Remember when I said I was going to try Fitness Magazine's Bikini Body Makeover Challenge? Well, I think this would have been the 4th week if I was on track but I am not. I think I fell off the bikini makeover wagon around the middle of week 3. Let me explain.
As a final semester college senior (!), I blame this on the fact that my exercise plan changes on a daily basis. By this I mean I try to make whatever activities I have planned for the day part of my daily dose of fitness. Example: On Tuesdays, my walks from my apartment to classes and back usually count for part of my leg workouts and cardio. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I count the hours I spend folding clothes and walking around the store at work as part of my cardio. Thursday night trips to the local club (if you can even call it that) count as a full out calorie and strength training sweat sesh.
These activities don't really fit into the Fitness Mag guidlines, but they fit into my life. Really, this is all that matters. I have found that if something doesn't work for you it isn't going to work at all. The treadmill cardio workout that was suggested in the magazine was doable, but let's be honest, I would much rather walk around campus and dance around downtown than force myself to jump on a machine for 45 minutes 3 times a week.
I did follow the strength training workout that was outlined in the magazine. I found the exercises to be very well-balanced and they definitely left me sore the next day. I usually did my own thing for the ab workouts instead of following their suggestions.
Despite mentioning that I might try the meal plan, I never did. I used to count calories like a crazy person and I must say, it really keeps you accountable and is a great way to understand one's eating habits. After doing that for awhile, I began to realize how much food my body needed and continued to eat in that way. The meal plan laid out by the magazine was pretty different from the way I normally eat, causing me to shy away from it.
Overall, I think the plan is a good one. It seems to have the three big things that most healthy living plans have: cardio, strength training, eating in a balanced way. The plan is rigid, which I am sure is great for some people. For me, I felt that the plan changed my healthy living habits only slightly. I didn't see drastic results simply because I already incorporate many of the same ideas into my daily life.
The Bikini Body Makeover didn't result in an amazing transformation, but it did make me realize finding your own personal fitness plan is the only way to stay truly healthy.
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