Sweaty McSweats-A-Lot

I SWEAT! And I sweat a lot. Please consider this a public service announcement as well as apology. I sweat when I run, I sweat when I Zumba, I sweat when I'm at the gym...and if you are near me and I fling my arms, I might just accidentally fling sweat at you. I also turn beat red when I am working out...but I don't think I need to apologize for that.

Despite my Sweaty McSweatiness, I would like to state for the record that I DO NOT GLISTEN. I can't stand that. You should be proud of your sweat...it means that you are working hard! And I AM proud! I am proud that I don't glisten, or sparkle, or shimmer...I am proud that I work hard to sweat the way I do! It means that what I am doing is working, and it is proof that I am getting stronger (slowly but surely). Here is proof of my sweatiness...

This photo was taken yesterday after my workout. The back sweat in the picture on the right is not nearly as defined as the front sweat, mostly because there was so much of it. I had sent it to my guy and his words were..."EWWWW, GROSS!" My response was, "No, COOL!" I then went on to explain my above reasoning, that I am proud of what I do! This picture serves as proof that on Day 28 of my 100 Day Challenge I sweat! My workout had consisted of some serious cardio (intervals on the arc trainer), medicine ball squats, medicine ball sit-ups, and planks. 

Alright, I'm done with the sweat talk. Today was Day 29 and it was another gym day. I completed another great cardio workout, did some stairs, and some stretching. Thankfully I remembered to wear my FitBit today (Day 28 did not get recorded because I didn't realize until I was halfway to work that I had not put it on). I am proud to say that my stats were pretty impressive. Here's a look...

Activity

 14478 steps taken today

145% of goal of 10,000

 11 floors climbed today

110% of goal of 10

• You have climbed: The Tallest Lego Tower 

 8.28 miles traveled today

166% of goal of 5.00

 3170 calories burned

145% of goal of 2,184

 1267 active score 

127% of goal of 1,000

While I am sure that there are a lot of people out there with better scores, I have to remember to only compare myself to MYSELF. And I am very pleased with today's results. It is definitely better than what my score might have been exactly one month ago on December 29th!

I know I have said it before, but I still can't believe that it has been a full month. I have been successful in working out every day for a month! Tomorrow is Day 30! Wow! (Yes, I just paused to do a happy dance!) Since tomorrow is Day 30 I have decided to share some of my reflections from the past month (in no particular order).

1. This challenge is NOT easy. Okay, so I could make it easy by doing the minimum (30 minutes of activity a day). Yes, I do choose to push myself to new limits all the time. But the truth is, even 30 minutes a day would be hard. There are days when I don't want to stop at the gym on the way home. There are days when I want to sleep late. And there are certainly days when I want to eat the world's largest piece of chocolate cake EVER! But I choose not to. Why? Because I am determined. I am committed. And I am strong...stronger than that piece of cake!

2. The FitBit might be the best investment I have ever made. Well, that and my medicine ball. I love it! It really is wonderful to see my stats at the end of every day. While there are days when I don't make my goals (it happens, 10,000 steps is pretty hard) and I feel a twinge of disappointment, I also can see how much difference a day like today makes. And what I really love is the weekly reports that FitBit emails to me! Wow! To see the calories I consume compared to the calories I burn is truly motivating! If you are genuinely interested in achieving a fitness goal similar to mine, then I highly suggest a FitBit.

3. I feel better. I can't believe how much better I feel about myself and just in general. My energy level is through the roof and to be honest, I am happier. I feel more like myself than I have in a while (and that is not to say that I don't have wonderful things going on in my life). My body feels better, my mental energy is better, my mood is better, and I feel stronger.

and...

4. I couldn't be happier that I have dedicated myself to this challenge. For all of the reasons I have already mentioned and then some. I know that what I am doing is GOOD for ME. It might mean that I need to be more diligent about budgeting my time, what I am eating, and various other obligations...but I am through the roof with enthusiasm for what I am doing and I am proud to say that I am beginning to see results!

While the going is tough, and the road is long, it is important to remember that I do this for a reason. To make myself the best me yet. So on Day 29 I am sending a BIG thank you out to all of my readers (even if there are only two of you)! You motivate me to keep going! I would love to hear how you are doing...and remember, even if something doesn't go as planned, it's okay to start again! So keep going...you never know who you are inspiring!

I'm the Energizer Bunny...

My New Motto:

I can't believe it has been a week since I have posted! I apologize for the delay, but please know that I am still going strong. This week has been a crazy week work wise (report card season) plus I had a candy order for my side business. Thankfully it all got done, and so did my workouts! Here is a breakdown by day...

Day 22 - On my way to the gym after job number two I realized my gym bag was thoughtlessly left on my bedroom floor. While in the past this may have deterred me from doing anything (especially since I had a TON of work to do for the aforementioned candy order), I didn't let it sway me. Rather than going back out in the cold after acquiring my needed gym clothes, I decided to do a TurboFire workout and climb some stairs. While it wasn't what I wanted it to be, I still got the workout in.

Day 23 - Too cold to run!!!! But I remembered my gym bag today, so I got in an awesome workout on the arc trainer. It felt good to sweat, burn some calories, and pump up the music. I would have loved to have added in a core workout in addition to my cardio and squats, but I still had a night of candy making ahead of me. Sometimes duty calls. On a good note, I did complete 199 squats this day! Only one squat away from my goal!

Day 24 - Another gym day. I decided to do some treadmill work. Unfortunately, my legs just don't like running on a treadmill. I don't think I know a single road runner who actually enjoys running on a treadmill. It's the worst feeling ever. So I decided to do some incline intervals. The burn felt great! I got in all of my steps (10,000 per day goal), worked my legs, and again sweat like crazy. You know it's been a great workout when you have to peel your clothes off when you are done!

