Clean Eating Challenge!

Ok, so for many of us the hardest part about getting into shape is eating healthy!  This challenge is a personal challenge.  The goal is to hold yourself accounable for what you eat, and hopefully by reporting back to the group we will be able to take charge in our diets a little more forcefully!  Lets support eachother and work together to meet our personal goals! 

There is no deadline for sign-ups, anyone can join at any time!!

All you have to do is check in once a week (at least) & let us know how you're doing. If/when you "cheat", simply let us know & I will restart your start date. 

A cheat is defined as whatever a cheat would mean to you personally, whether it be going over your calories, bingeing, not eating enough, too many treats, etc. We all know when we've cheated, so just be honest with yourself

Let's be honest with each other & keep each other eating clean k? The PRIZE to the winner? Well that's easy - weight loss!!!!!!!!! (or maintenance for those at that stage!) Let's do this! 

Austie

********************************************* ***

Here's the list of all signed up & the new rules:
(let me know if I missed you) 

If you lose your mind & cheat, just let me know. Then you can re-start from the next day. I'll simply unbold your name, along with updating your new start date. 

After being clean for a week after a re-start, I'll re-bold your name. So you always have a chance to feel like you are succeeding. 

Also, if you just don't feel like you want to partake in the challenge anymore, can you let me know so I can remove your name from the list? Thanks!! 

Anyone not checking in for one week (Monday through Sunday) will be removed from the challenge.

Good luck all! People's names in bold have been going the longest or have not restarted for at least a week - way to go!!!!!!!!

*sinkpea                              9/27

*losingfocus                         9/26

*lauralackner                      9/27

*Crackster                           10/13

*mischiefdm                          10/01

*ranchobernardo                  10/14

*Franklinmeister                  9/21

*sbverly                                10/06

*Austiemg                             10/23

*Aritzia                                  10/05

*incrediblyshrinkingmel           10/5

*Patsykb                                  10/06

*Tree0421                                10/23

Jennc2                                       10/6

Thinnathwen01                         10/10

well... I fell off the clean eating wagon.

I am so crook at the moment (felt a little yukky Wednesday.. couldn't make it to netball Thursday and had to miss a party last night!) I'm all tucked up on the couch. One of my friends brought me around an evil Maccas meal and I devoured it. Worst part is it won't help me get better and I couldn't even taste it!! After that it was more and more processed and bad comfort food.

I also had to stop my work out challenge so I didn't have excersize every day at all this week. I will re-start shortly from the day I'm better because I am just giving in today aswell.. these things happen.

sbeverly - First and foremost, easy on the "classes for women" lingo.  I AM attending these "classes for women" now, after all.  Lol.  But you are DEFINITELY right about them not being easy.

losingfocus - It has been pretty amazing to see her turn around.  After more than ten years of surrendering to the "fact" that she would always be a "fat chick", it has revolutionized the way we view things - everything - for her to have moved in this direction.  She is still not what one might view as your typical "gym bunny", but she really is looking great.  So much so, that obviously it was contagious, and I caught it.  She still has another 30 lbs she wants to lose - that will get her down to the weight she was when we got married. (fifteen years ago, that is, when I was 19 and she was 18).  Two years ago I would have laughed out loud at the idea.  Now I know it is merely a matter of time before she accomplishes it.  It only makes sense for me to join her in that journey.

As for being being too old (or too big, for that matter, for anyone out there that might suggest such a thing), I know of two people my wife works out with on a regular basis.  One girl has lost a total of 213 lbs, and despite "Fat cells never dying", she now looks like one of Hollywood's finest, with nothing to indicate that she was ever that large except the progressive pictures she actually has hanging on the gym wall where they work out together (it is a relatively small gym - but growing - and has a section for members' success stories).  The other is a little old lady (89 years young), who has more spunk than most 40 year olds.  According to my wife, she not only NEVER misses a step class, but can actually keep up with her. 

Never let society's mind-numbing perspectives on age keep you from your dreams.  I met my wife, Julie, when I was 15 and she was 14.  We have literally grown up together, and have now been alive longer WITH one another than we were alive before we knew each other.  We are in the midlife of our relationsip, and only now truly beginning to explore all the possibilities that life has for the two of us.  With three daughters, two cars, and a mortgage, who knew life would only just be starting to get interesting at 35.

