turbo_tortoise155

Great job hitting 230!!! I'm hoping you can ride that momentum out til the end of week 6 =)

Ha!! Sorry about the push-up - sit - up thing. I'm still super proud of you!!! I hope you are still at it! I'd love to see an update!

I blame my bad moods on lack of chocolate too! =D Lets finish strong!! Clean slate is right around the corner.

WEEK FIVE RECAP Eat at least four servings of either fruit or veggie a day. (CON +3) Did this two out of seven days Week 5 - 29% Track everything I put in my mouth as follows: 7 days on, 9/23 off 8 days on, 10/2 off 9 days on, 10/12 off 10 days on, 10/23 off (WIS +2, CHA +2) Tracked three out of seven days Week 5 - 43% 2 sessions push-ups/crunches/plank and 2 sessions of either an aerobics class or one hour workout per week (STR +2, STA +2) No push-ups/crunches/plank sessions in. No aerobic sessions. Week 5- 0% Do something with hair/make-up or clothes once weekly. (WIS +2, CHA +) Went consignment shopping and bought some super cute winter wedges. I also dressed up Monday for our family day! 100% ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last time I checked in I had fallen off the wagon. I feel like I'm back on now. I broke everything down and prioritized... for fitness that meant #1 FOOD (eating healthy) #2 Working out. So, no work outs this week, but I did manage to eat pretty great the last few days. Weight this morning was 189.6. I'm not quite sure how that happened with all my ups and downs, but I'm happy. I think it had more to do with my lady hormones/cycle (sorry) than anything else. Gotta love being a woman! Going away really threw me for a loop! No food in the house when we got back and no time to buy any meant lots of eating out and lots of temptation!!! We've got a good bit planned this week coming up - a lot of yard work and going to a pumpkin farm to have a little fun. I'm making it a bigger priority to get my work outs in.. although not to the expense of eating well. Thanks for those of you who have stuck with me these 5 weeks. I want to make the 6th count!!

Good job on the long run. I hope you feel better! I'm glad I'm not alone in going off track sometimes. It is just like life swallows me up! Everyone wants stuff, there are certain things that NEED to get done.. and my health just goes on the back-burner. It's just gonna happen sometimes. Its good to hear that your work-out went better than expected! just make sure you take it slow and listen to your body so you don't hurt yourself. As for me I'm doing much much better. I've re-focused. I started by breaking everything down into priorities and beginning to tackle them one by one. In my health priorities list FOOD is #1 (like they say abs are made in the kitchen). So, I went shopping and preped a ton of veggies, salad stuff, fruit etc. I've got several healthy dinners on standby for this upcoming week. Friday - Sunday I stuck pretty well to eating healthy and tracking my food. =) #2 Priority was working out.. which didn't happen. That is better than nothing!

WEEK FOUR RECAP Eat at least four servings of either fruit or veggie a day. (CON +3) Didn't track. Week 4 - 0% Track everything I put in my mouth as follows: 7 days on, 9/23 off 8 days on, 10/2 off 9 days on, 10/12 off 10 days on, 10/23 off (WIS +2, CHA +2) Same as above Week 4 - 0% 2 sessions push-ups/crunches/plank and 2 sessions of either an aerobics class or one hour workout per week (STR +2, STA +2) 2 push-ups/crunches/plank sessions in. No aerobic sessions. Week 4- 50% Do something with hair/make-up or clothes once weekly. (WIS +2, CHA +) Bought a super cute sweater for my birthday. So girly and pretty!! 100% ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So I'm not super proud of where I'm at. I've fallen off the wagon. Life has overwhelmed me again. I just don't know how to fit 20lbs of poop in a 5lb bag (as my dad used to say). So when this happens working out and tracking my food are among the first things to go. They just aren't as big a priority to me as fit finances, cleaning and spending time with my husband and my daugther... So I'm getting back on track today. Eating pretty well and tracked. Tomorrow back to they gym!

Hey Everyone!! I've kind of been falling away from my challenge. I'm pretty bummed about it. I know at some point I just have to DO IT!! I have to say no to eating too much or the wrong things and yes to exercise.. but I have reached a motivational slump. I feel like I don't have time for everything.. cleaning, keeping track of bills and papers, playing with my daughter, cooking, shopping. I often wind up prioritizing and getting what I can done, but recently I've been having a ton of trouble focusing. I'll be doing one task and then my brain jumps to another and another. I wind up with 3 different things half done. It has been taking a ton a concentration to get just a few things done today. My mom has terrible ADD. She can barely function on a normal level. This isn't the first time I've had problems like this. I'm scared that my brain will eventually become like my mom's.. she can barely have a conversation without jumping off into whatever she wants to talk about.

