Subtitle: Can you believe it has been a year already?! Time flies.
Ok, People, it’s time again.
This year’s WOMAN CHALLENGE starts on Sunday (Mother’s Day for those of us in the USA) & I’m telling asking you to join me in participating.
(You know I must love the idea as Im many, many things but a “joiner” is not one of them.)
Beyond the fact I know I can always use some additional accountability partners, this year’s theme, It’s your time, completely resonated with me (and, if your blogs are any indication, it will with you as well).
Ive dedicated 2009 to Personal Responsibility.
Ive dedicated 2009 to making time for myself/my goals, owning when I choose not to make myself a priority & not play the blame game.
Ive yammered enough about the fact we all need to decide we are worth it (whatever the “it” du jour may be) & the Woman Challenge/this year’s theme feels like the perfect reinforcement of that concept.
What on earth does the Woman Challenge entail? (I’m so glad you asked)
The Challenge is an eight week event which encourages women and girls to set & achieve personal/physical activity goals.
The whole shebang is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health and focuses on empowering women to make their health a top priority (can I get an AMEN?)
Steps participants are encouraged to take over the next eight weeks include:
* Getting at least 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week (MizFit note: we can so do this!).
* Eating a nutritious diet (MizFit note: HELL yes!!).
* Visiting a health care professional for regular checkups and preventive screenings (MizFit note: Do not forget this.).
* Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt (MizFit note: ’nuff said).
* Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress (MizFit note: Ahhh, dare to dream.).
Bottom line: The Woman Challenge is what you choose for it to be.
It can be the time you decide to begin training for that 5k race you’ve always wanted to run.
It can be the eight weeks where you choose to start any sort of an exercise program at all.
It can be the sixty days when you decide you’re staying fit & healthy and dragging a few women/girls you love right along with you.
And yes. You can choose to roll entirely sans-site & just focus extra hard on YOU for eight weeks as well.
You can sign up solo and use the activity tracker/goal setting page they provide (complete with bonus quizzes to earn extra points!).
You can join/create a Woman Challenge team (Ive created Team MizFit. Even though we cant literally train together we can cheer each other on!).
And to kick it all off, if you’re truly hardcore, you can even take the WOMAN CHALLENGE PLEDGE.
Me? Im not a pledge gurl that hardcore.
I do hereby pledge to do my best to try and remember to log my activity, to attempt to completely as many of the quizzes as possible, & to cheer those of you participating ONWARD in the silliest ways I know how.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99jNGM25ia8
Now you.
(& guys you may join in as well. In spirit or in drag. Whichever you prefer.)
Rupal says
May 5, 2009 at 2:04 amoh my, cute shorts team miz!
Andrew(AJH) says
May 5, 2009 at 2:43 amHave you read the book QBQ!
A great little book about Personal Accountability.
Sean says
May 5, 2009 at 3:26 amI don’t look good with a wig (in drag), I’ll just join in spirit. You Go Girls!… err I mean WOO WOOT WOMEN!
Always in inspiration my dear. Always.
MizFit says
May 5, 2009 at 3:42 amRupal? HOW FUNNY ARE THOSE SHORTS? A reader sent them to me and, needless to say, that was the one and only time I wore them outside the domicile.
AJH? NO! I need to check out that book.
and 2BStrong, errr, Sean? we’ll take the spirit. and your KNOWLEDGE please.
Lynda says
May 5, 2009 at 3:50 amI haven’t heard of this before and last night my teen daughter and I were talking about starting walking together in t he evenings.
This could work perfectly.
Thanks!
Crabby McSlacker says
May 5, 2009 at 4:07 amThat Tornado is too cute!
Alas, I can’t quite read what your shorts say and I was starting to feel silly staring at your ass for so long.
The woman challenge sounds like an awesome idea! I shall of course customize to my own Crabby standards (or lack of same).
Go Women!
Bea says
May 5, 2009 at 4:09 amLOL @ crabby as I was thinking the same thing.
I need some motivation but my pledge would resemble yours.
Yum Yucky says
May 5, 2009 at 4:11 amOkay, so I hope I’m not out of line by saying, but under the “Avoid Risky Behaviors” category, can we also challenge our single women, young and old, to practice safe sex? That’s major a health issue that involves personal responsibility, right?
But please, keep that kind of “activity log” to yourself. LOL!
hannah says
May 5, 2009 at 4:18 am*raises hand*
I clicked on that link about National Check Up Day (you need to make that more prominent Miz. I almost missed it) and I need to make that a priority.
I skip checkups.
Erica says
May 5, 2009 at 4:45 amoh my gosh- you and the tornado are so cute! I love this idea!
Linda says
May 5, 2009 at 5:08 amI signed up for your team.
Guess what! I think this is my 1-year-since-I-discovered-Mizfit-online-Anniversary.
