The 2020 "You Can Do This" Challenge

Welcome to The 2020 Challenge.   This is going to be a fun group of people.  I opened up to all of my Facebook and we have people who don't know each other at all but all know me.... which means you are a diverse group.   Some of you I will see almost daily (when I'm done being sheltered in place) and some of you I haven't seen for 30 years.  Some of you have never been with me in person but have read old blogs, heard me speak, or have read my books.   I'm excited about us getting together to encourage each other.... and for you to meet each other.

Here's how it is going to work.

I will write a blog post each day and you comment on it.  I chose the blog intentionally because it means going somewhere besides Facebook and intentionally thinking about this every day.  About once a week we will have a Zoom call to hang out and "meet each other" and talk about our progress. The calls will be fun.   They won't seem like a support group or a Weight Watchers meeting because .... well just because I lead them and I am way too sarcastic for that kind of thing.

When I post I will be very transparent about everything (kinda how I do things) but expect you to only share what you want to share.

 Here are some guidelines of the group.

1).  This is a place where we encourage each other a lot and hold each other accountable.  You report what you are going to do and then later what you have done.  You choose your food plan, you choose your exercise plan, you decide how much you want to lose -- or if that isn't your goal, you choose how you want to change your lifestyle to be healthier.  We cheer each other on.

2). This is not a place where we judge each other or disagree about the methods or plans of others.  The point is that we all choose our own goals and we push each other to achieve them.   I have seen this work multiple times over the years.   Things get derailed when I try to set your goals or choose your diet or exercise plan.

3). This is not a place to try and sell some product or meal plan or essential oils or anything else.

So, this post is all about introductions.   So tell us who you are and a little bit about you.  You don't need to get into the diet or food plan stuff yet.... just introduce yourself to everyone in the comments so we can see who all is here.  You can put how you know me if you want, but that's optional.

I'll start.   So, I'm Claudia and I'm 56 and have battled with my weight all my life.  My son Tony, now 25, said to me, "Geez Mom, you've been on a diet since I was like 5 years old."  To which I responded, "Can you imagine how big I would be if I hadn't been?  I'd be on My 600 Pound Life!"

I am a mom of 12 adopted kids, the grandma of 9 awesome kids, and a pastor's wife.   I have spent the last 20 years working in adoption related fields and currently am a Chief Officer at a Family Service Agency.  The majority of the last 25 years I lived in Minnesota but came to Virginia 4 years ago for this position.

I love to work.... it's probably my hobby.  I used to write books but now nobody buys them so I'm done doing that. :-).  I also used to do a lot of speaking (including standup) but have cut down on that as well.  I see myself as being fun and positive and I'm pretty competitive.  Not sure how many social skills I currently have after being "sheltered at home" but I hope I am still those things when I get let back out into the real world.

And oh yeah -- I don't proofread.  :-)

Ok.... What about you?  Tell us whatever you want to about yourself.