One month of abstinence and fitness - anyone care to join me?

[ClaudiaSchiffer]

I need to get fitter, stop drinking alcohol, stop eating so much chocolate and other junk. Generally have a good healthy month in order to add zip and zing to my life. I also want to be more creative and less consumed by drudgery.

So . . . during July I am going to do the following . . .

1. No alcohol

1. No chocolate/junk food

1. Exercise at least 3 times a week - for me it will be a 0 - 5k running program.

1. Pick up my paint brushes and be creative

1. Listen to more music and DANCE

1. Say YES to opportunities

1. Less time on the computer

1. Read more books

1. Meditate

10. Eat and drink healthily

11. Be conscious of spending money - no quick trips to the newsagents for crappy mags and sweeties

Right. I can't think of any more but would you care to join me?

I want to start properly on July 1st but today I am going for a run and last night I went to a cabaret show which has inspired me to be less conventional and screamingly middle aged and dull.

Perhaps we could encourage each other to to Random Acts of Kindness or get tattoos or learn magic tricks or something.

OK, my list:

1. exercise 4x week - 3 runs, one gym session (I'm already doing this)

1. Cut WAY down on chocolate and sweets

1. Go to bed by 11:30pm every school night

1. No sugary fizzy drinks unless at a party

1. Write for at least 1.5hrs every day

So am I allowed to stuff my face and sit on my arse for the next 5 days?

Day one.

1. Cutting out the snacks and crap. Today I have had a burger, a quorn hotdog, an ice cream, a few of ds' sweeties and have just polished off a chocolate mini roll.
2. Don't drink much these days but could cut alcohol out completely. Washing down said mini roll with a G&T.
3. Drink more water/green tea/camomile tea. None whatsoever.
4. Up my exercise levels. Sweet FA.
5. And this is the biggy, I am a night person so tend to stay up late Doing Things and am in sleep debt by the end of the week. I plan to go to bed earlier so I don't constantly feel tired. Was reading in bed 'til about 1.30 last night...this evening is yet young.

I resign from the thread.

HOWEVER, RAOK. I did go up to a lady today who's sandals I admired and told her so.

can i join ..

really want to get fit and eat healthy ...

1. eat healthy , more fruite and veg

2. exercise daily , gym or class or walk the dogs

3. read ,

4. take up a hobby ..no idea what ?

0h and cut out weekend booze ....few glasses of vino over we ..

let me know when we start

Welcome welcome choclab

Well done Cain for the RAOK. Lovely stuff.

Don't stress about the other things, it's meant to be for July y'know. As Marion helpfully points out we can stuff our faces and drink ourselves senseless for the next few days if we like - if you think that's the right thing to do, that's fine.

Come Thursday though, we are going HARD ladies.

Yesterday I had ZERO alcohol, Hurrah for meeee.

Only a small cake (so small in fact almost invisible). I went for a 5k walk and trudged round a farm with the kidlets. No painting, reading or meditating yet but I'm working my way up to it

And today I shall be climbing a mountain - only a small one so more of a hill really but it is called a mountain.

Okay, here is my list.

1, walk to work when possible.

2, no alcohol

3, in bed by 11pm every night

4, eat fruit every day.

5, no late night snacks.

Trying to decide whether to go for this properly and

1. Limit calorie intake to 1,000 per day.

I would love to be half a stone lighter for August.

Great list whyme. Marion 1000 a day is a pretty teeny amount isn't it?

So yesterday, was 99% good but let down when I was unable to resist a large glass of Cab Sav when cooking dinner. Still it's not July yet so it's ok by my rules.

Today, shall try to avoid the wine, NO MATTER WHAT PROVOCATION.

Also will walk instead of driving when possible. I had a fantastic walk with a friend yesterday around the villages here. A really beautiful sunny and cold winters day here.

Cutting down to 1,000 calories means I lose about 2lbs per week. It's manageable. Bowl of cereal for breakfast, salad for dinner, usual tea but a slightly smaller portion. No snacks.

