Gearing up for BFL - Challenge 3

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/17/2004 8:32:01 AM Eastern Standard Time,

skibum49913@... writes:

This is pretty much the end of my second challenge, and so... I'm

looking at starting another one. My results were... " okay " . Not

great; but... no one to ultimately blame but myself. Progress, not

perfection (right, ?) ;-) I learned a lot, and learning to me

is a key element to being a stronger person.

>>>Congratulations on COMPLETING a very difficult program. Great job!!! And

you have done nothing BUT benefit from all of your efforts, whether your best

or less than best efforts.<<<

Here are my goals for this next challenge:

1) Lose 6lbs fat before Halloween.

2) Regain structure to my days (something that sort of vanished over

the last month or so.)

3) Get visible abs, dangnabbit!!! My stomach and inner thighs are my

fat's last strongholds, but I'm storming that castle in the quest for

a presentable belly button.

4) Find something to train for that doesn't cost a lot of money

(adventure racing is expensive and until I get a new job, ain't gonna

happen).

>>>Great goals. I'm right there with you, except I am losing 10 pounds. My

challenge started Monday. Lianne...running races is cheap...cheap...cheap.

5K's $10-15, 10K's $12-18, 1/2 Marathon - $35-50, Marathon $50-100. And this

money always goes to a great cause. Go for it girl. As you can tell...I'm

hooked!!!<<<

Major new obstacles to overcome:

1) Traveling for interviews.

2) Moving (ugh.)

3) My birthday and Thanksgiving (my dad calls most holidays " Marathon

Eating. " )

>>>Good that you have named the obstacles. Now you can plan for them. There

is a new book that just came out (Andy...the name???) that tells the names of

hundreds of hotels and rates their training room equipment. That allows you

to pick hotels that will make sure you get your workouts accomplished when

traveling.

Moving? Get your workouts done first thing in the morning. It will be out

of the way and not be weighing on your mind all day. Plus, I get energized

when I accomplish my workouts...that is energy to help you with packing!!!

Holidays and birthdays can be designated as free day...or free meal. I

noticed last year that I couldn't gorge myself at T-giving. My tummy doesn not

allow gorging anymore. It has been retrained to eat smaller portions...and I

like it that way!!!! A tablespoon of this and a tablespoon of that, three bites

of pie or cake and I feel satisfied.<<<

Continuing Obstacles:

1) Boyfriend who is about as unsupportive as you can get. I am

getting rather good at fighting this battle, but he is getting

continually less understanding about not bringing " bad " foods into

the house, particularly sweets. Time for another lecture...

2) Unstructured days.

Strategy for overcoming these:

1)Plan.

2)Plan.

3)Plan.

>>>I like Bill approach to this situation. " Turn adversity into

energy " Find ways to turn his unsupportive behaviors into " challenges " to you

for the purpose of overcoming another obsticle and getting that much stronger in

yor own resolve. I don't even care if bad food is in my house anymore. I

just don't eat it. My resolve has become like steel (of course, unless I am

choosing to be lax).

You are right...plan, plan, plan...then implement!<<<

I need to work on eliminating excuses because I've been getting

pretty bad about that. I need new workout clothes, that's one of

them. Mine don't fit anymore (a good thing, I guess), and I cannot

abide going out in public in clothes that don't fit ( " What Not to

Wear " induced paranoia.)

So, that's the plan of attack! Aside from losting those 5-6lbs of

fat, I'm looking to learn how to make this a permanent part of my

life, so the last couple months are going to be more of

a " maintenance training program " than anything.

Thanks to all of you for the support so far! I am very glad to have

to joined this group as I really enjoy the open, informative

discussions.

-Lianne

>>>Glad to hear you are preparing for #3. You've got my support! Show us

what you can do!!!!<<

[Guest guest]

This is pretty much the end of my second challenge, and so... I'm

looking at starting another one. My results were... " okay " . Not

great; but... no one to ultimately blame but myself. Progress, not

perfection (right, ?) ;-) I learned a lot, and learning to me

is a key element to being a stronger person.

Here are my goals for this next challenge:

1) Lose 6lbs fat before Halloween.

2) Regain structure to my days (something that sort of vanished over

the last month or so.)

3) Get visible abs, dangnabbit!!! My stomach and inner thighs are my

fat's last strongholds, but I'm storming that castle in the quest for

a presentable belly button.

4) Find something to train for that doesn't cost a lot of money

(adventure racing is expensive and until I get a new job, ain't gonna

happen).

Major new obstacles to overcome:

1) Traveling for interviews.

2) Moving (ugh.)

3) My birthday and Thanksgiving (my dad calls most holidays " Marathon

Eating. " )

Continuing Obstacles:

1) Boyfriend who is about as unsupportive as you can get. I am

getting rather good at fighting this battle, but he is getting

continually less understanding about not bringing " bad " foods into

the house, particularly sweets. Time for another lecture...

2) Unstructured days.

Strategy for overcoming these:

1)Plan.

2)Plan.

3)Plan.

