Vegmom Moments

EXERCISE CHALLENGE DAY 22

The challenge is still moving along...  We are on day 22 for those keeping track.... And I've seen some habits change already in friends and myself.  I am enjoying these 30 day challenges and what they really change for more then 30 days.

The No Junk Food Challenge made some habits shift for me that I'm still surprised at.  Except for the Coffee drinks which inched back in, and a couple desserts on vacation, I've been virtually Dessert free since the challenge ended.  Hubby brings stuff home from work and I'm not even interested.

I buy stuff for him and Veg - but have no desire to eat it myself...  Even the stuff I had on vacation, was split up instead of eating it myself, and still seemed too sugary so I didn't finish it.  Our grocery bill is down by at least $30 per week since I'm still not buying as much "Junk" for the house...  I'm thinking that 30 days really did make a life change....

So.... now for this Exercise Challenge!!  while I've been exercising for several years, what I like about this challenge is its forcing me to commit to 4 Days.  Not 3 here and 2 there, or 5 one week and 2 the next... But consistently 4 days EVERY WEEK no matter what life holds.  And if I add more, then its a bonus.  But deducting isn't an option.  So I'm making time for ME!  And that is a good thing.   Hopefully this will continue when the challenge is far gone, like the other one did...

I shall sign off to go do my Monday workout before Tuesday gets here, because I haven't had a chance yet... But won't let the day complete with out it......  so off I go...

In the mean time, here is an amazing story!!... I can Only Imagine!!! 

 

JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE COMPLETE

At the beginning of the year I said this would be a year of completing goals.... And boy has it been...

Not only did we finish a huge task at work that took months and in less then predicted time...  But I also completed a 1/2 marathon, Paid off a vehicle, stuck to a budget (for the most part), carrying lunches to work (many days),  changed my sleep patterns (most days),  I Started a daily/weekly exercise regimen....  including getting Veg to do 5K's with me and long walks (my long time hope to have a walking/jogging buddy)  and we actually have real live vegetables growing in our garden.

And now...... Drum roll please.......

 I can officially add to my completed 2009 Goal list........ 30 days with NO junk food.  NO Chocolate Coffee beverages... NO Chocolate at all for 30 whole days. 

And because that many days can make a habit, I no longer crave nor need nor want that much chocolate.  It is all around me at work, and yet, I had oatmeal when I needed a snack.   I was stressed after a work call, and ate hummus with whole wheat crackers, instead of looking for the comfort food.

At the grocery story, I still purchased healthy snacks as if I was on the challenge, even though I'm not....

Granted I ran out this morning and got me a frozen chocolate coffee beverage.... *smile*  I'm not giving up the sweets entirely.  But knowing they don't have to be in the house and I can have a treat when I'd like one, and Chai Tea makes me just as happy as coffee.... I really no longer NEED the junk!

And so there you have it... Another Goal Met and far exceeded my expectations.... Congrats to all those that took the Junk food challenge with me... And if your still trying it, don't stop because we met our 30 days.....  Or if you haven't started and are now deciding to.... GO FOR IT!  *smile*

P.S.  Hubby is NOT so thrilled about the challenge..  and I quote  "How come just because you decided not to eat junk food, I have to go with out it too?"

*wink*

30 DAY CHALLENGE ALMOST OVER

Only one more day of the Challenge.... 11:59pm on Tuesday Night, we say good bye to the No Junk Food Challenge....

Is anyone else still with me?  I know my friend is and neither of us had to buy T-shirts... Because of that, we get to go out for a No-Kid dinner this week... Yippeee!!!  Yay for Us!!  We both won!!  How exciting!!

Really, even if you didn't take the challenge, spend the next couple days counting how many times you eat something that is just junk and not critical to living....  I was surprised at how much I Didn't buy at the store while on the challenge that I normally would have bought.   And how I ended up OK with that!!

This has been a great learning experience.... and I'm sure we are not done with creating these challenges.

The next one will be Exercise Related......Just in case you were wondering!

CHOCOLATE.....SO MEAN

I actually went to sleep before 11pm last night... it was a sound sleep, a deep one and totally uninterrupted.  I slept all the way through till there was day light... REALLY.. I did....

And when day light broke, I was awakened by a horrible horrible dream.... There was chocolate.  It was EVERYWHERE....  All my favorite chocolate things of all time... They were dancing around my head and I couldn't reach them... they laughed at me.   The chocolate really laughed at me...

I think it was the worst dream I've ever had......

