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fitness

The Workout Gear That Will Make You Want To Sweat

by How She Styles February 19, 2019

Don’t you just feel like you workout harder when you are wearing cute gym gear? I’d like to think that I do! I mean my face might be red, blotchy, and sweaty, but at least my top and bottom go together right? I mean, even when I go for a walk, if I am wearing cool leggings I feel like I could break into a sprint at any moment (not really, because NOBODY likes to sprint).

Regardless of how you are adding physical activity to your life don’t you want to show your style personality while you do it?

Here are all the cute workout goodies that will make you want to sweat. Don’t forget to click the image to shop it!

The Winter Workout’s Best Friend

The Cozy Pre-Workout Sweatshirt

The Supportive Workout Buddy

The Set For The Girl Who Loves Kate Spade

The Leggings For a Chill Yoga Session

The Perfect Post Workout Layering Piece

The Leggings For A Girl Who Likes Stripes

The Sports Bra That Lets Your Back Breathe

The Leggings That Could Be Worn As Pants

The Super Soft Post Workout Sweatpants

The Set For The Girl Who Loves Abstract Art

I hope these pieces inspire you to go out there and start sweating! Let me know what your favorite pieces are from the edit and where you like to pick up your workout gear from in the comments!

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March 2018 Goals

by How She Styles March 2, 2018

February was a pretty busy month for me. I was able to get some goals accomplished while I barely made a dent in others. After getting out of that winter rut, I feel prepared to hit the ground running in March. Here’s what I am trying to accomplish and how I did with last month’s goals.

Fitness

Last month I attempted to work out thirty minutes a day for four days out of the week. Turns out that is too hard for me to take on with such a busy schedule. I am changing this goal to be just to go and workout at the gym five times per week. If I am tight on time I will generally just run on the treadmill for 20 minutes. I also want to add to my fitness goals to do some sort of yoga or stretching before bed at least five times a week to relax me and get me ready to fall asleep.

February Goals 2018 - Read 1 Book This Month

Lifestyle

My lifestyle goal last month was to read a single book in that month and that didn’t happen. The books I chose were not keeping my attention so I couldn’t get to the end. This month I am going to attempt to read at least one chapter a day whether that’s in the evening, right when I wake up or on my commute. However, that’s not my only goal. As you may have noticed my February Goals was the only post that went live last month. Life has just been getting in the way of doing what I love. This month I am committed to posting 1 or 2 blog posts per week to get back into the swing of things.

Food

In February, I gave myself the challenge of making a meal at least once a week. I actually succeeded at this! This month I am going to try to bring breakfast or lunch to work at least once a week. Right after food shopping this isn’t too difficult, but when I start running low on food is when this will be a challenge.

Beauty

In the category of beauty, I challenged myself to apply nail oil every evening. This was basically a complete failure. I think I applied it maybe 4 times in the entire month. For March I am going to attempt this again allowing myself to forget only once per week so that I don’t completely give up if I forget one day.

Fashion

In fashion last month, I decided to declutter and I was successful! I got rid of a bunch of sweaters and other stuff I wasn’t wearing. If you want to see how the declutter process went check out my declutter video. I am also going to keep trying to cull my wardrobe and keep trying to find curate my perfect wardrobe.

For this month’s fashion goal I am stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to style an entire week of outfits without using jeans. This is a tough one for me. I love jeans, but I want to expand my horizons and wear different bottoms because I have such a fun variety of prints and silhouettes.

What is something you are trying to accomplish this month? Let me know in the comments below.

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February 2018 Goals

by How She Styles February 1, 2018

I have been writing this type of post since November and I have rarely accomplished all the goals I give myself. A lot of people would consider this a failure. However, for me I just believe that the goals I am setting are not manageable enough for me to accomplish in a month’s time. This time around I decided to give myself five manageable goals that I know I can accomplish all at once within one month. I also tried to choose goals that are involved in different areas of my life, like personal care, fitness, health, etc. I am working towards creating a daily routine I can stick to and make these goals into habits that are part of my daily life.

