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"Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Time to crack down!

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#361

redballoon , 08-27-2009 07:36 PM

better call a pause...
Well, I just can't call 7:30 a "around 6 p.m." I think I have to try to eat earlier in the day. There is a huge gap between breakfast and lunch and then by the time I want dinner it's past 6 p.m., but I'm still going to bed at 9, so there's just not enough time in between to be burning off food sitting in my stomach. Problem is that I'm out and about, on the trains and walking at 11 a.m., when I actually should be eating lunch, so it's hard. Then at 5 p.m. I'm usually in the gym. I have to try to remake my schedule.
So, that's a pause on the no evening eating challenge again. Hmm, wonder if I should restart this one...

I am going to declare a Green Jeans Challenge. It's really a goal, not a 21-day challenge. The goal is to:

GOAL -- Fit into my stretchy green jeans with NO fat hanging over the top and to be able to move around with ease, meaning I could actually be squeezing into the size below them although that size would not be comfortable.

CURRENT -- I can just get them buttoned on an empty stomach (did that this morning!) but I can only do that (this is gross) if I pull all the skin and fat above the top. They are in danger of breaking (the top button and the zipper). Did I gross you all out?

As for the other challenges, the drinking era seems long ago, but it's only a bit over a month. The cigarettes are tempting but I know I would feel sick for the first couple and then get into it. So, I think, why subject myself to that initial sick feeling? So far, good sense has won out.

No eating after (around) 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
Day 8 completed, 2 pauses taken
No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
Day 18 completed 0 pauses taken
No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
Day 17 completed 0 pauses taken
Caffeine Cut (Round 4, 2 pauses on round 3) --
Day 4 completed 0 pauses taken

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

Shad -- Wow, Shad, how did you pull off those challenges so quickly. Good for you! And three cheers!! I think this round has brought some weight loss too, hasn't it? Great!!

diyana -- You didn't weigh in last week, did you? I (as you can guess) would find it very hard to not be devastated by a gain over a period of two weeks. Then again, are you trying to change your eating habits as well? You are, aren't you? You've stayed within your points, right? Well, don't mean to make you feel like I would, heaven forbid, but is it not possible to lose fat without exercising? Maybe not, huh? Maybe the idea is to maintain weight and then dig into the stores of fat with exercise so as to not lose muscle.
I think I have long been used to losing even when I didn't exercise because I had so much muscle. But recently, I haven't been maintaining the muscle so my fat-burning capabilities were compromised. Sigh. Let's see how it goes. I am hoping I can be more patient with things AS LONG as I know I haven't been pigging out. The lack of beer binges just HAS to be helping, don't you think?

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#362

Shad , 08-27-2009 09:50 PM

All challenges complete. I'll have a break until Monday and look at new challenges then start again.

Yes I have lost weight on this one. From 83.2 to 81.7 this morning. So that is 1.5kg in 3 weeks more or less. I'll take it - it's about 3lbs I guess.

Red - like you I need to eat earlier in the evening since I am definitely a day fowl and not a night owl. I usually eat at 7.00am then 12.00 have either soup or a lightweight sandwich or a small salad with some protein of some sorts. I try not to snack between then and dinner at 6ish. Beds about 9.30 or 10. Cutting out the carbs in the evening seems to help as well. Goals are good. I've got some clothes that nearly cut me in half to just get into them. My goal will be to get back to them again.

Michelle - it's not a huge gain but I know it is annoying. Just keep going. We will get there.

Seem to have mislaid all the other posts. Sara, Naughty Monkey, how you going with your challenges.

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#363

redballoon , 08-27-2009 10:09 PM

reflections and such...
Shad, if you are losing ONLY fat, which I think you are since you're exercising, then 1.5 kg in three weeks is a LOT and it surely must be showing. GOOD to hear. If you can do it, then I guess I can (and have). This constant attention to weight and food and exercise is extremely tedious, BUT I am feeling...at long last....GOOD about things. I think I can learn to be patient AS LONG as I am being consistent. SO, that is what I need to focus on and if I'm going to whine I need to whine about my inconsistencies.
Do I hear a collective sigh of relief from the audience (always on the stage, this one... )

Odd isn't it? I'm a "day fowl" too but I tend to be a night eater. Maybe this comes from years of not wanting to eat in front of people back when I topped 80 kg and had NO muscle in my late teens, early 20s. That's when I started drinking too and I think the drinking habit, well, late-hour socializing habit changed my habits. Heck, dayover I'd be recuperating.

I'm usually eating at 5:30 a.m. this days, so 10:30 or 11 is the time for me to eat, isn't it? That way I could have my last meal from 5 p.m. and be fully off food by 6. I'm going to try for that. Ok, time for lunch! Wow, too weird. I'm hungry but it just seems weird to pay attention to it early in the day. No wonder I then want to suck up anything in sight in the evening.

