The 30-Day Challenge Team Reports In!

I hope you will gain some inspiration by following the progress of the members of this 30-Day Challenge Team.

These brave people have agreed to stay accountable and committed to their goal for the next 30-days by reporting publicly to you!

Notice the passion and desire they have all expressed for wanting to make their goal successful… do you have a powerful “why” for achieving your goal? I think when you do, the “how” will come easily.

If you are reading this please feel free to support them by following their progress and cheering them on. They will greatly welcome your feedback in the comment box!

Tara Chantler

1.        Lose 5 lbs by August 25^th

^{2.       Clean a 44lb KettleBell}

3.       Be able to do 5 body weight pull ups

Why I want these goals

1.        I need to break this plateau.  I want to create less stress on my joints.  I will feel happier about myself when I do this.  It is important to me to lose that excess weight.

2.       I want to be able to say that I can do that.  I want to feel stronger.  I want to know that I can take care of myself.  It is important to me to be able to do this because I will be proud of myself.

3.       I will be so proud of myself when I can do those pull-ups.  Not many people can do them.

The biggest reason why I want to be able to accomplish these goals are because I want to say that I have accomplished “this” in thirty days … what can I do in another thirty?  I have been stuck in a rut and I think that this challenge will help me focus mentally to keep with the program and not get lost.  I need this accountability and help.  Emotionally I need this too.

Ellen Goodwin

My Goal:

To release 5 pounds during the 30 Day Challenge. To go from 148.8 (this morning’s weight-July 28, 2009) to 143.8 by the end of the challenge on August 24, 2009. I will do this by journaling what I eat and how I work out (a minimum of 20 minutes per day). I will take a walk every day, preferably after work and before dinner and I will limit my alcohol intake.

Why this is important:

This will represent a jump start to my ultimate goal of releasing 14 pounds. These are pounds that have taken over my mental dialogue and releasing them will prove to me that I can set goals and attain them. That the voices that tell me I am too fat and that I can’t wear cute clothes, can be silenced. That the stories I tell myself about food and exercise aren’t always right.

Sonja Jones

My goals are to increase my cardio by doing a hill run near my home, and take 2 of Marc Leberts boxing classes, and 1 kickboxing class.

I will work up to 20 times up and down the hill and do the hill 2 times each week, and for 30-days I will consistently go take all 3 boxing classes every week.

I will stay accountable by posting this challenge on the blog, and showing up at the boxing classes.

Why? I have put myself on the backburner for years, and it’s my time NOW! That is the driving force behind the working out method. I see myself more fit, with a smaller a*s, smaller stomach, leaner thighs, wearing smaller clothes, feeling great and looking HOT! Vain yes, but at the end of the day it’s to look and feel good.

Peggie Larson

Specific:  I will consistently follow the Insanity Program.  I will keep a food diary.  I will plan my meals and eat 1700 to 1800 calories per day of high quality, non-processed foods.  I will lose 8 or more pounds during the 30-day challenge.  I will continue to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Measurable: I will lose at least 8 pounds during the 30-day challenge.  I will lose 2 pounds per week.

Accountable:  I will be accountable to myself by recording what I eat and my exercise in a journal, which I will add to every day.  I will also be blogging on your webpage.

Realistic – I believe my goals are very realistic.  2 pounds per week is very doable.

Time Bound: I will be able to reach my goals in 30 days.  I will record my food and exercise, which will encourage me to do well each and every day.

Emotional: by eating healthy and continuing an exercise program, I will feel better about my body and not be so hard on myself.

I will feel more energetic and be physically and emotionally strong.

Reviewed often: I believe by recording my food an exercise I will be reviewing my goals often.  I plan on using your idea of writing my goals out on a card and carrying it with me all the time.

I am excited to take the 30-day challenge.

Clyde Matthews

Specific – I was interested with some help in reaching the goal of 100 push-ups and 10-15 pull-ups. I train regularly with kettlebells, bands, total gym, sledgehammers, and martial arts. I will start implementing weighted push-ups and strict pull-ups to failure immediately followed by slightly assisted pull-ups with partner twice a week.

Measurable – 40-45 push-ups and 6-7 pull-ups (baseline of 26 push-ups, 4 strict pull-ups)

Accountable – blog, training partner

Reasonable – I think in 30 days I should be able to complete 40-45 push-ups and 6-7 pull-ups.

