DECEMBER CHALLENGE...the holidays are here! This is when we start to really get busy and sometimes lose our focus. How about a challenge as a last ditch effort to help keep us on the straight and narrow for the next month? It's somewhere to check in...some friendly competition. Come join us for our monthly challenge!!

Since this is a monthly challenge, it will start on the 1st and the day of the month is the day of the challenge. You need to post your points on a daily basis (or whenever you can). Simply reply to this post and then edit that post as you add points (no columns please). That way you always know where you are and so do I! I will calculate and post the totals, on a weekly basis.

For those of you who have NO IDEA what I am talking about - here are the details. Sometimes we work our hardest when we are held accountable. So I challenge you to do your very best for the month and we'll see who wins!!

Here is how it's going to go. Starting Today, December 1, 2007. We will try to do the 3 things that work. Food, water & exercise. You decide what your food plan is, how much water you want to drink and how much exercise you want to get every day. Every day you have the opportunity to earn 4 points.

2 point for sticking with your food plan (no splitting points here, you either stuck to your plan or you didn't)
1 point for drinking the amount of water you decided on
1 point for getting some exercise. (If you don't exercise on a given day - you DO NOT get a point for exercise - even if you planned it that way)

Post here with how many points you've earned for a given day, and I will keep track. We'll see who's did the best for the month.

This is a very cool way to keep on track, because even if you don't do so great on food, you might still get in your water and exercise to earn the points!

Who's ready for a challenge???? It starts TODAY!!!!

I am going to join this month!

Food: Nutrisystem, or calorie balanced meal if unable to eat NS food
Water: 64 oz
Exercise: 30 minutes a day, either walking or DVD

---------------
12/1: 4 points!!
12/2: 1 point (at least I got in my water LOL!)
12/3: 4 points -
12/4: 4 points
12/5: 4 points
12/6: 2 points (ate a few m&ms)
12/7: 4 points
12/8: 2 points
12/9: 2 points
12/10: 4 points
12/11: 2 points (just the food)
12/12: 1 point (exercise only - how's that for weird LOL! )
12/13: 4 points!
12/14: 3 points (not enough water)
12/15: 4 points
12/16: 2 points - had a donut
12/17: 3 points
12/18: 4 points
12/19: 4 points
12/20: 1 point - exercise only
12/21: 1 point - exercise only
12/22: 4 points
12/23: 2 points
12/24: 1 point (this was the family eating day!)
12/25: 4 points - felt so good to get back on track!
12/26: 3 points
12/27: 3 points
12/28: 4 points
12/29: 2 points
12/30: 4 points
12/31: 2 points

Total for month: 89 72% on track for the month.

I'm all about this! The accountability keeps me in check.

Food: Stay within my WW points.
Water: 48 oz daily.
Exercise: (Once my foot is healed) 2 ten min. walks on workdays. At least 30 min. treadmilling on work days (except WW meeting nights). Weekends/Days off = Yoga DVD.

Max Possible: 124

Bring it! >_<


12/1 - 3 (Foot Injury)
12/2 - 3 (Foot Injury)
12/3 - 4 (I'm taking the exercise slow due to the foot, but I did move today!)
12/4 - 4 (Ditto from yesterday!)

I really need this for December to help keep on plan with all of the parties... so count me in.

Exercise:
~Cardio - 3x/wk 40 mins ea (C25k)
~Core Training - 1x/wk
~Strength Training - 1x/wk
~Lateral Motion Training - 1x/wk
Food : 1700 calories or less a day
Water : 64 ounces or more a day
Goal for Nov: 99 points (80% on plan)

12.01 - 1 (water only - 1st holiday party)
12.02 - 3 (food and water)
12.03 - 4
12.04 - 4
12.05 - 1 (water only - 2nd holiday party)
12.06 - 4
12.07 - 2 (water and exercise)
12.08 - 2 (food only)
12.09 - 1 (water only, 81 cals over)
12.10 - 1 (water only - 3rd holiday party)
12.11 - 3 (food and water)
12.12 - 3 (food and water)
12.13 - 3 (food and water)
12.14 - 1 (water only)
12.15 - 0 (4th holiday party)
12.16 - 2 (food only)
12.17 - 3 (food and water)
12.18 - 3 (food and water)
12.19 - 1 (water only - 5th holiday party)
12.20 - 2 (water and exercise)
12.21 - 1 (water only - birthday celebration)
12.22 - 1 (water only)
12.23 - 1 (water only)
12.24 - 1 (water only)
12.25 - 0 (for obvious reasons)
12.26 - 3 (food and water)
12.27 - 4
12.28 - 4
12.29 - 4
12.30 - 1 (water only, yet another holiday celebration - ugh!)
12.31 - 4

Total points thru 12.31 = 68 (55% on plan)

Yay! I was hoping we would be doing this again. I found it really motivating last month--thanks sandy!!!

Food: Mine will be a tad different this month. This month I will be calorie counting. daily 1500-1800 max
Water: again, 8 glasses
Exercise: again, 30 mins a day minimum

12/1-2 (stooopid saturday)
12/2-4
12/3-4
12/4-4
12/5-1 (eating out is a BIG problem still)
12/6-4
12/7-4
12/8-4
12/9-4 (yay, I succeeded with one weekend!)
12/10-4
12/11-4
12/12-1 (boooo)
12/13-4
12/14-4
12/15-4
12/16-4
12/17-2
12/18-2
12/19-4 (whew!)
12/20-2 (will this month ever end?!)
11/21-4 (whew!)
12/22-4
12/23-4
12/24-2 (I'm not over yet but after tonight's christmas eve get-together I have no doubt I will be and then some! ah well...)
12/25-1 (I think this may be the last of the terrible days, thank god!)
12/26-3 (no exercise, unfortunately)
12/27-2 (SIGH! yet another dinner out...)
12/28-4 (whew!)
12/29-4
12/30-2 (my new year's celebration, oh well..)
12/31-4 (at least I'm ringing in the new year in the right spirit)

I'm going to join! This is exactly what I need.

