Join Me

Okay, so by now it's pretty obvious that I didn't start a new Healthy Habits Challenge on November 10th. But I really need your help to get through the holidays without putting on 15 pounds and being a grumpy, stressed out mama. So here's my plan:

Let's face it--this is the time of year when we are already spending more money than usual on gifts, cards, decorations, wrapping, baking, special clothes, and convenience foods because we are so busy. So who wants to sign up for a challenge that might cost them more money? My Christmas gift to you is that this challenge isn't going to cost you a dollar.

I understand that for some of you, that means that the motivation is lacking. But I'm thinking we just need to support each other and be accountable through this troubling time, when we throw caution to the wind and stop taking care of ourselves.

So I am issuing a challenge for us to start or continue some healthy habits from now until the New Year. We'll log in and record for all to see how we've done, each day if possible. We'll leave encouraging notes for each other. We'll coach each other along. We'll help each other from looking like this at the end of the season:


Now, what I propose is that each person leave a comment, telling me what their healthy habit goal is going to be. I am going to strive for 5 days of exercise, a 7 days of personal scripture study, and at least 5 days where I eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each week. Your goal could be the same as mine, or yours could be to write down everything you eat, only have one treat a day/week, run a certain number of miles a week, etc. Please set a goal that will challenge you a little but that is reasonable to achieve at a busy, decadent time of year. I'll make up a spreadsheet and make it available on line where you can record your progress each day. (I'll put a link to it in my sidebar). I'll start it on Monday, November 17th, but if you read this after that and still want to join us, just leave a comment and you can start then.

Hopefully, this will help us get ready to really challenge ourselves in January to develop the healthy habits we've been missing in our lives. I am cooking up something bigger and better for that one, and the people who participate in this freebie challenge will have an advantage in the 2009 challenge.

So join me. Commit to being a little better at something in November and December--or at least to not let your usual habits slide. It will feel so good, and I'm hoping that it will make up for some of the Christmas cookies that I will be eating along the way!

(I borrowed the overindulgent cat photo from this blog.)