Day Thirteen - A New Challenge

Okay my fellow 90 Day Fitness Challenge buddies, what did you think of our first meeting with Phil and Amy? Personally I thought it was great, however I have a lot of information bouncing around in my head. I will get to that later.

In thinking back, what I really liked about the meeting was the excitement, the encouragement, and the overall mood. There was unity in the fact that we are all in this challenge together and we are going to see results. I saw people laughing and having fun as well as heard shouts from the weigh in room (I was not one of those . . . at least not yet!) Congratulations to those of you who are already seeing results on the scales. And for those of you who didn't (like me) just remember that people lose weight differently. If you are exercising more than usual or starting to exercise for the first time in a long time, you are probably building muscle right now. That's my story and I am sticking to it!!!

The biggies for me tonight (and my interpretation):

• Food is fuel! We eat to feed our bodies, not to please our taste buds (Heard this line about the taste buds last week and thought it was great).
• Eat to live, instead of live to eat. (Blaming those taste buds again!)
• Think natural by asking yourself, "Did it have a mother or did it come from the ground."(I say "think like a farmer.")
• There are fresh vegetables and fruit in the grocery store. (Enter door, proceed straight ahead, shop, then walk the perimeter. Go down aisles at your own risk.)
• Fiber, fiber, fiber. (Make sure you at least go down the paper products aisle and buy toilet paper.)
• Water, water, water. (Another reason for toilet paper. Also, make sure you begin mapping out all bathrooms in public places for the next couple of weeks.)
• NO SALT, use herbs and sea salt instead. (Should I actually admit that we have salt shakers all over the house?)
• Amy said to start on Day 1 in our books, so my bookmark has been moved back even though I know in reality I am on Day Thirteen and so is this blog!

And the CHALLENGE for the week . . . eat natural foods without adding salt! (Honestly, this doesn't make me cringe like the water challenge. . .the water challenge was difficult enough, and now Phil had to go and make it mathematical "take your body weight, divide in half, drink that amount in ounces each day - add 8 ounces for every 20 minutes of exercises." Takes me back to memories of word problems in math. ugh!

All in all it was a great meeting and I'm still up for the challenge. With all this information we are getting, I hope you are too. And remember, we are in this TOGETHER!

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Day Twelve - Thankfulness

There it is again, the postcard with the Parham's "before and after" pictures and the words "Go from this to THIS!"  Let's be realistic here, we aren't living on a ranch with a nutritionist or doctors and we don't have Jullian training us (and it's a good thing. That lady frightens me and if she was training me, I'd be in tears all the time!). But that doesn't mean we don't have tools, tips, hints, support, and encouragement.

Tomorrow night we'll meet with Phil and Amy for the first time at our weekly meeting. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to getting some more information and guidance from these two who have successfully accomplished what I want to accomplish.

So tonight I'm thankful . . . thankful for this challenge, thankful for the Parham's and how they're pouring into our lives, thankful for my friends who are on this journey with me, and thankful for the support of my husband and family.

I'm already beginning to see the person I want to be and am getting excited at the possibility that this goal is actually attainable.

What are you thankful for?

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Day Eleven - One Day At A Time

Some of my writer friends are in awe that I have committed to writing every day while going through the 90 Day Fitness Challenge. I get questions like "Are you crazy?" or "When do you have time?" and "How do you come up with ideas to write about every day?"

My answers: Maybe, whenever I have a moment, I write one day at a time.

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Yes, I write one day at a time. I'm also going through this challenge one day at a time. If I stop to think about the fact that I need to come up with 90 ideas -- I would panic. The same with the challenge, if I stop to think about the fact that I need to commit to exercising, eating more vegetables and fruit, drinking more water, and giving up my comfort food -- I would panic.

I'm NOT a morning person, so how do I get up early 5 days a week (including Saturday) to go to a rowing class at 7:30 am or 8:00 am? One day at a time.

I crave sweet tea. How do I pass by all the Sonics and Chick-fil-as on my way to work (yes, I have picked out the best tea spots on route to my office)? One day at a time.

I enjoy pizza. How do I keep from having pizza nights and eating all I want? One day at a time.

I wake up thinking about Hardee's sausage biscuits (Woodfuff Road is the best!). How do I pass this up each morning? One day at a time.

By looking over the above list I realize my past laziness and the 3 indulgences (and believe me, there are more) are part of the reason I am taking this challenge to get healthier and lose weight. However, I'm 2 weeks into my life-style change and I'm doing it One Day At A Time!

How are you doing? Don't be afraid to comment or share. You may share exactly what someone needs to hear to be encouraged or something in which everyone can relate. No, you don't have to be as transparent as I am (know you're glad to hear that!) but, we'd love to know how you are doing on your own journey.

 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, 

but let us encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

 

Day Ten - Just Do It

We are all familiar with the Nike logo with the words "Just Do It."  That's where I am today. I just need to do it!

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Exercise - Just Do It!
Drink water - Just Do It!
Make better choices when eating today - Just Do It!

