Hi, curly! Glad to hear you're doing well on your challenge. I have been writing so many posts and there are so many people here now, that I get lost, totally lose track of things...sorry! I should have known you'd be plugging right along...star challenger, you. Hope the car gets straightened out and you get your dog his shots. What is this with missing gazelles these days?
Okay, I'm calling Day 18 a wrap!! And it's only 8 p.m. but I am going to bed (hour earlier than usual). It's another 3:45 a.m. rising tomorrow. I got to the gym again today, but because I was sneezing and my nose running I didn't jog, just did some weights, abs! and stretching. My upper abs seem pretty strong but my lower abs must be shot. I do those leg raises and it hurts! I wonder if strengthening the lower abs will help tighten the belly. I've been noticing (to my horror!!! ) my lower gut...as opposed to the upper, mid-upper, mid, lower-mid....STOP!!!... is sticking out more than ever. For some reason the lower ab muscles must be weak. Never really noticed it before and didn't think I was doing anything different....hmmm... oh well, I have been inspired by Chaps. I have this really tough ab exercise book that I can follow. I am going to get this gut gorgeous!!
Ok, hope to hear lots from all of you when I get up tomorrow! Melody, purple, where are you?!
Last edited by redballoon; 10-12-2005 at 07:06 AM.
Hi Everyone! Day 21 of my first Challenge down and out! I am calling yesterday day one of my second challenge. I walked for 30 mins. I started out at a pretty good pace and then near the last 1/4 of my walk all of my aches and pains started SCREAMING at me. I was up a lot last night in ALOT of pain. I'll get through this. Since I endured so much pain I had to put it on the charts of my challenges. I earned it.
Thanks so much everyone for all of your support. Today will be a challenge to work some exercise in since I work today. It will happen though.
OMG, so many people I want to reply to! This thread is hoppin'! I'm suffering a bit from cabin fever because it's raining like crazy here, and has been for days and days. I managed to go jogging yesterday, but today it's out of the question. Did the Pilates DVD, which is nowhere near as satisfying for expending energy.
Shad - You are so close! Great work, and thanks for the kind words.
Carla - I abhor UPS. I avoid them at all costs, so I understand your pain. Like you don't have enough to deal with right now!! But your attitude is good, which is really healthy. I strive for such patience.
Mez - Mirrors can really be deceptive, I understand not trusting them. Seeing pictures can really be wonderful, I promise! I took some of myself for a friend I haven't seen in a long time, and I was truly blown away. Especially - now this is a little weird - there's one where I cut off my face, and seeing just this body was SO AMAZING! I actually thought, for a fleeting moment, now, where did this pic come from? Is it leftover from before? I truly did not recognize my own body. And let me tell you, if you have gone from a size 22 to a size 14, you are in for the same sort of surprise, I promise.
Icedragon - Excellent on 3 days! Are the caffeine headaches waning?
Friends - Your challenge is not at all lame. Starting small is still starting. But go easy on yourself - the pain will subside, but you don't want to push so hard that you actually *can't* go on the next day.
Curly - Happy Birthday! I give the tattoo two thumbs up! I have 5 and I love every single one.
Redballoon - Your motivational posts are awesome, thanks for putting them up. As for the lower abs, I feel your pain. They are hard to isolate, so results are hard to see. For me, that's exactly where all the excess skin seems to be hanging, so they are also masked. *sigh*. But I know they are stronger because I can do way more of those double leg lifts than I could before. You rock! You are awesome!
OMG! I finished day 21! My first 21-day challenge is in the bag with another 12 pushups
Yesterday was day 2 for calories under 1500. It was another 13 hour day at work, and i ate only 1093. That is including the piece of cheddar I ate right before i brushed my teeth for the night because i thought to myself, shoot, i cannot eat under 1000 calories again.
I don't have time to say hi to everyone individually right now, but will instead give a great big and a Way to Go!
Have a great day and all the best for the coming year.
