30 Day Challenge

I'm a little late but I'd like to join too. When I started my new job I slacked off of MFP but my friend who got me on in this first place reminded me it only works when you use it! I'm currently in Japan so its hard to put in the food, but I have a scale and a gym at my disposal and I have no excuses not to work out. My starting weight is 172.2. My weight has been up and down the past couple of weeks as most of my meals I buy at work (I work at a restaurant) and the girls in the office keep a candy drawer stocked of Japanese candies and once I have one...well lets just say it hasn't helped. I have made a conscious effort to take the stairs rather than the elevator at work and as the building has a lot of bars I am able to get in several cups of water a night when I'm checking on them. My goal now is to stop being a couch potato in the time I do spend at home!. My goal weight for this challenge is 166, so 6 pounds. My god daughter's birthday is the 15th (she'll be 2) and I'm going to miss it so I'll work off that distress extra hard by working out!

Day 4 - met the water & exercise challenge.

Today I did bellyy dancing for the first time. Although I felt like a fish out of water, it was pretty fun. It was a very, very beginners class so I didn't burn as many calories as MFP exercise database says I should. But worth it - I can already feel muscles I never knew I had!

Looking forward to hear tomorrow's challenge.

I didn't check in yesterday, but I'm still here . Yesterday was kind of hard for me, I had a project due, so I didn't get much sleep the night before. I was still able to eat right, and get my normal exercise in (it actually went really well!), but I slacked on the water - only 4 glasses - and didn't do the extra 10 minutes of exercise. Today will be a much better day, though! I've already started with the water, and I'm looking forward to encouraging those around me .

Happy Friday everyone!

AH motivation, thats what I need today, if I didnt have a two year old waking me up at 5 something this morning I think I would of slept all day. So this challenge comes at a good time, to motivate and encourage another I need to be in the right place. So adjusting my attitude and starting the day a little groggy but determined.

Just think how good you will feel after those endorphins kick in after you excercise!!! woohoo!!! AND its Friday...(lil motivation and inspiration) :flowerforyou:

Hi ddakota, and welcome to our group. We have lost a few so good to have you join us:) My cousin Jessica and I are doing this 30 day challenge and we are really just getting started anyway. We are making a commitement to at least 30 mins a day of exercise, drinking 8 8 oz glasses of water a day and today our mini challenge is to motivate 3 friends. We post our challenges on the night before so look for one later on tonight for tomorrow. We can do this together:)

thanks for your replys i think ill get myself the shred and see how i go still have a two glasses of water to go. iv got a hydracoach comming has anyone got one? are they any good?
and again would just like to say (KEEP GOIING EVERYONE) x

AH motivation, thats what I need today, if I didnt have a two year old waking me up at 5 something this morning I think I would of slept all day. So this challenge comes at a good time, to motivate and encourage another I need to be in the right place. So adjusting my attitude and starting the day a little groggy but determined.

I know what you mean, my three year old always wakes up at 7 and I sooo didn't want to get up this morning. In a way I'm glad I get up early to face the day instead of wasting the day by sleeping, but some days it would be so nice wouldn't it? One days when I feel less than motivated I still exercise and then by the end of it I feel great...put on some happy fun music and rock it out
We got this!

What's with early rising kids this am!?!? Mine was also up at 5. ugh. she's usually such a good sleeper but she's got this head cold, so all bets are off!

Hi everyone, my kids and I have been sick with the flu all week, so I haven't gotten in much exercise but I sure have been drinking a lot of water! I hope to jump right back in this weekend and see how it goes! Good job to all of you who have been keeping up with the daily challenges!!!!! Can't wait to join you!

Today was a good day. I just finished my 8th glass of water and completed day 5 of the 30 Day Shred. I also made sure to encourage several of my friends here on MFP. I'm feeling really good about myself today. I'm going out tonight with one of my friends, so I might as well ask this: does anyone have any advice on going to bars without negating all the hard work you put into being healthy the entire day? I'm just planning on limiting my intake, but if anyone has any pointers, I'm all ears .

Happy Friday everyone!

