This challenge is to inspire you to MOVE. To me, that’s what fitness is. It’s simply moving. It doesn’t mean you have to run a million miles, lift heavy weights, or hike a million mountains; it just means to get moving! Go for a twenty-minute walk instead of playing on your phone, walk during your lunch break, take the stairs, hike on the weekends, ride a bike, or go out and dance. I even consider cleaning your house “fitness.”

My goal is to stay active by walking the dogs, going for light jogs, hiking, biking, and a light circuit every other day. My goal is to drink more water, more herbal tea, less processed foods, more lean protein, and focus on stretching each morning and evening.

This challenge will have awesome giveaways, a hashtag that’ll bring challengers together, and support from me! I’ll be looking out for your posts with the #SIMPLY40DAYS 
As I mentioned before, I want YOU to set YOUR goals! What do you want to get out of this challenge? Fill out the questions below before you start. I put mine on the front of my planner, so I can see it every day to remind me of why I’m doing this challenge. You could put it on your fridge, too!

I printed 40 of these worksheets so I can keep track each day! You could use a plain notebook to track your days, or use one of your favorite apps!
I filled out one of the worksheets as an example! Don’t forget to share yours with #SIMPLY40DAYS to win prizes!
(ENTER BY USING FACEBOOK/TWITTER/INSTAGRAM PHOTOS/ INSTA STORIES #SIMPLY40DAYS)

DAY #1 (YOGA MAT BAG): PRINT & FILL OUT THE CHALLENGE GOALS & DAILY CHART. UPLOAD TO SOCIAL MEDIA & USE HASHTAG #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #7 ($50 LULULEMON GIFT CARD):  POST SEVEN DAYS IN A ROW WITH YOUR CHALLENGE UPDATES (EATS/WORKOUTS/WATER INTAKE) #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #14 (HOME DUMBELL SET):  POST 14 DAYS IN A ROW WITH YOUR CHALLENGE UPDATES #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #18 (ADIDAS GYM BAG): POST YOUR WATER INTAKE & A FUN WORKOUT YOU DID #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #22 (SWELL BOTTLE): POST A “WHAT I ATE IN A DAY” ON SOCIAL MEDIA #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #28 ($50 WHOLE FOOD’S GIFT CARD): POST YOUR GROCERY LIST #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #32 (ORGAIN PROTEIN POWDER): POST YOUR FAVORITE HEALTHY SNACK #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #35 (VITAL PROTEIN COLLAGEN): UPLOAD A PHOTO OF YOU AND A FRIEND BEING ACTIVE (DOGS COUNT) #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #38 (VARIETY OF RXBARS): POST A ROUNDUP PHOTO COLLAGE OF YOUR CHALLENGE SO FAR #SIMPLY40DAYS

DAY #40 (GRAND PRIZE): MAKE SURE TO POST EVERYDAY OF THE CHALLENGE WITH HASHTAG #SIMPLY40DAYS

Making a list before going to the grocery store is always useful. Here are some things you’ll see in my cart.

Here are some of my favorite dinner go-to’s just incase you need some ideas!

Roasted Veggies // Zucchini Pizzas // Frittata // Stir Fry // Baked Chicken + Meal Prep Ideas // Kale Vegan Salad // Grilled Chicken & Goat Cheese Kale Salad // Spaghetti Squash & Turkey Meatballs // Salmon & Potatoes // Turkey Burger Collard Wrap // Turkey & White Bean Chili // Veggie & Chicken Soup // Chicken Nuggets & Homemade Guacamole // Chicken Fajitas // Sweet Green Beans // Click here for more dinner recipes….

Here are some of my favorite breakfast go-to’s just incase you need some ideas!

Blueberry Muffin Bars // 3-Ingredient Protein Waffles & Pancakes // Loaded Oats // 2-Ingredient Pancakes // Spinach, Sweet Potatoe & Goat Cheese Egg Bake // Quinoa Omelet // Blackberry Smoothie Bowl // Protein Pudding & Fruit // Blackberry Peach Smoothie // Chocolate Chip Oat Muffins // Eggwhite French Toast // Peachy Smoothie // Kale & Sausage + Omelet //

Here are some of my favorite snack go-to’s just incase you need some ideas!

No-Bake Lemon & Chia Energy Balls // Rice Cake With Peanut Butter & Honey // White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Energy + Protein Balls // Homemade Granola Bars // 4 – Ingredient, No-Bake, Protein Chocolate Chip Balls // Healthy Zucchini Bread // Healthy Peanut Butter & Oat Cookies // Dark Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter Cups // Hard Boiled Eggs + Carrots & Hummus // Yogurt + Protein Powder // Herbal Tea // Super Green Juice // Peachy Raspberry Smoothie Bowl // Lemon Chia Blueberry Oat Muffins With Lemon Glaze // Spinach & Avocado Toast 

What I Eat Before & After A Workout Post: Running & HIIT 

For me, I love FUN fitness and it motivates me to get active more often! I love playing sports, hiking, walking the beach, walking my dogs, yoga, and swimming. If you can, find the fitness you love to participate in! Getting your friends involved helps as well.
I’ll be adding in some small circuits during the challenge. I hope to do one every other day! I’ll be in Hawaii for half of the challenge, so I’ll be using the beach and the backyard to complete them. I’m including some of my favorite AT-HOME / GO-TO workouts that you can do anywhere! If you don’t have dumbbells, you can use books, canned goods, filled water bottles, or anything with weight! Get creative with your surroundings!
Click here for a list of ten 15-minute workouts! You can print them and take them anywhere!

