Sonoma Diet and the Mediterranean Diet - Queen of Sonoma Challenge

You can be the Queen of Sonoma!

This group is open to everyone. The intent behind this challenge is to motivate ourselves and each other so that we can follow through with our goals consistently. Sometimes being accountable to someone other than ourselves can make a difference. We will offer support, ideas, tips, caring and sharing, and motivation. Feel free to post as much or as little as you like. It is YOUR challenge.

Each week you will have your own personal challenge. This will be something you declare at the beginning of each week and will work on and track your progress all week. You can change it every week or continue with the same challenge week after week. We do ask that you report on your plan and progress because it is something we can all learn from. You pick what you want to accomplish or work on for the week (ideas are: controlling weekend/evening eating, negative self-talk, planning menus, exercise, trying new recipes, or any of the 5 items from the daily points, etc.)


Daily points (give yourself one point for each of the following you were successful with)

• drinking 8 glasses of water
• eating only from our Sonoma list
• planning your menus for the day
• exercising for at least 15 minutes
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Here is the daily template; you can just fill this out and earn your points. Just copy and paste it. Keep track of your points and at the end of the week you will be the Queen of Sonoma if you have the most points!


Name:
How many points did you earn yesterday?
Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise!
What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge?

Queen's answer:

Tomorrow we will report on how we did today. I am going to be Queen this week (until Monday). Petra, don’t worry I didn’t do too well either. This might be my only chance to ask my questions so I am going to take full advantage of it!

Remember to post on what your personal challenge is for the week (until Monday). Tell us what you are doing to set yourself up for success. Fail to plan—plan to fail.

Queen’s Query: Close your eyes and imagine yourself at your goal weight. What are you wearing? Describe it—how do you feel in this outfit?

Good luck! I really hope we all have a good week.

Gina

Name: Gina

How many points did you earn yesterday? 2

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! Breakfast! I am doing really well with breakfast but fall apart after that. And I got in 30 minutes of exercise.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? You might think my personal challenge is lame but I read a book that suggested this. I am going to work on eating a healthy lunch. In the book they said to work on one meal and then keep working on it until you have it figured out and it is a habit. I have breakfast figured out. So, I am on to the next meal. Dinner and evening snacks are going to be really hard for me to change. I am going to keep working toward success on all meals and snacks but work especially hard on quick but satisfying Sonoma lunches.

Queen's answer: Ok, I am wearing skinny denim jeans and a white sleeveless blouse that ties (under the bust line and in back) and cute boots. My hair is a little longer and a little blonder. I feel great! I am confident and so carefree I feel like I am walking on air.


• drinking 8 glasses of water (Yes)
• eating only from our Sonoma list (no)
• planning your menus for the day (no)
• exercising for at least 15 minutes (yes)
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD (not started)
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge (no)

Name: Mary
How many points did you earn yesterday? 2
Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! Made a really good stir fry--lots of vegetables, lots of color. Tasted good too!
What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? My personal challenge is eating to plan after dinner, if I eat at all. After dinner is my black hole when it comes to junkfood and empty calories. Tonight I'm planning for a small bag of popcorn. And that's all!

Queen's answer: I'm wearing my spandex running shorts and a comfortable, small T-shirt (not my current t-shirts designed to cover as much as possible!). I feel fast and feminine (as opposed to my current plodding and built like a football player).

• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes!
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--yes!
• exercising for at least 15 minutes--no
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD--not started
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge--no

Hey Mary! We are tied!!

Evening eating is so hard to kick! That is when I especially crave/want junk food. I think you have a good plan for tonight. Popcorn has a lot of fiber so it might stick with you and keep you out of the kitchen.

I love the description of how you see yourself at your goal weight--fast and feminine! Sign me up for that too!

Gina

Hi! I can't wait to do this challenge and really, I AM doing it, but we are leaving this weekend to have Christmas with our families and I won't be back until the day after Christmas. I'm going to keep myself on the honor system and stick to it while I'm gone. Our families are real good about eating healthfully so it should be pretty easy to stay on plan while gone (crossing my fingers this is still the case)

Take care and have a great Christmas!!
Ann

Well I only get 1 point for day one for my 15 minutes of exercise. I got really stressed out about something at work and went on a sugar binge. I have been planning meals but it went out the window.

I have promised myself that when I reach goal weight I will buy myself diamond earrings. I have always wanted them and at this point it doesn't look like a man will ever be buying them for me.

Ann: have a great trip! You can't have any idea of my reaction to hearing that your family normally eats healthy. It is so different from my family. My Mom and Aunts are old fashioned . . . everything is from scratch but it is carb and calorie heavy. But oohhh so good! Those women can cook! Anyway, have a great holiday!

