Saturday 31 August 2013

A monthly challenge…?

So, I haven’t come up with a monthly challenge for a while. 

I like the idea of a monthly challenge because I think it allows me to have a measurable goal.  Something achievable that I will help to build in a new challenge.  Usually I’ve made these monthly challenges something fitness related.

I was thinking some more about the fact that I’ve lost 7kg (15.4lb) in the last two months.  And Marion (affectionforfitness.blogspot.com) asked me if my clothes were fitting any differently. 

Well, they haven’t.  They don’t feel looser yet.  The waist band of my pants (slacks/trousers/insert-other-regional-variation-here) still sit very snugly.  Everything I wear is elasticated waist, because at least *that* has a little give. 

Now, as I was sitting around, pondering some more on this, I was trying to work out why there seemed to be no change.  Was it because:
a)      My current clothing size was probably on the side of too small and now they are fitting closer to what they should, or,
b)      I carry most of my weight on my belly and the weightloss hasn’t been centered there, so there has been no change in the fit of my clothes?

Rather than just sit around waiting for more weight to come off before my clothes started to feel looser, I figured there was probably something I could do about it.

Sit-up and take notice, because I’m about to reveal my September Challenge…

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You ready?

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Are you suuuuuuure?

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Sure you’re sure?

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I am going to do 600 Sit-Ups in September!!


Oh, you already worked that one out?  Oh.  I guess you don’t want to hear the details then?  Oh *shrugs* that’s cool then.  I’ll just be… over here…

Heehee, I jest, I jest! 

I really am going to attempt 600 sit-ups in September.

Why?  Well, because I like sit-ups!  Sit-ups have always been my ‘go-to’ exercise.  Because I do carry excess weight on my stomach, sit-ups are something that I find helps with that. 

Now, I know, that you can’t spot reduce.  Doing a thousand sit-ups will not magically make my stomach/gut area flat and streamlined.  I’m not going to create muscles that will spend their entire existence burning away my stomach fat.  And etc.

And yet, I find doing sit-ups does help.  If I do sit-ups regularly (daily) then, after a few days (approx. 5) I find that my stomach does sit flatter.  Some where on the interwebs (that I can’t find now) I think I read that although you can’t spot reduce, what does end up happening, is the ab muscles do build to a certain extent and they become stronger and are able to pull in the excess skin and fat.  Thus, this gives the appearance of flatter abs/spot reducing.

Whatever.  I enjoy sit-ups.  In high school, I used to do 100 a night.  And if there ever was an event coming up where I wanted to look my best and not have to worry about a sticking out gut, then I turned to sit-ups.  They truly are my go-to exercise, if I feel I want/need to be doing something fitness wise.

Now, obviously 600 sit-ups is a lot.  At the moment I can do 15 sit-ups.  By the 12th, I’m feeling it and have to push for the 13th, 14th and 15th ones.  Now you clever readers know your maths and realise that 15 x 30 days is ≠ 600 sit-ups.  This is indeed true, your maths knowledge has not failed you.  : )  So of course, given that if I stick to just 15 sit-ups per day, I will only reach 450 sit-ups, I will obviously need to do some more!  I feel that as I continue to do sit-ups and my muscles develop, I should be able to start increasing the amount of sit-ups I do.  I’m thinking every 3 days?

I think I worked out a gradual increase of every three days would go something like this:
15 – 16 – 18 – 20 – 21 – 22 – 24 – 25 – 27 - 30

So, the benefit to doing this is two-fold.  One, I will reach my target of 600 sit-ups and two, I’ll build up a daily habit that is good for me.  Well, actually three, I’ll be starting some form of exercise.  Guess it beats just sitting around on my arse.  Okay, that’s enough, I promise! :)

I’ll be keeping a record of my progress on the ‘Monthly Challenge’ page.  Might not update daily, but it will be accurate.  Feel free to check it out.


2 comments:

  1. I was talking to another person about this at my weight loss group. She had lost a bunch of weight, but wearing the same size. However, I could see places on her body where people don't typically measure where she lost weight. Particularly, she lost quite a bit of weight over her collar bone--which is actually a very attractive place to lose weight.

    The places I measure or pay attention to: 1) measure the chest right under the arm pits; 2)chest fullest spot; 3) chest where bra strap would go; 4) smallest part of waist area; 5) measure waist across belly button; 6) hips 7) Thigh; 8)knee; 9) calf; 10) arm at fullest spot; 11) forearm. And photos can often show you where you lost if you were streamlined clothing and/or the same clothing. So try measurements, and not just size. Sizes are so strange. And the waist seems to be the last place to give up weight.

    Just have faith that it will show--eventually. I felt slimmer long before my size looked slimmer, but all of a sudden people were just like--you lost a LOT of weight. And they hadn't said anything just 10 days before. Keep the faith.

    You are doing super well. You lost quite a bit of weight(!!!)--just keep going. Keep us updated on your situps. I love my fitness projects--it keeps life fun. :D

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  2. Ohhhh I looove it! Challenge yet do-able!

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