Below is a list of 24 workouts you can do every other day throughout the 40 days if you’d like a guide! I will be doing several of these.
I can’t wait to start this challenge with you! I’ll be getting my groceries bought, my goals set, and everything prepped for the challenge! I look forward to seeing your posts, the giveaways, and all of us reaching our goals together! Remeber, this is YOUR challenge! Everything is at your own pace #SIMPLY40DAYS @SIMPLYTARALYNNFITCHALLENGE! 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU!

1. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?
2. WHAT IS FITNESS TO YOU?
3. ARE YOU IN?

I am so lucky that I have the schedule that I do (as of right now), but I totally understand that one day, when I’m working the 8-6, I’ll be facing the same struggles. I also receive questions like this a lot, so I decided to put together ten workouts that only take fifteen minutes to complete, and they are so effective! They’ll get your heart rate going up and down throughout the workout, and you’ll be benefiting from the afterburn. You could do these workouts before work, after work, during lunch breaks, or before bed! It’s hard to come up with an excuse for something that only takes fifteen minutes. Set a timer. If you finish before the fifteen-minute alarm, start the workout from the top, and go until fifteen minutes is up. The more you do them, they easier they’ll get, so it’s important to keep challenging yourself. If you want a thirty-minute workout, choose two of the workouts to do, or do your favorite twice! Fifteen minutes a day can be so effective and these have a nice balane of cardio & weights!

These are perfect for hotel workouts, travel workouts, and pretty much anything! If you are on your phone, screen shot the workout! If you are on your computer, save the workout to your computer, or print it! Take these to the gym with you, or hang them up where you can see them. My mom printed them out and hung them in her gym locker (seriously the cutest.) 

Questions for you!

1. Do you find it hard to fit in workouts with your schedule?
2. Could you dedicate 15 minutes to exersice everday?
3. How long are your workouts?

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope you are all having a blast, but also taking the time to remember the people who have died while serving and fighting for our freedom. God Bless our troops!

I am spending the weekend catching up on work, sleep (hello, jetlag), and enjoying the beautiful weather by going on walks and reading outside. I have received a lot of request for another fitness challenge. I’ve been a little hesitant because I’m trying to lighten up my workouts and go easy on my body for a while, but I still wanted to do something. I have personally decided to stick to long walks and light workouts for the next month, and I’d love for you guys to join me! I have set a goal to walk 150 miles in June. That is an easy 5 miles a day! It’s not hard to fit in five miles if you’re tracking your steps during the day, walking half in the morning, walking half at night, and trying to get on your feet as much as possible. Walking is much easier on the joints and muscles, so I am still not running in June. There is no reason to rush back into it after an injury, and I don’t need to train until fall. I will get back into running in July.

I will be tracking my miles with RunKeeper (per usual) and sharing my miles during my recap posts. I’d love for you to tag me in your walking photos and try to reach 150 miles with me! I think working together to reach our goals makes it so much easier. I will also be keeping track of my progress on the fitness challenge Instagram page.

When I first started losing weight back in 2010, it was only from walking and eating a healthy diet. It goes to show that just a little movement can also make a big impact. My goal isn’t to really lose weight, but it’s to get active, and also be kind to my body. Walking is also good for the mind. I find that I’m always relaxed and refreshed after a long walk, so hopefully, you’ll find it therapeutic as well. Download an awesome playlist, put on sunscreen, and just get out there and go! Find any excuse to walk. Grab coffee and walk with a friend, hike your favorite trail, walk the mall, walk to work/school if you can, and get out there with your pup.

I’m a BIG believer in walking for health, and I hope you join me! I look forward to seeing your posts and inspiration. A buddy system is also great!  Becca is also doing the challenge, and we are going to walk twice a week together + hold eachother accountable! This is such an easy challenge that you can do anywhere, and I’m excited to hit my goal! If I can’t walk the milage one day, I’ll just pile it onto another day!

If I can get at least twenty readers to reach the 150-mile goal, which is 3000 miles, I will send twenty surprise boxes out to each one of the goal crushers! I’m hoping that we can hit 10,000 miles together! It’s OK if you don’t hit 150 miles, any miles will contribute to the 10,000 mile goal. Your running miles also count! Just because I’m not running doesn’t mean you can’t during the challenge. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #150junewalkingchallenge & tag @simplytaralynnfitchallenge

Questions for you!

1. Are you up for the challenge?
2. If you plan on joining me, what are your goals?
3. How do you plan on fitting in 5 miles a day?

I’m already excited for June 1st! xo

This challenge isn’t going to be easy, and that is why it’s called a “challenge.” If you are looking for an easier or more flexible plan, check out some of my previous fitness challenges! As you may know, I’m running my first half marathon in 59 days. I’m feeling more ready and excited than I’ve ever felt, and most of those feelings are because of the pep talks from my readers. This challenge has a mixture of my running schedule + circuits. If you’re not a runner, IT’S OK! You can still kick butt at this challenge. If you’re wanting to start running, this is a great opportunity for you to get started. If you need some running motivation or don’t know where to start, check out my running post!

Just remember, this challenge was created for my activity level in mind, so if it’s too much, just make some changes! Walk instead of run, cut the circuits in half, add in some rest days, and customize it for your activity level! & Don’t forget to get the OK from your doctor before doing anything too strenuous.

