November Slimming Minis

Challenge yourself to create the good habits to achieve your health goals.

Welcome, and I hope you enjoy participating! Let's get slim and trim together. You can start anytime. You may not be the challenger with the most points at the end of the month, but you'll still be a winner. GOOD LUCK ! ! !

(If you just want to post your goals for the day on the thread, that's ok, too.)

Here are the guidelines:

• Email me your starting weight.
• 2 points each for every 8 ounces of water. Plain or bottle (No flavors)
• 3 points for each 15 minutes of workout time. This is structured workouts - as in you went for a walk with the intention of it being exercise - and there are no points for anything other than 15 minute intervals.
• 1 point if you complete a physical challenge.
• 1 point if you complete a personal challenge.
• Send your weight at the end of the month.
• Person with the most points wins.

Please send your information to me via private message daily or every other day in the following format:
3x 8 oz of water
45 minutes of treadmill
completed side bend challenge

I usually update points every few days.

Post or message me if you have any questions.

Good luck everyone!

The Contenders - November 16th   (there is some slippage in the dates due to posting in different time zones and when people get their data in)

augette  -415

delaney86 - 388

figurethefat -267

goals in mind - 218

jamescl -  467

kyashiis - 235

llnudl -

theprize - 179

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Physical Challenges

Change It Up! - Try a workout you've never done before (1 point per new activity tried)

Strength Training - One point for at least 15 minutes of strength training - this will also get you 3 regular exercise points!

Crunches - As many sets of 25 as you can (max 1 point per day)

Pushups - As many sets of 25 as you can (max 1 point per day)

Plank - Hold the plank position for 20-30 seconds (1 point per day)

Squats - with your weight centered over the middles of your feet, squat down and stand back up again. Keep your knees centered over your toes and your back straight. Repeat as many times as you can - try it in sets of 10-25 (max 1 point per day)

Jumping jacks - one, two! one, two! try a few sets of jumping jacks (max 1 point per day)

Zany workout! - one point per day for the oddest, most creative workout you can think of

Positive Challenges

5-a-day - eat the recommended 5 fruits/veg a day (recurring)

Go Outside - enjoy the great outdoor

Litter Busters - Pick up a piece of trash when you go outside

Eat Breakfast - The most important meal of the day!

Reading - get one point per day for picking up the book you've been meaning to read (if you want to share what you are reading with others, post about it)

Finish a Book - back by popular demand - one point for every book you finish

8 a Day H2O - You will receive one extra point per day if your water totals 8 x 8 oz or more.

Review an exercise DVD - You get one point for every exercise DVD you try and write a review for

Straight A Students - log in your food and get an A for the day, and you get a point

Set a Goal - one point for setting a total points goal for the month or day

Meet Your Goal - one point for reaching your goal

Get Some Sleep - get at least 7.5 hours of sleep a night

Stay Under Your Personal Maintenance Calorie Level - one point

Log Your Food By Midnight - one point

Zany Workouts - one point  This is where I'll be posting your creative/crazy

Note: 1 point bonus if you suggest a challenge! You can suggest a challenge by posting it in the thread or by messaging me, and I'll post it. Challenges can be completed at any time during the month - just tell me which one you did after you do it. Give your challenge a title and give a brief description of how to complete it, and you're good to go (and you get an extra point!) For example: "I would like to challenge everyone to do 10 pushups today." would be a physical challenge. "I would like everyone to do 5 minutes of quiet reflection/meditation" would be a personal challenge."

Another month starts today.  It is the start of the eating season with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and lots of parties to celebrate such occasions. 

I didn't do as well I as I expected in October.  I fell 250 points short of my goal of 900 points.  I know when I reach 900 points, I usually lose a couple of lbs.  Last month 204 of my points came from exercise.  I want to up that to half of my points (whatever they may be) to be coming from exercise. 

Weight start 71 kilos.

Goal of 900 points with half being from exercise.

All right, let's start this thing!! I love revamping my lifestyle during the holidays because I love trial by fire!

November's goal: 800 points. 

I'm so ready I'm starting. 

-amber

One of the things I hardly ever miss is logging my food by midnight.  Even if I have to guess, at least I have a "ballpark" number for my calorie intake. 

