Post: #1

Day 1
I didn't do my pre-work until Day 1! Oops :-) I was going to do it yesterday, but with New Years Eve plans didn't get around to it until this afternoon. Just read Day 1's task too. It's still early evening here and Celes already posted Day 2's work hours ago! It's like a time warp lol.

About Day 1/Drinking more water - I was already planning to drink more water during this challenge, but not quite 8 glasses per day yet! It will take me time to work up to that much. My goal for now is 5-6 glasses. I'm already behind that goal for today, yikes!

Also, I did not do my daily stretches this morning, so I did them a little bit ago. That is why I'll do yoga this evening, as the kick-start to my exercise program for this challenge!

I want to move around more, not sit so much because of the strain it places on the body. Today I definitely noticed a difference, since I didn't sit much as all yesterday with all the NYE celebration excitement - not the typical lower-back pain and all-over body stiffness that I usually have every morning. So, I know that moving around is key for me! Well, I already knew that, but the reminder was a good one as I start off this challenge!

What I had to keep in mind while creating my 21-Day Action Plan was not to go too all-out right from the very beginning. I always try to go super-gung-ho into an exercise plan & diet right from the very beginning, which leads to giving up within a week because it's too much too fast. I need to ease into this if I want to be successful. And be very gentle with myself if I mis-step, so as to not cause a guilt/defeat spiral.

I decided to share my Workbook & Action Plan as Google Docs with the group, after seeing someone else so generously & trustingly do so Here are the links:

Workboook
Action Plan

Wishing everyone a successful 21 Days!

Post: #2

Hi Christy! Happy New Year! Sounds like you had fun last night

I love your honesty and you're 100% right about going gung-ho into something and not following through, been there! I love the fact that you're going into this very level headed and I know you'll achieve everything that you want! You Go Girl!!!

Your positivity throughout your workbook is excellent, keep it up!

All the best as you continue your journey with this challenge

-Alicia

Post: #3

Thanks, Alicia! I appreciate the encouragement, and yes I'm doing my best to make these lasting changes. As we all are, right?

I hope you accomplish everything you're aiming for as well!

Post: #4

Christy,

Reading your journal entry sounded so much like mine: Stretch more to avoid that all-over body stiffness each morning. I'm also refusing to beat myself up for things that don't get done. I -do- want to do all my self-assigned goals and follow my daily action plan, but getting down on myself mentally is just counter-productive. Also, I too didn't get to do my Pre-Work until today, but was able to get pretty well caught up. So all is good!

Wishing you much success on this mutual journey!
Susy

--------Research shows that people who diligently use To Do Lists get more things DONE!--------

Post: #5

Hey Susy - thanks for commenting! Glad that you caught up yesterday with me :-) Wishing you success too, and no beating ourselves up on this journey!

Quick update of Day 2 -
Did my morning stretches, right after I woke up, yay!
Also the weather cooperated and I was able to go for a 30-minute walk today. Could have gone longer but since I'll be exercising tomorrow too, I didn't want to overdo today. I didn't even want my second cup of coffee today, so maybe kicking caffeine will be easier than I thought when I'm ready for it.
Going to bed soon, will stretch again right before I do. Back to work tomorrow - that will be the true test of sticking with my action plan!

Post: #6

Hey Christy!

I am also one of your "groupies" and wanted to wish you all the best for this trip! I'll probably be one of those being a bit behind as well sometimes. But we're going through this together, won't we!?

Enjoy the energy!
Micha

Blog: Was Wäre Wenn? (What If?)

Post: #7

Hey Micha! Thanks for being one of my groupies I haven't had the chance to make the rounds to others & give them support yet! I do feel like I'm running a bit behind!

Day 3: Started out good! Woke up earlier than I usually do during the week, stretched, took coffee & lunch to work. No more of the nasty work coffee, yay! I drank lots of water throughout the day too. Took note of the calories for my lunch (higher than I expected...) but haven't made actual calorie list yet. I haven't written down an ideal meal plan yet either, although I the idea of it in my mind - it would be similar to what Celes describes for her own meals, except not so strict or vegan (I would throw a few chicken dishes in, and chocolate! can't give that up completely lol). That salad she pictured in the Day 4 Task post looks *really* tasty. I am starting to look forward to my mini-detox this coming weekend.

