"Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Fresh start for the new year!
Okay, everyone, as is the tradition, I start a new thread when I personally start a new challenge.
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. A lot of people try for a while and then disappear.. I hope some of you will keep trying. There is NO shame in starting over. Remember, it's not over till you give up. And our motto around here is:
NEVER GIVE UP!!...Just start OVER!! EXPLANATION AND RULES:
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. At the beginning of the challenge you declare what level it is -- Level 1, 2, or 3. Level 1 means you feel it's a relatively easy challenge for you and means you only give yourself ONE pause day (see explanation of pause days below). Level 2 would give you two pause days and so on...
And taking NO pause days is what I'm going to call "aceing a challenge," as in "I'm aiming on aceing this one!" Yowzah!!
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! THREAD GUIDELINES:
In the interest of maintaining structure, a sense of solidarity and facilitating support I ask anyone who wishes to join this thread to please strive to follow the following guidelines while participating in this challenge and in posting.
1. Although this is a fabulous support group, the focus is to be on your CHALLENGE/S and/or other people's challenge/s AND weight loss, whether your challenge is about it or not. Please keep the challenge a priority, although we welcome chattiness! This means tell us what day you're on when you post and it's a good idea to make regular mention of just what your challenge is. This an action-based thread. Our members are ON a challenge, RESTARTING a challenge, or just in between and looking to start up again REAL SOON. We also welcome posts from admirers, encouragers, and old friends!
2. Please refrain from posting food logs or recipes, except where you are really looking for help and advice on your eating. If journaling is your challenge, please keep the journaling off the thread and in a notebook or blog and just tell us if you've done what you set out to do. We have ALL types of dieters here, low-carb, high-carb, low-fat, high-fat, vegetarians, meat-lovers...please use simple mentions if you have something you want to share and then links and/or private messages to do so.
3. Please do NOT go into glowing accounts of any slipups, food indulgences or binges, what we here call "food porn." Simple mentions are fine, but use of smilies etc. as substitutes where possible is encouraged.
4. Please keep this a secular thread. Of course, passing references to your beliefs, a bit of introduction about your beliefs, brief faith-related words of encouragement are fine.
5. Please show support, support, support! This is key. You can waffle on about yourself but please, at least occasionally,come up and look around at others and what they are doing and MENTION it with words of encouragement and/or praise or sympathy. We understand "busy," poor computer connections, and bouts of self-pity and life problems where the focus turns to "me" and dealing with those problems, but these should be temporary, not a habit! ('cept in the computer case.)
In conclusion, let me say, the above are just that, GUIDELINES. Please realize that these guidelines have been added in an attempt to keep this a supportive and beneficial thread, at the LEAST, to those who need it MOST, those for whom weight loss is the hardest and, more often than not, the most crucial as well as for those who still, perhaps despite great success, know all too well that the road they walk will always be a slippery one.
The guidelines are also meant to cultivate an atmosphere of consideration and concern for ALL, not individually, but AS A GROUP.
Well, all's said. Please join us!!
Last edited by redballoon; 01-04-2009 at 12:38 AM.
Well, people, if I could I would never drink again in my life. I got so drunk yesterday at the party and though it was fun for a while, today certainly doesn't feel fun. Oh well, it's done. It's gone and it's time to try to slog on to my next goals...it's not going to be easy.
Here's where I stand before counting today (Sunday)
No Booze
Day 16/0 complete 2 pauses taken/none left --starting new streak Jan. 4 -- longest streak 56 days Nov. 5 to Dec. 31
No Smoking (Started Nov. 5)
Day 18/60 complete no pauses allowed (started Dec. 17) second round completed Dec. 16
No Sugar
postponed -- longest streak 48 days (to Dec. 25)
Write-it-down Challenge
Day 12/53 no pauses allowed, second round completed Dec. 22
**************
Cyndi -- Glad you like the photos. That's what it looked like yesterday. I only took a video on my phone so won't post anything. I guess it was good I drank but I made a mess of things because the alcohol just hit me like a ton of bricks. Not eating and not drinking recently just has me NOT able to drink like I used to. Oh well, that is a GOOD thing.
