I need some new shoes...so I will share something.lol.

I love to eat apples. I would like to eat 2 or 3 a day, but it is hard to keep that many around with kids in the house! I read in a book once that if you eat nothing but fruit before lunch, your digestion will improve and you will feel more energy. I have tried it in the past and it worked very well for me. I am going to start doing that again (I bought 4 apples tonight, so that should last until the kids get home from school tomorrow!) and I will let you know how I feel. Davina, thanks for doing this contest. I just want to let all of you ladies know that I want that "Day with Davina" and so you better bring your game if you are going to beat me this year. I didn't read any disclaimer about family members of Davina not being eligible to win, so as her husband, I am going to work hard at being consistent and I wish everyone else the best as you try to do the same this year! Yay for Davina and "Move it Monday!"

This is something that I have been struggling with for a long time. I feel like trying to lose weight gets me stressed out and when I am stressed I can't loose weight. So what I have found that works for me is I have to not think too much about the weight loss, I have to think about something active that I love to do, and do it. For me it is swimming, I am so at home in the water it is not even like working out, it's fun!! Also, Breakfast, I have to eat it!! I notice that things go better when I make sure I eat in the morning! I am excited to follow your blog through out the year!

Davina, what a great challenge...I am up for it!!! Although I don't know if I can wait a year to meet you. :) My suggestions are: get off of sugar...when you crave it, brush your teeth. After a few days you won't crave it anymore. Another tip is to eat more vegetables. I found a Vegetarian cookbook and have been trying the recipes as a way to be inspired to eat vegetables. "The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook" by Cathe Olson. It has healthy options and tasty offerings.

So, a contest and accountability?! That may be just what I need. Last year, at about this time, I read the book "Skinny B@t%h". It's a terribly mean book that tells you how it is. I'm not sure that I'd necessarily even recommend this book to anyone, but it seems that it came to me at the right time. I started eating healthier. That was my ONLY resolution last year. I know that was vague, but at the time it seemed like all I could handle. I didn't focus on calories much, but instead paid most attention to ingredients. I didn't avoid carbs, but I made sure to only eat the ones that were from or close to the earth. I switched from white to wheat, from mayo to mustard, from dressings to oils (mostly). I tried to be more active with my kids, but I wasn't ready to incorporate exercise into my life. I was afraid of that failure.
It was a very slow start, but I started feeling better. Before the holidays, I had lost 20lbs and felt great. But better than that, I felt full when I ate and satisfied throughout most of my day. However... the holidays. This year I only have TWO resolutions. 1. Get back on the good eating wagon while learning to exercise. My goal was to start with walking 20 mins a day 3 days a week. After reading this challenge, I think I'll bump that up to 4 times a week. So, for day one of this challenge, I'll make my first journal entry. I'll continue to check in every inspiring Monday, and I'll be a little more motivated to stay away from those Oreos that have been calling my name all week. Thanks Davina...until next week=)

I also read "Skinny B@t%h" and it definitely opened my eyes. However, it didn't change my life. You really have to be prepared to accept a lifestyle change, and I wasn't quite there.

However, last week I started a new "diet." I actually just decided to eat MORE! Rather than two meals a day where I ate a ton of food (because I was starving) I now eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day and drink more water. That's it! Painless and easy and I'm never hungry!

We're doing a friendly competition at work, and yesterday was my first weigh in. After only 7 days on my new meal plan, I lost 9.6 pounds!! I didn't exercise at all because as I continue to change my eating habits I want to remember how much of an impact that diet alone had on achieving my goals!

What did I eat?

Breakfast - Special K waffles with fresh berries (who needs syrup?)

A.M. Snack - a piece of fruit, yogurt (Weight Watchers Boston Creme Pie and Yoplait Whips are favorites), or a Special K cereal bar (I really do love Special K...lol)

Lunch - a Lean Cuisine (make sure it's one of their "leaner" ones... some are filled with fat and carbs!!) and a salad with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and spices

Afternoon Snack - fruit or mini bag of popcorn

Dinner - a piece of lean protein such as fish, shrimp, or chicken (4oz. is a normal portion... and it really is enough food!), a green veggie (LOVE steamable broccoli and brussel sprouts), and rice or pasta with a small salad again

Evening Snack - another piece of fruit, popcorn or yogurt, depending on what I ate earlier in the day

Track what you eat (I just count calories and fat). It will open your eyes!!

