My Toughest Spark Challenge Yet

Is it the challenge of eating healthy food according to my caloric and nutritional needs?
No, even though in the past DH has called me “ravenous woman” and “bottomless pit,” I’m managing the tracking quite well.

Is it exercise?
No, I’ve always been active and fit even when overweight. However, I’ve learned it is much easier to STAY active and fit without dragging around extra pounds, especially uphill.

Is it forgiving myself when I slip up?
No, I understand that it takes 3200 EXTRA calories to gain a pound. So even if I ate the entire 1.5 quart container of ice cream, (not likely even for a “ravenous woman”), it would only account for a ½ pound gain. I have no trouble just letting go of my mistakes.

I can do all of the above as long as I check in to Spark each day for my daily dose of motivation. My toughest challenge is one I would rather not be reminded of

It IS this week’s new goal of my 5% challenge team.
“Declutter Week! Time to clean and make room for a healthier lifestyle”

I should clarify that my house is clean. We will not be condemned by the Board of Health, but “House Beautiful” won’t be calling us either.

Why? Because I am a “putter.” If there is an unoccupied horizontal surface, I will PUT something on it. Something I’m sure I will need in the near future and want to have handy or just like looking at.

The challenge explanation continued:
“Excess weight and excess stuff have similarities. Both can creep up on us slowly over time”
OVER TIME? Oh yes, at age 73 I have accumulated a lot of excess stuff. It’s all around me

I was seriously considering just skipping this part of the challenge.
This will be hard for me. I am a creature of habit.
It was Saturday morning – Day 1 of the challenge

Suddenly an unexpected bolt from the blue. There was a blog “Creatures of Habit” which described always reaching for the same coffee cup even though she has many.
I do that too

Here are my favorites (Easter Island, London 2012 Olympics, Prague)


There are LOTS more – lined up on shelves, in cupboards and hanging from beams like this.


Nearly 100 of them. Yes, I counted them

The blog went on – “Is there a routine in your life that could become more healthy, relaxed, and life-giving? Maybe there’s a way to make it a reality”

Yes, there is a way for me to do that. I WILL take on this challenge.
Here is the link to the blog that gave me the extra “kick in the pants” that I needed

www.sparkpeople.
com/mypage_public_journal_
individual.asp?blog_id=6714838

Note: I didn’t blog about my acceptance of the challenge until today after I successfully completed Day 4. I now feel confident that I can keep this up through the end of the week. Maybe longer?

I know that the blogger above REALLY hopes I will declutter. She happens to be my daughter, Hayburner1969. If I don’t find the time to “declutter,” eventually it will be her job and I sure don’t want to do that to her.

Also a shout out to Alicia363 whose blog below let me know I was not alone in struggling with this and prompted me to write this morning.

www.sparkpeople.
com/mypage_public_journal_
individual.asp?blog_id=6715137

Edit::
All of the stuff in this closet had been dumped on my bed since last week when the heating guys had to get behind it to replace our heat pump. We have spare bedrooms and no visitors so I just left it there. What a mess.



Yea, it’s done! Who knows how long I could have made excuses without the Spark challenge.