So, I've been doing the Jillian Michaels Six Week Six-Pack video for 3 1/2 weeks now, and I'm seeing some serious results! I'm on week 4, so I just moved up to the Level 2 workout this week that I'm supposed to do for the second three weeks. It's a killer, but I'm loving it! I'm feeling fit, my stomach is looking flatter, and I think I can see some definition. I wasn't expecting a six-pack, but I think if I followed this program for another 6 weeks after this, I might end up with one. I actually was looking at Jillian Michaels' other videos online yesterday morning (right after my workout), and there's one called Killer Abs that's next on my wish list after I finish this one. Also, she has two different 30-Day Shred DVDs that look good. If anyone's tried any of these, let me know how it was!
I've been getting up early a few days a week to do my workouts in the morning instead of the evening, which has made it so much easier and enjoyable. Working out in the morning just gets you pumped up for the rest of your day and wakes you up a bit! I hate waking up early, but it makes my evening so much more relaxed when I take the time to work out first thing in the morning.
Also, thanks to Cassi from Pretty in Pink Vegan for the advice on eating bigger breakfasts and lunches. I've been eating more in the morning and afternoon and an afternoon snack sometimes, and it's been helping me to take more time to cook food instead of just snacking on whatever's around and making quick meals. This is very helpful, especially since I'm doing this No-Spend January Challenge, and my meals seem to require a little more cooking lately. I haven't been eating any convenience foods in the past few weeks (mostly because I ran out of them in the first week and a half), and I miss them! Some nights I just want to come home and throw a frozen pizza in the oven, but I'm eating much healthier without that processed stuff and looking slimmer thanks to my diet, running, and Jillian Michaels!
How have your New Year's Resolutions been going?
Showing posts with label six week six-pack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label six week six-pack. Show all posts
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Friday, January 3, 2014
Happy New Year!
No, I haven't left you, my dear dedicated readers (all two of you)! I've simply been very busy with holiday vacation, traveling to visit family, and working on preparations for some new endeavors!
So instead of my New Year's Resolutions, I'm going to give you some of my January Challenges and Personal Goals for the coming year!
I have two new challenges for January: (Well, one is technically for January and February, but close enough, right?)
The rules: No spending on non-essential things such as: going out to eat, new clothes, movies, etc. Only $1/day to spend on groceries as needed. The only spending this month will be on bills and necessary expenses.
My husband is totally on board, and I stocked up groceries this past Sunday. The only potential problem I see at this point is running out of fresh fruits and veggies. I have some frozen and canned ones to hopefully tide me over for the month, but as a vegan, I go through a lot of fruits and vegetables in an average week.
The point of this challenge is (selfishly) to save money, but also to limit needless spending and consumerism. Sometimes I find myself buying lots of things I don't even need. I've been making an effort this last year to become more minimalist, but hopefully this challenge will help highlight how to save money and be more conscious of spending. Also, my husband and I love to go out to eat, which is probably another large source of spending. So hopefully I'll be challenged to be more creative in my cooking and eat through some of the various grains and canned goods that I have stockpiled in my kitchen.
Wish me luck! So far I have managed to spend $0, so I still have $31 left to spend for the month.
To see my inspiration for this challenge, check out these links below to some blogs of other families who've successfully completed this challenge:
30 Days of Nothing from Living the Frugal Life
Thinking About Nothing from Bushel and a Peck
Yes, entire families! We're only two people, and I think it's going to be a little difficult. But if they can do it, so can we!
I've only been doing this routine for less than a week, but I feel a difference already! My stomach looks and feels tighter. (I should note that I've also been exercising, running, and eating healthy on the side.) Now, I don't expect to have a six-pack at the end of the 6 weeks, but I believe that I'll be more toned and lose some fat. I've taken a before picture, and I plan to take an after picture to show you my results of this challenge at the end of the six weeks. So stay tuned!
1) Complete a mini-marathon (or two)!
I'm already signed up for the DC Rock n' Roll Half Marathon on March 15th, and I've made myself a training plan for how to reach this goal. My plan is to run at least 3-4 days/week with a long training run on Saturdays or Sundays. The plan is kind of flexible, but I have my first longer training run this weekend (5-6 miles, depending on if I feel strong enough to go for 6 this week). I hope the weather gets better! We just got about 3 inches of snow, and I had to do 4 miles indoors last night. I hate treadmills, so I only did one mile on the treadmill and 3 miles on the elliptical. The elliptical isn't really comparable to running outside, but it's better than nothing!
2) Pay down some serious student loan debt!
My 30 Days of Nothing/ No-Spend January challenge should help with this goal, but I want to make more of an effort to spend less on entertainment and fancy food and to have significantly less debt. We recently paid off one of my Sallie Mae student loans with the highest interest rate (10.75%! Yikes!), and it felt so good! I want to keep this up because one day, we'd like to be able to buy a house. If we pay off large amounts of our debt, we'll have more money to put in our savings each month for that goal.
