DECEMBER CHALLENGE

lombrica

Hello All... here is the start of the December Challenge thread. Please let me know if you are going to participate. I will finish up with putting everyone's name into the spreadsheet this evening... it's already started up and ready to go. Guess the good part of being snowed in in Wyoming is that I am getting this started in a little more coordinated manner. :laugh:

Design of the challenge was to be an easy to follow, easy to do plan for the entire month. It is absolutely an exploration type challenge. With all of us getting ready to start a new year and make a plan for 2012, what a perfect time to start looking at new things to try?! Each day has 3 specific and different challenges - A Nutrition Challenge, A Fitness Challenge and A Self-Care Challenge. You get points for each one... mostly you get 5 points for doing it, however, with the fitness part - you get points for completing numbers of the exercises. Since the idea is to try something new - I didn't set the goal as extraordinarily high for numbers or time length... I believe that just by trying them we are already winning!

I just need to know who is participating and what your goal is... you can put the goal into a percentage or points. There are a total of 465 points, but I will put in some FLASH CHALLENGES for certain days... if you do it, you earn extra points but only on that day. I loved that Steph added this in... So, the total points will equal 500 for the month. Goal could be to earn 300 points, goal could be to complete 85% of the challenge (which would be 425 points fyi). Just let me know!

Here is the link to the Google Doc as it is right now... again, please let me know if you want to participate and I will get it finalized as we go! THANKS EVERYONE!!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgLvjeYOiHobdGR3RjhhaTExZGZlbHhzRnlQaDgxZkE

lombrica

My name is Becky and I am going to aim for 90% of the challenge completed... Some of the exercises look hard - so this will be a stretch for me!

I am sooooo excited to try out some of these new ideas and exercises... I know that it will help me refocus in on my eating and nutrition to meet those goals... just what I need to make it through the land of lots of food and sugar! I am really excited to be doing this and I hope that you all enjoy it as much as I have already enjoyed designing it!

RENAEJAE

Not sure what each daily challenge is but I'm in.
Nutrition
Fitness
Self Care

Do we choose our own daily or will there be a set of weekly rotating goals?
Heading out to the gym (FITNESS - check)

lombrica

Not sure what each daily challenge is but I'm in.
Nutrition
Fitness
Self Care

Do we choose our own daily or will there be a set of weekly rotating goals?
Heading out to the gym (FITNESS - check)

The Google Doc has the calendar as the second page... look at the bottom of the spreadsheet, it will show Daily Spreadsheet or Calendar. Click Calendar - and that has all the daily goals for the entire month!

lombrica

DECEMBER 1 DAILY CHALLENGES

Nutrition Challenge: Thirsty Thursday!! Drink your water.
..................................... Points - 6 glasses = 1 pt.
................................................... 8 glasses = 2 pts
................................................... 10 glasses = 3 pts
................................................... 12 glasses = 4 pts
................................................... 14 glasses or more = 5 pts

Fitness Challenge: Wall Pushups - increase the angle to increase the burn!
...................................... Points - for every 10 you do you get 1 pt to a max of 5 pts.

Self-Care Challenge: Full Body Sighs - Do 10!
Sighing has been found to be a great stress reliever... and the more that you encompass your FULL BODY into that sigh the better off you are. So, take 10 minutes to find a quiet and private area (or benefit others by educating them on the background of this being stress relief). Take a deep full breath in and then sigh OUT LOUD, using your whole body, shoulders, neck, head, trunk... make the noise as you release and take a while to let the full release out. Then repeat. Do 10 in a row to earn your 5 pts today. Don't be surprised if you yawn as you finish. Take a moment to be aware of what you felt before and what you felt after... by involving your entire body - you actually mimic the actions that we do to relax babies or that we use when we full out cry. That's because our body knows how to relax us! Trust in this... And... the next time you sigh - realize that this is actually a natural way that our body relieves stress... and when your 16-yr old does it - maybe you can rephrase it as they are relieving stress versus being disrespectful! ha, ha, ha. I promise, it works! This one is one of my favorite methods of stress relief, learned when I was seeing 100 women a week for Domestic Violence Counseling and Groups!

stephaniezoundi

Hi my name is Stephanie and I am aiming for 75% - I would aim for more but as I said in the other thread, and just had confirmed by the doctor, we are adding to our family. It is very very very veyr very early days and the doctor has said to definately keep up the exercise but I can't be as hard core as normal and I am up to up my calories. :bigsmile:

StaciO

Congratulations Stephanie!!! I am so excited for you.