It also helps to understand that losing weight is a mental process more than physical. You have to truly want it (not just whine about it, but actually DO something). You can't achieve a different result by doing the same thing! That is common sense. If you have big goals, start small. Make weekly mini goals and build your confidence to achieve the long term goal (walk more, do just 5 minutes of exercise per day, try a new veggie).

Also, you will want to rebel against your new lifestyle. Stick it out! You owe it to yourself to stick to your goals. Get a buddy to support you! If you are married, definitely get your spouse on board with your goals. It will help you tremendously and you'll be closer for it! And if you don't have a buddy, I'm sure there are a lot of us here who would love to help you!

When I want to be "bad," I eat banana chips. Just a few banana chips satisfies my craving for something sweet (and they are awesome to carry around when you are on the go or on a long shoot).

Can't wait to read up on some of the other tips that are posted! This is such a fantastic idea!!

I love the teeth brushing idea! I usually grab a stick of sugarless gum, but brushing my teeth would be even better. The thing that is helping me the most right now is keeping a food journal. I have a program on my iPhone called Lose It! where I enter my food and exercise and it keeps track of my calories during the day. It's been really enlightening to see how the calories add up and how helpful it is to exercise. Plus, if I have to go get my phone and write the food down, I have to really think about whether or not I'm really hungry for what I'm about to put in my mouth.

Mike you are so funny! I didn't even think to put a family disclaimer...I want everyone to get healthier this year!

Deb, good idea! Think about doing what you enjoy in the way of becoming more active. Swimming is wonderful. And it is so important for me to eat breakfast, too!

Laura, brushing your teeth...good idea! That definitely keeps me from eating. And I so need to eat more veggies...sounds like a good cookbook.

Kim! Way to go on losing 20 pounds! That's awesome. Keep it up. I'm so glad I'll see you here on Move it Monday next week!

Gwendolyn, that's what I'm talkin' about! Wow! What a great post with a lot of good ideas. Mini goals definitely work. Keep it small and building up over time. Alot of the time a major life overhaul just can't stick for the long haul but little changes that add up over time have a better chance of staying around. I love all of the food ideas, too. Thanks!

Macy, keeping track of what you eat is so eye opening. I think that's one of the things last year that helped me realize and understand how much fat and calories were in different kinds of food. It also helped to understand more completely that just eating less than I burn would help me lose weight. Awesome.

I'm so excited to see how everyone does this month...and this year. It's going to be great!

I'm looking forward to hearing from more of you ladies...and men, too! :)

This is such a great idea! :)

I sat down with my big bowl of cereal to read your blog this morning. As as I read I acknowledged that it was a big bowl of cereal that I was eating really fast, shoveling it in even before I finished chewing and swallowing. So I slowed down. I also made a mental note that tomorrow I won't eat as much. Love reading the ideas - I even already downloaded the iPhone program that Macy suggested and started using it.

I also just came back from the gym and did some cardio to try to burn off some of the calories from my breakfast. It made me feel better.

So, some ideas that I have used in the past and plan on restarting starting today!:
* Eating multiple little meals throughout the day is key. I learned that when I did Body For Life (http://bodyforlife.com/) and lost 20 lbs. They suggest you take a 'before' picture and that in and of itself is quite and incentive.

* I think adding a little resistance training to build muscle will help both tone your body and increase your metabolism and burn fat even when you are not exercising. Going for a walk and adding some light hand weights can help. You can get them anywhere like Target or Walmart very inexpensively.

* Writing everything down in a journal so you can see your progress and build on it. That little iPhone program is GREAT! :)

* In my house I hide all the 'bad' food on a high shelf that takes effort for me to get to (I'm short!).

* When I see something that I will regret eating afterwards I try to convince myself that I'm allergic to it. Sometimes when someone offers me something I'll even say "Oh, thanks but I'm allergic." :) And somehow the words help me stick to it and not eat it! :)

* Farmers' Markets are a great way to inspire using more veggies and fruits.

