Forgive me for sounding redundant but I feel the need to once again clarify the point of this whole exercise. I know we are more than half way through here and I know I have been overly wordy (sorry, that's just in my nature) about what this whole thing is about but I have run into some speed bumps that have confused me. So I guess this is more for me than you but hey, you can post your success at the bottom of this rant for day 12 so there you go.
Anyway, it's late and I'm a touch peeved and I should probably sleep before posting but the problem is I won't sleep if I don't get it out. And since my husband is on call tonight and definitely won't be sleeping that means all of the driving to Disneyland will be left to me tomorrow. I gotta get it off my chest so I can sleep so listen up.
The point of this 21 day challenge was not to starve any of you, deprive any of you, hurt anyones feelings, push you beyond your limits or brain wash you into a diet. It was to help hold you accountable for your own eating habits. Whether they need a healthy boost with some extra veggies or a stiff shock with the zero sugar idea, it was to help. That's all. I thought that it would be nice to offer a support group and an incentive. I also thought it would be nice to coach you through and make sure that you truly challenge yourself. One of my besties who is doing this challenge originally posted her diet plan in the beginning. I called her out asking her for more and she politely declined my "invitation" to do more. She explained why her 21 day plan was right for her and why it would be an adequate challenge. I agreed with EVERYTHING she had to say and let her make her own decision. She has been successful and has even shown results on the scale and in the mirror. Good for her. For balancing the challenge with what works for her. Good for her for sticking to it and good for her for saying NO when I said MORE.
Have any of you seen the Shawshank Redemption? There is a line in that movie after Andy Dufresne escapes from prison that goes, "he crawled through a tunnel of es-ach-aye-tee and came out clean." That is applicable here in a sense. I don't want anyone to literally go crawling through poop. I do want everyone to come out of this clean. I want you to see a light at the end of a poop filled tunnel and fight hard through that dookie to make it there. You may get some in your eye, puke at the stench or have to stop and pinch your nose but keep going. Keep fighting. Keep holding yourself accountable and you will come out clean.
What is to happen when all of this is over? When the 21 days are done what will you do? Well shucks, I guess that is just up to you. Isn't that awesome?! It's your choice whether you fall back into your old ways, you find moderation and balance between a ton and none or you keep going on a hard core track. You choose.
Remember last weekend when it was Violet's birthday and I made the decision to indulge? Remember how for me that was justifiable grounds to splurge and enjoy good food in the company of people I love? You can do that too. Go ahead! I don't care! I want you to be happy. If you are miserable without your Diet Coke, please stop this silliness and drink a freakin' Diet Coke!
I was so stoked, surprised and inspired by Darise on Sunday when she passed up her Mother-in-laws homemade apple pie. Isn't that just awesome?! Then a couple days later, she ate Oreos. Oreos! She passed up the apple pie and ate the Oreos. Isn't that just hilarious?! I love it. It's perfect because it's real life. (Sorry Darise if this example makes you feel exposed but I figure you posted it in the public comments so it's fair game right? And besides, it's so rad. Just the realness of the whole thing. I mean that. We've all been there.)
Is any of this making sense? Can any of you honestly tell me that you are ready, willing and able to make it through the next few days? Can you? Do you even want to? Because I've got news, if you don't want to, no one is making you. I don't care as long as you are happy and satisfied. It's about you. Hmmm. That sentence sounds familiar. :) Please don't blame me. Please don't hate me. Please don't pass the buck and please, for the love of homemade apple pie, do what is best for you. I love you all and I want you to succeed.
4.30.2010
4.29.2010
real age test
How old are you? Now how old are you inside? The Real Age Test takes approximately 5-10 minutes and can not only calculate your health according to your lifestyle, it can give you great tips as to how to live younger. I have taken this test twice and the second time around I am younger! The first time I took it I was 24 and my Real Age was 20.8. This time I am 26 and my Real Age is 19.4. Sweet hugh? I found this motivating and I think you should try it. (Beware of some of the questions, if you click yes without reading they can spam you stuff.) I bet all of you are much younger than your true age may suggest, especially with how clean you've been eating. :) And if that isn't motivation enough, consider this, you are more than half way through the challenge! Hooray for Spring diet cleaning!
