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!!

[dancefoxtrot]

Welcome @IdahoSandy

Come here as often as you like. We will root for you to meet your goals. It sounds like you have done yourself a huge favor to lower your BP. I known people that got off medication when they got down to their healthy weight.

Best,

Barbara G

[GershonSurge]

There is no support for healthy people on Fitbit. 

Goodbye.

[_Lilac_]

The weather man has now thwarted my attempts to go to the pool this morning. I can't seem to catch a break. We have had, and are in the midst of, a freezing rain/ice storm. I hope all my stuff is charged up because it's these types of storms that knock out the power. 

I didn't eat enough over the last few days. And I feel dehydrated even though I've been drinking my water and hot tea without anything in it. I was dry mouthed all night and didn't wake up to run to the bathroom a few times like I usually do. I'm not swollen so I don't think it's water retention. This whole being super-conscious of my body systems is getting to be work! Today, I'll drink extra, eat enough, exercise, and try not to go stir crazy trapped inside the house due to weather.

I'm very glad it is recognized here that everyone is different, their bodies are different, and we all have our own ways of doing things to make us healthy. Some are just starting out, some are old-hats at this. Sudden, severe changes can cause a disaster. Slow and steady wins the race, right? 

Thanks for being such a great, supportive group. We need positivity in our struggle. I know I do. 

[smwcbrie]

@IdahoSandy30 pounds is super impressive. Congrats!

[alegria16]

USW (6/19/16) = 204 lbs
SW (12/26/16) = 193

CW (1/2/16) = 192
GW (2/14/16) = 187
UGW = 155

Thank you, @_Lilac_ and @Bobbinyc, for your words of encouragement regarding dating again. We were both so excited to meet up again that we had date #2 on Sunday. He helped cook dinner at my place. It was a good way to have the celiac and food allergy talk, and he wasn't scared off. We chatted for hours and are looking forward to another date.

[smwcbrie]

@_Lilac_You don't suppose your meds are contributing to your feeling dehydrated and the dry mouth? I know certain meds can have those nice side effects. In any case, I hope you level out soon. It must be frustrating.

Stay safe in the wicked weather!

[_Lilac_]

@smwcbrie None of my pills have changed recently. I have made an effort to do extra exertion during my workouts, which could be causing me to burn off the water in sweat. Mom and I did an extra lap of the mall at a really good pace yesterday. Her boyfriend says our lap is 12 min long. We did 4 laps that took us 48 min-ish. I didn't get in my first amount of water for an hour after that workout, so that's probably the cause. I couldn't replenish right away. And then without eating enough, it was just a weird day. Today will be much better. 

[_Lilac_]

@alegria16  Yay yay yay. I'm so happy for you! I've sworn up and down that I'm not getting involved again, after surviving two husbands, but there is still a longing for companionship and friendship, someone around to just talk to, ya know? Maybe someday I'll be able to let my guard down enough to delve into those waters. I'm so glad you have made that step and can enjoy yourself. You deserve it!!!

[_Lilac_]

Speaking of 'everyone is different' and 'everyone loses differently', I'll tell you my body is on an 8 or 9 day cycle, which means I don't lose anything for a week but on that 8 or 9th day I'll drop. Having said that, I'm here to officially announce I've lost 35.4 lb. I hit 319.4 today. Woot!! I was waiting so long for that 'under 320' number to show up! I got my little 35lb badge from fitbit. 

As you can tell from all the posts I've made today, I'm on my butt. That is going to stop right now. I'm going to go do a bunch of housework and get a sweat going. 

Happy moving and happy grooving everyone!!!

[smwcbrie]

@_Lilac_Congratulations!!! That's a great accomplishment, and inspiring! 🙂

I work from home at a desk job so I spend an awful lot of time on my butt. I got the treadmill for this very reason, so I could jump on it during down time. I managed to get in 4.6 miles yesterday (a couple of those miles in one go, a couple of those took a few attempts, LOL). You inspire me to do that again today. 🙂

[bookseller]

@_Lilac_Congratulations! That's fantastic! Since I'm new here...would love to know what's working for you!

