"Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Time to crack down!

You're on Page 23 of 26
Go to
  •   #331  
    Shad's AvatarShad , 08-20-2009 07:01 PM
    1300 daily calorie limit - 1 pauses Day 14
    Exercise - 30 per day - 2 pauses Day 15
    Water - 1 litre of the pure stuff per day - 2 pauses Day 15

    Michelle - made comment on the weight loss on the other thread. But congratulations again.

    Jazzy - My bark is worse than my bite. If I am mean, there is usually a reason - like Red not behaving again.

    Red - think the sugar reduction is a good idea, as long as you keep a lid on it. But there are so few things in the store these days that are not sweetened in one form or another. Really need to check the labels - or don't they have those in Japan. Wow, cycling!!!! Haven't ridden a real bike since I don't know when. Wonder if I can still do it.

    Gotta go sort out the rubbish, I can hear the garbo down the road.
    Reply
  •   #332  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 08-21-2009 08:34 AM
    Happy Friday -

    I'm really tired. I guess my body is still fighting off this chest cold. The doc gave me some cough syrup, but since it has codeine in it, I can only take it at night. It was a short week for me, but it feels like it lasted forever. I hope this weekend will be relaxing. DH is saying he wants to go fishing both days since we only have about 6 weeks of decent weather left. The weather is already starting to cool down with highs in the upper 60s tomorrow and low 70s on Sunday. At least there's not supposed to be any rain this weekend (after today).

    Red - Good for you for tackling not eating in the evening! That's a really rough time for me...but since I was having low blood sugar symptoms, I'm hesitant to cut off food too early. If you're trying to reduce sugars, definitely read labels...as they sneak sugars into so much nowadays. on cycling to get to the store and to the gym!! And on getting to the gym for cardio and weights!! And on the overall tightening/toning you're seeing!! YGG! As for how lionhearted you can be when the scale isn't friendly, I know what that's like...but I also know that you have it in you to stick with this through good times and difficult ones. Yes, I remember my dramatics last week; I'm sure the gain of last week was TOM. And I know that I really have to watch myself this week so I can maintain or even lose a little. I'm in the two teens now with no intention of allowing any upward scale movement.

    Shad - Of course, you could still ride a bike. What is it they say...you never forget! You're doing great on your challenges!

    As for me, I'm gonna start with three challenges today.

    Journal and Stay Within Points, 3 pauses - Day 0 completed
    Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 3 pauses - Day 0 completed
    Walk 20 minutes daily, 3 pauses - Day 0 completed

    For right now while I'm still sick and have a chest full of crud, the walking will have to be at a fairly low intensity...but I'll increase the time and intensity as I feel better.

    Here's to a great day/weekend for all of us!

    Hugs,
    Reply
  •   #333  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 08-21-2009 04:10 PM
    clear on all fronts....
    Early Saturday here. Yesterday was a go on all fronts. I'm changing the sugar challenge name to "Sugar limitation." The other name was misleading because I had been cutting all sugar out much of the time. What I want to do here is to just allow a bit but not allow overkill or, of course, any bingeing/ My absolute worst time for junk food (including sugar) was evenings, so the no eating in the evening challenge takes care of that problem.

    I did it again yesterday. Quit eating at 4:30 p.m., which is early, but I was out of Tokyo for my piano lesson, stopped for a meal, then hopped the train back in to town and then went to the gym, where I ran (did the sprint routine) and did weights and walked the hour home. So, by the time I was through with the gym it was late. Oddly, the hunger is there and I am really in the habit of popping stuff in my mouth, but I was able to just say no and made it through. Of course, this is not so hard for me because I go to bed by 9 p.m. As long as I can sleep there is NO problem after that and I must say, I seem to be sleeping well! Hurrah!