"Clothes that nearly cut me in half!" Yup, I know the feeling. It's painful...in more ways than one. What don't you pick one thing and let's do this goal thing together?

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#364

Shad , 08-27-2009 10:33 PM

Welcome to do it together if you wish. Doc wants me to lose 4 or 5 kilos, so I want to be able to get into a pair of trousers I bought in Singapore a year or so back. So there is my goal. I'll check tomorrow to see how far I have to go!

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#365

redballoon , 08-27-2009 10:39 PM

Great. Let's do a week blow-by-blow. So, every week we post a detailed and graphic description of the state of things, like I did for the green jeans. Ok?

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#366

diyana , 08-28-2009 07:47 AM

Red - I go to sleep around 9:30, and I ALWAYS like a little something (grapes, chocolate milk, yogurt, pretzels, whatever) around 8 or 8:30 pm. I would find it VERY difficult if not impossible to not eat after 6 pm, especially since I'm usually at the gym (when I'm not sick) around 6 pm and haven't eaten dinner yet. I like the green jeans goal! That's awesome! Congrats for being able to button them (no matter how you did it!). It won't be long until they are comfortable! YGG! You're doing so well on your not drinking/smoking! Your success is SO inspiring!! As for my weight gain this past week, I expected it since I've been sick and not exercising. And thankfully, I didn't gain 2 weeks in a row. Two weeks ago, I was up 1.8 lbs after working my arse off at the gym and eating perfectly. Last week, I was down 6 pounds!! This week, I'm up 1.6, which was expected. So still a net loss of 2.6 lbs over the three weeks, and I'll be back to the gym this week...so I know it'll come back off. No worries. I'm not upset, frustrated or even annoyed. And, yes, I have been staying within my points...I just haven't been moving as much as I was - which will change starting this today/this weekend! I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling GOOD about things! You are doing great, and the results are happening for you!!

Shad - Congrats on completing all challenges and on the great weight loss!! Hope you had a nice time with your niece.

As for me, I did not get to the gym yesterday...was feeling exhausted after two very long very stressful days at work...so I played in the yard with my dogs, and they gave me a pretty good workout. I'd like to do the clothing goal thing too, if you don't mind...I'll have to find a pair of too tight pants (which won't be hard) and work on making them fit.

Journal and Stay Within Points, 3 pauses - Day 7 completed
Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 3 pauses - Day 7 completed

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#367

redballoon , 08-28-2009 04:14 PM

clear on all...
It was hard getting out of the house yesterday. It's nicer to be out because it's so hot inside and there was a nice wind blowing outside, BUT I stayed in doing other stuff till late and then finally got my butt to the gym. When I think about it, I am only exercising for that bit. My exercise is always so concentrated. Whatever. Other days it's not.
I did 30 min of jogging and walking after cycling to the gym, then did some weights, chest and arms and abs.
I am calling my no evening eating clear though it was a bit late. I did manage to get to the gym, though late, still earlier than some days and that was because I was aiming to have dinner in time for the cutoff. So, those efforts deserve recognition, even if I was a bit late.
The second round of no booze is almost over. I was saying it had only been a month since my drinking era was over, but it's more like six weeks because I only had the one night out (as a pause) in there. It does feel like longer though, which just goes to show how much of a lifestyle it had become. Well, that was easy to change since I no longer go into the office. It is horrible how much of myself I lost while working there. I am only realizing it now, over and over again as I slowly come back to life. I don't know what this means. I hope it doesn't mean I can't work because I will soon HAVE to, but I think I simply cannot and must not do an office thing. I truly hate it so I have to think of other ways to support myself.

No eating after (around) 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
Day 9 completed, 2 pauses taken
No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
Day 19 completed 0 pauses taken
No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
Day 18 completed 0 pauses taken
Caffeine Cut (Round 4, 2 pauses on round 3) --
Day 5 completed 0 pauses taken

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

diyana -- Thanks again for your kind words. I don't know how inspiring I've been not drinking or smoking as you and Shad don't seem to have a problem with either and our usual no booze challenger Apple isn't around these days. Oh well, maybe the challenges are transferable to similar ones.

Cutting the two out completely has been far easier than cutting down. I think it's even harder to cut down on smoking or drinking because of the addictive qualities. Well, addictive of nicotine. But, with drinking, it's similar because as you get intoxicated you just don't care about things and keep going...at least I do. I must say I would think not drinking would account for a faster weight loss than I am experiencing, but it doesn't seem to. Perhaps it will be small, yet more consistent though. I have never given up drinking for longer than three months in recent years, so we will see.

I was thinking your 6-lb weight loss came two weeks ago. I looked back on the posts but didn't see it last week. Well, I'm glad to hear it was only a week ago, in which case, the little upward movement is probably not even reflective of what's going on. You surely have lost weight if you've been sticking to your point plan, even without exercising.

