Uh, I hope that phrase isn't trademarked or anything. Whatevah! Today is the official start of the 30-Day Ab Challenge. It will run until Sept 18, when I will post my *final* update and my before and after pictures. I took front and side pictures this morning, and I will take similar pictures at the end for comparison. I will post an update every Monday throughout the challenge, but it's not a hard and fast rule for the rest of you that are participating (any kind of update that's approximately once a week will do).
I didn't want the Challenge to be anything complicated, I just wanted a way to motivate myself and to be accountable, and I thought it would be fun to invite others to join in. So don't feel like you "have to" do certain things to be part of the challenge. A lot of people have asked questions about if they have to post pictures, and can they post measurements instead, and other people have said that they don't want to post bare skin pictures. I just want everyone to know that I'm okay with any modifications that you want to make, so that the Challenge is something personalized to you.
I will give updates about my workout progress and frequency in my Monday posts. At the end of the Challenge, I will post my pictures and give a recap of my experience. My main goal of the Challenge is to strengthen my core, in hopes of taking some of the load off my lower back, and to hopefully aid in my running. I would also like to get back some of the definition that I had once upon a time. Maybe for this week's Random Photo, I'll post a pic from my honeymoon where you can see some muscle tone. I understand that everyone will have different goals, and that is perfectly acceptable. I'm just happy that there has been such a positive response.
So, I hope that covers most of the questions that have come up, but feel free to send me a comment if you still have questions about anything.
Here is the list of participants I have so far (if by chance I missed anyone- which I hope not- pleeeaaase just remind me, and I will humbly admit my mistake and add you to the mix):
Rebecca (blog to come soon)
So there you have it. And remember, it's not too late to join. Feel free to jump in at any time. Just leave me a comment and let me know that you're in. I started this morning with doing a few crunches before I hopped on the elliptical. I did 25 regular crunches (slow, with good form), then 15 side crunches (each side), and finished off with 15 reverse crunches. It was harder than I thought, but it just reinforces how much I need this. Hopefully by the end it will be much easier to do those same exercises (plus more), and I'll be motivated enough to continue ('cause that's the real reward, right?). Okay, it's off to bed so I can get up bright and early for another non-running workout (yes, I'm still slightly bitter about the whole knee thing coming back).
15 comments:
"and other people have said that they don't want to post bare skin pictures."
Are nude photos acceptable? ;-)
Uuuuuuhhhhhh, please no- it's an Ab Challenge, not a porn ring. Ha ha. = )
awesome! i'm so excited! do you have any ideas for ab workouts? i have a giant ball and weights i could use but i'm not very creative! :)
when shopping today, i'm gonna look for a video so hopefully that can give me some ideas!
LMAO Porn ring!!!! HAHAHA! OK I will commit to something ab wise twice a week and see how it goes. UGH, I am already scared of not being able to laugh without pain.
oooohhh.. it's tempting! I am in. Maybe! What are the workouts?
Lead us! :)
What a coincidence!! Over on my blog a few of us just started a push-up challenge!! I'll have to keep in mind your ab challenge for next time!
OK. I took my before picture last night. I'll have to remember to take measurements tonight...
I didn't do any ab workout last night... must remember to do it tonight BEFORE I pour the wine.
oops-- I forgot to leave you my blog addy in case you wanted to check it out:
thinkwellactwelllivewell.blogspot.com
Nicole- I don't have a ton of ideas. I'm just starting with basic stuff, regular crunches, side crunches, reverse crunches, bicycle crunches, and maybe crunches on the stability ball. Since my muscles are so weak, I'm starting slow and easy. If I think of anything, or come across some great links, I'll post it.
Viv- This is not about torture and pain. Don't overdo it, and you'll be able to laugh freely without pain.
Ashley- Glad to have you in the group!! There is no set workout, you can do whatever you like. Um, I'm not such a great leader- I'm better at following. It's a miracle that I even started this challenged- ha ha! Since yours is the second request for ideas, I'll have to give it some thought and post about it.
Live Well- Thanks for stopping by! Your push-up challenge is such a great idea (to make it a group effort). I've considered starting the 100 push-up challenge, but have been putting it off. I just feel so weak, I don't want to know how few push-ups I can do- LOL. Maybe once we finish our respective challenges, we can switch off. Your blog is great- I'll be reading more.
Tammy- Wine?! There's no wine allowed on this challenge! Oh wait. I didn't include rules about alcohol, did I? Okay, just kidding. Feel free to imbibe as you desire, but I'm just sayin' it might impact your results... Glad you took your pics. As long as you get in 3 workouts a week, you're good to go. If the week starts Mon, you can do TuThSa, or even WeFrSu. You're still on track!
Im here.
IN SPIRIT.
cheering you on.
deciding if I need to break my no ab moves streak.
my low back? urging me to join in.
MizFit- Maybe you could come up with some non-exercise type ab moves (on the playground, or around the house- or something similar to the old "squeeze your butt cheeks while you're waiting in line or in an elevator").
Then you wouldn't really have to think about it as ab moves...
My low-back is already thanking me.
I'm still looking for a stupid measuring tape. I'll probably just use a string and measure that when it's laid out.
My wife didn't take pictures for me, but she promised to do that for the next Ab day (Thursday).
I'll probably post them on my own blog as an update, along with the weekly measures and weights.
Tom- String or yarn works just as well, if you can't find an actual measuring tape.
About posting everything else, it sounds like a good plan. I'll be checking back. = )
I like this much better than the push up challenge!
So Nan- are you in??
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