Anyone up for a challenge?

Full disclosure: I'm typing this while licking peanut butter off the back of a spoon.

I hope my post on the artificial sweeteners didn't make anyone feel judged. That certainly wasn't my intention. It was more of a "first we couldn't drink regular soda because of the HFCS; now we can't drink diet; soon they won't even let us drink water" grouse.

Did any of you guys see this article in The Onion this week (for those of you not in the US, The Onion is a fake weekly newspaper): Study: Use of Phrase 'Don't Skimp On The' Linked to Heart Disease Read it first, then read the rest of this post.

If you read the whole Times article, the author of one of the studies did bring up the idea that the study showed correlation, not causation. (Which is why I didn't specifically mention it--it was in the article).

But for me, at least, correlation or causation doesn't make a difference in what I'm going to do with the information that there's some kind of link, in terms of my own behavior.

I thought Catherine's comment was brilliant. If artificial sweeteners cause metabolic changes, then obviously we should stop using them. But Catherine's comment points out that it could just be a correlation, but that that still points to a problem, just a different one.

From a public health standpoint, I hope that it turns out that there isn't a causal link, because it would mean that we've been effectively poisoning ourselves willingly for 20 years. But I actually think that a behavioral link (as Catherine put it) is more interesting to me, and I'm guessing to you.

Have you ever gone on a low-sugar or low-carb diet? You feel like you are literally going to die of the cravings for the first week. And sweet is such a cultural force. Witness the comments to my Valentine's Day rant, when people were outraged that I didn't want my son to have candy. (Which, again, I'm fine with candy, just not every week in school. I'm all for Halloween and Easter as candy ground zeros, but I resist candy just for the sake of candy, or as a boredom reliever.) It's almost as if we're supposed to have something sweet and comforting in our mouths to help us manage the stresses of daily life. And artificial sweet is so meaningless and disposable, so it doesn't matter. Which is cool on one hand, but alienating on the other.

Did you guys read the Little House books? I'm thinking about the scene in one of the middle books--Plum Creek, maybe--in which Ma gets hold of some white sugar and makes some white cakes for Laura's birthday. And how special they were. I wonder what it would be like to live without having sweet tastes at our disposal so easily.

So I was thinking about how useless all these musings were, and how they aren't helping anyone, and then realized that we could actually all be helping each other. I believe, without a doubt, that the reason so many of us are so stressed and tired and stretched out and unhappy with ourselves is that we're eating the typical Western diets and living the post-post-modern lifestyle.

So I'm going to propose a challenge. 60 days, starting next Wednesday, Feb 27 (so we have time to figure out what we're going to do and to have a last hurrah) and running until April 26. Do three things to improve your health, whether that means giving something up (ahem, diet soda) or doing something new (ahem, T-Tapp Basic Workout Plus) and stick with it as well as you can during those 60 days.

Everyone who "finishes" will get some sort of prize, which I haven't determined yet, and which will undoubtedly have no actual value. "Finishing" will mean that you're still doing it on April 26 and haven't given up, even if you slip up a bunch of times during those 60 days. Consistency, not perfection.

Here are some suggestions of things you could do to improve your health:

Switch out your coffee for green tea.
Stop drinking diet soda (or Crystal Light) and drink water instead.
Actually start drinking 64+ ounces of water a day.
Take Omega 3s every day.
Cut out refined sugar.
Switch from refined carbs to whole grains.
Start reading all labels and not using anything with high-fructose corn syrup.
Exercise for 15-25 minutes a day.
Start running (the 60-day Challenge will end just about the time all the summer 5Ks start). (Read's DoctorMama's post on how to start here.)
Take up T-Tapp (read Summer's post on how to start here.)
Eat 5+ servings of vegetables every day.
Take the stairs every time.
Walk/bike to work.
Go to bed at a decent time.

Please suggest more in the comments. Next Wednesday on the official start, we can all post what our three things are going to be. (I know what mine will be already: Switch out my delicious, delicious coffee for green tea, eat 5+ servings of vegetables a day, and go to bed at 10 pm every night.)

Is anyone else interested in the challenge? Or is it going to be me doing it alone?

Comments

[Tzipporah]

Yes yes yes!! Excellent idea.