    Sugar limitation
    Day 1 completed
    No eating after 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
    Day 4 completed
    No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
    Day 12 completed 0 pauses taken
    No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
    Day 11 completed 0 pauses taken
    Caffeine Cut (Round 3!) --
    Day 19 completed 2 pauses taken

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

    Shad -- Well, I haven't been "misbehaving" recently, but let's see how I react when the scale won't budge. Congrats on notching another day!

    diyana -- I'm sorry to hear you're still sick. That cold is lasting a LONG time, isn't it? Do you often get lingering colds? I (knock on wood) almost never get colds. They say in Japan that doofs don't catch colds, so you know where that puts me, eh?
    Are you going to accompany your husband fishing or is he going alone? You're in Wisconsin. Do you fish on the Great Lakes?
    I used to worry about low blood sugar and such and felt I couldn't go without food, but nowadays, I don't seem to have a problem as long as I've had a good breakfast and don't eat junk alone (namely sugar). I think a lot of it was in my head.
    Yes, I am tightening I think, but I am shocked at how much fat there still is around my gut. I can't believe it's one, either not disappearing quickly, or two, I just had a LOT more than I realized. How is that? How can it seemingly remain hidden and then only come into the radar once it's massive (the gut, that is). Huh??!?!? You tell me! I am baffled!
    Good luck on your challenges. The walking should be OK even though you're still sick. In fact, it should help clear your chest. Take care!
    Reply
  •   #334  
    Shad's AvatarShad , 08-21-2009 06:56 PM
    1300 daily calorie limit - 1 pauses Day 15
    Exercise - 30 per day - 2 pauses Day 16
    Water - 1 litre of the pure stuff per day - 2 pauses Day 16

    Weight is down 1.3kg in the last couple of days. Could it be something to do with the fluid retention tablets I started taking again?
    Reply
  •   #335  
    One2ResqU's AvatarOne2ResqU , 08-21-2009 07:58 PM
    Im going to Start THIS CHALLENGE!!!!!

    thanks for getting something like this together. I think this is really going to get me motivated.

    Day 2- Do not exceed 1200 calories-0 pauses
    Day1-Drink at least 8 glasses/bottles of water a day-0 pauses
    Day 1-Do not eat at least 2 hrs before bed time!-0 pauses


    Im going to work at this REAL hard! Im a night shift worker which makes my eating schedule all out of WHACK!

    Im trying to do this without any pauses at all
    Reply
  •   #336  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 08-22-2009 02:04 AM
    break time....
    Hello, all. I am in the midst of drinking yet another green juice I whipped up -- komatsuna, spinach, celery, dark leaf lettuce, asparagus, soymilk, banana, almond extract.
    I am attaching a photo for all those who have yet to have the privilege of seeing it! Yowzah!! Ain't it purty?

    I am taking a break from the gym today. And, though my weight was up this morning and I figure it will be up again tomorrow, I have not whined yet!! Shad, are you listening?

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

    Shad -- Hurrah, hurrah!! Weight is down 1.3 kg?!?!!? And you aren't falling over with joy?!?!? Fluid, fat, whatever, it all LOOKS the same!! Go, Shad!!!

    One2ResqU -- Heh, there.... I need rescuing, so you've come to the RIGHT place!! Welcome!!

    Good for you for taking on the challenge and THREE of them! Oh, I know how bad night shifts are. I did them for years and years and I would just graze my way through them. No, it was more like a vacuum cleaner, just sucking up anything in sight. Yikes!! I quit my job the end of July and I am so glad to be back doing nothing! Well, it can't last for long, but I am SO enjoying it for now.
    Good luck!!


    Reply
  •   #337  
    naughtylittlemonkey's Avatarnaughtylittlemonkey , 08-22-2009 07:24 AM
    Back on the Wagon...sigh
    Hey ladies!

    Sorry, I've been a naughty little monkey AGAIN, going AWOL for a couple of weeks. Got sick, then no internet access, then vacation. Ah well.

    Today is the first day of Ramadan in the Middle East, and even though I'm not observing, there is no better time to shut down, put the engine back in neutral, reflect, and be at one with yourself.

    So a new 21-day challenge is up for me! No eating after 9pm (which is going to be SO HARD as people here eat well into the night as they prepare to fast the next day). And also going to the gym, but focusing less on weight loss and more on mind-spirit connection - yoga, stretching, meditation, etc.

