2010 Health Challenge

It looks like the Tundra Mom Health Challenge is going to work out. So far we have 5 people signed up. If you would like to be a part of the Challenge, please let me know on or before December 31.

Men and women are welcome. There are no health goals too big or too small to join, just a way to have fun together and a chance to win a gift certificate.

Please don't think, "I'm too out of shape for that" or "I don't have time for that." I have transformed from a couch potato to a runner in the last three months and I've lost 23 pounds.

I did it by joining two online groups. One woman and I have been writing daily to keep one another accountable and the other is a group of runners and racers, in which I am the rookie!!!

I would have given up three separate times if not for these people.

We'll start January 1 and end on March 1.

If you are signed up start brainstorming and listing your health goals.

1. Start a list of goals.
   
2. Include after each the motivation for the goal.
3. Include a plan for how to reach that goal.
4. Be brave take your before picture and measurements- those will be big point winners during week one.
   

Remember to be reasonable, specific and measurable.
Instead of saying, "I want to be fit," define your goal more, like this:

• For me one aspect of "being fit" might be, "Do 15 men's push ups."
• This is reasonable because now I can do 12 women's push ups.
• Then add a timetable- "I want to do 15 men's push ups by March 1."
• My motivation listed maybe: I want to build muscle. I'd like my arms to look nice in that orange dress I bought. Finally, push ups are cheap- no equipment needed- just my big fat body to lift!!!
• Then add a plan- "I will do two sets of men's push ups every other day to my exhaustion point. I will stretch after each session so that I don't get sore. I will record my progress on my journal and try to beat my previous week's number."

I know all of you know these things, but goal setting is important because then you have something to aim for and know if you are coming close to your target.

It is also important to be reasonable because if our goals are too ambitious, then we'll be discouraged.

Here is an article to help us think through our goals.

I'll define the point system for the Challenge this week and also post articles here that are interesting, inspiring, or helpful.

I will not let my blog be only about the Challenge. I'll keep you informed about my family, ministry, and my various strange musings from my love of recycled jars to my broken heart about the poor!