The Challenge Pot is $117!

Kong won $87.75!

Hearts with Haiti benefits with $29.25!

And the Winner is....

In third place is Linh (right) with 70 points...
In second place is Jamie (center) with 71 points...


And in first place is Kong (left) with a total of 72 points....

1.  Kong (72)
2.  Jamie (71)
3.  Linh (70)
4.  Saguna (64)
5.  Sindy (56)
6.  Alison (53)
     Janet (53)
7.  Diane (50)
     Rachel (50)
8.  Debbie (49)
     Laura (49)
9.  Ursula *waiting on final tally
10.Barb *waiting on final tally

Week Twelve: THE END

You did it!  Three months of working out!

Congratulations to Debbie, Diane, Janet, Laura, and Rachel for pulling through to earn their $20 at the end of the Challenge as well.

Alison:  4
Barb:  4
Debbie:  6
Diane:  5
Jamie: 6 
Janet:  6  
Laura:  4
Linh:  6
Kong:  6   
Rachel: 4 
Saguna:  6
Sindy:  4 
Ursula:  5

Owes $:
Alison - (-$20)
Barb - $21
Debbie - (-$16)
Diane - (-$20)
Jamie - (-$20)
Janet - (-$20)
Laura - (-$19)
Linh - (-$20)
Kong - (-$20)
Rachel - $7
Sindy -(-$19)
Ursula - (-$20)

Week Eleven: SUMMARY

Workout Queens and Kings, Jamie, Linh, and Kong, led another week with six workouts each.  As promised, Di and Rachel brought five workouts to the plate this week.  Alison, Debbie, Janet, Sindy, and I met our weekly Challenge commitment with 4 workouts each.

Congratulations to Alison and Sindy for hitting their 48 point commitment and earning their $20 back!

Also, special congrats to Sindy for running the GW Parkway Classic 10 miler.  Best of luck to Kong and Linh as they run the Crystal Run 5K this Friday with me.  Let me know if you want to come as well!

Alison:  4
Barb: 2 - owes $1
Debbie:  4
Diane:  5
Jamie:  6  (plus one "Try Something New" bonus point for Gardening)
Janet:  4 
Laura:
Linh:  6 (plus one "Try Something New" bonus point for Hot Yoga)
Kong:  6   
Rachel:  5
Saguna:  4
Sindy:  4 (plus one Race bonus point)
Ursula:

Owes $:
Alison - (-20)
Barb - $21
Debbie - $4
Jamie - (-$20)
Laura - $1
Linh - (-$20)
Kong - (-$20)
Rachel - $27
Sindy -(-$19)

Don't Let Allergies Be an Excuse to Not Work Out

Up to this year, I have been fortunate not to be plagued by seasonal allergies.  Then, WHAM...mucus, phlegm, headaches...ughhhh, the inability to breathe....  Allergies!

I was feeling so strong all season and now what?!!  Well, hell if I'm going to let some stupid pollen keep me from enjoying this gorgeous weather.  If you are plagued by seasonal allergies, here are some tips to help you keep moving:

• Avoid morning workouts. Allergens peak from 5-10 a.m. to noon, which means if you're a morning exerciser you may want to hold off until later in the day.
• If the rain rolls in, that doesn't mean you have to head to the gym. In fact, rain washes away the pollen, which means that one of the best times for an allergy sufferer to work out outdoors is right after it rains.
• Avoid exercising in places where the pollen is at its greatest (i.e. parks, fields, trails, etc.) and stick to places that have a lower pollen counts (i.e. beaches, gyms, basketball or tennis courts, etc.).
• After being outside, shower and change your clothes so you don’t keep carrying the pollen with you.
• Sleep with the windows closed so you don’t start the day congested.
• Learn to use a neti pot and saline solution to cleanse your nose daily during allergy season. Studies have shown that cleansing the nasal passages daily can be a first line of defense against allergies

If all else fails, hit the gym. A little cross-training might be just what you need anyway.  Don't let a little pollen stop you on your quest for health!

Getting $20 Back

As a reminder, you have two weeks to get your points up to 48 (if you aren't there already).  So do the math and make up the time or utilize the bonus point system to get up to 48.

Week Ten: SUMMARY

Can you believe it is already Week Ten?  Two more weeks to go....

Linh gets top exerciser this week for working out another 7 days!  Jamie and Kong topped off another week with 6 workouts each.  I sit alone with 5 days of exercise.  And clearly, it was the week of FOUR when Diane, Janet, Laura, Rachel, Sindy, and Ursula met their Challenge goals.  Barb also rocked out her week with another 3. 

Also, note that the Challenge Dinner Party is rescheduled for Wednesday, April 27th!  Evite to follow.

Alison:  4
Barb:  3 - owes $1
Debbie: 2 - owes $1
Diane:  4
Jamie:  6
Janet:  4
Laura:  4 (plus one "Try Something New" bonus point for an 8-mile backpacking trip)
Linh:  6
Kong:  6 (plus one "Try Something New" bonus point for a body pump class)   
Rachel:  4
Saguna:  5
Sindy:  4
Ursula:  4

Owes $:
Barb - $20
Debbie - $5
Jamie - (-$20)
Laura - $1
Linh - (-$20)
Kong - (-$20)
Rachel - $27
Sindy - $1