Why do you want to do a challenge?
I want to do this challenge to stay motivated. Summer is just around the corner, my race is in 59 days, and I want to be the strongest I can be. I want to stay on track with clean eats, and get myself to feeling confident. I have that winter cloud over my head right now, and it’s time to let it go!

How do you plan on staying motivated?
I love to keep track of my workouts, my meals, and thoughts along the way. I post them on the blog and social media. I also love following others who are doing challenges for inspiration. Sometimes I get on Instagram and I’m instantly inspired by seeing someone else’s progress. My friends love fitness (thank goodness) so they will hold me acountable and do some of the workouts with me. Someone should invent a workout buddy app!

Goals for this challenge?
I don’t want to skip any days at all. I also want to stop buying so many snacks. My freezer is filled with Minion fruit snacks, and I feel like a ten-year-old with some of my choices. Must stop it! I want to drink more water, more green tea, and snack on fruit and vegetables. 

My Week One Grocery List:
*you can make dairy free, nut free, gluten free, or any kinds of substitutions. This is just what I will be buying and eating.*

WEEKLY LIST: Bananas, Apples, Avocado, Head of Lettuce, Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Spinach, Kale, Mixed Green Lettuce, Green Beans, Whole Grain Bread (I use Udis) Grapefruit, Strawberries, Pineapple, Lemon Blueberries, Cheerios, Bacon (Turkey or pork), Greek Yogurt (I use Dannon Greek Light & Fit), Goat Cheese, 98 % Fat Free Ground Turkey, Brown Rice, Carrots, Hummus, Turkey (Applegate), Chicken, Cottage Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chips, Eggs, Light Balsamic Dressing, Walnuts, Vanilla Protein Powder, Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, Coffee, Tea.

**This is what I will be eating. Make sure to consult with a doctor or nutritionist before making any drastic diet changes** This is just a meal plan you can use as a base to build with. Add more or fewer calories, more or fewer carbs, or anything you wish.
8 AM Breakfast: 2 Slices Bacon, 1 Slice Toast + 1 Tbsp Peanut Butter, 2 Eggs (add any veggies you want), 1 Serving Fruit (Coffee or Tea)
11 AM Snack: 1/2 Cup Cheerios + 1 Serving Greek Yogurt
1 PM Lunch: 1 Cup Baby Carrots, 1/2 Cup Cucumbers, 2 Tablespoons Hummus, 1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese + Lettuce Wrap (1 serving Applegate Turkey Slices, 1 Slice Bacon, Yellow Mustard, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers)
3 PM Snack: Protein Shake: 2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder, 1/2 Frozen Banana, 1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 1 Cup Water, Blended!
6 PM Dinner: Grilled Chicken Salad: 6 Ounces Grilled Chicken, Tomatoes, Goat Cheese, Spinach, 2 Hard Boiled Egg Whites, Avocado With Light Balsamic Dressing.
7 PM Dessert: Tbsp Dark Chocolate chips + 1 Tbsp Chopped Walnuts
NUTRITION: 1500 Calories, 130g Carbs, 50g Fat, 127g Protein, 20g Fiber, 47g Sugar
8 AM Breakfast: Blueberry Banana Egg Pancakes (recipe here) + 1 Serving Greek Yogurt (Coffee or Tea)
11 AM Snack: 1 Serving Almonds + 1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese
1 PM Lunch: 6 Ounces Grilled Chicken, 1 Slice Bacon, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Goat Cheese Wrapped in Lettuce + 1/2 Grapefruit
3 PM Snack: Protein Shake: 2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder, 1/2 Frozen Banana, 1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 1 Cup Water, Blended!
6 PM Dinner: 4 Ounces Ground Turkey, 1 Cup Green Beans (or other cooked green veggies), + 1/2 Cup Brown Rice or Quinoa
7 PM Dessert: Tbsp Dark Chocolate chips + 1 Tbsp Chopped Walnuts
NUTRITION: 1400 Calories, 160g Carbs, 35g Fat, 128g Protein, 18g Fiber, 43g Sugar
8AM Breakfast: Vegetable 2-egg omelet, 1/2 Grapefruit, 1 Slice Toast + 1 TBSP Peanut Butter
11 AM Snack: 1 Cup Blueberries + 1 Serving Greek Yogurt
1 PM Lunch: Ground Turkey over a Vegetable + Goat Cheese Salad
3 PM Snack: Protein Shake: 2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder, 1/2 Frozen Banana, 1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 1 Cup Water, Blended!
6 PM Dinner: Grilled Chicken, 1/2 Cup Brown Rice or Quinoa, & 2 Cups Cooked Green Vegetables.
7 PM Dessert: Tbsp Dark Chocolate chips + 1 Tbsp Chopped Walnuts
NUTRITION: 1500 Calories, 140g Carbs, 38g Fat, 131g Protein, 16g Fiber, 48g Sugar

**When I’m trying to eat clean, I like to keep my meals easy and realistic. I also like them to be repetitive because it saves money. I buy what I need, what I plan on eating, and quick fixes. I will most likely eat the same meals six days in a row. I like to give myself one free day. My free days will consist of healthy eats, just not planned ones. I also like to drink lemon tea throughout the day. These are meals you can food prep on Sunday, pack for work, or wherever you plan on going**Don’t forget to change up the workouts to FIT your fitness level. You don’t want to overdo it! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments! If you are unsure about some of the workouts, googling movements helps a lot. There are a lot of tutorials on youtube.

