SPRING " S.P.A.R.K." CHALLENGE - Are You Up To It

Sorry I missed the beginning of this challenge, but my challenge is to lose 5% of my body weight by June. Also, I'm doing spring cleaning at home and on Spark!

Congratulations Alice on that new Grand Baby, Alice!! You sure will get in those steps when the baby gets here~

Good job. I got some news on lab work today that I am not happy with and have been a little done but I still got some walking in around here and trying to stay within the calorie range. Have a great evening. Hugs, Mama Judy

I work for a rather large hospital so today I challenged myself to walk around the entire outter parameter of the facility and back to my area before the rain came down. I made it and go in lots of steps.

Sounds like you are going to be busy. Have a great time with your family. I don't see mine very often and he is only about an hour away, so I cherish every moment. I love the name Jackson. I have a little cousin with that name and let me tell you, that one is a "mess". Very active.

I won't be doing much today. The positional balance disorder with Minieres is going nuts this AM. Hugs, Mama Judy.

It's amazing how much exercise you can get in cleaning. My daughter and hubby are coming end of week and I'm doing a little extra cleaning this week. So I will be getting in a little more exercise. I am going to be a first time grandmother. My daughter, Karen, is expecting a boy (Jackson Miles) in Sept.

Did P/T and quite a bit cleaning. Time about 1.5 hours.

Three hours today cleaning the dining room. Pulled everything out, put the chairs up on the table, swept, mopped and then washed the walls and all the baseboards. Also washed the chairs before setting them back on the floor. The kitchen floor, small hallway and bathroom floor were included. They just didn't get any more than sweeping and mopping. Started with a load of laundry, then tackled the dining room. Never got back to the laundry except to put it in the dryer before I was too tired to do any more. Have to go back tomorrow to fold and put away the clothes!

Way 2 Go TeddyBear!! I have to get back on track and you have really given me the inspiration to get up and get moovin!! Thank you!

Five solid hours of ironing today burned 690 calories! My poor feet are screaming but getting paid to do it makes it all worth the effort!

That's great Bibi. So glad you are joining and all ready to go. You are going to do this. Lots of us here at Keep Walking With Jesus will be cheering you on. Be blessed, Alice

I am joining the S.PAR.K. challenge! As I stated on a blog no more excuses just a restart and Spring is the right time!

I will do my best to stick to my exercise routine, track my food and just be good for me!

My challenge is to reduce my weight by 5%!

How is everyone doing with the Spring S.P.A.R.K. Challenge? Let us know what's working for you and what's not working for you. It will help to inspire others and to even give us new ideas on how to get healthier. Remember it is a process - so there will be good times and there will be bad times. All part of the process. The bad times are just as important as the good times if we learn from them. Thomas Edison was once asked how he dealt with all the failures he had in inventing the light bulb (and he had many) and his answer was "I had many steps in the process to getting to success. Failure is only when you give up"

Let us know how your faith helps you through some of the difficult times. Everything is possible with the Lord's strength and guidance. I am looking forward to Resurrection Sunday - the perfect time to rededicate my commitment to the Lord that I am moving forward to a new healthier life that will allow me to serve Him with more energy and strength.

Be blessed, Alice

It is so true that everyday we have to chose to dwell on him or worry about people and things we cannot change. I love that you are choosing to dwell on Him. I say you have a Spring "S.P.A.R.K." Challenge going on and I am so glad you shared it here with us. I will be cheering you on. Please keep us posted as to how you are doing. It will help inspire us too. Be blessed, Alice

Decided to stop focusing on the negative. It's a new day. God gives us everyday we have to chose to dwell on him or worry about people and things we can not change. I choose to dwell on him. I will do my best everyday to be a good Stewart of my temple and everything else he has given me.
I will focus on changing myself and focus on what God wants for me. I am a child of God and no one can take that away from me. I want to be a living witness for him. I plan to pray more for my family and hope that the changes they see God do in my life will inspire them to follow him.
I except that I am not perfect but I am redeemed.

Not sure if this is right area to post this but this is my spring spark challenge for myself. I want to rewrite and reinvent myself and live Gods purpose for my life and I just had to tell someone.

WTG QueenMarie2. That is just awesome news. You are really stepping it up (no pun intended). I got my pom-poms waving in the air praising God for the "spark" in your step. Be blessed, Alice

QueenMarie2 Awesome!

Challenged myself to 10,000 steps but went over that on yesterday actually walked over 11,000 Whoo Hoo!!!

Keep it up, y'all. Hugs, Mama Judy

thank you so much for the encouragement, PCALICE, God bless you.

What a way to end March Lily. Great job. You go girlfriend. Cheering you on. Be blessed, Alice

Today, I did a lot of walking, I was grocery shopping at the farmers market and I managed to do 120 minutes, I am slowly increasing my activity after being down last week, I aim to do better this week.

Hallelujah! That is wonderful Teddybear. I am so proud for you! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Hugs, Mama Judy.

WooHoo! Unless I die tonight I will make the 300% of my SPAT for March. I will have burned 21,000 calories this month alone. Now if I can get the food under control, I should start loosing weight again.

