Biggest Loser Fall Challenge!

[JacksLilWench]

Have to do a drive-by post for today. My internet doesn't work in my bedroom right now and I'm sneaking this at work!

Which brings me to the QOTD for Sunday, September 9, 2012: Do you have all the winning strategies covered? Or do you have one of your own that should be added to the list?

I definitely need some work on...all of these! I can be my worst critic, I set gigantic goals, and can really let myself down because of it. But I do set new challenges for myself and do my best to keep it fun for myself

Hee hee ha ha hee hee hoo hoo.
Boy are we in luck!
We're visiting a laughing place. Yuk, yuk, yuk, yuk, yuk.
Oh, everybody's got a laughing place, a laughing place to go-o-o.
Take a frown, turn it upside down and you'll find yours we know-ow-ow.

You can live every day with more focus, and every week with more motivation.

If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. Once you hit your goal weight, chances are your eating habits won’t stick around long if you hated what you were eating. Healthy eating involves balance and moderation.

Laughter feels good. Kids seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals. Smiling and enjoying yourself can be serious help.

Playtime is important. We get so caught up in work, chores and a host of "have-to's" that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing and regrouping make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits. Most of all, it will help you stay consistent and motivated.

The world should be full of color—especially on your dinner plate! Splash it with as many colors as possible, paint it like a rainbow with food. It’s more fun to look at and chances are you’ll be eating a healthy, balanced meal.

It’s always more fun with friends around. Children tend to gravitate toward other children. It gives them spirit and makes them want to play all day. Working out with other people is almost like having your own little playgroup.

Adventures are found outside, not inside. Every kid knows that the good stuff is in the great outdoors—fresh air, wide open spaces, limitless possibilities. You can’t find those things cooped up in a tiny, stale gym. Open the door and start a new adventure every day.

It’s important to use your imagination. You can be Captain Fantastic or Stupendous Woman any time you want. Give yourself permission to believe in your own super powers and let your mind take you wherever it wants to go.

Anything is possible. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They’re right.

You have your whole life ahead of you. Here’s your chance to do it right.

Here is a link to the whole article on sparkpeople if you are interested:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=405

QOTD Monday, September 10, 2012: Which of these motivational ideas can you use on Motivational Monday? Or do you have one of your own? Just make sure it comes from your laughing place!

Be back in a few for replies.

I am definitely telling myself lately that anything is possible. I feel like I have to sometimes to handle all the stuff I've put on my plate!

 

[lisah0711]

Buffy, hope that your back is feeling better! I'm loving all your quotes!

Winners Set Small Goals - I focus on 5 lb increments & celebrate each one. In the beginning I eased into the new lifestyle: week one no eating after dinner, week two get my water in plus week one, week three two fruits a day plus week one & two, etc

Much easier to ease into the healthy lifestyle thing!

If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. Once you hit your goal weight, chances are your eating habits won’t stick around long if you hated what you were eating. Healthy eating involves balance and moderation.

I'm going with this for my answer for the QOTD. I'm trying very hard to stop eating stuff that I don't like that much just because it is convenient or because I let myself get hungry and have to eat something. I'm going to just say no to "yucky" food!

Hi Everyone. I made it to the party just in time!!!

Hi Lindsay! Nice to see you!

Winners Make It Fun I try to make it fun by finding new healthy foods and recipes to try. I would LOVE to say that I have found fun exercise, but sadly, that has not been the case for me.

Yes, Pamela, you are very successful and live a very active life in all the things that you do. And it has been exactly what you and your family needed. I think it is much better to do that than to be doing things that you don't particularly like just because you think you "have" to do it.

QOTD:

I'll go with
Don’t walk when you can run.

I really try to think of ways to sneak in an extra hour of exercise. If we're headed off to an errand, I'll leave an hour early and start walking. I have my husband and daughter pick me up along the way and hour later. I also often load my bike into the car on weekends. If we're down by the beach, I'll get in a quick ride while they're wandering around our beautiful area.

This is a great strategy, MB!

Kristina, enjoy the fall decorations at WDW!

