Oh boy, this will be a hard one since I'm trying to get back on track again. I have so many Christmas cookie crumbs coursing thru my veins, begging for more sugar-company, that I could start a factory. Ah well, every successful story starts with day one, and I originally started by telling myself I could do ANYthing for 14 days, so this 21 day deal sounds like a good kick in the pants.

OK, a successful day will be to drink my water, eat NO refined sugars, exercise in some form, and stay under my calorie allowence. That's a tall order, especially now, but I know I can do it. I'll keep trying until I succeed.

Another good idea, Angela. Not easy, but very good. Tomorrow, Thursday 1/4 will be day 1 for me.

Hey there you 2, okay i am on day 5 though feeling a bit water logged between my shakes and water intake, Loving the challenge and need to step it up a notch with reminder to take my blasted vitamins, i am so terrible i even carry some in my purse and still forget for days at a time, so I am stealing your idea and starting this one also, I have to wait a bit before i can exercise everyday. I am picking up a ton of hours at work in the next 2 weeks so walking won't be an issue but still need energy to work between 10 - 12 hour shifts. ghastly I know. Have a great day all and hope to hear about your success's tonight
Anna

Day One is actually behind me. I was actually successful, much to my own surprise. I drank about 100 oz of water, didn't have any candy & such, did some crunches, weights and leg lifts, and my cals weren't as low as I would have really liked, but they were within an acceptable range. For a first day when I've been having trouble getting started, I'll take it! BUt there's still room to improve tomorrow... like getting in more cardio.

Anyway, I've at least got my feet back on the path. Knowing I wanted to report here was a great incentive. I SO didn't want to log on and report that I hadn't even made it one day. It was a struggle at times, but every day gets easier, doesn't it?

YAY Valerie on a great day 1! I'm so glad you joined us. How did day 2 go?

Anna, sounds like work is keeping you VERY busy. Any chance that will ease up any time soon? I'm glad you're still making your water challenge... have you taken those vitamins today?

I didn't get to check in yesterday, but I managed to fit all my tasks in yesterday and today.

Water Challenge -- Day 3 -- successful
Meds Challenge -- Day 5 -- successful
Stairs Challenge -- Day 3 -- successful

Day 2 started great but finished weak. I walked the halls on my lunch break, including several trips up the stairs. Fortunately, it's a pretty big maze of a building and I don't even have to go outside in cold weather. I wish I'd gotten a little more water down, but I still drank lots more than I used to. I ate a bit too much at the end of the day, too, because I came home and had my veggie-chili for dinner, then went to dinner and a movie with a friend. We had one order of lasagna between us, and most of that came home in a box - I only had a couple bites. However, I did eat 3 pieces of garlic bread. My cals for the day before that were really low, so I'm not it TOO much trouble, but I wish I hadn't done it anyway. At least there was no popcorn with the movie.

It boils down to:
No sugar - 100% on track
Drinking Water - 50 %
Calories - 90 %
Exercise - 100%

Once again, it wasn't a flawless day, but it was far from the miserable failure that the whole month of December was. I'm not sure if I should really count it, or start over at day one. Maybe I should break it out by task like you did Angela, but that seems like a lot of work. (And heaven knows we don't want to have to actually WORK at this, do we? - yes, a little sarcasm there.)

Well, I better start drinking and get with the program, cuz GUESS what happened to that left over lasagna at breakfast.

Hi everyone,

New to this so bear with me. I've been drinking my water and doing crunches everyday, so far. Can I start on day 5 since I've been doing it all for 5 days??? I think I'm going to add one thing each week on day 8 and 15 until I'm starting to get in shape and then go from there.

I've never really dieted, never been a reason, but now . . . UGH!!! We need to get going. Any advice for the virgin dieter???

Thanks

Diane



I'll need some of this!!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of days, long days at work though I can log in that I have stayed on plan, evening through the dreaded chocolate cravings of yesterday. Take care all and I will write more later
Anna

Okay, I want one of those charts at the bottom to mark my weight loss progression . . . so how do I get it into my messages. Any help???

Thanks
S. Diane

WELCOME S.DIANE!

I think it sounds fine if you're already on day 5, even before you signed on to the list! Keep up the great work!!!

To get a weight tracker, you need to start at the "USER CP" which can be found in two places. At the top of this page it's at the far left on the purple bar, OR at the very bottom of the page is the "Forum Jump" Pull down menu, scroll up to the very top of that menu. Once you've clicked "USER CP" there's an option for "Edit Signature" on the left side. The Tracker stuff is there. After you create it, highlight & copy it, go back into the "Edit Sig" location and paste it where you want it. There are directions in there, too. Have fun with it!

