Hi my lovely buttercups, welcome back to my Fitness Friday progress update. I apologize for not been updating you guys on my progress the last couple of weeks. Honestly, I think I got a little insecure about my progress these past few weeks, I feel like I don’t have much to show you guys. I am kind of disappointed in myself and getting discouraged. From some of the progress pictures, I feel like I look bigger than the week before. I lost that immediately gratification of the first few weeks and I don’t know what to do to get out of that rut emotionally. Then this week I started to ask myself what is the end goal of this fitness challenge? And I think this helps me get back on track mentally.
I think I got too focused on how I look on pictures and totally forgot why I am doing this? If you read my first Fitness Friday post, the main goal for me to do this is to get healthier, fitter and stronger. If I get a 6-pack out of this process, it is just a by-product, I never once thought I would nor I have it now. Then one day I think I started to see some abs definition then I start to put a superficial goal for myself deep deep in my mind that I want a 6-pack. Then weeks passed by, I still haven’t seen progress, I started to freak and get discouraged. Really, 6-pack just doesn’t come by like that. You really have to work on it; you have to eat super clean to fuel your body and do the right type of exercise to get there. On top of that, your genetics play a big part too, depending on where your body deposit fat, you may never get a 6-pack even if you do everything right.
What are my challenges so far?
1. Time
Founding the right time to fit in a workout everyday is tough. A lot of times, I have to wake up before everybody else so I can fit in my workout for the day. I know if I don’t do it first thing in the morning, I will never do it. Luckily with warmer weather, The Fit Life with Tabitha is offering outdoor stroller fit classes on top of her normal schedule and I have been full advantage of that because working out with a group is definitely more fun and motivating than doing it at home by yourself.
2. Some exercise moves
Even though I have been doing this for 8 weeks, I still have moves that are really challenging for me. The first being the leg raises up and down, it targets the lower abs and I can only do a few at a time because of how difficult it is for me. Also, jump lunges do not get easier, especially as the weeks go on, Kayla’s Bikini Body Guide requires more reps and by merely adding a few more reps make it more challenging. Lastly, those evil burpees are just killer. Today Kayla’s guide wants me to do some broad jump burpees and they are definitely HARD.
3. Eating Clean
We rarely eat out and I cook 90% of what we eat so eating clean should be easy right? I don’t think we eat poorly but I like some snacks here and there. For example the most dangerous time is when all the kids are asleep and I always wanted to snack for some reason. I truly think I snack out of boredom because all my kids are sleeping LOL. To me I don’t think I pick the wrong the type of food like chips or pop, but what I messed up on is portion. When I am watching tv show with my husband, I just kept munching and I don’t even know how much I ate because my hubby keeps adding more.
What’s New?
I have been incorporating yoga into my my fitness routine especially on those days when I focus on exercising on one specific body part. I found it really restorative in de-stressing those muscle that I worked on. In addition, I can practice my flexibility since I am not very flexible to begin with.
However, I don’t do yoga right after the workout because I usually don’t have time. I like to do it at night before I go to bed. It totally acts as a sleeping aid (not that I need it after taking care of the house and 3 kids). But those of you out there that can’t sleep too well, I think yoga really helps.
Week 6 to 8 Progress Pictures
I honestly don’t see too much difference between the last 3 weeks. The only thing that I can see is my upper thighs and glutes area are getting more toned in week 8 and that’s about it. I think you see why I was getting discourage because I don’t see the major changes physically.
However, I can tell you for sure I am getting stronger. When I first started this journey, I can barely plank for 1 minute and today, I can plank for 3 minutes. I am definitely getting closer to my original goal which is to get stronger and I think I am heading toward the right direction. So at this point of the game, I think what I should focus on is my exercise goal instead of how I look on pictures. I seriously want to get strong and fit instead of just being thin because it doesn’t mean anything. All I need is a new way of measuring success. Finally, please don’t give up and I won’t give up on getting healthier and stronger.
Thank you very much for reading my fitness progress. I know many of you are also in a fitness journey, please share what are some of your challenges with me down below or on my GlitterMommy Facebook Page.
Go enjoy the beautiful weather and stay active.
XOXO
GlitterMommy