Make up Monday...Week 3 of "Operation Beach Ready"

This is the start of the 3rd week of the 30 day challenges I accepted.  For you new readers, I found 3 different 30 day challenges on Pinterest, each targeting a different area.  I am leaving for the beach on Saturday and wanted to look good out there running around after my 2 kids.  

This is the part where I post a before and during picture (not going to happen) or brag about how many pounds or inches I have lost so far...before I fell off the wagon late last week!  Week 1 went awesome!! I was eating good.  Cut down my sodas to one a day (down from an average of 4 a day) and limited my sweets.  Then last week happened!  Actually, I did well on Monday through Wednesday.  Thursday, the exercise wagon hit a pothole and I fell off...BIG TIME!! We are talking Braums, Chicken Express, candy, sodas (more than one!!)  AND no working out!!! Then my little brother's birthday party came...and so did 3 ice cream cakes...and 4 pies...and cupcakes... Now it's Monday and I am not feeling too good about myself.  So I picked myself up (plus the 10 extra pounds) and started back on the wagon.  I have had alll my water for the day, ate my fair share of veggies (yuck) and fruits.  I also worked out and did an extra set of crunches. The plan is to be ready to go by Saturday morning and look good in my swimsuit by Saturday evening.  

Remember, I know this is supposed to be make up Monday but it's my blog.  I chose to blog about  my attempt to get in shape quickly without radically changing my lifestyle or diet.  I am a working mom, wife who happens to be running two businesses alone.  I don't have the time or energy for hour long workouts everyday.  

I might get brave and post a beach picture after we get back:)

Hugs ya'll,

LSG

So You've Been Working Out...for a week!

Let me preface this blog.  I know that it is Makeup Monday and I am supposed to have beauty tips.  But it's my blog and during the summer most of us just want to be fit for the beach!!  Exercising and looking good in a swimsuit is a major beauty tip for the summer!  So if you are not interested in reading about how  I am staying "fit-ish" or you are not interested in joining in, then come back to the blog in September.

Last week, I let you guys in on the challenges I had accepted in order to get my pasty white and out of shape body ready for the beach in just 21 days!  Here are the changes I made over the week (all of them started Saturday).  The first major change is I took out soda!!  When you average 4 sodas a day, cutting down to one for the WHOLE DAY is progress!!!!  I took out the soda and replaced it with at least 60 oz of water!! Needless to say, I found all the clean restrooms along my routes for my day job...AND the ones I will never use again!!! My body was flushing toxins like crazy and I was just drinking regular water.  I have a pinterest board full of "fat flushing" detox water recipes but didn't use one!  By Wednesday, I noticed a difference in my energy level as well as the tummy area (which I guess is where I was storing all the sugar from the sodas.  The next thing I did was cut out ALL fast food...or at least most!!  Usually I eat out everyday for lunch at some fast food joint that is somewhat appealing.  I had also gotten on a donut kick and unfortunately, had a donut shop on my routes to work.  So when you start your day with a DP and a dozen donut holes EVERYDAY, you start to add a few pounds.  Top that with lunch at popular fast food chains and BOOM... you are bloated, unhappy and constantly carrying around a spare tire!  

If you are not following along, so far I have cut out sodas and (most) fast food and already noticing changes!  Then I added my 30 day challenge workouts on Sunday.  Let's just say I hurt all week!!  When rest day came on Wednesday, I was ecstatic!!  My legs hurt, my shoulders hurt, my abs hurt.  I did change up my ab workout by Thursday and add this one:

I liked it better and felt like I got a better workout for my abs. Now I have made it to the weekend and it was busy.  Saturday I had a craft fair where I did cheat and I have 1 soda and a little of another one.  Plus I did not get to work out but I was lifting stuff and putting up my tent.  Sunday was Father's Day and while I did not cheat on sodas, I did eat a few more sweets than planned...and I did not work out.  With today being Monday, I had planned on adding running to my workout but not sure if I will do that or double up on my workouts today.

I am not saying this will work for everyone.  I am not a fitness guru or a nutritionist.  I am just blogging about my experience and how I fit exercising and being healthy into my life.  I am not trying to look like a fitness model or a weight lifter.  I just want to be happy with my appearance and possibly make my husband's head turn when he sees me at the beach.

Hugs ya'll,

LSG

Make up Monday- 30 Day Challenge edition

We go on vacation in three weeks to the beach.  So that mean's a swimsuit needs to be in the suitcase.  Unfortunately, I cannot pack a body double with toned thighs and a six pack set of abs.  She won't find in the suitcase.  I meant to start working out in late April but you can guess how that went.  I meant to change my diet (aka cut back on the sodas and donuts) but again, you can guess how that went.  All this procrastination has brought me where I am today (or maybe yesterday).  I had a bunch of 30 day challenges back in January ( again you can guess how that new year's resolution went) but none of them were "full body" challenges.  I hit Pinterest again this past weekend in search of what I was hoping would meet my needs-to quickly get in shape in 3 weeks!  I am not in terrible shape but there's a little too much jiggle that isn't supposed to be there.  And of course, the hubs hasn't said a word...but my son has...at least once a week!

Saturday was day 1 of "operation decrease sodas."  I went from an average of 4 a day to just one on Saturday and Sunday.  So far today, I have not even a sip of one.  But that will probably change because I hate headaches that come with cutting sodas out completely.  I drove right past the donut store this morning, content with my yogurt and blueberries.  When I stopped at the gas station, no candy bar for me, just a tank full of gas.  Then I came home after work and completed day 2 of my 30 day challenge.  I combined 2 that I found on Pinterest and will add running 2-3 days a week.  The first one I really liked but I felt the "squat" excercise wasn't exactly meeting my needs to I added a squat challenge that has several moves.  

This one came from www.mommart.blogspot.com

I liked this one but I wanted more concentration on my thighs and butt.  Yes, that is exactly where the donut holes were hanging out, if you must know.  So I took out the squats on this one and added this one...

(www.popsugar.com)

This one has all the moves I was looking for to cut down on the "donut jiggle."  I did all of this after work today and it only took about 15 minutes.  I am sore from the squats yesterday so I am sure to be even more sore tomorrow.

On top of the workouts, I changed my diet up a little.  With my job, I eat out ALOT during the week.  So today I loaded up my little insulated lunchbox with lunch and snacks.  I drank all the water I needed (close to 60 oz of regular water & 18.5oz of coconut water).  Instead of fast food, I had peanut butter and jelly wrapped in a tortilla, cucumbers and raspberries.  Snacks throughout the day were almonds, strawberries and blueberries.

Now, in no way am I a fitness guru or nutritionist.  I have never tried these workouts before so I have no clue what results will be. This is just something I wanted to try out to lose a few pounds before heading to the beach.

If you decide to join along with me, I would love to hear your feedback!  I did not weigh myself nor did I measure the problem areas  I don't worry about a number.  It is more how I look and feel about myself.  I really don't care if anyone else notices but me (it would be nice if the hubby notices).

Hugs ya'll,

LSG