LOCKED TOPIC

Summer - Challenge

Summer Challenge

Challenge Dates:  June 1, 2009  to  August 31, 2009

As we all know, the summer months can be full of activities that can make our lives more chaotic than usual.  While school is out, we are hard pressed to fit in the annual family vacation, family reunions, band camps, church camps, vacation bible schools, soccer camps and the like.  Then there are the occasional company picnics and company softball leagues that our boss will try to get us to signup for.

The moderating team of “I can do all things through Christ!” does not wish to contribute to the stress.  We would like to offer a Summer Challenge that will allow you to adjust to the summer activities.  We will be running this Challenge (as long as there is interest) from June 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009.

During this Summer Challenge, there will be three areas of interest: 

Study and Meditation = Challenge yourself to feed the spiritual man.  You can commit yourself to a Bible Study, reading “XX” amount of chapters in the Bible a day, or a devotional / inspirational book.  There is also an opportunity to participate in the Group’s Bible Study, “Celebrate Recovery - Freedom from life hurts, hang-ups, and habits”.

Nutrition = Challenge yourself to a well balanced diet.  Challenge yourself to not eating after a certain time.  Challenge yourself to limit the amount of colas.  Challenge yourself to limit your sodium intake.

Fitness = Challenge yourself to take 1 lap a day around your backyard.  Challenge yourself to walk for 30 minutes.  Challenge yourself to walk over a mile.  Challenge yourself to get mobile.

It will be your option to take an area per month or you can pick and choose something from each area.  You can create your own challenge.

Example A:

Study and Meditation = For June, you challenge yourself to participate in the Group’s Bible Study, “Celebrate Recovery - Freedom from life hurts, hang-ups, and habits”.

Nutrition = For July, you challenge yourself to limit yourself to no popsicles.

Fitness = For August, you challenge yourself to walk around the block.

Example B:

Study and Meditation = For all three months, you challenge yourself to reading 2 chapters a day in your Bible.

Nutrition = For all three months, you challenge yourself to increase your vegetable intake.

Fitness = For all three months, you challenge yourself to do a workout video 3 times a week.

This purpose of this challenge is to maintain healthy habits (physical and spiritual) that will improve our lives.  Let’s have fun with this.

Personally, I am going to try to tackle all three areas at the same time. 

Study and Meditation = Since school is out, I am going to do little Bible Studies with my children.  I need to have daily activities for them to do during summer break.  Glynn is better behaved if he has a school like structured schedule.

Nutrition = I am planning to mimic the May Challenge Targets.  I need to get a handle on my Sodium and my Sugar.

Fitness = I will try to fit in 30 minutes a day of some form of exercise.  I don't know how I am going to fit it in, but I will. 

I was only able to walk my 1.5 miles in Monday-Friday because I did the walking after I put Glynn on the bus and Keith can stay with Breanna.  When school is out, Keith's schedule will be changing.  He will have to start work at 7:00am to do the strip and wax treatments on the floors for the high school where he is a custodian.

Study and Meditation- I will commit to studying God's word and meditating on it including prayer, praise and supplication for 1 hour per day.

Nutrition-I will focus on eating less carbs and more protein and veggies and continue my work on portion control.

Fitness- I am still working on this.  I will commit to continue walking further in my driveway with a goal of getting from the house to the mailbox (out by the road) and back again and increase distance as the months go by.For now I will do this 3 days a week, then 4 , then 5 for the last month.

I think I will work on all three for this summer, should be fun :)

 

Study and Meditation = Read a story a day from the Story of Jesus Bible to my children. Stay on top of the "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge.. no playing catch up on the weekends.

Nutrition = Not eating past 8:00 on weeknights and increasing my fruits and veggies to 2 cups at every meal. Eating only 1 Skinny Cow Ice Cream a day.

Fitness = Walk/Running the 5k at least 4 days a week.

I am looking forward to this month of accomplishment.  The areas I would like to focus on are as follows:

Study and Meditation ~ I  will read a devotion daily and working on either the Celebrate Recovery Lessons or Daily Victory, Daily Joy with First Place 4 Health Bible Sudies.

