Day Eight: Still here

Today has been pretty uneventful. My motivation is not yet a straight line and more along the lines of peaks and valleys. I just keep not letting myself off the hook and it gets me through it one day at a time. Once in, my strength is continuing to build on itself. I have a much greater range of movements throughout the level 1 exercises than I did in the beginning.

I have a definite sense of accomplishment the closer I get to level 2 and the shorter time frames on each level was one of the reasons I chose the 30 day shred to start with. Short goals mean so much to me just now. With my long-term goal still pretty far off, it's so much more helpful to think of everything in bite-sized chunks. Two more days of level 1. Six pounds lost. Each day a little easier to get through.

I'm actually trying to put the weight-loss portion at the back of my mind just now. It just feels to big and, at least for the time being, can safely sit behind eating right and getting the work outs in every day. I know it'll come if everything else is in place and dwelling on it seems like a trap. I'm just too easily discouraged with those thoughts in mind.

What do you guys use as your short-term goals and how often do you check in on your long-term goals?

Day Five: Halfway through level one!

Today I felt like I really reached my first good foothold. Not only am I officially halfway through level one, but I was able to get out of bed and into my workout within 10 minutes! It's a great way to wake up and I felt great doing it. My strength and endurance had a noticeable increase today as well-even over yesterday, which was a step up all on its own. Sitting here now, I can really feel the muscles in my abs, although they're not really sore per say. It's all forward momentum!

Today is the type of day I need to hold onto on the days I really just want to lay down and veg out.

It's funny how exercise really builds on itself. On the days you feel an increase in strength and endurance, it really makes you want to keep adding to the workout. I think this means today is the day to add some of the yoga back in. I'm tempted to go over the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown tape as opposed to my regular slower stuff with Jason Crandell just because I know the calorie burn is so much higher with the aerobic version and I feel strong enough to really enjoy it just now.

In any event, I'm still going strong! Thanks so much for helping me keep going! This helps me more than you know!