day 13- Exercise 30 minutes a day - good - 2 pauses left
day 13 - no food within 2 hours of bedtime - good - 2 pauses left
day 14 - At least 4 servings of fruit/vegetable per day - good - level 1

I'm so glad it's friday! I can finally relax. All my busy stuff is done until next week. The bad news is that next week is looking busier than this one was, so I don't know if I'll get on here everyday. I will definitely try to keep up with my challenges though.

Wow Red! That's great news. Congratulations! Whatever you are doing is working, keep it up!

Ashley - Looks like you're doing good too, keep up the good work!

Have a great day all!

Ok. I did get a walk in the other day, but yesterday was a pause day. So I'm on day 5 for exercise. Day 2 no beer and I think day 4 for cals. Sounds about right. I'm worried about the exercise. I have a week-end with out my husband which makes it difficult. I have to do the video thing. I HAVE TO...Red! You are totally awesome!!! I am hoping to hit 149 by Tuesday. I was high 150 today. You will be my inspiration! I'll re-read your post tonight to keep myself from melting into the couch.
DJ, my week is going to be tough too. Hang in there! What are you doing for exercise? When do you fit it in?
Jolly! Come on back! Do you need one of these?? or maybe one of these? We're here for you girl!

Hey all

I just got back from a get together at my trainer's house. She told me I need to stop giving myself permission to overeat. She's right.

So, I am asking for help. I want to start 2-3 challenges. They need to be good solid steps in the right direction, without expecting "perfection." Any ideas?

Thanks all for the support. Take care, and have a good eveing.

Yay, my first challenge

My challenges are atleast 30 minutes of walking everyday (aiming for 60 per day), drink only water, and no eating after 7pm. These are level 1.

Starting it tomorrow (11/17)

Calories 1500-1700 - day 5, with 1 pause
Candy <100 calories per day, day 6
Fruit/vegetables - 4 or more servings per day, day 6

Red – You are doing so well, especially given all the hours you’re working. It can be very difficult to stay on target for your goals when you’re so busy. I’m in management at my company, and it really can be lonely. You can’t be overly friendly or others will perceive it as favoritism. Wow – purchasing clothes via mail order can be tough. I’ve tried ordering a few things over the past few years, and have returned everything. The clothes either look different in person than they did when ordered, or the fit is off.

Apple – I just noticed that you live in Sacramento. I’ve heard that the city is beautiful. Do you walk just in your neighborhood or do you explore the city?

DJ – I added the 4 servings of fruit/vege goal after reading your challenges. I used to think I was getting lots of servings per day, but now realize that it really varies. While I eat a lot of them some days, other days I have to eat a salad before bed just to get in 4 servings. Are you finding the same thing?

Jolly – “She told me I need to stop giving myself permission to overeat. She's right.” Doesn’t that say it for all of us? I think I should have that stitched, framed and hung beside the kitchen door and at work. 2-3 challenges without “perfection”? How about spreading them over the three areas we all need to work on – food, exercise and water. Can you set 1 achievable goal in each category? And then factor in the non-perfection component by making them level 3.

Miss Fallon – welcome to the 21-day challenge. You have some tough challenges. Good luck as you start tomorrow.

day 14- Exercise 30 minutes a day - good - 2 pauses left
day 14 - no food within 2 hours of bedtime - good - 2 pauses left
day 15 - At least 4 servings of fruit/vegetable per day - good - level 1

Well, I'm getting there! I'm hoping to do good over the weekend. Monday will be my busiest day (besides Thanksgiving) and don't know how I'll be able to meet all my challenges! I'm not giving in yet, just starting to think of some plan that might work.

Apple - There are really only 2 ways I manage to get my exercise in, either I take my 2 1/2 year old for a walk down to the park or I exercise during his nap. If neither one happens, well, that's usually a pause day. If I exercise during his nap, I use video tapes. I actually like them. My favorite is stepping, but I also like regular aerobics and I do combo tapes that do both strength and aerobics at once. You just have to find some that you find enjoyable. Good luck!

Red - Yes, being in management can be very lonely. I've been there too. However, take some pride in the fact that you've worked your way into that kind of position! You really are doing good, even with all the stress you're under! That's great that you get to the gym and try to eat right. That in itself is quite an accomplishment!

Jolly - I agree with Ashley, try to spread things out and take small steps. Maybe you could try limiting, not eliminating, some of your worst food choices. You could try what Ashley and I are doing by upping your fruit and vegies. Whenever I get stuck on picking a challenge, I try to notice what my weakest areas are and try to improve them. You could also try reading past posts to see what others challenges were and incorporate them. Good luck with whatever you decide! You can do this!