QotD: I'm going to say Laughter feels good. Sometime i forget to just laugh and enjoy everything. Plus with the days starting to get shorter and the winter blues set in its a great help with that as well. Just laugh.

Yes, nothing like a good laugh to put things in perspective.

I need to remember this one
Most days I get started on the daily routine or a project
and before I Know it more than half the day is over.....

A Beautiful Day is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Yes, don't forget to take a break and enjoy the flowers!

making my exercise into a game really helps me. I'm really competitive, especially with myself, so every time I run I try to go a little more distance, or try for the same distance in less time. I'm doing a program that helps you work up to 100 pushups in one sitting (which sounds insanely hard to me). The first day I did it I could only do 2 pushups before I had to stop. Yesterday I had my second "test", and after 2 weeks I'm up to 11 pushups without stopping. It's not much, but I'm really excited to see how I do in 2 more weeks when I take the test again. That's the kind of stuff that keeps me exercising.

As someone who can't do one push up, I salute you!

QOTD: The world should be full of color--especially your dinner plate. I hate it when I haven't planned the meal very well, dish up a plate, and it's monochromatic! That's when I tell the family we're having a "white" or "green" or "whatever" dinner!

I've gotten in my 3 mile walk this morning and got a phone call that I have a training from 11:15-1:15 today. Rather a crummy time, right during lunch! Guess I'll eat something before it. The call I'm waiting for is from the sub office to offer me this job the training is for. Everybody knows about it, the teacher, the student's parents, the principal, the office manager but it won't be official until the district contacts me! And, of course, it needs to be official if I'm going to get paid!

Maybe you have to have the training?

You have your whole life ahead of you. Here’s your chance to do it right. - I am going to try to take this one to heart for this challenge, keep to my plan and push myself a bit more and do it right!

Yes, I need to remember this one more, too.

I am now heading to the Eat at Home thread to start back up posting over there - we out more in the summer plus just being generally busier I didn't have time to keep up.. however Fall is here let the baking and cooking begin again! Happy Monday to everyone - and Great Job!!

Sounds yummy! What's for dinner?

Carla Rae, hope that you are feeling better and that you get to go on your trip this week!

Now that our routine is settling in, I'm hoping to be here a lot more! Just a few weeks until DH and I go to WDW, too - ToT 10-miler, here we come!!

This is the time of year I always think we need a pumpkin smilie!

Hello everyone! I am glad to be joining you. I started my weight loss journey about 6 weeks ago and have done well so far.

Andrea! Congrats on your great start!

Enjoy the rest of your day all!

 

[sue and co]

Hi, I have just signed up. I was doing ok, slow but steady, and then we went on vacation for two weeks so now I am up again

I am back at work today so from now it should be downhill all the way - hopefully.

 

[DHK]

QOTD Monday, September 10, 2012: Which of these motivational ideas can you use on Motivational Monday? Or do you have one of your own? Just make sure it comes from your laughing place!

The world should be full of color - especially on your dinner plate!
I've always struggled with having a colorful plate - but I'm really going to make a conscious effort to try new vegetables and fruits at meals. The more I try, the better the chance I will find more healthy food choices that I like.

For years I thought I hated broccoli. I tried it as a kid and was not a fan - but after trying it again last year (for the first time in over 20 years), it turns out I really like it. Who knows if my tastes just changed or what? But hopefully I will discover some more vegetables and fruits that I can add to my favorites list.

 

[lisah0711]

I definitely need some work on...all of these! I can be my worst critic, I set gigantic goals, and can really let myself down because of it. But I do set new challenges for myself and do my best to keep it fun for myself

I am definitely telling myself lately that anything is possible. I feel like I have to sometimes to handle all the stuff I've put on my plate!

That is tough when you get that overwhelmed feeling. Maybe divide that list of stuff into thirds and taking a couple of things at a time?

 

[Raenstoirm]

Hi, I have just signed up. I was doing ok, slow but steady, and then we went on vacation for two weeks so now I am up again

I am back at work today so from now it should be downhill all the way - hopefully.

You can do it!! You're back and refocused!

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

QOTD Monday, September 10, 2012: Which of these motivational ideas can you use on Motivational Monday? Or do you have one of your own? Just make sure it comes from your laughing place!

