Shad - An hour of fast walking?! That's wonderful! Great job!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

*************************
Just one more day to complete my crunches and planks challenge and then I'll start anew tomorrow. :)


Journal everything AND count WW points - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 21/21
64 ounces of water - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 21/21
5 servings of fruits and veg - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 21/21
Stay within WW points - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 21/21
30 min. (at least) of cardio - 1 of 3 pauses taken - Day 21/21
50 crunches - 2 of 3 pauses taken - Day 20/21
1 minute of planks - 2 of 3 pauses taken - Day 20/21
15 minutes of decluttering - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 21/21

ughhhh =_= I did a mess, I didn't do it when my alarm rang and then forgot about it.. took another pause! *shame shame shame*

my only consolation is that I did something else active the same day so it's not a wasted day... I even beat my time record power walking from the train station back to my car. So :/

today is day 20
day 19/21 training everyday 4 a handstand 2 pauses used
day 19/21 training evreyday 4 pushups 1 pause used

Fra - At least you did something active with the day and you are well on the way to finishing this challenge. Well done.
You've only had a couple of pauses on this challenge. That's a great achievement. So many people come to the thread, slip up a couple of times and then decide not to come back and confess and then they stop trying. As we are fond of saying around here, the only failure is the failure to pick yourself up and try again. I can't remember how many times I have had to scrap the challenge and start over.
I see you are in Torino. Beautiful city. Are you studying music?

Michelle - the Zumba Queen. You have a couple of days to weigh in. Lets see if I can spring the surprise then.

I didn't walk to work this morning. I woke in the middle of the night with a huge pain in one leg. Have no idea what caused it. This morning it was okay to get to the car and the train and the office, but not long route marches. However it feels okay now, so I shall walk back to the station tonight

Hi everyone -

All challenges completed. I have to think of some creative ways to break through this plateau, so I can have a whoosh week. I'll be back later or tomorrow to let you know what I've come up with.

Shad - Hope your foot feels better, so you can return to the lovely walks by the river.

Fra - Shad is correct...pausing is not a mess up or a failure unless you don't get back on track. And you're not only getting on track, you did other activity! Good for you!!

Red - Good for you for stopping smoking. I know you can do this. And you're right...when your frustrated, overwhelmed and angry....sometimes it's easier to revert to unhealthy behaviors. Try and do one good thing for yourself each day. It doesn't even have to be the same good thing each day. And when you can....add another good thing each day. No cigs is a great start, and if you eat a piece of fruit or veggie rather than a sweet...or drink decaf instead of caffeinated...those are other good things. :hug:

I Did It!! I Did It!! I Did It!! I Did It!! I Did It!!
 

Hi everyone!!!

:dance: :dancer: :woohoo: Yay!!!!

I DID IT!! I DID IT!! I DID IT!! I DID IT!! I DID IT!!

I achieved my 10% weight loss with Weight Watchers!! :woohoo:

When I saw the scale, I couldn't believe it, especially after yesterday's scale saying I gained. Then I started jumping up and down, screaming and hugging my friends that were in line behind me!

:woohoo: :dancer: :dancer:

I am MOST DEFINITELY on :cloud9:

Well done Michelle. Great achievement. No stopping you now.

Surprise is coming.........

Had to take a pause day yesterday and will again today, but will be back with a vengeance over the weekend and will put my plans in place for next week.

Diyana, Congratulations!!!! I'm so happy for you! :cp: You've put in such hard work and I'm so happy that the scale is reflecting that! :cb:

Red, I'm glad that you are trying to quit smoking. I have heard that acupuncture helps, although I don't know if that option is available to you, I've never been to Japan. Anyway, I'm happy that you're playing the piano!! Music is so good for people. You're inspiring me to start playing my violin again, its been months.
Shad, I'm sorry to hear that your foot is hurting :-( I'm impressed with all the walking you've been doing though!

To everyone else Hi and good job with all your challenges!!!

As for me, my Nonna (Grandma) was taken into the hospital on Tuesday with internal bleeding, and they found a tumor in her stomach. Just found out today that she is doing much better and that although the tumor is cancerous she shouldn't have to go on chemo. I got behind on two of my challenges, so I'm starting over with them tomorrw.

New challenges:

No cheese, 0 pause days allowed. Day 10 completed

No white flour, potatos or rice, 0 pauses allowed. Day 10 completed

Log all of my food/calories, 0 pauses allowed. Day 10 completed.

