Stepping Up

Getting an early post in today because I’m quarantined in the bedroom with the dogs while my husband has a web interview for a new job. I started the #21daychallenge off in beast mode today and I‘m not slowing down. 

5am up and at ‘em. Breakfast and 32oz of water in before I left for the gym. My grandma, who is a sneaky little thing, waited until I was walking out the door to call and tell me she wasn’t going today. “You waited until the last second on purpose, didn’t you?” She did. That mischievous giggle when she said ”have fuuuun!” as her answer was all I needed to know. But I guess she didn’t get the memo that I am an unstoppable force, and whether she goes or not, I’m a movin’ and a shakin’ every day. It was a little lonely driving the 30 minutes to the pool without our usual chit chat and gossip, but I used that time to psych myself up for these last three weeks. 

It was the slow teacher again today. Honestly, the class may as well be labeled “Stretching with Weights” because that feels like most of what we do. We jog intermittently and there are some workouts but the only thing it pushes is my balance. Which, yes, I definitely need help there because of my neuropathy and weaker core, but it’s not intense enough. We wrapped the class up and I just... said no. No, that’s not enough. No, I’m not done. I went to the fitness room and pulled out weights and leg noodles and went back into the pool. 

I was determined and said I wasn’t getting out of that pool until every muscle in my body was burning. I expected maybe 20 minutes or so of some intense aerobics would do the trick. Started with 100 jumping jacks, 100 crunches, 100 lunges, 100 bicep curls, 100 chest presses and 100 leg lifts. Well, I could feel it but there was no satisfying burn or ache or exhaustion. Another set. Ehhhh. Maybe? In the end, an hour and 10 minutes later and I had done 600 jumping jacks, 600 crunches, 400 lunges, 300 bicep curls, 300 tricep rows and 200 leg lifts. The last set of crunches, my eyes were closed, and I felt like I could fall asleep, my arms burned, my thighs burned, my abs burned, my calves burned, and I felt satisfied, no, PROUD of myself. Maybe I’m the energizer bunny in the water. 😂 I crawled out of the pool and straight to the shower where I let myself sit and just allow the water to run over me. 

I wasn’t kidding about ramping it up these last 21 days. Last week, I ramped up the food challenge and you can see the results below. My stomach is melting, despite the scale not moving, and like I showed yesterday, I had to get the next size down in my sports bras. I’m building strength which matters more to me than that scale. I took a side profile picture of my stomach today after my shower. I haven’t had this "thin" of a profile in a decade. This program is working because I’m working it. 

I never say “if I can do it, so can you” because we are all in different places physically, mentally and emotionally. But I certainly hope showing myself do it encourages you to push a little harder. Put your strength to the test and surpass yourself. Somehow, some way, every day.