AMEN!! That has helped me a ton... some perspective. I have the tendency to work and work and work. My husband complains because I can barely watch a tv show.. and even when I am I'm folding laundry or doing the budget or SOMETHING. I can work myself up even when I'm purposefully relaxing because I'm thinking about all the stuff I'm not doing that I "should" be doing. The reality is that spending time with my daughter or husband is more enjoyable and more important than dishes. I've learned to let stuff like that go as much as possible without being officially gross. So I have a happy marriage, a decent daughter and a filthy house. I guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Thanks!! I know those days of early wake-up times are very close... I should really just bite the bullet and get up early now because it will have to be even earlier in the near future I'm sure. Yea I really feel like communication is key. I'm blessed to have a husband who works really hard to be on the same page with me. I've learned to talk about something that bothers me pretty quickly and respectfully. Honestly what has helped the most is trying to see my husband with the love and grace God has for him in light of the love and grace God has for me. If my husband does something wack I might get mad for a second, but most often I think right after that, "Is everything I do beyond reproach?! NOT! If God has given us both grace than I can give him some grace right now, and if it become a problem we will talk about it." I'm tempted to make partner communication a challenge!!! But I know better.

WEEK THREE RECAP Eat at least four servings of either fruit or veggie a day. (CON +3) Got 5 out of 7 days this week. Week 3- 71.4% Track everything I put in my mouth as follows: 7 days on, 9/23 off 8 days on, 10/2 off 9 days on, 10/12 off 10 days on, 10/23 off (WIS +2, CHA +2) I am seriously off my "days off" schedule. Now I'm on vacation and I'm just fighting to track period.. so off days are just out until I can get a string of some good days together. Did 5 out of 7 days. Week 2 - 71.4 Average for this goal - 71.4 2 sessions push-ups/crunches/plank and 2 sessions of either an aerobics class or one hour workout per week (STR +2, STA +2) Got all of my work-outs in this week!! Thank you to my craziness that went to the gym on Sunday against the odds, walks with friends and my husband and doing a work-out even after missing a class!! 100% Do something with hair/make-up or clothes once weekly. (WIS +2, CHA +) I was going to type that I was a disgrace to females everywhere because I thought I did nothing. I was wrong!! I bought jeans. It only took me three hours to pick out one pair of jeans...but it was totally worth it. One pair of jeans that actually fits me now lives in my dresser. Woot! 100% ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm in a challenging place in this challenge *chuckle* That place is vacation with my in-laws. They are AWESOME!! Super fun and cool. I'm always happy to go to their place and stay. I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. I'm really blessed. However, eating here is very tough. Lots of eating out and even when we do eat out it is like souther comfort kind of food. It has been almost impossible to track while being here. I have been eating loads of veggies. I've also been eating stuff I shouldn't... like mac n cheese!! argh!! why are you so good! So I'm still working on it. I'm glad for a fresh start tomorrow. This is what I want my life to be like.. choosing healthy foods.. having a healthy body. This is normal. This is good. That should reflect in my behavior. Got my abs/back/push-up routine in today. I only got one set of 15 then 10 of push-ups in. I'm having elbow pain that almost feels like tennis elbow so I eased off some. I'll try again Friday and see how it goes. Planning on at least taking a long walk tomorrow. I didn't bring my running shoes... BOOOO!!! So I'm a little reluctant to wear them to run since my knees don't take kindly to this. =/ I'll let you know how it goes!!

Hey Joltzzz!! I hope you are still at your challenge!! Even if you aren't today is a new day! I'd love to hear about it either way =D

You are going to tell me how you cooked that kale... because the only way I like to eat kale is in creamy sausage soup, lol. I'd love to figure out a yummy way to get that nutrition dense stuff down. Sorry for your slump =( Something I like to remember is that feelings don't determine truth. Even if you emotionally don't feel like going to sleep the truth is that you need to or it will throw you completely off. I've had sleep troubles of my own. Sorry since I know they suck BAD. I'll be glad to hear how your goals go.. especially the playing with your kids thing!! I think you are so brave to be trying all these interesting recipes!!