So, what's the bird of the day? Is that a sparrow or something more exotic? It's not a wren, is it? Hmm...
Your challenges sound good and great going on that choco save. Yes, a pause AND only two squares??! Wow. Pauses to me, unfortunately, still mean excuses to binge. Not good. One question, if you melt the chocolate, can you then say you've met your challenge? Oh, wait...that's my way of doing things.... Just kidding!! Good luck!
As for me being "back on track" or not, I'd have to say NOT quite yet. I am quite hungover and naturally depressed and my skin is driving me crazy....or is it the other way around?
Everyone else, hope to see you over here soon. Apple, good to see you again! mod, Sunni, Shy, Quix, Tech, miriam, how goes it?
Cool idea, Red. New year, new thread. So I guess I'll come up with some challenges...
I think my key to success will be exercise, so
10 minute run daily, 2 pauses allowed
20 min additional exercise, 2 pauses allowed
Daily crunches, 2 pauses allowed
We went bird watching today too! But I spent most of the time in the car with my sick daughter, while the rest of the group took a short hike. I saw grebes, coots, mergansers & egrets. One lone ibis. A few hawks. It was a beautiful day.
Morning all. Hope to see more people over here soon. Apple, good to have you back and best of luck!
I am in a bad slump, very bad. Just going to have to pull out bit by bit.
No Booze
Day 17/1 complete 2 pauses taken/none left --starting new streak Jan. 4 -- longest streak 56 days Nov. 5 to Dec. 31
No Smoking (Started Nov. 5)
Day 19/61 complete no pauses allowed (started Dec. 17) second round completed Dec. 16
No Sugar
postponed -- longest streak 48 days (to Dec. 25)
Write-it-down Challenge
starting over Day 0
No slump, Red. You are on track to complete 2 very difficult challenges. No slump.
I completed day 1 of all my exercise challenges. Yay. I probably didn't run for 10 minutes with out stopping, since I brought a dog and of course she has to stop here and there. But I prob ran for close to 20 total. I haven't taken this new dog for many walks since we got her 2 months ago. She HATES cars and freaks when ever one goes by. Need to work on that. It's especially bad at night. Eating today was OK. I need to come up with a simple eating challenge too. Maybe no dessert or something.
Hope everyone comes back soon! My life returns to a bit more routine with the kids back in school, if thats the case for the rest of you, well, here we go again!
Thanks, Apple, I needed that. I'm doing bad with the sugar, but I was glad just to be able to go into work today that's how depressed I am. It's the skin and the incessant itching and all. I may just have to go the steroid route again. It seems to be the only thing that knocks it back. Even two months off alcohol didn't get rid of it. Anyhow, congratulations Apple, for liftoff!
I couldn't believe it. Though the thought of drinking was making me sick, I was still mentally entertaining the idea. After a day in the office I wanted to drink. I know. Insane.
With smoking, I could listen to the ill feeling. Gave away a bunch of lighters...
No Booze
Day 18/2 (second number is straights days) complete 2 pauses taken/none left --starting new streak Jan. 4 -- longest streak 56 days Nov. 5 to Dec. 31
No Smoking (Started Nov. 5)
Day 20/62 complete no pauses allowed (started Dec. 17) second round completed Dec. 16
Red - Sounds like you've had just one stress after another lately It's absolutely amazing and impressive that you stayed away from those cigs. Now to get everything else back. Is today Day 1 for you? Sounds like the skin problem is ongoing. Are there any alternative treatments that work or is it just the steroids? I'm going to see a naturopath in a couple of weeks to check into diet and other environmental stuff for myself. I've got a real issue with inflammation and don't want to take any of the favored drugs. Not sure if I'll get any good info but it's worth a try. I've got to restart one of my challenges too because I messed up so let's get back on track together. I know you can do it! Heck, You're my role model
Oh, and the bird is a Northern Hawk Owl, very cool bird I've always wanted to see. We just got a quick look so will probably try again if it hangs around for awhile.
