"Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Fresh start for the new year!

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  •   #181  
    Apple Blossom's AvatarApple Blossom , 03-11-2009 11:39 PM
    I am back from skiing. I thought I did really well about eating and thought all the extra exercise might have helped the scale move down. But no such luck.
    Unfortunately, we had to euthanize our old dog yesterday. He couldn't walk anymore. For a while he was still able to drag himself out of the garage and into a sunny spot, but the last few days were not that good. I think we should have done it sooner, so I'm not feeling great about the whole situation. He is in a better place now...
    The same day, my mom was ill and is now in ICU. She is getting better, so I am not too worried, but I was for a bit.....
    I still don't have a challenge. I know it doesn't sound good, but a beer at the end of the day has been helping me get through the stress. Man, I thought March was going to be a return to normal, but everything continues to be crazy.
    So I still don't know about a challenge. I think I will eat oatmeal for breakfast everyday, 3 pauses allowed.
    And exercise 30 min daily. I've been going to the gym a bit, but my running is falling to the wayside. I want to start training for a triathlon, so I'll need to figure out a schedule and that will become my exercise challenge.
    Red, sounds like you've turned a corner. Find that sweet spot!
    Good to have you back, bbybear!
    Mod, time to get back on it!
    Reply
  •   #182  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-13-2009 09:46 PM
    more than a third of the way through...
    Day 8 completed.

    Yesterday I spent most of it stuffing food into my mouth, mindless eating that I was aware of. I know that sounds odd but it is exactly what it was. I was not focusing on the food. I wasn't even really enjoying it but I continued to feed my face. I know why. It's the anxiety in my life. Well, it's me feeling the anxiety. I have to learn ways of just taking the changes and potential changes in my life, taking them, as in taking up the reins and riding them out, not throwing the reins away and allowing the horse to take me where it pleases.

    **************
    Apple -- Thanks for coming in. I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. It's always difficult and you must miss him so. He is in a better place as you say and he is watching over you and feeling the love you gave him.
    I do hope your mother continues to improve. My prayers are with you.
    A challenge like eating oatmeal sounds good. My apple challenge has been a big help. The apple is like a symbol of all that is good and making myself buy it, cut it up and eat it is not as easy as it sounds. It keeps me thinking of adding other good things to that ritual and even if I don't I know it helps keep me closer to the good life, and by that I mean healthy, calm and content living for mind and body.

    mod, hope to see you again soon. bbybear, what happened? You popped in and then disappeared again?

    Reply
  •   #183  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-14-2009 07:41 AM
    Getting near bed time here for me. Just had my apple. Had a GOOD day eating-wise even if exercise wasn't hot. If I just had long lazy days for myself, I could whip this body into shape, lovingly whip it that is. Well, I may get my chance soon enough. Course, I'd have to keep it there...hmm...that could be a problem.

    Day 9 done on Apple Challenge!

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  •   #184  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-15-2009 07:38 PM
    10 down!
    Monday morning here. Had my apple yesterday, cut and packed and it went with me to the riding stable, where I ate it after riding. That makes...

    Day 10 done and gone on the Apple Challenge

    Got to the gym as well and even though I went out with a friend in from L.A. afterward for beers, I did NOT smoke. Things are rough, really rough but I am going to force myself to get ACTIVE, mentally as well as physically. No more moping around for me.
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  •   #185  
    Apple Blossom's AvatarApple Blossom , 03-16-2009 03:15 PM
    I'm sorry for being so inconsistent. Things with the old folks are still not all that well. Turns out my mom has a bleeding ulcer in her stomach. She's out of the hospital and healing, I hope. The same day she got out, my father-in-law went in, and he is still there. ugghh.
    I've been running 2 days in a row, so that is my challenge, just to run everyday. I really need to step it up to get 5 pounds off in March, so I'm actually trying to burn 500 cals a day with exercise. It will have to be a rough approximation, since I prefer not to exercise on machines. Who knows how accurate they are anyway. DH won't be home much this week, so it might be hard to do. I think I'll try to double short runs. I'll figure it out. We got Wii Fit a couple of weeks ago. It's not a high calorie burner, and some of the "games" don't even feel like exercise, but they're fun. I know I can't rely on it for serious results. The whole family is being really competitive about it, because it ranks you for each exercise. I guess that helps.
    OK, I need to prune my apple tree. See ya soon.
    Day 1 completed, run! 2 pauses allowed
    Reply
  •   #186  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-16-2009 04:48 PM
    another one hits the dirt!
    Day 11 complete!!

