Challenge Details (try and read through all of it)

1. Sign-up

Here's the forum addy: http://www.hostingphpbb.com/forum/index.php?mforum=seekingperfecti

First, register for the forum.  Then, when you are a member, scroll down to challenges and then sign into the challenge.  I would strongly recommend you sign up just to see where you stand and where other girls stand.  I've had this forum for two years already and it's still not that active.  I want the "ana" community to have a place where they can go, just like other forums, but with that one thing that's different.  We all share a special bond no matter what weight we are or whether we're actually diagnosed or just trying to lose a little weight.  There's something in each of our minds about our bodies and what we want out of them.  I want us to share, to really be a community.  Even after you sign up, come back to the forum and post something.  Make it active!

2.  How the challenge will work.

Phase I   ends June 5th
Phase II  June 6th - June 15th
Phase III June 16th-June 26th
Phase IV  June 27th-July 7th
Phase V   July 8th-July 18th
Phase VI July 19th-July 28th

Phase I - Metabolism Boost
This Phase is designed to get all of us going.  First thing comes first, which is exercise and your metabolism.  Phase I is intended to get everyone moving and the calories pumping.  Some people are so tiny because there metabolism are faster, naturally.  We have to work for it.
Exercise: 30 minute cardio, 20 pushups per night and 8 minute abs per night

Phase II
Intake:  Try and make your intake a steady 200 below what your normally do.  (Normally, this is how I would do it.  Not everyone drops 200, but it's up to you.  Eat 2000->1500, Eat 1500 ->1200, Eat 1000->800, Eat 800 ->500)
Exercise: Now that you've got your body ready to handle your exercise, you need to do things different.  If you run on a treadmill, play around with the incline/decline, same with elliptical.  Forsome cardio machines, vary resistance to push yourself.  If you run outside, make your run last longer.  Do some sprints up a hill or something.  I'll post the jumping workout that may team has to do for swimming.  If these don't work, add at least 15 minutes to your current cardio workout.

Phase III - Shocker
Intake:  Now is the time to pick an intake that will challenge your body.  Sample for these 11 days:
1000-1000-800-800-500-500-200-fast-fast-200-500-500

Also, skinnyjeanspls read a book "Bikini Fit" and here is what they suggested for fourteen days. Pick and choose what you want to do for one day and for two days so that it can fit into the eleven day phase.
Day 1-2: fast. only water and herbal teas. No caffeine (even green tea), no diet sodas
Day 3-4: add fresh fruits
Day 5-6: add raw veggies
Day 7-8: add slightly steamed veggies and brown rice
Day 9-10: add beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds
Day 11-12: add grains (no wheat) and live yogurt
Day 13-14: add fish

I know this site is supposed to be healthy and all but I actually do recommend that you try and fast at least two days during this phase.  You won't die.  If you can't do it, just have a few days of fruits and veggies.  Fit it into your schedule wherever you can and make sure it won't be followed by a day of more than 800 calories.

Exercise:  Do the same with your exercise.  Make it an hour now if you can.  If not, just add resistance or try and pace yourself to go faster.  Complete more yardage in the same amount of time.

Phase IV
Intake: Pick a range
200-500
500-800
800-1200
1200-1500
1500-2000

Fruits, veggies, and low cal drink (i.e. gatorade, propel) can count as zero calories.  Include things like chocolate milk, flavored iced coffees if they have sufficient calories.

Phase V
This phase is just like Phase III, another shocker.

Phase VI
This phase is just like Phase IV, pick a range.

Continue modifying your excercise.  Make sure it's at least an hour now, and if not, make sure you fidget or you walk instead of drive or ride your bike, rollerblade, whatever.  Don't forget to have fun otherwise you'll hate every second of it.

I recommend that you girls check out www.youtube.com

8 minute abs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IxwmpE3gFg

There is also an 8 minute ass and 8 minute arms.  The abs works really well, so I recommend you try it.  Also, search youtube for other exercises like jump rope and they have some instructive dance things.  Good luck!

<3 ashley

Comment here if you have any questions and remember to check back for updates =]

I want to set up a new challenge that works in increments.  We'll be bikini ready in no time as long as we stick to it.  I'm going to be working with you girls too.

The first step is REV UP YOUR METABOLISM.  This lasts until June 6th for those of you that start later this week.

What you need to do:
- 30 minutes of cardio minimum every day
- some weight training if you can
- 8 minute abs minimum a night
- 20 push-ups minimum a night

1.  "They" recommend that you do cardio 3-4 times a week but I also read that dieters tend to fall short of their goal.  If you shoot for everyday you'll probably end up working out 4-5 times a week, which is great.

2.  We all know that muscle burns more calories than fat.  I was reading something that said your fat doesn't turn into muscle and vice versa.  It's just you need to lose the fat in order for your muscles to show - hence the cardio.

3.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNqrkGnkUWc Yay youtube!  There is also an 8-minute ass.