Glad to hear that you're able to work and seem to be slowly on the mend. I can surely understand your wanting to eat something shortly before bed. If you are at the gym, then when was the last time you actually ate. If you are eating things like pretzels and such late then the salt will surely register a water gain the next morning, so there you go!

YES, glad to have you do a clothes goal. I am going to post my progress (or current state ) every Friday, but you can pick whatever day you like, of course. I am going to keep a separate file on my computer and post both the previous week's and then the new week's description. Occasionally, I will post the first description too to remember just how far I have come...positive thinking here!

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#368

redballoon , 08-29-2009 03:50 PM

one pause...
Had to meet someone and things got messed up with the caffeine. I just had to much....and am now paying the price by not having been able to sleep....

No eating after (around) 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
Day 10 completed, 2 pauses taken
No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
Day 20 completed 0 pauses taken
No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
Day 19 completed 0 pauses taken
Caffeine Cut (Round 4, 2 pauses on round 3) --
Day 5 completed 1 pauses taken

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#369

Shad , 08-29-2009 04:40 PM

Red, I am going to have to change my GOAL because I put the pants on last night and they fit well. No trouble doing things up or bulging over the top etc So on my wardrobe rampage today I will find some more things that I can't fit into. I know I will find something that doesn't fit at all or is a problem to get done up.
I'll be back to report later.

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#370

redballoon , 08-29-2009 04:46 PM

Wow, nice surprise, eh Shad? I'm jealous.

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#371

Shad , 08-29-2009 04:57 PM

I'm just plain surprised. But I have remembered my gardening denim shorts. Now these are delapidated, paint stained and disreputable, but they are horribly tight and I have to lie on the bed to get the zip to close. So they will be the challenge. I can get them on, I can get the button done up, but the zip is a horror and sometimes doesn't stay done up and they don't look to grand on either. There's my goal. Fit into them and then I can get a new pair of gardening shorts.

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#372

redballoon , 08-30-2009 01:20 PM

through on booze!!!

No eating after (around) 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
Day 11 completed, 2 pauses taken

No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
Day 21 completed 0 pauses taken -- CHALLENGE COMPLETED!!!

No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
Day 20 completed 0 pauses taken

Caffeine Cut (Round 4, 2 pauses on round 3) --
Day 5 completed 1 pauses taken

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#373

Shad , 08-30-2009 10:12 PM

Well done Red. 1 down, another to finish today. You are doing well.

Haven't decided on my challenges yet. I'm working on it.

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#374

redballoon , 08-30-2009 11:17 PM

rain, rain....

As you may have noticed from my last entry, I couldn't sleep through the night and got up around 2 and came here to post that. It was actually a matter of being ABLE to sleep but having had gone to bed so early that there was no way I'd sleep the night through. I had something hot to drink and proceeded to go back to bed until quite late in the morning.

Now, I've been practicing the piano (I really must learn to do this on a regular basis.) Like everything with me, I do things in spurts of concentrated effort with long intervals of nothing in between. I am classic hare.

It's a day I wanted to hit the gym but with a typhoon approaching, the rain is pouring down and I don't like getting drenched.

I have to think what else I can do to move the weight loss along. My weight is up and though I don't think it's true fat, it's not making me feel good. Maybe though, just like I mentioned, I should allow for this style as it seems to suit me, hard work at the gym and less eating and then sitting back for a few days before hitting it again. This 21-day challenge doesn't allow for that so maybe I have to do some extracurriculars. I just can't handle the traffic of doing more than one thread.
Ok, enough of me....

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

Shad, Ok, so you have your gardening shorts in the clothes challenge. What day will you post your next description? I'm doing mine on Friday, since that's a week from when I started. Good description, by the way. It's important I think to do the next test under the same circumstances or note them too. I have found there is quite a difference between, say, a full stomach reading and one on an empty stomach. One problem I can foresee is trying my jeans on so often at this stage that I will break the zipper! Better keep it to just once a week!

Well, hope to see you back with some new challenges soon.

diyana, where are you?

And our others, miriam, Jazz, Apple, monkey, One? Where are you??!?!?

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#375

diyana , 08-31-2009 07:56 AM

Red - Congrats on completing Round 2 of no booze! Good for you for practicing the piano. I hope you didn't get hit hard with the typhoon.

Shad - Congrats on getting into those trousers. And that sounds like the perfect goal...new gardening shorts when you can get into your old ones! I know I have a pair of way too small pants or shorts that I would love to get into...just didn't have time to look this weekend.

************
Sorry for not posting...I wasn't on the computer at all this weekend. Too much to get done so we can play on Labor Day weekend. I'm feeling better, except when a coughing fit or an asthma attack hits. And I sure do get tired out easily.

I took a pause on both my challenges yesterday. I didn't get the water in, and since I was doing a lot of cooking...there were quite a fews BLTs (bites, licks, tastes). So here's where I'm at after the weekend:

Journal and Stay Within Points, 2 pauses left - Day 8 completed
Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 2 pauses left - Day 8 completed

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