No Sugar New Year Challenge (Page 23)

I thought about what I might to after this challenge. I have realized by participating in this challenge that I eat way more sugar that I should. I would often come in from a work out and have some chocolate or candy rather that useful recovery food and drink. In addition when I got bored or just hungry I would reach for the candy, chocolate chips,chips, peanut butter and jelly, baked goods and anything high sugar. I don't eat any of this stuff now (which is fantastic). I'm more thoughtful about my eating and I hope to keep with it after March 1.

DC thanks for including the no chips and "snack food" rule otherwise I would have just switched to Sour Cream and Cheddar Baked Lays rather than sugar. 

All I can say is WOW!  Care to publish your abs plan, Abbie. 

Great idea!!! What do you think, Abbie?

I have been thinking a lot about this, too. Personally, I think it would be a terrible shame to revert back to bad habits! I was thinking (when we're done) that maybe I would give myself one mulligan per week...did anybody out there laugh and think that's too liberal?!!! Anyway, I thought that might be a good way to keep myself accountable; and I suppose that could be formed into some sort of permanent challenge...

BTW, for some crazy reason, after my weight being so stubborn, I lost FOUR pounds this past week...at least that's what the scale said!

Thank you!  It's not specific plan, but this is what I have been doing 5x week, although the past 5 weeks or so I have not been as consistent....holidays!

3 x 100 crunches on a exercise ball, 3 x 100 alt. crunches on ball, 3 x 100 side bends, 3 x 15 leg lifts, 3 x 15 back extensions, 6 x 15 side crunches (3 on each side) & sometimes I'll do bicycle crunches on the mat.  The first 3 exercises I was doing consistently, and the others I only do when at the gym.

However, all of the exercises in the world wont mean anything unless you reduce bodyfat.  I cut down on processed carbs in the Fall and cut them out almost completely at this point unless it's prior to or right after a training session.

Got a new ding today.  Already put on the worksheet.  Had a hair pulling meeting with a vendor this morning, which resulted in us going out for lunch with vendor who was picking up the tab.  Sugar Alarms went off..... this was not going to be good, since it was an Irish Pub.
Ended up having Fish and Chips with a Diet Coke.  Not the best choice, but it was good.

DING!

I should add this to my morning streaching routine.  About how long does the first six exercises take?

Congrats on 4 pounds!!!!!  AWESOME!!!!!!

I'd be up this challenge after the official end date.  My goal is weigh less and less body fat for IMKY 09.  IM training in 08 made me gain 6 pounds!  All of the training made me eat 24/7 and I did not care what it was I ate, as long as it was not nailed down....I would eat it!

I try to do my crucnhes slow to make sure I can feel the muscles working.  Everything combined is about 25 minutes, I think.

So women what is your goal body fat %?

I had been dunked to get my body fat calculated a little over a year ago so at IM I was probably 19ish%. I hope to get down to around 15% by IM this summer. Age makes a difference and I'm 47. Part of what I need to work on is being content with my body..working on more positive view of my body image. Being heavy for years was hard on my body and some stuff will get better but never be quite like I'd hope. It is amazing to me to see how 10 pounds on my body makes me feel so different about my body.

I was 22% bodyfat in November, I've lost 4-5 pounds on the scale since then, so I hope the percentage has gone down.  I'm retesting in a few weeks.  It was 1 year ago yesterday that I first tested and I was 31% bodyfat!  Would love to be 17% or less.

Are you sure 15% is realistic?  From what I have read, that is bordering on unhealthy.

My goal is to get back down to 18%, where I was in the summer of 2001.

Congrats on the four pounds.  I was down 3.6 at Weight Watchers today and I just am keeping my fingers crossed that it wasn't all water weight.  Other than the water weight part, I attribute half to this Challenge and the other half to excessive exercise. 

My body fat, according to my impedance scale, fluctuates between 37-40% (today 37%).   Yowser!  I would like to be at 25%.  Heck, I would like to be at 35%.  It is hard for me to understand how my body fat percentage can be so high when I really only have about 12 pounds or so to lose (my goal is to be at 140).  I figure if I keep up with regular cardio and regular strength training that it will all work itself out. 

hey all.....I've finally hunkered down for the past few days and i'm happy to report total loss of 3.8!  I know with 2 dings, there is no way I can pull this out, but I would love to lose a total of 15-20 by March.

I'm trying to go back to what worked for me in the past - lots of protein, no white carbs ( only brown rice, whole grain bread), no carbs of any kind after 3pm .  I have to admit, I am really missing splenda-type items!  Come March 1, I know I will go back to putting splenda in my oatmeal, eat SF jello, etc.

I did have a ding back on 1/5 that I listed, ***Coke***...for some reason, I can't amend the spreadsheet, can  someone please enter it in for me?

thank you!

I've had a ongoing discussion about this my coach, doctor and nutrition folks I have consulted most say 14-16% is ideal for triathlete women my age. I'm stocky muscular so my lean body mass is about 128-129 and I'm 5'6" so my lean body weight is more than many women weigh in total who race tris. The thought was since I'm more muscular I can be in the lower range of body fat but so far it is only a concept as I haven't been able to get there weight wise.

Thanks for this idea I need to look into this myself.

Nice job on the weight loss!  I added in the coke for you.   

That's great Abbie!

I wish I was near my ultimate goal.

But I do have to toot my own horn. Down 21 lbs now since 12-14-08, and 11 pounds since that start of the challenge. although when you have 90+ to lose it comes off a lot quicker.

I am consuming 1400 to 1800 calories a day and because I have cut out the sugar and eating high quality foods I have not found myself hungry. Everyone is telling me to watch that I am not attacking my muscles, but I have been doing strength training also, and I am getting stronger too, and you can see it in my arms/chest, if you look closely. lol

On my regualr workout days, I figure I am burning consistently 1000+ calories. Do I hve/need to take in more calories? I am going to go to a nutritionist, but I don't have the funds yet.

Congratulations and Great Job to Ray and Abbie!

Abbie, if you don't mind, how tall are you? With your weight and BF%, you look great...I am about the same weight, don't know my BF%, am just 5'1" tall, and, let's just say my weight is distributed a lot different than yours!!! I am SURE that my BF is terribly high; I've just recently started working out faithfully...again. I'm with you on wanting that sub-20%...I love that rather ripped look (although I've never seen it on myself!)