4.  Who wants T-shirt flab?  It's a small step but I think it can make quite the difference.

Try and switch up what exercises you do.  Try the elliptical and go backwards for the last 15 minutes.  If you run outdoors, start from where your normally end if that is possible.  Make a left instead of a right when you're biking/running/power walking.  Just 30 minutes.  You can do it!  (Another cardio idea: jump rope - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epZjMuRRXLo)

The next step will be endurance.  There's no signing up necessary.  I want to make the forum more active so I'll come back posting about that.  Check frequently!

EDIT #1

Here's the forum addy: http://www.hostingphpbb.com/forum/index.php?mforum=seekingperfecti

First, register for the forum.  Then, when you are a member, scroll down to challenges and then sign into the challenge if you like.  I would strongly recommend it.  Just to see where you stand and where other girls stand.

New December Challenge =]

Again, it is two phases but I have also incorporated exercises as per your request.  There are also two challenges.  The differences is calories; one uses 200, 250, 700, while the other uses 800, 1000, 1500.  I know that the Group One fast should work but I'm not sure how Group Two will do.  That's the one I'm going to do.

There will be a weigh-in with your Sat morning weight on Saturday, Dec 8th for everybody.

PHASE TWO
Group One Dec 9 - 250 calories - 5 pts Dec 10 - 200 calories - 7 pts Dec 11 - 200 calories - 7 pts Dec 12 - 250 calories - 5 pts Dec 13 - 700 calories - 2 pts Dec 14 - 700 calories - 2 pts Dec 15 - 250 calories - 5 pts Dec 16 - 200 calories - 7 pts Dec 17 - 200 calories - 7 pts	Group Two Dec 9 - 1000 calories - 5 pts Dec 10 - 800 calories - 7 pts Dec 11 - 800 calories - 7 pts Dec 12 - 1000 calories - 5 pts Dec 13 - 1500 calories - 2 pts Dec 14 - 1500 calories - 2 pts Dec 15 - 1000 calories - 5 pts Dec 16 - 800 calories - 7 pts Dec 17 - 800 calories - 7 pts

Weigh-in for Phase Two will include your Mon morning weight on Monday, Dec 18.

Here are the weekly exercises.

Week 1 (Nov 27 - Dec 3)
50 crunches
10 push-ups
10 squats
10 lunges per leg
30 sec wall sit
^2 minutes of jumping jacks

Week 2 (Dec 4 - Dec 10)
100 crunches
15 push-ups
15 squats
15 lunges per leg
60 sec wall sit
^2 minutes of jumping jacks

Week 3 (Dec 11 - Dec 17)
150 crunches
20 push-ups
20 squats
20 lunges per leg
90 sec wall sit
^2 minutes of jumping jacks

* Week 4 (Dec 18 - Dec 24)
200 crunches
25 push-ups
25 squats
25 lunges per leg
120 sec wall sit
^2 minutes of jumping jacks

*I added a "Week 4" for those of you that want to slowly increase your intake again.  It starts on Dec 18th.  For Group One it goes like this: 200-250-700-700.  For Group Two: 800-1000-1500-1500.  I do not need your final weight from week 4.  That is for yourself.

^I recommend that you do the jumping jacks "inside of your workout" such as 1 minute after the push-ups and one minute after the lunges.  And maybe do a 30 second march in place cool-down.  Cardio in the middle of "weight training" helps burn fat.  Also, you don't necessarily have to do everything together.  Let's take Week 3.  You can do 50 crunches, 10 push-ups, jumping jacks, 50 crunches, 10 push-ups, 30 sec wall sits, jumping jacks, etc.  Did that make sense?  That way if you can't do 20 push-ups in a row, you can divide the workout.

NOTE: The exercise is in addition to what you already do.  So, if you normally do 5 minutes of jumping jacks, now you're doing 7.

sign-up
xanga name:
current weight:
goal weight:
group:
phase:

i.e.
xanga name: disappearingxangel
current weight: 127
goal weight: 120
group: two
phase: 1&2

good luck.

you may not do just phase two.

Hey challengers!

Yesterday, the challenge fully ended.  Here's what I need:

xanga name:
start weight:
current weight:
total points (phase one & two):
group:

Current weight should be as of Saturday.

For those of you who only did phase one, please still update me with your points and current weight.  Where it says group, do it like this"group: 1 - P1 only" or "group: 2 - P1 only."  That's for the only phase one people.  Hope this fast went well!

<3 ashley

I wrote this before for those of you who care:

*I added a "Week 4" for those of you that want to slowly increase your intake again.  It starts on March 27th.  For Group One it goes like this: 200-250-700-700.  For Group Two: 800-1000-1500-1500.  I do not need your final weight from week 4.  That is for yourself.

Today is the day that you update me with your Phase 1 final weight from this morning.

xanga name:
start weight:
current weight:
total points:
group:
continuing:

i.e.: xanga name: disappearingxangel
start weight: 130
current weight: 127
total points: 21
group: 2
continuing: yes