It’s important to use your imagination.
Anything is possible. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure.

Today I really needed to remember both of these!

 

[princessbride6205]

Hi Nicole! Nice to see you again! I can't believe that your DD is 5 already. You are one of the people who inspired me to start running in 2010. I hope I get to see you at the W&D in November or in January or both.

Hi, Lisa! Good to "see" you again. That's so great to hear! I'd love to catch up with you at the races. Really looking forward to Wine & Dine!!

I'm already behind in the thread - for some reason I thought it started this coming Friday. Can I blame it on DD starting Kindergarten (even though that was almost 2 weeks ago)?

QOTD Friday, September 7, 2012: So do you have a plan for how you are going to make your goals for the challenge? Share your plan and your goals big and small for this challenge.
My overall goal is to maintain my weight. My fitness goals are to get in my 3 training walks/runs each week plus 2 other workouts. I don't have my food goals set yet, but I really want to focus on proper nutrition. I'm doing pretty well, but I know I need more fruits/veggies and hope to cook more "real" food.

QOTD Saturday, September 8, 2012: Do you think tracking food is an important part of weight loss?
"Yes, definitely" for weight loss. For maintenance, I find it's possible to stay on track without counting calories or food journaling. I know what types of foods I can eat, about how many treats I can have in a week, portion sizes, etc. Occasionally I get off track and then will count calories for a few weeks to double check and refocus.

QOTD for Sunday, September 9, 2012: Do you have all the winning strategies covered? Or do you have one of your own that should be added to the list?
I'm sure I don't have all the strategies mastered, but I'm working on it. Here are a few I'll specifically mention:
* Breaks - I definitely take breaks. Occasionally too much of a break, but I always get back on track.
* Team - I've joined this challenge and renewed my commitment to posting on the WISH boards because I need more of a team. I've also been sharing my long run info with my spouse and a friend who sends me encouraging texts.
* New challenges? See "marathon".
* As for making it fun, when I committed to the marathon, I knew I couldn't have a training season like I did for the 2011 Wine & Dine half. I was miserable for nearly all my long runs - I was focused on time, my knee didn't tolerate it despite physical therapy. And so, I was having no fun and ended my runs more stressed out than when I started. The opposite effect a good workout is supposed to have! So I've really focused on enjoying my miles. Appreciating the weather, listening to a favorite podcast, and focusing less on speed.

QOTD Monday Sept. 10: Motivation
I'm adopting "The world should be full of color—especially on your dinner plate!" I forgot my fruits and veggies when I left for work, so I need to make up for it at dinner!

 

[Disneywedding2010]

KAYTOM -- I hope you enjoy your visit with family in Ireland. I hope you take lots of pictures.

RHONDA -- Welcome to the Dis and Fall Challenge! I hope your able to fulfill your dream one day of running a Disney race!

BELLEDREAMER -- I hope you enjoy your trip to Disney World

TEAPOT -- Welcome back!!

PAMELA -- Good luck with the job application

MAUREEN -- Thank you for hosting the Fall Challenge!

BELLEDREAMER -- Thanks for the Youtube links! I'll have to check them out

Everyone sounds like they have AWESOME goals and plans to get to those goals!

Nothing much going on around here today. Alan's been dealing with a headache and hoping it will go away by morning. We got laundry finished up and folded. I got most of my bag packed except the last minute things I'll throw in before we leave. We got my one medication filled so I don't have to worry about that. The cameras are charged and ready to go.

We're staying at Baylake Tower in a studio lake view using our DVC. This will be the 1st time we've stayed in a studio there so it'll be interesting to see how small they are. We're bringing stuff for breakfast and lunch that we'll eat in the room. So it'll help cut down on food costs. I'm taking my pedometer and my refillable water bottle to use while I'm in the parks.

Now, I'm off to check the weather report!

Toodles!

 

[belledreamer]

Hi - I'm Kevin and this will be my first challenge.

This seems like a very nice and encouraging group, so I'm really looking forward to getting started. With a trip to WDW looming in January and quite a bit of weight to lose (more than can be lost in one challenge), I can use all the help and motivation I can get.

