My Apologies

To everyone:
My apologies!!!!! I am so sorry for how I have dropped the ball! May has been MAYhem! around these parts. I have been sick, been on 2 vacations, BEEN HOUSETRAINING OUR NAUGHTY NEW PUPPY, had visitors, and with each week grown more careless and despondent about the state of our healthy challenge. It is not so much that I have been busy, as it has been that when I have a free moment I can't seem to summon the energy to post, motivate myself, sort through the weeks of scores I am behind to see who has sent me scores and who has fallen off the wagon like myself, and then motivate you. BUT- today I did it. I have taken a step. I have posted. I have apologized. To those still listening that have not already sent me your scores- PLEASE SEND THEM IN! Whatever state you are in- let's finish what we started!





As additional motivation: we have come up with a prize for an overall 3rd place* winner- $ 30 gift certificate. Also to those who don't have a shot at 3rd place*. We also have had someone donate another $30 gift certificate prize for the 3rd place winner for June! So get on it and recommit yourself today!




* both sorry and congrats to Grandma Martha and Grandad for being ineligable for these prizes. You have secured the grand prize already and we are grasping at straws to keep this challenge competitive among the rest of the group. :)




P.S. a special congrats and THANK YOU to Grandma Martha, Grandad, Ginger, Kendra and Joanne for being dedicated to sending your scores in. They have not missed a week people!!! Thank you thank you!

Week 4... Yikes!

Hi everyone. I am posting late, AGAIN. I am sorry. I have been so slow. Overall this week was not strong really...at all...for anyone....Happy Easter I guess? or sympathy for those who were sick? or stressed? Life happens. Hopefully week 5 has gone better for most. Keep up the good work.

• Grandad, 60


• Grandma, 61


• Nick, 44


• Michelle, 33


• Joanne, 39


• Sam, 24


• Tiffany, 24


• Ginger, 45


• Heather, 32


• Becca W., 47


• Aimee, 45


• Karl, 49


• Linda- I need your scores!


• Alissa, 40


• Becca H., 30 ish?


• Jimmy, no count this week


• Heidi, no count this week OR I need your scores!


• Kendra, 30


• SaraLyn, no count for a little while.

So Grandma Martha was our extra point winner this week, and Grandma and Grandad tied to get 10 extra points for the month of April. Way to go! All the rest- a new month has begun. Let it reinvigorate your motivation and strive for an awesome May! Good Luck!

Week 3 Results...finally

Hello All! Sorry it has taken me so long to get the results posted. They are still partially incomplete, but I think that we at least have our weekly winner identified. I hope that things are going well and that you are all encouraged to still work hard. My scores in particular haven't been stellar- however we have still made pretty drastic, much-needed changes around our house and I know that I can credit it to the family challenge. Our family is not perfect but, we are eating less sweets, reading everyday, trying REALLY hard not to forget that morning prayer, and carbonation has become non-existant. The changes have passed on to our boys too. They are eating healthier as we do, and altogether as a family we have become a more active. I credit all of you for that. Sometimes I just need a little motivation. Thanks for backing me, and each other up. Keep up the good work!

• Ginger, 49


• Michelle, 36


• Nick, 46


• Heather, 57


• Joanne, 40


• Becca Hjorth, 56


• Jimmy, 56


• Heidi, sick this week :(


• Grandma Martha, 60


• Grandad, 61


• SaraLyn ( i need your score)


• Linda ( i need yours too!)


• Tiffany, 54


• Sam, 58


• Kendra, 43


• Alissa, 58


• Karl, 43


• Becca Wheeler, 48


• Aimee, 54

So as you can see, Grandad is our weekly winner of the extra point. Good work to all!

Week 2 Results

The points are in. I was excited to see that overall most people raised their scores. A couple of people dipped just a little but overall the family scored 53 pts. higher than last week! We had 3 people score 60 this time, however they were beat out by Grandma Martha and Grandad who did not miss a single point this week. Congrats to our Grandparents for winning this weeks extra point. Also I am excited to include another player that I didn't realize we had, Linda was part of our competition bringing our numbers to 19! Keep up the good work!

• Becca Hjorth, 58


• Jimmy,57


• Aimee, 57


• Grandma Martha, 61


• Grandad, 61


• Linda- Last Week (40), this week (43)


• SaraLyn, 47


• Joanne, 37


• Becca Wheeler, 52


• Heather, 42


• Alissa, 60


• Kendra, 36


• Ginger, 39


• Heidi, 35


• Karl, 54


• Sam, 60


• Tiffany, 60


• Michelle, 41


• Nick, 47

The points are in.... Drum roll please.....

