(Image courtesy of Colleen Gleason’s blog)
Fantasy. It is what the Once Upon a Time Challenge is all about. Fantasy in its many shapes and forms. Whether you read fantasy on a regular basis or not, there is one fantasy that almost all of us share every year: the fantasy that this will be the year that we get off our butts, keep those New Year’s resolutions, and get in shape. If you’re like me, the approaching years spell doom if change does not occur now. So I’m proposing an additional challenge to go along with our current reading challenge. What I am proposing is the 10:4 Challenge.
The rules: lose 10 pounds between May 1st and September 1st. That is 4 months, 2.5 pounds per month. That may not seem like alot. Quite frankly, that is the point, because the other rule to this challenge is that weight loss must be done in a healthy manner. The point isn’t so much to lose the weight but to improve health. That means no skipping meals or fad diets or impossible-to-keep decisions like “I’ll never eat dessert again”. This is about taking the next 4 months to make some lifestyle changes that should result in steady, consistent weight loss and increased health. The 10:4 Challenge is about baby steps. It is about no longer accepting the excuses we all make for ourselves and going forth as a group to accomplish small, but important, changes in our lives. I have tried this sort of thing before, alone, and it doesn’t work. My hope is that if we do this as a community and encourage one another on a fairly regular basis that we will all see steady results and will feel much the better for it.
So what do you think? Are you up for it? I am convinced that doing simple things will net amazing results. One of the things that I am going to do is take water to work every day rather than pop. I am not going to totally cut out soda, that is one of those ‘impossible-to-keep’ decisions, at least for today. What I am going to do is make sure I get plenty of water first and foremost every day and save the Mountain Dew, the Pepsi, the sweet tea, for evenings and weekends. I drink upwards of 3 cans of pop plus several glasses of sweetened tea every day…just eliminating these calories during my work day will go along way towards weight loss even if I don’t make any other changes. Another thing I am going to do, which is something I enjoy once it gets nice like this, is to take more walks.
I would love to have you join me in this. You don’t need to outline all your proposed changes or anything unless you feel like that will help you or be an encouragement to others. All you need to do is commit to working towards the goal of 1o in 4. And this challenge has the best prizes of all: improved health and better quality of life! It is a win/win situation regardless of how much weight you lose.
If you want to join in then sign up in the comments section. I will be adding a banner later this evening if you want to add one to your site letting others know what you are doing. Accountability can be a good thing! Hope to see happier, healthier you’s on September 1st!
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It is May 1st, and that means that the latest issue of Estella’s Revenge is online for your enjoyment. Included is my review of the last book in John Scalzi’s military adventure science fiction trilogy, The Last Colony. It was a fantastic book and I hope you take the time to go over there to read the review. This month’s issue is all about Truth. Appropriate considering that facing the truth about one’s health is part of the 10:4 Challenge. In addition to several other book reviews, you’ll find a book tour of Wichita, Kansas, an article about death in comic books, an article about Chicago’s ambitious Open Books project and much, much more. Just click on the icon below to take you to the May issue.
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Update: Check the post below for the Hot Fuzz movie review!
I’ll join you, Carl. In fact, in need of a personal project to focus on, I already got started this week, with more exercise.
Here’s a handy calculator for working out how much water you should be drinking each day. Although it is also smart to balance increased water intake with increased healthy salt intake – rock salt or sea salt, not crappy table salt. My mother has some interesting books on this.
Look forward to your review of Hot Fuzz – I need to see that, I’m a big fan of both Spaced and Shaun of the Dead.
OMG that picture of Val Kilmer HAS to be staged…too perfect a definition of beached whale!
I ADORED Shaun of the Dead, those guys are funny as hell 🙂
Good idea Carl. But aren’t you glad you aren’t a famous film star 🙂 Poor old Val.
I read your review over as ER, and as I said there, I really must try to get my hands on one of his books.
Love Hot Fuzz. It was one of my favourite films this year. Classic. I think I liked it more than Shaun of the Dead
Count Keri and I in for the 10 in 4 challenge! I know need to drop more than 10 but it’s a good place to start.
