I decided for the first month to start out with something simple. If you are already hitting the gym this probably won't be for you. This will be for someone just starting their journey toward a healthier life. As the months progress we will make it more challenging.
For this month we will be focusing on toning your upper body, lower body, and core. The first week we will be doing 10 squats, 10 push-ups (if you need to start on your knees that is okay. If that is too hard start with your hands on a wall and angle your feet back a couple steps. Eventually you will be ready to move to the ground), and either 10 crunches OR hold a plank as long as you can. Do these every day. The second week will be 20 of each of these every day, the third week 30 and so on. When you get further on you can separate them out if you want and do 20 in the morning, 20 at night, or however you can get them done. Just get up and get moving. Make this your minimum goals for the month.
Be sure to take before pictures. That way, at the end of every month, you can take a new picture to see your progress. I would recommend taking your measurements, or checking how your jeans fit, instead of using a scale to asses your achievements as water weight etc can effect the scale on a daily basis. If you do use the scale, don't check it every day. I would recommend every two weeks, but knowing most people can't wait that long, I would say no more then once a week, at the same general time of day.
If you decide to try this challenge I would love to hear back from you. Let us all know how it went for you, share you stories in the comments below. What would you like our challenge to focus on next month?
An extra Bonus:
Now, if you really want to start off your month with a bang, the first week you start your challenge try a liver cleanse. (I do not recommend trying this until you are 100% done breastfeeding as I do not know the affects it would have on that and am waiting myself) I know people who do this once a year and have had great results. This isn't a way to lose weight (although I've heard 10-20 pounds lost that week). It is a way to kick start a healthy life. It helps cleanse your body of toxins and should make you feel better. The one my husband is doing is called Dr. Groups 6 day liver cleanse.
You may want to check with your doctor about this if you have any health concerns, but if you decide to try this portion we found it on Amazon and had the product 2 days later. There is a diet you need to do with the cleanse. If you can't find it on google let me know and I will try to get you the information you need. I will try and update you all as his week progresses. That along with our new challenge for the month should have us headed in the right direction.
