The object of this thread is to STOP THE INSANITY! of doing the same thing week in and week out to lose weight, expecting different results, and not getting them! We invite you to challenge yourself to establish a new weight loss ACTION each week and repeat it for 7 days straight. Choose whatever inspires you and will make a difference in your weight loss goal - a certain amount of water intake each day, no sweets, a certain amount or kind of exercise a day, etc.

If you don't master the action - take it on another week. Once you have mastered the action, continue that challenge but if you are not losing weight (or inches) STOP THE INSANITY! and up the anty on that goal or take on another. We will weigh in and declare our challenge(s) for the week each Monday. I will award kudos for each day you report success and at the end of the week for total pounds lost.

We will support each other by staying focussed on our successes and/or challenges of the day and week and keep our personal stories to a minimum. Our next goal date is April 2 - Daylight Savings Time - Let's see how much weight we can lose in 6 weeks!

mscat-
All that we have is right now.
Yesterday is gone, Tomorrow is not promised, and Someday is not a day of the week

Hmmm. I'm beginning to think we may have to take this thread off life support - what do you think, Mscat? Not because it's not good, but apart from Sushi we've all become fair weather posters. And now Sushi will be almost computerless for a while, so... Whatever happens, cat, don't doubt how much you're appreciated, nor how much inspiration you've brought us.

Yseterday's weigh-in was no improvement, but this morning was the requisite one pound down, so I'm going to cheat and take it. Getting closer to moving down to a lower decade - can't wait! I was finally reading Health magazine from last October, and there was an interesting article about diet success. I wasn't surprised that the diets that scored highest in every way were WW (#1) and something called The Way to Eat. But I was surprised to find confirmation of what I've long suspected, which is that it's hard to stay on ANY diet long term. Thus confirming my belief that it's a good idea to take a break from time to time, learning to maintain, and also to just enjoy whatever rather than being too strict all the time. The secret I have trouble with is that not dieting doesn't mean re-gaining... It's also really hard to accept the very, very, slow rate of loss.

This week's challenges: to do something active every day. (Boot camp M/W/F, something else on the other days.)

Bonnie, Mscat, do check in and have your say. And let us know how you're doing.

A quick note from my morning TV news program: they just showed a 33lb cat from China. He eats 3 lbs of food a day and looks like someone inflated him. A huge white ball with little feet poking off the sides. NOT a Maine Coon, just a very big, overfed cat. It's what we'll all look like if we don't keep fighting the good fight. Well, it's what my Zen would look like if I gave in whenever he's "hungry"...

Hey Bonnie, good to hear you checking in. I have a feeling you're right that weigh-in next time will be a scary moment. But you've had some tough times this year, and now you've had a chance to rest and renew. And next week will be time to buckle down and get back out of the 2's. Not easy, I know, but you've made too much progress to backslide now. Not losing is fine; sometimes learning to maintain is just as important - and just as hard. We'll be rooting for you.

Mscat, wherefor art thou?

Hey ladies
The week has been going alright even though I'm not too sure what my challenge this week is... But I've been good with food and water, and did some exercises on the stability ball both on Monday and or Tuesday - even though I was dead tired. Oh and I ran 37 minutes yesterday!

Ladies - My apologies for being MIA and for not starting the week out with accolades (and I am the hostess no less )I am on vacation and my computer access has not been as convenient as I like - at home and work I live on the computer. Please forgive me - no excuses. Just pure laziness of working around the schedule of others! I am back now and pledge to be diligent in being your hostess

However, I agree with carla - this thread needs resusitation! What do you think ladies? I usually make a "pm" sweep of recent posters to see what is missing for them to stop checking in. We had a wonderful resurgence of activity when we introduced STOP THE INSANITY! I welcome your input.

Update - Vacation is wonderful but killing me! Sunday did ok with food - Mom cooked brown rice and baked chicken breasts. Monday - ok until I went out with friend after her power meeting to Bennegan's ! UHHHG! But Tuesday a.m. we did a 4 mile WATP and 15 minute mile around the lake. Then we went to mickey d's and ordered - NOT McGRIDDLES - we orderd fruit and yogurt parfaits Wednesday - I was bad - no exercise - and I ate out with my cousin.

carla - I saw that article about that cat! You are doing great and I can relate to that article. Thanks for sharing. It helps us justify the slow journey.

