Good evening challengers!

You all did a MARVELOUS JOB for week 1, I am so thoroughly impressed with each and everyone of you! We are now going into Week 2 and this is your challenge:

For 7 days you have to keep your sodium BELOW 2500mg.

The reason I chose this challenge is because, sodium is found hidden in what seems to be healthy food. Often we read labels for calorie and fat content and don't consider the sodium content. Sodium does cause the body to retain excess fluid and can hinder weight loss success. Also, excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure and dehydration.

Here is a brief list of foods that are notoriously high in sodium:


Salad dressings
Bread
Salty fresh meats such as pork
Processed, prepared meats
Frozen meals and foods
Prepared meals
Condiments such as bbq sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, hot sauce, steak sauce
Marinades
Seasonings such as taco seasonings and meat rubs
All cheeses, including cottage cheese
Snack foods such as potato chips and tortilla chips
Canned vegetables and soups
Gatorade and some soft drinks
Table salt if used in excess
Restaurant foods such as fast food and sit down meals have excess sodium as these items are usually pre-packaged for quick preparation

These are just some common examples of foods that aren't necessarily high in calories or fat but are VERY high in sodium.
Any of these items should be used in moderation and if you find yourself eating a high sodium meal, offset it with lower sodium choices throughout the day.

***THIS CHALLENGE WILL REQUIRE YOU TO BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR SODIUM***. If you go over on sodium one day, so be it, be honest about it and move forward. If you do find yourself eating alot of sodium, drink plenty of WATER to flush the excess sodium.

***POST YOUR DAILY SODIUM INTAKE IN THIS THREAD EACH DAY.***

ALSO, the 2nd part of this challenge is 300 CORE EXERCISES to be done throughout the week. You can split them up anyway you want. A strong core leads to great posture, a strong midsection, and a more toned stomach, back, and sides. Here is the link for the core exercises:

www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercise_demos.asp?exercise...core

You don't have to stick w/ just these, you can incorporate other core exercises, just as long as they are CORE exercises. Post those results in the thread as well

5 points for sodium
35 points for core exercises, totaling 300 by the end of the week.

Also, as part of the challenge, you get 3 points for every low sodium suggestion you post in the thread (i.e. salt substitute, etc)

So three parts to this challenge:
1. Post daily sodium intake, staying under 2500mg
2. 300 core exercises during the entire week
3. Post a low sodium suggested item.

THANK YOU ALL!!! And if you have ANY questions please let me know!!! :happy: :happy: :happy: