We WISH You A Disney Happy Holidays – December Challenge

[4Mickeys]

In an increasingly diverse society December means a range of experiences, beliefs and traditions. For many it brings is a time celebrate and spend with family and friends. For those who celebrate, it can be thought of as the most magical time of the year – a visit to a Disney Park during the Holiday Season certainly makes it feel that way! This magic is created with a lot of hard work by some and can require some very careful planning. It is also a time when enjoyment and indulgence in special food/drink treats requires thoughtful balance with a healthy lifestyle.


My name is 4Mickeys and I will be your host for the month of December. I will be here to help you stay your usual course or enjoy some indulgence along the way as 2017 comes to a close.


Everyone is welcome to participate - so whether this is your first month, nineth month, or hundredth month... jump in and get moving with your goal. You can join us at any time and begin the first step of your journey to a better you! We're a positive supportive team here - all encouragement and no drama.

It's up to YOU to set your goal for the month. You can check in as little or as much as you'd like. All I need from you is a progress report before the Monday of a new week. I, as your host, will post your percentage progress report so you can see how you're ranking with the rest of the group.

The more you put into this - the more you will get out of it.

We will also have daily discussion topics to build a sense of community. You can chat about Weight Watchers, My Fitness Pal, Disney, Recipes, Walking, Disney, Running, Coaching Moments, and of course ... Disney!

If this sounds fun - then this is the place for you. Nothing is off limits.

 

[4Mickeys]

This month we are CHALLENGING ourselves to continue to make PROGRESS on this journey to be slimmer and healthier as we say goodbye to 2017. Participating is EASY! All you need to do is decide on your goal (5 pounds off, maintenance mode, 10K steps a day etc) and devise a PLAN to reach that goal.


Share your progress with us along the way and watch the color of your name change throughout the month!

PERCENTAGE OF GOAL

1% -10%
11% - 20%
21% - 30%
31% - 40%
41% - 50%
51% - 60%
61% - 70%
71% - 80%
81% - 90%
91% - 99%
100% OR MORE!



It will be up to YOU to decide on your goal, your plan, and to report your progress either here on the thread or through a private message every weekend - I'll accept progress reports anytime Friday through Sunday, but will try to update the list of participants every Monday morning.

If you have multiple goals for the month (example: "I plan to walk 30 minutes a day AND I plan to drink 64oz of water a day") please EITHER pick one goal to use for your progress reports OR average them both together when giving your report. It's just much easier for tracking this way. If you only use one of your goals for progress reports, that doesn't mean we don't want to hear how you're doing on your other goals!


NOTE: I am posting from Australia - so I will use your Eastern Time to post, I think that is the easiest way. So when I am posting at 8.30pm on my 1st December that will be your 5.30am 1st December – hope that makes sense. This way it should be there when you wake up (depending how early you rise haha). Then you can chat amongst yourselves for most of the day while I am sleeping and then I will jump on when I wake up and it will be the end of that day for you guys and I can see what you have all been up to and have a chat!​

 

[4Mickeys]

Now is the time to rsvp to join the end of year celebrations… Start thinking about introducing yourself on the 1st and what your goal will be…. But don’t tell us yet… save it for our intro day.



Here is the official list of our WISH December challengers:

@4Mickeys














Future Hosts - Is Your Name Here?


January


February


March


April

 

[HappyGrape]

saving my space, will think of goal and post tomorrow

 

[piglet1979]

I am in!

 

[Oneanne]

I'm in!
My goals for December:

Daily accountability
Lose five pounds
Get out of doors for a good walk at least once a week
Establish a daily practice of gratitude
Spread peace

 

[Flossbolna]

I am here!!! I need to get back into these threads! At least I started with stepping on the scale yesterday. It was not as horrible as I feared, but not pretty either. Life is just so stressful right now, I have no idea how to get through December. So I will need all the support I can get!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Back after a few months.
Just yesterday I reached my BMI weight goal of 154lbs. That officially brings me out of the "overweight" range and into the very top of the "healthy" range.
I am hoping to at least maintain this throughout the month if not drop a few lbs before the week of Xmas/NYE because I know I'll be eating snack foods/cookies/alcohol several times in that time frame.
Then the first of the year I'll start the everything in moderation plan again.

