30-Day Ab Challenge, Before and After

Well, today is the day. It's the final day of the 30-Day Ab Challenge, and therefore time to post before-and-after's. But first, I must give a disclaimer. I am fully aware that in my before pictures my stomach is already flat (I'm sure plenty of you have already scrolled down to see the pics before you started reading- don't deny it, LOL). Some of you may be thinking- why even do an ab challenge? So let me explain.

In my first post about the challenge, I mentioned that I had been having a lot of lower back pain, and also that I thought it would be good for my running to strengthen my core. Because I have a naturally small waist, ab work is usually something that I neglect, and I think I was starting to pay the price. Sure my legs were strong from running, but the rest of my body was so weak and squishy (for lack of a more technical term). I used to be much more diligent with strength training, but since I ended "Making the Cut" (Jillian Michael's book) back in March, I have been a major slacker. So I figured a public challenge would be a great way to give myself a kick in the pants, and to give other people the opportunity to get involved.

Let me talk a little about my experience. I committed to doing 3 ab workouts a week for the duration of the challenge. I was successful in all but one week, where I only completed 2 workouts. But overall, I think I was consistent, and it's becoming more of a habit. Most of the time, I just did a routine of different kinds of crunches, but a few times I popped in a video (I had a couple that I forgot about). I probably could should have spent more time on each workout, but I was more worried about frequency (of workouts) and quality, and not as much on the quantity (of time). So I always focused on proper form and breathing, and made sure to do a good stretch afterward.

I have definitely noticed an improvement in my strength. I should have done a plank test or something, to see how long I could hold it at the beginning, and how long I can hold it now, but I didn't think about that a month ago. But I can tell a difference when I'm doing crunches; they feel "easier" and I can do more of them before I get that tight, painful feeling that says "stop, stop, please don't do any more crunches until you take a rest!". My lower back pain has definitely decreased, and even my posture seems a little better. My weight isn't really any lower (in fact, it's probably up a tad), and my waist measurement is the same, but I wasn't expecting results in those areas. I was hoping more for the non-visual results. When I took my pictures this morning, I couldn't really tell too much of a difference- maybe a tiny bit more definition on the sides. 

Here are the 2 "before" pictures:

And here are the  "after" pictures:

(Yeah, I know it's hard to even see any difference, so I did a side-by-side comparison below)

Here are the side-by-side comparisons ("before" on the left, "after" on the right). 

I realize now that the (side view) "after" picture is less zoomed-in than the "before" picture, so it's hard to get an accurate comparison. However, you may notice that I have significantly more definition in my tricep in the second picture. This could be because of the occasional strength training that I've been doing (once or twice a week), or it could be because I'm trying to use my arms more in my running, to propel me up hills (or a combination of both- either way I was pretty stoked about that).

So what comes next? For me, I definitely plan to continue my ab workouts, and maybe I will even make it a priority to increase the time I spend on them (now that it's more of a routine). Maybe I'll even post another "after" picture in a month (we'll see about that- anyone else in?) I also want to try to do more of a regular strength training routine (I need to build muscle to burn more calories!!). Heck, I may even try the Hundred Push-up Challenge (once upon a time I could do a lot of push-ups; maybe not 100, but I was pretty tough).

Also, I will continue with my running, and try to increase my distances (now that I have a fabulous knee strap that keeps the pain in check). I don't have any races planned anytime soon, but I would like to do a half-marathon next (and of course continue to improve my 5k and 10k times). There won't be any around here until next spring (that I know of, anyway) but I won't exclude the possibility of traveling somewhere warmer to do a winter race. And just because I don't have a race scheduled, doesn't mean I can't train for that distance, right? I'm just afraid to commit to anything since I'm hoping I'll get pregnant soon. I'm not too worried about it yet, but I am getting anxious about my expected delivery date if it takes too much longer (i.e. if I got pregnant this month, my delivery date would be the beginning of June- I don't want to be pregnant all summer long, you know?)

I'm a little nervous because I'm thinking about when to go back to my earlier work schedule. It has still been in the 80's, so I definitely need to wait a bit longer (I totally love warm Septembers, so no rush!) I have really come to love my morning runs, and it is nice to have it done first thing in the day. But I still really hate being at work until 6:00 p.m. (when I was used to getting out of here at 3:30). Plus, I don't think the Hubs likes me getting home so late, and since it's my job to make dinner, we end up eating really late (usually after 8:00, which sucks!!). Another thing I was thinking about, is that when I start running after work, that means I'll be doing 2 showers a day (I don't wash my hair, I usually just jump in a rinse off really quick). But it's getting darker and darker in the mornings, so I will feel safer running in the afternoon when it's light outside (this morning I headed out at about 6:15, and it was barely starting to get light when I was almost home). I guess I'll just have to see how it ends up. 

Before I wrap things up, I have to confess that I have been really grouchy this week. Part of it is because I haven't felt very well due to allergies, and part of it could be hormonal, I guess, but I feel kind of bad. I feel like a total slug. Plus my eating has been pretty crappy. I didn't run Monday morning because I was exhausted (but I did my abs- I wasn't lying about that!). Tuesday morning I did a super-short run (barely 3 miles). Yesterday I did abs and a short elliptical workout. This morning I was finally feeling back to normal, and did a full 4 miles (in the dark, even, and on PayDay, no less). Tomorrow morning I will not be running because I am coming in to work at 8:00. I will be helping out at the YWCA luncheon at the Grand America, and the HR manager is taking us out to lunch afterward. I will try to fit in a decent run on Saturday even though I will be staying at my in-law's down in Provo, because the Hubs and I are going to the BYU game with his dad. But I guess I'll get more into the weekend plans tomorrow.

I guess that's (finally) it for today. And because I've already posted about a billion pictures this week, I'll forgo the Random Photo of the Week. But it will be back next week, and hopefully it will be something good.