Miss Fallon. Glad to have you here. Good luck with your challenges!

Ashley - Looks like you're doing good. Yes, I do have some days that I have to push vegies or fruit near the end of my day. However, I'm trying really hard to not get into that position.
On most days of the week, I eat cereal with fruit for breakfast. I always use 2 servings of fruit with a small amount of high protien cereal. THat way I'm half done first thing in the morning. If I don't have that particular breakfast, then I have a hard time.
Yesterday I had a different breakfast and did have to make up for it at dinner, but I knew I was having a dinner with lots of vegies in it so that was ok.

Have a great weekend all! I'll get on here as much as I can over the next week.

Calories 1500-1700 - day 6, with 1 pause
Candy <100 calories per day, day 7
Fruit/vegetables - 4 or more servings per day, day 7

Looks like a slow weekend on here. Hope everyone is doing well.

Day 7 exercise, day 4 no beer, day 6 cals. I went over 1500 cals yesterday, I thought I would balance it out with a low day today. If I can't do that, I'll take a pause.
DJ, ever since my stroller fell apart I haven't been walking/jogging at all. That's my preferred way to get it in too. (my new one is finally due to arrive tomorrow!) Plus I've had really busy days lately where I couldn't anyhow. Or I would have to choose the gym or the walk, no time for both.
I have a video I like but it's really hard to get motivated to do it. Once the kids are asleep I'm pretty much a vegetable. I guess I just have to want it more! My son doesn't nap either. Only in the stroller or in the car.
Ashley, I have lived in Sacramento for 6 years or so. Not a native. I wouldn't call it a beautiful city either, although it has some really nice neighborhoods. My town is actually 20 minutes from down town. I live in a historic neighborhood with beautiful old homes from the late 1800's. Yes, I walk around the neighborhood lots! The best thing about Sac is that its an hour and a half from San Fransisco, which IS the MOST beautiful city in America, except maybe Seattle. And an hour and a half in the other direction and you're in the mountains and Lake Tahoe just beyond. Also beautiful. So it's a nice location. A tad hot in the summer, a tad rainy in the winter.
Red, I hope your work situation improves. If you're unhappy at work it really effects the rest of your life. My husband went through a bad work situation and he was miserable to be around.
Anyway, looks like everyone is doing great, cruising right along. way to go!!!

Calories 1500-1700 - day 7, with 1 pause
Candy <100 calories per day, day 8
Fruit/vegetables - 4 or more servings per day, day 8

I had a great weekend! Belks had a big sale, so I bought some new clothes that actually fit. My old size 18s and some of the 16s had gotten to the point where they were really hanging on me. My dress pants were safety pinned all around the waist to keep them from falling off. So, I bought two pairs of dress pants, three light-weight sweaters, and new underwear. All in smaller sizes. I bought size 14 pants for the first time in at least 10 years. Then, I packaged up all the too-big clothes in my closet and took them to Goodwill. That will stop me from gaining back into them again. Next target is to no longer fit into any of the remaining size 16s.

Red and Apple - happy to see you're both on target over the weekend.

Big week coming up. I intend to take Thanksgiving as a pause day, but let that be the only day this week that is paused. I also intend to make it a moderate pause, meaning I will not take it as permission to binge all day. What will everyone else do to deal with all the food?

Red - do you celebrate Thanksgiving or something similar over in Tokyo?

I was just popping in to post a pic of the new kitten, BUT!!!!
Congrats Ashley!! Throwing out old clothes 'cause they are to big!!! Wow! And shopping for new smaller Sizes!!! Cool!! I can't wait to get rid of clothes that are to big. I'm proud of you!!!
Arggg I can't figure out how to make the file size smaller. I'll work on it later....

day 15 - Exercise 30 minutes a day - good - 2 pauses left
day 16 - exercise - pause - 1 pause left
day 15 & 16 - no food within 2 hours of bedtime - good - 2 pauses left
day 16 & 17 - At least 4 servings of fruit/vegetable per day - good - level 1

Well, so much for not taking a pause over the weekend. Luckily I still have 1 pause left on the exercise which I'll probably take on Thanksgiving (try not to, but...)

Ashley - Congrats on the smaller clothes! Feels so good doesn't it!?!?

Apple - I actually kind on envy you for living where you do. I'm not crazy about Sacramento, but I am from Californina and miss it something terrible! I used to live in the foothills a couple hours from Sacramento and still think of it as home.
Have fun with your new jogging stroller!

Red - I understand what you're saying about work. Frustrating! Hopefully, somehow, things will get better for you. Until then, hang in there. You're doing good keeping up with the challenge!

Have a good day all!