I can’t wait to The Last Colony after enjoying the other two books in the series.
” By the Power of Gray Skull ! ” Hot Fuzz was the best. My sides are still hurting from laughing so much. Anyone who enjoyed Shaun of Dead will dig this movie, too.
Thanks for reminding me to feel guilty about skipping the gym this morning, I was almost ready to feel good about myself today. 🙂
Anyway, I have one of those enviable metabolisms everyone wants for Christmas. But I have no muscle mass or tone or anything. So my variation is going to be “Look like a Calvin Klein model by September 1st”, which I know is less measurable, but I’ll still know whether I got there or not.
Mostly I’m glad you’re doing this because I’ve started reading a lot of new blogs through the Once Upon a Time Challenge, so watching them all talk about their success in health and fitness will hopefully help me get my soon-to-be shapley butt in gear.
I’m in Carl! I’m always complaining about my weight and even have a gym membership that I’m paying for monthly. Now I have more motivation to go! This is a great idea. I’ll post about it later on.
What a great idea! I’m totally in!! Unfortunately I need to lose more than 10,
but that’s a great place to start!
Weight loss is hard for me. All the way through school and even college, I
never had to worry about it. I was so active, I never gained weight. But 3 kids
later….and a completely whacked out thyroid, and I’m heavier than I have ever
been. So yes, I’m in!! And I will definitely post it on my blog.
Oh, you’re not alone Stephanie. I need to lose more than 10 as well, but this is a baby-step, as I said. The intention is to set some good habits in place that should hopefully lead to better health and more weight loss in the future.
Oh hey…you can count me in as well!
I am definitely in. Thanks for the extra accountability!
I’ll take that challenge too. I would love to loose 10lbs. I did for the wedding, then I turned around and put it back on. What took me 3 months to loose took 6 months to put back on, so I did keep some of the possitive changes from the first time.
Well, I am kind of already doing this, and have been for a while – though I’ve just started weight-training seriously again. I love weights. I’m one of those people who only seem to be able to lose weight from exercising – I have a really steady metabolism, which cuts both ways! But it’s mostly good, because I HAVE to do things the healthy way.
My goal for the summer is to be back in good enough shape to run the JogScotland 5K challenge in less than 30 minutes (that might not sound fabulous, but my top-of-my-game record is 34 – I have short legs!) It’s in August.
Oh, and I don’t know if this is appropriate, but I do have a fitness blog. And can recommend many others (particularly the wonderful dietgirl.org). There is a really good community out there – it’s how I got into blogging in the first place!
I’m in
That’s Val Kilmer in the picture? I thought it was some pregnant starlet or something. Oops. Your challenge is a good one Carl. I have already begun my fitness odyssey and hope in the process to lose 5-10 pounds by October. So you can count me in!
I’m in. I hear those of you who say you need to lose more than 10, but I think this will be a great step in my plan to get back to exercising 3-5 days each week.
So, Carl, are we going to purchase a scale?
Do you find it odd that I was eating a piece of chocolate pie while I was reading this post? It was a small piece of pie…
Mary your the tops! Keri and I just enjoyed a nice chuckle over your chocolate pie comment. 🙂
I have a doctor’s scale in one of my offices that I plan on using to track my own weight so I didn’t intend on buying a scale….is that what you want for an anniversary present. 😉
I’m in too! Part of my challenge will be to make sure I do something physically active at least three times a week (right now I go to the pool and swim for 30 minutes)…I’d like to be doing something five days a week….but as you said: baby steps.
Poor Val!
I’m in, too. I’ve been whining about these extra 10 lbs. for far too long. I simply refuse to fall into the “40 & fat” category!! I’m walking an hour a day, plus all the extra moving around at work for 6 hours. It’s gotta be burning something off, right? It’s not lilke I eat cookies, ice cream, chips, or soda. Argh!!! Thanks for the group motivation, Carl. And thanks for the reminder to head over to Estella’s!
