Yup, it’s back! The 40-Day Workout Challenge! In case you feel intimidated by this illustrious challenge, let me recap a few things about life around here.
- I had a baby in August (read: I am exhausted.)
- I haven’t worked out in 18 months.
- Did I mention I’m really tired?
A few days ago my oldest son (5) and I had a conversation that went like this:
Sam: Mom, remember those exercise videos you did when you had a baby in your tummy?
Me: (suspiciously) Yes. Why?
Sam: Well you should do those again.
Me: Why do you say that?
Sam: Well because they help you to be in shape, and you are not in shape. I think me and Dad should make you do those videos again. (Honest to goodness. I have no idea where he gets this stuff.)
At the risk of sounding like I take my life cues from a five-year-old, I will say that the conversation did motivate me a little. I don’t need to go through all my reasons, because you know them, too. Exercise gives energy, I want to be healthy, blah blah blah!
It IS important though! I think if I can exercise on my little sleep and for the first time in over a year, SO CAN YOU! Join me! Whether you’re training for something, haven’t exercised at all, sort of been exercising, no matter – choose a goal and join me here.
Here’s how it works:
- The Challenge begins Monday, January 12 and ends Saturday, February 20.
- Choose your HOW MUCH. Mine is pathetically small: 4 days a week, 20 minutes a day. Stop laughing… It’s a start.
- Choose your WHAT TYPE. I’ll be using Fit2Be, which I reviewed here. It is the BEST workout for moms. I love the convenience and variety of the videos. I super-excited to break out these videos again, and if you are a woman (and especially a mom) I highly recommend Fit2Be.
- Choose your PROGRESS TRACKER. Stickers on a calendar, note in your iPhone, whatever…
- Choose your REWARD for when you achieve your 40-Day goal. Right now I’m leaning towards a dinner date with my husband to a very nice restaurant.
Okay, WHO’S IN?
I sure hope some of you are joining along. If you are, I’d love to know!
- Comment below and let me know you’re joining! Share with us:
- your goal
- your reward
- If you’d like, subscribe to “Smartter” Each Day. You’ll receive weekly email check-ins and encouragements for our 40-Day Challenge.
Let’s do this! {ps – the challenge begins on Jan. 12… Feel free to start earlier or cement your exact goals and how-to. Personally, I lugged two children up gravel hills in a wagon today, so I’m considering that part of my warm up..}
Are you joining in the 40-day challenge?
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I’m game. My goal is 3 days a week, even if it’s just a walk with my daughter. My reward, um, ice cream? No, just kidding! I don’t know about a reward yet. All my rewards have been food related and I need to break that tend. Ooh! A coffee at the new place down the road. By myself. By. My. Self.
I will do this challenge with you. I’m recently a SAHM so my goal is to get to the gym 3 days a week (hopefully for 1 hour). I’m also hoping to start next week so one week earlier than your challenge. I guess I will wrap up in time for
Valentine’s Day. My reward might be a dinner date as well or possibly getting my nails done –it’s been soooo long! 🙂
Well, I’m already on an intense workout regimen, but I’ll join in being better with my diet! I’ll start slow and easy with limiting my fast food to only two meals a week! This will be a challenge because I’m always on the go, but I really need to be better about it! My reward will be saving that money for a nice dinner out with my hubby for Valentine’s day date… but not on actual Valentine’s day as that’s too cliche and crowded for us!
I’m in Jessica! I am pregnant with my 4th, homeschooling and adopting a sweet one from Haiti…and wife to the pastor of our 4 year old church plant. I am tired too and enjoying pregnancy a little too much 🙂
So I will also be in for 4 days of exercise, before kiddos wake up, 4 days a week. Thanks for the challange!
Let’s do this!!! I’ve got your back and you’ll have mine! I always need motivation, so I look forward to this! My goal is the gym, at least 4 days a week and maybe a good walk with our dog. And my reward is always a new outfit that makes me feel pretty, since I have a hard time with that and a wonderful dinner with my husband! 😉
I need group challenges to motivate me! This could be perfect for getting back into the exercise routine. We have a Y membership which has been sorely neglected since my hubby started his new job, but I’ll aim for 3x a week for an hour at the Y and 2 pilates at home sessions. Those always made me feel awesome. I’ll reward myself with a fresh haircut and maybe get a pedicure. 🙂
I will join you! I’m a sahm to 4 children ages 1, 4, 6 & 9. I really, really need some accountability. So I’m hoping this will motivate me to get started.
I will commit to 4, 20-30 min workouts per week. I think my reward will be a new shirt or two!
My goal is 5 days a week for 30 minutes. I’ll use a mixture of DVD’s at home and getting back to walking at the indoor track. Like someone else said I like the idea and fellowship of a group challenge so im glad to see some partaking:-)
My reward either a few ounces of tea from Teavanna or I got a new gel polish kit for Christmas so a new color would be nice!!
