I set a goal to work out every day of Lent. I was committed to working out at least 30 minutes a day and burning a minimum of 250 calories a day. In Protestant and Western Orthodox Churches, the season of Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday to the evening of Holy Saturday. This calculation makes Lent last 46 days if the 6 Sundays are included, but only 40 days if they are excluded. I went on the 40-day route. That put Lent 2019 beginning on Wednesday, March 6 and ending on Thursday, April 18. But, to cover ALL bases, I started a little early and worked out for 48 days straight. That adds up to 48 days of burning a minimum of 250 calories a day or 12,000 calories for the month and 1,440 minutes of exercise. Here's what happened.

I Started Strong, And My Tech Kept Me Honest

In the beginning, I was all in. I worked out hard. I combined running and indoor cycling with weight training. I doubled my move goals by burning up to 500+ calories, and I worked out for at least 40–50 minutes. To keep me honest, I kept track of my workouts with my Apple Watch and my Nike+ and Fitbod apps. I often posted to Instagram and my Facebook fitness group along the way.

After two weeks in, my body started to betray me. My allergies were out of control. I live in Nevada. I didn't think we had anything to be allergic to in the desert — silly me. Ragweed is not my friend, and it let me know it! For about five days I was not at my best. But I continued to work out. I replaced running with walking. I substituted cycling with pilates classes I found on YouTube. I upped my usual yoga practice. Instead of lifting weights, I worked with resistance bands.

At Thirty Days, Boredom Kicked In

By week four, I was back in the gym but getting bored. I once again turned to YouTube for inspiration. I participated in dance videos and challenging HITT fitness routines. On the weekends I hiked the Nevada Red Rock mountains and hit a bike trail with my new mountain bike. Also, once my lungs cleared up — those allergies kept me congested for a LONG time — I hit the pool.

I Listened To My Body

Now, to be clear, I did not work out at full capacity every day. I listened to my body. If I had the energy and lung capacity, I worked hard. If I was sore or feeling under the weather, I worked out lightly. I walked, ran and swam. I practice my yoga and did Pilates. The goal was to work out, do ANY workout and not miss a day.

But, I'll be honest, some days, my workout didn't happen until 11:00 PM at night. I had a lot of negotiating I had to do with myself to get motivated. Should I stop? Is this the day I quit or do I keep my commitment to myself? I honored my commitment. I kept going.

Real Change Started AT The Thirty Day Mark

After 30 days, I started to notice some changes. Even though the scale didn't shift much, there was a difference in my body. I was able to fit into clothes that were once too tight. I didn't lose a lot of weight, but I passed the pesky plateau that was haunting me. As my weight went down, so did my BMI. My legs were getting stronger and more trim, and I could feel muscles in places that were just flab the month before. As my weight went down, I worked out more.

When You Workout A Lot, You Eat A Lot

I did an intermittent fast for 16 hours, I meal prepped five days a week — allowing myself more flexibility on the weekend — and I was hungry all the time. All. The. Time. I'm hungry right now. While I was, and I am still attempting to get rid of the same 15 pounds I've been carrying around for a year, I realized now I have to increase my calorie consumption. That even sounds scary to say! Luckily another Lent challenge restricted soda, burgers, chips, junk food, and chocolate out of my diet. I have learned when I am hungry, and I have not planned meals or snacks, I will eat ANYTHING accessible in large quantities. But yogurt, peanut butter, and oatmeal became my BFF.

Sleep And I Are In A Love Affair Again

For as long as I can remember, I've had trouble sleeping. I can generally fall asleep, but I won't stay asleep. Now, I fall right asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. This, my friend, is nothing short of a miracle. Instead of three hours of sleep followed by a night of tossing and turning until I reach five hours, I can now get seven straight hours of sleep. AMAZING!

I Got An Unexpected Surprise

One thing I did not expect was to lose my desire to drink adult beverages. Now, look, I'm not saying I'm giving up alcohol altogether. I'm sharing that I don't feel the need to drink. I don't need my evening glass of wine to relax because I'm already relaxed. I don't feel the need to get wasted on the weekends because I know I have an outdoor fitness activity planned on Saturday and Sunday morning. Now that I think about it, it could be a combination of the exercise AND giving up the evening wine that is helping me sleep at night. Either way, I'm grateful for the slumber.

The Pressure Is Now Off

Now that I've completed the challenge, I'm grateful to give my body some much-needed rest. I barely moved on Saturday, and I didn't do much better on Sunday, although I did hit my 250 calorie move goal. Now I can work in an actual rest day into my schedule, not an active rest day. But I know how my mind works, I need structure and I succeed when I have a goal. I'm not sure what that might be, but I'm searching for the next fitness challenge.

How do you stay motivated? What challenges have you overcome to reach your goals? I'd love to hear your story.