Crackster - I don't care who you are.  Two chin ups is awesome!  Keep up the great work! 

austiemg - You hit the nail on the head concerning my wife.  She is truly an inspiration.  As for me being "a machine"?  Not so much.  lol.  I might agree with you, if going to these "Women's classes" (only kidding, sbeverly) wasn't like swimming across the river Styx to visit death itself.  LOL!  Anyway, I will do my best to keep up the fight.  (I almost completely blew it tonight when my kids broke out some boxes of Little Debbies - I REALLY WANTED TO BINGE!!!  lol  I settled for some talapia, acorn squash, and rice instead, with a microscopic ice cream cone for dessert.) 

Everyone keep up the great efforts.  And good luck with your "psycho-challenge".  I am not quite there yet.  Right now it just sounds like its namesake.  Psycho.  lol.  Perhaps down the road I will join you for such psychosis.  Good night, and God bless.

New Day 1 restart today!

Posted in the old group...before I read the new group info.

Still hanging in there, folks - I haven't lost my mind yet. I'm not perfect and haven't really LOST weight, but I'm hanging in there still. My days when I find myself a little weak-willed, at least the indulged-in-food is CLEAN and healthy and good for me. 

Still keeping the challenge in mind and feeling like maintaining (weight, clean eating, fitness regimen) is, for me, is just as important for me as is losing weight. 

Went to a seafood buffet dinner at a local club last night and the wonderful thing was that it was all so tasty AND healthy and, because it was all so fresh and good for one's body, no weight gain the day after (unusual - usually I'm up a pound or two after dinner out). 

Whew.

hey, so I'd like to join if that's okay. Yesterday was my fist day counting calories...yeah... definately going to be interesting trying to stay on track, I never realized how much they really add up!! it's crazy!

So my short term goal is to lose 25lbs by January 8 2010 (come on!!!) I have been trying for awhile now but I have trouble avoiding the binges and staying motivated to work out! so bring on the challenge!!! 

By that way, it's really inspiring to see everyone sticking it out together and keeping each other motivated!!!

Okay, I have to start back to day one, ate all wrong at the Baby Shower today, too bad, was going well for 17 days!

Still exercising though and am going to try Bob's Challenge tomorrow, that should help burn off the cals.  I think the problem is any alcohol.....allowed calories for a couple glasses of red wine last night but then today in front of all the party food didn't have the willpower I usually do.  Something with the blood sugar the day after I think.

Back on track tomorrow.

Rancho - Haven't really been on long enough to have spoke with you yet, but a fresh start can always be advantageous.  Keep it up, and you will do amazing things...   no matter how many times you may have to start over.

patsykb - It can't ALWAYS be about the losing.  I love your perspective!  Congrats on the healthy dinner out.  Keep up the good work.

Aritzia - Welcome to the crew!  You will like it here.  That is a great goal.  I know you can do it.  And the good thing in THIS forum is that no matter if you fall down once or twice, there is always someone in here with a good word to help pick you up and encourage you to keep going.

Losingfocus - If you are going to slip up, you might as well do it at something that doesn't come around all the time.  A baby shower, vs. "I went to our every-other-Sunday brunch.  ...and I always blow it at those."  lol.  You will be fine.  Just dust yourself off, and press on. 

Thanks FM, that's really good insight. 

Overall average calories is a good picture anyway.

The biggest thing I notice is, if I don't eat right, I don't feel as good, slightly sluggish, foggy head, etc.  Another reason to stay clean, not just losing weight!

We shall all plug away at this healthy lifestyle.

Well, after nearly 2 mths.......at goal or not..........it's time to start me again!  It's my husband's birthday weekend and I made the most of it!  Red Velvet cake with lots of icing on Friday night, half (yes half) of a Papa Murphy's pizza on Saturday night (at least it was a veggie one!) and blueberry pie and ice cream tonight!  None is exactly on the 'clean eating' menu.  I did manage to keep within my calorie count, so on that I was good.......didn't eat much but that on the three days........but clean, not a chance.  So, restart me and I'll get back on track tomorrow.

It's good to see that slowly but surely everyone is finding the new link. 

