My 30-Day Challenge

How do you motivate yourself when it seems all motivation has flown out the window? For me, I'm going to try a 30-day Challenge. I figure that if I can stick with something for 30 days, not only will it become a habit, but I should definitely see results and find that ever-elusive motivation once again! I've been trying to come up with a challenge that isn't too easy but that isn't so difficult that I want to give up. It needs to be attainable - with some effort. So, here it is:

For the next 30 days (including Sundays!), starting Monday, July 26, I will do 30 minutes of intentional exercise each day. I'm calling it my "30/30 Challenge"!

Now, it may not seem like much of a challenge. However, for me, it is! You see, I'm very good at starting things and not so good at keeping at them until they're done. That is about to change. I need to do this, for my health and my sanity. I drive myself nuts thinking about how much progress I could have made by now if only I would've kept at it - and I'm done with that!! With God's help, I will succeed in this challenge and hopefully follow it with another one!

I would love to have you join me! Just knowing that I'm not doing this alone would be a huge motivator! (There's that word again!) Tomorrow I will post my starting weight and my exercise, and I pray there will be a difference by the end of 30 days! I know - I'll also measure my waist, hips & thighs (ugh) - seeing those numbers go down would be a HUGE motivator for me!!

I'm looking at this challenge as my best effort so far in the journey towards losing my double chin! Please join me, or at least send your encouraging thoughts my way! Because I know I'll need it! Woohoo!

Oh, I nearly forgot - I've got my 20-year class reunion coming up in 1 year, and I am determined to that there will be less of me attending that reunion than there is now!!

Challenge Monday

My new-found willpower was severely tested this weekend - - by Monster Cookies! I have the best recipe for these delicious treats and they are most certainly a weakness of mine. I made them because my hubby was complaining that there was nothing in the house to snack on. I had a bag of m&m's that needed to be used, and so the idea for monster cookies entered my brain. I don't know about you, but there aren't a lot of things that taste as good as fresh-from-the-oven cookies - they're warm and chewy and gooey and - well, I could go on and on, but I won't. Needless to say, I managed to cut myself off at 3... on Saturday... and that's all I'll say about it...

Even though the cookies were delicious, and I ate plenty the first day, my willpower kept me from devouring a dozen. I must say that I was surprised with my ability to cut myself off. How did I get to this point? And can I stay here? I'm certainly going to try! Being able to say "NO!" to food, especially too much food, is a huge step towards a healthier and skinnier me.

I was with some friends last week and we got to talking about weight loss. One of my friends is a fitness guru, and she gave us this tidbit, "It doesn't matter how much you exercise, if you don't adjust your eating habits, you will not lose weight. Sure, you may be healthier and in better shape physically, but your weight will not go down unless you cut back on the amount of food you eat."

Excellent advice. Let's use it!

Today is Challenge Monday. I like to give myself a goal each week, something I can attain, but will stretch my comfort a bit. So this week, (and this goes through Sunday!) the challenge is:

Eat only the recommended serving size of whatever you eat. NO SECONDS.

For example, if you have ice cream, eat only 1/2 cup.  If you cook or bake from scratch, like me, be reasonable in your portion sizes!

We can do it!!!