Mary: how did you do with the evening eating? How was the popcorn??

Petra: who needs a man anyway?!! ;) I think it is going to take all of us a while to get on to this. The change we are making is really different from how most Americans eat. As a whole we have gotten away from eating healthy and moved toward fast food and junk food. I know I have and this is going to take some time. I am going to try to help us think about stress eating with the Queen's Query.

When we are coping with uncomfortable emotions of any kind, like anger, sadness, or insecurity, or even when we are experiencing positive emoions, many of us reach for our favorite foods (which are, all too often, not the healthiest choices) to either comfort or celebrate. It is likely that we started developing this habit very early in life, when our parents realized the best response to crying or fussing was to pop something into our mouths and that ice cream made a very welcome reward.

Queen’s Query: What 3 things unrelated to food can you do in reaction to emotions that normally make you reach for the wrong foods. Take this list and post it on your refrigerator (I know embarrassing).

Name: Gina

How many points did you earn yesterday? 3

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! I exercised—I am starting to enjoy it again, ok, it has only been 2 days but I liked it.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? My personal challenge is to start eating a healthy lunch. I did ok yesterday but I didn’t plan it and I also ate off of the Sonoma list. I need to work on planning a healthy lunch. I am going to make some soup and put some left overs into bowls.

Queen's answer: I am going to try to make my list have things that I will really do.

1. Teach Jasmine a new trick or just play with her. (my maltese puppy)
2. Make a phone call
3. Do a load of laundry
4. If my mood is right jump on the elliptical


• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes!
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--no
• exercising for at least 15 minutes—yes!
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD—yes!
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge—half point??:dizzy:

Name: Mary

How many points did you earn yesterday? 4

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! I really concentrated on eating lightly after dinner.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? Well, today's personal challenge is history. It's after dinner, and I ate lots and lots and there you have it.

Queen's answer: Work on organizing my home office.
Do Christmas type stuff.
Call a friend.

• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--yes
• exercising for at least 15 minutes—no
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD—yes
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge--yes

Mary, again, I think it is so hard to make a change something that it can become so ingrained and natural that it has become mindless at times. We are trying to change habits that have become a part of our lifestyle--either at an early age as adults-maybe both. Take it easy on yourself and keep pushing to make these changes. Have you used anything on your list to help avoid reaching for food? Did you post it on your refrigerator? I have to admit that I did not post it. I am going to go do that right now.


Name: Gina

How many points did you earn yesterday? 3

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! I used the journal at thedailyplate.com and was doing really well until dinner. Instead of making my planned healthy meal I started eating some caramel popcorn that I bought for a fundraiser. After that I did something that I normally do not---I quickly figured out that it was a trigger—and even after paying an inflated price for it I threw it away.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? My personal challenge is to start eating a healthy lunch. I made soup that was really good. I need to do that more often!


• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes!
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--no
• exercising for at least 15 minutes—no
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD—yes!
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge—yes

Queen's Query: I was talking about habits to Mary and want to demonstrate that changing that has become our habit that has evolved to be a part of our lifestyle cannot change overnight and needs to be pursued diligently with persistence, determination, and a plan. We need to be consistent even when we are not doing it perfectly.

So, here it the QQ: Identify two of the habits that you believe derail your weight loss the most and then think back and see if you can identify when you started that habit or where it originated.

:hug: Hey Mary you have 6 points and I have 8 (I only had about 14 minutes to post to get my points from Saturday).


You are really helping keep me motivated and I hope this challenge is helping you. Come on Petra and ckatgo and post with us! And Ann (TeaTime) after Christmas we will be looking for you!

Gina

Gina,

Congrats, Queenie! I missed yesterday, but I will count my points today (for yesterday).

I think you're very smart to work on one meal at a time--breaking this job into small pieces is the only way to go.

The challenge is keeping me aware. Change my thinking, change my life! Slowly but surely.

Name: Mary

How many points did you earn yesterday? 3

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! I ate popcorn after dinner--that all!

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? Planned for popcorn after dinner, and that's all I had.

• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--yes
• exercising for at least 15 minutes—no
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD—no
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge—yes

Queen's query:
1. Eating after dinner--lifelong.
2. Lunch--Either getting too busy during the day to eat it or eating the wrong stuff--since I started working from home.

Name: Gina
How many points did you earn yesterday? 2

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! I really don’t think I did anything right yesterday. My sister and I went shopping—all day—without food and then stopped for dinner. We went to a buffet that normally has healthy choices but they didn’t have anything. Also, I didn’t exercise. I was active but that doesn’t really count.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? Today I had a healthy lunch and really upped the veggies. This was really good because I now have one healthy option. I plan to keep doing this as my challenge until I have 10 things for lunch that are healthy, easy, and I really like to eat.

