[Heather]

I've gained over 20 pounds in 2008. The scale at the gym yesterday read 200.0. I don't like how I feel, I can feel that it's a little harder to move, and I am less happy with how I look and the fact that I've had to buy bigger clothes. It's not bad now, but it's a vicious cycle, and if I don't get this under control, I could gain even more in 2009. I have to face the stark reality that if I continue with the habits I'm currently employing I will continue to gain weight. Maybe not back up to my start, but still.


One of the things that has fallen off is exercise (the food issues are perhaps a separate post, but I am also eating too much). I do NOT like to exercise. I always say putting on my shoes is the hardest part. I lost weight by setting goals for how much I would exercise in a month and then MEETING those goals. As 2008 wore on I stopped setting goals, and then I stopped exercising as much in the fall.

This. Must. Stop.

In 2007 we 300+ ladies did something pretty extraordinary, I thought. We tracked our exercise and ended up with a total of 205,352 minutes of exercise for the entire year.

Therefore, I am really going to hype the 300+ exercise threads in 2009, with the goal of beating our 2007 numbers. It's FUN, and it helped us ALL succeed. Some notes:
- You do NOT need to set a goal at the beginning of the month (though for me that's important, it seems...). Just jump right in and record what you do in MINUTES.
- What you call exercise is up to you! When I first started, I considered walking my dogs around the block exercise, but now that doesn't do much for me, so I stopped counting it. But I DO count snow shovelling, as it is a great workout for me.


So, WHO'S WITH ME???? Who wants to track the exercise we do in 2009 with the goal of breaking our 2007 record?????

[Realist]

I am in. I will be setting a monthly goal of 1000 minutes with a year end goal of 12,000 minutes. Thanks for the prompt Heather.

[Princess]

I too have not been working out as much as I should have. As I am not very familiar with this site, I hope to get the MOTIVATION I have been LACKING! I am setting my goal to work out and change my eating habits! Thanks for the encouragment!!!!!!!!

[azcyn]

Heather hun I am sooo with ya!! And also since I am joining the BLC with The others this will be great for me!!!! I KNOW we can beat our 2007 goal!

For me I wont set a min goal for exercise since I am doing something a little different with my calander idea BUT it does involve exercise!

Sooooo count me in!!!!

[RealCdn]

I'm in, as I've been pretty much coasting this month. I got a little better with the exercise towards the end of the month, but not as good as it should have been. I want to see what I accomplished for the year and then set one for the next year. Back later with a goal....

So, I took a look at last year, and I started off doing tons of exercise. Of course, I was home all winter, with nothing better to do. I think a realistic goal (for me) would be somewhere between 30 and 45 mins a day. I'm starting a new plan (food and exercise) on Sunday, so if I stick to it I shouldn't have any problems meeting that. I'll make it simple and set 1200/month (even though I'm not going to meet that for December).

[dogpal]

Count me in Heather! We can do it.

[CatherineM]

I am going to commit to writing them down too for a change. This is my year.

[NuevaVida]

YES, I'm in. Exercising these past few months has been a blessing. It's time to:

* be more consistent
* add weight training.

My goal is to do at least 1200 minutes per month - 14,400 for the year.

COUNT ME IN!

[gggirls]

I'm in Heather!

[Terri in MO]

Okay, I'm in. I started off the year by losing 15 pounds during March and April and it was due to increased exercise and cutting back on added sugars. Then I got busy around the place and stopped doing as much exercise and paying as much attention to the sugars. Sadly, I've gained back the 15 pounds.

This year, the only exercise minutes I am going to count are cardio. I am going to consider strength-building, stretching, outdoor work, as calorie burning and metabolism boosting. However, I can't drop the cardio like I did last year.

200 minutes a week of cardio is my goal to start.

[dgramie]

Im in! I know I have really slacked on exercise since fall and its showing. I will not set a monthly goal but my goal is to exercise daily in some form.

[Heather]

I'm glad to see so much excitement already!!! I think it will help us ALL!! I know I feel so much better when I'm working out (even though I hate to get started).

[brandnewme]

I'm in! I have to do something while I'm still able to do it. Thanks for the kick in the butt!

[KristasMom]

Adding exercise has been the reason that I have been able to lose slowly but steadily this year.

I'm in for 1000 mins per month - I cannot believe I just said that!

[Debbie54]

Ok, I'm going to start out simple. I plan to exercise 30 minutes a day!!
Debbie