Drumroll Please!

And the winners are..........

With the most points, Amber and Laura! Congratulations!! ;)

That leaves 3 prizes. Congratulations to all who were eligible for the drawing with at least 60% of the total possible points... Jimmy, Heidi, Robin, Twylla, Dave, Margaret, Molly, and Dora.

Witnesses and helpers........

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The winners of the drawing are..........
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The suspense is killing me!
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Dora, Molly, Margaret

YAY!!! Come get your $50 any time! (Or I will just bring it to you to church on Sunday....)

30 - David

Sad score :( but happy to have finished it.....somewhat.

57

70! And Free!!

I am so happy this is over, bittersweet really, but wow what an experience. I am so happy to not keep track, although I think I will still do so in my head for a while. I felt like a robot sometimes, counting and tracking my points. I treated myself to Chick-Fil-A yesterday and had the works! I also ate past eight last night and did not write in my journal. I feel crazy and it was only Monday, I never did those things on a Monday!!!
I do feel like a changed woman though and that is what I wanted from this experience. I look at food different now and I want to be healthy for so many reasons. Thanks Laura for doing this so we might change our lives and hopefully some of our new habits will be lasting ones!!!!

70!!!!

I took a victory lap around my house with my arms in the air on Sunday night. Jimmy laughed at me but I think he understands my happiness.

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I'm with everyone else; I am so happy to not have to think so much about everything anymore! No more stuffing my mouth with 10 baby carrots at 7:55p.m.!! No more exercising at 10:30 at night!!! Not that that happened very often, but enough that I'm happy to move on. :)

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I'm also so happy I did it again! I feel like I learn so much from trying to keep these 10 goals. Aside from having a whole slew of healthy eating ideas, my journal has never been kept better and my husband has no doubt how much I love him! He especially liked it when I said something nice yesterday and I didn't have to! "See? Now you know I've been telling the truth for the last 12 weeks!"

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CONGRATULATIONS again to everyone who made it!!!

62 and done

Well, I kind of bombed on Laura's last challenge (maybe my brain read that as "get your lowest score so far!") but other than that, I enjoyed the challenge. The best part was looking back and realizing the areas where I really did well (scripture study, journal, exercise, no soda or fast food). Many weeks I didn't even need a free point for them. It was great! I also made it a habit to drink more water and eat more fruits & veggies, so that was a plus.

As for the no sweets rule, that really killed me. I learned pretty early on that trying to have only one free day a week meant that I felt it necessary to stuff myself with every sweet thing I wanted because I knew I wouldn't get anything else for another week. Which meant I had a 3000 calorie day and went nuts with cravings the rest of the week. It worked a lot better when I could have one cookie out of the dozen I was making for class treats, or a small slice of cake at my brother-in-law's birthday without worrying about it. Since I already keep a food diary and I have been exercising like a madwoman, small treats every day were a much better way to keep my calorie intake even.

I enjoyed it, Laura, thanks for inviting us! (And now I'm going to enjoy not stressing about whether I should sacrifice my points for sleep or stay up and write in my journal!)

66 points

Whew, I'm glad this is over! It really wasn't that hard to do. But I got tired of worrying about that last glass of water, that second serving of fruit or vegetables, and was I sure I got everything accomplished that day. I think it was a good program and I plan to try to keep it going, just not worrying if I mess up once in a while.

52

I was hoping to do better this week, but I guess I was pretty burnt out. I am glad I did this challenge though, thank you Laura! I have made some good habits and changed my thinking so it was a really good thing for me.

40

I'm glad I did this challenge. I for sure had some good and bad weeks probably more bad then good but all in all I really liked it. I have written more in my journal these last 12 weeks then I have in the last 5 years and that I am grateful for.

40 points

David-41

45

ugh!

48

63

69 points

47

The last two weeks were especially bad. I will try to suck it up and finish strong this week!

50 points

Laura 70 Jimmy 54

Laura -I am ready and a little nervous for this to be over!!

Here's a site to mix up your workout a little...

Mix and Match Workout

45- David

50

This far in my motivation is really low. I am not getting quite enough sleep, I am indulging in the occasional sweet and diet d.p. I have lost 9 pounds since I started my bootcamp and I know that drinking lots of water and eating fruits and vegetables has helped a lot.

70-amber

I am alive!! And I will survive, well maybe for these last, longest, two weeks of my life. I need to do what I want when I want to, at least for a day or so. If I want to eat a bad chip, or drink juice loaded in sugar, then I will. If I want to watch HGTV for two hours then I will. If I want to, I don't know something then I will!!!!!!!!!! I am on countdown... Breathe, ok I am better. :)

I want Halloween Candy!!!!!! Help!! 2 more weeks. 2 more weeks. 2 more weeks. 2 more weeks. 2 more weeks...........

