21 Day Challenge November

It is said that it takes 21 days to establish a new habit. That means we can establish a new habit before summer gets here. The goal here is to work toward healthy lifestyle habits.

If you want to take steps to a healthier lifestyle whether it involves losing weight or not, I encourage you to join us on November 1. Post your goals here in this forum and lets spur one another on to healthy living. Let’s keep those extra holiday pounds off this year!

Donna

Hi everyone and welcome to November’s 21 Day Challenge. The good thing is that Thanksgiving falls after the 21st! Just kidding, kinda sorta.

I’m taking a new approach this month. I’ve been struggling so much with my weight and eating habits that it’s driving me crazy. Until now I’ve steered away from low carb diets because I didn’t think them healthy. However, in desperation I started looking at some of them and have read the book Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet. It’s written by two scientists who are themselves addicted to carbs. I liked their approach which includes a salad with lunch, plus they studied the results on thousands of people for seven years. Long story short, this is what I’m going to do for November’s challenge. In fact, I’m not even waiting. I started yesterday. You know what it’s like when you’ve had it with your weight…well I’m there.

Donna

Hi Donna,

That sounds like a good plan.  I hope you like it.  I am hanging in there.  I have been eating healthy.  Like you I am still struggling with my challenge which is exercise.  I know I will figure out a plan for myself eventually.  I am going to spend a day or so thinking about a reasonable plan for November.  I will do another post on Sunday with my plan.  This will give me a chance to get through Halloween.   Thanks for starting another 21 day challenge.

Christine - 30 October 2009 06:18 PM

Hi Donna,

That sounds like a good plan.  I hope you like it.  I am hanging in there.  I have been eating healthy.  Like you I am still struggling with my challenge which is exercise.  I know I will figure out a plan for myself eventually.  I am going to spend a day or so thinking about a reasonable plan for November.  I will do another post on Sunday with my plan.  This will give me a chance to get through Halloween.   Thanks for starting another 21 day challenge.

Well, I actually started this last Thursday and I am astounded that my cravings are gone. I just don’t snack during the day anymore. I’ve lost about three pounds, too. It feels like I’m getting control back. Can’t tell you how much that means. It affects so many areas of my life when I’m feeling that way. The hopelessness of not controlling my eating usually spills over into how I keep house, too. So if you come for a visit and things are tidy, you know my eating is in check. LOL

Donna

That is great Donna!  I am so glad I read this post, because I have been eating Halloween candy non stop.  I am actually getting tired of eating chocolate.  It is time to get back on track.  I am so glad you are doing well.  Bye the way, my house was tidy before Halloween.  LOL

Christine

Hi everyone,

I had to stop by and tell you all how it is going. It was a week ago that I start the Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet. Yes, I started before the 1st because I’d reached that point where I was sick and tired of being overweight. Today, when I weighed in, to my surprise I have lost just over 4 pounds. That’s great, but the thing that I am so happy about is that my cravings are gone.

Plus, I’m going away for a few days to celebrate my anniversary and I know that this diet is travel friendly. It is such a relief not to be controlled by food. I’ll let you all know how it goes.

Donna

Hi all,

I thought I’d check in and see how everyone is doing. I’m thrilled to say I’m still following the Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet. It has eliminated my need to snack for 2 1/2 weeks! I’m so excited. It’s like I’ve been feed. I’m satisfied. In fact I think I’ve thought about having a snack about three times. What a difference! Anyhow, I’m down about 5 1/2 pounds.

Donna

Congratulations Donna!  That is great.  You are doing awesome. 

Well, I have not done as well.  I have started gaining back the weight that I lost this summer, because I stopped the walking.  I mentioned that I was going to start walking at 5:30 AM, but that seemed to early for me.  I have now committed to walking from 5:50 AM - 6:50 AM, so I am back at 7:00 to help get the kids ready for school.  I actually fee confident that I can do this.  I also have motivation, because my Mother-In-Law has diabetes and she walks with me.  It is important that she loses weight.  She does not walk as much, if I don’t.  That will keep me getting up at 5:30 AM.  Hopefully, that will help me lose the weight I gained.

Keep up the good work. You are doing great.

Christine - 15 November 2009 08:15 PM

Congratulations Donna!  That is great.  You are doing awesome. 

Well, I have not done as well.  I have started gaining back the weight that I lost this summer, because I stopped the walking.  I mentioned that I was going to start walking at 5:30 AM, but that seemed to early for me.  I have now committed to walking from 5:50 AM - 6:50 AM, so I am back at 7:00 to help get the kids ready for school.  I actually fee confident that I can do this.  I also have motivation, because my Mother-In-Law has diabetes and she walks with me.  It is important that she loses weight.  She does not walk as much, if I don’t.  That will keep me getting up at 5:30 AM.  Hopefully, that will help me lose the weight I gained.

Keep up the good work. You are doing great.

Hi Christine,

Walking with your mother-in-law is the perfect motivation because you know how women are…caregivers. You want to help her and in the act you’ll be helping yourself! Great idea.

