I’m done! I certainly had ups and downs during this 30-day health challenge to myself, but in the end, my overall goal was met: I became conscientious about everything I consumed, made healthier choices, and made more effort to exercise than I have in years. I feel much better about myself than I did 30 days ago, and because of that, I think this challenge was a success.
My biggest struggle, especially during this last week of the challenge, was exercising daily. I certainly didn’t fit fitness into my life every day, but overall I exercised about 15 days out of 30 during this challenge. I haven’t exercised that much or with that consistency in years, so I’m proud of myself in the end. Do I want to continue to ramp up my workouts and push myself to exercise daily? Absolutely! As my wedding inches closer, I will continue to work toward this goal.
The thing I’m most proud of? I didn’t drink Diet Coke for more than a month! 32 days to be exact. As someone who was born a “Tab baby” (yes, my mom drank Tab, the Diet Coke predecessor, throughout her pregnancy with me), I have been hooked on this stuff since birth. It’s been my default beverage of choice my entire life. We were always the family with a fridge fully stocked with pop. To give it up for a month was a challenge. To not even miss it was a pleasant surprise! I plan to stop buying Diet Coke and continue with water or iced tea at restaurants. Unless, I’m really craving it or my food would be complemented by the flavor (like movie popcorn), I don’t see a need to drink it anymore.
I didn’t take measurements of my body when I started, so I can’t speak to any measurable changes in my body beyond weight, but I do feel better and think I look a bit better since beginning my little challenge. I lost 6-7 pounds this past month. I’ve noticed that my tummy looks flatter and I feel less bloated. My skin has been clearer. My profile looks trimmer: I don’t notice flub or that occasional “double-chin” beneath my chin. I think this can all be attributed to drinking much more water and eating less processed foods.
Next up: Tone It Up’s annual Bikini Series challenge starts later this month, just after my trip to Florida, and I think it will be the boost I need to get more serious about exercise. My wedding is less than 5 months away, and it’s time for me to get serious about sweating for the wedding!
Previous Posts
My 30 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge
30 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge: Week 1 Recap
30 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge: Week 2 Recap
30 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge: Week 3 Recap
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