Nutrition~ I am continuing on with my April/May Challenge Targets.  I need to get a handle on my Calories, Sodium, Fats, Sugar.

Fitness ~ I will try to incorporate some arm and leg exercises, along with walking "my lap" every other day. 

For all three months I plan to:

Study and mediation ~ I will read at least 1 chapter in the Bible a day

Nutrition ~ I will not eat after 8pm

Fitness ~ I will get in a hour of exercise at least 4 days a week

Wow!  I was so on track today with my new goals.  Then, one obstacle after another came along.  Today's report ended up as follows:

Study and meditation:  Working on Lesson 2 of Celebrate Recovery and First Place Study

Nutrition:

• Goal 48 oz. Water - 96 oz.
• Goal 3 vegetables  - 9
• Goal 2 fruits - 2
• No carbonated beverage 
• No eating after 7:30 PM
• Calorie Goal is 1500-2500 - 2479
• Fat Target (between 20% - 35%) - 38.5% 
• Protein Target (between 10% - 35%) - 19.9%
• Carbohydrates Target (between 45% - 65%) - 41.6% 
• Sodium Target (under 2400) - 3902
• Sugar Target (under 80) - 75
• Cholesterol Target (under 300) - 345
• Saturated Fat Target (under 20) - 34
• Fiber Target (over 25) - 51

Fitness:  I could make some excuses, but the truth is I did not make the time.

06/01/09

Study and Meditation = I will actually start this part of the challenge next week.  This is Glynn's last week of school.  I am still gathering the Bible Studies and worksheets for Glynn and Breanna.

Nutrition = Today could have been better.  Tomorrow WILL be better.

• Total Calories ...... Target = between 1,500 / 1,800 ....... Actual = 1,773 
• Fat ....................... Target = between 20% and 35% ..... Actual = 36.8%
• Protein ................. Target = between 10% and 35% ..... Actual = 20.5%
• Carbohydrates ..... Target = between 45% and 65% ..... Actual = 42.8%
• Sodium ................. Target = under 2,400 ....................... Actual = 3,096
• Sugar ................... Target = under 40 ............................ Actual = 64
• Cholesterol .......... Target = under 217 .......................... Actual = 195
• Saturated Fat ...... Target = under 20 ............................ Actual = 21
• Fiber .................... Target = over 25 .............................. Actual = 28

Fitness = According to my Pedometer, I walked  1.35  miles in  0.35.08  minutes at a rate of  2.31  m/h or  128  Steps / Minute which equaled  04,524  Steps.  I burned  378  Calories.

 

I am planning on doing all three challenges:

Study and Meditation =I am doing the Celebrate Recovery.  On the nights my husband is off we do a devotional together. We attend a weekly bible study with a group from our church. I am going to try and spend more time in prayer each day.

Nutrition = Stay within my calories each day. I have been on several sites and get a different amount each time. I am trying to stay at about 1400. My mom heard on the news that if you want to lose weight take the weight you want to weigh and add a 0 to the end. I want to weigh 150 so that would be 1500 calories. So I dont want to go over that amount each day. Stay away from McDonalds sweet tea.

Fitness = I am limited due to health problems. I have a in home walking dvd and I want to start doing that 3 days a week. I have hand weights and I want to start doing strength training 3 times a week. Sunday will be my day of rest from exercising!!

I did so much better today and would not let myself be detoured with my meal plan.  I had a blessed time with the Lord in my studies. Exercise today went well.  Andy wants to push me a little futher tomorrow (we shall see). 

