Hi I'm Jessica. I'm 26 years old and married. I manage a yoga studio. Besides doing yoga I love crocheting and knitting, cross-stitching, reading, and rock climbing. I lost about 70 pounds 4 years ago and want to work on changing my body composition now.

Good Evening! My name is Charice...I work full-time, married for 22 years and have 2 teenagers...my daughter is 15 and my son is 14. I have been struggling with my weight for many years and know that my children are older i am able to spend time working on my self. I have already lost 20 lbs and need to lose approx 60 more to get to my goal. I just want to be fit and healthy...i am not looking to become a super model I am glad that i found this group because I really need the accountability. I hope you all have a awesome evening!!

Hello and welcome to you all, for those that have done this before, you know me, for the newbies, I am 58 years young and struggle every day, but I am still going, don't always get my choices right but I am getting there, I will be throwing some challenges at you and I think mini challenges keep it interesting, feel free to throw some back at me. I have a competive side to me not as in winning but having a go at it all! No such word as can't!,,,

Hi everyone!

My name is Lynn (47) full-time working mom of 2 sport fanatics (12 & 14) which are my pride and joy but fitting 30 min of exercise in my 4-hour evening window is too often challenging with their busy schedules! Work downtown in a law firm and live in a suburb (love it). Love rock music and nature! I can't slice anything correctly and walk too fast but I'm extremely generous, devoted and caring.

I've hit maintenance in the Spring and let me say that's a journey in its own. Finished Jillian Michaels Body Revolution in the Spring and am currently doing Les Mills Combat (the best way I can; lol). There always seems to be a hovering 5 lbs here and there and still trying to figure out the right calorie recipe for me.

Loving the accountability this challenge brings! Big HUGE thank you to Caradae for all your hard work in keeping us going!

Good luck everyone!

It's great to see all these new faces as well some regulars too.

Something unusual: I brew tasty homemade Crystalized-Ginger Root Kombucha and Dehydrator Dried-Fruit Flavored (Blueberry, Peach, Plum, Pear etc.) Flavored Water Kefir.

Hi every one,

I'm 59 & looking forward to another month of this challenge. Because of my Scoliosis, I had to retire early. I find it so hard to lose weight when you're at home for a lot of the day. I made it through the first month & I'll make it through this month too. This month I'm setting my goal at 4 pounds. I have 19 pounds to go all together & hope to be there by the end of this year.

Good luck to everyone else in this challenge.

Hi guys,
It's so great to read all of your stories and see such a wide variety of walks of life.
I don't feel I have a whole lot to say about myself in comparison, but I'll try!
I'm 29 and recently graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Computers.
I have lost 50+ lbs on MFP a couple years ago -- around the time I got my degree actually -- but the weight came back after a devastating breakup and depression. Things have been more settled in my life this past year, but the depression didn't begin to lift until recently, which is through my own fault. I felt sorry for myself for a long time. I began logging in July and have been consistent since mid August and an active part of the community, and have already lost 15lbs. I want to take the health and fitness back that I worked so hard for before, and hopefully find motivation to jump-start my career. I love cats and just started volunteering taking care of adoptable cats in a pet store while I freelance and seek out the right job opening.

I've gotten incredible support from the friends I've gathered these past couple weeks and am always looking for more, so please feel free to add me. I truly wish you all the best of luck!

First Mini challenge, I played some good strong music with it so that I could enjoy something, lol

Participate and log it every day here just so I know who is doing it, thanks


Lunges, Push Ups & Core (which will include: Crunches, Planks)


Lunges - Exercise for strengthening, sculpting and building several muscle groups in the legs.

Directions:
1. Stand with your torso upright & your hands by your sides. This will be your starting position.
2. Step forward with your right leg around 2 feet or so from the foot being left stationary behind and lower your upper body down, while keeping the torso upright and maintaining balance. Inhale as you go down.
3. Using mainly the heel of your foot, push up and go back to the starting position as you exhale.
4. Repeat the movement for the recommended amount of repetitions and then perform with the left leg.


Push Ups - Exercise for strengthening, sculpting and building several muscle groups in the chest, arms and the midsection as a whole.

Directions:
1. Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart while holding your torso up at arms length.
2. Next, lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.
3. Now breathe out and press your upper body back up to the starting position while squeezing your chest.
4. After a brief pause at the top contracted position, you can begin to lower yourself downward again for as many repetitions as needed.


Core (which will include: Crunches, Planks) - Exercise for strengthening, sculpting and building several muscle groups in your midsection.

Crunch Directions:
1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground & your hands lightly on either side of your head keeping your elbows in.
2. While pushing the small of your back down in the floor to better isolate your abdominal muscles, begin to roll your shoulders off the floor.
3. Continue to push down as hard as you can with your lower back as you contract your abdominals and exhale. Your shoulders should come up off the floor only about four inches, and your lower back should remain on the floor. At the top of the movement, contract your abdominals hard and keep the contraction for a second.
4. After the one second contraction, begin to come down slowly again to the starting position as you inhale.
5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Plank Directions:
1. Get into a prone position on the floor, supporting your weight on your toes and your forearms. Your arms are bent and directly below the shoulder.
2. Keep your body straight at all times, and hold this position as long as possible. To increase difficulty, an arm or leg can be raised.
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Day 01 - 03 Sep 2013

Lunges - 50 (25 EA Leg)
Push Ups - 30
Crunches - 20
Planks - 20 seconds
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Day 02 - 04 Sep 2013

Lunges - 56 (28 EA Leg)
Push Ups - 35
Crunches - 25
Planks - 25 seconds
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Day 03 - 05 Sep 2013

Lunges - 62 (31 EA Leg)
Push Ups - 40
Crunches - 30
Planks - 30 seconds
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Day 04 - 06 Sep 2013

REST DAY!
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Day 05 - 07 Sep 2013

Lunges - 68 (34 EA Leg)
Push Ups - 45
Crunches - 35
Planks - 35 seconds
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Day 06 - 08 Sep 2013

Lunges - 74 (37 EA Leg)
Push Ups - 50
Crunches - 40
Planks - 40 seconds
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Day 07 - 09 Sep 2013

Lunges - 80 (40 EA Leg)
Push Ups - 55
Crunches - 45
Planks - 45 seconds
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