Spring "Chick" Challenge 2012

I suck at challenges – don’t’ know what it is about them but I never seem to end them. Well except maybe the Hot 100 that Steve first put on. I did good on that one. But I find that if I start straying from the correct path, I tend to not finish the challenge because I’m too ashamed to admit that I’m failing. Really? What’s up with that, and at my age, shouldn’t I be facing up to my faults and get on with the challenge?? Yeah, I think so to, time to grow up !

I was invited to join the Spring “Chick” Challenge and it starts Monday, January 2nd, 2012  and ends on Monday, March 19, 2012 (The last day of Winter)

The challenge motto is:

“We are starting 2012 off by breaking the shell of our old self and getting ready for Spring by becoming more fit and healthy.”

These are my focus points for this challenge:

1. Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.
   • My non-scale victory is to fit back into all those nice clothes that I bought last year for work. Most are getting very uncomfortable and I am not wearing them. I have a lot of nice stuff in my closet and it’s time to get them out again. 
2. Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal or Sparkpeople or WW.
   • I will use my FitBit program as it tracks my activity, my mileage, food, sleep… just about anything I want to track  and I’ll probably set it up to post my weekly results to here. I also post them to facebook.
     • How much water will you drink daily? My water consumption has dropped and I’m going to work on increasing that. I’m planning on going to Bikram Hot Yoga twice a week so really will need to stay hydrated.
     • How many calories daily or weekly?  I am not sure about this yet. I’m going to go with the paleo/primal way of eating as it works best for me, and the calories aren’t really a part of this way of eating. But I am going to track and make sure I am not going to high. I would like to stay below 1800 but it depends on how much I increase my activity. And if I am not losing any weight, then track religiously and keep it at 1500.
3. Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.
   • I have to stay flexible but I have to put something down on paper and stick to the schedule. I can’t keep on not exercising as it is extremely important in how I feel. I plan on going to Hot Yoga twice a week but living out in the country kind of limits that if there are any weather related issues that prevent me from going. I am able to modify my work hours to allow me to leave early enough to get to yoga but I can only manage that twice a week
   • Rest of the time, I’ve got to get back into a strength training and cardio training. They are so important to how I feel – right now I feel like crap.
4. Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress.
   • I am going to try my darndest at this one – it will be difficult to do at work so I will have to commit to writing it at home, then posting it the next day (my internet sucks at home – problem with living out in the middle of no-where).
5. Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do.
   • Yeah, I’m going to do this one, because I’m likely going to need the support back. I hope to comment as much as I can (along with my favorite folks that are not in a challenge – just want to say HI). But again, work will be an issue because I anticipate a very very busy 2012.

This challenge isn’t going to be about the scale weight – Helen I wished I could get a Zero Scale but they won’t ship to Canada – talk to Rick will ya? This challenge, along with my 66 days is to just establish the good habits again and get back into the swing of things. I have to stop letting outside factors sway me and get my shitz together. It’s ME time again folks – watch me rock this…. Yes I will!!

Hope you are all having a FANTASTIC DAY!!

S