Challenge # 2

Ok, so my sister and I are kicking off our second Challenge today and I have to say this one is a bit harder. We are actually doing Dr. Ian Smith’s 4 Day Diet. Now, I have tried a few fad diets in college but I typically avoid them because I do not think they are a balanced way to help with a lifestyle change but rather an unhealthy way to lose weight fast. However, this diet seems different and is not a “crash diet” at all but a comprehensive look into yourself, the foods/portions we eat and the amount of exercise we do and my sister and I really wanted to give it a try.


The idea behind the diet/exercise program is that every 4 days you move to a different phase in the program thus keep your body unable to get use to certain eating habits and foods while also not getting bored of the same diet. (Though I imagine you may get bored of salad as there is a lot of that in this diet!) As someone who gets bored REALLY easily, I like that idea. Plus the diet itself, though strict during the first two phases, is the most reasonable and well-rounded program I have seen. Even during the first phase which is about detoxing, you still have a good amount of food you get to eat.

The phases of the diet are:

1) Induction (Detox/Cleansing)
2) Transition (Reintroducing all food groups)
3) Protein Stretch (Higher protein and cardio)
4) Smooth (Incorporating those “forbidden” foods like pizza and fries into your diet correctly)
5) Push (A stricter eating plan)
6) Pace (A Comfortable eating plan)
7) Vigorous (A way to lose weight faster)

To do this diet/exercise program you must complete the first two phases (8 days) but after that you have the freedom to do the remaining phases in whatever order you want or for as long as you want depending on your weight loss goal. (Though Kristen and I are following it as is for 28 days.) This program has a lot of flexibility and really makes sense, but also is strict enough to hopefully get results as it has laid out meal plans so you are not trying to guess what you should eat next. I enjoy knowing that this is what I am eating today and I don’t have to count calories or figure it out on my own. It just is what it is…so deal with it!!

And for me, the best and most beneficial part of the book is the first half where he talks about the mental blocks to weight loss. He talks about how weight loss is 80% mental and 20% physical and for me, and I know many others, the hardest part is getting past those mental barriers we have created. He has chapters talking about being honest with where you really are with your weight and how you got there, setting realistic goals, motivations, temptations, positive attitudes, eating right and rewarding yourself. There are actually questions you answer in the journal you keep for each of these chapters. It is actually very revealing as even though I knew all these things, just writing them down made me think about all the issues with weight, self-image, and motivation that I have. I know that the ONLY thing stopping me from losing weight is myself and I really need to get past some of these issues I have to move forward.

I am not saying any of this will be easy, but I really want to give it a try for a couple reasons. First I really want to change the way I look at food and maintaining a healthy diet. I know I need stricter portion controls and I need to put more of the right foods into my body and less of the wrong ones. Second I want to prove to myself that I CAN do this. I am able to do anything I set my mind to so this should be no exception. Finally, I obviously want to lose weight and re-kick start my weight loss.

So if anyone is interested in learning more about this diet please let me know. I understand this challenge is not for everyone but it is something that I want to do right now so if you are interested let me know! We keep a journal with all our information, but I was thinking of also putting my daily food intake and exercises on the blog. I think it is good to share. :)

So Kristen and I are going to be posting our results every day or two and also giving you our reactions about the program. Consider it our review on if this program works and the pros and cons to it! I know the blog will mainly be about this for the next month, but I am sure these posts will also give our readers tips and ideas for their own weight loss, diet and exercise programs. We will also be sharing our answers to the journal entries and encourage anyone fighting with losing weight to take the time to answer those questions privately…or publicly if you are so inclined.

Fitness Challenge #2…..Coming Soon To A Blog Near You

I know I have not posted the second fitness challenge, but it will be up by this weekend!! I have been very impressed with the results from people on the blog and from my friends outside of the blog who participated! WELL DONE!


In the meantime, don’t stop working out!!!

This is hard for me, especially right now with as busy as it is. Every evening it seems I have something going on and I have not been finding time for myself and the result is that I feel exhausted and sluggish. I do not like this feeling. I never realized how much better I actually feel and how much more energy I have when I work out, even if it is just for 20 minutes. Besides the obvious health benefits, there really is something (I am now realizing) that is mentally invigorating about getting that heart rate up and working out. I have not had that for a few days now and I can tell a difference in both how I feel and how my body feels. So I am really going to try to workout, even if it is just for 20-30 minutes until I start the next fitness challenge next Monday.



TALK TO ME…..what are you doing to workout? What types of workouts do you do when time is limited or when you are not feeling up to doing a long and intense workout? What types of workouts do you feel give you the best result in a short amount of time?

30 Day Fitness Challenge – Completed!!!

So the first 30 day fitness challenge is officially over…..phew!


