Arms Race!

Looking forward to September has me shaking in my boots a little bit. I have faith that within the new school year will also be time to run, work out, lift weights and all that. I know it’s possible because I did it last spring, but new beginnings can throw me for a loop. I decided to throw myself a little challenge in September, just to keep my momentum moving forward. I’m making an arms challenge for myself.
What does that mean? Essentially it means that I’m going to focus my lifting efforts on my arms in hopes of making a difference in the next thirty days.
Here’s where I’m starting:

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At this point I’m not sure if I want them to shrink or grow. What I do hope for is better definition and for flab to hit the road! I know some jiggle and wiggle, batwing-style magic will always remain, but I feel like if I put some sweat effort into my arms they will at least look tighter than they could.
Here’s where I was this last spring, when I started paying attention to my arms:

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Ok, I’m sure you’re feeling a little bit overexposed to my arm and, lefts face it, my armpit. It just comes with the territory.
If you’re interested in participating in my arms race, take a picture today and store it away someplace. By October 5th, have another snapshot taken, create an email with your before and after, have it in my inbox and I’ll hang your picture with mine!

Little Si

20130901-212507.jpgFor our last big summer day we headed up to Little Si for a hike. It was a pretty intense hike (I like intense). The elevation was fine, it was the super rough terrain. I felt like I was marching the whole time, lifting my legs reeeallly high in the air over and over and over to step over logs, huge rocks and gigantic roots. And coming down was as exciting and sweaty as going up! I felt like a mountain goat. When I got into the car at the end of the hike I figured out I burned just shy of 2000 calories, though, so along with the stellar views and quality family time it was a great calorie burner! At first we couldn’t believe that I had burned that much- had to be a glitch, right? But, no. Then we figured out that just walking without the elevation gain would be around 1600 calories (it was a three hour, round trip hike that ended up being a little over 4.5 miles with 1200 in elevation gain). I’m thinking one hike like this every week and I’ll be doing great for weightloss!

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