For some reason, I felt it would be a great idea for me to start a 30-day challenge and seriously watch what I eat on a daily basis. I am seriously pushing 60 and I have COPD and some dietary restrictions so my ability to actually complete this is questionable at best. But I am going to give it my best shot!
I have tried a modified version of Keto three separate times and although I did lose weight, the diet also contributed to some gastric issues. So Keto is out, especially a strict Keto. Another issue for me with diets in general is inability to tolerate any and all artificial sweeteners and also the “natural” sweeteners that are currently on the market. My body just does not tolerate them in any way, shape, or form so I’m 100% sugar. With that being said, I plan on limiting my sugar intake and also watch my carbs but not omit either. As of May 1st, I have omitted all soft drinks and my beloved sweet iced tea. I have replaced it with water and lemon. I have never been a fan of water so that has been a real adjustment for me. But I have made it work for me so far!!!
6, YES 6, 30-day challenges when I started my serious planning for our upcoming cruise. I wanted to start exercising and eating so I can make sure the clothes I purchased for our last cruise will still fit for our upcoming cruise. I have seen a lot of 30-day challenges on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram but I felt I would have a better benefit from an app. So I started searching for FREE apps for 30-day challenges. I looked at one that said it was free, but when I downloaded it and started the initial assessment stuff, I found out that this free app was not free. In fact, they wanted approximately $5.00 per week!!! This $5.00 per week would give you a personal workout plan and meal plan. Thanks, but no thanks.
I finally the 30DayFitness app. I am so glad I stumbled onto this. The app has 8 different challenges (Abs, push-up, squat, arms, butt, plank, thighs, and cardio) and each challenge has two beginner levels, two intermediate levels, and to advanced levels. Considering my age, health, and level of exercise (or lack thereof), I decided on the beginner level 1 in SIX different challenges, Abs, squats, arms, butt, thighs, and cardio. I decided if I am going to do this, I might as well get the best benefit for all areas.
As of today, I have done 90 situps, 35 crunches, 34 leg raises, 72 seconds of planks, 215 regular squats, 36 arm circles, 10 wall push-ups, 47 floor tricep dips, 11 opposite arm and leg raises, 37 box push-ups, 50 side lunges, 55 sumo squats, 55 donkey kicks, 37 goblet squats, 36 forward lunges, 24 clock lunges, 37 lunge jumps, 85 seconds of running in place, 55 seconds of high knees, 85 seconds of bear crawls, 15 Pylo jacks, and 60 butt kicks.
My legs are sore.
My thighs are sore.
My lower back hurts real bad.
NO PAIN, NO GAIN! I’m going to conquer these challenges.
A lot of these exercises I have never heard of, but luckily the app has diagrams of each exercise. Any exercise I struggle with, I try to modify it ever so slightly until I am in better shape. I am looking at these challenges as an adventure. I have not woken up in the morning dreading to do exercises. But I do enjoy a nice long hot bath immediately afterward!
I hope to blog about this one a daily basis and will include information and maybe pictures of what I eat each day.
So please follow along on my 6, YES 6, 30-day challenges!
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