Yes, I know it's still August, but if you're going to do the September challenge, why not spend the next couple of days formulating your plan? Everyone who wanted to participate has set goals, which is a great start. Now, what are your action steps? What are you going to do, specifically?

For example, in my case, I want to stay within my daily calorie allotment. To do that, I will:

• Snack smarter. I've been munching on Clif bars between meals lately, a decidedly negative new habit. I will change my afternoon snack to fruit (adding a piece of cheese or a few walnuts when needed). I think I can eliminate my morning snack altogether. That should save almost 500 calories a day.
  
  
• Eat more slowly. This is an ongoing battle for me. I still have to remind myself to put down my fork between bites and chew thoroughly. When I do, I fill up on less and I don't take seconds. Again, a big calories savings, especially at dinner time.
  

I also want to stick to my training plan to prepare for the Race for the Cure on September 26. I will spend at least 30 minutes on the treadmill Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before rowing practice. On Saturdays, I will take an extra long run outdoors.

OK, your turn. Tell us your action steps.

Jill,

I think you have zeroed in on something.

Linda

quote:

Originally posted by iz:
i was experiencing a similar thing becuase i was up to 9-10 miles on saturday, and again on sunday. i was just plain wiped out, and wanting to munch munch munch.

Yikes, Iz!!!! That's a heck of a lot of miles in 2 days!!! I don't have the legs to run that many miles 2 days in a row...I'm kaput after Saturday. Even staying stable and balanced and getting some yoga in on Sunday is a challenge.

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:

I know this is not directly related to all of the other fitness and nutrition goals here but I feel like if I can bring more peace and guidance into my life I can better focus on becoming a healthier person.

Doesn't matter, Jill! Anything that has an impact on your health and well-being is fair game here on the board and in the challenge. I think yours is a very worthy goal.

i was experiencing a similar thing becuase i was up to 9-10 miles on saturday, and again on sunday. i was just plain wiped out, and wanting to munch munch munch.

i cut down. i am doing 5 miles saturday, and back to the elliptical on sundays. it has helped a lot. for lunch, i often just have a small snack, like yogurt and fruit, and i am pretty satisfied until dinner time.

The thing I am finding (again) is that I am extremely good during the week when I'm on a pretty strict schedule.

Weekends are getting to be a problem. I do a 10-14 mile run on Saturdays, and then both Saturday and Sunday am just exhausted and really want to snack all day. It's hard to stay distracted because I'm almost too tired to focus on anything for long (so reading, homework, etc. doesn't help much). I've tried planning for an afternoon nap, but I wake up and immediately want to snack.

Finding ways to deal with this other than white knuckling are going to be a real challenge.

that is really awesome jill!

I thought about this over the weekend. I've been trying to figure out what goals I want to set. I thought about all my "usual goals" and thought, ugh, how many times am I going to do this. I've been struggling a lot for a long time now with something that has made me feel like I have this gaping hole in my life. Many days where I feel I just go through the motions. I hate my job, I have hated it for years. And I don't mean I dread Monday mornings, or have a co-worker issue. My job drains the life out of me. I am working towards changing that but it is going to take some time. But there is another piece of the puzzle missing. And I think I've figured out what that something is.

So what I decided this weekend is that instead of picking a goal directly related to weight loss I am going to set a goal toward finding spirituality again. I truly believe that is what is missing in my life. And I think that is seriously affecting how I think, feel, and live. I have to decide on something to work towards from a spiritual standpoint.

I know this is not directly related to all of the other fitness and nutrition goals here but I feel like if I can bring more peace and guidance into my life I can better focus on becoming a healthier person.

Jill

Here are my goals:

1. Sticking to my calorie plan by not drinking any alcohol during the weekdays and no sweets (F/S only).

2. Going back to yogurt and fruit for snack instead of crackers (which I tend to overeat).

3. Eat more slowly!

4. Stick to the extra 30 minutes of exercise/day.

Thanks, Susan- great post!

I want to stick to my food plan and to get back to Beck steps as they've always lead to weight loss for me.

Here are my specifics:

1. Do 1-2 Beck exercises per day/ log them in my notebook.

2. Eat only the foods I write on my plan.

I've been good around exercise. The part that's been getting me lately has been eating extras off plan. It's leading to a few pounds that just won't let go. I'm glad to have this impetus.