16 Reasons You Should be Talking About Fitness Challenge

"If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health." ~ Hipporates

Good morning; afternoon; and evening friends and fans! Namasté. 🧘🏽‍♀️ I've been working out for the last eleven months since I'm looking to lose weight and I'm at that point that I'm becoming discouraged since I feel like I haven't seen anything different. If need be, I'm looking to join Planet Fitness but my intentions are there as to why I want to work out, and I'd say the same for Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts. I have my reasons why I want to take up martial arts, and I feel like I'm getting more for the buck so to speak. Another thing is if I were to take up martial arts but I'm not sure it's not all that necessary to do yoga as well and I figured it'll be the best health investment I can make one can make for themselves. For those who are on a budget and live in the New York City area, there is a Shape Up NYC, a lot of these programs are free to try, especially for the curious. This blog took me a while to write because I wanted to make sure I have what I wanted to say sound interesting and also make mention of what videos worked for me before feeling like I want to take it to the next step up, such as joining a Planet Fitness or a Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts or Renzo Gracie Academy since I have a curiosity towards Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. My main goal is to make sure my bank account is plentiful should something arise, such as unemployment or whatever the situation may come up. My goal is to go at my own pace, so I'm not so easily discouraged and purely frustrated. Of course, there'll be days where I'll become very discouraged and frustrated, disappointed but I'm determined to get my personal goal because I'm doing this for me, myself, and I since this feels natural. What I mean I want my fitness journey to feel as natural as possible is that this feeling should come from within and nothing else. I have my reasons on why I work out is because I am doing for me; I want to feel good about myself. I'm doing this for me, myself; and I; I want to stop the negative cycle of body image issues and passivity embrace my body so I can be a better version of myself before I become a better version to other people.

-Weight Loss Journey-

"Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate. The world wasn't formed in a day, and neither were we. Set small goals and build upon them." ~ Lee Haney

As most of you already know, I've been focused on getting in shape and for the first time in over five plus years my weight has gone from 201.4 pounds down to 196.6 pounds since January of this year! I'm currently taking Jardiance for my diabetes and when I'm at my goal weight of 125 pounds, I no longer plan on taking Jardiance since there are side effects involved. However, let's see where life takes me in the upcoming months. As much walking I have done this past year, I'm surprised and a bit disappointed I haven't lost more! I don't eat a whole lot of sweets or carbs; I eat enough carbs, but I don't overdo it and I just eat a small portion of carbs. Very rare I crave sweets, but when I do consume sweets, I eat sweets in a mindful way. Talk of dieting should be for a separate blog and this is more of a fitness bog than anything. I've found several fitness videos that made me feel sore for several days which is what I'm looking for as a result, and I enjoy feeling sore when working out. I'm doing this for me, no one else and I want to feel good. Reasons why I work out is because of sleep (I have mild sleep apnea), I want to improve my self-esteem; reduce risk of surgery (if need be), I hope to increase my metabolic rate; increase my metabolic rate, increase my range of motion, increase functional strength; I'm looking to improve balance and coordination, I've taken notice that exercise helps with my depression, I want to control my weight and since I'm in my early 40's, it's a challenge to drop my pregnancy weight and keep it off, another goal is to reduce aches and pains, lose hidden body fat; I want to improve my energy level and for longer; I'm also looking to strengthen my back and core muscles so I'm not preventing any discomfort of back pain; I want to change my body shape; I want to feel good about myself in my own skin, a.k.a. feeling confident in my own skin; Boost my flexibility through yoga/stretching; and I want to live as long as I can because I want to accomplish more in life. I still have places in the world I so want to visit but let's start with Japan first! If you wish to keep track of your fitness journey, here is a Six-Month Body Measurement Tracking Chart you can print out for your own records! I recently purchased Booty Bands for Working Out, Fabric Resistance Bands for Working Out Women Thigh Bands for Workout Bands Resistance for Women Resistance Bands for Leg Bands for Working Out Woman Glute Bands for Women from Amazon and I love it! I have another resistance band but for upper body fitness routine. My main weight loss goal is to get my weight down to 125 pounds and will go at my own pace, I'm in no rush to lose a lot of weight but only to gain that weight back on! All that effort, for what? I'm doing this for me. Main areas I'd love to focus on are abs (oh my gosh, have you seen Janet Jackson's abs when she did the All for You tour, and Angela Bassett's arms, here's an article from Entertainment Weekly, An ode to Angela Bassett's arms - and the power they possess. As most of you may be unaware, respectfully speaking, I'm a fan of Janet Jackson (and would love. love, love to see Janet Jackson on her next tour) whether or not she's been blacklisted from whatever an event may be since that whole Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show featuring Justin Timberlake. I'm sorry, I've lost all respect for Justin Timberlake more so now than nine years ago. Justin Timberlake [as I feel] should be the one to be blacklisted from music and movies, not Janet Jackson. Not the case, I need to focus on myself, health wise for the most part.

