Sunday, March 15, 2009

Step 2: 20/20

As I've said, I'm a completely visual person. I like to have graphics and charts and pictures to track progress and see results. When I first started losing weight, I made a chart like this to track my first 20 lbs. My scale weighs in .5 increments, so at the bottom, I wrote .5 to 20, when I hit each one, I'll use a sticker to cover the number. Yes, I'm a child and like stickers...


I know some people weight themselves daily, weekly, monthly, all different... but I'm going to organize this as a weekly weigh-in. Since I organized it, I get to make the rules, right?
Ok, so here's how it goes...
On Friday, March 20, weigh in. That is your starting weight, no matter what. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours ;)
Then every Friday, for 20 weeks, we'll weigh in.
I'd like to post everyone's results on the blog, so if everyone participating will email me on the Friday we weight in sometime, I'll get the results posted by Monday morning. (You don't have to tell me your starting weight this Friday, but next Friday you can just tell me what your loss is).
This Thursday I'm going to post the list of names I have so far for our participants, so I'll ask everyone look at it and make sure I have you listed.


Now I'm sure in the beginning, people will really push and stick with the challenge, and by week 6 or 8, some of us may want to give up and quit. WE WONT! WE CAN'T!
Some of us may even lose more than 1 lb. per week... but you can't defer your weight loss to the next week. So don't think oh good, I lost 2 in week 1, so in week 2 I can lose 0 and still be on target. Doesn't work that way!
I mean, it's not like I'll kick you out of the challenge if you pull zeros, but we have to all be accountable. We're making a commitment!!!


True Story: Listening to Jillian yell at people has rubbed off onto me I think, I'm all about the no excuses, we'll do it kind of thing. I'd make her so proud!


Ok, onto the fun part of this post. In Step 1 we set our goal and did the math to figure out how we're going to get there!
Now for Step 2, we get to choose our rewards!
I am going to have a 10 lb. reward, and a 20 lb. reward. You can have one per pound, only one when you reach your goal, or a few inbetween!
Here is my reward for -10 lbs. - A beautiful halter top from The Limited!
I found it when I was Easter shopping, and fell in love with it. It is a Medium, a tiny bit tight, but I know dropping ten pounds (plus some more arm and back toning) will make this look fantastic on me!


Now you'll see I have little printed photos of it in the picture. What I like to do when I've got a goal set, is to keep reminding myself about it. When I was a bridesmaid for my sisters wedding, I had to lose 10 lbs. to fit in my dress, so I cut out little brown dresses and taped them to the fridge, put one in my wallet, on the computer screen, etc.
I'm going to put a few of these around the house so that halter top - and ten pounds - are always on my mind!


For my 20 lb. reward, JJ and I are going to go on a vacation. The location is TBD, so I can't really put up a photo...we never took a honeymoon, so we might just call it a honeymoon! I guess my -100 lb. party, if I have one, is my other reward... and a giant shopping spree for the vacation and party :)
I find clothes to be the best reward, but you choose what you like the most! Post some photos of it on your blog, get excited about it - because in 10 weeks, it's yours!!!

10 comments:

  1. Hi Ashlee! I'm iateach82 from the H & F board on the Knot. I've been reading your blog for a while now and your 20 in 20 challenge really interests me! I'd love to join!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Ashlee! I'm iateach82 from the H & F board on the Knot. I've been reading your blog for a while now and your 20 in 20 challenge really interests me! I'd love to join!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OK! I'm in! I am halfway through losing 55lbs. I am keeping at a rate of just over 1lb a week but I would like NOT to lose steam as I get nearer my goal. It gets so hard towards the end. I'll be 43 on the 4th August so it can be my birthday present to myself!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ash- i'm so excited. I can't wait til this starts. I'm a soon to be bride (Nov. 2010) and when this challenge finishes up, will be right around when we are going to take our E-pix. Thanks for doing this!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love that top! I was just at the Limited today and had it in my hand the whole time. Finally decided to wait a little longer before getting it. You're idea to use it as a reward is genius1

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am super excited! I have not been blogging latley and have been really stressed out at work... this is going to be such a wonderful support system!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm in!! I just found you today, March 25th, but I still want to do it. I'll send you my weight loss on Friday. Thanks,
    Chelsea

    ReplyDelete