SparkPoints: (20,308)
Fitness Minutes: (27,972)
Posts: 786
1/2/12 4:58 P

Hey friends we're all going to participate in the spark sponsored challenge this month with a large challenge to come in February. Who's in?
http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/challenge_detail.asp?challenge=10

SparkPoints: (20,308)
Fitness Minutes: (27,972)
Posts: 786
9/17/11 9:41 P

Okay guys got a little tied up with things with my start up but I have the challenge set up and ready to go. I hope you guys like it and that you'll join me: Here's a link to it: www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/team_messagebo
ard_thread.asp?board=463x1912x44137647

SparkPoints: (168,001)
Fitness Minutes: (145,108)
Posts: 37,139
8/19/11 8:07 P

That's quite a challenging objective, PRAYER - but it's one that's made me do some thinking. I can't say I am going to join you in doing everything you mentioned, but I can join you with cutting back on some refined sugars by using substitues in my coffee and tea.

Posts: 7
8/19/11 9:50 A

Thank you!

current weight: 135.6

160 150 140 130

120

SparkPoints: (20,308)
Fitness Minutes: (27,972)
Posts: 786
8/18/11 3:48 P

That sounds great Prayer! I think we can work your mission really well into our challenge. I will post individualized ideas for the challenge for each of you feel free to give feedback I want to make sure I'm coming up with something that you think will work well for each of you.

Posts: 7
8/18/11 10:38 A

By the end of September, I plan to consume only one or two teaspoons of refined sugar per week. For me, sugar not only includes actual sweets, but any white, starchy foods like refined flour, corn chips, white rice, and potatoes (unless they’re low-glycemic Yukon Golds). I want to eliminate any foods that are converted by the body into sugar and then to fat. I will increase the protein and healthy fats in my diet to counteract sugar withdrawals and cook only with whole grains, replacing all refined sugars in dessert recipes with stevia, xylitol and/or whole fruit.

current weight: 135.6

160 150 140 130

120

SparkPoints: (168,001)
Fitness Minutes: (145,108)
Posts: 37,139
8/17/11 9:51 P

Very familiar with the SMART concept (from school). Right now the only goal I have is to stay the course with Spark until I finish school in a few short weeks so I can get back to my regular exercise program. October - here I come!!

SparkPoints: (20,308)
Fitness Minutes: (27,972)
Posts: 786
8/14/11 10:44 P

I should also say that a really good way to break down this goals creation process is to take at a high level what you are looking to accomplish and chunk it down into tangible tasks. It'd be great to see people include overarching goals and task goals.

SparkPoints: (20,308)
Fitness Minutes: (27,972)
Posts: 786
8/14/11 10:25 P

Okay guys I'd like us to all identify some smart objectives to help build a team challenge. A lot of times it is very easy to say I want to lose 10 pounds but there is so much about that simple statement that is uncontrollable. Be it your time of the month, your salt intake, the temperature outside, your "regularity". The objective of this post is to find goals that we do have 100% control over. So therefore the keys for each goal you identify is it has to fit the following criteria:
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Relevant
T- Time Restrained

An example could be a simple as: I want to drink 8 glasses of water every day this week. This is specific, is measurable down to the ounce, it's easily attainable, it's relevant to my weight loss goals, and it has a time limit so that I can't tell myself oh I will do that goal tomorrow.

Another example could be I want to run 3 miles 3 times this week aiming for Monday Wednesday and Saturday.

I want to lose 10 pounds this week is not a good example because not only is that likely not attainable, but you don't have direct control over it because of the lack of specificity as we pointed out before too many variables go into that number.

I want to walk is another type of example to avoid. There's no time limitation, there's no specificity of if you're walking from your couch to your refridgerator or 15 miles.

We're going to set up our challenge so that we start simple and build on our goals after a certain time period. So I'd love to see at least 5-10 SMART objectives that each of you have toward improving your healthy lifestyle. Be creative.