February Goals 2018 - Read 1 Book This Month

Read One Entire Book

I haven’t done this in a few months and I miss reading. I find myself on my phone all the time. Reading gives me the chance to take a break from a screen, and maybe learn something new. I took out two books from my local library. One book is all about understanding compulsion and the other is a collection of short stories from The Moth.

Cook Once Per Week

This is something I have tried before and failed at, but I am determined to get into the kitchen. Like a lot of people my age, I am so reliant on eating out and that is money I could be spending somewhere else. Money saving aside, making my own food puts me in complete control of the portion and ingredients so I can tailor it to my needs.

Be Active 30 minutes A Day For Four Days A Week

Staying active in the colder months can be really difficult. Even if I’m staying in my house it’s easy to be too warm and cozy in my bed to workout in the morning, and too tired to workout in the evening. Giving workouts a time limit makes it easy to fit it into my day and puts fitness into manageable bites. I am not expecting myself to workout every day because sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe if this goes well I will increase the time spent exercising or number of days I am active. I just want to use something that I can keep track of so I don’t go to many days without being active.

Sell/Donate At Least 20 Items

I did a big clear out back in the summer and now I am going to do the same with all my winter stuff. If I haven’t used a piece this season I probably won’t. I am going to go through my entire wardrobe and pulling out at least 20 pieces I am not wearing to try and get to my perfect wardrobe.

Use Nail Oil Every Day for The Month of February

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to take better care of my hair, skin, and nails. With that, I want to start with my nails. They have always been a pain because up until I was 18 I was biting them. Now I am not biting them but I pick, and they get really dry so it’s not a pretty sight(TMI). My goal is to start to add nail care to my daily routine. I want to make my nails and the skin around them to be really healthy by applying nail oil daily either in the morning or at night.

Those are the five goals I will be trying every day to accomplish. What are some of your monthly goal? Let me know in the comments below!

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My Weight Loss Journey: My Goal Weight and Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

by How She Styles October 5, 2017

In May, I wrote a post all about my weight loss goals and my progress to reach those goals. Part of the reason why I wrote it was to motivate me to keep going and to help serve as a marker of how far I’d come.

Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle - How She Styles

July – 140lbs

Looking back at it, four months ago feels like ages. I was feeling stronger and taking control of my body. I was on an incline and felt like no one could stop me.

In August, I reached my goal weight of 135 pounds and it felt amazing! But even with this sense of accomplishment, I couldn’t help myself from thinking that I should have seen more results after losing almost 25 pounds. My arms were still a sore spot for me, and since you can’t choose where on your body you lose the weight, I was getting frustrated.

Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle - How She Styles

August – 135lbs

Slowly, I lost motivation. I was eating candy and sweets, and not doing any type of exercise other than a weekend run that was only about 2 miles.

By September I had gained four pounds. This really did stink, but it kicked me back into the mindset of losing weight. To me, gaining the weight sucks, but it’s not a failure. It’s just a setback that reminds me where the boundaries are when it comes to my workouts and diet. I know that even though I gained four pounds, I didn’t gain all 25 pounds back.

Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle - How She Styles

Today – 137lbs

Overall, I’m happier with the way my body looks and feels now than ever before; however, I still need to get to a place where it’s not a constant battle to make healthy choices. I look forward to the day that I am not tempted to eat every snack that’s on that workplace snack table. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there.

Weight loss is scary for me and for many others because there is no end point. You might reach your goal, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle remains a battle. It’s easier to be unhealthy. It’s easier to order a pizza after a long day of work. It’s fun to eat that cake from your coworker’s birthday.

The only thing that pushes me is how I feel on the inside. That’s a cheesy sentiment, but it’s ultimately true. If I choose to eat that cake, then I’ll have a headache and stomach ache. If I choose to workout, I’ll feel energized and like I’ve accomplished at least one goal for that day.

Don’t let your motivation be the way you look in a swimsuit because that will drive you crazy. Let your motivation be your energy level and your strength.

What motivates your weight loss? Let me know in the comments below?

