April 4th to May 31st 2021 Challenge

[Cele21]

Hello and welcome to the 3rd challenge of 2021!

Besides celebrating our scaled and non-scaled victories and progress with our physical selves, I want to try something new for 2021, I want to add an extra challenge (suggested by my hubby). Choose something you can do every day for yourself to add a bit of brightness and joy to your life. Like to read but haven't lately? Pick a book and spend 10 to 15 minutes with it. Like to craft, color, paint, sing, dance, bake, cook, spend time in prayer? Well, you get the idea. Do it for YOU, every day. Let us know what you're doing and how doing it more is affecting you.

Anyone is welcome to join in at any time, just hit reply on the most recent post and let us know a bit about yourself.

Following are some acronyms typically used by those who post. Some of us also track body fat or measurements, etc. please add those as you wish.

USW - Ultimate start weight

SW - starting weight for this challenge

CW - current weight 

PW - previous week's weight/weigh-in

LW - last weight/weigh-in

GW - goal weight for the challenge

MGW - mini goal weight

UGW- ultimate goal weight

To join the challenge, please just hit 'reply' and post!

If you want to respond to or 'tag' a particular person with your response, type in @ and you will get a drop down box of recent users to choose from, this will alert them that someone has responded to something they posted and we will all see who you are talking to or about. For example: @_Lilac_  hope to see you here!

[Cele21]

Current starting weight - 193.4 (4/4/21)

LW - 190.8

CW - 193.4

GW - 185.0 (5/31/21) 

Stretch goal weight - 183.0

Mini goal - 195.0 - Hit 9/16/20

New Mini goal - 185.0

UGW - 150.0

Keeping my same goal weight from the last challenge because I gained instead of lost. Hope this isn't a sign of insanity and that I do not continue doing the same habits and expect different results LOL!

[_Lilac_]

And here I am. Back to my original highest starting weight before I took off 100 lbs a few years ago. I'd gone through financial problems forcing me to take a sedentary job. Then I got lazy again and have stopped being active. Everything I do is on my butt, art, streaming, just everything. I've been going to the pool once in a while but I'm having a health issue that is one of those cause and effect things, and it's preventing me from being able to get there as often as I need to. When I walk, I'm putting so much pressure on my lower back that I'm in severe pain. I walk around the block and my heart rate is crazy high, I can barely get in the house, I shake all over, etc etc. So I can't easily walk to the pool for my water aerobics class. This is entirely caused by the weight I'm at. I'm having a lot of muscle cramping and weakness. My doctor is concerned about an electrolyte imbalance (I've had a history of this) and is sending me for bloodwork. I need to exercise but I hurt myself when I do...sigh. That same old story. 

Anyway, I'm back. I have to do this or I'm not going to last much longer the way things are. I'm tracking my food and will get to the pool. I MUST. 

USW - 380

SW - 380

CW - 380

LW - 378

GW - 370

MGW - 300

UGW- anything under 200

[Glenda]

@_Lilac_  Bless your heart!  Exercise IS good for health  but you can lose weight without it.  If you feel you must exercise some, maybe to minimize the damage it does to you,  you could just do hand weights or those stretchy bands.  Or some of those pedals like on bikes that you could use in any chair  so that you wouldn't need to walk somewhere?  

[Cele21]

@_Lilac_  Welcome back! I have been so worried about you! I agree with Glenda, there are so many chair exercises you can find on-line that will help you get the movement without hurting yourself in the process, just to get you started. Even marching your legs while sitting helps. Any arm work also burns calories. I know you are aware of all this but I had to say it again. You got this girl! DM me if you need to chat.

