Well, it’s the first Friday (update day) of our Shove with Love, habit-changing project which means that all of you wacky funsters who publicly committed to changing your nastiest habit need to tell the rest of us how you’re travelling. Simply click on the comment thingy below and unload. Feel free to read all the comments and encourage each other – you might enjoy it and take some pressure off me to be the lone encourager and coach. In fact, I would love a team of coaches, motivators and encouragers. Nice thought. Anyway team, I trust you had a great week and I hope you all have some fun this weekend. Remember fun? Also, take a look at our latest book review (review 21) by the lovely Jo Deeker here. Feel free to comment on the reviewed book, to encourage our reviewer, or just say hi and add your thoughts.
Peace.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Okay, so I’ll spill.
Mine is going awesomely well. Getting up at 5.30am, hitting the gym for my cardio at 6am and finding that I’m really enjoying the early morning quiet.
Didn’t go yesterday due to the throat infection and missed it.
Finding that I am also sleeping earlier and much better since I started getting up that early. My training at the gym seems to be improving as well.
Thankyou to the love of my life for calling me and waking me up each day!
So all in all its going remarkably well and I’m enjoying it!
I have smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day. I have stopped counting. I won’t make excuses, I’ve been reading you long enough Craig and know from my own life experience they are worthless. I don’t know what it’s going to take for me to be committed to this.
Hi Craig, Hi all, I know you all probably are going to achieve greater things than I this month, but for me, this will be a time of getting myself “in hand” again, after a year of health issues and set-backs.I’m rapt to be in the driver’s seat again.
I am not ashamed to appear lame, I will flog the lot of yas one day!
I have successfully got myself into bed before 10pm every night since Monday, and gotten up at about 6:45 each day, walking my dogs over hilly streets for 30 mins the last 3 days (I was away Mon and Tues).
I am exhausted but my dogs and my butt are very pleased so far.
Next week I will add another loop to my walk ie another 5-10 mins.
Go me,
and go all of you!
Hello,
Here is my shove with love update. I said I would stop my mindless eating, so far I have had mixed results. It started with going on girls weekend and I less food and had less alcohol than I normally would, which was a great start. Up until midweek I was doing well and I even had a loss at my weight watchers meeting Tuesday. The last few days I have slipped back and eaten things I shouldn’t, which I am angry at myself for! From now on I just have to think about it before I eat “do I want this food more than I want to be slim?” and the answer to that is definitely no.
I hope everyone else has had success out there!
Regards,
Kirsty
It’s the lovely Jo Deeker here aka Miss Jojo reporting in for my 28 day challenge before I head into a day of literally back to back meetings (yay for me). My challenge was to drop the habit of eating something sweet in the afternoon after lunch.
I am happy to report so far so good – I have not eaten any crap / sweet things in the afternoon at all. No cake, chocolate, muffin, slice, or lollies. I noticed the cravings at the start of the week, but they are gone already – I have been having a cup of miso soup instead if I am really wanting something else after lunch.
I did measurements this morning – I have lost at least 1cm off my waist just this week – it is noticeable already. That said, after a mega-exercise day on Wednesday, I was extra hungry yesterday and ended up having an unecessary toasted sandwich last night which I didn’t need. So I still have some work to do on *all* of my eating habits
miss jojo xxx
Week 1 Update!
Goals:
1. To join the gym and go Mon, Wed & Fri mornings.
2. Get up at 7am everyday, do housework on days I am not going to the gym.
Big tick for all counts. Went to the gym Mon Wed Fri, was damnnnnnnnn sore but it felt good, workout no 3 today felt fantastic!
Got up at 7am everyday and got heaps more done so I dont have to spend every Saturday doing house work yey
Bring on Week 2!
-Eggcarton
I’m with you Kirsty. Started off the week really well with two alcohol free days. Felt great and in control of things. Seen as I had a few wines on Wednesday night and then last night a few social drinks with friends (instigated by me I have to admit) I have to abstain over the weekend to achieve my 5 alcohol free days this week. I could lock myself in the house for the weekend, I could give up or actually not drink. I know I can be stubborn and headstrong. Going to try really hard to just say no and stick with it. Will let you know how I get on. Thanks for your encouragement.