Food - Stay between 1700 and 2000 calories
Water - Drink some. I'm shooting for 1 liter per day, but really I'll be happy if I can just drink something besides Diet Coke.
Exercise - Go for my run. I had so much trouble with this last month. It has to be the full three miles minimum, or it doesn't count.

12/01 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/02 - 4 pts (5 miles)
12/03 - 4 pts (4 miles, just barely made it on the calories)
12/04 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/05 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/06 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/07 - 3 pts (rest day)
12/08 - 4 pts (3 miles - my legs were killing me)
12/09 - 3 pts (no exercise - had to do homework all day)
12/10 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/11 - 3 pts (I got up early, I went out, and I only managed 2 miles )
12/12 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/13 - 3 pts (snowed all morning, no running)
12/14 - 3 pts (rest day)
12/15 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/16 - 3 pts (again, had to study all day)
12/17 - 4 pts (4 miles)
12/18 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/19 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/20 - 4 pts (3 miles)
12/21 - 3 pts (rest day)
12/22 - 4 pts (3 miles, just barely scraped by on calories)
12/23 - 3 pts (no running 'cause of rain )
12/24 - 3 pts (no running yet again, but by some miracle I am still within calorie limits)
12/25 - 0 pts (planned for a day off)
12/26 - 2 pts (ran three miles and got my water in, but I gave blood and I was starving afterwards)
12/27 - 3 pts (only managed 1 mile because of the donation - hopefully some iron will help)
12/28 - 3 pts (only 1 mile again, getting TOM on top of everything is unfair! More iron!)
12/29 - 3 pts (ran a little better, but nowhere near 3 miles)
12/30 - 3 pts (argh! I wanna be back on track!)
12/31 - 1 pt (I got my water in! And I did go running, just not far enough.)

I'm in!

2 points for staying with my calorie range - avg of 1600 with 1 day at up to 2000.
1 point for minimum 64 oz. H2O
1 point for sticking to my exercise plan for each day.

12.01S-4
12.02Su-4
12.03M-4
12.04T-4
12.05W-4
12.06Th-4
12.07F-3-not enough exercise...
12.08S-3-no exercise
12.09Su-1-only water
12.10M-4
12.11T-4
12.12W-4
12.13Th-4
12.14F-3-no exercise
12.15S-4
12.16Su-4
12.17M-3-no exercise
12.18T-4
12.19W-4
12.20Th-4
12.21F-2-too many calories
12.22S-2-"
12.23Su-1-only water
12.24M-2-too many calories
12.25T-1-only water...ick 5 days with too many calories. Amazing I'd lost any weight when I weighed in yesterday. This has got to stop.
12.26W-4
12.27Th-4
12.28F-3-dang it, didn't get my exercise in
12.29S-4
12.30Su-4
12.31M-4
TOTAL=104 out of possible 124

Food: Stick to my plan, esp. NO SUGAR
Water: 4 bottles daily
Exercise: Stick to my JM workouts and personal cardio challenge

12-1: 4
12-2: 4
12-3: 4
12-4: 4
12-5: 3(getting sick, no exercise
12-6: 3
12-7: 4
12-8: 4
12-9: 2(small binge )
12-10: 4
12-11: 4
12-12: 2
12-13: 3
12-14: 4
12-15: 4
12-16: 4
12-17: 1
12-18: 1
12-19: 0
12-20: 1
12-21: 3
12-22: 1
12-23: 2
12-24: 3
12-25: 2
12-26: 1
12-27: 2
12-28: 2
12-29: 2
12-30: 2
12-31: 2

TOTAL: 82
% Month On Plan: 66%

I'm in!
Food: Stay within WW pts
Exercise: 4x wk
Water: 72 oz a day

Dec 1--4 pts
Dec 2--4 pts
Dec 3--3 pts
Dec 4--4 pts
Dec 5--2 pts
Dec 6--4 pts
Dec 7--3 pts
Dec 8--2 pts

Counting Calories 1500...2 points
Drinking Water 64 oz......1 point
Exercise Daily 30 min......1 point

Dec.1... 4 points
Dec.2... 4 points
Dec.3... 4 points
Dec.4... 4 points
Dec.5...
Dec.6...

Update...as of today, this is what we have...

Rosemund ~ 58
MomTo2SweetPeas ~ 54
Purplefirefly ~ 49
kasmin ~ 48
fiberlover ~ 45
gina1221 ~ 33
likenoother ~ 26
Dumplin ~ 16
Faerie ~ 14
NickiB68 ~ 8

Who will win the hardest month of the year??

LOL! I'm feeling the same way about now!

How funny! I look at your entries each time and think "Man, how is she doing it?! She's sticking so well to her plan." It just goes to show you Anyways keep rocking Momto!!! We can do this together!

Yeah, the exercise and "calories" are ok, it's the "nutrition" that is lacking many days. Good thing my food goal wasn't to get 5 F&V each day this month or I'd be failing! But since it's just a calorie number, I'm usually ok. Not today though. I think in January, I'm going to put more of an emphasis on veggies and have that be in my food goal each day. Right now the days are all a blur because I'm so busy. And nothing is wrapped yet! It will be so nice when the holidays are over...