I'll have to think about what three things, but I'm definitely going to include some increased excercise, some better eating habits, and something for my mental health. :)

[Blanca]

I'm soooo in. Can't give up coffee so my 3s are:
1- Drink more water
2- Exercise 20 min a day
3- Go to be at a decent time instead of hang in front of the TV

Hey Katie B. there's a free prenatal yoga podcast in itunes. It might help you until you get your DVDs

[pnuts mama]

@ summer- i'm not done with the comments yet, but WHAT is "daily dry skin brushing"? i'm fascinated and off to google after the comments.

[Julie]

Does anyone else want to change their goals already, or am I the only one?????

[rudyinparis]

@ Julie, well, I'm definitely already thinking my goal to cut out the mindless sugar consumption in the afternoon at work is going to be tough!

also @ summer, yes, what is daily dry skin brushing? I certainly have the prerequisite dry skin.

And like Ruby's Mama, any suggestions for a multivitamin? Or are they all pretty much the same?

I love the low-key, focus-on-the-positive, small-changes-lead-to-big-changes attitude I'm reading here.

[Jill]

I'm in!
1 - drink at least 64oz of water every day
2 - exercise 15-30 minutes every day
3 - work on cutting out HFCS

thanks Moxie!

[Colleen]

Ew. Sounds suspiciously lenten. count me out! Wine, chocolate, crusty bread and cheese anyone?

[Sarah]

Oh wow. This sounds so great. I've been lurking here for the past 6 months or so, but now am inspired to post.
I definitely want in.
I want to exercise again, but am nervous that my milk-supply will be affected. I'm nursing an 8 month old with the help of a pretty powerful galactagogue. Does anyone know if, say, jogging 15 minutes 3-4 times per week would decrease my milk supply?
I also want to meet the 5 veggie per day suggestion. In fact, I just bought that cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld about sneaking veggies into your meals, and this morning I made french toast with sweet potato puree for breakfast.
And finally, have more sex! It has been way too long.
Thanks, Moxie, for the inspiration and motivation.

[pnuts mama]

i meant to say that i'm not willing to concede that coffee *can't* be a healthy drink- there is plenty of good stuff in good coffee...maybe we'll upgrade to fair trade organic coffee as one of our things...i feel squidgy putting the stuff i'm already doing for lent on this "three things" list...

[ruby's mama]

Long-time reader, first-time commenter stepping in to say I LOVE THIS idea. It's so "Oprah" of you, Moxie. ;-)

This inspires me. I'm a new mama, still FT nursing my 8-month old (who still wakes up every 45 minutes all night!), looking for work after getting laid off, gained some weight from self-medicating with sweets, and now struggling a bit with some late-blooming PPD.

Sorry, don't mean to whine. I'm just trying to say that with some goals like this, I think I'd feel like the sun is shining down on me again.

So, for what it's worth, here are my three:

-- Give up my Diet 7Up habit and commit to drinking water every day. I'm going to start with 32 oz because 1, who am I kidding. And 2, that's how big my Nalgene bottle is.

-- Exercise 3x per week with my yoga and pilates DVDs that have been gathering dust.

-- Take my vitamins and Omega 3s every day.

Anyone have any suggestions for a good multivitamin I can take?

[Julie]

re: the skin brushing....it's part of the t-tapp program. You can check it out there: www.t-tapp.com

Summer can tell you more about it, since she's been doing it longer. I like it b/c it feels really good. Especially after a workout.

[Blanca]

@ Colleen, notice that none of the things you mention are in my three!!!

[Joceline]

In!
1. Daily Omega 3s and multivitamin. I'm nursing a 4 month old, for goodness sake, and I can't remember the last time I took a vitamin.
2. 5 servings of veggies a day. We're vegetarians, but I'm with Julie in that pregnancy zapped my taste for salads and veggies. I need to get it together and have better grocery and snacking habits.
3. Take a walk every day with the baby. Don't stop for coffee and a pastry on said walk. Darn.

[Lisa]

OK, I'm in - let's call it the 3, 3, 3 plan:

Sex 3x/week.
3 Omega 3s and 2 B vitamins every day.*
Water water water.

*Moxie, thank you for the recent posts on PPD. And Hedra, thanks, as always, for your comments. Even though I'm 2 years postpartum, I read your description of what the supplements do to take away that last layer of depression and overwhelm - and thought, "hmm, depression and overwhelm... insulating layer between me and the world... um, *yes*" (particularly since my period returned 3 months ago). I tripled my Omega 3s and doubled the Bs - and within 48 hours it made a *huge* difference, like taking a 20-lb. weight off my psyche. Thank you all.

