Challenging myself...

Fitocracy has motivated me to try exercises I've never done before.  I like it because it gives me variety in my workouts.  There are also groups that do monthly challenges, like the 30 Day Squat Challenge group.  

I know it says April, but I started at the beginning of June and plan to follow it through.  I usually do a few sets of body weight squats and move on to barbell squats.  I just upped my weight on the barbell squats and thought I would be feeling it today, but I have no delayed onset muscle soreness at all.  So weird.  

I'm also doing the 30 Day Abs Challenge.  I've altered the time for the planks, because the 10 seconds was way too easy for me.  I had no idea sit-ups could be this challenging, however.  Getting through 40 in one set is a chore, but I managed it yesterday.  I have a few days to catch up on, because I strained a muscle in my hand and wrist during Midsummer rehearsals and took two days off training all together, so I didn't injure myself further.

Then, there is the 30 Day Glute Challenge.  Obviously, this one is good for building a better booty.  I've seen so many women saying it's building their glutes, but my bum is actually decreasing in size!   This wasn't exactly the result I was looking for.  I simply wanted to tone the fabulous booty I already have.  I know the exercises are doing what they're supposed to do and turning fat to muscle, and once that part of the process is complete, the glute muscles will continue to develop, and my butt will...bounce back...HA!

One thing I've noticed since I've begun participating in these monthly challenges is that I'm losing weight instead of gaining.  I assumed that once I started lifting, I would be gaining rather than losing.  I'm not going to complain, though, because it's pushing me over the plateau I was on.  I was having trouble losing the last 9lbs of my weight gain, but now I'm down to only an extra 6!  And those 3lbs have come off in just the last week.

I'm not exactly sure where I'm losing this weight, other than losing 1" in my bum and legs. Even with that 1", there is a lot of dimpling and cellulite.  The boobs I was granted with my 30lb weight gain are still there.  My waist measurement is staying the same - my belly is trimmer, but it's still a bit fluffy.  So...I don't know where I'm losing the weight.  

But whatever!  I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.  I look better than I have in the last five years, and I feel great.  I have lots of energy, and my blood pressure has calmed down.  I won't trade any of those things to go back to being the depressed, volatile, emotional mess I was.  I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and be the best me I can be.