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

Original Post by franklinmeister:

Hello, all.  Seems like a while since I have really said anything of length.  Just wanted to check in and let everyone know I am doing well.  My greatest asset, at times, it seems, is that I work so much.  Halloween was a HUGE concern.  I love candy, and while I am not necessarily watching my every calorie or every bite of unhealthy food, I certainly would not justify the oodle so of candy I was hoping for this year.    As it is, I have managed to work through every single party, and now even for my girls' trick or treating.  What a bummer (albeit healthy) Halloween.  My kids did give me a little ziplock baggie of candy, but I got it out at work, and my coworkers ate it all for me.  Again, wow.  Good times.  On top of that, I carry a gun for work, and cannot have had anything to drink within eight hours of coming to work, so I pretty much am a non-drinker, and have been for many years. 

The good news is, I have been faithful to the gym, and have been working diligently when I am there.  I am seeing huge progress in the way my clothes fit.  For the most part, I am totally stoked, though at times like tonight, I am a little bummed about not having the opportunity to NOT behave (if that makes any sense).

Congrats to all.  Best of luck for the Halloween night festivities, and welcome aboard all you newbies.  Everyone who just started over, or plans to tomorrow (lol), enjoy a little something for me!  :-)

 

 Hey Frank: Great job with Halloween. Don't know if I would do as well on a holiday focused on snacks (probably consume that bag of treats in the car on the way to work to give it away). And on keeping up with the gym. Hope all is well with the kids now and they are fully recovered from their illness, and that things are back to normal with you.

Sharon

Know I've missed a few but its time for me to go now.

Losingfocus, think you will have to change that name soon because you don't seem to be suffering from that problem anymore.

Welcome to all newcomers and welcome back anyone that I missed on my previous posts. Look forward to getting back on my feet with your support.

For those of you who have held strong, thank you for a lighting a candle that shows me what direction to follow.

Sharon

Hello All,

I had forgotten how much I look forward to reading posts from those that participate. It is so wonderful to know I am not alone in this battle. I really believe this is a battle. I have this sick mind that wants me to eat all the time. It wants me to eat unhealthy, high carb, high fat foods. Simple overindulgence is it's motto. In some ways this sounds so appealling, but healthwise this is the last thing I want to do. I am 47 and I have no grandkids, neither my son or daughter are married, I have diabetes, highblood pressure, recently had a gastric banding surgery and I don't want to die. yet, there is this self-destructive side of me that is seriously opting for immediate gratification (which will result in early mortality) rather than the happiness & contentment that a long life will bring me.

I constantly have to remind myself I am eating mindfully for my future. There is so much more to come & I want to be here to see & feel it all.

I really appreciate the support from this forum. Sharon, thank you so much for your comments. i am so glad to see you online. You add so much to this forum with your words of wisdom. We shall do this together...all of us.

Mel

SO far so good for eating clean this week but having a hard time finding meat I enjoy eating. 

sbeverly, don't know what you do for work, but sounds like a pretty scary time.  Hope everything turns out 'negative' for you.

Things are still going well here...Halloween wasn't bad....went to a party, but didn't do too much damage.  But, the next two months will be hard... Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worst...plus both my husband and I will be retiring at the end of the year and there are parties for that, too.  I'm already starting to dread the season.

Get to go to the gym tomorrow.  Sbeverly, I guess you're right on this....when I can go, really don't want to........but, on the other hand, I'm extremely grateful that I can.  Very good point!

Good luck........keep up the good work!

Slightly over quota at a fancy dinner.  Give me a fresh restart of 11/6!

Hi All!

AHow is everyone. Getting ready for the weekend. I wanna head into it mindfully with a menu so as not to allow myself room for mindless eating.

I'm preparing my Thanksgiving menu & have found some recipes for low sugar pumpkin pie. I've decided if I am MINDFUL about the menu. Then it will be easier to be mindful of the meal.

So, the first thing I decided is that all pastries & breads muct be whole grain. I've been looking for whole grain bread cubes for the stuffing, but haven't found any, so I am making my own this weekend to prepare ahead.

Anyway, I am wondering if anyone has any good ideas for mindful holiday meals that we can share?  I'm looking forward to any ideas!

Have a great day!

Mel

SBeverly, thanks but I'll have to keep that name, I just restarted but that's okay.  I am so thrilled......at my weigh in I've lost 2# this week......now 164.  So, I haven't lost too much focus but it's a constant battle you know.

Without kids, Halloween wasn't much problem, the adult party was fun, had drinks but danced all night so pretty much evened out.  I'm in my glory, we're back south for winter and I get to walk my friends dog every night and we workout in the pool M-W-F, I am blessed!

Holidays are a challenge, not an obstacle.......and with all of us smart people together, we shall stay in control and have fun too!

Good for you Mel.  I think it always to your advantage to make things from scratch - then you know for sure what you are eating.

I never buy stuffing mix.  It is probably made from "balloon bread".  I make the stuffing mix from good Oroweat whole grain bread, fill a jelly roll pan with bread cut into cubes, spray on Pam and sprinkle liberally with lemon-pepper.  Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned, remove from the oven, stir, spray again with Pam and sprinkle again with lemon-pepper.  I always keep some in the freezer to use with various dishes my daughter creates.

Betty81

Ive made it 5 days into the challenge and doing good.  My main goal is to not exceed my daily calorie allowance and to do some cardio daily so far so good.  Not weighing in until day 7 but hope to see results.

