercises be something that a person like me that needs to start from scratch will be able to do? Thank you for your help. The next plan I try needs to be more successful for me than the rest as I am getting very discouraged.
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl! Thanks for stopping by! Let's see if I can address all of your questions. First, I will tell you that after I turned 40 I found that none of my old weight management approaches (that used to work) worked anymore. If I started gaining weight, it used to be that I could workout a little more and watch what I was eating a little closer and the weight would come back off. But after 40, that approach didn't work. I tried multiple times to lose weight and nothing seemed to work, even when I was working out for an hour each night. When I followed Danette May's 30 Day Challenge, it worked. And the weight came off. In terms of exercise... yes, you will be able to do it. She starts you off slow, and builds on what she expects you to do each week. And, with each exercise, she offers modifications for beginners. You start easy and work your way up. My 60+ mom followed the eating and meditation components of the program and then just did walking as her exercise and she saw results too. (I assume that if she'd done the workouts she probably would have seen even better results.) Now to the food...there is a fair amount of prep work involved with the food. Most meals only takes around 10-15 minutes to prepare, but the planning and shopping does involve effort. And the meals are not "meat and potato" type meals. They are very fruit and veggie focused along with lean protein and complex carbs. There are no processed foods involved and no real shortcuts (other than buying pre-chopped fruits and veggies). So, it will take some effort. When I'm strictly following my DM eating plan, I often make separate foods for my kids-- or at least modify what I'm eating for them (luckily my husband eats on plan with me). Though there are certain things they've grown to love. But here's the deal. It's hard work, but it's worth it. Clean eating makes you feel good. Really good. I recommend you and your daughter at least give it a try. What do you have to lose? Let me know if I can answer any other questions. Good luck!
DeleteFirst of all , I am a 53 year old post menopausal Mom.I am preparing to donate a kidney to my 20 year old son. The post menopause process has been brutal in terms of fat accumulation. I work 50 hours a week and am worn out. The dieting tricks I have tried have been successful, but short term. I am looking for a lifestyle change and program that is simple and works. But I am overwhelmed with all the different info on the net. Also what is the monthly cost of the program following the first 30 days. Thank you! Christine
ReplyDeleteHello! Thanks for stopping by MamaManagement!
DeleteFirst let me say, I am sorry to hear of your son's health issues. How amazing are you for being there to donate a kidney to him!!! And how amazing is your body for allowing you to do this! I think sometimes we get so down on our bodies for not looking and behaving the way we want them to (I know I do this a lot!!) but take a moment to thank your body for what it's helping you do for your son!! I wish you both the easiest possible surgery/transplant process and all the best outcomes!! Take good care of yourself.
Though I have not gone through menopause yet, I am going through perimenopause so I have a little taste of what you're dealing with there and already sympathize! (I will say that my mom, who's in her 60s has had success with this program, as have LOTS of other 50+ women. You will find women of all ages and sizes in the program.)
Here's how I look at the Danette May 30 day challenge and her fit rise lifestyle. It doesn't need to be about losing weight or looking a certain way-- at its core it's about feeling great IN our bodies and loving life. And THAT's what I wish for everyone! This is about shifting how we eat, move and care for our mental health. And the 30 day challenge is kind of the "bootcamp" class in doing just that. You learn and practice all the basics of how to eat, move and meditate along with the support of a group of women who are all going through the same thing. Which is great!
The program is simple in that the approach is very straight forward. But it can take some adjustment at the beginning if you're used to using lots of processed foods and not lots of whole foods/ fruits and veggies. So it will take some time getting used to the food prep. But the movement component is a 10-15 minute commitment each day, and meditations are 5-10 minutes a day.
The 30 day challenge is less than $50, so it's relatively low risk. Try it and see what you think. If you love it, then you can look at continuing on with forever fit (I forget the exact price of the fit rise membership but I think it's around $30/month or $200ish/annually.
I hope that info helps. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Good luck!!!
I have a question regarding this plan . Does the meal plans come to your email.? Does she have a book I can buy to follow this plan ?
ReplyDeleteDoes she have a book you can buy to follow this plan or is everything via email ?
ReplyDeleteHello! Im a mother of 3 I need to lose 20 pounds will this work for me?
ReplyDeleteHi, just "stumbled" across your blog and completely love your writing. I just made it through D1 of the 3Day detox... Oh man it's brutal! I am based in Cape Town South Africa... It's 01.47am and I just finished doing dishes and mopping floors. I had to sleep when I got home from work the lethargy, hungry feeling and headaches were crazy. In fact I still have a head ache. I also happened across Danette May's profile in a friend's FB feed andd was immediately hooked. I saved up to buy her book The Rise.. What a life story! I thought many times of quitting the 3day plan..but I know I won't...
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