Thanks Monika!

This is my first challenge and I propose the following:

• Thirty minutes of walking (treadmill) at least 3 times a week.
• Taking the stairs at work in the morning, at lunch, and night. (I work on the 3rd floor)
• Take advantage of the free fitness consultation in my workplace.
• Take the stairs at the train station instead of the elevator.

Next winter, I would like to go cross country skiing again. It's been far too many years. I don't think I will get back into downhill skis -- I never was brave at it anyway and at 51, I am not about to change that!!

In ten years, I will be a happy, healthy, retired person, moving to a warmer clime where I will be able to walk,walk, walk, year round. Barring that, I'll be taking grandkids for walks in their strollers (assuming my boys live up to my expectations)

I Dewi, promise to do the following during the 4th TDC Fitness Challenge:

1- Go to Curves at least twice a week
2- Spend at least 1 hr on the elliptical machine once a week.
3- Spend at least 45 min on the elliptical machine twice a week
4- Use a recumbent bike at least once a week for 20 mins at over 70 rpms
5- Attend an aqua fitness class at least 4 times during this challenge
6- Upper body workout and/or lower body workout twice a week
7- offer my support to the group during the challenge
8- visit the thread and post updates on my progress
9- Up my water intake
10- Walk my dogs once over the weekend when I am home w/ or w/o my hubby.

Where do I see myself in a year:
I will definately be 50lbs or more lighter. My cholesterol level will be normal. I will continue to be active.

In ten years:
I will be a healthier and happier me in onederland.

4th TDC Fitness Challenge Start Weight - 1/23/04 295lbs

Hi there!! Wow, it's great to see everyone that's signing up and the excitement of working for a better quality of life

Monika, thanks once again for being our fearless leader

I, Marebear, promise to spend the next 8 weeks focused on improving myself - body, mind and spirit. I am starting Week 3 in my second BFL Challenge and will continue that through these 8 weeks.
Each week I will:
1. Do 3 cardio sessions - HIIT
2. Do 3 weight lifting sessions
3. Continue to work on my emotional eating issues
4. Drink 100 oz. of water daily

In a year from now:
Have my emotional eating issues under control so I can lose weight. Have a stronger/fitter body.
10 years from now:
Be at a healthy weight, be fit and able to enjoy daily activities.

Mary

This is the Third time i am taking part in this challenge and always do good in the beginning but can't seem to end it off too good. i have recently started a new job and working full time, raising a 5yr old and a 7mth old is very difficult. I am starting to feel real overwhelmed so i know taking 30 mins sometimes during the week for myself will make a difference.

Exercising always makes me feel happier, stronger and confident and that is exactly what i need right now. So here are my goals:
Workout Atleast 3 times a week
Drink atleast 10 glasses of water
Do something nice for myself every week

So here goes and i wish everybody a great week.

I Ellen, commit to taking this 8 week challenge!!

My goals are:
1: To go to Curves 3x per week.
2: To exercise, either by stretching or by using my ab swing, 3x per week.
3: To increase my water intake from 50 ounces per day to 100 ounces per day.
4: To make regular posts about my acheivments, even if I am not meeting my goals.

My starting weight is 292 pounds.

In one year, I would like to see myself down below 240 pounds. That is the weight I set to get to before we try to have a baby.

In 10 years, I would like to be at my goal, exercising regularly, being a participating mom in all of my children's sports activities.

Hello to All,
Thanks again Monika for doing this - you are the greatest!
I am really looking forward to this challenge. The last one helped get me up and moving so I want to continue to build on that.
GYM: weight training everyother day
Biking: off days when weather permits with my son
Lots of water

In one year, I would like to be healthier and fitter - able to do more things with my family.
In 10 years, who knows where I will be. Hopefully healthy, happy, and loving maintenance!
Good luck to all.
Marie

Beautiful day today, ca. 3 inches clean white snow. I'm feeling better today than I have in a while, and actually getting psyched reading all your posts, Challengers. I will start tomorrow morning!

I really need this 4th Challenge - I lost a couple more lbs, and I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I'm afraid I may have lost some lean body mass; boy it doesn't take long, does it. So I have my work cut out for me. The important thing is I WANT to, thanks in large part to Monika and all the rest of you.

One year from now I'd like to be exercising each and every day without giving it a second thought, and I'd like (dare I say it??) to be at goal weight.

Ten years from now I'm going to be thanking my lucky stars and all the gods in heaven that I actually DID this back in 2003-2004, because I don't think it would be possible (for me) to do this ten years from now. This past month made me feel "my age" more than I ever have before - no, I guess I'm not immortal I really feel that this is my last chance, and I am taking it. And I guess it goes without saying that part of that is "keeping it up" and "keeping it off." Some of you know I lost a lot of weight in the late 80's and then gained it back. I remember my mindset of that time pretty well, and I'm not going to repeat my mistakes! So there!!