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Current Favorites In Beauty, Lifestyle, and the Internet

by How She Styles September 6, 2017

August was pretty uneventful compared to July, but I liked it that way. This was a month of self-care and creating new habits. I really enjoyed the time I had to relaxed and get my life in order because September is looking like it’s going to be a busy month.

L’Oreal Infallible Lip Paint in Nude Star #312

As part of my declutter process (see what that is below), I decided I would only buy beauty products I felt I needed. This month was probably the first in a while I have only bought one beauty product. I picked this lip product because I have been really into liquid sort of consistency with a little bit of shine. This is the product I am reaching for when I don’t know what to put on my lips. It’s easy to apply without a mirror and it is super comfortable on the lips.

Bath and Body Works Sweater Weather Three Wick Candle - August Favorites - The Face Of Style

Bath and Body Works Sweater Weather Candle

This is the candle I have been burning throughout the month of August. I love this candle because it gives me all the fall feels without being pumpkin scented. This candle also doesn’t punch you in the face with scent. I am able to burn it for a while before the scent fills the whole room. I have just been loving this candle and definitely want to buy a backup.

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck - August 2017 Favorites - The Face Of Style

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck By Mark Manson

I finished another book this month and it was a good one. This book was the least cheesy self-help book I have ever read. I did a review on it earlier in the month, and I still try to think about the lessons they talk about in the book. It takes a different look at how we view success and what to give a fuck about.

The Goal Digger Podcast

I learned about this podcast from Pink Champagne Problems. Listening to podcasts is new to me so I wanted to find more to listen to. I had never heard of Jenna Kutcher, who is the host, but I wanted to learn more about business and being an entrepreneur. Jenna and her guests speak about real experiences and tips for business while still having fun. The podcast has inspired me to be myself, share my experiences, and try to create my own unique brand.

My Decluttering Journey

The journey started back in July. I was inspired by the book the Joy of Less to make an effort to declutter. My main goal was to get the most out of my wardrobe. This month I got to a place where I feel like I know what I have in my closet, and can really get the most out of it. If you want to read more about this, check out my full post here.

Lana Del Rey Lust For Life - August 2017 Favorites - The Face Of Style

Lust For Life By Lana Del Rey

I don’t really post about music much on here, but I really loved this album. It was soft and mellow, but also powerful. I really enjoyed listening to it on my commute, running, and just hanging out at home. I have never really listened to an entire Lana Del Rey album, but clearly I have been missing out.

Yoga With Adrienne

When I am not running I try to do another type of work out. Yoga seemed nice because it’s less strenuous on the body, increases flexibility, and improves posture. These are all areas I need help in. When I typed yoga in the Youtube search bar, Adrienne was the first link. I really like how calming her voice is and how she doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Make sure you also check out all my fashion favorites too!

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Leaving Your Comfort Zone And Experiencing Life

Transitional Pieces Perfect From Summer To Fall

Minimalistish?

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The Popsugar 14 Day Plank Challenge - The Face Of Style

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The Popsugar 14 Day Plank Challenge – Did I Even Notice A Difference

by How She Styles August 9, 2017

Have you ever seen those fitness challenges on Pinterest? 7 days to flat abs or 30 days for the perfect butt?

Well I decided to try the 14 day plank challenge.

The Challenge

Basically I followed this graphic I happened upon on Pinterest. It starts by doing each of the five planks for 10 seconds each and finishes your two weeks by doing them 1 minute.

I started by printing it out and putting it somewhere I would look every day. I checked off each day as I completed it.

I’m going to be honest my core is relatively strong so the first few days seemed pretty easy.

By the last four days, I was in hell. I was shaking for every plank I even had to take a break in between each plank.

The side planks were most challenging for me. I always opt for regular planks so my core is stronger there. The side planks tested my side core strength as well as my balance.

I know what you are all thinking! Did I see a difference?

The short answer? No.

Did I feel a difference? Yes!