I had an afternoon slump, of course. I was expecting it. Had some chocolate at work. Then my coworkers all got together to celebrate a couple of promotions as well as the new year and we toasted with champagne (no, we don't normally drink at work, although it's been known to happen occasionally.) I had a small glass but, champagne and my stomach don't really get along. And I really had to talk myself into working out this evening, but I did it! So - kind of on track for today. I got the most important things I wanted, so all in all I'm happy with my progress

Post: #8

Hey Christy! Excellent job with your updates!! Good to hear that you've been drinking lots of water too!

Christy Wrote:I haven't had the chance to make the rounds to others & give them support yet! I do feel like I'm running a bit behind!

Don't worry about it! Do as much as you can! Most important thing is for you to get the best out of your 21DHL journey. We're all here to support one another! Look forward to reading more of your updates!

"If you want to get something you have never gotten before, you've to do something you've never done before."
Personal Excellence - For people passionate about achieving excellence in life

Post: #9

Hi, Christy --- I love your attitude about not beating up on yourself. As long as you are willing to keep up with it and move forward on some goals every day, you will get where you want to go! Too many times I have given up completely on something because I could not get it perfect, totally correct. The result was I did nothing!

I realize now that is hurting me at work -- as well as with health.

Keep on posting! Best, CDee

Post: #10

Celes! Thanks for the support I'm so glad for this forum you've created here.

I'm trying to do the best I can - a big part of that is not getting down on myself for not being perfect. Exactly what I needed today.

Day 4 Update - I can see the pattern now of the 3pm slump at work. It's the point when any energy I had for the day turns into frustration at having been stuck sitting there for hours and still having 3 hours left to go. All I want to do is snack. Then I'm de-motivated in the evening. I'm not sure what the solution is, need to think about this.

I was going to exercise tonight & have the evening "off" tomorrow, so I decided to switch them around & gave myself the break tonight. But the new morning routine & lunch are still going well. I'll take whatever successes I can get Here's to hoping tomorrow's better!

Post: #11

(01-05-2011 04:09 PM)clarkindee Wrote:  Too many times I have given up completely on something because I could not get it perfect, totally correct. The result was I did nothing!

Clarkindee - I've been there before, many times! This is probably one of the first times I've actively pursued changing my self-talk from negative to positive when I'm not "perfect", and I have to say that just a few days into it I'm starting to see the difference. For example the last couple days I've slid backwards a bit, not progressing with the plan quite as much as I'd hoped, and normally at this point I'd be ready to give up - instead, at this moment I am ready to say, OK I didn't do my best today, so I'm going to really step it up tomorrow! Not my usual response. And so much better!

Day 5 Check-in - I wish I'd eaten more fruit/veg and not skipped breakfast. I certainly didn't drink enough water either. But I did stretch and exercise. Looking forward to eating better tomorrow!

Post: #12

I kind of fell off the challenge the last couple of days! But I'm determined to learn from it. Look at why I hit a block, and figure out how to get around it. Get back on track with greater wisdom for how to keep on track. Just like Celes said in the Day 7 Task post. This is good though, because there are lots of other things I stumble with, not just when it comes to my health/lifestyle, and learning how to cope with the stumbling in this area can be applied to other areas too. I've discovered that being more aware of what's going on with my in relation to this challenge is also causing little "lightbulb moments" for why I do what I do in other areas of my life. So for that, if nothing else, even if I don't get to where I want to be in the next 2 weeks health-wise, these little realizations are making this challenge so worth it!

So today, what I will do is go back to my Action Plan and revise it - this should be a living document and I have to realize that when things happen that mean plans change, that I should not get upset about things not going to the original plan, but simply make the adjustments & revise the plan accordingly. I hope to have the plan updated by the end of the day today, and get back on track!