You will notice a lot of miles in the workouts. There is nothing better than going out for long walks or runs, especially this time of year. This month’s goal is high mileage. If you have a tracker, try to walk throughout the day. Get up as much as possible. Walk early in the morning, late in the evenings, or whenever you can find the time.

I also wanted to make a workout plan that you could do anywhere! All you need is a jump rope, dumbbells (everyone should own a pair) yoga mat, and shoes! If you want some cheap workout equipment, check out TJMAXX!

Please follow along on the fitness page for motivation! Tag me in your workouts and eats! If you need to, print this workout and post it on your fridge!

I hope this plan can help dig you out of your rut, inspire you to challenge yourself, but if not, I hope you enjoyed the read

Questions for you!

1. Are you IN or Out?
2. What are your Spring Fitness goals?
3. What is the hardest part about sticking to a plan, and how can you change that?

It’s been exactly one year since I hit rock bottom and the person I am today is 100% different that the person I was on January 5th of last year. It’s incredible how one year can change everything, but you have to be willing to change and willing to dedicate yourself to a new lifestyle. This isn’t something I’ve talked about on the blog and I struggled behind the scenes. It’s really hard to put yourself out there and share your struggles to millions. I have so many amazing readers, but there is also a lot of negativity that comes along with being a blogger. I wasn’t in a great place and I didn’t feel comfortable putting myself out there. Sometimes this subject is embarrassing, but is shouldn’t be.  While I was out on my run yesterday, I decided that I was ready to share my struggles and hopefully there is someone out there that can relate. I am in such a great place in my life right now, and if you’re feeling down or in a rut, trust me, you can turn it all around!

Getting in shape can be stressful and a freaking pain in the butt, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve lost 17 pounds since last January just by making some changes in my life. I don’t spend everyday counting calories, I don’t cut sugar, I don’t cut fat, I don’t workout everyday, and I don’t jump on the scale obsessively. I wasn’t born with a “she can eat anything and as much as she wants” kind of metabolism, so weight has always been a struggle. As an E.D. recoverer, I have to be extra cautious to not fall into unhealthy habits. It’s never been easy for me, but this past year changed my entire mindset. 
I had to STOP making excuses. I blamed my lack of exercise on the weather. I blamed my eating habits on football season, or the holidays. I made up excuses for why I was unhappy, but didn’t do anything to change it. When you come up with a game plan, write goals, and stop making excuses, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish. It’s easy to make excuses, but it’s more rewarding to get up and do something about it. I mentally prepared myself for the winter weather, the hot summer days, and came up with a game plan on how to GET THINGS DONE. When you’re in a slump, it’s super hard to pull yourself out of it, but you have to be patient with yourself and ease back into the swing of things. You don’t want to go from slump to full out beast-mode, because that is not realistic. You have to take baby steps and gradually ease back into it.
It was time to surround myself with people who are positive, inspire, and motivate me to be the best version of myself. This was one of the key steps in changing my lifestyle. I was surrounded by pretty toxic people for a while. There was nothing but negativity and degrading words. It’s easy to get sucked into that, and I’m sure a lot of you have been there before. I couldn’t take it anymore, because it was causing me to lose who I was. This past year, I was blessed with new friends and people who have a positive influence on my life. This is what I had been praying for. I now have friends who love to go running with me, cook healthy meals, go to the gym, and walk miles on miles just becuase! Our friendships aren’t always about health and fitness, we have so much fun being goofy and that happiness plays a huge part in my healthy lifestyle. When you’re happy, you feel good. It sucks to cut people out of your life, but if people are a negative influence or dragging you down, you have to do what is best for you. It’s not a selfish move, it’s a necessary one. I wouldn’t be where I’m at RIGHT NOW if it weren’t for the people I surround myself with.
I found my love for fitness again. When you fall off the bandwagon, you kind of lose a love for eating healthy and exercising. I was scared to get back out there because I was so out of shape. I didn’t want to face the fact that I was going to be slow, going to be out of breath, and going to all around suck. I had to get out of that dumb mindset and take baby steps to finding a fitness plan again. I made a calendar with a fun fitness schedule. One of my FAVORITE workouts isn’t actually running, it’s walking! I had a schedule that looked like this Mon: Run 1 Mile/Walk 3 Miles, Tues: Gym Circuit, Wed: Spin Class, Thurs: Walk 3 Miles, Fri: Run 2 Miles/Gym Circuit, Sat: Hike, Sun: 4 Mile Walk. I would add more to my miles each week and change up all of my classes and circuits. After three months of scheduling, I started to get back into shape and become more confident with myself. I was confident that I COULD change and I COULD be my happiest again. I used to be a cardio junky and thats great, but mixing in strength training is so important. It helps build muscle, prevents injuries and helps shape you! I’m a huge advocate for writing down and making plans. I now LOVE running and I love going to the gym and coming up with circuits. I used to dread the gym and hate facing people in a workout class, but now I live for it and can’t wait for my next sweat session. My biggest competition is myself and I love crushing goals. Signing up for races really helped too. It holds you accountable! Tell everyone you’re going to do it, so the pressure is on!
I stopped “DIETING” and now practice intuitive eating. I will never change this mindset and it’s the healthiest way to eat in my opinion. If you ever find yourself in an unhealthy relationship with food, you should really look into intuitive eating. Intuitive eating helps you form peace with your mind and body. There is no such thing as “fattening” or “bad” foods when you intuitively eat. You allow yourself to listen to your body, eat when you want to eat, eat what you want to eat, never deprive yourself…and so on. You naturally know when enough is enough and just knowing you can have anything you want, takes away the deprived feeling. If I tell myself peanut butter is off limits, I want to eat the whole damn jar. If I tell myself I can have it, it’s whatever. You should never tell yourself you can’t have something, just eat it. Intuitive eating has helped me practice natural moderation and allows me to listen to my body. I used to be so obsessed with counting calories, limiting fat, limiting carbs, and now I just eat what my body is telling me to eat. I’ve never felt more at peace with food. Some people will fail over and over, but never come to the terms that “DIETS DO NOT WORK.” You can’t diet forever and when you’re at your goal weight, then what? I’ve been there and done that. If I would have just started practice exercise and intuitive eating from the start…
Principals of Intuitive Eating: Reject the Diet Mentality, Honor Your Hunger, Make Peace With Food, Challenge the Food Police, Respect Your Fullness, Discover the Satisfaction Factor, Respect Your Body, Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food,Exercise–Feel the Difference, Honor Your Healthy–Gentle Nutrition. (Intuitive Eating (BOOK I RECOMMEND) 
I drink more water. I’m not a water person and I feel like I could live without it for weeks. I decided to carry around my water bottle everywhere I go, and drink water while I’m working or doing whatever throughout the day. It’s something I do have to force myself to do, but it’s made a difference in my skin, energy levels, and the way I workout. I also focus better when I’m hydrated. If I’m ever feeling blah, I make sure to chug water. Lemons in my water help! 
I stopped weighing myself every damn day. I was so guilty of weighing myself everyday and letting it control my self-worth. If I was up in weight, I would diet and workout until I was losing pounds. If I was losing, I’d allow myself to eat more and it was just a really unhealthy relationship. I decided to weigh myself ONCE a month and I really focused on checking inches and body fat percentage. The scale can be your worst enemy. I remember weighing myself early February and it said I had gained 3 pounds. I was PISSED! (only pissed because I had been working out and taking all the right steps) I went to the gym to check my inches, and I had lost 1 1/2 inches…so yeah, screw, you, scale!
I focus on fueling my body properly. I never used to eat the right foods when it came to working out. I was only focussed on low calorie and low carb, but my body responded with a big “OH, HELL NAW!” When I started incorporating more carbs, calories, and protein into my diet, I started seeing more progress. I now make sure to have carbs before a workout and protein after a workout. I feel so much better, recover way faster, and my body is much happier! I don’t count carbs or protein, but I know what foods to eat before and after.

