Countdown & Pre-Challenge Activity #1: INFORMATION and YOUR INPUT! ℹ️🔠
hicim705
Posts: 5,983 Member
On behalf of the overall leadership team (Lynn @kaliswalker ~ Ceri @Ceriusly1 ~ Heidi @hicim705 ~ Barb @ladyluk1, and Diane @Dianedoessmiles1, as well as the leaders of our eight individual challenge teams (Fit Force ~ Mission Slimpossible ~ Positively Strong 4 Life ~ Rain Dancers ~ Red Hots ~ Shape Shifters ~ Tenacious GR8TERS ~ Thinner Winners) …
👋WELCOME👋 TO THE ❄️⛄✨🔥😊2024 WINTER 5% CHALLENGE😊🔥✨⛄❄️!! This is our FIRST Challenge in a bright and shiny New Year and 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 get prepared for success ~ especially as the start of a New Year is when a lot of people make resolutions (either 📢loud and proud📢 or 🔕🔇silently, as a promise to yourself🔇🔕). Whatever you choose to do ~ please remember, that you are doing this for YOU; your health, and your well-being to become the best **you** that you can be!!
For the several hundred of us who join the Seasonal 5% Challenges from one season to the next, we come here because we are looking to cultivate our friendships, seek support, and we look for structure and continuity. Most of our 5% Challengers have followed us from SparkPeople after they closed their site in the summer of 2021 but our sense of community and support has helped us to welcome Challengers from the MFP site who are now regulars to our seasonal Exercise/Healthy Lifestyle Challenges.
In doing some research to write these activities, an older article was found on the internet that discussed Team Challenges, and our own 5% Seasonal Challenge was highlighted. Lynn, @kaliswalker (one of the original founders of the 5% Challenge) was interviewed ~ here is the link to the article. It discusses the importance of teams, but the 5% Challenge model was in the spotlight in this article that was written in 2016: https://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=memberrun_challenges_can_help_you_find_success
(As of this writing (Dec. 2023) this article still shows up and it is worth the read).
The story continued (and continues to grow): When SparkPeople closed, we, the current Overall Leadership Team, realized that without SparkPeople and its team spirit, we (and hundreds of our 5% Challenge friends) would be lost and struggling. We sprang into action and searched for an alternate site where we could continue our journey; and continue to write our story. Although many sites were considered, MyFitnessPal was ultimately chosen as our 'new home' with the start of the 2021 Fall 5% Challenge. Bringing the 5% Challenge to MFP was a true labor of love, and with full disclosure, was not smooth sailing as we had hoped, but the Overall Challenge Leader Team put their heads down and worked hard to continue and MAKE it work! At this point, our Challenges are enjoyable and are doing what they were intended to do ~ to provide a space where you can practice healthy habits and where you can chat with other, like-minded MFP members, and where you are encouraged to meet a new friend or two!
🗬🤔 Now that you have been provided with a bit of a background of the 5% Challenge, please think about what YOU need and how YOU are going to be approaching the Winter 5% Challenge. Will you continue to practice healthy habits that you have already learned and are working for you? Are you looking to begin something entirely new? Are you still trying to identify where you are right now and what you would like to get out of the next 10 weeks? There are no right or wrong answers here as everyone’s healthy lifestyle goals/journey are unique - like we all are. 🤔🗭
😊Your FIRST Countdown Activity for this Challenge will be for YOU to decide where YOU would like to go on YOUR Seasonal 5% Journey (as an added bonus, how YOU would like to begin to write YOUR 2024 STORY). Everyone's reason for joining this Challenge is different. We would like you to dig down deep to share what your motivation is for coming here. We would like you to share what brings you here, and even more importantly - what keeps you coming back! Perhaps there are things that you would like to get out of your personal 5% journey that we haven't discussed and/or researched. Why don't you write down some of YOUR ideas ~ we might even be able to incorporate some of those things in this or future Challenges!😊
✍️Feel free to add your comments to this thread outlining your exercise plan for a successful 2024 Winter 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 expected to record your exercise and ‘Living the Good Life’ 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 Friday (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 team mates will help to answer any and all questions about where to record your points.
🔮Our Winter 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 team mates. 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 2024 WINTER 5% COMMUNITY TEAM often as this will be the best source for up-to-date information.
🎇🕛🥳🍾🥂🎉🎈🎆HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2024🎆🎈🎉🥂🍾🥳🕛🎇!!
