Hitch a Ride, We’re Headin’ to Great Things
Bandwagons. I use the term over and over and so does the media and everyone else for that matter so you might be sick of it. Sick of it or not, it’s good to remember that the proverbial “bandwagon” can be a great motivational tool. Sure, you won’t find me jumping on the fast food bandwagon, the Harry Potter bandwagon, the Star Wars bandwagon or even the green monster bandwagon (sorry all my health food bloggies!), BUT I am all for jumping on the health on my own terms bandwagon! What bandwagons have you jumped on recently?
So, if you have a health goal and need some help getting there, Jen and I would love to offer our support to you (and please return the favor!). I think we forget sometimes that one sentence of encouragement can completely turn some one’s day around. One day can turn some one’s week around, etc. The cycle of positive energy is amazing! Ok, I’m blabbing too much before getting to the point…
Let me know by 11:59 p.m. this Friday, the 5th, in the comments section, if you are on board with the “This Ain’t No Freshman 15, This is the Final 10″ Challenge! Tell me 1) what your goal is, 2) and how you plan to get there, 3) What you’re going to reward yourself with and 4) What charity you will donate $50 to if you do not reach your goal by 8/1/09.
If you do this…**drum roll** you will be entered into a drawing to win some Holey Donuts!
Holey Donuts has been kind to Jen and myself on our journey and they are offering this up to one reader from each of us (Remember my post on those delectable creations here?). Your goal doesn’t have to be 10 pounds – but it should be a challenge that will get you to better health! 
Now, if that wasn’t enough to get you into jumping jack mode, here’s an additional tug rope to the wagon: Jen’s sister Heidi has offered an assortment of handmade greeting cards to each of our winners as well!
So, what are you waiting for?! Hop on! We’re heading to fun, healthy places and we want you to come along for the ride!
Onto something else, I want to share with you a little secret I learned these past couple of days…
I can stop and smell the roses. What do I mean? Well, I’m usually a means to an end kind of girl. Everything for me has to be fast-paced. I’m spazzy, kind of antsy, and don’t really like sitting still. This also translates into me wanting to be always munching and gobbling my food down. I have found that I can eat more slowly and really enjoy my food. It turns out, duh, it’s helpful to do this! I feel more satisfied if I am consciously enjoying my food, tasting all the flavors and even thinking about how miraculous nature’s little creations are like the cucumber and blackberry. Am I being too “frou frou” for you? Well, let me hop off Cloud 9 long enough to say, HEY, WE DO WHAT WE GOTTA DO.
A beauty:
Arugula, blackberries, apples, cranberries, avocado, cucumber and a balsamic dressing. Heaven in a bowl.
Did any of you have to learn to enjoy your food? To savor each bite? Do you ever sit back and think about how incredible some of nature’s eats truly are?
Jen and I will checking in with each other on Monday, so make sure to check back for our progress reports (eeek, that sounds like a school report card!).
Also, don’t miss tomorrow’s post as Jen and I will be hosting MizFit…
(that’s her!)
as she answers one of our fitness puzzles!
Alright, I’m off into the sunset (aka time to feed myself, I’m getting cranky!)!
<3 The Cranky One
Tags: bandwagons, Holey Donuts, mizfit, mizfitonline, priorfatgirl.com, weight loss challenge
16 People have left comments on this post
this is such an empowering challenge girl… though my goal right now is not to lose weight – i would love to form a more healthy relationship with food and my body and reach a *healthy* weight and BMI.. i plan to get there through working to honor my body and it’s hunger cues and responding to them with nourishing foods.. and if i can do this i will reward myself perhaps to some new clothes
!! and if i don’t reach my goal i would love to contribute my money to some sort of charity for eating disorders.
thanks for this giveaway/challenge love – it’s awesome
As I left on Jen’s blog, here are my goals:
My goal: 10 pounds gone for good. The last 10 pounds……
My award: a new swim suit (YIKES!) or smaller running clothes.
My charity to donate $50 when I reach my goal: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
How I plan to get there? Exercise, healthy eating, and water…..my usual just kicked up a notch or two or three!
Well, I am really satisfied where I am weight wise. Me, I have to work on internal Jody. You probably have seen my self worth posts. I really need to start feeling better about myself with things that have NOTHING to do with my fitness routine. I need to stop the fear of failure in terms of career & life goals. I had too much junk from early on that has held me back. I think I use the fitness to feel good about myself because I can control it to the most part (age has hindered some of that) & I do it well for me. I need to be able to say “I like myself for something other than being fit”. That is my goal.
