DAY 391 I Did It Again!

Hidy Ho Journal & Friends,

Oh boy... I went an dun it again... I joined a new challenge! 

Shelli at Shelli Belly is hosting a challenge that starts Thursday, Sept 9th. It's called 

The 9/9 to 10/10 Challenge 

And it's in honor of her Blogoversary! You can read all the details HERE.  

I love challenges that let us choose our own goals. Here are mine:

1.  Exercise 6 days per week 

     (4 rebounder, 2 DVD's)

2.  CAREFULLY track calories 

     (6 days/week at 1550; 1 day/week at 1800)

That's it. Nuthin new or exciting this time. Well, actually there IS one other thing... but I need to see if it is truly doable. If so, I'll add it next time we update on the challenge.

I learned the hard way this last challenge not to commit to exercising 7 days per week. I was really resenting it by the end of the month!  :-O

Same thing with the calories. I hope having one day a little more relaxed (on Jim's day off) will help me go with the flow more, and not act like a rebellious teenager.

I know challenges are not for everyone, but for me they have several benefits.

• Since mine is a long journey, it breaks up the time, makes it seem shorter.

• Adds an element of fun and interest; changes it up every once in a while.

• Provides some extra camaraderie when we are all working on the same challenge.

• Causes me to push harder, to do more than I might do on a regular basis.

I find that last one interesting. To me a challenge is a competition with MYSELF, not with other people. It helps me to stretch, to test MY abilities, to get outside my comfort zone and  reach higher.

And since I know there is an end to it, if it gets hard, I can tell myself it's only for X more days. (ha ha ha, so far it ALWAYS gets harder at the end, and I swear I will never do another... now look at me!)

So starting Thursday, we are off! It's not too late to join, and you don't even need to have a blog to join Shelli's 9/9 to 10/10 Challenge. 

Today's Peek at the Past (Wow! I was excited when I read that I used to think exercising 3 days per week was a big accomplishment! I'd forgotten that. Now 5 days per week seems "normal" to me. Wow wow wow.)

From Day 30, September 8, 2009:

When I first started trying to exercise at my top weight of 460 lbs, all I could do was follow an exercise DVD LAYING ON MY BED. I would imagine myself standing and dancing along with Richard Simmons...it was actually fun! I did those exercises to the best of my ability, horizontally. Now I can do them sitting...some day I will be doing them standing.

So forgive me if this sounds impatient...but I get soooo tired of hearing people whine about how they can't exercise because they are too big (usually way smaller than I was). Call it what it is: excuses. I can recognize them because I was Queen of Excuses! And if I am not careful, I can easily slip that crown right back on my head.

(For complete post "Big People Exercise & Excuses" click HERE) 

From Dr Phil's book: "Make time for exercise, then protect that time... No Excuses... Let nothing interfere, absolutely nothing."

My verse for today: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."

My quote for today: "The key to motivation is motive. It's the why. It's the deeper "yes!" burning inside that makes it easier to say no to the less important." --Stephen Covey

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=