Challenge 2, with adjustments

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking here for a while, I read posts everyday to try to

remain a part of the community of BFL'ers, and I enjoy hearing about

everyone's progress.

I wanted to say that I started Challenge 2 a week ago. I had to think

about what I needed to modify with the challenge before I could start

it. I've had some huge changes in my life (son went to live with his

Dad for a year, I was laid off, just to name two), and have been a

little down but the one thing I didn't want to do was slide backwards

in the health department.

I have seen a specialist for my shoulder, and he confirmed a

partially torn rotator cuff, arthritis in same shoulder, and stenosis

of the cervical spine. (I was prepared for the first one, not so much

for the second two.) Luckily, I don't need surgery and can do

exercises for the neck and shoulder and just need to baby the

shoulder in terms of lifting.

I think I successfully modified BFL for me and I'm looking forward to

completing this challenge. It consists of:

Eating clean, like usual, 6 days a week with the 1 FREE DAY.

I basically do two workouts a day now...I worked it out so that

during my 6 day exercise week, I am walking for 30 min (hills) for 4

days a week, doing a LBWO at the gym 2 days a week, doing 2 days of

elliptical training (HIIT for 20 min), and 4 days a week, I get to

choose from a variety of workout DVD's. I have Bellydance Fusion with

Suhaila Salimpour (4 DVD set), Lotte Berk Method (4 DVD set) and Mari

Winsor Pilates (3 videos). With the variety, I never get bored, and

can mix up the workouts so that I can target different areas. So far,

I am really enjoying this!

I wanted to make a note here that I was quite surprised at the Lotte

Berk workouts....she was a Russian dancer who designed these workouts

to strengthen, tone/stretch all the muscles, let me tell you, the

workouts are very challenging and so far I am very glad I bought the

DVD set. The bellydancing is difficult for a different reason: I am

not used to moving my body that way and there will be a learning

curve to getting all the moves down. But its a lot of fun, and I do

feel like I am getting a good workout (especially the abs and

glutes!).

Sorry for the long post. I feel like sharing this with the group

makes me more accountable for this challenge

Karyn

[Guest guest]

I love belly dancing! not only is it a great workout, it makes you feel so

good!