[redballoon]

Okay, everyone, as is becoming the tradition, I start a new thread when I personally start a new challenge. Also, some people may have trouble downloading a long thread, so I like to start new ones. Below is a short explanation of how this challenge works so all you newcomers can take a look and decide if you're game or not! I hope you are! Hop aboard and enjoy the ride. We've got a great bunch of supportive people, so I hope you'll give us a try. I see, looking back on the beginning of the old thread, that we had a lot of people who tried for a while and then disappeared. I hope some of you will give it another try. Remember, it's not over till you give up. And our motto around here is:

NEVER GIVE UP!!...Just start OVER!!

EXPLANATION:

It works like this: you decide you'll do something for 21 days straight, every single day, so keep it doable. Then you count ....one through 21.....and if you flub it, you MUST go back to zero and start over again. Everyone will be on different days. You can start anytime. You get ONE "pause day" for each perfect round of 21 days you complete. With a pause day you pause in your counting and continue the next day with the number you left off with. Pause days are NOT substitutes for days, i.e. Day 12 -- Day 13 -- Pause Day -- Day 14..... I suggest taking a pause day late in the game (better to go back to Day 1 early on) if you need a break or screw up when you're well into the challenge, meaning, when you're on Day 15 or something like that.

In any case, the trick is to keep going. The momentum builds and it's great incentive to stick to your guns, cause if you don't.........back to START you go. And the really great thing about this challenge is that you are forming new habits that will wipe out the old! AND, you get to do it with a great bunch of really supportive people to whom you are accountable! And, YES, we are watching YOU!!

Ready to join us!!?!?! You BET!

[redballoon]

Okay, people, this is it. It's Friday here and the start of my new challenge. Wish me luck!! I'll be catching up with you all soon. New people, welcome and I hope you're still with us.. Ciao a presto!

[Joaninha]

I would like to do it. But does it work? Do we post here? How often?

[redballoon]

Joaninha -- Welcome. Yes, please join us. Just read the explanation above or check out the old thread and you can see how we operate. It's best for us all if you post every day and count down (up) your days to 21 but you don't have to. Just pick something you can do EVERY day for 21 days and come in here and say like..."Day 2 finished! on to Day 3...!" and cheer us on too if you have the time.....

I think the best thing is to check out the old thread. Do you see it?　

[redballoon]

Joaninha -- Here's the link to the old thread. Read through this and you'll have a great idea of how we work!!

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62202

[gray eyed girl]

I'm here! Day 3 down and honestly, it's getting a little easier. I had a big cup of (really bad gas station) coffee this morning but I've had no chocolate and no soda.

I'm glad to see a new thread, the other one was getting really long.

[mezmerize]

Joaninha - Welcome!

gray eyed girl - Congrats on Day 3!

As for finished with Day 18 - Stayed in my Pts. No activity pts used

[carla49]

Mez, you're almost there!!! Just three more days to go (including today?).

Gray, I'm doing okay too. Day 3 down, and on Day 4. You're right, it does get easier. Right now I don't have too many temptations as I'm not at work and not socializing too much. But I did go to Costco (very few samples in the Canadian stores ) and I did NOT take even one sample of the PB Kitkat bars. And the drugstores are filling up with bags of candy and mini-choc bars, probably for Hallowe'en. A little early, but they like to get the temptation out early. I have not succumbed yet.

1nceagain, if you're reading posts, sorry to hear about your family emergency. Don't hesitate to call on us if we can provide support. We'll be thinking of you, and sending lots of : and .

Red, you're posting but not saying much. I hope you're doing okay! Remember this support thing goes both ways. So if you need to vent or need a stern talking to , we'd be delighted to jump in.

The weather here has improved enormously, much less humidity and pleasant breezes. But I still seem to be lolling around the house instead of getting outdoors. Haven't even been doing my Flylady duties, apart from the kitchen sink. But, as every one of the 742 daily emails says, I am not behind, I must not try to catch up.

I have been getting a fair amount of cat-related exercise: little Lily has had the runs, and keeps getting it all over her feet. She digs a nice hole in the litter, puts her front paws in it, and poops on the hill behind her. Since she's pretty short, it ends up all over her butt and legs. So I try to get into her bathroom with her to shut her in and fight until I get her cleaned up. Then I have to disinfect the bathroom sink, walls, floor... and then change my wet and smeared clothes. At least she is a sweetie who always races to the litter box, even when it must be hard to get there in time. My Bigboy is also a bit of a problem right now: he's not happy being an indoor cat, and is spending so much time grooming I'm afraid he'll wear holes in his beautiful fur. I may have to look for an outdoor home for him. Motherhood is ****!!!!