p.s. To Heather, the beautiful bum face who called me out about my push-ups, I am not doing very well. At all. In fact, my last day was last week and I completed day 1 of week 4. I feel terrible that I let it drop and am recommiting myself now. Right here, right now. I have the website already pulled up and I'm rearing to go. Wish me luck that I can accomplish day 2 of week 4 after being dorment for so many days. Yes I can! Yes I can! And if I can't, I'll try again and again until I can.
p.s. To Heather, the beautiful bum face who called me out about my push-ups, I am not doing very well. At all. In fact, my last day was last week and I completed day 1 of week 4. I feel terrible that I let it drop and am recommiting myself now. Right here, right now. I have the website already pulled up and I'm rearing to go. Wish me luck that I can accomplish day 2 of week 4 after being dorment for so many days. Yes I can! Yes I can! And if I can't, I'll try again and again until I can.
4.28.2010
Ahem...
Excuse me? Where are you? I love you. I miss you. I want you back. If you fell off the wagon today, get back on right now. Not first thing in the morning. Not after your last cookie. Now. xoxo
4.27.2010
success!
Motivation for today, success! The word, SUCCESS. All of you have obtained it and keep grabbing more each day. You are successful. You are healthy. You are winning and you are choosing to do it all on your own. You. Congratulations on your success. I love it.
4.25.2010
sweet success
Doesn't your success taste almost as sweet as your favorite dessert? I mean really, do we even need the sugary concoctions when we can get such gratification from rocking this 21 day challenge? No. The answer is surely no. :) Congratulations to all of my successful challengers and congratulations to those of you who have slipped and come back. It's good to make this a daily fight if for some reason temptation gets the best of you. I KNOW everyone is going to come out the other end of this feeling clean, mean and accomplished.
As you all know last night was Violet's birthday party. A few of my friends were discussing their "trigger times" or the times of day that they feel the most temptation to binge on sweets. Here were some of the most common times of day:
Anytime between the hours of 2-5 p.m.
This is because everyone experiences a natural slump in energy during this time of day. I think we crave sweets because we want a pick me up.
The evenings between 8-bedtime.
I think this is because we are three things, tired, thirsty and sitting down. Our hands aren't moving, our minds are moving slowly and (most of us) are finally kid free.
Anytime you are thirsty.
Have you ever woken up from a nap and wanted a giant bag of gummy bears? Or been driving home from the gym only to stop at a Circle K and buy a huge freakin' slurpy instead of a giant water bottle?
After a meal.
I don't know if there is a biological reason for this or if it's because us fat Americans like a sweet dessert after a salty dinner? Whatever the reason, it is a common pitfall for many of us.
Ask yourself when and why you crave sweets. Once you have it identified, take control. Help yourself know what you really need before you sugar yourself up. I know that not all of you are warding off sweets but this can be a helpful tidbit to anyone. Or at least I hope it's helpful. Do any of you have other trigger times? Lemme know.
As you all know last night was Violet's birthday party. A few of my friends were discussing their "trigger times" or the times of day that they feel the most temptation to binge on sweets. Here were some of the most common times of day:
Anytime between the hours of 2-5 p.m.
This is because everyone experiences a natural slump in energy during this time of day. I think we crave sweets because we want a pick me up.
The evenings between 8-bedtime.
I think this is because we are three things, tired, thirsty and sitting down. Our hands aren't moving, our minds are moving slowly and (most of us) are finally kid free.
Anytime you are thirsty.
Have you ever woken up from a nap and wanted a giant bag of gummy bears? Or been driving home from the gym only to stop at a Circle K and buy a huge freakin' slurpy instead of a giant water bottle?
After a meal.
I don't know if there is a biological reason for this or if it's because us fat Americans like a sweet dessert after a salty dinner? Whatever the reason, it is a common pitfall for many of us.
Ask yourself when and why you crave sweets. Once you have it identified, take control. Help yourself know what you really need before you sugar yourself up. I know that not all of you are warding off sweets but this can be a helpful tidbit to anyone. Or at least I hope it's helpful. Do any of you have other trigger times? Lemme know.
4.22.2010
daily dose
Here is your motivation boost for today.
I have a birthday party planned for Violet this weekend and I have invited a few of my closest friends. There will be cake and treats and junk and goodies. Tonight at the gym I talked with a couple of the friends who will be in attendance at this feast and you know what those Hard Cores said? Nugh ugh! Not gonna happen! My husband can eat my cake but I will not partake!
