21-Day Move and Shape Challenge: Days 12-21

Whew, LORD!  That was a rough 21 days!  Yesterday was the last day of the challenge, but I even got another work-out in today with my trainer.  I think I really did create a pretty good work-out habit.  I definitely increased the intensity of my strength training and I feel more energized and less impacted by things the challenges I've been facing lately.  I'm proud of my decision to try this out.  Plus...I'm 5lbs down!  Can't be mad at that, huh?

Okay, so if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm addicted to challenges!  Some years ago, I remember cracking open a fortune cookie revealing a fortune that read, "You love challenge."  I turned my nose up when I read it initially, thinking, "Who loves challenge?  That's ridiculous!"  But the more I thought of my life and my choices, I believe the Universe placed the right cookie and scrap of paper in front of me.  That fortune adorns my vision board.  It's right.  I do love a good challenge, sooooooo.....yes, you've guessed it!  I'm starting another one!!! 

You can join me if you'd like or simply be a spectator, but I'm going for another 21 days!  This next Move and Shape challenge is going to be strictly for cardio work-outs.  I'm ready to reveal all of the super-sexy and strong muscles I've been building, so I'm going to focus on fat burn this time around!

Are you with me?

I'll be starting on Wednesday, February 19th.  Forgive me for starting mid-week, but I had to schedule a brief break for myself.  I trust you understand.  :) 

Are you ready!?  I am not!  ;)  Let's show 2014 who's boss, Starlights!  We've got this!


Twinkle and Beam!

J*

21-Day Move and Shape Challenge: Day 11

Starlights,

It is with the deepest sincerity that I tell you that I didn't want to work out today...but I did.  I feel like this is a bit of a theme.  I am changing that.  I felt really drained, and I just wanted to go home and curl up in a blanket and sip some organic chamomile tea with agave nectar and soy milk from the biggest mug I could find in my cabinets while mindlessly surfing the internet for things that I don't need or intend to buy, but filling online shopping carts with the items anyhow.  Yes, this is a real pastime and I enjoy it, but my commitment to me would not allow me to play hooky from my training session.  I had to do it.  Although it took especially long to change my clothes in the locker room and get my mind around the idea of training today, I did it.  Boy, did I do it. 

I ran uphill at 6.5 and 6.8mph in 45 second intervals, a few sets of chest presses, rows, walking lunges, reverse crunches, traditional crunches...and more.  I really pressed through my fatigue and gave it my best despite multiple inklings to quit and retreat to my tea and ' net surfing.  It does help that I have the best trainer ever because she helped to keep me motivated and would not allow me to stop no matter how sad or annoyed I looked. 

So, Starlights, if I can do it, so can you!  Fight through the days when you're least motivated or most tired.  Those are the days that count the most because on those days we show our dedication to our commitment to ourselves.  We deserve optimal health and strength, and each day we push through the voices in our heads and fatigue dragging our bodies down, we conquer the possibility of regret and move closer and closer to our goals!

We can do it when we put our minds and hearts and bodies into it!  Let's prove it! 


Twinkle and Beam, Starlights!


J*

21-Day Move and Shape Challenge Days 4-10

Okay, so I haven't posted in the last few days.  I apologize.  Things have gotten crazy hectic and beyond busy, but I want you all to know that I am still pressing through.  Granted on a few of these days, my work-outs were at a snail's pace and minimal, but I kept it movin' and shapin'!  In this process, and I am keeping my eye on the prize---flat and firm abs, a whittled waist and my Bebe cropped jeans that I haven't worn since my biggest little was about 4 years old, and he'll be 7 this year.  I'll let you do the math.  My visualization often is my motivation to get out of bed or off the couch and from behind this screen to move and shape.  I keep my vision in the forefront in effort to make this thing happen.  It's working!

I am happy with the progress that I'm seeing and I'm feeling more and more energized as the days progress. I'm proud of me and I'm hoping you're movin' and shapin' your way to your goals too!

Twinkle and Beam, Starlights!

Muah!

J*

21-Day Move and Shape Challenge: Day 3

I didn't feel like doing this today, but I could NOT give up on my commitment to moving every day!  I had a slight headache and I was really hungry, but I just grabbed a snack and got to work so that I could check this off of my to-do list ASAP.  I'm rarely one who doesn't follow through on commitments, especially if there is a challenge in play, but today, forgetting about it was pretty tempting.  I'm not competitive generally, but when I challenge myself, I like to push through to the end, so I couldn't let myself give up today.  So after a full and busy day of work, grocery shopping, cooking dinner, enduring the big little's anti-homework tantrum, changing the little little's diaper and fetching his milk, paying bills and balancing my checking account, I managed to pull out my aerobic step and get sweaty!