Accountability and perseverance have been my biggest shortcomings in weight loss, so hopefully I can improve in those areas.

Every long journey must begin with a single step ... and I very much hope joining the Fall Challenge is my first step to weight loss success.

Welcome Kevin!! Glad to have you with us! The friday weigh-ins were what really helped me stay on track.

QOTD Monday, September 10, 2012: Which of these motivational ideas can you use on Motivational Monday? Or do you have one of your own? Just make sure it comes from your laughing place!

I like the one of 'having color on my dinner plate.' That's one I need to work on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has been a long day at work today... Don't really want to go into all the details but finally getting to go on your lunch break when you have an hour left of your shift is a hoot...

So needless to say, I'm in a FABULOUS mood right now... Not to mention the fact that since I got to go to lunch an hour before I'd be eating dinner, I ended up just eating pudding and a fruit cup on my break, making my total calories at this point about 600. (I try to eat about 1,600 per day) Not the best food day today... So I'm trying to figure out what I want for dinner. We have leftover fried fish but I really don't feel like picking it off the bone so I may do the baked chicken instead.

Shoulder and knee is really hurting today so I think I'll just chill out tonight.

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

 

[lisah0711]

Be our guest! Be our guest!
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie
And we'll provide the rest . . .

As our journey to the Happiest Place on Earth continues I take you to a place in Disney where none of us have been yet -- talk about Disney magic!

And speaking of food, do you know what 300 calories looks like?

300 calories look drastically different when you're eating in instead of dining out. Choosing healthier, more nutritious foods--at home and away--means you can eat much more food and still lose weight.

Breakfast: 300-Calorie Meals & Portions
Here are three morning meals that each weigh in at 300 calories. Healthy and quick homemade meals pack whole grains, fresh fruit, and protein--a filling combination that will keep you fuller longer. You could only eat a fraction of the comparable restaurant meals (right column) for the same number of calories. Get more healthy breakfast ideas here.

And what about lunch for 350 calories?

Or dinner for 400 calories?

These images are courtesy of a sparkpeople.com article. Here is a link if you would like to see the entire article, including more pictures of 350 and 400 calorie meals. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1260

Which leads me to the QOTD for Tuesday, September 11, 2012: Are you surprised by how much (or little) you can eat for the calories, depending on which foods you choose? Which meal was most shocking to you?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

9/10 Quote of the day

There was a time when you were five years old,
and you woke up full of awesome.

You knew you were awesome.

You loved yourself.

You thought you were beautiful,
even with missing teeth and messy hair and mismatched socks inside your grubby sneakers.

You loved your body, and the things it could do.

You thought you were strong.

You knew you were smart.

Do you still have it?
The awesome.

Did someone take it from you?
Did you let them?
Did you hand it over, because someone told you weren’t beautiful enough, thin enough, smart enough, good enough?
Why the hell would you listen to them?
Did you consider they might be full of crap?

Wouldn’t that be nuts, to tell my little girl below that in another five or ten years she might hate herself because she doesn’t look like a starving and Photoshopped fashion model?
Or even more bizarre, that she should be sexy over smart, beautiful over bold?
Are you freaking kidding me?

Look at her. She is full of awesome.

You were, once. Maybe you still are. Maybe you are in the process of getting it back.

All I know is that if you aren’t waking up feeling like this about yourself, you are really missing out.

http://blog.pigtailpals.com/2011/08/waking-up-full-of-awesome/

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

not really feeling up to responding, I've had one hell of a day.

My schedule has just gotten compounded tenfold. DS11 is in the High school play, plus DS10 and DS11 started Cross Country today and I only had one hour notice that it started.
And it looks like I will be the asst coach because the old one bailed because of the coaches flakiness.
I'm going to need a vacation come November 1!!!

 

[penguin1102]

not really feeling up to responding, I've had one hell of a day.

My schedule has just gotten compounded tenfold. DS11 is in the High school play, plus DS10 and DS11 started Cross Country today and I only had one hour notice that it started.
And it looks like I will be the asst coach because the old one bailed because of the coaches flakiness.
I'm going to need a vacation come November 1!!!