Post: #13

(01-09-2011 06:03 AM)Christy Wrote:  So today, what I will do is go back to my Action Plan and revise it - this should be a living document and I have to realize that when things happen that mean plans change,

Christy!

I love, love, love what you just said: That our Action Plan should be a "living document."

That outlook eliminates potential frustration (and/or depression) because then one can view changes as future improvements, as well as be viewed as acceptable and desirable!

Thank you so much for that perspective.

Susy

--------Research shows that people who diligently use To Do Lists get more things DONE!--------

Post: #14

Christy Wrote:Look at why I hit a block, and figure out how to get around it. Get back on track with greater wisdom for how to keep on track.

So today, what I will do is go back to my Action Plan and revise it - this should be a living document and I have to realize that when things happen that mean plans change, that I should not get upset about things not going to the original plan, but simply make the adjustments & revise the plan accordingly.

Christy, I'm so proud of you! You're absolutely right - the very fact that you're working to understand and troubleshoot the situation is already progress in itself! It's not about sticking perfectly to the plan for 21 days but about using this platform to understand how to create and sustain our healthiest lifestyle in the long haul. This is our real long-term goal. Look forward to reading your updates!

"If you want to get something you have never gotten before, you've to do something you've never done before."
Personal Excellence - For people passionate about achieving excellence in life

Post: #15

Nice mix of fun exercises! I would love to learn yoga and pilates, maybe I will take a class one day. It's supposed to be really good for weight loss although it's like super slow...Maybe if you are getting off track or losing motivation for the exercise part, you could join a class? Might be more motivation to do it in a group.

Post: #16

Christy -- how did it go revising your plan? Are you getting back on track -- or more importantly -- on track for what you want to get out of the 21DHL.

For me, it's not looking like I'm going to achieve much by the way of exercise. But you know, that's not a problem. I'm so much happier with the progress I've made on re-scripting my eating habits, that if that is the only thing I get out of the 21DHL -- I'll be ecstatic.

I real all of Celes' tasks -- and I'd love to do all of them but I just can't devote the time and also work!! So.... if I don't accomplish them in my life right now I'm not going to stress. Right now I'm focused on:

• 8 glasses of water
• calorie counting
• no more empty calories -- all food must be natural and healthy
• no more processed foods
• no second helpings
• making long-delayed medical check up appointments.
  

Looking forward to reading your next post! CDee

Post: #17

Hi CDee! :hug:Yes, I did revise my plan and am getting back on track. Still not all the way there, but closer to it. One thing that helped was reviewing the progress I did make - for example looking at how many mornings I did my stretching, etc - and compare that to before this challenge started - ok, maybe I missed a couple of days, but that's a heck of a lot better than before!

Quote:For me, it's not looking like I'm going to achieve much by the way of exercise. But you know, that's not a problem. I'm so much happier with the progress I've made on re-scripting my eating habits, that if that is the only thing I get out of the 21DHL -- I'll be ecstatic.

I agree totally! What you can get out of this experience as far as recognizing your patterns and learning to work with them: that's the true value of this challenge, imho. That's what will get us to the healthy life we want eventually. So, work on what you can now, and later you'll be able to tackle the other stuff from a much stronger position You have a good list of things to focus on right now, I wish you the best!

Weekend update:
I revised my Action Plan, with a mental note to remember not to over-do any of my exercising. This was part of my problem towards the end of the week - I ended up with a really stiff, sore lower back. Now I know better! At least until I'm back in better shape

I'm working on steadily increasing the amount of fruits & veggies in my diet - from close to zero before. I admire those who can do the high raw diet, but I know that's not for me! I went meat-free today, but I can't cut out meat completely. Yesterday I tried out a new recipe for chicken cooked with apricots, and it was really yummy. My goal food-wise this week is to make sure I eat the fresh produce in my fridge, and not let it go bad this time, as I so often do!

Post: #18

Quote:My goal food-wise this week is to make sure I eat the fresh produce in my fridge, and not let it go bad this time, as I so often do!

You and I could be sisters in this respect. I often let the fresh produce go bad ---but not last week! Every bit of it disappeared! Have a great 2nd week!!!
CDee