Thirty Days of Exercise Daunting Yet Doable

I love summertime in Northeast Ohio.

It’s the only time of year that people actually want to visit the area because it’s too unbearably hot everywhere else. Everyone appears to be in a good mood for a change, and it feels fantastic to be out of hibernation mode. The endless rain this spring was particularly brutal, so I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been looking forward to enjoying some nice weather.

Unfortunately, there is one teensy little thing I dislike about the change in seasons... the switch to my summer wardrobe. A bad pattern has developed in which I try on my summer clothes from the previous year and **gasp** some of them don’t fit anymore.

A mini-meltdown promptly ensues, and my poor husband has to listen to me whining about how “large” I’m getting and how it’s just not fair because I’m TRYING here (not really) and why can’t I just naturally be a skinny toothpick because I don’t have the TIME to exercise and blah, blah, blah.

Rather than continue in this awful pattern, I’m actually going to start exercising (again).  I’ve decided to do a 30-day challenge with one of my favorite workout tapes, “30 Day Shred” by Jillian Michaels.

I used this tape to get in shape for my wedding, and it really worked well. I’ve never completed the workout 30 days in a row, but I would like to try. I like it because it only runs about 25 minutes total, including the warm-up and cool-down, but you still feel like you’ve gotten a great workout in.

There are even three levels to choose from, though I’ll probably be staying on level one indefinitely. The workout incorporates three sets of strength, cardio and abs for maximum weight loss. Jillian has a tough, yet likable demeanor, and she doesn’t irritate me like some instructors on other tapes, which is a small miracle of sorts.

Today was Day 1, and I feel pretty good about my efforts. I was extremely tired from work, but forced myself to do it and pushed through. I’m obviously deconditioned, yet I feel hopeful.

Let’s pray that my determination doesn’t waver this time. I would be pretty proud of myself if I actually exercised 30 days in a row.  More updates to follow!