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

66 Days to make it permanent….

We have all heard it takes 21 days to develop a habit – and 7 days to break it. I’m living proof that this pattern is easy to follow – especially the breaking part.

But then I heard it really takes 66 days to make a change really count. My friend/boss was telling me about it and that together we should start on January 1st and together develop some good habits. Rather a team motivation process. Motivate each other to make the right choices. And give each other crap if we stray from the path. She’s good at that

I liked the idea – and it scared me at the same time. I am so tired of failing myself.

We are both going away on a business trip the 3rd week in January where I will see my favorite work peers and we really have a lot of fun when we get together. It doesn’t happen that often so we tend to have social nights while away. This year Melinda and I will be partaking in club soda during these events. 

Hmmm… had I been alone without Melinda there doing the same thing… I am sure I would give in to the party atmosphere with the guys but with Mel there right beside me not partaking along with me, I think it will be doable. Some of these guys I have worked with for 20+ years – we are almost a family this team of mine. They will support us, but give us a hard time at the same time. But since they are almost family – I can tell them what I think of their antics… LOL.

So starting January 1st (and yes I could start today but am not), we are going to go 66 days living a completely clean and healthy lifestyle. And I guarantee it will continue long after that. It has to, my future happiness depends on it…really it does…

Mr. Sandra will not be happy because to make this successful for me, he has to start cleaning up his lifestyle too. I’m not buying anymore crap and putting it in the house. He eats it more than I do but for his sake I’m going to stop purchasing it. I keep wondering what he is waiting for….  I have to tell ya folks, moving out here to the country where he was going to be active, and participate in life – well it hasn’t started yet. I’m not sure what he wants to do with the rest of his retired life because if he continues on the path he is on, he will not live past 60.

So you will find boring posts coming starting January 1st, Day 1 of 66 blah blah with all the details on how I am managing. I was going to do one new thing a day but not sure I can think of 66 goals…. so will just journal how I’m doing.

I might even join in a challenge in blogland to help me keep on track. I mean the more of you giving me heck about falling off track, well the better for me it will be

I hope you all are doing great and have a wonderful holiday!!

Sandra

Digital Christmas

 

Enjoy!

Christmas 2.0

I am alive….

I hope everyone is doing great! I’ve been so busy here at work that I haven’t had time to write or read any blogs. In years gone by, December was a month to clean-up and finalize the past years projects. I even use December to plan for my own personal goals etc. – getting ready for the new year. But we are instead busy working on our current projects and getting ready for new ones to start in 2012…. there is no end in sight. Which I guess means I’ve still got a job for the next 5 years or longer. I have to admit I am enjoying all the new stuff….. (I work in IT and part of my job is to investigate, test and deploy new technology to the infrastructure).

I got on the scale this morning. I’m depressed. Yup, wasn’t good news. I currently weigh more today than I did January 1st, 2011. I’m ending my year higher than I started. Blah! I’ve not had my stuff together this year and it shows…. big time!

So I’ve got to get down to business and get my business done. No one can make this happen except me. I’ve got to schedule time with myself.  I know, I know… I’ve written this before. But someway, somehow folks, I’ve got to make this happen.

Having a young puppy at home has totally screwed my early morning schedule up. She barks – a lot – when she hears someone up. Ms. Katie used to do it as well and I used to sneak down into the basement to exercise and she never heard me – or at least she didn’t until I was already down there and on the treadmill. In this new house, I’ve got to walk by the puppy and she will put up a fuss big time. So I’ve avoided it. Time to just get doing it and allow her to get used to MY schedule on my terms and not hers.

BTW – she has grown a LOT in the last 2 months.

 

Aren’t they cute?

 

My biggest issue right now is my back and hips. They are seizing up and if I don’t get moving on a regular basis, it is only going to get worse. I’ve been going to Hot Yoga once a week lately and I need to get there a couple more times a week – if anything just for the massive stretching it allows me to do. I hurt, I ache, and I can hardly move if I’ve been sitting for awhile – pretty sad eh?

I am alive …. but barely!

Time to organize, plan, and get my shit together. But most of all it is time to get MOVING!!

I hope you are doing just FANTASTIC!!

TTYL

Sandra