Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Update (Wednesday): 40 minutes cardio (walking); random stretching throughout the day whenever I thought about it.
Wrap-Up: I would call this challenge about a 70% success. I have been successful in the cardio part of the routine, which was more important to me and required more time and effort.
However, on the stretching/toning portion of the challenge, I failed miserably. With the cardio, which mainly involved walking, I had several routes I knew well and enjoyed, I had the kids involved, and I had a specific time to get out and walk. I also had a back-up plan for rainy days.
With stretching/toning, I never put any of those things in place, or at least not firmly enough. I never really stuck with one routine long enough to know it well and feel like I was getting somewhere. I was trying different stretches, different toning exercises, but I needed to just compile a few effective ones into a 10 or 15 minutes routine that I could get comfortable with. I also couldn't figure out how to involve the kids, which isn't completely necessary, but a nice bonus when it is something I can do with them rather than something I need to fit into those naptimes.
The kicker, though, was not having any specific time to do stretching and toning, whether with kids or not. I'm going to continue this exercise challenge, unofficially, for another month because I like the results I have so far. I'd like to get some more of the same!
Here are my recommendations, simplified:
-Have a specific time and place.
-Get yourself some good work out clothes.
-Get any necessary gear (yoga mat, light weights, water bottle).
-Have a plan for cardio work and for toning work. Have a back-up plan if the outdoors isn't cooperative.
-Have some variety but also stick to one thing long enough to feel like you can master it and get the most out of it before moving on.
Happy Exercising!
