Okay... here 'tis... and this really is a ME ME ME challenge (absolutely ANYONE can join and you can start your 30-day clock anytime you'd like... I'm just saying that I have a very specific goal to achieve):

30 Days Cheat Free

That's my goal.

One month from today, I will head back east to do several things: visit family (my aunt and uncle are having their 50th wedding anniversary celebration and it looks like NBC will be sending a camera crew with me to cover it--they were married on the NBC show "Bride and Groom" in 1954, so my TV contacts here in LA were very excited to cover this event), speak at my alma mater (gooooo DAWGS!!!), and do a couple of book signings/guest speaking engagements in New York (sorry, Barb... no Chicago this trip we just established, once SUNY picked up the first book as a textbook for its theatre department, that we have to do MORE NY and NO Chicago... THIS TIME).

That's a lot of BIG DEAL stuff for me, so I want to look and feel my best! I was going to set a challenge for myself of losing TEN POUNDS by then, but I don't want to be a slave to the scale, nor set myself up for failure. So... I will instead strive for 30 days of daily walks, 100+ oz. of water, and cheat-free eating. I KNOW that this will accomplish ONE major thing: me feeling GREAT about myself, once I get on that plane next month.

That's important.

Who's with me? Ready? The challenge begins!! Woo hoo!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

Very excited! Had people over for football yesterday and there were chips and dips all over the place. I had none of it! Water and a martini and a big salad! Yay!

Feels good to do it right! Woo hoo!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

Still rockin' and rollin' with the cheat-free challenge. I'm sooo happy to be feeling so good!

Gathered with friends yesterday who said, "Wow! You look GREAT!" So, who knows? Maybe mindset does look good! Hee hee.

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

Hey Bon, great work. I've been cheating really bad lately. I've had a really hard time here with numerous things going on. I would love to join your challenge. Today is my day one. That would mean I will be cheat free from today until Feburary 15th. I have a couple of friends that turn 21 and my birthday is also in there, but I have a wedding over Easter weekend. This is kind of selfish on my part but when I'm up there I want people to look at me and notice I've lost weight and look good. Of course not trying to take all of my sister-in-laws shine away...just a little bit! So count me in, and good luck! I bet you look amazing!

Lynda Lou

Yay! LyndaLou! Great to have you on board. I think it's wonderful to have a goal "out there" that gets us motivated. Whether it's a selfish goal or not! It's something that'll cause positive choices in your life right now, and that's awesome, right?

Thanks for joining me! It makes me so happy to embrace the little successes (like one cheat-free meal at a time). Celebrate! Every day is a victory that way. Woo hoo!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

I had the most amazing dinner out last night. Got to meet up with friends, enjoy the TIME we spent together, and EAT WELL. It was delightful!

Oh, I'm so happy to be on this journey!!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

I'm happy for you! I will be gone for the weekend, and hope to be able to stay cheat free. There will be many high political people that I'm trying to get a job from, so who knows if I will be able to or not. I'm getting ready to do a quick Tae Bo workout then I'm out the door till Monday.

Good Luck
Lynda Lou

Hey gals!! Can I join in?? Lynda Lou how funny, I'll be in my brothers wedding in April and i know EXACTLY how you feel. Sure, it's their moment, but they can't talk to everybody at once, so as long as I'm mingling I may as well be recieving a few "oohhs" and "awwws" myself!

Yesturday was my first legitimate cheat free day in awhile, so I'll start there. My only exception will be my B-Day next month. DH and I will be in Mexico and I've dropped hints about a dinner cruise, so we'll see if he get's it. Either way I'm going to enjoy a desert, if I choose to, on that day. Often I find when I have given myself permission to go off plan I just choose not to, so we'll see.

Just finished a big salad and have in 60 oz. of water so far, so today's going well. How you all doing?

"Can't Means Won't" Great Grandma Mary
"No matter where you go, there you are..." Buckaroo Bonzai

(266)257/202.5/125

Woo hoo! Good goin', girls! Glad to be in this together! Wonderful!!

Today was a great test. I had a business lunch and while my colleagues ate tuna melts and fries, I had a delicious chicken Caesar salad. Out of this world!!! I'm so proud! *beam*

Need to up the water here before it gets too late or I'll be running to the potty all night long.

Leaving for San Francisco for the weekend tomorrow, so it'll be Sunday night or Monday morning before I check back in. Hope we ALL have a very successful weekend!! Cheers,

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

Hi Bon and everyone else. I'd like to join and have my 30 day timeframe start on 1/28 (need to do some de-carbing of the kitchen - no not eating them - throwing them away!).

Do you know which SUNY schools you will be visiting. I work at Binghamton University.

Becky

Well I had a bad weekend. The campaign I've been working on whole heartedly (even skipping homework, other obligations, and sleep for) lost. We ended up going out drinking till really late the night we lost. Then we all gathered together and had a final farewell brunch. I cheated then too. Was just in such a ****ty mood I didn't care what I ate. But now that's over I should be getting more sleep and keeping up with my other tasks. It sucks to loose, but now that I'm back on here and back ready for this I'm going to loose in a good way. I'm going to start my 30 days over again today. I will make it to 30 days.

When is your birthday Kim? Mine is Feb 5th. I'll be 22. I better get going. I love this site, but with no free time how it is I can get lost on here posting for hours that I don't have!

Lynda Lou

Hello I would like to join this challenge. I am a challenge junkie, this is my third, but they keep me motivated. Plus I gotta keep an eye on Lynda Hope please tell me what happens on my big fat obnoxious fiancee. Kidding I know you can't do that, but thought I'd try.

Kameron/Kameron2
198//188.4//155

Hi Bon, and everyone else. I would really like to join this challenge. I need to get going on the other half of this weight loss and I'm just not very motivated. I know all the retoric to say to myself, but I think once I put the shorts back on, that will be the most helpful thing. Sweats and jeans are not the most revealing clothes one can wear, but they are warm. Yes, we do have a type of winter even here in Florida, but I am sure I will not receive any sympathy from you in the North. Anyway, I should be wearing the shorts again in another 6 weeks, but in the mean time I could probably be down another 10 to 12 pounds, so I need to get going. Please count me in on this one.
Thanks

Suzette

Welcome aboard Suzette!

Are you following me Kameron? hehe Even if you are, welcome aboard!

So far so good today. Made lemon peppered cod for lunch that was really quite gross! I'm not the biggest fish fan, but have been growing fond of it. Until this batch. I'll find a way to eat the rest of my cod.

Today is my slack day, tomorrow will be the real test. I am scheduled from 8 am until 11:30 pm tomorrow. That includes no time for food or exercise, so I'll be waking up early to exercise and cook my meals for the whole day. I will stay on track. When I make it through tomorrow I know I'll be able to make it the rest of the 30 days!

Lynda Lou

I'm so glad to see everyone here! Yay!!

And nooooo... I cannot tell you what happens on ANY Fox reality show... even if I DO know. And I do know about some. Hee hee.

As for slips: get back on it. That's all you can do! That's all anyone can do!! And we're doing it together! Yay!

I'll have to check to see which SUNY school it is. Thanks for asking! We've now made the reservations for the trip... it's seeming more real.

Meanwhile, I saw photos from the event this past weekend in San Francisco and did not like the size of my behind and such. I'm premenstrual, so I'm NOT going to beat myself up about it, but it's times like that when I get some weird idea that I should do something drastic like starve myself down to my goal weight. Why does the brain get so destructive like that sometimes?

I'm doing great. No panic. Everything is fine! Just keeping on keeping on!! Hee hee.

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02