When I first brought up the idea of a 60 day challenge, a few people thought I was crazy. Most challenges you see typically run for 30 days. While I like the short term breakpoint, I knew that I had roughly 60 days to really make a change and I needed all of that time to embrace the train process and deal with the obstacles that I knew I’d run into.
75 oz of water
When I was a kid, I was told to drink eight (8 oz) glasses of water a day. (I think that was the Health Class tagline for most of us). When I fell into the archives of endless articles and youtube videos, that number changes based on hundreds of endless circumstances and possibilities. Some say that you should drink half of your bodyweight in ounces. And others keep it simple with just drinking whenever you’re thirsty. I chose 75 ounces simply because it seemed obtainable. In all honesty, I rarely hit that goal. One major yet stupid reason is because I really hate running to the bathroom every 15 minutes.
- For the next 30 days, I want to really focus on really hitting my mark and keeping better track of my progress through my Fitbit or MyFitnessPal. One thing I have noticed that I’ve completely disregarded the tea that I typically drink throughout the day and that I should definitely keep that in mind.
10,000 Steps
Thanks to my Fitbit friends, I can definitely say that I’ve been doing a really good job of hitting my steps throughout the week. I’ve actually gotten to a point where I look forward to taking a walk after lunch to get a lot of my steps in. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that the weekend progress is non-existent because I typically spend what little time I have sleeping or bingeing on Netflix.
- For the next half of this challenge, I really want to keep up my progress over the weekend and even push myself to win more Fitbit challenges. I’ve discovered that my occasional trips to the park definitely helps, but I’ll need to consider either spending more time at the park or adding some time walking around the lake before dark.
Clean, Low Carb Meals
Meal prepping has been my holy grail since I started this journey. I’ve found it a little therapeutic to lay out all of my food for the week and know what I’ll be eating. There’s no guessing or questioning how it’s made or what’s it’s made with. I have full control. While my meal prepping hasn’t been as successful during this run, I’ve done pretty well will handing my meals throughout the week and keeping the carbs low and/or healthy. Unfortunately, the weekend is a lot trickier. When I’m with friends or family, it’s harder for me to make smart, healthy choices because the pressure is real.
- Meal planning will definitely be my strongest weapon during the second leg of this challenge. I’ll also be keeping a better track of my carbohydrates. I’d like to spend Sunday prepping for the week and making small changes through the week to make sure I don’t get bored. And I’ll have to get back into my “no, thank you” mindset so that I can make decisions that’ll get me closer to my goal.
Strength Training & Cardio
I started off going to my apartment gym for four days a week and using an old routine and free-weights. During the second week, I switched to the machines to work my arms and legs and walking/running 30 min on the treadmill. On some days, I would simply walk/run to make sure I reached my 10,000 steps and other days I would rest to recover from the strenuous workouts. During these last two weeks, I’ve switched to my Biggest Loser Cardio Max DVD to get my exercise in.
- I’ve taken more days off than I’d like but I’m proud of the effort I’ve given up to this point. I’d like to continue with the DVD and occasionally swing by the gym for a change of pace and scenery. I’ll also have to keep track to make sure my workouts extend to the full 30 min duration.
Throughout this process my weight has fluctuated from 195 lbs to 184 lbs and back. I’ve decided to limit my weigh-ins to avoid the cycle of treating myself for a low weight and punishing myself for a high weight.
Feel free to send me a friend request on MyFitnessPal @dmiracle_whip.
D'Miria Collins 