Between myself and my husband, we have about a dozen student loans and one car loan for my car that we just got last year. We pay more in loans each month than we do in rent, and adding it all together it just becomes a staggering amount! I've read a lot online about other people tackling their debt, and I've become inspired to be more frugal and work on this for myself.
What are your goals/resolutions for 2014? Do you have any short-term goals for the month of January?
So instead of my New Year's Resolutions, I'm going to give you some of my January Challenges and Personal Goals for the coming year!
I have two new challenges for January: (Well, one is technically for January and February, but close enough, right?)
1) No- Spend January!
The rules: No spending on non-essential things such as: going out to eat, new clothes, movies, etc. Only $1/day to spend on groceries as needed. The only spending this month will be on bills and necessary expenses.
My husband is totally on board, and I stocked up groceries this past Sunday. The only potential problem I see at this point is running out of fresh fruits and veggies. I have some frozen and canned ones to hopefully tide me over for the month, but as a vegan, I go through a lot of fruits and vegetables in an average week.
The point of this challenge is (selfishly) to save money, but also to limit needless spending and consumerism. Sometimes I find myself buying lots of things I don't even need. I've been making an effort this last year to become more minimalist, but hopefully this challenge will help highlight how to save money and be more conscious of spending. Also, my husband and I love to go out to eat, which is probably another large source of spending. So hopefully I'll be challenged to be more creative in my cooking and eat through some of the various grains and canned goods that I have stockpiled in my kitchen.
Wish me luck! So far I have managed to spend $0, so I still have $31 left to spend for the month.
To see my inspiration for this challenge, check out these links below to some blogs of other families who've successfully completed this challenge:
30 Days of Nothing from Living the Frugal Life
Thinking About Nothing from Bushel and a Peck
Yes, entire families! We're only two people, and I think it's going to be a little difficult. But if they can do it, so can we!
2) Jillian Michaels Six Week Six-Pack
I know, an exercise resolution! But this one actually seems pretty damn awesome! I'm planning on completing six weeks of following the Jillian Michaels exercise routine. According to Jillian, you should do the 30-minute routine 5 times/week for 6 weeks. There are two different levels, and you're supposed to do Level One for the first 3 weeks and Level Two for the second 3 weeks.I've only been doing this routine for less than a week, but I feel a difference already! My stomach looks and feels tighter. (I should note that I've also been exercising, running, and eating healthy on the side.) Now, I don't expect to have a six-pack at the end of the 6 weeks, but I believe that I'll be more toned and lose some fat. I've taken a before picture, and I plan to take an after picture to show you my results of this challenge at the end of the six weeks. So stay tuned!
Goals for 2014:
1) Complete a mini-marathon (or two)!
I'm already signed up for the DC Rock n' Roll Half Marathon on March 15th, and I've made myself a training plan for how to reach this goal. My plan is to run at least 3-4 days/week with a long training run on Saturdays or Sundays. The plan is kind of flexible, but I have my first longer training run this weekend (5-6 miles, depending on if I feel strong enough to go for 6 this week). I hope the weather gets better! We just got about 3 inches of snow, and I had to do 4 miles indoors last night. I hate treadmills, so I only did one mile on the treadmill and 3 miles on the elliptical. The elliptical isn't really comparable to running outside, but it's better than nothing!
2) Pay down some serious student loan debt!
My 30 Days of Nothing/ No-Spend January challenge should help with this goal, but I want to make more of an effort to spend less on entertainment and fancy food and to have significantly less debt. We recently paid off one of my Sallie Mae student loans with the highest interest rate (10.75%! Yikes!), and it felt so good! I want to keep this up because one day, we'd like to be able to buy a house. If we pay off large amounts of our debt, we'll have more money to put in our savings each month for that goal.
Between myself and my husband, we have about a dozen student loans and one car loan for my car that we just got last year. We pay more in loans each month than we do in rent, and adding it all together it just becomes a staggering amount! I've read a lot online about other people tackling their debt, and I've become inspired to be more frugal and work on this for myself.
Other News:
I've done some thinking about the purpose of this blog. I initially started it to keep track of my 90 -day Vegan Challenge, but it's become more than just a challenge and turned into an entire way of life! I've decided that I'd like to expand my blog to include all of my interests. There are lots of other things than being vegan that I'm passionate about: running, exercise, music, nutrition, and more. I'm planning on writing more about these topics in the coming year. I'm currently thinking up a new title to my blog and expect to see some design and layout changes this month. I hope you enjoy it, and I appreciate your feedback!What are your goals/resolutions for 2014? Do you have any short-term goals for the month of January?
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