I'm sorry to hear that you are not having a good day. It's no fun getting nominated for something, especially at the last minute. Hopefully you're day gets better.

 

[6ofus2]

Here’s what every child knows that you may have forgotten. See if you can apply some of these lessons to your daily program:

Everything can be a game.
Don’t walk when you can run.
If you don’t like it, don’t eat it.
Laughter feels good.
Playtime is important.
The world should be full of color—especially on your dinner plate!
It’s always more fun with friends around.
Adventures are found outside, not inside
It’s important to use your imagination.
Anything is possible.
You have your whole life ahead of you.

QOTD Monday, September 10, 2012: Which of these motivational ideas can you use on Motivational Monday? Or do you have one of your own? Just make sure it comes from your laughing place!

Anything is possible. I would not have believed that 6 months ago. Now that I am over half way to my goal, I KNOW it's true!
You have your whole life ahead of you. Yes, and I want it to be a healthy life with a fit body!

QOTD for Tuesday, September 11, 2012: Are you surprised by how much (or little) you can eat for the calories, depending on which foods you choose? Which meal was most shocking to you?

What I always find shocking is restaurant salads. We may think we're making a healthier choice, but oftentimes we'd be better off with a burger & fries! It's CRAZY!

 

[belledreamer]

BernardandMissBianca, I love today's quote! It's so true too! We need to remember how awesome we all really are!

Which leads me to the QOTD for Tuesday, September 11, 2012: Are you surprised by how much (or little) you can eat for the calories, depending on which foods you choose? Which meal was most shocking to you?

Some of my biggest surprises were how MANY calories were in the fast food that I used to eat several times a week. For example:

McDonalds (Quarter Pounder w/cheese meal and Medium coke) : 1100 calories

Raisin' Cane's (Three Finger Meal with extra toast and sauce) : 1167 calories

Subway (Big Philly Cheesesteak with 2 chocolate chip cookies): 1170 calories

And sometimes I'd eat 2 of these items in a day!

Thankfully I don't eat like that anymore.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Be our guest! Be our guest!
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie
And we'll provide the rest . . .


Which leads me to the QOTD for Tuesday, September 11, 2012: Are you surprised by how much (or little) you can eat for the calories, depending on which foods you choose? Which meal was most shocking to you?

I would have to say the Nutrigrain waffles picture shocked me! We don't have waffles in our house since my middle son who struggles with weight loss use to eat waffles all the time ... and it helped to lead him to being overweight. I am going to have to check those out in the grocery store.

I have to say ... when I use MFP, I am shocked at the caloric value of some foods. My lunch is usually grilled salmon and broccoli. It is so nutritious and so low in calories. Now, I just have to stop all the junk eating when I get home!

I am feeling good that I logged all my food today. I went over a little ... but I am taking steps to get back on the wagon. I was hoping to walk with a friend this evening, but I had to take my mom to a doctor's appt and the doctor was an hour behind. I didn't get home until 6:00. Thankfully my DH had dinner on. I had to cancel walking since I have school work to get done and I am putting if off ..... chit-chatting with all of you!

9/10 Quote of the day

There was a time when you were five years old,
and you woke up full of awesome.

You knew you were awesome.

You loved yourself.

You thought you were beautiful,
even with missing teeth and messy hair and mismatched socks inside your grubby sneakers.

You loved your body, and the things it could do.

You thought you were strong.

You knew you were smart.

Do you still have it?
The awesome.

Did someone take it from you?
Did you let them?
Did you hand it over, because someone told you weren’t beautiful enough, thin enough, smart enough, good enough?
Why the hell would you listen to them?
Did you consider they might be full of crap?

Wouldn’t that be nuts, to tell my little girl below that in another five or ten years she might hate herself because she doesn’t look like a starving and Photoshopped fashion model?
Or even more bizarre, that she should be sexy over smart, beautiful over bold?
Are you freaking kidding me?

Look at her. She is full of awesome.

You were, once. Maybe you still are. Maybe you are in the process of getting it back.