Apple - I read your post while drinking my first cup of coffee and thought your dog had a problem with cars and freaks. You'd never get anywhere here with a dog like than Great job with the exercise challenge
Well I messed up my exercise challenge and need to start over I was so tired after driving 11 hours yesterday that I just fell asleep the minute I hit the pillow so no stretches or exercises of any kind for me.
My Challenges:
* Chocolate Challenge, Rnd 2 - No solid chocolate, 1/3 serving sized pauses. First challenge completed 12/20. 7/21 - used 1 pause
* Grain Challenge - Limit of 3 grain servings per day, 1 pause used.8/21
* Exercise challenge, Rnd 2 - yoga, weights or stretches every day (cardio is assumed). 1 pause First round completed 12/22.
Restarting because of extra pause used! 0/21
* Journal Challenge, Rnd 2 - Journal everything that goes into my mouth,no pauses. First round completed 12/27 . 8/21
**A new, very necessary challenge - No more than 1 serving size of nuts or nut butter daily. I'm calling this the Stay out of the Jar with a Spoon Challenge No pauses allowed! 0/21
That's it from here. Just another day back at work but starting late because of freezing rain. It's been that kind of winter.
Oh hi guys! New thread--thank god! I needed it. Red--I have been having a rocky start to the new year, as well--really I have been pretty much within guidelines as far as total calories or not over-eating, but have given in to alcohol nearly every day since New Year's eve, and also much more sugar and fat than I was used to. Needless to say, I've felt alternately up and down, full of energy sometimes, and extreme lack of it at other times. Combined with the post-holiday blues, some depression from the bad eating/drinking has been interfering with my resolution for exercise. Yesterday--I resolved to get back on track--hit the swim class for 1 hour, 20 minutes and ate MUCH better! So I woke up today already feeling a little happier and more optimistic.
And by the way, I agree with Cyndi--I love hearing about the cultural stuff you encounter as a normal course of life there--it's so fun to have on-line friends from all around the world, hmmm? Your informational tidbits are every bit as good as a travelogue--which I spend way too much time reading on the web sometimes!! Or watching--(does anyone else like watching Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations"? New shows start this week--yaay!!)
Apple--great to see you! New dogs are so fun, and really a good motivation for some activity, huh? I hope she gets used to cars, though, for your outside runs--some dogs are naturally a bit nervous about some stuff. Our neighbor's standard poodle is quite timid and spooks easily--luckily we live in a very quiet neighborhood.........
CyndiM--11 hours driving?!?! Wow, you were motivated to go see that bird, huh? Or was that combined with some other purpose as well, like coming home from a few days away?
Miriam--Hey girl! I was wondering where you were! I hope you've gotten that computer glitch worked out now! How have you been amidst all the drama going on over there? Try to stay sane.......
Well, off to do a short run around the neighborhood with a dog or two, before going into work only a half-day today--oh well, at least that's better than no work at all! Keeping my fingers about more work opportunities in this new year, though!!......
Hi all. The day started out bad but I forced myself out to the riding club with the promise I would work from home today on a story. Well, the latter hasn't materialized yet but the deadline is still a bit away...I really needed the break. Things have been very stressful at work with lots of new crises and worries. I am not good at rolling with the punches until they become familiar....hmmm, that doesn't sound too nice....but, anyhow, break is justified. I needed it for my sanity!
AND, I think I'm finding my groove again!! Not quite this good yet, but I'll be there soon!!
I made vegetable juice for the third day in a row. I'm hoping I can still get my skin better with lots of vitamins and minerals.
I bought a new budget book and datebook and plan to use them both this year!
