Cardio-Abs Challenge Check-In, Week 1

Hey fitness fanatics!

Remember Debbie Reichert??

Remember my 31 Day Cardio-Abs Challenge I joined?

Well, it's time to check in with week 1 completed!

I have been keeping track on my wallpaper, it's way easier and greener than having a printout!

Let's take a look-see:

So, I have some opportunities to improve on. I missed Saturday but did Saturday's routine on Sunday. I have no excuse for missing yesterday, but I may try to make up the circuit sometime later in the month. I am proud that I am not BS-ing you, and ashamed that I have not been able to complete each day 100%, but I'm not letting that hold me back. I will give it my all for the rest of the month. It's super easy to look at my failure and just give up, but it's taking some serious guts [and muscle!] to keep going.

Some issues I am having are that I cannot do a full plank, so I have been doing a plank on my knees. I have hopes that by the end of the month I can do a full-length plank successfully!

I also have been having sore shoulders from the mountain climbers and plank jacks, but I am RICE-ing them and feel the soreness less and less each day. I do stretch BEFORE and AFTER the circuits, so I know I'm not doing these on cold muscles.

Some awesome news?!? Last week on Day 1 I did take measurements, because I wanted to see how much one month could make a difference!

Day 1 (5/1):

Arms [biceps]: 13.75"

Waist [natural waist]: 38.5"

Tummy [right below my bellybutton, where my pants usually sit]: 46"

Thighs: 25"

Day 7 (5/8):

Arms: 13.5"

Waist: 38"

Tummy: 45"

Thighs: 24.5"

WOW! I have lost a total of 2.25"!!! In one week!!

YAY ME!

Thanks Debbie! Can't wait to keep going!

S-A-TUR-DAY - NIGHT! [Wrap up]

Fitness for the week:

Sunday - Zumba!

(1HR, Max HR 183, Avg HR 147, 361 Cal Burned, 14.8g Fat Burned)

Monday - Nothing :(

Tuesday - Nothing :(

Wednesday - Day 1 Cardio-Abs Challenge

Thursday - Day 2 Cardio-Abs Challenge
Biggest Loser Intermediate Workout #3

Friday - Day 3 Cardio-Abs Challenge

Saturday - Nada :(
I skipped Day 4 of the Cardio-Abs Challenge & will do it tomorrow instead of the rest day

It was a tough week for me. I think this is the first week in a month or maybe month and a half that I have not run AT ALL. I am disappointed in myself, because I had no true motivation to get out there. I just felt..... blah. Ever get those weeks?

I also had a disappointing day yesterday (Friday). One of my bosses/buddies at work was going to give me her old treadmill. Free of charge. I was totally appreciative, and super excited because I knew maybe I could get the hubby to start his own personal journey....

She called me up as John headed towards her house.... her boyfriend and her father dropped in as they were unloading it from his truck so John could take it. Yup. FAIL. I was disappointed and frustrated, but I couldn't get mad at her or her boyfriend... it's not like it happened on purpose. So, I'm going to just keep trying, maybe one day I'll strike it good with a treadmill so the hubby can work out at home.

Weekly Non-Scale Victory:

Last Sunday I bought size 16 pants! Not just any 16 though... OLD NAVY size 16's! (so it's like they are 14's because Old Navy sizes always run small to me lol)
It's true! I am now smaller than I was in high school ten years ago!
YAY!

Fitness Plan for the Week:

This week I have big plans for myself! I'm going to start running again!

NO EXCUSES!

BUCK UP LITTLE MISSY!

POOP OR GET OFF THE POT!

YOU CAN'T RUN YOUR FIRST 5K WITHOUT TRAINING FOR IT!

STOP BEING A COUCH POTATO!

Sorry... just getting myself pumped up!

Sunday - Resetting the clocks a little bit.... Couch to 5k Week 5 Day 1
Day 5 Cardio-Abs Challenge (Today shoulda been a rest day but I skipped yesterday)

Monday - Biggest Loser Intermediate #1
Day 6 Cardio-Abs Challenge

Tuesday - Couch to 5k Week 5 Day 2
Day 7 Cardio-Abs Challenge

Wednesday - [Rest]
Day 8 Cardio-Abs Challenge

Thursday - Couch to 5k Week 5 Day 3
Day 9 Cardio-Abs Challenge

Friday - Biggest Loser Intermediate #2
Day 10 Cardio-Abs Challenge

Saturday - [Rest]
Day 11 Cardio-Abs Challenge




I am taking two rest days so not to overload myself. I do count them as rest even though I'm still doing the challenge because the challenge takes all of 5 minutes out of my day to do it, and I like the burning feeling in my gut the next day because I feel the burn!!

My First Challenge : May's Cardio Abs with Debbie Reichert!

Well, April is coming to a close, and May is almost upon us.

I've been following Debbie Reichert's fitness on her FACEBOOK, and her BLOG. She is a mother and fitness instructor, and just has an overall healthy outlook on life and health!

Every month, she does a fitness challenge. I did not join her "crew" until the middle of March, so I missed out on the beginning of the year, and just wasn't ready for her challenges in March or April. However, I think I'm going to kick May's ass!


The challenge this month?!?

Cardio Abs!

That's right! It's going to be a whole month of mountain climbers, burpees, planks, and everything that I could possibly think of as torture! (Debbie if you end up reading this- I look forward to the PAIN!)

So, before I share her challenge, let me do the obligatory linkies:

Debbie's Facebook Event Page for May

Debbie's Blog Page for May

(BTW- I am endorsing Debbie on my own, I'm not being paid nor recruited on her behalf.)

So, here's the challenge:

It's going to be loads of fun.

Wait... fun?

No, probably not fun. But this is going back to a saying I've been using frequently....

So, tomorrow brings me a birthday... and I will officially be "closer to 30" instead of just in "my mid-20's". I'm not excited! But, tonight will bring dinner with some of my family, and more family on Wednesday. Wednesday will also mark Day 1 of this challenge! Be on the look-out, I will be adding in an additional spot on my Saturday wrap-ups for this May Cardio Abs challenge!

Good luck!