Getting My Hiney into Shape

A few weeks ago I started going to the gym on base with a good friend of mine. I also started doing quick 10-minute exercises at home when I didn't feel like driving to base. In about a month, Mr. Air Force and I will be headed to the beach in Alabama for a deployment honeymoon (yay!). I just gotta get him home first! In the mean time, I've been trying to work on toning my stomach, butt and thighs. I don't really need to lose any weight, but I'm definitely "soft." I've actually made some progress, but probably nothing that anyone else notices but me!

However, I decided in this past month to push myself VERY hard. I'm not a runner. But I've always said to myself, "Ugh.. I seriously need to start running." I was a daily runner in the past, but haven't been in years. Last spring (or was it the spring before?) I started the Couch to 5K program, but due to crummy weather and my sinuses, I quickly gave up. I don't think I ever made it through the second week, let alone the first.

Tonight I'm taking on two personal challenges. I'm going to run for a minute, then walk for two minutes, and keep this pattern up until I've completed a full mile. May sound silly, or even weak, but for someone who hasn't run in ages, it's a big friggin' deal. I also took on a 1000-Squat Challenge by The Military Wife Slimdown on Facebook. It occurred to me yesterday that I've never really done a squat. I'm being completely serious. I've never done regular squats. I've done lunges. I do plie squats all the time (love those!). So last night I looked up the proper form and technique, then did two sets of 40. I felt pretty hoss. This week my goal is to complete 1000 squats, and run at least three times. Except three times doesn't seem like much of a challenge. Let's make it five times. After this week, I'll re-evaluate and see where I'm at, and what I can do to push myself a little harder the following week.

Pushing myself like this, I can only imagine what wonderful things this will do for my beach bum ;).

Getting into an exercise routine, and pushing yourself through the initial struggle, occasional pain, and trial and error is hard at first. It makes it easier to say "I don't have time for this," or "I'm just not cut out for exercising." But when you (meaning I) stop making excuses and just DO IT for once, you (I) feel so awesome and gratified! Anyone else taking on any personal health challenges this spring?