Thread: Holiday Challenge 2007

Good morning!

Well, I've gotten in 32 oz. of water and a great workout at the Y so far today (30 min on treadmill, broken into: 5 min warm up, 10 min jog, 2 min cool down, 10 min incline walk, 3 min cool down plus I did upper body weights today) and I just had a yummy lc casserole for lunch. Not a bad start to the day - especially considering it's my birthday! Tonight will be the challenge - friends are taking me out for dinner. If cake ends up being involved I already promised myself that I'd only have 3 bites and be done.

Yesterday was a good day, too... earned all my points.

Now, as far as the water issue... it looks like the votes are pretty much split, so I did a little reading on the 'net. It seems the general consensus out there is that as long as what you're drinking is unsweetened (or sweetened only with splenda(sucralose) or saccharin, but NOT aspartame) and non-caffinated, then it should be OK. Me? If I'm drinking water, it must be plain, but I totally understand the need for flavor. So, for the purposes of this challenge, as long as your fluids meet the above guidelines, (ie. non-caffinated green tea, flavorings in water, lemon, etc...) then we'll call that meeting the requirements for rule #1.

As far as the exercise rule... the votes say 150 total minutes and number of days doesn't count. So you can get it done in 1 day or 7, just get it done or no points for you!

Alright. Hopefully that's settled. But if not, we can discuss it some more.

Have a wonderful weekend! And remember, for the purposes of this challenge, our weeks run Thurs - Wed, so you'll be posting your first set of points next Thurs. If anyone else would like a copy of the chart I made to keep track, PM me with your email addy and I'll send you a copy!

P.S...LOL...I am a daily weigher...so my signature weight will change Daily...warning!!!....you might get dizzy keeping up with it!!

Lisa - Lalalalalala! Not looking! I'll just pay attention on the days I post stats updates! (Oh, I'm keeping my weight in the stats in my siggy too... but there is no need to post your weight for this challenge if you don't want to - just pounds lost)

Hi!! I'm in coming in with my head low in shame. I reached my 6 month goal range in August but have crept up to 156 pounds today from 133. Yikes! Ready to join this challenge and get back to goal for my 1 year maintenance weigh in this February.

Heather - No need to hang your head in shame. For goodness sakes! I'm sure we've all been there. Well, actually, I've never met goal yet, so you're one up on me! I'm just really glad you're going to be a part of this challenge!

exercise - not there yet. I will be - no excuses, just not done.

MaryKay - I know you will! Or, ::in my best soup nazi voice:: No points for you!

Thanks Mada, I'm feeling so much better with a 3 pound whoosh of my current weight gain. I'm a horrible binger...gained 12 pounds just in this last week! I know it won't fall off as fast as it came but I should get some whooshes at least the first week back on plan.
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Today has been a really great day! For my final meal - 3 hours or more before bed - I made chicken and asparagus. The kids and I ate at the coffee table with candles lit and our Asian dishes. Jay, my 8 year old, is pretty good at chopsticks but my Charlie who is 3 is still learning.
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Water - 10 cups total *5 points
Exercise 5x week (Thursday/Friday so far) - got in minimum 30 minutes and goal of 21,000 daily steps *5 points
Eating 3 hours before bed - Around 4-5 hours before bed tonight *5 points
Lost 3 pounds today *30 points!
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Total points for day: 45 points
Total points to date: 60 points

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1. Drink your water!

Earn 5 points per day for drinking 8 glasses (64 oz.) of water or more

Earn 3 points per day for drinking 4 - 7 glasses (32 - 56 oz.) of water

2. Exercise! 30 minutes (or more) per day, 5 days a week.

Earn 5 points per day for exercising at least 30 minutes per day.

Earn 3 points per day for exercising 15 - 29 minutes per day.

3. Stop eating 3 hours before bed.

Earn 5 points per day for accomplishing this task.

4. Post your pounds lost.

Earn 10 points for each pound you lose during the challenge!

Hi Ya'll

ok...todays counts

72 oz water...plus one glass of unsweet tea w/splenda packet...5 pts
No Formal exercise today..
Ate 3 hrs before bedtime..(Hubby grilled salmon outside and made some homemade Coleslaw..yummo!)...5 pts

No pounds lost...BooHoo!

That's great Lisa & Heather!

Just so you know... you don't have to post your points every day (unless you want to) just post them weekly so I can keep track for everyone.

Did pretty well last night at my birthday outing. Had a bit of potato in some soup and twice-baked, but other than that, was pretty low carb, and earned all my points for the day.

Great job Mada on your dinner last night!
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I plan on logging in my points everyday just because it's a few minutes that put my mind on the right track. Thanks for the challenge because it's a great motivation to earn full points for the day. I'm excited to log in....40 points for another great whoosh in my weight today. Yippee!

