And summertime is well and truly here, even in rainy England!
I think I may have over-challenged myself in June, so I’m dropping it back a step. I will be sticking to my healthy habits through the month (of course) and I will also do a minimum of one each of the following:
- try a new food
- cook a new recipe
- have a go at something new at the gym
- do something that scares me
- take some time to do something for me (that isn’t a workout)
- research one of the diet and exercise topics I have written down as “interesting”
- say “yes” when my knee-jerk response is “no”
I will also be doing the Beginner Push-up Challenge and the 30-day Plank Challenge below (I couldn’t face more squats and crunches). This seemed like a great idea until I realised that for my birthday at the end of the month I am giving myself 50 push-ups and 5 minutes of planking. Anyhow, I’ll try and make it through, then I can reward myself with a cocktail or three 😉
I have had it mentioned that planking for 5 minutes in one go could potentially lead to injury. Just to make it clear, I don’t imagine that I could do a five minute plank, for the longer ones I fully expect the times listed here to be my total planking time that day. If you want to try a plank challenge, please take care, don’t strain your back and stop if it ceases to be a challenge and just causes pain.
July 3, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Love your list, Helen! The push-up challenge looks awesome, but I’m slightly concerned about a plank challenge that advocates for >2 min planks… That would take a huge amount of core strength. 5 minutes on forearms and toes sounds quite literally impossible. Please take care and don’t hurt your back.
July 3, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Don’t worry Nancy, I don’t imagine that I’ll be doing one single plank for 5 minutes – I will almost certainly do it in 3+ stages. I’m taking the timings to be total rather than continuous each day.
July 3, 2014 at 3:23 pm
ahh! okay, carry on then. anything above 2 minutes is a recipe for injury, I think. (Unless that person has a core of pure steel which sadly, I don’t.
July 3, 2014 at 3:28 pm
I’m not sure if that is how it’s supposed to be interpreted but it seems the best way for me. I struggled with the 20 second one, so I don’t think I’d make it to a single 5-minute one in 4 weeks. A core of steel would be unpleasant I think anyway!
July 3, 2014 at 3:32 pm
I think typically the plank challenges are done in one go for the set time; but having said that, I think that anyone promoting a 5 minute plan is being irresponsible. It’s an injury waiting to happen.
July 3, 2014 at 3:37 pm
I’m rebelling against the one go idea and doing what I can… You’re right though, I’m going to go edit my post to make my plans clear!
July 3, 2014 at 3:43 pm
Helen – your plans are for YOU. You don’t need to feel compelled to specify/clarify. I was just concerned that you might hurt yourself doing the one-go deal. I would end up in hospital if I tried to hold a 5 min plank. 🙂
July 3, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Ah but I don’t want anyone to find this on my blog and be like “oh well if SHE can do it…” and then damage themselves!
I’ll be impressed with myself if I can ever hold one for one minute, let alone 5! 🙂
July 3, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Holding a 1-minute planks STILL kills me, 18 months after daily workouts began. It’s a killer! (Core is my weakest spot though…)
July 3, 2014 at 4:13 pm
They are surprisingly strenuous – like wall sits!
July 3, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Indeed!
July 3, 2014 at 3:12 pm
that sounds like an awesome July!
5 mins plank sounds awful! I might buy you a cocktail if you can do it! 😀
also…I like the “say yes when the knee jerk reaction is no” challenge 😀
if I were doing that, I might have to say no when my knee jerk reaction was yes…that way I would end up more cautious and considered…
I can’t see that happening though 🙂
July 3, 2014 at 3:23 pm
I think the 5 minutes is going to be a total of a few planks that day, I’m struggling with the 20 second ones so far!
I added that one in when I’d finished writing, I’m terrible for declining things outside my comfort zone. I guess I’m far too cautious 😉
July 3, 2014 at 3:28 pm
there is a happy medium between too cautious and throwing caution to the wind crazy!
coming at is from your direction is probably safer!
July 3, 2014 at 5:42 pm
Love you challenges! 50 squats on day one, though?!!? I’d die. My legs would fall off, or, at least I would wish that I could remove them! LOL
July 3, 2014 at 8:53 pm
I can’t face the squats one, I did squats, crunches and mountain climbers for June – this month I’m only doing the push-ups and planking (although I am considering adding in a wall sit for some extra fun!) Squats are evil, but my PT and my boxing trainer continue to tell me how awesome they are. I don’t necessarily agree!
July 3, 2014 at 6:15 pm
I thought you said you were slowing down a bit in July! lol You are simply amazing. Planking is evil and I don’t like to do them. I do like the push up challenge though.
July 3, 2014 at 8:55 pm
That is slowing down! Planking isn’t something I enjoy that much, but I do like a nice challenge and I desperately need to work on my core.
July 3, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Hey, I’ve nominated you for a blogging award. Check my post for details and keep up the great work!! https://lambsauce.wordpress.com/2014/07/03/well-that-was-a-surprise-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
July 4, 2014 at 2:05 am
These look tough, Good Luck!
July 4, 2014 at 3:41 pm
lovely list 🙂 Since you wanted a new receipe to try there is a lovely one for stuffed red peppers on the back of Great Scots Bulgur Wheat for Stuffed Red Peppers, its got far too much cheese in it for my liking but that can be tweaked. You can buy it in most super markets but if you cant get you hands on it, let me know and I will of course share.
July 7, 2014 at 12:28 pm
Your July plans sound very doable:) How is the challenge going?
I used to enjoy planking, but now with a shoulder injury I can’t do it anymore:( Never got to 5 minutes though. 1 minutes at a time, 2 minutes pushing it. I assume I would have gotten better had I not injured my shoulder.
I hope you plan to share the new recipes you decide to try out!