Nutrition:

• Goal 48 oz. Water - 96 oz.
• Goal 3 vegetables  - 6
• Goal 2 fruits - 4
• No carbonated beverage 
• No eating after 7:30 PM
• Calorie Goal is 1500-2500 - 1549
• Fat Target (between 20% - 35%) - 13.3% 
• Protein Target (between 10% - 35%) - 28.8%
• Carbohydrates Target (between 45% - 65%) - 58% 
• Sodium Target (under 2400) - 2624
• Sugar Target (under 80) - 93
• Cholesterol Target (under 300) - 227
• Saturated Fat Target (under 20) - 6
• Fiber Target (over 25) - 41

Study and meditation:  Yes, Worked on Lesson 2 - Powerless of Celebrate Recovery and First Place Study completed Day 4

Fitness:  Yes (see post in Summer Exercise in what I did)

06/02/09

Study and Meditation = I will actually start this part of the challenge next week.  This is Glynn's last week of school.  I am still gathering the Bible Studies and worksheets for Glynn and Breanna.

Nutrition = Alright.  Get a grip.  I know how to get back on track.  Then why am I not doing it?  I really wanted an apple.  So the overage is an apple.  I was at 1724 after eating my dinner.

• Total Calories ...... Target = between 1,500 / 1,800 ....... Actual = 1,807 
• Fat ....................... Target = between 20% and 35% ..... Actual = 42.5%
• Protein ................. Target = between 10% and 35% ..... Actual = 15.0%
• Carbohydrates ..... Target = between 45% and 65% ..... Actual = 42.5%
• Sodium ................. Target = under 2,400 ....................... Actual = 2,789
• Sugar ................... Target = under 40 ............................ Actual = 60
• Cholesterol .......... Target = under 217 .......................... Actual = 166
• Saturated Fat ...... Target = under 20 ............................ Actual = 25
• Fiber .................... Target = over 25 .............................. Actual = 24

Fitness = According to my Pedometer, I walked 1.42 miles in 0.38.45 minutes at a rate of 2.19 m/h or 122 Steps / Minute which equaled 04,741 Steps.  Burned 396 Calories

 

Wednesday, June 3rd.  Oh my, here come the excuses.  I feel like I have been broadsided by a vehicle.  I was hit with an emotional response from my brother when I was trying to clear the air.  Andy is off today.  We are having rain and thunderstorms.  I am freezing cold, I have a huge spider bite on my left ankle and left arm.  What have my bible studies been saying about excuses?  Oh yeah!  Stop making excuses! 

Bottom-line:

Nutrition at 2:00 PM (I have not had dinner): 5:30 PM:

• Goal 48 oz. Water - 64 oz.  96 oz.
• Goal 3 vegetables  - 1
• Goal 2 fruits - 1 2
• No carbonated beverage 
• No eating after 7:30 PM
• Calorie Goal is 1500-2500 - 2164 3114
• Fat Target (between 20% - 35%) - 48.9%  42.5%
• Protein Target (between 10% - 35%) - 18.4% -19.6%
• Carbohydrates Target (between 45% - 65%) - 32.7%  37.9%
• Sodium Target (under 2400) - 4007 6450
• Sugar Target (under 80) - 18 41
• Cholesterol Target (under 300) - 268  383
• Saturated Fat Target (under 20) - 45  62
• Fiber Target (over 25) - 12 19

Study and meditation:  No (I did a little but not enough to say yes)

Fitness:  No

Tomorrow will be better - my mindset went off track.

06/03/09

Study and Meditation= I will actually start this part of the challenge next week.  This is Glynn's last week of school.  I am still gathering the Bible Studies and worksheets for Glynn and Breanna.

Nutrition = Numbers are looking better than yesterday.

• Total Calories ...... Target = between 1,500 / 1,800 ....... Actual = 1,722 
• Fat ....................... Target = between 20% and 35% ..... Actual = 18.5%
• Protein ................. Target = between 10% and 35% ..... Actual = 18.0%
• Carbohydrates ..... Target = between 45% and 65% ..... Actual = 63.5%
• Sodium ................. Target = under 2,400 ....................... Actual = 2,996
• Sugar ................... Target = under 40 ............................ Actual = 92
• Cholesterol .......... Target = under 217 .......................... Actual = 84
• Saturated Fat ...... Target = under 20 ............................ Actual = 8
• Fiber .................... Target = over 25 .............................. Actual = 42

Fitness = 20 minutes.  See post #3 in the Summer - Exercise thread.