Water - 12 cups total *5 points
Exercise 5x week (Thursday/Friday/Saturday) - got in 100 minutes speed 3.0 on treadmill and goal of 21,000 daily steps *5 points
Eating 3 hours before bed - 4 hours before bed tonight *5 points
Lost 4 pounds today *40 points!
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Total points for day: 55 points
Total points to date: 115 points

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1. Drink your water!

Earn 5 points per day for drinking 8 glasses (64 oz.) of water or more

Earn 3 points per day for drinking 4 - 7 glasses (32 - 56 oz.) of water

2. Exercise! 30 minutes (or more) per day, 5 days a week.

Earn 5 points per day for exercising at least 30 minutes per day.

Earn 3 points per day for exercising 15 - 29 minutes per day.

3. Stop eating 3 hours before bed.

Earn 5 points per day for accomplishing this task.

4. Post your pounds lost.

Earn 10 points for each pound you lose during the challenge!

saturday's counts:

102 oz water...2 glasses ice tea w/splenda...I was thirsty yesterday...LOL...5pts
20 mins exercise...on the cardio glider...Killer!...for me anyway!
3 hrs before bedtime...(smoked country ribs and a salad).....5 pts.

I too must log in daily...holds me accountable!

cept i ain't losing no weight..LOL...Holding steady!

This seems like a good goal oriented challenge. I'd be happy to remain the same weight through the holidays. So count me in starting today.

Mada - could you email that chart? Thanks.

nice to have you joining us Rob.
I will be happy if I can get motivated to start doing some exercising.
This weekend was not good on water, but tomorrow is a working day - I do much better then.
Going to blow up my 'big ball' today.

Welcome Rob!! I think it is so healthy to want to maintain over the holidays because the average person must gain 5 pounds every year from the food.
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Hope you don't mind the huge posts each day. I'm pretty forgetful so need this.
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Water - currently drinking last 3 cups for my 8 cups today. *5 points
Exercise - 5x a week (Sunday so far) - I'm walking on my treadmill and will get in 30 - 45 minutes to reach my daily 21,000 step pedometer goal. *5 points
Eating 3 hours before bed - ate dinner and will NOT eat again. *5 points
Lost 2 pounds this morning! Whoosh is slowing down but it was a great whoosh!! *20 points
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Total points for day: 35 points
Total points to date: 150 points

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1. Drink your water!

Earn 5 points per day for drinking 8 glasses (64 oz.) of water or more

Earn 3 points per day for drinking 4 - 7 glasses (32 - 56 oz.) of water


2. Exercise! 30 minutes (or more) per day, 5 days a week.

Earn 5 points per day for exercising at least 30 minutes per day.

Earn 3 points per day for exercising 15 - 29 minutes per day.

3. Stop eating 3 hours before bed.

Earn 5 points per day for accomplishing this task.

4. Post your pounds lost.

Earn 10 points for each pound you lose during the challenge!

Hey, I'd like to join your challenge. Everything helps around the holidays!

Welcome Rob!!
Welcome Cjsfireman!!

Goodmorning all!

Sundays counts were..

Water....90oz(Pure)...plus Tea and a flavored Water...5pts
exercise..cardio glide..20 mins (not doing to well on the exercise..hoping to hit gym tues and thurs)
3 hrs before bedtime...blew it entirely!

On to a new day...no budge of the scale!

Hope you don't mind the huge posts each day. I'm pretty forgetful so need this.

No problem, Heather... do what ya gotta do. That's what this thread/challenge is for!

Hey, I'd like to join your challenge. Everything helps around the holidays!

So true, cjsfireman! Glad you're joining us. If you'd like a points tracking chart for your fridge, PM me with an email address to send it to and I'll get it to you (it's a Word doc, or I can make it a pdf file).

On to a new day...no budge of the scale!

Keep on keepin' on Lisa - it'll come off. You're so close to goal it's going to slow down - frustrating, I'm sure! And besides, no movement means no movement upward, either! (Check my siggy - hasn't moved either so I'm right there with ya right now)

As for me, I've got my exercise in (40 min of racquetball and 20 min on the treadmill jogging & walking on an incline) and I've downed 4 glasses of water. If I can start my day this way, I usually end well, too. What can I say? I'm a structure addict! LOL!

Have a great day everyone!

P.S. Rob - I just emailed you the chart.

Thanks Mada _ I got it!

First day yesterday I got in double my quota of water. But was too sick to exercise and ate a huge hunk of cheese right before bed. I didn't have to get on the scale to know i didn't lose. I think I'll keep track on Mada's chart and post once or twice a week. Thoughh I will track everyone's progress daily.

I bought a 24 ounce bag of roasted in the shell peanuts. That does not bode well for the coming week. <sigh>