Challenge
Editor’s Note: I found out last night that a former co-worker (actually, a former boss) is losing his fight with cancer. Though he has an online presence through a number of social media outlets, I choose not to add links here. His family is very private and is dealing with a very tough time. If it’s your thing, could you send out a little prayer, warm thought or pick-me-up dance for this remarkable man and his family? Knowing him, he’ll get every message you send, no matter what the means. Thanks.
Regularly Scheduled Program (because the above mentioned man would not want anyone to stop living life, not for a second): There have been more days than not when I wake up and it’s cold. I put on layers with fleece. And it’s still cold. And today it is September 1st. I think fall has officially sprung. Given we had no more than 2-3 days of 90+ degree weather, it’s hard to believe summer has passed. Nevertheless, it’s that time of the month to update you on my personal challenges.
Improved Workouts
Started: March 1, 2009.
Goal: Workout three times during the week and once over the weekend.
Progress: After I completed the half marathon in early August, the challenge was to keep working out even though I no longer had a specific goal to reach. So, I grabbed my neighbor (who has run marathons, but none recently) and got her back into the running game. We’d run together a few times a week. And I tried to run at lunch on days I worked from home. I also jumped back on my bike for the first time since my fractured elbow.
Plan: Continue making the most of the non-snowy weather by running and biking.
Grade: BIG WOO HOO!
No Diet Coke
Started: March 5, 2009.
Goal: Give up drinking Diet Coke and other sodas.
Progress: I continue to sneak in a Diet Coke here and there. But, overall, I don’t need them and generally feel better without them.
Plan: Keep at it!
Grade: SUCCESS!
No Sweets
Started: April 1, 2009
Goal: Give up eating all sweets.
Restated Goal: Eat moderate amounts of sweets and no candy at work.
Progress: I still need to get better at skipping the candy bowl at work. And not ordering a sundae when at the ice cream shop.
Grade: WORKING IT!
No Delivery
Started: May 1, 2009
Goal: No take-out or delivery food
Progress: I’m still amazed it was so easy to give up delivery and take-out food. Other than our vacation (where I vote these challenges are put on hold!), we did really well – 100% success. And even with vacation, what we did take-out was generally healthy (and it was because we had our dog that we didn’t eat in).
Plan: Stick to it!
Grade: CONTINUED SUCCESS!
Read Daily
Started: June 1, 2009
Goal: Read at least one magazine article or one book chapter every day.
Progress: I struggle a bit with this one. But, I brought a book on vacation with me and plowed through pages every day. I continue to try to read everyday … though I wind up reading maybe 4x a week.
Plan: Keep at it. It’s a worthy goal and one I’d like to achieve each and every day!
Grade: IMPROVING!
Write Weekly
Started: July 1, 2009
Goal: Write at least one hand-written note on a weekly basis.
Progress: While it was easy to write a lot during the month of the actual challenge, the week-to-week goal is more of a challenge. I did write a few hand-written notes this month, but not many. So, I’m going to ammend this goal to be more realistic with my life.
Restated Goal: Write a hand-written note for ALL thank yous and for any time I feel something important must be said (no emails – the only thing that trumps the hand-written note is phone calls and seeing people face-to-face).
Grade: MODERATE SUCCESS!
Workout 1 Hour 4 Days per Week
Started: August 1, 2009
Goal: Run or walk for an hour at least four times per week.
Progress: I got my neighbor to run with me in the evenings. I ran during lunch breaks (on days working at home). I walked the dog every morning. And sometimes with Sweets in the evenings. We hiked for hours at a time during our vacation. I definitely got out there more than four times per week. But, I didn’t always workout for an hour. Maybe an hour cumulatively over the course of the day, but not all at once.
Grade: MIXED BAG OF SUCCESS!