Bonnie - great to hear from you and looking forward to you being a part of the group (hopefully we will still be here )

Sushi on the 37 minute run! You are so consistent.

I appreciate all of you, your faithfulness, your resolve, and the difference you make in my life!

Hey Mscat, good to hear from you. I think Bonnie is still travelling too, and now Sushi has only intermittent access to a computer... But I'll be taking a bit of a break from 21-day-challenges for a while (probably) so I plan to do some more seriously week-at-a-times for a few weeks at least. Especially since the rules here aren't so strict...

Yesterday and today have been filled with far too much excess. I'm pretty glad I don't have to weigh in today - or tomorrow for that matter. I seem to have so much trouble sticking with the program whenever I get close to moving down to a lower decade. I've never had this much weight to lose before, and normally after losing 25 I'd already be at goal. And this time there's another 40 to go. How ever did this happen to me!!!!

Hey ladies, I fell off the bandwagon I think within 3 weeks. I don't know, this is always my problem. I'll have a bad weekend and gain a lot of weight back, step on the scale, be disappointed and call it quits for a few days, then I'l lstart back up with the dieting, have a bad weekend... ETC!! It's such a vicious cycle.

Sorry I left you all, I hope everyone is doing well with this challenge!

Just saying hi
I've been feeling awfully tired the past few days, so not much success with my weekly challenge. But I'll be back strong.

I get what all of you are saying. Carla - how things are tougher with 40 to go than with 25 - for me it was 40 at one time - now its 75! Acire - your vicious cycle - I have been there and I am there again this week! (BTW - welcome back!) And Sushi - we all can relate to being too tired to endure the challenge.

The Daily Motivator says . . .

Accomplishment would have little meaning if it were too easy to come by. The challenge and the effort are what make the reward worth having.
The dreams that are difficult to reach are the dreams that have the most value. For they compel you to stretch your abilities, your knowledge and your expectations beyond previous limits.

The goals that are the most ambitious are the ones that will bring out the best in you. The objectives that require the most effort are the ones that will bring you the most real and lasting value.

If everything you desire could be obtained with no effort, there would be no way to experience the joy of fulfillment. If life had no challenge, it would be unbearably empty.

As you make each difficult effort, know that you are creating real meaning and fulfillment in your life. As you push your way forward through the many challenges, keep in mind how fortunate you are to be able to meet them.

Today you have the opportunity to build your strength and to express your purpose through the efforts that you make and the challenges you face. Enthusiastically embrace that opportunity, and you'll be able to look back on this day with real satisfaction.-- Ralph Marston

Take pride in your struggles and do not be daunted - every obstacle you overcome strengthens you. Every mini step gets you that much closer to your goal. Every triumph - no matter how small - is worth the cost in the fight for the big payoff. Rome was not built in a day and Mary Kay Ash said you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time!

Have a great day!

Hey everyone ..sorry I've been missing again...I've been very busy at work this week..we had corp visits today that we were getting ready for....One thing that misses me up also is the thread starting over every week...It hard for me to post on mondays mornings and I alsways just click on user cp which only show you the threads that have been posted on since viewing..and then I forget to look for the new thread....But I promise I will do better at posting.

I've been sick all week and haven't got in much exercise..I hope Mondays weigh-in goes okay..I agree the weight is harder to lose also I think age has alot to do with it...It's hard to lose now than when I was younger..I'm down 20lbs and still have 40 to go..I know it's going to be a struggle for all of us but we can do it...

mscat - how was your vacation? did you do anything exciting?

Just waving hi...
This past week was a no-go as far as weekly challenge was concerned, but I have things planned for the next 3 weeks, and I'm looking forward to achieving what I've set to do! In a nutshell - regular bed routine, drinking water, stability ball exercises, walks with the dog and no food after dinner.

It's Monday evening here, and it was not a successful day challenge-wise, but that's ok as long as I'm good from now on.

Take care ladies!