This is a tough week coming off a holiday weekend away but I am trying to make the best of it. I went to the gym at lunch today (though for not enough time) and have eaten fairly healthy all day. The bad time of day is when I get home from work...I want to eat EVERYTHING and never anything healthy!!!
Out of curiosity, what is the problem with diet soda? I've never drank soda so I have no soda to eliminate but isn't it sugar-free and no calorie?

My goal this week will be to get back to my weight training routine and to drink 64 oz of water a day. The routine's been way off since Dec 24, so now back to my regular schedule! I'm ready!

I lift weights and do cardio three times a week (M, W, S) -- and I'm continuing that commitment. Working to be more vigilant about water, fruit and veggie intake. Congrats to everyone for all the good strides.

I've been a LOT better about eating healthily in the last week than I have been in the past few months, but still haven't done much on the exercise front other than my 5 mile walk on Saturday.

Re diet soda: Cola drinks and root beer, possibly other drinks, have phosphorus in them that may contribute to bone softening in women. My doctor tells me to limit it even though I have great bones. This is somewhat controversial--there is phosphorus in all kinds of natural foods.

There is also the problem that some young women drink diet sodas instead of drinking milk for calcium. There is also a concern that drinks containing caffeine can drain calcium from the bones. Then there are the chemical ingredients that could possibly be harmful over the long run.

I don't think science knows for sure at present, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Theresa- I can tell you that if I get even a tiny bit of sugar- I feel it and react to it. I also react to too much of the fake sugar or carbs. It sucks, but I feel so much better when I eat the way that I know I should.

Today I stuck to a little less than 1600 calories and almost all of my RDA (need to take my vit E and vit D pills, plus a cup of nonfat milk).

I went to the gym but forgot my shoes (oy!) so I came home. I put my shoes in my bag, so tomorrow I'll do a full hour or more to make up for it!

My regret today was eating a serving of chocolate covered cherries. Too much fat and empty carbs in my food log! I'm using fitday.com and have successfully lost weight using this food log before, in case any one is interested.

Well, I made some decent progress. I joined Weight Watchers online and have started tracking my food intake. I got rid of the foods that I tend to binge snack on and replaced them with hummus, English cucumbers, broccoli, mushrooms, and bell peppers to cut up and snack on instead.

I made it back to the gym three times in the last few days for an hour each. My minimum goal is to average 5 x 30 minute workouts per week or more. (More would be great - I'd love it if I could get in 5 x 1 hour workouts per week - but realistically 2.5 hours is a good minimum to strive for that I can actually accomplish.)
I found my tiny, lightweight mp3 player that my dad gave me and loaded it with fun workout music.

I even found a great start-of-the-year deal on my gym and got my boyfriend a one week trial membership in the hopes that he might decide to join with me. We used to belong to the same gym years ago and would go on workout dates together, and I miss it. Last spring we had trained for a did a 5K together. We've both let ourselves get really out of shape since then, unfortunately.

One aspect that I'm already pretty good at is avoiding calorie-laden drinks. I don't like coffee, and take my tea without sweetening or milk. Since my sister works for a company that does graphic designs for water bottles, I've ended up with a lot of her cool products so you'll usually find me hauling around a water bottle of some kind.

Can I join in? I weighed myself yesterday after catching sight of my growing pot belly, and I'm the heaviest I've ever been. My mum is struggling right now to lose a lot of weight, and I know she used to be so skinny - it just kept building up a little at a time.

I want to start some good habits that will keep me healthy and well for the rest of my life, and hopefully lose a few inches off my waistline in the short-term.

My new habits:
- spend 20 minutes on the exercise bike 3 times a week, building up to 30 minutes of interval training
- go to Zumba or another aerobics class with a friend once a week
- drink water except for my morning coffee and an evening treat of a glass of wine *if* my calorie budget allows for it.

I have a tendency to drink all my calories: iced coffee, soft drinks (not even diet ones, full sugar and caffiene, the works), beer, wine, spirits. It's not healthy and I can do better for myself than that.

I'd like to give the Hundred Pushups workout a go, but I'm too busy right now so I've set a reminder in my calendar to look into it again in April.