Alas... I'm still junk food free!!!  Staying strong!  Dreams and all....

30 DAY CHALLENGE ANOTHER WEEK

Yay.. So we started a new week of the challenge and I'm not sure about everyone else, but I'm still Junk food free.... Although its been tough, this challenge has really kept me in Check...

Sorry I didn't post much over the weekend, we were busy with Festivals, House Chores, Garden and Yard stuff...  So here is some inspirational info..... And its not too late to start if this gets you thinking, Hmmm?!!

Some great side effects that have come from people doing this challenge have been, going to sleep earlier, Some have stopped all sodas, Others have started eating more fruits and veggies....

My only caffeine weakness is Coffee and I haven't had any since the challenge started, so that was a great side effect. But the best part of this whole thing is that people are feeling better.  And it goes to show that what you eat DOES make a difference.  And what our Kids eat, DOES make a difference..... And what we eat, directly relates to what our kids will eat!!

Check out the Disease Proof blog for some great info on all kinds of health categories,and how what we eat can make a big difference in how we live.

So for the inspirational part..... If I add up approximately how much "extra" sugar I'm NOT eating from sweets, that I would be consuming if not on the challenge, it equals at least 650 grams a week.  And remember, I'm Vegetarian and also avoid most dairy foods.  So this is totally Coffee drinks + Veg friendly Snacks....  I'm not even including my regular diet... JUST SWEET SNACKS!!

For those that drink this stuff....Add to that 27 grams per cola beverage, 63 grams for a milkshake,  and this ADDS up really fast!  (not including pasta, bread, rice, etc.)

Now consider how much of that our bodies really need....Maybe 224 per week, or something like that?  According to This post:  Sugar: How Much Should We Eat

So Add up your own Sugar Grams or lack there off, and see what you can adjust?  Or see how much you have already given up... You may surprise your self !!

And the Challenge rolls on!!!

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE ROLLS ON

 

Stop eating Desserts?  How hard is that??  Apparently it is harder then I thought.  And I didn't realize I ate that much.

When there is chocolate on your desk, Soy Ice Cream in your Freezer, cookies around every corner, Starbucks in route to every where I go, Festivals Galore this time of year, snacks in the car for Veg, snacks in my Bag for Veg, Dessert at our favorite restaurants and local coffee shop......  Those little stinkin' graham crackers that I put in Veg's lunch box, tiny vegan choco chips in our drawer....  You get the idea...

Junk food is EVERY WHERE!!!!   A Nibble here a Dabble there a handful of this and a smidgin of that......

BUT NOT FOR 30 days...... Alas..... I am still Junk Food Free........

Here is a no junk food lunch for your viewing pleasure:

The chips are Vegan Brown Rice baked Chips with Salsa like Seasoning and no bad stuff.  Notice only a serving instead of a bag full.   I love these lunchboxes  You can't possibly go over board on the servings because the buckets are just the right size.  

And while today is Earth Day, I must plug the best part of those lunchboxes.  They leave ZERO Waste!!!

While your enjoying NO JUNK FOOD for this 30 days, maybe add some thing else for Earth Day...  Think about what example your setting for your kids with your own habits.   Good or Bad?  What can you change or teach that will help them reduce the waste, recycle and reuse? 

On that note, I shall sign off..... Turn off this PC, turn off all the lights that I don't need on.....Take a piece of cardboard I found to my recycle bin, turn off my air and open the windows....  Then I shall munch on some carrots because I'm hungry and its too early for lunch.....

Have a great Day!

30 DAY CHALLENGE THE WEEKEND

Well, we hit our first weekend.... Hope everyone is still enjoying a junk free 30 days...  Or less, Or More *smile*
I'm still on bored and it seems each day gets easier.  Fruit choices are soo plentiful at the grocery stores, and I'm finding some good whole grains and beanie dishes to curb my appetite for snacks.   As for Chocolate frozen coffee drinks... I'm sticking with Unsweet Tea or Soy Chai and that is doing the trick.

As for exercise, the Vegman and I entered another 5K today... But it was one of those mornings that we should have stayed home...  When I asked him at the 1/2 mile, why he was coming out if he was so tired and "COULDN'T WALK" he said because he loves to exercise and needed fresh air.

OK FINE... we could have done that by the house and saved us $40.... And not in front of 100 people, and being the last ones through the finish line... Put it this way.. We hit the 1st mile at 17 minutes and then he didn't want to move anymore... Dude...We have like 2 more to go...  Needless to say it was a SLOW morning, but he did finish and we got cool shirts. 