Today's work-out was strictly cardio.  It was not all that intense in comparison to my original plan to do one of my Insanity videos, but I still worked up quite a lather.  I hit my aerobic step for 30 minutes while I watched television with the littles, jogging up and down and adding a few punches and kicks here and there. It wasn't thrilling, but I got it in and I feel really proud of myself.

So, I'm going at this another 18 days.  Are you with me?

I hope so!

Twinkle, beam and sweat, Starlights!  


J* 

21-Day Move and Shape Challenge: Day 2

I did it!  2 days down...19 to go.  **Sigh**  Well, at least 2 days are down.  I'm proud of myself for getting this work-out in.  It felt good! 

I set up an at-home Cardio/Core circuit with my mini-stepper, mini-trampoline and stability ball.  For this 21 days, I really want to focus on fat burn, so I'm hitting cardio pretty hard and adding some intervals and light resistance.  I'm leaving the tough stuff to my trainer.  I spent an hour stepping, rebounding, jogging in place, then doing crunches and reverse ball tucks on the stability balls.  I did each exercise until my muscles felt like they would give out, then I'd move to the next.  It was quite a challenge.

I'm very pleased with me right about now, and I'll be back at it tomorrow for sure! 

I hope you got yours in, Starlights!  It's never too late!

Twinkle and beam!



J*

21-Day Move and Shape Challenge: Day 1

Day 1

I did it!  I moved and I shaped! I was really happy to get started today!!!  I hit the gym and started with an uphill (2.0 incline) walk on the treadmill at 3.0mph.  Nice and easy.  After my 10-minute warm-up, I tossed in some high-intensity one-minute intervals where I'd run uphill (4.0 incline) beginning at 4.5mph and increasing by .5mph for each interval.  For my rest intervals, I'd decrease to 3.5 or 4mph depending on what I needed.  This was the peaceful part of my work-out.  I had just about hit 20 minutes when, my trainer walked up and told me we were going to work out at her studio rather than the gym.  **Sigh**  I knew I was in for it.  And as the Law of Attraction would have it, what I was thinking became my reality.

She and her nephew tag-teamed me and my mom who joined later.  We were whirled into a 60-minute circuit of jogs, sprints, lunges, squats, chest and shoulder presses, planks and push-ups despite the fact that I was wearing my "I Hate Push-ups" t-shirt.  I thought it was sending an very clear message, but neither of them had any respect or regard for my preferences.

My tee is just like this one!

 

 

 



I worked HARD!  I walked away winded, tired and SWEATY, but I was proud of myself for following through on my commitment!  On top of that, I shopped for groceries, then came home, fed my littles, worked out on the mini-trampoline with them and danced to my oldest little's favorite Kids Bop tunes!  We had a BLAST, but judging from the sweat dripping down my back, I burned a few extra calories having fun with the kids!  That was a nice bonus though.  Thanks, Universe!

So, okay, y'all, one day down.......20 to go!  WHEW!  I hope you guys got yours in today!!!

Twinkle, beam and get sweaty!

We've got some Light to shine!

J*

21-Day Move and Shape Challenge! Who's With Me?

For the last couple of weeks, I've really been struggling with my motivation to get my cardio and strength training in.  My aim is always to be active 5-6 days per week, but I really want to get to a point where I'm moving and shaping 7 days per week for no less than an hour.  So, in effort to get this goal underway, I'm going to start a 21-Day Move and Shape Challenge!

Scientists say that it takes 21 days to create a habit, so why not try out the theory?  It can't hurt right?  Well, maybe my muscles will ache a bit, but at least I'll be moving toward creating a healthy habit that I can feel proud of.  So, starting Sunday, January 26th, 2014, I'm going to begin hitting the gym, the floor, my mini trampoline, breaking out some of my fitness videos and consulting with my trainer to put a cardio-strength habit into consistent action and keep my healthy lifestyle goal progressing. 

Want to Move and Shape with me?

Let's twinkle and beam....and sweat it out!

Get your minds right, Starlights!  It is a challenge, but we are totally worth it!

LET'S GO!

Move and Shape!

Physical exercise is an essential part of any holistic health regimen.  I have to admit, it's not one of my favorite things to do and usually, I dread my workouts (even the fun ones), but the benefits of physical activity far outweigh my disdain.  Since engaging in a consistent and challenging workout regimen, I have seen my body shift and change dramatically (I'll post pics soon) and I look and feel better and better with every kick, dip, squat and jump! 

On the Move and Shape! page, I'll be consulting with some pretty incredible fitness pros and sharing some awesome tips to Move and Shape your body in amazing ways!  Stay tuned, Starlights!


Twinkle & beam!


J*