30 Day Challenges

[Millie]

Day 10 done. Woohooo. Wow. It is really hard to believe it has been 10 days since we started.

[Beth]

Good morning partners
I did get a great Jillian workout in yesterday but no time to post it. It felt good. Plus feel good today after a deep 10 hour sleep
My weigh in was yesterday .... He lost 2 pounds, I gained 2. Oh well I said I would chalk it to muscle. He said it's because I am not listing everything I eat, every day I eat it on Spark. He proved his point with his weight loss!
Hope everyone stayed sober last night, ice cream is my distraction too! Butter pecan is my weakness but it really helped last night.

[Julie]

got it done today ... day 11: check

[Beth]

11/30! Felt good to get my work out in with some energy. Pushed myself today just cause it is Saturday! Yeah me!

[Julie]

me too .. day 12: check!

[Beth]

Day 12, check.... New goal tomorrow is to work out before work. Wish me luck. Night all.

[Beth]

Morning! Day 13 done! Still sore but need to get in the habit of working before work. I think it will help a lot with the stress of the day. I am still waking up and my first thought is "do I have a hangover?" I am now laughing every morning because I'm not spending time trying to balance the misery of being hungover, tired, and still drunk.
Speaking of drunk... I want to thank Sue for getting me through yesterday. It was what you said on the main thread...
[I]Mornings are the best, aren't they, friends? Free from guilt, embarrassment, shame, memory loss (!), self recrimination, apologies and other unfinished business.
Wow! That is so true! Yesterday was a "should I shouldn't I" day but I just kept thinking about the morning and not wanting to beat myself up Again! For my stupid behavior the night before. It was actually easy not to drink because I was using the intelligent part of my brain. The beast didn't even dare compete. Thank you Sue!

Everyone check in!

[_Erin_]

Good morning, everyone! It's a just barely Day 13 kind of day for me! Yep, still scraping by, and still not happy about that... but soon I just KNOW my mojo will be back in full swing. LOL Faking it until I make it...

Julie, Sylvane (tossing kettlebells in the air yet? ), Millie, Beth... WOOHOOO!!!! You chicks rock!!! I know all the guys are intimidated by the feminine @$$-whooping going on here... at least that's my impression due to the lack of any guys up for the 30 Day Challenge... HINT HINT...

Seems really weird not to say "Great job!" to Dragonfly (Housefly) every day! Hope she's doing OK...

Have a wonderful day!

[Ken1]

Sylvane and Carol, thanks for the invitation to join you, I really appreciate it! I am ready to get back into "fighting shape," I used to be an athlete and worked out 6 days a week, but as life, career, etc. creeps up, it easy to let it slip by the way side. I have decided, though, that if you don't have your health, nothing else matters, so it is time to put getting into great shape first! Like I said in another thread, I don't want to wake up 10 years from now with some irreversible disease or condition that could have easily been avoided by proper diet and exercise!

The cardio part is easy, I have an Australian Cattle dog that needs at least an hour of daily exercise. I have been doing it by playing fetch with him in my backyard, standing in one spot and throwing the ball for 20 minutes or so 3 to 4 times a day (so lazy, so ashamed). That is now a twice daily jog with him 1 mile each time (walk/jog for now!), morning and evening. I have weights at home and am going to use them and purchase some kettle balls. I have a friend that only uses the kettle balls to work out and he looks 10 years younger than he is because of the fact that he is in such great shape.

Next is diet, I am incorporating vegetables into every meal now and trying to phase out the carbs. I've learned the hard way that if I dive in to making drastic changes in my diet, I will only cave in and "relapse" with the junk food twice as hard. Slow and steady wins the race.

Thanks again for letting me join the workout club here and please give me any tips you have learned since starting back working out!

[_Erin_]

Hey, cool, now I have to retract my statement about the scared boys! Glad you're joining us, Ken!!

[Ken1]

I'm proud to be the only guy here if that is the case!

[Midwest Sue]

I am back and ready to put in at least 20 minutes today. I have a duathlon (run 2 mi, bike 22 mi, run 2 mi) in September and there is no time like the present to start preparing for that!

Beth, it makes my day to see your comment that my post yesterday helped you to fight the beast. Hurray for you!!

Welcome, Ken! This thread can use some testosterone!


Sue

[Midwest Sue]

40 minute walk in the cold done. Check.

[Millie]

Millie Simmons is eating crow. Saturday, I forgot to get my work out in. I fell asleep early, worn out from hosting my youngest child's b-day party- and my hubby said he thought about waking me to remind me, but decided to just let me sleep. Fortunately, I didn't get too hurt falling off my soapbox..just a bruised ego. I started right back on Sunday though. Today is day two- check.

