Egypt
For real for real!
I've started the second half of her 6 week abs workout and it is madness! She is a maniac with those planks and variations of them. But what I like about her is that her workout isn't too lengthy and I can feel as well as see the results.
It was difficult at first and I found myself ridiculously out of breath and incredibly sore but I can say that I'm finally starting to see a bit more of "me pre- pregnancy." As mentioned before, I'm definitely not naturally athletic so this journey has been quite challenging but I have to say I'm really starting to enjoy it.
I feel as if I've got so many changes, personal ones, going on all at the same time! My hair...my body...and with both I have to exercise a great deal of patience as well as self love. There's no use in getting the body right or having fun growing out my hair if I'm going to practice any form of negative self talk. Internally I'm working out too and getting just as fine inside!
This right here...changing and expanding and growing...is living to me...
Egypt
I completed my 30 for 30 day challenge at the end of January; here's what I've been doing since then..
Started Jillian Michael's 6 week Abs..I'm in week 4. I do this about 3 times a week..sometimes more.
I've also been walking since the weather has been nice.
I find that even though I have a pretty tight schedule as a mother and wife I can take at least thirty minutes per day to get my exercise on.
In addition, I've definitely increased my water intake. I keep a gallon by my desk as I work and add lemon or apple cider vinegar throughout the day as I drink it. I'm trying to reduce my carbs intake and up my veggie and fruits. I need to replace my broken blender so that I can start making smoothies again. Occasionally I'll juice up some carrots and celery with ginger which is quite tasty!
The more I exercise, although I may not love it, the easier it's becoming and in some weird way I look forward to it and miss that burn when I don't do it!
Next month...spinning!
Egypt
So in the quest to lose this post pregnancy weight and extra love around my tummy I decided to try out kickboxing. It sounded fun and I thought it'd be a quick and intersting way to tone up. The instructor is my son's boxing teacher so I figured I knew him well enough that I'd enjoy the class even it was hard.
Wrong.
I wanted to kick his a$$. The only other time I've felt like that was when I made the unfortunate mistake of enrolling in a spinning class and after the first class I swore I was going to wait for the instructor in the parking lot to kick her a$$. Really. And I don't even know how to fight.
So I went to this class and after the first 12 minutes of hell jump roping (who the hell jumps rope for 12 minutes? wacko!) I knew that I was in for it. The pscycho teacher then proceeded to ask us (read demand impatiently..moron) that we put on our hand wraps in order to begin the death match exercise.
Really, it was just too much. I had no idea what the hell I was doing and after over thirty minutes of torture and an exercise that involved grabbing/jabbing and kicking the bags I felt as if I were going to pass out and have diarrhea simultaneously. Real talk. This is for real. I quickly found a place to sit down and catch my breath. Which allowed me the time to develop a scheme to take down this diabolical asshole teacher.....I haven't come up with a plan yet.......but I will......
Egypt
I need to exercise. I am probably one of the laziest women you will ever meet. I have all good intentions of walking or jogging but when it's time to actually perform I cower out. But I know the more I exercise the more my muscles will develop and firm up. In the same way we need to exercise other muscles....
the muscles of character, discipline, responsibility, security, courage. These are muscles that if not exercised will also lose tone and appear without form. We need to daily practice/exercise our character...put in the work necessary to be the person we are "when
no one is looking." We need to exercise the muscle of discipline. Like exercising our bodies we can't just say it's something we need to do..we actually have to put in the physical movement necessary to achieve our goals. How do we exercise these character traits? By doing the things we know we NEED to do even when we don't FEEL like it. Start small. Make a habit of opening your bills and paying them on time. Turn negative self talk into positive affirmations. Practice the art of saying No when you need to. Stand up for yourself when inside you're literally terrified. Exercise. Exercise. Exercise these muscles in order to achieve the life you desire.
