🧮 Countdown & Pre-Challenge Activity #2: SET SOME GOALS! 🧮

hicim705

 

👋WELCOME👋 once again, to our 🆕newest🆕 5% Challengers and WELCOME BACK our returning 👫friends👫!  This marks our third (out of four) Seasonal Challenge of 2025.  Please join us in celebrating our 5% Seasonal Challenges … Cheers to 15 more Happy & Healthy Years!!

We hope that you take some time to read about and take part in the pre-Challenge activities, as they are designed to help you prepare for success!!  The Summer signals longer days and schedules that seem a little less rigid.  For many of us, the Summer Solstice arrives signaling the longest day of our calendar year.  In the Northern Hemisphere, it arrives on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 10:41pm.  I hate to say it folks, after that day, our daylight hours shrink by a small amount of time per day as we march toward our next Season.  For now, however, let's concentrate on:  🎶‘Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer’🎶.

Plan your 5% Journey by SETTING GOALS.  Our previous activity discussed why you are here and what you would like to get out of your 5% Challenge Journey. Please consider your thoughts about that first activity and expand upon those. Please think about this carefully; it may be the most important plan you will make for the entire challenge. There are several hundred MFP members who have joined the 5% Challenge, and every one of them has a unique reason for wanting to 'become healthy'. Don't look at it as losing weight, although for many, that is the ultimate goal. Think of this as a chapter in your life leading you from where you are now to where you want to be. Think of how you feel today ... think of how you want to look and feel tomorrow, next week, next month, and beyond. Make a plan - a realistic plan - that will help you get to your goal.

You won't be able to visualize what YOUR tomorrow looks like without having a plan in place. Think of your overall plan, then set some goals ~ measurable goals to help you. Set goals for small, specific tasks that will give you a sense of accomplishment and will help to motivate you to keep moving forward.

MFP is a site designed toward a healthy lifestyle, so you have already taken one important step in **YOUR** personal healthy lifestyle journey. Yet, a healthy lifestyle is so much more than what you eat or how many minutes you exercise.

Try to think about achieving ‘balance’ in your life, which is necessary for overall health.

~ Set a specific goal (or goals).  Do you want to fit into an outfit that you haven't been able to wear in some time? Do you want to walk around the block effortlessly? Do you want to be able to bend over to tie your shoes? Remember - this is YOUR goal ... YOUR journey ~ give your goal(s) serious consideration.

Once you've decided on your goal(s), give yourself a timeline. For this purpose, you already have a timeline - the 5% Challenge.  A seasonal challenge lasts 8 weeks. Each week consists of 7 days. 7 days X 8 weeks = 56 days.  There are a total of 56 days from beginning to end. What can YOU accomplish in those 56 days?  SERIOUSLY think about your goal and our timeline and commit to it!  

~ WHY? 
Ask yourself this simple but VERY important question. WHY are you doing this? Give this simple question some serious thought. There is no right or wrong answer to ‘YOUR why’, but be honest with the answer.

~ EXERCISE? 
Make an appointment to do it and put it in whatever calendar/task manager you use to organize your day(s).  Treat it as a doctor's appointment or an appointment to have your hair done. Create this appointment and stick to it ~ make it a priority. Consider a 30-minute workout at lunchtime, 3-4 days/week (maybe even 5 days?).  Perhaps you will want to work out for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after work. Whatever time you have carved out for this 'self-care', keep this important appointment with yourself.

~ NUTRITION?
How will you nourish your body? You can Google anything and everything having to do with weight loss, and you will come up with a list of ‘do this’ and/or ‘don't do that’. The list is sure to include: Paleo, Atkins, Keto, Intermittent Fasting, and everything in between. Most nutrition-based articles agree: nutrient-dense and well-balanced meals are what you should strive for.  At the end of the day ~ no matter what plan you decide is right for you ~ many ‘plans’ come back to ‘calories in, calories out’.  No plan will ‘work’ unless you decide to give it a try and stick to that plan for a good amount of time to see if it is working for you.  Once again, your honesty with yourself will go a long way in helping you to see positive results.  Finally (and perhaps most important) - NO plan is a good plan unless you have consulted with your healthcare professional to ensure that you are doing what is best for YOU!!  

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📓 Your assignment: Countdown & Pre-Challenge Activity #2:  SET SOME GOALS! 📓  

In order for you to make/execute a plan, please be sure to write it down ~ wherever you can see it!!  If you blog, that is an excellent way to record your plan ~ you will also be able to go back to review your writing and reaffirm your commitment to yourself and your healthy lifestyle.  If you blog on MFP, please remember to visit:  
✍️🖊️📓💻 Seasonal 5% Challenges ~ BLOGGERS!! ✍️🖊️📓💻
Here is the link:  https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/143978-%EF%B8%8F-%EF%B8%8F-seasonal-5-challenges-bloggers-%EF%B8%8F-%EF%B8%8F

Remember to feel proud of each and every day that you 'work your plan'; however, if you have a day where you find that you may stumble, don't dwell on it; pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep walking toward your goal(s).