Ken. Woo hoo. I am glad you are joining us.

Rules are simple. Minimum of 20 minutes of exercise everyday, no excuses. If you miss a day like I did-bummer- you are back to day one.

[Julie]

OK, today is done - went to "group strength training" at the gym - geez, I am out of shape, but it was a good workout. I'm not sure I'm ready for kettleballs, but you guys give it a shot and let me know how to go about using them when you master it!

Ken!! Welcome to our challenge - I'm so happy to see you here. Millie and Sue - good to see you both back. Beth, I'm with you in fighting that beast and have been having a fair number of those 'should I or shouldn't I' moments (well, it last's for a few hours actually) lately. The exercise is helping me too, and waking up with a clear head and energy to get to the gym is motivation to continue the good fight. Sylvane, I thought about you tonight as I was working my triceps and I smiled .....

I've also been working on improving my diet and have been struggling to get my daily servings of veggies in. I've been experimenting with my new vitamix blender, and have come up with a concoction of blueberries, tomato, kale, carrot and red pepper (I know, gagola sounding right?) that actually tastes pretty good - so, voila, all my daily requirements in one large glass - easy.

Keep going team .... we are awesome!

[Midwest Sue]

Julie, would love to hear more about the Vitamix. I have a friend who loves it and I'm wondering if it's a worthwhile investment.

[_Erin_]

Good morning!! Day 14, still not "clicking" with me yet, but I am still trying! Basically, I am just walking for 20 minutes, and it's more of a meander. Totally effortless, I admit!

Millie, I'm really glad to hear you jumped right back on the horse!

Sylvane, you made me laugh yesterday... glad the kettlebells made it more fun and go by faster, at least now I don't have to feel guilty! LOL You made me laugh this morning, too... I read your post about the Vitamix and all I could think of was a commercial that used to come on TV back in the 80's when I was a kid... "Salad Shooter..." Ok, gross.

Great job, Sue and Julie! I'm glad you're here with us... you're making me not just say "screw it" and give up on my measly walking! Every day I try to get up 5 minutes earlier. The last time around it was so easy to do, this time it's a struggle from hell. But I know you're still here giving it a shot so it makes me not give up... so thank you!

Ken, how's yours going?

Have a great day, everyone!

[Ken1]

Good morning ladies, and thanks again for the warm welcome! I am on track and remembered something yesterday about weight loss that you probably all know. I almost always skip breakfast, and as mom always said, it is the most important meal of the day. I have read many places that you need to eat 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking to switch on your metabolism. I usually wake up and drink a couple of diet cokes and then I'm starving by mid morning. I'm researching the best way to get to the 30 grams, but it looks like a cup of cottage cheese and a slice of wheat toast will do it or a low carb protein shake. I have a hard time getting excited about a cold shake in the winter, so I'm going to keep looking.

I also remembered to start slow this time, I usually get the urge to workout and over do it in the beginning and get burned out. Not this time, plus I have to be accountable to all of you. If the rules are only 20 minutes a day, it is hard to make an excuse that you can't find 20 spare minutes in a day! I have an exercise bike and free weights at home, so I can't blame it on the rain or snow.

Erin, I think I'm off to a good start, just trying to keep it simple for now.

Julie, Millie, and Sue thanks for the notes and glad to be a part of the group.

Sylvane, do you have a kettleball work out DVD or a trainer or something? I've seen a few workout tips online but no real routines. Any tips would be appreciated.

[Jebloans]

I'm in...it will be done by midnight. 20 min of exercise.....glad I found this. I got here by searching "feeling sorry for myself" then clicked a few more times on other things and wound up here. Been laying in bed feeling sorry for myself all day. It's noon. I was sober for five years, did steps, made amends, financial and personal, grew up a lot.( I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't done those things) Got totally discusted with people who waste there time in meetings with no intention of healing themselves. And I quit going. Now my drinking is minimal, once every week or so. Glass of wine here and there. No drug use at all. I was a chronic stoner who hated myself for years. Good going Millie!

[fiona]

Its rainy & cold & I had really talked myself out starting my workout today...until I read Ken's post on the other thread. So I am here & my husky & I just had a fabulous walk at the park. Ken we both thank you.

I didn't know about the 30g of protein. I do know you can make a lot of protein shakes with warm liquid and add cinnamon or flavor extracts to keep them from getting boring. Also if you make them with green tea you get the added benefit of HCGC for the metabolism.

Going to be keeping tabs on the Vitamix recipes. Have to have jaw surgery in a few months & be on a liquid diet for 6 wks. Need all the ideas I can get.

In the name of accountability(or positive guilt) there is a yoga class, at the gym I donate my money to, that I have been 'meaning" to get to for months. Tomorrow I will go.