I'm finally starting to drink the 8 glasses of water a day, at least most days. The weather here is getting warmer and I usually suck up the water just like a sponge when it gets hot. We've had temps in the upper 80's and low 90's for the past week.

Starting the Monday after Easter, I will be working 5 days a week. Most days just 5 hours but it will be steady moving. House cleaning is hard work. I can see a difference in my shape in my waist area but nothing on the scale as of now. I MUST get my food under control. I know this in my head but to actually do it is something else again.

I'm a night time snacker and have been since I quit smoking nearly 25 years ago. That is when I started to gain the weight but at the time didn't put the two together. If I had had SP then, I may neverr have gotten this heavy. At my heaviest I was over 250 pounds. I'm down to 234 now and holding. I just dropped 2 pounds on Friday when I weighed myself. I'm trying to stay off the scale this week...at least until Friday again.

Keep Sparking!

I'm up for the challenge !
Today...I shoveled 1 1/2 tons of stone for my garden...
I'm tired of mulching every year, so I thought stone would be nice...especially when I;m done!

Welcome 1FLATLANDER to the S.P.A.R.K. Challenge!! All are Welcome to join this Challenge at any time... I love all of you ... the more the merrier, we are!!

Hope you are feeling better. I have had issues too. One foot in front of the other! God bless. Hugs, Mama Judy

Last week I was recovering from a bad cough, and chest infection. My medication ends today and I am looking forward to a new week and to go on with the challenge!

You are doing great. Have a great Friday. Hugs, Mama Judy.

This has been a very busy week for me. My daughter's Jeep died on her last week and I have been getting up EARLY (5 a.m.) in the mornings to take her to work. That also means taking the grandkids to daycare and school. I have been fortunate that I haven't had work this week except for today. It has made this task a little easier. One more day this week and at least 3 days next week of the same. Then my grandson will be out of school for Easter break on Thursday. Both of them will be home on Friday, as grand daughter's daycare will be closed for Good Friday.

Steps every day this week have been over a mile. I'm working on my third SPAT trophy for the month. The goal there for the month was to burn 7,000 calories. I'm at 249% and haven't added my calorie burn for today or yesterday. My computer was being slow last night and I needed to get to bed so I could get up this morning and work today. Five more days this month so I should make it.

Keep Sparking


Edited by: TEDDYBEAR4788 at: 3/27/2015 (00:59)

I am peddling as fast as I can but I am falling behind fast but now that I have some new meds and Home Health P/T maybe I can get my fitness minutes back to where they once were. I am still going to clean up my Sparkpage.

How did I miss this? Guess I was looking out the window and could see snow and single digits on the thermometer.
Oh well, I'm jumping in a week late if you'll let me.

Day 1 ended for me with a fantastic meditation tonight at Team School. Words to think about and meditate on and words of encouragement as well. Saw friends I haven't seen for a while and touched base with one whose daughter is being treated for cancer AGAIN. She went through this about this same time in '96 I think.

I have gone through my friends list and deleted or inactivated those who haven't posted in over a year. Guessing they fell off the wagon at some point. Hopefully they will catch up again soon.

I am dog sitting this weekend so I definately will get my steps in every day. Silly dog just wants to go for a walk instead of doing it's thing while out. I hope I don't find a mess to clean up in the morning. Put her in the kitchen so if I do it will be easier to clean.

Day1 of the challenge for me begins tonight with a positive outlook that I will have a night without pain and by singing "Bless the Lord Oh My Soul." I may be confined to bed but that will not prevent me from singing praises unto my Savior.

youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E&sns=
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Edited by: SWEET_ADELINE47 at: 3/20/2015 (20:37)

The S.P.A.R.K. Challenge is off to a Great Start Lets get sparking!!

Me too TEDDYBEAR. Today I have to go to therapy. My usual reaction to that thought is...UGH! But today I am going to put on a new attitude and see the pending result rather than the pain. In getting ready for this challenge l AM putting on my "positive attitude hat". LET'S GO TEAM! WE CAN DO THIS! God bless this day!!! Hugs, Mama Judy.

I think this is just what I need right now to get me motivated again. I'm in. I know it has been a while sine I've gone through my sparkfriends list and I'm sure some of them are no longer active, some of the teams I belong to are not a fit anymore, time to do some Spark house cleaning. 5% of my body weight is 11.8 pounds...just over a pound a week for eight weeks. I think I can....no I KNOW I can do it.

On the days I'm not working, I will walk five minutes every hour for eight hours. That should give me nearly the same number of steps as a day of work since I'm a house cleaner and that is work!

I'm putting this on my calendar right now so I don't forget it. Should be interesting!

I am in, and really looking forward!

The challenge doesn't officially start until March 20th. You are welcome to sign up! Thank you so much for you support!

Is it too late to join this challenge?

I hope not since the first day of Spring is still 17 days away.