Time bound- 30-days

Emotional Reason- I enjoy setting and achieving goals, I will share a couple with you that I have completed. The ultimate goal for a distance runner is to complete a marathon (I’ve completed 2: 26.2 milers & 3 ultras: 31 miles). The ultimate goal for a cyclist is to ride 100 miles (My wife and I have completed Hotter n Hell 2 times on our tandem and Waco Wild West Century once). For years I have heard that doing 100 push-ups and 20-25 pull-ups is quite a feat and when your offer came in my email inbox, I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to begin achieving this goal.

Reviewed often- Keep track of total number of weighted push-ups and strict pull-ups each training session and try to improve each time.

Beth Muhlenkamp

I will jog at least 3 times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday’s in the morning before work for 30 minutes, and work on increasing my jogging time each week.

I have several goals that I am working one at the present time which include physical, emotional, spiritual, etc. but the reason I chose this goal for the 30 day challenge was because I have a goal of someday running a marathon.  I have never been a runner but I have been working on running most of this year.  I was doing pretty good but I have lost my motivation and focus and have let my running slip over the past couple of months.  I am ready to get back on track and work on my running again.

I will be starting out at jogging for 3 minutes and walking 1 minute and increase my jogging time by 1 minute each week so at the end of the 30 days I will be doing a doing a combination of a 6 minute jog and a 1 minute walk for a total 30 minutes.  The 30 minutes does not include warm up and cool down times.

My motivation for doing this challenge and goal is:

1.  So I can feel good about myself for accomplishing I put my mind to.

2.  I know I will feel better all the way around because my body will be toning up and I will like what I see when I look in the mirror.

3.  I just recently found out that I have a pretty high HDL BUT I also have a high LDL on my Cholesterol reading and I am pretty upset about this since I do eat pretty good, exercise currently, and the fact that I am only 26 years old and you never think it can happen to you.  The doctor thinks it’s genetic, and that this is something that I am going to have to battle for the rest of my life.  So this gives me more motivation to exercise and even increase my exercise.

4.  I also tell people that running is my anti-depressant because I know when I am running regularly my mood is a lot better.

5.  I want to be a good role model to my family, friends, and clients.  I want them to see that yes it can be done, no it’s not always going to be easy but what’s the fun accomplishing something that was easy?!

My support system includes:  God, my mom, my co-worker Teresa, and this group.

Michelle Perrone

My goal is to do 3 days of strength training for 30 minutes each day and 3 days of cardio training for 30 minutes each day.

The reason to get this goal accomplished is because  I’ve always gone to the gym and worked out.  It bothers me that I am out of shape. I can tell because I get out of breath easier than before and I see that I am not as toned as before.  I have that tiny pouch in my belly and am anxious to get rid of it. I feel that by having your core strong it makes you physically stronger.

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How Lisa Anderson Lost 75 Pounds! Exclusive Interview

LAUREN- Lisa… you went from weighing 212 pounds back in September of 2006 and today, you are 75 pounds lighter weighing in at 137 pounds! First of all, congratulations!

LISA- Thanks Lauren, I always say… “I am the luckiest girl I know” I not only look and feel better…but I am developing “real muscle”… I never knew I could.

LAUREN- I want to thank you for taking the time to share your story on this blog. You are such a model for the message I try to hammer in all the time, I thought it might be nice for everyone to hear it from someone who has been there and done it, and more importantly maintained it!

LISA- You have no idea how much I love to share hoping I can help and inspire others…I know what it is like to want to get healthy… feel better… want to like what you see in the mirror…I want others to know it is possible… just believe in yourself… it’s worth the time…

LAUREN- Was there a root cause for why you put on so much weight in the first place? Did you address this issue in order to lose the weight and keep it off?

LISA- Life just happens.  Days turn into weeks, which turn into months and eventually into years! I still don’t know how that happens… time just seems to fly by and that “starting date” of Monday or the first of the month never seems to come.  I kept putting if off and before I realized it… I found myself 49 years old and weighing 212 lbs.

I was shocked needless to say.  I definitely avoided mirrors and having my picture taken for so long. I just kept wearing the sweat pants with the elastic waist and denying what was truly happening to my body and to me.

I had spent approximately a year taking care of my sick mother not to mention my 4 children and husband and completely did not think about my own self and what was happening to me.

LAUREN- Was there a point where you just hit a wall, a time when something clicked inside you to make you want to change? [Read more]

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30-Day Challenge Complete!

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Week 3

As I go through the 30-day challenge, it seems I have encountered
some of the “obstacles” that often get in peoples way.

