April's Challenges

Hello to all my lovely readers, 

I'm sure there are about three of you out there, but for you three, I wanted to let you know what has been happening in my life, and what I am doing as far as exercise goes for April. As you might know, in order to keep myself active, and accountable, I do a different exercise challenge every month. And then here, I keep a diary of sorts. I know that we are about two weeks into April already, but better late than never. 

We have been renovating, as I'm sure you already know. I have been hemming curtains,refinishing furniture, and trying to keep the baby happy, the house clean, meals made, laundry done, and still be able to read, sleep, and exercise. So, unfortunately blogging and videos have fallen to the wayside. Maybe that means I'm not meant to be a blogger. I like to think of it as being a bad multi tasker and a better mother, but I'll let you make that call. I also don't really have a place to blog or call my own right now. My camera battery was misplaced from the camera to the charger, and then my husband moved all of the things from the main room of the basement to the storage room, with no real rhyme or reason (to me) so I haven't had access to all of my make up, scrap booking, or even to a calm space that i can film. Most days I have to scrape together a blog with a screaming baby in the back ground and try not to scream at the top of my lungs in frustration. Luckily, the basement is getting done next, and though it is a larger room than any my husband has done, it also has nothing in it, and is essentially a large square with a staircase attached to it. No closets or anything like that to get hung up on, and nothing in the middle of the room to be careful of or to hinder his movement. He really is being a saint by painting all of these rooms, by himself, getting up early everyday to do it. Such a saint. But I am a greedy, greedy human being, and I cannot wait for the basement to be finished so that I can have carpet and decorated area to blog and film my heart out. This is why the blog has been so crazy. between me trying to actually do the things that I want to blog about, having a life, exercising, having a crazy two year old running around, and having no space to do my thing, the blog has fallen to the wayside. But because i made this commitment to myself and to the three of you reading right now, I will make a more concerted effort next week to blog and film and post and all that good stuff. I am even thinking about trying to film us putting the guest room together. That is what has been holding me up, and what has been happening in my life thus far. Now, onto more important matters. 

For April, I made up my own challenge. I have been blabbering on and on, for a few months now, about how nice it would be to join a new exercise class. On our last posting, I joined an Aquacise class and a Bootcamp class, and I loved it! I loved listening to the other women talk about their lives, their husbands, their kids, their houses, and their bodies. I loved working and sweating and being joined with other women who were working and sweating. My husband loves to go to the gym. Loves it. With a passion that rivals the love he has for his own child. I, on the other hand, am not a gym bunny. (Yes, that is actually what women are calling themselves now.) I enjoy going with him, but it isn't like exercising with another woman.

My best friend and I used to go to the gym once or twice a week together for about a year. And it was fun! We exercised on the same equipment, we laughed, oogled men, talked about fashion and make up and deodorant and work and whatever else we wanted to talk about. We helped each other on the machines and then showered and changed and got ready to go out afterwards, in a normal, girly, talking, giggling fashion. The gym, is not like that with my husband. At all. We do not talk. We do not laugh. We do not oogle, or snicker, or giggle, or cheep, or wiggle our eyebrows suggestively. We work out, him with his ear buds in, and me, watching him, listening to other people have conversations with each other. 

Now, don't get me wrong, my husband and I talk more than the average couple. I actually read recently average couples, who have been married within ten years, only talk for 40 minutes during an hour long meal. And they normally only have one meal a day together.  Yes, that is an actual statistic. My husband and I share one or two meals a day, depending on how busy we are, and of course, depending on if he is home or not. And during that time we talk while I cook, while we eat, and our meal times are on the upwards of two hours so that we can fully talk and enjoy each other and our little one. We talk while we clean up the kitchen, and play with the baby, and we even have a horrible habit of talking during movies and tv shows we watch. We just talk and talk and talk and talk. Always. But at the gym, we are silent. He works hard, and he also, I think, wants to be seen as a tough guy. I suppose no man wants to be seen talking and laughing with a woman, unless he is hitting on her, and my husband and I have passed that point in our relationship. So, he works, and I watch, and work with him a little, but it isn't very fun honestly.

