This September I Will...
themedalist
Posts: 3,218 Member
Happy September, Everyone!
I hope you had a great, relaxing summer and are looking forward to the fall. With one third of 2022 still ahead of us, we have plenty of time to practice and implement new habits that will make us healthier, happier, and better able to cope with whatever life throws our way.
What's on your to-do list for September?
If you are joining us for the first time, a very warm welcome! We are glad you are here. Please make sure you’ve reviewed our Newcomer’s Guide as it will help you get started. Set a reminder to check-in periodically with us. Check-in daily, weekly, or as often as works for you, but let us know how you are progressing! We're here to support and encourage you, but if you don't post, we can't cheer you on.
If you are new to habit building, please start slowly with small, achievable daily steps that you can build upon. We want you to succeed at your goals and habits researchers are clear that the most successful path to any goal is through small, repeatable actions taken everyday. These repeatable actions grow into habits and good habits will change your life.
And if you're joining us midway through the month, just jump right in! No need to wait until October. Begin now and you'll be that much closer to achieving your goal. If you're looking for ideas, our list of previous challenges may come in handy.
Let’s make it a super September!
🌷Denise & 🌸Maddie
@themedalist & @MadisonMolly2017
New to Habit Building?
Be sure and read our Nuts and Bolts of Habit Building.
It will help you make your habit stick!
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Replies
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I am back after skipping last month.
This September I will share limited plates (two appetizers or one appetizer and one entree) with my partner when eating in restaurants.
This is important because we'll be on vacation from 6-17 September and I tend to gain a few pounds on vacation due to all the restaurant meals. By limiting the food I will be more likely to no gain any weight.
4 -
I will NOT give up.
I’m going back to basics.
This September, I will track my food after I prepare it, but before I eat it. I did it for years. I can do it now.
You all made me tear up in the August28 post. Thank you so much! It helped so much to return to your messages. Our son just left today. I told myself I was not going to cry, but found my eyes leaking anyway.
I will have far fewer food cues now AND my husband is actually taking 2 weeks vacation!! I’m getting to see him! This is helping too.
We booked our first trip together in 5.5 years, a belated anniversary trip. Food will not be easy, but I’ve done it before at this same place!
Then life should be back to normal.
I have decided if I don’t perk up, I will find a therapist. This growing older/not being a grandma/only son & wife living over an ocean & they’re now planning to buy a house is really rough - on top of my husband’s working nonstop for months & months. My dad not as sharp & seeing my grand niece for the first time but unable to hold her since she’s in daycare. This is really rough..
I totally “get” why things are out of whack.
I will get help if I can’t right this ship.
Scale today up today 4.5lbs above normal BMI
And as if that’s not enough, a mouse is in our house - first time in 35 years & the gardener knocked the rat out of our back yard wisteria & 3-4 babies were clinging to it. YUCK
And vandals took everyone’s mail on our street & 7 other STREETS AND came back a week later & tried to break into our driver’s door window which used up half of yesterday & cost 💲’s. And now we have locks on our side gates & more motion activated lights ordered. This is crazy. Locking mailboxes
Also first time for those things in 35 years. Ok enough. THANK YOU!
Ok done. I’m sorry. It’s a lot.
6 -
@MadisonMolly2017 Maddie - don’t be sorry. 💛 There isn’t a single person here who doesn’t wish you well and genuinely want to support you. 🥹 That all sounds like a lot. We have a mail thief in our area now too. We have video footage of the person from multiple houses — and he isn’t shy about showing his face (though he still hasn’t been caught). He rides a bike (and wears a safety helmet — and I honestly don’t know why I find that aspect so astounding 🧐). Car alarms go off throughout the night as I guess the “folks that will” check all the door handles to see if this is their lucky car. My car was ransacked last month (communication error after grocery pickup and it wasn’t locked). We are all disheartened it has come to this in our lovely quiet residential neighbourhood.
I am so glad to read that your husband is going to take a break with you and that you will be able to get away for the postponed anniversary trip! I am also glad to read that you are willing to seek out the help of a professional if this keeps on. I did. I only wish I did it sooner. 🥰 Take good care of your wonderful self.4 -
🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
🐳🐬 SEPTEMBER 🐬🐳
🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
Daily Solid Habits:
👌🏻👌🏻3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
1. My goal for September (This September I will...")
For September, I am continuing to clear out an old filing cabinet
(Using ‘am’ as opposed to ‘I will … ‘ as it gives me less scope to cop out.
2. The small actions I am taking to accomplish this goal
a) Sort and declutter papers for 10 minutes.
b) Store essential papers; shred/bin the rest
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit.
Reminder on phone.
