Planking and Changing

Annnnd.. Just like that!... Ten pounds are gone. Well, ten pounds as of last Friday.

Ah, ah, ah, ah staying alive, staying alive.

What is it about the BeeGees that makes a Monday morning bearable? You should see this, I’m doing the disco dance in my chair. I’ve really got to get a camera put up in my office. I could probably win money.

Anyway, back on track; I want to say this and I want it to sink in..

 “If you do what you’ve always done, you’re gonna get what you’ve always gotten.”

 I was talking with my honey last night about change. We had a very enlightening conversation about the capability of genuine change. You know, for the majority of the population, change isn’t possible. Why is that? What makes it so difficult? Is it a comfort factor? Is it fear of the unknown? Is it simple laziness? Pride?

Then, this morning, on my way to work I thought about it again. Change is constant! Just think about it; change is going to happen regardless if we initiate it or not. And, right here is where I could detail into a two hour conversation about change…

But, because it’s Monday, and I have things to do… I’m going to just take the avenue of my latest journey.

Health.

I can’t express to you how pumped I am about this healthy lifestyle change. I have, this past week, become the Healthy Workplace Coordinator at work. What does this mean? It means that I now have even MORE accountability! …which is AWESOME! We are beginning some healthy challenges and also a Couch to 5K program today after work. I am PUMPED!

So, I want to share with you guys a personal challenge that I started yesterday. ..and if you want, do it with me. It’s not too late to start. April is going to be my Plank a Day Challenge. I started yesterday (April 1st) holding a plank for 30 seconds. This is great. I would like to challenge you to try it…even just once. You will find out just how much you need to get yourself into a regular exercise routine.

A Plank is the position your body takes when it is in the upwards push-up position. Toes on the floor, hands on the floor, arms stretched, body in a straight line. You can also do this on your forearms (it's a little easier some say). The plank a day challenge consists of starting the first day of the month with a decent time frame (I'm gonna say 30 seconds). On April 1st, I held this position for a total of 30 seconds. That's it. Then, I go about my daily activities and such. Today, I will hold it for 35 seconds. Every day during the month of April, I will add 5 seconds to the total time of my plank.

Wow, Auntie.. that sounds really easy and really insignificant. Why in the world would you do that? What purpose does it serve? What does this do, you might ask?? Well, here ya go: This position (when done on a regular basis) will strengthen your arms, wrists and shoulders as well as the Core muscles (which are your abs and lower abdominal muscles) Lower back, glutes and thighs. Basically, it's a strengthening exercise for your whole body! And, guess what!... This is one of the best activities a woman can do to help prevent and fight bone loss. It is proven that weight bearing activity will not only prevent osteoporosis, but it will help build bone back.

So. That’s it. That’s what’s new with me! Woot! I’m pumped!!!!!!!