KISS: Keep It Simple September

baconslave

This month our group challenge will be KISS: Keep It Simple September

Choose a goal that will simplify your weightloss or fitness journey in some way.

Some might simplify their September by:

• De-stressing their lives by weighing less frequently.
• Picking up a good habit like batch cooking for the week on a free day or planning their menus ahead that makes things easier.
• Simplifying their intake by reducing or eliminating sweeteners (artificial or sugar) or processed foods.
• Avoiding or reducing alcohol intake. ("Not that there's any thing wrong with that." )
• Streamlining a workout routine or daily schedule.

Or come up with your own. One member suggested they were simply going to make sure they exercised every day. Anything goes really. This is YOUR show.

We'll keep our check-ins to this thread. It will appear as of Sept 1st as a sticky at the top of the page for easy reference.

Pop in and drop your goals here, chat about how it's going, and/or receive support or advice from this month's challengers. At the very least, check in every Tuesday this month to let us know how your goal is working for you. And then give us a monthly report on the 30th.

Happy simplifying.

baconslave

Here's mine:

KISS Goal:

1. Stop driving myself bats weighing every day. It does nothing but get me wound up when the scale is being an idiot. And then I act like an idiot. Stop it!
2. Cut the alcohol. All my husband buys is rotgut bottom-shelf vodka. Sure it feels nice being all relaxed for a short period, but I sleep terribly and am a grouchy, hung-over jerk the next day. What is this benefiting me? It blows out my calories. I feel awful. I don't need booze to have a good evening. Stop it!

Implementation Plan:

• Weigh once weekly on Tuesday only.
• Doing something else with my weekend nights better than wasting calories on getting buzzed. Maybe drink some herbal tea or plan a LC snack to enjoy. Still working on this. I basically put the kids to bed, drink up while watching something on Netflix with DH and then go to bed.

Expected results:
Simplify my life by eliminating stress over the scale and stress on my body from punishing my liver. And if I still don't lose anything (those EVIL last 10lb. Ugh!), I'll have nixed 2 bad habits that don't serve me, and I'm better off without them.

pootle1972

Mine is I'm going to weigh tomorrow then not again until the end of the month.....I've been on a stall for weeks and driving myself batshit mental about it to the point I NEED to eat crap..... (haven't but I'm soooooo close)

auntstephie321

This challenge really works for me this month. I've been wanting to start batch cooking regularly for my meals for the week. I also really need to cut out the alcohol, it starts with one drink a night but then turns into multiple drinks every night. Its taking up calories i need for actual food so i don't feel so run down each day.

this should help financially too, less money on alcohol less money at the convenience store trying to find something lc frieldnly for lunch because i didn't prepare anything.

mcpostelle

Goal Do physical exercise 5 days/week for at least 30 minutes.

amb312

I go to the gym early on the morning 4-5 days a week but don't do any other activity. The plan is to walk or do squats /situps 3 days a week.

Sunny_Bunny_

KISS Goal:

1) I am going to stop weighing every day. I have been at a stall for a few weeks with only a little drop a few days ago that came right back. I keep saying that seeing the scale fluctuate doesn't bother me, but that's only true if it gives me a new low number on a weekly basis. I admit that I now am too concerned with it on a daily basis. I am simplifying by removing daily weighing.

2) I also want to reduce the amount of sugar free coffee syrup I use. I have noticed that sweet taste sensitivity has gotten to the point that I have been going for an extra half pump of syrup. It used to taste sweet enough with only 2 and I got up to 3.5! That's almost doubling my artificial sweetener use. Plus, I believe that too much sweet taste can cause me to crave more and that's not something I'm ok with.

Implementation Plan:

I will weigh in once a week on Tuesday, and I will cut the coffee syrup back to no more than 2 pumps by a gradual reduction day by day to regain the sensitivity of taste.

Expected results:

I expect to be more relaxed throughout the week regarding weight and be able to work my diet and exercise plan less focused on loss and more focused on simply doing what I know is best for me.
As far as cutting back the AFS, I just think the less I use the better for my body and I don't like that I will drink coffee a certain way for weeks and all of a sudden I don't think it tastes as sweet anymore so I add more... I feel like this is just another way of over doing it and there's no need. So I will cut back and retrain my taste preference to be more sensitive and will enjoy less sweetener again.

giftbouquets

Ok, I'm in. Planning to simplify Sept by:
* Not weighing myself for the month - eek!!!
* Simplifying my diet by eating the same breakfast (omelette) and lunch (salad) each day.
* Simplify my exercise by following a set programme (fitness blender on YouTube)

KnitOrMiss

KISS Goal:

1. Get back to basics. Lately, I have been trying too many faux foods (almond flour is so NOT my friend), letting my quantities creep (not even carb foods, just in general), eating too much of keto desserts to the point of getting sick or eating way too much, stopped eating basic foods/depending on weird stuff.
2. Focus on my water. I haven't hit a single water goal in a month. SAD.
3. Work towards getting more sleep. I had gotten up to getting nearly 7 hours a night (up from 4.5 average), and then I added in some mindfulness destressing, which took up far more time than intended, and I'm back to 4.5-5 hours a night... I just can't do that! And if something prevents me from sleeping when preferred (insomnia or life, etc), work on getting more self care in - it's relaxing and needs to become routine.