This week was particularly challenging because I came home with a
minor respiratory bug I caught on the airplane last week.
Fortunately, it wasn’t swine flu, just a cold!

So this week, I didn’t try to break any records, the goal was to go
out there and try. If I felt I was compromising my health, I would
have stopped, but as it turned out, I got through 5 uphill runs and
5 downhill walks.

Like I said, not record time, but it felt good to get it done, in
spite of the obstacle of feeling congested.

I am not a big advocate by the way of working out when you are
sick. I think you need to listen to your body and know when you are
too sick and should rest vs. when it is something you can work through.

When you encounter an obstacle, it is important to reframe the
situation so that the obstacle doesn’t become an excuse to not
complete what you have signed on to do.

Was the fact that I traveling last week really an obstacle, or just
more challenging? Feeling slightly under the weather was
challenging too, but you are not always going to be on top of your
game.

Think about other situations that at first seem to be an obstacle or get
in your way of your progress. Do you throw in the towel or stay in
the game?

Now think of when you overcame that difficulty, and how much better
you felt. In spite of the challenge, you found success.

I still want to hear how those of you who took this 30-day
challenge are doing. I am already thinking of my next 30-day
challenge, are you?

I just saw the movie Food, Inc. and if you haven’t seen it I highly
recommend you check it out. I am telling you this because it is a
hint to my next 30-day challenge!

Live with Vitality,
Lauren

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First week of my 30-day Challenge

Well, I made it through my first week and 3 hill runs. I am reporting back as promised.

Sunday – It was already 80 degrees when I woke up at 5:45 Am. I started my run at 8:45, early start is key here in Texas! Tuesday & Thursday will be 1 hour earlier.

Report: 5 trips up and 5 trips down in exactly 30-minutes. Not too shabby I guess!

Note to self: There are probably 1 1/2 – 2 hours from the time I leave my house to teach my boot camp and pack up and get to my hill with no available bathroom. Lesson- watch the liquid intake in the morning!

Tuesday – Yay! I’ve got a taker! Thank you Janice! It is much more fun to do this with company.

Report: 5 trips up and 6 trips down in 30-minutes.

Thought for the morning: How long have I had these running shoes? What made my time better?

Thursday – New shoes day and I did not frighten Janice away! (She’s a pretty determined woman actually)

Report: 5 trips up and 5 trips down in 30-minutes.

Another note: Why did my time differ on Tuesday? Perhaps I wasn’t paying close attention to the exact start point at the top of the hill and the exact point where I turn to go up the hill.

If you are tracking your performance, there is a saying, “what gets measured gets done.” Having the awareness of how you are doing can produce results. So true with food.

Now I know the precise starting tree and precise driveway to start running up the hill. I have a baseline measurement to go by and I will see if I can improve my distance in 30 minutes.

I would love to continue to get feedback from you. I am especially curious about you brave ones for posting on the blog last week. I really want to acknowledge you for that alone.

How about the rest of you? Is this challenge helping you? I would really love to know.

Even if you didn’t start with me last week, it’s never too late to start your 30-day challenge.

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Come Join My Challenge

I thought I would share with you a 30-day challenge I am starting but first I want tell you why I am sharing it with you.

One of the key drivers for success is accountability. Because I am sharing this with you, I am making myself accountable to all of you… my readers who I try to inspire and motivate. You are the very last ones I would ever want to let down!

Now… that being said, I am deeply committed! Failure is not an option.

Some of you warriors out there may not think this is a big deal compared to your workouts and others might be thinking no thanks, that’s insane.  None of that matters, for ME, it will be challenging.

I’m going to be running hills for the next 30 days, 3 times a week after the 3 morning boot camp classes I teach. The drill is, run up, walk down for a total of 30 minutes. I’ve invited my boot campers to join me by the way… and if you are in the Dallas area you are invited too, just email me for details by going to the contact page on this blog. I will be posting regular updates.

Hey… Dallas summers are hotter than heck, and finding hills in this flat town are challenging! I did manage to find a really nasty one though… and it’s long as well!

Besides being accountable, another success driver is your social support. I always love the expression, when you lie with dogs you get fleas! Your chances of success are exponential when you have your own inner circle of like-minded people who support you. So even if you are not in the Dallas area, I would love your encouraging comments on this post!!!

Well enough about my challenge, now I want you to pick YOUR challenge for the next 30-days and I encourage you to share it on this blog. in the comment box.

Maybe it is power-walking up the hills, walking 1-2 times a week for 15 minutes, giving up sugar, drinking more water… whatever it is, pick something that will take you outside of YOUR comfort zone.

