OMG... We are deep into this challenge!! Getting close to 1/2 way through, I think, right? OK, so w need to get some exercise in this week!! I'd like to see everyone get at least 30 minutes of cardio daily (feel free to do more though!!) and some toning/strength training daily (different muscle groups, of course). I'm not sure how it works with how hard you train vs. how many days off you need. I've had people post on my blogs that I should only run a max of 4 days, and weight train every other day, but to be honest, I don't *feel* like I need that many rest days. Maybe I'm just not working as hard as I should be, but I feel fine with what I'm doing. If any of y'all work so hard that you can only do it every other day, by all means, take that rest! But if you're like me and you CAN do what you do daily, I don't really see anything wrong with that. (And I'm not a certified trainer or anything, so chalk it up to not knowing any better if you want to. lol )

Post your workouts, and let's encourage each other!!

As far as the food challenge, hmmmm.... I don't know. What do y'all think? I'm doing really well with this plan I'm doing now, which is basically just making healthy choices and eating small 300 calorie meals every 3 hours. I'm staying full, getting all my vitamins and stuff, plenty of fruit and lots of veggies... and the gum and sugar free hard candies I sometimes use at work satisfy my sweet tooth. (Surprisingly!!) I guess we could do individual food challenges... like pick what you want to work on and post it, and post your progress? I'm not being a very good leader with this right now, but I know we're all in different places. So.... let me know what you think!

I'm finally rising from my death bed My plan is to start working out again tomorrow, after being sick for 2 weeks. *sigh* As soon as I make headway, it's like I end up back at the starting line.

Well, better to be at the starting line than out of the race, right? I'm proud of you for not giving up!! Glad you're feeling better.

Hello again! @%$@$, I stayed up too late last night to even think of getting up this morning for an AM workout. I will have to sweat it out after work today

Got my a.m. jog in... and it was the furthest, fastest, longest one yet. Personal improvement is one thing that will always put a smile on my face.

Eating was ok yesterday, but I messed up by having too many calories for my last meal. My husband has been cooking dinner lately, and I have to give him props... He's like the "meat master" or something. Delicious main courses, every one. So I had a 200 cal snack then a 450 cal dinner, but I'd much prefer they had been 300 cals each and that the last one before bed wasn't so heavy... But what can I say?? I'm definitely beyond appreciative that he's taking the initiative to help out, so I'm not complaining, and I'm not turning it down, either. I'll have to learn to adjust the side dishes to accommodate the stuff he's making.

shaina- well done on the jog! i have no idea what what is really the best think to be doing as far as intensity and repetition for workouts, but... just my thought is running every day for a few months is not a problem. if you want to make this a lifetime thing though, you may want to take a bit more rest in between workouts. i think your body (or anyone's body) can take the constant abuse for a while, but after years of that, things start to develop problems. i was a swimmer when i was younger- swam probably 4 times a week for a couple hours a time for YEARS and things were fine... then got into highschool and started swimming at least 5, sometimes 6 times a week for 2/1/2 hours at a time and my shoulders finally just gave out. guess my point being is that your body will handle it for a while, but at some point in the future you might want to consider taking a bit more rest. not saying now, but maybe after you've gotten to your goal or it's really become a true habit... just a thought though. it took years for my shoulders to give out, but once they did, it was quick. and it took me years to be able to get back to swimming and even now, i can't do back to back days without a bit of pain. anyway, just don't want to see you do what i did to myself!

Love your reason for editing!! lmao

I get what you're saying about the long-term effects. I think your recommendation of cutting back *after* it's a habit is spot on... I think that's what I was thinking under the surface of my brain. lol (It was there, but I couldn't get to it to say it! haha) Like, I don't have to do it every day for the rest of my life, but right now I feel like I *need* to do it daily, while I'm trying to reach goals and establish habits.

I did switch it up with a step workout yesterday, and to be perfectly honest, my legs are FAR more sore from that than they've EVER been from running. (It wasn't the dancy-type step aerobics, but a more athletic one with jumping, squats, lunges, bridge work, etc, with cardio-step mixed in. LOVE IT!) But anyway, I've figured out that I can get a lot of the same effect as running from playing basketball, soccer and even football and kick ball with my brother and kids in the yard. So... I guess I'm ok with switching it up a little bit, but I will still run most days til I reach my goals.

Goal tobike an hour a day except for Sunday and do 200 crunches daily. I am not working to hard with strength training this week because I have volleyball going on and yesterday I could hardly find the time to do my cardio and crunches. I will probably add it back in for Friday and Saturday because our all day tournaments get over on Thursday.

Ohhhh... volleyball sounds fun! I think active sports are way better than sets and reps anyway. It's more "real life" practical.

For example, my husband was making fun of me while I was doing planks the other day, and said I should JUST do sit ups to firm up my belly. BUT I was like, having strong abs won't do me any good IF I don't have the strong lower back and sides to go along with them.... as far as lifting things, doing real work, or playing sports. Real life stuff, ya know? That shut him up. Making fun of my Pilates is NOT a good idea. lmao

lol- that's funny shaina. guys are sometimes... i dunno. fursterating? lmao- i think that come along with being a guy?

i'm going to tokyo for the next couple days (yay!) so i don't think i'm going to be able to be on. have a good few days and i'll check in when i get back!