Implementation Plan:

1. Focus on meal prepping for my breakfast. Eggs, sausage, cheese, etc. Batch cook on weekends/evenings so I can just reheat in the mornings. Stop experimenting. Get back to individually portioned fat bombs and fat bombs that agree with me more. Repeat: eggs, meats (not generally processed), and the veggies I love. Have the majority of my daily intake be real food, not some fill in item that "fits the fat macro" but has no other nutritional value.
2. Drink a water bottle fully before getting out of bed. Retool my reminders on my water tracking app to be more value-added. Make it a habit again.
3. Going to start tracking tomorrow night, then work to add a minimum of 10 minutes per night until I'm over 6 hours of sleep. Target is 7 hours, as I just don't know if 8 hours is feasible, as going to bed at 9 pm means dinner then bed - no couple time, which is essential to both of our sanity. The first and last 30 minutes of my day should be all about me, rejuvenating and relaxing. I have a few new things I'm hoping to put in the rotation this month.

Expected results:
I want to get that scale and those sizes trending downward again. I've been kind of stuck in a "transporter loop" of my own making. I've looped past this low weight at least twice, and it is my intention to make this time the last time. All of these items above will add peace and quality of life to mine. My primary focus is on my health, and I want to make some more good strides before my next check ups in October.

KittensMaster

Look better naked

I have a few spots of fat I need to get rid of that are not really apparent when clothed

My kitten thinks I am silly about it but it is a reachable goal

5 pounds would probably be a visible loss.

Vartor_the_Barbarian_

Hello all

Goal: Paleo September...'cause I've switched jobs, had a stressful summer, and ate craptastically

Method: Shop Paleo, prep meals, use the Paleo app, give and receive support along the way.

Expectation: Less fat, more energy, feel better, be invincible, buy a superhero outfit and defeat bad guys with my mad skills...yo

wabmester

My wife wants a bigger house. I told her we just need to get rid of stuff, and the house will seem bigger.

So my simple goal to simplify my life: get rid of at least one thing every single day of September.

If I get desperate, I'll start asking for your addresses so I can send you stuff.

Sunny_Bunny_

wabmester wrote: »

My wife wants a bigger house. I told her we just need to get rid of stuff, and the house will seem bigger.

So my simple goal to simplify my life: get rid of at least one thing every single day of September.

If I get desperate, I'll start asking for your addresses so I can send you stuff.

I have a small house and a few years ago I got rid of so much crap! It really does make it seem larger. I also had a lot of color on the walls. Different color in almost every room. Then I painted everything a nice warm sandy tone and that made such a huge difference! I couldn't believe it.

sweetteadrinker2

KISS Goals:

1. Start C25K. Going to the gym without a set program/plan is not helping me. It just adds mental stress about which machine to use.
2. Meal prep. I spend way too much time trying to put together lunch every morning.
3. Keep my laundry done each weekend. Not diet or exercise related, but a huge source of stress for me is either not having clean clothes, or the clothes that are clean not making outfits.

Plan:

1. Gym on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
2. Cook in large batches on the weekends and evenings so I have preportioned lunches/dinners for when I'm at school.
3. Sunday is laundry day.

Expectations:

1. Less wasted gym time deciding what to do.
2. Healthier, more balanced meals that I don't have to think about each day.
3. Less morning stress when my brain isn't functioning yet anyway!

krazyforyou

I've never been one to weigh myself everyday so there's that. I'm gonna pray so that the carb cravings don't get me.

elize7

I am going to learn hooping for exercise. A little every day. Right now I can't even get it to stay up on my hips. But I'll get there. It looks really fun.
I'm also in the home stretch for my weight destination, so I need to figure out a solid maintenace plan.
I am terrified of relapsing and gaining back weight, as I have done over and over in my life.
Good luck everyone.

KittensMaster

elize7 wrote: »

I am going to learn hooping for exercise. A little every day. Right now I can't even get it to stay up on my hips. But I'll get there. It looks really fun.
I'm also in the home stretch for my weight destination, so I need to figure out a solid maintenace plan.
I am terrified of relapsing and gaining back weight, as I have done over and over in my life.
Good luck everyone.

I feel you on maintenance issues

I am adding active hobbies to transition to the last 10 pounds gone and holding

Good luck to you as well

toadqueen

My KISS will be:

Karb-Free (as can be)
Isometric Training
Simple Foods and Recipes
Strength Building Exercises

Kitnthecat

My KISS will be to Keep It Simply Savage, and transition back to Zero Carb once my garden veggies are done in a couple of weeks...oh and hopefully more kissing too.