[Jen_nifer]

I think I would need to check in every day or two to keep this commitment. I'm on the computer weekdays at work a lot more than I am at home on the weekends.

I started taking a multi-vitamin a week ago, I think keeping that going once a day would be #1. #2 would be at least 5 servings of fruits/veggies a day. I'm not sure about #3 yet. I started going to the gym at work back in June, and am pretty good keeping up with that. I never drink diet soda. I'm thinking I could give up my Coke again, but that's a tough one I'll have to stew about.

[pnuts mama]

i couldn't find any specific info on dry skin brushing on the t tapp site, but with google found this for anyone who is interested:
http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/HealingTechniques/Dry_Brushing_Technique.htm

does anyone know if the skin brushing is safe during pregnancy? i'm a little leery of stimulating my lymphatic system right now...also, i won't lie and say i wasn't disappointed that it doesn't mean *skin on your face* which is currently experiencing the second trimester horror show right now. if anyone has any advice, i'd love it right now!

for a multi-vitamin, i take a prescribed pre-nate called cal-nate (generic?) which i like since it's sort of got a yummy vanilla flavor to it. i've taken it since being pg w/ the pnut and then nursing and then just kept on taking it...off to search for that yummy omega 3 fish oil hedra rec'd...something with a c?

[LuckyJen]

I'm totally in. Hello, my name is LuckyJen and I'm a sugar addict.

My three will be:
1) no refined sugar
2) at least 30 minutes of exercise daily (this may mean just a walk some days, a fitness class other days
3) hmm....gotta think on this one and get back to you

Great idea!

[Megan]

Great idea!! I'm in, and I'd love to be part of a yahoo group if someone sets it up.

My three:

1) No more aspartame at all - diet soda, diet yogurt, yek. It gives me headaches and it makes me have HUGE sugar cravings.

2) Cardio three times a week.

3) Five veggies a day.

I've been doing 1 and 3 for a week now. I'm finding 3 easier than I thought because I feed my toddler all this great stuff -- finally figured out why don't I just eat it too? When I'm feeding her peas and beans and blueberries as part of her lunch I just make sure I eat a big handful of each myself. Before my own lunch. Helps fill me up and adds a lot of nutrients to my diet.

[Elizabeth]

Another reader delurking to join in... I think my three will be:

1. Floss every day. (I've been trying to make this into a habit for so long.)
2. Sun salutations every morning. (I have mild trouble with sciatic pain, and yoga helps me with it a lot. Now I'm 6 months pregnant, and I've got to be proactive at keeping this away!)
3. Read from my Bible for 15 minutes every day.

[caramama]

Julie - I keep waffling on my 3! But I figure we have up until we start to change them, right?

rudyinparis - I feel like the "low-key, focus-on-the-positive, small-changes-lead-to-big-changes attitude" on this site in general is why I've already done so many things that Moxie suggested! And it's amazing to realize it now, because they all were small changes at the time.

pnuts mama - I'm with you on the coffee. I have to believe that there are some good things in it that can outweigh the bad. I have to believe it!

As for multivitamins - Since I am still nursing, my doc recommended that I stay on the pre-natal vitamins (and I had prescription-strength pre-nat vits called PrimaCare). So those who are nursing may want to consider that.

[Thy]

I’m in! Still have to make up my mind which three things to commit to though. I think being more social should be one of them. During winter I have a tendency to become somewhat of a hermit and that does not make me feel good. So entertaining or going out with friends once a week is a good start. Or a really long heart-to-heart over the phone with a far-away friend (not family). Second I will floss every single day. Third I will exercise three times a week. If I am aiming for perfection I will definitely fail, but consistency I can do.

[Much More Than A Mom]

I'm totally in on this. I just needed a reason to get back on the wagon. A worthless prize works for me! ;-)

[wealhtheow]

What a great idea!! I'll be thinking about my 3. Exercise will definitely be in there.

[Sarah M.]

I'm another lurker who is de-lurking to participate, too :)

Here's my 3 resolutions:

1) 64 ounces of water a day. I'm awful at this.
2) Going on a walk 3x a week with the kids.
3) Going to bed when I'm tired, as opposed to staying up and playing on the computer...

