Trial Month Feedback

As the month comes to an end, I think it is a good idea that we bring ideas to the table on how to make the challenge better. It seems like everyone that is participating is benefiting from this challenge. I want it to continue and not fade away. I can tell that there needs to be some improvements and I want your feedback on how to improve. Leave your ideas in the comments on what worked and didn't work for you and what you might like to see incorporated into the challenge. I hope you all got something out of this and want to continue.

Make the right choice

I had an apple with peanut butter last night instead of cupcake with ice cream. Yeah for me! I made the right choice.

Here is a quick update on how everyone is doing.

Mom 30%
Laura 16%
Amy 13%
Sam 32%
Nicole 36%

I think this challenge is going great for those who are doing it. (I am only going to post the status of those who are participating) I have started to pay more attention to ways I can be more active. I have taken the stairs to my car at work a couple times, and I have noticed it takes about 2 more seconds. I got to the stairs right when someone was getting to the elevator and she got to the 6th floor about 2 seconds before I did, and no one else got on. If it had to stop at another floor I would have beat her. Be active doesn't really take that much more time. I think you are all doing great. Keep it up!!

So I am not doing so well with my goal.  I am at 16% and should be around 30%.  My goal was to eat the fruits and veggies every day, exercise at a 3 level 4 times a week, and do at least one 1 activity a day.  I haven't done the first two parts of the goal.

Part one about eating the fruits and vegetables surprised me.  I really thought eating the fruits and vegetables would be easy, but I am so dang lazy.  I get to about 3 a day.  I also really resist eating them.  I don't know why because when I do I remember how they taste like candy and are so good and feel good too.  It is almost like my mind tells my body that it isn't a fun thing to eat so I don't want to.  I will work on it.

Part two about going to the gym 4 times a week has been nonexistent.  I went to join a gym last week, but they didn't have day care.  They said on the phone they did, but when I got there they said it was just at night.  Now I have to join the more expencive gym, but it is closer to my house.  I am planing on going there in a few weeks after my mom comes for a visit.  I am pretty sure I won't meet my goal this month, but once I join the gym and go at least 4 times a week I am certain to meet my goals and feel better in life.

I wanted to write today to say that just having those 1 point goals in mind really is good for me.  I am much more conscience about how I do things now.

I am no parking further away at the store and I notice it is better that way.  I find a parking space fast and it doesn't really take that much longer to walk the whole parking lot.

I also have walked twice to the grocery store from our house.  It isn't that long of a walk, but it is nice to do instead for driving.  It takes about 10 minutes to get there so a little trip to kmart or the grocery turns into a good 20 minute walk.  Getting the vitamin D from the sun is also nice while I take the little walk.

Today we went to the park.  Generally I just sit on a bench and let the kids play.  Today I made effort to BE there with them.  I pushed them on the swings for forever and not only did I push I ran back and forth from James to Grace and did underdogs to them.  They loved it and I really tried to keep my energy at a high the entire time.  Then I thought I would teach the kids to play tag.  Something I would have never done before.  We played for a long time and I was so tired at the end.  I thought I was going to have a heart attack.  I haven't played like a kid in so long and this new goal system motivated me today to be a better mom.  What was great about it too was that usually I sit and I am bored and can't wait to go.  Then when I say it is time to go the kids moan and complain and it sucks.  Today we all wore ourselves out that when it was time to leave we all were completely ready.  Then when I got in the car it was about 40 minutes past the time that I thought it would be.  Being more active really is just a better way to live.  It is more fun, makes the time go by faster, makes the kids so dang happy, and I am so glad to be starting this and hopefully getting better.

Thanks for the motivation Sam and Nicole!

Resources

Hi everyone! I just wanted to write a little message to give you all some resources for nutrition and physical activity information. There is always a lot of misinformation out there in the health field, but these are some reliable sources to look to for information. 


Just fyi, ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) is pretty much the "gold standard" as far as physical activity recommendations go. Their website is always a very useful tool to find anything and everything about exercise and physical activity.




ACSM and AHA Physical Activity Guidelines - this is the link to the current physical activity guidelines that were established by ACSM and the AHA (American Heart Association)


www.acsm.org - this is the general ACSM website


www.choosemyplate.gov - this is a government website where you can find out more about nutrition

2010 Dietary Guidelines Brochure - this is the shortened version of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (the Dietary Guidelines come out every 10 years so this is the latest and greatest version)


www.eatright.org - this is another nutrition resource... it is the website of the American Dietetic Association


Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 - these are the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans... it is REALLY long but a good tool if you are looking for some specific nutritional information

http://fnic.nal.usda.gov - this is a nutrition website that gives you a lot of resources and links to a lot of different information




Please let me know if you have any questions, need help with any of the websites, want more information, etc. Give some of the links a try and see what you can find!

Progress

Here is how everyone is doing. I don't think that everyone is at 0%, but people are probably just not updating anything. I also noticed that many of you have not put in your goals. If you have procrastinated creating a goal, you can still create one. I know it can be hard to put your goals in everyday, but try to keep track of them somehow. I plan on posting every Sunday showing how everyone's progress is going, so try to get them in by Sunday morning. I also put a formula on the spreadsheet that calculates how much time has passed in the month. So currently at the time of this post 11.23% of September has passed. That means your progress should be approximately 11% toward your goal. If it isn't, there is still plenty of time. You can always go on a couple extra walks, take the stairs at work, go for a run or get more fruits and veggies. A clarification of how to put your points in. If you went on a run for 30 minutes you would put 3 in column D. I think that I may have been a little unclear about that. Put the points you earn in the spreadsheet. Keep at it!!!

 Mom       6%
 Ben         0%
 Laura      0%
 Amy       1%
 Daniel     0%
 Jon          0%
 Briana     0%
 Sam        13%
 Nicole     15%

Fruits and Veggies

Getting my fruits and veggies in is going to be a challenge. I got online to look up what counted as a serving and found this website. Thought I would share...

fruits and veggies matter