THE APRIL CHALLENGE: Accountability!

[gitfiddle]

Develop discipline of self so that . . . you do not have to decide and re-decide what you will do when you are confronted with the same temptation time and time again. You need only decide some things once.
President James E. Faust quoting Spencer W. Kimball

How do you develop self-discipline? How important does something have to be for you to “just do it”? What tools do we have to work with?

~Daily posting
~Keeping a journal
~Making a daily menu
~Writing down all food consumed
~Planning ahead
~Keeping your pantry stocked
~Making an exercise program
~Taking time for meditation
~Getting enough sleep
~Your favorite tool here…..

The April Challenge will be about Accountability. Pick the tools that will help you the most. List them in your signature line if you like. Let us know what it will take for you to get steady or fine-tune your program so we can encourage you daily.

We’ll start on Wednesday. Who’s in?

[Karole]

Gosh Carol, that quote reminds me of NEAN ! --Make the decision one time not to nibble and then you don't have to make the same decision over and over again.

I'm in and ready for Accountable April.

My project will be daily posting, daily food journal of food consumed, daily exercise.

[BeccainSC]

I'm in, though I will be out of town Friday and Saturday - visiting a college for DD1.

My tools:

Writing down all food consumed
Daily posting


The others are all good and things to work on, I'll have to see if I can dedicate myself to at least one more that will start on the 5th.


'becca

[Mitra]

Someone on the old PP board used to talk about how it helped her to just make the decision once rather than again and again at every meal time. I really liked the idea. For me food isn't especially difficult, but I've definitely been slipping on the exercise front. We've just come to the end of my husband's time off work, so it's a good time to start re-establishing some routine.

I'm going to get back to exercising and meditating regularly. For exercise, I'll set my goal at five times per week, because that's what I have found helpful in the past. More than that and it becomes overwhelming, less than that and it's not frequent enough to become part of the daily routine. For the meditation, I'll keep the sessions short, but do one every day.

And I'll report in to the daily threads, because my lack of routine over the last few months has meant that I've not been keeping up with people here as much as I like.

Thank you for putting together a great challenge with something for everybody, Carol :).

[Karole]

Well, I can't find the edit button so I will just have to make a new post to add meditation to my list of challenges. I read Mitras post and I need to get in that habit again. I don't think I have ever done it on a daily basis, so I am hoping to get a lower bp out of it. Can't hurt that's for sure.

[Dutchess2009]

I am in!!!

The tools that have helped me are:

Writing in my journal daily
Writing down my meals for the day
I also need more things to do in the evening to keep my mind occupied. For April I am going to start going for walks more in the evening now that it is nice out.

Well finally lost a couple of pounds since my carb binge last week. I am feeling good today and am really motivated to see some excellent progress on the scale in April.

[Shadow]

For me food isn't especially difficult, but I've definitely been slipping on the exercise front. We've just come to the end of my husband's time off work, so it's a good time to start re-establishing some routine.
I saw that, Mitra ;)....

I'm going to get back to exercising and meditating regularly. For exercise, I'll set my goal at five times per week, because that's what I have found helpful in the past. More than that and it becomes overwhelming, less than that and it's not frequent enough to become part of the daily routine. For the meditation, I'll keep the sessions short, but do one every day.
You won't let either of us down in getting to those goals, right :razz:?

[Shadow]

Great challenge, Carol! Thank you so much :D!

Like Mitra, it reminds me of that past poster. I always liked her lookout on the decision process and having adopted it for myself, it definitely has made a huge difference over the years :).

[Mitra]

Great challenge, Carol!

You're only saying that because it gives you the chance to threaten me with those wet noodles :p.

(I thought I'd be safe as long as I didn't say anything in the M&S section :paranoid:)

[Ammy]

oh boy...I totally believe the quote, and when working the plan KNOW that is the right thing for me to do...
And I FEEL better when I make the decision once and stick to it...
But I'm a food addict, and sometimes my addict wins and I find myself make "split second decisions" about adding food.
The ability to make a decision and stick to it is so much easier when I am a couple days in...

Anyway...I'm in for April.

My tools will be:
EVERY DAY~Daily posting
EVERY DAY~Planning ahead/Making a daily menu
EVERY DAY~Posting final counts/writing down all food consumed
TWICE A WEEK~Making an exercise program

[Puddin]

Here in Italy April is tax month so I can be accountable to the system and even here. Seems that with the arrival of Spring, new vegetables, STRAWBERRIES and such it will be a lot easier to be accountable for menus.

Can do menus and food accounting. Not so sure about writing long journal pieces but I guess that if I close my weak eye:p.

Seems that accountability goes with responsability so I guess it is really a good way to 'grow up'. Am hoping to get back to that wonderful 'empty feeling' I had when I was 69kg. Am up again at 72:(.

Meditation could be something really worth trying this month. A half hour under an olive tree watching the clouds pass by is probably the most wonderful thing in the world. So relaxing.

Karol, FOX TROTTERS - tennessee walker type pace. Sounds soooooo good and it really does lower BP. Of course, the horse gets the exercise but it is wonderful.

Am off...snuck in for a couple of minutes just to say hi!!

[Karole]

[quote=Mitra;88396
(I thought I'd be safe as long as I didn't say anything in the M&S section :paranoid:)[/quote]

(psssssttt Mitra--you aren't safe anywhere from the Shadow :D

[Mitra]

(psssssttt Mitra--you aren't safe anywhere from the Shadow :D

:lol: You'd think I'd know that by now, wouldn't you? :rolleyes: ;)

[Shadow]

:lol: You'd think I'd know that by now, wouldn't you? :rolleyes: ;)
Some of us learn a lot slower than others :lol: :D :p ;)!

[Mitra]

Some of us learn a lot slower than others :lol: :D :p ;)!

