Only, this month, I’m not going to do that.

In protest, I’m writing on the last day of the month instead of the first. And there’s a reason to this. I have decided to bring this challenge to a close, so it’s fitting to write it as the month is coming to a close. Not because it wasn’t successful. But, in large part because it was. What have I achieved over the past seven months?

• I don’t drink nearly as much soda as I once did. Sure, I drink a Diet Coke here and there. But, going from needing 1-2 sodas a day to drinking them for the pleasure of the taste is a great accomplishment.
• My workouts are back on track. Despite a broken elbow, I spent the summer running and biking. I completed a half marathon in early August and have plans to run a 15K in early November. I’ve started taking yoga. And plan to increase my muscle tone in the coming months. I’m feeling good.
• I am eating better. I’ve been following the Jenny Craig diet for quite a few months, which has helped me reel in my portion control. Has limited how many sweets I eat. And has forced me to eat LOTS of vegetables, more than ever before! In the last five months, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve had take-out or delivery, virtually cutting it out of my life!
• I am reading more! Though I may not read fast, I have read two books over the past couple months. I just started a third. And I joined a book club.  Plus, I’ve been better about reading interesting articles from our New Yorker and Atlantic subscriptions. Just the other night, Sweets and I turned on some jazz music and sat reading. No TV. No games. Just us and the words in front of us.
• I wish I could say I’m watching less TV, but that’s just not the case. However, I’m trying to be more targeted in what I do choose to watch. And when the show I want to watch isn’t on, instead of flipping through the channels, I’ve been more likely to pick up a book or magazine instead.

Lifestyle changes to better my life. I’m not sticking to them all the time. But, they have become guiding principles to a better me. And while I think it’s good to continue to challenge myself, the real challenge is to continue this finely balanced act of feeling good about myself. I don’t need to quit the red meat. Or take 3 yoga classes a week. To feel good. To feel better than a prior time. To feel I’m back on track.

So, it’s with 100% sweetness that I bring this set of challenges to a close. I’m not wrapping them up and storing them away. Nope. I’m using them every day. And I’m going to continue to be a better me. Because that’s what counts. That was the whole point of taking on these challenges in the first place. Fine tuning and tweaking my life until I’m at that special place. Well, friends, I have arrived. And for once, I’m gonna stick around this party for a while.

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?

Improved Workouts
Started: March 1, 2009.
Goal: Workout three times during the week and once over the weekend.
Progress: While the fractured elbow kept me out of the gym, it hasn’t dampened my spirits. I remained committed to training for a half marathon, which included running 1-2 times during the week, a longer training run on the weekend and going on 30-60 minute walks in between. That half marathon? Was this past weekend. And while I didn’t run a personal record for my time, I did complete it. *Fist pumps air*
Plan: Consider maintaining training level to run another half marathon in the coming months
Grade: RELENTLESS!

No Diet Coke
Started: March 5, 2009.
Goal: Give up drinking Diet Coke and other sodas.
Progress: I slipped a couple times this month. And actually had a few Diet Cokes. Wah! But, I still consider it a success because I feel like I’ve kicked the habit. I didn’t need those Diet Cokes. I was just jonsing for some chocolate and opted for the soda instead. Something had to give, but I’m still focused on NOT drinking the carbonation going forward!
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 slipped up a couple times this month. Kind of went overboard with candy at work. I was amazed I didn’t gain weight those weeks. I still need to get better at skipping the candy bowl at work.
Grade: WORKING IT!

No Delivery
Started: May 1, 2009
Goal: No take-out or delivery food
Progress: With the great weather, we’ve been stoked to use the grill. I really don’t miss our take-out or delivery food. Though, we did order pizza once this  month, I didn’t need it (Sweets really wanted it, so I caved and let him!).
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 am reading more than I have in the past. And I think that’s the whole point was to get back on the reading wagon. I made a lot of progress towards finishing a book this month and continue to read our magazine subscriptions.
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: Dude, I rocked this one easily. This challenge was made for a girl like me. I used write letters all the time. And despite my bum elbow, I embraced writing this month! I started off with a thank you letter to our hosts in St. Louis (accompanied by sea salt and a cool container in which to store it). Then, I wrote fellow bloggers Sizzle and Marie and Alice and Busty to send some snail mail love. Next, I wrote a dear friend who is recuperating from a tough break-up (accompanied by a copy of This is Not the Life I Ordered). I also sent a thank you letter to my aunt and uncle, who gave us the gift certificate that allowed us to see John Legend and India Arie from the 10th row. From the looks of it, that’s seven letters in four weeks.
Grade: SUCCESS!

For the month of August, I’m going back to my personal health. Now that the half marathon has passed, I need a new physical fitness goal to keep me moving. In preparation for our upcoming trip to Montana (which will entail a lot of hiking), my August goal is to run or walk for an hour at least 4 times per week. Who’s with me?