And that isn't even considering the baby. Normally, I take her, so he can work out. Which is sometimes frustrating, but i understand that where he works out with all the beefcakes and muscleheads, there is a lot of heavy lifting and slamming things, high jumping and handstand pushups, machinery and not a lot of space, and of course round house kicks, five finger death punches and wrestling alligators. Okay, not those last three. But you get the picture. So, I take her to the nice, safe, openness of the track where I try and run in my normal fashion (which I despise; I feel like a walrus running whilst pushing a pram.) and then I normally wind up walking around the oblong track endlessly, while my husband finishes fighting ninjas and taming lions in his corner of the gym. And all of this leads to me having a quite unsatisfying work out, and we don't see much of each other anyhow, so why bother? 

This brings me to my newest bright idea. I will work out in the great outdoors while it is lovely and nice out, and then I will force myself to drag my tired bones to the gym and do exercise tapes when the weather gets nasty and cold again. So now that that life altering decision has been made, I move to the actual challenge for this month: running and classes. 

I have been going to two classes at our recreation Complex, or the RexPlex as we call it, two days a week, and running the other three days. I have been doing a Kickboxing class, which I adore, and I wish I could go twice a week, and a Step class, that I had been going to, but I think I might switch to another program because of many reasons, among them is my lack of coordination in all things aerobic. I haven't decided what i am going to replace it with, but I need to find something very quickly. So, for the entire month of April, every tuesday and Thursday, I get up at 7:30 am and get moving so that I can go to my fitness classes. And so far, I am loving it. I haven't missed one week, and I couldn't be happier with the environment and the workouts I have been getting. Most days, my arms and legs feel like jello, and I am exhausted by 12 everyday, but to me, it is worth it. 

This brings me to the second part of the monthly challenge: running. Now, I am not a fan of running. You can ask my husband, I have cried on runs before. Moving that far, that fast, hurts, and is tiring, and is hard work, so I hate it, but it also gives me the best sense of accomplishment ever. My least favorite thing to do, is run while pushing the jogging stroller. It isn't pretty. And it feels awkward and unnatural, but I do it, because I don't have another choice. Some days, when my husband is actually home, I get him to watch the baby while I run, which is what I will be doing today, but most days, I run with the baby in the stroller, and I huff and puff and groan and struggle through it, but I do it. I persevere. 

So, that is my challenge for this month. two classes a week and three days of running a week. It isn't easy, but I do it because I want to be healthy, and I love the thrill of victory, the pleasure of success, and the overwhelming joy of accomplishment. 

Abs Challenge Day 25 (3/25/14)

Hello all, 

Today was a little rough for me. I am very sore everyday from the activity of the day before, and the baby is still sick! Seven days of this and I have had enough! I am also refinishing some furniture, which I will be doing a post on. All very exciting, but very tiring. So, to get on with it...

Day 25:
105 sit ups
160 crunches
60 leg raises
95 sec plank

The breakdown:
11 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

11 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

11 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

11 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

11 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
16 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

1 min break
Plaaaaaank for 95 seconds

These planks are killing me. Just... so so tiring....

Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge 30 day Day 24 (3/24/14)

Hey all, 

Sorry for that horribly melodramatic post from the other day. I was a little out of it. But today was a rest day as you probably figured. Nothing exciting except for the fact that i am resting and I could not be happier about it. 

Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge Day 23 (3/23/14)

Can it be over? Please? Please? please? Please. I am at the end of the end of what my body will take. Before this, I was floating on an endorphin covered cloud, amazed at the things my body could accomplish over such a short amount of time. And now, I feel like I am drowning in lactic acid, unable to even lift a finger to help myself accomplish my goals. I heaved and sighed and struggled and even thought about not doing the challenge today. I even whined and cried a little to myself about how exhausted my body and mind and spirit are. There is a lot happening in my life, and I can't describe how I struggled today. But I am making it through day by day. 

