Do
you remember when I quit the gym in March?
I
can’t believe you don’t remember. It was
a pretty big day here.
Anyway.
I
quit the gym for one very good reason: I wasn’t going to the gym anymore. After four years of regular yoga and
weightlifting classes three times a week, I sort of just stopped going. I blamed the brutally cold temperatures of
winter, the many snow-covered days that kept me inside, even my own busyness.
It
was a sham. I just got bored and lazy.
So
I quit.
Do
you know happens when a person quits the gym and does not much other
exercise? I mean, I do exercise. I walk every day. But still.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?
You
know what happens. Flab and Sag come to
visit indefinitely. They are not good
houseguests.
So
when I read on the internet* (yay, internet!) about little things you could do each day to keep in
shape, like do push-ups every day for 100 days, I thought, now, I can do THAT.
So
I did.
I
did push-ups every day. I started doing
them on my knees like I was taught in gym class (Why are girls taught this? WHY?), and then when I felt like I could
spend a good portion of the day doing knee push-ups, I graduated to doing
push-ups on my toes. It felt really
good, even though I could only do a few half push-ups that way.
But
I kept it up.
For
like three weeks.
Then
I got bored and lazy, so I quit.
Well,
I didn’t really quit. But I definitely
didn’t do it every day. A hundred days,
people. It’s a lot of days in a row, and I was just getting started. I did push-ups every other day, then twice a
week, then, well, when I think about it I’ll drop and give you twenty er… ten
or so. I did push-ups a few times this
week. It takes like less than thirty
seconds. I question the usefulness of
this type of exercise.
But
at least I remembered to take a picture of my arms the first day I started this
nonsense, so I could see the difference a hundred days makes, even if my hundred
days turned out to be 20 days and the odd day here and there. So I took a picture today, to
compare:
Not
bad. Not bad at all. Not great, but not bad. Maybe I'll keep it up. Or not.
*Thanks to Alexandra from Good Day, Regular People, who inspired me to try this 100 days of push-ups challenge. Even though I'm a total quitter. Evidently this 100 days thing is a total thing. Here's the video that got me going. Try it!
*******
This post inspired by:
Mama Kat's Writing Workshop
Prompt #3: Show us a
before and after.
Nice results lady! You know I alway wondered about those 100 day internet exercise things! Glad to see that they really do work. Hope you are doing well! xo
ReplyDeleteYou know, I posted the pic as kind of a joke, because I was so sporadic and didn't think there was much of a difference at all. But I will take your word for it - Thank you!! xo
DeleteYour arms look great! I can relate to the bored and tired. I went to the gym for years (decades, really). One day I sat in my parked car looking at the gym, and I couldn't make myself get out and go in. I was done. I quit the gym. After a year and a half all the yucky stuff you describe above was too much to take (although I didn't gain any weight, it just shifted). I signed up again August 1st and I've been pretty diligent about it. But push ups? Can't do 'em! Never have and at this point, probably never will. No upper body strength, what-so-ever.
ReplyDeleteI think going to the gym kept me young - I have felt so old lately. Or it could be all the junk food and sitting around I do, too. Either way, I needed a break from the gym. I was doing just as you described - sitting in my car talking myself out of going in.
DeleteWhoa, nice arms!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! xo
DeleteThose are some pretty great results for not being consistent. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer! I showed my daughter the photo, and she was skeptical. Because of course I go to my children for advice. Other women are much more generous. xo
DeleteOh my gosh! You inspire me. Seriously. I haven't been to the gym very much this summer at. all. And wondering if I'll ever go back...I love this push up challenge. And your guns look great!
ReplyDeleteIt sure has saved me $$ by quitting, but man, it's hard to just exercise on your own. This seemed easy enough to do, almost like I was tricking myself into it. The nice thing is, you can do it anytime, in any type of clothing, and it only takes a minute! xo
DeleteOMG you could totally kick my ass.
ReplyDeleteYou look awesome.
Sign me up for two more tickets to the gun show.
Thanks. If I wasn't a total pacifist, I would kick your ass just because I could.
DeleteHa, ha. No I wouldn't. You're way too likable and fun. Plus I'm really wimpy. xoxo
I'm so bad at keeping up with exercise routines - right now I'm just shooting for walking about 3 days a week and yoga 2 days a week but we'll see how long that lasts.
