The Never-Ending Challenge Begins!!

Okay, first of all, I just want to say that I KNOW that neverending is one word. I just think it looks cooler with a dash in it. Sue me. :-)

Some of what I have been doing over the past several weeks is looking inside myself to see why I always get in my own way when it comes to losing weight and getting healthy. When I look back over the past 5 years, I get so frustrated at the times that I lost 30-60 pounds only to gain it all back with reinforcements. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? I can almost always blame a stressful situation on the cause of me getting off track. But is that an excuse? Not anymore.

I know that I do better when I am challenged by someone or something. My problem is - after a few weeks, the challenge loses its newness to me and I start to slide. Why? Maybe I'm a little ADD and I gravitate toward shiny things. Or maybe that is just another excuse.

The point is - I want to be challenged continually so I can finally make a lifestyle CHANGE not a lifestyle pitstop on the road to 'pleasingly plump' (as my Grandma always called it).

SO - I came up with the idea for the Never-Ending (or neverending) Challenge.

Here is what it will entail. Each week - I will add one 'general' thing to the challenge and one 'personal' thing. The goal is to continue to do the things from the week before along with the new additions - but it will depend on the nature of the challenge each week. That way, we won't get bored and we may even look forward to Friday each week!

If you are interested in doing this challenge with me, here are the "rules":

• Check this blog on Fridays to see the new challenge from me.


• Come up with a personal challenge for the week.


• If you have a blog, BLOG ABOUT IT so you have others to hold you accountable.


• Leave me a note in the comments about your personal challenge (and a link to your blog if you have one.)


• HAVE FUN! Once we stop having fun is when we start falling off the wagon. And this time, I plan on wearing my seatbelt!!

NEVER-ENDING CHALLENGE: WEEK ONE

For the first week of the challenge:

• Drink at least 48 oz. of water EVERY DAY.

For some people, this one may be easy, and you may already be doing this - but for me, I always have an issue with drinking a lot of liquid. I am not really a pop/soda/coke (whatever you call it) drinker - I just don't drink a lot of anything. I know that when I AM drinking a lot of water, I feel better and it kick starts weight loss. So that is the challenge for week one.

Easy right?

BUT - don't forget the personal part of the challenge. This is where each of us will come up with our OWN THING that we know we need to work on.

So my personal challenge for the week is going to be rough. I have a horrible time falling asleep at night and an even harder time getting up the next morning. I am usually in bed by 10:30, but don't get to sleep until after midnight. I KNOW that I do better when I get up earlier.

SO - this week, I am challenging myself to go to bed a half hour earlier without distractions (no TV, no books, just relaxation.) This is going to be hard as I have a sound machine beside my bed and I always read and watch TV before I sleep. I am thinking it will help me to learn to sleep WITHOUT all the noise. We will see.

To recap:

This week I will:

• Drink at least 48 oz. of water every day.


• Visit the little girls' room a whole lot more (hey it comes with the first point!)


• Go to bed a half an hour earlier without distractions.

What about you? Are you going to join me on this new challenge? Let me know in the comments below.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!