Comments on: Join the Challenge – Update

By: Scopulus

Scopulus — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 23:45:36 +0000

Starting Today … 30 days .. aerobic excercise (running is my choice..), stretching, meditation/prayer, and daily replection & planning.

Done….

Now onto day 2… I hope its like day 1….

By: Bert Plat

Bert Plat — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 10:05:29 +0000

A short update on my 30-days-no-coffee challenge:

One week has passed, and the main thing I’ve noticed is that I sleep like a log. Once in bed, it takes about 10 seconds (according to a usually trustworthy source) and I’m off, until 6am or so. I used to wake up every two hours.

On the downside, I get tired much earlier these days. I’m hoping that’s a temporary thing.

Anyone else have an update?

By: Insomniac

Insomniac — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 06:13:23 +0000

Steve, I prefer to not join your challenge. This is because I often challenge myself. Instead of using 1 month, however, I prefer to use 1 week periods.

These 1-week long challenges have helped me a lot.

However, I admire what you are doing. Keep up the good work!

By: TooMuchWeight

TooMuchWeight — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 20:12:37 +0000

I’m in, too. I used to set these kinds of goals all of the time when I was an undergrad in college. I since gained weight and developed some bad habits and I would like to get back to how I was.

I’ve listed my goals on the blog (basically, minimize eating bad food, exercise more, improve my 1 mile running time, and maintain the blog.)

One problem that I have always had is that I am too smart for whatever scoring system I come up with. I always figure out the loopholes in whatever metrics I decide on so that I can achieve the goal in a literal sense but not in spirit. Thus, I am a little hesitant to define my goal too concretely. Rather, I try to have a critical look at my actions to determine if I am meeting my goal.

By: Jeni

Jeni — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 20:56:45 +0000

Can we bother you to write a midpoint-blog to motivate those who might be losing sight of the 30-days mark to keep going? =)

By: Arthur

Arthur — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 20:56:09 +0000

OK, I’m going for it. A bit late, but I’ll make up for it by making my commitment a multidisciplinary one, if you will.

I always arrive late at work because I go to sleep too late and when I wake up at 8:30 I don’t get out for another 20-30 minutes. So, new rules:
- On weekdays, in bed at 12:00, get up at 7:15, max 1 hour later in weekends.
- Get out of bed when I wake up

My physical condition isn’t horrible, but it is lousy. I’ve got good metabolism, so I don’t have weight problems, but my condition/stamina is hovering just north of zero. I feel tired 60% of the day and am exhausted after any non-trivial physical activity. So, changes:
- When I get out of bed (early,) I do a set of exercises with weights, push-ups, stretching, etc.
- I’ve already enlisted at a traditional wu shu school, and am going to do 2 lessons a week and practice at home every day for 30 mins minimum.

Finally, food. My lunches are always bread with cheese and / or meat (or sweet stuff, but I hardly ever eat that). I’m not giving up meat (yet), but I’ll start with:
- No cheese for 30 days

As a sidenote, what are sensible yet tasty ideas for lunches? I sometimes eat yoghurt with cruesli, apple, etc. but eating that everyday for lunch will get tiresome too (and is perhaps not very good for you, either?) Living in the Netherlands, I am so habituated to eating bread each day that I wouldn’t know what else to eat.

OK, I’m going on way too many tangents here so I’ll keep it at this.

By: Lynda

Lynda — Fri, 22 Apr 2005 02:53:49 +0000

Judging by the names, women are not well represented in this 30-day challenge, so here I am! I will walk my dog every day for at least 20 minutes. I know that sounds a bit wussy, but it usually works out to more time than that and allows me to go uphill when I feel energetic. It also means that much time listening to my podcasts, which are mostly what I call personal growth items, e.g., related to tech or information design.

By: Peter Monsson

Peter Monsson — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 05:57:51 +0000

OK, I’m in. Here’s the deal

-> No Cheese
-> No Mayo
No Fastfood i.e. Wendy’s McD, KFC, Burger King, (Deli’s are OK as long 1 and 2 are upheld)
-> No Pizza from Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s and other chains.
-> No candy, chocolate, cookies, chips, etc.

1 and 2 are simple, 3 is simple if I plan a bit ahead and keep food in the fridge at all times. 4 is a tough one for at nerd like me, 5 will hopefully keep me from those vending machines and if I keep fruit at hand I’ll do fine.

WILLPOWAR!!!11 one one eleven.