69 points for week 10

61

58

ugh. just happy I did my drill today, is it almost over, NEVER OVER, :D

Laura 70, Jimmy 60

Jimmy - Soda bad. Very bad. Ice Cream.... no comment.

Laura - 70!!!!!!! Two weeks to go!!!!!!

57

I like soda to much

56

first time ever!

This is the first year ever that Halloween candy has not been open before trick or treating!! Wow!!

oh, my, I have not been login in

62
65
53
oh well..

51

Worst ever! I'm okay with it. I am focusing on cutting calories and I usually have to have a diet drink to help me. I still have a hard time getting quite enough sleep. I can do better this week.

70 & 49

Amber- 70 Thank you for the free point this week, I am so excited!! Three weeks and I can be free!!!!!!!!!!!! Although I am nervous to see what happens when I don't have to report to anyone but me?

David- 49

Laura 70, Jimmy 62

Laura - I feel like the Little Engine that Could right now.... "I think I can, I think I can, I think can..."

65

56

I need to remotivate myself.

69 points

60

Wow, lowest week yet. This week my lack of sleep killed me. Not enough sleep = needing caffeine to make it through the day + something sweet to soothe my nerves when they are shot by evening. Not a good combination!!! Hopefully I will do better this week.

70 & 56

Amber- I also am needing new snack ideas. A few I have been having is crackers and hummus, string cheese, pistachios, almonds and cranberries, peanut butter and celery. I am so excited to be on the tail end of this challenge, although I have loved it. Actually I feel like I have a love hate relationship with it!!! Getting on the scale does not show much of a difference from when I started, but I am realizing that my clothes are fitting different. I have decided to not look at the scale, just how I feel and how my clothes are fitting.

David- 56

HELP! I need new snack ideas!!

I am tired of almonds and craisins and raisins and peanut butter on toast and peanut butter on anything else. Anything you have tried and love?

48

60

Laura makes us all look bad. Sometimes I use diet soda to get past a sweet craving. I think I've decided it's the lesser of two evils for me. I lost a couple points for sleep (waking up at 5 am is killing me) and a couple for missing a serving of veggies. If I take anything from this it will be that I am so much more consistant in my scripture reading and I'm happy about that.

62

soda is killing me

69 points week 8

64

Getting close to the end! I've formed some good habits that I think will stay with me. Now if I could just make it second nature to appreciate my poor husband!

Laura 70, Jimmy 64

Jimmy - The week was going smoooth, then I hit a roadblock I like to call M A T H which consumed the last 2 days of the week and 48 hours of my life!!


Laura - Doing the challenge and being a missionary is messing just a little with my head!! I'm on GOAL overload!!! (For those that don't know, 30 families in our ward were called to be missionaries for a month. Along with focusing more on sharing the gospel we can't watch T.V. or other entertainment oriented things....) (Plus I'm also stressing a little about Jimmy's math class!) But I CAN DO IT!

Encouraging Words

I'm running out of my own motivational words, so I googled "words of encouragement" and this is what I found...

"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to
invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and
appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: 'And
this, too, shall pass away.'"~ Abraham Lincoln

HA!! I love it. I feel like those are the perfect words for me right now. FIVE more weeks friends and "this, too, shall pass." :)

70 & 49

Amber- This week was hard with going out of town and still getting over being sick. I think this is hard to be around people who are not doing it and try to get them to see why you wouldn't eat whatever you want on a "girls weekend". It was a challenge to not annoy people by saying no I can't eat that or it's too late to eat anymore, or yes I have to be writing in my journal right now!

David- 49

58

62

66 points for week 7

67

67

worst week yet, I got sick and had to use my sick days at the begining of the week and it just snowballed from there.

70

Not a bad week. Except for the odd concoction Jimmy and I tried to make today with sugar free fudgecicles to satisfy our chocolate craving..... I guess it worked so all is well.

64

Trying to stay steady. I started off using all my freebies on Monday and I knew it wasn't going to be a strong week.

I am having major back surgery in two weeks. I have 12 wks. of recovery and feel that this challenge has gone right out the door for me. However, I'm ok with that and will begin one here in my neck of the woods probably beginning in Jan.. Laura I will be contacting you to get all the info I need to start one up (be patient with me - I'm a slow learner). I have learned a lot about myself in doing this challenge and have managed to lose 10 lbs. so all is not lost! Thanks Laura and Amber for everything you do and continue to work hard and WIN!!!!!! Michele

61 & 65

Laura I don't think I posted the one b/4 this... so here it is...

70&55

Amber- 70 I had to use my first sick day and it was a struggle not to use more. I wish a sick day was a total sick day- a milkshake always sounds good after two days of sleeping and little eating!! I will not give in though and I will keep fighting!!

