"Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Small things to feel good about!

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  •   #151  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 10-17-2009 08:47 PM
    No problem with yesterday. Should be meeting a friend tonight for some drinks. I am determined not to smoke!
    I realized I was behind on the no alcohol days. Thought it seemed like too few, so it's a full six down. Whoopee. I'm not trying to stop drinking or anything, just want to keep things moderate (a word I have never quite understood )
    The caffeine reduction is becoming second-nature. I was thinking how I only had a small cup of green tea yesterday afternoon instead of the strong black tea I allow myself. I use that for a pick-me-up when I need it, such as before a workout. Yesterday I took off from the gym though so the green tea was probably appropriate.
    The work search continues to turn up nothing. Damn, things are bad over here. Gotta remain positive though. If I don't, I slide into inertia, which will bring up nothing but more of the same.

    Totally off the subject, but I gave my old cat a bath the other day. He's so old he doesn't groom himself at all. Never thought I'd be bathing a cat. He has always loved getting wet so he put up no fuss whatsoever.
    He has been insisting on special tidbits that are very costly so the other day I asked the local fish shop 20 steps away if they had any scraps they could give me. They always feed one of my other cats and a stray, who appear promptly at 6 p.m. before the shop. They give them all sorts of delicacies and have them quite spoiled. The old guy, however, is too frail to walk there. They have been giving me a bagful of good-looking fish for nothing. Last night I got home and there was a bag hanging on my doorknob. I thought it was the landlady with some apples from her hometown apple country Nagano, but it was a bag of fish! How sweet.

    NO ALCOHOL (round 5 minus 10 days and pauses) -- Day 6 completed 0 pauses taken
    NO SMOKING (round 4) -- Day 18 completed 3 pauses taken
    CAFFEINE CUT (Round 6) -- Day 8 completed 2 pauses taken

    **************

    Shad -- Congratulations on your finished challenges. Any downward movement of the numbers? With all that work you seem to be doing painting, you must be getting in some exercise! I admire and bewonder your attitude.
    Reply
  •   #152  
    Shad's AvatarShad , 10-19-2009 12:09 AM
    All challenges are off for a couple of days while I deal with my own stupidity. I gashed my leg at the dump yesterday. So there will be no racing around for me for a couple of days while I let it start to heal. It's long and deep and fortunately has stopped bleeding. It'll be okay I guess eventually.

    Red - enjoy the time out with friends. One can not just work out and weigh and fuss about eating every day of the year. It just doesn't work that way.
    Reply
  •   #153  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 10-19-2009 09:29 AM
    Just a quick note to post my tally. I managed to stay away from smoking last night so my challenge still stands! Hurrah!!!

    NO ALCOHOL (round 5 minus 10 days and pauses) -- Day 7 completed 1 pause taken
    NO SMOKING (round 4) -- Day 20 completed 3 pauses taken
    CAFFEINE CUT (Round 6) -- Day 10 completed 2 pauses taken
    Reply
  •   #154  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 10-19-2009 09:58 AM
    Good morning ladies (or evening for Red and Shad) -

    Had a good weekend. Stayed OP and went to the gym on both Saturday and Sunday morning. On Saturday, DH worked on the cars - changing oil, checking brakes, etc., and I worked in the yard. Yesterday, we were planning on going fishing, but DH wasn't feeling well, so we stayed home. He worked on the computers and I made homemade veggie soup, and we watched football. Since it was nice out, I played with the doggies in the yard too. They really enjoyed that, and so did I! DH was even too sick to go to work today. This evening I have a meeting with a website client, and tomorrow evening I have an online marketing seminar. But I'm hoping to get to the gym tonight or tomorrow. At least it will be nice enough outside (mid 50s) to get a walk in at lunch time!

    Here's where I'm at after the weekend:

    Journal and stay within WW points - 3 pauses left - Day 11 completed
    Drink 64 ounces of water - 3 pauses left - Day 11 completed
    20 minutes (at least) of cardio - 3 pauses left - Day 11 completed
    25 crunches - 1 pause taken - 2 pauses left - Day 11 completed
    At least 10000 steps per day - 3 pauses left - Day 11 completed

    BTW, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and sending lots of positive vibes for Red's and Shad's job searches. :

    ********

    Red - So nice that your kitty doesn't mind baths. My cats used to hate baths. And even my dogs aren't very fond of them. How sweet that the fish store delivered goodies for your kitty! I've not seen the Changeling, and since I have asthma, perhaps I should avoid that movie. Good for you for all the trips to the gym! Hope you had a great time off with your friends. Congrats on not smoking!