👋WELCOME👋 TO THE ❄️⛄✨🔥😊2024 WINTER 5% CHALLENGE😊🔥✨⛄❄️!! This is our FIRST Challenge in a bright and shiny New Year and 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 get prepared for success ~ especially as the start of a New Year is when a lot of people make resolutions (either 📢loud and proud📢 or 🔕🔇silently, as a promise to yourself🔇🔕). Whatever you choose to do ~ please remember, that you are doing this for YOU; your health, and your well-being to become the best **you** that you can be!!
For the several hundred of us who join the Seasonal 5% Challenges from one season to the next, we come here because we are looking to cultivate our friendships, seek support, and we look for structure and continuity. Most of our 5% Challengers have followed us from SparkPeople after they closed their site in the summer of 2021 but our sense of community and support has helped us to welcome Challengers from the MFP site who are now regulars to our seasonal Exercise/Healthy Lifestyle Challenges.
No matter how you found us, we are so happy that you did!!
In doing some research to write these activities, an older article was found on the internet that discussed Team Challenges, and our own 5% Seasonal Challenge was highlighted. Lynn, @kaliswalker (one of the original founders of the 5% Challenge) was interviewed ~ here is the link to the article. It discusses the importance of teams, but the 5% Challenge model was in the spotlight in this article that was written in 2016: https://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=memberrun_challenges_can_help_you_find_success
(As of this writing (Dec. 2023) this article still shows up and it is worth the read).
The story continued (and continues to grow): When SparkPeople closed, we, the current Overall Leadership Team, realized that without SparkPeople and its team spirit, we (and hundreds of our 5% Challenge friends) would be lost and struggling. We sprang into action and searched for an alternate site where we could continue our journey; and continue to write our story. Although many sites were considered, MyFitnessPal was ultimately chosen as our 'new home' with the start of the 2021 Fall 5% Challenge. Bringing the 5% Challenge to MFP was a true labor of love, and with full disclosure, was not smooth sailing as we had hoped, but the Overall Challenge Leader Team put their heads down and worked hard to continue and MAKE it work! At this point, our Challenges are enjoyable and are doing what they were intended to do ~ to provide a space where you can practice healthy habits and where you can chat with other, like-minded MFP members, and where you are encouraged to meet a new friend or two!
🗬🤔 Now that you have been provided with a bit of a background of the 5% Challenge, please think about what YOU need and how YOU are going to be approaching the Winter 5% Challenge. Will you continue to practice healthy habits that you have already learned and are working for you? Are you looking to begin something entirely new? Are you still trying to identify where you are right now and what you would like to get out of the next 10 weeks? There are no right or wrong answers here as everyone’s healthy lifestyle goals/journey are unique - like we all are. 🤔🗭
📓Your assignment:
Countdown & Pre-Challenge Activity #1: INFORMATION and YOUR INPUT!
Countdown & Pre-Challenge Activity #1: INFORMATION and YOUR INPUT!
😊Your FIRST Countdown Activity for this Challenge will be for YOU to decide where YOU would like to go on YOUR Seasonal 5% Journey (as an added bonus, how YOU would like to begin to write YOUR 2024 STORY). Everyone's reason for joining this Challenge is different. We would like you to dig down deep to share what your motivation is for coming here. We would like you to share what brings you here, and even more importantly - what keeps you coming back! Perhaps there are things that you would like to get out of your personal 5% journey that we haven't discussed and/or researched. Why don't you write down some of YOUR ideas ~ we might even be able to incorporate some of those things in this or future Challenges!😊
✍️Feel free to add your comments to this thread outlining your exercise plan for a successful 2024 Winter 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!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 expected to record your exercise and ‘Living the Good Life’ 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 Friday (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 team mates will help to answer any and all questions about where to record your points.
🔮Our Winter 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 team mates. 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 2024 WINTER 5% COMMUNITY TEAM often as this will be the best source for up-to-date information.
Heidi (hicim705)
Overall Co-Leader, Seasonal 5% Challenges (hosted on MFP)
Overall Co-Leader, Seasonal 5% Challenges (hosted on MFP)
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Replies
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@Hicim705 Heidi so beautifully written!! I LOVE the preassignments, and often do them throughtout the challenge though I had as we have entered it also. WHY? Because these are a great way for me to stay focused. Very much appreicate your putting these up.
