I'm back!

Hi!  Wow - I'd almost forgotten about this blog!  So glad to find it again!  The timing is perfect, too, since I have recently started on a health kick again.

How I am doing now...
About a month ago I decided to QUIT SUGAR FOR GOOD, and although I've had hard moments resisting the urge to grab some chocolate, I can say it's been liberating and empowering.  I don't ever want to turn back.
I have also been on a water kick, trying to drink about 100 oz per day.  You might be wondering how I came up with that number.  There are plenty of hydration calculators online, and the number I got was 100.  I've been trying that, and it really feels like the perfect amount for me.  I love everything about drinking more water!  I have had more energy, my complexion has gotten clearer (after a week-long detox flush where it looked worse), I haven't gotten sick, and I think it might be helping me lose a little weight.  I don't really like the taste of plain water, so I put a little bit of stevia in it to take off the edge and make it enjoyable.  If I get tired of that, there's always fruit I could add to it.
I have also started a pretty awesome exercise routine that I love, and I am generally getting more sleep, and not eating past 8pm.  So I'm not doing too bad!  Just a few things to work on...

My goals...
I have just started swapping out dairy milk for almond milk, which has been a lot easier because I prefer the taste, but also more difficult because it's more expensive.  I would like to go completely dairy free eventually, but I'm doing this slowly, so it may take a while.  (I might keep yogurt in my diet, so I guess I won't be 100% dairy free)
I also want to cut out most bread products.  This will be harder because I LOVE bread.  I do plan to stick with whole wheat though (home made only!).
I also want to find a way to eat less meat.  I won't cut it out completely, but I do feel like we eat too much of it - nearly every day!  It's just hard to find very many recipes that don't use meat, and that my family will enjoy.

So those are my goals, diet-wise.  As for the other items in the health challenge, I'll get there...

Welcome!

Want to be healthy? Join us for a health challenge! For 4 weeks we will follow 10 simple rules each and every day, accruing one point for each rule followed. Each week we report our progress, and who ever has the most points at the end of the 4 weeks is the winner!

Here are the 10 Points:

1. Eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies. (1cup fresh or 1/2 cup cooked, no fruit juice)
2. Drink eight 6-8oz glasses of water
3. Get 7 hours of sleep
4. Exercise 30 minutes (going to church on Sunday counts as exercise!)
5. No carbonated drinks
6. No more than 3 desserts/sweets per week
7. No "unhealthy" foods (like chips, cheezit crackers, fries etc. Baked chips are okay)
8. No eating after 8 pm
9. Eat 3 servings of whole grains or legumes
10. One-on-one family connection

Our first challenge begins August 31, 2009. Report every Monday for the previous week. Any following challenges will be posted at a later date.