Day 25 - I wasn't working the tasting room this Friday, and as much as I wanted to get up at 4:30 am for a workout (I was going to go for a double workout), it just wasn't going to happen. My body was telling me it needed sleep. So I got up at my usual time, went off to work, and then hit the gym immediately after. Friday afternoon gym days are always hard...really, who wants to be there after working all week? But I still did it. The gym was pretty much empty (like I said, who wants to be at the gym on a Friday afternoon). I hopped on an elliptical and did an awesome interval workout. Then I came home and did some squats. It felt so good to meet my goal of 200 squats! After a shower and some relaxing, and realizing that by this point I was STARVING, Phil and I went out for some delicious Thai food! YUM!

Day 26 - I was working a Nano Cask Fest on this day, so I got up early to get my workout in. It was still pretty cold, and it had snowed, so I opted for some yoga. My body definitely appreciated the deep stretching. I do a power yoga / pilates blend so I'm still pretty sweaty in the end. It was great to get the workout in before heading to the cask fest...which was fabulous by the way!  I tried to be mindful of what I was eating and drinking all day long....drinking a ton of water throughout the day. But the food was incredibly tasty (I loved the mini cheesecakes and bacon cupcakes) and the beer was great! However, I didn't feel guilty at the end of the day. This was a rare day in the past few weeks where I let myself indulge a little bit, and I'm okay with that. Below is a picture of Phil and I at the fest.

Day 27 - Another cold day, so I opted for a TurboFire workout. I did both Fire 30 and Core 20! Whew! They were both great workouts! I'm slowly feeling my core get stronger, something that will make me feel great about myself as well as benefit my running. 

So that brings us all up to date. I am still in shock that tomorrow is Day 28. John Bingham posted something last week regarding the 100 Day Challenge. His sentiment was that Day 22 usually makes or breaks a goal. It's usually around this time that we start to either lighten up or we push through. This time around I have opted to push through! I feel like the energizer bunny! I just keep going, and going, and going...

On a side note, my time at the gym this week has lead me to realize that not only do I need to find a new and better gym (as I mentioned before, preferably one with classes), it also brought up some really big gym pet peeves. Here they are:

1. WIPE OFF YOUR MACHINES! I don't care if you are only on the treadmill for five minutes for your warm-up, it takes two seconds to use disinfectant to wipe off your sweat and germs! Not only is it gross to get on a machine and realize the person before you so rudely couldn't be bothered to clean it up, it's also FLU season...be mindful!

2. DON'T TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE! I find it incredibly obnoxious when individuals get on a piece of equipment and begin chatting loudly on their cell phone. I am trying to concentrate on my workout and I don't really give a sh** about what your boyfriend is doing, when your mom is picking you up, or how your day is going. Seriously. Give it a rest!

3. BE MINDFUL OF YOUR HYGIENE! I already mentioned the wiping of machines, but seriously, wash your gym clothes. I'm sorry, it's really gross when someone starts working out near you and their stench is so bad it makes you want to vomit. I am friends with plenty of people who do not use deodorant for personal reasons, but they don't smell like that! So nasty...

Despite these pet peeves, I did have a good gym experience. I went to hop on the arc trainer with moving arms (much better than the stationary one) and a guy hopped off his and wiped his down and said "use mine, that one wobbles." I thought it was so awesome! I paid it forward when I was done as a girl was hopping on the one on the end that wobbles. She seemed really thankful for the piece of advice!

Looking forward...

Finally, I have been asked what I am going to do now that I met my goal of 200 squats. Well, for starters, I will continue squatting. They make me stronger and they make me feel good, and it is now time for me to add some weight to my squatting. Stronger takes time, and stronger doesn't come easy...but with work I will get there. I will also be starting a fABulous February challenge (posted below). I will be doing crunches, planks, and pushups as I continue to strengthen my core. Feel free to join me! 

February
2013
fABulous February	Push Yourself!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
					1	2
					10 Sit-Ups 4 Push-Ups 10 sec Plank	15 Sit-Ups 5 Push-Ups 15 sec Plank
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
20 Sit-Ups 6 Push-Ups 20 sec Plank	25 Sit-Ups 6 Push-Ups 20 sec Plank	REST	25 Sit-Ups 7 Push-Ups 20 sec Plank	30 Sit-Ups 7 Push-Ups 25 sec Plank	30 Sit-Ups 8 Push-Ups 25 sec Plank	35 Sit-Ups 9 Push-Ups 30 sec Plank
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
35 Sit-Ups 9 Push-Ups 35 sec Plank	40 Sit-Ups 10 Push-Ups 35 sec Plank	REST	45 Sit-Ups 10 Push-Ups 35 sec Plank	45 Sit-Ups 11 Push-Ups 40 sec Plank	50 Sit-Ups 12 Push-Ups 40 sec Plank	50 Sit-Ups 15 Push-Ups 40 sec Plank
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
60 Sit-Ups 15 Push-Ups 45 sec Plank	60 Sit-Ups 15 Push-Ups 50 sec Plank	REST	60 Sit-Ups 18 Push-Ups 50 sec Plank	65 Sit-Ups 18 Push-Ups 50 sec Plank	70 Sit-Ups 20 Push-Ups 55 sec Plank	75 Sit-Ups 20 Push-Ups 1 min Plank
24	25	26	27	28
80 Sit-Ups 20 Push-Ups 1 min Plank	80 Sit-Ups 22 Push-Ups 1.10 min Plank	REST	85 Sit-Ups 24 Push-Ups 1.15 min Plank	90 Sit-Ups 25 Push-Ups 1.20 min Plank