My weight, however, is getting back to my pre-trip level. Only 1.5 lbs to be back in Onederland!

Gotta go. Take care all.

[fancyfrog]

Hi All! Super idea Red!
Little about me-married, mom of 6. Started on this weight loss journey at 272, July 2004. I was down 43 lbs, but since moving to Nevada from Idaho 5/05 I have gained 10 and lost 3. Gotta keep going in the right direction!
My challenge for myself is to drink 3 liters of water a day. I was up to 3-4 before we moved and almost no diet coke, but lately I have been having 2-3 sodas/day and then I don't want to drink much water. I also want to have some form of exercise/activity everyday.
I hope tomorrow that I can count today as day 1, we'll have to see how much water I can get down today. I haven't even finished #1, and its 1:45 pm! Gotta get chuggin, and walking! My treadmill is just sitting gathering dust and calling out my name!!
Good luck to everyone-and awesome job to those who have already completed more than 1 day!!!!

Kathy

[redballoon]

Good morning, all! I made it through Day 1! Hurrah for me!! It was not easy. It was not hard really, largely no doubt due to the fact that I had been pigging out over the past four days and I was really sick of it. I was disgusting myself and only doing it to do it, which wasn't even much fun, but I was doing it intentionally to get all the "wanting" out of my system.

The hard part yesterday was realizing all the things I won't be able to eat since the white flour is out and how often I reach for them out of convenience and pure laziness. This challenge will force me to have fruit and vegetables and to have real food, which is the whole idea of it. And I will be glad to be back eating natural sugar, not this chemical A-bomb processed stuff. When I was eating it I didn't even want fruit; the idea of natural sugar was so wimpish, which just shows what a drug the processed stuff is.

So, onward to Day 2. I got to the gym yesterday too and my new heartrate monitor arrived so I have to figure out how to work that and have fun with it.

fancyfrog -- Welcome! We've been having a great time with the challenge. I'm surprised you didn't find us sooner. This is already the third thread and I think we started up in May or around then. You've got a great attitude, not focusing on the gains, but on the losses and knowing you can get the weight off again. Mother of 6! Wow! You must be or had been kept super busy! There are quite a few people on the thread now who are aiming to get into Onderland, as they call the 100-lb category, and I hope you'll feel encouraged by their successes and, of course, your own! Good luck!

carla -- You are doing great with resisting temptation. I find the thought of all those free samples simply evil! Drug pushers, pushing stuff on people that they don't need and is not good for them. I don't know, the whole marketing of all this junk food just bothers me a lot sometimes...

Well, I've been quiet and yes, there is a lot going on in my life that is not weight and eating related, so I don't like to talk about it here. This is a good thing, though it doesn't feel that good. It means I'm finally learning to not allow life and emotions to trigger overeating. But I cannot stress enough how important the type of food we put in our mouths is. The chemical reactions food causes directly affects our thoughts and cravings and what we reach for next.

Well, enough talk. Keep up the good work and get out and enjoy those pleasant breezes! And, you'll be back in fabulous Onederland soon again. Good job!

mezmerize -- You're almost there! I'm so happy for you. No stopping you now! And thanks so much for the sweet words! Can I hire you as a personal cheering squad?!

gray eyed girl -- Glad to hear the challenge is getting easier. Gas stations are killers. I don't have them here and haven't driven a car in decades, but the ubiquitous convenience store is our equivalent. They are not your friend!, just your car's! Stock up on other things you can drink. Take a thermos. Indulge yourself by preparing. Bring ready-to-eat fruit and such. Do NOT give up control to whatever is out there! Good luck, kid! I'm rooting for you!

1ncegain -- I hope things are okay and will be looking forward to having you back here with us! Take care!

mscat -- You are back! Hurrah! I was missing you. So, keep us informed on your progress. I hope you find the new thread! Only a few have posted on it so far. Weekends are always rather sparse around here but it's still Friday in North America. I know you're busy with your week challenge thread but I hope you can come in here regularly too.

Sushi -- Have you found us? You must be finished or nearly finished with your challenge. Come tell us so we can congratulate you (or, in the worst case...console you....nah!...you'll have made it...)

Marti -- What's up with you?! Are you still with us? I hope so. It sounds like you weren't quite ready to quit smoking yet. That's okay. You will be one day. Just don't give up working toward that end goal. Cutting back is great! I hope the "haywire days" have gotten better. Hang in there. You will pull through!

curly -- where are you?! Our star challenger, gone silent. Hope you're okay. How is your health?

