30 Day Shred: It. Is. Finished.

I'm happy to report I've completed the 30 days of the 30 Day Shred. Hip. Hip. Hooray! I'm so happy that I accepted the challenge. Being accountable was really what I needed. I looked back at my goals and I can honestly say, I feel like I achieved them all. I feel more comfortable and confident in my clothes, I have more energy and I'm back to the place where I'm exercising regularly. That's all I wanted. Of course I can always lose weight, but to that I have to change my diet. Baby steps. I have been successful with only eating desserts on the weekends, except for today. I made the mistake of making brownies Saturday and not eating the whole pan. I couldn't stop thinking about those brownies today and I finally just gave in. Y'all know how I am with brownies. I'll just have to give up a cheat day this weekend, but at least those brownies won't be calling my name anymore. 

So I'm including an "after" picture, but I have to warn you, my results are not typical...typically people look dramatically different after doing this workout and following a diet plan. I did not change my diet and I don't look dramatically different. And I'm okay with that. I may not look different, but I like the way I feel. (Quarter just said I look good to him. So there...lol)

Now head over to Kenysa's blog to read her update...

52 Fridays: Simplicity

I missed last week because the theme was abstract and I drew a blank. I'll come back to it. (Hope, don't let me forget.) This week's theme is simplicity.

Simplicity is...

hiding behind the shower curtain to play "where's hannah?'" (aka peek-a-boo)

going for a crawl on the treadmill

stretching your legs in the back of the car before church

trying to figure out how to get past the gate(s)

going to the museum

swinging at the park (and snapping your fingers)

lunching with mommy and friends

showing off your tongue (and jeans)

playing in the kitchen

keeping busy while waiting for the doctor

Simplicity is enjoying every moment with our sweet baby girl...

30 Day Shred: Four Weeks Down

I made it through another week of the 30 Day Shred workout. It feels great to be working out regularly again, even if the workout kicks my butt. Last week I stuck with Level 2, because I didn't have the energy to try Level 3.

The week wasn't too bad. I worked out while Hannah was awake on Wednesday. We go to the library for story time on Wednesdays, during the time that I normally workout. So I've been working out around noon. I don't like working out later in the day. I prefer to get it out of the way first thing in the morning. So last Wednesday I set my alarm to get up an hour early, so I could workout before Hannah woke up. But when the alarm went off, I didn't get out of bed. I told myself I could just workout while she played. When I started the video, she immediately started smiling like she was excited about the new "game" we were about to play. She stayed close to me and attempted to climb on, under or over me whenever I changed positions. She stood in front of me while I was in a squat and she tried to take my weights every time I lifted them out in front of me. When I was standing on one leg, she stood in front of me, holding onto that leg. I wish I could have recorded it, because it was funny. I didn't think the workout could be harder, but Hannah was a little extra resistance. She cracked me up and that made it more fun. I won't, however, try that again.

So today I moved up to Level 3. The exercises are more challenging, but I survived. I only have 5 more days to go and I will have completed the 30 days. During the Level 3 workout, Jullian said if we had followed the diet, we should see our six pack right about now. I almost laughed out loud. I didn't follow the diet and I don't have a six pack, but I feel fitter. I feel stronger. I am making better food choices, but I haven't made the kind of changes I need to in order to have a flat stomach. Maybe I'll make that my next challenge...

For now, I'm going to head over here to read about Hope's fourth week. It just occurred to me that we never talk about our workout, we just wait and read about it. :)

30 Day Shred: Three Weeks Down

Yes! Another week down. I'm so excited to have made it through this week. I've made my peace with level 2 and we aren't enemies any more. Don't get me wrong, I still find this level extremely challenging, but I'm slowing seeing my endurance and strength increasing and that feels great. Guess what else, I conquered those walk-out-push-ups. Yep, yay me! Again, I'm not advanced or anything, but I can complete them. What's crazy is that making it through those two sets of push-ups gives me the confidence to move on to the next challenge (squat thrusts) and the next... So basically that's how I make it through level 2, one exercise at a time. And right now, I'm okay with that.

Another positive about this week, I didn't dread the workout as much. I can't yet say I love working out again, but I enjoy how I feel afterwards. I feel like I'm doing something good for my body. I haven't really changed my diet, so I don't look any fitter (although my mama said she thought I looked better, but I'm not completely sure she isn't just saying that because she's my mama), but I feel healthier. I wore a little dress to church on Sunday and I felt cute. Forgive me for tooting my own horn, but you know you have days when you feel good in your clothes and nobody has to tell you, because you already know? Well I had one of those days. I felt comfortable and confident in my dress. I actually was a little too confident, because Hannah and I jumped and danced so much during praise & worship that I broke a sweat. It was then that I remembered my (sweaty) thighs still rub together, and I'm not that cute. lol

As far as my goals from last week, I give myself a B. I did accomplish my goal of making it through the level 2 workout without feeling like I was going to be sick or pass out. Giving up dessert was a different story. I was all mentally prepared to give up dessert on September 1. As I was making dinner Quarter informs me that he already has dessert for us. He said he got it the day before but forgot to bring it in. It was a yummy chocolate chip cookie that I chose not to refuse. I came up with a new plan to have cheat days. That was my first cheat day...lol. My second was today--a holiday. Once I get going, I'll probably cheat on the weekends, but giving up dessert completely isn't realistic for me right now.

My goal for this week is just to stick to it. Period.

I'm curious to see how the other ladies are doing. Click here for Kensya's recap.

52 Fridays: Flowers

It's been so hot this summer, Hannah and I haven't spent much time outside. And unfortunately our flowers didn't survive the heat. So for this week's theme, I went and dug out some fake flowers I had.

Since I'm just now getting around to publishing this post, I thought I could include some pics of Hannah today. Her dress has pretty flowers on it.