I was getting the horrible Mom look from other parents that couldn't believe I was pushing him to walk... What they didn't know is that, this is the same kid who ran a 13 minute mile the week before, and the same kid that got me up at 6AM to make sure we weren't late to the one today....  I'm sorry, but if your going to wake me up at 6AM because you want to join a race THAT BADLY... the least you can do is WALK IT!    I stopped asking to run after the first water stop because I realized that wasn't happening.    But walking would be good...

So yes, I get the bad Mom award for the day.  But made up for it (I think) at the kids festival, where I stood by for at least 4hrs, while he did craft after craft and Montessori lesson after lesson.

It was a busy day!!  But an Outdoorsy Day and a Non-Junk Food one!! 

Hope your day is a GREAT one too

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE DAY 4

Another exciting day... I got a call from NB  who said she is feeling so much better since she started this and its only been 4 days.... Who needs a shirt, that was the best prize ever!! 

My goal is for neither of us to win this bet, and that would mean we both won!  *smile*  As for others...

Maria is doing great... giving up the high fructose and sticking with her plan per her comments... Salads/water seem to be her trick.. 

Our one day at a time Mom even passed up home made Choco chip pancakes... now that is willpower!

One Mom is spending her time outside "Away from the kitchen" to keep her mouth out of trouble...

Several of the Mom's sticking to the challenge are munching on Dried and Fresh fruit to conquer the sweet tooth or yogurt and granola....

Everyone is doing so great!!    30 days will pass in no time, and we'll wonder how we even thought this would be hard!  :-)  

Anyone else want to join the challenge?  Its easy, just leave a comment with an alias keeping your self anonymous and then stop eating junk... That simple!  *smile*  If you choose you can continue to comment and keep us posted on your progress.

Happy No Junk Food Month!

DAY 3 - STILL NO JUNK

   The No Junk Food challenge continues... And day 3 brought with it some challenges for me at least.. Well and another Mom that has had to stare at a cadbury egg all day... "Don't eat the egg"....  . 

Lets just say without saying too many words that this was the one day of the month where I REALLY WANTED CHOCOLATE!!!!

 Then my Sweet Evil Coworker brought cute little bags of Peanut M&M's to put ON MY DESK inside our group snack bucket.... Is that mean or what???  But I stayed the course....  Day 3 has been Complete and I still don't owe my friend a shirt... and many people are still on track... Such Success!

But while talking to said co-worker (the evil one that left chocolate on my desk), the subject of artificial ingredients and dyes came up...  many made from coal, synthetic, chemical, you get the idea... But the grossest of gross is red dye that comes from dead bugs.... Its true, even the Science Channel has it mentioned in their top 10 strange ingredients... 

So the next time you see the word Carmine or Cochineal listed on your ingredient labels... you will know that the red coloring came from baked or boiled beetles... Yuck! ...

Now look at the Science Channel's #3... Yup Gelatin... yum Yum... Animal Skin and bones!  

And now for Good Healthy things to look at... Check out This is Why your Thin for great food ideas and exercise motivation... Even if your not thin (I RAISE MY HAND)... it is a great site to find good healthy ideas.

By the way, my Hubby said he was going to join the challenge but he couldn't because they had Godiva Chocolate at his work today.... Well Phooey on him!  *smile*

Only 26 more days to go...

FRIDGE SHELF WITH SPRING COLORS

I started chopping veggies and washing fruits in bulk to make it easier for grab and go moments....

Doesn't my top shelf look so colorful?  Brocolli Slaw, Romaine, Carrots, Cucumbers, Grapes, Berries...

Nothing says Spring like yummy looking produce!

ANOTHER DAY BEHIND US

While people are munching all around me, cookies at work, pies at home, I stay strong...

While hungry for some chocolate goodness, I stay away from the snack buckets and machines.

Day two contains no junk food..

Breakfast was Oatmeal again, with tea and water from home.

Mid Morning snack was a few grapes.

Lots of water

Lunch was PB&J sandwich, broccoli slaw and rest of grapes and tea.

Afternoon snack (yes I eat a lot)... Tiny orange, and some oat cereal squares.

More water..

Throw in a two mile speed walk...

More Water...

Now its dinner time.. Veggie Hibachi stirfry, cucumber salad and miso soup...

Yummm!! Happy Day Two to all of you!!

