21 Day Fix Frequently Asked “WORKOUT” Questions Answered

21-Day-Fix-FAQ-Image

21-Day-Fix-FAQ-Image
If you have workout related questions about the 21 Day Fix this post is for you.

Since my original review of 21 Day Fix program exploded with over 280 comments, I thought it might be time to answer some of your most frequently asked questions all in one place.

Then as I began writing this post, I quickly realized it could end up being 10,000 plus words, and for that reason, this is going to be a two-part post.

This post will go over the 21 Day Fix most frequently asked questions related to the workouts.

While I understand this may not cover everything and will most likely be expanding at some point, I hope this post gets people immediate answers and not have to wait for a comment back.

And of course, if there’s a question you still have after looking through these 21 Day Fix FAQs, please leave a comment below.

And just as a reminder, I am neither the creator nor producer of this popular at-home workout program. These questions and answers are based upon my personal experience with the programs and from the people I have coached.

Here they are in no particular order.

Q. Do I have to do the workouts?

A. While it is said diet accounts for 60-80% of your results, exercise is also a crucial component to your overall health and well-being.

If you do your own exercise program or go to the gym everyday and just want to follow the 21 Day Fix diet with the containers, please take a look at the Portion Fix. The Portion Fix is basically the program without the workouts.

If you believe the workouts are going to be overly intense for you to begin with, but you’d like to do them in the future, I would suggest ordering the complete program with the workouts to save money in the long-run. Then, begin with a walking program and then start to slowly incorporate some of the easier workouts like Yoga. Follow the workout to the best of your ability and make use of the modifier – they are there for a reason!

So to be brief, yes you should be doing the workouts as this is how the overall program and eating plan was designed to be followed to get you the best results.

Q. Can I do the 21 Day Fix workouts and go to the gym?

A. I would advise against following the program and going to the gym, at least if you’re an exercise newbie. When you do both, you could risk overdoing it, which can actually prevent you from getting the results you want, rather than help you get the results you want quicker.

The program is designed to get you into the habit of daily exercise and is 7 days a week. Not all of the days are as intense as others as the lesser intense workout days give your body time to recover.

Remember, your body is not changing during your workouts. Change comes when you are resting and recovering. The workout is the stimulus.

Also, if you are following the diet exactly as it’s prescribed, the eating plan assumes you are only doing the 21 Day Fix workouts only. This means if you do add extra workouts, you may need to add a container or two. Remember…always listen to your body.

Q. I have “x” injury, will I be able to do this program?

A. I am not a doctor or a medical profession. If you have a concern about a medical condition, I suggest talking to your health care professional before beginning any new exercise program.

If your doctor asks what type of exercise the 21 Day Fix workouts involve, you could tell them this:

The workouts are ½ hour each. Some days are cardio-based workouts, other days a strength-based and there are also Pilates and Yoga workouts. There are modifiers who show less intense and low impact versions of each exercise, so it is not crazy like P90X or Insanity.

And above else, if you feel pain, stop the exercise immediately, and then modify or walk it out. If it is muscle burn, keep pushing!

Q. I’m “x” amount overweight will I be able to follow the workouts?

A. We all have to start somewhere. If you are injury free with no major illness or disease, you should be fine. Just take the workouts at your own pace, take it a day at a time, and you will start to see improvements in energy and endurance before you know it.

Once again, when in doubt, nothing can replace the advice of a health care professional.

Q. At what time should I do the workouts?

A. You should do the workouts at a time that is most convenient for you. That is always the best time to work out.

And scientifically speaking, there is no clear best time as studies are often contradictory. Yes, people may burn a few more calories working out in a fasted state in the morning, but that same person might burn more calories by working out later in the day when they have more energy to put into their workouts.

That being said, working out in the morning before the day gets hectic is often the most convenient time for the majority of people. So, if you struggle to get in your workouts in or if something always seem to come up, maybe get up a little earlier to get your workout taken first thing. 

Make the workouts a part of your daily schedule. Put them in your planner, and that way, you won’t make excuses!

Q. What should I do when I finish 21 Day Fix program?

A. You have completed three weeks of the 21 Day Fix, congratulations! But don’t stop now! The 21 Day Fix is such a well rounded program you could literally follow it for life by just beginning over again.

Here is what I suggest: Reassess where you are at.

  • Are your goals the same as when you began?
  • Do you still find the workouts challenging?
  • Are you getting bored with the workouts?
  • Do you want to take it to a more extreme level?

Take a look at these questions and then decide if you want to do another round of the 21 Day Fix or move on. For instance, if you love Autumn, but want to update the workout intensity, you should definitely take a look at the 21 Day Fix Extreme program to take your workouts up a notch.

I have coached people who continuously cycle through the 21 Day Fix program. When their day 21 ends, they are on day 1 again. I also have another person who found 21 days on, 7 days off, and then repeat the program again works amazing for them.

What you do after is entirely up to you. Just be sure to keep with the healthy lifestyle choices that the 21 Day Fix teaches. You can always contact me if you need help deciding on what program would next be best for your goals.