-Information-

"There is a moment when you get older when your metabolism slows down and you don't feel like working out anymore, so you don't want to keep yourself fit anymore, but that's your decision. Why should you be judged for it?" ~ Janet Jackson

If you wish to learn more about yoga and here are five pieces of information you can view at your own leisure. Three of them are YouTube videos in regard to yoga with an article of yoga and the other are articles of yoga. I wish you the best of luck on your fitness journey and be sure to set realistic fitness goals for yourself. Go at your own pace and that's the best way to go about. For those who are on the fence in regards on whether to begin your yoga experience and here are some videos I've watched for you to view or read at your own leisure! From the times I've done yoga [at home], it's very relaxing and I enjoy doing yoga. Here is: What Happens to Your Brain and Body When You Do Yoga Regularly. I want to also include these videos and articles for you to check out at your own time. Yoga and its connection to mental health | Nikolai Blinow | TedxSalveReginaU; The Health Benefits of Yoga - How Yoga Helps You Stay Healthy | Sadhguru; 8 Lesser-Known Benefits of Yoga; 20 Wall Pilates Benefits: You'll Wish You Knew About These Sooner! and Wall Pilates is the new low-impact exercise everyone's trying - but is it worth your time? At the end of the day, your own research is entirely up to you and I'm not going to force anyone to do yoga. Yet, it is very relaxing at the end of the day, and I have my own reasons why I'd want to do more yoga in the evening before bed! It's good to have Ignite by SPRI Resistance Cord and Tone It Up Exercise Sliders N' Sculpt Discs for Toning, Set of 2, Teal. Here are two additional workouts to go with the Resistance band and sliders discs: 12 min RESISTANCE BAND ARM WORKOUT | Upper Body | All Standing and CORE STRENGTH AND BALANCE SLIDER SCULPT WORKOUT. There are additional videos to go with these items on YouTube to view at your own leisure!

-Videos I've Tried Out in 2023-

"Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you've got to squeeze your buns. That's my formula." ~ Richard Simmons

Last but not least! Here are some of these YouTube channels I follow during my free time while my mother is out running her errands: fitbymik; getfitbyivana; MADFit; Mary Braun; and Mr. London. I do what I can while I have the apartment to myself while my mom is running her errands and it's not much time, so I squeeze what I can into a half hour to forty-five minutes, often an hour if I'm fortunate enough without taking breaks!

1. 5 min WARM UP ROUTINE Before Your Workout | Low Impact | Wrist Friendly
2. 25 min STANDING DUMBBELL WORKOUT | Full Body | Lower and Upper Body Routine | No Repeats
3. 5 min COOL DOWN STRETCH ROUTINE | After Workout | Muscle Recovery
4. 10 min TRICEPS WORKOUT with Dumbbells | No Pushups
   
5. 10 min STANDING ARM WORKOUT | With Dumbbells | Biceps, Triceps and Shoulders | Zero Pushups
6. 12 min STANDING ARM WORKOUT | With Dumbbells | No Pushups 
7. 15 min STANDING ARM WORKOUT | With Dumbbells | Upper Body
8. 15 min STANDING ARMS AND ABS WORKOUT | With Dumbbells | Upper Body | No Repeats
9. 20 min STANDING ARM WORKOUT | With Dumbbells | No Pushups
10. STANDING TONED ARMS & BACK In Just 10 Mins/Days ~ Lose Back + Arm Fat Faster (Weights vs. No Weights) 
11. 10 Min ABS + SMALL WAIST | All Standing - No Jumping, No Repeat, Warm Up + Cool Down, At Home
    
12. 10 Minute Flat Abs Workout for Insane Results!
    
13. 10 min BRA BULGE & BACK FAT WORKOUT | Chest, Back & Arms
14. 5 min GROW YOUR BOOTY WORKOUT // No Squats No Equipment
    
15. 10 MIN LEG/BOOTY/THIGH WORKOUT (No Equipment Killer Legs)
16. 30 MIN PILATES FOR WEIGHT LOSS | best calories burn,
17. 20 MIN ABS & BOOTY - on the floor, no squats/lunges, you will feel it in your abs if done properly!
    

Back Fat Blaster!!! // Upper Body Workout with Weights
BACK & BRA BULGE 5 Min. Workout | Lose Back Fat in 2 WEEKS!! (No Equipment / Upper Body Burn).

Best of luck to those achieving your own personal fitness goals! 😘

-Lower Body Workout-

"The clock is ticking. Are you becoming the person you want to be?" ~ Greg Plitt

This is for those who want to focus on lower body as well if you wish to check some of these videos out to further your fitness goals.

1. 10 MIN TONED INNER THIGH WORKOUT - effectively target the inner part of your legs (dumbbell only) This is my go-to inner thigh exercise routine!
   