I've been thinking of my goals this time around: Maintain my weight, cut down on going out to eat or if I do go out, make healthier choices, and or eat only half (I've been working on this it's going well) but when I come home to NOT eat the rest the same day, it can wait til the next day so I can stay in calorie range. This is the TIP of my iceburg.
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To be honest my main goal for coming back again and again to these challenges is a fear of going backwards. And this fear comes from the lose then gain it all back and more syndrome. That was my life before SP. I joined SP in 2008 and started the challenges within that first year. I went from 226 (my max) to 170. I maintained pretty good over those years, but when SP was coming to an end I wasn't sure what I would do. And then the team leaders at SP (Lynn @kaliswalker ~ Ceri @Ceriusly1 ~ Heidi @hicim705 ~ Barb @ladyluk1, and Diane @Dianedoessmiles1) invited us to join a new site they had found. Many did and here we are. I may not be as vocal as some, but I read your life's stories daily and pray for all of you. Your stories remind me how precious life is and how important it is to be as healthy as possible to enjoy life for all it is worth. These challenges help me do just that. God bless you all and have a very Merry Christmas.
Linda6 -
Winter 2024 5% - Countdown Pre-Challenge #1. Good Beginning. Thank you for all your hard work on getting us ready for these challenges!
My 2024 Story begins with - My 70th birthday is in June. 2024 is going to be a Banner Year! I want it to be a Happy Year!
2024 is about maintaining a positive attitude, improving habits that drive permanent lifestyle changes and being happy with my choices. I achieved a lot in 2023 and will continue what I have learned and improve upon that in 2024. I was already on a good path when I joined the 2023 Fall 5% challenge, my first one. The 5% helped me by providing accountability and thought-provoking insights on how to make my journey better (many smart, caring people). I don’t belong to the challenge to tell me which road to take, I decide the destination and route I am taking, but the 5% is here to help me learn how to make that road better and smoother (fewer potholes and wrong turns, with some humor thrown in). I want to keep coming back so I continue learning in 2024.
My Why will always be about my health. This 5% challenge will end on the same day as my annual medical check-up, March 1. I want that check-up to be one of the best I have ever had.
I want to be challenged and held accountable, with an honest kick when it is needed. We can't always be coddled or we don't move forward. An overused but true Einstein quote "... insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - that is why I am in the shape that I am. Change is required. If people don't want to be challenged to get better, why are you part of a challenge? Life gets in the way sometimes, but it shouldn't be a stop sign, only a yield sign. Adjust and keep moving.
My motto for 2024 comes from Yoda to young Luke Skywalker. " Do or Do Not, there is No Try"!!
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My goal is to stay healthy and actually attain better health. It's possible since I struggle with emotional eating so by working on my emotions and mindset, I'm helping myself to be feel/be better in every way.
I have no trouble working out since it makes an obvious difference in my mood. I've learned not to put roadblocks up in my head. I do my best for the moment and move on and it's working for me.4 -
My focus this year is going to be tracking daily, exercising enthusiastically and eating healthfully.3
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2024 on tap...amazing
2023 started out well for me and then challenges hit... at the end of the year... I wiped out all wins for the year (as far as weight loss is concerned).
So my goal for 2024 is to figure out how to not let life challenges derail me. They will always be there, I just need to learn how to navigate them and not throw up both hands.
I'm changing my focus to health and lifestyle improvements and hoping that weight loss will simply be a byproduct of other positive changes.
I've joined a few more challenges to keep me busy....might be overkill but we shall see.
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My goal with big changes in 2024, moving from Washington State to San Antonio, Texas, continue with my health, consistency in exercise and not struggle with emotional eating. I would love to lose at least 10 pounds in the process..3
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Will you continue to practice healthy habits that you have already learned and are working for you?
I am here to continue to practice the healthy habits I've learned in previous challenges.
Thank you to the leader team and all challengers throughout the 10 years of these trips around the world. It continues to be the time of my life.
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gouldsgranite wrote: »Will you continue to practice healthy habits that you have already learned and are working for you?
I am here to continue to practice the healthy habits I've learned in previous challenges.
Thank you to the leader team and all challengers throughout the 10 years of these trips around the world. It continues to be the time of my life.
I agree with you on BOTH accounts, well said!2 -
My goal for the next year is to cut down on fats & eat veggies every day. I do eat veggies but when I run out I tend not to get some more right away. My fats are over the recommend amount & I have to figure out how to get them down. I already started but I want to learn much more how & where to do it in my meal plan3
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2024 on tap...amazing
2023 started out well for me and then challenges hit... at the end of the year... I wiped out all wins for the year (as far as weight loss is concerned).
