The '101 days to change our lives' challenge

Callisto

I'd like to join in please, my 101 days will finish on 16th August.

1 - Lose weight, aiming for 1/2 a stone, anything above that will be a welcome bonus, as have over three stone to lose altogether.

I intend to achieve this by using my lateral thigh trainer stepper at least three times a week and building up the amount of time I can use it for (at the moment I can only do 6 minutes before my legs feel like jelly...I'm so unfit ) Also by making healthier food choices and only eating when actually hungry, not because I'm bored or upset! Just received an evening wedding invite for 28th July, so really got to try my best to lose some weight, as I'll need a new outfit and don't want to look like a hippo...

2 - Move out of OH's Mum's house and into our own flat.

We've saved up enough to move into our own rented flat, and have been looking for a place for over seven weeks, but letting agencies are a nightmare (never return calls, and admin fees are horrendous) and the last place we saw was a dive! Just gotta keep chasing the agencies for properties we would actually like to live in!

3 - Sort out junk at OH's Mum's house before moving into flat, we are NOT taking the clutter with us - throw out, recycle, freecycle or sell on Ebay.

4 - Find additional ways to raise money for wedding.

At our present savings rate, we won't be able to afford to get married for at least 5 years! Selling stuff on Ebay from number 3's de-cluttering exercise should help, but we need to raise 5000 pounds, of which we currently have 1365...

5 - Research new careers as really unhappy in current job. I think I may not pass the probation period which is up in two months, so also need to be looking for a new short term job.

New career - use Internet to research possibilities, and keep a list of careers researched - possible pros and cons and salaries and what training is needed.

New short term job - Update CV, register with agencies, read jobs paper each week and look on Job Centre Plus website.

Swishter

Welcome to those just joining us and good luck - the more the merrier! :hello:

You are doing really well Lillibet, giving me the extra little kick I need, i've not the time to procrastinate!

Just got home from a lovely weekend with the parents, we stopped off for food on the way back and my lovely BF paid so definitely on budget this week! :beer: We got some great bargains on meat and fish which are now in the freezer. Feeling very relaxed after a break, going to have a quick tidy up and get everything ready for tomorrow. Then have a nice shower and do a face mask etc before sitting down to a nice roast dinner my lovely, lovely BF is cooking for me. Plan is to give myself a manicure and pedicure whilst catching up with Heroes after tea! Make myself feel all pretty and lovely.

Have decided that my debt clearance has been a bit erratic and have decided to change my method of debt repayment from whatevers left to aiming for a particular goal, going to post properly tomorrow to see what everyone thinks.

Tomorrow I am going to go out for a run and then sit down and crack on with listing books on Amazon/Green Met, I know that they do not take long to do so there is no excuse!

looby-loo_2

Swishter wrote: »

OK, OK, so it didn't go as planned. I think one thing not to do is say the whole thing is a failure and you have to start again. You've recognised that there is a problem and you first attempt at resolving it has not worked. You've not failed you just have not suceeded yet.

Why don't you have time to eat and drink at work? What do you do? By law you should be having a break. Rather than waiting to find time can you try planning a slot in your diary and booking it in like a business appointment, maybe setting an alarm on your PC or mobile to remember, and then taking time out for 15-30 minutes to go and eat your snack and drink your drink. Can you keep a bottle of water handy so you can start taking the odd gulp without worry about it going cold.

One thing I noticed is at the beginning of the week I had to force myself to drink water but now I am finding my natural thirst is coming back and I am starting to want more water. Its almost as if my body knew it was not going to get so stopped asking.

Hi, thanks for writing that. It all make sense and I will try as from tomorrow. I have made a packed lunch and put it along with some water in my bag in the car already. I teach vunerable special needs children. They come to see me at break and lunch times as our room is always open - often a place a shelter/safety for them. I seem to always have phone calls at these times (other teachers raising their concerns/ updating me etc) I don't really want to close my room to go to eat bcause if I'm not where the children expect me to be then sometimes they become distressed and kick off big time and get themselves into trouble. (And no, they wouldn't be able to read a notice on the door) Then suddenly the bell goes and it's time for the next lesson. I often eat my lunch in the car on the way home. Thinking about it I think I'll have to introduce another system gradually so it's not a sudden change for them.
Anyway, you have made me think about a few things I could try.

DeniseNZ

Update on progress:


Reduce Debt
Stop buying things not really needed - ok, but finding more stuff I DO need
Stop buying chocolate most days - failing, but promise I won't buy any today
If I don't go to the shops then I don't buy - so stop going to the shops! Have no need to this week - so far

Keep working on weight loss
Eat healthier - stop having chocolate most days - see above LOL
Keep drinking water - starting with 750mls minimum per day - doing pretty good at this
Keep walking puppy every day, right through the cold winter months - brrrr still walking daily but probably won't tomorrow cos she's getting speyed today.


Be more positive
Start thinking glass half full instead of half empty! Still trying . . .
Smile more - Still trying . . .
Interact with people more. Still trying . . .

