Summer Sizzle Slimdown Challenge 2012

Today begins the Summer Sizzle Slimdown Challenge (2012) over at Does this Blog Make My Butt Look Fat?...isn't that a fun blog name?   Makes me smile every time I read it.  :) 

I'm sure you remember my few attempts (and failures) at weightloss challenges in the past, but I'm really hoping to do better this time.  I first heard about this challenge from my buddy Nicole over at Colie's Kitchen.  She did great with last summer's challenge!  I'm so proud of her!  Me, not so much.  I didn't even complete the challenge.  I let a busy schedule, depression/anxiety/OCD and a whole bunch of other excuses get in the way of my success. 

This time, I'm just going to take one day at a time.  If my "issues" get in the way for one day, so be it.  Instead of giving up for one ruined day, I'll just start over as soon as I can, rather than just quit until the next challenge rolls along.  I love knowing that Nicole is just and email away if I need her encouragement and support! 

I found out about the challenge last week and with a bunch of other things going on around here, I haven't given much thought to MY specific goals for this summer, aside from losing the weight, but I'm sure my goals aren't much different than my goals in the past. 

• I want to lose weight so I can be a healthy example for my daughter.  Not to mention keep up with her!  At 3, she is full of energy and super quick on her feet!  Chasing her around the house is tiring enough.  But chasing her around the yard or the park?  I just tire out too quickly!  Carrying a basket of laundry up the basement steps without becoming winded would be great, too! 

• I want to go shopping for new clothes and actually enjoy it!  I haven't bought anything new in a long time.  The clothes I have now are snug and worn, but I refuse to spend another penny on "fat" clothes. 

• I want to fit into my wedding band again.  I don't even remember the last time I wore it.  I think I was able to fit into it for a few weeks when I was pregnant with Grace.  And that was just because I had lost some weight due to morning sickness! 

During the challenge, I'll be eating less, eating healthier, counting calories, drinking more water, and exercising while trying to follow the guidelines of the challenge as well.  Some of them are pretty tough and I'm not sure they are a good fit for my family, but we'll see what happens when we get there! 

I will weigh-in once a week and report my results back here weekly.  I haven't determined what my weigh-in date will be each week, but this week, I will weigh-in tomorrow.  Because I honestly thought that was when the challenge started.  My mind has been in the clouds for the past several days. 

Once I weigh-in, I will better know what my calorie goals will be for each day.  As for exercise, anything more than I am doing now will be a great start!  I'm going to start slow and strive for 15 minutes of exercise 3-4 times a week.  I'm extremely out of shape and I'm not sure I can handle much more than that to start!