Queen's answer: My two habits are:

Lack of planning: I don’t think I have ever needed to plan my meals when I was thin—I didn’t think about it. If I was hungry I ate.

Procrastination: I procrastinate a lot and I always have. I really think it derails me because I am always saying “oh well, I screwed up today, I will start again tomorrow”. I don’t really dig in and do the hard work.


• drinking 8 glasses of water (Maybe)
• eating only from our Sonoma list (no)
• planning your menus for the day (no)
• exercising for at least 15 minutes (no)
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD (yes)
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge (no)

Mary: lucky you to be working at home! The reason for the Queens Query today was to really help us realize that we need to be patient. Our habits didn't just show up and they aren't going to just go away. We need to be creative and keep trying to figure out ways to change our habits. I really believe we need to be patient and not beat ourselves up.


Queen's Query: We've been working hard so I am going to lighten it up a bit and ask something a little more fun. This time of year there are a lot of plays, church programs, etc. What character were you??

Gina

Name: Gina
How many points did you earn yesterday? 6

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! Yesterday was a really good. I woke up and did a step aerobic workout and started the day on the right foot. I ate right and didn’t have any unplanned snacks. I wish everyday came as easy as it did yesterday. I was motivated and persistent.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? I am going to have to figure that out. I haven’t planned lunch yet. I think I am going to have to leave early and stop at the grocery store.

Queen's answer: I was a witch once with two of my best friends and had to sing my only solo ever. I was so nervous yet I liked having the audience reaction—when the laughed on que and I knew it was because of me. I will never forget looking into the audience and seeing all the smiling faces.


• drinking 8 glasses of water (Yes)
• eating only from our Sonoma list (Yes)
• planning your menus for the day (Yes)
• exercising for at least 15 minutes (yes)
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD (yes)
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge (yes)

Gina, what's going on here? Is it something in the air? I got 6 points for Monday too! Maybe we just reached critical mass. We're on a roll!

Name: Mary

How many points did you earn yesterday? 6

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! A friend and I walked for 45 min. at the park. It was freezing, but alot of fun and we made good time (for us) of 17.5 min./mile. Also I upped my fruit and vegetables by two.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? Buying apples. Tonight I'll cut up an apple for after dinner.

Queen's answer: I played the triangle in first grade. I was so intent on dinging on cue that I can't even remember the audience.

• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes
• eating only from our Sonoma list--yes
• planning your menus for the day--yes
• exercising for at least 15 minutes--yes
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD--yes
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge--yes

I am sooooo sorry I have not been back. First my power went down, then I lost internet service. FOR 8 DAYS! And the utilities and whatnot keep sometime blipping in and out. URG! I am so worried I will lose momentum that I have not started offically. Everything in the area is such a mess still. It amazes me. I swear, this place is so unprepared for events like this. I get upset because I see other cities with far worse weather and they don't have these problems! Last year the snow was worse and they refused to salt the streets except what they call these 'snow routes' and I was socked in for 5 days, TWICE!

So, no queen for me. I will go back now and catch up with everyone! I did think about everyone and wonder how you was and how it was going. Good to be able to talk to you again.

Laters, maybe I can have queen post now!

Mary: Wow! You are dedicated to be walking in the cold. I just have no tolerance to the cold.

There must be something in the air. Do you think part of why it is working is because we aren't being so hard on ourselves?? We aren't doing this perfectly but we are checking in every day and, I believe, doing our best. Tomorrow may not be a 6 point day but I bet you and I will still be here!

You are doing really really well with your personal challenge!! The apple will be great!! Once we really get the sugar out do you think everything will taste different? I have heard that in other posts. I guess it would be kinda like switching to diet soda . . . at first I could tell it was diet. The other day I was eating out and had a diet coke--they brought it and I was horrified that it was regular coke so I asked them to take it back. The next one taste exactly the same--so it was diet all along. My taste buds must have adjusted--it taste so sweet.

That is so cute about your triangles!

It looks like it is just the two of us until Ann gets back. Do you want to take over the Queens Query for a couple of days?? If you want I will ask tomorrows and then you can take over until Monday. On Monday we will crown our Queen. Let me know.

I have a heavy type question for today (enough of this fluffy stuff!!)

Queen's Query:

If it was simply picking a 'diet' to follow, and the weight would come off, then we wouldn't have a global problem with obesity. It's really about relearning how to eat healthy. And what that really means. The stores abound in processed foods that are high in added sugars and fat, and low in fiber, and satiety. Combine that with a very sedentary population. For many people success comes when the reasons for losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle shift from outward appearance to internal, overall health. Why do you want to lose weight? Write out 5 very specific reasons why you want to lose weight? Not just to look better or be healthier. But think beyond that and keep asking yourself 'why'. The more you can pinpoint very precise, specific reasons why you want to lose weight, the more you will be able to determine if the reasons are sufficient to lead to the changes that are necessary for weight loss to occur and be sustained.