I finally feel like I have control over my healthy lifestyle. I’m getting ready to lace up and go out for my run after this post (I have a half marathon to train for!), but I hope this helped at least one person out there! Just remember to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your lifestyle These are things that worked for me, but everyone is different!

XOXO

I will have a new fitness challenge coming next week!

Questions For You! ( I promise to get to every single one of your comments during my down-time tonight) 

1. Have you ever hit a bad slump in your life?
2. What is your biggest 2016 accomplishment?
3. Questions for me?

I hope you all had fantastic weekends. As you all know, I decided not to do a fitness challenge for the month of November. There is just way too many things going on and I knew I wouldn’t be able to dedicate myself to it. Luckily, I’m teaming up with WeCompete for a fun three day walking challenge. It’s time to fit in some steps before the big turkey day.

Walking is one of my favorite exercises. I try to walk everywhere! I walk my dog four miles every morning and spend afternoons walking up to ten miles on the trails. For me, walking is more than just fitness. I guess you could call it a “hobby” because it’s so therapeutic and something I love to do in my spare time. This step challenge is going to be so fun and I cannot wait to compete with you!  This is the time of year that exercise gets thrown on the back burner, and I really need some inspiration to keep going!
So here’s how the challenge works…

You will need to download the WeCompete app and join my challenge! WeCompete is a a fitness game for iOS using your iPhone’s pedometer, an Apple Watch, or a Jawbone fitness tracker. The really cool part about using the WeCompete is that it will record all of the activity data and create a leaderboard showing where you rank! I love the idea of a rank because it motivates you to get more steps in. The WeCompete app makes it feel like we are all working out together and I love that.

This challenge is all about steps and distance. Anyone, any age, any athletic ability can compete!

This is a great app to use with friends and family for reaching goals. Anyone can create a challenge and invite their friends! It would be a really cool app to use with coworkers for an office step challenge. It’s just a great app for motivating your friends and family to get active. And if you’re feeling really competitive, you can use fun power-ups called “Pains & Gains” to get an advantage over your competitors.
 
I plan on getting my steps in by hiking, walking the pups, being a tourist in my own city, and running trails to reach my challenge’s goal!
 
If you download the WeCompete app this week, you’ll get a free 1,050-coin bonus pack (valued at $4.99.) Click here to get started!

I hope you guys can join me on this challenge! I’m so excited to get started. Even if you can only get in 10,000 steps, join anyways! I can’t wait to see how many steps you get in!

JOINING MY CHALLENGE? Download the app, tap “FIND” and then tap the “featured” tab! My Challenge (SIMPLY TARALYNN’S SATURDAY STEP CHALLENGE) should appear and all you have to do is hit JOIN!