Humph :peeved:. Shouldn't you be out lifting weights or something? :p :lol:

Actually, I'm constantly amazed at how long it takes me to learn the same few things over and over again :rolleyes:.

[Claudette]

Hi, y'all,
I agree with what has been said for sure.
It is easier to make a desision once than over and over again.
I agree, Puddin, accountability goes with responsibility; without it I don't think I could have grown up. Sometimes for sure in relation to the PP diet, I haven't acted grown up at all.

Here is my plan for April for me.

~Making a daily menu(and not deviating from it!)
~Planning ahead
~Making an exercise plan.
~Keeping a food journal.

I will try to post my plan daily or as often as I can. Nights are spent reading and studying, so no time for nibbling, thank goodness.

Here is to a lighter April.

[Shadow]

Humph :peeved:. Shouldn't you be out lifting weights or something? :p :lol:
I did that early this morning so I'd be ready to take you on :p.

Actually, I'm constantly amazed at how long it takes me to learn the same few things over and over again :rolleyes:.
We all have areas in our lives that do that to us :nod:!

And on that note, I'll quit hijacking the thread ;). Thanks for letting me play :)!

[gitfiddle]

Whew! I thought I was going to have to mediate! ;)

[Belfrybat]

I'm in for April. Won't be posting daily until after Easter, but I think of you-all when I'm not here. Carol, thanks for the list of ways to be accountable.

I regularly do all of the following, but have fallen behind a bit in "planning ahead" regarding meals away from the hermitage. I've also fallen a bit behind in exercise as my shoulder has begun to pain me again. Will work out a new plan and post on M&S after Easter.

~Daily posting - after Easter
~Making a daily menu
~Writing down all food consumed
~Planning ahead
~Keeping your pantry stocked
~Making an exercise program
~Taking time for meditation
~Getting enough sleep

My personal challenge will be to continue the road to permanent maintenance and read health literature -- currently GCBC.

Looking forward to a great April! :)

[SandyHanson]

I’m accepting this challenge, Carol. I found I needed to think about it a bit, though. Accountable. . . to whom? I know, it’s my body, and my health. But I also know that I’m better at keeping the promises and commitments that I make to others than those I make to myself (think maybe that’s something I should work on?)

I know, both in my mind and in my heart that this WOL is the best way to go for me. I feel better in so many ways, on so many levels, when I stick to it.

So, in response to the April challenge, I am making this commitment, here in front of all my fellow forum members:

Daily ECC <40
Daily protein >100
Daily calories ~1600
Daily water >64 oz

Exercise: 6 days / week

To make this work, I will definitely have to enter every bite, every nibble in Fitday.

One additional, very important, commitment: report in with the group every day. Of course, it’s easy and fun when I can say how good I’ve been; not so easy when I’ve slipped up. But I’m committing to ‘fessing up when I’ve been bad.

And I’m counting on all of you to do what you do so well: support, encourage, advise, gently scold when necessary.

[Dutchess2009]

One additional, very important, commitment: report in with the group every day. Of course, it’s easy and fun when I can say how good I’ve been; not so easy when I’ve slipped up. But I’m committing to ‘fessing up when I’ve been bad.

And I’m counting on all of you to do what you do so well: support, encourage, advise, gently scold when necessary.

I agree on both points!!

[Karole]

Ok Sandy, you are making yourself accountable --we'll be watching:paranoid::paranoid:--but in a nice way of course !:)

[oceanblueLA]

I started the challenge on the first but posted there and forgot to post here to declare how I would be accountable. So here it goes. I will:

--make a food plan the day before and stick to it
--exercise 5 days a week
--post on the board every day
--weigh myself every day

I am also going to read more about calories and come up with a number I will hit every day. I've been meaning to do that for a while, instead of just relying on eye-balling portion control and food groups. I find fitday a clumsy program and have never been able to commit to it. I've found the Spark food diary to be a bit better, but still so much more work than just writing down my meals on an index card. But I will be tracking what I eat systematically.

Back to the daily Challenge pages!

[Claudette]

Vivienne,

I agree with you, fitday, too much time for me. Spark fitday is better,but too much too. I put my daily diary on a sticky with the carb/pro amounts, then just put the totals on my daytimer along with my daily weight each morning. I found when I keep too detailed a journal, it seemed to keep me too focused on food. I am trying this approach for a while.

Claudette

[maxlharris]

Late to the band (nothing against any of you, but wouldn't trade what made me late for anything), but in for the remaining 23 days.

Daily posting.
Daily Fitday.
Even on weekends.
As always the regime is:
120g protein
<40g carbs
Adequate calories
water

May is exercise month, for me. 47 days until Memorial Day. Will be weird being home for Memorial Day. Haven't done that since 2004 really.

[gitfiddle]

Late to the band (nothing against any of you, but wouldn't trade what made me late for anything), but in for the remaining 23 days.
That's cool, Max! I'm sure you'll be sharing the stories with us. :)

[LulaZula]

Hi there,

I am hesitant to join in - late in the month, plus very green at this posting thing. So... I am worried that I'll be unsuccessful. But I want to try.

A bit of an intro (hope it's not inappropriate here)... I've been doing this a long time (with multiple falls off the wagon over the last decade). Struggle with carb cravings, night-time binges at least 1-2 times each month. Had great success in late 2007 and 2008 with singular focus and tons of mindfulness. Then, got totally plateau'ed. Lately, been really struggling with motivation and staying focused and mindful -- like a loosening of the belt, figuratively and literally. I need to turn things around, and fast, so I don't undo all my hard work.

I will do this:
~exercise 4-5 hours per week
~eating: min. 100 g protein, max 30 g ECC, min 64 oz H2O daily
~track all foods eaten, and exercise, in Fitday each day
~post results