Welcome to our first challenge! First though, let me explain a little something. You should have (or you will soon) picked your personal goals for the next 8 weeks and made a plan to stick to them. Here is my goal as an example:
Personal Goal: To lose 10 lbs or 5% Body Fat
I took all of my measurements yesterday and I started at 154.6 lbs and 34.4%/31.2% body fat. By the way, that is 3lbs down from last weekend! The body fat measurements are as follows: the first is from my scale and the second is from my hand held body fat calculator so basically lower body fat and upper body fat. That gives me an average of 32.8%. Anyway, losing 10lbs is a very lofty goal for me and will be very hard to achieve. It may actually be a little unrealistic but I wanted to shoot high to ensure that I would try my hardest! Goal: 144.6lbs or 27.8% average body fat.
The Plan
In order to achieve this goal, I commit to:
- Working out at least 4 times a week for 20 minutes (or 80 fitness minutes a week)
- Tracking my food every day.
- Allowing a maximum of one very small treat per day (unless it is against the challenge rules)
- Allowing one Fun Meal a week (a “cheat” meal but that implies I’m being bad which I’m not – its good for your sanity and metabolism to let loose now and then!)
At least I know if I do all of these things, I should lose weight. In the end, if I did everything I said I would and don’t lose “enough”, I know I tried my hardest! The point is attempting to reach the goal.
The Report Card
Now then, if you looked at the report card and follow it like you are supposed to, you should be drinking lots of water every day, trying to eat healthy, and exercising regularly. These things are already built into the challenge so I won’t be telling you how to do those things, as it is already implied.
Week 1 (Nov 5-11) Challenge: Food Log
I want to get you all into the habit of being aware of your eating so I want you all to keep track of your food and share it with the group. It can be as simple as writing down what you ate throughout the day or as complicated as taking pictures (hehe, guess which one I’ll be doing). Whatever is easiest for you! Be aware of what you are eating, every little nibble and bite! Each day, share your log via your own blog (and send me the link!), on the group page, or feel free to send me an email.
Day 1 (Nov 5th) Challenge: Be Perfect
I don’t normally ask for perfection because I refuse to be perfect but just for the first day, I ask that you be perfect. Drink 8+ glasses of water, eat as healthy as possible, and do a little exercise (just 10 minutes is fine). If something comes up, just do the best you can but don’t let it derail your entire day. Make a conscious decision to make today as healthy as possible!
In case you missed the initial blog, here are the details of the Healthy Holidays Challenge. Feel free to join in any time!
This sounds just like the kind of challenge I need!!! THANK YOU!!!
How are you integrating this with Spark? I am logging my food there… cause I love the blogging lives of my support crew there… I realize that I’ve been missing from it for a while, and I really need that support.
I can do this!! I need to!!! (I don’t fit my cold weather clothes!)
I’ve added the challenge to the Fabulous Fitness Team page (which you are already a part of, right?). You can log there if you like! There are several people on Spark joining in!
~Ang