[jlg]

I'm in. Here's my list:

1. Take my Calcium + D supplement and multi-vitamin every day.
2. Do some physical activity with the kids every day (have a parade, go sledding, dance to a favorite CD).
3. Drink herbal tea instead of soda.

[NannyLady]

i'm always a lurker, but this is too cool to not jump in on! thanks, Moxie!

there are all kinds of changes i've been wanting to make, and i've been having the worst time with that first step.

i'll have to think on which 3 things, narrow down the list a bit...
1. something exercisey
2. something health-related (dry skin brushing mebbe)
3. something creative

[Julie]

ooh, something creative. I hadn't even thought of that. I was also thinking something recyclish/greenie.

[Toni]

I'm definitely in. Will be thinking about my 3....hmmm....

[Melissa]

On the idea about how sugar would taste if you only got it once in while, for the last couple of years during Lent I gave up all sweeteners: white sugar, brown sugar, honey, corn syrup (which is REALLY hard to cut out of an American diet), except for a partial ration of sugar in my morning tea (a centering activity for me).
I tried this as a discipline because I believed (and I think I still do) I use sugar and sweet flavors as a coping mechanism. This is always a very cleansing discipline for me and, once Easter comes, the slightest taste of sweet after 40 days of deprivation just elevates you to a place of joy.

[&BabyMakes75]

As always, Moxie, your timing is excellent! Just yesterday, my laptop lunch bag arrived. (I am in no way associated with the company.) I am beyond excited about it; used it today to pack healthy stuff. I love how it dovetails into some of the stuff I want to commit to:
1. eat healthier to feel healthier and also to be a healthier weight for my frame (To put an end to the why do I treat my car better than me in the fuel department?!)
2. say no to excess packaging; continue to carry cloth bags for all unexpected shopping and also for weekly supermarket trips, and utilize the excellent laptop lunch system to eliminate the plastic baggies, yippee! (Also to eliminate the 100-calorie bags o' stuff due to their excess packaging and teaching myself to eat things that really are close to nature... see my #1)
3. so many things to add for 3... need to put finalizing birth control on the list as an important thing to do since D-O-N-E with childbearing. Perhaps IUD? Need to investigate. ALSO -- must commit to really do a BSE (breast self-exam) each month. My gyno chided me for not fully doing it and I must.

So... I'm IN!!!

[Julie]

Here is a link to summer's blog about tapping - her most recent post is about skin brushing. If you're curious or interested in it, check it out.

http://befabulous.typepad.com/ttapper/

[Heather]

What a great idea! I'm a lurker, but ready to participate. I'll think of my three and post next week.

[Shauna]

I'm in! Will need to think about the three...

[onehappycow]

Also a lurker for the past 10 months or so, but this was the incentive I needed to join. I LOVE this site, and am so ready to do a challenge that is desperately needed.

I, too, am thinking so far:

1. water
2. exercise
3. eat healthfully and mindfully

Those are mine so far, but will ponder until next week. I wouldn't mind a yahoo group, and FYI you can change your options to not receive the excess emails.

[Shelley]

(Quick hug to Ruby's Mama -- sounds like you have a lot bearing down on you at once. Hang in).

I'm in. I've been doing pretty good on T-Tapp 3X a week, so here's what I'm aiming for:

1 -- more water
2 -- less aimless time dinking around on computer, especially in the late evenings -- as someone said earlier, go to bed instead!
3 -- that thing about being present mentally where I am present physically

[Sam]

I am totally in! (Even ending my sentence with a preposition and an unnecessary !!) I'm going to read and try T-tapp, no more diet soda, and hmmm... I'll think of something. Besides, Tuesday is my birthday and what a great way to start off 34!!

[sue]

I'm in! Although I feel like i'm sorely lackign in bad habits to give up - I'd better take up some good habits, then!

1. I recently started T-Tapp (I'm on day 11 of 14 day boot camp). My goal is to actually stick with it, and not completely forget about it once I'm no longer on the "do it every day" schedule. Because I really do need to drop those 4 sizes. My baby is going to be 1 in two weeks, and I've barely lost anything.

2. Actually, really and truly, stick with my resolution to buy only pastured, humanely treated meat, dairy, and eggs. I'm on top of the dairy and eggs, but every so often I'm sucked in by some yummy looking bacon, or I'll give in to the 3yo's pleas to stop at Burger King for lunch. Note: if we go to dinner at someone's house, I'm not going to grill them about the steak's pedigree. That's just rude.

