Weekly Challenge #10

In case you are new:

Each week we are given two challenges. These challenges will start on Sunday (usually) and go through the following Saturday. (click here to learn more about our weekly challenges)

At the end of the week, we will each write a post explaining our experiences with the challenges.

BE HONEST. If you failed the challenge, tell us why. If you rocked it, tell us how. Most importantly, tell us how you feel about it.

This week's challenges

Physical Challenge: Tone!

This week lets start to tone up! Building lean muscle burns fat, so this week lets work on building some muscle. Pick an area you would like to work on and do it 2-3 times this week, remember you need to feel a burn to make a change, so don't wimp out! Go strong, make yourself a little sore (don't hurt yourself, though!) You can pick a single muscle, like biceps, or go for a group of muscles, like your legs, but whatever you choose, make it count!

Nutritional Challenge: Almonds!

When cravings strike, bypass the junk. This week, almonds are your friend, make them your go-to snack! No junk this week. Instead, eat either veggies or almonds. Your waistline will thank me!

In a study of 65 men and women who were following a low-calorie diet, California researchers found that those who noshed on the nuts shrank their waistlines nearly 50% more than dieters who didn't eat them, despite consuming the same number of calories. Likewise, Spanish researchers found that even without increasing exercise, a diet enriched with monounsaturated fatty acids (aka MUFAs, found in foods such as almonds and avocados) decreased the accumulation of abdominal fat, compared with a carbohydrate-heavy diet, which increased it.