Friday, November 14, 2008

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.)

17 comments:

MOMof6 said...

I am in! I'm going to do the the same goals as you. I just joined the YMCA yesterday ( I know it costs money. It is just way too cold here in Wisconsin to go out with the kids in the stoller. I went to a body pump class this morning and it felt great. My kids loved the kid care too. It was great to just do something for myself. Thanks for the inspiration for the upcoming challenge!

Andrea said...

I am in too! I am going to do the exercise 5 days a week. Since the challenge has been over I have totally slacked!!! This will give me a little more motivation.

Rebecca Blevins said...

I'm in too. I'm going to do the exercise 5 days/week, and daily scripture study. I've been doing extremely well in my eating habits (no sugar, lots of raw and cooked veggies, salads, healthy smoothies) but nothing's going to come off if I don't exercise.

Since I had my wisdom tooth out yesterday, I may not be able to start exercising until Monday. Can't dislodge the clot and all. But my goal is to do SOMETHING each of those 5 days to exercise, whether it be 5 minutes or an hour. The habit is one I need to establish.

Thankfully I love Dance Dance Revolution and I can set it to workout mode!

Are you going to put a daily post where we can log our progress? If I see it in my followed blogs that would be a great help. You may have already said this, but my brain is super crazy!

Stephanie said...

Okay, okay (whiny, bad attitude voice), I'll do it. But your goals are too ambitious for me. I commit to make it to the gym 3x a week and only do one treat a day. (Reading my own comment, I realize I should probably weigh 423 pounds.)

And I LOVE the photo, I totally want to make that be my profile picture. :)

Rebecca Blevins said...

Ok, now I feel foolish. I see where you wrote about the spreadsheet. I think I was so excited about having support that the rest of it flew out my brain!

Shauna said...

I ♥ your blog! Thanks for sharing :)

Erika said...

Hum...I want to participate (it was the money that turned me off last time) but I don't know what I want it to be...
I'll get back to you.
xxoo
SEE YOU IN 2 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Ice Cream said...

Deep breath.
Heavy exhale.
These will both be very hard for me but I know they will help me get through the holidays in a good way.
Another deep breath.

I commit to reading at least one scripture every day, not eating out more than once a week no matter the circumstances, and getting out of the house at least 4 times every week (not including church or picking kids up from school).

*gasp*

These are really going to be hard for me, but the funny thing is that I used to do it this way all the time. I'm not sure when or why I stopped.

mindyluwho said...

I will do the daily personal scripture study, ride my bike at least 2 times per week, hopefully three, and eat only one treat per day...except on Thanksgiving and the day after and on Christmas Eve, Christmas day and two days after... :)

Becky said...

Ok, I'm in this time.
I pledge to read two pages of scriptures a day, every day.
I pledge to continue going to the gym at least 4x a week.
I pledge to shop for and eat better food, making a goal to meal plan ahead of time.

Christine said...

It's my first time seeing your blog. I love your idea and I'm in. 3 times a week of excersize, 1 treat every day, everyday scripture study, and at least three servings of fruits or veggies.

A mother heart said...

Count me in....I just have to figure out what exactly my goal is. I have a few things in mind...

Joyful Noise said...

I'm in. Exercise five days a week and I will figure out tonight how much more I think I can add.

Scrappy said...

Okay, I'm in. I love the blog idea.

I have been trying to decide what to do. I think I have decided on exercise 3 days per week, at least one scripture per day and FHE once a week (I know it is always once a week but with El Guapo working so much this time of year we don't usually get that done), two more fruits or vegetables per day, and read for at least 15 minutes per day with my boys. I don't know if that last one counts as a healthy habit but it is something I need to do better with so I am adding it in. :)

TheQueen@TerrorsInTiaras said...

Is it too late to be in? I want to do scripture study every day before blogging, plus something else. I just can't decide what it will be yet. Can I have more time? Maybe I should decide to not procrastinate...that might be a good one...
I'll e-mail you my goal, and a profile picture, so you don't have to use my crown, very soon.

Angela said...

Ok count me in- I lost 10 pounds from Thanksgiving to New Years last year. But this summer I put 6 of it back on! So I am ready to roll! The veggies will be the hardest part!

An Ordinary Mom said...

The picture of that kitten is to die for! I love it! That is so me, LOL!

Committing to one more computer thing right now is not good for my mental health, but then again getting encouragement from other people might be just what I need so maybe I will give this a whirl.

I am going to open my scriptures every day and read at least one verse, but I am aiming to study them more seriously for at least 4 days a week. I am going to exercise at least 4 days a week and I am going to step up the routine I do. I am going to drink more water and eat less sugar ... vague I know, but I won't bore you with the specifics.

Now what I really should add on here is that I am going to start going to bed earlier!