Feel free to add your comments to this thread outlining your goal-setting plans for a successful 2025 Summer 5% Challenge  (if you blog, you may add the link to your blog here, or you may simply wish to copy/paste your writing here - or do both!), but please consider sharing!!

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PLEASE NOTE:  The Seasonal 5% Challenge Teams are very active. You will be expected to participate to the best of your ability.

ALL challenge weeks run from Saturday through Friday - you will be asked to record your exercise and ‘Healthy Habits’ points based on weekly Challenge themes. You are expected to record these points daily or at least as often as you can during the week but no later than 11:59 pm each Saturday (your local time). In addition, you are expected to weigh in one time per week by 11:59 pm every Saturday (your local time). Your individual team leaders and/or teammates will help to answer any and all questions about where to record your points.

🔮 Our 2025 Summer 5% Challenge Teams are currently being set up. 🔮 
✉️ You will be invited to your individual team soon, in enough time to get to know your team leaders and teammates. Until then, get to know some of the Challengers in the 5% Challenge Community that will be participating right along with you. ✉️

📢 Announcements will be made when invitations to your individual teams are sent. Please visit this team, the 2025 SUMMER 5% COMMUNITY TEAM, often, as this will be the best source for up-to-date information. 📢

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Please be sure to set yourself up for S-U-C-C-E-S-S!!  Why not start by taking part in **ALL** of the Pre-Challenge Activities?  Here they are listed (along with their links) so you can find/participate in all of them!!

🧮 Countdown & Pre-Challenge Activity #1: CHALLENGE INFORMATION and YOUR INPUT & PARTICIPATION! 🧮
Here is the link:  Pre-Challenge Activity #1

yakkystuff

My daily 3 part action plan

• Nourishing food
• Movement (increased duration & intensity)
• Positive skills reading & strengthening (5% is part of that.)

azhkrgrl

🌟 My 5% Challenge Plan: A Chapter of Wholeness and Grace

🧭 My Vision:

In 56 days, I want to feel stronger in my body, clearer in my mind, and lighter in my spirit. I want to look in the mirror and see someone who showed up for herself, day after day, with grace, courage, and consistency.

This is more than a weight loss goal—this is a lifestyle refinement. I want to rewrite my health story from one of striving to one of stewardship.

🎯 MY GOALS (SMART + Soulful)

1. Weight Goal:

✔️ Lose 5% of my body weight in 8 weeks
✔️ Track weekly progress and celebrate non-scale victories

2. Fitness Goal:

✔️ Workout 5x/week (at least 3 mornings at the gym + 2 home workouts or long walks)
✔️ Incorporate strength training 2x/week for muscle tone and joint support

3. Nutrition Goal:

✔️ Use the plating method for mindful meals (½ veggies, ¼ protein, ¼ carbs)
✔️ Stick to 90% whole/real foods and avoid mindless snacking
✔️ Prep 2 meals in advance every week to support weekday success

4. Faith & Mindset Goal:

✔️ Start each day with 10 minutes of prayer, scripture, or journaling
✔️ Post one encouragement in our group per week
✔️ Practice grace over guilt—no “falling off,” just getting up and going again

💡 WHY Am I Doing This?

Because I want to be able to say “yes” to more of life: more walks with loved ones, more confidence in my clothes, more energy in my days, and more peace in my body. I want to age with strength and not sorrow, and I want to be a faithful steward of this temple God entrusted me with.

📅 My Fitness Plan (Appointments with Myself):

Day	Activity
Mon	5:30 AM Gym (Cardio & Weights)
Tue	Walk + Devotional Stretch
Wed	5:30 AM Gym (Full Body Strength)
Thu	Home workout (30 min low impact)
Fri	Walk or Yoga
Sat	Active rest (gardening, errands)
Sun	Full Rest + Soul Care

🥗 My Nutrition Plan:

• Continue using the plating method
• Prep one breakfast + one lunch each week (Instant Pot + Air Fryer friendly!)
• Stock up on fresh fruits and water-rich veggies
• Limit processed sugar and flour, including sourdough (yes, even my beloved!)
• Treat weekends like weekdays—no “off” days, just lighter structure

✨ Fun Facts to Keep My Spirit Light:

1. I love sourdough baking but am learning to savor without overindulging.
2. I’m a Spelling Bee word nerd and can nerd out for hours over crossword puzzles.

💬 Final Thought:

This is not about punishment or shrinking. This is about becoming. Becoming more alive, more present, more kind to myself. I’m not just chasing a number—I'm chasing freedom.

I am doing this—one day, one decision, one victory at a time.