    Hang in there, Apple!

    Reply
  •   #187  
    Apple Blossom's AvatarApple Blossom , 03-17-2009 07:16 PM
    Day 2, Run!, 2 pauses allowed.
    When I weighed myself this morning I was down to 163! I'm sure I'm back up, but that was kind of cool.
    This week is looking like another chaotic one. I can't WAIT until school is out. Except that I'm not ready for a bathing suit. *sigh*
    Way to go on those apples. Red!!
    Reply
  •   #188  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-17-2009 07:47 PM
    Twelve's a goner!
    Well, I got the apple and ate it yesterday. Later, in the store I even saw an apple on sale because it was a bit marked and I thought, hmm, good for tomorrow. So I bought it. Now, if I could just expand this thinking so much that it would block out all garbage eating. Actually, I think it is helping a lot. Not that it shows anything on the scale yet, but it is truly hard to feed my face when my stomach is really full and an apple really fills it. Incredible, actually, because it doesn't look that big. Of course, I still DO feed my face and just suffer more for it. What goes here?! I am a total masochist. I should play "Jaws" music when I'm eating junk.
    Anyhow...

    Day 12 is done!!!

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

    Apple -- I thought you already had two days done on your running challenge... In any case, it looks like you're still OK. Good luck and don't poo-poo the scale going down. Has it gone down that low in recent times, in "truth" or not? Probably not. So, it DOES mean you are lower.




    Reply
  •   #189  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-18-2009 07:39 AM
    good one!

    Wrapping up Wednesday here and I'm good for go on the apple! Day 13 is in the bag!

    Had a good day at work. Snuck out for a long break and went to the gym. Did 40 min. of cardio and some weights. Good sweat.
    Reply
  •   #190  
    Apple Blossom's AvatarApple Blossom , 03-18-2009 02:45 PM
    Day 2 completed, run! 2 pauses allowed
    Hi Red. Don't you just love a good sweat?!
    Thanks for asking about my # of days. It's just that when I wrote that, I was counting the run I did that day, but I don't post it until the day is truly over. It's easier to keep track for me that way. I already went for a run this morning, but it won't show up till tomorrow.
    I was 163 agian today, so maybe something good IS happening. If I could get my eating habits under control, imagine what I could really do. It seems when life gets hectic it's hard to eat well, but it also becomes more important to get the exercise in. It's pretty therapeutic. Or maybe it's just escapism....
    I have a Wii Fit injury! Actually, I think I just used some muscles I don't normally use and I'm still kind of sore.
    Well, it's time to take care of the old people....
    Reply
  •   #191  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-18-2009 04:44 PM
    hoping to pull off a good one...
    I know it's lame to say "hoping for a good day." I should just do it, right? But, outside things just really do knock me around.
    Yesterday I had some good news at work and my immediate reaction was to write a bunch of people and say, "let's celebrate with drinks." How lame. Of course, I couldn't do that at 11 a.m., so I decided to get to the gym. I had brought my stuff so I could and am glad I did! Wish I could do that more consistently.
    Guy at work bugging me to join him on his weight loss. It does bug me too because already he's telling me what I should do. Heh, look, I KNOW what to do. It's just a matter of doing it. And besides, he was like 30 kg overweight and has lost 10 kg by stopping drinking (and eating tons afterward) and I think I'd be pretty good losing 10. So he's telling me I have to stop drinking. And though I have to cut back, I know cutting it (and the socializing) out totally would just make me want it more and I'd fall way far from the wagon into the mud and lie there for weeks no doubt. I mean, look, I didn't gain 30 kg did I? Isn't it a pain how once people have some success they become know-it-alls? Still, I do want to do something to kick this arse into action. Ok, gotta run. Later.

