Okay, first some unfinished business from day 8:
Private Gofishin'- You can have a 2 day furlough from boot camp, but I expect to see you back here on Saturday ready to hit the beach!
You'll get back on track...just steer in the right direction!
Lizziepie- I think you DID overcome the apple pie obstacle! You could have eaten an entire slice, or even the entire pie! But instead you implemented the "3 bite rule." You are hereby awarded the "Three Bite Rule Badge of Honor" for NOT going hogwild!
Today we will continue the Obstacle Course we started yesterday. Some of us (not naming names, Ellis!
) didn't see the assignment early enough to implement it! So, in that vein, I want to talk a bit about willpower.
I know, for some of us it is a dirty word.
Do you ever wonder why some people can drive right past the Krispy Kreme without a sideways glance, while you salivate all over your steering wheel? I know I have.
Willpower obviously isn't something we are born with. Witness a baby or small child: they want it, they want it now, and they will not be denied! Or there will be heck to pay!
So, just how does someone acquire willpower? Beats me. But Prevention mag had some tips that I would like to pass along:
1. Do the hard stuff first: tackle projects or obstacles (exercise, grocery shopping) when you are well rested.
2. Rebuild with rewards: Do something nice for yourself (and I don't think they mean a hot fudge sundae!
) AFTER a stressful event.
3. Expose yourself: Instead of completely avoiding temptation, take a look, but then walk away. Kind of like innoculating yourself against tempation! You'll get better at is as you get practice.
4. Check out: naps, meditation, walks...anything to destress keeps your self control working hard. Schedule some "ME" time into every day.
5. Keep a journal: write down all your successes such as avoiding a food temptation or taking your "ME" time...then when your willpower is waning, read the journal and "relive" your sucess!
This plan obviously provides a lot of flexibility and forgiveness. But we all know that we can't deviate too far from the plan or stay off plan too long without negative consequences.
I would like to hear your ideas about willpower: what you do to increase it, when it is at it's lowest, what circumstances test it, etc.
Day 8 goals:
Trinity: check
Reflection on obstacles: check (I gave it a lot of thought but no answers!
)
Chocolate ricotta: Oops, forgot all about it.
Day 9 goals:
The trinity, of course. Although I already strayed and had a cappuchino. My obstacle was a looooong boring night at work and heavy lidded eyes. Caffeine seemed like the lesser of two evils.
LIFT weights today...I have skipped two days, and my muscles are growing weaker by the minute....poor babies need some attention.
That's all I can manage at this late/early hour!
Hope you all have a great day! And give that willpower a workout...it will only get stronger the more you use it!
I completely forgot to post my exercise! I got in 40 minutes on the treadmill, but no weights! 
)
Boot Camp Challenge-Day 9
and plan to continue!
. I bought a very nice , chunky stemmed glass (so that it won't leave water rings everywhere) and today will be my first day to use it. I have my water bottles lined up on the kitchen counter and they will be empty by the end of the day. 
Glad to see you have included "the trinity" (food, water, exercise) in your goals. That is a great place to start!
There is no law that says you have to live with every temptation known to man staring you in the face. If the granola bars are a problem, then by all means hide them for now. Most of the "junk" around here doesn't pose a problem for me, including the box of Godiva chocolates in the freezer (you notice I know their EXACT location!) But there are some things that I KNOW will be a problem for me in a weak, or tired, or cranky moment when my "won't power" has failed me. So those couple of items are out of sight, and hopefully out of mind. I don't think that means there is something wrong with me (I may be wrong! 