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE - DAY 1 ENDS

I'm so excited.... Seems there are many people ready for our challenge... several posting on another board that I'm reading... so I'll keep you all up to date on their progress here... 

We currently have 16 people taking the challenge and everyone made it past day ONE without Dessert/Junk Food... Thats a lot of Goodness!!!

My friend had a great tip:  She is going to bed earlier to avoid the late night sugar cravings!!  BUT WOW, that is good for so many other reasons...   Go NB... how awesome is that!!

Mary from the comments said that she is going to shy away from High Fructose... That is a wonderful thing! 

For those that don't know, not only is High Fructose Corn Syrup not so good for our bodies, but recently the message went out that it contained Mercury...  And by the way, its not so good for the environment either according to this Washington Post Article...   So avoiding this stuff, not only keeps away the calories but does some other good too....

I made this tonight for some munching.... Broccoli Slaw...Easy Crunchy Goodness..... YUM!!  Should last me a couple days...

If you have any tips,  post them in the comments...  Here's for a great day two...  We have one Mom that said she is taking it one day at a time... well she just made it this one day! 

And the challenge rolls on!!

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE DAY 1

YAY!!  ITS HERE!!  Monday, the first day of our 30 Day Junk Food Challenge.......  This is what I brought for lunch today... A little bit of sweet and a little bit of Salty... Not sugar or carb free by any means... but no "junk" to keep me challenge compliant!

I also made my self a container of Iced tea and brought a cup of water to the office...  There is still a bucket of snacks on my desk for people who come to visit, but I have the motivation to keep my hands away....

For Breakfast, some natural oatmeal filled my tummy and a glass of Grapefruit juice.....

HAPPY MONDAY EVERY ONE!

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE

                                          4/16/09 UPDATES ---  We are now 18 Ladies strong.. On day 4....  We've had one lady fall off the junk wagon because of a sore throat so we let her hop back on..        

One Mom is still taking one day at a time.  And each day she has made it (even if the cadbury egg was haunting her)...  2 more joined us today.  Welcome to the No junk challenge!!          

My personal challenge with my friend has yielded no T-shirts to be purchased....

Chocolate on my desk at work is still there.... And the Soy Ice cream in the fridge is still there.... 

We are now Junk food free for 4 days and counting..... 

It's not too late to join..  Leave a comment if you'd like to track your own progress... Copy the image and put it on your own blog if you'd like... Invite others to join.

If your new... read the info below to see what I'm talking about!!

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  ***UPDATES***  Several have joined the No Junk Food Challenge since my original post...  Via this blog or other ways...Feel free to pass this along.   I now have a button in the side rail so you can always find this thread to post progress.....  How Fun!!  *smile*

PS - one of my friends and I have upped the Auntie with each other...  The first one of us to cave before 30 days has to buy the other a Life Is Good shirt...

OH- its on now!!!!  *smile*

(keep reading if you have no idea what I'm talking about)

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Desperate Times call for Desperate Measures.... I tried Not eating past 8:00pm (which was much harder then I thought by the way)....  I tried exercising many days.....  I tried giving up my favorite Frozen Coffee Beverages....Even tried running a 1/2 marathon....(which wasn't that easy).....

And yet still, my pants grow tighter, shirts begin having less elbow room, my double chin is becoming a triple, and it is time to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!  Even my socks are getting snug....

Note to self, when your Socks are getting snug, stuff is traveling south and not in a good way!!

Although my version of "junk food" may be different then others... After all mine is "Healthy Junk Food" haha, or so I tell myself.... If it is Vegan, and all natural, I consider it OK for my body... Well even too much of "healthy junk food" is not so good for my trunk! 

And so today I am issuing a 30 DAY NO JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE to anyone that wants to join me...  I know I get lots of views from people who have never left comments... Feel free to do so.  You don't really have to leave your email address (just skip that part of the comments thing) and you can post a web link only if you choose.  An alias is fine as you will know who you are....

Of course since its my blog I have the right not to publish comments for any reason, but have rarely found the need to do so!

Starting Monday  April 13th, I will NOT be eating any "Dessert type Junk Food" for 30 days....  You don't have to start Monday though, feel free to track your progress in my comments section.  And let us know how many days you made it....Failure is not an option even if you make it 2 days that is better then none... so be sure to come back here and let us know...  I'll post progress if anyone shows interest.  Also let us know in the comments of good things you find to eat that are NON Junk, to keep your cravings at bay. 

Also feel free to grab the Lame-O image at the top of this post or side bar for your own blog to show others your progress.

Are you in???