Weekly Reward - Most Weekend Points - Week 4

Week 4's Weekly Reward Challenge was to have the most weekend points.  Those who qualified for the reward (and all of them had perfect weekend points!) were:

 Joan, Cindy, and Erin!  And the winner is Cindy!  

Congratulations!  Let me know if you would like your $5 gift card to Subway, Sonic, or Chick-Fil-A!

Heads Up: 5th Weekly Wildcard + HUGE REWARD CHALLENGE

Okay, Challenge Members!

WE ARE NEARLY HALFWAY TO THE FINISH LINE!!

So this is going to be a BIG week!

First:  The Reward Challenge this week will be a

PERFECT WEEK!

AND IT WILL BE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY THAN ALL OTHER REWARDS SO FAR:

ALL MEMBERS WHO ACHIEVE THIS WILL WIN A $10 GIFT CARD.

This means NO drawing.  When we say ALL MEMBERS, we mean ALL MEMBERS!!

So take a deep breath and dive in.  We know how hard it is to get a perfect week.  But WE CAN DO IT!

Second:  Our Weekly Wildcard for Week #5 is:

3 sets of Strength Training a Day.

As with exercise points, if you do 6 days, you will get the bonus 7th day.

If you do not do 6 days, you do not get the bonus day.

This means you may do something like, situps, push ups, and pull ups X 3 sets.

Or bicep curls (use canned goods if you don't have weights), triceps, and shoulder presses X 3 sets.

-Try standing on the edge of your stairs on your toes and raise up and down to strengthen your calves.

-Do squats or lunges.

- Use exercise bands, or surgical tubing to add resistance to an exercise

- Use Free weights or an exercise bench, if you have them

-  There are videos online, or on Hulu, that can give you ideas, as well.

HAVE FUN!

Week 4 Blog Discussion

SPECIAL TIME WITH FAMILY MEMBERS

Each day, we have been challenged to spend quality, or special time, with a family member.

What are your experiences with this?  Has this task helped you in your relationships? 

Share your stories with us!

  

Winners - Reward Challenge Week 3

The numbers have been tallied and the winning team from Week 3's Team Challenge is.....

TEAM 1!!!

Congratulations to Carin, Emily, John, Jamie, and Erin!

 You have each won a  $10 gift card to Amazon and 3 bonus points!

Way to go!

Reward Challenge - Week 4

The reward challenge for this week will go to the person who has the most weekend points (Saturday and Sunday), April 27 - 28!  Everyone who qualifies will be put into a drawing to win a $5 gift card to Subway, Sonic, or Chick-Fil-A!  Good luck!

(Week 3's reward winners will be announced tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23).

Heads Up! 4th Weekly Wildcard + Post your Personals

MAKE A TO-DO LIST

Starting Monday, April 22nd, you will be responsible to make a To-Do list, and cross things off throughout the day.  How you handle this is completely up to YOU.

You should make your list the night before, or very first thing in the morning.  Creating a list in the middle of the day doesn't make much sense, since the point of a list is to organize our minds for things that need to be accomplished.

However, How much time you spend on it, and How many items are on your list are completely up to you!  Also, you earn A POINT FOR THE LIST, not for COMPLETING EVERYTHING ON THE LIST.  Don't be so hard on yourself that you won't reward EFFORT.  Effort should be counted!!
That being said:  This is a challenge, so, you know, challenge yourself and stuff...

**Also, Remember to update your Personal Wildcards this week.  Set new ones, or recommit yourself to the old ones.  Whatever you choose to do, You will have these Personal Wildcards for the next 3 weeks.**  These start on Monday, as well.

3rd Week Blog Discussion

We are coming to a close of our first 3 weeks.

Did you know that next week, we all have the option to CHANGE our Personal Wildcards?

Yup.  This is the time we evaluate how we have been doing with those tasks we thought we needed work on.  Do we hold on to them for another 3 weeks to create a solid habit?  Do we change it up and challenge ourselves to do something else?  (Our 2 required tasks will remain the same for all 3 categories--for the entire challenge.)

Whatever you decide, you will START THE NEXT THREE-WEEK PERSONAL WILDCARDS ON MONDAY, APRIL 22ND.

While you mull that over, think about what you want to write about this week.  Here's the question:

What has been the most worthwhile purchase you have ever made, and why?  We don't need the amount of money spent.  Just a story or thought will do.

