October Challenge Week One Results + Photo A Day Challenge

Weekly Results

I will be doing weekly results for my October Challenge (Tighter Belts and Even Tighter Wallet). I should have written about Monday, well, on Monday. I had a lot to write about this weekend, so I chose to cover that yesterday and delay results for a day. Anyway, here are the results

End of Week One (Oct. 8)

• Weight: 196.8 (I don't know how since I was actually "good" this time!)
• Goals (Highlighted parts tell whether I met the goal or not.)
• Lose two pounds a week (Didn't lose a darn thing!).
• Follow my eating plan wholeheartedly (I only had two slip small ups, so I'm happy with meeting this one).
• Walk at least 8,000 steps every day as part of the fall walking challenge at work (I only met this goal 5 days out of seven).
• Eat fast food/eat out only on weekends (I did this one! Yay for me!).
• Eat on plan meals at events and have a standard size amount of one dessert (I met this one too!).
• Don’t buy frivolous things this month and spend less time shopping on weekends scouting for good deals (I went shopping for things we needed. I did buy a $3 shirt for part of my Halloween costume, but this is as frivolous as it got. Yay again for me!).
• Focus on fitting into clothes I already have and not buy new clearance rack clothes to get by at the weight I am at the beginning of the month (I think I met this one since I only purchase one thing for my Halloween costume and not every day clothes).
• Blog more often and post weekly updates on this challenge (Another one bites the dust!).

 

October Photo a Day Challenge

 

I have skipped a couple of days in this challenge from The Lean Green Bean. I couldn't do day six even if I wanted to, because I'm in no shape to do a tabata workout. I'm going to skip ahead to 7, 8, and 9.

 

Day seven was go makeup free. I'm terrible about having to wear makeup to feel comfortable in public. I've had acne since I was nine and I think that plays a large part in it. In fact, I'm getting close to 30 and am still using prescription strength topical acne creams. My dermatologist says that my skin looks really great now, but I still don't completely feel it. Since I wasn't paying attention to the challenge, I by accident went makeup free that day. I didn't take a picture that day, so here is a picture of me post shower with no makeup.

 

 

Day eight was eat at least 3 different colors. That is easy enough, especially when I follow my eating plan. These photos aren't new by any means, but it shows that I eat 3 or more colors everyday.

 

 

 

Day nine (finally catching up) is to spend 15 minutes stretching. I need to do my shoulder/neck stretches on a daily basis again. My neck and shoulders are tight, but not to the point of pain yet. It is better to get back in the habit before I get stressed out and in pain. Here's a picture of me doing one of my stretches.

 

 

Burpees

Today is day four of the October Challenge (Tighter Belts and Even Tighter Wallet). Today has been one of those days that aren't necessarily bad, but just kind of off.

After work I stopped by Strack's and Walgreens. I needed to get some milk for the hubs (and ended up buying a doughnut and a diet Dr. Pepper which really weren't necessary), and I left my Operation Beautiful note from yesterday's photo a day challenge in the ladies room there.

Today's photo a day challenge is to do as many burpees as you can in a minute. Well, I've never done a burpee before and my knees just can't handle that much weight on them and getting up quickly. I tried a couple of them and got a picture of me mid-burpee.

And for some randomness... As I was writing this post, I turned around and saw Lilly sleeping on top of Boo and managed to snap a picture.

I don't know what it is with Lilly, but she loves to sleep on top of the other dogs.

Food for the Day:

Breakfast

Snack

Snack

With some string cheese.

Lunch

With an applesauce instead of a cookie.

Snack

Dinner

Snack

Exercise: getting in 8,000 steps- I'm feeling a little better today, but am still tired after work to do much else.

Good News

Well, day three of the new weight loss year is almost over. I'm totally drained and tired plus my sinuses have been hurting off and on all day again. Anyway...

There really isn't too much to say about today as far as my life goes. I'm still working on gathering all the things I need for my upcoming music program at the end of the month, so after work I went to a "teacher store" to see if they had any guiros or agogo bells. (Bonus points to you if you know what they are without looking at pictures!) They didn't have any though. It looks like I will probably just have to order them online very soon. I techincally have two guiros, but one's "tail" end has came off. If I don't have the money in the budget for a new one, I'll try gluing the one I have together.

My husband's life is a little more exciting than mine today. He was offered a job in his field and will get to start soon. He graduated in May with a PhD and has been job searching ever since. He could have had a job sooner, but those jobs involved moving. We are not interesting in moving after putting so much money and sweat equity into the house. He was finally offered a local job and took it. So yay for the hubs!

The October Photo A Day Challenge by The Lean Green Bean has me leaving an operation beautiful note in a public place. I forgot to write one before leaving work, so I didn't have one to leave in a store bathroom (which is my plan). I'm going to write my note today and leave it somewhere tomorrow.

My plans for tonight include trying to get more stuff done for the music program, getting ready for work tomorrow, playing Song Pop, and taking Sebastion (one of my doxies) to the vet. He isn't sick, but is having gland problems. That is probably all I need to say to those out there who have dogs.

As far as the October Challenge (Tighter Belts and Even Tighter Wallet) goes, I've been on plan all day. I'm once again just planning on getting in my 8,000 steps since I still feel lousy though. No extra money has been spent today, so that is a positive!

Food for the day:

Breakfast

Snack

Snack

Plus some light string cheese.

Lunch

With applesauce instead of a cookie for dessert.

