We ended with 16 linkies! THANKS, LADIES!

After 14 weeks, we ended with 16 finale updates. 16 out of 18 after 4 months. Darn good, people!

We only missed links by Bethany and Eaba. Bluezy came back for the last link. Thanks.

My buddy did great...Onederland is now her domain!

Let's continue to create healthful changes in our lives. I pray we all make goal weight in 2012 or 2013 (for the larger ladies)...and live better lives for it.

God bless...and take care...and be well...

FINAL LINKY IS UP! How did we do? :D

Thank You! 17 Challenge Updates (One Missed Linky), so We've Still Only Lost 1 Person entering the Final Week! Bluezy, even in Idaho, come back for the finale!

One of the main rules I always make for the challenges I've led/co-led is NO QUITTING ALLOWED, no matter how hard you struggle.

Out of 18 initial challengers, we had one drop (medical, other issues). That's pretty astounding for a 14 week run. I think you've all seen challenges where even half or more of the challengers just fade away.... or where the challenge itself just sort of dribbles away.

I'm very thankful you all took it seriously and STUCK IT OUT. I'm hoping you will be happy with your final result--what you learned from your books, what you learned about your bodies and minds and spirits, how your outfits fit, how you exercised.

Less than a week to the end. YOU WILL NEED TO POST PICS of your outfit if you can try it on (even if it doesn't fit properly). Give as helpful a recap as you can for YOURSELF (your own journaling resource) and for OTHERS, who need help on their journey. What worked best. What didn't work. What you plan to keep doing. Your epiphanies, if any.

Now, remember to do your midweek update by end of Thursday. Keep in touch with your buddies.

And please, let's see 18 links in the finale. Everyone back in for the last bow in this leg of the journey. Ya hear me, BLUEZY!!!!

I plan to put up the linky earlier than usual, so that those folks traveling for Easter or busy for Passover or any other reason can do their final link-up before the weekend. DO NOT MISS THIS FINAL LINKY!

Linky for update #13 is Up Now! Final challenge week coming up!

MidWeek Update Reminder: And We Should Have 17 Still In The Game (only 1 drop, yay!)

This ends April 8. March is nearly done. Less than 2 weeks time. A good finish? We can try!

Please do your midweek update before end of Thursday.

Remember the lv2 doesn't have a buddy and is struggling, and do go support her. She has the darn captcha, but work though it. PLEASE VISIT our buddyless challenger.

As to the last weekly update, we had 16, and Julie had advised us she'd miss the linky, so 17 in all out of 18 are still hanging in there. Bluezy, if you want to be back in for the last 1 1/2, come back, do the updates starting today or tomorrow, and get on board. Let's finish strong.

For those of you also in the Ready for Summer, I'll see you there in those updates. I'm burned out of hosting challenges, and just wanna be a participant for the next one. :D I like accountability, though, so this is a good thing for me.

Happy midweek!

Linky for the 12th Update due by end of Sunday, March 25, Eastern Time: DO NOT MISS THE DEADLINE!...and a suggestion for lv2 & Jillian...

We should have 16 updates. Let's not miss the cut-off, please. And lv2 and Jillian, can you guys see if you wanna hook up as buddies for the remaining weeks? It might help to pair up. Consider it, k?

Mid-Week Update Reminder and Inventory of Who Is Still In...

Okay, only 13 link-ups last Sunday.

Not in the challenge: Bluezy and Megan seem to be out of it for personal reasons. :(

Was late, but left a comment: Bethany

Didn't check in: Eaba, Jillian.
Jillian is on vacation, and that may be the issue there. Eaba, check in, please.
Buddies, what is up here?

I need to know clearly if you're still in or not. Thanks.

Okay, on we go. Mid-week update #12 is due by end of Thursday.

Be well and fight the fat!

Update Linky #11 : Due by end of Sunday, Eastern Time. THREE WEEKS TO GO!

Note: I removed the captchas from comments. Let me know if they still show up for some reason. :D

I hope we get all the linkies (17 challengers) in this week. Come on, don't miss the deadline!!

Midweek Update Reminder. :D And who else missed linky?

Due by end of Thursday.

