Saturday, May 15, 2010

DAY 279 Spring Challenge Week 8 Update


Hello Journal & Friends,

Time for another Challenge Update!


 Time sure is flying by fast... there are only 5 more weeks til the start of Summer and the end of the Spring Challenge.

Here is our reminder of the overall goal of the Challenge:
"The goal of this challenge is to teach yourself to look at your new behaviors positively, to learn to be nicer to yourself and believe in yourself, to learn to enjoy healthy behaviors and learn some moderation. A little balance. It's important. More important to learn than the extremes - too much and deprivation." (Thanks Mary, at Wistful Nebulae for that great description)

So... here is my own weekly check-in...

My Spring Challenge goals:

1. Every day for the next 13 weeks, do some kind of Exercise.
2. Every day for the next 13 weeks, drink a Greenie.
3. Check in every Saturday.
4. Tell one thing each week that I like about myself.
5. Save up to buy myself a fun Reward at the end.

My Exercise: Doing much better! Feeling better and having my energy back has made a huge difference. I am still working to hit my stride and not miss any of my scheduled exercise, but I am doing something each day. It's getting better and better.


My Greenies: Doing so much better here, too. Only missed once, when I just messed up timing, and it was so late I just said phooey

Part of that attitude probably came about because I have been struggling to stay within my calorie budget. I was doing great at 1600, then lowered it to 1500. Been fighting it ever since, for several weeks now. I'm rethinking it... and wondering if I should go back to where I was comfortable and it felt doable. Still thinkin on that.

One thing I like about myself: I like that I am a visual learner. I do especially well if there are lots of illustrations, color, photos, charts, graphs, etc. It's an enjoyable way to learn, and it makes it easier to remember things. 

 
Jim knows this about me, and knows that I will get lost if he just verbally tells me directions to go somewhere. So for years he always drew me little maps. A few months ago, he finally bought a Magellan GPS system... yay!

For my Reward: Still haven't decided for sure what I am getting, but am still stashing money in my little glass bear shaped jar.



Remember, we want progress, not perfection.



From Dr Phil's book: "One of the most critical ways to stop this behavior is to change the way you think and how you interpret events in your life. What you think determines how you feel."

My verse for today: "Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord."

My quote for today: "...the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." --Viktor Frankl

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta
=^..^=

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, Loretta!

Before I give you my challenge update--Wahoo, you! Glad you're doing and feeling better!!

Re: your cal count. I hadn't realized that you had gone so low. From my unprofessional viewpoint-- I think about 1800 is as low as you need to go. Really. I wouldn't go lower than that until you get a bit into the 200s. Until. :)

My challenge report this time leaves a much to be desired. Yesterday was a bust. Big bust. Uh-hmm. More like a crash and burn. :(

One thing I like about myself? I am able to be quiet. I don't have a need to fill every quiet space with words or noise. I am able to sit with someone and enjoy a comfortable silence.

That's probably an odd thing to like. But, I am an odd thing, sometimes. chuckle. I've learned to just go with that... lol.

It is what it is, as the younguns say.

Deb

http://debwillbethin.blogspot.com/2010/05/14-hours-away-from-home-makes-for.html

PJ Geek said...

I got my update in their too ..on time for a change. Great on your goals. I'm working on following a calorie range. I will do lower 1400-1500 some days and higher on others. I've changed my exercise and I've started dropping weight, so hopefully it's working. I don't think I'm every exactly correct on the calorie counts b ecause I do njot measure cream or milk in my coffee which I know adds some. But I'm counting every nibble. http://pjsandcocoaontheporch.blogspot.com/

Leslie said...

Good work on the challenge, Loretta. Every little bit helps. And I smiled when you said you were a visual learner who needs lots of graphic interest to best acquire info and understanding. Your blog is like that, and I really enjoy it. The different font sizes and styles and use of space and color are great. I wish I was tech savvy enough to know how to do some of that stuff!

financecupcake said...

Great job, Retta! Are you losing weight with your new calorie budget? If not, def go back to 1600! Lowering your calories can slow your metabolism. When I started my journey at 265 pounds (no exercise, by the way), I was eating 1800/day. So, to echo what Deb said, make sure you're eating enough! Your metabolism is your BFF. :) Keep kicking butt! I am so proud of you for doing some exercise every single day! Nothing keeps Loretta down for long!


Here's my update: http://cincimom11.blogspot.com/2010/05/spring-challenge-week-7-metabolism.html
Thanks again for reminding me not to focus on weight! I had a very successful week with food and exercise. :)

Shelli Belly said...

What a great week.

I'm a gotta see it learner as well. You should see some of the pictures I draw to illustrate specific points in my teaching. Not the most artistic but it helps.

Here's my post.... http://wp.me/py1R5-ih

Kat said...

Just getting caught up Loretta -it looks like you have had a great week! I am back from Boston and fighting a cold. Here is my update:
http://fitmindbodyspirit.blogspot.com/2010/05/lorettas-spring-challenge-update.html

M Pax said...

My weekend was craaazy! Friday was 2 bazillion errand day. Saturday I was up at PMO all day. I worked that night. Yesterday I was on an online writers conference. And, I'm wondering why I'm dragging today. LOL

1. water - no. I drink more when I'm home though because it's been warmer.

2. exercise on off days - I'm supposed to do some crunches. Did not do Friday, but I ran around many super stores. So, that's exercise - walking and lifting. Didn't do crunches on Saturday either, but I climbed a mountain and was dragging 50 lb telescopes around. Then I stood for 5 solid hours in the freezing cold. I had to be burning calories.

3. I've had no time to do any more submissions. I keep my focus on getting the novel done. I'm worried I might not meet my deadline. This worry keeps me at the grindstone. I've started my homework - reading & books on cd. Meeting with a friend tomorrow to get some help with brainstorming. Started tweaking my synopsis.

4. Visibiity. Doing good. I'm meeting people online and in person. My blog followers went up. My Tweet followers goes up. Got a few more on Goodreads and Facebook, too. I e-mailed "Small Graces" to my fan.


I have no idea what I've said about what I like about myself to-date. I like that I learned to give up regret. When I was young I said, "I have to at least try so that I don't regret not trying." Sometimes I regret things I have tried that didn't work out. But, I've been skewing my perspective back to the one of my youth. It is better to try and fail than not to try at all. If you look beyond the failure, you'll see you still gained something. And it usually turns out to be more valuable than suceeding.

Retta said...

MARY: I like how you are flexible when needed, like with the exercise. I know you have been consistent for YEARS with your exercise, yet realistic and flexible, like all the running around shopping and schlepping up and down mountainsides carrying telescopes! (how many times do you read someone listing THAT as their exercise).

Loretta
=^..^=

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