:rolleyes:

chocaholic110

Ok, I know I am a bit late but would like to join in please. Have been watching this thread with interest but haven't been motivated enough to post until now (That says it all really!)

The areas I most want to sort out are health ones really - it scares me that I don't look after myself too well and that one day it will be too late to change that! I need to lose some weight and become fitter but don't want to set an actual target or go on a diet - just to try and become more helathy in lttle ways that will hopefully become habit.

1. Drink more water - I am very naughty and often go the whole day at work without food or drink, then wonder why I end each day tired and headachey!
AIM: To drink 8 glasses or so a day

2. Eat at least 3 pieces of fruit a day. I know it should be five but will build up to that hopefully.

3. Do more exercising
AIM: To walk somewhere...anywhere everyday

4. Exfoliate skin more regularly. I cleanse and moisturise but that's about it.

5. Reduce debt to £5000 by end of challenge (gulp!)
AIM: try not to add to debt, stop buyng the unnecessary things that are creeping back, list something on ebay each week.

Oh, well, day one for me, here goes!

Lillibet_2

[quote yesterday

3) Have at least 1 chocolate free day every week.
2 last week, I'm trying for one today but this is the really difficult one for me. Fingers crossed that my will power holds out!


7) Use that flipping Davina MaCall workout DVD at least once a week!
Planned for tomorrow morning...again_pale_
[/quote]


Sorry to any guys reading, you might want to skip this post!


Oh dear, all gone a it pear shaped....I'm having a bad period (is there such a thing as a good one?) and last night succumbed to the call of the chocolate monster...I was only a couple of hours away from bed & nearly had a choccy free day but it wasn't to be. And with my tummy feeling like it is this morning there's buckleys chance fo me doing Davina bl00dy McCall workouts.....:mad: I can sort fo forgive myself the workout failure as I really do feel rather rough but I am ashamed of eating chocolate & am trying again today for a choclate free day today. Davina will just have to wiat for later on in the week though.

As pennance for the choccy failure I can at least sort out the budget today!

Hope everyone else is having more success than me?

malvena_2

If i don't update I will forget my challenges and fall off the wagon.....AGAIN. So here goes.

1) Sort finances. Still working my way through this but due to some huge bills (car ins, broken car, final bill from previous electricity supplier) this month already its a bit of a trial.

2) cleanse before bed. Actioned.

3) Lose a stone. Been very good. No chocolate for a few days and I have been taking rice cakes for lunch. Gotta have a change - no more rice cakes.

4) DIY to be finished. None done yet but have 2 days off together this week so I will finishing bathroom then.

Hope you are all doing well with your challenges. All the updates are keeping me motivated.

taka

taka wrote: »

1) Food - Sort out my diet
-take a packed lunch into work (added benifit of not needing to eat or pay for the crap canteen food!!)
So far so good this week... have brought enough into work to do me for most of this week! :j
- eat a more balanced diet with more fruit and veg
Only manageing this at brekkie and lunch! Its a start i guess!!
- cut down on sugary snacks, crisps and carbonated drinks
No carbonated drinks for 6 days...
- try to do a meal plan

2) Improve my fitness
- dig out my pedometer and walk at least 10,000 steps a day Kinda mixed...
- use the pilates ring and dvd I got for xmas and have never used! Use it at least once a week.
- use my walking machine thing I bought ages ago and have never even taken out of the box
- always take the stairs instead of the lift!
only got the lift once since this started and that was coz the person I was with was carrying a heavy box!

3)Money
- stick to my budget! Okish so far this week
- save save all the money left over!! what money?

4) Sort out flat
- get on top of my housework
- declutter big time
- spend time in my kitchen!
- get plumbers in to quote on my bathroom revamp plans as the suite is now on its last legs!!

5) Me
- enjoy life
- go out and socialise
- keep in touch with friends
- try not to be so negative all the time!

6) General - sort out all those annoying things I never get round to
- sort out mortgage
- complain to British gas and get the rest of my refund (then check who is cheapest for gas and elec and move to them!!)
- close the bank acount i opened when i was 12 and never used other than to update the interest every year or 2!! written letter... need to buy stamps!

7) Wish list...
- look into to selling via craft fairs as a home business
- get the portfolio and products ready to apply to do the above!

Hmmm think I need to work on [STRIKE]some[/STRIKE] MOST of these!! [/QUOTE]

looby-loo_2

OK so I took in a packed lunch, but it was SATS so I ran around all day trying to ensure the right kids were being looked after by the right people in the right places and ate my lunch on the way home!

So it's still day 101 for me.

I have made another for tomorrow and will start again tomorrow

Sea78

Seems like most are doing well, even with a few slipups!

Lillibet - not sure if you saw my earlier post - it was you wasn't it who referred to 'spud' in your sig? or am I going completely mad??!!

Well, starting healthy eating properly tomorrow, have got all my SW stuff out and am reading it. The gardening is going ok, although some things have not sprouted at all and I fear they have been drowned by an overzealous DD! Will have to keep watering them and get them into bigger pots soon.

Sea xxx