Blogilates Beginners Calendar 1st Stepping Stone

12.15 in 1st, a, become, beginners, blogilates, calendar, habit, has, it, Paid, stepping, stone

I thought I would probably be best to start off by saying that I wasnt as enthusiastic and didnt enjoy this week as much as I made out like I would. Not to make up excuses but I think it was down to the fact that in the first few days I was full of an annoying cold and Ill admit it did mean my effort each day slacked - to the point where I didnt even bother to complete the first video yesterday...Oops.

Moving on. Day 26, well that was a killer, personally I think that has been the hardest day of the calender and I think the 8 minute abs has grown on me. But the sense of achievement when I completed all the videos was amazing!

If you read my previous posts, youd know that I was struggling slightly with the pilates stance and I felt as though I was straining my neck, I can happily say I think Ive mastered it. During day 26, which consisted of a lot of moves that required me to use my abs to keep me up rather than straining my neck, and I didnt feel any pain throughout the workout or the next day. Which is fantastic!

From blogilates website

Although, this week wasnt the most successful or motivated and was a slight disappointing end to the calender, I feel like Ive made such an improvement from a month ago. When I began the calender, I never set out the goal to be to lose weight or anything like that, it was purely to kick-start living a healthier lifestyle (and to get nicely toned up along the way). I think I have been successful in that sense, as Ive not only noticed a huge improvement in my strength, endurance and flexibility but also the reward of a on going physical change. Thats one thing I think everybody should keep in mind, it is an on going thing, youre in progress, loading. If I was to now give up after the huge leap to start, then all the hard work on this month would gradually disappear. 

As I have now reached day 28, it means the calender is complete and I do have the option to possibly move on to Casseys monthly calenders she brings out. However, I dont feel as though Im ready for that, which is completely find and if you are in a similar situation to me just remember something Cassey said do what you can and do it well. Im going to use that phrase to motivate me through another month following the beginners calender and because the leap of introducing exercise to my life has been made, this month I hope to incorporate a healthier diet along side the calender. Its all about the gradual steps! You cant reach the other side of the river by jumping, you need the help of stepping stones.

Read about the other weeks:

Week 1 

Week 2

Week 3

You do what you can and you do it well - Cassey Ho

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Blogilates Beginners Calendar Has It Become A Habit

11.24 in a, become, beginners, blogilates, calendar, habit, has, it, Paid, penguin, walk

So its day 21. Ive managed to keep this up for 3 whole weeks now without needing to restart - unlike my previous attempts. As I said last week, it apparently only takes 21 days to form a new habit! I feel as though I am very close to happily saying that I look forward to working out, hopefully I will say that with more confidence at the end of next week.

Unlike at the end of the previous two weeks, this week I dont feel physically stronger, healthier and fitter. Also I havent really noticed any physically changes and as the week progressed I did lose a little bit of motivation because of this, but I powered through as the feeling after completing the videos beats the feeling of regret if you keep pushing it to one side. 

Casseys stretching videos are definitely some of my favourites, not only do I find stretching extremely relaxing and stress relieving, but that slight pain you feel in your muscles is just amazing! Am I weird for thinking this? However, it wasnt until this morning that I realised how much my flexibility had improved. I mean Ive never been very inflexible but at the same time Ive never been able to do the splits, or place my head on the floor while sitting in a straddle position. But this morning I casually just starting stretching and was able to do a lot more flexible things, well not the splits just yet. 

Last week I mentioned I was struggling with certain positions as I felt I was straining my neck, Ive noticed a bigger improvement in that this week - although there werent many videos that consisted of those positions. 

This week I cant say there where any videos that I disliked! So its just straight onto the ones I loved. Apart from the stretching videos, of course, I really enjoyed Serious Standing Pilates for Legs, Butt & Obliques and Legs and Thighs Workout. Similar to the What Makes You Bootiful I will say that the legs and thighs one at times feels a little sexual, but they both made a huge impact the next day. Wow!

Onto week 4 I go. Theres only one more week to complete! Im going to be thinking over the next week what to do once I finished the calender. 

What did you do, plan to or suggest to do after finishing it?

Read about the other weeks :

Week 1 

Week 2
Week 4

I have discovered that, important as self-discipline is to a child, it is increasingly important as one grows older, Then it is really essential for your well being to regulate you life and habits in a sensible way. - Eleanor Roosevelt

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