I don't suppose anyone else is using the Lose It website to track their food and exercise? I'm trying it out for the first time, will report in on how it goes.

Stringy - I use http://www.fitday.com to track my calories. It's not perfect but it gives me a good idea of where I am.

Today I went to the House of Air and I jumped in a trampoline room for a full hour. I was shattered afterwards. Who knew that bouncing on trampolines would be so physically intensive? Very fun though, we bounced off the walls. I was too scared to do any crazy tricks but my husband loved it. He's such a daredevil.

I also did a full workout at the gym and I signed up for a session with a private trainer to learn proper olympic weightlifting technique!

I hovered around 1200 calories today - probably a bit too little but it was all good stuff so I am not too worried. I have got back to planning our dinners and I have everything I need for the week so we won't resort to take away junk!

Well done everybody - sounds like we're all off to a good start.

I love reading about other people's goals and progress here. It is motivating.

A mixed start for me I'm afraid.

Bad:
- coming down with a nasty cold dec 30th (my first day back at work after christmas break). Today is my first "cold 'n flu" tablet free-day since so at least I'm improving.
- not as much exercise as I'd like
- very poor eating, especially when I got home from a 15hour work day on sunday night
- not drinking enough water at work

Good:
- Slept 12hrs last night (was in bed by 7pm) and felt better for it
- Went for a 1hr walk today

Aims for next 2 days:
- more water at work
- at least one high intensity exercise

Let's hope I manage to improve things by the end of the week!!

I did my first 20 min ride on the exercise bike, and gee is my butt sore now! I think I need a comfier seat.

Also I made a healthy rice and chickpeas dish for dinner, with extra vegetables to get in more nutrients. I'm feeling so virtuous

Well you guys really motivated me tonight. I had vaguely thought about swimming after our evening meal, and wasn't feeling like it - in fact was feeling very sleepy - but the thought of you spurred me on, thought I didn't push things, only doing 1.5km so as not to upset the 2 helpings of tea in my tummy.
Had my first sleep of over 8 hous last night for ages (partially thanksto DD#3 who fell asleep with me after her 5am feed instead of her usual demands for breakfast or a walk.

No move downwards on the weight and not even trying with the food til after DD's third birthday party tomorrow.

Mellllls - I do not think that there is anything wrong with diet sodas per se, but for me I have come to drink far too many of them. I am hoping that by eliminating them I will drink more water, naturual fruit juice, etc.

I hesitated on this but figured I'd hop in. I am following a beginner's half marathon training schedule and am adding running mileage gradually over 12 weeks. I only started running at all 3 1/2 years ago. So this is a big distance for me. Anyway, today my long run of the week will be 7 miles and then two other 4 mile training runs mixed up with indoor biking, weights, and yoga. I don't always get the crosstraining in because I figure if I get the running done, that's what counts. So I aim to stick to the schedule for the duration of the next 6 weeks of training.
I already log everything I eat and have done this for about 7 years. I know, kind of crazy, but it works for me. I now use http://www.fitbit.com to keep track since I got my Fitbit over a year ago. What I really need to do is avoid the convenience processed foods like Steph. I don't drink soda but make up for that with wine So I'd like to cut back quite a bit there, as well. I have started doing 10 military style push ups a night to firm up my back and triceps a bit.
Sounds like everyone is getting a good start on their good habits! I hope I can stick with mine and especially try and get in the kitchen more - it's a scary place for us non cooks!

I'd like to jump in too. I've gained so much weight since having my two little boys... wasn't the pregnancies so much as the sleep loss and loss of time to go to the gym. And I've gotten really lazy about eating - so I eat junk. I've set a big goal this year - lose 60 pounds. I started Weight Watchers this week, and my first goal is to track everything I'm eating. So far, so good - and the awareness it brings is incredible. A Panera bread bowl for soup is 15 points!!!! (And that doesn't even count the soup!) Anyways, I know we're supposed to dress the body we have, but I'm feeling so unhealthy and sluggish, and I'm hoping that this big weight loss goal will bring with it increased energy and a general new attitude.

You girls are going great so far!

I hope those of you who are unwell recover quickly.