Before

The Popsugar 14 Day Plank Challenge - The Face Of Style

After

The Popsugar 14 Day Plank Challenge - The Face Of Style

During these last four days I was actually sore for a few days from working my lower abs so hard. I will mention that I haven’t had the best diet these last two weeks. Also, I have done much running or other core workouts.

Do I think this would work better with a better diet and other workouts? 100%!

Do I think any type of challenge will give you results in two weeks?? No way!

In the future I might try and keep this up doing a few minutes of planks a day. Since I found out that I can actually do a plank for five minutes! I would be interested to see how my body does eventually change.

I hope this encourages you guys to challenge yourselves to try something you have never done before. It may be uncomfortable at first, but can be wonderful when you find out you can do something you thought you couldn’t!

This is a reminder to you that working out takes time, consistency, and determination to see results so don’t expect six pack abs overnight (or in two weeks!), but keep at it and pushing yourself because everyday that you push forward is one step closer to your goal than you were the day before.

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All My Favorites From July

My Picks From The Who What Wear Collection

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The Face Of Style - My Fitnes Journey - This Time Last Year

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This Time Last Year: My Weight Loss Journey

by How She Styles May 17, 2017

This time last year I weighed 159lbs. It is the heaviest I have ever been. It didn’t happen overnight. I was about 140lbs in high school when I was playing sports and under the legal drinking age. When I got to college, working out was a rarity due to my busy schedule (or what I thought was busy then), and little thought when into what put in my body.

That was the first ten pounds. The nine pounds after that came when I began working.

I was commuting 4 hours a day without delays to my commute and sometimes working late and getting home as late as 9pm. I didn’t care what I was eating and my lunch became a reward for making it through half the day. When I would finally get home, I would go to bed.

Then after I moved out and shortened my commute I was able to spend more time focusing on things I enjoyed doing which happened to be going out drinking with my friends and eating dinner out. That’s where the other 9lbs came from.

Last year in May was when wedding season began. I was invited to my cousins wedding and I really want to wear this beautiful dress I had bought, but when I put it on it just didn’t look good. My underarm chub was bulging out, and in my eyes I looked like a football player.

That is when I made a conscious effort to change. Before that moment I would yeah I want to work out, I want to lose weight, etc. But this time I put together a list of things I needed to accomplish to get to my goal.

FITNESS

I set my goal at 140lbs. When I set that goal it seemed unrealistic. I hadn’t been that weight since high school. I just figured I would be able to reach it eventually. My more attainable goal when I started was to lose five pounds.

Then I began the list:

Work out twice a week
Start counting calories – find an app that will help

That was really it.

Getting back into running was depressing.

I think I could barely hit a mile before I couldn’t catch my breath.

But, I just kept at it.

I ran and stopped and ran a little more and stopped

I did this every single time I ran until I hit my one mile goal

Then I added another goal to my list, run a little more every day trying to increase the distance I can run without having to stop.

Now I run 2 miles three times a week.

But I still want to push myself, run farther maybe do a half marathon one day

FOOD

My real struggle is with food.

I LOVE food.

Worse, I love sweets!

Calorie counting was my first line of defense because it’s easy to figure out.

You have a set number of calories based off your current weight, weight loss goal, and the rate at which you would like to lose weight.

Let’s say you have a calorie limit of 1300 calories you are not going to want to eat a 1000 calorie Big Mac and only have three hundred left for dinner.

It really helped me personally cut down on snacking and pushed me to choose foods that would keep me fuller longer.

It just makes you more accountable when you have to write down everything you are eating

A food journal has sort of the same effect.

In this department I was doing well, but getting through the holidays and moving I was really put to the test. There is always a plethora of food and snacks available in the office and no one likes working out when its cold.

My Weight Loss Journey Has Not Been Easy

I wrote a post about falling off the horse here and what my plan was to get back on track.

January through April I felt like my weight was going up and down. One day I was 143 the next I was 148. I was getting mad at myself for slipping back into my bad eating habits and sometimes only working out once a week.

I just kept pushing through and following my routine sometimes eating a big lunch or going out for food always keeping my goal in mind.

Every time I did faltered I would work to make sure I made up for it the next day or the next meal, always trying to keep a balance.