Hi Betty81.......what did you mean "balloon bread"?  I do seem to remember years ago going all out on the carbs at Thanksgiving and blowing up like a balloon once.......since then I stopped making all the carby side dishes, just some stuffing in the bird (eliminated the extra side dish), mashed sweet potatoes (no mashed white ones) and only clear turkey gravy (not cream gravy). 

Anyway, been staying within my challenge too, as Cupricion, keeping in calories and workout schedule.....

I will be needing a re-start in a couple of days I think... I am having four wisdom teeth out tomorrow!! I'm not afraid of spiders but having teeth out frightens me!!

My freezer is stocked with icecream and icy poles.. both of which are definately off the clean eating menu! But I am giving myself a couple of days off completely and I'll get back into it after that.

Fingers crossed I'll be back into it shortly - and four teeth lighter!

Good luck with the wisdom teeth pulling.  Had two out years ago....it won't be that bad...just keep telling yourself that!  Enjoy the ice cream while you can :).

Had a great weekend.......great weather here for November and kept up with CC on Sat & Sun.  It really works when you do it every day.  Usually add 3-4 lbs over the weekend and have to fight until the next weigh-in to get it back off.  But, this weekend I only went up 1....feels really good starting the week at goal.

Have a great week everyone!

Yay! I survived the halloween weekend.   Since I was on my cycle, I thought I wouldn't  be able to resist indulging, but I did and even lost a pound.  Only 36 lbs. to go.

Hi Gang,

Just checking in for this week. How is everyone doing? I am hanging on, by a thin thread I might add. I haven't picked up my exercising. I don't know why I am hesitating, but I am. I keep praying for the strength to follow through. I ahve always come up a bit short on the follow through. Today my goal is to stay true to this plan.

My goal for this week is to stop avoiding Calorie Count. LOL It's like if I don't come online I don't have to look at what I am doing to myself. LOL I am a nut!

So, does anyone have some low calorie, low carb recipes for the holidays that I could use?

I could use some help with this one!

Mel

mel what sorts of foods are you after?

I have been trauling the internet for recipies for vegetarians (vego rellies are coming to stay and I want to make them something nice) and there a millions out there!! I have just been going onto different search egines and typing in 'recipies' or 'vegitarian' and there are heaps of different sites and things... plus it can be motivation that everytime you're on the net looking for a recipie you stop in to CC!

Hi Mel- fake it until you can make it. Drop the intensity and length of your workout if you're not quite ready for it, but go out there and just do it. Each time will build on the other until you are back where you came from. You can do this- you've just hit a speed trap in this journey, but you showed that you could do it. We are going to work together to finish what we started- we're fighting the good fight, and have taken the most important step, owning that there is a problem. No ideas re recipies- my plan is to follow Jill's advice re. holidays- choose foods that you wouldn't get year around or that hold special meaning to you; eat in portion size and know the caloric value of those foods; drop calories in days surrounding occasion and increase your exercise to compensate and enjoy the Christmas. It worked nicely last year- started my diet on 18th December, and only gained 1 lb over the holiday, which is big for me. Since I don't like low carb foods (love love love carb), I'm just going to go with if it ain't broke don't fix it and try to replicate last year.

Khandi; sinkpea; losingfocus; cupricion- great job

crackster- these days dentists are pretty gentle- worst part would probably be having the numb jaw LOL. Icecream on stock? Almost makes me want to pull out mine to join you.

So, terrible eating and exercise week for me- started recovery plan on Monday, and have managed to lose 3.8 lbs to get me about 3 lbs away from what I was. Glad to be back on track. Sinkpea, I'm a counsellor in an oil and gas environment. I am usually not exposed, but the wind must have shifted on that day. I guess it was particularly scary for me because I have 3 or 4 clients that have alleged permanent organ damage due to exposures. However, I'm happy to say that my tests for organ damage did come back negative. So its a matter of trying to work through the tiredness/dizziness and what not and faking it for a little while, until I get back to my normal level of fitness.

Austie- I can be restarted from Monday 9th November 2009- thank you.

Sharon

Restart today 11/11

"Balloon Bread" was 1st introduced in 1921 by Taggart Baking Company where it was debuted after a blind promotion ad.  It was inspired after the International Balloon Race at the International Speedway in Indianapolis.  The speedway resulted in the red, yellow and blue balloons as the logo on a white background.  I became aware of the bread in the 1960s when they began adding vitamins and minerals to it as part of a government-sponsored  program of enriching white bread.  This came from Continental Baking, company sold later.  I understand this bread might still be available in some parts of the country but I haven't seen it here.

Back on track as of today... 13th of November. I'm still very puffy in the cheeks, because as it turns out I chew on my cheeks while sleeping!

I have finished the ice cream and now the naughtiest thing in the house is some custard but I think I will manage that. I am staying with the icy poles for a few more days because they are just a bit of sugar and worth it.

With all good intentions my mother in law brought me around a box of choccies to make me feel better - the only thing was I couldn't eat them! So they sat on the bench until my parents came around last night and ate them all! Got to love rellies!

Started this morning well with a smoothie for breakky - just strawberries and a  banana whipped up with some skim milk -so I'm on track. I tried a salad yesterday but the lettuce leaves kept getting stuck in my stitches so that was tricky.

But I made a very healthy shepperds pie type dish last night with low fat chicken mince and a little bit of potato. So I will be back into it from today.

4 weeks untill the hubby is back home so I will stick with very clean eating if I have any hope of clear skin and a bit of weight loss!!