Day 29: Once again, no exercise. After only getting three hours of sleep, just breathing was a workout.

Day 30: Today we pulled out the Yoga Booty Ballet GoGo video. It was a lot easier to follow this time (only our 2nd time doing it). My balance is off due to wearing my glasses instead of contacts, so that made the ballet part pretty interesting.                  With the weigh-in and measurements coming up tomorrow, I’m getting nervous. I’ve been crazy all month wanting to be able to do it, and now that the day is nearly here, I’m a little worried about it. Weeks three and four of the challenge were rough, so I don’t really know what to expect.

Day 31: This is why I get so discouraged and quit. I just finished my weight and measurements, and after a full month, there is no change. In fact, I gained .2lbs. I don’t have time to exercise six hours a day like they do on The Biggest Loser. What am I supposed to do? What is enough? I’m suddenly less excited for Awesome April, but I committed to it, so I will do it.

We are coming into the final stretch here, and I’m getting nervous. What if all this work doesn’t make any difference in my weight or measurements? In the past, I have given up, time and again, when I don’t see the numbers I want to. I feel more committed this time, but what if it turns out I’m not? Maybe it’s just my stuffy head interfering with rational thought…

Day 22: I didn’t get any exercise today, unless you count hefting 15 different models of handguns. My dad took me shopping to find just the right one for my fat little hand.

Day 23: Man, we did Ab Ripper today, and then the beginner Yoga Booty Ballet. The funny (or not) thing is that the YBB also had a whole abs section in it. If I don’t come out of this with washboard abs, I’m going to be disgruntled.

Day 24: Nothing. Unless you count sneezing, wheezing, and blowing my nose. I just feel crummy.

Day 25: I still feel icky, but I’m not giving up. I did Billy’s Bootcamp Rock Hard Abs by myself today. I was definitely moving slower than usual, but at least I was moving.

Day 26: I’m so sore, it literally hurts to breathe.

Day 27: Tonight we did Billy’s Bootcamp Mission 1, but this time we did it with the eight minute extension, and with weights. We have made a lot of progress in our stamina and ability, but we aren’t quite ready to be in a Billy Blanks video. 

Day 28: I didn’t work out, but I went to the gyno and didn’t treat myself to ice cream afterwards, so I’m counting it as a win.

I’m trying not to be frustrated by what the scale said at the doctor’s office today, but it’s so hard. This week has been rough. I’ve mostly felt like garbage. I guess I will just keep moving forward and do what I can to finish out the month. Then, it’s off to a new challenge to keep me focused.

I go into these things with much vim and vigor, but tend to get bored and my enthusiasm dies quickly. My plan this time is to take advantage of my vast stores of varied exercise videos. I have Power90, Yoga Booty Ballet, Tae Bo, Yoga, Walk Away the Pounds, and a few Biggest Loser DVD’s, and that’s just naming the better known ones. I figure if I switch it up a bit, I will keep my body guessing, and I won’t get caught up in monotony and quit. So far, it’s working. Here is a look back at the first week of my challenge:

Day 1: I conned my niece, Jessica, into doing the challenge with me, and we decided to start with the beginner level of Yoga Booty Ballet. It had yoga, ballet, cardio, weights…  A very good all-around workout that left us sweaty, sore, and cursing Gillian and Teigh (Gill-ian and Tee).

Day 2: We took it outside for day 2, and spent some time in the glorious sunshine walking around the zoo with some friends and the kids.

Day 3: The weather kept us inside, and my little girls wanted to dance, so we pulled out the Yoga Booty Ballet Hip Hop Abs DVD. I’m no dancer, but it was pretty fun. We worked up a good sweat, then put in some time on abs, and a little yoga to stretch out. I’m sure we will do this one again if the little girls have anything to say about it.

Day 4: We mixed it up a little today with Power90 Ab Ripper, and then Yoga Booty Ballet Go Go.  The Go Go just further proved my lack of dancing ability, but it got me moving and sweating, so I guess it’s a win.

Day 5: We did weights (Power90 Sculpt) for the first time since starting the challenge. My arms are limp, and my legs are wobbly, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to move in the morning. At least I can tell it’s doing something, right?

Day 6: Well, I knew it would happen sooner or later. I didn’t get a workout in today, but instead of feeling like a failure, I’m going to call it a rest day and get back on the wagon tomorrow.

Day 7: You want to know what makes Power90 Ab Ripper seem like kindergarten recess fun? Billy’s Bootcamp Elite Mission 3: Abs. Dang. I know from doing Tae Bo that Billy Blanks doesn’t play around, but this was a killer ab workout packed into 28 minutes.

The first week was great, and I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve been drinking water more diligently than usual and remembering to take a daily vitamin. Jess and I have also decided that instead of doing weekly weigh-ins and measurements, we are going to wait until the end of the month in the hopes of seeing greater results.

Have you taken up the challenge with us? What did you do this first week? How are you feeling? Do you have any great workouts we should try?