I am in for this challenge Becky and I am going to go for 90% as well. On some of my weekends I may have to post my points on Sunday as we go to our cabin and have trouble with google docs on my phone.

penny_eclipse

Oh WOW Steph that's INCREDIBLE!!! Congratulations

I am totally in for this challenge.....

I am aiming for 60% because as the term comes to a close my workload is incredibly high at uni, (I'd actually like to do 85%, but to be honest even 60% seems mega optimistic!) My final deadlines are 19th and 22nd December, so it's not even like there's much time to undo it if my coursework gets in the way.
I will definitely do everything I can though work permitting.

....*goes off to start the sighs*

Ziggie13

:flowerforyou: Congratulations!!!!!!!!! Stephanie :flowerforyou:

I'm in ...Thanks Becky

Hi....Becky as you drive through Cheyenne, Wyoming

carhicks

Hi my name is Stephanie and I am aiming for 75% - I would aim for more but as I said in the other thread, and just had confirmed by the doctor, we are adding to our family. It is very very very veyr very early days and the doctor has said to definately keep up the exercise but I can't be as hard core as normal and I am up to up my calories. :bigsmile:

Stephanie, I am so happy for you. Congratulations. You are so caring, I know you will make a great mom. :drinker: Here is my toast to you and your hubbie. Carla

RENAEJAE

Holy sighing!! That was pretty cool. It was a first for me. Had to shut my office door so I wouldn't depress my staff. Also did another round of pushups so I've completed 100% of the points for day 1. I will also shoot for 90% as I know December might get away from me with the holidays. Hopefully this week help keep me focused.

I found the calendar tab on the spreadsheet. Too easy for me to figure out - duh - thanks doll.

PS - It's Thirsty Thursday so drink up!!

carhicks

Hello all, I am aiming for 90% this month. I do not want to let up especially with the holidays. I am well on my way with water today (6 cups already) and will get the push ups in after taking the dog for a walk. The sighing will come in after dinner when I want to relax from the day. Happy December 1st all. Carla :flowerforyou: I need a smiley with a Santa hat on it.

meerkat70

I'll aim for 90% too. Did everything today. :-) (14 water; all my sighs; 50 wall push ups)

Ziggie13

Becky....

I looked at the spreedsheet GREAT JOB! :bigsmile: How did you come up with these? This is going to be a hard challenge but I am going to put in 90%

Should this be 1 pt for every 10 Reps total of 5 points ?

** Points for Fitness Challenge: Repetitions - 1 pt for every 10 reps to a total of 50 pts.
Time Based - 1 pt for every 15 seconds to a total of 50 pts.

Please let me know.

I will have to look up some of these fitness exercises. What is Bilateral Supermans? Glute Kicks ? Supine Bridges?
OK a Bird dog :laugh:

penny_eclipse

I'll aim for 90% too. Did everything today. :-) (14 water; all my sighs; 50 wall push ups)

me too!

MrsRazor7

I am in, but I have to figure it out. Can I figure out my percent later? Because I am too tired to look at it tonight and I still have school work to do :grumble:

carhicks

I'll aim for 90% too. Did everything today. :-) (14 water; all my sighs; 50 wall push ups)

me too!

Just have to finish the sighs. Did the rest.

lombrica

Trying hard on my water because I was driving all day... Needed the caffiene! Roads were OK overall but I am just so happy to finally be in Denver. Will get the pushups in and have completed the sighs, many times over when traveling with family! Ha ha.

Yes-- that was supposed to be up to 5 points. Good catch! Thanks.

Congrats Steph! I am so darned excited for you! More than you can even know... Congrats, congrats, congrats!

andilynn82

Oh wow!! Congratulations Stephanie! :happy:

I'm in for December - going to aim for 85%.

Today: 50 wall push-ups, 10 sighs, 10 glasses of water.

Ziggie13

Thanks Becky....

Did my 50 wall push-ups ... 6 glasses of water .... Did 1 body sigh got light headed and didn't do anymore.

