The 30 Day Shred

I have started and stopped an exercise routine more times than I can count - I think that means I'm fairly normal. The longest I can ever remember doing a workout as a ROUTINE was after Nate was born - I did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for 12-13 days, and then got sick and stopped, then was too lazy to start back, and then found out I was pregnant again and completely quit. Since Ben has been born, I've done the workout 6 or so times, and a couple Walk Away the Pounds workouts, but nothing really consistent.

But now I am determined to make it through the 30 Day Shred IN 30 days, or as close to 30 days as possible. I won't beat myself up for skipping a day here or there, but I am going to try my best to keep up with it and complete it. I really, really want to do the Couch to 5k program in the fall (when it's not 100 degrees out!). I've always hated running, and have no idea why I ran track for 3 years in middle school! But this program looks doable, although challenging! I think it would be SO cool to be able to run 3 miles without stopping... or heck, even 1 mile! I would totally be satisfied with 1 mile. But I want to make it through the Shred first, and go from there.

When I attempted the Shred last summer, I noticed something after the first week or so - I had a lot more stamina. I actually WANTED to jog, for some strange reason. I didn't! But I had the urge to, and the thought of running didn't make me want to crawl back into bed with my laptop and a Snickers bar. One other huge benefit of the Shred was that I could touch my toes after doing it for a week. I have NEVER been able to touch my toes, for as long as I can remember. Even in elementary school when we did the physical fitness test in gym class, I always failed at the toe-touching part (there was a specific name for it, but I don't remember what it was.) But after doing the Shred for a little while, I could REACH! I remember standing in my mom's living room showing her how I could FINALLY, after all these years, touch my toes! She thought I was kind of nuts.

Why I'm rambling on my blog about all this: I NEED ACCOUNTABILITY. Isn't the first step towards achieving a goal putting it in writing? (Okay, so that didn't work really well with my New Years resolutions.) I'm planning to come back here often and update on my progress and post specific goals so I can see how far I've come. Even if no one else reads my updates, I will go back and read and relish in my success (or hang my head in shame at my failure. wait. think positive!)

Overall Goals:

1. Complete the 30 Day Shred.

2. Lose 40 pounds. (obviously the 40 pounds will take longer than 30 days. how unfortunate.)

Prize for Success:

Some new shirts that fit.

Punishment for Failure:

Continue to look 4 months pregnant.

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Today: Level 1, Day 1 of the Shred complete!