CRUNCH challenge -- Day 7 completed, no pauses left
NO SUGAR challenge -- Day 5 completed, 3 pauses left
NO ALCOHOL challenge -- Day 4 completed, 2 pauses left

Hi all. Well, my victory with alcohol did not last. It seems I can do better when it's more of a challenge... I'm feeling very disgusted with myself. The hours out with coworkers are just too much of a waste of time, both that night and the following day. Today I couldn't get out to see my horse and that makes me so angry. Sigh. I did stay off the sugar though. I forgot to do the crunches again though. I am NOT starting over. I am resolved to do them every day for the next two weeks. There is NO reason I cannot!

Well, I'm pretty bummed out. Things are ridiculous at work and I am going to have to put my head down and trudge on. I really need a vacation.

Best of luck to all here. Don't overthink things, jolly. I hear you saying again, this is not right, this is not good, this is not enough, what better can I be? It's fine to work toward personal development but it sounds to me like you really need to look on yourself with loving eyes and say, things are fine for NOW as well! I know I say above that I'm disgusted with myself, but it's not a debilitating disgust. It's more of a prod to say, come on, you can do better. Please be gentler with yourself. dj, you're almost there! Apple, every day without the booze is HUGE! Best of luck. Everyone, cheers!

The bud
stands for all things,
even for those things that don't flower,
for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
though sometimes it is necessary
to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on its brow
of the flower
and retell it in words and in touch
it is lovely
until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing;

(By Galway Kinnell, from
"Saint Francis and the Sow")

Hey all. Red, I didn't mean to sound down on myself. I have just been dealing with selling the horse, planning to get financially sound, and exploring continuing education options. I want to go back to school. Unfortunately (at least for the financially sound part) what has been calling me the most is LAW SCHOOL So, as I sift through desires, needs, emotions - I just need to cut some slack right now until I get a direction again. So, I will keep posting, as you all help so much, but not put pressure on for the diet and exercise challenges right this second. Then I don't feel so guilty if I can't get to the gym in the morning because I was tossing and turning all night

Have a great evening (or whatever time of day) all Keep up the good fight.

Good morning all. I just had to come on this morning real quick, and report a NSV. It was my morning to jog. Despite all the other craziness, I still want to train for the 1/2 marathon. So, I need to jog. I didn't want to. I really didn't want to. So, I used Red's mantra - do it despite having no motivation. I decided that even if I had to walk every other block, I was going to go out and do the two miles I was supposed to. As I got out there, I kept trying to go a little further, and a little further again, but kept telling myself I could walk every other block if needed - the result I jogged the whole two miles without stopping, and even had a tiny extra push for the last hill. Hurray!

Have a great day all.

Augigi: Thanks for the advice. From the little on-line reseach I've been doing, it does seem that all 3 go together. Not sure about metabolic syndrome, that seems a bit extreme. The Dr. appt is tomorrow, so we'l see what happens!
Red, don't worry too much about the alcohol slip up, you still have 2 pauses left. And you've done it before! You can do it again!! It's those crunches....post sticky notes around your place so you don't forget!!!
Jolly, it sounds like your head must be swimming with the many big desicions you are about to make. I'm glad you are still motivated to run the 1/2 marathon. I find the time spent running is a great time to think things through. Kind of a meditation. Unless you crank up some music and meditate that way! Either way, it's great stress relief. Good job getting out there when you really didn't want to!
Day 3 done for me!

CRUNCH challenge -- Day 9 completed, no pauses left
NO SUGAR challenge -- Day 6 completed, 2 pauses left
NO ALCOHOL challenge -- Day 6 completed, 2 pauses left

Hello all. I made some progress on my challenges. I managed to bypass the alcohol. One was me being turned down, the other was my turning down someone else and the third was my not taking part in the ongoing drinking at another place....alcohol seems to flow pretty freely in my environs!
But, I was happy not to have drunk anything and I DID remember to do my crunches, even though I was traveling. Hurrah! The sugar I managed to maintain yesterday and today I decided to take a pause.