I sent a dreaded email explaining why I had to back out of a job offer...I have been losing LOTS of sleep over this recently, but I just can't justify leaving the job I'm in now, no matter how stressful it is, it IS a job and here we had big reminders of how bad things already are. The past few days, with me in a slump, I still kept thinking of all the men, some 500 of them who suddenly lost their jobs that were through agencies and were camped out in central Tokyo. Here they were moving to the park that offered to give them a place to sleep.
They've moved them now to better lodging and many companies have come forward with offers of work, but it's scary. I still have mine and I better stick to it for the time being. Opportunities come but this may have been an opportunity to recognize poor timing when I see it instead of a job I should lunge at.
Oh, and for the culture bit for today. The old woman by the riding club (she must be 86 by ow) called me in to the fields for a big radish (daikon). I couldn't turn her down. She has so many of them and was trying to give them away. They were huge! The one I got was relatively small (like the ones pictured here on this photo from the Net) and weighed over 8 lbs! I don't even like them all that much so I gave it to the neighborhood fish shop people. I often do. They always feed one of my cats who goes begging delectable bits of grilled fish, sashimi and all sorts of delicacies. No wonder she's nearly 12 lbs herself! The shops here are mostly open to the outside and my one cat sits under the parked car nearby and waits for them to notice her, which they always do. They're looking for her! Such sweeties. Now, how do you like this, Elvis followed by unemployed and homeless to an old man holding Japanese radishes....hmmm, no I have NOT been drinking.
************** Cyndi -- Thanks. Your words meant a lot to me. It felt good to have someone giving me a bit of sympathy and praise. I LAP it up like a starved dog. I also started taking spirulina again yesterday. I ordered some from the States. My brother used to send it and maybe it helped. Who knows? I'll try any sort of superfood. I think my eating is actually very poor. I just don't get the fruits and vegetables that I used to these days. Did you get a better look at the owl? I actually meant the bird in your avatar. What's that one? Too bad about the exercise challenge but kudos for just starting over again, no song and dance...'cept that would probably count as exercise too! I hear you on the p.b. challenge. I used to be really bad there too, though not recently. I go through phases. Nut butters are very hard to stop at just one serving. I mean, come on, 1 serving is only enough for like ONE cracker!!
miriam -- Glad to see you again! How are you?!?!? It must be scary there. Is Hamas still sending rockets over? I haven't been following it closely I'm afraid. I hope you're not in an area that is under attack. I wish both sides would just STOP with the violence!!
modcat -- Well, I have to admit I'm glad I'm not alone on the rocky beginning to 2009. As I said, here I definitely was not, but still, it was getting me down. Of course, here too, I think the drinking and poor eating was really depressing me. Then again, I started feeling bad before I had the two days of drinking, so I don't know. Like I said, skin is so bad. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed the cultural stuff. Well, actually it's just my life here. Good work on the swimming and 'm glad to hear you're feeling better too. Forward, march, eh?!!!!
Hi guys! Well, I'm like Red, slowly getting back into my groove, but I'm not posting any challenges until after my birthday, because there is just too much else going on this week. I have 2 friends who have b-days this week also--both want to go out and celebrate! One just one-on-one, one as a couple with me and DH out for football on Saturday. Oh yeah, and the football! Playoffs, both Saturday and Sunday games, going out to watch and eat with friends, ARGH!!
See how many excuses I have for not being accountable? I am just going to wait until after this week-end to post my new challenges--I can't wait forever. Suffice to say I am trying to exercise most days now again and NOT overeat or over-indulge in anything. But need to give myself a couple of pauses coming up here quick so I'll just wait.......
Red--you know I share the same birth DAY as Elvis, right? (Not the same year, haha....) I know several people who were crazy about him, including my cousins, my aunt, and DH's grandma. He is so retro and campy he's almost cool again, ya' know? I have to confess I did tour Graceland once, it was very interesting....and I sometimes find myself watching an old movie of his I find on cable, they are a fascinating insight to another time.....
