I noticed that several people have posted that they are thinking about what to do this month to stay on track before the next challenge starts or just how to stay on course through the holidays. It was suggested that a thread to discuss December goals might be helpful.
So, here it is! Post your goals for December or whatever else you wish to track here.....food, weight, any sort of tracking, etc. If you need help or support, you can come here to get it.
Okay, just so you chicks don't think you can have this all to yourselves, I'm in.
Goal #1 - Enjoy Christmas and the remainder of 2008
Goal #2 - Lose flab. It's the holiday season, so not gaining weight is important. Thanksgiving was a success, so I can do it again with Christmas, New Year's, and all the parties leading up.
I think 8lbs of fat lost will be a good start, but who really knows? The legacy of formerly fat is hanging around my waist, sides, and belly. I've got a bit of abs showing, and I hope to show them more by the end of the month.
Goal #3 - This one leads back to #s 1 and 2... Enjoy food without needing to enjoy more and more of it. I've noticed a trend that reminds me of my fathood. I seem to be addicted to the feeling of being full. If I eat small meals, I do okay, knowing that another small meal is coming soon. But, a big meal meant to last me a long time makes me pretty full, and even full, I WANT TO EAT MORE. I'm fully, so that's stupid. It's not carbs, it's food. I've tested it with meat and veggies.
My goals are simple, so my rules are simple.
Intermittent Fasting (IF) on weekdays. 2 meals on non-workout days, 3 on workout days.
Eat light on the weekends. It's hard to IF on days when I'm feeding my kids dozens of times a day (seems like dozens, anyway).
1500-2000 calories, depending on what's what that day.
Daily walks
2-4 weight workouts a week
Always a weight workout the day of a party or holiday meal/event.
No intervals
No HIIT
My goals are to hit the gym hard for the next 3 to 4 weeks and really rein in my nutrition. I am loosely basing my nutrition on Isabel's The Diet Solution. Or at least really just keeping my food based on her 6 week kick start. I won't be completely compliant but my goal is around 90%. I have been doing pretty well so far. Started a new program on weights today. Looking forward to this month and seeing some changes and hopefully at least shedding the weight I have gained in the past month if not losing a few more but looking more to maintain once I get down until January.
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Vickie
Momma to Joel (6) and Sean (5)
Wife to John for 10 years
Goal #3 - This one leads back to #s 1 and 2... Enjoy food without needing to enjoy more and more of it. I've noticed a trend that reminds me of my fathood. I seem to be addicted to the feeling of being full. If I eat small meals, I do okay, knowing that another small meal is coming soon. But, a big meal meant to last me a long time makes me pretty full, and even full, I WANT TO EAT MORE. I'm fully, so that's stupid. It's not carbs, it's food. I've tested it with meat and veggies.
Roland, this is me to a T! I just don't understand myself. Why do I want that really full feeling? I always go for the volume and once I get started, I can't reel myself in. I empathize with you.
Here's my Dec Plan: Chloe's December Challenge 1) Finish Power Training Hypertrophy
2) Cardio at least 3 days/week
3) Read Leigh's Fat Loss Trouble Shoot and put into action some of her advice.
4) Weight: 110 lbs by 12/31/08
5) And the biggy: TRACK NUTRITION EVERYDAY. That means good days and bad days. Goal will be 1500-1700 calories with 172 grams protein. I am planning 4 cheat meals but I'll have to track them! (I am more concerned with the tracking than I am with the actual numbers)
6) Post weight, workouts and nutrition numbers everyday on JP.
My ultimate goal would be to get back down to 120 by the end of the year, but I don't think that's realistic. So my other goal is get below 123. I just started Clean Eating, for real this time, meaning that I am eating 6 small meals consisting of lean protein and complex carbs, rather than just randomly eating clean foods. I am tired of counting calories, so instead I am counting servings. I have a weekly form to fill out and I check the boxes for each food type each day as I eat.
This is my first week on Power Training. I am doing a 4 day push/pull routine. My fitness goal is to be more active in the evenings, taking the dog for a walk or hitting the gym for some cardio rather than crashing on the couch every single night.
I'm starting NROL Strength I next week, so my goal for December is to do a slight bulk while eating clean--I want the gain to be LBM. Luckily, I will not have any house guests for Christmas, and my Thanksgiving guests are leaving today. So, I don't have to accommodate anyone's eating habits but my own (except on Christmas day when I will make our traditional meatballs).
I'm still trying to get to ONEderland by the end of the year. Unfortunately, with a 3lbs water retention gain this week and an impending move at the end of the year, I have my work cut out for me. Nevertheless, I'm going to aim high and plan to continue on Weight Watchers and doing 3 days of circuit training and 3 days of cardio.