    Shad - Good on ya' for doing so well on your challenges!! Congrats on fitting into the garden shorts! With all the painting and home renovations, not to mention your daily walks/dashes, you are getting lots of exercise! But with your leg injury, you take it easy until it heals. Do you need to get a tetanus shot? Over here, anytime you cut yourself on anything old, especially old metal, the docs recommend you get a tetanus shot - which last for 7 years.
    Reply
  •   #155  
    Shad's AvatarShad , 10-19-2009 06:41 PM
    Haven't sat and figured out the new challenges yet. However I did go for a walk today and everything was okay. I don't think we need to worry about the wound too much. Here they recommend evry 15 years. My doctor says I have had enough to make me immune for the rest of my days. I did have the last one before I went to Jakarta 2 years back.
    Michelle, sounds like you had a busy and active weekend. Good for you.

    Red - The no smoking is going well. I'm proud of you.

    Back later with the new challenges.
    Reply
  •   #156  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 10-20-2009 09:29 AM
    Red - Big Congrats on not smoking! I am so proud of you!! You rock, my sista!

    Shad - I'm so glad the leg is feeling better and you're able to do some walking/exercise. Glad also that you didn't need to get any shots...those hurt.

    I didn't get to the gym last night due to a meeting with a client. And tonight I have a seminar...but I'm going to try and get to the gym after that. I walked yesterday at lunch and plan to do the same today, so I get my 20 min. of cardio in.

    Journal and stay within WW points - 3 pauses left - Day 12 completed
    Drink 64 ounces of water - 3 pauses left - Day 12 completed
    20 minutes (at least) of cardio - 3 pauses left - Day 12 completed
    25 crunches - 1 pause taken - 2 pauses left - Day 12 completed
    At least 10000 steps per day - 3 pauses left - Day 12 completed


    Here's to a great day for all of us!
    Reply
  •   #157  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 10-20-2009 06:39 PM
    got through the smoking challenge!!!!!

    No time again to write. Hello diyana and Shad!

    NO ALCOHOL (round 5 minus 10 days and pauses) -- Day 8 completed 1 pause taken
    NO SMOKING (round 4) -- Day 21 completed 3 pauses taken CHALLENGE IS COMPLETED!!!
    CAFFEINE CUT (Round 6) -- Day 11 completed 2 pauses taken

    Reply
  •   #158  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 10-21-2009 03:25 PM
    Red - Congrats on completing the no smoking challenge!!! :congratulations:

    Shad - I hope you're doing well and your leg is getting better.

    I took a pause from cardio and WW points yesterday evening, so here's where I'm at:

    Journal and stay within WW points - 2 pauses left - Day 12 completed
    Drink 64 ounces of water - 3 pauses left - Day 13 completed
    20 minutes (at least) of cardio - 2 pauses left - Day 12 completed
    25 crunches - 1 pause taken - 2 pauses left - Day 13 completed
    At least 10000 steps per day - 3 pauses left - Day 13 completed
    Reply
  •   #159  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 10-21-2009 07:36 PM
    starting a new no smoking...
    Quick post again. Long day yesterday and have to run out again now. I feel like I've been working out and exercising a lot but not seeing any change on the scale or even in my body (though I feel stronger). I guess often the perception of effort and the actual effort may be quite different. I'm not going to allow this to throw me off track. I have to get used to doing MORE once again. Gotta keep at it! How's that for positive talk!

    NO ALCOHOL (round 5 minus 10 days and pauses) -- Day 9 completed 1 pause taken
    NO SMOKING (round 5) -- Day 1 completed 0 pauses taken
    CAFFEINE CUT (Round 6) -- Day 12 completed 2 pauses taken
    Reply
  •   #160  
    Shad's AvatarShad , 10-21-2009 08:11 PM
    Gotta keep at it! Good Mantra that.

    Sorry- haven't had the time to sort out any new challenges yet. Been busy with things in the rest of the world.

    Weight down today (weigh in day) to 79.5Kg It's all good if somewhat unexpected.
    Reply
  •   #161  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 10-22-2009 07:33 AM
    Yesterday, I took another break from the gym...due to exhaustion after work. But tonight is my favorite strength training class, so I will be doing an hour of cardio followed by the 1/2 hour strength training (including abs) class. Good. stuff.