Davie- 55

60 pts.

I have been slacking a little. I've caught the geneology bug and forget to eat and just grab snacks.

week 6 - 70 points

68

70

Bring on the second half..... I've already used my sweet free day this week..............

64

Boot camp kicked my butt and I got all my exercise points, but on the other hand it starts at 5:30 so I ended up missing several sleep points.

66

Best week yet thanks to Free Sunday:)

69

I was looking at my journal and noticed somehow I missed two days last week, so I am taking off a point this week for last week. Man last week was a really hard week for me. Oh well, we get a free day today, and the next six weeks will be better :)

67

Happy Free Day!

70 & 63

Amber-70 I am still dreaming about points and forgetting something, I am so happy to have a free day on Sunday- I can relax!!

David- 63

66

63

70

Crazy hard week trying to keep my points! I'm looking forward to a break on Sunday too!

69

soooo mad at myself! Friday night I pulled out an apple to eat and got distracted. Went and put my kids to bed got on computer to do school work then realized I hadn't eaten my apple so went and ate it. That's when I realized that it was after eight :( I had already used that point earlier in the week. So mad at myself for losing the point.

67

I've had to modify my strategy a little bit, so my points will probably be a little lower each week. (I do better keeping to my general diet changes if I allow myself a couple of days of small treat portions instead of just one.) Whatever works to keep the weight coming off....

68 points week 5

57 pts.

Can't complain.......i've lost 10 lbs.. It's new outfit time!!!

63 points

I start bootcamp tomorrow, so that should mean I won't be missing anymore exercise points! Can't wait for next Sunday.

WooHoo!

I've officially lost 40 lbs (off my prepregnancy weight)!!! Granted, it's taken me a lot longer than five weeks, but still. . . if I can do it, there's hope for anyone!

48...

bummer :(

70 points

65 Austyn and Neely Both

Okay..... How do I kick the Pepsi habit????? I almost got one again today, but stopped myself. I don't have much self-control, though, so I don't know how long I can keep that up.... :-) I'm craving even now, as I'm writing this....... Water isn't cutting it for me!!!

70

Rough week. I had to use all my free points in every catergory and it took my until 11:59 last night, but I did it.

59

Bad week. No excuses. I promise I'll do better this week. I did finish a skirt I was making for my little girl that I should've done a couple weeks ago, so that was a plus.

70 & 50

Amber- I got my free point by doing some projects Zoe's teacher sent home for me to do. I also went through my girl's school keepsake books to organize and keep just a few things.

David- Knocked down this week, but not out of it, and coming back strong!!! I did some projects around the house Amber has been kindly reminding me of many times:)

54 pts

Tough week.

53

:(

70

I got my free point by finally writing my letters to my insurance company. I have had this on my list of things to do for over 2months. So yea finally done.

69

I earned the free point by cleaning out my tupperware stash and tossing all the stuff that didn't have lids anymore, or lids without the bottom, that kind of stuff. I've been meaning to do that forever! Thanks for giving me some good motivation to do it! (The cake was very yummy. . . .)

70 points

Who used their free point this week? What did you do? I was happy to finally put that stuff in the box my mom gave me away. :)

Austyn and Neely= 60 points each week 3

EEEKKK!!!! That's what going out of town does to us, I guess!!!!! ;-) This week WILL be better!!!

I don't get any points this week

I forgot to keep track this past week. I will be honest, I can't keep up with this. I figure I just added my 10 bucks to the pot for who ever wins the challenge. Between my family life, with 4 kids, working full time and going to school full time, I am seriously exhausted. I am doing great to get my 2 workouts in per week. Geesh!!

48... booo hooo..

oh well, least still in it...
HAHA I like Margarets comments

Week 2&3 combo Holly (132) Jon (138)

ACK !! Didn't post week two and here is week three .... The biggest challenge for use was travelling with family to see family ... Cram 7 plus a dog into the Tahoe and add all the snack foods and soda .... let me tell you, sitting in the middle seat in the middle row is NOT where you want to be ... especially with soda drinkers on either side of you. LOL BUT, I'm happy to say I've not had a sip o' soda since the start of the challenge. I'm not freaking out every day like I thought I would, but there are days when I really, really, want it. I don't dare have one on the free days, because I'm not sure I'll be able to "get back on the wagon" LOL Surely I'm not soda-free for life, but it's been good for me to see that I can actually do it. Saturday we were running all day and stopped for lunch, I nearly caved and then thought, good heavens. If I start now, the last 3 weeks of "cold turkey" will have been in vain. (I know, my mind is WACK)

While we lost some points while on the road, overall, I'm still happy about what we've done. My head's been focused on less snacking and eating better foods. (I'd never considered almonds great road trip food, but hey...) And I'm happy about our routine of scriptures/journaling which we tend to do more together than independently as we previously did. Jon had vacation time before he started at the new practice ... this week has proven a bit more challenging as far as getting my workout in...now that he's back to work, I'm finding myself busy with other project and having to remind myself about the workout. LOL But, passing that chart on the fridge helps. I would like to say that I did think think I'd see better results by this point, but I'll be patient. At least it's doing something for my head. LOL

OK ... this is much too long a post ... about something that mean nothing to anyone else by me ... but it's been awhile since I've taken time to log on. Thank you for your patience. ha..ha...

