December Challenge – Week 3
For December, we’re focusing on the exercise aspect of fitness. We’re targeting our arms, abs, and butts with the 30 Day Guns, Buns, & Abs Challenge.
To track our progress each day, I’ve created this 30 Day Guns, Buns, & Abs Challenge Worksheet so that we can simply check off each box as we complete the activity! Click on the link above to grab your own.
My Progress
I used my Challenge Tracker page to help me track what I was able to complete each day. But I also kept a daily journal because I think it’s important to note how I’m feeling each day.
Sometimes on this journey, we see progress in the form of our workouts being easier or our stamina lasting longer as opposed to inches or pounds lost. Because of that, I think it’s important to keep a journal of how you’re feeling when you work out.
I didn’t really remember to document how I felt each day, new habits are hard. But I can pretty much tell you how I felt. This week was a good week as far as pain was concerned. I’ve increased my step goal to 10,000 so my feet have been hurting, but everything else has been about normal for me.
Sunday – Day 15
I did not do a cardio workout today because it is Sunday and I am using it as my rest day from exercise…with the exception of this challenge. I did my push ups around lunch time after publishing Beck’s Sunday Stats post. I spent most of the day hanging out with my son and completing some of our projects around the house. I finally sat down around 3pm to do my Sunday Stats post for the week. Once that was finished, I began my sets of Squats and leg lifts.
Monday – Day 16
I woke up and took care of a few things before work. I went to log in to my work computer and it wouldn’t start up. Never a good sign for a Monday…or any other day for that matter. The center is now two and a half hours away from me so if I’m not able to get into my computer, I’d have to drive in to the center to get it fixed. That makes for a very long day. I called my boss and explained the situation. I said if I can’t get the thing working by the end of the day, I’ll be in tomorrow. He was cool with it. So I hung up and did my morning work out. Then I made breakfast. Then I was able to fix my computer and log into work. I got lucky this time. It was something fairly simple to fix.
Tuesday – Day 17
My computer gave me issue again in the morning but I was able to get logged in only slightly late. Due to having the problems twice in a row though, my boss and I decided a trip to the center was necessary for Wednesday in order to get my computer issues investigated and fixed before the first week of January since it is the busiest week of the year for us. I completed my challenge sets throughout the day and did my cardio workouts after work. I have increased by step goal to 10,000 steps per day this week so I do multiple workouts each day in order to achieve that since I have a desk job. I achieved 10,000 steps for the second day in a row.
Wednesday – Day 18
I left home at 7am which is usually when I’m waking up. I drove 2 and a half hours to get to work with a few stops to air up tires and fill up with gas. At work, I did more walking than I would on the average work day due to taking my computer to the lab to be worked on and then visiting with various managers while onsite. I managed to make it home with just over 4,000 steps achieved already. So, when I got home, I did two workouts and completed my challenge tasks before bed. Unfortunately, it was almost midnight when I went to bed and I was short about 1,000 steps. So I didn’t meet my step goal that day.
Thursday – Day 19
I woke up in the morning and spent the first hour getting my computer and headset hooked back up and getting logged into work. I completed the first three sets of challenge tasks before lunch during stretch breaks. For my lunch break, I completed my Country Heat cardio routine. I did the last set of challenge tasks shortly before I got off work.
Friday – Day 20
As we get closer to Christmas, things are getting more hectic. I spend every Christmas baking my tush off because…well…that’s what I do. I woke up this morning smiling because it’s my first day of winter vacation. I spent the first hour wrapping Christmas presents while my son slept. Next, I got dressed and went grocery shopping. When I came home, my son and I unloaded the car and put the groceries away. Then we went to Walmart to pick up a few things and out to lunch. Home again, home again and it was time to start cooking. I made my families traditional chili recipe because it’s a chilly day. Except I replaced the pasta with zucchini. The chili turned out great, in fact my mom wants to try it. When I finished eating dinner, I prepped my salads and snacks for the week. I finally sat down at 6pm with 4,398 steps taken and over 5,000 left to go to meet my goal. My feet are already killing me. But I have goals. So I got up at a quarter after six and did my Country Heat cardio work out. Unfortunately, when I finished that workout, I was still only at 7,354 steps. So another workout will be needed to get to 10,000 steps. I did my challenge tasks after resting for a little bit and cleaned the kitchen.
Saturday – Day 21
I started my day by wrapping a couple more presents and then completing my 30 minute Country Heat cardio work out. I bake goodies every Christmas and make tins of treats for family and friends. This year, the treats are Keto friendly, but I’m still making them. So after resting from my workout, I got to baking. I completed the challenge tasks throughout the day during breaks from baking.
New Measurements
- Bicep: 13.5″
- Chest: 51.5″
- Upper Abs: 48″
- Lower Abs: 50″
- Hips: 51″
- Thigh: 25″
- Weight: 244.3
Challenge Success
For this challenge, I’m introducing Forget Skinny gear into the mix! The winner of this challenge will win a Forget Skinny Challenge Winner spiral notebook for all of their journaling needs!
The journals came in this week and are ready to be shipped out to the challenge winner(s)!
The challenge winner will be determined by the person who has accumulated the most points.
Now, since this is a points based system, there is the possibility of a tie. In the event of a tie, we each reward ourselves with the selected prize gear.
Otherwise, the person that does not win the challenge will purchase the selected gear for the winner of the challenge.
Points Earned
- Challenge tasks: 3 per day x 7 days = 21 points
- Measurements: 1 point each for the three required = 3 points
- Sunday Stats Post: 1 point earned for posting on time = 1 point
- Points earned this week: 25 points
- Total Earned: 75 points
Personal Goals
Aside from this challenge, I have two personal goals going on this month…to achieve 30 minutes of cardio each day and to transition to a Keto diet…plus I added a third goal to achieve 10,000 steps per day.
As I mentioned last week, the transition to a Keto Diet is proving a little harder than I expected but I’m still working on this one.
As far as the exercise, I’m getting this one done. I am using Sunday as my rest day from Cardio but I’m getting more than 30 minutes throughout the week to make up for it.
And for steps, well…I’m getting there.
So, how did you do? Are you following a long? Let us know how your week went in the comments section at the bottom of this page. We’re here to support you on your journey too!
For now, take care and hug your loved ones!
~Ki
P.S. If you’d like my free weight loss progress chart (shown here) to use for yourself, just submit your name and email in the box at the upper right hand side of this page and it’ll take you to your own free copy.
- For challenge worksheets and the Forget Skinny planner, see our Planners & Worksheets page!
In an effort to be transparent to our visitors, please understand that we get small commissions from purchases made through the links in this article. Please review our full disclosure at the very top left side of this site, next to the date.