   

Winner of Week 2's Challenge!

Winners Highest Score on Random Task:

The task that was drawn for the random task was 15 minutes of Devotional reading.  Participants that received full points for this task  and qualified to be in the winning drawing are: 

Erin, Carin, Emily, Heather, Joan, Scott, Rachel, Christy, Cindy, Amy, Wade, and Christene. 
The the winner is: Christy!  Congrats!

Christy wins a $5 gift card to one of the following:  Amazon, Lowe's/Home Depot, or Target!  Let me know which one you'd like, Christy!

***(I took the categories and assigned a number to each one.  I then used an online random generator to choose the random task.  I recorded everyone who had perfect scores for that random task and assigned each of them a number.  I used the random generator to choose the winner, too!)

Weekly Challenge #3: Financial Health

Finances are an integral part of all of our lives.  They propel our families forward in terms of food, clothing, and shelter.  We find money to be a blessing for us when recreating, seeking entertainment, creating a desired lifestyle, or planning for our future well-being.

But Finances can also add a whole bunch of stress!

This week's challenge is this (keeping in mind that your personal finances are just that-- YOURS.  We will not ask for any information or details regarding this area).

 Complete a 5 minute Financial Task each day.
***This does not include checking the balance on accounts.***  We want you to go beyond that.  Here are some ideas to get your brains rolling:
-Talk with spouse about financial goals
-Make a meaningful or detailed plan for a future purchase
-Manage, or edit stocks or mutual funds
-Set a goal for reducing a debt, including your plan to achieve that goal
-Set a goal for Savings, including your plan to achieve that goal
-Make a budget
-Evaluate past financial performances, and make a goal for improvement
-Read a financial article or find other educational material
-Set up a Child's Savings account
-Set up a Roth IRA, or 401K
-Research Stock Trends

Get EXCITED for TEAM WEEK!

We are happy to announce our TEAM CHALLENGE, starting next week.  This challenge will total the points from next week ONLY for your entire team.  (April 15-21)  The team with the highest total-- wins.
 
SO-- What happens if there is a tie for first place?
BONUS POINTS!  All teams who tie for first place get an additional 3 bonus points per team member!
Then, we will hold a drawing for the winner.
The team with the highest total will be given a $10 gift card for Amazon.com to EACH member of the team!!
 
Get psyched.  Get your engines running.  Get Ready to Rumble!!!!

2nd Week Blog Discussion

What Are Your Physical Hurdles?  What things challenge you the most in maintaining the type of physical health you long for?

Okay, so my hurdles would span the entire 400 meter track:  kids, hubby, addiction to sugar, addiction to tv and other media, chronic nibbler, night owl, hard on myself, love to cook--but sometimes its too last minute, and a slew of others.

But the thing I realize as I do this challenge is that I have more control over them than I think I do.

When I think of hurdles, my first thought is actually a memory:  6th grade field day.  Our teachers got permission to bus all the kids from the upper grades to the local high school, where we actually got to participate in olympic-style events like the long jump, javelin throw, high jump, and hurdles, in addition to the standard sprints we usually did at the elementary school.  I remember being terrified when I stood in lane 4 and looked down the row of hurdles ahead of me.  So scary!  Not only had I never jumped them before, but I was well aware that all of my fellow classmates were a head or more taller than I was.  My feet seemed directly connected to my hips all of a sudden.  The shot fired, and I ran with all my might.  I pushed off and stretched my little hobbit leg as high as I could.  I cleared it.  It took a lot of concentration, and I had to plan ahead to know exactly where I was going to place my feet, but I continued forward and did the next one, and the next, until I finished in 2nd place. 
Just like literal hurdles, all of my hurdles can either be avoided, or lessened by foresight and preparation. If I plan ahead, concentrate, and keep placing my feet, I can take control of them.  For me this means meal planning, limiting tv time, getting my kids involved in helping with meals and clean up, and logging my food.  It also means finding a buddy to exercise with.

So, what about you?  (We really want to hear your stories!)

Week 1 Winner!

Winner for Highest Points for Week 1:
 
The winner for the highest points last week was Erin!  She will receive a $5 gift card to Target!  

