The last two times I have done this week's group challenge I have been a big, fat failure.  I have had a one-a-day Coke Zero habit for the last couple of years.  I have successfully quit before and I know for my own health (especially for my teeth) I need to cut back to having a soda only occasionally.  I have been slowing down on soda for the last month and I hope this week with NO soda at all will be the push I need to break the habit all together.  Usually I curse Stephanie when this challenge comes around but this time I am excited!

weekly challenge

I am really excited for this weeks group goal. I'm not a huge pop drinker but i have been more laxed on it since moving. Whenever I have done these challenges, this is my favorite challenge to do because it makes me think about what i need to be intaking (water) and i usually get tons of extra water in! Here's to another great week!

Changing my habits

When I was pregnant with my first son, I was unbearably nauseous and dizzy the first 2-3 months.  It was constant dizziness that wouldn't go away, and I would have to lie down in bed without moving.  One Saturday afternoon we decided to go to Cheesecake Factory for lunch.  I still wasn't feeling well, but I really wanted to get out and begin exploring the city. 

As we sat inside, I was still completely miserable, and my husband suggested I order a coke.  As soon as I did, my dizziness started to lessen, and my nausea was still there but more manageable. 

And that became my love affair with coke.  It might just be a placebo affect, but I definitely turn to it when I have a headache, or feel dizzy.  Or if I am in need of encouragement to clean the house or begin dinner.  

I buy the 90 calorie cans, and on a good day I will have one can, and on a really bad day I will drink three.  I also always have a few of the mexican coke in the glass bottles in the fridge for those days when I really need a boost of energy.  

I am excited for this week's challenge.  I know Coke can't be good for the body considering it can be used to clean the corrosion on your car battery.  But I still reach for one to get me through the day.  And while I only drink the 90 calorie cans, I still could do better by not drinking it at all.  So, I am excited to see how my body feels after a week of only water drinking!

Hello,  I'm Karen, mother to Clark and ready to start the challenge. I had limited success on the first challenge, dropped out on the second one, and never got started on the third one.  That should be motivation to get going again because I've seen the success that Clark & Stephanie have had.  They made some major changes in size & shape by sticking to the program.  Recently I attended some lectures on insulin resistance & had to admit something I had been warned about was true - elevated blood glucose is a major culprit for heart disease, Alzheimer disease, obesity, & fertility issues for women. Even knowing the damage it can do to the body doesn't make it easy to change what I like to eat.  Reading encouraging posts from you about your struggles and successes does help.  Thanks to all.

Aunt Karen

I am Steph's favorite aunt, checking in for another challenge. Wish everybody LUCK!  Happy losing.

Hi Everyone!

I am Roxanna ! Mother of two who are ages 5 & 3.  We are from Southwest Kansas....yes... Kansas.... =) What I mean by southwest, I really mean "the middle of nowhere." Cornfields and flatland is what I am used to ! We couldn't be happier to be living in Colorado, this really is such a beautiful state.

For me this a very personal and tough journey. I am going on two + years of actively working on these changes. I have had little to no luck doing this on my own. Also due to some underlying health factors I have also been deterred at times.

I am continuously telling myself to be patient, do my part, and I will reap the benefits soon enough. I have slowly come to accept that realistically, it may take a lot longer to get to where I want to be physically.but putting in the work and building that foundation now, I will reach those goals.

Thanks to my wonderful neighbor (Susan Lewis) I was able to join you all. Which I believe is a blessing in disguise ( because opening up in this manner to me is daunting.) Joining this group challenge is my attempt to get out of my comfort zone.and to not be so much the "frustrated & suffering in silence type." Among reaching these fitness and health goals I need to learn to lean on others who share the same goals!

I am looking forward to being held accountable through this challenge. I now realize that healthy habits take time and and lots of hard work.

Did I mention I have zero patience with myself?

Mary Gibbs here this is my first healthy living challenge and first blogging try.  I have done other challenges which have lead to a 30 lb loss which would be great if I hadn't gained 60 lbs over the last couple of years.  Determined to get the rest off before the big 40.  Haha I have 2 kids 21 & 18 and have been married for 22 years to my sweet husband.  Hoping this challenge will get me back in groove and lead to a healthy lifestyle.