That's really sobering to see that long line of men that are jobless. And homeless, also? Wow, it really is a global economy, isn't it? When we collectively decide to stop spending, buying stuff, it affects everyone, and it is a never-ending spiral, as more companies lay off more people and then more families are evicted and not having any money, and on and on.....Well, the credit extensions did get waaay out of hand and we all bought too much with too easy credit, including houses and cars and such. I remember my parents never bought a car unless they could pay for it in cash, except the very last one they bought on a vacation when theirs broke down and my dad had decided to just buy a new one (a Dodge Intrepid) and he wrote a check for $10,000 and then had to pay the other $12,000 on his Discover card--but only until he could get home and transfer some money out of somewhere else then he paid off the Discover in full next month! We all should be living like that, I now realize..... <ruefully>
That daikon is huge! I don't know, I like them ok, but not sure if I could eat that big of one in a short time frame!
Hey all. Morning here. Have such trouble sleeping these days. The itching drives me crazy. Crazy dreams and my usual one about not being packed and yet late for the airport. Last night I spent in Africa, where I've never been. Interesting. Must be the Nelson Mandela autobiography I'm reading.
Well, no alcohol is still ok (since I allowed pauses this round) and no smoking is still an ace (this round is completed!!!). I really don't want to drink. The two months off did absolute wonders. It broke me of a rut, a canyon of habit in fact, mostly psychological. I was thinking how many years it must be since social drinking has been a part of my life and that two months off, though it seems like nothing, was huge. That is the very sad fact. At least I realize it now. The mental habits were the biggest and those two months were really hard, but now that they are done, I feel so much more decisive and free about decisions whether to drink or not.
Well, I weighed myself for probably about the second time this year. It's way up and I feel it too. But, I have to face the fact that if I eat sugar, I bloat big time. However, I also need to face the fact that no matter how "good" my eating is, the calories are just too many. I wasn't losing enough in those two months, not enough at all. I obviously was compensating with other food, food other than sugar and alcohol. THAT has to change.
Here's to changes. Though I haven't made it a challenge yet I realize must start counting calories. It's something I despise, just as I despise Frank Covey-like datebooks. Looking at them in the store yesterday, they give me the creeps. They to me are the opposite of what makes me happy (spontaneity, carefreeness, simplicity) and yet, I know I have to take a bit of them and use it to reach my goals. OR, I can just give up and learn to be happy with being overweight. I could do that. I'd have to get a bigger horse. I'd have to give up dreams of bare, tanned legs and tucked-in shirts. (Sigh). Aren't my dreams petty?
No Booze
Day 19/3 (second number is straight days) complete 2 pauses taken/none left --starting new streak Jan. 4 -- longest streak 56 days Nov. 5 to Dec. 31
No Smoking (Started Nov. 5)
Day 21/63 Third round COMPLETED!!! JAN. 6
**************
mod -- No, I didn't know you and Elvis shared a birthday. I didn't even know when Elvis' birthday was but looked it up. So, tomorrow! My time, that is. I think Elvis was way ahead of his time, amazing, totally, though I was never big into him at all. I don't think I've ever even seen one of his movies. Really should. I like some of his songs that were also way ahead of their time or maybe it was just that he got out into the mainstream unlike others because he had more to mainstream about. The moves were incredible, still are. It's a shame he went the way he did, but everyone's life is rough. People tend to forget that the money only makes lives interesting and easy in one way. The battles we all share.
You know, I'm not sure why the men here were homeless, but they were. I guess with their jobs cut they just had nothing to pay anything, including rent or they were homeless to start with. A lot of the homeless here do work and the numbers of people living in tent cities in parks have really grown in recent years. The Japanese government is useless.
So, where is everyone?!?!?
Last edited by redballoon; 01-06-2009 at 05:59 PM.
Ah, where is everyone?!?!?!?
As the subject line reads, it was utter **** at work today.