Hope everyone is doing well and keepup the good work!!

Holly week 2 65

week 3 67

Jon week 2 68

week 3 70

Free Bootcamp

If any of you guys are in Mesa, Chandler, or Scottsdale, I found an ad for a free 4 week bootcamp. They have women only in the early morning and co-ed in the evenings. I am signed up for the east mesa 5:30 am bootcamp that starts the 28th of this month. Anyone that wants to check it out, here is the link.
http://www.freefitcamp.com/

Linderholm's 70 & 68

Amber- 70 This week was better than last week. I have started to dream about food, I woke up thinking was it a dream or did I really eat that Dairy Queen Mr. Misty float!!! It is so funny to be worried all the time I might have forgot to do something off the list, I am always re-checking to make sure it was done!! This is crazy but good!!!

David- 68

55

Oops...not so good this last week.

70 points

I have had a thought. Since I am probably twice as old as most of you, shouldn't my points be worth twice as much?

67 Points week 3

Still not perfect, but my best so far. I'm getting there. And I have a quilt that I need to finish for my baby's 1st birthday this week. That should get me my extra point! Wahoo.

43

Week 3 was bad for me I was in California visiting my sisters hopefully week 4 will be better :)

65 pts.

Wow.....what a week! I am so "down" with this challenge and I don't mean a depressed "down". I know, I'm too old to be this cool! I sincerely mean it when I say this challenge has changed the last 3 wks. of my life. The scripture reading alone has been a boost to my day! 7 lbs. and counting!!!!!!! Hey James and Jamie......it looks like your ole' Mom is gettin' the best of you.....watcha gonna do about it? I know how much James hates to loose but can you imagine loosing to your MIL?!

Week 3-Twylla 70

I am really missing my soda, I am definitly going to get the extra point this week just so I can have an extra day of soda.

69

I broke my perfect streak because I forgot to appreciate my husband a couple of times this week. Poor Terence!!

Week 3.... Laura 70 Jimmy 70

Jimmy's about to crack, but I'm keepin' him strong!!! Bring on another week!

64 Week 2 (Neely)

Rough week!!! I hope this starts getting easier!

65 Week 2 (Austyn)

Seriously?

I am so frustrated to see the same number on the scale week after week. I am exercising 4 days a week,(still trying to work up to 6) I have cut down on sweets, soda, fast food, junk food, and I am eating more fruits and veggies and not eating after 8pm. I am drinking more water and I am seeing nothing from it. It makes me want to cry. And then it makes me actually cry. Like last night when I was jogging and the last two laps I was fighting tears and a huge lump in my throat. I finished my 2 miles (which is still pretty hard for me) and I broke down. The tears and the gasping. Luckily Kathi is really sweet and didn't slap me and tell me to snap out of it. I'm just sick of being fat and I'm really frustrated.

Chip Cravings

I had a horrible craving for chips yesterday. I had this yummy (healthy) homemade salsa and nothing to eat it with. So I found a solution, if anyone else is interested:

Take a couple of corn tortillas and cut them into wedges with a pizza cutter. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray and lay out the tortilla wedges in a single layer. Spray the top of the tortillas with more nonstick spray. Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for about 5 minutes. Presto! Homemade tortilla chips with no fat and very little sodium!

WOO HOO!!!!!!!

I got ALL 10 points yesterday!!!!!! This is really hard for me! I started eating more when I got preggers with Colby, and apparently haven't stopped, so yesterday was a REALLY good day for me! I'm patting myself on the back. Now, let's see how long it lasts....................;)

51

Twylla 70

Week two was hard! I really miss my soda.

Jimmy 70, Laura 70

The second week was not as hard as I thought it would be, except that I wanted ice cream on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Then when the craving became so strong I would take off my shirt and look in the mirror and say to myself, "Jimmy, ice cream has been bad to you." -Jimmy

Week 2 = harder than week 1!! -Laura

70 Amber & 69 David

This week was harder, I knew what to expect and knew it was going to be hard. It is a mental battle that is for sure. It helps to have others around you doing it so you can empathize with one another. Amber

I am stuck on 69 and can't quite get over it. So from now on I will be giving myself full credit and adjusting the challenge points to make 69 the maximum points possible!!!! This can apply for everyone if you want. David

extra credit points for baby week

I think i should get extra credit points on the days i was in the hospital with baby # 4 and a little break on the day she was born cause its a new born birthday, right?