Snack

Dinner

Snack

Exercise: 8,000 steps

Easy Zucchini and Breakfast Cookie

Day two of my October Challenge (Tighter Belts and Even Tighter Wallet) has gone pretty well. I've stayed on plan all day today and am close to 8,000 steps (should make it there before the end of the day). I still feel kinda icky and don't know if it is lingering effects of the thing I had last week or if my allergies are just that bad.

There really isn't much special to share about today- just a typical work day. I stopped by Strack's after work to get some rice crispy treats for a class that earned a reward that they will get tomorrow. While in Strack's I bought some laundry detergent on sale, a bottle of water, the rice crispy treats, and some strawberry preserves. Everything I got was on sale and will be needed, so I don't count that as frivolous spending. I really only needed the rice crispy treats though. It is funny how I always go in there for one or two things and walk out with more.

The plan for tonight is to make sure I get those 8,000 steps, watch The Voice, play some Song Pop, get the trash out to the cans so it is easier for trash day tomorrow morning, do some laundry, and work on my fall music program a little bit. I know it sounds so exciting and glamorous!

I did do one thing slightly interesting this afternoon and that is cook some zucchini in the convection oven. I just sliced it up, put a little salt and pepper on it, and threw them in for ten minutes. Easy and tasty! Just don't put too much salt and pepper on them like I did...

One of the blogs I follow, The Lean Green Bean, is having a photo challenge for October (the link takes to the page with the challenge). I'm going to try to do as many of the photo challenges as I can and post them on here and the Facebook page for my blog. Yesterday's challenge was to eat an extra veggie at lunch.

Two veggies at lunch- peppers and sweet potato fries.

Today's challenge is to hold a wall sit as long as you can. I haven't tried a wall sit in years, but here is the picture of me completing today's challenge:

I'm doing a wall sit in my dress clothes! It took three wall sits in three different locations to get a decent enough picture, so I more than completed the challenge.

Here are the eats for today:

Breakfast

Snack

Snack

I also had a light string cheese with this.

Lunch

I had applesauce instead of a cookie. I should probably take a picture of that sometime since that is what I have been eating for lunch since August 20th.

Snack

Dinner

Snack

I tried throwing a little cocoa in with the recipe and it tasted great!

Exercise: just surviving the day and getting in 8,000 steps

Day One of a New Weight Loss Year

Today is day one of weight loss year number two and my October Challenge (Tighter Belts and Even Tighter Wallet), and it has gone very well as far as the eats go. Everything today has been on plan, and I'm pretty confident I can finish the day on plan.

I started today with egg whites and salsa on a whole wheat wrap and a banana for breakfast. I also began my day with a lot of Song Pop. I think I may play a little too much of it in the morning. :)

I had this minus the cheese.

My morning snacks were...

My lunch was....

Yummy leftovers from a local Mexican restaurant on our town square.

After lunch I got a confirmation e-mail saying that all my materials were in for my application for graduate school. I can't believe how real it is becoming. I think it might be the whole $60 fee for looking over all these materials that made it a bit more real.

Once school was out I cleaned up my room, chilled to some music on my iPod (my '70's playlist), and ate a snack.

After my snack I went to two different Dollar Tree stores and a Dollar General looking for things I could use in my upcoming music program. I found some kazoos and toy drums for my second graders song about being in a marching band. It will be so cute if I could find some drum major type hats for them to wear too.

My dinner is going to be...

And then I will watch The Voice (so in love with this show and am wondering why I watched Idol over this) and think of more props, costumes, parts, motions, etc. for the program since it is the 23rd of October.

If I need a snack tonight, I'm going to make a breakfast cookie.

I didn't really do any formal workout today, but I got in my 8,000 steps for the walking challenge by going to all those stores after work. Since I'm still feeling tired from being sick, I think that is enough for today.

Here's to many more days on plan like today!

October Challenge- Tighter Belts and Even Tighter Wallets

I have let myself gain back ten pounds this summer and still haven’t worked on losing them. I have also spent too much money this summer on frivolous things and recently on eating fast food and junk food. I want to have a smaller waist and more money in my checking account by the end of October. That is why I named the challenge what I named it. Here are some of the details…

Goals

• Lose two pounds a week.
• Follow my eating plan wholeheartedly.
• Walk at least 8,000 steps every day as part of the fall walking challenge at work.
• Eat fast food/eat out only on weekends (to save money and eat healthier).
• Eat on plan meals at events and have a standard size amount of one dessert (one wedding, one birthday party, and one Halloween party).
• Finish C25K- I have two 30 minute jogs left. If I can’t do 30 minutes at once, then work on building my endurance back up and complete these two jogs.
• Hook up my xBox 360 in my office, so I can do my workout video games on it.
• Don’t buy frivolous things this month and spend less time shopping on weekends scouting for good deals.
• Focus on fitting into clothes I already have and not buy new clearance rack clothes to get by at the weight I am at the beginning of the month.
• Blog more often and post weekly updates on this challenge.

Rewards

• 195- Chuck Berry CD

 

• 190- Singstar Legends game

Beginning Weight

•  On Sunday, September 30th I weighed in at 196.8.

Beginning Measurements

•  On Sunday, September 30th...
• Neck- 13"
• Arm- 14"
• Bust- 39
• Waist-37"
• Hips- 46"
• Thigh- 24.5"
• Calf- 16.5"

If there are any of you out there that want to join in with this challenge, message me, e-mail me, or find me on Facebook.