Month-Long Ab Challenge and Results

So here was the challenge. When I looked at it the first day, I pretty much laughed aloud, thinking “There is no freakin’ way I can do 125 situps, 200 crunches, 65 leg raises, and a 120-second plank.” We should never tell ourselves we can’t do something – unless we are prepared to challenge those thoughts. As Barney says “Challenge accepted!”

So the initial goal was to just complete the challenge, but then I thought up another goal. I found a goal photograph, a time when I thought my abs looked pretty awesome. This picture became my goal. Obviously at 23, with the opportunity to go to the gym a lot more regularly, it was easier to have these abs…but it doesn’t mean I can’t want them back!

Well, here are the before and after pics. Richard and I completed the challenge each day. It’s only been a month, so you may not notice a huge difference, but I can tell you I have less muffin top in my pants and some of my jeans even feel looser on me. I have more work to do to get back to my abs 2003, but this has been a great start!

I’ve learned two really important lessons this month. It feels really good to do what you may have convinced yourself you couldn’t do in the past, but have proven you can do now. I am so much stronger than I knew I could be. Secondly, there are some things I cannot change. I have a messed-up belly button and stretch marks from two pregnancies. I have to accept that. I don’t have to accept that I cannot be fit. In fact, I will not accept that. And to anyone who says “I can’t afford a gym membership so I can’t work out” – this was all done at home, with no equipment other than a cheap yoga mat on the floor.