Hello! I am Andie Thueson, and I am so excited to be guest writing for the Ulysses Press blog. Last year, I published my first book with Ulysses, The Big Book of 30-Day Fitness Challenges, and I am pleased as punch to be a member of their publishing family.

Prior to being a published author, I wrote for my own blog, Maybe I Will, for seven years. I created Maybe I Will to share what I had learned during my personal fitness transformation. I wanted to help others learn not just how to lose weight, but also to love and be at home in their own bodies! ⁠⠀

My Fitness Journey

I was a woman uncomfortable in my own skin. I hated the way I looked. I hated the way I felt. I hated that I never seemed to have any motivation or will power. I would look at other “fit/skinny moms” and be riddled with jealousy that somehow they were blessed with good genes. For me, I felt like I would look at cake and gain weight. It wasn’t fair. The deck seemed stacked against me.

I remember one morning stepping onto the scale and letting my bathrobe fall to the floor. As I looked down at the numbers, I started to cry. I never in my life had let my weight get so out of control, but here I was. I knew I had a decision to make. ⁠⠀

I could keep blaming my problems on everyone else, OR I could learn to take control and change my life. ⁠⠀

I chose the latter. It has been a bumpy road with many of mistakes and triumphs. I lost the 40+ lbs and have kept it off for nine years. ⁠⠀

My Goals

My whole goal is to help my readers and friends learn how to live their best life, no matter what, which means going for your goals/dreams and leaving your excuses and blaming behind you once and for all!

For me, my fitness journey started with small challenges I would give myself, and little by little, I became healthier and fitter 30 days at a time. Challenges have the power to keep you on track and focused. If I was in a “challenge,” it was hard to rely on my excuses! 

So let’s get started this month with 30 days of simple exercises! 

My 30-Day Fitness Challenge for You

Every day this month you will have just four exercises to complete. As a beginner, you can complete the exercises once and check working out off your to-do list for the day. As you become accustomed to working out and are able to move through the four exercises more easily, you can try adding on another round until you can complete each exercise 3-4 times in a day! You will be amazed by the improvement you will see and FEEL in only 30 days. 

Guess what? I have a challenge like this for every month—an entire YEAR of daily movements all planned out for you! 

If you do not know any of the exercises below or need a refresher course, I’ve got you! I have filmed a short video for every move to help you feel comfortable and confident you are doing it right!

Day 1: Chest + Triceps

1.   Push-ups (10-15 reps)
2.   Tricep Dips (10-15 reps)
3.   Incline Push-ups (10-15 reps)
4.   Diamond Push-ups (10-15 reps)

Day 2: Cardio Repeat 2-3x

1.   Windmills (20-30 reps, 1-1=1)
2.   Wide Arm Circles (20-30 )
3.   Skaters (10-15 reps, 1-1=1)
4.   Windmills (20-30 reps, 1-1=1)

Day 3: Back + Biceps

1.   Upper Curls (10-15 reps)
2.   Seated Rows (10-15 reps)
3.   Lower Curls (10-15 reps)
4.   Lat Pulls (10-15 reps)

Day 4: Cardio Repeat 2-3x

1.   Jumping Rope (45-90 seconds)
2.   Rest (10 seconds)
3.   Jumping Rope (45-90 seconds)
4.   Rest (10 seconds)

Day 5:  Leg Day

1.   Reverse Lunges (10-15 reps)
2.   Plie Squats (10-15 reps)
3.   Side Lunges (10-15 reps)
4.   Curtsey Squats (10-15 reps)

Day 6: Fun Day

Day 7: Rest Day

Day 8: Abs + Shoulders

1.   V-ups (10-15 reps)
2.   Overhead Press (10-15 reps)
3.   Starfishes (10-15 reps)
4.   Upright Rows (10-15 reps)

Day 9: Cardio Repeat 2-3x

1.   Inch Worms (10-15 reps)
2.   Froggers (10-15 reps)
3.   High Knees (10-15 reps)
4.   Inch Worms (10-15 reps)

Day 10: Chest + Triceps

1.   Chest Press (10-15 reps)
2.   Tricep Kickbacks (10-15 reps)
3.   Push-ups (10-15 reps)
4.   Skull Crushers (10-15 reps)