OK,  here goes!   I'm diving in!  I've been out of pocket for a few weeks with my daughters graduation and hosting a family gathering, so it's good to be back in the saddle!  I'm ready to make this a summer to remember!

Study and Meditation = I've gotten back to my early morning bible reading and prayer. Devotionals are great, but reading through the bible and allowing the Lord to speak to me through His word is what I need. I'm thankful for the prompting of needing the Lord to help me through preparations for my daughters graduation and having family in town. It made me realize I needed Him before my day even got started - so I hope to continue to read and pray (and listen) before I do anything else in the mornings. It sure makes my days go better - and why I forget that is beyond me!

Nutrition = I have gotten a little sloppy with my food. During graduation stuff I allowed myself some treats (not chocolate) and now that they are gone I plan to buy or make no more! So what was working and making me feel the best was a protein and a live food at every meal and water before each meal.  So, I plan to get refocused on that.  I had so much energy and was losing! I can tell with my clothes that I didn't lose during the last week, and feel puffy! (I didn't do as much water and did drink sodas because someone brought a bunch of them - but I'm sick of them! I definately feel better with water)

Fitness = My challenge is still going to be to do at least 20 minutes of exercise everyday - whether it be swimming, stretching, dancing, walking, or even old fashioned exercises. And my goal for the summer is to increase that to 30-40 minutes per day.  Some things I can do for longer, like swimming, so to increase my walking to that time would be great.  Also, I would like to add biking by the end of the summer.  (I need variety!! can you tell - I get bored easily)

06/04/09

Study and Meditation= I will actually start this part of the challenge next week.  This is Glynn's last week of school.  I am still gathering the Bible Studies and worksheets for Glynn and Breanna.

Nutrition = I could have done better with my calories.  And of course, I still need to work on Sodium and Sugar.

• Total Calories ...... Target = between 1,500 / 1,800 ....... Actual = 1,961 
• Fat ....................... Target = between 20% and 35% ..... Actual = 22.4%
• Protein ................. Target = between 10% and 35% ..... Actual = 19.8%
• Carbohydrates ..... Target = between 45% and 65% ..... Actual = 57.8%
• Sodium ................. Target = under 2,400 ....................... Actual = 2,635
• Sugar ................... Target = under 40 ............................ Actual = 110
• Cholesterol .......... Target = under 217 .......................... Actual = 105
• Saturated Fat ...... Target = under 20 ............................ Actual = 18
• Fiber .................... Target = over 25 .............................. Actual = 42

Fitness = Walking 35 minutes   (See Summer - Exercise Thread)

Thursday's Report

Nutrition:

• Goal 48 oz. Water - 96 oz.
• Goal 3 vegetables  - 8
• Goal 2 fruits - 1
• No carbonated beverage 
• No eating after 7:30 PM
• Calorie Goal is 1500-2500 - 2017
• Fat Target (between 20% - 35%) - 33.2% 
• Protein Target (between 10% - 35%) - 22.2%
• Carbohydrates Target (between 45% - 65%) - 43.2% 
• Sodium Target (under 2400) - 5333 (overload) 
• Sugar Target (under 80) - 53
• Cholesterol Target (under 300) - 40
• Saturated Fat Target (under 20) - 30
• Fiber Target (over 25) - 34

Study and meditation:  Yes, Worked on Lesson 2 - Powerless of Celebrate Recovery and First Place Study completed Day 5

Fitness:  Yes (see post in Summer Exercise)

Friday's Report

Nutrition:

• Goal 48 oz. Water - 96 oz.
• Goal 3 vegetables  - 7
• Goal 2 fruits -3
• No carbonated beverage 
• No eating after 7:30 PM
• Calorie Goal is 1500-2500 - 1974
• Fat Target (between 20% - 35%) - 25.2% 
• Protein Target (between 10% - 35%) - 12.6%
• Carbohydrates Target (between 45% - 65%) - 62.3% 
• Sodium Target (under 2400) - 2223
• Sugar Target (under 80) - 111 
• Cholesterol Target (under 300) - 45
• Saturated Fat Target (under 20) - 13
• Fiber Target (over 25) - 34