2. 10 min | 10 Days | 10 Exercises to GROW BUBBLE BUTT - Intense Booty Challenge
3. 10 Min Slim Inner + Outer Thighs | All Standing Workout, No Jumping, No Repeat, No Equipment 
4. 20 min LOWER BODY WORKOUT | With Dumbbells (And without) | Low Impact | Legs and Booty
5. BOOTY & LEG BUILDING KETTLEBELL WORKOUT
6. IF YOU HAVE CELLULITE... (WATCH THIS!)

-Upper Body Workout-

"Setting goals is the first step into turning the invisible into the visible." ~ Tony Robbins

More for your goals! Whatever your personal goals are, continue your hard work and you will see results. Keep in mind, weight loss will not happen overnight but with time and be patient because you will see results. Even if you may not see your desired results right away, I'm sure others will take notice of your weight loss. I'm proud of you for making it this far with your fitness goals and keep pushing forward. Make realistic goals for yourselves.

1. LADIES, STOP DOING ABS !? [DO THIS FIRST]
2. FUPA SHRED In 30 Days | New Year Workout Challenge! (2023)
3. 2 in 1 FLAT STOMACH AND ROUND BOOTY Workout | (30 Min)
4. 7 DAY CHALLENGE - 10 MIN WORKOUT TO LOSE BELLY FAT | AB WORKOUT TO LOSE INCHES!
5. 10 MIN LOVE HANDLES AND LOWER BELLY FAT WORKOUT Standing Only | No Equipment!
6. 10 min STANDING ABS WORKOUT | One Dumbbell | Low Impact | Beginner Friendly 
7. 10 min RESISTANCE BAND ARM WORKOUT | Tone Your Upper Body

 -Full Body Workout-

"Don't wait until you've reached your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take toward reaching the goal." ~ Unknown

I'm going to end it here before I end up adding more videos for you to do. If you're looking for a workout challenge, check out fitbymlk since she has some decent workout challenges and feel free to check them out at your own leisure! Keep at it and challenge yourselves because it will pay off in the end, keep pushing yourself. Be mindful on your diet as well.

1. WEEK 1 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE
2. WEEK 2 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE
3. WEEK 3 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE
4. WEEK 4 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE
5. WEEK 5 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE
6. WEEK 6 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE
7. WEEK 7 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE
8. WEEK 8 - WINTER WORKOUT CHALLENGE

Extremely Powerful Fat Burn Frequency || 295.8 Hz || Weight Loss Binaural Beats, Burn Fat Cells.

If you are looking to revitalize your routine, here are 16 reasons why committing to a fitness challenge is a total game-changer:

1. It Shatters Plateaus: Breaking out of your regular routine shocks your body and forces it to adapt, helping you bust through frustrating weight loss or strength plateaus.
2. Built-In Accountability: It is much easier to skip a workout when you only know about it. Challenges keep you on the hook.
3. Strong Community Support: When you join a challenge, you get to connect with like-minded individuals who share tips, struggles, and celebrations.
4. Clear Structure: Say goodbye to guesswork. A challenge tells you exactly what to do, how long to do it, and when to rest.
5. The Power of Friendly Competition: Tapping into your natural competitive edge - especially through leaderboards or group milestones - motivates you to dig a little deeper.
6. Long-Term Habit Formation: Research suggests that it takes a few weeks to form new behaviors; challenges give you the perfect runway to build habits that stick.
7. Boosts Mental Health: Regular physical activity reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression while giving your mood a massive natural lift.
8. Increases Energy Levels: Combatting midday fatigue is easier when you commit to daily movement.
9. Enhanced Self-Confidence: Pushing past doubts and hitting your weekly goals builds a resilient, "can-do" mindset.
10. Speeds Up Results: Challenges often combine nutrition and intense, target training to help you see visible results faster.
11. Forces You Out of Your Comfort Zone: You will be exposed to new exercises and classes you might never have tried otherwise.
12. Teaches Goal Setting: Challenges train you to set reasonable, attainable milestones rather than overwhelming yourself.
13. Better Sleep Quality: Expending physical energy during the day helps you fall asleep faster and achieve deeper, more restorative rest.
14. Develops a Structured Routine: It creates an organized framework that seamlessly fits exercises into your busy daily life.
15. Taps Into the "Finish Line" Effect: There is a definite start and an end point, making tough training block feel incredibly manageable.
16. Builds Physical Capability: You'll be amazed at how much stronger and more capable you feel in your everyday life.

Ready to get moving? Find a program that matches your current fitness level and discover how a little challenge can completely transform your routine. If you're exploring new workouts, you can use fitness tracking tools like Strava to start your own community challenge or log your daily goals!

 

 Blessed be,

Jennifer

From Couch to Confident

"You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits." ~ Michael Phelps

Greetings!