]]> http://somispeaks.com/2009/08/04/challenge-6/feed/ 19 http://somispeaks.com/2009/07/01/challenge-5/ http://somispeaks.com/2009/07/01/challenge-5/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:36:12 +0000 SoMi's Nilsa http://somispeaks.com/?p=1091 It’s July 1 (where the heck did June go?!?). And that means it’s time to update you on my challenges as well as add one for the month of July!

Improved Workouts
Started: March 1, 2009.
Goal: Workout three times during the week and once over the weekend.
Progress: Up until I fractured my elbow, I was doing REALLY well. Training for yet another half marathon. Feeling great. And then, I spent a week knocked out from the pain and meds. Another week trying to catch-up. And then the last week walking, but not really working out.
Plan: Focus on walking up to 5x per week. If possible, begin running again. Do not give up on half marathon; there’s still time to train and complete the race!
Grade: STUNTED!

No Diet Coke
Started: March 5, 2009.
Goal: Give up drinking Diet Coke and other sodas.
Progress: ZERO Diet Cokes for almost 4 months. And unlike last month, where I drank Diet Sprite a few times each week, I have virtually stopped that habit, too. Over the course of this past month, I’ve had maybe 5 sodas total.
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: With the newly designed goal, I’ve done much better. Only slipped up at work a couple times. And when eating sweets not in the Jenny Craig plan, I have definitely used portion control in my favor.
Grade: IMPROVING!

No Delivery
Started: May 1, 2009
Goal: No take-out or delivery food
Progress: Now that we’ve been on the Jenny Craig plan for a while, we have no need to worry about take-out or delivery.
Plan: Stick to it!
Grade: SUCCESS!

Read Daily
Started: June 1, 2009
Goal: Read at least one magazine article or one book chapter every day.
Progress: This challenge was tough. I was really good for the first couple weeks and then got knocked around a bit with my elbow injury (I did a lot of sleeping that following week). I probably averaged reading 4-5 days per week instead of every day.
Plan: Keep at it. It’s a worthy goal and one I’d like to achieve each and every day!
Grade: MODERATE SUCCESS!

I can’t believe I keep adding new challenges while sticking to my old ones. This has been a great way to slowly make changes to my life … changes I’ve been thinking about for some time. In July, I’m going to continue with the non-health related challenges. This month, my goal is to write at least one hand-written note every week. This challenge doesn’t sound difficult. But, if you know me, you know I’m not one at a loss for words. My letters are often long and heart-felt. I put a lot of thought into what I write. In an attempt to unplug a little more, I will return to the hand-written letter. Now, if only I knew where to send that first card!

If you were to add your own challenge for the month of July, knowing that at the end of that month you could give it up or continue with it, what would it be?!

Improved Workouts
Started: March 1, 2009.
Goal: Workout three times during the week and once over the weekend.
Progress: I’m doing better than I was while I was sick. But, I’m still not back to where I want to be. I signed up to run a half marathon in August. The race is in Chicago. And I know a number of friends who have also signed up for the race. Training started a couple weeks ago … so far, so good.
Plan: Use half marathon training as a way to stay motivated. Use the improving weather to take my workouts outside!
Grade: IMPROVING!

No Diet Coke
Started: March 5, 2009.
Goal: Give up drinking Diet Coke and other sodas.
Progress: ZERO Diet Cokes for almost 3 months. I’m so proud of myself. This new Jenny Craig diet allows for diet sodas. So, I have upped my intake of Diet Sprite. But, I only have 1-2 per week. Max. And I’ve been needing less caffeine (via green tea) than I have in past months.
Plan: Keep at it!
Grade: SUCCESS!

No Sweets
Started: April 1, 2009
Goal: Give up eating all sweets.
Progress: Oh, I should just take this challenge off the table. I like sweets too darn much and it’s going to be awfully hard to get rid of them altogether. But, I don’t really grab candy out of the bowl at work anymore and do try to stick to what’s provided through the Jenny Craig diet.
Plan: Stick to the sweets allowed in the JC plan.
Grade: STATUS QUO!
[Editor's note: In June, this challenge will officially be reassigned as, Eat moderate amounts of sweets and no candy at work.]

No Delivery
Started: May 1, 2009
Goal: No take-out or delivery food
Progress: Finally, a challenge I can stick to! ha. Sweets and I did a fantabulous job this month at not ordering out. The only time we actually had take-out was when we went to his brother’s house for a birthday celebration. We can’t really tell the people providing us dinner that they have to cook.
Plan: Stick to it! We’re doing great so far!
Grade: PASS WITH FLYING COLORS

As you can tell, a lot of my challenges have been closely tied to my health. I have a few more related to my health, but I think I’m going to save them for future months. Instead, the challenge for June will be to read at least one magazine article or one book chapter every day. Sweets and I have discussed reading more. In fact, we have talked about turning off the TV at least one night a week to devote to reading. But, I want to do more than that. Here’s hoping my challenge this month will get me back on track with reading!

Who wants to join me in this (or any other) one-month challenge?!

Finally, a quick heads-up. In an attempt to find the right balance on my blog, I’m going to be writing password-protected posts from time to time. If you’d like the password, just shoot me a quick note in the Contact form (button in the side menu).  Thanks!