So my goal for 2024 is to figure out how to not let life challenges derail me. They will always be there, I just need to learn how to navigate them and not throw up both hands.
I'm changing my focus to health and lifestyle improvements and hoping that weight loss will simply be a byproduct of other positive changes.
I've joined a few more challenges to keep me busy....might be overkill but we shall see.
I feel like you wrote this for me and that you were probably walking beside me many times this year as I just threw my hands up in the air instead of navigating the 'sometimes rough waters of life' instead of giving in. Thanks for writing this - I'm going to try to keep this in mind (I think that more challenges may be overkill for ME but good luck to YOU!!
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My goal for the Winter 2024 Challenge is to continue maintaining my weight. I'm still working on strengthening my legs so I don't always need to rely on the walker. I also enjoy being an encourager to those who struggle with weight, either to lose or gain. I've been on both ends of that and I realize how much of a struggle it can be. Another goal I have is to remain healthy. I had a health scare this past fall and if I continue to eat correctly, that shouldn't be a problem again.3
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To start the year focus on maintaining so I do not do my normal regain. Thankfully, I've never regained all of it, but the yearly backsides make me feel like I am spinning my wheels...and spinning my wheels makes me feel like giving up...so I should get rid of things that make me feel that way. (SOUNDS simple) Foraging out a plan to be happily more consistent would be good. I should seek out more social connections for activity....that means commitments....that I've avoided since retirement, lol, so IDK.3
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My goals for the new year is to become the best version of myself. I am working on healthy habits and discipline even when I don't have the motivation. Motivation is often fleeting for me. It comes and goes. But mostly goes. It's important for me to show up for myself.
I often make goals and then don't follow through with them.... in all aspects of my life. I also tend to take on TOO much and then get burnt out.
My goal is to work on my mental health as well as my physical health.3 -
My goal for the new year is to get movement back into my days. It's been a rough year and I became something I put on the back burner. I cannot do that any longer! I'm not getting any younger. My weight number is distressing. I had to step back from the 5% for a time as it was causing me to feel guilt that I wasn't participating as I knew I should, or wanted to.
I just finished a raft of annual medical appointments/tests (gotta love how providers just disappear and I am constantly making intake appointments) and have a clear bill of health. Only negative to be found is my weight.
So step one was joining the 5% to get back the accountability and challenges. Step two will be to participate as best I can and get movement back into things consistently.3 -
After a few years of feeling like a soccer ball..just banging around from goal to goal but never sticking..this year the focus is to start, stick and finish. Set small achievable goals..weekly if must be ..but set self up to be a winner!! Get in better condition..neglect is showing and post surgery is catching up to me, knee is great but general condition is questionable!
Looking at the clock I see the sands of time are on the long end of things for me..but I intend to continue to work to be the best I can be for as long as I can. So onward , forward and if needed put on blinders so the focus is not lost.
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My main reason for returning to the 5% Challenge, is the support I receive from my teammates. My goals are to lose weight (as usual) and to lower my A1c by diet and exercise. I've lost inches and sizes, but the scale is my nemesis!4
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My goal for the New Year is to get back into a better routine. The last few months of 2023 have been challenging for me and I need to take control and get back to living my life! I hope to lose some weight but my main concern is to get stronger and find a way to manage the stress of everyday life! Being a part of a team helps me keep a good routine going.2
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My Goal for the next year is to learn my limits and work out how to be happy and healthy living within them. Chronic illness has taken a lot from me in the last few years, but I'm determined to get some of my bubbly happiness back.
Starting with re losing the 5 kgs I gained with my new meds. Honestly if thats all I acheive weight loss wise in 2024 I will count that as a win, but I'd like to go further and lose double that. As it stands today, I have lost 28kg from my highest weight, and need to lose another 22 to get to a healthy weight (65kgs) (though honestly I will be reassesing this with a dr once I hit 75kgs.2 -
Where I would like to go on my Seasonal 5% Journey
I want to do all the things on this 10 week journey, but I know if I try to do too many things I will get overwhelmed and fall back into my bad habits. I would love to lose more than 5% and if I do that is bonus for me. My biggest goal is to get back to how I always took care of myself and was always consistent with my eating and working out. I used 'life getting in the way' as an excuse and refuse to let that happen again. These challenges really help keep me above water. I wish I would not have stopped doing them.
