8 Weeks to a Better You Challenge

Eights goals in 8 weeks.  Yikes!  I really needed some motivation to get my butt off the couch and get in shape.  It seems that too often the role of mommy and wife leave me with a hundred excuses of why I don't have time to work out or change my diet.  I have too much to do already and too little time to do it.  But lucky for me a friend shared this challenge with me:

8 Goals/8 Weeks to a Better You:  (You get 1 point per goal per day)

1. Personal Goal: (Mine is no soda especially my all time favorite and life line Diet Dr. Pepper)
2. 7 hours of sleep each night.
3. Eat 5 servings of fruit/vegetables each day.
4. Drink 64 oz. of water each day.
5. No eating after 8pm.
6. No eating sweets. (Another mommy coping mechanism)
7. Exercise 30 minutes a day.
8. Exercise an additional 30 minutes a day.

Bonus Points Awarded for:

1. Not eating fast food all week.
2. Improving your minuter per mile.

I emailed friends and family members to see if they wanted to participate.  Nothing like a little reward money and friendly competition to help motivate me.  The person with the highest amount of points at the end of 8 weeks wins.  I like this challenge because the focus is not on losing weight, but adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Week One Recap:  I have done pretty well the last few days.  Last weekend, I made sure to eat lots of sweets before I started my fast.  I haven't had soda or sugar in 7 days.  Yeah me!!!  The most difficult goals have been exercising every day (especially when juggling work and kids) and drinking lots of water.  One thing is certain, I have to potty alot more frequently.  I am ashamed to say that my minute per mile is 13.40 (run/walk combo).  At least, there leaves a lot of room for improvement.  I have developed an eye tick- which I wonder if from caffeine withdrawal.  My skin feels way more refreshed and hydrated.  I hope that the natural outcome will be to lose some weight.  Kaitlyn is doing a modified version of the challenge geared towards kids.  I love it because it gives her the opportunity to make healthy choices for herself.  And the other plus side is that fruits and vegetables are no longer wasting away forgotten about in the produce drawer of the refrigerator.