Meeezonajourney

Goals for the month....move more, the weather has finally cooled it's time to get out and see the world.....weigh myself less, I'm not going to weigh all month....it has become compulsive and it must stop!

ea101367

My KISS: be sure to get my water in on the week ends. I keep my 24 oz bottle on my desk at work and easily drink 3 during the day, then comes the week end and I forget to get the water in!

KETOGENICGURL

Wabmester…... there is a lovely story of a man in the middles ages with a too small house, many children, an unhappy wife so he goes to the wise man for advice…..who says "bring the chickens inside… then bring in the cow, and both goats…so the man goes home and does this.

after a few weeks the man is back at the wiseman's complaining that his life is too crazy with all these animals inside, and kids, and now the wife is really unhappy..so the wise man tells him to put all the animals back outside..and everyone in the family is so happy with all the wonderful new space inside their house.
+++++++

the "Voluntary Simplicity" movement has been around for 20+ years now.. it works. An often used phase was
"Real success is not "having" money.. real success is not "needing" it.

When I moved from a house to a smaller apt. I made the rule that nothing NEW could come in..a chair, a sweater, etc… unless a similar thing went OUT… it works..you begin to measure what you like, use or will enjoy more.

Sk8Kate

Water, water, water. I've let my diet coke habit creep up again (3-4/day), so will still have 1 in evening but aiming for at least 2 qts water every day.

Foamroller

My KISS will be: To kick at least one habit and grow a wanted habit.

I eat too much pork rinds, because they're tasty and convenient for fat quota. 1 bag is 45g at 280 kcal. But I usually have 2 bags and some days up to 4 bags

It's too expensive. I'll only allow 1 bag/day. Better have some avocado or CO instead. I'll also look into if possible to make my own.

I also drank a lot of diet soda this summer. Funny, I never liked that stuff before. But they're making me subjectively «hungrier». I can often pile on more eating and snacking after. But if I stick to regular savory meals, less peckish. Diet soda isn't really giving me anything I want, so it has to go.

I'll try continue to grow the habit of doing strength training from the August challenge. I'd like the habit to stick.

@wabmester. I'm also in the process of decluttering my home. Sigh, the squirrel hoarder in me is strong.

There's a lot of new stuff happening in my life this month, I'm gonna start in group therapy and take a course to become a «training companion» . The city pays to give a few who needs a way to start training. It's mostly a motivator job, I think. But it's also a chance to do a very meaningful job, helping people who are in a rut. So I won't be too hard on myself if all my goals for this challenge isn't met.

No matter good intentions, being overwhelmed doesn't do any good. Slow and unsteady is better than nothing at all!

KittensMaster

I have thought about this

I'm going to stop analyzing things that work for. Me so much and just do them

As a science type degree person I do that

I really don't care why low carb high protein works so well for me. It just does

I took a few progress pics of my legs and you know what? It works. I'm getting results

So if it works, I'm just gonna ride it and enjoy.

This fitness stuff is hard enough without making it more complex than it needs to be

And whoever mentioned chia seed pudding, thank you!

That stuff is great and my body seems to like it. Keeps me full for hours!

LuizH

I'm just back from holiday with an extra kilo of carb-weight in tow from letting my diet slip quite a few times over the week.

My goal for September is back to basics:
- Get back to proper keto eating again including using my keto-strips once a week
- Do some form of exercise EVERY DAY in September. Keeping it simple so it doesn't matter what the exercise is as long as it raises my heart rate for at least 30 mins per day

pondsbb

My KISS
Put the scales away for the month
Add a stretch/yoga routine three days a week
Eat simpiler..things like steak, broccoli and butter and things that don't take a lot of prep
Prep snacks on weeked for entire week like boiled eggs, celery sticks, carrot sticks, dip.

Goal- to end the month feeling rejuvenated and hopefully weigh end of month with a loss.

fatchimom

Happy September!!!! I will TRY to drink more water-weigh only once a week-get more exercise-do something around the house(weeding, decluttering, etc. Stuff I don't normally do)at least weekly. Hopefully more often. I really don't like to set goals. Fear of not making them. Good luck to everyone!!! It will be fun to see how we all do!!

KenSmith108

My KISS simple, walk a little more. I'm going to try for the 5k a day again. An extra field at the park or just a few more minutes on the treadmill at the gym should do it for me.

nicsflyingcircus

My KISS:

Get back to basics: meat, eggs, veg, minimal dairy. Cut the bread and other sugary stuff back out.

Stick to my calories.

Get at least 5k steps per day, preferably 7.5k.

Drink at least 12 cups water daily.

ki4eld

My goal: To engage in social-based physical activity at least once a week. Go walking with someone (other than the dog), go to a yoga class (instead of a private instructor)... some type of exercise in a group setting.

Background: I have Asperger's and I'm an introvert. It took me a year of reading the message boards just to post. I exercise alone, I work alone, hell, I practically live alone because hubby is an introvert too. Social stuff, plainly, scares the everlovin shyte outta me. Chichat is impossible.

So, the "simple" part of this is to let go of the anxiety once a week and do the exercises I love with others who love them too. I don't know if I can sustain it, but I can try.