**************

Apple -- Thanks for your kind words. Have I done no alcohol with more than 2 weeks and only 2 pauses to go? Hmm...I don't remember. BUT!!!! It doesn't matter. I CAN do it if I just decide to. I can, I can, I can, I can.... You're right about the crunches. I really do have to remind myself to do them these days. Congrats on Day 3!!!

jolly -- That was some save!!!! Great going!! You did it and you don't need motivation! I do the exact same thing a lot of times....just say to myself I have to get to the gym, I can turn around...I can go to the stable...I don't have to ride...I can jog only 1 km....end up jogging 3. It's a great little boost when you do more than you set out to, but it's also not a bummer when you do only what you allowed yourself to do. In fact, I think it's enough of an accomplishment that you end up feeling so good about yourself you do more. Good for you!

dj -- How are you doing? Did you finish your challenge yet?! I hope so!

******

"Define the moment, or let the moment define you. "

Thanks guys. Yeah Apple, actually, I have found running to be the time for quiet thinking and meditating. Music seems to interfere for some reason. Good luck at your appointment.

Good job Red. I had another NSV this morning. I have not been sleeping well lately - acid reflux problems. And last night I had to stay up to watch the finale of Dancing with the Stars. So when the alarm went off this morning, I was all set to not work out. But, I decided to go anyway. Granted, it wasn't a super heavy workout, but I did do 20 of cardio, and 1 set of weights. It's something.

Have a great day all!

Day 19 & 20 & 21 - Exercise, 30 minutes per day - DONE (had to use my favorite vegie!)

My challenge actually just finished today because I had a pause on Sunday.

Starting tomorrow I am on all new challenges. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly I'm going to do, but I do have a few ideas I'm kicking around.

Have a great day everyone!

Way to go, DJ, way to go! Awesome job.

I am on day 19 of my posting challenge.

I finally came to a decision today. I have been feeling out of control. Like I am great at coming up with big ideas and dreams, and crappy at following through and finishing them. So I decided to use some financial advise - make minimum payments on all but one bill, and through everything you got at that bill until it is done. I am going to through all my energy at a couple things, and maintain in other areas until that is accomplished. Sounds weird, I know, but makes sense to me.

Have a good one all

Ok, I have come up with a few new challenges to try. I'm going to try to tackle one of my food issues which is eating too fast/therefore too much. Guess I learned to eat fast after having kids. Seems I was always trying to hurry for one reason or another which leads to overeating. This means that my brain does not have time to realize that my stomach is full. I am also working on getting more healthy stuff in.

So here goes....
Put fork/spoon down between each bite - level 3 (this one might cause a few re-starts!)
Half of my dinner plate is filled with vegies which I will eat first - level 3 (this is dinner only)
Exercise 30 minutes everyday - level 3

Ok, hopefully this will help slow me down and help to fill me up with more vegies at dinner.

Thanks Red & Jolly!!

Red - Hope you have a better day! Good job on those challenges!

Jolly - Yep, you're making sense. Sometimes we try to do so many things at once, that nothing is done well. Choosing one or two things to work on sounds like a plan to me! Good luck!

Hey all. Good luck on your new challenges DJ. Hope things get better Red. I was with you today on the vile mood/work connection. Luckily the passive/aggressive pout style of management worked, and things turned around.

Day 20, daily posting. Complete. I didn't get any exercise in. I didn't this morning due to the acid reflux and lack of sleep. Didn't do the yoga I was going to do tonight due to trying (note "trying") to put a new grill together. Just didn't work so well. try again tomorrow.

Take care all

CRUNCH challenge -- Day 11 completed, no pauses left
NO SUGAR challenge -- Day 8 completed, 2 pauses left
NO ALCOHOL challenge -- Day 7 completed, 1 pause left


**************

dj -- Good luck on those new challenges!

jolly -- It's good seeing you in here so regularly! Keep it coming!!

Others, where are you?!?!?!

Hello. Daily posting, day 21. Challenge complete. Will figure out where to go from here tomorrow.

Saw the new Pirates movie tonight. Hmmmm.

Later 'gators.

Good morning everyone.

Starting two new challenges. Well, "new" is relative

1) Daily posting. Gee, where have I heard that one before I just want to keep doing it, because I know it works. If nothing else, it keeps my health/fitness goals in the back of my mind, because I am coming here!

2) Follow my workout plan. I can even shuffle things as long as I get the right number of each workout in per week.

That's the plan for now. Off to start the day.

I forgot, I had lunch with a lawyer from work yesterday. I am putting the grad school stuff on hold until I get Chance sold - that has to be the prime directive. However, it definitley gave me some good information, a little pat on the back, and a lot to think about.

Have a great day all