WORD!!!! Preach!!! When I was doing that I wound up cutting work-outs which left me feeling pretty crappy and I gained weight. Kudos on keeping work-outs in the mix. Good job not being a cliche. and... 100 push-ups!! Whaaaat? Amazing! Your arms must have felt like jelly.. and in less than 7 minutes!!!? I did 40 the other day and felt like I was going to pass out from excitement. Keep it up!! You are so strong! I hope driving school, regular school, work and working out go well this week.

Omgoodness!!!! I love his Kakashi outfit!!!! *awesome* I'm glad you wound up having a good time even though the co-play seemed to be a bust, but you live and you learn.

Hey!! I think 4 out of 7 days without sweets is AMAZING!! I have a major sweet tooth, but I can see how the percentage would be discouraging.. and the tendancy to just chuck the whole day after one slip up can be devestating. Good call on planning for the next challenge instead of changing now. You have talked about your tendancy to get bored and program-hop. Sticking with it now will help you determine how to go forward later?? At least that is what I'm thinking. Keep up the good work!! You seriously, really rock. Also, put your alarm clock across the room so you don't hit snooze. How did you like agents of shield?? We are liking it a lot. My husband keeps pointing out similarities between it and Firefly... like Skye is Kaylee... Maggie is Zoe... Ward is like a 'good' Jayne... Coleson is obviously Mal. I love Firefly, Marvel and Joss Whedon so I don't really care.

Just wanted to give you guys an update on ME. I'm super duper pumped since I actually did 15 push-ups in a row Sunday!! 40 total!! That is a PR for me. Also, I think I have tennis elbow from it, lol. Don't know how that is possible, but my tendons were pretty painful when I tried again today. Also.. I'm at my in-laws place which is hella-awesome! I totally love them (I know I am super duper blessed). The big issue for me this week is food temptations. They eat out very often, and even the food cooked tonight was not too great. Lots of delicious southern comfort food.. serious mac and cheese, potato salad, green beans in bacon and swimming in butter... oh man... it is all so good! I stumbled a little today.. ate some of everything and a little cake. Otherwise I've been pretty proud of myself. Straight off the plane Monday they brought us to a chinese buffet *gasp*. That is a serious weakness for me. I only ate salad (dipped in a little bit of dressing), tons of fruit and veggies and some sushi.. Considering the other options available I'm pretty happy.

I still want to wake up early before my kids, but I'm scared to make it a goal again because I NEVER DO IT! I just want to sleep until the last possible second. As I stated earlier in this thread in reference to Tenacious' early morning work-outs... I would have around 2 hours to get a work out in if I woke up by 7 or so... Unfortuantely I get into a lot of late night netflix/hulu sessions with my hubby. I have trouble resisting. The pool is FABULOUS. It has helped my daughter to enjoy the water and I'm sure it is good for her development. Also I love it because it is low resistance exercise, great stretching and I just love swimming. =) I agree with Frost... You really need to discuss it without the kids around. It is going to be a tough conversation anyway, but if you preface it with some things you admire about her parenting or committment to your family that kind of softens the bad. Also, give her room to say how she feels.. It will help you understand her actions and give her a little grace AND it will make her feel better and more receptive to what you have to say. For example you could say, "I notice when the kids do *insert here* you seem to get extra upset. I want to know what we can do together so you don't get so upset." This gives her plenty of room to talk. Most of all remember you guys are a team. It isn't a win/losey argument (I'm right! No I'm right!!). You need to work together.. especially when you are outnumbered by the kiddles. The great thing would be to come up with effective strategies you agree on. Like.. I will have the kids bathed and in bed by the time you get home. If I need a break I will yell APRICOTS (anyone? Anyone? New girl?)... That means you need to come and take over so I can go count to 10. In my house my husband knows if I throw something across the room or hollar at my daughter once... He is tapped in. No matter what!! I hope this helps and that coming up with these plans will bring you two together =). Do you guys have the same parenting goals? That is another great thing to talk about so you can compare your actions/plans to the goals.

Just as a quick FYI while we wait for our connecting flight... I DID go to the gym yesterday. I had myself a 30 minute jog, swim and finished my 2 of 2 ab/back/arm routine. I'm feeling pretty amazing since I did a total of 40 push-ups yesterday! A new PR with two sets of 15 and one of 10. I'm hoping to put a full week 3 recap up later today or tomorrow as well as my work out plans during my mini vacation.