* Oh, one of my favorite things I need to start doing again is juicing. I take those fresh fruits and veggies and make these amazing juices. I love the colors and the flavors and it really does fill me up for one of my meals.

* When I'm hungry, or think I'm hungry, I'll drink a glass of water first. Dehydration sends 'I'm hungry' signals to the brain too. I'm surprised how many times I've actually been dehydrated and not hungry. I'm sure this will save some calories for folks. I just got up and got a glass of water. :)

Davina, thank you again for being you and inspiring us! I'm looking forward to this year and seeing what wonderful surprises are coming for us all. :)

Hello! Okay so I am pregnant 6 months with my fourth little baby but it's funny that I read your post today about this because I had ordered "The Perfect Pregnancy Workout" from amazon.com two days ago and am getting it in the mail tomorrow. I cannot wait to start it! There are a few reasons why I am caring about my weight now.

Before my first baby, I was svelt and had a very toned "hot" body (according to my husband, LOL) After giving birth to my first, I weighed in and realized I had gained 60 pounds from the first pregnancy. I was never able to lose that weight afterwards because I was popping out baby after baby. I have a 3 year old, 2 year old, and 10 month old, and pregnant six months now, so you know I haven't given my body the chance to lose anything.

Anyway, I physically feel better with this pregnancy than I did with the first three. I was so nauseous before 24/7 for the entire 9 months, I just never could get off of the couch. Now, with this one, I feel great and I now can't use nausea as an excuse anymore for not being more active. PLUS I crave breads, pastas, and sauces like crazy. (Not good.) If I don't start eating healthier now, I could balloon to an even bigger weight before I know it. So I am starting now.

After watching Oprah's "Best Life Week", I have decided that I will be pairing up my new prego workout with the Best Life Diet. I will still be eating what I should be eating for me and my baby, but just healthier choices in foods, which I think I will naturally lose the weight that way.

Also, I have scheduled a maternity shoot with a great local photographer, since I have never cared to get one done of myself with the other three, kind of as a motivator and reward to me. My goal for this pregnancy is not to lose weight during it, but to just be more toned and to improve my back, leg, and knee pains. I still have two weddings to shoot before the "birth day" so I need to get into shape before those events. Whew!

As far as journaling, I do some on my blog, BUT I have never given up on journaling in my nightstand notebook journal. I have been writing in my diaries since I was in the 6th grade, before blogs ever existed, lol. So it's a habit I can't drop.

Also, my husband and I had started a little while ago writing a journal entry each night to each other about how our day went, and what we love about each other, and answering a random question each day.I got this idea off of an old couple that appeared on Oprah that had been doing it with each other for a really long time and I thought it was perfect.

It is so important to take the time EVERY day to tell your spouse that you love them and why you love them. They want to hear it and they will love you more for it too. Goodness, sorry for the long entry. You inspired me to write pretty much everything that was on my mind just now. Wish me luck with my pregnancy and I wish you all much luck and blessings too!

Your husband is so funny!
Here is my tid bit for today~
DRINK WATER!! We all should drink half of our body weight in ounces of water every day. I started this last week for many reasons but there are so many thins that are happening that i did not even realize would! I eat less, I swear my skin and hair are already feeling better. It seems to give me more energy.
If I knew that something so small and simple could help me in so many ways, I just wonder why I have not been doing this all of my life. Oh yeah, and I have also stopped drinking soda the past 6 days since I am not thirsty at all after squeezing 80 ounces of water into my mouth every day!
Thanks for doing this Davina!!
You are always so inspiring!!

Alright, I didn't know throwing down the gauntlet the way I did would bring such LONG comments from so many of you! Lol. Thanks for sharing all of your ideas and insight. I am also glad to be married to a woman that inspires people...heaven knows she has inspired me for the last 15+ years. Thank you all for keeping up with her blog and thanks again for being so willing to share what is working for you. Good luck with the water drinking Tiffany...I don't know if I can drink over 100 ounces of water a day!

Good luck with you pregnancy Caroline! I love the idea about writing to you spouse every day. I actually gave a little book to Davina for Christmas and told her that my gift would be to write some reason that I love her each day for the entire year. It has been a blessing to us both for me to do that and I hope you and you husband keep it up. Let us know how the workout video goes!