Week one points

70
Isaac

Jamie 52, 37 James 56, 48 Our struggles with perfection

So we're a little late reporting our points but here goes....

Jamie week #1 - 52

James week #1 - 56

Jamie week #2 - 37

James week #2 - 48

Wow this challenge is hard. I'm doing good with most of it but the lack of journal writing and 2 veggies a day is killing my points. Maybe we should get extra points if we exercise longer than 30 minutes a day....that offsets the sweet and soda right? James

I officially suck with sweets and soda. Planning on doing better on week 3. Anyone need a workout partner? Jamie

62

Yeah...another week done. Not as good as last week, but that's okay, right? I'm still feeling really good about it :)

60

This has been an awesome challenge for me! I may not win, but in three weeks time I have noticed a difference in my clothes as well as a 6 lb. loss. More than anything, it makes me stop and think of what's important in my life and to take care of myself more. I wasn't feeling well WED & THURS. so I was able to account for 3 sick pts. Thanks Laura for the challenge!!!!!!!

63 points

I wanted to do better than last week, but I had a hard time over the weekend. I still only worked out 4 days again! Anyway, I guess we just keep on chuggin'. For anyone who has a hard time with veggies like me, this week I tried bountifulbaskets.org and got a huge amount of produce for a very reasonable price. They have locations all around AZ and UT. Check it out.

70 again! Hooray!!

This week was harder. I had to use nearly all my freebie points, but still I made it. Whew!

Bing Bong Bing, 58 for me please.. ahhhhh

Hey Margaret,, lazy? ... you did great. I will do better this week.

58

well I wanted to do better this week thenI did last week but that didnt go so well. my husband has been out of town for a month and was able to fly home for 4 days this last week he left again tonight. So hopefully I will do better next week.

69

Week 2 seemed a little harder. I'm probably getting lazier.

Ahhhh!!! D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R

We took an impromptu overnight to Sedona ... Flagstaff ... Prescott and came home thru Phoenix, which turned into an overnight with my folks ... which has turned into a weekend in San Diego with the fam. Normally tons of fun, however .... Can I just say NOOOOO We have a challenge to do!!!!! LOL

So I've totally had to slack with the exercise routine - I don't think the pool really counts as a workout. But you do have to swim with kids attached to you. LOL Did do a hike in Oak Creek (had the dog who was banned from the water. so we hit the trails while Jon and the boys enjoyed the H2O) Still no soda - but please, how many FF salads can one person stand!!!! Calgon ..... So, needless to say - with every meal on the road - the whole FF point thing is out the window.

On the flip side, we've traveled with scriptures and journals and I still can't believe we've survived road trips without soda ... scratch that. without caffeine. (Really? Not one Mr Dew to stay awake and punchy? Amaza-za-za-zing!)

So, there you have it - we'll be back late Monday or early Tuesday so we'll be tardy in posting our points, but now that I write it out, it's not looking quite so doom and gloom. And ha..ha...

Missed checking out your posts though - See you all next week.

(on a side note Laura & Amber ... if you don't see Ian on Tues, you'll know where we are, but I'm pretty sure we'll be back in time. :) And L, did you get the little "gift" in your door the other day? Just want to be sure it was found. )

We're Going on Vacation

And I am nervous! I can tell many of you are going to put up a fight for the prize and it is going to be hard to keep all our points while we're relaxing in Pinetop! But we will try! Wish us luck!

another sugary question

Heidi brought up a good point. She is going to be doing a TRIATHLON soon (GO HEIDI), and it is suggested that she has power bars and Gatorade to help her with her intense training. When I started doing this challenge last time I stopped having that stuff because of all of the sugar, but I'm sure I wasn't working out quite as vigorously as someone training for a triathlon. Anyway I don't think she should lose points for something like that.

SO - in the end - we all might interpret the rules differently. Just be as honest with yourself and us as you can. If you have any questions feel free to ask and I will certainly give you my opinion. Or you can post it on the blog and everyone can give you their 2 cents!

Why do I have nice neighbors?