I know Angela left a comment re missing linky, Jillian was traveling, and Bluezy is out of the challenge, so there's still one person who didn't update, right? Can that person, or the person's buddy, let us know what's up? THANKS. I haven't had time to check on the blogs. Leave a comment here to inform, thanks.

Be well...

Linky for Update #10 Due by end of March 11, 2012, Easter Time

Mid-Week Update Reminder

Ya know what to do. Do it. :D

Remember to visit lv2, as she's buddyless at the moment. If you think you can take on an extra buddy, go volunteer to be hers.

I announced the ebook winner on my blog --um, Betty, it's you. :D

Happy midweek. On we go...

Thanks for linking, and we're down 1 Challenger, so visit lv2 and support, K?

So glad to see that at the 9th update, we have only lost one challenger. 17 out of 18 still in there, hanging in, working on issues. Keep supporting each other.

Since lv2 is buddyless, please make an effort to drop by her blog and give her support. She's having some family medical stuff going on and prayers are surely appreciated. She still has the captcha, but work through it. I know, I know. They're annoying. But try.

It's Bethany's birthday today. Wish her a happy one. She reported a great loss.

Karen: Have problems going to your update. Tried 4 times and it won't load for me. :( I suspect it's the music playlist. If you don't see comments from me, that's why.

Have a good week, everyone.

Be well...

Linky for Update #9 due by end of Sunday, March 4th.

Note: Please remember to stop by  my blog and leave the required comment for a chance to win an ebook that might help you on your journey. You don't need a Kindle. You can read it on your smartphone or computer. K?

MidWeek Update Reminder and Link To EBook Leap Day Giveway to Help in Your TRANSFORMATION!

It's Wednesday. By end of tomorrow, our midweek updates are due. Please include all the stuff you are supposed to. K?

And head to my blog to enter to win an ebook. I list several books that might help in this tough weight loss/fitness journey. The winner may choose one, whichever will help the most.

Okay, off we go...

Focusing on Exercise goals...even when it hurts...

So many of you have done wonderfully being consistent--whether it's calories or movement or support or your reading. Thanks!

This week, it's my reinvigorate myself and get over this ugly time-time. :D I keep the faith. NO QUITTING!

I made this video for THIS blog, for my challenge buds, but I posted it to my regular blog, too.

Happy new week.


Note: Only Bluezy did not link up. BLUEZY, CHECK IN PLEASE!!! And Bluezy's buddy, try to get in touch and get Bluezy back into things. If we can help, let us know, guys!

LINKY IS UP for update due by Sunday, February 26, midnight, Eastern Time

Note: I'm gonna start boycotting commenting on blogs with captchas. Nothing personal, please know that. I simply get beyond irritated when I have to try and enter the KGB level encryption codes sometimes. Geesh. So, sorry. If you retain the captcha, I'll likely not comment when I come to see how you're doing. K? K!

Mid-Week Update Reminder

Your midweek update is due...no later than end of Thursday, please.

LINKY FOR 2/19/12 Update: this is the halfway point and it's time to try on the outfit. READ THIS CAREFULLY.

If your outfit doesn't fit at all yet, it's fine to note this in your post and not have to offer a pic. It's a holiday weekend (and my birthday is Monday, President'sDay), so I am giving a little leeway. I've allowed a few extra hours to update. HOWEVER, I do encourage you update early and not miss the deadline.

Midweek Update Reminder

You know what to do. Get it done by end of Thursday. :D

PSA - Chocolate Heart Love

Disclaimer #1: I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or fitness guru. I am sharing what I've learned through research and experience; you all must use your own judgment in deciding what is best for your and your own health, including checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise or dietary program.

In Honor of the Feastday of St. Valentine, the patron saint of Love and Happy Marriages

Chocolate is right up there on the top of my list of all time greatest inventions. All praise and glory to whoever it was that figured out those little cacao beans could be fermented, dried, ground up and then made into edible bliss. But can we eat it as party of a healthy lifestyle? Can we have it without remorse or regret?

Can chocolate really be good for your health?

"Healthy chocolate sounds like a dream come true, but chocolate hasn't gained the status of health food quite yet. Still, chocolate's reputation is on the rise, as a growing number of studies suggest that it can be a heart-healthy choice.

