Day 6

I'll say it again - I'm so amazed that I've done this for 6 days in a row! And today was fun! I took my new bike out for a spin with Casey in the little bike trailer and whew! what a workout! It's nothing like riding alone or on my exercise bike. First of all, I was pulling an extra 50 pounds and second, I actually had to pedal up hills. Ouch to both. However, it felt amazing to get back, all hot and sweaty, and know that I've accomplished 6 consecutive days of exercise!

My hubby has been a great cheerleader. I think he was pretty skeptical when I first mentioned my 30 day plan to him - he has been married to me for 16 years, so I guess that would probably make him just a bit of an authority on my exercise habits... However, he's on the bandwagon now! In fact, he's the one who encouraged me to go on the bike ride today. He's also the one who bought me the bike - since I know nothing about them... It's got a nice wide seat, just what I need for the caboose I'm carrying around behind me - haha!! However, I still have an aching hind-end, but that's to be expected...

Tomorrow is Sunday. Typically a day of rest at our house, but that won't stop me from getting my 30 minutes in. I'm planning to do Pilates and stretching, both very valid forms of exercise and necessary in getting those muscles in shape and toned.

Counting down the days....until the next 30 day challenge! Only 24 days to go!

Days 4 & 5

I am so proud of myself! I haven't exercised for 5 days in a row since high school! Now I know that's a very sad fact to admit, but in my willingness to be open and honest in this endeavor - I'll do whatever I can! So far, days 3 & 4 have been taken the most willpower to complete. I so would have given up under normal circumstances - or at least procrastinated for a day or more. But I just focused on the goal and decided that I was going to get it done no matter what and no matter how late it was - and I did!!!

Today I rode my exercise bike from 6 - 6:30pm. Four hours earlier than normal... It felt really good. I was sweating like a dog and loving every minute of it. For some reason, it was so much easier today. Easier to decide to exercise, that is. The exercise itself...well, I already mentioned my sweaty self...

I have no idea what the weekend will hold as far as willpower is concerned, but it doesn't really matter, because I'm going to do this for 30 days - NO MATTER WHAT!!

5 down - 25 to go! Yippee!

Thank you for your encouraging feedback! And for those of you who are doing this challenge with me - don't give up! If I can do this, literally anyone can do it!

Day 3

I'm just going to admit it - if it weren't for this 30 day challenge, I think I would've skipped my exercise today. Isn't that terrible? However, I did NOT skip and so I am still on my way to a successful 30 days! Woohoo!!

I rode my stationary bike for 20 minutes and then did a combo of jumping jacks, push-ups, crunches and leg lifts for the remaining 10 minutes. I am really out of shape and was sweating like a dog by the end, but I feel really good!

How did you do? Only 27 days left! And it's not too late to join in on the challenge!!

Day 2

Today's exercise consisted of mowing and trimming the lawn for 30+ minutes. Even though it wasn't a huge cardio workout - the sweat that poured from my body was very consistent with one! So I'm counting it!

Along with exercise, I'm trying really hard to eat healthier and drink plenty of water - especially necessary when outside in this hot and humid weather!! I feel like I did quite well today. Now I'm getting ready for a nice little bowl of popcorn and then some more de-cluttering and then bedtime!

Can't wait for Day 3!

Day 1 Exercise

Just a blurb here so you all know that I'm following through on my challenge!

15 minutes on the stationary bike @ 10 mph
15 minutes of core/ab work - ouch!

Feeling pretty good right now! Day 1 down, 29 to go!

Day 1

Ugh! I gingerly stepped on the scale this morning and quickly jumped back off. Could that be right?! Slowly, I stepped back on again, and yes - sadly, it was right. 225 pounds. Wasn't I at 217 just 2 months ago? I guess I have even more incentive to do this 30 day challenge! You know, the past 2 months have been very stressful for me and obviously, stress does not agree with me.

