Hold Myself Accountable

[ajkrouse]

I started using Darebee in 2019 after trying other workouts. My goal was to exercise more often so I kept track of my workout frequency along with other daily activities and how I was feeling at the end of the day. If you're interested in doing something similar, I use the Daylio app and thoroughly enjoy it. I noticed that my mood is generally positive for the rest of the day when I work out in the morning based on the Daylio data.

In 2019, I worked out 114 out of 365 days, equating to 31% of 2019.

In 2020, I worked out 129 days equating to 35% of 2020. Due to the chaos of 2020, I also started meditating because I needed a way to center myself while also determining if meditation would help my workouts and daily life. I only meditated 21 times in 2020 but I started to find what worked well for me.

In 2021, I worked out 158 days equating to 43%! I also meditated for 98 days an increase of 367% from the year prior.

But in 2022 life got in the way. I only worked out 63 days equating to 17%. A huge drop in workout productivity. I also noticed that in 2022, my mood was much more downtrodden and I felt less motivated to do much of anything. It was also one of the hardest years of my life personally and professionally.

So when 2023 started, I decided to rebuild healthy habits and take small steps to live a better life. That means more exercise, meditation, healthy eating, creating better focus, and being present in the moment. I've decided to consciously focus on bettering my personal life and professional life which I've never truly focused on.

So far this year I've worked out 4 days. In fact, I'm on a 3-day workout streak and a 14-day meditation streak! While I don't always use Darebee for workouts, I do plan to use this to keep track of my workouts.

The last 4 workouts have been HIIT. Today's workout was 3-sets of The Chopper Workout without any rest for 10 minutes.

 

[Fremen]

Welcome

 

[aku-chan]

Good luck!

 

[Anek]

Hello and welcome!

 

[ajkrouse]

Been working out on and off the last few months but today I started the Push Pull Legs program.
Day 1 = Complete!
Tough workout but I pushed myself hard

 

[ajkrouse]

Push Pull Legs program Day 2 = COMPLETE

Used 15-20 pound dumbbells with no breaks between sets

 

[ajkrouse]

Push Pull Legs program Day 3 = Abs COMPLETE

Easy to complete but I'm still sweating.

 

[ajkrouse]

Push Pull Legs program Day 4 Legs = COMPLETE

4 sets and increased my dumbbell weight for each set. Rest of 1 minute between sets. 5-minute cooldown and stretch. 6-minute cold plunge post-workout.

 

[TheLibrarian]

Happy Birthday.

 

[Tileenah]

 

[HellYeah]

 

[BetaCorvi]

 

[Fremen]

Happy Birthday

 

[ajkrouse]

5/9 - Full body kettlebell workout

Today 5/10 = Push Pull Legs program Day 5 (3 sets) + Hard HIIT Workout (3 sets) = COMPLETE
Used 15-pound dumbbells immediately followed by the HIIT workout. Weighed myself this morning and weighed 170 lbs. Thats the heaviest I've ever weighed! Decided to set a goal of getting in shape by September with no breaks in between.

 

[ajkrouse]

Fell off the wagon again and stopped working out and eating healthy for the last couple of weeks. Realized that the only person who can help me change for the better is myself.

Kettlebell HIIT (no rest) 3-sets = DONE

 

[ajkrouse]

Kettlebell Full Body - 2 sets no break and added some extra exercises.

 

[ajkrouse]

60 Day Bootcamp Day 1 5 sets = DONE

I've been working out on and off the last few weeks but today I decided to start the BootCamp program with the intention of completing it. I also added in some kettlebell exercises at the end of the workout. Added in a cooldown, meditation, and cold bath to end it. Remember that EVERY SECOND COUNTS.

 

[ajkrouse]

60-Day Bootcamp Day 2 5 sets = DONE

Woke up at 5 am to do this workout. Also completed 15 V-side crunches (each side) and 25 situps. After the cooldown stretch, I hopped into a cold bath and did some meditation. Feeling good.

 

[ajkrouse]

60-day bootcamp Day 3 3-sets + 1 set of Fab Abs Workout = DONE

 

[ajkrouse]

60-day Bootcamp Day 4 + 8-minute meditation = DONE

 

[ajkrouse]

After a VERY LONG hiatus, I finally got back to morning workouts! Warmup, stretch 2-sets of Maximum HIIT which lasted 10-minutes, 5-minute cooldown, 5-minute morning meditation. Just remember to start slow and build back my tolerance.

 

[ajkrouse]

Decided to restart...AGAIN. Day 1 of 30-Day HIIT Bootcamp (3 sets) = DONE

 

[ajkrouse]

Restarted 30-Day HIIT Bootcamp. Yesterday I completed Day 1. Today I completed day 2 with no rest.

 

[ajkrouse]

Repeated day 4 HIIT. Need to do better

 

[ajkrouse]

I gotta stop falling off and get more consistent. Weighed 169 lbs this morning which at 5'7" is the most I've ever weighed. Determined to lose 10 pounds by Friday.

Cardio Cross+ 3-sets. Substitute side step jacks with 20-seconds of jump rope, 20 seconds of jumprope & 20 seconds of burpee at end of each set. 30 second rest between each set. Finished with one minute of jumprope at the end. Cooldown. Wore a hoodie and sweatpants to get the most sweat possible.

 

[neilarey]

Happy Birthday!

