30 Day Squat Challenge - anyone up for it?!

[catanddog]

Anyone fancy trying the 30 day Squat Challenge with me (Google it!) My bottom could certainly do with some toning, and having heard about this I thought I might give it a go....
So here's the deal -

Day 1-50 squats
Day 2-55 squats
Day 3-60 squats
Day 4-Rest
Day 5-70 squats
Day 6-75 squats
Day 7-80 squats
Day 8-Rest
Day 9-100 squats
Day 10-105 squats
Day 11-110 squats
Day 12-Rest
Day 13-130 squats
Day 14-135 squats
Day 15- 140 squats
Day 16-Rest
Day 17-150 squats
Day 18- 155 squats
Day 19- 160 squats
Day 20-Rest
Day 21- 180 squats
Day 22- 185 squats
Day 23- 190 squats
Day 24-Rest
Day 25- 220 squats
Day 26- 225 squats
Day 27- 230 squats
Day 28-Rest
Day 29- 240 squats
Day 30- 250 squats

[purples]

I just turned round and everyone seems to have disappeared!!!

Any way, Day 18 for me, done my 155 squats for today, plan to do the crunches later.

Anyone else out there....

[Bugsylugs]

Hi purples I am here done 140 today as cannot remember how many I did yesterday but think it was not the full complement.

Not sure whether to rest tomorrow as I keep mucking up but do I need to rest?

[purples]

Hi Bugs, good to know there are a few of us left, I think Guymartinsside burns is still in too, anyone else left??? Come on girls, you know it's good for you...

As to rest days, yes I've included them, but I've often had to swap them around as I've missed a few days. My calf muscles felt very sore one day, and decided to rest the following day just to let them recover a little, so I think my muscles have benefited from resting every few days. I don't think it really matters if you take 30 days or longer for this challenge, it's just good to set a goal for motivational purposes, it's given me something to aim for and got me doing exercise on a regular basis. That's got to be a good thing. I've found the rest days useful, it's meant that if I skip a day, I can just juggle days around. If I do end up taking more than 30 days, it doesn't really matter, what maters to me is that I feel fitter at the end of it all.
Its Day 19 for me so 160 squats for me!
Did the squats yesterday, but had to skip the crunches, just didn't get time to fit them in with the kids being off school. Hope to do both squats and crunches today.

Have fun today.

[purples]

Day 20, rest day for me, so I'm off to make a cup of tea!

[Movingforward123]

Hi, ive just seen this thread, I'm thinking about doing it, I just want to ask a few questions if thats ok?

How long does it take roughly each day?
What difference has it made to your body so far?

I could do with toning my bum and legs but I don't want my thighs to get bigger. I really need to tone my tummy and hips more then anything but crunches hurt my back.

How long are the crunches taking you each day?

It all sounds like a great idea :)

[dawnpreview]

I'm still here :)
Day 13 for me, so did my 130. If you had told me 2 weeks ago that I would be able to do 130 squats, I would have laughed at you! It has surprised me that I have been able to keep it up. Still can't imagine what 250 will feel like though!

[purples]

Day 21 for me, so its going to be 180 squats today.
dawn Great your keeping it going! I'm similar, no way could I have done this may squats, I think building them up slowly has allowed my muscles to cope, at the start I couldn't go down far enough (and I didn't want to force it) but gradually I've gone down further, I now don't wobble as I do them and technique now is so much better than a few weeks ago. I'm hoping to get to 250, and as I go on the idea becomes achievable in my mind.

moving forward, I'll time myself today and let you know, but timing will depend on the type of squats you decide to choose. Some days I just do the squats fairly quickly and some days it takes a little longer as I hold them for a few seconds squeezing in my thighs and bum. For todays squats I'll probably do a mix of both. I know earlier in the thread someone suggested doing them with weights. It really up to you what type of squat you choose.
I was very unfit beforehand, so any exercise would make a difference for me! I can definitely feel a positive difference after 3 weeks, there is much better muscle tone. I didn't measure myself at the start, so can't give exact measurements, but I will say that I feel better and clothes seem to fit better.

[purples]

Day 22, so I've done my 185 squats.

Hi moving forward, what have you decided, are you going to give it a try?? It took me about 14 minutes today to do 185 squats, could have done them faster/slower if I had wanted to, really depends on what technique used. I did them all in one go today, but in the past i've sometimes I've broken them down into a couple of groups. Hope thats of some use.

[dawnpreview]

Done my 140. Found it quite tough today, and my legs were killing me by the end. Rest day tomorrow- think I need it!

[NoSnowJustSand]

I've been following the thread and thought I'd have a go, after all what's to lose? My big bum/thighs perhaps? Anyway I've done my 50 for today. Any other new starters?

[purples]

Its supposed to be Day 25 with 220 squats for me today, but I hit a slight problem, and didn't manage any over the last 2 days. ( anyway, one of the days was a rest day , so that doesn't really matter), I don't think losing the odd day here or there will make too much difference, it's more I want/need to keep the motivation going, and i think if i skip too many days, i may just stop altogether. And I really want to keep going.
So I'm planning to do 210 today, then I will back on track tomorrow (day 26) if i do 225 squats.
I'm now thinking when i get to the end, I might (just might) do the whole thing over again with weights!!! I think i may have gone mad.
Hi no snow, go for it.
How is everyone??? Keep it going....