Love to all,
DusterCat

I promise to stay with my fellow TDC Challenge members until the final day. My goals for this challenge are:

1) To continue exercising and not quit
2) Try and be patient, understand my limits and stay within them so I don't injure myself
3) Increase my fitness level
4) By the end of this challenge I would like to be able to walk 6.2 miles on my day off on the weekend if I want to

Extra Credit: One year from now I want to still be training consistently doing the best I can. Ten years from now I would like to be able to continue walking and doing light weightlifting training.

Hmmm... I think I need to set some realistic goals... I have a very busy life, so finding time is the excuse I find to not exercise.

My Goals for the next 8 weeks are:

- do my 15 minute beginners exercise tape at least 2 times per week.
- one day on the weekend go somewhere that involves walking about for at least one hour (garden centre, beach, shopping).
- one day on the weekend put on my favourite dance CD and have a great time dancing about the house for at least one hour (or better yet go out and do it with friends).
- make the effort to walk faster when I walk anywhere
- walk at lunch time for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week.

I thought it would be a good idea to record my measurements at this point, as my weight loss has slowed to turtle proportions, so need to check if it is shifting about:

Upper Arm 14.5 inches
Chest 52 inches
Waist 49 inches
Abdomen 55 inches
Hips 52 inches
Thigh 30 inches

I think a year from now my goal is to not feel like I need to decline invitations to do things simply because I think i am too fat and unfit to do them and keep up with friends, to walk along the beach in my swimsuit and feel fit, confident and healthy.

Hi everyone! Wow! The power of this challenge is wonderful. Just take a look at everyone's goals! Impressive.

I did invoke my snow shoveling clause yesterday. Actually after shoveling, I was feeling like I should still do my workout. But then DD and I went shopping all day. So I definitely got my walking in! Today is a day of rest for me, but it's back to the routine tomorrow. Actually we are supposed to get another 3-6 inches of snow today, so will probably get another workout with the shovel.

I've been contemplating an upper body workout. So wanted to add that I am going to come up with a routine for that this week. I'll just be playing around with the various exercises this week in order to decide what to include. And then will actually start the routine next week. Thought I'd share this link with you: http://exrx.net There is some good info on the various moves there.

Have a great week everyone!

Contract to myself and commitment to fellow TDC Challenge members is to make fitness a priority in my life for the next two months. January 23 and ends March 18, 2004.

My goals for this 8 weeks challenge are:

1. Continue to participate in the Challenge to Walk 10K
2. Continue keeping my work out log up to date
3. Begin working with light weights for upper body

Other Goals: 4 Litters of water a day and to stop smoking.

Extra Credit: I see myself finishing this challenge. As well as the lose 50lbs in 2004 Challenge which will put my weight at 255 lbs and walking the 6.2k. All three challenges will benefit each other.

Hey Dianne

I count show shoveling as exercise too. In fitday it said my 30 minute shoveling exersice burned 174 calories. And I was definately tired after- didn't work up a sweat though as it was about -21c.
Kelly

I, Tracy, pledge to add fitness into my life the following ways for the next 8 weeks:

I will do some sort of activity EVERY DAY for at least 30 minutes whether that be walking,
dancing or doing one of the many, many, many exercise tapes I have.

I will make my exercise time a priority in my life, even if that means getting up earlier, not flaking on my increasingly boring walking buddy or letting my family see me exercising .


Other goals:

Stop being so darn impatient w/ my eating program.
Don't give in to "convenience cheating"
Drink my 150 oz of water a day



Extra Credit
One year from now I see myself as one of those scary people that are addicted to exercise. Activity will be a part of my life like eating and breathing.

In ten years I see myself with a family that is active...hopefully, I'll have one or two little ones that would be shocked to find out that their mom used to be a couch potato. Weekends will be spent hiking and camping instead of spent laying around watching Food Network!

I Martha, with trembling hands and much anxiety, do pledge to join the 8 week challenge. This being the first time I've ever done a fitness challenge here - I will:

Measure myself and post these measurements once every 2 weeks, starting tonight since I haven't measured in 20 years......, and will not rely on the scales to judge all my progress.

Will attend a water-type exercise 3 times a week.

Will get out of bed and out of the house for at least 30 minute every day instead of staying in my PJ's all day. (Got to start somewhere)

Will drink all my water everyday - no excuses.


If I complete this challenge with no cheating, I will reward myself with a 1 hour massage.