 

[Lady Marie]

I'm in!

 

[glss1/2fll]

I'm in!!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

One thing that is motivating me to be on track for the next week at least is that I have an Endocrinologist appointment next week.
I haven't seen him in a year and at that time I was down 22lbs from the previous visit.
I think his jaw will drop when he sees I've lost another 36lbs!
I only want to lose 12lbs more to be at my dream goal weight so we are in the home stretch here and I'm trying to keep my motivation and then maintain.
Once the snow flies likely NEXT weekend I think the weight will come off a bit quicker again because I walk almost every day 2 miles outside and walking in the snow even with tracks on my shoes is much more of a challenge on my body.

 

[HappyGrape]

I'm in!
My goals for December:

Daily accountability
Lose five pounds
Get out of doors for a good walk at least once a week
Establish a daily practice of gratitude
Spread peace

View attachment 285902

I love this quote

 

[HappyGrape]

I am here!!! I need to get back into these threads! At least I started with stepping on the scale yesterday. It was not as horrible as I feared, but not pretty either. Life is just so stressful right now, I have no idea how to get through December. So I will need all the support I can get!

Sorry to hear life is stressful, hope December brings some piece for you

 

[HappyGrape]

I am hoping to at least maintain this throughout the month if not drop a few lbs before the week of Xmas/NYE because I know I'll be eating snack foods/cookies/alcohol several times in that time frame.
Then the first of the year I'll start the everything in moderation plan again.

I am thinking my goal this December needs to be about managing snack foods.

Well done for your weight loss, impressive results!

 

[HappyGrape]

I still haven't figured out my plan for December but my thoughts currently are

Only 2 weeks of work
My DH doesn't have any work travelling planned for the month (yet!)
I am back to the gym, i miss my sea water pool!
Christmas day will be in my in laws meaning I don't need to cook

Challenges
Meal out this Sunday (1)
Meal out Sunday 17th (2)
Meal out on 23rd with family (3), 24th with extended Family (4), Christmas day (5), meal out in family around 27(6) and meal out 31st (7)
Meal out with friends from my old job (8), team night out (9), meal out with a good friend that I know from the Disney forums (10)!

We will probably have people coming to see us few nights too. It's a lot, right?

I really don't want to gain weight this December. I want to enjoy my glass of prosecco but if I am to meet my goal I need to come with plan and what I am willing happily to do is skip desserts, apart from my own trifle on Christmas day.

"A patient’s best weight is therefore whatever weight they achieve while living the healthiest lifestyle they can truly enjoy.
For sustainable weight management, a patient should be consuming the smallest number of calories that still allows them to enjoy each day. Some days will simply warrant more calories, such as birthdays, anniversaries, religious holidays, and days when injuries, illness or fights with loved ones occur. Simply put, ice-cream and cookies and their cultural and ethnic equivalents are vital parts of a rich life experience." Dr Yoni Freedhoff

I keep quoting this, for myself a lot more than for anyone else but I find it so helpful so my accountability questions this month

1) Did I eat smallest number of calories that still allows me to enjoy my day?
2) No snacking after dinner apart from 1 piece of fruit.
3) Minimum of 10 000 steps a day, and my minimal 4 workouts weekly * 20 minutes each?
4)What did I do great today (or yesterday if reviewing in the morning)
5)What can I do better tomorrow

The key for me will be keeping all my meals happy! Meaning spending time thinking about preparing food I love, as when I love my daily food I tend to make better choices when I eat out.

My final goal is to do my accountability questions every day and if I take the time to do them, I will give myself the full % even if the answers aren't what I am hoping to be. It's the habit to look at my behavior daily that is the actual goal if this make sense.