:bigsmile: :bigsmile: Weighed in tonight and lost 3 more pounds :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

I try not to drink to much water on the day I weigh-in...got 3 in before weigh-in and 3 after

stephaniezoundi

okay I don't see names on the spreadsheet so will just record here for the time being:
6 glasses of water
20 pushups
10 sighs

RENAEJAE

I won't be under calorie today since I have a big family dinner tonight (5 courses) but I plan to keep it within reason and I'm eating very little until then.

I did my shoulder raises this morning (although that was all the exercise I did) - late night so I skipped the treadmill for the first time in weeks.

Gratitude - I am grateful for my health. I am healthier today than I have been in more than 20 years. I am also grateful for each of you since you are the gas that keeps my going. You all keep me accountable, motivated and energized. Thanks for that!!!

cherubcrnp

I am in.....I am a day late, but I am in....will aim for 85% .....too bad gardening isn't a challenge today.....I have several dozen spring bulbs to get in today and some plants that are finally ready to be cut down as the frost hit them.

Pam

inkredibleshrinkingwoman

ok i am really lame
only seeing this now
i'm just a little confused
and with this 5 year old i may have skimmed and not read.....what'd i miss? what am i doing?

i'm tina

carhicks

Hey Tina, you have to check the spread sheet each day and click on the tab at the bottom that says calender. Here is the address if you don't have it.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgLvjeYOiHobdGR3RjhhaTExZGZlbHhzRnlQaDgxZkE#gid=0

Today we need to stay under our calorie goal for nutrition, do shoulder raises (I assume 50 again) and post one gratitude for the third part.

I did my shoulder raises (60) but assume it was 50 for our 5 points.

My gratitude for the day: Today I volunteered to ring the bell at the Salvation Army kettle for an hour (our church was sponsoring it and we each signed up for one hour). I was grateful to all the generous people who donated to the cause. I am even more grateful that I have all that I need and more and was able to give my time, some money and know that I do not need to depend on the charity of others to survive.

Pizza for dinner tonight, hope to stay under my goal. I will know more later tonight.

lombrica

Yep -- Friday Challenge's are as follows:

Nutrition: Under Calories - 5 pts if you are
Fitness: Shoulder Raises - 1 pt for every 10 up to a total of 5 pts
Self-Care: Post a Gratitude today - 5 pts if you do

In case you are wondering what a shoulder raise is -- check out this free video with the Link below. It counts as one as long as you are doing both arms coming up together. If you choose to do one arm at a time - it counts as one after you have done both sides (meaning right arm up, down, left arm up, down - is one OR right arm and left arms up then down together - is one)

http://www.ehow.com/video_2351855_do-front-shoulder-raise-exercise.html

You can do this with or without weights. Don't have actual weights - grab cans of soup. It gives a little extra burn and toning. Good Luck!

I know for me... I am already looking at how to make it to the end of the day with less calories because I ate too much for breakfast... being a guest makes it a real challenge for me! But then... it is a challenge, right?!?

lombrica

Oh.. and my apologies on the Spreadsheet... I don't have my own computer with me and can't seem to remember my password to get in and edit the thing. I thought that I said anyone could but I can't seem to get things to change. So, keep posting here and I will get it adjusted when I get home or when I remember my password. Woops! Sorry!

meerkat70

I'm under cals and I am all gratituded up.

I couldn't get to the gym, so no shoulder raises, but I'll add them in to tomorrow's workout....

penny_eclipse

I am WAAAAY under calories today, getting home late I actually had to have another mini meal before bed to even get above 1200 (my goal is 1500 before exercise and I'd done 900+ today!)

I've done my shoulder raises (50)

And my grattitude is:
I am thankful for the massive support from my mate at home, who I can always call up and whinge at when I'm hungry/upset/annoyed/scared/tired/that i havn't lost any weight etc etc etc, and he has been such a massive support, helping me to make good choices, kicking me out the door to do exercise and generally being there.
Today he helped me go for a run before my lecture (by text when he was at work), and this evening after I'd spent all night out and had expected to be getting dinner with friends (which it turned out they'd already eaten) he was there for me to call up and help me stay strong and walk past the kebab/jacket potato/chips/general amazing smelling food vans lining the streets...and instead come home and fix some food

Ziggie13

shoulder raises done

under calories

Grattitude is:

Im thankful for my great husband and family for supporting me. And THANKS to My MFP friends for the support and the great challenges.

meerkat70

Sorry misunderstood and put my gratitude on my wall. will copy and paste here later when i"m on a computer. (Becky saw so can vouch i did it! :-) )