So did I workout everyday for 30 days straight? NOPE.

Am I ok with that? Absolutely.

Will I continue to exercise? Why yes, infact I have another fitness challenge I came up with that I will be participating in! (more information to come soon!)

I have to say going from no exercise to exercising nearly every day was not easy but I do feel SO MUCH BETTER! My main goal for this entire month was just getting into the habit of working out and realizing that finding even 30 minutes a day to workout is not as hard as what I have made it out to be. It is easy for me to make an excuse to not workout, but making time to do something for myself that truly benefits me should be a priority in my life and not an excuse. Though the actual weight loss may not be as much as I wanted I do feel better both mentally and physically, I have more energy, I feel stronger, I am noticing a difference in my body and I feel very motivated to keep going. Slow and steady, right?!

Remember, my whole blog is about a LIFESTYLE change. The point of this challenge was not to discourage anyone from working out but rather was more to kick-start working out regularly so that we can all continue finding time each week to get healthy. I actually really liked a comment my sister made in a previous post. She said “I believe weight loss is more than a change in your physical appearance. It's a change in your mindset. We have to believe, before we ever start a video or jump on an exercise bike or go for a jog that we can do whatever we put our minds to.” That is what this was for me, changing my mindset and now as I move on to continue losing more weight and working out regularly believing that I can, infact, do this.

I hope everyone is getting something out of this 30 Day Challenge, no matter what that may be. I can’t wait to hear how it is going for everyone!


So here are days 21-30. Yes, there were a few no workout days as I left town this weekend, but I was proud of myself for actually using the fitness room for 40 minutes Saturday so I could workout.

Day 21 – Walk on the treadmill & Yoga
Day 22 – Pilates
Day 23 –Walk on the treadmill
Day 24 – Pilates
Day 25 – No Workout
Day 26 – No workout
Day 27 – Bike at hotel fitness center
Day 28 – No workout
Day 29 – Pilates
Day 30 – Circuit Training & Yoga

Results for this month only:

Total Weight Lost: 5 pounds

Inches Lost:
Hips – 1”
Thighs – 2” off each
Calf – 1” off each
Waist – 2”
Chest – 1”
Arm – ½” off each
Total inches lost this month: 11" (Thank you pilates)

Totals since August 2009:

Weight lost – 33 pounds

Hips – 5”
Thighs – 4” off each
Calf – 2” off each
Waist – 6”
Chest – 4 ½”
Arm – 1 ½” off each
Total inches lost – 30 ½”

I still got a ways to go, but I am getting there slowly and in as healthy a way as I can!!

30 Day Fitness Challenge: Days 15 – 20

So this third week was not a good week. Not because I didn’t want to work out but because I couldn’t work out. I have had knee problems since high school and I think because I have been working out and trying to be as active as possible it caught up with me. Monday and Tuesday my knee killed and was swollen. I decided instead of pushing I would rest and keep the heating pad on it. It really did help the pain but I still couldn’t do more of the aerobic type activities I wanted to do and I think just not working out those 2 days and keeping my workouts the remainder of the week less intense really frustrated and bummed me out this last week. It sucks when you really have the motivation going and are pumped about working out and then, for whatever reasons, you have to stop. Grrrr. BUT, even though I was unable to do more aerobic workouts I still managed to do some strength workouts that I hope will yield some results and keep me going. Muscle and core strength are good, right?!  I read online it is good to build up the strength in my knee so that I can avoid these types of problems, so I have also done special exercises to help strengthen my knee.


I have only 10 days left on this 30 day fitness challenge (I will be doing another one after this) and that is really pushing me!! I did an aerobic workout Saturday then put heat on my knee after and that really seemed to help, so that is what I will be doing for the last 10 days. I REALLY need to step it up because though I think I have lost a little bit in inches, I know I have not lost much in pounds. However, I think to even a month ago and I was not working out at all and I know this is good for me and I really do feel better. In fact after not working out for 2 days in a row I actually felt sluggish and wanted to workout….WTF is up with that?! I also feel better after working out, emotionally and physically so even though I am not where I wanted to be by the end of week three, I am feeling good about my progress so far and really trying to not let this discourage me! So we will see what happens these last 10 days!! I am actually leaving town this weekend but staying in a hotel with a fitness center that I hope to utilize!

How are YOU doing?! I hope everyone is doing good! Our computer isn't working right, hence the lack of blogging but I have been reading about people's progress and it looks like everyone is doing fantastic!! 

You know, the point of this 30 day fitness challenge really is to just bring exercise to the forefront of our lives and know that we can make even 20-30 minutes a day to do something for ourselves and exercise.  I was bummed I couldn't workout those two days, but in the end it doesn't matter and I am not going to let it stop the progress of what I have done this far.  Yes, this week was off but next week doesn't have to be!

