Well, it may be safe to say I haven’t had that much fun working out for 30 days maybe like…..EVER.
This summer was pretty hard on me. I made a lot of excuses. I had a lot of fun. I wasn’t disciplined. Life got in the way. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda.
So, it shouldn’t be too surprising that when I decided to get back on the wagon, it wouldn’t be all butterflies and rainbows.
Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly.
THE GOOD ~ I seriously needed this program. I had no idea how much. Because not only did I need something to kinda lift my spirits and country dancing…even when I’m not that good at it….did that, but I needed something to be committed to and to look forward to again. Ya’ll know that working out comes pretty easy for me. No….I’m not gonna sit here and say that I always WANT to work out and never wanna just skip my workouts….BUT, it’s just a part of my life now. I can’t even remember the last time I went more than 2 days without working out. I was sick earlier this year and there may have been a few 2 to 3-day stretches in there but even then I tried to get moving at least some because it always helped once I did. But, sometimes I just need something new and exciting to try! So, Country Heat delivered and so much so that as I finally finish this post, I’m into my 2nd round!
THE BAD ~ I’m not sure I can really say this is “bad” but I found about 2 weeks in that I needed a change from the containers. I’ve used them on and off since they came out several years ago and while I do like them and they are so simple, I would do this thing to myself of just going way too strict and even if I enjoyed an “allowable” treat, it was too much and felt like I was being weak. My relationship with food is such a mental game. I have to have just enough focus with just enough leniency to succeed. So, I just decided that I needed to get back to something that even tho it’s harder to get used to, something that I’ve been intrigued about and wanted to do for the longterm….and that’s flexible dieting. I’m just kinda tired of doing this and doing that and saying I’m going a month without any treats or beer and then saying I can’t not enjoy some of that ~ it was just an emotional roller coaster and I wanna get off lol. Sure, I’m still going to have my times where I’m more strict and flexible nutrition does NOT mean junk. I still eat primarily whole foods. And, I’m just so anxious to just get back into this fully and find my way with it and stick with it. It allows for just as the name would imply….flexibility. So, yes, while I largely still eat whole foods, I can still have my cake and eat it, too, lol. And, it’s more customizeable for adding in workouts, etc. So, it was a bit of a transition and I was FAR from perfect to finish out the month, but with the combination of the containers, Shakeology throughout the whole month, and mostly clean eating, the inches kept coming off even as I was finding my way with my macros. BUT, I’m still happy with my results and that’s all that matters…and I will get better and better at my nutrition!
THE UGLY ~ Again, I’m not sure this is “ugly” but it’s also something I struggled with and often when I talk about it….blog about it….I can start to let it go and be better. It’s almost like things have less power over me just to share and give ideas. I tried EVERY. SINGLE. MORNING. for 30 days to get up and get my workouts in in the early morning. It’s the time of the day that works best for my family and is when I prefer to work out. And, even though I CAN work out over lunch with these since they’re only 30 minutes, I don’t LIKE to spend my lunch hour working out….and going back to work sweaty…even if I do have time for a cold shower. (Thank goodness for Axe body spray!! That stuff is the bomb if you’ve never tried it!! tmi??) Anyhoo, for the most part, I FAILED at this for…..30 days. There were way more workouts over lunch and a few after work than what I set out to do and I can tell you that it stressed me out and every day I didn’t get a morning workout in I felt defeated and mad at myself. But, as the month went on and I started telling myself that it was OK as long as I got it in at some point, it slowly became easier to get those workouts in between 5 and 6 a.m.! Crazy, huh? I truly believe if you set a goal and then just RELAX a little about it, it comes a lot easier. Be firm with your goal but flexible with your methods, right?!?….especially at first when trying something new or you’re trying to get back into a routine you once had. When you stress yourself into thinking you failed just because it didn’t look exactly like you intended, you really ARE setting yourself up to fail.
So, here I am! It was pretty painful to take before pics again. But, as always, I’m so glad I have them to look back on.
I lost 6 lbs. and 11 inches! And, of course I’m SUPER excited about the inches and just the way I look and most importantly FEEL. That summer bloat being gone again makes me feel like a new, old, new self lol.
Weight ~ 184 down to 178
Calves ~ 15″ to 15″ = 0
Thighs ~ 26″ to 25″ = -2
Hips ~ 43″ to 41″ = -2
Mid/lower abs ~ 42.5″ to 40″ = -2.5
Waist ~ 40″ to 37.5″ = -2.5
Chest ~ 39″ to 38″ = -1
Biceps ~ 13″ to 12.5″ = -1
I spent 30 minutes 6 days a week rockin’ out to fun country music and having a blast!
>I mixed in about 5 interval runs for about 2 miles in those 30 days.
>I walked on many of my breaks from work and made it a goal to hit between 10k and 13k steps a day. (And, my workouts were a minimum of 2500 steps just themselves!!)
>I used Shakeology every day as my healthiest, easiest meal or one of my snacks and helped with my cravings and energy.
>I used the 21 Day Fix color-coded, portion-controlled containers for the first two weeks.
>I used IIFYM principles to finish out the last two weeks, without hitting my macros consistently.
Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I attribute I lot of my success to having extra accountability to my health & fitness goals. And, even as a coach….in fact it’s one of the main reasons I ever started coaching in the first place….I wanted to be held more accountable! More accountable to my coach. More accountable to my clients. More accountable to ME! And, I truly believe this road is easier with challenge groups! I don’t know where I would be without this little thing we get to do as coaches! And, I never stop participating! In the almost 3 years I’ve been a coach, I’ve never went longer than 30 days without being plugged into something for inspiration and accountability. Groups literally changed everything for me! We are just finishing up our latest one as part of the Beachbody Health Bet and I know at least 10 people who are gonna get paid soon for being accountable to their own health & fitness goals! They invested in themselves and they’re gonna get rewarded in more ways than one! And, as this group finishes out, I’m always looking ahead and excited to announce the next one I will be hosting called She Is Strong. It’s one of my favorite passages in the Bible and it’s become to mean so much to me personally.
I talk a lot about fitness and nutrition but the REAL changes that have happened for me have been finding myself ~ finding my voice ~ finding my courage ~ finding my strength. I’m not done yet…I never WILL be done….but I’m feeling stronger than I ever have. I truly believe fitness opened a door for me. If you’re interested in finding something that could help you if you’ve been feeling kinda lost and not putting yourself first, I encourage you to reach out to me. I don’t know if this is for you, but I do know a group just like this is what changed things for me and what continues to keep me in the game…and I’ve seen it time and time again for other clients and coaches. And, it’s not just the game of losing weight or getting in better shape. It’s about conquering fears ~ stepping outside your comfort zone ~ putting yourself first. Let’s connect and see if this would be a good fit! I like to spend some time talking about your struggles and your goals and then YOU decide if this sounds like something that may be a good fit! And, if the group seems too much for you, I always work 1-on-1 with you and we can do that exclusively if you prefer!
So, if you’re looking for something new to try ~ if you’re looking for a change ~ if you’re looking for some extra support and encouragement, click on the image below and fill out the application so I can get to know a little bit more about you!