So my neighbors brought us some cupcakes on Tuesday. I've been strong and I think my kids finally finished them off! I was really wanting some chocolate yesterday. I guess my instant breakfast will have to be my chocolate fix. Monday and Wednesday went jogging. Tuesday was a low energy day so I did yoga and today it was Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. There, can I count that as a journal entry? :)

40

Is it just me,, ok first 60 big ones for me please.. but no really

so its getting closer to that hour,, you know the dreaded 8pm curfew of sorts.... and then well I kind of go into "hey the world just might blow up tomorrow and well I need to eat b/4 its too late & its all over" and ok i dont eat the bad stuff,, but like the fruits, and yes V8 juice too.. well at times I must admit I almost thought about baking a cake or running to Safeway for a slice of some yummy chocolate cake.... don't worry I dont , my mind tells me "DO IT, JUst go NOW!!! then I come back to real world & I drink lots of H2O and go for bike ride, walk, shawdow box, dance anything to get that monkey off my back, Ha Ha, you bad monkey..... i hate that monkey.
;) keep up the good fight ya'll

Question/Answer

Robin posed some good questions. Here are the answers in case you have been wondering too. :)

So I am wondering about a few things. I know that bad fast food is out, but what about restaurants or crappy food at home. For example, grilling hamburgers at home okay, but not as fast food , right? And what about ordering a pizza or making one at home, is that considered fast food? What about a hot dog or slice at Costco/Sams, is that considered fast food?

Anything you buy already made would be considered fast food. So restaurants and Costco would be fast food. And, yes, you can grill hamburgers to have. There are really no restrictions to your meals other than "no sweets" (pancakes with syrup is out), but as for ME, I still try not to fry anything and stay away from mac and cheese. I suppose if I had it though, there would be no point to lose......

And the sweets thing, is that no sugar, because I haven’t been doing desserts or candy, but what about honey on a sandwich or snacking on animal crackers or granola bars, those have sugar, but I don’t consider them sweets. I just want to make sure I am doing the right stuff.

I consider "sweets" anything sugary. Animal crackers and most granola bars are usually pretty sugary and would also fall under "no unhealthy snacks". When in doubt check out the label. How many calories and grams of sugar does it have? You don't have to cut it out completely completely, but make sure it's more health and little sugar. I don't have a problem at all with honey if used in reasonable portions. Honey, Peanut Butter, and sliced bananas on a slice of whole wheat toast is delicious!

healthy snack ideas

*pistachios or almonds
*rice crackers (oriental mix)
*savory thin mini crackers from Trader Joe's
*protein shakes, (sometimes just protein & water)
*string cheese
*apple w/ some peanut butter
*ants on a log (celery, pb, raisins)
*hummus and pitas
*string cheese
*cottage cheese
*try fruit you don't usually buy
*1/4 cup cottage cheese (low fat)
1/4 cup pineapple, diced
1/4 cup grapes
1 teaspoon slivered almonds
*1/4 cup craisins and/or raisins and a small handful of slivered almonds mixed

protein shakes

Peanut Butter/Banana/Chocolate Shake
(I still haven't tried this one, but looks good...)
1/2 c milk
Ice cubes
1/2 med. ripe banana
2 tsp. peanut butter
2 tsp. cocoa powder
10 gr. (1/2 scoop) protein powder
Blend together.

194 cal
15 gr. protein
6 gr. fat
20 gr. carbohydrate
From The Formula cookbook

Blueberry-Banana-Spinach Protein Shake
sooooo good...
1 c. skim milk
1 c. frozen blueberries
1/2 frozen banana [or fresh]
1 tbs. flaxseed [grounded]
1-2 c. fresh spinach *can't even taste it
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
ice if needed
*place in blender and whala! this makes a large serving.

calories: 412
carbs: 53
fat: 8g. [*most of which is good fat from the flaxseed]
protein: 37g.

Neely=65

Wahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! We are both sad we lost points last week, but Austyn told me from the beginning it was never about winning, it was about him feeling better! I totally agree (although the money would have been nice.... doubt it's possible now!!!!)

However, both of our point losses were NOT for soda or fast food!!!!! YAY!!! (Although, Austyn went a little crazy with soda on his free day... is there a number you can go over, or is it just a free for all the whole day? He totally threw away all the good he did the whole week on that one day!!!)

Okay, any good ideas to get motivated to exercise???????????????

Austyn=64

70 points for Holly & Jon Russell

OK .... if you can get credit for unused "free points" then I woulds actually have 74 and Jon 78 ... I thought about using the free points for Soda, but I am still standing a week later ... and No Soda. Seriously, the last time I knocked off the soda it was with the help of morphine. LOL I had fully expected to sacrifice a point each day to soda but after going this far, I'm hoping I can keep it at bay. Not sure it will be so easy to stay off it once I get a taste of that carbonated bliss!!

I'm surprised at how easy the week was ... OK not easy, but surprised it hasn't been as horrible as I anticipated. And I'm proud of myself for not using all my freebie points. (I'm sure many of you didn't use yours either ... but seriously, I'm a mess. HA) Thought about posting my uber-sexy "before" photo" to shame myself into compliance, but thankfully, I haven't downloaded it them yet. LOL (trust me it puts the My Biggest Loser folks to shame. ugh...)

