I did the 2019 SHRED Challenge!

Hey y’all! For those of you who have not read my previous post on the Chloe Ting 2019 Workout Challenge (and my tips on how to get through it!), go ahead and read it here!! As I explained in that post, I began the Challenge in the end of November, and have just finished last Sunday!

So, how did it go for me?

My complete experience!

I had a blast!!

I began the ab challenge before realizing that it was part of a bigger challenge – the 2019 SHRED. (This guy’s post inspired me to start the ab workout, and of course it all began with this girl and her playlist! Thanks you two!!) So, for the first few days, I had only done the ab workout, but personally, I don’t mind. It let me ease myself into a hard workout.

The soreness subsided after the first few days. I found the up-and-down planks to be the most challenging, and the Burpees to be just plain annoying! 😂 But y’all … the feeling when you finish! It’s awesome!! (Be warned that you may experience jelly legs at some point!)

Towards the end, I really had to push myself into my workouts! Let the memory of how good it feels afterward and the endurance you’re gaining push you on to finish the challenge!!

Alrighty, now we get to the scary part …

My results!

Who cares about the number on the scale? Not me. (But just in case you were wondering, the evil number went down 1.5 pounds. 😝) These past few weeks, looking back, have shaped the way I think about working my body and healthy eating. I’ve gone on a few runs, helped load a moving truck with heavy stuff, and walked every day.

I haven’t noticed visible results (although my Mom said she did!) I have noticed that my legs feel more muscular, and that squats have been getting easier to perform for longer periods of time.

Aside from physical results, I’ve begun to develop stick-to-it-iveness. I had determination at the beginning and I had determination right up until the end. I got tired. Yes, at times I got demotivated. But mental growth comes from sticking with it even when it gets tough. And now I feel bolder, more ready to continue on to do bigger and more intense workouts.

(Note: Yes, I did play with the schedule a bit, taking some out, putting some in, and honestly? I’m okay with that, because I loved it. Don’t force yourself to follow it strictly if you’re going to hate it. Feel free to tailor it a bit to fit your individual needs.)

Why you should do this workout:

(Yep, I’m going to give you reasons! Keep reading!)

#1 – It’s really good for you. Any workout that gets your heart rate up, releases endorphins, and strengthens your body overall is a great workout! You’re doing yourself a favor in the long run!

#2 – It makes you feel good. Not only does endorphin release make you feel happier, but it’s empowering to be able to do something tough and stick with it for two weeks straight! I never knew I had it in me, and I bet you do too!

#3 – It strengthens you mentally. As I told another blogger, half the challenge is mental. Do I really want to get out of bed to workout, eat healthily, plan my day with more structure, and take an hour out to get all sweaty so I can shower for the third time in three days? (In case you can’t tell, the answer should be yes!) When you push yourself to do hard things because they’re good for you, it strengthens your willpower and decision-making process. So -> work out because it makes you smart. 🤨*shakes my head*

#4 – You’ll look cool in front of your friends. That is, unless they do it with you! Then you won’t! 🤣

#5 – This specific workout is well-structured for those who are new to working out and workout challenges. It lays things out in an easy-to-understand format, and I love that it switches things up every day!

Here are some resources that helped me in the past two weeks:

• “Lose it Right”, book by James Fell
• My mom’s amazing meals!
• Whey Protein powder, from Natural Factors. (Yes, it tastes amazing! You may also want to consider just buying whey in its unpowdered form as well, since it’s pretty much the same thing.)

Well, adieu my friends! I hope you decide to eventually take the plunge and do a Chloe Ting workout! I dare you to be bold and do it! Have fun!!

Makayla

This was so much fun, I need to know your tips! Which workout program are YOU on? How do you get through a Chloe Ting challenge?

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Chloe Ting 2019 SHRED Workout Challenge – Day #5

Hey fabulous people!

I started the Chloe Ting Shred Workout Challenge! Guys, I am so excited to share this with you because I finally found a workout I like!! *cheers*

My friend SonofYHWH made a post about how he wants to complete the Chloe Ting Two-Week Ab Workout, and I’ve decided to take the plunge and begin the Challenge! He’s asking people to keep him accountable and to do it along with him, so go ahead and join us both!

(Check out SonofYHWH’s post here!)

I’ve decided to do a little more than just the Ab Workout for these next two weeks … I’m doing the whole 2019 SHRED Challenge! (Yes, I know, it’s my first workout challenge ever, but I can do it. And so can you!)

So, the Challenge includes 5 different exercises, which are paired up differently for different days, and it also includes two rest days.

You guys, rest days are really important! The rest day is when your body actually begins to build the muscle, in addition to letting you rest the parts of your body you’re working on so you don’t get burnt out. So be sure to take a break every fifth day of the program, and to take at LEAST a four day break from intense workouts after you finish the Challenge.

(Check out the Chloe Ting 2019 Shred Challenge!)

Having already gone through five days of the program, here are my tips for your best performance in the coming weeks, should you decide to join me in the Challenge.

• Be sure to stretch before and after, even if it’s only a little. Stretching afterward is, in my opinion, one of the most important things to remember to do in tandem with your workout, because it causes your muscles (and potential muscle growth) to be relaxed and settled into their proper places, instead of leaving your workout tight and sore. Ballet dancers use and employ this technique for long, lean muscles.
• Use a protein powder for maximum results in gaining muscle and satisfying your daily protein count without micro-managing your diet.
• Don’t be afraid to make adjustments to the program for you personally. I’ve tinkered with it a bit, but it hasn’t changed the overall scope of the workout. You know what your body needs, and if you want to make a few small changes (swapping certain workouts, resting on different days, etc,) then go for it! Just keep in mind that too many adjustments can render the program less effective.
• Eat as healthily as you possibly can. Most people embark on workout challenges for either fitness benefits or prestige, but healthy food is important anyway regardless of whether you actually want results or not. Just be aware of what you’re putting in your body. Think “Will this help my body function well through my physical activity for today, or will it drag me down and slow my progress?”
• Make sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drinking water can get boring, but you can force yourself to get your quantity by flavoring it, keeping a bottle handy at all times, or sipping while at your desk.
• Have fun! Don’t pressure yourself! A workout challenge can be way too stressful if you’re always pushing your body to the point of exhaustion. Take it easy – working out should never be a burden.