I'm feeling ok about this week. There are definitely some slip-ups, but overall I'm ok with it. I have tracked and eaten all my veggies/fruits so far except for Thursday. On Thursday our internet went down and I didn't track, and by the time it was fixed I couldn't remember what I ate. I should have written it down. =( Normally our internet just cuts in and out for a little while and is back on... So I thought I'd just log later. Nope.. It was out til later Friday. Finished packing for our trip!! yay!! I opted out of going to the gym in favor of packing and cooking Thursday and Friday. Not my best decision, but in the long run I'll actually get to sleep Sunday night instead of staying up all night packing AND have healthy food to eat. That is important for health and weight loss as well. Since Sunday still counts as week 3 I'm going to do my best to get to the gym later today. I won't have slept very long, but I'm going to have to be up after work to watch my daughter anyway. There are a couple errands I need to run too... I guess we'll see how much I can fit into one day. =) Weighed in Saturday when I woke up, 190 even. I'm ok with that. If I weigh that when I get home from vacation I will be incredibly happy. Week recap later today.

I missed it =( The class starts at 6pm. I arrived at 6:20 so they wouldn't let me in. I got some swimming in, though, and a little extra cardio... a little swim time with my baby girl too. It is super warm by me. It is only chilly in early morning and after the sun goes down. I'm really wanting it to be crispy cold all day long!! I love the fall... its barely here. How is everybody doing? What is going well in your challenge? Not so well??

Thanks!! I really appreciate it. What opened my eyes to the whole momentum thing was the NF article. I always felt like.. oh I'm doing so well I can cheat a little. It would just snow ball and devestate any progress I had made. It always seem to happen when I really start revving up as far as eating good and working out... no matter how slow I ease into working out... although I do notice a stronger correlation if I go from ground zero to working out 5 days a week. Here's to life balance, momentum and life-long change for the better! UPDATES!! I have tracked EVERYTHING from Monday-Wednesday (today). I have been able to get all my veggies in every day. I got to the gym too late Tuesday to make my kick-boxing class (they don't let you in after the warm up), but I still got some cardio and my arms/abs/back routine in (1 out of 2 done). I'm in the midst of packing for our trip coming up. How do I always convince myself I have tons of time, but then wind up staying up too late and jumping through other hoops just to pack?! I guess realizing I'll actually have to appear before other people makes me aware of how little I actually can wear and look presentable. Even when I DO have to look good it is normally for one event, max one day... not multiple days strung together! So I had to run out and buy a pair of jeans. My old pants are too big and my even older pants are still small (pre-pregnancy pants). It made me feel good to buy something new and pretty. =D Got a new pair of skinny jeans and some pink shorts on summer clearance. They fit really good!! yay! Tomorrow morning I have lots of social stuff planned. I really want to get back to the gym because one more class on Friday won't cut it for my goals. There is a water aerobics class I could make, but I'm kind of tempted to run some and then do more of my arms/abs/back routine. We'll see. Also trying to syke myself up for eating healthy while on vacation. The last time I went to my in-laws I gained 5 lbs in 10 days. Ugh. I'm still loosing that weight. I don't want to self-sabatoge, and I'm thinking I have the momentum to actually do it this time. In better news I weighed in this week at 190.4! Yay! I may not measure this next week due to vacation, but measurments by week 4 the latest. =)

