|
Post by xenagoddess on Jan 1, 2007 12:07:38 GMT -5
Valentine's Day ChallengeSet you goals!
State them clearly!Join in the fun of being healthy with a great group of goal setters.
|
|
|
Post by ema2two on Jan 1, 2007 16:50:09 GMT -5
HAPPY NEW YEAR I'm in the challenge, because I can't NOT be. I've worked to hard to throw in the towel. If I don't continue to struggle, I'll surely not get where I want to be. As it is I'm struggling to get back to goal, and things have been moving in the wrong direction for months. That's with weekly meetings and frequent check ins here and on two ww.com boards where I'm a long-time participant. I'm sure I'd have gained more back faster if I'd not been trying. In the end, this is about my health, and it's not healthy to be where I am right now. I want to constantly challenge myself to improve and maintain my health. Note I said I WANT to do this, not I NEED to do this. Right now that means increasing my exercise, improving my eating, and daily checking in for support and attention to the psychological aspects of eating. I know I need to be more specific, for myself and for the challenge, but I want to think about realistic goals and measures of success first. I am very hopeful that my therapist will think I am ready to taper or discontinue the antidepressants. I think they have contributed to my weight gain. We talked about it before the holidays and she said we'd talk more after the holidays. I am supposed to start using a therapeutic light and also increase my exercise before I see her next. I'm doing very will with the exercise, and now that it's 2007 and I can get reimbursement for health care expenses again, I will order the light. I am glad she is looking at every possible way to keep me off medication and not depressed, by using a combination of non-drug mood elevators/stabilizers like exercise (which has clearly helped my moods before) and the therapeutic light, which we've talked about (and I've read about) but I've never tried before, as well as therapy. [glow=red,2,300]Wishing you all a happy healthy and successful 2007![/glow]
|
|
|
Post by chicagobeth on Jan 1, 2007 17:59:54 GMT -5
Happy New Year Friends! I need to detox from all of the noshing I did in Wisconsin this weekend. I've decided that Baked Cheetoes are EVIL.
I'm in for a V-day challenge. My main goal is to get to goal - which is 6 pounds or 1 pound a week. It will be challenging - there is several family birthdays and a Vegas trip in this time period! But it's time for me to get on maintenance. Other goals include:
-following the new Core snacking guidelines -writing down WPAs -trying a new recipe each week.
Good luck everyone!
-Beth
|
|
|
Post by vita77 on Jan 1, 2007 18:22:49 GMT -5
Happy New Year, all! Today was cold & rainy, then as I was exiting the quilt shop at 5 pm (after dropping a bundle at their fabulous New Year's Day sale!), a beautiful rainbow appeared, and I felt great about starting 2007 off well.
Ema, hang in there. Therapy can be so complex, but it sounds like you have some promising options. My ex, who's a psychiatrist, is a big advocate of light therapy.
Beth, I have a goal to get to goal as well, but at 8 pounds away, and with my track record, I don't want to focus on the number for this challenge. So my goals don't mention <the G word>, though I'll cheer for myself and everyone else whose focus is on <the G word.>
Here goes:
Follow the new snack guidelines. Stay within my WPA WITHOUT the use of creative accounting practices. Eat only to satisfaction, and practice safe leftover management - into the freezer! Use the following phrase as often as needed: "Do I want to eat this, or do I want to get to goal?"
|
|
|
Post by xenagoddess on Jan 1, 2007 19:25:12 GMT -5
My mom has also had good luck using the light during the winter. She suffers from seasonal depression and it has helped a bit.
My goals are simple:
No Sugar No Snacking No Seconds 240-300 minutes of exercise a week.
Three meals a day and a small (core) snack when needed. Eat like grandma and grandpa used to and keep it simple.
|
|
|
Post by xoxohart on Jan 1, 2007 22:10:34 GMT -5
I'm in! No weight goals for me this time, because they always seem to backfire! For me, it's more effective to focus on what I need to DO to maintain a healthy weight. Here are my goals:
Track WPAs, even if I go over. Exercise 4 times per week. Post here or in my journal at least twice a week. Eat only to satisfaction.
|
|
|
Post by ema2two on Jan 1, 2007 22:50:38 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by girliepurple on Jan 2, 2007 10:09:47 GMT -5
Happy New Year everyone!!! ;D ;D I am IN for the challenge, as usual! I also will continue to focus on what I need to DO. Although I do have an <W word> that I think about every week ... 1. Always have the food on hand to prepare correct Core portion sized meals - plan plan plan. 2. Continue on my maintaining for life journey!
|
|
|
Post by mikkid24 on Jan 2, 2007 10:36:03 GMT -5
Count me in! After eating my way through the holiday season, it is time to completely refocus and rededicate (and lose the 12+ lbs. I've gained!). My goals are:
1. Get back to tracking 2. Control portions 3. Stick to core foods--more fruits/veggies, whole grains, etc. 4. Avoid sugar, bread/baked goods, alcohol, etc. 5. Get back to the routine of exercising daily 6. Use the WW tools to get back on track mentally as well as physically 7. Don't miss my weekly meeting 8. Lose at least 1 lb. per week by following the first 7 goals
There--I'm on the hook to be accountable, and get back to my goal weight!
