A Little About Me

Haha!! It only took me about ten minutes to figure out how to post something on here (I've never blogged before). Anyway, brief introduction...

I'm Jenny Hawkley (previously Jenny Jones, hence the email account; I just got married in December). I just married my best friend who happens to like a lot of the same things and activities that I do! Unfortunately, two of those things are chocolate and ice cream. So I'm with Jill, not eating sweets will be the toughest thing of this whole deal! (Luckily we get a day off). We also like being active together meaning that we love hiking, canyoneering, rock climbing, yoga (yes, he likes it too), and almost anything else outside. I love to run and ran my first ragnar and half marathon last summer. I also love to sing and am a certified vocal coach. I graduate in April with my bachelors degree in Human Development and I just interviewed a few days ago for a masters program in Marriage and Family Therapy. I'm glad we are doing this because I got kind of lazy with the break and planning a wedding and all and I am excited for the motivation of knowing that I will have to report to someone about my healthy habits... :)

Hi, You can call me Insane.

Hello! My name is Jill Bickham, and I feel like I'm addressing some sort of AA group for health. But I'll get over it in approximately 2 seconds.

I like to make really lame jokes (see above), so I apologize in advance. I'm an English major, with a minor in editing. Technically I'm also a visual arts minor, but I have no intention of taking another art history class (I need 3 more for the minor).

This sounded like an extremely good idea when I first saw this, but after trying to go without some sort of sugary treat for a full day, I just about died. And I made cookies last night. But don't tell anyone.

I absolutely love running. I've done 3 half marathons, and I'm debating whether or not I'll do a full marathon this year, or if I'll try a triathlon. Either way, I need to start moving again because the below is so very true.

One of my favorite workout videos is "10 Minute Solution: Pilates Perfect Body." It's fairly easy, but still gives me a workout. I definitely recommend trying it.

Anyway, good luck with everything! Stay healthy!

So, Europe had REALLY good chocolate...

Hey fellow Foodies! I'm Sarah Theurer, and you've probably been pestered by more than one e-mail from me. I really feel bad about that, but I'm so glad that you're doing this with me, so I'll get over it. ;)

I study Art and Spanish Education and I just got back from 4 months in London and traveling, and I consumed a lot of good food. I don't really regret that (especially that one Parisian patisserie [pretty sure they put opium in their food]...anyway it's time to remember what healthy habits are.

My other reasons for participating are:

• I am currently training for the Ogden Marathon in May, and with 18 credits and cold weather, I need some motivation.
• I need to break my vicious addiction to semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• At any health issue, exhaustion/common cold/breakout my mother asks, "Are you drinking enough water?"  I'd like to have an answer that didn't involve mumbling or changing the subject.

My favorite desserts are dark chocolate and frozen yogurt (don't judge me as healthy, the fruit kind is good- but I'm referring to the cheescake and chocolate flavor mix with chocolate candies and chocolate chips on top.  yeah. "Frozen Yogurt").  To exercise I love running, spin, zumba, yoga, and canyoneering/ hiking/ climbing (most things that get me outside).

I vote for an occasional dessert party or group aerobics night!

What are your favorite desserts and ways to work out?  Why motivates you to be healthier?

Last Chance to Participate!

Ok girls!  So I would like to start Monday, February 6th!

We want to do this with as big a group as possible, because then we can have more people participating (making fun comments and posts/suggestions). 
Some fun suggestions people have made for girls around the same area: dessert night (for our day off a week), dinner parties, fruit/healthy sweet things night, etc.  


A COUPLE IMPORTANT THINGS (& CHANGES) STARTING!:

1. I will invite those of you who have e-mailed me a yes! to the blog and you can introduce yourself and have free editing rights to make funny posts, inspire others, post new fun recipes or exercise ideas, post jokes, etc.  This is just girls, our age, so no worries.
2. The overwhelming consensus (and I, being poor, think that this is a positive idea), is to mostly do this for bragging rights with a small prize being the pot.  So let's do that instead of money.  
3. By small prize I mean a popular/fun workout dvd, exercise ball, etc.  Just something a little motivating, and that way it would only be like $1-$2 per person.  Anyway, I will post my ideas and you post yours or comment on what you like and we will decide within the first week.  

Are you so ready to start this?  I know right?!??
No?  It's okay, I'm doing it anyway too.

Remember, you're only real competition (as silly and cheesy as this sounds) is yourself.  If you haven't read the google doc or visited the blog, you really should.  It's not as bad or hard as you think, it's just a way to do a little better each week to be a little healthier for 8 weeks.  That's it.  8 weeks. 

The Rules!

So how do I win?
Well, we all win right?  Healthier?  Better life?       Yeah, I know.

How do I win the Competition?  * meaning bragging rights, t-shirt, and our little prize.

You earn the most points.  You earn points for lots of things!  But namely, 7:

1.   Drinking 64 oz. of fluid a day (Not sugary drinks.)

2.   Eating Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

3.   Not eating after 9pm.

4.   Having 2 servings of fruit a day (a serving is about a 1/2 cup)

5.   Having 3 servings of vegetables a day.
       *** Remember that serving of or veggies can be tons of things!-  a glass of fruit juice! , a glass of 
       V8, ½ c. of fresh fruit,  ¼ c. dried fruit, veggies on a sandwich!  (An awesome site for this is: 
       oneserving.com)

6.   Not eating sweets/sugary treats 

      *Only 6 days a week- we all need a day off!

7.   Exercising 30 or 45 minutes a day  

      *Only 5 days a week, you can do more if you want, but only 5 days will count for points. :)

8.   Contacting someone else in the challenge and giving encouragement.

You can download or print of the challenge HERE.

The Google doc (when you click on the link above) has: 

- A table/chart for counting your points 

- More details and explanation of the rules, if you have questions.

- A food log, if it helps you, but it's not part of the rules.

If you need some more motivation, here is an awesome YouTube video I ran into recently.

 

Let's Get Moving!

Alright guys, I don't know about you, but post-London and the holidays I have entered a happy, plump, and slightly pumpkin state.

....mmmmm....pumpkin.......    moving on.

I have a few friends that have been doing health challenges with their girlfriends (as in just a group of girls...friends....anyway) lately. My cousin Mariel did a big one that I remember a couple years ago that was a big success (See the rules and the blog for the competition as well), she featured it on her blog that's been shown on tv a few times.  The Adamson sisters also (as in President Adamson’s daughters) had a pretty cool challenge that they featured on their successful blog.

These were my two favorite examples and the Adamson’s challenge seemed the most complete, but was a lot about #s and weight loss, so I combined the two and replaced some things, so it’s more about being active and healthy (And not all about weight loss.)

Tell me what you think and if you are wanting to participate.  I will make screen-print a stylish t-shirt for the winner (we can vote on the design) and as a group we will all pitch in a dollar or two to have "prize" at the end for the winner.  I’ll invite you to the google doc, in case you want to make changes/suggestions or edit too.

The prizes + competition + support should be much better motivation than trying to convince ourselves to workout, especially when there's snow outside for some of us... groan...

- Sarah