[bookseller]

4th day of using fitbit...and have hit the 10,000 steps each day! But, ha, I'm tired...like bone tired, though in a good way, if that makes sense. I'm expecting my Aria scale tomorrow and then I'l weigh myself Friday morning...with the hope of being below 150. I'd really like to be at 142 by Feb. 9 for my anniversary trip to Hawaii. I've been super committed to logging my food too, which has been oh so interesting and ha, I think I see now, why I've been gaining weight....basically, toooooo much going in, and not enough going out....though this week has been different! 

All this being said, I'm also trying to be ok with getting in my swimsuit the way I am...I keep thinking of this quote by Anne Lamott: Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen. Now; today. Do one wild and crazy thing: wears shorts out in public if it is hot, even if your legs are milky white or heavy.Put something on the calendar that you know you’ll be terrible at, like dance lessons, or a meditation retreat, or boot camp. Let me ask you this: in the big juicy Zorba scheme of things, who f**king cares?

[MaryFolse]

USW- I was 223 in January 2016....HURRAY....yeah....not no more!

CSW- 192 this morning....I tend to waffle about 5 lbs south of this for the last two months...time to change that

GW- 182....Oh I hope so....

UGW- 160

PW- Highest weight was 237, about 11 years ago..

I was using Fitness Pal but went to Sparkpeople a few months ago and I haven't looked back.

LOVE my fitbit!

I am totally game for accountability.  My most successful efforts have always included "company" and friendships.  

My most recent post on facebook has affirmed my desire to become "stronger"...add some strength training and being conscious that maintaining energy is done by eating correctly and having metabolically active MUSCLE.

Good luck to all....

I hope I don't become a PEST....LOL!    

[_Lilac_]

@bookseller  I LOVE this. It's what I've been aspiring to do. I went to my work Christmas party in December and danced for the first time in 30 years. (!!!) Of course it took a few rum and eggnogs to get me up there, but heck, I did it!!! I also walked 18,000 steps that day (10km) for the hell of it in -25C. I've been doing new things, going beyond what I thought I could do, joined a writers' group (quit that though cuz of issues), reached out to old friends, have been keeping up with my housework so much better than I used to, bought a treadmill (!!!), laugh more, go out every day and watch what's going on around me and see the weird people. I'm just having a great time and living life, ya know? I've always been really big, so I've dealt with the old 'can't do that because of my jiggly body' all my life but you get over it. I wear bathing suits, I go to the beach, I wear shorts, sleeveless shirts. No one cares, truly. They are more worried about how THEY look. However, I do have an overall self-consciousness that didn't allow me to dance in 30 yrs!!! I had a horrible shyness when I was a kid, wouldn't speak, adults sounded like they spoke a foreign language, I wouldn't join in when my classmates went for storytime in the corner, etc. 'Joining' things is an issue for me. Anyway, I'm trying to be happy and throw off the 'you can't do that' attitude. I can do any darned thing I want! LOL

[Cherylwith5]

USW- 231

CSW- 210.8

GW- 195  (for Feb 14)

UGW- 135

CW- 210.8 (1/4/2017)

MFP- Cherylwith5@gmail.com

5' 1"

47 yo

[_Lilac_]

@bookseller I don't know what works for me. Haha. I know that sounds silly, but I'm just tracking all my food, tracking all my activity, drinking 2-3 litres of water per day.

I do water aerobics classes at the Y, I walk the dogs every day for 30-40min, I do laps of the mall with my mom, I eat fresh (no canned or frozen). No pasta or rice because they make me starve.  10,000 steps per day is my goal, including two sessions of 30-40min at fat burning/aerobic level as per my heartrate tracked by my blaze. My mom swears it's all about food (and she can lose by 'dieting'), but I can't lose unless I move my butt, no matter what I'm eating. As long as I know this about myself, I'm going to hit my targets. 