Day 15 – No workout
Day 16 – No workout
Day 17 – pilates
Day 18 – pilates
Day 19 – walk
Day 20 – Yoga, pilates, 20 minute circuit training

30 Day Fitness Challenge: Days 9-14 (HALFWAY THERE)

Ok, I just realized I am a little behind on posting my workout progress so here we go!!!


Day 9 – Circuit Training & Pilates
Day 10 – Pilates
Day 11 – Skipped
Day 12 – Treadmill Walk 4 minutes then Run 1 minute for 25 minutes
Day 13 – Wii Fit for 1 hour and 10 minutes; Walk/Run workout for 20 minutes; Pilates legs for 10 minutes (1 hr 40 minutes!) *let it be known I also cleaned (I mean really cleaned) our house for 2 hours as well!
Day 14 – Pilates

You will notice that I am doing a lot of pilates. I find pilates is really helping me build my core strength and since I have bad knees I like to do the pilates because I feel it is a good workout with little pressure put on my knees. However, I started doing longer workouts this week and incorporating more with the treadmill. This next week I am focusing on a lot more cardio and circuit training and also continuing with my pilates.

How is everyone doing?! Any accomplishments this week you would like to mention?! Remember there are no small accomplishments, ANYthing (even exercising for just 5 more minutes) should be recognized!!!

I am excited to be entering my third week and I must say I am feeling stronger. I feel like I can go longer with my workouts and feel like I am putting more into them. Working out Saturday felt amazing, I seriously did not want to stop working out – WEIRD. I think it was just a nice release. Though I am not going to lie, my arms hurt as I unlocked the boxing feature on the Wii Fit and I may have punched out much of my frustration for about 25 minutes. I think I enjoy boxing type activities!

30 Days Is Hard --- Kristen

As you've been following, my beautiful sister has started doing a 30 Day Challenge in order to lose weight and gain back some confidence. I can't tell you how proud I am of her already; my sister is a wonderful motivator, and I see the difference it's making.

I decided to join her in her 30 Day Challenge with the sole intention of losing some weight I've gained over the past few years - think of it as the Freshman Fifteen spread over three years with another few pounds added on. I've realized though that I have been going about this the wrong way. I shouldn't just focus on losing weight, I need to start getting healthy.

This past September I ended up going to the ER after having chest pains that lasted longer than a day. After six blood tests, a couple EKGs, an x-ray, and an MRI, they decided that I didn't have a heart attack. However, the possibility of developing blood clots is high, which could prove to be a problem later in life.

Fast forward to just this past Monday. I went to the doctor's for that oh-so-pleasant yearly exam. When I stepped on the scale, I was shocked to see that I weigh 172.4 pounds. What shocked me most was that, just a few months ago, I weighed 160 pounds. Somehow in the past three months I have gained over twelve pounds, and I don't see where. But I do see how.

Working part time and going to school full time has led to a pretty stationary lifestyle. Sure, I walk around campus. However, after spending most of my day sitting in a classroom thinking and learning, my brain is fried. So I choose to watch TV or play videogames as stress relief. And what pairs well with TV and videogames? Soda and snacks. Not a very good combo.

So I joined my sister on her 30 Day Challenge, hoping to avoid another trip to the ER in my future. Although I would like to be a certain size, or have a certain measurement, at this point I am focused slowly on building up a desire to work out everyday, eat much healthier, and get to a point where I am comfortable with my body.

Oh my, this should be fun.

30 Day Fitness Challenge – Days 5-8: ONE WEEK DOWN!!

Day 5: Treadmill
Day 6: Circuit training for 30 minutes & Pilates DVD
Day 7: Pilates
Day 8: 30 Day Shred

So how is everyone doing with their workouts?!?! I have heard how a few of you are doing in the blog world and from outside of it and I have to say WELL DONE!!! You are all motivating me too keep going by how well you are doing so thank you! :)

I am happy to report I am doing very well and though I have only completed Day 8 of the workout I actually started working out a couple weeks before and have felt SO much better mentally and physically the past few weeks. A perfect example is the first time I did the 30 day shred I felt horrible and so discouraged. That feeling of “are you kidding me, how could I let myself get like this over the years” was in my head and bummed me out horribly. However, I know that things are NOT going to magically change and that I need to do something about this if I want to change so I tried to focus on how I would feel in a few months and not focus on how horrible, achy, and out of shape I feel now.