 

[Fremen]

Happy Birthday

 

[JohnStrong]

Happy Birthday to you!

 

[Anek]

 

[Mamatigerj]

 

[ajkrouse]

moved to a new apartment so fell off for a while. Fortunately my new apartment has a home gym! Been doing daily morning workouts for the last few weeks!

Today completed: Daily workout (50 jumping jacks) + up downs with 12 pound dumbbells + assisted pull ups = DONE!

Haven’t started a workout program yet because I want to make sure I’m in the routine of making a morning workout part of my daily routine.

 

[MadamMeow]

Congrats for the new apartment, really cool it has a home gym!

 

[ajkrouse]

Congrats for the new apartment, really cool it has a home gym!

Thank you! It’s the first place I’ve ever owned so I figured I should take advantage of the gym while I can.

 

[ajkrouse]

Wow that’s a hard workout! = 1 set with a 9 pound medicine ball.

Free weights

Done

 

[ajkrouse]

Kettlebell (goblet squat and racked squat with lift) 2 sets = Done

Feeling drained this morning but glad I got the workout done.

 

[ajkrouse]

Bite Me 7-sets in 15 minutes = DONE

That was a great workout! I feel great and I got a good sweat going. Going to keep that in the rotation for when I need a good workout.

 

[ajkrouse]

Atlas workout (3-sets while holding 5lbs dumbbells) = DONE

Had to cut my workout short this morning but still have a good sweat going. The last few weeks I’ve noticed myself feeling more energized and getting more sleep even though I’m waking up at 5:30am. It’s like I’m building up that discipline again. It’s definitely helping me at work and I think my bosses are seeing that.

Yesterday I went to the indoor golf driving range to do some lessons after work. Since I worked out yesterday morning and hit golf balls that same evening, would I count that as a two-a-day workout?

 

[ajkrouse]

Cardio Cross+ workout 5-sets = DONE
Used 12lbs for dumbbell curls and 5lbs dumbbells for punches. Shoulders are on fire!

Didn’t workout yesterday but got it in this morning. Planning on hiking with my family this weekend so should be some good cardio.

 

[ajkrouse]

Didn’t get a hiking done over the weekend but I did get to walk a pair of dogs twice a day and play in the pool with my daughter.

Drove home from upstate NY yesterday and got to bed by 10:45. I was going to workout yesterday but at 3am my daughter’s smoke alarm battery dead alarm went off! Ended up sleeping in after dealing with that.

This morning, I did 2-sets of the Cannonball workout with a 25lbs kettlebell. Made sure the gym was hot too so I got a good sweat on. Feeling good.

 

[ajkrouse]

Dungeon workout 2-sets with assisted pull-ups = DONE!

Felt good to get back after it but wish I had allocated more time to go longer. Didn’t workout yesterday because I was too tired but realized that I needed to do it this morning in order have a good day at work.

 

[ajkrouse]

New year, same me. I totally dropped the ball on my workouts last year and couldn’t get back into the groove, even though I know how good I feel after getting some exercise in. I only managed to work out 20% of 2024, but with a trip to Aruba coming up on March 1st and my 40th birthday on April 26th, I realized I need to get that beach body ready. I wasn’t thrilled with how I looked in pictures this past year. I’m 5’8” and hit 170 pounds, which is my heaviest ever.

2025 is all about actually following through on my goals. Today I kicked off Day 1 of 30 Days of HIIT, plus I managed to do 30 leg raises in a row. Feeling pretty good! It only took me 15 minutes, not counting the warm-up and stretching. Can’t wait for Day 2!

The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it. -Jordan Belfort

 

[MadamMeow]

Aruba should be a great way to stay on track! Welcome back!

 

[ajkrouse]

Big shoutout to @MadamMeow for the nice words! Today, I crushed Day 2 of the 30 Days of HIIT with 5 sets of elbow planks, plus I knocked out a 35-minute treadmill interval session, covering 2.79 miles. I'm feeling great! Gotta make it a habit to get my next workout done first thing in the morning.

Give yourself some credit for the days you made it when you thought you couldn't.

 

[ajkrouse]

My alarm buzzed at 5:10am, I rolled out of bed by 5:15, and kicked off my workout by 5:35! Wrapped up Day 3 of 30 Days of HIIT with the One & One routine, threw in an extra set of the From the Ashes workout, plus 50 jumping jacks and 20 squats = all done! Really pumped to have it in the books!

 

[ajkrouse]

Woke up at 5:30am and conquered all 5 sets of Day 4 in my 30 Days of HIIT. Though I felt a bit tired this morning, completing five rounds of climbers is another small but meaningful step towards my goal.

In two weeks, you'll feel it. In four weeks, you'll see it. In eight weeks, you'll hear it.

 

[ajkrouse]

5 sets of Day 5 in my 30 Days of HIIT = DONE

 

[ajkrouse]

5 sets of Day 6 in my 30 Days of HIIT = DONE

 

[ajkrouse]

Since it's the weekend, I was able to sleep in! I woke up at 7:30 and spent some relaxing time with my family. This afternoon, I plan to work out. I feel like I have more energy and motivation, which is probably due to the extra sleep. Today, I went to the gym in my building and completed 3 sets of the Daily Grind, doing 12 reps each with 12-pound dumbbells, followed by 3 sets of Day 7 (Ab Work) from my 30 Days of HIIT program. It feels great to have it done!