the 15-day challenge...

A good friend of mine is getting married in Chicago in a little over two weeks. I just spent a lovely weekend with the bride-to-be and a few other ladies at what could have been called a bachelorette weekend. Calling it that, however, might conjure up images of penis straws and "suck for a buck" t-shirts. When the bride and her friends are a little more mature, they don't need corsages in the shape of male genitalia to have a good time. Am I right, ladies?

However, I digress.

As everyone was talking about what they planned to wear to the wedding, I spent a little time trying to figure out what I was going to throw on. I lost a bunch of weight this spring--almost 30 pounds! I cleared a lot of stuff from my closet and was able to wear some things that haven't fit for a long time. One dress has been elusive. I haven't worn it for years, but I was so very close.

That is, until I got a little lazy this summer, gained a couple pounds back, and lost some of my muscle mass. I've been having a difficult time getting myself motivated to dig back in and thought maybe this wedding was just the incentive I need to get things back on track.

Thus, the "happy mommy 15-day challenge"...

There are 17 days between now and the wedding. For 15 out of the 17, my goals are to...

• Get to the gym for a strength training session or a yoga class, or complete 45 minutes of fat-burning cardio (in the gym or outside).
• Log everything I eat (I like myfitnesspal.com).
• Stay within my nutritional guidelines.
• No coffee, no alcohol (gulp!).
• Lights out by 10:30.

I don't have to achieve all of them in the same day. My goals is to achieve each of these goals separately 15 times over the next 17 days and see where it gets me. Weigh-in is tomorrow.