Christmas 2016 to Valentine's Day 2017 Challenge

[Bobbinyc]

Welcome all Challengers!  What an amazing group we have!

Let's all continue together to take off the excess pounds and keep getting healthier.

This challenge will begin on Christmas and finish on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. 

All you need to join this challenge is to post your stats regarding your weight, and check in weekly or as often as you'd like. We are a great support group and enjoy keeping up with each other and being there for our ups and downs.  Generally we have found that the more we check in and offer support, tips, info,  and ideas to others, the more we get for ourselves.

We list our weight, as well as any other goals we might have related to being healthy (such as increase water, more active minutes, etc).  Developing good health habits is primary.

A little rundown of terminology for anyone who is new.

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight

CSW- Current Starting Weight (for this challenge)

GW- Goal Weight   (for Feb 14)

UGW- Ultimate Goal Weight   (what your healthy target weight is)

PW- Previous Weight

CW- Current Weight

MFP- My Fitness Pal

List as much info as you like.  Some people include age, gender, height....whatever seems relevant to you.

We keep it as serious or light as we feel, but we always keep it focused on being as healthy as possible, while we support each other kindly.  We can do this together!!

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  I may have missed something, but have you been eating less lately?  Far be it for me to say anything (the woman who can't get the scale to budge at all for months!), but since you are active, please make sure you are nourishing your body a lot.  You sound like you are coming down with something.  I'm making a nice soup I wish I could give you.  I'm glad your daughter is there too.  My son was here several days and I got used to having that company.  Miss him even more now.

[HeartBiller]

I know I am sadly behind on this challenge. I went MIA for a little while. The holidays and this end of year stuff for work overwhelmed me. I really just today feel as if I am somewhat catching my breath. I didn't make my Christmas goal. Yep, was sad, But OK...lol. This is a life long journey, I will not beat myself up over a small set back. I will prevail and move on. I am pushing myself with the Feb 14th goal, (I think) but our church is starting the Daniel Fast on Jan. 2nd so I am hoping that will help me a lot...lol. Either way, I am going to give it my all. I really want this and I realize I am the only one who can make it happen.

I hope to get back on track with chiming in here. I really enjoy this group and am always inspired by everyone.

I have always weighed on Tuesday's, but I think starting Jan 1st I am going to change that to weighing everyday, but only posting once a week....But who knows.. I may get happy and post everyday..lol. I want to get more focused and be accountable tomorrow for what I am eating today so to speak. Who knows, I guess we will see...lol.

Well I am off to finish my year end here at the office. Hope you all have a wonderful evening

MY stats
USW - 210.0 lbs April 25th 2016
SW   - 173.0 lbs 12/30/16

GW   - 163.0 lbs - Feb 14th 2017
UGW - 125.0 lbs

[Glenda]

                                    Alegria, So happy for you for being brave and trying something new.  My daughter was married last May to such a sweet handsome man she met online.  Sounds like you are way ahead of most people already.  Valerie said it as a LOT of work for her but  worth it,  she is so happy now.!  Hope all goes well for you.  Best wishes.  Glenda

[verocantin]

I wanna start the challenge

CW: 135lb

GW: 121lbs

age:15

female

5"5 1/2

does anyone have any tips for me?

[Bobbinyc]

@HeartBiller You have lost quite a bit since you started.  There is no reason at all to get down on yourself for briefly getting off track.  The trick is to bounce back.  Fresh start.  I find that the more I post, the more I am focused on being healthy.  I had a lot of habits I wanted to change - drinking more water, adding more veggies, walking, stretching, balance, etc.  I can't hold all of that in my little old brain without a lot of focus.  This group helps so much with that.  I have no doubt you will get there.

[Bobbinyc]

@verocantin  Hi and welcome to the challenge.  Without knowing much about you we can't recommend anything specific.  But I think we all agree that keeping it healthy works best and works long term.  That means no junk food, no refined carbs or sugar (or at least not too much) lots of veggies and salads, and lean protein.  Drink water instead of soda.  That said, I don't think I could have done that easily at your age.  Is your family supportive?  How do they eat?  Are you physically active?  What do you like to do?  Keeping active and strong helps a lot too.  Keep posting here, let us know how you are doing, and you'll soon see what works for you.  You have a lot of courage for trying this - good for you!

[verocantin]

I'm very active!! I ski a lot, play volleyball, skate, walk a lot so I'm
super active and my family is supportive

[Glenda]

                                    Bobbin,  Well done advice for a teen.  