All I know is that if you aren’t waking up feeling like this about yourself, you are really missing out.

http://blog.pigtailpals.com/2011/08/waking-up-full-of-awesome/

Thanks for sharing this Buffy. I live with magical awesomeness all day long and love it! I have one of my reluctant readers/writers making a Star Wars book with me (since he LOVES Star Wars) and you would think were were writing the next NY bestseller.

All of us are AWESOME on this thread .... and don't let anyone make you believe you are not!

Okay ... I do have to get my work done ....

 

[jillbur]

Hi Everyone

I am 46 and a mom of 3 boys. My oldest just went to college this fall and I have a senior and 12 year old. My DH and I have been married for the last 22 years. I am a remedial reading teacher and love my job. This year I have had a rocky start but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.


We have a student that is very physically handicapped. One day at recess, two aides were monitoring/helping him go down the slide on the playground. Well the aide that was on the top of the slide had just helped him go down when one of the other kindergarteners came up behind her on the steps and said,"Are you going down the slide ... or are you stuck?!" Well the aide just started laughing and the child then started yelling to the recess monitor .... "Hey there is a giant up here and she won't go down the slide!" By this time the aide was about to pee her pants! Just thought I would share to give you all a giggle!

Hey Fran! I hope DS is getting all settled at Penn State. How's does he like it so far?

This story made me lol. I love how little ones just speak teir mind. It's too cute!

Hi - I'm Kevin and this will be my first challenge.

This seems like a very nice and encouraging group, so I'm really looking forward to getting started. With a trip to WDW looming in January and quite a bit of weight to lose (more than can be lost in one challenge), I can use all the help and motivation I can get.

Accountability and perseverance have been my biggest shortcomings in weight loss, so hopefully I can improve in those areas.

Every long journey must begin with a single step ... and I very much hope joining the Fall Challenge is my first step to weight loss success.

Hi Kevin and welcome to a great group for support!

ugh! 12:39 and I am up. I don't want to be up, but my back is just screaming at me.
I had hoped to walk in the morning but now I'm not so sure. I've been stiff for a few days but this feels like someone is just turning a winder in my back. It hurts to breathe.
So I will be taking kids to school and then taking myself to the chiropractor. Unfortunately DH is gone this week so it's all on me. Story of my life, when I'm not 100%, DH isn't here.
Hopefully Dr T can work his magic on me so I can get my errands done tomorrow, busy busy week so I need to be at me best.
I guess I'll try to get some rest now. not sure when a quote of the day will be up, I'd do it now but they are all on my laptop.
I hope everyone has a great day tomorrow!!

To all my European friends I know your day is already beginning or 1/2 over so I hope you have a fabulous afternoon and evening.

Sent from my iPhone using DISboards

Hope that you got to the doctor and are feeling better!

Here is an excerpt from a sparkpeople article called 11 Things Children Can Teach You About Weight Loss

You can live every day with more focus, and every week with more motivation.

Here’s what every child knows that you may have forgotten. See if you can apply some of these lessons to your daily program:

Everything can be a game. Why slog through the same workout routines in boredom, when you can add a little fun? Make up rules, shoot for personal records, regain your competitive spirit.

Don’t walk when you can run. Every day is full of opportunities to increase your fitness. This rule is closely related to "don’t drive when you can walk."

If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. Once you hit your goal weight, chances are your eating habits won’t stick around long if you hated what you were eating. Healthy eating involves balance and moderation.

Laughter feels good. Kids seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals. Smiling and enjoying yourself can be serious help.

Playtime is important. We get so caught up in work, chores and a host of "have-to's" that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing and regrouping make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits. Most of all, it will help you stay consistent and motivated.

The world should be full of color—especially on your dinner plate! Splash it with as many colors as possible, paint it like a rainbow with food. It’s more fun to look at and chances are you’ll be eating a healthy, balanced meal.

It’s always more fun with friends around. Children tend to gravitate toward other children. It gives them spirit and makes them want to play all day. Working out with other people is almost like having your own little playgroup.

Adventures are found outside, not inside. Every kid knows that the good stuff is in the great outdoors—fresh air, wide open spaces, limitless possibilities. You can’t find those things cooped up in a tiny, stale gym. Open the door and start a new adventure every day.