REMINDER: 
Week 2:  Erin will draw a random task from one of the set required goals, i.e. 5 Penny Service, or 30 minute exercise.  This does not include personal wildcards or weekly challenges.  All those who had perfect weeks on this one challenge will be entered to win the prize, which will be announced on Tuesday, April 16.
The person who wins will get a $5 gift card to one of the following:  Amazon, Lowes/Home Depot, or Target.  Good luck!!

Weekly Challenge #2 + Week #2 Reward

Hey, Challenge Members!  Let's all make sure to welcome Jamie to our challenge.  She is proof that it is never too late to join in.  (Now, if I can just convince Eric.....)

We all did GREAT for our first week.

Here is the CHALLENGE for the second week:  This starts Monday, April 8th and lasts through Sunday the 14th.

No Eating After 9 p.m.

Why?  The Global Healing Center has this to say:
"Some may reason that it shouldn’t matter how late we eat just as long as the calories we consume are within range of what our bodies need. However, eating late affects the body in a different way than eating a larger meal at mid-day. Calories that are consumed at night are usually not processed as efficiently as those during the day.
Think about it, unless you work the night shift, most people’s activities wind down as the day does. Settling in after dinner isn’t uncommon. Unfortunately, if we lie down after a huge meal, it can be a strain and lead to a feeling of lethargy in the morning. Disrupted sleep is also common when the body is working hard to digest what was eaten recently."

"Studies by Dr. Louis J. Aronne, director of a weight control program for the Weill Cornell Medical Center, have shown that people who eat late, eat more than they would during a day-time meal.
Furthermore, these studies found a link between larger evening meals and an increase in triglyceride levels associated with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and overall weight gain.

When triglyceride levels are high, our body thinks it needs to store fat from excessive night-time eating for later use. Eating large meals at night, in essence, informs the body that there will be a shortage of food soon and it should store fat!
Some people find they are able to eat healthy meals during the day, but crave sweets and heavier foods at night. Often times this involves an emotional component to eating, perhaps even a minor one."

Tips to Avoid Eating Late At Night

• Eat a moderate breakfast and a heavier lunch.
• Have a larger dinner before 6 PM.
• When you feel like eating late at night, drink a cup of warm lemon water or an herbal tea with raw honey. Hot liquids are soothing and warming.
• If eating late is a habit of yours, you will have to break that habit. Start by reducing your portion sizes and choosing healthier meals.
• Trade in junk food, white sugar, processes foods and white flour for whole grains, soups, fruits and vegetables.
• Brush your teeth earlier! It may sound too simple, but some people find that if they just brush their teeth, they are less likely to indulge in late-night eating patterns.
• Turn off the TV. Studies have shown that television can subconsciously trigger desires for more food.
• Take a warm bath. 
• Turn on some soothing music. 
• Read a book. 
• Create new night-time rituals that don’t involve heavy eating.
• Go on a brisk walk after dinner 

______________________________________________________
WEEK #2 REWARD:  This reward is separate from the weekly challenge.  Erin will draw a random task from one of the set required goals, i.e. 5 Penny Service, or 30 minute exercise.  This does not include personal wildcards or weekly challenges.  All those who had perfect weeks on this one challenge will be entered to win the prize, which will be announced on Tuesday of the following week.
The person who wins will get a $5 gift card to one of the following:  Amazon, 


THIS TUESDAY, the very first reward will be given to the individual who had the most total points for the week.  The first week is a hard week!  We will let everyone know this Tuesday who the winner is. (This is because all members have until Monday at midnight to enter their points from today--Sunday.)

First Wednesday Blog Discussion

Tell us a little about yourself:  Where you live, Why you joined the challenge, What you hope to get out of it, etc.

Guess I get to go first!

I live in NC, and I am the mother of 4 beautiful and busy kids.  I did a challenge similar to this last fall with Erin and loved the changes I saw in my life.  
These things that are important in my life -- Like exercise, reading scriptures, spending quality time with family, and getting little things done around the house -- they are sometimes the hardest things to do!

I often blame this on growing up as a twin, but I REALLY do better when I have buddies to do things with.  I clean more when I am on the phone, talking to someone, I'll exercise if I have a friend, and I eat better when I gather my family around and make a good meal.

This challenge allows me to work with my family and friends to become a better mom, wife, and person.  A little competition doesn't hurt, either!  

In the end, I hope to keep the habits I create!  I hope I stay strong and happy so that my kids look back one day and remember a happy, loving and productive mom.

When you respond to this blog, please remember to check the little box that allows you to see everyone else's responses!