By Amanda Long

The unexpected arrival of a global pandemic changed our way of life almost overnight. We miss our friends, our routines, and for many of us, the gym. Being locked up in a tiny two-bedroom townhouse with little more than some dumbbells and a jump rope, my options for keeping fit seemed pretty limited. Aside from the ability to run the half-mile loop around my community, I felt that there was little more to do with parks and gyms being closed.

Now, if anyone is a social media user or occasional YouTube browser, chances are you have come across a Buzzfeed video at least once or twice as you\’ve scrolled. Buzzfeed is an American internet media outlet that focuses on trends and viral content. One of the prevailing trends that have circulated the social media world the past few years has been various types of challenges. Flipping water bottles, stacking cheerios on a sleeping baby, eating really hot peppers, we\’ve all seen some form of a challenge video.

One day, towards the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, feeling bored and unmotivated, stuck inside my house, I came across a Buzzfeed video of four coworkers taking on the \”100 Squats Per Day for 30 Days\” challenge. My immediate reaction was, \”that is ridiculous\”. However, after giving it some thought and watching the four people go through the challenge in their unique ways, I was inspired to give it a shot myself, besides, what else was I doing?

Day one of the challenge, the first thing I did was watch a couple of videos on YouTube about how to do a proper squat, because the last thing I wanted to do was injure myself and not be able to run. After a quick refresher on the proper form of an air squat, I took my measurements and began my challenge. Not having very strong glutes or quad muscles, I decided that the best technique to successfully do one hundred squats a day was to break it up into four sets of twenty-five. I set four daily alarms on my phone to remind me to get my squats in throughout the day.

The first three to four days were, for lack of a better word, challenging. My legs felt weak and started getting sore. However, after drinking a lot of water and making beetroot and turmeric shakes, the soreness subsided. I continued the challenge and began to feel stronger every day. The sheer curiosity to see if I would gain any tangible results is what motivated me to continue the challenge each day. By week three and a half, I was strong enough to do all one hundred squats in one set, a feat I never imagined I could accomplish.

Day thirty rolled around and I was excited to get my last one hundred squats in so I could measure myself and see if there were any results. Regardless of muscle measurements, I knew that I felt stronger, could see definition in my legs, and felt more powerful during my training runs. I got out the measuring tape and was surprised and excited that I had gained three and a half inches overall in just thirty short days. My glutes stayed the same, but my quads became bigger and stronger.

By day thirty I was almost sad the challenge was over. It was difficult at times but also fun and rewarding. I learned that consistency, even in very small actions, produces results. I was also reminded that sometimes simple is good. When we are forced to suspend certain activities and ways of life, going back to the basics can also yield results. I am looking forward to life going back to normal, but I will not forget that my body is quite capable of keeping fit without gym equipment or the need to leave home. So, do not be afraid of taking on a new challenge, even if you do not think you are capable. Going back to the basics may very well strengthen your foundation.

 Amanda Long is a runner based in South Florida. She completed the Chicago Marathon in 2018 and has ran multiple half marathons.