How I would like to begin to write my 2024 STORY
2024 is gonna be the Best Year Ever. I have all my ducks in a row and have God's strength to get me through any obstacles that come my way....they always do.
My ducks consist of having a journal, printed out templates for meal plans and groceries, planning meals for the next week and using my daily planner for all the to-dos.
Being consistent with working out took a tailspin this past year, due to moving and letting alcohol take control of me. Now that I've told alcohol to take a hike, I have the desire to lift them weights and take care of my heart.
The past me would let these be a challenge/hindrance since I will be wintering in Florida for two months and will be away from my new home. There is no excuse for not taking care of myself (unless something seriously bad happens).
I do have a long term goal for 2024 and that is to hit my goal weight by June which is losing a total of 35 lbs. That may be a high expectation, but I'm a go big or go home kinda gal.
I want to wish everybody much success over the next 10 weeks.2 -
The last few months of 2023, I have been all over the place. So my first goal in 2024 is to regain some focus. I had been attempting to be more plant-based but I let myself overthink and make it complicated and naturally, I have returned to not good for me eating habits. The holiday season was just another reason to eat poorly.
Goal #1: Return to tracking meals and exercise.
Goal #2: Make at least one meal a day plant-based.
Goal #3: Add one day of strength training per week.2 -
I need to focus more on food and restart daily morning walks. For some reason I’ve lost my GUNG HO it has gone bye-bye. I like the challenge because it keeps me accountable. Find a plan for silver sneakers or rejoin the Y2
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My goal for 2024 is to get back to healthy habits. In 2023 I let some of it slip so back to basics for me - track everything I eat, exercise every day, drink enough water, get enough sleep.2
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Since May of this year there have been many things happening to my DH and it has been time consuming as I am his care giver and many doctor's appointments. Very stressful months and I have not been doing as well as I should have been.
I need to focus more on me and to get healthier by eating better and doing more exercise and strength training. I need to have a more positive attitude about myself and what I know I can do. So new year and new me. I appreciate all of the support this team gives me now and back to SP days. It is because of this that I continue doing these challenges.3 -
My goal for 2024 is to really buckle down and finally get this menopause weight gain off for good! I did so well in the summer challenge because I had a trip to Ireland on the horizon and wanted to look, and more importantly, to feel good! I was inspired and I did well. After i got home from Ireland the holidays hit and i totally blew it! I'm determined to get back to the healthy eating habits, exercising more, eating out less and feeling better about myself. I'm ready to rock the winter challenge!!2
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My goal for 2024 is to let go of the demons around food that still haunt me once and for all. I got serious on Sparkpeople Sept 9, 2019 and hit my goal August 8, 2020, down 60+ lbs. I continually lost weight until Sparkpeople closed. I maintained for quite a while then gained a few pounds. Life hit hard this year (2023) and I reverted to my old (food) habits and gained 20lbs. If it wasn't for the 5% Challenges, my leaders and teammates I would have gained it all back.3
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My Goal for the new 5% Winter Challenge or 2024: I need to focus on my macros. This is something new I have never done before. I was always a calories in, calories out person. After seeing the Bariatric Center Doctor she explained that while Calories in, calories out will work for short term you need to eat properly to get the best results. So this year I am focusing on my exercise again and my macros. I am using the Bariatric Center as a wealth of knowledge to use and learn. This year is the year for change and learning. That is what I am going to do this Challenge and this year. I am going to learn and I am going to change and hopefully I will actually hit my 5% weight loss goal this year.2
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Reading through the comments reminds me each time I do, each member who posts here is of high value. We keep coming back because it works. My fitness PAL is just that-- a Pal friend. We help each other to be FIT.
TY each for posting. Please encourage your teammates to do the same here. You are ALL truly inspiring.2 -
I am traveling to onederland for my journey--or at least toward it. LOL I want to be off of various health-related medications. I am trying to get healthy so I am around longer for my kids and maybe grandkids. I have been struggling to be active on MFP the past few months, hoping this will get me back in gear.
I plan to do a mix of the Mediterranean Diet/whole foods plant-based, exercise 20 minutes each weekday morning and 10 minutes at each weekday lunch. I'd like to add in at least one weekend hike, but not sure the weather will cooperate. I also plan to do intermittent fasting, from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. with an eating window of 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day.1
