Tuesday 19 November 2013

Squat and Plank challenge - Shout out to a "Womans Journey Back to Army Strong" - updated

I have been following the blog "A Woman's Journey Back to Army Strong" for a bit now and this month Sash has a great butt and core challenge involving you guessed it - SQUATS and PLANK...

I snipped a pic of the challenge and here it is...if you like it show her some love and follow her on her blog (hyper link above) or Facebook



Posted on what was Day 2 for me - and it is done...I really should do these in the morning but I am hoteling it for work right now and feeling out of sorts this trip so am doing it today and yesterday right before bed...regardless they are done and for that I am glad.

Day 3 is in the books - so far so good - my knees still crackle when I do repetitive squats but I have never had any pain associated with it so I won't worry about it. I will admit I do find it a little unnerving when it happens but then I do the pain check thing and it's always good.  Tomorrow is a rest day...I like those...if the weather cooperates it will be a run day...but it has been -30C (-22F) and while my gear is rated up to -30C...I'm not sure my eyeballs and lungs are...but it is supposed to warm up this weekend...fingers crossed :)

Day 4 - 1st Rest day comes to an end, back at this tomorrow

Day 5 - Squats are still feeling really good - thinking of adding a kettlebell but haven't decided for sure yet. Today was the first day that the plank really sucked...I think it was because my stomach still felt full from supper...tomorrow gonna try to knock these out before breakfast and see if that is better... hopefully.

Day 6 - did not get this done this morning - again doing this as I get ready for bed...not sure if it is procrastination or if I am just more motivated in the evening...but regardless 44 squats and 55 seconds of plank are done...and how was your day?

Day 7 - again done as I get ready for bed...noticed that when I really focus on putting all my weight back into my heels that my knees don't creak...will pay more attention to that.  1 min of plank...yowwwwzer....yeah noticing this a little more each day...day 30 is a full 3 min...I think this is going to get interesting. :)

Day 8 - rest day

Day 9 - Feeling like crap, joints ache and have a fever so didn't do these

Day 10 - same as last night...so taking it easy and letting my body rest and repair

Day 11  - okay gonna try and make up some of the missed days today, feeling better...mostly...got Day 9's 50 squats and 1:10 plank done first thing, then while getting ready I did the Day 10 squats of 55 and the Day 10 plank of 1:20 - tomorrow was supposed to be a rest day but I ...will do Day11 then which will put me back on track on Day 13

Day 12 - playing catch up today on this challenge so while for others today is a rest day for me...not so much...today is Day 11 so 60 squats and 1:35 plank in the books...there will be no rest day tomorrow - effectively Day 12's rest period is skipped and right into Day 13

Day 13 - yikes - as always doing these last thing in my day...ran 13 k today for 2 challenges - see bottom for some pics...muscles are a little tight - did the squats and then some extra stretching...and the `1:35 plank....ugh! and lets just leave it at that

Day 14:  Started by own challenge this morning...12 Days of Christmas...Fitness edition but I am not counting that 30-second plank towards this challenge...but I am doing them separately...I may regret that decision when I get closer to the end of this challenge but who knows...My original plan was to get another 5km of running in today but mother nature and a wicked windchill has conspired against that...days like this I wish I was a treadmill runner...but I am not so I did some house cleaning and put up some of that plastic barrier stuff on the bedroom windows...hopefully it won't feel so drafty when the wind howls tonight...any way got my 65 squats in...will do the plank as usually just before I get ready for bed, will update when complete...yup 10:10pm and about to get ready for bed...just did 1:40 of plank.  Good night. :)

Day 15: I am so looking forward to a rest day tomorrow...70 squats done, and I planked for 1:45, It's been a crappy...foot of snow..locked keys and purse in the running car...froze outside till I could get a ride...spare key not at the office but in my purse that was locked in the car...waiting for hours on a unlock from the tow guys...day surgery...now I have owies...ate a candy bar and had a coke...still didn't feel better... kinda day...but still got the squats and plank done so that is a win for me - did the 12 days of Christmas ones too!!!

Day 16: Glorious REST DAY  WHOOO HOOOO!!!!

Day 17: Plan on going to bed early...about an hour earlier than usual anyway...got my 70 squats in and 1:50 plank...  I struggled a lot at the 1:45 so I was sure I was going to need a break during this one -but managed to knock it out in 1 shot - counted off every 5 seconds and spent a little post plank time in childs' pose to stretch out my back and rest...that felt good...well peeps time for bed!