NinaV -- you popped up for a post there and then disappeared. Stick with it, girl! You can do this and we want to hear from you! Come in and tell us what's up!

Caro -- Where are you?!?! Come on, you too!! Get in here! I miss you!!!

Okay, all. Caught up! Anyone I haven't heard from in a while, please come back! We need you here to keep the thread alive and thriving and we want the challenge to do the same for you! Chin up, all. You can reach your goals. Step, step, one foot in front of the other, that's what it's about. Try, try, again. Come on! NEVER GIVE UP!!!

[curlylocks]

Checking in.. Ive been going to work out and then running home for dinner and then walking each night... Now that it has cooled down a bit finally here I have been able to get back into my walking... so by @ 9 pm I am pretty much worn out! lol

But I completed day 5 tonight!

heres my new addiction, its so good u feel like u are cheating..

1 cup plain fat free yogurt, 1/2 cup skim milk, splenda to taste, Ice cubes, and sugar free jello powder... mix together in the blender .. pour in a tall glass & enjoy!

it tastes just like a milkshake!

[gray eyed girl]

thanks, Mez. WTG getting through day 18 - you're almost there!

Carla, peanut butter kit kats? Oh no. Hopefully they just don't exist in my area. I'm glad you're doing well. I am dreading Halloween candy, too. It's already showing up here too - it's not even September! They start earlier every year, it seems.

Welcome, fancyfrog! You're doing very well at 36 pounds down, even if you did have a little lapse. You should be proud of that weight loss, it is so hard! I'm glad you've joined us here.

Hurrah for you, Red! I missed what your new challenge is - are you avoiding white flour? That's got to be really tough, but so good for you to get rid of it. Are you allowing yourself to have whole wheat flour instead? Thanks for the encouragement about avoiding gas stations - they really are dangerous places for a dieter, full of nothing but junk and then (around here at least), they've got that one dinky shelf of "health food" that consists of two expired power bars and chocolate chip granola bars. It's best to just stay away!

curlylocks, that sounds really good! I'll have to give that a try. Glad you're doing well!

I'm done with day 4! I almost had a soda today, but I decided to have a fruit smoothie instead . One thing I have noticed in the past 4 days is that I am SO thirsty. I guess I didn't realize how much of my fluid intake was gross soda, because I have just been drinking TONS of water. Yesterday I had a gallon and a half and today I've already had a gallon and I am still going strong. It's great for the heat, and I know it's good for me, and I like water anyway, but I'm shocked at how thirsty I have been.

Tomorrow is weigh-in day. I didn't lose anything between last Saturday and this Wednesday, so hopefully I'm down a pound or two tomorrow.

[mscat816]

The first 21-day challenge I did here was great for me. I did 21 days of exercising everyday! This second time around is so tough - but here I go again - got my minimum oz of 72 in on Friday - my stretch goal is 96! But day 1 (again) is done as far as I am concerned. Looking for tips on how to get that water in everyday. Anyone got any? Please share!

Goodnight everyone - got to stop and lay down - I pulled a muscle or something in my back (2nd time in a the last month ) and the pain is excrutiating.

mscat

[curlylocks]

i take my 130 oz bottle to work with me each day and refill when it goes empty (@ 3 times) then drink one on my way to work out..

when i first started having trouble with my back ... i thought that i had a pulled a muscle, but then it started hurting down my butt cheek and into my leg.. i had never had any back pain before, then went to a specialist and found out i had 3 deteriating discs, and the pain was from pressure on my sciatic nerve.. if u also feel the pain in ur butt and down into your knee... find a specialist..

i was very lucky i found an excellent dr. and he fixed me right up! 135 staples to close the incision.. wooo but i am pain free now

[Chaps]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, and the idea of a challenge is definitely right up my alley. And all your posts are so welcoming for newbies, I thought I'd jump right in.

A little about me - I'm 31, single, live in NYC, sing opera for a living, and am generally a happy person. I have been heavy all of my life, but last year when I went for a general check up, a new doctor advised that I lose some weight to alleviate various conditions (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, PCOS), and I took him to heart. I started walking everywhere that very day, and now I am jogging 4 miles every morning! Of course, I changed my diet almost completely, as well. I am healthier, happier, and have more energy than ever before. In short, life is good!

The challenge that I am going to take on for these 21 days is something that I hope will help me move into conditioning and toning, now that I have burned off so much fat. I am going to do a full abdominal workout each day, front, back, lateral. I already did it today, so I'm off and running!

Looking forward to being part of this group!