I think I am getting the hang of this, so let's see . . .
Wash and dry a couple of loads of clothes today - Just Do It!
Vacuum and sweep - Just Do It!
Organize and pay bills - Just Do It!
Clean out the fridge from the snow days and weekend - Just Do It!
Catch up on emails - Just Do It!

Oh No!  I have just over-committed myself because there's no way I can get all of the above things done once I get home from work this evening. But that's ok. I will do the most important chores first, accomplishing what I can.

So what is on your "to do" list besides exercising, drinking water, and making better choices when you eat today?
Well then, you guessed it . . . JUST DO IT!

Day Nine - Sunday Reflections

It's Sunday and Day Nine of the challenge. Thought I would put before us the tips of this past week along with some great ideas from Jeri. Thanks Jeri for helping us out! 

Tips:

• Using Post-it notes, write something on them that relates to your dream and put them all over your home, car, or at work to encourage you to keep going.
• Find a Bible verse or positive affirmation that is inspiring and meaningful to your life and memorize it.
• When shopping, park in the parking space farthest from the entrance instead of finding the closest spot.
• If you are feeling alone on your journey, check local churches and communities for faith-based support groups for weight loss.
• Try using audio books or download a faith message onto your iPod to keep you inspired and motivated.
• Find a picture of a healthy and thin person who is inspiring to you and tape it to your fridge so you will see it every day.
• Keep in mind the most inexpensive protein sources: eggs, tuna, and chicken.
• Always have a learning attitude when it comes to health, nutrition, and exercise.
• Use natural sweeteners whenever possible.
• Make sure you are getting enough sleep because this is where your body and your mind recharge.

Idea from Jeri:

Here are some things you can do with eggs:

1. Scrambled with cheese, onions, and mushrooms. (You could add in turkey bacon or smoked turkey as lighter alternatives to bacon or ham.)
2. Frittata with sausage (or light alternative) and peppers.
3. Omelet filled with cheese and ANYTHING!!
4. Egg Casserole
5. Deviled eggs
6. Egg Salad
7. Egg Sandwich
8. Boiled and chopped up in green salad

As we begn a new week, let's be reminded that "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6, NKJV).

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Day Eight - Dwelling on the Successes NOT the Failures

As I opened the Parham's book to read Day 8, their postcard advertisement dropped out onto my desk. There staring at me were two pictures of the same couple. Yes, the Parham's "before and after" pictures. In between these two pictures were the words "Go from this to THIS!" Looks easy, sounds easy, and even though Phil and Amy have both told us it wasn't easy, I wanted to think and believe it was easy.

Well, I bet you are finding out the same thing I am . . . It ISN'T easy! There I said it, this challenge isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Like I have said, I have found the exercise I love, but what happens if I don't feel well (like today) and don't make it? What happens if I don't eat all the right foods today? Do I fail completely. NO and neither do you!

This is a lifestyle change we are making and one that will evolve as we begin to make better choices along the way. . . BABY steps, to bigger steps, to giant steps as we get closer to our goals. Instead of thinking of the things we did wrong or ways we failed, we need to think of the things we did right and the ways we succeeded!

Okay, I will go first . . . since I felt bad today and wanted to take it easy, my husband and I decided to go to a movie matinee and spend the day together. What did I do right today?

• Passed on the popcorn and drinks at the movie
• Ate a club sandwich and salad instead of a burger and fries for lunch
• Passed on the HOT NOW Krispy Kreme donuts
• Had a small white mocha coffee only instead of a large white mocha coffee and danish at Starbucks
• Ate vegetable soup and water for dinner
• Drank water as much as I could throughout the day and evening

Sure I have some things in there I shouldn't have done or should have done differently, but at least I am beginning to be conscience of my choices.

How about you? Don't tell me how you failed today, tell me how you succeeded! Once again, we are in this together :)

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Day Seven - Eggs, Tuna, and Chicken. . . it's a start!

After reading Esther's story on Day 7 from the Parham's book, I am trying to keep before me three keys mentioned about losing weight:

1. cardio
2. weight training
3. eating right

I have the first two down since rowing involves both cardio and weight training (yet another reason I love rowing!!!!) but I already know that eating right is going to be one of my biggest challenges. Being that today was Friday and the first day back to work since beginning the 90 Day Fitness Challenge ( I know, seems strange!), I had to stop and think what to bring to my office. Today was easy . . . sandwich for lunch along with carrots and nuts for a snack. Even brought some fruit. So far so good. But, now I am facing the weekend and will have to get more creative.

Once again the book comes in handy. Page 95, "Tip of the Day" . . . "Did you know that the most inexpensive protein source in the supermarket are eggs, tuna, and chicken?"

You won't have to use your imagination to guess what will be on the menu for me this weekend. You've got it: eggs, tuna, and chicken. I'll try and be more creative next week because I think I could get tired of these  quickly, especially eggs!                                                      

Happy Friday everyone!                                                                                        image courtesy of photobucket.com