Be Your best by June 2008 Challenge

[geha]

This is a challenge for all corbies wanting to get in best form by June 2008.

That may mean one thing to one person and another to someone else but...each of us has to create a way of life FOREVER that will work in the long run...and in so doing...

...we will reach summer of 2008...in our best form ever.

I would like to think that this is a first, second, third or who knows what step on our way to becoming the best we can be.

...how about each of us focusing on...

One new goal per week whether physical, emotional, spiritual or whatever...between now and June 2008.

Check in weekly with an update on the goals you have set for yourselves along with the rewards you have determined for each goal achieved.

Something new to improve ourselves physically, mentally, spiritually or in some other way for just a few months...and...sharing it with the rest of the online group.,

Join me/us in becoming the persons we want to be ... who we would truly like to be! How would you truly like to live, be and eat?

Are you tall? thin? short? buxom? fit? flat? healthy...now there is the word...are you heathy...and if not...why not? And...if you are online in this spot in time...you must truly want to be the best you can possibly be in all ways...and you must want to share it with the rest visiting this site...so...jump in and do so...be all you can be

So...after that rather ranting speech...what would you truly be willing to commit to between now and June 2008?

[chicagobeth]

Hey Cathy -

Good for you for getting things started!

I am a few pounds over my goal, not enough that there is a difference in my clothes but enough that it bothers me. So, I would like to get that 5 lbs. off and I would like to get back into a mode of exercising 3-4 times a week.

This winter in Chicago has been absolutely brutal and my guess is that it will be a snowy March for us as well. I am anxious to get into the spring weather! I think that will help a lot.

I hope this challenge is a little more active, the last few have been very quiet. Hope to see a lot of familiar faces here soon!

-Beth

[geha]

Beth -

I wish *I* was only a few pounds off of goal weight! Not so...however...I am motivated this morning and plan to do much better on this challenge than the last one. I can imagine that exercising outside in Chicago winter must be a bit off-putting. Was in Iowa City in November and walking outside with my sister and her dog was not something I did often with her.

I am up at 5 this morning in order to get e-mail, take hubby down the hill before 6am to catch a bus into Beirut and a cab from there to Damascus. When I get home I will feed chickens, ducks and a cat then exercise...yes...I said the evil word...exercise! It is not my favorite thing at all. Then, after a Core breakfast will sit down and plan my menu for the five days he will be gone and bring in laundry and...who knows what else.

I figure that by the end of the year I should be at goal weight, if not before, so...here's to getting there...or at least lighter on my feet than I am today and a whole lot healthier!

So, here's to having a great experience between now and June.

[girliepurple]

Cathy - thanks so much for getting us started - I am psyched! I love the name of the challenge and the purpose of the challenge - I feel motivated. Hi, Beth!

I am now 10 lbs. over my personal goal and playing around w/2 lbs. for the last month - up and down, up and down. Trying to re-adjust my eating and exercising lifestyle to get back to goal has been hard, but then again with weight loss/maintenance...what isn't hard about it.

I am staying as positive mentally as possible and am determined never, ever to give up (see statement under picture). ;D This is for life so I have to deal with it forever.

I have been maintaining my 5/6 days a week exercise routine, no alcohol Mon.-Thurs. (tee hee), coffee only on weekends (decaf tea at work in the morning), keeping up with water intake as usual, and trying out starch/carb w/dinner only 2x a week night.

Whew... I will get there. Life requires adjustment ...

I hope to see a lot of old and new faces on this challenge too!

[geha]

So far I have not lost any weight but...perhaps I am in the contemplation rather than do-it phase. Hubby returns tonight and that might make a difference, too. Being home alone SHOULD make it easier to stay on program but it doesn't always work that way.

Hope all of you are doing well!

[Wildflower]

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for getting this started Cathy, and for emailing me. I was unable to load up the site for a couple of days and I was in the last few days (throes) of going back to my WW meetings.

YAY! I went today! I feel so happy. I am not worried about how much weight I have gained or how much I have to lose....

I'm just so happy to feel back in my group and back to eating in a healthy CORE way. I feel relaxed.

I am not going to set any lofty goals--just to remain connected.

Already I have an evening "date" with my DH this weekend at a friend's restaurant. I've already started planning on how I will handle it. I think I'll take a little container of fat-free cottage cheese for the baked potato and some fat-free dressing for the salad.

I know they serve steak there, which is not my favorite, but I don't eat that very much so I think that's what I'll have.

Glad to be back, girls. I'll try to rustle up some good graphics for our group....it'll take awhile because I let my server run out--starting over.

Hope some of the other girls show up too! That would be great!

[girliepurple]

Sandy!!!!!! ;D So good to "see" you again - welcome back! Hurray - I hope this motivates some of the old crowd to return to us! Good for you for going back to your WW meetings! Sounds like you have a good plan for your date night w/DH.

I missed my meeting last night because I forgot I had a dental appointment. By the time I was done... I didn't feel like running up there just to get weighed. But I will go next week... I'm feeling OK, getting back to the exercise for sure, now I have to get my eating under control again.