I must add, I am at home and not working currently, due to a disability. This schedule would be difficult if I was working and had small kids. And, when I first started this, I was losing too quickly. I was on a diuretic for blood pressure control and I was dropping 4-5 lbs per week for a bit. I ended up in the hospital. So, going all out is not the way. Moderation is important. 

I am enjoying my life, having fun, getting and giving support here, celebrating when I achieve a goal, giggle when my clothes are too big, etc. If that's what 'works' for me, that's great.

[HeartBiller]

Well I am on day 3 of the 21 day Daniel Fast. So far so good! I am not only looking forward to growing closer to the Lord, I am hoping this will help with my weight loss as well.

Today I was downloading a physician form to take to the Dr with me today, which when filled out it gets me a $75 discount on my health insurance, so I do it every year. I noticed when printing it this morning that this will be the first year that I have had it filled out, which I have not gained weight from the previous year. That alone is exciting to me. BUT having lost 40 pounds (if the Dr scale is close to mine...lol) since the last form was filled out and that makes me super happy...

I hope each of you are doing well with your New Year plans. I really didn't make a resolution this year.... They never work out for me anyhow...lol. So I just decided to stay on the path I am on and work on getting the rest of my weight off and growing closer to the Lord. This could be the year I reach my goal. What a blessing that would be!

I can't tell you all enough how inspiring this group is to me. It truly is a major help to just get on here and read about the will power so many of you have. I know I am doing better...BUT I sure do not have the willpower of some of you...lol. I just wanted you all to know how much I look forward to catching a few minutes to be able to check in and read all the wonderful inspirational messages!

[HeartBiller]

@IdahoSandyWe sound very similar. I started about a month before you. After I had lost about 30 pounds I ended up off my BP meds. It was lowering it too low. So I was super excited to get off of them. I was taking it twice a day and now do not take any. Hopefully it will work the same for you. However we all know.... We are all different and it effects each differently. Being a teacher would be enough to raise my BP...lol. I give you props for that.. Dealing with so many kids in a day... You deserve props...lol. I know it is for so many and I thank God for you all... BUT it is not for me...lol. I raised 2 girls.. and am now raising a grandson.. and he is wearing me out in school. He is so different than my girls were...lol. When I go to his school and talk with the teachers I always say, Lord I am so glad these people have patients,,,lol.

Anyhow, this group is so awesome for support and inspiration. I am not a pro at it like a lot of the others appear to be...lol, but I do love to come here and read and do my weigh in's. It does seem to help you feel more accountable when you are typing them on here. Plus it really helps to read the stories and know that so many are going through exactly the same thing you are.

[smwcbrie]

So, I did a quick search to see what my calorie deficit needs to be to lose a pound per week since I couldn't remember off the top of my head. What came up was an article for practitioners on how the 3,500 calorie model was outdated (http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/111114p36.shtml), and a link to a calculator from the National Institute of Health (and a video on how to use the calculator: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/research-funding/at-niddk/labs-branches/LBM/integrative-physiology-section...).

Did you know the 3,500 calorie thing came about in 1958? Stands to reason that it may be off. The calculator is more than an age/height/weight thing -- it makes you guage your current activity, what you will add to current activity if anything, and your timeframe for weightloss. Thought I'd share just in case it may be helpful to anyone. Sorry if this has been shared before.

[_Lilac_]

@smwcbrie  I went to the site, put in my numbers, and found it to be exactly what fitbit tells me. So I would guess fitbit is using the same math. I burn 3800 calories and based on my height, weight, goal weight and time frame, my activity level...I can eat 2500 calories or more. Fitbit nods its agreement. I struggle to eat 2000. I think fitbit has been very diligent in being as accurate as possible and to make it as easy as possible for the users. Big thumbs up.