2 lbs a week

[StarEcho]

I have had a lot of repetitive use injuries side line me this past year.  I did get down over 20 lbs last year only to gain 10 back.  But I am still down 10 from where I was this time last year.  I take heart in that fact.  And now I want to build upon it.  Starting with the first two pounds!

I want to lose 2 lbs a week.  No more than that simple amount.  Just 2 lbs.  I am currently at 360 lbs.  If I start today losing 2 lbs a week, I could be able to get down 104 in year.  I think I would just be happy to get down to 300 by the end of the year truth be told. 

Just two pounds.  No more.  No less.  Just two little pounds.

Who's up to join me?  The rules are simple.  Just post where you are today and in a week check back in and up date.  I will be doing it.

Today I weight 360 lbs, but who knows where I will be in a week....

[StarEcho]

Well, last week was a bust.  I gained three pounds!! 

I have had a chance to take a look at what I have been doing wrong.  I have been hit with some stress at work.  That lead to eating out of stress. 

I have made plans to go to the gym and start on the elliptical for 30 at least three times a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday).  I am also walking at my 2 pm break and getting at least 1/2 mile in.  Saturday and Sunday are big family days.  I would like to start rising early to go with my daughter, maybe put her in swimming class in the early morning so that we have a reason to be there.  I need to have a reason to go or I won't go.  I have lost track of how many times I come home and my mom wants the car for the night.  My plans go right out the door then.  That happens when you have one car though.  Tonight I have told my family that I won't be home right away.  I will be going to the gym instead. 

I am tweaking my meals.  I am fine with switching between a meal replacement shake (with frozen fruit to keep it interesting) and regular food for breakfast and lunch.  I want to keep my at work calorie intake to about 800 grand total for the day.  Dinner will be homemade fair with tons of veggies.  I don't have the money for fresh all the time.  I can do frozen or canned for now.  I do try to get whatever is "in season" fresh as that is typically more cost effective.  As the seasons movie along, more of the locally produced produce will become available at more affordable prices at the farmer's market in Overland.  Some one suggested I go up to Sulard in downtown St. Louis, but I have a strong distaste for city driving.  I try to avoid it. 

My weight:  358.  I won't let this stop me.  I really want to be zip lining this time next year!!  ( I have to get down to 275 for that.)

[Mrthekla]

I held weight this week, still at 230, which is down from my 248 start. So, no complaints. And I kind of expected that after how I ate this weekend. Superbowl beer drinking aside, I had some pretty high calorie meals. 

PS - Not sure how many calories you are burning per day, but an 800 calorie intake seems awful low. If you average much more than a 750 calorie deficiet in a day your body won't be your friend in helping you burn calories.  I would guess unless you are very sedentary you are burning 1600 to 1800 calories per day, not including additional from any workouts. So, 1000 to 1200 calories on rest days and 1400 to 1600 calories on workout days should be a good target. For veggies, you are right that fresh is best. If you can't, then go frozen. Canned seem to be largely a waste. You lose alot of goodness and pick up a lot of salt. Have a good amount of protein each day too. I like the general rule 25% fat, 25% protein and 50% carbs. Fat seems to be the hardest thing to cut down on. Protein isn't too difficult to balance (between protein powders, chicken and fish I get plenty). And getting enough carbs from good veggies can be a challenge. I often cheat an have some pasta or potatoes. But then again I'm targeting a 2200 calorie intake, so I have room for splurdging. 

[StarEcho]

The 800 is during work hours.  I have about 1500-2000 cal a day limit for the entire day.  Depending on activity level it goes up or down.

[AnnCharlotte]

Hi! I just got my Fitbit as a gift. I too could use much encouragement to lose weight. I am 62 and started going through Menopause at 48....(so I know what you are going through)..and thats when I started gaining weight. In Sept 2015 I retired from a not so active but extremely stressful job so this is my first winter at home. Last week we had 14 inches of snow here so nothing to do but hang out and eat.  I now have 5 beautiful grandchildren that I simply cannot keep up with and I could sure use a friend right now. I wish you the best in your weight loss adventure!

[Cindy6766]

I'll join you, StarEcho!

I have about 25 pounds to lose and decided on 1-2 pounds per week.  I start today.  Today I'm at 166. I'm tracking food here on FitBit.  Need to charge my FitBit tonight.  Starting gym this afternoon.  The gym has a contest that starts on February 19th.  Each team is headed by a personal trainer.  I think (HOPE) that will give me a jump start on keeping motivated.  

[stephpruitt]

Im in too-- tired of the yoyo.. Need to lose 41 lbs

[stephpruitt]

walmart ahs soem good frozen/organic veggies if the shelf hasnt been cleared o0ut. And lettuce is cheap all year long- try a big salad every day at lunch and use beans as your protein- I bought the Eat to Live cookbook and it has great ideas  you will lose 20 lbs in 6 weeks

[StarEcho]

Well, I have buckled down and said no to my fave food like french fries, mini kit kats, and the biggie ice cream.  On those times it becomes hard to resist, I steal a bit and savor it.  The craving suddenly goes away and I can get on with life.  Making my kids plate is the hardest.  She has all the fun things like popcorn chicken and french fries.  I have a baked chicken breast and a salad.  The good thing is that she is starting to ask for salad too.  She wants to eat what mommy eats.  So prehaps the day of french fries and popcorn chicken in my house are numbered!!