30 min of exercise a day, 0 pauses allowed. Day 0 completed

walk 5,000 steps/day, 0 pauses allowed. Day 0 completed

Hi everyone -

Thanks for the congratulations! I'm still on :cloud9: after yesterday's weigh in. Still trying to figure out some good challenges. I'll get those posted later today or tomorrow.

Onyyx - So sorry to hear about your Grandma. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. :hug: Good for you for getting back on track and not letting the stress derail you.

I've gotta run for now.

Hugs to all,

Okay....here are my challenges, starting today...

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 pauses allowed
80 ounces of water - 0 pauses allowed
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 pauses allowed
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 3 pauses allowed
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 3 pauses allowed
50 crunches - 3 pauses allowed
5 minutes of Pilates - 3 pauses allowed
2 minutes of planks - 3 pauses allowed
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 2 pauses allowed

Hi. To everyone who does not remember me, I'm Tia from Mississippi. I am trying to get back on a healthy track and thought this was the place to be for support. Hey Red!!! I'm back. I haven't decided on a challenge yet but, I want to start small. I have gain up to 314 since I have been away. I will be going to Montego Bay, Jamaica in June and would like to atleast be able to fit on a four-wheeler or walk the beach without getting winded. I am thinking not low low carb but maybe more complex carbs, what do you all think. Looking forward to all the great advice. Talk you all soon, Tia

Challenges for Tia.
1. Level 1- 1 Pause Day -8 Glasses of water a day
2. Level 1 -0 Pause Days - Multivitamin everyday.

Sorry I haven't been back to post challenges, but maybe that is for the besst.

I have ruined that particular challenge, so will start again on Tuesday will the fast walk to the office every day and a fast walk in the park on weekends.

Welcome back Tiajuanna. Good challenges there. Best of luck.

Day 1
1 day complete. Not feeling it yet, but go me, lol.

Realized that picture was extremely old, so I changed it.

Tia - Welcome back!

Red - Hope you're doing okay. :hug:

Shad - I had trouble with some of my challenges as well. Here's a :kickbutt: to get you back on track, please return it to me. :)

As I mentioned....I did outstanding on some challenges, like exercise, decluttering and eating fruits and veg...and some....like staying within points, went out the window. When I work out HARD - like an hour or more of Zumba, or kick arse weight training, I get A LOT hungrier, which is why I sometimes go over my points. Since I don't have any pauses on the points challenge, I'm going to start all challenges anew today. I need to figure out a balance of how much exercise I need to do before I can "eat" the extra activity points I'm earning. I did not weigh myself today, as I know my muscles are retaining MUCH fluid to heal from yesterdays killer strength training workout.

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 pauses allowed
80 ounces of water - 0 pauses allowed
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 pauses allowed
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 3 pauses allowed
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 3 pauses allowed
50 crunches - 3 pauses allowed
5 minutes of Pilates - 3 pauses allowed
2 minutes of planks - 3 pauses allowed
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 2 pauses allowed

Day 2 complete. Hey Diyana. Red, look forward to chatting with you.

Day 1 of the walking challenge is complete. I have decided that I will run if I can, but it will not be part of the challenge.

Morning everyone.

Tia - I'm looking forward to getting to know you and chatting with you as well.

Shad - You are smart to not make running part of a daily challenge, but just do it as you can. Even as a Zumba queen, there are days when I scale back the intensity (tonight is an "easy" class for example) and days when I ratchet up the intensity (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). So I would never make a challenge as 45 minutes of super intense cardio for 21 days as I know that my body needs days off or at least "easy" days in between.

Red - How are you doing with quitting smoking? :hug: to you my friend.

A big :wave: to everyone! I hope you're all doing great with your challenges! Come back and let us know! :hug:

**************
I had a great workout last night...an hour of Zumba, and the strength training class I did focused mostly on abs and low back rather than arms, shoulders, upper back and legs. I only wanted to work abs and low back because I worked other body parts really hard on Sunday. So we did LOTS of pilates, which was awesome. I wish we could've done more, cuz I could feel it working my core in a REALLY good way. I'm going to have to check out a book or video of Pilates.

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 1/21
80 ounces of water - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 1/21
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 1/21
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 1/21
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 1/21
50 crunches - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 1/21
5 minutes of Pilates - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 1/21
2 minutes of planks - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 1/21
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 0 of 2 pauses taken - Day 1/21

Morning all

Onto Day 2 of walking challenge. I've found that I can now do the walk in 25 minutes rather than the thirty, so I have to walk back to keep up the minutes. I'll have to think up another challenge as well. May well be water.
So todays challenge is half done. I'll be back to report on the rest tonight.