Chocolate and its main ingredient, cocoa, appear to reduce risk factors for heart disease. Flavanols in cocoa beans have antioxidant effects that reduce cell damage implicated in heart disease. Flavanols — which are more prevalent in dark chocolate than in milk chocolate or white chocolate — also help lower blood pressure and improve vascular function. In addition, some research has linked chocolate consumption to reduced risks of diabetes, stroke and heart attack. One caveat: The evidence for the health benefits of chocolate comes mostly from short-term and uncontrolled studies. More research is needed.

In the meantime, if you want to add chocolate to your diet, do so in moderation. Why? Most commercial chocolate has ingredients that add fat, sugar and calories. And too much can contribute to weight gain, a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

Choose dark chocolate with cocoa content of 65 percent or higher. Limit yourself to around 3 ounces (85 grams) a day, which is the amount some studies have shown to be helpful. Because this amount may provide up to 450 calories, you may want to cut calories in other areas or step up the exercise to compensate."

From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

The Mayo Clinic Website

Yes, chocolate can be part of a healthy lifestyle, in moderation. Personally, I think life without it would be pretty grim.

Enjoy some chocolate. Keep the Faith.

LINKY IS UP, Deadline is Sunday, Feb 12.

Midweek Update Reminder!

Due by Thursday's end. Get it done, ladies. :)

And thanks to everyone for adding a linky. FIVE weeks in and everyone is still hanging in, whether breezing or struggling, you did not give up...yet. SO DO NOT GIVE UP, K?

If you put placemarker posts, please add the info. Do not forget!

On we go...

LINKY FOR 5Th UPDATE Due February 5th, Midnight, Eastern is NOW UP!

PSA - STOP Procrastinating!

Disclaimer #1: I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or fitness guru. I am sharing what I've learned through research and experience; you all must use your own judgment in deciding what is best for your and your own health, including checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise or dietary program.

Disclaimer #2: I am the Queen of Procrastination. I learned it from Mr. Pea. For example, the ring seal on the toilet in the kids' bathroom had cracked. Mr. Pea purchased the replacement part and then let it sit...FOR SEVEN YEARS! Yes. Seven years. I know, because after the first few months of reminding him, I found the part, wrote the date on the box and put it in the bathroom cabinet. Seven years of me cleaning up after a leaking toilet, pulling out that box out of the cabinet at every opportunity and showing it to Mr. Pea with the DATE on it. Seven years of tears, hissy fits and words over whether or not I should hire a plumber to come fix the danged toilet. Mr. Pea fixed the toilet over Thanksgiving Break last year. Total procrastination time? Seven years, six months and 21 days. It took Mr. Pea and The Architect a total of 37 minutes to fix it.

My own procrastination isn't quite as extreme as Mr. Pea's, however, I have two pairs of pants that need to be hemmed that have been draped over the sewing machine since before Christmas. I put off scheduling my annual checkup so much that it's now in April instead of my birthday month, September. I usually file my taxes on April 15, 11:55 pm. Thank goodness for electronic filing!

The point is, though, we can no longer procrastinate with our health. Time is NOT kind, and is not on our side. We have to do today, this minute, what needs to be done. That means putting down the fork, lacing up the shoes and getting outside for a walk. That means sweating in the gym, lifting weights or using cardio machines. That means making choices in every moment that will help us get to the healthy we want to be.

I spent my lunch hour swinging a kettle bell and doing pushups instead of going out for pizza with the rest of my team. What have you done today?

I'm going to hem those pants tonight.

Keep the Faith.

MIDWEEK UPDATE...don't forget to do your post before end of Thursday!

It's time for the midweek updates to roll in. Post them by end of Thursday, please....after that, it's not really MID-week, is it?

Make sure to add your guiding quotes and add anything pertinent, good or bad, about your goals, book, outfit, etc. If you haven't taken progress pics, it's been a month already since we began, so maybe take some.

All the challengers checked in. Meg was late, and she's having some stressful life issues. Please add her to your prayer list if you pray,  your positive thoughts/vibes list if you flow that way. Meg, please try to do updates on Friday or Saturday, since life is being hard, don't think SUNDAY, think Friday. As long as you have weight, waist, and some comments on how you're doing, it shouldn't take long. Heck, as for prayer, if that's what it comes down to. But please schedule updates sooner, so you don't miss the deadlines, thanks.

