"Gentle footprints today will ensure a path for tomorrow", Riley Caminiti

The quote above was entered into the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Earth Day 2008 Slogan Contest. The winner- Riley Caminiti is a fifth grade student.

Why do I bring this up? Many of us in this Weight loss battle of eating right, exercising, getting things in control - tend to have an "All or Nothing" attitude. Either we are busting our butts exercising a ton and counting every morsal going into our mouths - or we said "forget it - it's just one day(week, month etc.) and we do nothing.

"Gentle footprints today..." Make the small steps count. That's the goal of this challenge. It isn't so much about the amount of weight you lose - but what little GOOD habits you can form in the next 5 weeks that you won't turn back on, whether it's an established exercize routine, a consistent water intake, reestablishing your fruits and veggies, or whatever - that's what this challenge is all about!

So today is Day 1 for me.
My Earth day goals -
~establish a exercize routine - 1 hour EVERY DAY!
~drink 64 oz of water a day.

Hi Eny!

I was looking for a new challenge after St Pattys day - mind if I join you on this one? I really like what you said in your post, and I'd like to do a challenge that is not about the numbers right now.

My Earth day goal will be to find ways to incorporate exercise that don't take over my schedule. Specifically, the new habit I would like to build is taking a morning walk or run. I think if I can get in this habit I will feel less hurried during the day, and better equipped to take care of myself and my responsibilities.

Hi Amarie! Welcome! I'm glad that someone else is concerned w/ the routine of it all and the establishing good habits - and not just the number on the scale. I believe that establishing these habits now will help BIG TIME when we reach goal and are maintaining.

Eny -

Lately, scale-driven victories have left me feeling hollow and a little out of touch with myself. I've been down the weightloss road so many times, I really want to make sure I focus on things that will help me make this the last time. Here's to health and healthy habits for life!

Hi Eny...girl you know I will be joining you for this challenge. Not quite sure what my goal will be but I will decide before the night is up.

I think I may have to steal that quote for my inspiration book. That's the second one I've found on 3FC.

Shay - I've pretty much deemed you my 3FC diet buddy - we seem to be on all the same threads - which says something.

I did my workout today. I found a way to get past the boredom of the "same 'ol same 'ol" - and played a playlist of songs on my computer while I did the Slim in 6. It KICKED MY BUTT! Which means 1. I need to get back into this and 2. I'm really glad that I started w/ the middle level instead of the hard! I'm going to do this until I feel back into the groove - and then move on to the next level. I got really great results with Slim in 6 before - so I'm doing it again. After I do this for a month I'll try some other stuff again.

I can't wait until it's warm enough to walk outside w/ DD! COME ON SPRING!!!

Shari - You're in the right place. Shay is a GREAT IE inspiration! I'm starting again today. I'm trying to get a few things organized at home and a couple of projects finished up so that I can dive into the book. It will help A TON when I get things for work caught up. Which will be middle of next week - that's the deadline that's been set.

I had a good day yesterday - other then eating. Trying to tackle everything at once is tough. THat's why I like this challenge... little steps for a longterm benefit!

I'm going to go get some water and start my day off right!

& for all!

Okay I didn't make it back on here last night. Here are my goals:

1. Stay my FA off the scale until Earth Day (and beyond until June 1st).
2. Exercise at least once before Earth Day (I am so off the exercise band wagon right now)
3. Finish my IE book.

Shari--Love the butterflies. I also may have to steal a quote or two from your signature for my inspiration book. IE is fantastic. It has really helped with my binge eating. There is an IE thread in the Diet Central forum under General Diet Plans and Questions: www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135811 (Eny you should check it out too. Sometimes it is just me and another lady but that is fine with me).

Eny--I know we keep following each other!

Hi gals!

Well, I didn't make it out for a morning walk today. I did make a baby step in the right direction, though - haulin my hiney out of bed earlier. Step one: wake up; Step two: get out of bed... Repeat day after day, then add step 3: take dog for walk. Maybe instead of baby steps I should call them "gentle footprints."

i'd like to join - i'm really focusing on trying to make my lifestyle healthier and assuming that some weightloss will come with that package. and if not, i'm not horribly upset with my current weight, i just don't feel that i'm going about my exercise and eating habits in the right way.

my goals are:
1. to plan out and cook some meals when i have time so that i have "real" food to eat instead of just diving into the bag of tortilla chips. (plus, stuff if coming into season, so there's lots of yummy produce becoming available!)
2. to spend at least 45 mins (usually turns into longer once i get into it) working out at least 3 times a week.

Iris - I need to make the cooking thing a goal of mine too - but One print at a time

Shay - i'll check out the link. I'm also determined to read at least the intro and chapter one tonight!

Marie - gentle footprints - the challenge isn't to accomplish it all in one day - but to continuously work toward the goal. You did step one and two - tomorrow maybe step three will come along with that!

As for me - I'm completely on plan today. I'm going to go and do some work for awhile - then spend time w/ DD until her bedtime. then it's exercise and ME time! I could get used to this!

Iris--Thanks for the reminder I am so looking forward to Farmer's Market season. There's one particular one I have wanted to go to for years but haven't made it because it is on Thursday mornings. My hours have been ridiculous lately so I should be able to flex time off to go visit that market many a Thursday mornings.

I LOVE the Farmer's Market!

I did day 2 of this challenge. Everything was great today (aside from being sore form actually working out!) Making a new healthy habit - one day at a time!