Challenge....Schmallenge....

30 day challenge? Please. What's so hard about doing a repetitive motion on a daily basis with a slight increase in reps. I know I can do it....no problem.

Fast forward 7 days......

OMG!!!! Owwwww......

Yes, just a mere week into my challenge and I'm starting to see stars and tears are beginning to well at the thought of squats, crunches and planks.

Over the past couple of weeks, I kept seeing friends and family members posting how they are starting up 30 day challenges to prepare for the upcoming bikini season. I usually just scrolled right past them on facebook, twitter and instagram, thinking to myself, "What's the challenge in doing that? I'm sure I can do a 30 day challenge". Then, one day as I was looking at the mirror (a very scary activity) I realized that I need to get myself in gear. I need to get in shape and become a healthier person. So, I decided to add the 30 day challenge idea into my routine (which is Zumba classes every so often).

I was determined.....30 day challenges don't scare me, in fact, I'm going to make it a REAL challenge and do a challenge incorporating 3 different exercises.

So off I went to my computer, looked up various poplular challenges and I decided to go with the 30 day Crunch-Squat-Plank Challenge. I copied the formatting from a few different sources and borrowed an image of a fit individual and titled my workout : I'm doing it for ME!

I quickly sent an email to my sister and one of my best friends and encouraged them to join me in this little quest to fitness. My sis.....(the smart one) declined, stating that she is already engaged in the 30 day plank, so it was left to me and Rita.

That evening as I was explaining everything to my family, I was very happy to see that my husband didn't poo-poo the idea....in fact, he agreed to join me on this crusade. We did our crunches, squats and planks with ease and for the first couple of days things were hunky-dory.

As the days progressed, it started to get more and more difficult.

....sad to say my hubby has since dropped out, stating his need to do the taxes, working late and then last night he was sound asleep and wouldn't get up. (YES! he stopped on Day 4 ~ WIMP!!!!)

My friend Rita and I are still at it, trying to encourage each other with daily text saying "Done", "Did it".... and telling each other that we are turning a new leaf, blah blah blah......but now, the text are beginning to show our fatigue and AGE.....such as sad thing - getting older.

Rita's text to me

However, we are determined to finish, although to be honest with you all, I'm not sure I'm going to make. So, to all those people who are doing various fitness challenges....."Hats off to you!! Keep it up and I'm sorry to ever think that these challenges were a piece of cake."

How about you? Have you ever done a fitness challenge? Would you consider doing one? Let me know, I would love to see what everyone is doing to get healthy.

Off to do my daily workout.....wish me luck (I think I will have a piece of cake when I'm done..... mmmmmm).

A Date with the Fitness Torturer

It's a dreary rainy day here in my neck of the woods and last night I was up till 2 am writing a post that I'm not sure will ever make it into my blog. Needless to say, I got up at 6:45am and proceeded to get my kids off to school. One by one I would send them off to be educated and I can crawl back into bed. Then it hit me.

I have to go to the GYM! Ahhhhh

A couple of months back I was on this rampage of trying to get healthy. It wasn't a New Years Resolution thingy, because that never works for me....rather, it was something more like "killing two birds with one stone". I figured, that if I got serious about working out, it would not only help me become more fit and healthy, it would also keep me busy enough that I wouldn't be tempted to spend my empty hours at the stores -- especially Anthropologie, Free People and Home Goods.

"Healthy Body = Healthy Pocketbook" right? (does anyone use the word pocketbook anymore?)

Anyway, in my whirlwind of work outs and gym classes, I made the decision to go ahead and sign up with a trainer. 

Now, I'm perfectly capable of sliding a disc in the DVD player or driving myself to a Zumba or exercise class, but my problem is my eventual lack of discipline. I can be all set....sneakers on, disc in, power on - play....ring ring....pause....hello? lunch? sure, I'm not busy, be there in ten....and off I go.

The great thing about my current plan is I have to go! Sure, I can cancel, but that takes effort too.

So, today, I reluctantly dragged myself out of the house, into the cold and dismal day to rendezvous with my Fitness Torturer. Only kidding, this guy is great! (I should actually say kid - he was born the year I graduated High School! Boy, do I feel OLD) Dan is quiet, reserved and totally committed. You have to be to have me as a client. I feel sorry for him, because I am not the easiest of people to train....I try to take the easy way out...I arrive right on time so I can waste some time in the locker room...I cut corners like standing a little more erect than I should, doing push ups from my knees....taking very, very long pauses between reps and scoping out the gym for my friends so I can chat. But, Dan sees all! No matter how much I complain, he just smiles and we move on to the next exercise. If I scream no more, I'm done....it hurts....he just says nope one more, keep going.

This was our conversation after my first session

In all honesty, I'm happy he pushes me. I want to be healthy and darn it, I want to look good in my bikini. 

So, with circles under my eyes, hair in a clip I made my way to the gym. Dan was already there setting up all the wonderful things that I would be doing while in his care. I held my breath, crossed my fingers and hope that I would make it to the end of the hour. I worked hard and in between breaths I was able to mutter...are you kidding me? I don't want to do that...this is way too heavy.....help.....

When the hour was up, I realized that I was still alive. I thought to myself, okay, not so bad.... in the end it will be all worth it. Summer is coming. I confirmed our next meeting and off I went to sit in the car for an hour while my body recuperated.

While writing this post, I remember that just the other day, my sister asked a question on Facebook..."When is it time to start working our for swimsuit/tank/shorts season?"

The responses were quick,  ranging from: "ummm....last year" to "I've been working on this summers swimsuit season since 1994"

I guess with Spring finally around the corner, we are all starting to primp ourselves....why not. We are as young as we are ever going to be! What are you doing to get fit? Do you have any workout programs you recommend?

If you're the disciplined typed, grab a DVD and pop it in....if, you are like me.....go make a date with a local torturer of your own for an hour.....I made it and I survived....You can too. Now, I need to go shopping! What time does the mall close again?