Questions for you!

1. How many steps do you think you’ll reach during the challenge?
2. What activity makes you step the most?
3. Will you join me on this step challenge?

This post was sponsored by the WeCompete app & all opinions are my own!

As you all know, I decided not to do a fitness challenge for September. That didn’t mean I took a break from working out, I actually worked out way more! My morning walks for the past thirty days have been three or four miles, my running miles have increased and I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym. Want to know the crazy thing? I’ve seen zero progress in the way I look and I’m not feeling as confident as I was at the beginning of the summer. I really don’t get it. It’s important for me to be honest with you guys and share the struggle right now. This is what they call a “funk.” I’m running a ton, walking a ton, eating healthy and just feel blah. I’m feeling off my game and determined to find it again. My body is just being weird this month. Maybe I’m working it too hard, or not fueling it with what it wants/needs. I’ve decided to try a new approach and slow down all the working out a bit (not cut it out.) Maybe my body is just tired. You would think that eating healthy and working out a ton would make you feel great, but that’s the opposite of what I feel like. I want to try to change up the workouts and do more walking, more yoga and workouts that are easier on the body. I think I’ll cut my five days a week of running down to three and spend maybe an hour in the gym instead of two hours. This challenge is going to be light, but still a challenge. If any of the workouts are too easy for you, you can refer back to the July Fitness Challenge or the August Fitness Challenge. There are so many great workouts available. Remember to take rest days when you need them and cut workouts that are not on the same level. Listen to your body!

I know today is October first (and a Saturday) so I’m going to start this challenge on Monday! That gives me time to shop and restock the fridge. I’ve been out of town on a press trip this week and there is zero food in there. I’m kind of happy about that because it’s like a clean slate. I’m actually writing the fitness challenge on the plane and I cannot wait to land and head straight to the grocery store. Traveling is great, but it throws me off my routine. I’m ready to get back to my meal preps, dog walks and my comfy bed. I’ll be out of town again this weekend, so getting back to my routine on Monday will be heaven.

Fitness Challenge Instagram

The challenge can be done at home and there is no gym necessary (minus the TBA week)
This challenge is going to include my grocery list and what I plan on eating. Just note *I am not a professional (just a blogger) and you should always talk with your doctor before you make any changes to your diet and exercise routine. 

Meal Prepping: Grilled Chicken, Brown Rice, Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, Hard Boiled Eggs, Ground Turkey
Grocery Items: Bananas, Coffee, Water, Tea, Salads, Chopped Vegetables, Hummus, Apples, Blueberries, Blackberries, Oatmeal, Yogurt, Protein Powder, Almond Milk, Fresh Fruit
 
I’ll also be doing some recipes and sharing those throughout the challenge, so you can look out for that!

Monday, October 3rd:
Cardio for 45-60 minutes (zumba, dancing, running, swimming, etc)
10 Minutes Post-Cardio Stretching
100 Morning Sit-Ups
50 Afternoon Jump Squats
100 Evening Crunches + 30 Jump Squats

Tuesday, October 4th:
Spin Class (or other preferred fitness class)
10 Minute Stretching
300 Sit-Ups (distributed throughout the day)

Wednesday, October 5th:
4-6 Mile Walk
20 Minute Stretching
300 Crunches (distributed throughout the day)
100 Push-Ups (distributed throughout the day)
 
Thursday, October 6th:
4-6 Mile Run (or other cardio)
15 Minute Stretching
400 Sit-Ups (distributed throughout the day)

Friday, October 7th:
3-6 Mile Run (or other cardio)
15 Minute Stretching
500 left/right/center Crunches (distributed throughout the day)

Saturday, October 8th:
4 Mile Walk
25 Minute Stretching or Yoga Class
 
Sunday, October 9th:
4-8 Mile run (or other cardio)
20 Minutes Deep Stretching

Monday, October 10th-16th
TBA (fitness challenge with Asics)

Monday, October 17th:
4-8 Mile Walk
1-3 Mile Run (or other cardio)
Stretching
400 Crunches left/right/center Crunches (distributed throughout the day)

Tuesday, October 18th:
2-4 Mile Walk
Circuit
50 Crunches (right/left/center)
10 Push-Ups
20 Squat + Right Side Kicks
10 Push-Ups
20 Squat + Left Side Kicks
1 Minute Wall-Sit
50 Crunches (right/left/center)
10 Burpees
10 Push-ups
50 Sit-Ups
20 Mountain Climbers
20 Dumbbell Bench Presses
50 Jumping Jacks
100 Crunches (right/left/center)
REPEAT 2X & stretch

Wednesday, October 19th:
4-8 Mile run OR walk
10-15 Minutes Deep Stretching
200 Crunches (left/right/center, alternating)

Thursday, October 20th:
1-5 Miles Walk
10 Minute Stretch
500 Crunches (left/right/center alternating)(distributed throughout the day)
200 Push-Ups (distributed throughout the day)
50 Jump-Squats (distributed throughout the day)

Friday, October 21st:
1-5 Miles Run (or other cardio)
10 Minute Stretch
500 Crunches (left/right/center alternating)(distributed throughout the day)
 
