Alright, who's up for a challenge that will take us through the holidays? If we have this to keep our focus, we should be able to make it through Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's without gaining, and hopefully losing a few pounds!

This challenge is based on a number of things, not just pounds lost, and you will accrue points each week based on your completion of each daily task - all things that are good for you and designed to help in weight loss.

This challenge will run from November 1 - January 3 (starting and ending on a Thursday just because...), and will get us past all of the dangerous holidays (food-wise). Post your points by Thursday of each week and I'll compile a stats update each week to see where we all stand.

Here are the rules and how you earn points:

1. Drink your water!



(For a brief description of why this helps with weight loss, click here.)

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

Earn 3 points per day for drinking 4 - 7 glasses (32 - 56 oz.) of water each day (because, hey, you tried!)

Earn 0 points for drinking less than 4 glasses of water each day.

Amendment: For the purposes of this challenge, as long as your fluids are non-caffinated and sweetened only with Splenda(sucralose) or saccharin (NOT aspartame) then we'll call that meeting the requirements for rule #1.

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.

Earn 0 points for less than 15 minutes of exercise per day.

(And no, there is no extra credit for exercising more than 30 minutes, or more than 5 days per week ... but you may see results in weight or pounds lost!)

Amendment: You must get in a total of 150 minutes of exercise per week - the number of days you do it in does not matter.
The other thing I noticed we should change is how we tally our exercise points, since you need to accumulate minutes rather than days. I'm thinking:

150 minutes or more = 35 points
100 - 149 minutes = 20 points
60 - 99 minutes = 10 points
30 - 59 minutes = 5 points
0 - 29 minutes = 0 points

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! (Why 10 points each? Because they're hard to lose, darn it, and you should get more points for each one you lose! )

That's it! Should be simple enough, right? Right?? And hopefully it will keep us focused as we move through the holidays.




Each week, you'll post your points for each task, ie:

Water: 30 points

Exercise: 25 points

Not eating before bed: 25 points

Pounds lost: 2 (= 20 points)

The person who ends up with the most points at the end of the challenge will win a sense of pride and accomplishment, a shiny gold star and the adoration of everyone involved in the challenge!

So, who's in? Just post a reply here this week so we can see who's up for the challenge (no need to post a starting weight or anything) and we'll start posting points/stats next week.

P.S.
I have a chart made that can be posted on your refrigerator that will help you keep track of daily & weekly point totals. PM me if you'd like one!

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Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

This one looks like fun. I'll give it a try - and plan to do better than I did for the Halloween challenge.

see you on the 1st.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

Oh YES!!! I'm in and love the chart idea...please pm me one...I will weigh-In on the 1st..can't wait to get started again...thanks Mada!!

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LISA

Well, that's 3 of us so far...

Hmmm, no more takers?? C'mon! Don't be shy. It'll be fun! And feel free to join it any time, even though we start in the morning.

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Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

weighed in today..i am up a couple,but ready to get this started...i pm'd you my e-mail Mada.. for the chart....sounds like a great idea..can't wait to get it. Start weight and losses will be kept in my siggy...

Have a great day all!!

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LISA

I'm here this morning, although dealing with a headache and stomach problems this mornng.

just got on the scale, and it is very, very scary. May have some to do with tummy problem, but it was at 219.
Halloween is OVER!!! Hubby took remaining treats to work.

off to fill my water jug for today.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

Hi ladies!

Lisa - I love your positive attitude! It's contagious. Also, I emailed you that chart... you'll get 2 emails from me because I forgot to attach it to the first one. Duh!

MaryKay - Sure hope you feel better! Here's hoping it's just too many Halloween treats and not an actual "bug."

I've already got my exercise in for the day and 4 glasses of water down the hatch! (Water goes down faster when you're sweating!) I hope to get 8 more in by the end of the day... I seem to do well if I drink 12 - 16 glasses (96 - 128 oz) each day.

Have a great first day!

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Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

Count Me In. Im In Need Of Some Help, The Last Couple Of Days Was Not Good For Me. My Starting Weight Is 226. I Have A Question, Does Green Tea Count As The Water Intake. I Drink 4 Cups Of Tea Minimum A Day And Sometimes Struggle To Get The Water In. And I Usually Only Workout 4 Days A Week For An Hour Each Workout.

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Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

Yea! Welcome Celeste!! So glad you're joining us.

To answer your questions... when I do this challenge with my friends IRL we say that you have to follow the rules to a T so there is no confusion. That means, water means water, not green tea or crystal lite, etc. and exercise must be 5 days a week like it says in the rules. It just avoids any confusion on interpretation. But of course, when I do it IRL, we're playing for money.

So, having said that, I put your questions to a group vote:

1) Water only, or can green tea count?

2) Exercise 5 days a week or a sum total of 150 minutes of exercise per week?

MaryKay & Lisa, please vote on the above 2 items and that's what we'll say works for this challenge. Sound good?

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Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

Got the Chart Mada! Thanks..have it printed out and getting ready to make my first entry!!

Vote #1....Water...Water only( I drink between 80 and 100oz daily) I use the 20oz water bottles and in no time I have 4 to 5 down..nothing like good ole pure water!!
Vote #2....150 mins..because sometimes I only get three days of exercise in...but an hour a shot..gym time...but if we do the five days I will rearrange my time somehow

But whatever the voting outcome...Im game!!

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LISA

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

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LISA

#1 - I guess it should be water, but I have to hope that some flavoring is allowed although i have to admit I got like 70 oz today, but had to start out with a little flavoring in it. I'm starting from nothing, and it will take me awhile to get to pur water.
I use lemon, or a little sprinkle of sugar free flavor.

#2 - I can see the 150 minutes - as some exercise actually shouldn't be on consecutive days.

so - a compromise?. let us have some harmless flavoring, and not require 5 days @ 1/2 hour. someitmes it is just impossible, but it should be a minimum of 3 days for sure.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

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.

November 1st:
Water - 5 points
Exercise - 5 points: 100 minutes walk 2.5 speed on treadmll & 30 minutes upper body weight training
Don't eat 3 hours before bed - 5 points: I've been binge eating before bed lately so I love this challenge! If I get hungry I'll go to bed to get caught up on my sleep.

Total points for day: 15 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!

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Good Morning Team Challenge!

Nov. 1

I got my water in.(80 oz plus).
I ate at 6:00 p.m. (always) I try not to ever eat after 7:00 P.m....one bite for me after that would end up in a Major Binge..been there many times!
Exercised-40 mins at the Gym..about 7:00 pm...

So glad a few more have joined us...this will be fun!!

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LISA

Nov 1.
water - got a 64 oz jug and emptied it.
last eat at 5:30. managed the evening with only water/tea after that.

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

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160