If you don't want to share your reasons to lose weight that is fine. Just let us know that you did it. It really is something to think about.

Gina

First my power went down, then I lost internet service. FOR 8 DAYS! And the utilities and whatnot keep sometime blipping in and out. URG!!

That is awful! I feel so bad for you. I haven't been watching the news this week and didn't have any idea.

We will be here when you get back. Take care of yourself and jump in whenever you can.

Gina

ckatgo, what a rotten time you're having! My sympathy.

Gina, yesterday wasn't quite as good as Monday. But not as bad as Sunday!! Sure, I'll come up with a question for tomorrow.

Name: Mary

How many points did you earn yesterday? 4

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! Went for a walk with the dog and had a healthy lunch.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? I read motivating posts on the success board here at 3fatchicks.

Queen's answer:
1. Get into my size 6 jeans.
2. Complete a sprint triathlon.
3. Go snowshoeing and keep up.
4. Be able to look at myself in the changing room mirror when I go swimming.
5. Fit into my cute green dress next Christmas.

• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--yes
• exercising for at least 15 minutes--yes
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD--yes
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge--no

Gina, I saw that you posted the question yesterday. Did you post your points? The challenge is definitely keeping me thinking about better choices, even if I don't actually make better choices!:o

Ok, here's the Queen's Query for today, and it's a toughie:

Have you finished your Christmas shopping, and if so, when? If not, when do you expect to?

Name: Mary

How many points did you earn yesterday? 4

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! Planned breakfast, lunch and dinner and ate to plan.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? Working on a project after dinner for part of the evening, instead of reading on the couch.

Queen's answer: One more gift, and that one is a gift card that I can pick up at the grocery store today. Feels good--this is early for me to be finished!


• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes
• eating only from our Sonoma list--yes
• planning your menus for the day--yes
• exercising for at least 15 minutes--no
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD--yes
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge--no

Name: Gina

How many points did you earn yesterday? 3

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! Often when I am away from home getting something quick to eat means something unhealthy. So, yesterday I got myself a diet coke and made myself wait until I got home. You know, it wasn’t that bad to wait. Sometimes I think I eat because I should be hungry or will be hungry if I don’t—so I am a little hungry, so what??

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? I tried to eat healthy for lunch.


Queen's answer: Almost done—I still need to wrap. We are getting my boys a ATV and we are leaving in just a couple of minutes to get it. Then viola—done!

• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--no
• exercising for at least 15 minutes--no
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD--yes
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge—yes

Mary, I don’t know what yesterdays points were—I thought I posted them. It would be for Monday, right? I will try to remember and get back to you.

Gina

Queen's answer:
1. Get into my size 6 jeans.
2. Complete a sprint triathlon.
3. Go snowshoeing and keep up.
4. Be able to look at myself in the changing room mirror when I go swimming.
5. Fit into my cute green dress next Christmas.

Mary, I love your goals! Did you lose 2 pounds recently? I don't remember seeing it before.

I must have forgotten a post yesterday. I have to go but I will get back to you with my goals.

Take care!

Gina

Name: Gina

How many points did you earn yesterday? 4 (but I am not doing well with the diet)

Tell us something you did right yesterday—give yourself some praise! I made a really good Sonoma soup.

What are you doing today to help with your personal challenge? I really need to decide what is for lunch. Today is Christmas for my family and I have been busy getting ready for that and haven't give much thought about lunch. It is only an hour away and I have to make something for the boys.

Queen's answer: Reasons for losing weight:

1. pride
2. feeling good about wearing more fun clothes
3. confidence
4. feel strong
5. be a good example for my family

• drinking 8 glasses of water--yes
• eating only from our Sonoma list--no
• planning your menus for the day--yes
• exercising for at least 15 minutes--yes
• checking in at 3fc and answering the QOTD--yes
• focused and continued work on your personal challenge—no



Gina

Hey Mary! Where are you? I hope everything is going well for you.

Gina

I'd be interested in continuing the Queen of Sonoma challenge. Or any kind of challenge. What do you think?

Hi Crystal. I stopped doing the challenge because no one seemed interested. I have started weight watchers because I needed more support. I think Mary is still interested.

Good job on the pilates! 20 minutes is enough for me. I have Winsor pilates and like it.

Good luck and I hope you find support.

Gina

Guess I'm too late for this. Sorry to hear it. Also sorry to hear that you've changed programs. A few years ago I used winsor pilates with great results. I'll start again when my daughter kindly gives my tv rights back (could be a while).