Glad to hear from everyone that posted tonight. I look forward from hearing from you each night to check on your progress. I'm down on the scale and feeling pretty good!! I ended up cooking some Barilla whole grain spaghetti with sauce and fixed that delicious roasted califlower recipe that Tatiana posted. Yum! I added some garlic to it and it was amazing:):) I didn't eat the garlic bread so ended up with a good meal for just over 400 calories:) Ok hope you all are ready for tomorrows challenge!! Here it is:

*****************SATURDAYS CHALLENGE***********************
REV UP YOUR METABOLISM~~
This challenge is all about getting your metabolism going. First of all if you aren't keeping a food diary , start now. It's hard to keep track of your diet if you don't know what your calories are at the end of the day. Very important!!
Ok for some you are going to love this if you aren't already doing this----I'm suggesting that you EAT MORE TO BURN MORE!!
In order to have a good metabolism working, we need to be eating 3 healthy meals a day and 2 snacks. Of course, this did not come from me, all this is proven. I have done this and taught this at Curves and know it works. Below is a list of helpful hints if you are new to this:

Don't skip breakfast By skipping meals you are actually slowing your metabolism

Meals should consist of 300-400 calories A good lean 3 oz portion of meat/veg/salad

Snacks should consist of 200-300 calories
Good snacks include low fat dairy products (yogurt is great), raw veggies, low fat popcorn, a handful of nuts or seeds, fresh fruit, protein bars, whole wheat crackers, string cheese. These are just a few suggestions.

This allows you to stay fuller longer and keeps you from being hungry. You will also notice you will eat smaller meals because you aren't as hungry but also keeps your metabolism going all day as it takes calories to burn digested food. Also, high fiber foods stay in your stomach longer and takes longer to digest keeping you fuller longer. So really this is pretty simple and if you haven't tried this.....I think you will be amazed. I have been doing this all week and I feel so much better and am not hungry like I was before. This isn't a hard challenge but is may be a little different than how you are eating now. Try this for one day at least and please give me your feedback on it tomorrow night. If you are already doing this, please let us know your results. This is going to be an awesome 30 days for us:)

*****************SATURDAYS CHALLENGE***********************
REV UP YOUR METABOLISM~~
This challenge is all about getting your metabolism going. First of all if you aren't keeping a food diary , start now. It's hard to keep track of your diet if you don't know what your calories are at the end of the day. Very important!!
Ok for some you are going to love this if you aren't already doing this----I'm suggesting that you EAT MORE TO BURN MORE!!
In order to have a good metabolism working, we need to be eating 3 healthy meals a day and 2 snacks. Of course, this did not come from me, all this is proven. I have done this and taught this at Curves and know it works. Below is a list of helpful hints if you are new to this:

Don't skip breakfast By skipping meals you are actually slowing your metabolism

Meals should consist of 300-400 calories A good lean 3 oz portion of meat/veg/salad

Snacks should consist of 200-300 calories
Good snacks include low fat dairy products (yogurt is great), raw veggies, low fat popcorn, a handful of nuts or seeds, fresh fruit, protein bars, whole wheat crackers, string cheese. These are just a few suggestions.

This allows you to stay fuller longer and keeps you from being hungry. You will also notice you will eat smaller meals because you aren't as hungry but also keeps your metabolism going all day as it takes calories to burn digested food. Also, high fiber foods stay in your stomach longer and takes longer to digest keeping you fuller longer. So really this is pretty simple and if you haven't tried this.....I think you will be amazed. I have been doing this all week and I feel so much better and am not hungry like I was before. This isn't a hard challenge but is may be a little different than how you are eating now. Try this for one day at least and please give me your feedback on it tomorrow night. If you are already doing this, please let us know your results. This is going to be an awesome 30 days for us:)

This is a great reminder for me! I always forget about this helpful hint while I focus on other aspects of eating. It does work! Good luck everyone!

so wiped after 5am wake up call from little one that I didn't check-in last night. Got in my water + (that one is easy for me). So tired I didn't want to work out, but I ate some crap during the day that i needed to burn off in order to have cals to heat even healthy dinner. So after I started, I just couldn't stop. Did 30 minutes jogging around the house, 10 mins kickboxing from a video, 30 mins pilates. And I did a little motivating others via posts in different places on MFP.

Today's challenge came just in time, as I am planning my week's meals and going to the grocery store today. I had already been planning a couple of things, but this reminder helped me remember to lan for brown rice, couscous, oatmeal, etc are fibers that "stick to your ribs" and my grandma says and give you long steady energy, instead of the highs and lows of simpler carbs.

I have to put in a word for eating enough during the day! And planning ahead is also key for not finding yourself in a situation of being hungry and around temptation.

And if we're recommending stick to your rib snacks...I am in love with greek yogurt. I tried for years to love yogurt. And while I loved it in savory food, I just couldn't get use to it as a sweet snack...it was the tanginess of it. But greek yogurt has no "tang" and I am in love. In love! I can't get enough. I am a fat-o-phile and prefer full fat dairy, but I have heard that the fat free variety is quite tasty and full-bodied as well.