4. How often am I doing my new September habit (daily is best if possible)
Daily 🗑 or 🤦♀️
🗑🗑3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 17 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
5. What reward am I immediately giving myself for doing my habit?
I am doing a victory 💃🏼 and 🗑
6. What help do you need from us?
Click “Like” or any of the feedback responses so I know you are reading? Having this place to report in every few days and knowing someone else is reading is really helpful.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of September ?
An empty filing cabinet.
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@MadisonMolly
You can do this. Just take it one day at a time.3 -
This September I will continue my pre-tracking habit and take up #WalkingTowardsFall (as I did last year.)
1. I am a planner who pre-tracks her daily food consumption.
♥️ ♥️ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Success days are noted with a heart ♥️ and any missed opportunities with a 👎🏻
2. I am #WalkingTowardsFall and I purposefully walk outdoors every day to take in the sights and sounds of the change of the seasons.
🍁 ☁️ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Success days are noted with a heart 🍁 and any missed opportunities with a ☁️3 -
@jamcnewman That’s a very apt progression of habits Julie. 👌🏻3
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@MadisonMolly2017 wow that’s a lot but I am sure that it will come together for you it’s not easy seeing children get older and move away but we must trust in ourselves that we have given them a solid foundation for life.
The mouse in the house…well I have kept them out but the chipmunks have found the wood pile I will make sure I have my gloves on when moving firewood!
The weight I find and it doesn’t always work if I worry a lot about it it doesn’t go down enjoy vacation but be mindful that seems like your plan a good one.
My mom is not great with memory anymore either and it is a challenge my dad is a saint for getting through each day as are so many other caregivers.5 -
My Sept goals are to lose some pounds, increase my overall exercise, walk more. I walk a fair amount everyday but want to re connect with more consistent lunch time walks I think the high humidity got me this summer I should probably just learn to accept it’s probably the new normal! I would also like to do some intermittent fasting again.5
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@MadisonMolly
I went back and read your post. You have had a lot to deal with.
As for the health and fitness, going back to basics and preemptive tracking is a good place to start. The routine change from your son going might help too.
Try to enjoy that long overdue vacation with DH, an recharge the batteries. Concentrate on this positive experience.
We are here for you.
4 -
This September I will:
1. Track everything I eat on MFP.
2. Use new habit tracker daily.
Hi to my new group of friends and support! I have been struggling with increasing weight for years, and find that I give up too easily. Mostly I will snack on 'bad for me' stuff when I'm bored, or feel like I've earned a 'reward' for something. Ugh, it's a vicious cycle. I've tried paying for methods and apps with no sense of accountability. "It's my money", I'll eat if I want to, haha. Frankly, I am aging fast and need to take control. Thank you all in advance, as I start once again.3 -
@MadisonMolly2017 , I’m so sorry that you’re struggling with so much. Hugs! I understand about the mouse - last year we had a rat in the house. Yuck, and it was stealing tomatoes from the dining room table. Eek! It really depressed me. We are still on tenterhooks trying to prevent any more from getting in the house. Another stressor you really didn’t need! I’m so glad you’re getting a trip. I hope it helps you feel better. Don’t underestimate the power of a vacation. As for your son being so far away - that must be so hard.
Sorry I’ve been away from the group. I need to get back to my foundational habits, so for my habit, I’m going to do at least 30 minutes each of cardio, strength, and yoga. I really have slacked off for most of the summer. I’m not sure how to frame the habit. @jamcnewman I love the #WalkingToward Fall. - great idea!2 -
Goals/ habits for September
* Track honestly/pretrack 💖
* Maintain weight 58 to 62 kg and build muscle 💖
*Take measurements 2wkly 💖
* Look for opportunities💖
* De clutter 💖
* In bed by 9pm! 💖
* Focus on an attitude for gratitude💖
2 -
@MadisonMolly2017 u got this!!! We believe in you and know how determined you are! U will get thru this. Love Donna. Xo2
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🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
🐳🐬 SEPTEMBER 🐬🐳
🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
Daily Solid Habits:
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
1. My goal for September (This September I will...")
For September, I am continuing to clear out an old filing cabinet
(Using ‘am’ as opposed to ‘I will … ‘ as it gives me less scope to cop out.
2. The small actions I am taking to accomplish this goal
a) Sort and declutter papers > 10 minutes.
b) Store essential papers; shred/bin the rest
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit.
Reminder on phone.
4. How often am I doing my new September habit (daily is best if possible)
Daily 🗑 or 🤦♀️
🗑🗑🗑4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 17 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
5. What reward am I immediately giving myself for doing my habit?
I am doing a victory 💃🏼 and 🗑
6. What help do you need from us?
Click “Like” or any of the feedback responses so I know you are reading? Having this place to report in every few days and knowing someone else is reading is really helpful.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of September?
An empty filing cabinet.