It’s important to use your imagination. You can be Captain Fantastic or Stupendous Woman any time you want. Give yourself permission to believe in your own super powers and let your mind take you wherever it wants to go.

Anything is possible. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They’re right.

You have your whole life ahead of you. Here’s your chance to do it right.

Here is a link to the whole article on sparkpeople if you are interested:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=405

QOTD Monday, September 10, 2012: Which of these motivational ideas can you use on Motivational Monday? Or do you have one of your own? Just make sure it comes from your laughing place!

Be back in a few for replies.

Today I appplied "It’s always more fun with friends around" and "Playtime is important." I went to spinning today so both of these applied. Spinning is so much fun and I get to catch up with adults after teaching middle & high schoolers all day!

I think I could work on the colorful plate. I enjoy veggies and fruits, but I just don't get enough.

We've got O'hana's ressie on Wednesday night and Liberty Tree Tavern (per Alan's request) Thursday afternoon. Coming home Friday morning. Nothing planned for tomorrow, we'll just wing it!

Wow. I can't believe your trip is here already. I love O'hana and LTT. Have a great time

QotD: I'm going to say Laughter feels good. Sometime i forget to just laugh and enjoy everything. Plus with the days starting to get shorter and the winter blues set in its a great help with that as well. Just laugh.

Ugh. Why did you remind me of the winter blues? I'm not ready! I love fall, but do not loe it being dark at 5:00 some days!

Welcome Kevin!!

Ugh its monday. Not having a good day. Dh and decided to sit down over the weekend and figure out if we are going on vacation in 3 days and guess what? We never sat down, so our trip is still up in the air. I hate being so undecided. I am thinking of just canceling it so I know whats happening, but then I think about not going and I want to go, so I dont want to cancel unless we have to! I cleared my schedule, so it is all up to dh, if he can move things around.

To make matters more fun though, this morning I came down with thrush! I feel like a newborn. I am on steroids for a mosquito attack (59 bites) I suffered a week ago and it seems those drugs caused this illness. I am waiting for my doc to tell me if I have to take another drug to get rid of the thrush. This is why I avoid taking meds. The side effects on me are killer.

I hope you get this all worked out. It would kill me to cancel a trip, but sometimes we have to be adults

Hello everyone! I am glad to be joining you. I started my weight loss journey about 6 weeks ago and have done well so far. I am working with a personal trainer twice a week and 2 days of week at boot camp. This is keeping me motivated along with keeping a food/workout log on sparkpeople. I have lofty goals for myself and really hope they are not too unrealistic. I will say that since starting this that I am enjoying exercising for the first time in my life and feel better about myself since I am following through with my goals. For the first time since having kids 12 years ago that I am putting my needs first. I think that is making the difference. I could use the additional support to reach my goal of 2lbs/week. Look forward to following along with everyone!

Hello! It sounds like you are off to a great start! Keep up the good work!

Jill, hope you are feeling better today!

Thanks. I feel a little better than yesterday, but kleenex has been my nose's best friend today!

As our journey to the Happiest Place on Earth continues I take you to a place in Disney where none of us have been yet -- talk about Disney magic!

And speaking of food, do you know what 300 calories looks like?


Which leads me to the QOTD for Tuesday, September 11, 2012: Are you surprised by how much (or little) you can eat for the calories, depending on which foods you choose? Which meal was most shocking to you?

When I first started counting calories, I couldn't believe how much I was really eating! Some of the suprises for me were "healthy" salads at restaurants. I can't remember which salad and soup combo it was, but it was at Panera and almost made me faint! I now do WW and some things I want to eat are high points, but I'm leaning and moving forward!

not really feeling up to responding, I've had one hell of a day.

My schedule has just gotten compounded tenfold. DS11 is in the High school play, plus DS10 and DS11 started Cross Country today and I only had one hour notice that it started.
And it looks like I will be the asst coach because the old one bailed because of the coaches flakiness.
I'm going to need a vacation come November 1!!!