Where did THAT time go?
It’s been good to know ya, sistah!
MizFit says
May 5, 2009 at 5:10 amand here I am without a present, Linda!
Have a great day.
Loved seeing your upbeat post this morning.
And YumYucky? AMEN SISTER.
One word about swine flu & we all don masks.
Innumerable words about AIDS?
People are still having unsafe sex.
Jenny says
May 5, 2009 at 5:30 amWhat an awesome challenge! I may not “officially” sign up, but I’ve got some goals of my own that this helps motivate me to work on! 🙂
tricia2 says
May 5, 2009 at 5:39 amI’m in.
And I’m actually scheduling my next checkup on Friday. I love it when life stuff syncs up with what everyone else is doing (it makes me feel like a trailblazer).
Evan says
May 5, 2009 at 5:46 amIn drag could be fun….
Dara Chadwick says
May 5, 2009 at 6:05 amLove this idea! And love the idea of taking the pledge with my daughter (though I’m not much of a pledger).
Perhaps just an internal pledge then? (Also known as intention-setting).
Thanks for telling us about this, Miz!
Gena says
May 5, 2009 at 6:05 amOh, good! I need something to help hold me accountable. Allergies, stress, and thesis writing have made me a complete lump on a desk chair. I’ll be signing up for Team Mizfit and doing my best to meet my goals!
Kimberly Lee says
May 5, 2009 at 6:07 amI signed up for the challenge as soon as I finished your post. I am coming up on two months of wedded bliss – and while hubby has been great in helping to motivate me, I am finding that my knee issues have caused me to lose my “mojo”. This challenge will be a great way to recommit to my pursuit of fitness. I think I will try to get the women in my life (mom, sister, MIL, SIL) to join the challenge with me. And not to worry about the bum knees, doctor says I can exercise as long as I wear supportive braces and stop once I feel pain and to include rest days in my plans.
Dr. J says
May 5, 2009 at 6:09 amI’m there in spirit!! Go Go Go!!
Miz. says
May 5, 2009 at 6:11 amdara you KNOW Im so like you.
and it really is what we decide we want it to be.
for me it is more the PLEDGE to try and make stretching and yoga a HABIT in the woman challenge days.
Kimberly? part of your challenge could be to spend some time every day focusing on living IN your body.
truly being quiet and feeling it.
IMO that’s key to being able to exercise away with a bum knee (and your doctor’s parameters) as you will KNOW/be in tune with what your body needs.
and Evan?
photos please.
Diana says
May 5, 2009 at 6:23 amLove the women’s challenge. It helped quite a bit last year. Just need to extend it farther than 8 weeks!!
Missicat says
May 5, 2009 at 6:23 amThis is soooo timely for me…after seeing pics of myself on the Avon Walk from this past weekend was a wake up call. I have to control my bad eating habits and get serious about exercise.
Am getting my checkup next week!
Gigi says
May 5, 2009 at 6:30 amI’m in, Miz, but like you not much of a joiner. It sounds like the push I need now. Still limping along tho so I might get a little late start.
Miz. says
May 5, 2009 at 6:38 amgigi? you know it doesnt need to even be physical!
this could be the 8 weeks you launch your DECLUTTER DIET or meditation!
and yes.
for me it is ALL about the tagline.
Fitness isnt about fitting my MizArse into a preformed mold—but about creating my OWN mold and sliiiiding right in.
Jill says
May 5, 2009 at 6:46 amI joined your team – please to kick my tail if I don’t keep up! This is exactly the thing I need right now – I’ve been a major slacker lately!
The fear of disappointing you will be motivation enough I think. 🙂
Fab Kate says
May 5, 2009 at 6:56 amI’m in : http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman/community/profile.cfm?userID=27181
and I’m challenging my blog readers to join as well… and have formed a team: Simply Fabulous.
This is the kind of challenge I can really get into 🙂
Felice says
May 5, 2009 at 7:18 amLove it!
And, argh . . .
“One word about swine flu & we all don masks.
Innumerable words about AIDS?
People are still having unsafe sex.”
We’re just so screwy.
Irene says
May 5, 2009 at 7:28 amI haven’t heard of this before, but I am so with you. I am in serious need of additional motivation (as I posted this morning). I will see if I can get my girlfriends in on this too.
Hannah says
May 5, 2009 at 7:31 amI’m on board- sending an e-mail to all my friends now…
Robyn says
May 5, 2009 at 7:35 amI’m 100% in.
In my own NONsigning up way 😉
Thanks Miz!
Andrea@WellnessNotes says
May 5, 2009 at 7:38 amFocusing on me and all aspects of my health is just what I need to do! And being held accountable is probably not a bad idea… I’ll be back later to sign up!