Count me in, too. In fact, you may want to check out elff.com. elff stands for Eat Less Fatty Foods. This blogger lost 60 pounds, and she blogs to help others out.
*sigh*
count me in…
10 pounds will be a good start for me, have been wanting to get rid of this baby weight ever since it came back on.
I’ll outline a plan on my blog when the banner’s ready.
That’s Val Kilmer? No way. It has to be a body double–LOL! I’ll join your challenge in spirit–not sure it will happen–maybe walk an extra mile a day?
I’m definitely in! Read about another weight loss challenge earlier this morning, but I think your idea is much better…taking those baby steps towards a healthier life, not just losing weight to lose weight. Heaven knows I need to lose more than 10 pounds…but you gotta lose that first 10 before you lose the next, right? Great idea, Carl!
Carl, I quit drinking pop unless it’s a special treat. Just one every couple of weeks. Even diet soda is bad for you. Plus, I gave up french fries. Well, almost. The rule is I get the ones at the bottom of the bag. I think just quiting those two things helped me loose some baby weight.
I’m also drinking a glass of Kylea a day. I definitely have more energy. My family nearly gets ill everytime I drink it but they are fascinated and hover around me grossed out! It smells bad but good health is worth it!
http://www.kylea.com/
I exercise every day, but this would be a good way to give myself more accountability over what I’m eating.
I’m sure they are thrilled to watch you drink that Jules. You’re the cool mom because you can gross your kids out! 😉
Unfortunately, this is a challenge I desperately need to do. Thanks for the incentive, Carl!
Apparently, it’s quite the show.
I guess I shouldn’t mention the delicious pint of Ben and Jerry’s Creme Brulee ice cream that I completely devoured the other night. Best new flavor I’ve tried in years.
mmmmmm……
Count me in. You can see my progress on my side bar. I have already lost over 50lbs (in the last year). I could NOT have done it without accountability!
Wow, Janne, that is awesome!
I hope you realize your blog shows that people who have trouble keeping weight on are discriminated against. So I’m in, but on the exercise part. I re-joined the gym a few weeks ago, so my goal is to actually go three times a week. Tell me that’s a staged photo of Val.
Sorry Pat…. 😉
I think I was projecting on your blog. In trying to gain weight I ate unhealthy things that would put weight on. I’d like to join you so that I can focus on going to the gym, eating healthier and drinking more water.
Welcome aboard, Pat! 😉
Stephanie guided me to this challenge. I’m in for it! Finally a challenge with common sense, with the emphasis on the right things: health and quality of life. Having said that, I need to lose a lot more and I already started in April. I have a history of eating disorders, so I have to do it in the right way. Good luck, all!
Glad to have you with us Tink. At this point in life I just don’t see the benefit of crash diets, etc. I’ve looked the way I look for a long time now so I’m not out to impress anyone at this point. I want to lose some weight to be healthier and a side effect of that is that I will feel more comfortable and hopefully look better. But that sure isn’t my motivation at this point, it is the desire to be and stay healthy.
1 pound down so far, since this challenge began. 🙂
Is it cheating that I’ve suddenly got very sick and can’t eat meat or fat anymore? I’ve lost 2 pounds this week, but it’s not a way that I would recommend going about it. Grr. It would be one thing if I was making a choice to stay away from fat, but I don’t even get the opportunity to have a little reward. Well, unless I want to be in horrible pain. I’m whining, now. Thanks. I’m better, now.
I got sick last year and lost about 8 pounds during that time…instead of using that as a starting point I gained it and more right back! 😉
Way to go, Janne!
Can I still join the challenge?
though a bit late, I’ve joined the challenge too! It’s really a great idea!
Certainly! Welcome aboard!!!
My 10:4 one month update is here: http://tinkerbell-nl.blogspot.com/2007/06/weigh-in.html
Success to everyone!
Thanks for updating us, Tink. Your progress is awesome and you’re doing it the right way. I appreciate the inspiration and hope you continue to check in with your results.