As of last week I felt like a really got the hang of it again. This morning I weighed in at 140lbs

I am not at my goal yet, but seeing slow and steady results are pushing me to keep going to the gym, to choose a healthy option, or do those 20 push-ups.

It has been 1 year since I started this journey. It has made me happy and it has tested me, but it’s not over. I needed to make (and still do) a conscious effort to go to the gym and eat healthy because I know the minute I don’t I will gain the weight back. Weight loss is something that you need to think about everyday to be successful.

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The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

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(Almost) 48 Hours In Arizona: Was It Worth The Trip?

by How She Styles April 27, 2017

I was able to take a little vacation with Luke over last weekend. We decided to go to Arizona because it’s warm, it’s sunny, and I have some family out there. It’s a five hour flight from Newark to Phoenix. I was in Phoenix for just about 48 hours, but I made every moment count!

4/21/17:

The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

11:00pm PST, 2:00am EST

My weekend in Phoenix started off on a pretty crappy note with a three hour delay that didn’t get me to my hotel until around 2am. I was exhausted and dehydrated to say the least.

4/22/17:

The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

6:00am PST, 9:00am EST

Saturday started off great! I woke up around 6:00am and was able to just chill in bed for a little bit. It was nice not having to get up and go right away. Then around 8:30am I met up with my cousin and his wife at the Otro Cafe for breakfast. It was a little unassuming joint in a strip mall. We walked in at it was such a cute little place with a outdoor patio in the back. It was quiet and the food was so freaking good! We got a breakfast burrito with all the good stuff and banana pecan flapjacks. We split each meal and got some savory and some sweet! This is where we planned our day!

9:00am PST, 12:00pm EST

We decided to go to Sedona! We drove for around two hours and tried to reach a hiking path, but the path was too packed and decided to just drive around and take in the sites.

The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

12:00pm PST, 3:00pm EST

After about an hour of seeing all the red rocks we decided to was time for lunch. We stopped by a place called the Hideaway House. I got a Veggaterrainean salad, it was basically a mediterranean salad with no meat. It was so good! I love salads especially when there in feta cheese involved! We sat on this outdoor patio with a great view of the red rocks Sedona is known for. Did I mention the weather was gorgeous?! It hovered around 75 degrees all day. This is something I was not used to due the garbage weather that has been happening on the east coast. Arizona was my ideal temperature while I was there.

2:00pm PST, 5:00pm EST

On our way back to the hotel we stopped by a little local coffee shop and grabbed a quick pick me up! I got a chai latte and it was very delicious! The guy making it even added cinnamon to the top.

7:00pm PST, 10:00pm EST

When we got back to the hotel we took about two hours to relax, shower, and get re-hydrated. Then it was off to our only dinner together that weekend. We chose a spot called Disoto Market a large building with little restaurant booths throughout with a bar at the front. We grabbed drinks and put food and sat at the outdoor seating. It was so nice. Just warm enough that you don’t need a jacket we comfortably ate our meal together talking about life. Out on the patio was mostly large groups of people around out age. It was the most relaxed I’ve felt in a while.

9:30pm PST, 12:30pm EST

Afterwards we took at walk around town until around 10 when I became extremely tired. It’s a three hour time difference from the east coast so I was ready for bed.

4/23/17:

The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

6:00am PST, 9:00amEST

Making sure to get as much time in Arizona as we could! Luke and I got up early, and decided to go for a hike. We hiked the Thunderbird Reservation which was a challenge, but the views from the top make it worth it. We also went early enough that it wasn’t too hot.

The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

8:30am PST, 11:30am EST

After the hike we visited the Ortro Cafe and got banana pecans flapjacks again! Along with a dish with sourdough bread base, smoked salmon, avocado, and topped with a poached egg. This meal was just as good as the first and this is my top recommendation for breakfast places in Phoenix. I hear they also have a good lunch and dinner selection.

The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

10:00am PST, 1:00pm EST

After breakfast we headed back to the hotel to get my bags packed and get me ready to go! After a very bittersweet goodbye to this city and Luke I headed to the airport to return to the rainy east coast.