Day 18: Did the 75 squats while waiting on supper to cook but as usual the plank I did right before getting ready for bed...all 1:55 done as one set...OMG felt like I couldn't hold it almost from the get go but I did it. :)  :)

Day 19: OMG why did I wait to do these challenges both right before bed????  Just finished day 6 of my 12 days of Christmas: Fitness Edition challenge...now for today's squats and planks...did 2 sets of 40 squats for my total of 80 with about a 2 min break in between to let the dogs in and out..its -40 C out...which coincidentally is basically the same in Fahrenheit...either way...DAMN COLD so could leave the pups out for long.  Plank...uggggh...2:00 min...180 seconds...OMG there was some heavy panting and teeth gritting in those last 30 seconds but managed to pull it out in one set...3 min here I come!!!!  I am so glad tomorrow is a rest day for this challenge...back at it on Day 21

Day 20: Rest day (Saturday Dec 7)

Day 21: OMG it is DAY 21 - over 2/3rds done - looking forward to finishing this challenge...at least the planking part...so today we keep the squats to 80 and take the plank up by 10 seconds to 2:10.  The squats I did while in the kitchen making supper did 4 sets of 20 for a total of 80. The plank just before I got ready for bed...cranked up the tunes and tried singing along in my head...first minute went by pretty good, but that last minute and 10 seconds seemed like a lifetime...but held it together for the whole thing...wasn't panting as bad at day 19...but still breathing pretty heavy at the end.

Day 22: Apparently last night I was not quite with it...didn't update this blog and left the other open with out anything updated...so the 85 squats done in 2 sets - 1-45 and the other 40.  The plank really bugged me - my lower back is sore not sure if it is from all this planking or what but had to rest at the 1:30 mark, did a bit of child's pose to give my back a break and then finished up the last 0:50 right after that and did some more child's pose...hoping this is nothing more than that time of the month.

Day 23: Banged out all 90 squats in 1 hit - I will admit my legs are feeling stronger which is great...hopefully I can see that transfer to my next run assuming this dang winter weather cooperates...I am really hoping I get the bike conversion kit I want for Christmas...then I can turn my outside bike into a stationary bike and then regardless of the weather I can get some miles in...some would say why not go to the walking track...drop in fee is $10/day and monthly pass is like $86...I don't think one should have to pay to walk...it's like buying water...I will use the tap and my brita filter before I buy water...besides all you are really paying for is the plastic...okay...got slightly off track...plank...target...2:25...and I was right as to why my back was hurting...not sure if that will make the 2:25 easier or not...but here it goes...gonna get it done then hit the shower :)  I did it...I DID IT...at 2:35 in one hold - counted out every 5 seconds till the 1:25 mark then counted down the last 60 seconds by 5 till the last 10 seconds then counted out each second 10...9...8.......0  Wow thought I was gonna loose at any moment in the last 30 seconds but I didn't...very happy with my effort on this...BEAST MODE!!!! That being said I am looking forward to a rest day from this tomorrow and Day 11 in the 12 Days of Christmas: Fitness Edition.

Day 24: Awesomeness exemplified!!!! aka it is a REST DAY!!!! WHOOOOOHOOOOO :)

Day 25: Finished the 90 squats at 2 sets of 45 while I was making supper which is a good use of time for sure.  As per my usual the 2:30 aka 150 seconds aka "What the hell am I thinking" of plank was done just before getting ready for bed, and yes as one straight set of OMG, heavy breathing...not my favourite type of heavy breathing but damn it still makes me smile when I'm done...that "OMG I actually did that1" kinda smile ;)...but can tomorrow be another rest day????

Day 26: TGIF!!!!  Did my 95 squats as a straight set while waiting on soup in the microwave.  Went longer than the count down on the timer but felt like I needed to get them all done at once, which I did. As for the plank - counted out the first 1:35 and gave my self the option of stopping and doing the rest as a second set...went 5 seconds by 5 seconds kept pushing it till the last 60 seconds were done - so yep 2:35 hold on the plank!

Day 27: Got my 100 squats done in 2 sets of 50 while making supper.  2:45 of plank seems like an reeeeeaaaaaaaalllllllllyyyyyyy looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time....and OMG it is....same count down pattern as last night - and I had the tunes on the radio turned up :)  Looking forward to a rest day :)

Day 28: Rest day

Day 29:  OHHHHH so CLOSE to being DONE THIS - I'm excited - LOL...to be done the challenge not for the squats or planks today LOL...so 100 squats done as4 sets of 25 just to be different...actually I did them after eating supper instead of while making it so I was feeling a little gross doing all those squats with a full stomach.But that is the easy part...I am not looking forward to planking right before getting ready for bed - but you know me...that is exactly what happened.  If the 2:50 done as 1 set is not hard enough for you try adding the occasional hiccup...yep that is what happened to me tonight - not fun at all but still managed to hold it...ONE DAY LEFT!!!!!

Day 30: 200 squats...well managed to do 100 of them while getting ready for work this morning, the final 100...guess...yep while making supper...so those are done.  WHOO....saving the hoooo part till the plank is done...LOL and here it is HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....yes that is a full WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I did it.  I wasn't sure on Day 1 that I would be able to but I did..I did a full 3 min, 180 seconds of plank...with no break!!!! Counted down the last 60 seconds...that seems to help me focus...lord knows the Christmas tunes playing were not really the motivator I was looking for...but anyway BIG smile on my face, very proud of my self for sticking this one.  :)
Feels great!!!  And yes I am glad this challenge is done...but while I won't do 3 min of plank every day - I would like to see where 2-3 times per week gets me...that is the thought right now anyway.

Pics from Day 13:  in the 13k's earned 2 medal...I love "virtual races"!!!...and did I mention it was crazy icy...ran with my spikes on and good thing I did...actually running on the ice was easier than walking...at least with the spikes on it was :)













Namaste

Amber