I Must Be Planking Mad

Well I have been planking now for 26 days!!! Today is another rest day and I really do feel like I need a rest.

If you don't already know what I am talking about, take a look at my previous post, it explains what plankvember is all about. Well the end of plankvember is now in sight.

I really am starting to feel the burn from all this planking, I can't believe just how hard a short exercise can be.

Here is what I have done for the past week :

Day 20 - 2.5 minutes
Day 21 - 2.5 minutes
Day 22 - 3 minutes
Day 23 - 3 minutes
Day 24 - 3.5 minutes
Day 25 - 3.5 minutes
Day 26 - Rest Day

I have to say, I have noticed a bit more muscle definition in both my upper arms and upper legs and my mid section has been pulled in slightly. I measured my waist and I have lost one centimetre since I started doing the planking exercise. That might not seem like an awful lot but a change is a change so I'm pleased.

Now 3.5 minutes was extremely tough, it was touch and go as to whether I was going to be able to hold the plank position for that long so I'm not quite sure how I'm going to manage holding it for 4 minutes tomorrow.

Wish me luck!!

xxxx

I Can and I Will

I am still making my way through Plankvember, it is now day 19 and thankfully this is a rest day!!

Here is what I have achieved since las weeks update :

Day 13 - Rest Day
Day 14 - 1.5 minutes
Day 15 - 1.5 minutes
Day 16 - 2 minutes
Day 17 - 2 minutes
Day 18 - 2.5 minutes

I was surprised with myself that I managed to stay in the plank position for that amount of time. I have been using an interval timer on my phone to tell me when to start and finish the exercise.

I think the key for me is to not actually look at the timer. I can't believe just how long 2 and half minutes feels when I am trying to do the plank. By then end of it my legs and arms are shaking a lot. 

I am noticing that both the tops of my arms and the tops of my legs are left with an aching feeling after doing the exercise so my muscles must be getting a good work out. 

The other difference that I have noticed is that my stomach seems to have pulled in slightly, I've lost the "roundness". I would recommend any of you to give it a go, takes next to no time out of your day, so no excuses for not trying!!

xxxx

Plankvember is hard!!!!

So last week I told you that I was starting Plankvember. I thought I would give you all a little update. I am now 12 days into Plankvember and I can't believe how hard I am finding it.

For an exercise that takes very little time, it definitely takes some strength to complete, this is what I have done so far :

Day 1 - 20 seconds
Day 2 - 20 seconds
Day 3 - 30 seconds
Day 4 - 30 seconds
Day 5 - 40 seconds
Day 6 - rest day
Day 7- 45 seconds
Day 8 - 45 seconds
Day 9- 1 min
Day 10 - 1 min
Day 11 - 1 min
Day 12 - 1.5 min

Today was tough but I manage to hold the position for a whole 1 minute and 30 seconds, my arms and legs were shaking by the end of it!! It is also made harder by a 15 month old wanting to "help".

Now the idea of Plankvember isn't to lose weight, it is to help strengthen your core, now I've never been able to hold a plan position for longer than 30 seconds before so it must be working.

I've tried keeping up with some other exercise too. I started Jillian Michaels ripped in 30, I lasted 3 days and then fell ill with a cold and cough so shamefully I didn't do any other exercise the rest of last week but I am back and determined this week and restarted ripped in 30 yesterday!!

Has anyone else joined in with Plankvember? How are you finding it?

xxxx

The Shredding Results Are In

Yesterday was my final day of the 30 day shred. So was it worth, are there any siginificant changes from the beginning.

Well for me personally no not really, which is hugely disappointing considering all of the effort I put in.

Here are my starting and ending weights, measurements and pictures :

Start                                 End

Waist : 25 inches             Waist : 24.5 inches

Hips : 35 inches               Hips : 34.25 inches

Weight 7stone 6lbs          Weight : 7stone 5lbs

Before

After

I think the trouble is I didn't have a lot to lose weight wise, it was more about toning. I have gained muscle definition in both my arms and my legs however I failed to lose anything from my stomach which is one place on my body that I really did want to improve.

Although I didn't the results that I desired, I am going to carry on exercising, next on my list is Jillian Michaels ripped in 30 as I have to admit even if I haven't changed like I wished, I do feel better in myself, I seem to have more energy.

Did any of you get involved with Shredtober, what were your end results??

xxxx

One Week of Shredtober Done!

Here I am day 8 of the Shredtober challenge. That is one week done and dusted and I have to say I am feeling better for it. I think exercising does tend to make me feel more awake and energised.

I have done the 30 day shred every day since the 1st of October and I have also been doing 50 squats and bicep curls a day too.

Diet wise I have mainly stuck to the same foods I normally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, keeps it simple and easier to stick to, the only change I've really made is less snacking on junk. I have a protein shake after working out and I drink green tea every day. I have been drinking the green tea for a couple of months now and I think it has helped with the weight loss so would recommend others trying it.

For me personally when I look in the mirror, I can't really see a significant change although when I tense my arms, there is definitely some muscle definition starting to appear.

I have had my tape measure out and I've stepped on the scales, the results :

Waist : 24.5 inches - half an inch lost
Hips : 34.75 inches - quarter of an inch lost
Weight : 7 stone 5lb - 1lb lost

Overall a small change from last weeks initial measurements. I'm actually surpsrised to see any loss after only a week so I am extremely impressed, this has given me a little boost to keep going. The ladies in the Shredtober group have also been a fantastic support!!

So have any of you taken up the challenge? How has it been going for you?

xxxx

Here's to Shredtober

Ok so for those of you that follow my blog, you will know that I have been trying to lose weight and tone up because I no longer have the excuse of having more babies.

I have done well and in the past year I have lost about a stone but I personally still feel I have a bit of a way to go.

The lovely Lisa at Hollybobb's set herself the challenge of doing the 30 day shred DVD by Gillian Michaels every day for the month of October, this has inspired a lot of others to get involved. So this month I am joining in with a group of over 40 ladies to take part in Shredtober.

Now I have completed this DVD once before but I haven't done it in a while and I admit to being a bit lazy this past month when it comes to exercise, hopefully I will see good results at the end.

So here we are at the beginning, day one, here is what I measure, weigh and what I look like eekk :

Waist : 25 inches

Hips : 35 inches

Weight : 7 stone 6 lbs

I know I'm not fat as such but I would really love to get rid of the horrible saggy skin on my tummy. My plan is to do the 30 day shred every evening when the kids are in bed, I'll check in once a week and let you all know how I'm doing.

So will you be joining in??

xxxx