Day 2 is done. But the trek back to the station is much harder than the outward stretch. Must be because I am tired and stressed.

Blew my challenge on day 3. Starting over today. I am adding riding my stationary bike for 10 minutes Level 2 2 pauses.

Hey Red, remember trouble don't last always.

Shad, good job on day two.

Diyana, are you a Flybaby?

water- level 1- 0 pauses
vitamin - level 1 - 0 pauses
bike - level 2 - 2 pauses

Shad - Good for you for walking both ways to the station. I've found walking/exercise to be such an excellent rejuvenator after a tiring and stressful day. In fact, when the stress at work piles up, I think to myself...I'm glad I'm going to be sweating out the stress later!

Tia - Nope, I'm not a Flybaby...just someone with a very cluttered house who has company coming for a visit on Sunday. My DMIL is arriving Sunday and staying with us 'till August. I love having her stay with us for these visits, but she likes the house to be cleaner than I always have time for....so I'm trying to tackle a little at a time. Glad you picked yourself up and have restarted the challenge.

Red - I'm always here if you want to email me. You should have both my personal and work email - work email is best to use during the week. You will find a way up and out of the bad situations. :hug:

Are any of our other challenge friends still here? Hope you're doing well! :wave:

***************
I did a bit of cleaning prior to Zumba last night, and will do more prior to tonight's hour long class. I've been doing Pilates, abs and planks either before or after Zumba. I might meet up with some Zumba friends for a Cinco de Mayo celebration...but if I go, I'll only have one beverage (don't know whether it will be a margarita or diet soda). I get up too darn early for work to stay out late on a weeknight.

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 2/21
80 ounces of water - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 2/21
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 2/21
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 2/21
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 2/21
50 crunches - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 2/21
5 minutes of Pilates - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 2/21
2 minutes of planks - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 2/21
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 0 of 2 pauses taken - Day 2/21

Crazy busy today....no time for personals. I hope everyone is doing well on their challenges and with life in general. :)

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 3/21
80 ounces of water - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 3/21
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 3/21
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 3/21
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 3/21
50 crunches - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 3/21
5 minutes of Pilates - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 3/21
2 minutes of planks - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 3/21
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 0 of 2 pauses taken - Day 3/21

Goodmorning everyone. I had an awesome day yesterday and am praying for the same today.

Day 2

water- level 1- 0 pauses
vitamin - level 1 - 0 pauses
bike - level 2 - 2 pauses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLEyd5XdZOc Don't you love the music! :lol3: Muscle Dog!
It's this but I twist as I go down and up. When I'm down my face is facing the floor, then I come up and twist so my face turns around (as you see this guy) and to the right. It's very hard but has gotten a lot easier and I feel much stronger in my torso. (And this despite that I haven't been riding. :( )

I easily resisted going to a fabulous hamburger joint and instead went to Panera Bread and got the salmon salad, dressing on the side.

Forgot about yesterday.

Day 3 and 4 are done. And the weekend is almost here. Just a couple of hours to go for me.

Red - obliques sound good. Good for you. We will be cheering on the challenge from the sidelines. Hey if you do to many do you get a wasp waist??

Tia - Glad you're doing so well!

Red - Congrats on the cigs...and the weight loss! :cp: :cp: Good for you for going to the gym. The Roman chair sounds so tough! I've never seen one like you describe. But I have used one where you essentially you're in a standing position, but you're feet do not touch the ground/machine or anything. You support your body weight on your forearms and then pull your legs up (either with knees bent or straight) to work the abs. If you pull your knees/legs up at an angle, it works your obliques. I'll have to check out the you tube video at home.

Karen - Way to resist temptation and enjoy a healthy meal instead.

Shad - Hope you have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous Mother's Day!


