So, I'm getting my fitness and my health on, and trying to
tame the control freak. Where to begin? Well,
after yesterday's thumbs up from Mary at the Superstore (see yesterday's post if this reference is not connecting for you), I thought I'd write
about my sweet and simple fitness plan.
Crunch Challenge
On Facebook a while back I saw that people were posting
about participating in the 30 day Crunch Challenge. I thought, 30 days, it takes 30 days to make
a habit, 30 days isn't that long, Ok, I'm all for the 30 day Crunch
Challenge. So I started last week.
I discovered three
things very quickly about this challenge.
1. It takes far less time in the run of a day to do 100
crunches (or whatever the schedule called for that day) than I would have ever
imagined. Seriously. Like 2 minutes. I would look at the calendar, go to the front
room, lay down on Sydney's play mats, do my X amount of crunches and then be
amazed that they were all done. I even
went online and watched a couple of Youtube videos on various crunch options,
and switched crunch positions after every 25 crunches and by no means did it
ever take me more than 5 minutes. So,
really, we could all be participating in the crunch challenge every day.
2. Crunches tone your belly - go figure! Ha ha.
I'm trying to be funny, but seriously, crunches work. I can feel that my stomach is getting more
toned (and I just had a baby 6 weeks ago), so that is a great motivator to keep
going.
3. Actions do speak louder than words. Jamie wanted to know what the random #'s were
on the calendar. I told him about the
challenge and he's all over it. He's
been on team crunch a lot, and I even caught him this morning trying to find a
push up challenge online. :)
If you'd like to challenge yourself to Crunch it up for 30
days, here are a couple of great websites.
http://shrinkingjeans.net/2013/05/30-day-ab-challenge/ -
This is the one I'm following - I was drawn by the "shrinking jeans"
part of the address.
This is the one a few friends have followed, where you do
progressively more crunches each day: http://anothercityurbanite.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/tumblr_mld03kknqh1sopt5no1_500.jpg
Next up, Couch to 5 K
I've been a lukewarm runner for about 10 years. I get all geared up, train, train, train, run
a 10 k or half marathon and then fall off the wagon for 6 months (or a
year!) I always have tremendous guilt,
especially when I see my Running Room jacket hanging in the closet. You know that one. The one that all people who run seem to
have. It's a must have when you first
start running. Check out any learn to
run running group. They all have one.
So, here I go with the Couch to 5K. Yes, I know what you're
thinking. "Beth, it doesn't seem
like your inner self wants to embrace running as your go to fitness activity. "
I hear you, but, I like what running is all about. It's individual, it involves very little
equipment, you can do it anywhere, you don't have to sign up for classes, and I
enjoy entering races with friends. I'm making
a life change here, so, fingers crossed, running will stick this time. Since I
really haven't done that much exercise for at least 10 months, I figured I
better start slow. My friend Jill
inspired me to give the Couch to 5 K a go.
I started last week, and again, it seems to be going
great. Now, I realize I'm on maternity
leave and have more flexible time than full time working moms, but Jill is a
full time working mom, and she's doing it, so I know it's doable. Small amount of time (only 30 minutes) to be
able to run 5k (which is the starting distance for any race you may want to
enter). On my last maternity leave I
used to take 30 minutes to bake a batch of double chocolate chip cookies. If I
swap 30 minutes of baking for 30 minutes of fitness, I'll be Jane Fonda by
Labor Day! Although, I'm sure even Jane
whooped up some cookies once in awhile.
Jamie and Sydney love chocolate chip cookies (Ok, I love them too).
Yours in only eating one handful of chocolate chips in the
last 3 days,
Beth
PS. Start the crunch challenge today - I dare you!
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