Progress Report - Sharon

I feel I'm doing OK.  I only worked out about 3.5 times this week whereas my goal is 5.  I did not get in the appropriate running mileage for my program and will strive to do so this week.  I have not yet been keeping my food journal.  I plan on buying a small notebook dedicated solely for that and just keep it in the kitchen.  For now, I'm just going to keep the food journal without counting calories because I must admit, I rather hate counting calories.  I find it tricky when trying to calculate casseroles or mixed-ingredient dishes so I'm not going to worry about the actual calories for now and just track my food and use my good sense to adjust from there.

From reading everyone else's progress, I think the majority of us are doing pretty darn well even if we're not yet hitting our goals the way we want to.  It honestly just takes some planning and lots of practice to get it right.

It's about progress, not perfection.  That's my new mantra, if you haven't noticed!

Keep it up!

January Challenge goals:(Keith)

To accomplish my goal of trimming my waistline I am going to do these three things:
1) Eat a fruit or veggie before I can eat a junk food.
2) Limit my portion sizes & limit snacking.
3) Continue with a rigorous exersize regime & outdoor lifestyle

Ashlee 1/31/11 report

These past two weeks I have made more progress than I had made the two previous weeks. I have worked out twice a week these past two weeks by doing the Cardio X DVD from P90X. It definitely makes me sweat. I haven't lost weight yet but I do feel better, and I know that I will feel significantly better once establish a more consistent workout pattern. I have recruited my roommate in helping me get moving. We went to the gym this morning for an hour and kicked it into high gear. I have certainly noticed that I do much better during the day if I can start it out by making the right choices. Also, I have started wearing a pedometer and I try to get more steps than the day before as a little challenge to myself.

My goal for going to bed by 10:30 has been hit or miss, mostly miss. And because of that I have a harder time getting up in the morning and eating breakfast. So that will be my focus for these next two weeks.

I have discovered it is good to pack a lunch though. And I have found it is easy when I get Campbell's soup at hand, or a Healthy Choice microwavable dish. I usually pair those with a cup of fruit. These have really helped me stop eating out so much.

If anything, I have certainly been more conscious of what I am doing with/to my body. And hopefully the strides to my baby steps will lengthen.

January Challenge - Last Call

Just a few days left to get a point for doing the January Challenge.  Remember each point gets you closer to one of these fantabulous prizes:

$50 iTunes Giftcard

Your Choice of Exercise DVD



OR

Here’s a reminder of the January Challenge: 

Point Value: 1

LIST AT LEAST 3 ACTIONS YOU WILL TAKE IN ORDER TO REALIZE YOUR GOLDEN SNEAKER GOAL.

I will keep track of your points and indicate it by the number to the right of your name on the family blog.  Some of you have already earned your January point and good job to those who got the extra point:  Mom, Dad, Marie, Ashlee, David, Jenny, Nicole, and Courtney.

You have until Monday night to get the January point, so get on it this weekend!  I just realized that I, myself, need to get on the ball and heed my own reminder!  You can email it to me or leave a post on this blog or leave a comment on this post.  You've got options, baby!

How does that saying go?  A goal is just a wish until we write it down and make a plan.  Or something like that.  Sounds good, right?

Sharon

Cash Pot

Okay, family, we need to talk about:

Moolah

Dinero

Cheddar

Coin

Loot

Currency

That’s right…

MONEY!

Things are underway and the prizes have been established.  You’ve seen the sweet golden sneakers that will be expertly mounted on trophy stands.  But we know the real prize we’re all fighting for is the Cash Pot!

I have asked everyone participating to please pitch in $5.  That’s $5 per PERSON.  Not family or couple.  Nice try.  There have even been a few inquiries asking me if it’s OK to donate more than that amount.  Silly, silly question.  Of course it is!!!  But please DO NOT feel obligated to do so.  If everyone pitches in the required $5 that should still give us a nice chunk o’ change to keep us motivated.

Now my real challenge comes in getting you all to send it to me!  I feel I must impose a deadline or I will be waiting on some of you forever!  I’m not going to name names but you know who you are.  Plus, we want an actual tally on the pot so we have an established amount that we all know about.

So here’s the deadline:  MARCH 1

So please send me a check or some well-concealed cash to me, Sharon Johnson.  I’d rather not post my mailing address on the blog, so email me if you need it.

I will cash any checks I receive and tuck away the cash in our super secure break-in-proof safe (i.e. under the mattress).  Kidding.  We really do have a small safe.

I’m excited to report that we’ve already received a very generous donation of  $100 from Mom and Dad!  That gets us off to a great start!

This is exciting stuff, people!

Now, give me your money!

Do It Anyway

“Though you won’t get it perfect, do it anyway.  Though you don’t think you have the time, do it anyway.  Though others may find fault and criticize, do it anyway.

Though you can think of a lot of reasons not to, do it anyway.  Though you’ve been disappointed in the past, do it anyway.  Though it will challenge you and make you a little uncomfortable, do it anyway.  Though it will take some time and effort, do it anyway.

You know what must be done.  You know what actions will bring you the results you desire.  You know what is right and what is wrong.  You can spend a lifetime making excuses, thinking of reasons why not, but where would that get you?  Touch your own sense of excellence and do the right thing.  Do what must be done.  Do it anyway, in spite of all the excuses.  Do it anyway.  Make a difference.  Get somewhere.  Take yourself to the next level.

Do it anyway and you’ll be glad you did.”

This quote got me off my booty and on the treadmill when I had all but decided to give up on my workout plans for the day (see my blog post on www.lazytrainer.blogspot.com). 

Sharon

Food Focus

To help everyone with their focus on healthy food I've found the most delicious recipe:

Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:

1 med eggplant, peeled and cubed

1/4 tsp salt

2 zucchini, sliced

1 large sweet potato, peeled and sliced

1 onion, peeled and cut into eighths

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/4 cup olive oil

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 tsp pepper

Preparation:

1. Sprinkle eggplant with salt, and let stand 30 minutes. Pat dry.

2. Preheat oven to 400°. Toss together eggplant and remaining ingredients, and arrange in a single layer in 2 aluminum foil-lined jelly-roll pans.

3. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender and golden brown. Season with salt to taste.