August 14, 2013

Squats Challenge and Splits Challenge

Although I’ve loved doing challenges (ab challenges, splits challenges, you name it), I’ve been horrible at actually keeping up with them. This time I have some fellow bloggers keeping me motivated with this awesome 30 day Squat challenge, and a competition with HQ of Run Play Sleep (my boyfriend) to keep me motivated to get my splits.

30 Day Squat Challenge

Syreeta of Sincerely Syreeta started this challenge on Instagram and invited other people to join her so we could keep ourselves motivated. Today is my Day 3.

squatchallenge

I’ve split my squats between plie/sumo squats and normal body weight squats.

If you’re interested in joining us, you can learn more and connect with Syreeta on Twitter. Read more about Syreeta in my interview with her for Campus Philly.

Splits Challenge

This is more a competition than it is a challenge. Hq and I are competing by safely stretching every day to see who can get their splits first. The person who achieves them first owes the other a dinner out. I’ll be posting updates relatively frequently on this challenge.

How do you motivate yourself? Do you participate in challenges like diet bets and 30 day challenges?

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog, Info, Outside Class Tagged With: , , , Leave a Comment
April 11, 2013

Catching up on the Stretch, Plank and Squat Challenges!

King Pigeon Pose

My favorite yoga pose (Photo credit: lululemon athletica)

Good news is, while I’ve missed a few days of my squat and plank challenge–I’m completely caught up. While my boyfriend and I have a few days–we’ve caught up on the challenge’s days off. I’ve even managed to pull off a 1:30 plank, and I’ve been thinking about incorporating side planks and straight-arm planks.

Stretching has not been going quite as well. I was getting slightly sick of doing videos, so I basically ended up skipping stretching this weekend after a two-hour long ballet class and a super stressful Sunday (my 5k did not happen because of my shin splints). So I’ve been working on getting that back on track and Monday and Tuesday I just did some of the yoga poses and stretches I had worked on. Hopefully these will help me get closer to my splits in the end. Maybe I’ll get brave enough to put up some split photos when we reach the halfway point of our April challenge.

I’ve added another element of fitness to my daily routine to try to strengthen my calves for running and for pointe work (eventually–I’m taking baby steps in getting back to pointe work!). I’ve just been incorporating 3 sets of 12 calf raises and 3 sets of 12 single calf raises.

Now I just need to work more theraband stretching into my routine.

How have you been challenging yourself this April?

Filed Under: 30 Day Stretch Challenge, Ballet, Blog, Etc., Outside Class Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
October 9, 2012

30 Day Stretch Challenge

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m notoriously bad at not remembering to stretch. I’ll do it for a couple of days, and then totally forget. Then yesterday, Thanks & Kittens gave me a wonderful idea: A 30 Day Split Challenge (which she herself started doing a few days ago).

My goal is to stretch for a minimum of 30 minutes a day (on top of ballet classes!), focusing on my split stretches. Then,each day, I’ll post an embarrassing photo of how one of my split’s is coming along either on the blog or my Instagram or Twitter account.

How I wish one day my splits could be like this.

Anyone want to join me? E-mail me or tweet me your photos!

Twitter: @kristengillette

Don’t forget to take the TweetChat survey!

For more examples of stretches, make sure to check out the new 2 week stretch challenge!

Filed Under: 30 Day Stretch Challenge, Ballet, Info Tagged With: , , , , , 13 Comments