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, I really have to do this too - tonight I was a total glutton and am v. pissed off with myself. I will:

1. Have NO alcohol (apart from Fri night/Sat/Sun, is that OK?)
2. No more than 2 packets of crisps a day (they are low fat but still, 5 packets a day is going some...)
3. Run at least 5 times a week.

Am in USA, so have two more hours to stuff my face...

(Am also interested in what Angry Birds actually is?)

I don't want to quilt. Or patchwork. I thought of knitting, but I don't really like knitted items, so that seems a bit pointless.

Husband whiled away rainy afternoon with toddler yesterday by constructing toy farmyard (complete with water tank) out of cardboard boxed. But there's a limit to that sort of thing, surely?

Also wondering about Angry Birds.

Welcome, howdoo!

Minor victory one: got peckish. Walked to tin of delicious free biscuits kept in work kitchen. Chose and ate Granny Smith and small pear instead.

Yay for Tortoise.

Angry birds here It's a totally addictive game. Careful now.

Welcome howdoo can you remind me where you all are?

Claudia - Australia

May I join please? Thought long and hard about 'commiting' to something like this as I am so rubbish at sticking to anything.

My list is short and therefore hopefully doable -

1 walk three times a week (am pretty unfit)
2 Drink water
3 No booze in the week

As you see, set my sights low (apart from the booze) so I can hopefully achieve and then up the stakes iyswim.

Happy new month and good luck everyone.

Mostlylurking - UK

This is an excellent approach, Mostly.

Good to have you on board.

Hello Mostlylurking, how lovely to have you aboard.

I have just been lusting after this house There is no way it can be mine, but I love it SOOOOO much. I am just torturing myself really.

On to the successes of the day . . . I have resisted stealing the kiddies sweeties from them, and instead eaten an banana and some stew.

Also have been for a walk - carrying sick dd2 all the way.

Happy Canada Day to NickofTime (it is you that is in Canada right?)

Also welcome to pissedrightoff, looking forward to seeing your list.

Keep strong ladies

Just re-read my last post - the thing was meant to signify a Black Power type salute NOT a threatening gesture . I don't think we need any of that yet do we - maybe by DAY 22

I gutted that someone has mentioned angry birds . My DH and DS are addicted to it and play it whenever they can. I will not be converted its a time drainer!

Slept well last night ...amazing how poor your quality of sleep is with alcohol.

Going to be good today, DH has been away all week so I am going for a spot of retail therapy.

Good luck today everyone

OK, have read the thread. I'M IN ClaudiaS I see you a black power salute and raise you a reverse fist pump.

My list
1- No booze till Camp Bestival
2- 8 portions of fruit and veg
3- 3 bike rides a week, walk as much as I can
4- no unhealthy snacks, except for olives which I cannot give up
5- Lots of sex
6- Dancing competitions with DS and jumping competitions too.
7- smaller portions

Oooo quite like the sound of No 5. Do you have anyone in mind? I would choose Mr J Depp.

Good list thatsnotmymonkey, when is Camp Bestival?

Well done all for being so positive!!
Can i join and do

1. No alcohol

1. No junk. all healthy food

3 Drink water

4 find job

I'm sure there are more things I could do!
Have just had weetabix this morning, so not off to a bad start

for you Whatname. Great list. I need to do No 4 too. I have applied for one - my first job application in 6 years. Incredibly stressful.

Can I join in too?

No more alcohol
No more chocolate or crap
Eat properly 3x a day
Go back to the gym 3 times a week
Concentrate on my uni essays and submit them by end of July

Only my Husband...

Camp Bestival is at the end of this month, so have a few weeks, and then back on the no booze till out holiday mid august

Hi LittleMarshmallow, welcome welcome welcome. We will be the most pure thread on mumsnet. And hopefully by 31st July the SMUGGEST

Can I join in?

Here's my list:

No alcohol except for a BIT on special occasions (I have a few parties to attend over the next week or so and I am a bit of a party pooper without a loosener)

No chocolate, sweets, biscuits or cake (groan)

Less fannying about, more reading something worth reading

More dancing about the kitchen listening to music

less moaning

more living in the moment

Here goes....

I have made a start on my first uni essay, so hopefully I will have done at least half by the end of today.

Yay for cakesandale - all welcome here.

I like your list, particularly after whingeing to my dh for the last hour, the no moaning item.

Instead of a Golden Gaytime (an ice-cream for you non-Australians) I am eating a banana.

I am fucking incredible!

Buxton Water going down by the gallon here (that's very boring mineral water for the non Brits)

Is there really an ice cream called Golden Gaytime? That has made my day. Consider that your RAOK, Claudia!

Claudia - thanks, I am pleased with 5lb loss
I find losing weight v difficult - am big emotional eater - so I am pleased I have made some progress

OK, we start today then

My writing goal is possibly the one I'll struggle most with because I am a faffer and a procrastinator and a mumsnetter

I gave up fizzy pop a few days ago and have been CRAVING a coke. Have resisted, but fizzy water is just not as exciting

Not going so well on the sweets and chocolate front - I've just had some chocolate caramels, although my goal was to cut down rather than cut out so I get away with that on a technicality

Cakesandale - like the name I foresee some confusion ahead

Cake - i can't see where you say how you lost the 5lb, so spill, please, I am getting desperate.

As you can see from the name I have at least twice as many vices as you

Can I join?

• No alcohol for a month

• Exercise more

• Do my piano practice and stop being such an utter WIMP about it

• Um

might add some more later

(I've had a Golden Gaytime! I love their slogan "You can't have a Gaytime on your own" )

BS - I am practically weeping at that slogan
I've been having a bad day - big family crisis - but that has brightened me up good and proper

Unfortunately though your piano practice goal has made me realise I should be promising to dust my piano down and actually play it, rather than let it sit there in the lounge like an overpriced ornament

That's the problem with everyone else's lists, reminds you what other areas of self-improvement one could do with working on. Gah.

cakesandale - i didn't say how i'd lsot the weight, but it is not a state secret. Running. I'm doing the C25K programme with a friend. I could do with giving up fatty food but I need to think about that one.

There is a poster called cakeandroses I've seen about. Do you think we should invite her to join too?

This is a fabulous idea! May I join?

I aim to:

1. Eat less crap.
2. Cook from scratch every day.
3. Walk 2-5 miles daily.
4. No impulse buys.
5. Make the hoodie up that I bought a load of yarn for.
6. More 'me' time.

Am doing brilliantly so far - have not eaten any crisps or drunk any alcohol.

Mind you, it is 7.55AM... Off to do school run!

Back to Claudia's earlier question - I am Howdoo, in North East USA