It is crazy how our devices can suck us back in. After all, we buy them to do a job.. whether that is entertainment or to help us with work. Sooner or later the reason we bought them for pops up again. Great job with the time off, though, and I'm glad it went well. NICE!! I can't wait to see how you spend your tech free periods. Good luck! Great job! Did you find you were always thinking.. I should check my phone? That happens to me sometimes. It is like a reflex to reach for it. Sometimes I think my daughter says no or gives me a hard time at meals just to get more attention. If I spend time with her otherwise (like in a positive way..teaching her, playing with her) she seems to do better. OR it could just be that your kids were tuckered out from all the fun and were just hungry. I think it is good to bring your kids on responsibilities that have to get done. All of life can't revolve around playing with them. Mixing in some cricket catching time helps =). Sounds like you really try to get your kids into what you as adults are into and them respond well. Awesome. Also kudos on no picky eaters. My daughter won't eat meat or anything too savory yet. She eats cashews, pistacios and natural peanut butter, fruit, dairy and some veggies. I'm pretty happy with that for now. I'd rather her eat meat than dairy, but whatever. At least she eats eggs. I try to keep her away from the traditional empty calorie loaded kid stuff like juice, fruit snacks and crackers. The only bread she eats on a regular basis is some cheerios on the run and occasional oatmeal for breakfast. The biggest challenge for me is not making her eat her food. I want her to eat what I put in front of her, but at the same time I don't want her to eat if she isn't hungry. I want her to learn to listen to her body. I grew up learning that eating was rarely just for nutrition and most often for recreation or emotional support. I want her not to be food-focused. It is hard to mix the two. For example, she says she is done with dinner, but she hasn't eaten that much. I'll make her eat one more bite, but then let her down. An hour later she points to a yogurt wanting to eat it. Is she hungry or just wanting to eat the yogurt because it tastes good?? When I chose to say no I wonder if she isn't getting enough food. I console myself by thinking... if she had too much of a calorie defecit she will eat more tomorrow. Plus, she still drinks milk multiple times a day. About your other post, Are you saying that you wind up fighting over how the homework gets done?? That would frustrate me!!! I miss my mom and my husband's parents because they live far from us, but I don't miss this kind of thing happening. I wonder if you could start making them like grandma.. lol. I remember for me the "way grandma made stuff" sometimes would even mean which pot she used or how she put it on the plate... kids.... Keep trying with your noodle-eater. They say kids have to try stuff like 10 times before they really know if they like it or not. I keep trying to feed my daughter meat with no success, but I'm sure one day she'll eat it. A mom can dream... I also think Thrillho may have a point. It could be a tactile thing. A occupational therapist may be able to help if that is the case. Great job on the no-phone time!! Conviniently my phone went dead because I didn't plug it in last night, so I left it home for 4 hours while we went out and had our "family time". We went out and grabbed some pizza (great ny pizza.. the only place I've found here in north carolina). I limited myself to two slices and a BIG salad.. it was yummy!!! My daughter kept reaching for my salad.. then she would take a bite of something and spit it out, lol. I guess she was attracted by the bright colors. My husband kept getting ticked because she would spit it onto the floor, but I kept on letter her taste it. We went to a nearby park. That sucked because it was so freakin hot!!! Come-on north carolina. It is supposed to be fall!! I convinced my husband to go to our greenway (a community walking path) where it is shady and probably got at least a mile of walking in. My daugther was at the brink nap-wise at that point. At one point she wanted to push the stroller. We let her. She took two nose-dives and then had enough. It was great to spend some family time especially without my phone. I'm about to sign off and go to the gym for my kick boxing class!! yay!! First work out after being sick. Wish me luck!

WEEK TWO RECAP Eat at least four servings of either fruit or veggie a day. (CON +3) Had some trouble with this. Kind of went rouge Sunday (I'll have to adjust my scores from last week... cause I just realized I didn't count Sunday, I do Monday-Sunday weeks since we start on Monday) Mon, Tues, Wed did not meet this goal. Thurs-Sunday I got back on the horse and did just great. Week 2 - 57% Amended grade for week 1- 71.4% Track everything I put in my mouth as follows: 7 days on, 9/23 off 8 days on, 10/2 off 9 days on, 10/12 off 10 days on, 10/23 off (WIS +2, CHA +2) I got off my on and off rhythm for tracking. I've now been tracking for 4 days going into my fifth. If I really need a total break in another 3 days I'll take it, but I'm going to push as far as I can. I know that my off days really affect my weight loss.. as in I don't have any when I have an off day. My calorie deficit goes down the tubes. The reason I decided to do it that way is because I can't seem to make it very long without binging out of control. I was thinking if I had something to look forward to (like.. I don't want to eat that today, but maybe in a couple days).. that it would help me develope more will power. I'll let you know how it goes. Week 2 - 57% Amended grade for week 1- 87.5% 2 sessions push-ups/crunches/plank and 2 sessions of either an aerobics class or one hour workout per week (STR +2, STA +2) Due to sickness I only got one push-up/crunches/plank routine in on Saturday afternoon. I plan on getting back to the gym Tuesday for kick boxing!! 25% Do something with hair/make-up or clothes once weekly. (WIS +2, CHA +) Bought myself an eyelash curler which I have been avoiding.. I'm so stinkin cheap. 100% Tomorrow promises to be a sort of marathon, so I need to be super careful about what I eat. I'll be wanting to do a lot of snacking just because I've been awake too long... gotta put the stomp on that. I got up early today to work on lesson plans, got all but one week done. Hopefully I can brainstorm tonight at work if it stays steady. After work, home, sleep maybe an hour and I'm off for the curriculum meeting and lunch. Then I'm gonna stay up and hang out with my hubby and baby girl until we have another dinner meeting to see if one of the families in our small group will start being our assistant leaders. I need to look up the menu where we are going and decide what to get before I get there. Then.. I will sleep.. and it will be glorious!!!

