Here we are at the end of my 30 day Shred Challenge. Finally!
30 days (and what feels like an eternity) ago I committed to doing the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD after being inspired by my sister, Meg, who had just completed a 30 day Bikram Yoga challenge. The DVD promised the potential to lose up to 20lbs and that I would be "shredded" at the end of the 30 days. With my towel, 5lb weights and $10.99 DVD in hand, I gave it a shot.
While I can't say I lost 20lbs or that I now rock six pack abs, I am 3.5 lbs lighter and I'm beginning to see signs of ab muscles that I haven't seen in a while. My "love handles" are smaller and I'm seeing some definition in my shoulders and arms that definitely wasn't there on Day 1. (See my Before + After pictures below. Eek... it's a little scary to put these pictures out there for everyone to see... my friends, family, co-workers, clients, blog/facebook followers, newsletter subscribers and fellow health gurus. It's not like selecting and cropping your favorite, most flattering picture for your facebook profile. These pictures are what they are... the good parts, the bad parts, the improved parts and the still to be improved parts. But, I promised to show them to you so here they are. I hope you find inspiration and motivation in them.
During the past 30 days:
I worked out in my living room.
I worked out on the terrace.
I worked out before work.
I worked out in my hotel room at 10pm after a 16 hour flight to Hong Kong...
...and again the next morning at 6am.
I worked out on vacation (where my amazing Mom joined me for 3 workouts).
I worked out on the balcony at the beach.
I worked out in a hotel gym in China where, clearly, no one else was doing a 30 Day Challenge as the gym was empty.
I even did the video and then ran 3 miles on some days.
At first I really had to plan to make sure that I made time for my workouts each day. But, it actually became easier as the days progressed and started to become a habit and, dare I say, almost addicting!?!
I hope you know that I am in no way telling you this to brag or to be self promoting! I am sharing this with you in hopes of inspiring and motivating you. We are all capable of achieving whatever we desire as long as we believe it is possible and we make the decision to re-commit ourselves to our goal every day. Even though I'm a Health Coach, it's no easier for me to make this commitment. I still suffer through every push-up and jump squat just like everyone else. I still have to wake up each morning and make the decision to eat well and to make time to work out. Then I have to wake up and make the same decision again the next day.
Although I worked out regularly prior to my 30 Day Challenge, I certainly never worked out for 30 days in a row and was lenient with myself when conditions for working out weren't perfect. Publicly making the commitment to this challenge, made me realize that not working out because I was tired, had too much to do or was simply not in mood was just a lame excuse to be lazy. We all have the same amount of time, the same 24 hours in a day, and there is no one I know that can't find 30 minutes each day to work out and who won't benefit from doing so... including you and me!
Bottom Line: After 30 days and 900 minutes of working out, I didn't see the results the DVD promised, but it was still a ridiculously hard workout and I do feel like I am tighter, firmer, stronger and have better posture. I also feel more confident and am really proud of myself for my achievement.
I hope this inspires you to try something new, to challenge yourself and to push yourself above and beyond your comfort zone. Anything is possible for you... I just know it!
Have a Great Day!
before + after