I hope everyone is making progress in SOME area. If you are doing great in all of them: AMAZING. If you are struggling, keep at it. Bad times come and go. Good times come and go. Life is an ups and downs thing. But we can't quit. Persistence and diligence--that's the only way to make our goal...eventually. :)

Be well, update, keep up with your buddy, and on we go....

LINKY IS UP! Update by end of Sunday, January 29, Eastern Time.

PSA - Body Fat and BMI

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or fitness guru. I am sharing what I've learned through research and experience; you all must use your own judgment in deciding what is best for your and your own health, including checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise or dietary program.

BMI or Body Mass Index was developed by Belgium statistician Adolph Quelet in the 1800’s. His intent was this tool was to be used to measure the obesity of the general population, not the fatness of an individual. That being said, since many people and even physicians still use this measurement, here is the formula for calculating your BMI and what the results mean.

Basic BMI Formula

(weight in pounds x 703) / (height in inches) squared

Example, using my own (gasp!) stats

(159 X 703) /(63x63) = 111777 /3969 = 28.1

BMI Interpretation

• Below 18.5 = Underweight


• 18.5 - 24.9 = Normal


• 25 - 29.9 = Overweight


• 30 & above = Obese

The BMI is not an accurate accounting of your overall health if you are exceptionally tall, short or muscular. According to this basic BMI formula, I am Overweight. I resent that Overweight label. Really, I DO! I'm down to a size 8 dress pant. That isn't overweight in my book. So I dug a little deeper to see if there was another measurement that would take into account actual body fat and how it's distributed over the body. I found it - it's called Body Fat Percentage.

Body Fat Percentage

Body fat percentage is exactly that: the percentage of total body weight comprised of fat. The best way to determine this is with pinch measurements, an immersion tank and one of those spiffy scales that sends an electric current through your body and magically determines how much of you is actual fat. Most of us don't have access to such equipment, so here's a formula that will give you a quick and dirty answer, along with an interpretation of the results.

Body Fat Percentage Formula for Women
Abbreviations:

• F1, etc = Factor 1, etc


• TBW = Total Body Weight


• LBM = Lean Body Mass


• BFW = Body Fat Weight

The Formula:

• F1: (TBW x 0.732) + 8.987


• F2: Wrist measurement (at fullest point) / 3.140


• F3: Waist measurement (at naval) x 0.157


• F4: Hip measurement (at fullest point) x 0.249


• F5: Forearm measurement (at fullest point) x 0.434


• LBM = F1 + F2 –F3 – F4 + F5


• BFW = TBW – LBM


• Body Fat Percentage = (BFW x100) divided by TBW

Here's an example of the math using my own stats - measurements taken this morning.

• F1: (159 x 0.732) + 8.987 = 125.36


• F2: 6.00 / 3.140 = 1.91


• F3: 30 x 0.157 = 4.71


• F4: 39 x 0.249 = 9.71


• F5: 10.0 x 0.434 = 4.34


• LBM = 125.36 + 1.91 – 4.71 – 9.71 + 4.34 = 117.19


• BFW = 159 – 117.19 = 41.81


• Body Fat Percentage = (41.81 x 100) /159 = 26.29%

Body Fat Percentage Interpretation for Women

• 10-12% = Essential fat necessary to stay alive


• 14-20% = Professional and Amateur Athletes


• 21-24% = Fitness Buffs


• 25-31% = Acceptable


• 32-41% = Overweight


• 42% or Higher = Obese

BMI VS Body Fat Percentage

BMI is the most widely use indicator of weight status but it really isn't very useful because it doesn't take into account bone mass, muscle mass or actual fat as it lies on your body. Bones are denser than muscles and twice as dense as fat. Body builders and other hyped up exercise maniacs, like Buff Chad, have a high BMI without being the least bit obese. In fact, Buff Chad WORKS at keeping his BMI around 34 (crazy!) According to the calculations above, I am in the overweight category in the BMI chart, but I come out in the acceptable range in body fat percentage.

I continue to work on my overall health, with plenty of exercise and responsible food consumption. And no cookies. My ulitmate goal will put me in the normal BMI range and in the fitness buff body fat range. For now, though, I'm happier considering the Body Fat Percentage over the BMI: it's a more realistic snapshot of how I really look and feel.