So today, I was required by the fitness overlords to do:

100 sit ups
150 crunches
58 leg raises
90 sec plank

I broke down the wretched and horrible work into these sets:

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
15 crunches
4 leg raises
10 sec break

90 sec plank

And now, I can sleep, because right now, that is the only thing I want from life. 

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 day challenge Day 22 (3/22/14)

Hey guys, 

So today was for some reason especially difficult for me. It took everything I had to even get on the floor and do the routine, and every fiber of my being was having a hard time pulling myself together. But it is done, and I can sleep now. 

Day 22:
95 sit ups
140 crunches
55 sit ups
85 sec plank

The breakdown:

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

14 sit ups
14 crunches
10 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
14 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

1 min break 

85 sec plank

So much planking. I could barely hold myself up. I was sweating and struggling and yes, even crying a little from the strain it was taking on my body, but I know that it is good for me in the long run, and I wouldn't want it any other way. What doesn't kill you and all that. 

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 Day challenge Day 21 (3/21/14)

Hello everyone!

SO I wanted to share with you what I did for day 21. These are getting longer, but somehow "easier". And for me, easier means, I am not struggling until the last and final set. Over half way done, let's keep doing this!

Day 21:
90 sit ups
130 crunches
52 leg raises
80 sec plank

The breakdown:

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
10 sec break

9 sit ups
13 crunches
7 leg raises
1 min break

80 sec plank

These planks are killing me. I can't believe I am actually doing this, legitimately, unbelievable.

Well, I'm going to go pass out now, and I will see you all soon.

Warm wishes.

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 20 (3/20/14)

Hello all,

Today was just a rest day. And boy did I rest. i am feeling super proud of myself and very confident. i feel like I am really working my body. Is this giving me 6 pack abs? Maybe under the layer of fat covering my abdomen, but nothing visible yet. Next month is a cardio and a running challenge! Yes! two challenges in one month! Bo am I going to be tired! But I am hoping beyond hope that winter will be terrified by my amazing willpower and determination and flee for fear of getting its butt kicked. A girl can hope.

Warm wishes.

Abs 30 Day Cahllenge Day 19 (March 19, 14)

Hey guys, 

Man oh man these are getting harder and harder. I am struggling with these ones. I really feel the last few reps. But even though I am exhausted and I keep going to be late because of the little one, I still do them and I am still determined to finish this damn month off. And soon. 

So I had to do:

85 sit ups
120 crunches
50 leg raises
75 second plank

The breakdown:

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
7 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
1 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
4 leg raises
10 sec break

10 crunches
6 leg raises
60 sec break

75 sec plank

Whew! that was intense! 

Let me know how you are doing with your challenge!

Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge Day 18 *(March 18, 2014)

Hey Guys, 

HelperBaby has been sick for a few days now, and boy am I exhausted. But I keep up with my abs challenge, I am determined! SO here are the past few days of the ab challenge that I needed to keep you up to date one. The next challenge will be better, I promise. 

Day 18: 
80 sit ups
110 crunches
48 leg raises
70 sec plank

I did:

10 sit ups
10 sec break
15 crunches
10 sec break
6 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break
15 crunches
10 sec break
6 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break
15 crunches
10 sec break
6 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break
15 crunches
10 sec break
6 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break
15 crunches
10 sec break
6 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break
15 crunches
10 sec break
6 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break
15 crunches
10 sec break
6 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
5 crunches
6 leg raises
10 sec break

70 sec plank

Phew! I was exhausted after this one! I could not beilive that I had done all thta, but I did it. The last set of sit ups nearly killed me, and the leg raises were pretty easy, even holding a Bichon over my head. But I'm sure I will regret saying that later on down the line. 