Good girl, go for it . You will be a goddess.

I managed to avoid the wine yesterday so feel pleased with myself today.

It's pouring with rain here today so I'm not sure I'll get a walk in.

two days of excess left!

um, me, i think. (but not no. 9, way too woo for me )
july 1st is canada day, and mil arrives that afternoon. given that she is likely to recoil in horror at how much weight i've put on since moving here, if i can distract her with a healthy lifestyle and a feel good vibe, that might just boost my confidence in the nick of time!

Nick you've got all morning

smoothie then? was rather hoping to attend the sausage and pancake b'fast before i went to the airport...

i promise i won't have a tim horton's whilst i'm waiting in arrivals...

Hurrah for Nick, it's Tuesday here already so I've only one day of excess left but seeing as we had a family dinner of fish and chips last night (wha - I NEVER eat fish and chips normally) I feel I have done my best to see lardy June off with a bang.

I have yet to meditate (NOT WOO Nick - well maybe a little) or paint but still plenty of time.

Here in Australia we have something called Dry July - its a fundraising thing for adults with cancer www.dryjuly.com/default.aspx I may join and try to raise some cash.

Sorry dry july here

No alcohol has passed my lips this evening. 1/6...room for improvement.

i love the dry july idea! wonder if we could roll it out across mn?

well, my last lardy meal will be my b'fast on thurs, then. can't skimp on that, we just landed as residents yesterday, so it's a bit of a celebration! We are off to the mountains after we pick mil up though, so plenty of fresh air and healthy living to be had after the maple syrup and butter...

I would like to do this too ... will think of list and post later

I'm wondering whether I should go completely chocolate-less in July, rather than just cutting down?

I'm trying to lose weight. I've lost 5lb since the 1st of June. Would like to do at least the same again in July, although ideally would double that loss.

Ohh I'm upping the pace now, have had no junk food, no alcohol and am just about to get on the cross trainer then I will get to bed for 11.30
I am feeling righteous. However, no RAOK today infact I have lied through my teeth in order to take time off for a job interview. Everyone does it though don't they?

Blimey Cain, you are a machine

Also yes I'm pretty sure everyone lies, I know I do.

Cake, 5lbs in June is fantastic. Take it day by day, perhaps, aim for a few choc free days a week.

My friend has just returned from England and bought me a Cadburys Caramel. I totally love her so had to eat it right? Anyway I did and it was delicious - much less sugary than the vile chocolate we get here (all super sweet and waxy). So that's my last bit of choc for a month.

As for RAOK I've done none. I've gotta up my game. Although not random, I was up about 5 times in the night with the kids last night (vomit, nightmares, wee wees etc) so that's pretty kind? Ok I know it doesn't count. Just want some praise .

i popped into work to cash a cheque and they were maxed out of the door, so i stayed for an hour and soaked up the madness - they looked like they might burst into tears. so i sort of did my raok today, although hopefully might get some financial remuneration out of it as well, but that wasn't the motivation

and it was end of term today, so delivered flowers to the teachers. but that doesn't really count either.

haven't eaten any junk today though, but am off to cocktail party later - am going to volunteer to drive, so will be dry (and not even july!), but might nibble as compensation...

i drank more water!

and i am really looking forward to mountain air and chilling on thurs. 6 whole days...

and now i will turn the computer off, to prove a point

can I join.... feeling really fed up Weight piling on.... Now 9st 11b at 5ft 1 not good.

Hubby works away ALOT ...I hit the wine ABout 4 -5 units a night not horrendous but enough to know that long term this isnt good. Feel as if its my reward for looking after kids. Not good I know.

I am like an angel all day ...... then come 7pm wine and munchies. Have just eaten 1/2 box ferro roche feeling really guilty.

We are off on a once in a lifetime family holiday at the end of July and am dreading it feeling this large