I honestly have been wanting to get in shape for the last several months and didn't know where to begin or who to ask. Now, I feel inspired and grew tired of people asking me when I'm going to lose weight or if I'm pregnant. Keep in mind that I have been a yo-yo dieter for a long time and I would say since junior high school. Yet one of my coworkers was saying several months ago that one of the girls in his high school had done a 30 Day Fitness Challenge of doing a thousand squats/lunges and this hadn't hit me until today because I had been wanting to train with someone for a while in recent months! So I figured I would begin my 90 Day Fitness Challenge until September of 2014 and this is a goal rather than a "deadline" because I don't want to rush through my fitness routines than grow disappointed in the end. I have picked out six DVDs for 90 days each (one DVD per 90 days) and if I had thought of this 90 Day for 18 Month Fitness Challenge shortly just before the start of the New Year, I would have began with the Shape: Ultimate Bikini Body Workout from January through March than go onto the next DVD. For more information, please contact me at scorpionimages@hotmail.com with subject "18 Month Fitness Challenge" and I'll send you the information of what I had in mind for my Fitness Challenge. Feel free to call me up and say: "Jenn - Jenn, I'm dragging your ass to the gym [or park depending on Mother Nature] today and I don't care what you have to say!" I wouldn't be shocked if you put me over your shoulder and dragged me to a gym to work out until I sweat these pounds and calories away! My fitness goal is to gain three things: Confidence, Energy, and Feeling better about my physical appearance (especially how I appear to other people).

As of lately, I have been working out to Shape: Make-Over Your Butt, Hips & Thighs until my 90 Days is over which is Phase One of my workout and I've been doing the Ballet Sculpt segment of the Shape: Make-Over Your Butt, Hips & Thighs DVD. So far, I am slowly beginning to feel the difference in my lower body! Fro the time being, I figured the warmer weather is slowly approaching I would workout for ten minutes per day until autumn and winter arrives which is when I'll focus on Shape: Ultimate Bikini Body Workout and Self: Sculpt Sexy Legs Fast! My plan is to include circuit training, cardio and Pilates within the 90 Day Fitness Challenge. My specific troubled areas of where I would love to focus on are mid-section (love handles and stomach), working those triceps but over all arms, inner thighs, getting rid of those cellulite and my derriere. Most of all, I would love to have arms like Angela Bassett when she starred in 'What's Love Got To Do With It' and 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' and abs of steel like Janet Jackson when she had done her 'All For You' tour on HBO in Hawaii! I think they both look amazing to the point that it's not even funny and I know it'll take a lot of dedication and hard work but I'm willing to put in my hard work. I so want sexy legs as well! Over all, I want to be a MILF (Mothers I would Like to Fuck). Exercising at home by using what I have would save me loads of money instead of joining a gym such as Bally Total Fitness, Lucille Roberts or Planet Fitness because I cannot afford a gym membership at the moment (not until I'm financially stable enough to hold down a gym membership and have someone to go with me). Working out at home is very affordable because you wouldn't have to worry as much when it comes to your membership payments if you were to join a gym and unfortunately if you want a personal trainer, you still have to spend extra money on top of your monthly gym membership which may or may not be worth your wallet (depending on your financial situation). I think having a workout partner would be a life saver because when you're feeling lazy or fall off of the band wagon, and you have that friend calling you up everyday encouraging you to get off of your lazy ass and work out (even if they have to come by to your place of residence to throw you over their shoulder to take you to a park just to work out) for an hour that would be fine by me because I know I will be needing that kind of encouragement from people. I hope to reach my fitness goal by the end of September of 2014 because I figured 18 months would give me time to see and feel the results during this time period and I am hoping this fitness challenge would be much of a distraction from my depression if I continue to stay physically active.

In terms of having a diet plan, truth be told, I have not picked out a diet plan that would work for me and I honestly do not want to concern myself over which diet would be best for me. But if I had to choose which diet to with during my fitness challenge and I would honestly choose a low carb diet. Yet I am curious if I can just exercise without the hustles and bustles of having to sacrifice my favorite junk food or even a slice of pizza. I realize you can't simply just exercise and not diet at the same time to look and feel fabulous. In the end, I want to tell people "Bitch please, I feel fabulous!" and walk away smiling. I don't know of any straight person who uses the word "Fabulous" in a sentence. Would I do calorie counting? For now, I wouldn't even bother with calorie counting because it's way too much work and I can't simply be bothered with calorie counting diet. I also have a diet book: Prevention's 3-2-1 Weight Loss Plan by Joy Bauer and haven't had the chance to finish reading the book. In time I'll pick a calorie diet when I'm ready to begin my diet regimen and hopefully the calorie dieting won't drive me stir crazy because I'm counting calories!

Warm blessings,
Jennifer