I am also looking forward to transitioning from weight loss mode to fat loss mode because all of this damned cardio is driving me nuts...LOL (MD recommended I focus on losing 10% of my bodyweight this year hence the focus on weight loss).
i like roland's goals - enjoy the season and the food but don't go overboard. and like donna, i'm not too far from onederland, but i'm not sure i can pull it off before the end of the year. it's a pretty specific goal tho, so it does keep me focused!
november was a wonky month for me and i'd like to keep december on a more even keel. it will be my last psmf push and since calories are limited, so is activity. i've slackened off of the food tracking a bit, so i need to tighten that up. and i really need to drink more water!
i've ordered a gowear sensor and i'm hoping that will help get my neat up. and i am not used to be freezing all the time, so a little more activity would probably warm me up!
so:
95%+ psmf compliance
increase neat
increase water
My goals aren't set in stone yet. Originally, I wanted to continue what I was doing and try to lose more weight (pounds) this month. But I'm also struggling with trying to lose #s but mostly maintaining / dropping VERY slowly. I need a mental break from the restriction and self-induced guilt.
So, I got "Intuitive Eating" after being beaten over the head with the idea that it might help me . Started last night, but I haven't (obviously) finished reading it yet. It's going to affect my December plans one way or another...
Workouts: I will continue to do what I'm doing - finish Power Training's general program (4 workouts / 2 weeks remain). Then, I will most likely do the 21 day itch program I got from T-Nation (after seeing it on this forum). Like I said, need a mental break from EVERYTHING, or at least some change. I will also continue with karate.
I will keep on increasing NEAT when possible, monitoring via my GoWear Fit, keep on with cardio as I've been doing, continue at least one rest non-workout day every week.
Food: I've been restricting and logging and measuring and weighing and obsessing and feeling massive guilt and frustration. Whether I start trying Intuitive Eating or just take a week off of dieting/restricting, I will definitely take some sort of break, but not an all-out pigout fest. Working on the plan...
I was so focused on Thanksgiving and preparing for the mayhem of four whole days with my in-laws, that once Monday rolled around and I flipped over the month of December I was a little taken aback.
I had been doing NROL Fat Loss I and II. I put off doing Fat Loss III of NROL over Thanksgiving weekend because I didn't think I would have the time to devote to it. I wrote about this more in my log, but here are my goals for the next 3 weeks:
Lifting: I will follow the format of the Fat Loss I and II programs. Same types of muslce group lifts and similar sets and reps (8-12 reps for sets of 3) doing 3 lift sessions 3x a week.
Cardio: two sessionsa week of 30 minute running on the treadmill or other cardio torture device
Intervals: two times a week following lifting - hopefully keeping to my 6x 1 min. hard, 1 min, easy scheme
FOOD: tracking everyday! I also like Roland's idea of not overindulging. I tend to take more then a taste of stuff even when I am not hungry. And keeping to my 1500 calorie deficit with Saturday being closer to maintenance.
NEAT: As nice as curling up on the couch with a blanket after dinner sounds on these cold winter nights, I need to keep myself busy.
Weight: I have had a lot of success with the above so far, so maintaining my current weight would be amazing and I would be thrilled if I can continue to lose during this time of year.
Usually we go home for Christmas for about 2 weeks, but this is the first time we're staying home. Since I won't be indulging in all the food and drinking (I loves me a good margarita - or 10) that goes on with these visits, I decided to get a jump start on the new year now.
My main goal is to stay on track with my eating, drink plenty of water (I'm bad about that), and try not to do much baking as I love the dough more than the cookie.
In short, I want to see that scale go down for December instead of up like it always does during this month!
I'd like to be down to 155lbs by the start of January's challenge. I'm not sure how realistic that is, but we'll see.
I don't have any rest weeks coming up, so I want to keep on hitting the gym 4 times a week and doing whatever I have to to make it work. On a personal note, I just found out that my grades entitled me to a reserved seat in a program I will be starting January 5th, so I need to get a job to support myself while going to school full time, and I'm not sure how that will affect my work out plans.
Too much temptation this month, so I'm going kinda radical starting tomorrow. This entire month I will be doing the following each day:
2 large protein shakes w/banana and PB: total for both shakes is 775 cals, 21 fat, 42 carbs, and 105 protein.
1 normal meal
I need some structure this month and some non-thinking. With all of the holiday parties, goodies, AND a new puppy coming, this will simplify things for me (I think). Also, I will have my protein levels met, which I've been low on the last few days. As a bonus, I think if I can do this all month, I will be well below 130 for sure by the end of the month.