I hope you all are being productive with this as much as I am. Enjoy it, and revel in all that you are doing! Only a few more days! Keep going. 

Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge Day 17 (March 17, 2014)

Hey guys, 

This is what I did yesterday. I have a very bad weigh in, I gained two pounds! I have a lot of excuses, but it all comes down to I let myself fall back into bad habits, not this week! A new week, and a new routine!

Here is what was in store for yesterday:

Day 17:
75 sit ups
100 crunches
42 leg raises
65 sec plank

Break down:
 7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

7 sit ups
10 crunches
4 leg raises
20 sec break

12 sit ups
10 crunches
6 leg raises

65 sec plank


Boy am I dead. How I will be able to go on, I have no clue, but I am determined!
Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge Day 16 (March 16, 2014)

Hello all, 

I have been going strong on this challenge so far! Today is a rest day, and I am so grateful for it!

Have a great rest days! 

Warm wishes. 

 

Abs Challenge Day 15 (March 15, 2014)

Hello all, 

Just a super quick post on how I broke down day 15's routine. 

Hope you enjoy!

Day 15:

70 sit ups
95 crunches
42 leg raises
60 sec plank

10 sit ups
13 crunches
6 leg raises
30 sec rest

10 sit ups
13 crunches
6 leg raises
30 sec rest

10 sit ups
13 crunches
6 leg raises
30 sec rest

10 sit ups
13 crunches
6 leg raises
30 sec rest

10 sit ups
13 crunches
6 leg raises
30 sec rest

10 sit ups
13 crunches
6 leg raises
30 sec rest

10 sit ups
17 crunches
6 leg raises
30 sec rest

60 sec plank

I hope this helped you. See you soon!

Warm wishes.

Abs Challenge Day 14 (March 14, 2014)

Hello everyone, 

I wanted to keep you up to date on my routine break down for this challenge, I hope you enjoy this break down. 

Day 14:

65 sit ups
85 crunches
42 leg raises
55 sec plank

Break down:
10 sit ups
14 crunches
7 leg raises
20 sec rest

10 sit ups
14 crunches
7 leg raises
20 sec rest

10 sit ups
14 crunches
7 leg raises
20 sec rest

10 sit ups
14 crunches
7 leg raises
20 sec rest

10 sit ups
14 crunches
7 leg raises
20 sec rest

10 sit ups
14 crunches
7 leg raises
20 sec rest

55 sec plank

5 sit ups
1 crunch


And we're done! These planks are the things that are giving me the most trouble right now. 

Let me know what you are struggling with, and what your favorite part of the break down is! 

Warm wishes!

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 13 (March 13, 2014)

Hello all, 

Just want to give you my routine break dow for Day 13 of my Abs challenge. 

Day 13: 

60 sit ups
75 crunches
40 leg raises
50 sec plank

My routine:

10 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
13 crunches
5 leg raises
20 sec break

10 sit ups
13 crunches
10 leg raises
20 sec break

50 sec plank

Today was very very very hard for me, I was sweating and shaking and so crazy, but I was so happy when I finished this session! 

Have a great day, and I hope to see you reading tomorrow!

Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge Day 12 (March 12, 2014)

Hey guys, 

Today was a rest day. All day long I have been stretching my abs so that hopefully I won't be too sore. 

I hope you are having success with this challenge, and I will see you tomorrow! 

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 11 (March 11, 2014)

 Hey guys, 

This was a harder day for me, but I still got through it, again by breaking this down. 

I am so tired, so I will just let you know how I broke this down to make it easier for me. 

Day 11:
55 situps
50 crunches
30 leg raises
38 sec plank

What I did:

15 sit ups 
10 sec break

20 crunches
10 leg raises
10 sec break

15 sit ups
10 sec break

25 crunches
15 leg raises
10 sec break

5 sit ups
10 sec break

42 sec plank

So this is what I did, and I hope you are having success if you are doing this with me. 

