So close I can taste it

Today is the last day of week 11 of my 12 week challenge. I made it through girls camp....not as hard as I thought it would be!! There really are a lot of things that I am hoping have become habit. It was so nice when the bishop talked about "PJ'S man" (which is a superhero that explains about needing Prayers, Journals, and Scriptures each day in our lives) to not feel like a hypocrite for asking the girls to do those three things daily. The health changes have been great. I lost a few pounds without ever dieting which was wonderful, but the changes that have meant the most to me are the ones that have boosted my spirit. 7 days left. A lifetime ahead.

(Oh, and I still don't have info on the new challenge. I will let you know when I do)

(And because I know you are curious, there are still 20 perfect scores out there. So much for $1000, but no regrets, I got something better)

2:18:58

I ran my first half marathon this morning and yes, I did it in under 139 minutes. I ran it on the treadmill, which explains the time. The draw backs to running inside was that the scenery was not as beautiful and the smells not as interesting.

I was having some worries, but now I have no doubt that my body can handle a full marathon. I need to finish my training, but I will be ready. Eight more weeks to go!

Loss/Gain = 0.

Saints Fan

Just me again

Current count....1 in 18 (approximately)

Also I have lost an additional 3 lbs. I had stopped checking the scale for a while and that was the nice surprise I had this morning when I weighed. YIPPEE

There are 3 weeks left of my challenge. I definately think it has been a good thing for me. Good habits to get into for sure.

You guys are the best!

Saints Fan...how goes it with the running....ready for your marathon yet?

For those of you who are interested, I will get you guys the challenge info as the new challenge gets closer. And as a side note,....I have been glad for my stubborn streak, it has served me well in this challenge. Get yours all revved up and ready. You can do this!

-Cookie

New odds count

In case you care....

1 in 24

Just how many more can goof up in the last 4 weeks...and how many ways am I going to have to split the prize??

LOL

-Cookie

Made it!

For those of you interested in joining the challenge. I am now on week 9 of 12, a perfect score under my belt, and have some things to share about this challenge.

I love the fact that most of the challenge requirements seem to becoming habit. I do them without thinking about the fact that I am doing (or not doing) them.

The fact that I now find reasons to excercise in the day is amazing to me. Not only that, but I choose to. This coming from a self admitted couch potato. I went on a bike ride up camping (for about an hour) loved every minute of time to myself. Went back in the car to check how far I went. 5 miles, one way! That, for me, is a feat!

I am filling my belly with fresh fruits and veggies, and there isn't so much space in there calling out to me to feed it with junk!

15 minutes of spiritual reading is really giving me a much needed boost.

I took a "cheat day" the other day and didn't want to eat sweets all day. Just a little was more that enough. Once again, a huge feat for me. I think one of the biggest things this challenge has taught me is how often I was indulging in sweet "treats", but can they really be called a treat if you are eating them as a daily part of your diet?

Still not losing weight because I still have a serious portion problem, but I FEEL better. All the way around. I don't really care a whole heap about what I weigh because of how I feel. Success? I think so!

I have discoved that in general people regret what they eat late at night. I appreciate the fact that I haven't had to go to bed with "garbage gut" for 8 weeks now. Wonderful.

I know the challenge isn't done and I still have a long road ahead of me, but I just thought I would share some of my feelings about it along the way. Here are some of the negatives.

I am worried that because the challenge ends I will let things slip and fall back into old habits. Anyone know how to prevent that??

I worry that saying no thanks to sweets offered might offend unintentionally.

I worry that people will think that just because I choose not to have chips or candy means that I think they shouldn't. Please don't tell me people think this way.

Occasionally I end up working out at 11pm or eating an apple or carrots at 7:30 even when I am not hungry so that I can meet the goal. It is kinda frustrating to have to power down and apple on a full stomach, or workout when I am so super tired.

I hope with all hope that the only thing keeping me in this isn't just the prize money at the end or my stubborn streak wanting to say I could do it. I want it to be for better reasons than that, but I think I won't know the truth unless I blow it one week.

So there you are Club Zero. Thanks for letting me blather on and pretending to care :) You all rock!
-Cookie

Killer Week

This last week was not the most ideal week, but I did get my workouts in. However, after my Saturday run I thought I was going to die, but a soak in the hot tub brought much relief, thanks mom and dad.

I lost another 1.5 pounds this week...

-Saints Fan

Goal Exceeded

I finished my Saturday run with 32 seconds to spare, I think it was all due to my new canary yellow running shirt, you can't miss me, I'm the one who looks like a bunch of bananas.

I am down 3.5 pounds this week with an eleven mile run coming up on Saturday, think good thoughts!

-Saints Fan

A couple of things...

...first and foremost, for those of you interested in the challenge. Apparently the girl that is running this challenge also plans on doing a second challenge right afterwords. So to whoever asked me if the prize is $1000 the answer to that is...quite possibly, if you want to sign up on her big one. Or I could just run a small one here. But with that big of a prize as a possibility, maybe hers would be a good idea. We would just have less say as to when it is. So I will keep you posted as I get info. Also, I am off and away to another big big challenge within a challenge, so I will be gone for a few days, and am hoping hoping hoping I still have a perfect score when I return. YIKES. Again...I will keep you posted. Cheer for me, and keep your fingers crossed. This will be a toughie!
-Cookie

My NSV

I just got back from a 10 mile bike ride. It was awesome. Mostly flat without a whole lot of hills, but at the end I am not even winded or sweaty. I am a little proud of myself! The ride only ended because it got too dark to continue. I have found that I really do love riding bikes! Any one have any idea how many calories it burns? It would be nice if something I have learned to love to do was also a good source of excercise!
-Cookie

Dear Club Zero....

....I have loved, and am doing really well with this wellness challenge. I am in my 7th week of 12 and am really loving the changes it is making. I have liked it well enough I am considering offering to bring the Challenge to Club Zero. Are any of you interested? Would you like to know more? Do you not want anything to do with Cookie's Crazy Challenge? Let me know. I would like some feedback. I wouldn't start it until after my current challenge is over, which is mid August, so it would correlate with the start of school, and be over before any of the holidays come. So, Club Zero, what do you think?