So much unnecessary paperwork mounts up because it’s out of sight. I’m still working through old banking documents, shredding is creating lots of material for our compost bins. We have changed banks several times and some of them no longer exist!!! Why do we keep these things?
2 -
@77tes Good to see you back with us.
Framing habits is a very personal thing. You could consider setting yourself up for success to start with and frame them positively.
Eg: for you physical ones, start with a lower target …
Cardio > 10 mins 5 times a week
Strength > 10 mins 3 times a week
Flex > 10 mins 3 times a week
Then you could review after a week or 2 and adapt.
Just a suggestion, but it worked a treat for me.
2 -
jamcnewman wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017 Maddie - don’t be sorry. 💛 There isn’t a single person here who doesn’t wish you well and genuinely want to support you. 🥹 That all sounds like a lot. We have a mail thief in our area now too. We have video footage of the person from multiple houses — and he isn’t shy about showing his face (though he still hasn’t been caught). He rides a bike (and wears a safety helmet — and I honestly don’t know why I find that aspect so astounding 🧐). Car alarms go off throughout the night as I guess the “folks that will” check all the door handles to see if this is their lucky car. My car was ransacked last month (communication error after grocery pickup and it wasn’t locked). We are all disheartened it has come to this in our lovely quiet residential neighbourhood.
I am so glad to read that your husband is going to take a break with you and that you will be able to get away for the postponed anniversary trip! I am also glad to read that you are willing to seek out the help of a professional if this keeps on. I did. I only wish I did it sooner. 🥰 Take good care of your wonderful self.
I have nothing to add to @jamcnewman’s post and Julie thank you for expressing it so beautifully! We all love you, @MadisonMolly2017 and I’m delighted to hear you’ll be taking a needed vacation. Sometimes a break from our home where the stress lives and our emotions get cued by our physical environment is just the reset we need!
2 -
Great September goals everyone. And a special welcome to new member @kjemudder and welcome back to @77tes. As you all know, I ebb and flow as to how participatory I am in our group. I would like to be here every day, but with my work commitments, taking care of my elderly parents, and volunteer work that isn’t possible. But I will check in when I can and I think of you all every day. Changing my daily habits is the only way I’ve kept 50 pounds off for 11 years now. Whatever habits you feel you need to change, change is possible and it’s well worth the effort! We are here to cheer you on!4
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I love @jamcnewman’s #WalkingTowardFall goal too! September is a beautiful month to be walking outdoors and since next month is Walktober, why not get a jump on outdoor walking now? We will be doing something for Walktober, still TBD. Unfortunately, I can’t coordinate another weekly virtual walk as we did through the UK last year. I am traveling a lot for work next month and I just can’t commit the time to make it happen. But we will do something special for Walktober and suggestions are most welcome!2
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@themedalist
Thank you so much for keeping the group going. We appreciate all that you do,
RL is hectic at times, especially with family and work commitments. It’s not always practical to be here every day.
I totally get how much time you need to care for elderly parents.
2 -
I’ve been thinking a lot about what habit I want to work on this month. It’s tricky. I have my first professional conference that I am attending since the pandemic in mid September. Habits are so rooted to our environment, that when the environment shifts as it does when we’re not home, it’s hard to build the habit.
But there is something I’d like to work on. Something that happens to me weekly. I have a virtual meeting once a week and one of the regular participants is kind of annoying. They often dominate the conversation and talk when other people are trying to chime in. They also ask a lot of questions that would be answered if they could just pause and wait a minute. Talking to this person directly is a nonstarter. It would hurt their feelings and I don’t want to do that. Because it’s just a weekly meeting, I want to work on my response to this person. I want to be less annoyed by them. Habits researchers say that how we respond to people (the trigger) is also habitual… a response to our past experiences with this person. Which is why a lot of couples end up fighting over the same things over and over again. Triggers and responses with habitual behaviors that become a cycle that is hard to break.
So here’s my plan:
Before I launch these weekly meetings I will spend two minutes deep breathing remembering that this person has many wonderful qualities and is acting out of a very bad habit of dominating conversations. I will also remember that I have many bad habits too and my bad habits can be annoying to other people as well. None of us are perfect and I am a work in progress.
When this person says something that frustrates me, I will take a deep breath and pause for 10 seconds and see if my better self can’t craft a better response.
That’s my September goal.6 -
I think I’ll call my September challenge FALLING IN LOVE WITH FITNESS -AGAIN.