[Wildflower]

Good Morning Friends,

I'm really so happy to be back in a good state of mind. I got me a ticker! I also have been menu planning and thinking of some things I can cook ahead. I really like to make something and have it last several days--just DH and me. Hot dishes--I love CORE hot dishes. Soooo goood!

I've had a good breakfast and am having lunch right now. I made a nice salad with lettuces, yellow & red peppers, snap peas, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and 2 Tbsp. dried cranberries (1 point). I used a fat-free dressing.

Now I'm going to have a sandwich of some sort on a whole-wheat English muffin (2 points).

How are you all doing today? Good, I hope.

[Wildflower]

Good Morning Girls,

I'm having another good CORE day! Today is the day of my "date" and I found out it's in the afternoon--oh my. I think I'll go ahead and eat something at noon, and then make it a light meal.

I know myself, if I go too long without eating, my blood sugar drops and I'll eat anything in sight. Have a good day!

[geha]

I may have started this challenge but so far have not followed through. I may take a page from Sandy and just try to post more often here. I find that by staying in touch with a group while focusing on health/weight loss it seems to help. So...no weight lost yet but glad to be here.

[xoxohart]

Hi everyone! Cathy, thanks for getting this started. SANDY -- so good to see you back! I've missed you!

A couple of Saturdays ago at my WW meeting, I was just .7 over my "free" weight. Now I am about 3 pounds up, deservedly so, but I decided not to weigh in this morning. Lame, I know, and not really beneficial.

Last Saturday, I was so motivated; I planned a whole week's worth of menus. What happened? I did not shop for them! Sunday I had an anxiety attack and gave up. By Wednesday, I was just not eating in a very Core-like manner.

So my one goal for this week is to plan . . . carry through . . . and write down what I eat.

[Wildflower]

Hey COCO!! Glad you're here!

Yep! I keep a journal--write it down. And planning? Well, I have to admit I never could do it in the past--so I broke it down this time. I planned breakfast. I now have breakfast down pat. I do eat the same thing every morning--but that's comforting to me, I don't have to think about it.

Now I'm planning my evening routine--what to do for that evening "couch time". I've decided to have a WW Smoothie at 8:00 p.m. and then a big glass of water and my vitamins--wash my face, brush my teeth (floss), and that's the end of it.

I know, only a WW would know how elementary that sounds. Like YEA, doesn't everybody do that? Well, nooooooooo.

I ate so hap-hazardly all afternoon and evening, it was hard to tell when my evening ended.

Yes Cathy---keep checking in every day! I need the support too! Oh, by the way, my cousin's wife contacted me and she and my cousin are both on CORE too! Woooo hooo!

Then last night one of my dear internet friends contacted me and guess what---she's on CORE! I can't believe it! I am going to invite both of them on over to our group!

Oh...another question...do you think it would be okay to put an invitation on the main CORE board? Do they still allow it?

I was thinking of doing a call--out and maybe we can get back some of the old-timers. What do you think?[/b][/size][/color]

[Barney]

Good afternoon, Everyone! It's been a while since I've posted and I think its time to join another challenge! My last challenge was to help me lose weight for my wedding . . . Well, that was back in October and since the wedding, I've been having a very tough time. (I only managed to lose about 10 pounds for the wedding, nothing near what I wanted).

Sadly, my problem now is NOT that I have had a hard time staying on plan, but no matter what I do, I haven't been losing anything . . . It's been SO frustrating. I was sticking to the plan, doing everything that I did to lose this weight 2 years ago, but nothing . . . (2 years ago, I lost 40 pounds). (I even had my thyroid checked, but it came back normal). Thankfully, I haven't gained it all back, but it's just a matter of time at this pace. Through November, I gained back 21 pounds (from my lowest in early 2006). Then, with the frustration, in the last few weeks, I gained back another 6 pounds.

Time to stop feeling bad for and about myself, and time to kick this puppy back into gear. I have a wonderful new husband, we have a great new house, we're both healthy and happy. This is something that I can control and change, right?

2 months ago, I started training with a pilates trainer 2x per week. Next week, DH and I are going to buy a treadmill for both of us.

With that are my goals for this challenge -- stick to plan, watch portions, 3x per week cardio and 2x per week pilates. I want to lose 20 pounds to get back to a healthy, sustainable weight.

Good luck to everyone!

[chicagobeth]

It's nice to see some old faces around here!

I finally feel like I've got my game on again. I've been working out a lot and eating well. My attitude has shifted from "why bother" to "I am worth it!!". Hopefully the scale will follow.

For the first time in a long time I don't feel like I sabotaged myself this weekend. And it feels good! We went out for Japanese food last night and I certainly used WPAs but I don't think I blew the whole week's worth.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

-Beth

[girliepurple]

Hi, everyone and welcome to the new week! Hi, Barney! It's so good to see everyone old and new posting on this new challenge. We can do this!

I'm feeling a lot of frustration and I'm starting to get discouraged. I know I'm sabotaging myself in little ways, as I try to start new good habits and get back into old ones. So I just have to be patient with myself. My jeans/pants are slightly looser than say, in January, but not loose enough. I want results NOW! And I know how ridiculous that sounds. Slow and steady and persistent wins the race and keeps me there.

How was your "date", Sandy? Sure - invite your family and friends to join us at Kippy's!