Have a great day! 

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 day challenge Day 10 (March 10, 2014)

Hey all,

I know I have been lacking in updating you about how I have been doing my 30 days abs challenge , but it has been very crazy here. We are finishing our basement and HelperBaby has been very sick, so it has been quite busy here. Not only have I not been in my blogging area, I have have been exhausted and a little frustrated over all of the craziness in my house.

Anyway, enough excuses. Here is my day 10 of the abs challenge.

I had to do:

Day 10:
50 sit ups
50 crunches
30 leg raises
38 second plank

My routine looked like this:

10 situps
10 sec break

16 crunches
10 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break

17 crunches
10 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups
10 sec break

16 crunches
10 leg raises
10 sec break

10 sit ups

38 sec plank

10 sit ups


This routine felt a little easier actually than the day before. At least it felt that way. Also, breaking it up, absolutely helps me get through this challenge.

I hope me breaking the routines up like this helps you get through this challenge like it does for me.

Happy crunching and warm wishes.

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 9

Hey everyone, 

I just finished doing my ab routine, and boy am I sore. Today was a very long day, between my husband finishing the basement, and having to take care of a teething baby, I got to bed late and so I had to do my ab routine late. But, I still did it. 

Now that my abs are screaming at me, I can say that I am still smiling. 

I broke my routine down again, and here is how it played out:

I had to do:

Day 9:
45 sit ups
30 crunches
30 leg raises
38 second plank

5 sit ups 
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
10 sec break
10 crunches
10 sec break
10 crunches
10 sec break

5 sit ups 
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break

10 leg raises
10 sec break
10 leg raises
10 sec break
10 leg raises
10 sec break

5 sit ups 
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break

38 sec plank

This has probably been my most difficult routine for me. It took me 14:42 minutes and before I started my heart rate was at 86 BPM and during my HR was 110 BPM and directly after, my HR was 90 BPM. 

I think I have been doing well, focusing on my form, and making sure that I am getting the most out of each rep. I feel every muscle in my abdomen right now. So much pain. So much gain. 

I hope you enjoyed this super weird journal entry for today's ab challenge. 

I will see you next time. 

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 day challenge Day 8 (March 8, 2014)

Helloooooooo, 

Today was a rest day, so I just did some chores around the house. Nothing special. I played with HelperBaby some, but nothing more than that. I am very excited and nervous about tomorrow's session, so we will see how it goes. 

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 7 (March 7, 2014)

Hey guys, 

I wanted to take a few minutes to share how I actually broke the routine up today, because the routine has gotten significantly more difficult. I will time myself tomorrow, because I don't know how long it takes now, but I will let you know in my next Challenge Mode entry. (Well, not tomorrow, that's a rest day) 

Today I had to do:

Day 7: 
40 sit ups
20 crucnhes
20 leg raises
30 second plank

And it was a lot of hard work, but I feel (dare I say it?) stronger. My lower abdomen still is so sore, but I feel as though I am actually getting better at these exercises. And planks are starting to get more difficult. I'm still hanging in there, and I have been practicing breathing through my work outs, so I think that has helped me, but I can tell we are getting serious now. 

To make this exercise session more manageable for me, I split the sit ups ups. And then split everything except the plank up. 

My session looked like this:

5 sit ups 
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break

10 crunches
10 sec break 10 crunches

5 sit ups 
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break

10 leg raises
10 sec break
10 leg raises

5 sit ups 
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break

30 second plank
30 sec break

5 sit ups 
10 sec break
5 sit ups
10 sec break

This is just how I did it to make it more manageable. I find measuring my small successes within the workout helps me go through it much easier and faster. 

I am going to start taking my heart rate before, during and after these sessions, and timing them, so you can see how my body is reacting. I will also be weighing myself on Monday ( day 10), so you can see where you in regards to me, to see how you might react to the routine. 

I hope this helped, and I hope to see you guys again soon. 

Warm wishes.