I can't believe it's almost September!! Where has the year gone??? Are you achieving your goals you set for this year? How about a challenge to help us along!!! It's somewhere to check in...some friendly competition. Come join us for our monthly challenge!!

Since this is a monthly challenge, it will start on the 1st and the day of the month is the day of the challenge. You need to post your points on a daily basis (or whenever you can). Simply reply to this post and then edit that post as you add points (no columns please). That way you always know where you are and so do I! I will calculate and post the totals, on a weekly basis.

For those of you who have NO IDEA what I am talking about - here are the details. Sometimes we work our hardest when we are held accountable. So I challenge you to do your very best for the month and we'll see who wins!!

Here is how it's going to go. Starting September 1st 2008. We will try to do the 3 things that work. Food, water & exercise. You decide what your food plan is, how much water you want to drink and how much exercise you want to get every day. Every day you have the opportunity to earn 4 points.

2 point for sticking with your food plan (no splitting points here, you either stuck to your plan or you didn't)
1 point for drinking the amount of water you decided on
1 point for getting some exercise. (If you don't exercise on a given day - you DO NOT get a point for exercise - even if you planned it that way) Sorry, no 1/2 points.

Post here with how many points you've earned for a given day, and I will keep track. We'll see who's did the best for the month.

This is a very cool way to keep on track, because even if you don't do so great on food, you might still get in your water and exercise to earn the points!

Who's ready for a challenge???? It starts tomorrow!

I'm in...I join anything that makes me accountable!

I'm back again! This thread really helps me stay on track...or get right back on track after a slip! LOVE IT! Thanks Sandi!

Food: Eat OP & journal everything
Water: 64 ounces minumum
Exercise: 30 Min. per day minimum

9/01 =3 No excersise. Not a very good start. Still sick.
9/02 =4
9/03 =4
9/04 =4
9/05 =4
9/06 =4
9/07 =4
9/08 =4
9/09 =4
9/10 =4
9/11 =4
9/12 =4
9/13 =3 No Excersise
9/14 =3 No Excersise...But...I didn't eat the pizza and cake at my granddaughters' birthday party!
9/15 =4
9/16 =4
9/17 =4
9/18 =4
9/19 =4
9/20 =3 no excersise. Took a roadtrip.
9/21 =3 no excersise
9/22 =4
9/23 =4
9/24 =4
9/25 =4
9/26 =4
9/27 =4
9/28 =4
9/29 =4
9/30 =4

I am definitely in. I am going on not one, but two vacations during the month of September and need this to help me stay focused. My food plan: stay under 1500 calories. (know this won't really happen on vacation, but tracking calories on vacation will keep me from going overbound) Get 45 minutes of exercise a day. (walking, treadmill or elliptical) This will be easy during vacation. And drink 32 oz of water/day. (I hate drinking water!)
9/1 2 points for food, 1 point for exercise, not enough water
9/2 2 points for eating within plan
9/3 leave for vacation...I'll be tracking calories, water and exercise and I'll update next week
9/4 1 pt - exercise
9/5 1 pt - exercise
9/6 1 pt exercise
9/7 1 pt exercise
9/8 1 pt exercise
9/9 1 pt exercise
9/10 1 pt water
Back from vacation, lots of excercise at least
9/11 4 pts - all!
9/12 1 pt
9/13 2 pts
9/14 4 points
9/15 4 pts
9/16 3 pts
9/17 3 pts
9/18 leave for vacation again
9/19 0 pts
9/20 2 pts
9/21 2 pts
9/22 0 pts
9/23 0 pts
9/24 0 pts
9/25 0 pts
9/26 0 pts
9/27 2 pts
9/28 2 pts
9/29 0 pts
back from vacation - thanks goodness
9/30 4 pts - hooray back on track

I'm BACK!