Thank you all for keeping me honest… and I look forward to supporting you in your 30-day challenge… I believe in YOU!

 Lauren

PS: Who knows? Your challenge might become a HABIT!

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What Is Your Relationship With Food?

Losing weight and body fat is less about changing the food you eat

than it is changing your relationship with food.

Our relationship with food holds emotions attached to it just like

our relationship with other things in our life: Love, hate,

pleasure, pain, good, and bad…

Food can be a celebration, addiction, obsession, nourishment,

energy and vitality…

We feed ourselves as mothers/fathers, husbands/wives, single

men/women, athletic/sedentary, our religion or nationality…

Are you AWARE of your relationship with food? Is it like your

relationship with your life?

For example, lets look at “Gina”, a working mom with two young kids

and a fairly high-pressure job as a senior manager.

Her position is further compromised with the state of the economy,

and her kids have school, dance, piano, sports, birthday parties,

etc. She lives connected to her Blackberry at all times.

She is always busy and in a big hurry, and guess what? She has no

planning or thought for any given meal, and often will go all day

before she realizes she hasn’t eaten.

She comes home exhausted, and when she finally does eat, she is so

hungry that she quickly packs down a huge meal, so she can pick up

one kid from soccer practice, get him fed, then help both kids

with their homework and get them to bed… but she isn’t really

satisfied because there was nothing really “good” in the house, and

she is binging on “bad” food all evening.

The next day, kids fed, dropped off at school, and she is eating

the breakfast she picked up through the Starbucks drive-thru while

driving to work.

Do you see where I am going here? To go just a little deeper, no

matter what your religious orientation is, I believe your

relationship with food is a spiritual one as well.

If you believe in a punishing world, chances are you will have

punishing beliefs about food as well. This describes the crowds you

see at the gym on any Monday or after a holiday… people who are

atoning for their over-indulgent eating.

If your belief is we’re all going to die sooner or later, then you

probably eat whatever you feel like because so what?

If you are more scientific than religious you might eat to live,

and not live to eat. You may even adhere to a diet that measures

and calculates calories and nutrients.

When you acknowledge whom you are as an eater and become AWARE and

go deeper into your thoughts and feelings that drive overeating,

then you can begin to explore and take responsibility for your

overweight.

When you practice a nourishing relationship with yourself and food

rather than one of punishment or deprivation, you create a

nourishing and fulfilled life.

Your inner mantra becomes I love eating healthy, perfect portions,

because it makes me feel and look great.

You discover your natural appetite, not a punishing one that uses

willpower to deny food. You feel confident and in control with food.

Taking responsibility for getting to your ideal body weight is a

hard place to get to, but it is the first step. Nobody can take

that first step for you, but you don’t have to do it alone either.

Having an accountability partner, who engages you in deeper level

thinking, and knows, which exercise and nutrition system is best

for you, increases your chances of success exponentially.

I believe in you.

Click here if you are looking for support:

http://bestbodymakeover.com/coaching

Live with Vitality,

Lauren

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How Do You Define Aging?

We sabotage our bodies by our beliefs about aging. I challenge that the accumulation of years is not the only factor that causes aging.

We associate wrinkles, sagging skin, forgetfulness, belly fat, steady weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, slow metabolism, etc. as symptoms of aging.

Our age is more determined by the exercise we get or don’t get, by the kinds of foods we eat or don’t eat, and how we emotionally handle stresses in our lives. [Read more]

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Interview with Life/Wellness Coach Lauren Miller

Here is the interview that appears on:  http://www.healthandwealthforlife.net/health/interview-with-lifewellness-coach-lauren-miller/

Hello everyone! Today, in keeping with our desire to provide informative information in the world of health and wellness, we are bringing you Life/Wellness Coach Lauren Miller. We are excited to have Lauren join us for this interview and we know you will find it as interesting as we have. Let’s get started! [Read more]

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30-Day Best Body Makeover

In April, I co-hosted a teleseminar with Marc Lebert called the

“Top 10 Reasons Why People Struggle With Their Fitness and

Nutrition and What To Do About It”. Since then, we have been asked

is there a next step?

 

So… we put our thoughts together… and in the spirit of practicing

what we preach… our thoughts became ACTION!

 

If you are still sick an tired of being immobilized by one setback

after another or cannot figure out why you are not reaching your

goals of having an energetic, fit, lean, well defined body… then we

have a great opportunity for you. [Read more]

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