Official Challenge - Do you Accept?

My challenge for us for this week (to start on Sunday):
http://skinnyms.com/7-day-summer-abs-challenge/


Also, (unrelated to the challenge) lots of good recipes:
http://skinnyms.com/21-clean-lunches-that-can-be-prepared-in-under-10-minutes/

http://skinnyms.com/50-recipes-for-weight-loss/

http://skinnyms.com/15-make-ahead-clean-eating-dinners/

I Challenge You to a Dual

I finally got into the blog!! Whoo hoooo!

I think we should do a challenge.

Tell me what you think about this idea:
Each week we alternate giving the other person a challenge that we BOTH have to follow.  It could be anything... here are some ideas:

• Exercise 30 minutes 5 days this week
• Drink 8 glasses of water each day
• Don't have any desserts this week whatsoever
• No pop whatsoever
• No meat
• Only eat home-prepared foods made from fresh ingredients this week (i.e. nothing that comes from a box, is pre-made by a manufacturer, has artificial anything, etc.)
• Make a specific diet for the entire week and follow it (e.g. detox diet)

Eventually I'd like to work our way up to the 4-Step Weightloss Challenge

 http://skinnyms.com/4-step-weight-loss-challenge/.  This challenge states that you'll likely lose 10 lbs in 30 days, but I'm betting we would lose more if we took out most of our sugar.  It basically includes these 4 steps:

1. Drink approximately 2 liters, or 8 eight ounce glasses, of water each day. 
2. Avoid all refined sugar and artificial sweeteners.
3. Portion Control: All meals should be eaten on salad size plates instead of traditional dinner plates.
4. Exercise a minimum of 30 minutes, six days per week

The challenge also has these Tips for Success:

• Avoid processed, packaged foods that are often found on the inside aisles of grocery stores
• Shop the outer parameter of the grocery store. Here you will find fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat dairy
• Eat lean cuts of meat, or better yet, eat wild-caught salmon, rainbow trout, and halibut
• Avoid all battered and deep fried foods
• Eat one treat meal each week. Studies show that having one treat meal when working to lose weight will help you stay on track with your eating plan
• No alcohol is recommended because of the high sugar content

Going Wild

Seriously a great inspirational movie for so many reasons.  I would love to start hiking/camping.

50 Days and Counting!

Alright.  It was a bad idea to order the dress too small for Anna's wedding...but I thought it would inspire me.  There's no excuse or escape now though.  I have 50 days to literally pull myself together and fit into this sucker... and get it tailored because I'm a munchkin.

Rainbow of Color

A gorgeous salad!   Gotta get in the "rainbow of color" the experts talk about - aka vitamins.  Wish I could find a better set of dressings I love and could kick the need for a soda/carbs to go with it.  

Workout Room - It's coming together!

My goal this week is to make it in the workout room at least two times, in addition to walking the dogs.  I can do it!  I really want to start pintresting Buddha/spa art to add.  Chad thinks we should add a waterfall in there for white noise.  Lol.   Also... why do I want big fat Buddhas in the workout room?  That's somehow soothing to me?   Lol.

I took this picture in Chinatown in Chicago.  I'd love to get one of those groupons to have it be a big canvas for the room.  

Hi Brit!

I'm excited we're doing this blog together.
Thought I would put together a few good resources that really get me motivated every time I try and do a "reboost."

Karen