1 week challenge - starts Wed., Sept. 8th

[Bucky]

First off . . . welcome to newhorizons and maria1 - how wonderful that your first day here and you are already jumping in and joining in a Sjoggie challenge.  I hope you find this site helpful to you on the Sjogren's Road you travel - please know you do not travel this road alone.

Scottie - yes, fruit will be allowed.  Just don't overdo it as too much natural sugar can slow us down too.

I have never been "skinny" in my entire life . . . I could not imagine what it must be like for some of you who need to gain weight.   I will gladly give you some of mine.  Seriously, I can see where that could be a huge problem for y'all as much as it is for those of us who could stand to lose some weight. 

Epson - if you take your oxygen with your meals yes . . . if you're gonna snack on it . . no!   

For myself, I'm trying not to have any loopholes or exceptions for this one week  . . . that's what gets me in trouble in the first place.  I can reason anything to sound good.     So, those of you who can and want to participate, I'll welcome the company.   

I'll check back in with you tomorrow.

Bucky

[LizPetillo]

That means, no cookies, no ice cream, no Twizzlers  , no candy, no donuts, no cake . . none of the stuff we know we're not suppose to be eating.

that's excellent.  I can't eat these anyways, but for those that still do, I"m thinking they might see some improvement in their symptoms if they stay off the trigger foods ... and these are definately trigger foods!

[Bucky]

Let the games begin . . . . .

Breakfast is over (has been for a while) - now, nothing until lunch time.  Mornings are usually not my "problem" time.  It's between 3-7 p.m. that are.  So, I'll see how it goes - I can do it for one week.  

Good luck to everyone.  We can do it!!    Feel free to post to let us know how you're doing.

As is my tradition in a challenge  . . . I will end with a quote each day.

Bucky

"More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin."           Unknown Author

[bloodless]

Mornings are usually not my "problem" time.  It's between 3-7 p.m. that are

Mine too. I'm gonna give it shot. Chocolate calls my name regularly. Not sure I can hold out....

[volleymom]

Oh boy!  Count me in!  I have been mostly a slug this summer (so dang hot and humid) and the extra weight has been bothering me.  What to do about those long afternoons when I like to munch??  Maybe I will munch on the fresh apples my hubby bought yesterday instead of the box of brownies I see in the pantry!

Suzanne

[newhorizons]

WELL, Fell off the bandwagon today... Found myself under our pear tree 'pigging' out on the wonderful yellow ripe pears!


TOMORROW, it will again be newhorizons for me...

[Bucky]

Day 2 of our 1 week challenge

Woohoo . . . I made it through Day 1 with no snacks between meals - just breakfast, lunch and dinner.     It wasn't too bad and I didn't really crave anything . . yay!

How'd the rest of you do?

newhorizons - it's ok to have "some" fruit as a snack (if you need it) - just don't eat too much    It's just my personal goal to go with nothing between the three meals a day.

For myself, it's too easy for me to make excuses . . . "I'll only eat one cookie" . . . ha, three cookies later      

I also don't believe in depriving myself of a "treat" now and then (but not this week  ).  I've seen too many people stick to these strict diets and lose weight, only to turn around and gain all the weight back and then some (my sister included). 

It's got to be a life style change, not a "diet".  Diets only work if you religiously stick to it and once you go off it, the weight creeps back on.  Look at some of the contestants on The Biggest Loser.  One of the winners - who looked great at finale - gained all his weight back because he didn't stick with the program. 

I can honestly say I have never gone on a "diet" - I have tried to watch what I eat, but not consistently enough.  It's a work in progress.   

The bottom line is this . . . we control what goes into our mouths.  If we consistently eat high calorie foods, large portions, sugary foods and eat all throughout the day and night - not that we're hungry - we are going to gain weight.  I do know that some of the medicines we take do cause weight gain - it's a fact.

I know some of you will need to eat something to take your medicines - please, make sure and do that so the medicines won't upset your stomach.  The goal is not to make ourselves sicker - but, to control the best we can - when and what we put into our mouths/bodies.

Good luck everybody . . . we can do this for six more days (as a start  ).