Note: Both the BMI and the Body Fat Percentage are just a couple of quasi-accurate measurements to give you an idea of your overall heath and a starting point for your health goals. If you fall into the obese categories, it would be wise to consult your Doctor for some very specific guidelines for nutrition, exercise and possibly medications.

Do the Math. Keep the Faith.

Midweek Update Reminder

Whether  you do it today, tomorrow, or Thursday, please get it done! :)

If you haven't started reading your book or discussing it on your blog, GET CRACKING!

Include your guiding quotes. Tell us what's up.

LINKY FOR UPDATE #3 DUE BY END OF SUNDAY, 1/22/12, Eastern Time!

Remember the Mid-Week Update! Git 'r done!

Whether it's Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, please remember you must do a challenge mid-week update. Post about whatever you're doing--having issues with, succeeding at, falling down over, need tips on. You can talk about your book, show photos of your meals, try on your outfit again if you think you made crazy progress in 2 1/2 weeks. :D

Just get the update done. Right?

And don't be like me, who forgot to add the quotes! Sigh.

Later, and be well...

Linky is Now Up for the Updates Due by end of Sunday, Jan 15. DO NOT MISS THE DEADLINE!

PSA - Indispensable Tools for Exercise

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or fitness guru. I am sharing what I've learned through research and experience; you all must use your own judgment in deciding what is best for your and your own health, including checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise or dietary program.

I have not received any compensation for reviewing the products mentioned in this blog post.

Okay. We're going to be a bit blunt here today, discussing body parts and the not so fun casualties of exercising.

Chafing

Also know as chub rub, heat rash, nipple burn, you name it and someone has a slang term for it. What I'm talking about is a friction burn on your tender parts, namely your inner thighs, your bikini and bra lines, your armpits and anywhere else your clothes rub against your skin or your skin rubs against your skin. It's especially prevalent when we're overweight. Ladies, it hurts. It swells up and turns red. In extreme cases, the skin cracks and bleeds. So not fun.

What can you do? I recommend wearing bike shorts or compression pants under your clothing instead of panties for working out. The fabric protects your thigh skin from chafing, and there's no elastic band to chafe delicate areas. Same on top - invest in athletic shirts made from tech fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin and protect it from chafing. You don't need UnderArmor or other expensive brands - I like the BCG generics from Academy, usually in the $10-$15 range.

Then, there's your new best friend, Body Glide. It's basically lanolin in a solid stick, like deodorant. Apply liberally to all sensitive parts before you put your workout clothes on, and no chafing. You can pick it up at any sporting goods or athletic stores; our local Walgreens carries it. It does come in a "Women's" variety that smells pretty and comes in a pink tube, but it costs more than the regular stuff. I use the regular stuff.

Sore Boobage

Unless you have the figure of Twiggy or are a six year old girl, you need a good, supportive sport bra for serious exercise. Regular Maidenforms won't do the job. Sport bras come in a wide range of styles for different levels of exercise - I recommend getting a bra for your most strenuous exercise and wearing it for everything, especially if your are abundantly endowed.

My personal favorite is Enell. I'll just be straight up here - I AM abundantly endowed. The girls have shrunk considerably with my weight loss, but they are still substantial. I've run through the gamut of sports bras - UnderArmor, Champion, JogBra, Nike - and I have never found one that really does the job. Some are too compressive, to the point of pain, some don't have adjustable straps, some have so much elastic that you come away from a workout with chafe burns that even Body Glide won't stop. Most of the brands and styles I've tried just don't stop the bounce. And bounce, though it looks intriguing to the male bystander, just sucks the fun out your workout.

Enter Enell. (Insert angelic voices and sparkly light streaming down from heaven.) According to the mission statement on their website, "Enell, Inc. is dedicated to providing well-endowed women with the opportunity to fully participate in an active lifestyle by offering state of the art, high quality performance apparel." Okay. Goody for them. But will that bra really work? YES!!!!! IT DOES!!! And you can get a PINK ONE!! Sports bras do their job either through compression or encapsulation, smashing the boobs flat or holding them firmly with structurally reinforced rigid fabrics. Compression is uncomfortable, encapsulation makes you look like a Viking Warrior with pointy metal chest plates. Enell combines both methods, with remarkaby comfortable, supportive results!

