Fit Challenge: June Pushup Challenge!

Hi all!

I took a few months off from my 30-day challenges, but its time to get back at it! I mean, its summer. Its tank top season (and bikini season) and I know I want to have lean, toned arms and shoulders. So June is going to be a push-up challenge!

We are going to work our way up to 50 pushups in a row. Now, if this is too easy for any men (or strong women!), I suggest you double everything on the schedule and work your way up to 100.

For me, 50 straight pushups (from the toes as long as you can!) is not going to be easy.

I have created an event on Facebook. If you'd like to join in there, you can RSVP HERE!

We start today with 10 push-ups. I'll be doing mine later this afternoon.

...and I'll also be working my abs this month, though not with a Right Fits challenge.

I'm going to be hosting the push-up challenge for June, but if you're also looking for an ab challenge, check out THIS ONE by robynskinnywithpink! It seems like EVERYONE has RSVP'd to this event on Facebook, right? I plan to try to stick with it the best I can. What about you?

Fit Challenge: 26 Day Sit Up Challenge

I'm a little behind with March's challenge, so it won't be quite a 30 day challenge. It will be a 26 day challenge!

I have a beach vacation coming up, so that means I have to bare it all in a bikini. After hiding under multiple layers during this Polar Vortex, imbibing in all those hearty winter beers, and indulging in a little too much comfort food, I'm not all that excited about "bikini time." Its time to work those abs a bit...

I know, I know, belly fat is all about diet; you can't fix it with ab work. But let's assume we're all making some improvements to our diet this month too, in addition to the 26 day sit up challenge.

That's right- March is going to be a sit up challenge!

Now, I'm talking about old school all-the-way up, all-the-way down sit ups. The kind you used to do in gym class in middle school.

We'll officially start tomorrow, though I did 15 just now to get a feel for these old school sit ups..not too hard, but I don't know about 100 of them...

I hope you participate! We'll work our way up to 100 sit ups by the end of the month.

I'm guessing you probably know how to do a sit up, but just in case- here's how you do it!

1. Have your knees bent your feet placed flat on the ground.
2. Place your hands on opposing shoulders, so that your arms are crossed over your chest, or behind your head. 
3. Gently draw in your belly button to your spine
4. Keeping your feet on the ground, slowly and gently lift your head first, followed by your shoulder blades. Focus your eyes on your bent knees, all the while gently contracting the abdominal muscles. 
5. Pull up from the floor until you’re at a ninety-degree angle, or when the elbows are on, or past, the knees.

So simple :-) ! Good luck!

Fit Challenge: 28 Days of Wall Sits

Hi all! Just a quick check in to see how you're doing on the 28 Days of Wall Sits Challenge!

I had a wedding last night, which was so much fun...so it took me a little while to get moving this morning (not to mention I have a terrible cold). Eventually I made it to a yoga class at CorePower Yoga. When I returned home, I took some time to do my 170 seconds of wall sits.

I set my phone's timer to three minutes (180 seconds). I knew I would need a ten second break, and I did! I took the ten second break around the half way point, and then got right back in it. My quads were burning, but I made it!

I did three bonus minutes of planking afterwards. Three minutes is still a challenge, even though I have been trying to keep up with it every day.

Let me know how your 28 Days of Wall Sits is going. 

Three minutes tomorrow!

Fit Challenge: 28 Days of Wall Sits

Welcome to February, friends! Its time for a new 30 day challenge.  Well, February is actually only 28 days long, so this will actually be a 28 day challenge, and we're going to do wall sits!

I'm going on a ski trip to Utah at the end of February, so I figured wall sits will help strength my glutes, legs, and core for all that snowboarding. I need to get ready for the mountain (and maybe tone up a bit for the post-skiing hot tubbing...!)

I chose wall sits because they are a simple, no equipment necessary type of exercise that can tone up and strengthen your leg and core muscles.  Just like the plank challenge, you can do it at home, at the gym, at work- wherever you are! 

Here is the schedule:

It’s a short month, so we’re starting out at 30 seconds, and increasing 10 seconds every day until we hit 5 minutes. No rest days, but I don't think we'll need them.

I did my first 30 second wall sit today, and it was easy....but I know that 5 minutes will be a whole different story.

I am also keeping up with at least 3-4 minutes of planking every day. Why not? I don't want to lose all the strength I gained last month!

Tips for wall sits: Keep your core engaged and tucked in against the wall. Try to get your knees to 90 degrees. 

Just like the plank challenge, Matilda doesn't want to miss out on the wall sits!

Let me know if you are in for February Wall Sit Challenge!

Fit Challenge: 30 Day Plank Challenge

By Jess in Minneapolis

Did you get your plank in today? 90 seconds was pretty tough for me.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a rest day, but if you hopped onto the challenge a little late, feel free to do 60 seconds again today, and 90 tomorrow.

For those of you who are right on schedule, go for the 90 seconds today, and rest tomorrow. You can do it!

Dustin and I did our 90 seconds this morning after a cross country "skate" ski lesson (Unfortunately the skate ski lesson was a huge failed fit for me- more about that in another post). During my 90 seconds, I kept asking Dustin "How much longer? How much longer?" I'm scared about the jump to 120 seconds on Day 16, but hopefully with 2 days at 90, it won't feel so bad.

Let me know if you complete the challenge today.

Good luck!

Fit Challenge: 30 Day Plank Challenge

By Jess in Minneapolis

I'm participating in Athleta's 30 Day Plank Challenge. I can't believe I forgot to tell you! 

But don't worry, its not too late for you to jump on board. I really want you to do it with me!

We're only on day 10, so we can call it a 20 Day Plank Challenge! Let's do it together. In fact, I'll even post a before and after picture of my "core" to see if there is any difference...I'm doubtful there will be a visible difference in 20 days, but I guarantee that ours cores will be stronger by the end of this challenge. Let's do it!

Also, going forward every month in 2014, I'm going to do a 30 day challenge (next month will be a sit-up challenge) to keep us all motivated and strong this year.

Now as you can see below, we’re already on 1 full minute, but I know you can do it! You can do anything for 60 seconds. 

Don’t worry if you miss a day. You can make it up the following day with two planks that day.

Okay, here I am doing my 60 second plank...in my work clothes. And yes, Tilda follows me around every where I go. I love that dog.

Let me know that you are in by joining in by stating "IN" in the comments here. We'll keep each other accountable.

There are even rest days built in. Let's strengthen our cores!  

60 seconds again tomorrow, let's do it!