I fell off my diet yesterday. Not horrible, but I made some homemade cookies in the afternoon to serve as dessert for people coming over for dinner. Well, I licked my finger and the next thing you know I was eating that cookie dough like I always have. The good news is, I’m back on track today even with cookies in the house. They aren’t calling to me.

Donna

Hi Donna,

You sound just like me.  Once I start, it is hard for me to stop.  Well, just to help you feel better, I fell off my program yesterday too.  Our Cub Scout pack had a Thanksgiving dinner, which is my absolute favorite meal.  You know we only get this two times a year, so I cannot let the food go to waste. LOL.  Oh did I stuff myself, for the first time in a long time.  Just like you, I am back on track today.  I have to say, I will probably do this one more time next week.  I am to cook and I love my stuffing. 

I have to tell you that walking in the morning is actually great for me.  It wakes me up and I am way more productive.  I am really enjoying it.  I have also been waking up before my alarm clock goes off.  Mentally I know I am supposed to be waking up, so it has not been that hard.

Thanks to you and these challenges, it has pushed me to find a way to exercise and stay on track.

Thank you!

Christine

Hey everyone,

I’m back, my family and I have been on vacation for 2 weeks and then we went to the photography studio for family portraits. So things are back to normal now, I did ok on my diet while on vacation but I did have a few more cheat meals than normal. I actually felt sluggish and tired. I did manage to workout while I was on vacation, but I’m glad to be back home and back on track. After 8 months of intense diet and excercise my body probably needed a couple weeks of relaxation. It sounds like you guys (Donna and Christine) are doing well and hanging in there. I feel the same way, working out in the morning is the best for me, it helps set the tone for the whole day and gives me energy to have a productive day. Hopefully we all survive the next stretch, with Thanksgiving coming up and all the holiday parties and it will be hard. I love Thanksgiving just like you Christine, but as long as I can limit my portions and continue to excercise everyday I will survive. I’m getting off here for now, take care and talk to you soon.

Miles

Hi Miles,

It is good to hear from you.  I hope you had a nice vacation.  I am sure it is nice to get back to your routine.  I also feel sluggish and tired if I eat too much, or eat unhealthy food.  It could also have to do with going from a really busy schedule to total relaxation.  I think it throws the body off a bit.  I hope that your life is a little calmer than it was before your vacation and that you can concentrate on your health.  Like you, I will also work on eating proportionately at Thanksgiving.  I did not like feeling stuffed.

Christine

Miles - 18 November 2009 08:00 AM

Hey everyone,

I’m back, my family and I have been on vacation for 2 weeks and then we went to the photography studio for family portraits. So things are back to normal now, I did ok on my diet while on vacation but I did have a few more cheat meals than normal. I actually felt sluggish and tired. I did manage to workout while I was on vacation, but I’m glad to be back home and back on track. After 8 months of intense diet and excercise my body probably needed a couple weeks of relaxation. It sounds like you guys (Donna and Christine) are doing well and hanging in there. I feel the same way, working out in the morning is the best for me, it helps set the tone for the whole day and gives me energy to have a productive day. Hopefully we all survive the next stretch, with Thanksgiving coming up and all the holiday parties and it will be hard. I love Thanksgiving just like you Christine, but as long as I can limit my portions and continue to excercise everyday I will survive. I’m getting off here for now, take care and talk to you soon.

Miles

Hey Miles! Good to see you back. I was wondering where you were hanging out these days. Off on vacation, eh? Sounds like a good idea after how stressful your season was. Glad to hear your ready to get right back at it with your diet, too. Many times vacation can get people derailed.

I’ve lost between 5-7 pounds since I saw you last. See when I stand sideways how skinny I look. I say between five and seven because my lowest weight on this challenge had me down seven, but you know how it fluctuates from one day to the next. This diet has me average my weight for the week and it has helped keep me motivated because I see a steady decreased. Wonder why I never thought to do that before!

Anyway, so good to have you back.

Donna

Christine - 18 November 2009 07:33 PM

Hi Miles,

It is good to hear from you.  I hope you had a nice vacation.  I am sure it is nice to get back to your routine.  I also feel sluggish and tired if I eat too much, or eat unhealthy food.  It could also have to do with going from a really busy schedule to total relaxation.  I think it throws the body off a bit.  I hope that your life is a little calmer than it was before your vacation and that you can concentrate on your health.  Like you, I will also work on eating proportionately at Thanksgiving.  I did not like feeling stuffed.

Christine

Hi Christine,

I probably shouldn’t even say this cause I’ll jinx myself, but in the past Thanksgiving is one of the easier holidays to eat sensibly. Some good options on the table, smaller portions still fill me up, and limit myself to a small piece of dessert. However, one of our traditions is to make these homemade noodles stuffed with cheese and baked smothered in butter in onions. They can be my downfall if I let them, but right now I’m so happy to have my weight going in the right direction I think that it will give me enough momentum to make it past the Thanksgiving hurdles.

Donna

that’s the nice conversation going on just keep it up guys..
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vernon getzler

Hi Vernon,

We gather here the first 21 days of the month with our weight loss or other diet goals and try to help encourage one another to eat in the right direction. December’s 21 Day challenge will start on December 1. Come on and join us! We’d love to have you.

Donna