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. 

Abs 30 Day Challenge, Day 6 (March 6, 2014)

Hey guys!

I am back in business today! I lot sore, but still determined, and best yet, not headaches. My hubby was still playing video games that last time I checked, so I'm going to go and do my ab routine. 

Today is very very very hard. I still can't believe I am doing this, but the other half of me is like, you're doing it! Get over it!

Anyway, my lower abdomen is super super sore, but if I take some breaks (no longer than 30 seconds) and stretch in between, I feel able to go to the next exercise. So far, the sit-ups are proving the worst and most difficult. I guess it seems weird to me because in gym class growing up, we never did planks or leg raises, or even crunches very much. We always did sit-ups, so I figured those would be the easiest to do, but it is the complete opposite. I can't believe how hard sit-ups are! 

I have been drinking a lot of water before, during, and after my routine so that I stay hydrated and I find that I don't get headaches as often. So, A + for science. 

Today was HARD!!! But i got through it, and I couldn't be happier. Wait, yes I could, if it was a rest day tomorrow, I would be happier. But it isn't. Room for improvement, I guess. 

Day 6:

35 sit ups
15 crunches
15 leg raises
25 second plank

Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge, Day 5 (March 5, 2014)

Hey all, 

So, today is not a good day. Last night I had a migraine, and was really sick. Today, I am feeling better, so I still did my routine, but I got another headache after that. This post will be short because of that, sorry. Hopefully, I will be back tomorrow. 

Day 5:
30 sit ups
12 crunches
12 leg raises
20 second plank

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 4, (March 4, 2014)

Hey all, 

Today was a rest day! Oh happy day of days! I am sore, but I am happy that today was a day of rest. So happy in fact, that I bundled up and went to the grocery store to pick up some fruit and veg. 

So nothing amazing to report today, just rest. Tomorrow is back to the grind stone. 

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 3 (March 3, 2014)

Hey guys,

Man oh man, am I feeling these today! We are home safe and sound and soon I will be posting my packing blog, so you can see that bunch of fun. 

Anyway, I distracted myself there.... today was day three, and afterwards, I;m actually feeling a little bit sick. It isn't a plesant feeling, let me assure you. I think I just need to drink more water before and after I do this, so that's what I will aim to do from now on. 

I do this routine before bed, and I don't get too sweaty, but if it is an especially rough night, like tonight was, I do get quite nasty, and have to take a shower. 

I got distracted again, so anyway, I am not feeling well, and I know the root cause of it, and I know how to rectify it, so I won't blab on about it more. I will say that I am very very sore and I can't beleive I am still doing this challenge, every night and that I have had the determination to do it, without any convincing or bribing from me or my husband! 

Day 3: 
25 sit ups
10 crunches
10 leg raises
15 second plank

( I will also note that yesterday, I was unable to properly do the 20 crunches I needed to, so I called it quits, and I did 25 today! Not only was I very happy that I was able to do them, but also very very sore.)

I hope you guys are finding this helpful. Again, this is just being copied out of my workout journal, the current ones will start tonight ( March 9th). 

Warm wishes. 

Abs Challenge Day 2 (March 2, 2014)

Hey guys, 

So today was day two of the 30 day abs challenge, and I have to say that it isn't as bad as I thought last night. Yes, it is hard work, but so far, I don't really feel sore and I don't really have the same fear of doing the reps as I did a few days ago, or even yesterday. It takes me about 3 minutes to do everything, so I haven't changed the way I eat or my pre- or post- workout food. Maybe that will change later, but so far it hasn't. 

Day 2: 

20 sit-up
8 leg raises
8 crunches
12 second plank

Warm wishes. 

Abs 30 Day Challenge Day 1 (March 1, 2014)

Hello All, 

So, this (was) day one of the 30 days ab challenge, and boy do I already (somewhat) regret doing this challenge. It was midnight and I had just gotten home from a Beefsteak with my family, so not only was I pretty full, but I was exhausted. And my husband just looked at me, and I knew that i had to get up. So, because the baby was asleep, I had to go into the bathroom and do my routine, cold tile and all. But I did it, and I was very happy with myself for even having the determination to do the first day, that's how intense this challenge is. (wait until you see day 8)

Day 1:
15 Sit-ups
5 crunches
5 leg raises
10 second plank

I will see you all tomorrow. 