Here are my starting stats:

• Weight: 225
• Waist: 44"
• Butt: 47"
• Hips: 45.5"
• Left thigh: 29"
• Right thigh: 29"

You have no idea how much I do NOT want to post this info. I mean, seriously! Do you see the fat trend here? But I know how I am, and by putting this out there - I'm giving myself a huge reason to stick with this plan. I hope to see every single one of the those numbers go down in 30 days! My exercise post will come later - since I haven't done that yet today - but I will!!

Now for the reward part! I've been trying to come up with something that will really give me incentive to succeed. For me, that's a haircut - I really don't know why I keep letting my hair grow out because I end up hating it every time! So, at the end of these 30 days, after I've exercised every day and after the numbers have gone down - I will treat myself to a haircut and color.

For those of you who are going to join me, please let me know so that we can keep each other accountable! Think of a reward that will give you incentive to succeed. And if you're brave - post your "stats" too!

My 30-Day Challenge

How do you motivate yourself when it seems all motivation has flown out the window? For me, I'm going to try a 30-day Challenge. I figure that if I can stick with something for 30 days, not only will it become a habit, but I should definitely see results and find that ever-elusive motivation once again! I've been trying to come up with a challenge that isn't too easy but that isn't so difficult that I want to give up. It needs to be attainable - with some effort. So, here it is:

For the next 30 days (including Sundays!), starting Monday, July 26, I will do 30 minutes of intentional exercise each day. I'm calling it my "30/30 Challenge"!

Now, it may not seem like much of a challenge. However, for me, it is! You see, I'm very good at starting things and not so good at keeping at them until they're done. That is about to change. I need to do this, for my health and my sanity. I drive myself nuts thinking about how much progress I could have made by now if only I would've kept at it - and I'm done with that!! With God's help, I will succeed in this challenge and hopefully follow it with another one!

I would love to have you join me! Just knowing that I'm not doing this alone would be a huge motivator! (There's that word again!) Tomorrow I will post my starting weight and my exercise, and I pray there will be a difference by the end of 30 days! I know - I'll also measure my waist, hips & thighs (ugh) - seeing those numbers go down would be a HUGE motivator for me!!

I'm looking at this challenge as my best effort so far in the journey towards losing my double chin! Please join me, or at least send your encouraging thoughts my way! Because I know I'll need it! Woohoo!

Oh, I nearly forgot - I've got my 20-year class reunion coming up in 1 year, and I am determined to that there will be less of me attending that reunion than there is now!!

Goodbye Stress!

Well, I think I'm back to stay. And not feeling quite so depressed either. Without going into detail, I will just say that I've been dealing with a health issue over the past couple of months that has led to feelings of great blah. But, thank God, He is taking care of me and has made a bleak situation fabulous!! Needless to say, I am ready to hop back on the horse and get rid of this double chin once and for all!

I feel like I need to write a little about how stress and even slight depression effected me. First, I totally started gaining weight. (Remember when my scale was "broken"?) Even though I wasn't eating more, I ate junk and with everything that was going on and my total lack of motivation - I gained. Plus, I wasn't sleeping well at all. I'm convinced that the stress just added to my health problem, making it worse! When I started this blog, my hope was that if a situation like this came up, that I would use this as an outlet to help me stay on track. What I found is that it was more depressing for me to try to come up with upbeat and motivational things to write. What I should have done, is wrote exactly how I was feeling and what I was going through. Obviously, I didn't do that. I guess you could say I failed, or, as I prefer to say, I've learned from this experience and will move forward with this knowledge!

So, what did I learn?

• That my body doesn't like stress and won't respond well to it at all. 
• I don't sleep well when stressed/depressed. 
• To keep fresh fruits and veggies in the house and not bake stuff that's bad for me - because I will eat it!
• I need to talk/write about it. Every time I spoke with someone about it, which wasn't very often, I felt better. No more pretending...
• To make myself get up off the couch and away from the computer and move! Get outside!
• To always trust that God is in control!