Like most gym people, I have a hate/love relationship with Leg Day. When it really comes down to it though, it is probably my favourite. As painful and awkward as it is to walk the next 2 days, it is SO Worth it. My legs were/are probably what need the most work in my opinion [and I like how strong they are getting] so that could be a contributing factor to my admiration and acceptance.

Going back about 5 years, I remember the first time my trainer made me do squats. It was my first time REALLY doing a workout at the gym. [Before that I would use the elliptical for 15 min and did a few machine weights on the lowest setting basically]. He put me on the Smith Machine with 10Lb on each side and said "do 10." I thought I was going to die after those 10. Then he told me I had another 2 sets. After THAT, I really thought I was going to die. He put another 5LB on each side and made me do 20 MORE SQUATS. Now, this is when I had literally NO muscle. That was a friday night and I could not even leave my bed... I literally had to crawl around like a worm all weekend. 

Day 1 to day 30 in completing Sammi's Secrets Home Workout Challenge!! I honestly didn't think it was this much of a difference from looking in the mirror every day. I notice a lot gone on my hips and tummy and sides. Also my legs, which you can't see in the pictures, but they have much more muscle definition. Like I said in my previous fitness post, my endurance has gone up a lot too! Now to keep going!!
I urge you to take this simple 30 day challenge, it starts off easy so everyone can do it!! Follow it to a T every day and you WILL see results!! 

 *****CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CHALLENGE FOR FREE*****

Send me your results!! Share on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! #SammisSecrets and @SammiMcLeod!! I may just feature you! When you post these things for the world to follow, its a commitment to yourself and you goal!! Get Fit, Happy and Healthy with me! <3 

So I am almost finished my 30 day challenge work out! I have 3 more days to go. But I won't be stopping there! I will continue my workouts because I LOVE the feeling of getting stronger every day. When I started, Thinking of doing 80 squats in a day was tiring. I did them usually in sets of 10, maybe 20. As the number goes up, you want to push yourself to do more reps per set so that you finish faster! Doing 20 in a row was really hard at the beginning, my heart racing and I was feeling the burn. Once I got to 90, I did them in 3 sets of 30. Today I did 175 squats in 15 minutes. 3 sets of 50 and 1 set of 25. 

It was tough but it feels so good to look back and see how for you've come! I can tell that the strength in my legs and glutes is much better and you can feel the fat burning! [Squats burn the most fat of any exercise.] I also noticed its much easier now for me to go lower and lower every day! Crunches are awesome, I will do hundreds a day as I keep going! Plank is a hard one, but at the beginning I could barely stay up for 20 seconds. Now I'm totally fine past a minute, then it starts getting more challenging. I want to keep working at my plank so I can stay up for 3 minutes. I'm so glad I have done this challenge and I encourage you all to do it too! 

I have my workout scheduled into my calendar first thing in the morning (After I walked the dog) for half an hour. This way you get it done and you can get ready after and see results before you've eaten all day. I will post before and after pictures on the last day after my work out! :) TAKE THE CHALLENGE! 

Oh my gosh is this a controversy or WHAT!? Here is my opinion and what I like to do. As I go through my transformation, you can follow my progress! 

My first secret to working out is you have to find a routine and system that you LOVE. When I do cardio, I get bored and uncomfortable and I just want to stop. When I do weights, I get pumped and I watch myself improve quickly. I feel adrenaline and strength and powerful. Therefore, I usually I focus on free weights, weight machines and floor work. I like to end off my work out with about 15-20 minutes of cardio. Always do your cardio at the END of your work out. If your goal is to gain muscles or strength or lose fat, this is the best system BECAUSE it gives you the best energy for optimal performance at both.