So that is what I have been doing and why I was so excited yesterday when I did the 30 Day shred and for the first time it felt a lot easier than the few times I had done it before. Granted, it is still a workout that kicks my butt, but I didn’t feel like I was going to die - I actually felt good! Every day that I workout I seem to have more strength, more endurance, more confidence, and more motivation to keep going! (And I hope this is the same for everyone else no matter what level you are at!) It is true, the first day in anything you do is always the hardest but if you just keep with it, it will get easier and you will gain more confidence and become stronger with whatever it is you hope to accomplish. THAT is where I am right now and what is pushing me to keep going!



So let me know how YOU are all doing. I know everyone is at different fitness levels and are starting at different times with this and have different goals….but I hope you are all accomplishing the goals you want and GOOD LUCK with this next week of working out!!



TIP: Having trouble fitting a 30 minute workout into your day? I know some days you just don't have the time to fit a full 30 minute workout in no matter how hard you try. Well I don't want you to get discouraged or even skip your workout for that day so try this instead. Do a 10 minute circuit routine! Pick 5 exercises and do a circuit for one minute and repeat giving you an effective but quick 10 min workout. Ideas...try lunges, sqats, jumping jacks, jump rope (jumping in place), jog in place, sit ups, push-ups...mix it up!! You can also use this idea if you want to ADD a little more to your normal workout...give a little extra boost!

Day 4 of My 30 Day Challenge

So last night Kristen and I did pilates for our workout and can I just say that my stomach HURTS! However, I am not sure if my stomach hurts because of the workout or because we were laughing so much during the workout….I am going with the latter. It is official, K. and & I will never, ever be able to go to any public fitness class together as it is physically impossible for us to workout together and not laugh uncontrollably. Seriously, impossible….especially when you have to do moves like the Seal.

So how am I doing, well I really hate to admit it but I feel awesome. I seriously have so much energy and have been in a great mood for the past 2 weeks that I have been working out and have felt even better the past 4 days. Damn it. I really wanted to get mad at exercising so at least it would be a valid excuse as to why I have not been working out consistently the past few years, but alas the only excuse I have is myself – shoot. But I really do feel fantastic and have an annoyingly high amount of energy…seriously I think I have been a bit obnoxious the past couple weeks (well just a little more than I normally am) and K & T are taking the brunt of it….good thing they don’t mind!

I am also SO thrilled people are starting this, will be starting this, or doing their own version of this challenge! It is so much easier doing this with other people. I even have been talking to people at work and outside the blogs and they want to do it as well.

And as I said before, yes the physical part of this is going to be great for all of us but I am also finding that the working out and sharing with everyone is wonderful for my mental well being and that might be even more important for me and the biggest challenge I face. So thank you all for your support and I hope I can show you whatever support you need!

So on to the weekend! My long workout is Saturday so I will let you all know how it goes. Don’t know what I am going to do yet, but I am lucky because we actually have an exercise on demand cable channel which has a large variety of workouts available to me…..so I am going to give a few of them a try this weekend to keep things interesting.

Good luck and let me know how you are doing if you are taking this challenge!!

Are YOU Up For The Challenge?!

So last week I decided that I needed a way to get motivated to work out. (Thank you for the suggestions bloggers!) I was trying to think of something that would be creative and get me into the habit of working out more. At the same time I remembered how many bloggers have taken part in NaBloPoMo and it got me thinking….I should do a challenge where I work out every day for a month. Brilliant! (And crazy….I go from not working out at all to working out every day.) Now I know many people may do this already, but for people who do not already workout or do not workout regularly this is going to be a great way to start the habit!!

So here it is, my 30 Day Fitness Challenge!

My sister (who is also doing this with me) and I came up with the rules incase anyone else would like to take this challenge. Feel free to use the cute little picture I made to post on your blog if you want to take this challenge :)


30 Day Fitness Challenge Rules

1) Work out 6 days a week for at least 25-35 minutes. (If you are more advanced with your working out or want to increase as you go please feel free to workout longer.)

2) Work out 1 day a week for at least 45 – 60 minutes.

3) If you miss a day, don’t fret! You can make up any day missed if you want and do two 30 minute workouts one day. (If you miss multiple days please do not try to make up 3 or more workouts on the same day as I would hate for anyone to push themselves too hard. It is ok, this is just for fun!)

4) Keep track of your daily workouts as well as your measurements and/or weight starting on day 1. At the end of the 30 days note any changes in not just your measurements and weight but also how you feel.



Tip: Mix up your workouts. Try some different videos or workout routines during this month so you don’t get bored and find some fun new workout programs you like. Be adventurous!

Tip: HAVE FUN! I hate working out, but I do want to workout. So the best way to do it is just have as much fun with it as possible.



I started Monday, February 8 and my first 30 days will end Tuesday, March 9.

Day 1: Pilates
Day 2: Workout video
Day 3: Shoveled snow for 45 minutes (yes it counts – my arms kill) & walking on the treadmill