The bra fits like a vest, with a long row of hooks up the front; the shape is the compression part. The inner fabric is silky against the skin with no stretch at all; this is the encapsulation. Put on one, and voila! No Bounce! NO BOUNCE I tell you! Enell's wonderfullness is pricy, but for no bounce workouts, it is worth every penny. Check them out at http://www.enell.com/.

Aching Feet

I can't emphasize this enough, especially if you choose running as your favored form of exercise. You MUST have properly fitted shoes. Properly fitted shoes provide necessary support and flexibility for your feet, legs and back. "Properly fitted shoes" does not mean "so expensive you want to cry" shoes. There are dozens of choices out there that are affordable, and will still protect you from stress fractures and tendon strains.

Go to a running store and get a proper fitting. They'll put you on a treadmill to evaluate your gait and then let you try on several styles to find the right one for you. Fittings are generally complimentary, and you don't have to buy shoes from the running store. Note the brand and style, then hit the internet or your local Academy or DSW and get the same shoe for half the price!

Don't believe that shoes make that much difference? Hop over to Betty's blog and let her tell you all about it!

Stankiness

Not just stinky sweat, but the ingrained stench your workout clothes acquire after a while. If you just really can't stand your shirts any more, there is something that will remove the smell. Penguin Sport Wash. Its residue-free and non-allergenic, specifically made to keep fabrics odor-free by washing away residues left by regular detergents, removing dirt, neutralizing bacteria, and restoring breathability, moisture-wicking, and factory applied waterproofing. Yep...you can wash down coats in it, too. It will also remove blood and grass stains.

Keep the Faith.

Reminder to do you Mid-Week Update in the Next Couple Days and to Pray for One of Our Challengers...

Of 18 challengers, 17 checked in. Meg was our missing "link". She emailed me as to why, so she's still in. Megan's buddy (Jillian), please try to keep in touch and make arrangements to make sure you remind/encourage Meg to get her linky in weekly on time, as needed. Keep an eye on it and have her back, yes?

I'd like to ask for prayer/positive vibes/support for Meg of REINVENTING MEGAN. I can't say why, but life is throwing her some jagged rocks right now...so shield her up with good thoughts, petitions to the higher power, etc. Meg, I pray a blessing for strength, grace, courage, and wisdom over you. May a smooth road be ahead for you in good time.

Okay, it's Tuesday and mid-week updates should start coming in soon...

I'm having a semi-rough time, energy-wise, physically. My temperatures have been horrid (97.0 this AM, previouslly 97.3), so that pretty much tells me it's the thyroid wonkiness. That would also explain, maybe, this whole plateauing thing (other than the fluid fluctuations).

If you are struggling a bit, too, just remember: we will get through it and great weeks/energy will return. Believe it! <--channeling Naruto.


Okay, on we go...

LINKY TOOL FOR WEEK ONE of E2E IS UP!

PSA - Fueling Your Bod for Exercise

Does anyone remember Public Service Announcements? They were television and radio commercials back in the 60's and 70's intended to educate and inform the general public. I'll be posting PSA's for the group during our challenge, based upon questions that pop up in our blogs, concerns and needs of our sister challengers.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or fitness guru. I am sharing what I've learned through research and experience; you all must use your own judgment in deciding what is best for your and your own health, including checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise or dietary program.

Julie polled her readers about eating before or after exercise. Are you supposed to eat before, during or after exercise?

The answer is Yes.

First, the science behind it. Your body is an amazing machine, and it works constantly to maintain a certain level of glucose in your bloodstream. Glucose is fuel - it keeps you going. Your body changes the food you eat into glucose to power your pretty self. Once your bloodstream is saturated at the proper level, extra glucose is stored in your liver as glycogen.

When you exercise, your muscles go into overdrive, drawing glucose from your bloodstream. Once that source is used up, your liver will change the stored glycogen back to glucose and release it into your bloodstream to keep you moving. Once the liver glucose is used up, your body will start using stored fat to make more glucose for your muscles. Unfortunately, changing fat to glucose is a slow process, much slower than the rate your exercising muscles are screaming for fuel. If you get to this point during a workout session, BAM! You hit a wall. You start to shake, feel light headed and break out in a cold sweat. You just can't keep going.