Hey, can I join? This seems like a fun idea. I'm curious about tracking the points. Do we keep track and just post ours in the thread?

ETA: oh duh, I just re-read the rules at the top and actually paid attention this time. Sorry. :)

I'd like to join in again.  I was in the minis several months ago and they really help keep me motivated and held accountable. Something I definitely need!

My point goal for the month: 700

I'm in for this month.  Not sure how many points I'll get, but sign me up.

Today I had nothing, tomorrow I will start -- November 3rd. 

thanks for keeping the points Kathy!

We are off to a flying start.  I want to get 900 points.  It's not impossible, but it will be very challenging.  I'm thinking that starting into the holidays is an important time to keep my exercise level up.  I want many of my points to come from that area.

Welcome to all the newcomers.  Any thoughts you have during the challenge will be much appreciated if you care to share.  I think it's our collective willpower that keeps us on the right track.

I was outside for five hours.  Some of it, I was walking at a nice pace, and other times I was standing around.  The air was so fresh and clean (and a little cold).  I only counted three hours as actually moving with intention of exercise...  Next weekend, we walk over a 1,200 meter mountain.  I am excited about getting a workout there...

I am in again!

I think this month I will aim for 600 points. (There's a point right there! w00t)

I didn't loose any weight last month but this month I am cracking down... this plateau will end!!!

I found some extra encouragement when I put on some clothes from last winter. They are baggy and make me look almost frumpy. I'll have to chalk in clothes as a reward for success!

My mom and I also have guest passes for a local gym, now if I could just get her moving.... I really want to check it out but I have such a phobia about doing things alone. Boo.

I'd like to suggest a challenge- rent an exercise dvd you've never done before, with an additional point (maybe if Kyashiis agrees) for reviewing it on this thread. I found out my library carries some, so I'll be trying this soon.

Good luck with the climb Kyashiis, sounds like something that would kill me lol.

I just found this....since I just really OVERLOADED today (the day after my TOPS meeting), I think I want to give this a try!  Every bit of encouragement helps.  I don't have a clue as to how many points I should set for a goal, but will try to earn 500.  Am into regular exercise and counting calories (six days a week---today's my free day). Was Loser of the Month last month at TOPS, but turtled this week when I weighed in (a turtle is when you don't gain or lose).  Hello to everyone -- and GOOD LUCK to everyone!!!

Welcome aboard theprize and jamescl.  I hope you can meet your personal goals and we can collectively get healthier. 

theprize - Yeah for baggy clothes.  I have some too.  LOL my top was gapping due to excess cloth yesterday... 

The exercise DVD idea sounds great.  I can't go to the library, but they might have rentals at the DVD shop.  I have four new exercise DVDs I bought recently and haven't actually watched/worked through any of them yet.  I would be glad to do mine too.  That would be good for a point for trying some new exercise routine via DVD, and another point for reviewing one.  Of course, you would get a point for using the DVD anyway if the time exceeded 15 minutes or each 15 minutes logged.

jamescl - Great going on the loss last month.  I don't know anything about TOPS, but I know from my own experience here that there is strength in numbers.  It IS possible to get into good health and a healthy weight range.

PS.  I'm in the turtle club too, but I'm working hard to get out of it.

I'm in the turtle club too. I just want to lose a few vanity pounds, my goal overall is just get in shape and feel better, so I have to look on the bright side and say at least I'm not gaining.

The mountain climb sounds awesome! I'm looking forward to a trip to the mountains of NC this weekend but I think I will be doing a lot more relaxing than working out. :D

I have a question about doing the physical and personal challenges.  Can we get more than one point per day for each of these?  For example, if I did the Plank challenge today, but also did the Crunches challenge.  Could I have 2 points?  

Same on the personal:  I always eat breakfast, and strive for 5 fruit and veg?  I love that I might get an extra point if I drink more than 8 - 8 oz. of water.  

Here's a personal challenge:

Brush your teeth at least 3 times a day!  Brushing teeth is a great deterrent to mindless snacking, especially on candy!  Once you brush you're less likely to snack!

I had a bunch of emails from all of you today.  Great going everybody.  We are off to a strong start. 

On counting execise, this is the way I have been doing it:

If you have 30 minutes walking in addition to 2 x 30 second planks, 50 crunches, etc.  that would be 2 x 15 min. = 6 points, plus 1 point each for the other exercise for a total of 8 points.