Here we are in September. When the weather begins to cool. And our focus turns inside. I had an idea for the challenge I wanted to do this month. But, I had to discuss it with Sweets. As it would affect his down time just as much as it would affect mine. Surprisingly, he agreed. So, OUR goal this month is two-fold. (1) No reality TV outside a few pre-determined shows we like to watch (Project Runway, Top Chef and maybe one or two others I’m forgetting at this time). You see, when we’re bored, we turn on the TV. And when there’s nothing on we want to watch, we flip to our favorite HGTV and TLC shows … House Hunters, Moving Up, What Not to Wear, etc. We don’t need to watch those shows. We can read. We can listen to music. We can spend time with each other. Part 1 of this goal is to make us smarter about what we watch on TV. (2) Turn off the TV one night a week. It’s taking part 1 another step further. We can cook a more complicated meal. Listen to music. Dance. Read. Paint. There are plenty of things to do without the TV on and our goal is to make better use of our time. Care to join me?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:31 am
Back in the day when I first lost all my weight, the one goal that I was always able to maintain was giving up take-out and fast food. I did allow myself to eat Subway sandwiches and get a chicken breast sandwich from a fast food hut if I was just out and stuck for time but in general, I gave it up. To this day, it is hard for me to eat fast food. My trek across the country left my stomach sick for days because I ate so much of it and wasn’t used to it. Anyway, this is my way of saying that I agree that it’s really easy to do…easier than people think.
Go you with your new goals too! I’m a big ole TV Whore and I actually cut about 50% of my shows this season as well. I’m tired of using TV as my way to escape my life.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:02 am
I’m impressed with your dedication to each of these challenges. Great job!
But, I have to be honest. I’m REALLY impressed with your September goal of no reality tv. That is one of those guiltly pleasures that I would think many people would be hard-pressed to give up.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:15 am
I am impressed with challenge. That would be hard for me. My Tivo and I have a very co-dependent relationship. And when I am bored I put on QVC (I guess like your HGTV). I end up buying crap that I don’t need -- or even want.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:21 am
i love that you are honest about what you have actually accomplished and that you have a log (that being your blog)as to what you’ve done and not.
i definitely have put my tv thing on hold, however, i think that when the Biggest Loser starts up in a couple weeks, i’m going to make that a definite TV night…oh, that and survivor…oh, and if they come back with The Mole…
September 1st, 2009 at 7:52 am
First off, please know that I will be keeping your friend in my thoughts and prayers.
Secondly, you are doing so well at your goals. I love how you break them up into month by month and I’ve started breaking my own goald up this way as well. They seem much less daunting.
Thirdly, giving up TV is so much easier than you think. I used to be a complete tv junkie. Now I rarely watch it at all. Instead I prefer to read, play with the dog, talk to a friend on the phone, or write letters to friends (which reminds me, can you please email me your address). Once you cut out TV you almost don’t want to go back to watching.
September 1st, 2009 at 8:04 am
You know I’m sending up prayers for your coworker’s family, friends, and you.
September 1st, 2009 at 8:06 am
I am so sorry to hear about yoru friend and his fight with cancer. I will keep him and his family in my thoughts during this rough time.
You are really making some great progress as you move towards accomplishing your goals. I gave up soda in May only drank a few cans here and there on our honeymoon. But I could not finish them! I am going to continute to drink more water and see how it all goes.
A TV challenge, I am a tv junkie at times. Sometimes it is more for the noise over content. I will try and limit my viewing by a few hours each day.
Good luck!
September 1st, 2009 at 8:48 am
Reading every day. That is my one true luxury.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:36 am
Positive vibes and prayers headed your friend’s way.
*********
Look at you go with your goals! All very good things to be proud of indeed. I’m proud to say I read almost every single day of the week as of late. The trick for me is finding a book that really grips/grabs me and then sitting on the couch/bed/patio and ignoring everything else around me.
I have never really been into reality TV shows except when I was in college so that’s not really an issue for me. I could probably ease up on my movie/series watching here and there. (Currently plowing through season 5 of Weeds) though in reality I don’t think I watch more than an hour, maybe 90 minutes of TV if I’m watching it, and that’s not an everyday thing. I will see if I can get Irish to agree to once a week no TV =)
Great goals & inspiration, as always.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:55 am
im very sorry to hear about your former co-worker. i will for sure keep him and his family in my prayers.
you are doing so wonderfully on your monthly goals! and i love your one for this month! good luck!
