I, Jude, make this contract with myself and my fellow challengers: I commit to staying physically active for the next eight weeks. I will use this thread to stay accountable ... Each Friday, I will make goals and post them. And I am going to do my very best to achieve ‘em, too!

Week One …
I will go to Curves and not wimp out Monday, Wednesday, and Friday--and complete the entire stretch afterward!
I will walk or do other aerobic exercise* at least 2x
(*IF my "Walk away the pounds" tapes arrive, I will do the one mile tape. If not, I'll walk or climb my steps for 30 minutes.)
I'll stretch after the aerobic work, too!

Extra Credit ...
Name three benefits you get from exercise that have nothing to do with weight

1) I get de-stressed (rather than DIstressed)
2) I have more energy.
3) It feels good to take time and do something just for me.

Jude

I would very much like to join this fitness challenge and I hope I dn't have to invoke the Alien Abduction Challenge this time! Fridays are busy for me, so I will probably end up posting on the weekend, rather than Friday, with my goals for the following week.

I've scaled back my fitness goals a little -- at least temporarily -- and right now I am just focusing on brisk walking supplemented by crunches to try to work on my flabby abdomen. My goals for the next week are to walk a minimum of four days for at least three miles each time. I've been walking at the rate of 3.5 or 4 miles per hour (I'm faster earlier in the day), so three miels takes me a little less than an hour. Ideally, I'd like to do more than that, but I'm trying to be realistic. I'll also do crunches at least three days.

I'd like to get back to going to the YMCA and working out on the treadmill/swimming, but I don't think I am quite ready to do that yet. That's a long-term goal right now: before the end of this challenge I will start working out at the Y again.

Three benefits I get from exercise (other than weight loss);

• Increased feelings of physical well being
• Increased ability to mentally concentrate
• Fewer mood swings

I, Lynn, am joining in this fitness challenge, and hope that I will follow through with all that I hope to achieve.

Daily week one goals:
Mon-Wed-Fri---1 hour walk and work with weights for arms
Tues-Thurs----1 hour pilates
Sat and Sun---I will either walk or do an arobic videotape.


3 benefits of exercising which have nothing to do with weight loss:
1) Know that I am helping my heart and have more energy.
2) Fulfilmet in doing something and sticking to it.
3) Knowing that I am doing something that will help me keep up with the kids.

I am here, though I am honestly just setting my goal this week to survive it lol.. I don't have my tv or dvd player (to do any exercise video's) but its not like I am sitting on my butt we have been moving over the past few days (happy thanksgiving to me...) and I am trying to get the last of the stuff this afternoon and hopefully get everything unpacked this week while working full time plus OT lol
at the moment my main goal is trying to get back to eating low carb but we won't have a frig or microwave until dec 3rd if I knew where the can opener was that might also help! bless my step-grandmother's heart but her packing is not very orginized :/

I can do this anyways, 3 benefits which have nothing to do with weight loss:
1)depending on what I do I can energize myself or relax myself
2)I sleep better (sleeping has always been a problem for me)
3) my self esteem has gone up with it

hopefully next week will be better!

Hi all, I Teresa, am a committed follower of Monika and the TDC Clan. I will strive to do my best, post regularly and be an active participant.

My three benefits are:
1) my shrinking self
2) my physically stronger self
3) my more energized self

Thanks for the inspiration and organization!

I'm back again! This time I'm going to start with some simple goals. I got a little ahead of myself and my back injury that's in recovery, and I became overwhelmed. So... for my first week I plan to:

1) Hit Curves 3x no matter what work and family life throws my way;
2) Get walking in 5x- whether it be the mile I do at work or WAP after work; and finally
3) Take the safe route in all my activities so that I do not tick off my back.

My 3 benefits which have nothing to do with weight loss are:

1) Feeling satisfied that I've done something good for myself and my family (esp. since it has nothing to do w/food);
2) Knowing I'm doing something to help sustain a longer, healthier life;
3) It's an awesome stress reliever.

Here's to a great start folks!
Nikki

{{{{{Monicka}}}}}
I was just about to get a search party out for you!!!! I am so happy you are back. You have been such an inspiration and I attribute much of my success to your thread and all the members.
I ,Lynn,am totally committed to my WOL and the TDC group. I will stay physically active for the next eight weeks and keep up with posting each friday.
Week One...
I will walk 3 miles a day on treadmill with 2lb weights~3.0 incline
I will continue with 20 minute aerobics tape.
I will start tae bo tape and alternate with stationary bike-15minutes a day
I will take off one day a week and do something positive for myself!
Extra Credit...
1. I get truly energized for the day which shows in everything I do.
2. I have noticed my anxiety level going down-even dealing with stressful situations.
3. I am happier-all the time!
Its great to be here with everyone!
Lynn

Hi All,
I've already put in what I am doing for this week, but wondered how everyone smushes everything into their schedules? I don't know if my family and work really keep me as busy as I think, or if I use them as an excuse not to set time for me to get moving. As is I get up by 5:30 to get ready for work and to take my son to school. I pick him up after school and get home around 4:00. Start laundry, dinner etc then after dinner help son with homework and maybe check news or see paper for few minutes, then bedtime ritual to get son in bed between 8 and 8:30. Put up laundry, fall in bed and watch a show and go to sleep. HELP I just felt lazy when I saw so many of you doing your 30 min cardio and Tae bo etc. then weight training and a few miles extra walking. Wow. I thought I was doing good when I started parking past the cart return at the store and using the stairs all the time. Thanks and please help me keep moving. I do pretty well with what I eat, but the exercise part of it is weak. Thanks again.
Marie

As someone said we all have the same 24 hours in a day what you do with them is up to you. Take a block of time in your day and set it aside as your time to exercise. Use your lunch hour at work. use some of your early morning time. do it while you do the laundry. Make a new bed time ritual for you and son of an exercise tape or two. It doesn't matter when but commit the time to you because you are worth it. You can do it. And as Dr Atkins says in DANDR if you aren't exercising you aren't doing his plan.
Happy low carbing.

Thanks for the input and support. I just needed to have someone else tell me to get off my behind! I am trying to turn some of my son's play time into my exercise time, that's why this week I put riding bike minimum of 1 mile a day with him. I'm at school all day and teachers don't get lunch hours or really breaks for that matter! I try to eat something at the same time that I am watching and helping 20 five year olds eat in about 25 minutes. I count myself lucky to get bathroom breaks and considering how much water I drink, those are important I will try to get more organized at night to do more before going to sleep. Thanks again.
Marie

OK I'm in.

Since I cant lift weights (pregnant) but did get the ok to use a crosstrainer, here are my week 1 goals:

3 days per week - two 10 minute sessions on my crosstrainer.

I know its not much but I am starting from nothing, and have to start somewhere!