An online friend has encouraged me to stand in front of a mirror & say good things about myself into it. So much harder than it sounds if I have to say non fitness related stuff! So, there it is.. my goal!
I wish I had $50 but I don’t. I would give it to “MY Cause” on my website.. which is Sarcoma funding. This is a rare deadly cancer that my mom died from & gets little funding form the larger organizations because not enough people die from it since it is RARE! Crazy, huh! I do offer time to it so that is what I do & when I can give money along the way, I do!
THX for the great post… OH, YES, slow down the food. Great advice! It takes 20 minutes for the stomach to register fullness. Plus mindful eating.. don’t stuff it down & not even enjoy it OR realize even what you ate!!!
Hi!
I already signed up for the challenge over at “Prior Fat Girl” but wanted to drop by to introduce myself here. This works out PERFECTLY for my own goal(s) and I can’t wait to participate and share in all the fun with some virtual friends.
Good luck!
The donuts looked so good. I don’t remember the last time that I ate one but I want the first donut of the bunch. HEHE
I’m up for the challenge. I’m at a plateau trying to lose 5pds for the last month. My goal is to:
1) lose 5pds by 8/1/09
2) I will do this by running everyday with one day off and doing Yoga for 90 minutes a day along with my running. Also, eating between 5-6 meals a day and adding more fiber to my diet to be full longer.
3) I’m gonna reward myself by getting a pedicure and a new dress to fit the new size.
In order for me to lose those 5 pds, I’m gonna have to diet. Its gonna be hard, but its nice to know that i’m not alone.
Today is 6/3/09 Weigh in at: 130.8 according to my scale this morning next weigh in will be August 1, 2009. Wish me luck!
1) Yikes, I’m setting my goal at 15 lbs.
2) With my virtual, lil’ sister’s encouragement, I will be swimming at least three times a week, biking twice a week, and a weekly cardio/self-defense classes…oh, and eating better of course.
3) I’m hoping to reward myself with some time off. If the wife let’s me.
4) I’ll be making a donation to the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.
wow! lots of great challenges! I’ll have to sit out on this one…going on a diet will only set me back!
I’ve always been a slow eater…I can seriously take the longest time to finish my food…to the extreme. I guess we need to find a balance somewhere in bwn, huh?
Sophia, health goals are not simply about diets (and neither Jen nor I are on “diets” — We wouldn’t have lost and kept off 250 pounds if it was simply about restricting our food intake).
Your health goal can be anything that will improve your quality of life. I hope you will join us!
<3 Annabel
Love your blog! You are inspiring me to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle! That salad looks DELISH!! I am heading to the grocery store ASAP to pick up some ingredients!!
I’m back. I forgot question number 4:
I will donate $50 if I don’t meet my goal to Africa Alive a Microcredit Association (AAMA).
Ok, I’m in!!
1) My goal is to stop mindless eating and bingeing. I mean zero tolerance policy here! Both of these have prevented me from reaching my weight loss goals and the scale has been going in the absolutely wrong direction. NOT good! I would love to see the 130′s (it’s been about a year since… and even that was for like 1 day or 2!), but I don’t want to commit to a weight loss figure. It’s about living more mindfully and indulging only when “it’s worth it”. I think weight loss will come naturally. We’ll see how it goes.
2) I will think about the reasons why I’m eating – boredom, curiosity or true hunger? I will remind myself of my goals and why I want to lose weight. I will remind myself of how hard I work at the gym and how eating for no reason cancels all of my hard work. I will remind myself of the swim suit season that is almost upon us!
3) I will reward myself with two new workout outfits!
4) If I screw up, I will donate to a charity for lung cancer research (Lung Cancer Alliance or The Bonnie J. Addario lung cancer foundation … most likely)
Thanks for hosting this… and good luck with those last 10 lbs! I think you look perfect already (seriously!) but we each have our goals and it sounds like you know where you want to be and I’m sure you’ll make it!
I’ve lost 197 pounds over the last six years. I currently weigh 156…but would love to be 140 … or just a lower body fat percentage. I’ve been at this weight for about six months and can’t seem to move out of a five pound range. I’m getting frustrated. Maybe this is what I need to kick it up a notch. I love challenging myself (I just started Crossfit) and I’m cheap…so no losing the weight by 8/1 would be a double whammy! : -) thanks for including us in your journey! I will work out my battle plan after the kids are in bed!
Charity that I won’t be donating to for not losing weight (but will donate to for reaching my goal!): whomever helps people with eating disorders…I need to research that one!
I am entering this contest to prove to Ms. Cranky that I can crush the competition. I will donate 50 dollars to whatever charity she chooses. In the next two months I will drop 15 pounds or else……
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