The Face Of Style - (Almost) 48 Hours in Phoenix

2:00pm PST, 5:00pm EST

I have to say when I first started this journey I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it. After my basically 12 hours of travel for a barely two day visit. But between the weather and the company, I’m just waiting for my next chance to return to this fun filled state!

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The Face Of Style - 100 Day Push-up Challenge

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The 100 Day Push-up Challenge

by How She Styles April 12, 2017

Back in February I wrote about the 50 Day Challenge. I was inspired by a video I saw online and wanted to create my own challenge. After 50 days I decided to try another 50 and do 100 days of push-ups!

Today I finished the 100^th day and I do feel stronger! I usually do 10 regular push-ups and 10 diamond push-ups (when you put your hands into a diamond shape and do a push-up). I am happy I made it all the way through!

The Face Of Style - 100 Day Push-up Challenge

Top: Day 50, Bottom: Day 100

The Results

Although I am not exactly seeing the results I expected. In the video I watched the girl gets pretty toned, so I thought this would be the case for me. Then I realized, she was very skinny to begin with and all she had to do was gain muscle. However, I was trying to lose weight and gain muscle. I anticipated that I would have gained a little more definition than I got. I am not disappointed by any means though. My back has definitely become stronger and more defined. I have also lost a little weight in my underarm “chub” and my underarm, I think I just need to keep at it to reach my goal.

All this means is that I just have to keep working at it.

The Face Of Style - 100 Day Push-up Challenge

The Future Of My Arms

I have decided that I am going to keep doing 20 push-ups every day. On days I am doing a cardio workout I am only going to do 20 push-ups. On days I am not, I am going to do a full arm workout including pull-ups (assisted), push-ups, dumbbells, and anything else I can come up with.

Strong, toned arms! You will be mine!!

Tell me how you are challenging yourself in fitness! I am always looking for fun and interesting workouts!

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The 50 Day Push-Up Challenge

by How She Styles February 22, 2017

January 2nd 2017, I woke up and was scrolling through the internet. Looking through all the blog posts and new years resolutions videos people were posting, I started thinking about all my resolutions. My resolutions were get more fit, get back into my hobbies, work on this blog more, etc. When I noticed a video, one of those inspirational ones. It was a video of a girl who was made fun of for being too scrawny so she did push-ups every day for 100 days.

Then, I had a thought. What if I challenged myself to do push-ups every day? I decided on 50 days because 100 felt overwhelming and if I made it to 50 days I could always go for 100, right? A smaller goal just seemed easier to swallow. I decided I would do 20 push-ups per day for 20 days and I started right then on January 2nd. My final day was February 21st, this is how it went:

Day 1:

As I always say starting is the hardest part because once you start you can fail. The first week was definitely the hardest because I could barely do 10 push-ups. I did 10 took a 5 minute break, and then did 10 more.

Day 24:

Push-ups have gotten easier by this point, but sometimes I slack or forget to do my push-ups and I need to do 40 instead of 20 which is extremely difficult. I am however, starting to see a change in my arms definition in the shoulder and my “underarm chub” as I lovingly call it (the little bit of chub between your underarm and boob) has gotten very slightly smaller. At least that’s what I’m telling myself to get through this challenge.

Day 40:

I’m definitely seeing a difference in my arms and I love it! I feel stronger but 20 push-ups is not easy yet. I’ve started thinking about whether I should consider doing another fifty days or stopping the challenge and just incorporating more arm exercises into my workouts.

I’m really excited by the thought of completing this challenge! I feel like it was a small victory in my journey to a healthy life!

Day 50!:

After 50 days I’m going to be honest. Doing 20 push up has not become easy. It’s still hard to get to 20. After much deliberation I have decided to embark on another 50 days. Starting today since yesterday was the 50th day. I want to see more definition and hope that there’s a more noticeable change in my muscle tone and actual strength. I’m excited to embark on challenge part 2! Who knows, maybe I’ll even start to like doing push-ups!

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