It's been really great to have Jon doing it too - takes a bit of the edge off and it's nice to compare and remind each other to grab another F&V or workout together. A nice bonus! The best part has been Ian joining me each day to exercise. He'll holler from the other room when he hears the music starting, "Don't exercise without me!!" and come running in. He prefers the YBB Latin Flavor and is not a fan of one particular Yoga Vid. ha..ha I love when he sits on the floor in the "easy pose" with his hands in prayer position and asks. "can I open my eyes yet?"

Thanks to everyone for you posts, I love reading them and am so thrilled we're doing this! Here's to a Successful Week 2!!

65 Points

I loved this week :) I feel really good about the challenge...hopefully this week is even better!

54 pts.

1st week was a little bit of a struggle for me. Plan on doing better this week!

60

week 2 here I come.

70

I so needed this challenege. I didn't realize how little water I drink.

68

If it weren't for the free points I would have done worse, but we were traveling and its hard to get a good nights rest with a 5 month old. There should be some kind of free credit for mom's with babies who don't sleep through the night. Wahhh...wahh..wahh.. I know, "no complaining". I'm just saying...

Whats also weird to me is that is hasn't been as hard for me to cut out sweets as I thought it would be. That is my only down fall. The other things are like writing in my journal, and the whole vegee thing. I didn't realize how horrible I am at NOT eating vegees.

70 Points

Week one accomplished! With the help of the FREEBIE'S I was able to get 70. Hardest night was the last night of the week when we were going home from Stake Priesthood meeting and everyone was talking about their favorite steak places, and Popeye's chicken and other foods. Lets just say if it was not the sabbath, I might have broke down. But due to my Awesomeness and Attractiveness, I stayed strong.

36 and embarassed

This is not as easy as I thought. I am pretty junky as far as eating and other habits. I am here to make everyone else look good......yeah thats it. Good job everyone.

70 for Justin and 70 for Kristin

this week has been so good. the first couple of days were hard to adjust for me and my cherry coke ... i had major withdrawls. justin did good without his daily FULL-THROTTLE. we are seriously focused and are ready to win this thing!!

69

I am posting tonight for my sleeping husband- he got 69 points and I am so proud of him!!!! Seriously him and soda have been like "going out" and I have been trying to break them up for a while, and this just might do it!!!!!!!!!!! Good job!!!

70!!

Had to use 3 free points. I made the mistake of making strawberry ice cream for the young men and couldn't pass it up. Then I forgot my journal on the first day and didn't exercise today.

70

I got my 70!!!! It was difficult at times, but what a good feeling to be done with week one. It's the little things with me that I struggle with. This is going to be interesting and I am excited for week two. What is everyone eating for a snack? Any good ideas?? Good luck, well mostly...:)

70!!

One week down! I made it, but thank goodness for one freebie in each category. (I had my field day today. It was nice to eat some cookies.) Bring on week 2!!!

66 Points- Boo

I am pretty disappointed. I really thought with the free points I could do the full 70 points. I am pretty sure there are some people that will pull off a perfect score and so I feel like I have already blown my chances of winning, which is a huge bummer to say the least. I guess now it's just about remembering why I decided to do this in the first place. It wasn't just to win. I want to change my habits. I want to do better in all of these areas. I know that my wellness is important and that these are things that I want to do consistantly. So let's hope I can do better next time and not give up.
On the upside, I am seeing my habits change already. I am not craving coke as much as I thought I would and my muscles are sore. In a good way.
So, party on Garth.

70 - BAM!

I know the day is not over, but I'm anticipating getting the rest of my points for today.... :D SO, it's really interesting having so many people around me doing the same thing this time around. I feel like there are eyes watching me everywhere!! (...and I'm watching you tooo...) It's fun though having so many people to talk to it about and I love your comments on the blog.

Jamba Juice

Okay, so I'm taking a Nutrition Class online (perfect timing!!!). Anyway, in the end of the book it has nutritional info for pretty much EVERYTHING. Jamba Juice is in here with its most popular stuff; everything is pretty much loaded with carbs (aka, sugar in this case). Really, the only things not are 16 oz of Carrot Juice with 23 carbs (but that is pretty much where all the calories come from, 92 of the 100 calories are from carbs) and 1 oz of freshly squeezed wheat grass juice only has 1 carb and 5 calories...... Yummy!!! ;-)

(If anyone needs nutritional info, let me know. I probably have it in my book.)

In conclusion, Jamba Juice DEFINITELY counts as sugar..... WAHHHH!!!!


As a side note, I almost had a heart attack in Fry's yesterday when I saw that their 12 cans of Pepsi were $1.97, and a 2-liter was $0.59. I almost got some just to have for my free day (which was yesterday for soda, and NO Pepsi ever tasted so good!!! Were they always that sweet, though?) but I didn't, seeing as how I am a weak little girl and wouldn't be able to help myself. Walking away from that isle, though, was almost as difficult as leaving Tyler with a babysitter for the first time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 more days!!