What? Isn't the purpose of exercise to burn up fat? Why yes, it is! Just not DURING the actual exercise. Your body can't convert fat to glucose fast enough to support exercise in the moment that you are actually moving. Fat burning takes place once you stop. Remember how your body keeps a constant level of glucose at all times? Once you've depleted the glucose in your body and stopped actively exercising, your body will pull from your fat reserves to balance the glucose level in your bloodstream and to recharge your liver.

You need to fuel your body for working out - give it some fast easy energy that your muscles can pull straight from your blood stream, because they NEED that fuel to function! This doesn't mean a full meal - this means a snack, preferably one with a balance of carbohydrates (fast fuel, converts quickly to glucose and floods the muscles) and proteins (slower fuel that will hit the bloodstream about the time the carb rush gets used up).I usually have 1/2 of a peanut butter and banana sandwich before I exercise.

For really long workouts, like runs or long bike rides, you need to top off the glucose fuel tank during the exercise to avoid that muscle crash. Some folks swear by those little gel things; I prefer real food. I'll carry an apple or a granola bar with me and have a bite or two every 30 minutes. Again, not a full meal or complete snack, but just enough to keep the fast fuel coursing through my bloodstream for my muscles to pull from.

It's also important to have a snack after working out that's a little higher in protein in order to give your body materials to repair muscles and to do it's work replenishing your blood stream and liver from your fat reserves. I usually have a few slices of turkey or a piece of cheese. Some serious runner friends of mine swear by chocolate milk for after run recharging.

There are hundreds of opinions about fueling for working out, and every body is different. You each need to figure out through trial and error what works for you - what lets you get through a workout without collapsing, but still keeps your body burning fat afterward.

Keep the Faith.

A Reminder to post a mid-week update....and pray for Bluezy

Hey, fellow challengers.

By now, you should have gotten in touch with your buddy in some form. Right?

Good.

Now, get ready to post a mid-week update. It's your update to fill us in on whatever you want having to do with your journey. If you finally got your book, what are your thoughts on what you've read so far? If you've begun a new exercise program, what's it like? If you're breezing through your eating, give us tips. If you're struggling, ask for tips! If you want to do two-weigh ins a week, fine, do it. I'm sure we'd love to see pics of your meals, exercise gear, walking path, whatever...include us in the journey. Be accountable, if it's tough out of the starting gate. Just post.


Remember to post your guiding quote(s) in each challenge update--official and midweek.

That's just to help with keeping the focus.

ETA: Please pray for Bluezy and her family, those of you who are prayer folks. They are having a crisis (which I am not a liberty to speak of), and it's serious and stressful. Please remember them in the coming days and ask God to open doors for them to solve the crisis. Thanks. To Bluezy's buddy--if this becomes a challenge dropout situation, I'll sign on as your buddy until such time as someone else can take Bluezy's place.

And on we go....

IT HAS BEGUN! Here are the Buddy Pairings...let's make the first months of 2012 a shining beginning to a great year of health!

*Casey and Julie
*Bluezy and lv2
*Eaba and Nanette
*Debby and UpInTheCosmos
*Jenny and Betty
*Jordan and Mir
*Karen and Bethany
*Megan and Jillian
*Angela and Jo  

(Jo has not linked up as of midnight, so I entered her url/name/email. You can do this for your buddy, too, no differently than you update your own info. See? :D I think Jo was used to the CDCC Sunday deadline and got confused. From now on, it will be a Sunday Midnight, Eastern time, deadline. So, you have a bit more leeway.)

Please contact each other via your blogs, pass along emails, exchange phone numbers or anything else. You must also figure out how to keep each other accountable, cover for each other on vacations to make sure linkies are up, etc. Be strong together.

There are all sorts of ways to make sure links are done and in. Create a duo blog and make each other administrators...and you can make and post links for each other. Prepost EARLY a placeholder post with the challenge update title, then your partner can just copy the url and add the link for you, and you can go back and add the info on your return. Figure it out, people!

If you ever have a significant, unsolvable impasse/problem/issue with your buddy, contact me. We'll figure that out together. But you're all great people. I know you'll be sources of support and camaraderie.

Okay, we've begun. I pray a blessing over each and every one of us. Good health, great joy,  and better, leaner weights in 2012.

Be well...and...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!