August 1 Check In: One Month to Go

Happy August! Summer is certainly rolling right along, isn't it? Today is check in time for me while participating in the self-started, 5-month challenge to bettering myself. I've said this every month, but it has gone by so quickly. I can't believe there is only one month left! While the bettering myself will not end in one month, the challenge that seemed incredibly long at the start has gone much quicker than I anticipated. So, here is how the last month has gone...

*Image from Pinterest

I will say that it was the first month of this challenge that I have been made aware of some changes taking place physically. It was, of course, exciting to see something changing (though I have been noticing muscle for some time now). I am nowhere near what I would hope to be ultimately, but after a couple of months of fighting with the same few pounds, I've actually experienced weight loss in this last month. As much as I don't want this to solely be about weight, I have to admit that it's nice to see it go down. I also stepped up to the next level belt in kickboxing, and hope to continue pushing forward in that area of life.

My goal for July was to complete a 50 mile bike ride, and unfortunately, this did not take place. I did go on several rides from 15-20 miles, but never had the time to get to longer distances. I would still like to complete the 50 miler before the end of summer, but time was not on my side for this ride to happen in July. Because I'll be participating in the Venus de Miles ride, it looks like I'll be able to complete this in August. I don't want to let that goal go though because I think it's important for me to complete. I don't take it lightly that I didn't reach this goal, but at the beginning of this, I would have had no way of knowing where my head would be at this point, nor the focus I would have on different areas, so I'm trying to cut myself a bit of slack.

During the upcoming month, the final month of this challenge, my goal is to have lost a total of 25 lbs from the start date of April 1. I seem to be moving toward that, and I hold out hope that I will make it...or maybe I should say that I have a strong belief that it can be done. As of this writing, I have 1 pound to lose this month, which doesn't seem impossible (though I have had months during which I have lost bupkis - so I'm knocking on wood as I type this).  Hopefully, I will also complete the 50 mile ride that didn't happen in July, and I hope to have some kind of long term goal for moving forward at the end of this challenge.

How about you? Any challenges you've faced in the last few months that you'd like to share? Please feel free to chime in.