Consistency with O is still my downfall. I found some beautiful flower stickers for the month of July, and I'm going to make my calendar bloom!!! Let's break the month up into 4 weeks, and at the end of each week, if we've gotten at least 6 stickers, we can treat ourselves to something unusual. It doesn't have to be expensive, but just a little something special: a new book to read, a magazine, a bottle of perfume, some bubble bath, or a special skin product, etc. There's also things like time alone, or time with someone special, a trip to the lake to just sit and watch the water, time to bird-watch, or play with your pet, for a few ideas. What do you think?

Eating the right foods in the right portions is just as important though, so I'm challenging us all to really watch what and how much we eat this month. It's summer, after all. We should be eating those fresh fruits and veggies that are more available.

Susanna

I desperately need to be there with you Susanna. I just can't seem to get reorganized here. As much as I want to, I always have 101 excuses to do something else! My food intake has been horrible. So I will certainly give it my best effort, starting after our big July 4th party!

Lin

I'm with you Susanna... I've always been good with my O!, but my eating can easily get off track. I'll work hard this month to eat properly!

Susanna...

I'll join you on this challenge with one modification; I'll reward myself with a minimum of 5 stickers because I don't exercise on Sundays. A good week for me is 5 days. A perfect week is 6.

Joyce

I'd love to join the challenge!

Shari

Oh goody!!! I'm so glad some of you decided to join me!!! I have some health issues that keep me from sleeping well, and we all know that not sleeping well contributes to overeating, right? It sure works that way for me! I need to make wiser choices when the hungries strike sometimes!

Joyce, I believe you said you were going to O 5 days per week, and use a different workout for the sixth day. I really meant to mention that you could count any workout for the six per week. You probably know that Jill says it's important to do at least 5 O workouts per week though, to see weight loss. So anyway, you should be just fine!

Okay, Lin. I'll be watching for your posts after the 4th.

Kelly, when you get the urge to overeat, think of me shaking my finger at you!

Shari, I'm glad you want to join, too. Just jump right in!!!

Does everyone know about the places you can go to record what you've eaten, like I believe it's called www.sparkpeople.com. Or Flylady has a free sheet you can print out and fill in everyday on her website. www.flylady.net Sometimes little helps like these can make a lot of difference. I've just used a spiral notebook since Jan. 2003. Actually, I'm on the 9th one! I record what I eat, how I feel and anything that I want to remember about the day. It's been a lot of fun for me, and I've never enjoyed journaling before.

Good luck, everyone!!!

Susanna

Count me in!!!

I really like the ideal of the little treats! How about if we post here each week with how we treated ourselves?

Thanks Susanna for such a FUN July challenge!!

Ellen

Hi, I am new...started O today. I plan to join this challenge and do O at least 6x/wk. I am doing a walking dvd and do 1 or 2 miles/day. Need to lose about 40 lbs. and get healthier.

So happy I found the O tape I had from years ago and find this site still running.

Phyllis

Hi Phyllis...welcome to our group! Come post with us in the D2L (determined to lose) thread each day. That will help you stay accountable. I look forward to seeing you here!

Okay ladies! How's our challenge going? Have you gotten yourself any little treats yet? Some of us aren't very good at this! I didn't get to go shopping last week, but this weekend I did, so I bought my two treats for this month. First, I found some beautiful rose stickers for my August calendar page, and then I found a gorgeous African violet to add to my collection. I love violets, and I've had good results with the little ones that Walmart sells, but they don't like the lighting in this house as well as they did in the other house, so they don't bloom as much. I need to pamper them more, I think. Anyway, these two little items really tickled me, and that's the idea! Besides, I feel so good when I do my O consistently!!!

Has anyone else treated themselves???

Susanna

Sheesh, I haven't done as well this month . I doubt if I will get a treat this month. I'll have to think about it. Nine out of seventeen days isn't that good!