J9
Hey Craig,
Why don’tyou post your blogs onto your newly developed forum and let people use that arena to connect and help each other. I noticed that it really is only a dedicated few that are using it and it seems a shame for all the effort and $$$ you put in setting it all up that not more are using it whereas you seem to get a much larger response here. Just a thought. Thanks for all you do to encourage everyone along. Greatly appreciated.
Hi guys,
My 28 day challenge of quitting smoking is going great guns! Since Sunday afternoon I’ve not touched a cigarette. Quite proud of myself!
But it’s early days yet, so hopefully I can report just as good progress next Friday.
Thanks for the Shove Craig, I needed a kick to get this moving!
Emma
Morning Craig and all 28 Day Pledgers!
My goal for the 28 days was to get my mindless eating and bingeing under control. The day that I promised I would do this, my brain must have misunderstood my intentions because I had a HUGE binge and it was only as I swallowed the last morsel that I remembered that little pledge……. I instantly felt repulsed by my actions and considered purging myself. I didn’t do it,I have never done that, but I must admit that lately I feel like that more and more. A sign of desperation??
Since that day however I have been a little better. When I feel the urge to pig out coming on (and it’s certainly not from hunger) I am pausing to think about it; I have a cup of herbal tea and try delaying it. It works most of time.
I’m still eating way to much but I feel a little more in control and a little more on the way to a healthier me. My overeating seems to come from frustration – for example at the moment I have heaps of paperwork that I am struggling to get into – its at those times when I must be desperately seeking a way to procrastinate the task at hand, that I turn to the cupboard and the fridge.
Good luck everyone!! I hope you all achieve your goals this month!!
Cheers Blonde Doctor
So my habit to break is to not allow what I believe others think of me to influence what I say or do or the decisions I make.
It has been a pretty good week – provided my opinion on some proposals at a work meeting early in the week. It lead to an interesting discussion! Proud!!
On a more personal level have made decisions about my current housing status – because I JUST HAD TO. I have been avoiding it for too long. And guess what, it’s looking good. Then there was something I wanted to raise with the new man in my life, so decided to script it first (find that helps me). And again, it went well. Lots of time spent ‘unhooking’ myself from unhelpful thoughts though – constant battle in the head!!! Am determine to do this though.
For the rest of you …. go for it!! First steps made, keep making the rest.
Karen, McLaren Vale
Has been a good week for me, although slipped up last night and ate a chocolate bar after dreaming about one all afternoon. Had no planned exercise either, so will make sure have something on each afternoon to avoid further mishaps!! Overall, great week though and off to a hip hop class tonight finally after months of wanting to!
Feel for you Joh, have never smoked but have seen what a stronghold the addiction has. I think someone did you a disservice on the other blog by saying have 10 each day first week, then less and less when you’d committed to stopping. When I’m off chocolate (not as hard I know) I go cold turkey. Wouldn’t it make it easier on your brain to say none at all? Then you avoid the little voice that says just one more… 11 is ok… and so on.
Hope i’m not trivialising it as it’s not an addiction i really understand, but my view is ‘cold turkey’.
Best of luck.
I’m off to Bali next week and probably won’t be jumping online, but will update in two weeks.
Well done to all people kicking ass!
Lisa K
At the risk of ruffling feathers – but reading between the lines of some of these posts, I see “excuses”, “poor me’s”, and “it’s alright for others but it’s different for me”. (If the plan is 5 alcohol free days, why shoot yourself in the foot and instigate social drinks?? – just an example)
So I ask you, “Are ya having a go and giving it a red hot crack”? “Are ya chippin away and having some small wins each day” ? Then to you guys I say yay – you da bomb!!!! (and this is what you should be saying to yourself too!!!)
But if its not you, then enough of the “gee it’s hard” bull s#@*t!!! Go hard and give it your all – take the “shove with love” challenge seriously!! Or dont??
Hey Joh. Some help for you…maybe. My mum smoked three packets of cigarettes a day from 30 years old until 50. She died less than a month after, of a massive heart attack. The coroner that examined her said that she had one of the worst pair of lungs he had ever seen and the heart attack was induced by smoking. Seems to me you would wanna live a lot longer than that. If you’ve got kids, let them motivate you. If you haven’t…do it for yourself. I have faith in you.