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

    Apple -- Hi there. Good to see you. Ok, clear on the running days. Glad it went well. You see, that number on the scale probably does mean something. Good for you! Exercise as therapeutic or escapism. I guess it's both, one because it's the other. I've been reading a lot about how good thoughts are necessary to get our metabolism going. Stress and shallow breathing just cause the body to NOT burn calories and to secrete too much cortisol, which makes for fat storage. It's no wonder I can't lose when I'm so stressed by work and why when I'm off and can relax on weekends I feel so much better and doing well is easy. Anyhow, good luck!
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  •   #192  
    Apple Blossom's AvatarApple Blossom , 03-19-2009 03:54 PM
    Day 3 completed, run! 2 pauses allowed
    Rats, I know there is probably no way I get a run in tomorrow. Grrr. Only if I get up early or run late, which my husband might not approve of. Today I went to the gym AND went on a short run/walk, so I may have put in more than an hour of exercise. I feel that frustration level building though.....Red, I hear you on the know-it-all thing. Tell him to stuff it. What you SHOULD do is show him that you can do it to. Cause I know you can!!! I'm going to see my SIL's family over the week-end. They are the one's we have the weight loss challenge with. I'm going to try not to bring it up because it will set my BIL off on a long boring conversation of which I've heard it all before.....
    Well, if you don't hear from me tomorrow, it's because I am NOT running....
    Reply
  •   #193  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-19-2009 10:46 PM
    2 weeks down, one to go...
    Friday here. National holiday, spring equinox. Nice to be off. Having a very lazy morning. It's almost noon.
    I had the apple yesterday too. I am getting a bit sick of them, to be honest. Day 14 is done. Another week. It's good practice. I am eating better. Yesterday, I had a MAJOR save. Coming home after work, I am in the embarrassing habit of stoking my gut with a good 400 calories or more. Something to sleep on, you know? But yesterday, I decided I am going to do this stupid calorie thing and try to make 1500 a day plus anything I do in extra exercise. It's SO incredibly easy to stuff away hundreds of calories. The ease...wow. Anyhow, instead of doing that I went down a different aisle in the convenience store that aids my insanity and found a cup of instant noodles that had only 150 calories. I brought that home and ate it and it was GOOD! I then contemplated throwing in butter and a bagel but stopped. Oops, food porn! but who's looking these days? So, that was good.
    Of course, I'm ticked that the scale has not shown a 5 kg loss over night. Certainly, CERTAINLY, my efforts of yesterday deserve something like that, no?

    **************
    Apple -- You COULD get that run in and you will feel so much better. Stuff the husband! Sure hope to see you in here with a good report!
    Reply
  •   #194  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-20-2009 04:41 PM
    keep it up!!
    Had a great day yesterday. I am unofficially staying below 1,500 calories a day plus extra exercise. Yesterday in the a.m. I had eaten too much, then tallied my calories before hitting the gym and knowing that whatever I wore off there was going to be able to be used for dinner pushed me to go further. Also, thinking that I could have a big salad and feel filled up really helped. That's exactly what I did too. I want to make this plan a challenge but want to do a bit of a stealth before starting.

    Day 15 is done on the Apple challenge as well! Hurrah!

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

    Apple -- Oh, no, does this absence mean you took a pause?
    Reply
  •   #195  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 03-21-2009 05:09 PM
    good, but not good....
    Day 16 done on my Apple Challenge.

    Looks like I'm all by my lonesome again. Apple, that's not looking good, is it? I had another good day yesterday, but the scale doesn't budge. It's bizarre. It moves around a LOT more when I'm not doing anything. So sad that it plays such tricks with me when I'm really trying. Just no justice.
    Reply
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