Q. How heavy of weights do I need?

A. It depends upon your fitness level. For beginner’s, I would recommend a 3 lb , 5 lb , and 8 lb pound dumbbell set for women. For beginning men, 5 lb, 10 lb, and 15 lb pound dumbbells to start. Intermediates and advanced should add 5-10 ibs to those numbers.

Q. How long are the workouts?

A. Each workout is around thirty minutes in length. They are short but intense, a great workout without wasted time.

Any More Questions?

If you have any questions or additions regarding specifically the 21 Day Fix workouts, please leave a comment below.


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279 thoughts on “21 Day Fix Frequently Asked “WORKOUT” Questions Answered”

  1. Hi Bethany,

    I just started the 21 Day Fix yesterday but i am confused on how my beachbody coach is assigned to me? I didn’t get an email from anyone, etc, and i would like to have a coach for questions and motivation.

    1. Hi Melissa, If you search – how to change your coach – on this site I have blog post that tells you how. Bethany

  2. Hi, I just started the 21 day fix and I was curious to know. Do you HAVE to use the dressing recommended or can you use something else?

    1. Hi Lindsay, Hard to say, you can’t use anything, but dressings that are olive oil based should be okay for the most part. The Fix ones are pretty tasty just fyi. Bethany

  3. I’m on the first day of the 21 day fix, and I absolutely love it. However I was wondering, is there a way I could go to the gym in the morning and workout (30 minutes of cardio and some weight lifting) and maybe do a 21 day fix workout at night as well? If not what would you recommended for containers for just using the gym everyday or if not everyday doing a workout in replace of the gym. I am in the 1800 – 2099 bracet. Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Meghan, If you do extra workouts on top of the mix you may want to add in a container or two. Just keep an eye on your energy levels and if they dip add containers, if you start to gain weight, yu may want to drop back to the original container amount. Bethany

  4. hello Bethany!
    I just recently started the 21 day fix, and I’m constantly worried I’m going to step on the scale at the end and not see any difference.
    I follow the plan 100%.
    Any advice someone that worries like I do?

    1. Hi Victoria, Don’t be! The scale is not the best tool for tracking success. It just measures weight loss, it can’t tell how much muscle you built, the amount your cardiovascular health has improved, how much better you feel. I know it is a hard habit to break, but I just published a new post about short term weight fluctuations if you want to take a look. Bethany

  5. Hello I have purchased your 21 day fix but yoga is not. In lime with my religious beliefs so what can I so to substitute it

    1. Hi Mary, I understand your concerns about yoga not being in line with your religious beliefs, but Yoga Fix is not actually based on the yoga religion or even the spiritual or philosophical practice side of it. It is simply just another 21 Day Fix workout with yoga-based moves – Autumn is not a yogi.

      If it still bothers you, feel free to replace it with the workout of your choice, although nothing will lengthen and strengthen quite like that one – Pilates Fix would probably be the most logical replacement. Hope this helps! Bethany

  6. I’m on the 21 day fix and I’m having a rough week and I haven’t worked out at all. However, I still follow the eating plan and respect the portions. Is it possible that Im still loosing weight even do Im not exercising???? I notice my close are looser than it was last week. ….Is it possible or is it my imagination?

  7. Hello,

    My wife and I have went through the first round of 21day Fix and we must say we really enjoy it. I have lost 18lbs and I think my wife is somewhere is the ballpark of 10, The reason I am commenting is on my wife she is having a real hard time loosing the weight and she more than me stays 100 percent true to the program. My worry is her getting frustrated and quitting because she is not seeing the results I am. What can she do different? Why hasn’t she lost the weight like I have?

    Any help you can give will be great

    1. First off, congrats to the two of you! My guess is you might have had more weight to lose than her to begin with. You could have also been retaining more water than her. People are all different so we lose weight at different rates. Men might also naturally be able to lose the pounds quicker too, my boyfriend always loses more than me when we follow a program. Just jeep following the program and you both will hit your goals. My next blog post will be covering weight fluctuations which will be more detailed. BEthany

  8. Hi, Bethany! Thank you for all the info and replies :) I’m almost finishing my first 21-Day Fix cycle and I was wondering if you could recommend anyway exercises for the seven days off I’m taking before starting off again -I’ve liked the idea of those days off you’ve mentioned, as I don’t want my body to get used to the exercises and therefore not get results-. Thank you!

    1. Hi Teresa, If you feel your body needs the break from the workouts, take a break. Do some walking, yoga, swimming. After only 21 days your body is probably not going to adapted to the workouts. Bethany

  9. Hi there! I was wondering if there’s any downside to doubling the workouts like week 3 permanently? I’ve had some free time recently so I’ve been able to double up for week 3 and nearly another week and I’m happy to carry on this way, but my partner questioned if it could mean I need to work harder once my body gets used to it? Thanks

    1. Hi Jess, Running the program in cycles with the doubles week every third week should help from plateauing. You can always try it and find out how it works for you and if you need to drop back you could. Bethany

  10. Hi. I just ordered 21 Day Fix yesterday. Wish I had stumbled upon your blog before I ordered. I would have ordered from your website. :(
    Question: I am just not understanding/believing 30 minutes of exercise is going to do it for me. I have at least 80lbs. to lose. Why isn’t ‘more’ exercise better? Thanks for your help.