Artizia, welcome.  I agree .... when I got on to CC in May, I could not believe how fast the calories added up!  With what I was feeling wasn't much at all had me over the top by mid-afternoon with dinner to go!  But, once you get into it, it becomes addicting and I find it hard not to use it.  Plus, this group is amazing... they are all very supportive!  Good luck.

Everyone, have a good week!

Restart date for me today - 28th September. Feeling much better and back on track today with my pre-planned clean meals. I don't know about everyone else but feeling crook makes me mopey and just eat bad foods for the sake of it... Saturday night I ate a bag of marshmallows that were intended for hot chocolates... that can't be good at all!

At work I have been crusading the importance of a good breakky. One of the fellows I work with starts his morning with a 480ml can of energy drink and then wonders why he has a tummy ache and needs to eat an hour or so later. I cringe thinking about it... I usually chop up some mushrooms, ham and spring onions and such the night before and whip up some scrambled eggs on multi grain toast in the morning...

I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas for a different, clean, filling breakky?? I seem to be happier about it if it is a little bit fancy or creative and anything that will keep me fuller for a while - some where in the area of 400ish calories is great..

Patsy - I hope that the others find their way to the new group too.. I feel like we're missing a few... I like the sound of the sea food buffet.. sounds like a perfect place to eat out for a clean eater!

Hi there aritzia - it is shocking the amount of calories that add up in the bad foods. The cleaner foods are better ofcourse though... good luck with the challenge!

losingfocus - same.. if I eat right I feel great... and I too am very sad at how the calories add up in the few innocent glasses of wine.

sinkpea - WOW 2 months is amazing! You probably really earned that hubby's birthday treat anyway.. How much closer to your goal are you?

Crackster - I'm at my goal.........lost 30 lbs.........but, for some reason it's never really hard for me to lose the weight....my real challenge comes NOW in keeping it off!  I've done this so many times before I've lost count.  This time I am so determined to make it the last time I have to lose it!  I've never done it the 'clean eating' way before or by watching calories so close.....this definitely has helped.  Tracking on CC has been such an incentive to keep it up.  CC has become an addiction.  And, you're right....calories don't add up so quickly when you eat clean.  Good stuff seems to have fewer calories and can be more filling!

So, here's to a new, back on track week......have a great one!

okay, so my second day definately went alot better than my first, yesterday... not so much, I was doing really good until my sister talked me into pizza and icecream for dinner... definately had too much!! which means I start back at day one today but that's okay I am staying positive and I am determined to keep at it!

sinkpea... congrats on reaching your goal!!

crackster... I don't know if you like yogurt or not, but plain yogurt with fruit and granola mixed in make a pretty good breakfast. I have a coworker like that too, always eats chips and chocolate bars and drinks ridiculous amounts of pop and then can't understand why she has constant headaches and feels so sick, silly girl!

franklinmeister... Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement!

So this is where everyone went!!  I was wondering what happened!

Welcome to all the new people! 

Start me over as of 27/09/2009.  My Dad moved as a result of his divorce and moving food is never good even though I brought healthy munchies.  I have not been doing so good even before then. 

I am anticipating a not-so-good fall. My birthday is on Saturday - and who eats healthy on their birthdays???  The we have Thanksgiving, the weekend after I am going to a friend's hosue for a dinner, then I am having a friend and her son over to bake cookies with my kids and then it is Halloween.  I am surrounded by food...oh god.

Hey Laura- great to hear from you. Glad you didn't get lost in the transition. Alright- I hear you about the hols coming up. Here are some Jillian tips to get you through the season 1) Increase your exercise to accommodate to the increased calorie intake 2)still set a limit on your food, except increase the allowance. So, if you're currently eating 1400 and you give yourself 2000 calories for your birthday, you wouldn't feel deprived but you won't swing right out into a binge, and you can then drop your calories on the days before and after and increase your exercise to make up the difference 3) if you're having a party or going out, choose the foods that either are really personal to you or that you wouldn't ordinarily get. So if you ordinarily eat rice but not potato salad, don't bother to have both, just go with the potato salad 4) drink 2 glasses of water before you eat, and throw in your veggies early in the meal so that you would be more full 5) count those calories for the drinks (alcoholic or otherwise) 6) enjoy yourself. You don't need to eat to enjoy yourself, so go for the full range of experience that will make this an extra special birthday and 6) coming from Sharon- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Welcome aritzia- if I had a dollar for every time I started over, I'd be very well off. Its all part of the process, and your attitude is right on the money. Persistence will win this particular race.

hey sinkpea- CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU ROCK!!!

