Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

You'll love Shutterfly's award-winning photo books. Try it today.

Geesh! All of my holiday baking is doing me in! I've gotten lots of exercise, though. My driveway is only a little less than an acre, (just kidding, but it is REALLY huge!) and my neighbors is nearly as long. She has no legs and she lives alone, so I shovel her driveway in addition to mine. It takes me about 5 hours of hard core shoveling to get them both done! I love it, though. Bring on the snow! Now, if I can just stop eating!

Exercising today

Today I was reminded how I really don't like to run with a stroller.  Katie was up super early so she came with me on my run this morning.  I don't like not moving my arms when I run.  We did a little over two miles and it did put her to sleep.  I must admit that it is a much better workout pushing a stroller than just running alone.  I was breathing as hard from my two miles as I usually am after doing five.  :)  How is everyone else doing?

My goals for this month are to just have one day a week where I allow myself a sweet or two but all the other days clean eating with no sweets.   I am also going to exercise 6 days/wk. 30 min. at least.  I have to count my walking at work for 3 of those days.  I find if I cut out sweets it automatically makes me eat more healthy foods when I'm hungry.  I really do NOT like to count calories.  I am excited to make some yummy healthy soups.  I do best if I make a few things that are healthy to eat on one day of the week and have those things in the fridge to snack on-soups, vegetables, etc.  Today at work someone brought chocolate cake with yummy fudge frosting.  I didn't eat ANY!  YEA!  I think the first few days are the hardest because of the sugar cravings.  Once those aren't as bothersome it becomes easier.  Good luck everyone! 

Celeste Goals

Hi everyone!
I am also excited to start this challenge with everyone and hope it will help me to be a little more disciplined. My goals are:
1) Exercise 5 days/wk for at least 30 minutes
2) Watch calories consumed! Eat 600 or less at each meal, and a total of 2000 each day. This should help me to limit my snacks and help me to be smart about what I am consuming (for example, too many nuts or smoothies in one day!)

I have been gradually gaining pounds and belly fat over the past year, so I am hoping this will help me to stop/reverse that :)

Good luck to everyone! It was really interesting to read each of your goals too.

Love,
Celeste

I am excited to start this today!  I really think that this will be good because we can all pick our own goals based on our weaknesses and time demands and such.  Plus, it will keep us in contact with each other for support (and some pushes).

I am going to work on exercising... 30 min per day 6 days a week.  I am going to allow myself some times to do double sessions.  I am going to be getting up at 5:00 to exercise before the kids get up.  I know that I am going to need a day to sleep in until 7:00.

I am also going to limit sugar to only one day each week.  This week it will be Wed. to celebrate my oldest turning 9.

Amy, to answer your question...  I thought we would just each contribute to our own pot for reaching our goals but I am not sure what everyone else was thinking.  :)

Happy day 1!

I'm excited and apprehensive all at once. I tend to be hard with myself when doing things like this. Instead of allowing myself a treat and enjoying it, I get all guilty and crazy and hate myself for giving in. I think I generally have an okay relationship with food and eat pretty healthy, I just eat far too much, especially after my kids go to bed and I am trying to unwind. I rarely even eat sugar because I always bake with honey and molasses and such.

Therefore, my goal for this month is to exercise every day, including a walk with my kids on Sundays, but I'm not going to specify what or the duration, because I want to enjoy it. I'm also not going to put a morsel of food in my mouth after dinner each day, but I'm going to enjoy my food during the day and allow myself healthy treats if I want them.

To help me not snack at night, I am going to go to bed at the same time as my kids and leave whatever needs to be done for morning. I work better in the morning anyway. I will probably take a book to bed, but I will be in bed.

Sorry, girls, if my goals seem simple and easy. I think they will be plenty for me to work on, and I'll reevaluate January 1 and maybe add a little more. I just don't want to feel guilty all the time, or hate this challenge.

As for the money, we are all just putting it in our own pot, right?

YAY for fasting today, here we go!