SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE...month 9 already...can you believe it?? How are you doing this year?? Are you meeting your goals? How about a challenge to help us keep it going! It's somewhere to check in...some friendly competition. 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. That way you always know where you are and so do I!

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 1, 2009. 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????

Note: When I do the final totals at the end of the month, I only include people who have participated 15 days or more.

This sounds like a great challenge for me. I've been doing pretty good staying on my plan but the water and exercise is where I usually blow it.

As far as staying on plan goes, I eat pretty much what I want but I try to stay between 1300-1600 calories a day. I do try to stay away from lots of processed junk and eat fresh, wholesome foods. The water... Well, like I said I don't do so well with that so I'm going to shoot for anything over the recommended amount which is 8, 8 oz glasses a day. Now for the exercise, some exercise everyday. Cant say what kind it will be cause I cant do the same thing every day. I have a gym membership so I'll probably use that 3-4 times a week and then do something different on the other days.

This sounds like it will be fun, I've been needing some kind of challenge to help me stay on track.

Day 1 : 4 pts (64 oz water, walked for exercise, stayed on plan)
Day 2 : 4 pts
Day 3 : 4 pts
Day 4 : 4 pts
Day 5 : 4 pts (got in the pts despite being sick)
Day 6 : 4 pts (still sick)
Day 7 : 4 pts (still sick, but getting better)
Day 8 : 4 pts (yep, you guessed it, still sick)
Day 9 : 4 pts
Day 10: 4 pts (and still sick-Ugh!)
Day 11: 4 pts ( I've stayed on track everyday so far and my scale shows it too!)
Day 12: 4 pts (Feeling much better - W00T!)
Day 13: 4 pts
Day 14: 4 pts
Day 15: 4 pts (had a rough past couple of days due to a migraine)
Day 16: 4 pts
Day 17: 4 pts
Day 18: 4 pts (Yee-Haw! 18 days on plan!)
Day 19: 4 pts
Day 20: 4 pts
Day 21: 4 pts (they say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit)
Day 22: 4 pts
Day 23: 4 pts
Day 24: 4 pts
Day 25: 4 pts (this is a good habit to have)
Day 26: 4 pts
Day 27: 4 pts
Day 28: 4 pts
Day 29: 4 pts
Day 30: 4 pts

I have never been able to stay on plan this long. Thank you for this challenge. I cant wait to do it again for October!

OK I am in,I can believe it , month # 9..... ready to go . just 28 days more to meet my little or ? .....I love this.

Food: journal everything
Exercise:
Water: 56 oz min

4 weeks Weigth 153

36 weeks
Start Weight 166.6

1:4 pts
2:3 pts
3:3 pts
4:4 pts
5:4 pts
6:1 pts

37 weeks
Week 1 Weigh In:166.6

7:4 pts
8:4 pts
9:3 pts
10:3 pts
11:4 pts
12:1 pts i had a babyshower.
13:4 pts

38 weeks
Week 2 Weigh In:167

14:4 pts
15:4 pts
16:
17:I had my baby
18:
19:
20:

39 weeks
Week 3 Weigh In:

21:
22:
23:
24:
25:
26:
27:

40 weeks
Week 4 Weigh In:

28:
29:MY BIG DAY ......
30:

4 weeks 153.4
14 weeks 155
15 weeks 155.4
16 weeks 157.9
17 weeks 156.4
18 weeks 156.6
19 weeks 157.2
20 weeks 158
21 weeks 158.6
22 weeks 159.6
23 weeks 158.4
24 weeks 159.8
25 weeks 161.8
26 weeks 161.2
27 No WI ......
28 weeks 163.8
29 weeks 164
30 weeks 165
31 weeks 166
32 weeks 167
33 weeks 167.8
34 weeks 166.4 New diet Gestational diabetes
35 weeks 167
36 weeks 166.6
37 weeks 166.6
38 weeks 167

Total 13.6 pounds

I'm definately in!

I'm still playing with my calories a bit, but think I will stick with a 1,800 to 2,000 calorie range (under is fine, over is not!). Also 64+ ounces of water a day.

1~4 YEAH!
2~4 WOO HOO!!
3~4 KEEP GOING!!
4~4
5~3 (no structured exercise, though it was a busy day with lots of moving around)
6~4
7~4
8~4
9~4
10~4
11~4
12~2 (had chinese out.. bad bad bad!)
13~4
14~4
15~4
16~2
17~4
18~4
19~1
20~4
21~4
22~4
23~3
24~3
25~4
26~3
27~3
28~3
29~4
30~3

Running total~106 out of a possible 120~88%, not good at all

Ok I'll play. I am using my GoWear Fit so my food goal is 500 calories less than I burn. I've been averaging over 1000 calorie deficit and I'm stalling so I think I'm going to try eating a bit more with only 1 day a week lower to kind of jumpstart my metabolism. Water 64 oz a day (I count this as 3 20 oz bottles plus 1 glass of coffee or tea.) Exercise: I take sundays and mondays off of "scheduled purposeful" exercise but I often do walks or volleyball those days. I guess I'm not so good at recovery. Maybe that should be a challenge.