Thanks for the support!!! I feel like I'm really getting better.. I can actually breath through my nose now. Fall always brings the colds. There is an advantage to working on the weekends as far as sleep. I'm programmed to go to work, sleep, go to work, sleep. I don't do anything else. My schedule flips Friday.. So it can get pretty miserable Saturday morning, but once I sleep all day Saturday I'm pretty good til Monday (when I flip again.. try to sleep like 4 hours and get up so I can sleep again at night). Food has gone SO GREAT TODAY! Ate apples x2, avocado, spinach and kiwi today for 5 servings of fruit/veggies. I feel like I've gotten my momentum back. I can't wait to start working out again!! I have to write the lesson plan for the kid's ministry at my church and email it out by tomorrow morning (which is kind of a bunch of work), so I'm not sure how early I'll get to bed, but if I can get to bed early enough I'm gonna try to do my push-ups/crunches/plank and maybe MAYBE go to the gym?! A girl can dream... Also started carrying a water bottle around again. I noticed that I'll drain a cup of water super quick, and I won't drink after that because I don't want to go back and forth from the kitchen all the time... LAZY I know, but I spend all day running.. when I sit I want to SIT. So.. solution = big ol water bottle.

Hey! I'm glad to get caught up on your challenge. It looks like you had a lot of hurdles to jump over that first week. You did so great!!!! I'm glad you stopped to think about why you didn't want to get to the gym and had the smarts to switch stuff up. Also, I totally think drivers ed is a good switch up in the circumstances. It will probably help you pass your driver's test too since the instructer is trained to know what they look for. How has week 2 been treating you??

Hit a slow(er) point at work so YAY. You are more than welcome!! Disclaimer that I have no idea of actual accountabilibuddies rules or how to add new spaces on the google spreadsheet. I struggle with finances and healthy eating too. It is especially tough since my husband doesn't want to eat most of the healthy stuff I buy, so I cut what I can in the unhealthy catergory (ice cream, cake, cookies.. mostly sweet stuff he doesn't really want) but I'm still stuck with buying corn dogs, microwave burritos and ingredients for chicken and dumplings a la crock pot. Otherwise, he just doesn't eat.. I'm not kidding. He won't even EAT. I don't understand this. I cannot go 3 hours without food. He won't even go out to eat either since money is tight and he knows that. I guess that is good in a way. I'm taking a page our of Thrillho's book and trying to lead by example and hope he catches on. Some stuff he has.. like he eats avocados now and broccoli and cauliflower. If I put it on his plate he normally eats it. Like I'll put apple slices with eggs on his plate instead of toast in the morning, but I have to CUT the apple and put it there. You win son you lose some. Yea, he might change if I nag him to death, but then he also might despise me. I'd rather let him eat corn dogs. Also, it is more likely to stick if he changes for himself. Anyway... my advice is to stop buying the junkie stuff to the best of your ability. If you buy noodles, then the kids ask for noodles, they refuse to eat anything else and... hey.. as a mom you make noodles. If you don't buy it they might eat nothing for a meal.. but that will end quickly. Even if all they eat is an apple.. that is better than a pack of ramen. Maybe they will still be hungry and eat 2 apples... ooooo aaaahh. Don't think about it as saying, "No", think about it as saying, "Yes". YES you can eat as much as you want... you can eat a bowl full of broccoli!! How many times have you heard people say, "Well my mom always served dessert so I've gotta have it." We are the first line of defense whether we like it or not. The sooner/younger you start the better. The other thing I do that works is if I EAT HEALTHY STUFF. If I sit down with a corn dog my daughter wants a bite. If I sit down with a cut up kiwi... my daughter wants a bite. If I'm eating it and have not offered it to her.. she wants it. Kids are programmed to immitate us. They figure.. hey... my mom is still alive and healthy enough to have kids, she must be doing something right! I hope this is helpful. Kudos! I try to keep the TV off as well. My phone is not all that tempting, but facebook or TV on the other hand... I feel like my daughter is growing so fast and I have this precious window to teach and influence her.. to snuggle her and play with her. Sometimes I'm exhausted and she is cranky too.. in that case when she asks for "Tonies" I let her watch (aka "My Little Pony"), but I don't want that to be the norm. Can't wait to hear about how your mini challenge went!! Lol on the teenagers thing. Even if they look at you like you are crazy you know it still feels good. I felt like I had to have that look on my face as a teen, but it still encouraged me. It seems like you have a pretty great relationship with your kids, though!! Nice!