3. Work really hard on finding new comfort foods. I went gluten-free, refined-sugar-free and dairy limited about a month ago, and need to come up with a whole new repertoire (because I've always been a lasagna and cheesecake kind of girl. see needing to drop 4 sizes above). Because right now I eat more sunflower butter on rice cakes than is good for me.

I would totally resolve to have more sex, but it's not entirely within my control, so I'll add that as a bonus goal. If I can get my husband to stop working before 10 pm, I might just succeed. :-)

[shirky]

wow everyone sounds so...thirsty!

[Simone]

Count me in!!
1) take my vitamin every day
2) drink 64 oz. of water (ick!) a day
3) be in bed by 10 every day (knowing that my husband or a book will get a little attention before I actually go to sleep) :)

[CJ]

Perfect timing. We've been off the HFCS for a while now (as best we can since it is in EVERYTHING, or so it seems), though we eat staggering amounts of chocolate.

This is just about the time of the year when I can get up a little early (6am) and jog from 6:30am to 7am during the work week. Dawn has to at least have broken, even if the sun isn't up yet.

I'm in for running/jogging, cutting down on the desserts and getting out and active with the kids on the weekend (which may mean talking them into gardening with me -- at least we are outside!).

The coffee? It stays. How else can I get my butt out the door that early when I'm up all night with a 9 month old?

[kellie]

Girl, I am IN! I have felt like crap lately. And I want to change this.
Soooo... my three things are:
1. Find a Bible Study and go - this will help me focus on something other than my life at home with my family and hopefully help me find more friends.
2. Yoga or Chi Qong 3-4 x's a week
3. Have homemade bread for my family always available.

[bree]

I'm in:

1. More sex
2. Walk daily (I usually do, but have had more than a few days lately of making excuses not to go out)
3. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I will try to give up my beloved morning coffee in favour of tea ...

[kate]

Another mostly lurker who's in. Great idea, Moxie.

For me, it's:

1) Exercise daily (something! anything!)
2) Keep a food diary for those 60 days
3) 5 servings of veg and 1 of fruit a day

[Kelly]

I'm in! Mostly for the idea that we just need to finish, not to achieve perfection.
1: Drink 64 ozs of water a day
2: Spend more time with dh, including ummm cuddles. Good for my mental health.
3: go to bed on time!

[Kelly]

I'm borrowing this idea, and I'm going to start a similar personal finance challenge on my blog. Once again Moxie: you rock!

[Julie]

I think the people who are comparing this to Lent are missing the point. They can add three good things without "sacrificing" anything. Some of us realize that we really need to stop doing x (eating junk food, eating refined sugar, being a couch potato) but that is just what is right for us. Someone else could add in doing something creative, making time to read or talk with their friends, or other activities that are good for your mental health (because your mental health is a huge influence on your physical health).

Just my perspective.

[vanessa steck]

I'm in!
1. switch out my standard soda/sugary selzter for regular water (although maybe not that one diet coke in the morning. i need a hit of caffiene when i first wake up)
2. hit the gym at least 3x weekly
3. eat some fruits and veggies at least daily

[Erin]

I'm up for it, but I may have to start a little later--we leave on Wednesday for Ethiopia to get our son! As soon as we're back, though, I'm all over it.

1. More exercise (since I will now have a 4 year old and a new 15 month old, this should prove to be an easy one); I'm going to make a 30 minute walk or jog 3x/week my goal. Hopefully Melkamu will like the stroller.

2. Cut chocolate consumption to no more than once a week (I'm trying to be realistic)

3. Eat at least one serving of fruit or vegetables every morning (I'm pretty good the rest of the day, but I could definitely use more)

[Another Erin]

Oh, me too! But have to think about my 3.

@Sarah with the question about running & milk supply: I'm not an expert, just a regular runner who's nursing a 16 m.o. In my personal, completely unfounded-on-science opinion, I think you'll be fine. I also checked a few experts. James Clapp's excellent _Exercising Through Your Pregnancy_, which is really aimed at runners despite its generic title, does not mention milk supply as a problem (he does recommend drinking even more water than a non-exercising bfing mother). I also did a quick search at pubmed.gov for "(breastfeeding AND exercise) NOT obesity" and skimmed the titles of the results - there are some articles (you can usually read abstracts online) that might ease your mind.

[rudyinparis]

Shirky, you are hilarious!