ReplyDeleteAren't exercise routines the worst? I used to profess my love for yoga to anyone that breathed. I haven't done it in months. Fickle is my middle name.
DeleteGood luck to you!
Wow, impressive.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! You've encouraged me to keep doing it. :)
DeleteNice guns! I have tried that 100 days of pushups challenge no less than 5 times (the one where you do 1 on day 1, 2 on day 2, etc), and I always lose steam around day 7 or so. Not because I blow it off, but because I literally forget to to them. For like 4 days. And then there's just no catching up, I tell myself.
ReplyDeleteYes. The catch-up is never happening. And the forgetting seems to happen often.
DeleteNow I just want to feel your muscle. I'm such a good friend. :)
ReplyDeleteYou ARE a good friend! And I would let you feel it. :)
DeleteHey, that's a big difference! It's good to know there's hope for us lazy underachievers in the exercise department.
ReplyDeleteI have made it my mission to find exercises that result in the most fitness results from the least amount of activity.
DeletePush ups are like the LBD of exercise. They work so many muscle groups. I'm totally (well partially anyway) inspired to try for myself. Thanks for sharing (btw, you can totally see the difference in your pics)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you are able to do it for yourself, to see the results!
DeletePS Love push-ups as "the LBD of exercise." :)
I have to tell you that I'm in the same boat. I worked out and ran all the time then stopped (because of knee surgery). I did push ups every single day and my arms looked good. Now they are flabby. And I don't need to say that it didn't take long (why is that?). Thanks for the reminder. I need to get back on the horse!
ReplyDeleteYes! Why does it take a minimal amount of time to undo the work we've done, but improving ourselves takes forever?
DeleteThat is an incredible change for 20 days, give or take. ;-) (sister after my own heart)
ReplyDeleteHa! If it has to be done every day, then it's not for me. :) Thanks Jennie. xo
DeleteWow!! Totally want you in my corner if I ever find myself in a boxing ring...and totally don't ever want to find myself in a boxing ring.
ReplyDeleteMe either - no fighting for me. I'll settle for being able to lift a heavy box or two. :)
Delete20150523wengdongdong
ReplyDeletehollister clothing
tod's shoes
michael kors outlet online
ray ban uk
chanel handbags
kevin durant shoes
louis vuitton outlet
gucci handbags
polo ralph lauren
coach outlet
michael kors
cheap jerseys
prescription sunglasses
michael kors handbags
michael kors outlet online
oakley sunglasses outlet
michael kors
cheap ray bans
coach factorty outlet
hollister clothing store
louis vuitton uk
kate spade handbags
jordan 11s
replica watches
christian louboutin outlet
michael kors uk
ray ban sunglasses outlet
ray ban outlet
celine outlet
michael kors outlet online
jordan 13
louis vuitton outlet
christian louboutin
2015831dongdong
ReplyDeleteprada shoes
nike huarache shoes
christian louboutin outlet
lebron james basketball shoes
michael kors outlet
swarovski jewelry
hollister clothing
air jordan 13
nike air max
coach factory outlet
hollister clothing
louboutin pas cher
louis vuitton handbags
ugg boots
nike trainers uk
sac longchamp
hermes birkin bag
caoch outlet
coach outlet stores
vans shoes
polo ralph lauren
michael kors outlet
nike trainers
cheap vans shoes
michael kors uk
jordan concords
coach factory outlet online
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors handbags
ralph lauren uk
christian louboutin outlet
christian louboutin
jordan 6
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
prada outlet
louis vuitton
hollister co
mont blanc true religion outlet in lululemon australia burberry lululemon canada michael kors outlet online the air max thea nike outlet store ray ban ray-ban sunglasses past swarovski prada shoes louis vuitton asics which hermes belt longchamp handbags north face swarovski canada include air jordan retro uggs outlet barbour mens jackets abercrombie and fitch UB40,The coach factory outlet store ralph lauren outlet air jordan 2015 wholesale handbags Marleys, uggs outlet gucci outlet ray ban mizuno wave Junior reebok tiffany louboutin shoes hollister Marvin polo ralph lauren outlet air force burberry outlet online cheap boots and northface bcbg max azria coach outlet online nike air max many oakley raybans.com tiffany and co bottega veneta others abercrombie pandora vans marc jacobs handbags while tory burch sandals
ReplyDelete