Crackster- I definitely flounder when I'm not feeling well. I just don't have the energy to care about eating well or weight and go into my all or nothing mode. Can't remember if you said, but "feeling crook" and "breakky" makes you British or Australian? I was noticing on my other programme that one of the girls from UK was describing a lunch that I found very appetising. I say this only because (and absolutely no offence meant), I can't eat stuff Americans seem to like or at least be eating on your diets. So, the Caribbean pallette might be appetising for you? Anyway, here's a couple of things that I have in morning that are simple and tasty to me (they naturally will all include bread and green tea):

2 slices whole wheat bread (140 calories), with 1/2 ripe plantain (cut lengthwise and fried in 1 tsp olive oil until golden brown- 150 calories), with a cup of lipton yellow label tea (2 calories) sweetened by one tsp condensed milk (20 calories)

2 slices whole wheat bread with 1 eggplant (roasted on stove top until skin is charred. Slit skin and scoop out the eggplant. Add onion, black pepper, pimento pepper, salt and 1 clove garlic. Mash all ingredients together. Fry in 1 tsp olive oil until golden brown). And 1 cup to tea.

Hey losingfocus- agreeing with Franklin about the special occasion. However, as interesting side note Jillian actually suggests that you suspend drinking until you reach your weight loss goal, because it compromises judgement and makes it easier to slip. How did Bob's challenge go?

Patsy- glad to see you on the other side. Great job on maintaining

Rancho- 5 days clean. Excellent!!!

Franklin- Guffaw (not laugh) out loud!!! Sorry dude- Freudian slip!!! Your wife sounds amazing. I think my husband didn't believe me either when I said that this year was it. It took him close to 30 pounds to settle down and believe that this time was different.  I think your support of your wife and the way you talk about her is awesome. You rock dude!!

Austie- that was a really hectic weekend there. How did Bob's psycho-workout go for you? Great job with no binges and the exercise BTW. Did he- I must have missed it. It is entirely possible that he did!!!

And as for me, yes I do need to start again as of 28th September. I did complete Bob's psycho-workout. 3.1 miles jogging, 7 miles on bike and 1.9 miles jogging/walking. Lost it toward the end. Unfortunately, I then proceeded to emotionally eat my way through both Saturday and Sunday- triggered by tiredness, being upset, angry, guilty and just generally feeling crappy. Mental more than physical illness, and just got to my I don't care point. So, last week I lost 3.4 lbs or thereabouts and I put it all back on over the weekend.

Ick ack- on to another day!!

Sharon

Wow.  Feel like I have been off-line forever.  Way to long, in any event.  Just a quick rundown of what all has happened.  I have been attending all the classes I have previously mentioned, as well as doing some pure free-weights a couple times in between.  The only exception to that is that my wife had to attend the step classes of the ladies she is replacing, so rather than hitting the weight/sculpt class, I did my own circuit training that day in the evening rather than attending the class in the morning.  (the class my wife took was, naturally, in the evening, so I was going at the same time she went).  It was a great workout, but still wished I had gone. 

I have lost another two pounds since the last time I mentioned any weightloss, bringing the total up to 9 lbs so far.  I do not believe the weightloss is a major issue for me, as I know I will begin bulking up once I am in a little better cardio shape.  I mention it as an update only.  Not necessarily to show my progress, although at this stage it is the progress needed.