 

[HappyGrape]

Introduction - I am 39, mother of one, married, working full time. I am in maintenance since last October, however i did had small regain this summer which I lost in October. I want to refocus little bit on my happy & healthy living keeping both in mind - enjoying my food and enjoying my exercises. I seem to do much better when I spend time cooking, trying new foods, eating out but trying to find enjoyable and healthy (ish meals) than when I just throw veggies and chicken in my lunch box.

 

[Flossbolna]

Introduction - I am 39, mother of one, married, working full time. I am in maintenance since last October, however i did had small regain this summer which I lost in October. I want to refocus little bit on my happy & healthy living keeping both in mind - enjoying my food and enjoying my exercises. I seem to do much better when I spend time cooking, trying new foods, eating out but trying to find enjoyable and healthy (ish meals) than when I just throw veggies and chicken in my lunch box.

I agree with that! Sometimes it is good to have easy fall back options for times when you need them. But the danger of relying on them too much in easy times is that they become boring and thus less attractive.

I decided this week to change up my morning routine of muesli and made a pot of oatmeal on Sunday that lastet through the week. It really motivated me to eat my breakfast as it was easy and different and with the cold and dark days it was the perfect comfort food! Already planning a different breakfast option for next week!

 

[4Mickeys]

Hello everyone and Welcome to the first day of December!

Thanks to those who have gotten the ball rolling with introductions and goals

Let's all take this opportunity to share our intros, goals and what December means to you - do you celebrate any of the religious celebrations this month?​

 

[4Mickeys]

Daily accountability
Lose five pounds
Get out of doors for a good walk at least once a week
Establish a daily practice of gratitude
Spread peace

Great goals for the month - I especially like the spread peace goal - in the craziness that December can be it can be easy to forget to do that as we race around.

I am here!!! I need to get back into these threads! At least I started with stepping on the scale yesterday. It was not as horrible as I feared, but not pretty either. Life is just so stressful right now, I have no idea how to get through December. So I will need all the support I can get!

So glad you are here - we are here for you to help you get through December - you can do it

Back after a few months.
Just yesterday I reached my BMI weight goal of 154lbs. That officially brings me out of the "overweight" range and into the very top of the "healthy" range.

Congratulations on seeing the results of what has clearly been some hard work and perseverance

The key for me will be keeping all my meals happy! Meaning spending time thinking about preparing food I love, as when I love my daily food I tend to make better choices when I eat out.

I love you approach with choosing food that makes you happy - you are so right nothing makes it harder that consistently eating food that you are forcing yourself to for the 'health' factor only.

Challenges
Meal out this Sunday (1)
Meal out Sunday 17th (2)
Meal out on 23rd with family (3), 24th with extended Family (4), Christmas day (5), meal out in family around 27(6) and meal out 31st (7)
Meal out with friends from my old job (8), team night out (9), meal out with a good friend that I know from the Disney forums (10)!

We will probably have people coming to see us few nights too. It's a lot, right?

You certainly will be busy and have some challenges to balance but if anyone can do it with a great attitude - you can! It is not like you socialise like this month after month through the year and it is nice that you have so many people to share the holidays with.

 

[4Mickeys]

Let's all take this opportunity to share our intros, goals and what December means to you - do you celebrate any of the religious celebrations this month?

I am a single mother to 3 wonderful kids. I work full time. Life is hectic!

My goals for the month are to get back on track after a busy November.
Plan my meals.
Take lunches to work.
Do something active 3-4 times per week.
Do strengthening exercises at least every second day.
Increase water intake when at home - this I really need to do otherwise I will have way too much soft drink over my work break!

December means the start of Summer and school holidays here in Australia. I am looking forward to about 5 weeks off work - and I sooo need it - I am absolutely exhausted. We celebrate Christmas. In fact tomorrow we are going to decorate the tree and do the Christmas lights out the front of the house. Well the outside part as long as the weather co-operates it has been rainy here most of this week.