Food: Staying on SBD plan

Water: Two of my special bottles

Exercise: Just move 3 days a week or more

9/1 - 4 points
9/2 - 3 points
9/3 - 3 points
9/4 - 4 points
9/5 - 4 points
9/6 - 3 points

9/7 - 3 points
9/8 - 4 points
9/9 - 4 points
9/10 - 4 points
9/11 - 3 points
9/12 - 3 points
9/13 - 3 points

9/14 - 3 points
9/15 - 4 points
9/16 - 4 points
9/17 - 4 points
9/18 - 1 point
9/19 - 3 points
9/20 - 4 points

9/21 -4 points
9/22 - 4 points
9/23 - 4 points
9/24 - 4 points
9/25 - 4 points
9/26 - 4 points
9/27 - 4 points

9/28 - 4 points
9/29 - 2 points
9/30 - 4 points

I am back in!!!!

I Want September To Be A Happy Month For Me!!!

2 Points...Staying on Plan 1500 Calories
1 Point.....Exercise at least 30 minutes
1 point.....64 Oz. Water at least

09/1......4
09/2......4
09/3......4
09/4......4
09/5......4
09/6......4
09/7......4
09/8......4
09/9......4
9/10......4
9/11......4
9/12......4
9/13......4
9/14......4
9/15......4
9/16......4
9/17......4
9/18......4
9/19......4
9/20......4
9/21......4
9/22......4
9/23......4
9/24......4
9/25......4
9/26......4
9/27......4
9/28......4
9/29......4
9/30......4

I am in. This just what I need.


Food- stay on ww flex plan
Water- 64 oz.
Exercise- 30 min. a day
9/01 1
9/02 4
9/03 3
9/04 4
9/05 3
9/06 3
9/07 3
9/08 4
9/09 2
9/10 3
9/11 3
9/12 4
9/13 4
9/14 3
9/15 3
9/16 4
9/17 4
9/18 4
9/19 3
9/20
9/21
9/22
9/23
9/24
9/25
9/26
9/27
9/28
9/29
9/30
__________________

The food: Eat clean with a focus on protein, stay within calorie range 1500, track every single bite. No junk.
The water: A lot. I drink a lot of water now. The points challenge has done that for me.
The exercise: Every day, 45 minutes at the very minimum. Cycling, boxing, gym cardio and strength training. Rawr!

Last month was a great month for big milestones. This month will be the month I win a local Biggest Loser's contest. Yes, have no doubts, I will be the winner!

September exercise minutes: 3046/1350 (26,011 calories according to HRM - woo!)

Monthly Update:
Yeah! I loveLOVElove this challenge and consider it to be a key component of my success so far. Thank you so very much for organizing this Sandi. Love to you!
~I never knew I had all of that exercise within me, my fitness is improving by leaps and bounds.
~This month shows a 12.2 loss, which is great - especially considering my cycle just arrived and I'm nearing goal.
~All in all, a happy girl! Here's to October - see you there!

01: 4
02: 4
03: 4
04: 4
05: 4
06: 4
07: 4
08: 4
09: 4
10: 4
11: 4
12: 4
13: 4
14: 4
15: 4
16: 4
17: 4 BOOM! Told you I'd win! Won the Biggest Loser contest by a whopping 5%!
18: 4
19: 4
20: 4
21: 4
22: 4
23: 4
24: 4
25: 4
26: 4
27: 4
28: 4
29: 4
30: 4

Better late then never... This will be my first points challenge too.

2 points: Eat menu planned the night before.

1 point: At least 80 oz. of water daily

1 point: 15 min of exercise per day

Start weight: 263.4 (taken on 9/3)

9/1: 1 (Swam in the lake on mini-vacation otherwise not a great day.)
9/2: 0 (Last day of TOM, very bad day!)
9/3: 4
9/4: 4 (This is an awesome challenge. So motivating for me! I exercised two days in a row!)
9/5: 4
9/6: 2
9/7: 3

Weigh in: 256.6

9/8: 2
9/9: 1 (I didn't go over calories, but ate donuts unplanned! Haven't exercised since Sunday.)
9/10:
9/11:
9/12:
9/13:
9/14:

Weigh in:

9/15:
9/16:
9/17:
9/18:
9/19:
9/20:
9/21:

Weigh in:

9/22:
9/23:
9/24:
9/25:
9/26:
9/27:
9/28:
9/29:
9/30:

Weigh in:

For my reference: 2pts for food 1 pt for water, 1 pt for exercise.

8/5