Rosaura, thanks for the tip about thirst. I know I need to drink more water, I usually get thirsty in the afternoon...I think I will bring some bottled water to work because the drinking fountain is just not that convenient a way to drink my 100+ ounces! :)

great idea.....i see i am joining in a bit late! I am the mother to 5 children 13,11,9,8 and 11 weeks! Aahhh...i just started this baby thing all over! but at least I now am a mother of a baby girl! anyways, my new year started with the resolution of getting back into shape after baby.....this may sound funny but i am focusing on .....SLEEP. A nutritionist told me that lack of sleep can really mess with your metabolism and actually cause your body to hold onto weight or even gain weight slowly as a means of survival! so , along with good healthy food choices and moving 30 min every day.....i am really trying to make sleep a priority, it is so under-rated in our society!~

Yay! I was so happy to find out you were doing this! it was a little reminder for me to stay focused on what I promised myself for this year!
I love running, and I promised myself to keep it a constent routine. I run two marathons a year and I train for them but once they're done I tend to get lazy. So I have commitmented myself to run for 30 minutes a day. 30 minutes of running and having motional music on to keep me going; the wonders it does for me! I even have my boyfriend doing it as well. Last year, we ran for breast cancer and children's diabetes it made me so proud that I was able to inspire him to run for a cause, and as well for himself. This year I have two more of my friends running with us. I recommend a brisk walk or run, why not? :), for 30 minutes do it with your friends, your spouse, or even with your kids...believe me its the best boost for anyone's stressful spirit! :)

oh another little piece advice...I enrolled in SELF's website...everyday I get awesome low calorie recipes...get-fit move of the week workout...and health tips. I know when I get those emails I just pop them open and find out new things to stay healthy & in shape! very recommended. Here is one of the receipes I love for those little sweet cravings....

**Raspberry-Chocolate Angel Food Cake**
Bake your cake—and eat it, too! These individual lighter-than-air angel food cakes are perfectly balanced with a rich chocolaty frosting to add an extra touch of delicious to your low-calorie indulgence.
Makes 6 cakes

Ingredients
Cake
Vegetable oil cooking spray
8 large egg whites
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
Filling
1/2 cup seedless raspberry preserves
Frosting
6 oz semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 pint fresh raspberries
Preparation
For cake
Heat oven to 350°. Coat bottom (not sides) of a 9” x 13” baking pan with cooking spray. Beat egg whites, 1 tbsp water, cream of tartar and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until foamy. Continue to beat, adding sugar a little at a time, until batter is fluffy. Add vanilla and beat 1 minute more. Sprinkle a small amount of the flour over top of batter and fold in; repeat 8 to 10 times or until you've incorporated all the flour. Spread batter in pan, coaxing evenly into corners with a rubber spatula, and shake pan once or twice to even out surface. Bake until cake is a light golden color and surface springs back gently to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edges of cake to separate it from pan. Cool on a rack 2 hours.
For filling
Heat berry preserves in a small pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches a gentle simmer.

For frosting
Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Take bowl off heat; stir in sour cream.
For assembly
Place a cutting board over cake pan; invert cake onto board. With a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter or round cookie cutter, cut 12 rounds from cake. Top 6 rounds with 1 heaping tbsp of raspberry filling (you will have some left over), then place 6 remaining cake rounds on top. Spread 1/4 cup frosting over top and sides. (You should have some frosting left over.) Top with raspberries. Serve immediately, or refrigerate and bring to room temperature 1 hour before serving

***The Skinny
303 calories per cake
6.8 g fat (3.9 g saturated)
57.5 g carbs
3 g fiber
5.7 g protein

So you want chocolate this valentines day....this recipe really delivers on taste but skimps on fat! Even my kids loved it as they were suspicious!

This is a great brownie recipe when you need a good regular-tasting but no-fat dessert (not to mention it's EASY):

1 box of Duncan Hines (or other brand) brownie mix
1 can of Diet Coke

Mix well.....bake as directed on the box! Add some fresh strawberries and dallop of low fat vanilla yogurt....and viola! a beautiful and yummy dessert!