    Journal and stay within WW points - 2 pauses left - Day 13 completed
    Drink 64 ounces of water - 3 pauses left - Day 14 completed
    20 minutes (at least) of cardio - 1 pauses left - Day 12 completed
    25 crunches - 1 pause taken - 2 pauses left - Day 14 completed
    At least 10000 steps per day - 3 pauses left - Day 14 completed

    ************
    Red - I love the Gotta Keep At It mantra! Words to live by, my sista! The results of your hard work will show. Sometimes it takes a week or two or three or more. That's what I have to tell myself on weeks that I do everything perfectly and get no positive reinforcement from either the scale or my clothes.

    Shad - Congrats on the weight loss! You're well on your way to the Halloween goal! Good for you!!

    Hugs and to all for our perserverance and effort,

    Michelle
    Reply
  •   #162  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 10-22-2009 08:07 AM

    Um, "gotta keep at it" is not a mantra. It was just something I said and today I caved in in utter depression and binged on sugar. I suppose I have no faith and don't really know that just keeping at it will help. I could be way off the mark.
    Yeah, the challenges hold, but the rest was too much. It was because what I thought may be some work didn't pan out and also the itching is making me suicidal. Really. I can't take it anymore. I am right now waiting for the doctor to call and tell me my number is soon so I can go wait in his office. There he passes out drugs to all these needy people like myself with skin problems. I am going to ask for strong steroids. I don't care. I really can't take this anymore. My eyes are swollen and I scratch myself raw. It is truly driving me crazy. I get no respite, day or night. Oh, that this would go away....
    Still, I will carry on, but it's days like these where I ruin everything and indo days of hard work. It's the same old story over and over and over again.
    I cannot break through and be consistent long enough. I truly don't know how I maintained a weight 5 kg less than now. I think I was much more consistently active and I had no skin problems. The toll it takes on me physically (no sleep) and mentally is very bad. My aunt had similar so it seems to be hereditary. Talked to someone I know today who has had the same thing since she was a child. She said, "There is no one thing that will help. You have to accept that this is just the way you are and you have to learn to not let it bother you." Well, it's hard, really hard.

    NO ALCOHOL (round 5 minus 10 days and pauses) -- Day 10 completed 1 pause taken
    NO SMOKING (round 5) -- Day 2 completed 0 pauses taken
    CAFFEINE CUT (Round 6) -- Day 13 completed 2 pauses taken

    Reply
  •   #163  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 10-22-2009 09:28 AM
    Red - So sorry to hear that the work didn't pan out, and that the itching is getting worse. That's interesting that you get a "number" from your doctor, and when it's getting close you go wait in his office. I'm sure you've already tried hydrocortisone cream and oatmeal baths, right? Go easy on yourself...you're not ruining everything or undoing days of work. Think how it would be if you hadn't put in those days of work...and increased your metabolism. With all you're going through, life is beating you up...you don't need to help by picking up a baseball bat or Be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself and treat yourself as if you were your best friend. You CAN break through, you CAN be consistent. You CAN get through this. Hang in there, girlfriend.
    Reply
  •   #164  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 10-22-2009 09:54 AM
    diyana, thank you so much for your kind words. It's 11 p.m. and I just got back from the doctor. (It's only about 50 steps away). Yes, it's an interesting setup. He has so many patients they have installed an automatic reservation system. You can make a reservation from your computer or mobile phone or at his office. Then you wait until there are about five people before you and your phone automatically rings with a recorded message or you get an email, whichever you choose. You can check how many people are still before you too from your phone or computer. It's pretty cool. Well, of course, it's Tokyo!

    I am now armed with drugs and creams and he promised I would sleep well. I feel relieved, determined to beat this and, yes, carry on with exercise and get back to eating better. Thank you again. Your support and kindness mean a LOT to me!
    Reply
  •   #165  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 10-22-2009 02:50 PM
    Red - That is cool about an automated waiting system. It reduces long waits in a waiting area full of sick/contagious people! Good stuff! It it a common system for most docs in Tokyo? Glad to hear you got meds and creams, so you can enjoy your days and have restful nights. I've never had trouble with steroid creams, but steroid pills (as wonderful and effective as they are) result in increased appetite, weight gain and beotchiness! Good luck I hope you get maximum effectiveness with minimum side effects!

    As for me.....
    Weigh in was not great. Not horrible...but not great. I gained a pound. This is going to be a long, long road and I'm in it for the duration. I'm in it to win it. The only way I cannot succeed is if I quit - if I completely stop trying. And there's no way in h*ll that I'm ever gonna give up.
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