So people! If you want to do something awesome with 25 to 50 minutes of your day for the next two weeks, then join us! 😉 I hope you all have tons of fun with these workouts and feel awesome about your results!

Stay awesome, y’all!

Makayla

Are you going to join me in the SHRED challenge? Are you currently doing it? What are you doing differently during this challenge, and what are your best tips for staying hydrated and loose while working out?

You are SO Beautiful!

Have you ever known a girl who was just so beautiful and had such an attractive personality in her own way, but … she just couldn’t see it? In fact, maybe she even thought she was ugly … or dumb … or annoying … and maybe she wanted to be somebody else! Maybe that girl …

Maybe that girl … was you?

That girl was me.

Surrounded by what society calls “beauty”, I looked around, and saw that everyone else had clearer skin. Everyone else had skinny legs. Everyone else had a crush who liked them back (Presumably because of their looks.) And then there was me.

Can I tell you something, little girl with a crown? What you are doing is comparing yourself to others. And each of those girls are comparing themselves to you. And you are both coming up on the short end because you don’t realize that God made you YOU and even if you weren’t born with your struggles, get this: The YOU that God made is gonna have to put up with the hard times as well as the good times. And God will help you! He loves and won’t leave you hanging!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (emphasis mine)

And listen: If God is for you, than who can stand against you? Don’t let the world stand against you! Don’t measure yourself by their standards. Trust in God. Commit yourself to developing a beautiful character, an inner beauty.

Little girl with a crown, you are God’s child, and he will give you the desires of your heart … when you seek first His kingdom and righteousness.

I know it’s hard to wait, hard to be different, hard to keep going, hard to change your thinking … But you can choose to let the hard things make you better. Diamonds are formed under intense pressure. In the same way, your pressures can crush you, or it can create a sparkling beauty.

Things to avoid …

• Stop comparing yourself to other girls. Every time you catch yourself, chastise yourself. Tell God, “Thank you for your beautiful creation. We are both beautiful because we are made in YOUR image.”
• Don’t make the situation worse. If you are REALLY down in the dumps about your weight, acne, school, or something more serious, seek help! Talk to your parents or a caring friend, do a little research, you could even talk to me!😉 Seriously … you are not alone!

Step 1 – KNOW that outward beauty is second to inward beauty. Inner beauty is oh-so-important and comes FIRST.

Step 2 – LIVE what you KNOW. Work on your inner beauty. It’s okay to wear make-up and care about your clothing and try to look nice, but really cultivate your inner beauty. Let your inner beauty shine through the clothes you’re wearing. Let your happiness and contentment give your skin a glow.

Step 3 – Wait on Yahweh, and be strong. It takes strength and patience to wait, and these are both elements of inner beauty. Find a role model (your mom, aunt, even a friend) who shows you what inner beauty looks like.

I’ve been there, done that. I’m here for you, girl!!

Stay strong in the Word.

How do we cultivate our inner beauty?

“Sure, sure.” You say. “I’ve heard all this talk about inner beauty and this and that, but exactly HOW am I supposed to attain this status? I want it now … but no matter how hard I’ve tried, I keep slipping back! By the end of the day I’m so discouraged that I give up!”

Oh, my friend. No kind of beauty is attained in a day. A dramatic transformation is what every girl dreams of, but it happens rarely, if ever. Lots of people will tell you that their success, beauty, muscles, and grades, are all a result of long days (and nights!) of hard work. Yet it paid off in the end.

Do you truly believe that inner beauty is worth the work? Is it something you’d cherish, and hold close to your heart? Then I hope you will join me in my quest to build inner beauty.

What is the first step? I believe that the first step for me was realizing that the Bible is my guidebook. Sure, we can memorize Bible verses. We can strive to show the nine Fruits of the Spirit in our lives. But the act of settling in and digging DEEP into the Word, starting from the very beginning, was a real wake-up call for me. Reading several chapters a day showed me what a real desire for God’s Words looks like.

Beautiful You Tip #1 – The Bible is your guidebook! Start at the very beginning, and read ALLLLL the way to the end.

Even if you can only read a little bit a day, it is a few minutes of your day that you will never regret! And know that I’m reading with you! (I’m only in Leviticus, but I have already seen so much growth in myself its astonishing!) If there is a day I don’t read the Bible, I feel like I’ve missed something so precious!

The Bible is not a magic pill. But there’s something about the constant truth of Yahweh’s Word that calms my soul and gives me peace, and makes me thirsty to read more.

THIS is a real test. THIS is the hard work that will pay off. THIS is what will help you grow in Christ … the hard days and the long nights … and when you blink open your eyes and realize that you’ve been changed, from the inside out!

I know I’m not perfect, and I can even think back to things I could have (and should have!) done differently this week, but I realized that I learned a big lesson from those mistakes. It’s an encouragement to know I’m walking the right path, and it’s also a gentle push to tell me to keep walking forward and not give up.

(This is the first in a series of articles on cultivating inner beauty. I’m so happy to be journeying this with you and I hope you will come along with me for the ride, dear sister!!)

Love,

~Makayla