Pure craziness. The next time you feel like cheating, remember what you're up against down here in Tucson. Pure desert grit right there. I guess I'll only make one dozen cupcakes rather than two?
As for me, Saturday will be a sweet, simple carbohydrated day. :) I choose my battles and this one is easier left to the Hard Cores to fight. Love it. Love them. Love all of you.
p.s. Would you all please stop thanking me! It's so nice but turn that gratitude around and thank yourself! You guys are rocking this thing!!! I'm rubber, you're glue....
I have a birthday party planned for Violet this weekend and I have invited a few of my closest friends. There will be cake and treats and junk and goodies. Tonight at the gym I talked with a couple of the friends who will be in attendance at this feast and you know what those Hard Cores said? Nugh ugh! Not gonna happen! My husband can eat my cake but I will not partake!
Pure craziness. The next time you feel like cheating, remember what you're up against down here in Tucson. Pure desert grit right there. I guess I'll only make one dozen cupcakes rather than two?
As for me, Saturday will be a sweet, simple carbohydrated day. :) I choose my battles and this one is easier left to the Hard Cores to fight. Love it. Love them. Love all of you.
p.s. Would you all please stop thanking me! It's so nice but turn that gratitude around and thank yourself! You guys are rocking this thing!!! I'm rubber, you're glue....
4.21.2010
keep it up
Nice work for day 2 my little chickadees. (I can say little because you are all shrinking by the second!) Again, I was a proud woman last night as my Blackberry went bananas with all of your success.
Motivation for today.
Whenever one of those horrible, can't help but ogle, makes you never want to eat again Victoria's Secret Commercials comes on, Michael and I have the same conversation time and time again. We talk about how if my job was to look like that, I mean my actual LIVELY HOOD, was to look like a Victoria's Secret model, I still couldn't do it. You thought I was going to say I could do it didn't you? Well you're wrong. Even before having two kids, I would have never cut the mustard.
This is an excerpt from an interview with Heidi Klum done by Marie Claire magazine:
“I always think, Look at how people were before they were pregnant,” Klum says. “If you were a toned, healthy, energetic person, most likely you will be like that again.” Cold comfort to the untoned and unhealthy, but the straight dope is sort of refreshing. “A lot of people come to me, and they’re like, ‘Will I look like you after I have the baby?’ And I say, ‘Well, how were you before?’ You can’t kid yourself.”
It's true isn't it? We are all different and very few of us have ever or will ever look like Heidi Klum no matter how hard we try. But that's okay because this challenge isn't about that. Make this challenge about you and you alone. Make it about your personal best. Not Heidi Klum's personal best, not the personal best of Skinny Butt Magee who lives down the street, not even the personal best of your sister who's always been smaller than you. You. Just you. It's all for you and about you. Doesn't the limelight feel nice sometimes? :)
Motivation for today.
Whenever one of those horrible, can't help but ogle, makes you never want to eat again Victoria's Secret Commercials comes on, Michael and I have the same conversation time and time again. We talk about how if my job was to look like that, I mean my actual LIVELY HOOD, was to look like a Victoria's Secret model, I still couldn't do it. You thought I was going to say I could do it didn't you? Well you're wrong. Even before having two kids, I would have never cut the mustard.
This is an excerpt from an interview with Heidi Klum done by Marie Claire magazine:
“I always think, Look at how people were before they were pregnant,” Klum says. “If you were a toned, healthy, energetic person, most likely you will be like that again.” Cold comfort to the untoned and unhealthy, but the straight dope is sort of refreshing. “A lot of people come to me, and they’re like, ‘Will I look like you after I have the baby?’ And I say, ‘Well, how were you before?’ You can’t kid yourself.”
It's true isn't it? We are all different and very few of us have ever or will ever look like Heidi Klum no matter how hard we try. But that's okay because this challenge isn't about that. Make this challenge about you and you alone. Make it about your personal best. Not Heidi Klum's personal best, not the personal best of Skinny Butt Magee who lives down the street, not even the personal best of your sister who's always been smaller than you. You. Just you. It's all for you and about you. Doesn't the limelight feel nice sometimes? :)
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