Anybody who wants to do the toothbrush challenge can add it to their points as a personal challenge.

Thanks Kathy.  I did yoga again this morning -- yay for that.  Now I have to follow through and have a bike ride.

I don't really know if we're supposed to set goals for ourselves daily or not; but I started doing this a year ago--on my birthday.  Basically the individual daily goals vary for me as I try to accomplish at least one minor household task (off the beaten path a little) that will eventually lead me into a major accomplishment--case in point:  I'm working in my kitchen this month.  Yesterday I wiped down the cupboard on the south wall that is above the sink cabinet.  My plan today was to wipe down the cupboards above the sink on the east wall, but when I realized I had to use the ladder to reach the top, I continued on with the rest of the cupboards above the sink cabinet and the refrigerator.  Tomorrow my household task will be the kitchen hutch....I started doing this when Mom was still with us--she was homebound at this point and since I was her caregiver, so was I.  It gave me a real sense of purpose for each day outside of the everyday caregiving, and she loved watching me work.

My exercise ans weight goals kind of remain the same:  90 minutes on the recumbent bike; 1400 calories a day; weights three times a week.  I added the situps after joining this, and will try to challenge myself to other things I see as I keep reading.  Hope everyone is finding some success -- small steps, small steps.

Went for a 30 minute walk this evening with my husband and daughter. We've been using my son's time at basketball practice as our exercise time as well. Since he has practice 3-4 times a week that means I will be getting in my exercise as well. At least until the weather gets bad, then I'll have to move the exercise inside. My fingers are crossed that the icy winter weather will stay away - far, far away! I can handle the cold and even snow but we tend to get a lot of ice as well which can make for difficult walking.

Darn -- got within 15 calories of my 1400 calorie daily limit...

Okay, accomplishments today:

12  8oz. glasses of water;    107 minutes on recumbent bike: 1,077 calories burned;   five servings of fruits and veggies;   50 sit-ups;   kitchen cupboards wiped down!

Have to change my personal goal for tomorrow---am going out of town to visit my brother at the Vet's Home in Norfolk.

Good luck, everybody!

I reevaluated my points goal, I am changing that number to 400 lol. I realized that with it practically being winter, there is no way I can get it that high. I'm stuck indoors now. Not that it is bad, I can get more calories burned faster using machines and the pool. But I like the view outside better.... maybe one day we will move where it is temperate.

Jamescl - don't you hate it when you are so close!! I had an almond joy put me over this week. I ate it figuring I'd find out how many calories it was when I logged at night. The little bugger was 90 calories!! And it wasn't even that good... darned halloween candies.

Still trying to get moving more often. I find when I am inside, warm and comfy, I have the uncanny ability to become one with the couch lol. Hopefully a fun exercise DVD will inspire me. Wish me luck, weigh-in is Monday, and I'm hoping to have left the turtle club and the plateau behind! :)

Hope everyone is doing well! GL

Good Luck theprize!!!  I weigh in on Monday too!  Had a good day today--actually kept my food intake under CC's recommended 1400 calories--I think it's the first time that's ever happened.  I'm still trying to get a fix on the food intake.  I noticed as soon as I started paying attention to the number of fruits and vegetables included in my food plan, it's gotten easier.  Again, good luck!

I have noticed that eating the 5 veg/fruits helps to keep me fuller and more satisfied throughout the day.  Since doing the slimming minis for the last few months, I have gotten so I start thinking in the middle of the day whether I am going to do okay on getting those in for the day.  It's hard to overeat some of the more fattening stuff  if take care the veg/fruits have been consumed in the day.  Of course, I still eat chocolates and things like that, but I'm too full and satisfied to eat too much.

Winter is coming.  I live in a temperate area, so I should be able to get my walking and running in through out the winter months. 

I have done terrible to date this month on this challenge.  I caught a cold that knocked me down for a couple of days.  I will go for mountain hiking tomorrow.  I am the guide and expect to walk about seven hours over a fairly steep mountain.  Going down the mountain is the worst for me, and as I am guiding, I'll have to keep a good face on it...  I'm always ravenous after hikes like that, so I will make an effort to not overeat afterward.