Kelly says
May 5, 2009 at 7:40 amOK. I joined the Team Mizfit. I guess this means I need to put the mint julep down and start moving. 🙂
Lori says
May 5, 2009 at 7:43 amI am pledging to really focus on myself and the triathlon training that I am doing for *me* in 10 weeks, which dovetails with this pretty well.
MizFit says
May 5, 2009 at 7:52 amNah, we’re the Bumbling Band of MizFits—bring the julep along, Kelly!
IzzyBeth says
May 5, 2009 at 8:15 amJoined your team and linking you. 🙂
the Bag Lady says
May 5, 2009 at 8:22 amI remember that video – the tornado is too cute!!
I’m not a joiner, either, but I’ll think of something to pledge to myself.
How about: “make more time for commenting on other peoples’ blogs” ….. right after calving season ends, and the flower bed is weeded, and the veggie garden is tilled and planted, and the rest of the spring cleaning is done, and the fencing is done, and the yard is cleaned up, and…..
Tina says
May 5, 2009 at 8:34 amI want so much to become a runner again. This may be just the challenge I need! Can a 248 pound person go from walking to running in 8 weeks? I guess we’ll see! 🙂 Thanks Miz!
MizFit says
May 5, 2009 at 8:37 amI know you CANNOT, Tina, if you don’t start.
(Cue inspirational music)
Meredith says
May 5, 2009 at 8:39 amAnother one just playing along at home.
I’m in but in my own way 😉
tfh says
May 5, 2009 at 9:02 amI just joined Team MizFit!
And I am so not a joiner. But this is pretty cool.
Merry says
May 5, 2009 at 9:07 amGo Team Mizfit! 🙂
Sarah says
May 5, 2009 at 9:08 amGreat challenge! I will do it in spirit, not officially.
But it really gets me thinking about other things I need to work on like meditation perhaps.
Marste says
May 5, 2009 at 9:57 amHmm. I’m in in spirit. I’m still thinking about officially. 😉
But I need to start meditating (*cough*again*cough*) and I’d like to commit to sticking with the exercise program I started last week.
Jess says
May 5, 2009 at 10:15 amHmmm…I already do most of those things, but maybe if I pledge I will ACTUALLY get enough sleep. Doubtful, but maybe.
suganthi says
May 5, 2009 at 10:19 amoy vey Miz.. as usual haven’t read the post in detail..
i am keeping up with my physical activity..
to do that I have severly curtailed internet forays ( except you temptress Miz). Will join you and be accountable to you.
Off topic, caught bits and pieces of your webcast, I am also intrigued by the TRX.. it was great to hear you.. 🙂
deb says
May 5, 2009 at 10:19 amI have formally done that challenge since 2006 (has it been that long?). This year I’m bowing out of formal. I do it anyway – this would only be one “demand for attention” that pulls my focus away from the goal.
However, I will informally join the Miz group. Started thinking this past weekend that I have missed some of my screening tests. Between now and my birthday I will get those done.
I am also doing something new about my diet. I balk at measuring/weighting/ and calculating calories, fat grams, protien, etc. It makes me resistant to the whole plan. Instead, I’m just writing down what I eat and weekly examining where I could do better. Forget the micro management – just stick with the big picture.
suganthi says
May 5, 2009 at 10:21 amMiz.. just clicked on the Women’s challenge link. Do you have a team.. if yes, I will join there. If not, it would be fun to be on Team Mizfit.
Quix says
May 5, 2009 at 10:33 amI already do a lot of that, not down with some of it, but I am going to make it a priority to get to the doc this month for a checkup, because it’s been way too long. =)
Dawn says
May 5, 2009 at 11:01 amI’m all for the woman’s challenge. I feel like I need to get back on top of things for myself and this is a great way. I need to go get a mammogram this Summer too so something for my list of things.
Ms. V says
May 5, 2009 at 11:32 amWOW. That is very cool.
BeckStein says
May 5, 2009 at 11:35 amOk I joinededed…I am now a proud member of Team MizFit…YAY *cue confetti and balloons*
charlotte says
May 5, 2009 at 11:53 amSeeing the Tornado all geared up for some woman-action just made my whole day! I love that you’re doing this!!
MizFit says
May 5, 2009 at 11:55 amDeb? Love this sentiment:
Juice says
May 5, 2009 at 12:07 pmWell I do need a kick in the pants. Perhaps I’ll join Team MizFit and commit to 10K steps per day.
On an entirely different note, Jill from The Sassy Pear had a reference to you recently: http://thesassypear.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/a-new-hobby-and-a-new-recipe/
Please to tell where is the hobby quiz.
Jody - Fit at 51 says
May 5, 2009 at 12:12 pmOMG, Tornado is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!! Background on the name for her & your hubby???