Saturday, October 22nd:
Hike!
10 Minute Stretch
Relax

Sunday, October 23rd:
4-8 Mile run (or other cardio)
20 Minutes Deep Stretching

Monday, October 24th:
2-4 Mile Walk (optional)
Circuit:
50 Crunches (right/left/center)
10 Push-Ups
20 Squat + Right Side Kicks
10 Push-Ups
20 Squat + Left Side Kicks
1 Minute Wall-Sit
50 Crunches (right/left/center)
10 Burpees
10 Push-ups
50 Sit-Ups
20 Mountain Climbers
20 Dumbbell Bench Presses
50 Jumping Jacks
100 Crunches (right/left/center)
REPEAT 2X & stretch

Tuesday, October 25th: 
500 Crunches (left/right/center alternating)(distributed throughout the day)
 
Wednesday, October 26th:
4-6 Mile Walk or 8-10 Mile Bike Ride
Stretch 15 Minutes
500 Crunches (left/right/center alternating)(distributed throughout the day)

Thursday, October 27th:
4-6 Mile Run (or other cardio class)
500 Crunches (left/right/center alternating)(distributed throughout the day)
200 Push-ups (distributed throughout the day)

Friday, October 28th:
1-4 Miles Walk
10 Minute Stretch
Relax

Saturday, October 29th:
1-4 Miles Walk
Circuit:
10 Minute Stretch
10 Jump Squats
20 Left & Right Alternating Lungest
20 Sit-ups
15 Push-Ups
20 Mountain Climbers
20 Left & Right Side Leg Raises
10 Burpees
1 Minute Wall Sit
Repeat 30 Minutes

Sunday, October 30th:
1-4 Mile Walk/Run
Yoga Class

Monday, October 31th:
Happy Halloween
Do the Monster Mash.

I’ll be posting all about the fitness challenge, updates, reposts, eats, and more on the Fitness Challenge Instagram!!! Tag me in your posts

QUESTIONS FOR YOU!

1. Have you ever been in a rut, even though you’re doing everything right?
2. What are your Fall Fitness Goals?

AUGUST FIT CHALLENGE

I only planned on doing a July Fitness Challenge. That plan went straight down the drain when the challenge was such a success. I think July may have been one of my most active months yet! I spent days hiking, running, swimming, breaking milage goals, biking, attending bootcamp classes, yoga classes, doing circuits at the gym and all kinds of other actives. Not only did I hit goals and stay active, but you guys did too. Seeing your posts inspired me to keep going, to try new recipes, and attempt new workouts. I gained confidence, strength and positivity during this challenge with the help from you guys! I love that the challenge brought everyone together and the support given to one another was everything I hoped for. I hope we can make this 25 Day Challenge better than the last. Let’s do this! ?Follow the challenge’s Instagram account for motivation and updates from others! I also want to share your challenge pics! This challenge is about empowering and encouraging each other to reach goals. Focus on a healthy mind, body and soul. Don’t forget to tag me in all of your updates. #AUGUSTFITCHAL

FIRST THINGS FIRST  The challenge should be FUN. Do not do anything to push yourself too hard or any activity uncomfortable for you. We are all at different fitness levels. If something is too hard, swap it out with an easier workout that fits your fitness level. That goes both ways. You may be a crazy gym rat athlete who thinks the challenge is too easy, well step it up! You don’t have to follow my plan to complete the fitness challenge, you can still share your fitness posts/goals and I’d love to see them! My plan is just out there for ideas and a guide if you choose. If you need help finding alternatives, no worries! Just reach out and I’d be glad to help. I also noticed that everyone is quick to help and answer any questions you have on Instagram! I love learning from all of you. I will also be uploading stretching videos and mini circuits to Instagram throughout the challenge.

Where are the rest days? Stretching and walking is resting to me! If you need a day to yourself, take it! Listen to your body. This challenge can go anyway you want. You know your limits!

Setting goals is key in the challenge.

I certainly made some improvements during the last challenge, but I still have tons of work to do. I decided to keep the same goals this month. They are the ones that mean the most to me when it comes to my health and I’d like to keep moving forward with improvement.

I upped my water tremendously. I NEVER used to drink water(I know how bad that is.) The only source of water I took in was a from coffee, watermelon and the water I add to my protein shakes. I’ve been drinking water all day and I never forget my water bottle wherever I go! I never liked the taste of it, but the more I drink, the more I crave.

My protein game was on point. I had protein shakes, Plain Greek yogurt, grilled chicken, ground turkey, hard boiled egg whites, egg white omelets, occasional steak, salmon and protein bars when necessary. Meal prepping all of the protein was helpful and I made sure to do that on Monday’s. I stretched maybe 18 out of 30 days, so I’m going to try to do it EVERYDAY and maybe even twice a day. I ran more miles this month than any month in my life. I even finished most of my runs with strength training. I would definitely say running has improved considering the heat, the hills and being injury free (yes I just knocked on wood.)

I also want to stick to the same sleeping schedule! In bed before eleven and up at six!

*take photos for progress! *have a friend join you! *make a checklist! *get your workout clothes ready the night before!

My diet will most likely stay the same. I’m a repetitive eater, which makes grocery shopping so easy! You can find my grocery list on the last challenge page. Everyone has different diets, and I advise you to eat what makes you feel the best. Here is what I bought and will be eating  most of the time. ?

