The 24-day CHALLENGE!

I’m inspired!!

In preparation for leading Saturday workouts at my church I decided to commit to a strict dietary and workout regimen for the entire month of April and May.  What does that mean? Well at first I had no idea, so I decided to do some research. 

I found the 28-day challenge by Robert Brace, which outlines either 28 workouts back-to-back or 28 workouts over a designated period of time.  In addition to the workouts is a high protein, low carbohydrate, low fat, low sugar eating plan that includes, meats, green vegetables, fruits and oatmeal.

I chose this plan because it seemed straight forward and with so much going on in my life, the less I have to think about food and exercise the better.  I decided I would exclude bread, rice, potatoes, candy, desserts, and salt from my diet during the first month of exercise (April) and then slowly but surely reintroduce them back into my diet during the second month of exercise (May).  I’ve committed to 3, 45-60 min, exercises a week, which decreased the “28-day challenge” to the “24-day challenge.” Hey you know me...I gotta mix it up a bit!

So welcome to my journey! I will post meals and workout tips that will hopefully inspire you to be the best you.

DIET LOG

Week One (April 1-7):
(I had a variation of these meals everyday)

Breakfast: Fruit (apple, orange, and/or banana), Oatmeal, or Honey Nut Cheerios (serving size amount) with Soy Milk

Lunch: Grilled Chicken Salad, Grilled Chicken Sandwich with portabella mushrooms and lettuce as a bun (pictured below)

Dinner: Grilled Chicken salad, Salmon salad, side of Carrots

Snacks: Unsalted Cashews, Popsmart popcorn, Fruit, Yogurt

WORKOUT LOG

Workout #1 (April 2): 45 mins 1.5 miles on elliptical, 1 mile run (treadmill), 20 lb dumbbell curl ups, various gym machines, various plank styles

Workout #2 (April 4): 50 mins 1.5 miles on elliptical, 1 mile run (treadmill), 20 lb dumbbell curl ups, various gym machines, various plank styles

Workout #3 (April 6): Outdoor workout (2 mile run, jumprope, 15 lb dumbbell curl ups, plank styles)

Workout #4 (April 7):
I didn’t plan this ahead of time but decided at the last minute to go to the Zuumba class at Club Fitness and also walked a mile on the treadmill with an incline of 7.

End of Week ONE thoughts:

I can’t believe I’ve gone without bread for 7 days!  It was actually easier than I expected.  I was offered twizzlers (MY FAV!!!) and I turned them down.  I went to church three night this week and each night the kitchen cooked fried wings and french fries, which filled the entire hallway with the aroma of grandma’s kitchen, but I prevailed!

I have learned to never leave home without a snack and although eating healthy makes one very gassy (watch out for those mushrooms), my workouts have been easier, I feel lighter, and have already lost 3 pounds.  More updates to come!!!

ARE YOU READY TO JOIN ME?!!

- B. Landi