Hugs,
Bucky

"When odds are one in a million, be that one."                ~ Anonymous ~

[Katybarstool]

Bucky, I like your style. I try not to think in terms of dieting - just eating more healthily. I've not snacked on anything other than fruit today, so I'm a happy bunny. I need to have snacks though, as otherwise I would get the shakes, as my meals are 5 or more hours apart.

Love your thought for today.

Kathyx

[Patze]

Okay, because I just got home, can I join in a bit late?

And two, dang, no candy?  No sweets?  Wow, that's just about as un-American as I can stand!  Is it even legal?


Patze

[Bucky]

Patze -  1)  Yes, you can join in since you just got home.
                     2)  Yes, no candy is legal - quit your whining and suck it up girlfriend!!   

Anybody else just now reading this thread is welcome to join in too - it's never too late.   

Bucky

[Catilee2]

Bucky,
  Read this yesterday, but haven't done email responses to any of my emails until tonight, I am on board for this challenge just as I was with the sunshine ones. I just love all the ways you encourage people to stay focused on positive actions , instead of getting weighed down in terminal pity parties. Yes, I hate having Sjogren's just like everyone else. I hate the way that sometimes it leaves us feeling like a steamroller went over us, but as long as I can keep saying this only an inconvenience and nothing more- the neuropathy, the digestive issues and all the rest  of it and my other disorder( rare disease- upped my meds to double what I had been taking) life and living and doing things and loving people will go on!!! I am constantly giving myself attitude adjustments! I am also blessed with loving friends and some family( other family members are not understanding- their problem, not mine)
I visit the site several times a week but don't always sign in. I just feel we have to encourage each other as much as letting each other vent. And yes sometimes,
letting ourselves get encouraged by others is not where we want to go. It is so wonderful to have a community that totally gets what your body feels like with this disorder or disease.
Thanks for reading.
Catilee 2 ( really Bev)

[Bucky]

Day 3 of our 1 week challenge

Good morning Sjoggie friends . . . here it is Day 3 already.   

How are we doing?

There are 10 or 11 of us participating in this mini challenge.  Epson, I'm never sure if you are in or out on our challenges . . you never give a definite answer. 

Once again, I only had the three meals yesterday with nothing between meals.  Yay!  It didn't even phase me last night that our son sat there in front of me chowing down on a couple cookies while we were talking.  Actually, I got up, almost trampled him and grabbed the cookies out of his hands!!     Just kidding!!   

The last two days I've been keeping busy and haven't had the desire to snack.  I mowed the grass for two hours yesterday - that was a workout all it's own.  (The moles have really done a number on our lawn and it is quite a rock & roll adventure.)

At night when I would usually be hunting down something to snack on, I just played a few extra on-line games.   

Catilee2 - glad you are joining us.  Thank you for your nice note.  I've always tried to look at the positive side of things.  I know people who only look at all the bad things, who moan and complain about everything - they are not fun to be around, and I avoid them if at all possible.

Quote: [stay focused on positive actions, instead of getting weighed down in terminal pity parties.]    I agree.  I think we should encourage each other - it helps to lighten the load.  Do we all struggle at times - yes.  What makes the difference is when you address the "issue" (whatever that might be ) and then move on - don't get stuck with that issue.  It's hard for some people to accept there are things that are out of our control . . . they will never move on if they get stuck here.  In my opinion, they will waste a lot of their energy and time if they stay in this defensive, angry mode.  There aren't any cures . . but, there are ways to cope.

Have a good day everyone.  We can do this!! 

Hugs,
Bucky

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."              Carl Bard

[Patze]

Hey Bucky......


Patze

[newhorizons]

Hey Bucky, Survived yesterday fine.  BUT, it's 9ish and hubby has just finished microwaving popcorn.  

I hear you loud and clear... no, popcorn allowed!

Had supper at 5 o'clock; be all right to have yogurt and head off to bed?

Hope you don't read this post until morning!  

[Catilee2]

Hi Bucky and all,
    Got off schedule today with meals and meds because I was running around (really driving) doing errands and food shopping. So had no lunch, had a too early dinner and got hungry. Did not eat only nutritious foods. But still ate less than I would have with my 4 sittings.( Breakfast, noon snack, early dinner-3:30, and evening light meal-7:15) This schedule works best with the different meds I have to take.
Catilee 2