Real-Life Challenges

At this blog, we're starting conversations about challenging ourselves to make changes. But what happens when real-life challenges interrupt? Challenges like, oh, I don't know, flooding?

This morning I had plans and I was on track. Then it started to get light outside and I could see the flooding. I live on a mountain and have culverts to funnel the water away from the house. When the culverts are blocked, all of that water aims itself right at my house. That's what it's doing today. So we dig. Fun.

So, what about my lifestyle changes? Do I toss them out the window? Or do I do the best I can under less than ideal circumstances?

What do you do when life throws you a curveball?

Day 3--Gathering my tools, defining my goals

No caffeine... check.
Exercise... check (a nice hike with my daughter-in-love)
Healthy eating... check

But what if I want to kick it up a notch?

Limit my internet usage? Stop fake-swearing (crap, freaking, etc)?

I found a site (in beta) that is for goal tracking. http://www.healthmonth.com/ It looks like it is free as long as you are only tracking a few goals. I entered more than a few and they wanted $5. I think I can handle the no caffeine, eat healthy foods, exercise, keep the kitchen clean type goals, but the internet? and fake-swearing? I'm going to try this site for October.

Has anyone else tried this site?

Day 3 starts off with a walk and a chat about existentialism

Day 2 ended up being hit and miss. I remembered to leave one bite of my lunch, but not my dinner. I did not work out, just worked late. I did have some grapes and drank lots of water. The best part was walking with my guys after dinner. We walked about a mile and it was the best part of my day. I am going to push hard to keep that ritual going.

This morning I did a walk with a friend and we chatted about everything from furniture to our vision of God. Makes the miles fly by. She also has longer legs than I do so I have to move it to keep up.

Peoples comments are inspiring me to add to my challenge - organize my office, clean out the closet.

"Once you begin working on your problem areas with small daily, success-orientated goals, the problems with disappear." I think my butt is concerned for its welfare!

Day 2 -- Debby

Today, with what little time was spent not working, I accomplished a few things.

To make my home more welcoming (at least to the two of us) and since the temperature has dropped, I put a wamer quilt on my bed:



I also took a load of too-big clothing to the consignment shop. That helped my closet!

I continued to focus on my health. I went running again today. Healthy food in reasonable portions. It's so boring, but actually works! Having the most. delicious. grapes. ever in my fridge helps, too.

I thought a lot today about my relationships. I travel a lot for my job. Having a job is great. Loving my job is great. Not being home is not so great. I can barely keep in contact with my family and 2-3 closest friends so I have a really difficult time keeping up with anyone else. I went to Bible Study tonight with a wonderful group of ladies. The group should meet for 10 Tuesdays and I hope to be in town for nearly half of them. Hopefully it will be a great time of friendships as well as studying the Word.

How did day 2 go for you?

What's your goal?

Is there something you would like to change in the next 100 days? Cleaner house? Start an exercise habit? Have better relationships? Pick a goal and let us know. We'd love to encourage you to help you on your journey.

There are two ways to let us know about your goal. You can:

1. Comment on this post

OR

2. Give me (Debbybrownquilts at gmail dot com) your email address and I will invite you to post directly to this blog. This offer is open to the first 98 people who respond.

Day 2

Today my entire focus will be on NOT ordering Gorgonzola fries from across the street, doing a work tape when I get home and getting the 2 boys out of the house for a walk in the rain after dinner.

Still working on how to allow posts, I have gotten some great challenges - organizing, cleaning, throwing out. I have a rule of if it is not used, wore, played with etc within a year it has to go. Ken hates this rule and will wear all his old ratty t-shirts at the same time once a year to get to keep them. Conor is not a big fan either not understanding how I could want to toss his McDonalds spiderman figure from 5 years ago - don't I know how much he LOVES it??? He now shouts to me from his room - Hey Mom I'm playing with the broken clone right now so it's good for awhile right?

At this point if you want to email me I can post your challenges. Anyone can post a comment to an existing post.

As for the fries.... the place isn't even open yet but come noon I am gluing my butt to the chair!

Day 1 -- Debby

Today I focused on my health, especially my weight. I hope to lose 21.8 pounds during this challenge. I participated in a different kind of challenge last fall/winter and lost about 30 pounds (and kept it off!), so this would bring me to exactly 50 pounds lost.

When I lost 25 pounds, I bought myself a ring from Tiffany's. It is huge and visible and pretty much screams, "Put down that cookie!" I have a few ideas for my 50 pound present (earrings from Tiffany's?), but I have time yet to make up my mind.

After six months away, I remembered how to get to the gym. It was right where I left it. Adam Lambert and I went running on the treadmill. Love him or hate him (I'm in the first category), it's a great CD for running.

I had some yummy food today, too. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies: watermelon, banana, pear, green beans, homemade zucchini soup, and a baked apple. I also had a fantastic PB&J sandwich with homemade wheat bread, fresh ground peanut butter and homemade orange marmalade.

Day 1 was a success!