[_Lilac_]

I did the 5000 step walk with Mom earlier then I went out for supper with a friend. After dinner I felt crappy for eating something I shouldn't have so I got on the treadmill for another 30 min at a good pace. I'm still 'under' for my calories so I didn't do horribly, though the calories could have been from a healthier source. I didn't finish the meal, stopped when I felt I should. Oh well, I'm still doing well. It was an early New Years celebration for me. Over 10,000 steps with a full 72 min at over 120bpm today. Two days til weigh in. 

I hope everyone is feeling well and eating healthy. I wish you lots of energy to hit your goals this week.

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc I'm not eating less. I'm not going to put my body into too high a deficit. That just screws stuff up. I don't get hungry early in the morning usually so I forget to eat before I work out and then it pushes my meals later into the day. 

I have a soup planned for tomorrow. All veggies in a tomato-ey/chicken broth base. It will be very good. I am also making banana bread muffins. I have a few loads of laundry to do so it will be a suzie homemaker day. Along with treadmill time and walking the dogs time, I'll be quite busy. 

I never make plans for New Years. I just stay in, off the roads, and allow the world to go crazy around me. Hahaha.

Everyone have a great New Years Eve day!

[GettingfitinSC]

I just did the 1 mile Happy Walk with Leslie Sonsone again today. I love getting in another 1500-2000 steps in the evening. I had already met my personal goal of 8000 steps for the day and actually got to 11,000 steps. 🙂 After a week or so of getting 8000 with no problems, I'll up my goal to 10,000 steps. I think I'll be able to do it. Again, my toddler loved doing the walk and 'dancing' with me. It was a little extra workout because I carried him part of the time. Boy, I'd love to put a fitbit on him for the day to see how many step he takes. If only I could have half of his energy.. 

I start back teaching next week after a 2 1/2 week Christmas break. I've been making plans on how to get in extra steps- everything from walking around the classroom to making a walking club at recess. My 3rd grade girls and some of the boys would probably love it. I may try it for once a week or so. Since I've been home during the day, I've been going outside for a 15 min walk 3-5 times a day, but I won't be able to do that next week. I'll have to do more sustained walking for a longer chunk at a time, which is what I gave up on pretty quickly in the past. I'm thinking of trying one of the longer online walking videos in the evenings to get my steps in. I'm determined to stick with it. 🙂 

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  My favorite way to spend New Year's Eve is to sit by a fire, good book, good music, maybe some friends, think about the year and what I want for next year, eat a good meal and go to sleep early.  I know, I know, too wild.

[_Lilac_]

@GettingfitinSC  There are so many videos. Leslie Sansone has more that are longer or higher intensity, etc. If you want a 30 min workout, just take on her 3 mile and stop at 30 min, making sure to do a cool down, or...as my daughter does...she does the 15 min happy mile twice in a row. I also like looking at the scenic videos of hikes. You travel a trail in a mountain park or through rainforesty areas. You can do the steps from Leslie Sansone videos while you are trekking through mountains. So many options on youtube.

[Bobbinyc]

@Glenda  Thanks, Glenda.

[GettingfitinSC]

@_Lilac_ I just looked up some hiking videos. I've never done those before, and they look really neat. I'll try that one day soon, maybe tomorrow. Thanks for the tips. 🙂 Hope you're feeling better today- no more chills and tiredness.

[Bobbinyc]

@verocantin Being active and having support gets you most of the way.  Have you checked with a doc about the amount of weight you want to lose?  Do you know how you gained it?  Being that active, it could be a lot of muscle.  I assume you eat at home and the meals are healthy? (not processed, no refined carbs or sugar, lots of veggies)

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_ which hiking videos do you watch?  I had made some years ago (on video film,not digital) and loved watching them while I was on a treadmill.  Helped the time pass wonderfully.

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc  I've done a Banff park walk I think. Many of them are from the northwest coast, I noticed. I haven't done an extensive search. I might look some up tomorrow.

[Jeff2017]

Age 50/Male/5'10"

USW- 235

CSW- 227

GW- 215

UGW- 170- weighed 180 at discharge of Army 1991. Have not weighed 170 since I was like a teenager. So to hit 170 would be a huge goal for me.

PW- Highest 240

CW- 227

I got my Blaze for Xmas, but I have been going to the gym and hired a personal trainer since around October 19th. 

I also created a fitbit group https://www.fitbit.com/group/2353FS feel free to join. Another way to challenge each other. You dont need to be a Seahawks fan, but I will take any converts. 😉

[Bobbinyc]

@Jeff2017 Welcome to this Challenge.  You have found an amazing group of supportive, determined people.