I just tried the 3 Day Refresh for the first time in September. Before I began, I googled it to get an idea of what I was in for…and I was terrified by what I saw. Well, maybe terrified is a slight exaggeration. But I was nervous- it seemed terrible!
I LOVE the 3 Day Refresh!!! It was difficult, yes, but not terribly difficult. I never felt woozy or light-headed or sick. I didn’t cramp up or have trouble sleeping. And when it was over…I felt AMAZING! I was elated, full of energy, and had zero cravings for anything other than healthy food. The feelings lasted a while, too.
I did not lose a ton of weight. I had seen stories of people losing 8 or 9 pounds, or at least 5 or 6. I lost about 3 pounds, but I’m not a drop-weight kind of person. I am pretty near my goal weight (if I had to pick a number- I know it’s not all about that number, but I do have one in my head). I was happy though. It did nudge me past a number I’ve been stuck at for a while. And while I felt a little deflated on the third morning when I looked at the scale, the way I felt the next day more than compensated for it- I felt so good.
So I’ll give you a run-through of what the 3 days look like…each day is pretty much the same. I kept my foods pretty much the same too, but you are given some choices in the guide book.
My box arrived and everything is very clearly spelled out for you…
Basically, you have Shakeology for breakfast, along with a serving of fruit. So I had strawberry Shakeology blended with ice and water, and half a banana each day for breakfast. Mid-morning I had a cup of green tea. Coffee is allowed, but this was my first time doing it and I wanted to do it by the book to get the best results. In the late morning you drink a fiber drink. It was not tasty, but it was not awful either. I just chugged it down. It reminded me of Metamucil.
For lunch, you have a shake, a fruit option, a veggie option, and a healthy fat. I loved lunch! So I would have the shake (I did not like the shake- I ended up chugging the shake down, too) and half a grapefruit, and celery with sun butter. It felt so satisfying.
You can also have an afternoon snack, and I loved this too. I had celery and almond butter every afternoon. I had never had almond butter before because of nut allergies in the house. But I was very careful and cleaned up well after eating it…and it was soooo good! Very satisfying snack.
Dinner consists of a shake and an option from a list of recipes. I had the same thing each day- a big old salad. It seemed like the most food to me! And it was tasty- a little olive oil and sunflower seeds. Yum!
The 3-Day Refresh guide offers you a list of options for the fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and dinners you get each day. You can also have vegetable broth with dinner. I had it the first two nights, but not the third. There is no animal protein included in the three days, which is why I chose the package where the vegan Shakeology is included. Plant protein is easier to digest.
I felt pretty good the 3 days. I was definitely hungry, but like I said earlier, it was not terrible. I exercised the first and third days (a short workout) and went for a walk with my husband and children on the second day. So I wasn’t languishing on a coach somewhere. I did have a slight, dull headache the whole three days. I’m guessing that was from no coffee!
I’ve always had mixed feelings about cleanses…I believe our bodies are pretty efficient at doing what they need to do, so we don’t really need cleanses. But then I feel like our bodies are up against so much- so many toxins come into them from the food we eat and the air we breathe. They work hard all the time, maybe a cleanse is a good way to help the body out. A cleanse is a good way to reset the body and help you get your eating on the right track. I also think cleanses can be useful when you’re feeling stuck. Sometimes you can break through a barrier with a cleanse and your body is revved up for better weight loss.
The 3-Day Refresh definitely helped me with my cravings. When I finished, all I craved was good, healthy, natural food. I felt fantastic. My energy was also through the roof. I felt truly elated- happy, strong, positive, refreshed. It was wonderful! And I will definitely do it again and again, periodically to give my body a break, or after a vacation or holiday, to get back into good habits. And (ugh- my first time sharing pictures like this anywhere!) I was happy with my results!! Excuse the mess behind me 🙂
My tips for the 3-Day Refresh:
- Plan Ahead. Definitely make sure you have everything you need for each day ahead of time. You don’t want to get caught hungry!
- Time it Right. Don’t plan to do it when you have a special occasion or a big event. The added stress won’t help! Try to do it when you don’t have much going on. I also found the first day the hardest, so maybe plan around a weekend.
- Drink your Water. Drink, drink, drink. It will help you to feel more full.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. Yes, I’m a Beachbody coach, but I truly loved the way I felt when it was all over. And I did not gain the weight back on day 4. In fact, I’ve since lost a few more pounds! It helped me break through a plateau. That’s a big success for me.
Have you ever tried the 3-Day Refresh?
amy says
I had a great experience with the 3 day refresh. Like you I lost 3 pounds and felt great. I will definitively do it again.
stayathomefit@gmail.com says
I’m so glad you liked it, too!! I can’t believe how amazing I felt after…I look forward to the next one!