    AND...the hardest, the worst: no gluten. I travel frequently and cheat myself into thinking I can eat wheat, when I really can't (gluten sensitivity). So a gluten-free Ramadan/fall for me!! I will be like this soon:

    anyway, getting to it with you all, who are always inspiring. wohoo!
    Reply
  •   #338  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 08-22-2009 04:17 PM
    restart.....
    I wasn't really thinking about just what would constitute "too much" for my sugar challenge but after I did start thinking about it, i.e., after I ate the junk, I realized that, no, I couldn't allow that. It's too early in the game to keep going, so I'm restarting sugar.....
    Otherwise, all was well. Last food was at 5 p.m.

    Sugar limitation
    Day 0 completed
    No eating after 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
    Day 5 completed
    No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
    Day 13 completed 0 pauses taken
    No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
    Day 12 completed 0 pauses taken
    Caffeine Cut (Round 3!) --
    Day 20 completed 2 pauses taken

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

    monkey -- Good to see you again. So, do you have two challenges, separate ones? They both sound quite difficult to me. Of course, I'm almost always in bed by 9 p.m. so eating wouldn't be a problem. But for a night owl, it'd be tough. Best of luck! By the way, how is that in Dubai with Ramadan? Are there still a lot of restaurants that cater to the non-Muslim or non-observing crowd and is that crowd big?

    Reply
  •   #339  
    Shad's AvatarShad , 08-22-2009 05:14 PM
    1300 daily calorie limit - 1 pauses Day 16
    Exercise - 30 per day - 2 pauses Day 17
    Water - 1 litre of the pure stuff per day - 2 pauses Day 17

    Days are moving past fast. I may have to up the challenges next time, although I know the water and the exercise are not a habit yet.
    Reply
  •   #340  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 08-23-2009 02:00 AM
    singing the blues....

    Oh, boy, bummed out time again.... My clothes are tight and the fat around my waist seems to be back in force. I really, really don't know what's wrong. I have been doing well. I absolutely can't do any better than this....
    I looked back at a post on Aug. 12 and it said I could get my breeches on. Yes, I remember that i could. Now, there's a good 2 inches before I could get them fastened, let alone zipped. What goes? Can this be water retention yet again?
    I was ready to go to the gym but I am so depressed. I mean, come on, why isn't the fat coming off? Sorry, but I am really bummed over this.

    Shad, I'm misbehavin' again.....
    Reply
  •   #341  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 08-23-2009 06:47 AM
    did it!

    Well, after writing that last whiny post, I sucked up and got my butt on the bike and to the gym, where I hung out a bit in the bookstore before getting disgusted with my procrastinating ways and finally got into the gym. I did some back and shoulders and then the treadmill, jogging on an incline at alternating speeds. It was TOUGH, but I did it! How could I not, with the track championships on TV in front of me.
    And I did not eat after 5 p.m., BEFORE the gym! I am hungry, but going to bed hungry. I am going to scare this fat off me!


    Reply
  •   #342  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 08-23-2009 06:07 PM
    through caffeine!!
    Where is everyone?!?!
    I made it through yesterday with a climatic ending! AND, the scale today is being good to me!
    I was able to update my current weight under my avatar. Hurrah! It's 71.6 kg, my lowest weight recorded since Jan. 14 of this year! Is that like cool or what?

    Sugar limitation
    Day 1 completed -- We have liftoff!!
    No eating after 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
    Day 6 completed
    No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
    Day 14 completed 0 pauses taken
    No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
    Day 13 completed 0 pauses taken


    Caffeine Cut (Round 3!) --
    Day 21 completed 2 pauses taken

    THIRD ROUND OF CAFFEINE CUT COMPLETED!!

