21-Day Challenge

Wow, April is almost here already! With summer fast approaching, I quickly realized that I should start getting swimsuit-ready (I may have realized this a little late, haha). Every year, I have the goal to look great in a swimsuit, to get a flat stomach, blah blah blah. But this year I'm approaching the situation from a different angle.

My goal is to become confident in my body, and to treat it well. I've been trying to eat natural foods and exercise more, but sometimes "trying" simply isn't a big enough motivation. With the help of Fitness Magazine, I have committed to their "21-Day Total-Body Makeover Workout." In a nutshell, it is not intended to push you to your absolute limits or go on a crash diet. The goal is to help get you into the habit of exercising five days a week, have a good mindset, and form a healthy lifestyle. Want to join me on this challenge? Why not, it's only three weeks of your time!

WEEK 1
Mind: Dedicate five minutes a day to keeping an exercise journal, noting how you stay active. Seeing yourself achieve daily goals builds momentum.
Body: Do 2 sets of 8-12 reps per move twice a week on nonconsecutive days and 25-35 minutes of cardio five days a week.

http://www.pinterest.com/marielleeeee/fitness/

WEEK 2
Mind: Plan ahead. Rather than wait for a break in your day to exercise, schedule it the night before.
Body: Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps per move three times a week and 35-45 minutes of cardio five days a week.

WEEK 3
Mind: Find solutions, not excuses. If you don't have time for a full session, break it into 10-minute bits. Once you've started, it's easier to keep going than it is to quit.
Body: Do three sets of 15-20 reps per move 3 times a week and 45-55 minutes of cardio five days a week.

Click HERE to view the full article, as well as a list of exercises to do for the weightlifting segments of the body portion of the challenge. If you don't have free weights or a medicine ball, the site is full of weight-free exercises that you could try instead.

Three weeks. Twenty-one days. That's it. No excuses. What's stopping you from finally being fit, healthy, and happy? I'll check up with you all every week until we've finished this. Ready, GO!