My go-to breakfasts: ?
*egg white omelet with veggies, fruit & whole grain toast on the side. *protein banana egg pancakes *cereal with almond milk & hard boil eggs on the side *vanilla greek yogurt mixed with granola and fresh fruit *oatmeal and hard boiled eggs on the side
My go-to snacks: ?
*plain greek yogurt mixed with honey & one tablespoon vanilla protein powder *vegetables and hummus *apples and peanut butter *2 hard boiled eggs, *watermelon, *mixed nuts
My go-to lunches & dinners: ?
*salads with grilled chicken or ground turkey *ground turkey, avocado & rice *protein shake: *one scoop vanilla protein powder, almond milk, ice, banana, + stevia *whole grain wraps with turkey, cream cheese, lettuce, avocado, bell pepper, cucumber & yellow mustard.  *leftover roasted vegetables & grilled chicken. *zucchini pizzas
My go-to desserts: ?
*strawberries & dark chocolate chips, *air popped popcorn & dark chocolate chips, *1/2 protein bar, *peanut butter and apple slices, *Halo Top ice cream, *dark chocolate covered almonds, *watermelon & honey *greek yogurt.

**I usually go out to eat once or twice a week & cook something healthy and delicious on Sundays for dinner!

With all of the fitness activities, it’s important to stay hydrated, eat TONS of healthy calories and get that protein in.

I did pretty awesome on the checklist! It would have been great to check them all off (maybe this time!) This checklist will have some of the same activities as July’s. I want you to add three personalized activities to your checklist that you plan on completing before the challenge is up. You can share them in comments too! I love seeing what you guys come up with!

AUGUST CHECKLIST ASSIGNMENTS (TRY TO COMPLETE SEVEN)
–HIKE THREE TRAILS –HIKE A MOUNTAIN – PLAY A SPORT – WALK 5 MILES WITH A FRIEND –TAKE THREE FITNESS CLASSES –BIKE –SWIM –MALL WALK –RUN/SIGN UP FOR A RACE –ROCK CLIMB – GO DO SOMETHING ADVENTUROUS THAT YOURE AFRAID OF (SKYDIVE, ZIP LINE, OR ROLLER COASTER) –ROLLERBLADE -UPLOAD WORKOUT VIDEOS TO INSTAGRAM 

1. What is something you’d like to improve on during the 25 Day August Fit Challenge!?
2. What is your favorite weekend workout?
3. What is your favorite healthy go-to meal?
4. Do you have any questions for me?

I’m so excited to start a fitness challenge for July. I want to spend this month focussing on a healthy mind, body, and soul. We all have different goals, so make this month about reaching YOUR goals. Hopefully this challenge can give you the support to reach them! I have created an Instagram account that you can follow during this challenge. I will be sharing your posts, lots of motivation and all of my updates from the July Fitness Challenge! Don’t forget to tag me in all of your updates. #JULYFITCHAL

Write down all of your goals for the month!
Here are some of mine…

1. I want to drink MORE water.
2. I want to start meal prepping.
3. I want to eat MORE protein.
4. I want to stretch everyday.
5. I want to cut out mindless snacking.
6. I don’t want to eat past 7pm. (that’s when I mindless snack)

I’d love to improve my running, stretches, strength training and toning!

Having a healthy lifestyle starts in the kitchen. In order to be energized and fueled up for the workouts, I need to eat right! Everyone has different diets, and I advise you to eat what makes you feel the best. Here is what I bought and will be eating  most of the time.

Most of the time? I live a pretty go-go-go lifestyle, so I know there will be times when I’m out and about and will have to make healthy choices at restaurants. I also plan on making healthy desserts and fun meals.

My Grocery List:

Hard boiled eggs, egg white omelets, grilled vegetables (butternut squash, zucchini, onion, bell pepper, sumer squash), broccoli, cottage cheese, plain Greek yogurt, coffee, tea, lemon, ground turkey, grilled chicken, water, almond milk, oatmeal, vanilla protein powder, strawberries, blueberries, brown rice, quinoa, grapes, almond butter, celery, cucumber, tomatoes, balsamic dressing, black berries, peaches, bananas, spinach, romaine lettuce, tofu, almonds, walnuts, avocados, kale, sunflower seeds, air popped popcorn, 70 % + dark chocolate, coconut water.

*again, eat what makes you feel best! 

CHECKLIST ASSIGNMENTS: TRY TO COMPLETE FIVE
–HIKE A TRAIL
– PLAY A SPORT
– WALK 5 MILES WITH A FRIEND
–TAKE TWO FITNESS CLASSES
–BIKE
–SWIM
–MALL WALK
–RUN/SIGN UP FOR A RACE
–BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN ON FOOT
–COMPLETE FOUR YOUTUBE WORKOUTS
-ROCK CLIMB

*The fitness challenge should be fun! Don’t push yourself to do anything uncomfortable. If there is something you can’t do, replace it with something else. I will try my best to include alternatives. If you need suggestions, just comment and I’ll try my best to help!

Where are the rest days? Stretching and walking is resting to me! If you need a day to yourself, take it! Listen to your body. This challenge can go anyway you want. Make it harder if you need to or cut back.

*take photos for progress! *have a friend join you! *make a checklist! *get your workout clothes ready the night before!

(check out workout Jenga)

Once the challenge is over, I will do a follow up post on how I feel after the month! I’d love for you to keep track of your progress for sharing! I’ll be adding fun videos and inspiration to the Instagram as the challenge goes on! I cannot wait until Friday!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU! 

1. Will you be doing this challenge with a friend?
2. Why are you doing this fitness challenge?
3. How will you stay motivated?