Current starting weight - 193.4 (4/4/21)

LW - 193.4

CW - 195.6

GW - 185.0 (5/31/21) 

Stretch goal weight - 183.0

Mini goal - 195.0 - Hit 9/16/20

New Mini goal - 185.0

UGW - 150.0

[Glenda]

@_Lilac_  I forgot to mention I googled "What is the absolute minimum exercise I can do that would be worthwhile and good for me?  ( or something like that and actually to DUCKDUCKGO)   The answer was:  Just "SIT TO STAND" !!!   LOL  you can do as many or few as you feel like and avoid raising your blood pressure and not have too far to go to get back home, like on a walk.  You are in shade, with a handy bathroom and a cool drink.  I think it is essential to find a way to enjoy, or at least not hate, exercise.  I don't like any exercise, but I've been doing it daily for many decades because I read while doing it.  I can't imagine doing something that causes pain.  You have amazing wonderful personality characteristics I don't possess.  I don't think you should be so hard on your self.  

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda Thanks for the information. 

@Cele21 Thanks for the welcome back. 

I am doing well. The last few days I've been keeping within my calorie allotment and have been doing a few things either around the house or going for a walk around the block, and of course drinking more water. 

I had my first covid vaccine on Tuesday last week and I've been so tired. We also had a covid case pop up at my YMCA so I'm going to see if they close for a few days for intensive cleaning. I went out with my mom today, which was nice because I got out of the house. I have some old old Richard Simmons videos that are low impact. And I can do the Happy Mile walk on youtube. I do have one of those pedal machines for under a desk or in a chair. I keep forgetting to use it when I'm at my desk!! I will put it right under my desk before bed so I can't forget it in the morning when I sit to work. 

Thanks for the encouragement. 

[Glenda]

@Cele21 & @_Lilac_  I tend to believe everyone has read everything I have read especially a 21 year old book.  But are you ladies familiar with Volumetrics  weight-control plan by Barbara Rolls and Robert Barnett?   It suggests how to increase volume and weight to the food you eat rather than lots of calories.  You can be full and more satisfied by eating more bulky food.  I haven't studied it or followed it carefully but I do try to bulk up my food with items so low in calories I don't even count them, like omelette with  bell peppers and dry button mushrooms etc.  You don't need to eat less.  You can eat big plates full of food and it isn't a diet disaster.  Logging the food you eat may work great for most people but I just try to  buy the lower calorie food.  Ole brand high fiber low calorie tortillas  are only 50 calories where some are 3 times as many.  Beyers Ice cream is 110 calories per 2/3 cup when lots of brands are 3 times as much.   So I think dieting in the grocery store  is more effective for me than logging everything.  I try not to buy chocolate chip cookies etc.  Does everyone already do this all the time??

[Cele21]

@Glenda 

I have found that calorie counting works better for me than anything else though high fiber/bulk low calorie foods are still a plus because you can fit more into your calorie goal and feel like you really ate a lot. I have some major downfalls/obstacles that I usually fall victim to - bread, fast food and soda.

I don't drink diet or zero calorie, just the regular stuff. I used to drink diet soda all the time and then switched because of all the artificial garbage in it and I actually lost a few pounds without changing anything else, including the quantity I was drinking. Now, if I have one soda it starts a chain reaction of craving, drinking soda, craving, drinking more soda, etc. So I have really cut back and drink a lot more water. The same thing with bread, I can have a breakfast sandwich (2 pcs of bread), a lunch sandwich (2 more pieces), a snack (1 piece) and bread with dinner (1 to 2 pieces) or pizza or pasta, that is a lot of un-necessary calories and high carb intake - even eating whole grain. I really have to think about what my day contains and make the plan to switch to soup or leftovers instead of a sandwich, etc. Fast food is my final ogre. We have so many places available within ten minutes of home and it is so easy to just stop at one of them instead of cooking, or when we're busy, or because I 'deserve' it. I struggle with this A LOT.

Exercise helps but the weight really comes down faster when I adjust my eating.

When grocery shopping, I try to buy more 'real' food and less processed but don't always succeed at that either.