Yesterday wasn't so good for me because I ended up being out all day - I had planned on getting home for lunch but it didn't happen

But, interestingly, just from doing the balance exercises on the Wii for 1/2 an hour on Monday, I noticed I could feel it in my legs yesterday! So even the balance exercises were impacting on my muscles. I'm really trying to focus on my posture at the moment as a result.

LJ - trampolining is great fun and sure is a work out! I sometimes go jump on our tramp with the girls, but boy, I get exhausted so fast - I have no idea how they can jump for hours on end LOL

Khris that is really interesting - do you think you are more sensitive to sugar now that you body is accustomed to not having it, or perhaps you were always this sensitive but it wasn't so clear? I realised that unless I have a commercial beverage, I only consume sugar cooked in my food (as opposed to added to anything), so I'm keen to see how getting back on track impacts it all and if eliminating that last bit (well, lot as you know!) of sugar will be worthwhile or not.

Theresa- I am more sensitive now for sure. Actually, I was a sugar/carb addict most of my life. I think that I was always trying to get back to that sugar high.I actually talked to my doctor about it today. At first he was skeptical, but as we talked more and I told him the changes that I have noticed he became more interested. It's certainly not a diet that is harmful, so if it helps then you haven't lost anything.

may i barge in? i'm trying to lose a few pounds and just get fitter overall. i'm working hard on drinking more - i'm really bad at it - and i've gotten back into a workout routine that i've been good about sticking to for the past couple of weeks, so hopefully that continues.

right now i'm halfway through the 200 situps program (www.twohundredsitups.com), so i do that in combination with cardio kickboxing every other day. on rest days i either run or double the cardio aerobic workout. so for today, i did:

- 85 situps (i'm on week 2)
- 25 reverse crunches
- 20 minutes of cardio kickboxing

my next goal is to really work hard on disciplining myself on food intake. my portion size is wayyyy out of whack. i need to work harder on that!

Come on in Hanna! The more the merrier

Khris that is really really interesting - I have a friend who recently cut out sugar and her Dr was thinking she was a bit nutty at the start too, but has now seen the changes in her so is on board. And you've described me to a T - carb and sugar junkie! I used to eat nothing but carbs if I had the choice. When I've evaluated my BSL's I've found that the recommendations are for between 4-7 (I think), but I need to be much closer to the 6-7 to avoid hypoglycaemic symptoms and I suspect that's because my body still hasn't adjusted to not needing that sugar high you describe - its almost like 28yrs of carb overload is taking more than the 3 yrs of lower carb, higher protein that I've been doing to sort itself out. How is your blood pressure? Mine is low - so my Dr and specialist have both told me I need to be sure to eat often, stay very hydrated, and increase my salt intake. But they both believe the low BP and hypoglycaemia are linked but the BP worsens they hypoglycaemia.

Actually, that just reminded me - my worst ever hypo (to the point I actually passed out), was as a reaction to fructose - I ate half an apple (which are VERY high in fructose) as a challenge before bed, and the next morning I managed to only get out of bed, and then pass out and Dr said fructose induced hypo's are a very common symptom of fructose issues. But I knew for a while I had fructose issues, I was just challenging - so now all F&V with higher levels of fructose are off my menu indefinitely. Do you avoid all the *natural* sugars like F&V as well?

I really should stop rambling away here boring everyone to death LOL. I'm just so fascinated by the way foods affect our bodies and how individual we all are, yet how similar you and I are!

Fascinating Theresa!
My blood pressure had been a little high before, but it was now ideal at this appointment so it seems to be leveling out. If I get too much sugar or carbs my heart pounds, so I do think it's related. I do also avoid too much natural sugars- and anything that isn't low on the GI scale. Apples don't seem to bother me, though. I had to do a fasting blood test this morning, and I was a bit worried sine we got out the door an hour later than I wanted and then had to wait a while at the lab. But I was fine when we got home- almost 3 hours later than I usually eat breakfast. I usually eat a little something every few hours- I find that helps, too.

Just an update, since I'm very proud of myself for this - I've totally got back into the gym full swing. For the last 5 days I have made it into the gym for an hour minimum, sometimes more. I did a lot of cardio and also swam a little.

My goal for next week is to check out some of the newly offered fitness classes. From my previous experience with other gyms, once I get hooked on a particular class or instructor, I'm much more motivated to show up every week (and work out in between so that I'm improving a bit between classes.)