I am all worked up, really bad, the itching is horrendous. I pigged on sugar. I did NOT drink. I did NOT smoke. I almost drank but at least stopped myself there....please let things get easier.....
I will start new challenges (other than the continuing no booze/no cigs pair) soon. I promise.
No Booze
Day 20/4 (second number is straight days) complete 2 pauses taken/none left --starting new streak Jan. 4 -- longest streak 56 days Nov. 5 to Dec. 31
No Smoking (Started Nov. 5)
Day 1/64 fourth round, no pauses -- Third round COMPLETED!!! JAN. 6
Last edited by redballoon; 01-07-2009 at 06:58 AM.
Well it's a work at home, snowy icy day again! It's getting really old this winter. I've been doing pretty well with my challenges and they are making me stop and think more, which is the point for me. As much as possible I'd like to turn around years of eating disorder behavior and be able to make good choices rather than have a long list of forbidden foods. The jury is still out on the experiment but I hope it works.
My Challenges:
* Chocolate Challenge, Rnd 2 - No solid chocolate, 1/3 serving sized pauses. First challenge completed 12/20. 9/21 - used 1 pause
* Grain Challenge - Limit of 3 grain servings per day, 1 pause used.10/21
* Exercise challenge, Rnd 2 - yoga, weights or stretches every day (cardio is assumed). 1 pause First round completed 12/22. Restarted 1/5 - 2/21
* Journal Challenge, Rnd 2 - Journal everything that goes into my mouth,no pauses. First round completed 12/27 . 10/21
The Stay out of the Jar with a Spoon Challenge. No more than 1 serving size of nuts or nut butter daily. No pauses 2/21
Red - C'mon girl restart that sugar challenge today! It's obviously playing havoc with your body and you've got enough stress without that too. YOU CAN DO IT!! Just step away from the sugar for today.
I'm counting calories too. I discovered pretty early on that I could easily overeat healthy foods too (like that was a surprise from the chick who got fatter eating bags of chips from the co-op!). Your dreams are yours and there's not a thing wrong with them MY goals were all health related early on but I have to admit I am now very vain about my size 4 jeans and that stops me from overeating as much as anything else
Mod - I think I'm in a mood today - you can find a challenge or two that works with your plans for the next few weeks - exercise, limiting the amount of fat or calories or whatever you count, adding a vegetable to every meal. There must be something that will fit
THe bird in my icon is about the size of a healthy sparrow and we just barely got a glimpse of the owl. I suspect that, weather permitting, we will be off bird chasing again this weekend. I hope not as far though!
Okay, I'll stop being such a bossy nag now and go do some work
So right you are CyndiM!!!! OK--at least a challenge or two........
1) Either take a healthy lunch to work or eat out a salad, with fish or chicken. NO MORE excuses for a "whatever" lunch when at work, even if going out with co-workers!!!
2) Cut back again on the alcohol--it just hurts my calorie burning. Amazing how easily I slipped back into red wine for dinner or beer with football.......
3) More VEGGIES (thank you CyndiM!) This time of year I just don't crave them as much. Just gotta get back to it--they are filling and hardly any calories.
4) Cut out the toast in the morning--fell back into that again. Only fruit or healthy yogurt or a sweet potato.......
Officially starting Day 1 today, finish on January 28th.
"Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Fresh start for the new year!
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! 
This means tell us what day you're on when you post and it's a good idea to make regular mention of just what your challenge is. This an action-based thread. Our members are ON a challenge, RESTARTING a challenge, or just in between and looking to start up again REAL SOON. 
We also welcome posts from admirers, encouragers, and old friends!
etc. as substitutes where possible is encouraged. 
ugh.....
Great job with the exercise challenge 
about more work opportunities in this new year, though!!......
feeling better...
the tally...
**** at work today...absolute ****...
MY goals were all health related early on but I have to admit I am now very vain about my size 4 jeans and that stops me from overeating as much as anything else 
