Hey Carrie… congrats on 19 years of marriage, wow!!

Thanks for IMing me with the plan for us to “Kick 2008 Where It Counts”. Shall we track our progress by starting a new “100 Days Challenge” or does anyone else have any other ideas?? (Carrie, Emmi, Bree, Jonathon, etc… how do you plan to break in the new year?)

I understand what Jonathon is saying about living fresh all along… but I need to “refresh”. Unfortunately, I haven’t been good at all and I need to stop using the long work commute as an excuse. I admit it… I have retained a lot of the good habits I developed over the past year or so but have been a bad boy by enlarge… a REALLY bad boy!!!! :(

Sorry that you fell short of your very ambitious goal of losing 25 pounds over the holidays… but glad to see you lost at least a couple of pounds during a time when most other people are gaining weight.

Tim, I missed you! And was just thinking about you and wondering how you’re doing. I’m guessing (nothing official yet) that there will be a new 100 days for 2008. I am planning on starting day one on the first. And since I have the exercise part down, I’m going to add a food goal too. Not sure if I’m going to have the same goal for the whole 100 days or change it, it’ll depend on my ability to conquer the current demon. 

Really looking forward to what I can accomplish next year. I’ll go into more detail later in my journal thread. I’ll probably start a new one of those too.

Bree

Looks like we’re all starting fresh in the new year.  I’m also going to have a new 100 day challenge for 2008.  Like Bree and Tim I’m going to not only work on the exercise but my eating/food goals too.  I’ll be looking forward to watching everyone’s progress in the new year.

A new journal and a new challenge sounds like a good idea. Maybe I should update the ole’ avatar and profile also. Actually, I am thinking that I start the weight numbers over from where I’ll be at the start of the new year… since I started losing weight 15 months ago and am currently where I was about six months ago.

Sounds like a great plan… and will also be looking forward to monitor everyone’s progress!

Good idea! I like the idea of starting the new year with fresh everything! This is going to be fun.

Bree

I’m all excited about it now.  I agree Bree.  I like to start the year with a clean slate. 

Tim, I’m starting with whatever weight I am on the 1st day of the new year and going down from there (hopefully).  Now I’ve gotta lose weight to save face at work. 

This is going to be kinda fun!

I’m down for a good challenge! I’ll join you all!

Cool!!  That’s great Shawn.  You’ll make it exciting for sure.

I did a little shopping today.  I didn’t buy the Health O Meter scale because they had a Conair/Weight Watcher one that measures weight, Body Fat, Water, bone mass and BMI and it was a few dollars less.  I just used it and the water and bone mass just said error so it’s probably crap. 

I checked my records looking back to 1/1/2007.  I had all of my measurements listed.  After lots of ups and downs I found that I weigh 3 lbs more (still a 2 lbs loss before Christmas though) but my fat % is 5% less.  My waist is 2 inches smaller.  MY chest is 1 inch smaller.  My thighs are an inch bigger but I know they don’t giggle as much.  All of those squats firmed everything up.  So basically I firmed up a bit but made it no where in weight loss.

On my 37th birthday I said to my trainer that my goal was to be in shape by the time I turned 40. I told him I didn’t get this way over night and understand that it will take time.  Now I’m 38 and so far I’ve conditioned myself to exercise regularly.  I’ve increased my muscle mass and gained an amazing amount of strength.  Check those off the list, check, check, check.

My plan for 2008 is to concentrate on changing my diet and increasing my activity level to burn more calories to hopefully lose some weight/fat.  I’ve got a new computer program that tracks everything.  I’ve plugged in all of my stats and have started recording my intake even though I’m not starting the diet until Wednesday.  I’m excited about.  I plan to keep you all posted and look for encouragement along the way from my friends here at MTM.  I’m sure I can count on Shawn to keep on my back.  And Tim and I have a little challenge going on too.  I’m sure I’ll be fit by 40 if I keep at it.

Wow, a 5% loss in body fat - that is great!!!  You do so much weight workouts, I’m not surprised that you haven’t lost that much weight, but there is obvious toning, and I would consider that you are going to be “in shape” well before you turn 40. 

Nothing like a little challenge to get you moving.

Thanks Paula.  5% is great but I’ve got a long way to go.  I think changing my focus and yes, a good challenge will start me off in the right direction.

Congrats on the 5% body fat loss, and I’m excited for your new effort in the new year, too! All of that extra muscle you have put on is going to supercharge your weight loss...it may very well be your secret weapon in the workplace competition! I bet most of your coworkers WISH they had a year’s worth of strength gains behind them. You’ve done a great job establishing an exercise habit and I know you’ll see great success in this new phase.

Thanks so much Jonathan.  Your encouragement will help me along the way.  You’re a great example of how to be a weight loss success.

Happy 2008, Carrie! I look forward to starting fresh in 2008 along with all of you! Great job on the 5% loss.

Thanks Emmi.  I think it’s going to be a good year.  I feel very positive about the plans and goals I have set for myself.  Happy New Year!