Michelle
Hey there fellow habit breakers,
congrats to you all – you’ve all started and are going to do well !!
My habit to change/break is this – to keep drinking down to under 3 wines/day and I’m doing really well.
Monday – no wine/Tuesday half a glass/Wednesday 2 and half glasses/ Thursday half a glass. Yah me ! I’m so pleased to be part of this 28 day challenge – and am really inspired by all you others who are trying and having success.
Would love to have a half/weekly update as well, if Mr Craig could facilitate this somehow ?? I think the more encouragement/support the better !!
Anyhow go all of you – keep it up over the weekend and we’ll all check in again next week….Go Team!
PS I am pleased with my progress, but I sure need to keep reading your positive, upbeat blogs each day Craig – the daily shove with love is very helpful !! And will keep me going. Ta !
LifelearnerMe
I’ve been shoving and loving myself for the past 7 days … or something to that effect!
My goal is to exercise at least 4 days a week, for a minimum of 30 mins. I have exercised exactly 4/7 days, so am really pleased, all 30 mins +. I even biked to work 2/5 days, might seem like a small number but better than nothing. Next week I am going to go for 3/5 days biking to work, and still stick with at least 4/7 days exercise.
Feeling positive
Sus
We all know that when you are breaking a habit it is important to replace it with another (positive) one. Well, here is a little trick that I have used from time to time to save from snacking unnecessarily if I’m feeling vulnerable…
I use a tooth whitening kit from my dentist, but I’m pretty sure you can buy them over the counter also. If anyone has ever used these before you will know that once it is in your mouth…
1) You cannot eat, and
2) It is a pain in the butt to take it out then clean the tray and your teeth, just to have a pointless snack.
I find the beauty of this trick is threefold: saves you from bingeing, allows the breaking of a bad habit PLUS who could knock back the chance at some pearly whites?
And Mr Harper, before you have a go at me for being all “Hollywood”, I just wanna say that a nice smile goes along way… look at you for example! ;-D
Ok – I was the less than 200 calories after 6pm and in short I lasted 2 days!
I got stuck in the office until after 6pm on Wed and having not eaten since lunchtime when I got home I was hungry and was able to convince myself that I needed more than 200 calories!
I am frustrated because the whole point of this is to focus and find the strength to get through these difficult days. I have been successful in the past at similar things but for some reason I am not engaged this time. My approach to the task this time has been exactly the same as it has been historically in terms of what I practically do – write out a plan of action (in this case what to eat and at what time) – but I’m in a different frame of mind. I don’t know how to change that!
Hello Groovers – you know I’m normally not into group responses but I’m kinda unwell today – big neck pain and a massive headache. Not fun and no good to look at a computer screen with. So group response it is…
Anyway glad to read you’re all mostly(!) doing okay – the important thing about change is dealing with the bumps, the highs and lows, the periods of greater and less motivation, the setbacks and the emotional challenges. I know it’s not comfortable – do it anyway. I know it’s not easy – get back on the horse. If it was easy to have an amazing existence we’d all have one – it isn’t and we don’t!
Do what you need to do, start again if you have to and stop letting what you feel get in the way of who you can become…
Group Hug ( )
I’m off to lie down (I never lie down – I must be sick!).
Hi Everyone,
Well done to everyone for putting yourselves out there and being accountable (to yourself). For those of you with the food issues I find that before you put something into your mouth ask yourself – “What need am I trying to feed” if it is the need to cry then cry, if it is the need to scream then scream – you will be amazed how soon you realise it is about dealing with your emotions and not the need for food. Keep up the good work and remember YOU have to believe you are worth it.
Love & Blessings
Cheryl
P.SSS Craig hope you feel better soon ((( ))) feel better hugs
Hi all – well done to everyone who’s sticking with their pledge. And keep at it for those finding it hard.
I’ve done well this week – no bingeing on piles of crap. Only been a short time though since making my commitment, but happy about it so far. Will keep at it.
Dear Craig,
I am about to send my first cyber hug ()- is that how you do it ?