[dawnpreview]

Day 18 for me. Just had 2 rest days and lost count a bit, so actually did 160 today instead of 155! Oh my god my legs are burning now. I am so determined to keep this up though. Well done to everyone who is still doing it.

[Movingforward123]

Purples - thank you for timing yourself I was going to do it but I've recently sprained my ankle very badly! I can walk now but I didn't realise that doing squats I would feel it on my ankle!

So for now i won't be doing it, but i am watching with interest and will do it when my ankle is more flexible!

[purples]

Day 27, did 230 squats this morning!!!!
As the numbers build up, I can't do them all in one straight session, finding I'm having to take a little break between groups. Nearly there, only 3 more days to go. Then it's big decision time: WHAT NEXT? This challenge has been so good for me, I really want to keep the momentum going.
Finding it harder to build up the number of crunches, finding them a little harder than the squats. Only did the squats this morning, going to try to fit in the crunches later this afternoon.

[dawnpreview]

Well done purples, 230 must be a killer! I found the same today doing 160, that I had to stop every so often. But I did get there in the end. Was meant to be a rest day today, but I am finding it harder to get back into it if I have a rest day.

[CooEeeEldridge]

I'm still here too! Keep forgetting how many I should be doing, did 210 today which is about right I think? How about a push-up one next???? Awful I know!

[dawnpreview]

I have been thinking about what to do next as well. I can't do push ups at all :( I have also been trying low carb for the last week, and have lost 4lbs! I will definitely be keeping that up. May start the shred again once kids are back at school and I have more time. I will also be going swimming most days. Need to shift as much as possible before I go away in 6 weeks!

[purples]

Day 28, supposed to be a rest day , but have done 230 squats anyway, as I had to swap days around a few days ago and don't want a break in momentum. Only another 2 days to go!

CooEee I've very sad to say that I don't think not I could manage even one push up! So not sure that is the next challenge for me. But I really want to do something to keep the momentum going, question is what??? The squat challenge has been perfect for me, as its given me an achievable goal to build up to, over a month.
Dawn I've a very stupid question, what exactly is the shred?? I've heard it mentioned before, but never been quite sure if its a diet/ set of exercises/ DVD or combination of all of theses. Must admit like you I'd love want to shift a bit of weight for the summer, so think I need to start a diet of some sort and combine it with exercise. The name "shred" strikes terror into my soul does make it sound very serious, especially as I'm not the fittest of people, to be quite honest I'm not sure I'd be up to doing it. What level is the shed aimed at? Is it for the already super-fit or could a slightly saggy middle aged mum of two survive it!

[dawnpreview]

Have a look on YouTube purples. Jillian michaels 30 day shred. There are 3 levels and you do each level for 10 days. It is hard, and I never got past level 2 when I did it last year. But I was seriously unfit, and am a very saggy middle aged mum! Each level is only 20 minutes, so doesn't take up too much time either.

[Movingforward123]

Purples and dawn - well done I'm still watching with interest while my ankle is healing

So what difference have you noticed? Are you thighs any slimmer? Or just more tonned?

[purples]

Day 29, did my 240 squats and 240 crunches today, only one day to go!!!
I've had a problem keeping up with the crunches, but dragged an old abdo-roller out from behind the cob-websof the garage; and that has made the crunches easier, otherwise don't think I could have done so many crunches.
Muscle tone is so much better than at the start. Didn't measure myself, so can't actually say if thighs are slimmer (but I think clothes fit better, so it seems to have had some good effect). I certainly feel much better for it.

[Movingforward123]

Wow well done purples! I would never be able to do 240 crunches! I hate crunches and it kills my back

[dawnpreview]

Day 22 for me, and I am seriously lacking in motivation! Have had awful period pains for the last couple of days, so that is not helping at all. I did manage 20 mins on the eliptical yesterday as well as the squats, but today I have no energy at all :(
I am very impressed at all the crunches purples. No way could I do that many.
I didn't take any measurements at the start, but my jeans are feeling a bit baggier round the bum.

[purples]

Didn't do any squats/crunches yesterday, but finally reached the goal of 250 squats today!!! Doing the crunches later this afternoon.

Hi Dawn, I looked at the shred on line, and to be quite honest I think it's a little too much for me at the moment. I'm trying to set a fitness goal that is an achievable challenge and I think in my current fitness state that i'd probably give up on the shred. I want to keep my enthusiasm & motivation going, so I need to be realistic as to what I will able to do. But I may look at the shred in a couple on months time, for the final lead up to summer holidays! Currently looking through my collection of fitness DVDs (its very sad that my collection of fitness DVDs are in as new condition! ) Just got to decide which to do.
Thinking of doing one session from a DVD each day and at the same time also doing the squat/crunch challenge all over again. So, for me its back to day 1 tomorrow. CooEee, I think I may have a go at the odd press-up, but it may just be one a day!

movingforward I'm finding the abdo roller great for the crunches, it supports my neck so no back problems, and then I use my abdominal muscles to pull myself up. So much easier than regular sit-ups as less stress on neck/back.

[NoSnowJustSand]

Day 9 for me today. Finding it fairly easy to stay with it and have been adding 30-60 minutes of additional exercise every day. I have the 30 day shred so might get going with that again this week.

Keep going everyone!