[Cele21]

Current starting weight - 193.4 (4/4/21)

LW - 195.6

CW - 194.2

GW - 185.0 (5/31/21) 

Stretch goal weight - 183.0

Mini goal - 195.0 - Hit 9/16/20

New Mini goal - 185.0

Slowly getting back on track. Now to keep it heading down.

UGW - 150.0

[Glenda]

@Cele21   Surely almost everyone agrees that you are doing the right thing to avoid processed food and artificial stuff.  However I confess In my list of "blessings" and things I am grateful for, last is artificial sweeteners.  Thanks for your response.  I might not have seen it but I was looking for the entry in here somewhere where someone was trying to think of things they were grateful for and "letting go of the bad things".   When my husband died I was so depressed for years & finally just had to get myself out of that.  I did too.  I wanted to ask the person "letting go" how they were doing.  I learned 2 things that might be helpful and easy for anyone who is unhappy.  You don't have to think about letting go.  You can just refuse to think about the depressing things you have already thought about a jillion times.  Just switch your thoughts to something else.  I switched to things I'm grateful for in order of importance which is much more distracting and takes more concentration.  My list might apply to everyone reading this.  ....

                .I'm not a patient. I have clean water to drink, antibiotics, and vaccines to help keep me healthy.  I pay taxes which means I have a house with electricity for heat and air and refrigerated food and a washer.  I have clothes and shoes, car & fuel, phone, flush toilet.  We have an abundance of books, and recorded music.  And I'm grateful for artificial sweeteners

            It is not possible to think 2 different things at the same time.  So just switch to the good things.    When I was a very little child we had a radio and every day while I was having lunch there was LIVE (horrible) sort of country music on the radio.  I can still hear that theme song.  Today you don't have to be wealthy to hear a live symphony to hear beautiful music.  How lucky we are now.  I forgot to mention DUCKDUCKGO  my search engine on my computer.  I LOVE that.  And I really have to have my TV noise to keep me company.  It doesn't matter what is on it.

[Be50Gone]

I have been using fitbit one since 12/25/2012, and would go in spurts never losing or gaining more then 10lbs during the span of 8 years, then in February 2021, I just felt yucky and weighed myself and was at the highest weight I have ever been 204.8. Right then and there I decided I have had enough and ready for a real change in lifestyle, I hate having all that belly fat getting in the way of things I want to do. So on Feb 22nd I started my change that will follow me the rest of my life. I am a very fussy eater so it is a challenge, but for now I am doing the calories in and calories out, and doing conscious food selections but will not deprive myself of things that I love. I am hoping I will be an inspiration for hubby and son who need to lose more weight then me. I look forward to being part of a group.

USW: 204.8 (2/22/21)

SW: 197.2 (4/7/2021)

CW: 193.4 (4/19/21)

GW: 188

UGW:150 (2/22/2022)

During this time, I hope to do 10,000 steps a day and drink 64 oz of water.

[Cele21]

And I'm back up. Definitely missing something. Time for a deep dive into my habits, stress and to re-start my intake tracking.

Current starting weight - 193.4 (4/4/21)

LW - 194.2

CW - 195.8

GW - 185.0 (5/31/21) 

Stretch goal weight - 183.0

Mini goal - 195.0 - Hit 9/16/20

New Mini goal - 185.0

[Cele21]

Current starting weight - 193.4 (4/4/21)

LW - 195.8

CW - 195.4

GW - 185.0 (5/31/21) 

Stretch goal weight - 183.0

Mini goal - 195.0 - Hit 9/16/20

New Mini goal - 185.0

[Cele21]

Is anyone still here and interested in another challenge or am I alone?

I am willing to set up a new one if anyone wants.

Current starting weight - 193.4 (4/4/21)

LW - 195.4

CW - 197.2

GW - 185.0 (5/31/21) 

Stretch goal weight - 183.0

Mini goal - 195.0 - Hit 9/16/20

New Mini goal - 185.0

Did not hit my goal and gained.