30 Day Shred - Day Thirty!!

Mission accomplished! I completed Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred in 30 days! So glad to have made it all the way...and now begins the real discipline: my plan to continue "shredding" 3-4 days per week while mixing it up with some running, etc. I was kind of over the shred today knowing it was my last day, so I'm ready for a break. Only thing is...it can't be too much of a break because knowing myself, if I fall off the wagon, it gets harder and harder to get back on it.

I have been doing the shred first thing every morning (which is tough when I already don't like getting out of bed, but oh, so worth it when it's done and I have the whole day ahead of me). This morning, I had Bible study at 9 am, so that meant an early date with Jillian and then being out of the house before Steve came home from work. I sent him a quick text to let him know I finished my shred and was off to Bible study, and then headed out the door. When I came out to my car after Bible study, I noticed something on my windshield. As I walked up to the car, I saw a beautiful red gerbera daisy (one of my faves) and a note from my sweetheart inviting me out to lunch to celebrate the successful 30 day challenge. How amazing is he?!? Turns out he was parked a few rows away watching the whole thing and he called me as I started my car (he was afraid I was going to drive away!). Such a great surprise! Steve took me out to my favorite sushi restaurant and then to our favorite frozen yogurt place. I sure love that man. And I declare this 30 Day Challenge a huge success!

To top off our amazing day, we had an appointment to meet our pediatrician this afternoon. He was the one recommended by all of my KC friends, so I pretty much knew we would be going with that practice. But it was cemented even more after meeting with him today. It was a no-cost "new patient" consultation, and he spent 45 minutes with us! Such a great doctor, and he answered all of our questions, as well as gave us some great advice for our time in Oklahoma before we bring our little guy back to Kansas. Now we just need that sweet baby boy to get here :) Only 16 days until his due date...keep the prayers coming!

30 Day Shred - Day Eighteen

We're well over halfway, folks! I am so excited about keeping up with this challenge. Even when we were out of town on Monday (we got to meet our birthmom for the first time!), I wrote down the different circuits and their respective times, and Steve talked me through the entire 25ish minute workout right there in our hotel room. I actually think I probably worked out even harder that day because I moved right from exercise to exercise (while using the DVD, I sometimes slack a bit while Jillian explains each move). It felt so good to continue the Shred even when I wasn't in my own living room. Still working Level 2 and it is still kicking my tail each day, but it definitely feels better than it did the first few times I tried it :) My plan is to move up to Level 3 on Day 21...I'm already nervous about it. Once this 30 day challenge is done, I plan to keep up with the Shred, but more on a 3-4 days per week basis, and also add some running to the mix as well. Like my friend Kellie has said, I don't want to go through this part of the whole "getting used to working out" again (i.e. crazy soreness), so I am really hoping to stick with it after this 30 days is complete!

Here's to 18 days down, 12 to go! Day 19, here I come!

30 Day Shred - Day Twelve

Whew! I'm still truckin' along with the 30 day shred. It seriously is a great workout, and I feel like I'm getting more toned than I thought possible in a short time. That Jillian knows what she's doing :) Yesterday, Day 11, I moved up to Level 2 of the workout. I'll admit, I was a bit presumptuous in assuming that it "can't be that much harder, right?" Ummmmm...nope. Definitely not right. Yesterday's workout was a doozy! Today did feel a bit better, but I am already dreading my planned move to Level 3 in 8 days. I can't imagine what that is going to be like. Wait, would this situation qualify for the "Don't be anxious about tomorrow, for today has enough worries of it's own" verse in Matthew 6:34? Yes. Yes, I think so.

This has also been my biggest work stretch since I started at Starbucks 9 months ago. I worked 6 of the last 7 days...and one of those days, I worked in the morning and then went back to work the evening/close shift. Luckily, I love my job and the people I work with! But it has definitely been a busy week. Soon, I won't have the luxury of extra time to pick up more shifts at work (thanks to a certain little bundle arriving in October! Yay!) so I figure I might as well get the extra dinero while I can, right?

Well, that's my update. My fellow shredders are also still on the wagon! A couple had to take a few days off due to illness or travel plans, but we're all still in it! I am so excited to see the benefits from our hard work. And yes, I will admit fully that it is hard work (but oh, so worth it). Onto Day 13!

30 Day Shred - Day Eight

Whew! I've made it 8 days in row! I don't know that I've ever worked out eight days in a row before...this is an accomplishment! Even during my high school days on the synchronized swim team, we practiced 6 days a week, so I had a day off. The fact that the Shred is only 20 minutes long (ok, 22...my friend Jessica timed it...haha) makes it easy to commit to and follow through. I figure I waste that much time (and then some) every day, so what's 20 minutes out of my life each day? And it is such a great feeling to know that I'm making a good choice toward being healthy and taking care of this body God has given me! Now I need to get better about the eating part :)

The soreness has definitely worn off, but I still feel each workout, which is satisfying (then I know I'm still pushing myself each workout). My goal is to move up to Level 2 after Day 10!

So thankful for my Shred buddies who are along for this ride with me! It has really helped keep me accountable!

30 Day Shred - Day Two

Oh. My. Word. I haven't been this sore in awhile...but it is such a great kind of sore (painful, yes, but it means my muscles are responding quickly!). Thanks to my proclamation from yesterday, I felt quite obligated to get the Shred done before leaving for work today. I am so glad I did. I basically hobbled around all day at work, though. Sat down for 20 minutes during lunch and realized upon standing up that it had been a mistake. I could hardly walk! Uff da! Jillian Michaels...you are right...20 minutes can lead to quite an effective workout. I'm sold. 28 days to go...

30 Day Shred - Day One

A few months ago, I purchased the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD and it's been sitting happily in our TV stand cabinet, unopened. A few weeks ago, I started saying that I wanted to get through an entire shred before October 13th (the reason to be revealed "coming soon to a blog post near you," but most of you readers are people that know why that is a special day). Well...October 13th is coming soon, and I'm running out of my 30 day window!

I mentioned the Shred (that's what we people "in the know" call it..."The Shred"...since we're cool like that) to my friend Jessica, and she mentioned that she has been struggling with motivation in her weight loss journey. I'm all about creating healthy habits, rather than just participating in trends based on how I'm "feeling" at a particular time, so I jumped all over the idea of the two of us holding each other accountable, while also blogging about it (another wonderful form of accountability!)...she agreed - probably in a moment of pure insanity - but agreed nonetheless! Then, our friend Kellie and Jessica's friend Erin saw our challenge posted on facebook and asked if they could join, to which we said OF COURSE! The more the merrier (what can I say, I'm a people pleaser, so the more people I have to "not disappoint" the better). We're happy to have the company, so if you want to join us, please do!

Now, for the report. Day One was good...more intense than I thought it would be (ok, so it was more like "picking up the remote to turn off the DVD at the end was a challenge" kind of intense), but we all did it! We're in 3 different states, so thank goodness for the internet to keep us in touch and accountable! I am looking forward to this jump start in getting more in shape and toned, but really the biggest thing is discipline for me. I am happy to be making better choices and forming healthier habits.

Tomorrow will be a bit tougher for me, as I work at Starbucks from 7:30 - 3:30. I worked full time in the business world for 10 years, but retail is a whole different monster...8 hours wipes me out! My plan is to do the Shred before work so I don't have to worry about putting it off when I get home. And now that I have told the entire blog world...I'd better make it happen! Onto Day Two!