Oh no! I hope your night get better and tomorrow is a new day. I think it's wonderful that you stepped up to be assistant coach. It may not be ideal, but you're setting a great example for your kids




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alright, now that I am all caught up, I am heading to bed early. This cold is wiping me out today. I almost fell asleep at DS9's drum lesson tonight! I had a pretty good day eating and went to spinning. Tomorrow at work, I am planning on getting at least one IEP done (I have 2 due by Friday and 1 by next Wed). We are also going to watch my nephew14 run in a CC meet. He is in 9th grade but runs varsity. He's having a great season so far & the weather is supposed to be nice, so we better go watch him. Plus, DS9 wants to watch since we are doing that 5k on Sunday.

I'll check back in tomorrow sometime.

Jill

 

[penguin1102]

Hee hee ha ha hee hee hoo hoo.
Boy are we in luck!
We're visiting a laughing place. Yuk, yuk, yuk, yuk, yuk.
Oh, everybody's got a laughing place, a laughing place to go-o-o.
Take a frown, turn it upside down and you'll find yours we know-ow-ow.

A visit to the Happiest Place on Earth would not be same without a little humor. And what better place to exercise your sense of humor than with a little trip to your laughing place?

It's Motivational Monday and who better to give us all some motivation than a group of people who know how to have fun -- kids!

Here is an excerpt from a sparkpeople article called 11 Things Children Can Teach You About Weight Loss

You can live every day with more focus, and every week with more motivation.

Here’s what every child knows that you may have forgotten. See if you can apply some of these lessons to your daily program:

Everything can be a game. Why slog through the same workout routines in boredom, when you can add a little fun? Make up rules, shoot for personal records, regain your competitive spirit.

Don’t walk when you can run. Every day is full of opportunities to increase your fitness. This rule is closely related to "don’t drive when you can walk."

If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. Once you hit your goal weight, chances are your eating habits won’t stick around long if you hated what you were eating. Healthy eating involves balance and moderation.

Laughter feels good. Kids seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals. Smiling and enjoying yourself can be serious help.

Playtime is important. We get so caught up in work, chores and a host of "have-to's" that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing and regrouping make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits. Most of all, it will help you stay consistent and motivated.

The world should be full of color—especially on your dinner plate! Splash it with as many colors as possible, paint it like a rainbow with food. It’s more fun to look at and chances are you’ll be eating a healthy, balanced meal.

It’s always more fun with friends around. Children tend to gravitate toward other children. It gives them spirit and makes them want to play all day. Working out with other people is almost like having your own little playgroup.

Adventures are found outside, not inside. Every kid knows that the good stuff is in the great outdoors—fresh air, wide open spaces, limitless possibilities. You can’t find those things cooped up in a tiny, stale gym. Open the door and start a new adventure every day.

It’s important to use your imagination. You can be Captain Fantastic or Stupendous Woman any time you want. Give yourself permission to believe in your own super powers and let your mind take you wherever it wants to go.

Anything is possible. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They’re right.

You have your whole life ahead of you. Here’s your chance to do it right.

Here is a link to the whole article on sparkpeople if you are interested:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=405

QOTD Monday, September 10, 2012: Which of these motivational ideas can you use on Motivational Monday? Or do you have one of your own? Just make sure it comes from your laughing place!

Be back in a few for replies.

I really like the idea of everything being a game. I remember as a child playing during the summer until the sun went down. I want to get that feeling back of having fun and not worrying about how many calories I am burning during a workout, but how much fun I am having doing it. The other one that I would like to work on is anything is possible. I think that once we become adults we begin to view things in a negative way. Why is it that we start to question whether or not we can do something instead of just trying to do it. I am going to try to look at things being possible and jumping in the deep end when trying them.

 

[penguin1102]

Which leads me to the QOTD for Tuesday, September 11, 2012: Are you surprised by how much (or little) you can eat for the calories, depending on which foods you choose? Which meal was most shocking to you?

Lisah thanks for such an eye opening and interesting article.

What really surprised me was the starbucks muffin. I eat a muffin almost every day for breakfast, but I realized that is going to have to stop since they are alot of calories and really have no nutritional value. I was not surprised by the whole grain waffles since that is what we buy. We buy both regular and whole grain waffles and every Sunday DH and I have waffles for breakfast together.