I need to work on eliminating excuses because I've been getting

pretty bad about that. I need new workout clothes, that's one of

them. Mine don't fit anymore (a good thing, I guess), and I cannot

abide going out in public in clothes that don't fit ( " What Not to

Wear " induced paranoia.)

So, that's the plan of attack! Aside from losting those 5-6lbs of

fat, I'm looking to learn how to make this a permanent part of my

life, so the last couple months are going to be more of

a " maintenance training program " than anything.

Thanks to all of you for the support so far! I am very glad to have

to joined this group as I really enjoy the open, informative

discussions.

-Lianne

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Kelley!

Yes, I was thinking of some sort of running race... triathalons had

crossed my mind, but... I would need some swimming coaching and so I

would prefer to do one of those as a team. On the watch... I'll

definately let you know what I find out.

Yes, that is definately the plan with the workouts, first thing in

the morning. The task this weekend is to plan out the first four

weeks or so in terms of what exercises. I need to revamp things.

I will definately have to look for a book like that. I was in

Louisville in March, and had called the hotel in advance and asked

about their fitness center. Oh yes, good one... weights, treadmills,

bikes, etc. I get there and their weight machine was BROKE, no gyms

anywhere nearby. Ugh. I was not impressed. That was in the middle

of my first challenge. Lesson learned on that one!

I am good about most " bad " food and avoiding them, but things

like...chocolate... are a near impossibility. Hershey Kisses used to

be my downfall, and he wanted to get those new caramel ones...grrr.

Just not confident enough to risk it yet!!! ;-)

Rooting for you and your new challenge, too!!! :-)

-Lianne

> >>>Congratulations on COMPLETING a very difficult program. Great

job!!! And

> you have done nothing BUT benefit from all of your efforts, whether

your best

> or less than best efforts.<<<

>

>

> >>>Great goals. I'm right there with you, except I am losing 10

pounds. My

> challenge started Monday. Lianne...running races is

cheap...cheap...cheap.

> 5K's $10-15, 10K's $12-18, 1/2 Marathon - $35-50, Marathon $50-

100. And this

> money always goes to a great cause. Go for it girl. As you can

tell...I'm

> hooked!!!<<<

>

>

> Major new obstacles to overcome:

> 1) Traveling for interviews.

> 2) Moving (ugh.)

> 3) My birthday and Thanksgiving (my dad calls most

holidays " Marathon

> Eating. " )

>

> >>>Good that you have named the obstacles. Now you can plan for

them. There

> is a new book that just came out (Andy...the name???) that tells

the names of

> hundreds of hotels and rates their training room equipment. That

allows you

> to pick hotels that will make sure you get your workouts

accomplished when

> traveling.

>

> Moving? Get your workouts done first thing in the morning. It

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks! I am fairly satisfied with my progress to date, especially

if I go back and look at my pics from January (YUCK!!! How could I

let myself go that bad???)

Yes, 6lbs is definately on the aggressive side, but.. .that's a lb a

week, so not completely unrealistic. I have learned that if I don't

set an aggressive goal, I slack...hehehe. Speaking of slacking...

all I want to do today is go back to bed... kind of chilly in the

house. Blah.

Yep, you nailed it on the head... I am working on fixing my sleeping

schedule already. Thankfully, it is easier for me to get up at 5-

5:30am than 6:30am. Weird, but it works for me!

Both you and Kelley have good advice on the holidays... I think I

will just have them penciled in as the Free days. That should work

pretty well. Halloween has to be one, too, because we will probably

go out somewhere (at least I HOPE we do!!!) Plan, plan, plan. ;-)

On your Year in Review... congrats on your amazing transformation!

Success like that is truly inspirational, and I would certainly

advocate submitting your story!!!

-Lianne

> Lianne,

>

> Progress, not perfection! ...That's exactly right.

>

> And your results were YOUR results, and they demonstrated great

> PROGRESS! And that is GREAT!!! Be sure to accept the credit for

your

> self improvement! No one else did it for you!

>

> If you were 250 pounds, I would say... 6 pounds of fat by

Halloween

> would be a good goal. At your weight, that's a pretty aggressive

goal.

> I think you can do this, but, don't set yourself up for a reason

to be

> disappointed. I don't want you thinking your progress is " okay " , I

want

> you knowing your progress is tremendous!

>

> To burn the fat, I had extended my cardio sessions longer and have

them

> more frequent than the 3x per week. That seems to have put a

larger

> dent into my stubborn fat stores and helped me break through my 262

> plateau many weeks ago. It also provides that little extra cushion

when

> I steal some french fries from my boys.

>

> As for your obstacles... Planning! You know these events are

coming,

> so be ready. Book hotels with fitness centers, start getting up

earlier

> now, so it's not a shock to do those 5 AM workouts, expect to use

your

> free day for your birthday and other holidays. ...Of course, this

> advice is coming from a guy who had taken 4 free days last week!

>

> Your comments on continuing on with these activities are well

stated.

> After all, you are building your Body for LIFE!

>

> Keep up the awesome progress!

>

> As you well know...

> Progress, not perfection!

>

>

>

>

>