I’m in! I will commit to three workouts a week of 20 minutes each (See! Your’s is not pathetically small! 🙂 ) I will probably do more, but I don’t want to set myself up for failure by committing to more than I can possibly squeeze in. I am a full-time working mom of two and I’m not even sure how I’m going to squeeze that hour into my week, but I NEED to. I have a subscription to Fit2B (which I adore!) that has been sorely neglected in the last couple of months. I really can’t wait to start up on them again, just need a kick in the (much too snug) pants to get me started. I’m not sure what my reward will be. Maybe a new book and a soak in the tub. 🙂
Hi, I am a mother of 5, 4 of which I homeschool. I haven’t had a routine since a few months before my mom passed, 4 years ago. I NEED to do this. My goal is to exercise 4 days for 20 min. I can’t think of a reward. I’ll get back to you on that.
good morning fellow moms and sisters in Christ,
is this just for women who have small children or for women with older children 2.
my children are between the ages of 12 and 20 and then one lives on their own.
I know the struggle with trying to find a fit in exercise and stay healthy.
I think it gets harder as the kids get older because you’re on the go all the time with sports church activities it’s a never ending circle a good one.
so I decided in 2015 that I’m going to get healthy in all areas of my life so you fellow mothers and sisters in Christ if you could encourage me .I can encourage you
and I can pray for you and God bless and have a awesome day.
shel
I’m in! I’ve been working on losing weight for a year now, with a big setback this past fall. I still have a ways to go. My goal really isn’t just weight loss but to be fit and healthy so we can do the things we want to do. My goal will be 6x a week (upping my current game) with a variety of activities: running, weights, and yoga. I’ll be using Fit2B for core work, weights, and yoga. Love Fit2B! My reward will also be a dinner out with the hubs. We rarely get date nights, so I’m going to make him workout with me and then take me out afterwards!
I’m in. My goal is three times a week for a half hour. With two jobs, school, and a four year old its hard for me to set aside time to work on me. My reward will be taking myself to see a girly movie.
I think this is a wonderful idea! I just had my fourth baby in August and have really struggled to integrate exercise into my healthy journey. My goal is 5-6 days of 7500-10,000 steps as well as three days doing a body weight exercise routine.
I’m a wife and stay at home homeschooling mom to my kids ages 9, 6, 4, and 6 months. I found a live online workout that is Monday through Friday at 7am, 30 minutes long. I’ve also been wanting to get up earlier, so the timing will also help with that 🙂 I have no idea yet what I will have as my reward, besides being less jiggly lol
I am in!!! I am also a former half-marathoner, fitness instructor, and workout fanatic. I have hit my mid-forties with 2 young boys and I. Am.Exhausted. I basically quit working out consistently about a year ago and it’s not pretty. My goal is to work out 5 days a week; gym and home videos. My reward will be a new outfit in a SMALLER size! 🙂 thanks so much for doing this!!!
I’m in.
I need this!!! We were members at a gym for a year and for the first half of the year, I went faithfully 4-5 times a week and I loved how my body felt/looked. However, kids started getting sick and baby started getting more mobile and I was less confident about putting them in the daycare there so my sessions dwindled to 3X/week at best. Not feeling it was worth the money we were investing, I let our membership expire at the end of 2014 but through the ultimate bundle I recently purchased, I have access to some of the Fit2B videos and I also have some TurboJam videos I used to use before having kids. With a combination of those and occasional walks in our neighborhood there is no reason I can’t/shouldn’t commit to work out 3X/week, bare minimum. This means getting up early and sneaking downstairs but I think (if I can pull it off since my kids always, always seem to sense when I wake up early and pop up at the crack of dawn) it would do my body and spirit good to have some time to myself in the mornings. Of course not getting enough sleep greatly decreases my motivation to roll out of bed early, so I probably need to work on that as well!!!
I would love to be a part of this. I’m older (52) and I am near the empty nest part of life. I so need this motivation to become a stronger, healthier version of me. I remember the days of how exhausting being a mom of babes can be, but I know you all can do this, and I am excited to start this with you. My goal…to do the “couch to 5k” walking program. My reward will be to walk with my husband in the local Campus Life 5k over Memorial Day.
I’m in!! My goal will be four days a week for 45-60 minutes a day. Results will be my reward!
This is just what I need to get me through January. I have committed to 4 times a week at least of either my treadmill for 30 min or a fitness workout on amazon prime. My reward will be a new pair of tennis shoes.
Im in. My goal is 4-6 times a week for 30 minutes. My reward is going to be the satisfaction to sticking with it and better health.
Joining in a day late! I’m shooting for 5 times a week, at least 30 minutes. We shall see!