Warm wishes. 

The 30 Day Abs Challenge

This is the 30 Day Abs Challenge I have been doing for almost a week now. It feels like a lot longer, but it will be a week on Saturday. 

I was sitting here, writing another blog post, when I thought, why not share my experiences with the whole process with everyone else. A blog is a place for ideas to flow and let others, who might share your thoughts, ideas, or opinions, coneect with you. SO, why not share how I huff and puff and procrastinate and struggle and cry and heave and sigh through all of these challenges? 

And even now, I sit here and write all of those reactions, but the reaction I seem to have the most is a huge smile plasted on my face whenever I accomplish a set. Every little set is a victory for me. I am sore, and tired, and even on days like today, sick, but I still smile at the end, becasue I have accompliched something that I didn't think was possible. Just in a few minutes. 

Last month, if you had told me that I would be able to do 35 sit ups in one sitting, I would have laughed, and told you that you had the wrong girl. But I just did it! Me! Caitlynne Scagel, hater of all things aerobic (not really, but it does sound more dramatic that way) did 35 sit ups with minimal breaks. Before today, I couldn't even fathom doing 35 sit ups. And by the end of the challenge, I will be doing 180 in a workout. 180! That is insane! But I am actually very excited about it. 

When I first found this Challenge on Facebook, I was like, okay cool, this starts out simple. 

NOT!

Just to see where I was, I tried to do a sit up. I did two. Two. That's it. And day one of the challenge is 15! Fifteen. 

I was going to quit, and to throw in the towel a full week and a half before I even started the month. 

And then I said "No. I am better, stronger, and more determined that his. I will find a way." And I did. 

The 5 days before the program, I worked myself up slowly to doing the first day's worth of reps. 

This is what my schedule looked like:

Monday 24: 3 sit ups, 1 crunch, 1 leg raise, 6 sec plank

Tuesday 25: 6 sit ups, 2 crunches, 2 leg raises, 7 sec plank

Wednesday 26: 9 sit ups, 3 crunches, 3 leg raises, 8 sec plank

Thursday 27: 12 sit ups, 4 crunches, 4 leg raises, 9 sec plank

Friday 28: 15 sit ups, 5 crunches, 5 leg raises, 10 sec plank

This got me up to doing day one of the Challenge. Now, I know this may not seem like a lot at first, but the most important thing about this is, do what you can with the best for you can. If you hurt yourself because of bad form, that isn't you not being fit enough to exercise, that's you being lazy enough not to learn your form correctly. Even if you can only do one of everything, at least you know that you have worked the correct muscle groups. 

Go online and watch some videos of people doing these exercises sot hat you can see how they are done properly. Learn hand positions and leg angles, and let yourself be taught. Listen and watch, don't just brush it off at a sit-up, it's an exercise, treat it like one. 

I'm only on day six of thirty, and I am sore and tired and want to know what I was thinking, but I happy I am doing this, for my mind, and my body. 

For me, this is the perfect exercise in non-instant gratification. While I am doing it, it sucks, and it hurts, and I want to whine like a baby, but when I suck it up and do what needs doing, I feel great, and I couldn't be happy, though I couldn't be more sore! And, I'm sure, after 30 days of doing this, I will see results at the end of March. At least I hope so. Let me know if you want pictures. I might post them irregardless. We will see. 

Every day, I will update you on how I did, what I did, and how I am feeling. Some days might be longer than others. But, for the most part, you will see a lot of pain, and struggle, and frustration, but also a lot of confidence, and determination and resilience. 

I hope this inspires you to hop off the couch and onto the floor or the gym or the road and challenge yourself. It's the only way you will know your boundaries. 

I'm off to bed for the night, but I will post my ab diary in the morning. 

Happy crunching!

Warm wishes.