PS - we have to have lots of cyber cake - I promise no calories, no white flour, no sugar, no caffeine, non of those things in a cyber cake so eat up and celebrate.
Day 19 went:
Food
Water (just)
Exercise (last one of the week - yahoo)
Carbs (just)
Portions
Just today and tomorrow to go. YAHOO.
Back later to check up on all the doings of the fab challengers.
Thank you Shad, for the yummy cyber cake. It's sort of cheating for me to eat it, since my birthday isn't until tomorrow here, but what the H.
Curly, Vanessa, Friends, thank you too for the kind wishes.
But the really big news is of course
FRIENDS AND FISH - OUR LOCAL 21-DAY HEROES!!!
Tomorrow is the big schnozz unveiling. Never in my life have I wanted to blow my nose this badly. Yes, I can give up wine and chocs, but not the joy of unobstructed air flow. Who knew!
The Gazelle finally emerged from the UPS bush late this afternoon, and is waiting on the floor to be assembled. (Why did I not realize I'd have to put it together??) Its box was damp and tattered, very much the worse for wear, but the innards seem to be intact. I suspect a raunchy night on the tiles before a life of servitude to yours truly... I hope Curly's has also made an appearance? If it's in the same condition as Zellie, I think we'll all know who spent the night with whom... I refuse to speculate on just what they did with their final flurry of freedom.
Day 20 is now complete. Tomorrow will be either pause day 2 or Day 21. (Also Day 1 of year 56. The horror!)
Aha, but it is your big day today in my neck of the woods. If we work this right, we can cyber celebrate for a full 24 hours. Then of course we can start on curleys. Anyone want a non birthday on the 15th??? have some more cake!
Red – Thanks for the advice on weight lifting. I’m kind of dabbling in it right now trying to figure it out. I had been working only my arms and today I worked my chest some. My husband lifts weights with my son. I don’t lift with them. For instants today I was in one room and they were in another. I have no ideal if my form is right and I feel my husband get impatient with my asking questions all the time. So I wing it. I did get a bit snappy today and said I’ll just ask the people on 3FC’s. He then said he’d try and do better and that he’s not bugged by it. ( I think he is) Red keep rambling I like it. It’s very motivating!!
Carla AND curlylocks - I had so planned on making balloon figures for you. Then post a picture. I babysat my grandson today he’s 8 months old and not use to me popping them let alone how unsafe it would be if I missed picking up a broken piece. Sorry I’ll have to make belated ones. Maybe you guys can give me an ideal on what you’d like. I'll try and make it. I say try because I’m self taught the reason I started was my family has tons of nieces/nephews (46) so I make balloons figures and paint the kids faces. Curly my daughter worked as a vet tech I’ll ask her if she has any advice on your dog getting his shot.
Chaps – I hate to say this but soon I’ll have cabin fever. We tend to get lots of snow which use to be so much fun when I was a child of course back then shoveling was fun! Aww to be a kid again. I’m going to ask my camera crazy sister if she has pictures. I know I got away a few times but she’s pretty sneaky! FishWoman and –FishWoman CONGRATS ON YOUR CHALLENGE!!! You guys worked so hard! :
Shad – You make the BEST cyber cake!
As for me Make it through - Day 3 I tried to take a omega 3 pill ... still couldnt' do it.
Glad to hear you're doing well on your challenge. I have been writing so many posts and there are so many people here now, that I get lost, totally lose track of things...sorry! I should have known you'd be plugging right along...star challenger, you. Hope the car gets straightened out and you get your dog his shots. What is this with missing gazelles these days? 
done with 18!!!
) my lower gut...as opposed to the upper, mid-upper, mid, lower-mid....STOP!!!... is sticking out more than ever. For some reason the lower ab muscles must be weak. Never really noticed it before and didn't think I was doing anything different....hmmm... oh well, I have been inspired by Chaps. I have this really tough ab exercise book that I can follow. I am going to get this gut gorgeous!! 
and a Way to Go!
A photo finish!!!!!!!!
(just)
The horror!)