Only a few days in Week 1 of the month, but I hit my Goals of 30 minutes each of strength, cardio, and flex/yoga
Sept 1 strength 💪 17, cardio 🏃♀️ 68, but no yoga 🧘♀️
Sept 2 🏃♀️ 85, 🧘♀️ 55, but no strength
Sept 3 💪 20, 🏃♀️20, 🧘♀️5 -
Report 5th sep
Goals/ habits for September
* Track honestly 💖
* Maintain weight 58 to 62 kg and build muscle 💖
*Take measurements every 2 weeks💖
* Look for opportunities💖
* De clutter 💖
* In bed by 9pm! 💖
* Focus on an attitude for gratitude💖
4 -
I think I’ll call my September challenge FALLING IN LOVE WITH FITNESS -AGAIN.
Only a few days in Week 1 of the month, but I hit my Goals of 30 minutes each of strength, cardio, and flex/yoga
Sept 1 strength 💪 17, cardio 🏃♀️ 68, but no yoga 🧘♀️
Sept 2 🏃♀️ 85, 🧘♀️ 55, but no strength
Sept 3 💪 20, 🏃♀️20, 🧘♀️
Week 2
Sept 4 -🏃♀️ 20, 🧘♀️15
Sept 5 - 🏃♀️30, 💪18, 🧘♀️15
Oh my @themedalist , I think you September habit is brilliant! I’ve been in meetings with someone like you described, and that’s a great response.2 -
🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
🐳🐬 SEPTEMBER 🐬🐳
🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
Daily Solid Habits:
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
1. My goal for September (This September I will...")
For September, I am continuing to clear out an old filing cabinet
(Using ‘am’ as opposed to ‘I will … ‘ as it gives me less scope to cop out.
2. The small actions I am taking to accomplish this goal
a) Sort and declutter papers > 10 minutes.
b) Store essential papers; shred/bin the rest
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit.
Reminder on phone.
4. How often am I doing my new September habit (daily is best if possible)
Daily 🗑 or 🤦♀️
🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 17 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
5. What reward am I immediately giving myself for doing my habit?
I am doing a victory 💃🏼 and 🗑
6. What help do you need from us?
Click “Like” or any of the feedback responses so I know you are reading? Having this place to report in every few days and knowing someone else is reading is really helpful.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of September?
An empty filing cabinet.
I have no attachment to old paperwork! There is so much if it! But it is going down slowly but surely. 👌🏻🐲
3 -
Report 7th
Goals/ habits for September
* Track honestly 💖
* Maintain weight 58 to 62 kg and build muscle 💖
*Take measurements every 2 weeks 👇
* Look for opportunities💖
* De clutter 👇
* In bed by 9pm! 💖
* Focus on an attitude for gratitude💖1 -
2/2 this week for lunch time walks not bad considering I am only in the office 2 days this week so far ! Rowing has increased also slowly getting there5
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🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
🐳🐬 SEPTEMBER 🐬🐳
🐬🐳🐬🐙🐬🐳🐬
Daily Solid Habits:
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
1. My goal for September (This September I will...")
For September, I am continuing to clear out an old filing cabinet
(Using ‘am’ as opposed to ‘I will … ‘ as it gives me less scope to cop out.
2. The small actions I am taking to accomplish this goal
a) Sort and declutter papers > 10 minutes.
b) Store essential papers; shred/bin the rest
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit.
Reminder on phone.
4. How often am I doing my new September habit (daily is best if possible)
Daily 🗑 or 🤦♀️
🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑 🗑
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 17 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
5. What reward am I immediately giving myself for doing my habit?
I am doing a victory 💃🏼 and 🗑
6. What help do you need from us?
Click “Like” or any of the feedback responses so I know you are reading? Having this place to report in every few days and knowing someone else is reading is really helpful.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of September?
An empty filing cabinet.
I have no attachment to old paperwork! There is so much if it! But it is going down slowly but surely. 👌🏻🐲
4 -
Week 2 - My FALL IN LOVE WITH FITNESS reset Goal is 30 minutes each of cardio, strength, and yoga
Sept 4 -🏃♀️ 20, 🧘♀️15
Sept 5 - 🏃♀️30, 💪18, 🧘♀️15
Sept 6 - 🏃♀️ 60, 🧘♀️15, 💃120
Sept 7 - 🏃♀️39, 💪 22, 🧘♀️15
Sept 8 - 🏃♀️39, 🧘♀️15
Sept 9 - 🏃♀️58, 💃90, 🧘♀️ 15
Sept 10 - 🏃♀️74, 🧘♀️15
Hooray! I got it done. And then some! As you see I also got lots of dancing! 💃❤️5 -
I have been avoiding the rower and some weights I think I did something to my left arm up by the shoulder I hope it over use and not rotator cuff related it gets so sore at night. But moving forward have done well with walks, weight up and down, still incorporating more fruits and veggies will get there slow but sure. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
I will be good at the small birthday gathering for my mom this morning she will be 80 tomorrow so we have a late muffin and coffee gathering, she struggles with dementia not Alzheimer’s as
previously thought, so smaller and fewer is better.4