Edited by: MICH1954 at: 3/3/2015 (20:25)

I have a new Elliptical Trainer and spring is coming so I am re-doing my garden beds already planting seeds in starter pots!! Getting out and cleaning up the acreage!! Got to spring clean the office and back bedroom, over the winter they become the catch all rooms... ugh! But I am up to this Challenge and ready to go!! Oh, yeah 3 doggies 2 walk and bathe as well as 2 kitties.... busy, busy!

Edited by: SURVIVOR61 at: 3/3/2015 (11:53)

I'm in! I think anything that challenges us is a little scary at first. But today I vow to challenge every challenge in my life, beginning with my health. Thanks for the push

I'M IN!

STARTED EARLY, MARCH 3, 2015!

With renewed thinking looking at the challenge points, I began this challenge with an unspoken challenge. I RENEWED MY SPARKTEAMS, and got rid of the old teams which weren't helping me spiritually or physically on my journey to (mental, spiritual, physical) health.

FEELS fantastic!

I AM VERY PUMPED!

Edited by: ADIOSALL at: 3/3/2015 (07:25)

I'm in! The "60 minutes of exercise "per week" scared me until I realized that can be broken down into only 12 minutes per day, M-F., or 10 minutes per day, sun-Sat. = doable, even for me!

Lot's of other GREAT ideas!

THANKS!

Count me in. I think I will look at this as a rebirth of my continuing journey. Because of the weight gain I have had. It will be a new beginning for me. I know what it takes.

This morning I got out of bed and decided to add 150 steps per hour. I have been getting up every hour from my desk and walking 150 steps. That's 1200 steps to add to my day today. I also have it in my planner to walk on my lunch hour. I use to do that everyday, rain or shine, cold or hot. I went for a 1/2 hour walk everyday. It starts today. I haven't been to the gym in 2 weeks and I am going after work for a 45 minute workout. I know I can lose 5% of my body weight in 8 weeks. That's 8 pound for me. I am in for the challenge.

You need to read what the challenge is about and not what Bob said. It is about recreating you. Like trying a new dish or recreating an old recipe, After all it is spring and most of us do our spring cleaning, right. Out with the old and in with the new or refurbished.

I need to think about it. Like Bob said, there are only 24 hours in a day, and I'll be going back to work (and taking a class to renew my license - teacher's - as well). I'm making progress anyway, so I think I want to stick with what works for me.

I'll try. So 60 more minutes a week? Change up food and spark page? Lose 5% of body weight? I kinda lose focus when I read sorry.

I have voluntarily removed this message, please disregard.

Bob

Edited by: RHOOK20047 at: 3/2/2015 (11:06)

As a Leader, I am issuing a SPRING challenge to you. It's going to involve several parts. Keep yourself accountable by logging in sometime over the entire week & weekend, and let us know about your progress.

---S: Spring and fun. Add 60 minutes or (more) per week of exercise to your regimen. Spring-- is the Beginning of a fresh New Start for Everyone!! You can recreate you eating plans. No more Hot Chili, Huge Bowls of Soup to stay warm. But nice spring salads and sandwiches on a planned picnic in the park, take a mid morning Hike and add a home made trail mix for a delicious snack. Either way it is time for some spring cleaning when it comes to our routines. Summer is also a fun season---walks in the park, playing games with kids and friends, swimming, hiking and bike (any type!) riding, etc. Take advantage of the fun and add more exercise minutes to your routine.

---P: Take those "Pounds" off! Try to lose 5% of your weight within the next eight weeks. Let's get that heart pumping and our energy levels up! It's time to move and groove to some new tunes. Let's get creative! Visit Spark Radio or your favorite music site and create a new play list.

---A: Activity on Spark. You can "Add" some quality activity through the Spark People site. or create your own. I can promise you if you chose to use Spark People you are going to find some of the most fun and creative ideas you have ever read!! Do you use the menus? the Nutrition Tracker? The Exercise Tracker? How about Coach Nicole's great videos or Coach Meg's recipes, even YouTube has some really awesome links for exercise? Do you use them consistently? What features can you use faithfully, consistently and with confidence so that it lets you reach your goal of losing weight and/or making healthy changes permanent?


---R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! It's time to "Update" your Spark Page. Think of members who have attractive Spark pages, just follow their leads! Get rid of the old and on with the new---the new that reflects who you are today, have fun and go for it! (Yes, we do change, we have changed.) Let's reflect that change through the make-over of your Spark Page!)


---K: Keep the FRIENDS who are friends!
Think about those Friends on your Spark Page. How many of them are truly friends, people with whom you interact with (even if it's sporadically)? Then think about those whom you don't know or wonder why you are on their Friends list. See who wants to remain a friend, who is no longer active (and if there has been no activity on the page since 2009, it's a safe bet that they're not active!), and delete them. (Can we really have 500+ friends and truly have a SPARK relationship with them?)

Five parts to the challenge; 8 - 10 weeks of Spring/Summer.
Break it down into parts and you can do it. I really want to encourage everyone to join in on the S and P; that's our purpose--to find that new lifestyle!




Edited by: SURVIVOR61 at: 3/5/2015 (12:25)