Monday, November 2, 2009

DAY 85 Countdown to Christmas Challenge & Weigh Day

Hello Journal,


It's time to get CONSISTENT with my exercise!

I was at Dawne's blog at 365 Days To A New Me! and read about the fun challenge she is doing, the Countdown To Christmas Challenge. It sounded like just the thing to get me kick-started with my exercise goals. So, I joined!

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge was started by Bella, at Bella on The Beach. The info for the challenge is (here). 

The RULES:





1.  Choose a specific, realistic goal that you can achieve by December 25th.
2.  Post weekly updates (you choose the day) about your progress.
3.  Decide on a gift (reward) that you'll give yourself when you meet your goal.
(You sign up to join at Bella's blog) 


So here is MY info for the Challenge:
1.  My goal for the Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to exercise, without fail, 5 days per week (I'll do it on the days that Jim is at work, with whichever 2 days he has off as MY days off).
2.  I will post my progress on Mondays.
3.  For my Reward gift I will buy myself a Natural Salt Crystal lamp... the kind that I can put different colored lights inside, according to whatever mood I'm in.




I'm excited about this challenge because whenever I join something like that, I usually feel energized from it and seem to do better. I guess I still haven't mastered the kind of motivation that totally comes from within vs the kind that comes to me from outside sources. I am better at it now, but not all the way there yet. So this will be fun!







In anticipation for the Challenge I finally got busy and got together the supplies needed to make my own home-made exercise Hula Hoop. It costs sooo much less than the ones on the internet. The link to do-it-yourself instructions are (here). 









I may not be able to actually DO it for awhile... but I'll burn a lot of calories by picking the hoop up off the floor over and over and over... LOL!


I am not physically able to do a LOT of exercise yet, but if I am CONSISTENT with what I CAN do, I know it will add up in the long run.


Ralph Marston said it this way:
"What it takes is some focused effort in the direction of your goal. A small effort is just fine, as long as you keep it going.For when you make a little progress, and then make a little more, it begins to quickly add up." (see HERE for the complete article on Consistency) 
Today is also my usual Weigh Day. The verdict: 365, for a loss of zero pounds. Ack! Definitely motivation for the Countdown To Christmas Challenge!! 



From Dr Phil's book: "Get off your duff and get moving."



My verse for today: "My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from him."


My quote for today: "Ideas not coupled with action never become bigger than the brain cells they occupied."--Arnold H Glasgow

Enjoy the Journey,


Loretta
=^..^=









9 comments:

antgirl said...

clever, Loretta! I will have to try making my own. Probably a lot less bruising that way.

Glad you figured out a schedule and found some motivation.

There are exercises I cna't do cuz of my arm. It didn't stop me. If you keep at it, you will get better. Soon you will be amazed at how far you've gotten. I'm rooting for you. :)

Retta said...

Hi Mary,
This is a fun project, making my own hoop. We just bought the length for one hoop, and one connector. And he bought some padding for it... that foam type pipe insulation used for cold weather. It's neat, cuz it is not as slick as the plastic piping, and helps it stay up. When all done, I can just use some kind of cheap colored tape to make it pretty. ;-) I've been practicing the hula hooping "wiggle" with my invisible hoop.... LOL. This one is a lot lighter than that monster I bought online, too. :-)
Thanks for the roots!
Loretta

{ALL} for a Better Life said...

I think I will have to check out this challenge. I love the idea and the accountability. I know that you can do this and 5 days - you will be melting away.

Thank you SO much for your words of wisdom, encouragement and sincerity this morning. I needed them. They made me cry actually. Thank you so much!

Have a great day,
Kim

Retta said...

You are so welcome, KIM!! Yes, this challenge looks like fun... I like the kind that let's each participant personalize it... that way I am able to pick something within my ability range. I already used my rebounder today once. I was shocked at how out of strength my leg muscles had gotten!! This challenge came in the nick of time. :-) If it sounds good for you, I hope you join.
Loretta
=^..^=

{ALL} for a Better Life said...

Oh Loretta, I totally was not offended. I can't think of anybody I would rather be called after, Deb is amazing!

financecupcake said...

A challenge does sound like a good idea! I know you are going to do so well! Also, those lamps are pretty sweet (I just recently added that slang to my vocab :) ).

Anonymous said...

Hey, Loretta! I think I'll follow your lead and join that Christmas challenge. I just have to figure out a realistic goal. I soooo want to not go bacwards over the holidays!

And, although staying the same weight is disappointing and not as good as losing--it's so much better than gaining! And it gets your body ready for a good loss next week!

I've been saying that to myself all week. My scale is just not budging even tho I am absolutely not cheating. We can't control our bodies, only what we put into them.

Headin down that road to thin--yes we are! Kapow!

Deb

A Daunting Tale of Scale Warfare said...

Even as a kid I couldnt hula hoop for the life of me lol. But seeing you post this makes me want to give it a try as an adult!

I'm part of Bella's challenge also! You'll meet your goals. I love challenges like this, they are so motivational.

Retta said...

CINCIMOM11: It was fun picking out my reward... I told hubby it had to be something fun, not like a vacuum or toaster!! And I saw these last years, but didn't get one cuz of the budget and it was not "useful". So now I get to earn it. :-)

DEB: oh, fun, the more the merrier! The reason I didn't set a number goal, like "I will lose x amount of pounds"... is quite honestly... I didn't to fail!! You are right... we don't control how our body reacts, even when we have been doing well. But I CAN control whether or not I choose to exercise. So that was the criteria I used to choose... it had to be a thing that I DID have control over.

SCALE WARFARE: I tried out my new homemade hoop today... and laughed myself silly! Couldn't even make one revolution. It will take me a long time to learn... but I plan to enjoy it anyway.

Loretta
=^..^=

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