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! )

WILLPOWER!

I give my POWER over to WILL!

It is mind over matter. Whose WILL is stronger?
Sometimes the POWER has it over my WILL, but if I wait ten minutes I get WILL back.

Question yourself about what you are doing.
Go call a friend.
Come post here.
PM franny.
Journal.

JUST be aware that WILL and you are BEST friends and the POWER will soon be yours.

Lady

I resisted temptation yesterday and did drink lots of water. However, I was feeling crappy and did not walk my poor body or my poor Girls!

Today I will be OP with water and walk at least 9,000 steps with or without the Girls. I go to Ottawa tomorrow morning to have lunch with Ellis and Mauvais and need to be in shape to keep up with those two young chicks.

Willpower? I need some won't power!

won't power hehehe good one Ruth

I am on track with all goals and plan to continue!

Thanks Franny for keeping us going!

Didn't quite make it with the food yesterday ... ate 5 (count 'em, 5) flourless peanut butter cookies (not at one sitting) ... then a handful of cashews ... I would have been better off just chugging a container of salt!!!

Did get in all my exercise and water ... 2 out of 3 ain't bad ... but now I will feel like a cow and do not want to shop or try on clothes (BF and DS gave me $$$ for my last vacation day to spend at the mall).

Today I will conquer the trinity ... for my amazing willpower feat I will not stop at the cookie shack (or Lindt or Godiva or the Cheesecake factory which makes my very favorite in the world carrot cake cheese cake) while at the mall this afternoon. Actually I might buy one of those "add - a- bead bracelets" to remind me to stick to my goals.

Good luck today everyone!!!

I feel like joining in the challenge - had my two days of "fun" - although i really didn't enjoy eating all the crap that i did eat - it was like, well, i've already given myself permission to eat carbs/sugar, so i might as well go nuts!!

back on track today - had my cheese stick and omelet. I was planning on getting off Phase I tomorrow, but I think I will do it an additional week or so to get back to where i was

my goals for today:

1. drink lots of water - have not been doing well lately - when i do not work, i tend to not drink water, so i will really focus on that today

2. stay OP with my eating

3. exercise!!

I, too, am off to the mall. My fiance and I have been trying to curb our spending lately to save for a house, but I am having one last splurge at the hair salon

Well, I "feel" have the willpower but we will see how this day goes. I do have the ME time down pat, so I must concentrate on the trinity.
Franny, thanks for the water glass idea . 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.

Thanks for all the humor and encouragement, ladies

Thanks for the challenge. I have managed to stay OP for the first three days and am now facing day 4. I started off by getting my brisk 20 minute walk in. Check off exercise. I have no trouble drinking enough water; I love ice water. Check that one off. My challenge today will be going to the grocery store and NOT picking up my bad habits (Salty, crunchy snacks, cookies, bagels). The very smell of the bakery makes me salivate. I will be strong. I can't believe how quickly we went through all the program foods I had stocked the house with, but with both DH and I on the program, it disappears. I am determined NOT to stumble this time. I will buy only "legal" foods.
koalabear

Sergeant Frannie: Thank you for the award. I will try today to live up to it.
I've always sort of thought of will power as mind exercise. Mind over temptation. Like Ruthie said, make it 'won't power.' Sometimes for me, it is looking at the food, and then thinking, 'is this small pleasure worth what it might cause in the long run. More times than not, I come to the conclusion that it is not. But every once in a while, I decide I am just going to live with the consequences, and not beat myself up over it.

Goals for today.-
The trinity. of course. And give more thought to what I will do over vacation. That will be a real test of my will power, or won't power as the case may be. Will complete my exercise for the day. Will be going to Curves this p.m. and line dancing class tonight.

Won't be able to check in Sat. until late, as I have an all day meeting starting at 8:00a.m. so will keep the same goals for tomorrow.

Then I will be on furlough until the following Monday, the 14th. I'll just have to let all your encouraagement keep me going for the week. Lizzie

Good morning, girls! I am feeling so good about myself today! (so far)
Franny, I decided NOT to get my daughter to hide the granola bars. If I can't restrain myself, then there's something wrong with me. I guess that would go into the "expose myself" category. (which sounds like something else)

I had a hardboiled egg this morning with a coffee, then went for a really good walk. I'm already past my 10 000 step goal for the day.
I bought some low fat turkey and some pistachios, and I'm set for my challenge.

Tomorrow I will be pigging out with Ruth and Mauvais, but I'll try not to overdo it.

Strange... I lost a pound yesterday. Something in those granola bars... I expect it'll show on the scale tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day, girls! Do well!!

Ok...ok....
My goal for next week is to join this challenge....
This is what I need to kick my butt into gear..

Ellis....good for you...I'm glad you are having a great day!!

Franny...I'll see you on Monday!!!

To everyone else...have a great weekend!!

Di

Morning (or evening, to all you regular folks!) Just wanted to check in before I hit the bricks with my workout.

Marcie, I like your "Willpower Plan!"

Ruthie, have a great day tomorrow-just tuck your "won't power" into your handback and take it with!

Sflake-you da girl! WTG with those goals...keep up the good work!

Private Nikkiloo- Step back from the food court! Stay away from those cookies! You will make it over this obstacle, private! Keep your eye on the prize and give it all you've got!

Lucky, welcome to boot camp, recruit! Glad to see you have included "the trinity" (food, water, exercise) in your goals. That is a great place to start!

2BEFIT1-glad you liked the water glass idea. It does help me remember to drink my water.

koalabear-hope your shopping trip was good-just never go hungry, take a comprehensive list, and don't hang out in the bakery! Keep up the good work!

Lizziepie-you are so right...mind over temptation...or is it mind over mouth? It is definatately a mental thing. Have a good meeting tomorrow, and check back in before you head off on vacation for a dose of willpower!

Ellis-WTG with the steps...that equals 4 or 5 miles already! You shame me, woman! 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! ) but that I know my enemy!

Private Didi-welcome to boot camp! You picked a great time to join us! I think next week we will do a week long challenge about "Thin Thinking" How does that sound, ladies?

Gotta get my workout in before I wimp out.

Have a GREAT weekend all you beautiful chicks.