So how is everyone doing so far this month? I am thrilled with my progress so far. I think the key for me is tracking. I would recommend to anyone who is having trouble on the nutrition front to weigh, track and post everything you put in your mouth. Knowing that others are reading my log keeps me honest. I never used to track my bad days and I had many of those. This month I'm tracking good and bad and so far they've all been good!
Decent. I've had two parties to attend. I did okay with each one. Last night's, after I ate my ration, I announced to my friends that "I'm a loser if I take another treat." So I didn't.
Quote:
I am thrilled with my progress so far. I think the key for me is tracking. I would recommend to anyone who is having trouble on the nutrition front to weigh, track and post everything you put in your mouth. Knowing that others are reading my log keeps me honest. I never used to track my bad days and I had many of those. This month I'm tracking good and bad and so far they've all been good!
Agreed. Especially if you've never tracked before.
Don't be afraid, thinking that you'll have to do it for life. Start small and track portions or just WHAT you eat. You might be surprised.
I'm exhausted, and took a break. Food has been good, and I haven't gained or lost, and I'm ok with that. I should be back in the swing of things shortly here. I apparently really needed some time off!
Well, I have a goal or two or five that I just got around to posting--
1. Eat more variety. I eat primarily the same crap in slightly different iterations every single day.
2. Back under 62 kg by the end of the month.
3. Laser focus on flexibility. Ankles are no longer like blocks of rock, so there's hope.
4. Take a second every day to remember how much I actually have to be appreciative of.
5. Don't be anal about ending sentences in prepositions. Check!
Well I'm joining the party late (due to being sicker than a dog the last week), but here's my goals:
1. Not go crazy with the food this month. I have a party tomorrow at work and one on monday and I should be done. I think I got my fill of holiday goodies at my mom's if this afternoon was any indication while I was making treats for tomorrow's work party.
2. Lose 5 more lbs by the end of the month. I'm already down 5 lbs since I came back to Iowa. I plan on seeing another 5 come off before the end of the month.
3. Get back into a regular lifting/light aerobics cycle. I'll start with 2x a week of lifting and 3x a week aerobics/walking.
__________________ It all starts with the mind, but the thoughts, the intention aren't enough. Action needs to come next. Dream it, believe it, plan it, execute it, celebrate it. - Wendy
I am doing better today then I felt on Monday. I had a rough weekend of eating, but thankfully no damage was done as the scale returned to pre-thanksgiving weight. NEAT is high and workouts are on. I have to stay focused at work because giant tins of treats are arriving daily, if not hourly. The latest is a giant container of shortbread cookies. It might be 5 pounds worth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkinsley
Well, I have a goal or two or five that I just got around to posting--
1. Eat more variety. I eat primarily the same crap in slightly different iterations every single day.
This is so me. I have no problems eating the same breakfast, lunch, and dinner day in and day out. I tend to fall back on foods I know the calorie counts and macros for. Veggies are severely lacking - need to work on those.
My goal... get back to the freakin gym! I've been away since thanksgiving, and this is so not the time to be slacking on the exercise since I will definitely (and already have a bit...) slack on food! I have a new program to do so that will hopefully help to get my motivation back so I can get my lazy bootay back to the gym on Monday. I really should make a food goal, but honestly... I've been pretty good since January and Christmas comes but once a year... I will not over-endulge, but I will absolutely enjoy myself. Maybe once January and the challenge hits I will get a bit more anal about things again for a while. I want to ROCK this challenge since I just kind of trudged through this last one without being too focused.
My Dec goal is to get my water intake right (I've been slacking in that dept) so that it doesn't look like I'm gaining too much weight so that the nurse won't yell at me at my 20wk appt on Jan 2. She yelled ay me last time, but I know the weight wasn't right because it's been fluctuating like crazy for the last few weeks. up 3 lbs one day, down 4 the next, down two, up three...you get the picture. It's the water. I don't need her telling me that I'm gaining too much AND getting old and since I can't control the aging thing...looks like I need to focus better in the water dept
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
Just found this thread!!! Anyways my goal has been:
Lose 4 pounds and still keep up the lifting/cardio. I've lost 2 so far, so hopefully I can get the other 2 in the next 2.5 weeks. I'm still doing Leigh's OPT. So my hope is I can check into the Jan challege at 138. I set my goal lower so that I can enjoy some of the wonderful holiday food. So far I have managed to enjoy some without going over by target calories by too much (portion contol!!!!!!).
Well I forgot about one party that happens this wednesday when I posted last week. The other two are done though. I've pretty much maintained this week. I plan on lifting tonight when I get home.
__________________ It all starts with the mind, but the thoughts, the intention aren't enough. Action needs to come next. Dream it, believe it, plan it, execute it, celebrate it. - Wendy
December Support Thread!
. Started last night, but I haven't (obviously) finished reading it yet. It's going to affect my December plans one way or another...
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