Study and meditation:  Yes, Worked on Lesson 2 - Powerless of Celebrate Recovery and First Place Study completed Day 6

Fitness:  Yes (see post in Summer Exercise)

06/05/09

Study and Meditation= I will actually start this part of the challenge next week.  This is Glynn's last week of school.  I am still gathering the Bible Studies and worksheets for Glynn and Breanna.

Nutrition =

• Total Calories ...... Target = between 1,500 / 1,800 ....... Actual = 2,182 
• Fat ....................... Target = between 20% and 35% ..... Actual = 22.9%
• Protein ................. Target = between 10% and 35% ..... Actual = 25.5%
• Carbohydrates ..... Target = between 45% and 65% ..... Actual = 51.6%
• Sodium ................. Target = under 2,400 ....................... Actual = 2,431
• Sugar ................... Target = under 40 ............................ Actual = 94
• Cholesterol .......... Target = under 217 .......................... Actual = 278
• Saturated Fat ...... Target = under 20 ............................ Actual = 18
• Fiber .................... Target = over 25 .............................. Actual = 33

Fitness = Walking for 41 minutes  (See Summer - Exercise)

June1-6 update

Fitness: I've done great and did over 4 hours of exercise this week.

Nutrition: Horrible, I'm still to weak to give up my evening snacks, and that is where I tend to go over my calorie goal too.

Study and Meditation: I have not been reading my Bible as I had planned, although every time I exercise alone or with friend I am sure to pray and praise...I still am going to push forth to get in the Word!

Saturday's Report

Nutrition:

• Goal 48 oz. Water - 96 oz.
• Goal 3 vegetables  - 1
• Goal 2 fruits -2
• No carbonated beverage 
• No eating after 7:30 PM
• Calorie Goal is 1500-2500 - 3616
• Fat Target (between 20% - 35%) - 54% 
• Protein Target (between 10% - 35%) - 16.7%
• Carbohydrates Target (between 45% - 65%) - 29.3% 
• Sodium Target (under 2400) - 5015
• Sugar Target (under 80) - 68 
• Cholesterol Target (under 300) - 503
• Saturated Fat Target (under 20) - 74
• Fiber Target (over 25) - 14

Study and meditation:  Yes, Worked on Lesson 2 - Powerless of Celebrate Recovery

Fitness:  No

Original Post by dlbrown1020:  on 05/30/09

Personally, I am going to try to tackle all three areas at the same time. 

Study and Meditation = Since school is out, I am going to do little Bible Studies with my children.  I need to have daily activities for them to do during summer break.  Glynn is better behaved if he has a school like structured schedule.

Nutrition = I am planning to mimic the May Challenge Targets.  I need to get a handle on my Sodium and my Sugar.

Fitness = I will try to fit in 30 minutes a day of some form of exercise.  I don't know how I am going to fit it in, but I will. 

I was only able to walk my 1.5 miles in Monday-Friday because I did the walking after I put Glynn on the bus and Keith can stay with Breanna.  When school is out, Keith's schedule will be changing.  He will have to start work at 7:00am to do the strip and wax treatments on the floors for the high school where he is a custodian.

I am going to change my challenge a little bit.  

Study and Meditation = Glynn and Breanna are in no way interested in the Bible Studies that I have been collecting for them.  So I am going to be doing the daily devotionals that my mother's church have been sending me via email.

Nutrition = I am planning to mimic the May Challenge Targets.  I need to get a handle on my Sodium and my Sugar.

Fitness = Now that I know that there is an Exercise section on the cable package that we have, I will be doing a minimum of 20 minutes a day of some form of exercise.  (Walking or Videos)  Some days, it maybe more than the 20 minutes.