Yoga and Zumba are on my agenda next week, so hope I can make it.

Yay Kari - well done on the swimming.

I decided that I would like to fast track my membership forward - not because I am concerned about my pregnancy weight gain or because I think that I need to lose weight, but because it is just too easy to not exercise enough or thing "the baby really would like a chocolate/biscuit/piece of cake..."

My aims are:
1) to do my pregnancy yoga DVD twice a week and swim one or two times as well. I had really wanted to find a pilates class, but all the ones near me either started at 6pm (can't get home for that time) or were during the day (am at work).

2) to eat my 5 a day

3) to drink enough water

Go for it Fi! You could also find out if the baby ends up liking veg more because you've had loads in your pregnancy. You could be a one-woman experiment! Have fun.

Khris that is FANTASTIC that you were ok with a 3 hour wait for food - I'm always nervous when I have to have fasting bloods too! And good that your BP is normal too.

Woohoo Kari - great way to start!

Fi I think that sounds like a great idea! I remember doing a pregnancy yoga dvd in the last tri of pregnancy #1, and loving it. I'm positive that you being as fit and healthy as possible will make birthing and recovering much better too.

I had a trip to the Dr today that I think is going to change my course somewhat...

I've been getting on and off headaches behind just one eye and my Dr is pretty sure its coming from neck/shoulder/back pain. He was poking around my neck vertebrae and my right side was incredibly tender (I've had right side back/neck/shoulder issues for as long as i can remember but it comes and goes too), and so was much of my spine too.

He's sending me off to see a physiotherapist and thinks they'll prescribe treatments with them as well as stretching exercises and probably some upper body strengthening exercises as well.

I'll phone them for an appointment in the morning, but it looks like my planned exercise regime will no doubt have some input from the physiotherapist now.

Always something going on to change whatever plans we make!!

I had a busy couple days and wasn't able to read this thread since I started it on Monday. (I feel like such a bad thread-starter.) But the advantage of that is that after reading through everyone's posts I am totally impressed and inspired! It's great to see so much enthusiasm and energy for this.

Several people mentioned wanting to join - of course everyone is welcome.

I've been thinking about what I want to add as a habit. For the most part, I feel like I'm on track. I'm currently following a low carb diet (started in November). I decided to do this because I think I do better on less sugar/carbs, and I've also been having some intestinal problems that might be due to food intolerances. So I've gone very low carb and restricted in what I eat, and then been gradually adding back in different foods and more carbs. It is really helping my digestion and I'm gradually losing weight as well (I'm down about 6 pounds from my peak). This week my weight was up 1 pound, which worried me at first, but I think it might actually be from all the exercise I got over New Year's weekend - we did a lot of hiking up/down mountains, and I often weigh a bit more after lots of exercise.

I'm pretty happy with my exercise - I get a lot of exercise. I walk 2.5-3 miles each day to/from work, I do crossfit 1-2 times per week, yoga 1-3 times per week, and go trail running or hiking on the weekends.

I decided that my goal for this week is to go to the climbing gym - which I did last night, so yay! I love climbing but have been so busy at work I haven't been going much lately. I really miss it, so I think this challenge is a good time for me to get back into it.

Thanks again for everyone who has joined the challenge. It is so encouraging to have so many people supporting each other!

Well done, All!

checking in for my goals:
Eating better (not perfect) - check
Exercising at least every second day - check
Spending time with friends - check

No change on the scales, but I do feel stronger and more energetic.

Lets keep up the good work

A spanner to add to the Healthy Habits challenge - my SO's family has started a couples Biggest Loser challenge. Basically we just let the other participants know our total weight loss from week to week combined with our partner/spouse. (We won't actually be weighing in in front of each other, which is what worried me.) There is a financial incentive for the winning couple for each month or the winners overall.
Not sure if anything will come of it, but it's at least another incentive to stick to my plan & see if it works.

Medusa - I'm considering starting crossfit in the nearish future. Is it really as hard as people say? I'm not an athlete by any stretch - I'm a decent swimmer but I can't run more than a mile. I wonder if I shouldn't wait until my general fitness is better...what's your thought?