To Shred or Not To Shred

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 30...Holla!!!!!!!!!
Longest 30 days of my life!!

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Am I shreddded? No, not really.

But, if I'm being honest, I don't really have that much weight to lose, between 5-10 maybe, to get rid of the layer of chubs over my now awesome muscles (but I'm getting ahead of myself here)...if I had started this thing needing to lose like 30lbs or something, I'm sure it would have melted away.

Not changing my diet probably, no definitely, had a lot to do with not really losing weight. I'm no expert or anything, but I'm thinking a handful of Oreos for breakfast is probably NOT working in my favor. In fact, if the scale is to be believed, I actually gained 2lbs. But I totally, honestly, completely do NOT care what the scale says anymore. I grudgingly got on it this morning just to compare where I started.

So, the question remains. Is the daily 25 minute TORTURE (there's truly no better word for it) worth it?

YES!!

Say what, Crazy Lady? You just said you gained 2lbs??

Indeed, but here is what I have gained (other than supposedly 2lbs) by doing this challenge:

Muscles, yo! My arms feel toned and stronger, my legs and hips feel smaller, my rear end feels perkier, and my arch enemy (my stomach pudge) is a lot smaller! (I realize I should have taken actual measurements, but whatevs) I am able to do a lot more now than I could when I started, I can ALMOST master the traveling pushups (and NOT the girly ones). So, I'm sticking with the whole, muscle weighs more than fat, thing here!

A new found willpower and dedication to working out! I'm very good at setting goals, and very, very, very good at making excuses as to why I can't do it. I had told myself a while ago that I was going to work out every single day for 30 days. I even told a couple people about my challenge to myself in hopes of that holding me accountable. And it worked....for about 3 days. So, what was so different about this? I didn't do it alone!!! My sister, a good friend, and I committed together to do this 30 Day Shred thing, every day. And we kept each other accountable. We weren't physcially together, but we checked in every single day saying that we had completed the torture that day. We used Facebook to do this, which probably drove our friends up the wall seeing those stupid posts every day, but who cares, that's what the Hide button is for, right?

A new found confidence in myself. Growing up (after I hit puberty that is) I struggled with my weight and was the pudgy girl with no self esteem, all through high school and college. Until I met the love of my life, fell in love, got engaged, and that magic of falling in love made the pounds melt away. Even so, I have a very hard time taking a compliment. Until now. Because I have worked so hard.

Now that it's all over and done with, what's next? Well, we are moving on to Jillian's Ripped in 30, looks very similar to 30 Day Shred, just different moves. Will I stay committed to doing it every day? Probably, it's become such a habit, but I may take a day off or something. And I will probably mix it up. I miss Zumba.

So, if you are wondering if the 30 Day Shred is really worth it..I say Hells Yes!! But, I urge you to find someone else as crazy as you to do it with you. You will need that encouragement and competitiveness to keep you going. And I must warn you...it's not fun, it doesn't become fun, and you never really get to the point where you're so good and buff that you breeze through it. But, it's still worth it!

Good Luck! And Happy Shredding!!