[frannymae]

Listen up, troops! There are saboteurs in our ranks! For the good of the unit we must find the guilty parties. And when we do the punishment must be swift and severe.

You may ask, "Who would do such a thing? Who would sabotage all my efforts to get healthy?" Good question. The quilty party is....

YOU!

Inside each of us is a potential saboteur, and we must learn to guard against this enemy at every possible turn. We must band together to thwart his moves! Here are some situations when the saboteur within may show himself and his devious ways:

He will put things in your grocery cart, supposedly "for the kids," while we all know that your kids don't need Twinkies any more than you do!

He says, "It's a special occasion"....even though Sunday dinner comes once a week for most of us!

He loves to point out that everyone else is eating a certain wayand that you should feel neglected and left out, with no regard whatsoever for YOUR needs!

He will tell you how upset your friend or family member will be if you don't eat the dish they prepared "just for you!"

He will whisper "Just a couple of bites won't hurt," even though you KNOW that you've heard that every day this week!

He will tell you that since you ate "a couple of bites," you might as well polish off the whole thing!

He will gladly encourage you to skip yet another workout...after all, what's one more day of inactivity?

You must know the enemy! He is wily and dangerous. He will strike when you are tired, when you are over hungry, when you are stressed. He knows your weaknesses and will exploit them! You must anticipate his moves and strategize to defeat his offenses!

Your mission is to watch out for the saboteur wherever he may lurk...and to destroy him! Tomorrow we will talk about some specific strategies to accomplish your mission!

Group Activity for the Week of 9/21-462 minutes! Good start...let's stick with it!

Ellis-2 minutes running! WTG! Personally I would rather walk 2 miles than run 2 minutes!

Sharon-did you get in your 45 minute cardio/15 min weights? I didn't include that in the total yet, so let me know.

Lizzie-CHEAT definately should be on the list of words to expunge from our vocabularies! What would we replace it with? Deviate from the plan? Lose an opportunity to make a good choice?

Thanks for all the kind words about the Challenge...I'm glad it is helping you to do what you need to do! I know it is helping me a lot...keeps me thinking, that's for sure! You guys are so wonderful and I feel lucky to have found this place and all of you! So Sarge will stick around as long as you guys don't boot me out of the unit! If you ever have an idea for a challenge, let me know...I feel like I am repeating myself ALREADY!

I gotta run and get to bed. My workout yesterday plum tuckered me out...I'm just now getting sore! :

[Deets]

I did, Sarge Franny!
I got in my 45 minutes of brisk walking, and 15 of weights!

Today I'm going to the gym to work in a Basis Conditioning class for an hour. That is an which includes 30 of cardio, and 20 of weights + cooldown. Haven't done it since I injured my knee in July....so I'm looking forward to it!

I say, Amen to the topic of the day!!!!! I have always been my own worst enemy! I'm getting better about sabotaging myself. However, I am having to lay off the nuts because I have noticed (even though I stay OP) my "bad" little self saying , "Oh, go on , honey! You don't have to count today...you're doing so well !" "A few more won't hurt!" My way of dealing....Abstinence!!

Have a great day, and get tough with those "bad" little inner voices! They're out to get us all!!

Talk later!
~Sharon

[ellis]

Boot you out!?!? Are you CRAZY, Franny! We NEED you to keep us going!
I hope you're having a nice sleep, and that your muscles are healing.

Sharon, I never count my nuts. I figure I'm just glad to be eating pistachios instead of chips or bridge mixture. Congratulations on the exercise!

I'm having such a great day. Oh, and Franny, I even creamed my face last night! After using my home made bean facial scrub. My face is as soft as ...as a 38 year-old woman's face. If I keep up this routine, I may knock a few years off.

ps Did you get my 1 1/2 hours of yoga last night, Franny?

[Snoozin]

Frannymae--- Even though I haven't joined the boot camp troops (yet), I'm sticking my 2 cents in... Being prepared with healthy foods at hand help a lot in those weak moments. Another strategy, is don't ever go to the grocery store hungry! That is the most vulnerable time to see sooooooooo many choices. And if you made a real committment to this WOL, overcoming temptations can be easier.

Sharon--count those nuts, really. I know it a PITA, but whenever I eyeball a serving it is always bigger than if I had, measured, weighed or counted!

[Nikkiloo]

Okay, I think everyone agrees nuts are the devils food ... you just can't stay in control with the stupid nuts ... (and Ellis, bridgemix could count as nuts ... if I don't stop thinking about bridgemix I'm going to end up buying a box ... and now that you mention it I will go wash and put something on my face before bed!!!)

Franny you are our inspiration ... we should each try to suggest a new challenge so you don't burn out ... I know you've been putting a lot of effort into this ... Ladies ????

Great job on the exercise everyone ... also, does anyone have a suggestion on a BEGINNERS yoga video ???

Exercise time for today ... 45 minutes on the treadmill, 15 minutes abs before work, 45 minutes cardio and 20 minutes weights after work.

[lmaxin]

35 minute brisk walk for me today... no time for much else!

GREAT job everyone!

[twodogmom]

Ah franny, truer words were never spoken (errr...typed!)!! We can most definitely be our own worst enemy! I'm slowly learning to deal with my saboteur when he pokes his ugly face into my thoughts, but it's a struggle all the way (although, the struggle is getting a little easier as time goes on). I find that I've been asking myself WHY do I think that I want (or think that I "need") that food or portion size or whatever. And you know what? Myself is not able to come up with a good answer! And that is helping me to ignore that nasty little saboteur who, for whatever reason, wants me to not succeed.

Franny, You asked the other day what kind of charm bracelet I have, and I didn't answer you. Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore your question. I have one of the Italian link charm bracelets, and I love it. I wear it every day as a reminder of my journey to good health.

Sharon, you're doing great with your exercise!!! Hooray for you!!!

Ellis, tell us more about your homemade bean facial scrub. Sounds interesting (and healthy).

Snoozin, wise words. Jump in and join the Boot Camp, the captain isn't toooo mean!

Nikki, you continue to amaze me with your dedication to exercise!! You truly are an inspiration.

And I have to agree with all of you.....nuts are evil!!!

My exercise for the day today.....I walked for 35 minutes at work today on my breaks. I wore my pedometer again today (I'm going to start doing that every day), and with work, plus my walks at work, plus running out to Target after work, I managed 10,300 steps today!!!

[twodogmom]

Hi lmaxin, I guess we were posting at about the same time!

[Lizziepie]

Late again for Pvt. Lizzie: And I was lazy today and didn't do any exercise. Had my first board meeting for out social club this a.m. The after lunch had to go to the Dentist. The DH took me to the movies and dinner for my birthday. I stayed well on my strategy, and had just the few not on plan things. But then they came and sang Happy Birthday in Italian, and brought a Hot Fudge Sundae. This time I ate more than three bites, but I did share with my DH so I wasn't too much of an oinker. But I just think one has to have a little celebration, (this was not my saboteur) and I was very deliberate about the whole meal except that unexpected treat. Tomorrow back to the full exercise routine. And OP all the way.

We don't cheat, we just make either good choices, or poor choices. See you tomorrow.
Sgt. Frannie- We'll never boot you out. Lizzie

[Deets]

Hi, Franny!

Checking in late to tell you that I did complete the hour of

Basic Conditioning class...and it was a great workout!

Talk tomorrow!
~Sharon