No more fitting person to receive it, than yourself. Take care and thanks for giving us your encouragement even when you’re feeling unwell.
We’ll keep at it – hope you’re better soon,
LifelearnerMe
I think it does have to be cold turkey Lisa K. You are right. Thanks.
Craig I sincerely hope you are feeling better soon.
Michelle, I do have kids, my own as well as classes of kids that all get up me about smoking. I do want to live a lot longer than that. So thanks for your motivation too.
Best wishes to fellow strivers – I’m recommitting and intend to report more positively next Friday!
Hey Craig and all. My thing for this was to motivate myself into doing the online things I know I can do. I have been stopping myself for years from both a lack of confidence that I can succeed and also, I think, a fear of success as I have been told all my life I would not amount to anything.
So, how was week one for me? I actually got into a groove last weekend and put my main website up to see what happens. It is not quite as good as I pictured it, but hey! It’s up and running with the next one in the development stage.
Gotta start somewhere and this is it. Have some great ideas that I WILL be following through.
Cheers
Ian.
Hi everyone,
Well my commitment to not binge eat hasn’t exactly gone off like a frog in a sock (whatever the heck that means). I binge-ate very soon after making my commitment.
As everyone else who noted setbacks is doing, I have picked myself up and continued, hoping to report better progress next week.
Thanks everyone.
L.
PaulaC
First of all….I hope you feel better soon Craig.
Secondly, well done everyone on your success this week. For those quitting smoking, I applaude you. I am a quitter as well so I know how tough it is for you.
This week for me?? I’m doin’OK.:-)
This week I have managed to get my over due homework done and will be totally up to date after this weekend AND I actually made arrangements with a riding coach to start lessons again after many years break. I have only procrastinated over this for about 12 months. I feel alot more organised and controlled so my next step is getting my butt back in the gym.
Have a great week folks!
Cheers Paula C
Hi Karen from McLaren Vale, this is Tricia from McLaren Vale. Im not sure if we know each other or not. But, you will probably know me before I know you because I am the one who you will see getting around town with crutches and a moon boot because I totally ruptured my achilles tendon last Thursday. So, if you see me, please introduce yourself.
Enjoy the Sea & Vines!!
Gidday all!
CRAIG, – hopefully the neck pain and headache is feeling much better by now!
UPDATE: – HAVE succeeded in getting at least 6.5 hours in bed since last Sun night every night except 2, and should sleep in tomorrow so should manage it then!
One night I planned to, had so much to do in the evening, got on a roll with cleaning, but had to STOP, leave a cleaning job unfinished to so I could go to bed. But still got there a bit late and only managed 6 hours that night after showering etc! And another night, – just heaps to do and I caught up with many people and only managed 4 hours 15 mins in bed!
However I stuck to what I set out to do, had way more time in bed than lately and realise I need to manage time better, prioritise sleep rather than ignore the need to sleep and be less productive in other jobs and eat crap to stay awake.
And am down 2.5kg since Monday, have stopped the crap, no choc, sweets, cheese or bingeing on on reasonable quantities and I’ve blitzed training too.
Keep up the great work all!!!
Pip
Ciao,
the week was good, I ran 4 times (just 13 minuts each time, that was all), and I lost 0.5 Kg. The best thing is that I fell much better. Now I think it’s easier to start doing things instead of complaining all the time. I hope I can keep on in this way next weeks.
Ciao everybody!
Hi Craig
Many thanks for your support. Hope your neck is better and headache gone. Resting is OK when you need it
“Do what you need to do, start again if you have to and stop letting what you feel get in the way of who you can become…”
That’s my issue. I really have to stop my feelings get in the way. “I feel stressed” leads to binging on chocolate and then I cant even study anyway because I feel too ill.
I have had 3 of 7 chocolate free days this week – Tues, Wed and Sun. That’s a fail in my book, but was a big achievement for me. Hard to go cold turkey.
Had a lot of late nights this week which didn’t really help. But I’m all set to go to the gym in the mornig + a 1hr walk.
Jules
Hi,
I am a few days late with my progress update because well……I have no excuse so I won’t give you one. I worked out twice.I was supposed to work out no matter what the scale said. Nope,didn’t do it. I WILL do better this week.
Thanks
Faith