Bravo for you, taking this control of your life. What you'll learn I believe, is that none of us is perfect. Having off days is part of the process. It's the Never-Give-Up part that will help you maintain better health for the whole rest of your life.

Everyone, have a vigorous day!

Hello All! Congratulations on the hard work you have done so far! I am a first time poster here and I thought I would jump in here as well. I have started drinking water as to me the last time I lost weight that seemed to be the key for me to unlock the weight loss. So more more more water for me! I will try this challenge also. Thanks and God bless!

Renee/cluckcluck

Good morning all;

Well day 6 is over and done with. I drank all my water and did my crunches and ate healthy. Yes, I had some M&M's, 12 to be exact for about 50 calories, yes all sugar and all fat, but they were a nice treat. Today I am going to start exercising, UGH!! 30 minutes is the goal. My apartment complex has a gym, the whole nine yards . . . so now it's time I start taking advantage of it.
Then I plan to go sit in the hot tub and soak my aching body.

OK, completely off the subject. I think a had a snack: my toes. They were swollen and red with obvious bite marks. They hurt really bad yesterday. I put some afterbite on them and they seem to be quite a bit better today, maybe it's time to clean the corners.

Renee



I too am a newbie, day 2, I guess we all need to start somewhere. I think that it's great you already know what works for you. Maybe it will help me also.

Good luck everyone on your day and goals

This is a cool thread. I'm glad you started it. I'm gonna join this challenge. I gotta say, my biggest thing at the moment has to be water. Why is it so hard to drink enough to be really healthy????
I feel I'm doing well on caloric intake, I'm thrilled to death about my exercise for the month, so, my 21 day challenge will be drinking 64+ ounces a day.
Someone asked how much 8 oz are? It's 1 cup. ( i worked with a german chef back in the 90's at the university, and he insisted we learn cups, ounces, pints, quarts, gallon, teaspoons and tablespoon stuff)
I think I'm also gonna give my self a reward for doing 21 days of water.
Something little, like a special coffee drink.

Welcome, Sandy, Diane, Renee!

Valerie, Of course, keep track however you like. I like the idea of separating mine out so I have a good idea of where I'm making progress in changing habits and which ones are really giving me the most trouble (as you'll see below, lol).

Yoo hoo, Anna, where are you? Hope things are going well, and if not, all the more reason to check in!

Here's where I am as of yesterday:

Water Challenge -- Day 4 -- successful
Meds Challenge -- Day 6 -- successful
Stairs Challenge -- ZONK! Time to start over.

For everyone working on water, here's an additional incentive: I was just reading an article on preventing blood clots, and keeping hydrated was one of the recommended steps. Since I know I'm at risk, this is making me much more enthusiastic about all these trips to the lady's room.

Still didn't make my stairs challenge today. So:

Water Challenge -- Day 5 -- successful
Meds Challenge -- Day 7 -- successful
Stairs Challenge -- Day 0... tomorrow will be day 1 again...

Oh, that makes sense. Keeping the days of success separate to track areas needing most improvement, that is. Good idea.

Well, GUESS what tomorrow is. G'head. Guess.

Yup. Tomorrow is Day Numero Uno. I've flubbed two days in a row on my exercise, although today I was very active, rode one horse and gave several lessons, but that's not technically "exercise" for the list as I see it. OK, and water? Well, I was down to about 35 oz yesterday, but today I was down to about 20. I took a bottle in the car with me, but forgot to drink any of it. Eating was great today... until I had those chips with cream cheese and salsa. In my defense, I let the dogs finish the stuff, but when I looked at the package after it was too late, I realized I'd just eaten 350 calories BEFORE I even counted the dreaded chips!

SO. Tomorrow is day one again. Dad-gummit! I'm gonna have a beautiful, healthy, thin day tomorrow!!!

Good luck with those stairs tomorrow Angela. Don't do as I do... SUCCEED INSTEAD! YOU CAN DO IT!

SANDY & RENEE, Water is a challenge for me, too. Fortunately, once I'm back at work tomorrow, I have a huge cup next to me all day and a water drinking buddy to remind me. Tomorrow will be a better day because I set myself up for success. Yes, why is it so hard to do that all the time???

Lost BOMBERA - You're doing GREAT! Where you lead, we'll follow. Keep up the great work and setting such a great example!!

For now, I'm going to start my great tomorrow by getting a good night's sleep tonight. yaaaaaawn. Night-night!