Day 11: Cardio Repeat 2-3x

1.   Surrenders (10-15 reps)
2.   Jumping Jacks (20-30 reps)
3.   Kickboxing Kicks (10-15 reps)
4.   Jumping Jacks (20-30 reps)

Day 12: Back + Biceps

1.   Concentration Curls (10-15 reps)
2.   Supermans (10-15 reps)
3.   Bicep Curls (10-15 reps)
4.   Renegade Rows (10-15 reps)

Day 13: Fun Day

Day 14: Rest Day

Day 15: Leg Day

1.   Glute Bridges (10-15 reps + 30 second holds)
2.   Bulgarian Lunges (10-15 reps)
3.   Step-ups (10-15 reps)
4.   Donkey Kicks (10-15 reps)

Day 16: Cardio Repeat 2-3x

1.   Burpees (10-15 reps)
2.   Windmills (20-30 reps, 1-1=1)
3.   High Knees (10-15 reps)
4.   Windmills (20-30 reps, 1-1=1)

Day 17: Abs + Shoulders

1.   Roll-ups (10-15 reps)
2.   Shoulder Shrugs (10-15 reps)
3.   Mason Twists (10-15 reps)
4.   T Raises (10-15 reps)

Day 18: Cardio Repeat 2-3x

1.   Heismans (30-60 seconds)
2.   Inch Worms (10-15 reps)
3.   Squat Thrusts (10-15 reps)
4.   Heismans (30-60 seconds)

Day 19: Chest + Triceps

1.   Incline Push-ups (10-15 reps)
2.   Diamond Push-ups (10-15 reps)
3.   Chest Flys (10-15 reps)
4.   Skull Crushers (10-15 reps)

Day 20: Fun Day

Day 21: Rest Day

Day 22: Back + Biceps

1.   7s (repeat 3x)
2.   Bent Over Flys (10-15 reps)
3.   Hammer Curls (10-15 reps)
4.   Bent Over Rows (10-15 reps)

Day 23: Cardio Repeat 2×3

1.   Burpees (10-15 reps)
2.   Windmills (20-30 reps, 1-1=1)
3.   Kickboxing Kicks (20-30 reps, 1-1=1)
4.   Froggers (10-15 reps)

Day 24: Leg Day

1.   Deadlifts (10-15 reps)
2.   Side Lunges (10-15 reps)
3.   Donkey Kicks (10-15 reps)
4.   Curtsey Lunges (10-15 reps)

Day 25: Cardio Repeat 2-3x

1.   Jumping Jacks (20-30 reps)
2.   Inch Worms (10-15 reps)
3.   High Knees (10-15 reps)
4.   Jumping Jacks (20-30 reps)

Day 26: Abs + Shoulders

1.   Criss Crosses (10-15 reps)
2.   Pike Push-ups (10-15 reps)
3.   Trunk Rotations (20-30 reps)
4.   Milk Pours (10-15 reps)

Day 27: Fun Day

Day 28: Rest Day

Day 29: Chest + Triceps

1.   Chest Press (10-15 reps)
2.   Tricep Dips (10-15 reps)
3.   Incline Push-ups (10-15 reps)
4.   Tricep Overhead Extensions (10-15 reps)

Day 30: Cardio Repeat 2×3

1.   Jumping Rope (45-90 seconds)
2.   Rest (10 seconds)
3.   Jumping Rope (45-90 seconds)
4.   Rest (10 seconds)

Day 31: Back + Biceps

1.   Lower Curls (10-15 reps)
2.   Renegade Rows (10-15 reps)
3.   Upper Curls (10-15 reps)
4.   Supermans (10-15 reps)

If you enjoyed this challenge, buy my book, The Big Book of 30-Day Fitness Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Routines to Make Working Out Fun, for more monthly challenges to help build off the momentum you created here and continue your fitness journey.

I genuinely love you, and please know that I am always cheering you on! Tag me on social media, @andiethueson, and let me know you took on the challenge!

-Andie Thueson, Author of The Big Book of 30-Day Fitness Challenges