JUST TWO MORE DAYS OF WEEK ONE!!! YAY! One week at a time, right? I'm curious to know how everyone's doing. And I'm excited for tomorrow!!!! It's my designated sweet free day. A shake at sonic or the rest of the chocolate chip ice cream? ....hmmm. I should probably finish the ice cream so it will stop screaming at me every time I open the freezer... along with the m & m's and snickers... thanks melanie. :)

me and the bar

nikki --- i was in alaska at this cool bar. i was donating a dollar to the childrens miracle network and i was ready to get on the bar and break into coyote ugly style!! i was also a blonde ... which i miss. we are now at 60 points this week. we are not letting down girlie!! :) BRING IT ON BABE!

I realize that I used to take a lot of little extra bites during the day of something. Especially when making my kids a snack. I find myself thinking about having a little and a voice going, "NO, NO, you can't, you'll lose a point"!!!!!!!!!!!! I think my kids are going to need to do this wellness challenge also! :)

My own body is betraying me!!!!!

Okay, so last night on the way home from my class, my body was SCREAMING at me to stop and get a Jamba Juice. It was almost 10:00, so I would have to break 2 rules..... So, I stepped on the gas and turned up the music so I couldn't hear my stomach crying....... This is going to be interesting!!!!! :-)

The Hardest Part

Why is that I'm having the hardest time expressing sincere admiration to my husband???? How can that possibly be harder than not eating junk food? (It's not that I don't appreciate him-- just making sure I tell him is awkward. Oh, and finding some time in the day when we're in the same room together is not so easy either. . . .)

get your game face on!

so guess what ??? we are at 40 points at the collier house so far this week! yeah boyeeeee!

I did it! For one day at least. .

I got all ten points yesterday. If I can keep it up. I will be taking all of your guys' money and going to buy me some new skinny clothes! Ha.

common confusion,Right?

My butt was wondering if anyone else was affected by the fruits and veggies, and all that water. So I am allowed to eat other stuff!! I just found out, better on the first day than in 12 weeks.

Okay, let's see how this goes!!!!!!!!! Have to get rid of Colby's YUMMY chocolate cake today! Wish me luck!

I think I can ... I think I can ...

So ... this morning, I poured the last half of a perfectly good 2-liter of diet coke down the drain. I didn't pass out. A good sign.

Weekly Habits Spreadsheet

ARE YOU READY?? WE START TOMORROW!!

I sent a spreadsheet via e mail to keep track of your points this week, but some couldn't open it. So HERE is a link to an online document. Print it out to use this week; then post your points for this week at the BEGINNING of next week! Ask if you have questions!

***

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!

Wellness Challenge

The Challenge begins Monday, August 24th. You must pay a contribution of $10 ($10.50 if by paypal to cover paypal fees) by August 22nd! This money will be used as prize money for the challenger(s) with the most points and a raffle or two for challengers who receive at least 60% of their points (complete an average of 6 of the 10 daily goals).

Once you've paid your dues, please e mail me at larsnponch@msn.com, a picture of you :) with a quote that is 90 characters or less... preferably one that has to do with why you're doing this challenge. I will add it to the side bar, which is where we will keep track of your points each week.

I will send everyone a chart to keep track of your points and more instructions the day before we start!

THE CHALLENGE

Each item is worth 1 point, with a possible 10 points per day

1. 7 hrs. of sleep (not necessarily consecutive - naps count too!)

2. 48 oz. of water

3. 30 minutes of exercise (not necessarily consecutive)

4. 2 servings of veggies, 2 servings of fruit

5. No soda, beer, wine, unhealthy snacks (ex: potato chips), or bad fast food (anything fried!)

6. No sweets. (Desserts, pastries, sugary snacks & cereals) * Sugar-Free alternatives are OK.

7. No eating after dinner/8pm

8. 15 min. of scripture reading (or spiritual text if you don't do scripture)

9. One journal entry (any length)

10. Express sincere appreciation, love or praise to your spouse (if single, to another person)

Note: You have one free point, PER CATEGORY, PER WEEK. One free point for exercise, one free point for soda/fast food/unhealthy snacks, one free point for sweets, etc. You do not have 10 free points to use however you choose -they are NOT interchangeable and if you choose not to use a free point in a category, it is gone at weeks end. You could also just choose to have one "free" day where all points are free (which is less confusing), but we are allowing for flexibility and success!

Exceptions: **You are excused from the sweet rule on YOUR BIRTHDAY. **You are allowed three sick days where you are excused (only) from exercising and eating veg/fruit/water [if you can’t eat/drink] This is ONLY to be used if you are indeed sick.