Weight 355 lbs.

[ohjebus]

I would love to join you in your journey. I lost 35 Lbs last year and even won a weightloss challenge at a local gym but have started to slide back up. I do good for a week and then crash for 2. Trying to get motivated and stick with it. I know how to do it, I know I Can do it, now I just have to do it. That's it. DO IT. I'm 40 , 5'4 and currently 172 Lbs. Looking to lose 1-2 a week. Lets do this !

[stephpruitt]

would love to I am an stress overeater:( Im 54 and 185 and 5 foot 7

[StarEcho]

Last week I got down to 353.  A horribly rush weekend and I have gained some of it back!!!  I think pizza and stress have a lot to do with it. 

I go to the doctors this week to see if he will clear me to join the YMCA weightloss challgene.  I really miss doing that.  I had a great time working with a trainer and seen good results.  This week I do start back at the gym in earnest.  I have a friend that will be meeting me there. 

I spent lots of money at the store getting fresh veggies this weekend.  I sat there for an hour preping them for snacks and meals.  I even packed my lunch for a few days and got a head start on a few other meals.  One is butternut squash, lean pork chops with onions in a pan ready to be put into oven tonight for dinner!! 

I am trading out soda for fruit infused water.  So far I have only tried strawberry/blueberry mix.  Not bad.  Not good.  Just a fruity water.  I have some frozen fruits peach/pineapple/starwberry thing that I plan to put in it next. 

Spoiler

 no spoiler just hit the wrong button lol

[electricburrito]

I will join! I am looking to lose ~30 lbs. I recently gained a lot of weight quickly, and I am definitely feeling its effects. I've been "trying" to lose weight for the past year but instead I've just been gaining. 

I just got a fitbit so I'm not completely sure how challenges and friends work yet, but feel free to add me.

@StarEcho you're doing really well! 

[RaynaB]

Ill join too. Any help is good. One thing that I do that helps a lot for cleaner/healthier eating is every sunday I make food for the entire week. I have a food saver. I spend sunday cooking the food and then sealing it in the food saver. I cut up veggies and fruits and put them in separate containers. I also make eggs and bacon for breakfast. Then each morning I grab a couple of bags of food for work. When I get home I cut open a bag of meat, heat it up with some veggies and dinner is done in a matter of minutes. This also helps for when I wait too long to eat and have to eat that minute. There is always cucumbers or celery cut up that I can grab as quickly as I could some cookies. Its not always as satisifying... lol. It helps me a lot to be prepared. On weeks i dont do this, I usually end up eating a bunch of junk. oh I also drink a shake a few times a week as a replacement for a meal (usually instead of breakfast). I like the herbalife ones, but any of them help. I try to stay away from carbs as much as possible. But I LOVE carbs.

[StarEcho]

Who doesn't like carbs!! I have such a hard time keeping away from them.  I really have to fight my cravings, but there are times I cave. 

I am down to 352 now.  Walking at work on my breaks and cycling at the gym are starting to work.  This evening I am planning to do Aqua Dance at the YMCA.  It is a workout and because it is in the water I don't realize I am sweating. 

Weigh in today:  352!!!!!!

[LedMatrix]

I would join but I'm to the point where a half pound in a week is good. It's nice in the beginning though. WHen you're way over weight you can easiy lose 5-10 lbs the first week, and close to that the second week. As you get closer to your goal it will become more and more difficult to hit 2lbs a week.

[StarEcho]

This was not an easy weekend.  I had to rest my knee.  I have had some water weight jump on me over the weekend.  It will be gone by Tuesday.  Went from 351 to 355.  Four pounds up.  Definiatly water. 

I want to break 350 this week and have a healthy start tward 340.  I have spin class today at the YMCA and a good handle on what I want to do for the rest of the week.

My doctor wants me to hold off on doing the YMCA challenge group again.  He thinks I need to strengthen my knee a bit more before I start back. 

I have  a good ideal what worked last week and what I need to do to keep the burn going.

[saschrader]

Walmart sells a Raspberry Ketone for $5/60 count for a appetite suppression. I take only one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This is a natural way without caffeine to help with any over eating. I don't recommend starting out with two. Listen to your body and drink plenty of water every day. Good Luck!

[StarEcho]

Just as I thought, the extra weight all dropped off accept for one pound.  With having done spin class and walked at work all week, I know this is just an exchange of fat for muscle. 

I need it too!  Spin class really pushed me.  I managed to get 13 miles in.  Up by 2 from when I started.  I also did more of the grinds and jumps than I had before. 

I did Aqua Dance class.  Like Zumba in the water.  It was fun.  Did twist my knee.  I plan to rest it this weekend.  I want to try to get in a body pump class on Sunday.  I don't know though as the stepper is used.  I don't want to push the knee too fast. 

352 lbs

[StarEcho]

Well, I had a restful weekend.  So rested infact I hit up spin class again.  It was great.  I actually got more out of it than I had last time.  I know I will feel it today or tomorrow.  I got great sleep last night too.  I have walking the dog as the only real work out set up for today.  Might do a yoga video to get the tightness out of my muscles. 

[StarEcho]

I managed to hit the gym three days.  I did cycling two days and aqua dance one day.  I managed to got five miles in at work one day.  I want to start taking aqua fitness on Saturday.

I didn't go up in weight at the same time I didn't lose. 

352 lbs