I am definitely in! I, probably like most of you, have tried lots of food plans but I think I'm gonna go with counting calories.

1500-1800 Calories
48 oz water (not Pepsi!)
at least 30 min a day of exercise!

I am so excited because I was looking for something or someone to help get me back on track! And you are so right in the theory that we do better having some accountability!

I think I'm going to present this idea to my 17 year old daughter and tell her that depending on how many points she gets that could translate to some new shoes!!! Do you mind if I report her points as well?

Once again, thank you for this great idea!

Sorry about all the dancing sheep, i thought i couldn't figure out how to place them in the post! oops!

I am in and will add more later. I have had my best weight loss the months that I was on this challenge.

Food: 1400 to 1600 per day
Exercise: 8000 steps
Water: 48 oz.

Sept starting weight - 217 (been stuck for a couple of weeks)

1 - 4 points
2 - 3 points - sick did not get my steps in
3 - 4 points
4 - 4 points - traveling
5 - 1 point - exercise
6 - 3 points - food, exercise
7 - 2 points - food only -last day traveling
8 - 4 points - back on track
9 - 4 points
10 - 3 points - food and water
11 - 4 points
12 - 4 points
13 - 1 points
14 - 2 points
15 - 2 points
16 - 4 points
17 - 4 points
18 - 4 points
19 - 1 points
20 - 4 points
21 - 4 points
22 - 4 points
23 - 4 points
24 - 4 points
25 - 4 points
26 - 4 points
27 - 4 points
28 - 4 points
29 - 4 points
30 - 4 points

Total points - 102

Sept ending weight - 213 (4 pounds lost)

I'm in for September. Took me awhile in August to consistently get my rear off the couch and get with the program but I'm feeling much better about September.
September Goals:
Exercise a minimum of 30 minutes.
South Beach Diet Plan
64 oz. water

1 ~ 4 pts
2 ~ 4 pts
3 ~ 4 pts
4 ~ 4 pts.
5 ~ 4 pts.
6 ~ 4 pts
7 ~ 4 pts.
8 ~ 3 pts. - no exercise
9 ~ 4 pts
10 ~ 4 pts.
11 ~ 4 pts.
12 ~ 3 pts. - no exercise
13 ~ 4 pts
14 ~ 4 pts
15 ~ 4 pts
16 ~ 2 pts - off program
17 ~ 4 pts
18 ~ 4 pts
19 ~ 2 pts - off program
20~ 4 pts
21~ 4 pts
22~ 4 pts
23~ 2 pts - off program
24~ 3 pts - no exercise
25~ 4 pts
26~ 3 pts. - no exercise
27~ 2 pts - off program
28~ 4 pts.
29~ 4 pts
30~

1500-1600 cals
64-128 oz of water
30-60 mins exercise

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

total~71

I too would like in on this as it should keep me accountable.

Goals:
WW plan
Water : 2L / day
Excerise: 15 min /day

1~4
2~4
3~4
4~4
5~4
6~4
7~3 (so lazy)
8~4
9~4
10~3 ( exercise)
11~4
12~4
13~3
14~4
15~4
16~4
17~4
18~4
19~4
20~3
21~4
22~4
23~4
24~3
25~3
26~4
27~4
28~4
29~4
30~4

Running Total~115

I'm in this month!

Food: 1200-1600 cals per day
Water: 40+ oz per day
Exercise: At least 30 mins per day

Starting Weight: 215

01: 0
02: 4
03: 4
04: 1 (exercise)
05: 0
06: vacation
07: vacation
08: vacation
09: vacation
10: vacation
11: vacation
12: vacation
13: 0
14: 4
15: 4
16: 4
17: 1 (water)
18: 2 (food)
19: 0
20: 0
21: 4
22: 4
23: 4
24: 3 (food, water)
25: 2 (food)
26:
27: vacation
28: vacation
29: vacation
30: vacation

Total Points: 41/120
Ending weight:

I'm in, too. My plan is to
1. follow my doctor's guidelines as given
2. drink at least 32 oz. of water
3. use the sit and stroll everyday.
4. remain binge free
5. no food after 9 P.M.

My goal is to lose at least 8 lbs. in September

I need to post daily here to keep myself honest!

Sept. 1 -- 4
2-- 4
3---3 no exercise
4---3
5-- 3
6-- 4
7-- 4
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
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29
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