September 1st, 2009 at 10:09 am
You are doing awesome! I’m so impressed. Also, I have only very recently discovered the joys of HGTV. I don’t think I’m quite ready to give it up yet. But good luck!
September 1st, 2009 at 10:16 am
The longer your list gets the more I am baffled by your progress…this is astonishing! And inspiring! And makes me kind of want to take a nap.
Your co-worker and his family will be in my thoughts today.
xox
September 1st, 2009 at 11:14 am
Good thoughts, vibes and hugs being sent your friend’s way.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:38 am
1.) Glad to see that you know how to both give yourself praise when deserved and also challenge yourself at the same time! I think we as humans (or maybe it’s just me) tend to be too hard on ourselves! We need to be our own #1 fans!
2.) I really like your last goal about the TV -- esp in terms of monitoring what you watch (cause there is SO much out there) and also turning the tube off at least one night a week. When we are home together, one of our favorite pastimes is to sit on our big red chair and watch TV together. Last night, however, I was so busy making Etsy orders and finally writing on my own blog that I didn’t even get a chance to watch tv -- and I went to sleep a happier lady! It’s amazing what a difference it makes!
3.) Your co-worker is in my prayers!
September 1st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Nice work!!! You’re doing a great job.
Andy and I don’t even have cable and yet we still manage to waste a lot of time watching shows on the internet or DVDs we get from Netflix. But we do like to take a night or two here and there and do art projects together (we picked up a couple of blank canvases from Michaels arts and crafts store last night for dirt cheap!) or go for a walk around town and end up at the book store or some other random spot.
I’ll be keeping your co-worker and his family in my thoughts.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I like this one night a week no tv thing. I’m jumping on that! I complain (to myself) that I don’t have time to do the creative things I want but then spend the night parked on the couch watching dvr’d shows. Uh, DUH! I haven’t made jewelry, sketched or crafted in months. It’s time to focus back on that.
I’m so proud of all the progress you are making!
(Holding good thoughts for your friend. I’m so sorry.)
September 1st, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I joined that challenge long ago, as you probably know. We don’t get cable or network TV. DVDs only. And those are few and far between as well as chosen wisely.
It is certainly possible to live without TV. It is better (for us) to live without TV. I hope it is better for our kids to live without TV. I DO listen to more NPR to keep updated on the latest happenings in the world.
Good luck and hope it is a great success.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:49 pm
well of course I totally understand what you’re thinking in regards to your co-worker. My thoughts are with him and his family.
Really good work on your challenges. I’m not sure I could handle your latest challenge though. :) Not having cable, it’s been a pretty dry summer. I do only seem to watch at night though, and as you know, it’s not like I’m lacking exercise, so it’s kind of a guilty pleasure for me. Although I probably should read more. :)
September 1st, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Good for you! These posts always inspire me, and tonight, Lucy and I went running. For the first time in as long as I can remember. And I didn’t feel like I wanted to die. So hooray for that and for you being awesome!
Keep it up, lady!
September 1st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I am awful at turning on the TV for no real purpose. Current evidence: America’s Got Talent is playing in the background. I don’t even GET the show, and yet I watch it because it’s background noise.
But you’re right…there’s so many more fulfilling things that could be happening!
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
I’m stealing your Read Daily and Write Weekly ones. These are things I keep MEANING to do, but haven’t committed to. Thanks for the inspiration! Well, you’re always inspiring… but thanks for these reminders this week!
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Sending positive thoughts and vibrations to your friend! My heart goes out to him, his family and of course you!
Also, congrats on all of your goals and accomplishments! Keep up the great work! :)
September 21st, 2009 at 11:21 am
I read your challenges and think how cool it is that you have these goals.
I’m reading each day, but still trying to finish the book that I started back when you talked about your reading goal. I’ve had way too many other distractions that have reduced how much I read each day. But the important part is that it’s been each day, which is good for this multi-tasking busy person.