I bought a new bathing suit yesterday but I’m in this weird place where I’m insecure about my arms and legs but ok with my stomach.  You can imagine how impossible it is to find a bathing suit that resolves these insecurities. I hope in 2 months I’ll have to buy a new bathing suit with much fewer insecurities. My insecurities, I mean, not the bathing suit’s.  I don’t think they have feelings but if they did I bet it’s akin to some mean girl.  “Hey, look at that girl wearing me!  Aren’t I so inappropriate for her?” When will I find a bathing suit that loves me?

I’m debating my next 30 day challenge.  I’m thinking it’s going to be a 1 lb of vegetables goal. The days I eat loads of vegetables, my body tends to feel better, more energetic and light. Plus, in terms of nutrition, it’s pretty much the only thing I’m 100% sure is good for me.

I’m not going to restrict what I eat but I am going to attempt to eat 1 lb of vegetables a day.  Expect pictures of lots of leafy greens.

And Fitblrs, thank you so much for the awesome response on my 30 days of workouts!

J is coming home from Denver (currently on the plane as I type) and I am so excited.  Hey married ladies, do you ever feel like you’re in a rut with your hubs?  Send them away for a few days.  I’m seriously giddy with the thought of seeing J again!

I want to thank everyone who reached out and said such kind things about my freakout post last week.  Here’s an update if anyone was wondering.

I went to the Lady Doctor and she did a UPT and it came out negative.  I asked about a blood test and she said she was satisfied with the UPT results and that if Aunt Flow didn’t show up by next Friday I should come back in and they would test again and if it was negative again she would give me something to induce Shark Week.

As you can see, the terms Aunt Flow and Shark Week are highly technical.

Anyway, I asked for the blood test anyway and while I was sitting there waiting for the nurse and she was just about to open the needle tip package I panicked and decided NOT to get the blood test and just wait the week.  I am that afraid of needles right now.  It’s amazing that kind of fear that the mind connects with physical pain and emotional trauma. 

It’s a good thing I decided against the blood test because Aunt Flow came to visit yesterday!  So I took the nasty Chinese Herbal Tonic (tasted so bad it made me tear up while drinking it) and have resumed suffering through cramps.

And I just want to say, thank you so much for your support!  I can’t tell you how much it means.

I’m on Day 30 out of 30 of daily workouts.  I’m probably just going to continue to 60 days.  Why the heck not right? It’s a lifestyle ya’ll!

Big Take Away #1: It’s a big deal but it’s also no big deal. The biggest difference this challenge has made in my fitness is getting in a workout doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore.  It’s like brushing my teeth or hopping in the shower.  It has to be done, might as well enjoy what I’m doing and it’s really noticeable when I don’t do it.

Big Take Away #2: Accepting where things are and slowly working towards where things should be.  I’m not very fit so when I try to push myself too hard in consecutive workouts end up feeling like torture.  I didn’t used to care about rest days thinking that my mental fortitude should get me through with faster than average results.  It’s really easy to want to start where all the inspiring marathon runners, cross-fitters and triathletes but I’m just not there yet and pushing my body to get there before it’s ready is a disservice to my physical and mental fitness.

Big Take Away #3: It’s not going to be 100% every time, everyday. There will be an ebb and flow to the intensity of mental focus and physical ability.  Some days, the body and mind are stronger than others, usually because of rest levels, exhaustion or diet.

Big Take Away #4: Weight loss is 80% Diet, 20% Exercise but Self Esteem is 90% Exercise.  I lost about 5 lbs total in this past month.  I wasn’t paying very close attention to what I was eating (plus there was a lot of “vacation” eating) so I didn’t lose very much.  I also wasn’t focused on losing weight so much as building a habit.  But what I found is that even though I didn’t lose much weight, I feel great.  My muscles are stronger, my body is more contoured and my mood is generally happier.

Big Take Away #5: Pick a fun road and go at a good pace. Any 30 day challenge is about finding what works.  It doesn’t have to be a set of firm rules (i.e. strict diet, workout regiment, etc.) It can be a simple habit that can be built upon later.  Maybe in 3 months when I feel the need for a challenge, I’ll ramp up to a training schedule because I really enjoy a specific activity.  Right now, I know I like the luxury of being able to pick what sounds like fun for the day.

So here’s to the next 30 days of workouts and maybe 30 days of food chronicling!