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by Alicia Hutchinson

My Summer Plan to Be Healthy (and a Happy Day Challenge)

I think I may have freaked some of you out on Monday with my Summer Plan. Ok though, for the record….this. is. me. I function SO better with a plan/schedule/planner. I love summer for it’s flexibility and it’s freedom and it’s playfulness, but we as a family function so much better when there’s some sort of routine. Plus it makes things a lot easier when September rolls around.
Plans like this make me feel focused…healthy…centered.
We all know we’re supposed to workout. It comes easier for some…I’m not one of those “some.” I work best with a BOSS. I need somebody to boss me. Tell me what to DO!!!!

I’ve run a couple 1/2 marathons in the past and that worked so well for me because I had a plan…a piece of paper that told me what to do everyday…run 3 miles. run 4 miles. ok. ok.๏ปฟ

I’ve totally STUNK at working out in the recent past…but these past several months I’ve been working out once a week with my friend Carissa. She introduced me to a more weight training way of working out. I would take her workouts and workouts I’d find online and do them on my own till we met again the next week.  This came as such a relief to me because I can just get so bored runningrunningrunning on the treadmill…ack! These workouts were fun and fast and I was sweating and sore by the end…true sign of a great workout.
But then Miss Carissa thought it was ok with me to move from across the street to across town (it was not ok…just for the record) and brought our weekly workouts at my commune gym to a screeching hault. I toyed with the idea of joining the Y, but since we’re already paying association fees for the upkeep of the gym I didn’t think it made a lot of sense for us.
So I’m back to me, myself, and one old guy on the treadmill again.  I’ve been on the hunt for a good plan for me for the summer. I needed something that would be challenging, fun, and not too repetitive….and I found it!๏ปฟ
I found THIS plan on bodybuilder.com and I am totally loving it so far. Jamie Eason is the girl that put together this 12-week plan (how thoughtful of her to completly mesh with my Summer Plan that’s also 12 weeks :)). She includes a complete workout guide for each day, a nutrition guide with recipes, and a supplement guide.  This plan is so good, I feel like she should be charging people to use it. I’m assuming it’s a little like P90X or something like that.
To be completely honest I’m just planning on following the exercise plan closely. I am a pretty healthy eater and I take my supplements. She goes wayyyy in depth with the supplement thing and I totally get that it’s good stuff, but she so super into it, it kind of starts making my eye twitch after a while…maybe I’ll get there, but for now I’m just doing what she says to do in the gym.  She’s a big weight-girl and not so much cardio which is so what I was looking for.

 I write this with a slightly cringy face a little bit because I sooo know as women we compare like crazy. As soon as someone mentions the gym, our ears perk up, we do a once over on ourselves, pick ourselves apart. Weight/health can be a tricky subject. That’s not why I’m sharing this. You won’t find “before” and “after” body pics from me. I’m not giving you specific number goals…because they’re mine. We can take those numbers and make them ours and mess ourselves up, so I’m not going to add to that chaos.

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I don’t want to lose weight with this plan as much as I just want to develop a habit to workout regularly. To be healthier. To be more conscious of the work that goes into being in shape so that I’m more conscious of what I put into this body.

My challenge for you this week is to set some goals….some YOU goals. Write down a few things that you’re going to do this summer just for you…goals to be a healthier you; cut back on the coffee (God help you), train for a race, cut out sugar (God help you again), walk/run 4 times a week…whatever it is…set a goal, write about it, and share it with us and make yourself accountable!!
Here’s my Summer Healthy Goals:

-do Jamie Eason’s 12-week workout plan

Get the 6 Secrets to a Simpler Mom Life

-NO soda…yep, none
-drink more water (two big bottles a day)๏ปฟ
I hope you’ll link up your challenge from last week! Did you paint your toesies?? I sure hope so! Mine are still cute even after three days in the sand…they sure know what they’re doing! ๐Ÿ™‚

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Nessa Bixler says

    I can't wait to get back to a workout routine. First goal is a sleep routine then workout.

    I am bad about using weights… it will be my new workout goal – get some strength training.

  4. jahorn12820 says

    yeah girl! great pics! All of the strength and conditioning coaches here have a motto: "say NO to Cardio!" Ha! They're totally into weight lifting. It's awesome for you, and did you know that the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, just by sitting around!? Now that's something to cheer for! Good for you girl. Our goals have been similar lately! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Farmgirl Paints says

    uh kinda crushin' on the jamie eason girl. i'm sooooo getting a three ring binder and printing it all out. organizing will be what makes me successful. can't wait to get started!!! thanks for posting about it. i hadn't been on bodybuilding.com in a long time. it was just the motivation i needed.

  6. Kyle, Sarah, Owen and Trey Tucker says

    Ha! This comes on a good day for me. My friend Blair and I started Operation T.E.R.R.D this morning… the early rising running duo. Yes, we're the nerds who need a silly name to keep us motivated! ๐Ÿ™‚ Love your summer plan.

  7. Katie says

    Love your goals! I'm working on drinking more water too…so far not going so well, but I'm determined to get there one of these days!

  8. Cailan says

    Having some serious misgivings about whether exercise can qualify as a HAPPY day challenge. ; ) But yes, exercise does make the body feel good. I loved my P90X routine with my hubby, and I felt so STRONG. But alas, Christmas threw me off the track and six months later, he's 30 lbs lighter and awesome and I'm….eh, about the same as ever. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks as always, for the inspiration, lady. xo, cailan

  9. Etheline says

    I love this!! Looks like a good plan; which I am in need of. Just because I am slender doesn't mean I could run for 5 minutes without passing out. {sad, but true confession of the day right there..lol}

  11. Mary says

    ummm…yeah! gym buddies sounds FUN!
    except i've done this with super cool friends before and when we start giggling over something weird, i can't exercise anymore because i lose all my strength! ๐Ÿ™‚
    i do love my running, too, but i'm afraid that i have to incorporate some sit ups for this tummy! and of course, weights wouldn't hurt.
    maybe it's time to break out my good ol turbo jam with chalene!
    so excited for you! ๐Ÿ™‚

    ps i want before and after pics!
    but only because i'm curious of this 12 week plan!
    xo

  12. Blissful Blooms says

    Hmmmm . . . this truely is a challenge for me- but in a GOOD way! Thank you for this! I'll have to ponder this one- cuz I too wish I had a healthy LIFESTYLE- I would love for exercise to be a part of my routine. Wish I could be your gym buddy!

  13. carissa at lowercase letters says

    I'm proud of you for getting into this weight routine! I can't do weights. Beyond push ups, I don't do anything for strength beyond running. But running? That I do! And I look forward to it. That's why it's so good to do something that we can enjoy – so we actually do it! I only run outside though. We don't have a gym membership or treadmill. So it's all free! ๐Ÿ™‚ Happy day, strong lady!!!

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