Mandatory Monday Move: Squats with Weights

Let's add a little weight to the routine today and try out some squats with weights.  It doesn't have to be much, just a little to give you that something extra.

Mandatory Monday Move: Squats

Time to work your tooshie off.  Add some squats into your routine today just got give that butt a boost!  Try some with a wide stance and try some with your feet close together.  Just try it...it's mandatory!

Popsugar 30-Minute Shape-Up Session: Progression

I had originally said I was only going to do the Popsugar30-Minute Shape-Up Session for a week, but now I’m starting to think that isn’t actually a long enough time to fully assess a workout routine.  I’m going to extend this challenge out another week.

 

As for this week’s progression, I think I’m doing well.  This workout really makes you work!  I was able to complete the workout on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  I have school after work on Wednesday so I’ve designated that to be my rest day.  Friday I went bowling, Saturday I had a Zumba class, and Sunday I played in a softball game.  So, I didn’t do the routine all week long, but I did fit some exercise or physical activity into nearly each day.  Now that the sore muscles have recovered from week one, let's see how this routine shapes up in week two.

Mandatory Monday Move: Leg Lifts

 

It's time to start the week off right and do the Mandatory Monday Move: leg lifts.  Do some fast, and then do some slow.  Really feel it!

Popsugar 30-Minute Shape-Up Session: Start Up

 

Today I am going to start the Popsugar 30-Minute Shape-Up Session.  This routine doesn't have a timeline as to when you are supposed to end and look fabulous so I'm going to try to do it every day for a week.  

I really like how this routine doesn't tell you to do a quantity of moves, but tells you to do as many as you can within a minute time frame.  I'm always losing count when trying to do a lot of repetitions, especially when working out with a partner.  Chatting eventually happens and then you're both standing there like "Did we just do twenty squats or a thousand?"  Anyway, you can follow this link to the original website where they explain the moves in more depth.  Also, get a nice training timer on your phone to keep track of your time instead of counting the seconds in your head.  I like the HIIT Interval Training Timer.

Ending Stats:

• Weight: 173.8 lbs
• Bust: 42 1/2"
• Waist: 40"
• Hips: 43"

10 Day Beach Body Challenge: End Results

The 10 Day Beach Body Challenge has come to an end.  As I mentioned in my progression report, I had kind of slacked off while doing this challenge.  There were some days when I didn't do the exercises, but then the next day I would do two days worth of stuff.  Or instead of running I would do the other activities twice through.  Or I would run extra just because it seemed like I wasn't really doing that much.  No matter what, I don't really feel very much different and I haven't noticed any drastic changes to my body that would qualify it as being more of a "beach body" than what it was before the challenge.

Ending Stats:

• Weight: 173 lbs (loss of 1.3 lbs)
• Bust: 42 1/2"
• Waist: 40"
• Hips: 43"

For this challenge I recruited my sister, Jessica, and my best friend, Sara, to try out the challenge with me.  It seemed as though we all had the same ideas about substitute running for a double dose of the other activities, and so on.  I wanted to include other people in these challenges because not everyone is the same and I wanted to see what the results would be for people with different lifestyles.  I actually have a lifestyle with very low activity.  I'm a designer and I sit at a computer for 10+ hours every day.  Most of my after work activities are all things that can be done sitting down, so unless I make a point to get up and exercise, I'm pretty much sitting on my bum all day!

My sister, Jessica, has a one-year-old little boy.  That right there makes her more active than me, but because of this she did have trouble fitting a workout into her daily schedule.  Due to bad weather and not being able to make it to the gym, she often skipped the running portion of the routine and doubled up the other activities for the day.  She also told me that at first she thought the routine was too easy so she doubled the activity.  However, this made her really sore the next day and she ended up doing less overall because she was so sore.

Sara has a job that keeps her on her feet all day.  Unlike me, her after work activities actually get her up and moving.  Sara reported back to me two major things.  First, she lost about two pounds during the ten day challenge.  Secondly, although she didn't like the running portion of the routine, it had caused her to cut back on smoking!  I think she and I might start training to run marathons if that's what it is going to take to keep my BFF from smoking!  (Just kidding, Sara...or am I...?)  She also said that this routine fit in easily into her daily routine and would probably be a good warm-up, but she would need more to actually see a big difference.  She also said, "This was a great starter workout program for someone like me who hasn't worked out in a long time to get ya back in the swing of things. I'm motivated to pick up the pace now and really get in shape."  I think that is a really awesome thing for someone to say about any workout routine.  It is always so much easier to work out and get healthy when you have friends and family by your side to help you out and motivate you along the way!

10 Day Beach Body Challenge: Progress

I'm about halfway through with the 10 Day Beach Body Challenge, and I'm going to have to admit...I'm doing really bad.  I have only done a couple of the days and I've pretty much skipped the running.  This isn't a very good start to this blog.

Since the beginning of the year I have been participating in a Biggest Loser contest at work.  I lost a little weight and really cracked down on my diet.  But the contest ended last week.  One of the main reasons why I wanted to start this blog was to continuously have some form of motivation to keep working out and stick to a healthy diet, but for some reason I just didn't give a crap this past week.  It's been one big pizza and ice cream party.

So, I've had my week of sin and now it's time to get myself back in gear!  No more excuses!!

Mandatory Monday Move: Plank

Stop what you're doing and get up...or actually, get down on the ground.  No matter what you have going on today, at some point you need to do the Mandatory Monday Move: the plank.  Maybe see how long you can hold it, or see how many times you can do it until you just can't do it anymore.  Try it, decide you hate it, maybe try it one more time for good measure.  Just do it because it's mandatory!

There are various versions of the plank, but I think the starter version is with your arms fully extended and your hands located directly below your shoulders.  Keep your tummy tight and your butt down.  I've read that this move is good for your core and shoulders.

How long can you hold the plank?

10 Day Beach Body Challenge: Start

 

I wanted to start off with something simple and quick.  I found this 10 Day Beach Body Challenge.  It seems pretty simple enough and has a small variety of moves.  I am a bit skeptical of being able to get a "beach body" in just ten days, but then again, what exactly is a beach body?  It doesn't matter what size you are, as long as you are comfortable then you should be good to go while relaxing next to the waves.  Still, in an attempt to just become more fit and healthy, I'm going to see what sort of results I get from this challenge.

Starting Stats:

• Weight: 174.3 lbs
• Bust: 42 1/2"
• Waist: 40"
• Hips: 43"

This is going to take time

 

 Ok, I'm going to track my fitness progress on here, but I'm not delusional.  I know that fitness takes time and that I can't expect to see result overnight.  No matter how many websites might tell me that I can have abs in two weeks, that isn't going to happen.  However, if results are promised then I would like to see what sort of progress my body will make when undertaking the challenge.

For the most part, I'm going to focus on the exercise routines.  I've already cut out wheat and gluten from my diet because I'm very prone to migraines and apparently this might help with that situation.  In case you're wondering, I have noticed a decrease in migraines since cutting wheat and gluten.  So, because I've already restricted my diet, I'm not going to focus on food based fitness challenges.

Some routines have a specific time frame, like the aforementioned "abs in two weeks".  I'll stick to those regiments as closely as possible, tracking my progress, and noting when I slack off or go above and beyond.  In cases when a routine has no deadline...I'll make one up for myself. 

Just a reminder, I'm not a fitness trainer, nutritionist, or doctor.  The results or lack of results...but hopefully results...are based on my personal experience and I'm not saying that everyone out there will get the same results.  That being said...let's begin!