    1. Hi, It is a little more complicated than this, but 30 minutes of higher intensity exercise can prove to have more effect on the body than an hour of lower intensity exercise. With that said, the Fix is about creating habits and one of those habits is daily exercise. Bethany

  11. Hi Bethany :).

    I was wondering what else I can do to loose more weight? I’m on the 5th round of 21 DAY FIX program and I LOVE IT!!!. I lost 28 pounds so far but now I’m stuck my weight is not going down anymore. First three rounds I did with 21 DAY FIX now I’m on 21 DAY FIX EXTREME. I hear all the time that we should be changing exercises around and do different routines so the body doesn’t get use to it. Should I do that or can I keep going with 21 DAY FIX EXTREME forever? Will it still do it’s job? Thank you.

    1. Hi Ella, You could do it forever. The body can adapt to workouts over an extended period time, called the plateau. When this does happen people are usually at point where they know their bodies enough to make adjustments in workouts and/or diet. Bethany

  12. Hi.
    Why does the weight fluctuate every day while your on the 21 day fix diet? For example today it’s 142, next day it’s going to be 144? Is that normal? Thank you

    1. Hi Kiran, Body weight fluctuates on a daily basis by 1-5 pounds, it’s completely normal. Common reasons for weight fluctuations are retaining water, that time of the month, dehydration, and even the amount of carbs you consumed the previous day can have a temporary effect on weight. You should try to weigh yourself once a week at most or even monthly to get a more accurate view.

      1. Hey! Thank you for your reply. Can I do the 21 Day Exercise in different orders? For example if the Total Body Cardio should be done on Monday can I mix them for different days? And also, can I do the workouts twice a day? For example if I can do a Intense workout and the other just yoga or pilates? Thank you so much!

      2. Hi Kiran, I would try to stick to how the program schedule was designed. The calendar does include the third week as doubles week, so that is how you would want to double them up. I have the schedule located under the 21 Day Fix category. BEthany

  13. Is it possible to do more than workout per day? If so, how many per day should be the max? Missed a fee and would like to make them up. :)

  14. Hi! I bought a set of 21 days container and I am planning to do it with insanity work out. I am currently 177 lbs. How much calorie do I need please? Also the green container portion measurement is that for raw or cooked vegetable please?

    1. HI Yan, From my MAX:30 guide it 4 greens(uncooked usually) 3 purples, 4 red, 3 yellow, 1 blue, 1 orange, and 4 tsps. If you are lacking energy for the workouts, you should add containers, but it is a little too much for me to go into detail here. Bethany

  15. I’m about 40 lbs over weight and getting ready to begin 21 Day Fix, my biggest concern is that I have two arthritic knees. I can move, slow and painful, but I haven’t let it get the best of me just yet. How do I modify some of these exercises to fit me. There are a lot of co-workers that are also hesitant because of the intense workout, we’re an older/aged group of women. Please help

    1. Hi Kathy, There is an individual who does the exercises modified in the DVDs. I really can’t say that would be possible for you to do or not. I would consult with a physician. Bethany

  16. I was just wondering how long I need to wait to do a workout after I eat a snack (I just had cottage cheese and grapes – the container portion of each). I know everyone’s answer is different, just like the time of day to do a workout, but do you have an opinion?

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Ashley, I don’t think you need to wait a set time period to eat your snack after your workout. Bethany

      1. Hi Bethany,

        Ashley wanted to know how long to wait to do a workout after she eats a snack and I too am curious about this.
        Is this similar to the swimming rule?
        Thanks.

      2. Hi Wendy, Thanks, I really botched that question and answer….The body does use energy to digest food and you might also feel full or bloated if you do eat to close to working out. It is usually recommended to wait 2-3 hours to workout after a meal. Smaller snacks, say half a banana would digest quicker, for a snack this size waiting 15 to 60 minutes may be all it takes. Bethany

  17. I am on day three of the 21 day fix and today I’m so drained and very sore. The last two days were great! The food and everything. But today its been a struggle to eat the vegetables and not feel sick. Maybe its the soreness making me feel ill and groggy or could it be that I’m not used to eating so healthy and my body has to adjust? I’m usually a processed food junkie…so this is a big change for me.

    1. Hi Sarah, Sounds like your body is detoxing itself. Muscle soreness should not cause you to feel ill. Bethany

  18. Hi, Bethany. I’m a vegetarian. I don’t eat meat, but I do eat fish. Do you have any suggestions about foods I can substitute? Thank you.

    1. Hi Anita, As a vegetarian, you can count lentils, beans, and quinoa as a red container instead of the yellow. Bethany

  19. When measuring foods in the containers, do you measure the food before or after it’s been cooked? For example chicken or even rice?

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