Autumn Leaves November '11 Challenge

missyyclaire

As the Thanksgiving holidays approach, I know there will be challenges to the goals I've set for myself here on MFP. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels the pull of all the tasty foods that are soon to come our way. Whether it's a party with a huge spread of food, or whether it's people bringing in goodies like Pumpkin or Pecan Pie, or dining out with friends or whether it's just getting cooler outside and lots of hot food sounds good, we're going to face it soon.

I'm almost done with participating in a challenge here, the first one I've ever taken. I'm not quite to my goal yet, but there's a week and a half to go and I'm going to push through. Though I haven't been 'perfect' on this, it has still been a good thing for my psyche. It's put an attainable goal out there in front of me and kept me going much more than if I hadn't taken the challenge.

So, I'd like to offer a gentle challenge for the month of November. I say gentle because it's only for 30 days and I know we'll all start getting busier and busier as the month grows longer. I propose just three things for this challenge. The third one is going to be my biggest challenge as I've put off adding Strength Training into my life and it's time for me to quite making excuses!

1. To lose 3% of your current body weight
2. Walk, run, bike, hike, treadmill, swim etc...for 15 miles a week, totalling 60 miles
3. 3 days a week do at least 15 minutes of Strength Training

I'm calling it our "Autumn Leaves" challenge which will run from Nov 1st thru Nov 30th. Weigh-ins will be on Tuesdays, except the last week which is on Wed. I did this on purpose, cuz sometimes a Monday is a hard day to weigh-in...coming on the heels of a weekend. This way we'll have that one day buffer zone!

If you'd like to put our banner up, copy and paste this info to your signature, but be sure to replace the xxx's with img:

[xxx]

http://i.imgur.com/8Rtyk.jpg

[/xxx]

Here's a link to a spreadsheet I'm building with the help of my friend. It's not quite ready for prime time yet, but should be up before the weekend. On the spreadsheet you can enter your Current weight and Goal weight. Also you can log your miles under each week and tally them in Column P to keep a running total. Under the column for the Strength Training, put a check mark for each time you worked out. "Alt v" should make a check mark...at least it does on my Mac. √

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Al2TW0PcYs1tdEFpNkFxUmhFVGgyZktfUG1xSmloc2c&hl=en_US

I am a curious soul and love to read diaries, so if you're comfortable, please friend me and open up your food diary. You're welcome to do the same with mine, and I would welcome any suggestions and recipes.

Here we come, November!!!

newdaynewme

I would love to join this challenge! any motivation that I can get I will surely take! thanks for starting it up!

Angel1066

bump

christinad95

Count me in!!

thurberj

I'm interested, but don't know what you mean by copy and past into signature....sorry I'm a bit slow.....

upsidedownpear

I'm in. However, i wasn't able to fill in my name. Do I need to wait for the permission to edit or something? I have never entered a challenge so not sure how this works :ohwell:

missyyclaire

I'm interested, but don't know what you mean by copy and paste into signature....sorry I'm a bit slow.....

I'm no genius at this, but if you'll copy the info above (copy the bracketed img on top all the way to the bracketed one below), go to "Community" then look at the line that says 'Home Recent Posts My Topics Signature Search'
Click Signature, paste it into your window, change the letters 'xxx' to 'img' above and below being sure to keep the brackets, then save your changes. Once you've done this, you should see our banner in your signature on the forums.

If anybody has a better way, please chime in!

I haven't copied mine into my signature yet as I'm out of memory til I delete my Costume Changers banner!

missyyclaire

I'm in. However, i wasn't able to fill in my name. Do I need to wait for the permission to edit or something? I have never entered a challenge so not sure how this works :ohwell:

Try it now, I think I've turned on the "anyone can edit" feature properly now. And please let me know if it works for you!

Maryfullofgrace

I'm in. Let's move that scale.

missyyclaire

To get ready for the 3rd part of this challenge, I will be joining a gym at my local community college. They let you join for $20 a month, or $65 a semester. I'm told it's a very nice facility and that they have trainers too.

shadea4455

I'd like to join!

tladame

bump

missyyclaire

So glad to have each and everyone of you joining!

I think it's safe to go ahead and add your names to the spreadsheet. If anyone knows how to make it alphabetize our names, please make it so! I'm good at a lot of things, but not at figuring that out!

Two days ago we finally got a piece of strength training equipment installed (It was just a ceiling bracket, but couldn't find a joist...handyman to the rescue!) So, I will be using our new equipment for our challenge. I took a class in in about 2 months ago. I was SOOOO sore I could barely walk. Hopefully just trying to do 15 minutes won't be too killer.

I've been on a plateau for 3 weeks. UGH! I'm hoping that if I keep plugging away, I'll make it start to move again. Don't you think adding in strength training might help? I hope so!

dpowell58

I've never done a challenge so this would be my first. I think I'm game. Maybe it will help me get past this plateau I seem to be at.

missyyclaire

I've never done a challenge so this would be my first. I think I'm game. Maybe it will help me get past this plateau I seem to be at.

I know about the plateau! It's a real gritch! But we can break through, right?

I've only done one challenge (I'm at the tail end of it) and it's been a motivating tool to keep me going. I hope you find this one to be helpful. I'll be here to help, encourage and listen. Welcome!

missyyclaire

I'd like to join!

Welcome aboard! When you have a moment, go sign in on the spreadsheet...that goes for all of y'all! (yes, I'm Texan)

missyyclaire

I would love to join this challenge! any motivation that I can get I will surely take! thanks for starting it up!

Welcome! Looking forward to Nov 1st for our challenge to start!

missyyclaire

Count me in!!

So glad to have you in this challenge...and to have you as a new friend. Welcome!

missyyclaire

I'm in. Let's move that scale.

Let's! Thanks for joining in friend!

Maryfullofgrace

I got signed in to the document. I am ready to start!

The_Wallflower

Signed and ready!

shadea4455

Signed in! (I think)

Chirron40

I would like to join.

missyyclaire

I would like to join.

Welcome, welcome! I'm so happy to have you join us. Feel free to share anything you'd like to tell us about your goals, your passions, your hopes.

I'm so excited to see we have 7 team members now! November, here we come!

heaverchell

I would love to join in. This is just what I need to put an extra boost in my efforts.

ImJDLookatME

I look forward to this! Just can't splurge on Turkey day :P

MommyNemo

Love it.. I am in

tasoconnor

Lookin forward to this

bubblesburst80

i\d love to join this too, being in the uk I don't have Thanksgiving but do have 3 of my children's birthdays
i need to pick up my strength training too and this will give me the push to make it routine

thompsoj05

I'm in. Never have joined a challenge, but it is the challenge that makes me motivated.

BerylX

This looks like something I can do! Please count me in!!!