    Reply
  •   #343  
    Shad's AvatarShad , 08-23-2009 06:31 PM
    Red - I am really proud of you for picking yourself up and just getting on with it. Good on you for the finish of the caffeine challenge. See you can do this without us propping you up occasionally.
    I am a bit interested in the sudden bloat. Unless you ate a gazillion calories there is no way that you could put on that much weight in one day. So it has to be something you ate, drank or somehow ingested that is fighting with your body. So the main culprits spring to mind. Salt - have you been having something with a high salt content. That green drink for instance. According to the ingredients you listed, no, but I don't know what all of them are. Sugar - ditto. Have you considered an allergy?
    I don't know since I am not there
    I just looked up my calorie book which has a sodium content section. It seems we should aim for less than 2500mg of sodium daily and most of that will be naturally occurring in our food and naturally fresh is best and lowest. 1/2 cup of cooked rice for example will provide 250mg of sodium and soy sauce bounces off the radar. So maybe a check of all that you have eaten over the past couple of days to see where the salt may be hidden. If you consider an allergy - again you will need to check on all that you have eaten and use the process of elimination.

    1300 daily calorie limit - 1 pauses Day 17
    Exercise - 30 per day - 2 pauses Day 18
    Water - 1 litre of the pure stuff per day - 2 pauses Day 18

    Coming to the end of this challenge. It seems to be working at the moment - scale is down again this morning. Today is supposed to be very hot (33C) and we are not even at the end of August yet. I have a fair amount to do today so will disappear now and be back later when the heat drives me back inside - if today is anything like yesterday, I will be turning on the aircon today. No need to suffer needlessly.

    Right onto the paint brush.
    Reply
  •   #344  
    redballoon's Avatarredballoon , 08-23-2009 07:40 PM
    Thanks, Shad, for the kind praise. I'm glad I can show you at times just what I am capable of doing...though I rarely do it.
    Seeing the "ones" again, even if they are above 70, is a great boost to me, the inverse of what those "threes" and even "fours" were as my weight once again crept toward 75 kg. It was really driving a nail in the self-hate coffin.
    Now, through a LOT of hard work, I am out of those woods. It doesn't look like much on paper, a few pounds, but I know it's pure fat because I've been adding a lot of strength at the gym and I can see the increase in muscle.
    Talking to the guys at the gym, I find myself saying how the weight training is a reward and that's why I do the running beforehand. I know the other way is better for burning fat but it is HARDER and I run the risk of NOT doing it at all. Get the hard stuff out of the way first and leave the fun till last. Odd, but weight training is fun. There are so many breaks and you can do a lot sitting or lying down. How easy is that. I can take a little exertion, in fact, that kind of blind, forward stampede of concentration is what I excel at. Some call it stubborn....or even stupid....
    Anyhow, as for the weight gain or bloat, or whatever it was, I think it must have been a combination of pms and extra salt and sugar. Normally, I would know the limits of water retention before my period, but at my age, I seem to be having much more of a problem with water retention than ever before and it really feels like fat. It also seems to concentrate in my abdomen, but that may just because I notice it there more easily.
    Too, it could have been those days of high sugar. When I eat sugar, it acts like an allergy of sorts and I am always bloated the next day. I did have some nuts too, which I hadn't had in a long time. Also, since now that the regular dehydration brought on by nights out on the town accompanied by, naturally, massive amounts of booze, are totally absent, I probably wasn't knocking excess fluid out of my body like I used to. That had to have the same effect as a diuretic pill, no?
    The green juice is a help for sure. Yesterday I added cucumber, which is a natural diuretic apparently, so it all may have helped.
    So, anyhow, there you have it, at length!

    And look at you!! Another loss! Congratulations!!

    Happy painting!

    Reply
  •   #345  
    diyana's Avatardiyana , 08-24-2009 07:29 AM
    Red - Congrats for getting to the gym and for the wonderful weight loss!! You rock, girlfriend!! As for bloat and PMS, as I've gotten older my PMS has become very different...very bloated, lots of water retention, and worse mood swings. I didn't know cucumber was a diuretic...that's cool! I love cukes.

    Shad - Thanks for the info about sodium. Who knew rice contained sodium?! How crazy is that! Congrats on your weight loss too.

    I journaled and drank water over the weekend, but I think I'm gonna temporarily suspend the walking until the junk clears out of my lungs. I'm so fed up with being sick. But I know this will eventually clear out...just gotta do what I can.

    Journal and Stay Within Points, 3 pauses - Day 3 completed
    Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 3 pauses - Day 3 completed

    Here's to a great day for all of us!
    Reply
Reply