30 For 30 Challenge: ouch!

Ouch! I am not sure what happened but I tweaked my back! It's possible this happened a few days ago but I think my workout yesterday really made it flare up. During my workout today I had to modify any jumping movements to small hops and it seemed to do okay.

Because of this reason and the fact that I forgot next week is Thanksgiving (!!!) and we're going to be travelling, I have decided to revert back to my original days. Therefore today is officially day 26. I really wanted to jump back a few days but the original 30 days ends just before Thanksgiving and it's perfect.

Depending on my back, I want to start thinking up a new challenge for myself. This has been great for me and I truly feel stronger and trimmer.  Only 4 days left!

30 For 30 Challenge: update

Okay! I honestly am not even sure what day I am meant to be on. I think it's Day 24.

I have been away for the past 6 days and thought keeping up with the challenge would be a little easier.    Being away with a toddler and no spouse makes it a bit difficult. I did definitely get some good workouts in and truthfully only missed a couple of days but I really wanted to do the 30 Day Shred video combined with the 10 minutes of Standing Abs for 30 whole days.

I am hitting the "refresh" button on this challenge and tomorrow I am going to call Day 20 and also the first day of LEVEL 3! I really want to get in 10 solid days of Level 3 so this is perfect.

Okay, 10 more days...here we go!

30 For 30 Challenge: days 11-15

Half way there! Half way there!

If I am being totally honest, I could use a break. But I shall not quit, I am half way done and there's no looking back now.

On day 11 I moved on to Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred video and LET ME TELL YOU...level one is a warm up compared to level 2. It is kicking my booty and I am pretty sure squat thrusts are from the devil. I will admit after 4 days on level 2 it is feeling slightly more manageable but I am still sweating up a storm and working it hard.

Today I decided to change up the 10 minute part of my workout and did a Standing Abs with Weights workout. The Standing Abs was getting a little tedious so it was nice to do something new.

30 For 30 Challenge: Days 8-10

I made it to day 10! I am 1/3 of the way through my personal 30 for 30 challenge and tomorrow I get to move on to Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred video.

It's going really well and I am glad to finally have the added 3 pound weights for that extra challenge. I am definitely a little sore each day but totally bearable. Nothing too life changing or shocking to update just that I am plugging right along. 

Yesterday, day 9, I was at the end of my day and just tired and done. But I still had my 10 min ab workout to fit in. I had pretty much committed to just not doing it and getting over it but instead I got over my laziness and got my butt up and did the final 10 minutes. I mean, what's 10 minutes of my day?! I could either sit on my computer for 10 minutes or do a quick ab workout. The computer wasn't going anywhere after all. It felt good to meet that goal.  

30 For 30 Challenge: Days 5-7

Day 7 has come to a close and I got my workout done many hours ago. Things have been going really well and I have to admit that Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred video is actually starting to feel quite easy. Though I have a confession to make...I have not been using any hand weights for the strength portion. But that is only because I didn't have any hand weights (shameful!) until today! I made my hubby go out and buy me some, I was tired of feeling guilty every day and they have been on my shopping list for years! I am looking forward to the challenge with my 3s tomorrow.

Day 5: It was a rough night with my daughter coming down with a bad cold and hearing her cough on the baby monitor all through the night only for her to end up in our bed at about 4:45am. My alarm was set for 5:50am because we had a busy day ahead. When my alarm went off, I knew it would be my only chance during the day to get it done so I plopped my sleeping daughter back in her crib and did my 30 minute workout!

Day 6: We were out of town (sick daughter and all) and at a friends house but I managed to get the 20 minute Jillian workout done and even got my friend to join me! However, I did not manage the extra 10. It was a miserable day with a very sick girl and a mini vacation cut short.

Day 7: We were home in the morning unexpectedly and while I was still tending to a sick kid (and now a sick hubby) I managed to easily fit in the full 30 minute workout.

3 more days of Level 1 then it's on to level 2! Has anyone checked out the Standing Abs video that is the other 10 minutes of my 30 min workout? I'm liking it! A nice change of pace for for an ab workout!

30 for 30 Challenge: days 2-4

A couple of days ago I announced my own personal 30 For 30 Challenge! It is now the ned of day 4 and so far, so good.

Day 2: woke up at 6am to get it done!
Day 3: Squeezed it in before dinner while my daughter was occupied on the iPad
Day 4: SOOO sore today and achy (almost felt fluish) but I persisted and did the 20 min DVD. I did not manage to get in the extra 10 min ab workout though. I was going to do it right now, but I will be getting up in just 7 hours to do the whole 30 minutes so, I just want to go to bed now!

The challenge will be this weekend when we will be out of town. I think I have it figured out though and I plan to report back on Monday!

What have you all been up to??

30 for 30 Challenge

It has been a while...and I have been slacking...and it's time to get back in the game.

Today, after far too many shameful days of no exercise, I decided to bust out my Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred video and get a little workout in. During the workout I decided to set a little challenge for myself. It's called 30 Day Shred after all, so why not make it a 30 day challenge?! I could sure use a kick in the pants so this is perfect.

I bring to you my 30 Day Shred Challenge! The video has 3 levels and I plan to spend 10 days on each level for a total of 30 days. I started today, so day 1 is done!

Just for kicks, I am going to throw in a 10 minute standing abs workout that I happened to see on Pinterest today. So between a 20 minute Jillian Michels workout and a 10 minute ab workout, that is just 30 minutes a day. Maybe I should call this the 30 for 30 Challenge, yes I think so!

I even took some "before" photos of my mid-section (my "problem" area) that I may just be willing to share if I see a big change in the 30 days.

Stay tuned and feel free to join me in this challenge, I would love some camaraderie and support!

Good Morning!

Jess and I ran together this morning! Okay, well not actually, but we both got up early and ran at the break of dawn in our respective location. We are hoping to start to do this "together" a few times a week. I sure need a swift kick in the pants and I know Jess's busy schedule only allows her certain times for exercise, so this is perfect for us! 

5:30am

6:30am

I think I can...I think I can

Everyday on my drive home from work I think of this blog...okay not everyday, but lots of days. I have plenty of health related thoughts to write about. Those of you who know me, know I am rarely short on an opinion or topic to chat about...but I am just so dang tired. whaa whaa whaa, I know. 

This fall I bumped up my normal part-time teaching gig, to the whole enchilada. It is just temporary as I cover my job share partner's maternity leave, thank you baby Jesus! I don't know if I am ready to be full time teacher and full time mommy...and a fit mommy at that. 

But I have been wanting to share about a book I read at the end of summer. It was a fascinating book. It actually is quite controversial, because Dr. Oz doesn't really endorse it, which in the health world is big deal. I am not saying that this is the answer to all our diet woes or a quick fix, because I truly believe in the power of a healthy diet and exercise. I do think Mr. Taubes is on to something. 

I encourage you to read it. Think it over. Give me your thoughts. And while I can't really commit to never eating carbs or sugar again, I was inspired. For once, there is a little bit of credit given to the genetics of it all. Many people who battle their weight, or are over weight are chalked up as lazy or over-eaters. It caused me to pause and consider my own judgements, and stereotypes. I appreciated the outlook that there is more to our body mass index than calories in/calories out. So, if you were just asking yourself what should be on the fall list of must reads, add this puppy!