Jillian Michael's Six Week Challenge

I did it!  

Today I finished Jillian Michael's Six Week Six Pack Challenge!

Technically, it was my challenge to myself.  On Jillian Michael's Six Week Six Pack workout video she says that combined with a healthy diet (can't say I did this perfectly or even well for that matter), if you do the workout video at least five times for six weeks, you will see dramatic results.  When I heard that the first time I laughed and thought of course you would see results with anything you are doing 30 minutes, 5 times a week.

But then I thought about it for a day and thought, why not.  That's what I want right?  Dramatic results.

So I decided to journal my efforts and results.  I tend to be long winded so I will try and consolidate it as much as possible.

Week 1
January 18th (Saturday)
Starting weight around 150 pounds.  My weight had been around this for several weeks with no change.

I worked out during the day with all the kids around me.  It was hard but I did the entire thing.  My legs are stiff but not my abs.

January 19th (Sunday)
Rest

So stiff, can barely walk normal.

January 20th-25th (Monday-Saturday)
I worked out EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
I could already tell I was getting stronger.

6 times since Saturday




Week 2
January 26th (Sunday)
Rest

January 27th-29th (Monday-Wednesday)
Worked out

Weighed myself Wednesday

145 baby!

January 30th (Thursday)
Worked out

January 31st (Friday)
Skipped working out today

February 1st (Saturday)
Worked out, plus added 5 pound weight to exercise which I will use for the remaining time I do level 1.

Worked out 5 times this week.



Week 3
February 2nd (Sunday)
Rest

February 3rd- 6th (Monday-Thursday)
Worked out

February 7th (Friday)
Skipped

February 8th (Saturday)
Worked out while the kids were awake...so hard.
Still on track



Week 4
February 9th (Sunday)

Rest

I told Wes I seriously wasn't looking forward to starting level 2 of the workout on Monday since level 1 still just about kills me every time.

February 10th (Monday)

I got my wish, I woke up at 1am super sick with the stomach bug my older kids had over the weekend.

I did not work out.

 I barely survived just taking care of 5 kids on a snow day, one of which had the bug too.

February 11th (Tuesday)

Did not workout. Feeling a little better.

February 12th (Wednesday)

I feel somewhat better and decided I should try level 2 of the workout.

I finished it.  Small victory!
Weighed myself.

139.8!

Wahoo!

Tonight I was so sore.  

February 13th (Thursday)

I was so sore all day today.    

I decided to try and do the workout in the evening.  I got to 13 minutes and had to stop because I was so sore.

February 14th- 15th (Friday & Saturday)

I woke up early, worked out.

Only 3 1/2 times this week.  Boo. Plan to make it up later.



Week 5

February 16th (Sunday)
Rest

February 17th (Monday)
Halfway through circuit 2 of level 2 I strained my right hamstring but I finished the exercise.

February 18th (Tuesday)
Worked out

Weighed myself

138.2!

February 19th (Wednesday)
Skipped

February 20th- 21st (Thursday-Friday)
Worked out

February 22nd (Saturday)
Novalee had her birthday party.  I had like four pieces of pizza and some bread.

Worked out and was so sick afterwards.  Such. A. Bad. Idea.



Week 6
February 23rd (Sunday)
Rested

February 24th- 26th (Monday-Wednesday)
Worked out

Weighed myself Tuesday.
137!

February 27th (Thursday)
Did the video in the morning and again at night just to finish it.

Feeling accomplished!  All done!  

February 28th (Friday)
I was planning on being done but I did the video again for the last 17 minutes to make up for stopping 17 minutes early during week 4.  I wanted to be able to know I did it a full 30 times. 30 times in the last 42 days.  That adds up to 15 hours of working out!

Final Results

I lost somewhere around 13 pounds.  But I wasn't just losing weight, I have developed some serious muscles.  My arms and legs feel so much more defined than they were before starting this.  In fact I feel like my arms look the best they have looked since before Wes and I got married.  

Usually after having a baby the first thing to go is my booty.  I actually lose all my curves and turn into a stick person.  I hate that.  I always want to keep my curves but not be so chubby.  This time I feel like I lost a lot of the chubs but kept my curves.  I love it!  I hated every minute of doing the squats in this video but to keep my booty it was worth it.  Now watch them quickly disappear because I plan to never, ever do this work out again. 

I'm currently back into my regular size shirts though they are still a little tight.  Two days ago I had to retire my size 7 jeans because they literally wouldn't stay up anymore.  So I'm back into all my regular sizes again even though I weigh about 15 pounds more than I did before I was pregnant.  Muscle?  That's what I'm going with.  :)

By the end of the six weeks I have developed a serious dislike for these workouts.  Even up to the very last day I was still exhausted after working out and I probably spent the last 42 days sore at least somewhere on my body.  But I have a booty.  Do you like how I keep mentioning that?  :)  

I did take pictures of my bare stomach before and after that I was super excited to share because I think you can see dramatic results but then my conscience (Wes) thought maybe it wouldn't be best to share over the Internet a part of my body I don't share with anyone other than my husband.  So boo for consciences.  :) 

 But I did take less revealing "after" pictures of myself today.  

I guess I don't have much for before pictures.  Here is one of my on New Years Eve? 

Wow!  Well maybe I do have a good before picture after all. 

 Holy crap!  

Um, yes, Jillian Michael's video worked!