To everyone who is having to start over, just take it in stride.  The great thing about slipping up is that there is always a new beginning just past the dawn of the following day.  New day, new beginning.

losingfocus - I know what you mean about the eating right=feeling right.  I had a quarter of a donut right before I went to workout today, and I would swear I felt the lag from it.  Could have all been in my head, but either way I won't be doing it agian.  Plug on!

sinkpea - You went out in a blaze of glory!  Go out in style, that's what I say.  lol.  Start again, and you will be fine! 

crackster - Not sure if I understand the term "breakky", but whether it means breakfast or a coffee break, I find a simple bowl of apple and mable instant Quaker oatmeal, with a tablespoon of brown sugar, a tablespoon of margarine, and a splash of lowfat milk really hits the spot.  It comes to right about 200 Calories, and keeps me satisfied for hours.

aritzia - Sure!  Just stick around, and you will always find someone with something positive to encourage you with.  Keep it up!  As a sidenote, I DEFINITELY agree with you about the yogurt parfait.  A great snack.

lauralackner - Does sound a bit rough, but don't let it get you down.  Just behave yourself in between all those labyrinths of temptation, and do your best while in them.  My wife's instructor tells the girls in her class to focus (during the holidays) on maintaining weight, rather than trying to lose weight.  Since the average person gains pounds over the holiday (often weight that sticks throughout the year), by simply not gaining, you are actually ahead of the game.

sbeverly - She is definitely amazing!  Well worth hanging on to.  She actually starts teaching later this morning (initially they told her she was to start on the 6th, but yesterday they mentioned it was really going to be the following day - if that makes any sense).  It caught her off guard a little, but I think it will help her, since now she doesn't have time to get all worked up and nervous about it.  Thank you for your kind words.

Easy come, easy go.  Lol.  Don't give up!  If you could take it off once, you can do it again. 

** Typed up my post then the silly computer froze!! **

lauralackner - Good to have you back. I had my fingers crossed that no one would get lost!!

Sharon - Congratz on completing the challenge! Weekends like that happen so easily but completing that challenge took real work!!

FM - The way thet you and your wife hit the gym together sounds great! I hope that my hubby and I end up doing that, It sounds like a fun couple thing..

sinkpea- that is great stuff! maybe the clean eating will be the answer to keeping it off -- but well done on getting it off in the first place!!

Thanks everyone for the breakky suggestions. I have written them all next to my shopping list and I am going to try them on a different day next week.. I never thought of grilling eggplant for breakky before!

Oh and I am Australian. I apologise for my slang, sometimes I just type the way that I talk! Breakky is breakfast...

I have had a few good clean eating days (except today when my workmates got me a big birthday cake and I pigged out!! Calories don't count on birthdays!)...

I am heading up the mountains for some SES search and rescue excersizes this weekend so I have no controll over what I eat.. We snack on choccy bars and naughty things like that when hiking.. But surely all that walking and carrying things will work it off!

Everyone sounds like they're doing pretty well on here... good to hear.

Day 4 today!

Alright, so I admit it, I have been hiding because I have been being so unhealthy!  Every day has been full of (oh so good) yucky foods.  But not today. Today I am back!  Heck I even worked out!  And we have started a new challenge in my household!  See my husband wants to lose some weight even worse then I do, but we are SOOO horrible together, so I came up with a challenge that will give us rewards for our good behavior, but also punish us for our bad behavior!  This includes eating, working out, and even cussing- i figure it is a habit that we need to break before Isaac is old enough to start mimicing us!  So here is how it works- we each get $12 a week.  Cheating on food costs you a dollar per food.  Not working out costs you a dollar per day.  Cussing costs you .25 a word.  And where does all this money go when we are bad?  Into Isaacs college fund of course!  Anyways, today was day one...so far I am winning!  I worked out, I have been eating good, and I have not said one swear word (pretty easy to do when it is just you and the baby!), on the other hand poor brad has lost over $3 due to swearing!  I told him he was going to run out of money if he keeps it up!

Anyways, I just wanted to stop in and say, hey!  I am still alive, and I will be back on later tonight (I hope) to update everything!  And to read and respond to all of your wonderful posts!

Gotta start the new month with a new start as I indulged in pizza buffet 2 days ago and am just now getting back on track.

Good luck to ya'll.

Happy Happy Friday!! So my first week went pretty good, I'm not going to lie I did indulge once or twice in some not so healthy food (aka some really really yummy puffed wheat squares my sister made) but I didn't go over my calorie count so I can live with it. I am contemplating taking some sort of class like kickboxing or a dance class or something, anyone have any suggestions? I normally walk quite alot during the week (I never drive anywhere) but I would like to step it up a bit especially with winter coming (shiver)!!