Game On!

This is the longest I have gone without a post.  No real good reason, just at a loss for words.  I have been really bad about exercise and I wanted to wait until I could tell you about an awesome workout, but that is just not happening today.  The last time I really exercised was Saturday and by that night, my back hurt so bad I couldn't move.  Today I had an MRI and I will have more details on that next Friday.  The fact that I have not moved my body and worked up a sweat is defeating.  I need to think a little more positively and get on with it.  I think I found a start to that.  It's called Game On!

Have you heard of this?  It is a very strict plan that you do for 4 weeks.  What I really like about it, is that you put a team together and compete against another team.  We are doing a Battle of the Moms Clubs in the area that I live.  We all know each other, it is a friendly competition, but a competition non the less.  The second thing that I like is you have to adopt a good habit and give up a bad one.  For those of you that know me, know I never eat breakfast.  We all know that is one of the worst things you can do, so that is going to be the good habit I adopt.  Added salt will be the bad one I will give up.  I salt before I taste and have done this for years.  Not good.  I am hoping that I can do this and stick with it, which is, of course the point.

You also have to pick a weight loss or fitness goal.  I had to really think about this one.  I have plenty of fitness goals that I would like to see, but I chose weight loss.  I have been the same weight for as long as I can remember, and even though I am happy, it is not an ideal weight for me.  So for the first time in my life,  am going to try and lose a few pounds.  It is only a four week program so it won't be scale shattering, but it still will be a loss, I hope.

You get points for just about everything you do and based on the points is how you win.  You get points for drinking the right amount of water, which is 3 liters every day, sleeping a minimum of 7 hours a night and at least 20 minutes of exercise a day.  You have to eat 5 meals a day and no snacks unless it is a cucumber.  You also get points for touching base with your team and the other team each day.   No alcohol!!!  What, did I just say that out loud?  No worries, I can do that too, I think.

There are also penalties for the the things you miss and there are no make ups or saves.  If you have a drink, you lose 25 points, if you snack you lose 10.  If you exercise more than 20 minutes, which I am sure I will do, you don't get to double the points, it is 20 points, period.  Each meal is 6 points, but if one thing is wrong, than you get 0 points.  Another words if I have a nice meal but I use white bread instead of whole wheat, the meal doesn't count at all.  Are you hooked yet?

The hardest thing for me will be no sugar at all.  Now it is not that I am a sweet person, I much rather have a chip than a chocolate bar, but there is sugar in everything.  I have to buy different bread, different peanut butter, what will I put on my salad, no french vanilla cream in my coffee and no iced tea or orange juice.  Just finding the food is going to be a challenge for me.  I may even have to venture into a health food store!  Oh my!

The prize you ask, well, we all are putting $20 into a pool and the winning team gets it.  Plus, I am hoping to pick up some good habits and get rid of some bad.  A few lost pounds will be good too.

I think the fact that we are working as a team and all the points get added up will keep me motivated.  I would hate to be the one to let the team down.  I am also hoping to learn a few new things about food too as this will benefit my whole family since I am the main shopper and cook.

If you have a minute, look at the plan and if you have any good recipes that fit into it, please share them with me.  Let me know what you would have for breakfast, as this will be hard for me to do every day.  What brands do you use that have no sugar added?  It can't have any sweetener in it, so nothing with equal or the pink stuff.

If you have done this, let me know how it worked for you and your team.  Any pointers would be appreciated.

We are starting this on Monday and I will keep you posted on how it is going.  We did not pick a great week to start as it is school vacation and we will be away for some of it, but I will do my best.

I still have hope that I will be running again by March.  Send your good thoughts my way.

Run strong, think big!