I love this challenge! I had not heard of it & thx for bringing it to my attention! I can check off all the points on that health list except the doc checkups. Unfortunately, we are self employed in this house & health insurance is just not affordable & even the catastrophic stuff is pretty high too. I am hoping we get some health care reform with this new administration.. hoping! When I was working in Corporate, I was so good at getting to the doc!
I love the idea of personal accountability & achieving personal & physical goals! I am there on the fitness/food side but as for personal goals for a second career & the things I want to do there, I have not been good at going after that. I feel empowered in the gym because I feel good at that but that fear of failure outside the gym is what I will work on to overcome with this challenge.
THX!!!!!!
Alison says
May 5, 2009 at 12:19 pmI love that you shared this with us and yet aren’t all RAH RAH about it 🙂
Im joining in but not signing up.
I’m making a pledge to myself.
Miz says
May 5, 2009 at 12:21 pmNever fear that Ill get all Rah Rah (that made me laugh) on you.
I love the concept of the challenge and yet for me Im not entirely enamored with the “setting an hours and miniutes goal for exercise each week”
I want to do more meditating and yoga but not for a specific length of time—–as a result I may not use their tracker at all!
gotta do what feels right for each one of us.
Marisa (trim the fat) says
May 5, 2009 at 12:45 pmThis is a great idea!!! Love “team tornado” – you two are awesome:)
Fitarella says
May 5, 2009 at 1:21 pmcoolio! I’m in again, this time on YOUR team 😉
Mary Meps says
May 5, 2009 at 1:41 pmMe & baby guns will be working it. 🙂 Cute team, you and Tornado.
Shelley B says
May 5, 2009 at 1:56 pmI’m in!
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
May 5, 2009 at 1:57 pmI can do this… totally.
And it’s a happy day! I can now read MizFit at work again 🙂
MizFit says
May 5, 2009 at 2:05 pmooooh did you hack the system? 🙂
KK @ Running Through Life says
May 5, 2009 at 3:14 pmGreat challenge Miz! I am sooooo in!!!!
Pubsgal says
May 5, 2009 at 5:02 pmI’m in! Needed a little more accountability in getting in that 2nd strength day during the week, so this suits nicely.
Kathy says
May 5, 2009 at 5:28 pmI love that we are a group of joining non-joiners.
Joining in on our own terms.
That’s why I come here.
Thanks for point out that this is happening!
POD says
May 5, 2009 at 5:33 pmI may not join too! Yay, Team Mizfit. Loved the video but couldn’t turn up the sound so I’m guessing it was all good.
Sagan says
May 5, 2009 at 6:46 pmLiking the sounds of this! I need to get my morals straightened out and figure out what I “stand for” (helps to get away from home for a bit with doing that. Clears the head!) so my personal challenge is focusing on mental health.
Issues with the video (as per usual!), but it sounds adorable! I will search for it when I have more time 🙂
Lainie (Fit Fig) says
May 5, 2009 at 7:18 pmWell, can’t do the vigorous activity just now (being knocked up and all) but I will do my own challenge of getting any physical activity (besides shopping). Is that good enough?
Heather says
May 5, 2009 at 7:33 pmJoined. Now I just have to remember to do the log.
Spring Girl says
May 5, 2009 at 10:32 pmSounds perfect. I will definitely join…although not formally 🙂
Oldooz says
May 6, 2009 at 2:18 amTHANK YOU SO MUCH. 🙂
Debra says
May 6, 2009 at 7:48 amYes, this is a very do-able challenge! Thanks Miz.
BeckStein says
May 6, 2009 at 11:03 amHow do I get back to seeing our team roster? I wanted to see if my friend Lynn joined? I’m also going to have the NaFOS group join if they like…nice way to stay accountable.
Alison says
May 6, 2009 at 1:35 pmCute video!! Looks like you can sign up for the Woman Activity Tracker and stay fit all year long (after the 8-week Woman Challenge is over).
Mary @ A Merry Life says
May 6, 2009 at 2:28 pmOk, all I could think of when I was watching that was your website is on your butt. LOL
DaDivaStreet says
May 6, 2009 at 7:56 pmThis will be my 2nd year on the Womans Challenge. Great motivator. When it ends, I continue with the Activity Tracker.
Lance says
May 7, 2009 at 3:50 amOkay…I’ve been known to go in drag….(wait…I think I’ll be there is spirit…)
Good luck, and great idea!!
Bonnie says
May 7, 2009 at 2:45 pmThis is such a cool idea! Count me in! I’ve joined the team, I just had my physical a few weeks ago, and I’m raring to go!!!!
The Daily Mel says
May 11, 2009 at 7:16 pmI’m a day late getting to the party, but I’ve signed up again this year. Go Team MizFit! 🙂
Marine Paint : says
October 27, 2010 at 3:44 pmthe desk chairs that our mom use are always leather based instead of using cloth covers”;~