Great job everyone on week 1! It has been interesting to see the different areas that are challenging to different people. I have set up a group page on facebook now that we know who is participating. Watch for updates there- and make comments. Share ideas. There are 18 participants, and this is how we all did this week. Congratulations to Grandma Martha, Grandad, and Alissa Hjorth for earning an extra point this week. The three tied for the highest score. Add it into your overall total, not next weeks- people need a chance to compete without working against your extra point. Keep up the good work!

• Becca Hjorth, 55


• Jimmy, 53


• Kendra, 45


• Tiffany, 59


• Sam, 58


• Ginger, 38


• Karl, 34


• Heidi, 30


• Heather, 53


• Becca Wheeler, 55


• Aimee, 50


• Nick Durst, 52


• Michelle, 33


• Grandma Martha, 60


• Grandad, 60


• SaraLyn, 25


• Alissa, 60


• Joanne, 34

Point tracking spreadsheet

Hi everyone- Hope that your doing well with your goals. Alissa has put together a spread sheet to keep track of her points and has offered it to anyone interested. I don't know how to link it on here, but if your are interested I would be happy to e-mail to you. Thanks Alissa! Happy living! Michelle nmdurst@gmail.com

Contest Kick-off

Hello Everybody! It is April 1st and I am not fooling when I say that you should be starting your new healthy lifestyle today! I have received a lot of feedback from our fam, and so I would like to post some clarifications to the contest rules.

First: The contest has been extended and is officially running 3 months, April-June. After considering our options we felt this would make it extra challenging for all, therefore making it more competitive for all. Also there will be monthly winners- the person(s) with the highest monthly total of points will receive a bonus of 10 points to add to their overall total. So if you do not do well in April- try extra hard in May. Maybe you can make up some points lost by being the most competitive in May.

Next VERY IMPORTANT!!!: Everyone needs to check in weekly. The contest started today, on a Friday. So next Friday- I need everyone to post their point totals for the week. Add up how many points you scored for Friday(today), Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs ( there are 61 pts. possible ) and LET ME KNOW BY FRIDAY!!!!! You can make a comment on this blog, or you can reply on facebook, or you can e-mail me. I will collect the scores and post them on the blog Saturday, also announcing the weekly winner(s) of 1 extra point.

THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE COMPETING. IF YOU WANT TO COMPETE, TURN IN YOUR SCORES TO ME NEXT FRIDAY!!! ALSO IF YOU START THE COMPETITION YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE FIVE DOLLARS TO THE POT. THIS WILL BE COLLECTED AT THE REUNION! IF YOU START THE COMPETITION BUT DO NOT FINISH WE WILL STILL PLAN ON YOUR CONTRIBUTION. We could not come up with a feasible way to collect the money ahead of time, so we are counting on your contributions if you started the competion.

Now other clarifications (based on questions):

1 pt. for 30 min of exercise 5 days a week: This means 5 days a week you need to exercise for 30 min. YOU CANNOT work out for an hour 1 day and make- up for a day missed.

No sugar/desserts: This is a rule to cut out sweets. Cereals, yogurts, granola bars, are all ok. Putting sugar on your Wheaties, or jam on your toast is ok. Sugar-free desserts are not. If it is something that your consider a candy/dessert it probably is. FOR EACH SERVING YOU LOSE A POINT. The first serving for a day loses you the point you would have gained if you had gone sugar-free. The second serving loses an additional point, and the third an additional. AFTER THE LOSS OF THREE POINTS: you are free to binge that day. Just remember the main reason for this competition is to promote a healthy lifestyle.

64 oz. of water means: Water. Not milk. Not juice. Not propel. Not Crystal Light. You are welcome to drink all of those things in addition to your 64 oz of water. Just get your good 'ol H2O in First!

Last note: Good Luck! I hope this post clears up any questions you may have. If not contact me. I love hearing from everyone. Also don't beat yourself! I plan on following in moderation. For instance, Easter is around the corner, and my point lost for an Easter dessert will be well worth it! I just won't be as tempted to gorge myself on all the Easter sweets ahead of time!

Happy living- Michelle nmdurst@gmail.com