Happy New Year!
|
|
|
Post by wdwbarb on Jan 2, 2007 13:07:12 GMT -5
Please count me in! I just love what Kathy said, "Do I want to eat this or do I want to get to goal?" I need to be accountable for this journey and checking in here will enable me to do that. I feel more positive already. Now to get to where the pants aren't so tight! I'll have to come up with some concrete goals.
|
|
|
Post by xenagoddess on Jan 2, 2007 14:16:16 GMT -5
Idea?
How do folks feel about having a weekly - (Monday perhaps or on your WI date) check in directly related to our stated goals. I thought it might be more productive for us to track ourselves in a more formal manner rather than just having someone keep the stats for everyone.
What do you think?
|
|
|
Post by chicagobeth on Jan 2, 2007 15:19:09 GMT -5
Cynthia - I think that's a great idea. My suggestion is for your WI day, I think most people consider that to be the beginning of their new week.
Having a good back-on-track day today - it feels great! Hope everyone else is too.
-Beth
|
|
|
Post by sulee on Jan 2, 2007 16:31:12 GMT -5
I'm planning a successful challenge! I really feel all recommitted and ready to make the changes in my lifestyle, my mindset and my body that i've been talking about for a long time.
I like the idea about self reporting, Cynthia, and agree that WI day might be a good plan, Beth.
So my goals are: + to attend weekly WW meetings ++ to exercise each and every day +++ to eat in a core way ++++ to journal everything, even if i go over weekly points or it's painful for me to admit to +++++ to lose weight, period
|
|
|
Post by girliepurple on Jan 2, 2007 16:32:34 GMT -5
Wonderful suggestion, Cynthia -- one that we will all benefit from. Talk about accountability - I need it!! Every Wednesday (my WI day) I will let you know about how I did following my goals. Or maybe on Thursday??...since I WI on Wed. nights....how will we do this, just post once a week?
|
|
|
Post by ema2two on Jan 2, 2007 22:08:49 GMT -5
One of my goals for the challenge is to check in daily, and I may use it as a more frequent tally of how I'm doing with my other goals, if that's OK with you all and doesn't get to tedious. If it does, will someone PLEASE tell me! My goals: - Try different meetings to find a new one that works for me in terms of leader/group dynamics and schedule/locationHad hoped to go to a meeting today at 4 PM, but my plans collapsed this morning when my babysitter informed me she'd made a (rare) scheduling snafu and forgot DH was working overnight tonight and she'd told me she could stay late. She had tickets to a Broadway show which were a birthday gift to her daughter. Needless to say, I told her to enjoy the show and I'll figure out a way to get to a meeting some other time this week.
- Flex for 1-2 weeks to return some much needed structure Day two and I must say this is EXACTLY what I needed to get me refocused and structured.
- Journal everything honestly, whether on core or flex Again, I've been scrupulously honest for yesterday and today. And it is INCREDIBLY helpful
- Plan meals the day in advance (especially while on Flex), putting in the 8 HG first, then the 'fluff' and WPA I have a week of meals planned out, subject to modification, to be sure, but at least I have a tentative road map. I modified yesterday and today, which is perfectly fine with me, but at least I know what road I'm on a detour from, and still have the 8 HG to guide me to my final destination
- Stop for at least 15 seconds before eating anything and consider if it is really something I want to eat now or not So, far, there hasn't been much need for this. I forgot the snacks I'd planned to take with me into Manhattan, and realized that the lunch I'd planned was one that needed to be reheated at home, and I wans't going to be home until after going to the gym, or at least 4 PM. So I tried to get some soup and sushi in Manhattan. The place wasn't opening for another 10 minutes, and there wasn't a sign of anyone who I could signal to and try to get something a few minutes before official business hours. And I was too tight on time to wait. So I high-tailed it 7 blocks south, where I knew I could get some good core-ish soups (even though I'm on flex this week, I knew they'd be filling and healthy). I got some split pea soup, some non-fat no-potatoes vegetable soup and a banana. This made a reasonable substitute for what I had planned to eat at home (lentil brown rice/cheese casserole and an apple) and because I was thinking in terms of substitutions for what I had planned, the bagels, which are my favorite (they take a regular bagel, roll it out flat and then bake is so it's thin and crispy) weren't even considered. Amazing that I didn't need to talk myself out of them. What I chose was just perfect to get me back to the gym and back home. And I got an extra 7 blocks of ultra-brisk walking in!
- Exercise minimum 3x/week cardio and 2x/week Yoga or Pilates and 2x/week strength ;D Made it to the gym too late for Yoga, which was disappointing, but couldn't be helped. So I did cardio and strength training, so I'm on target here.
- Check in here or my ww.com support board every day Done.
So I'm feeling energized and like this is possible, and like I'm starting off on a new leg of this journey, and like I can enjoy the travels, not just the destination. Oh, and I'm beginning an every-so-slow taper of the meds, which is also encouraging. Even if they aren't the culprit, since this whole journey is about my health, I'm happy to be regaining my mental health, as well as my physical health.
|
|