*******************
Another crazy busy day ahead for me at work but it makes the time go by fast, so that's okay. After work, it's Zumba - I'm trying to convince a co-worker to come with me. Tomorrow is more Zumba and then grocery shopping and lots and lots of cleaning. Sunday the aerobic exercise will be more cleaning, including scrubbing the floors. DH and DMIL arrive Sunday at approx. 5 pm. Oh, almost forgot to mention...at weigh in yesterday, I was down 0.8 lbs. :woohoo:

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 4/21
80 ounces of water - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 4/21
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 4/21
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 4/21
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 4/21
50 crunches - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 4/21
5 minutes of Pilates - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 4/21
2 minutes of planks - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 4/21
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 0 of 2 pauses taken - Day 4/21

Happy Mother's Day to all!! :sunny:


Just want to say that I have lost 8 lbs since Valentine's Day.... :)
Now to fight to break through the 70 kg line!! :strong:

8lbs since Valentines day????????? :faint: That's amazing. How did you do that Red??

My challenge derailed over the weekend. Not that I didn't exercise - I did and how! but not by walking. So we will start again tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. We are a bit unemotional about it at my place. It's lucky that I don't get upset that no one buys me a card, chocolates, flowers or the biggest diamond in the world because if I did, I would be an emotional mess about now. Instead I got a 'happy Mothers Day Mum' thrown at me in between tossing boxes and other junk into the back of the Ute from DS2 and a phone call from DS1 who was running late for a dinner with his partners Mother at the local pub.

At least they acknowledged me. That's got to mean something.

Red - :bravo: on losing 8lbs since Valentines Day!! That's wonderful!! I'm so proud of you!!

Shad - Sorry to hear you didn't at least get a card on Mum's Day. But you're right...at least they didn't forget.

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

I'm truly exhausted. After an hour of Zumba on Friday, 1.5 hours on Saturday followed by a few hours of cleaning, and more cardio cleaning on Sunday - along with crunches, Pilates and planks, I think I will skip Zumba for tonight...and maybe just do the crunches-Pilates-planks and play Wii bowling with DMIL, who arrived last night from CA with DH.

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 7/21
80 ounces of water - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 7/21
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 7/21
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
50 crunches - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
5 minutes of Pilates - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
2 minutes of planks - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 0 of 2 pauses taken - Day 7/21

The walking plans are in limbo for the time being. I am working on trying out something else to take it's place. I enjoy the walk, but it is not happening at the moment. Too much to do at work and home.

I'll be back

Shad - With all the work you're doing around your home and DS2's house, I'm sure you're getting your workout in. Don't be gone too long, we'll miss you.

A big :wave: to everyone! I hope you're all doing great on your challenges and in general!! :hug:

**************
Yesterday came and went without any exercise. :( I took DMIL grocery shopping, and then mowed the front and back lawn. If we had a push mower, that could count as exercise...but not when I was on the riding lawn mower. Anyway, it was fun doing donuts around the trees! I had to come into work early and may leave late, but thank Goodness, there is Zumba tonight, along with Pilates, crunches and planks, and if time permits, I'll do some weights as well.

Journal everything, count and stay within WW points - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 8/21
80 ounces of water - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 8/21
6 servings of fruits and veg - 0 of 0 pauses taken - Day 8/21
No food and only water after 8:30 pm - 0 of 3 pauses taken - Day 8/21
45 min. (at least) of cardio - 1 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
50 crunches - 1 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
5 minutes of Pilates - 1 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
2 minutes of planks - 1 of 3 pauses taken - Day 7/21
15 minutes (at least) of decluttering/cleaning - 0 of 2 pauses taken - Day 8/21

8lbs in three months is a darn sight better than I am doing at this time. I seem to be stuck and I know it is because my life is not in balance.

I'm hoping with a return to good food, I might just lose some. But I know the exercise will have to come into it somewhere. Life is so darn hard at times.

Shad, I hope you can return to good food. I always gain on "good food" and lose with an unhealthy lifestyle, which is where I am now, very unhealthy.

I'm at a point right now where I'm too depressed over where I am, trying to dig out of debt ...no, before that, just trying to not increase the debt, as well as having no work I like and my horse is now too far (too much money) away to visit, let alone ride. I am heart-broken.

And I am smoking a ton, feeling awful because of it, both mentally and physically, and yet find myself going back to the cigs over and over again despite knowing it is dragging me down I guess this is what they call addiction, where I wasn't before even when I was smoking just when I was out drinking with friends. Now, it's changed into something worse and I'm just feeling old and ugly. Damn. Life has gotten too hard, too unfulfilling for me. Where do I start to get things back on a track that brings some color into my life right now? Maybe I just shouldn't think about things so much.... :cry: Maybe I just crack the whip...but I feel too weakened to do that. Ok, don't mind me...maybe it's the moon.