The Challenge-The COUNTDOWN!

So, it's December 6th and I am excited about the next two weeks! We are beginning the last 14 days of our Lose Your Holiday Trimming's Challenge and at this point I've only lost 3 pounds (in 3 weeks). So....I'm putting my boxing gloves on this morning and I'm ready to fight. (figuratively, of course! ha ha) My goal was to lose 10 pounds over this 5 week period and obviously I'm slacking. But in my defence, we DID celebrate Thanksgiving one of those weeks and I managed to actually lose a pound that week, so I'm not beating myself up over it. However, enough is enough and if I'm going to have ANY chance at winning this $100, I'm gonna have to focus and quit wussing out every time I'm faced with a temptation. I can't reveal my top-secret plan to get this accomplished though because some of my competitors are reading this blog :)
But if said-competitors are reading this blog....be scared girls! VERY scared! ha ha ha ha I've already spent that money (in my head) and now that I know what the prize will be, I'm extra motivated. :)

Now, in other non-challenge related news....Most of you know, but some might not, that I am taking my Group Fitness Certification Exam on Saturday. I will be there all day (9 am - 6 pm) for a workshop and then at the end will have to complete a 100 question multiple choice test as well as a practical exam (where I actually demonstrate my ability to effectively teach a group fitness class). There is a lot to remember and know (for example what muscles to stretch, naming the muscles we are working, showing different intensity levels, proper breathing, taking HR, etc.) Although I have a lot of studying to get finished this week before the Big Day, I am feeling very confident that I will do well.
Some of you have asked what getting this certification will mean for me. Well, not a whole lot actually. I will still be teaching the same classes I already am at the gym, the only difference will be that I will be making $10 more per class. Basically the gym pays a little more for certified instructors versus non-certified instructors. Since it costs me $300 from my pocket to get this certificate, I was hesitant to do it, but now that I am teaching 2 regular classes a week plus subbing for other classes nearly every week, it won't take me very long at all to recover that $300 and be making a profit from it. Plus, I am a big advocate of learning and understanding all about something I am doing...and I can already see lots of added benefits from learning all this supportive info concerning breathing, muscles groups, proper stretching, effective instructing and so forth.

So, I hope you're all doing well and still staying active despite our busy holiday schedules!?! If there is something I can do to help motivate, inspire or encourage you, please please PLEASE let me know! :)

Lastly, just a quick note in case any of you don't know this, I have deactivated my facebook account for the time being. There are many reasons so if you want to understand why or more about it, you can check out my www.keepinupwiththejoneses.blogspot.com blog later on today. I plan to do a whole post about it over there. :)

Love you guys! You are my core support and I'm so blessed to have you in my lives!
Jen