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]

Perhaps those of you living further north can help me out.  I have been to the stores around here - department stores and sporting good stores.  And I can't find any hiking shoes/boots that would be good on icy/slippery roads or wet rocky areas.  I am not used to shopping online - or any shopping for that matter.  And the stores in my area don't carry things large enough for me.  Only skinny people shop?  I can't even find mittens - was told they aren't in style this year!  I really want to be able to get out there as the weather gets colder and colder.  @_Lilac_ - you seem to be walking on ice all the time - what do you wear?  Do you put those cleats on your shoes?  Are there discount places online to shop for this stuff?  

Thanks so much.

[Gayle1018]

@Bobbinyc

if you google cleats for shoes - brings up a couple of order on line < $20 and you can put them on your shoes and boots. 

May look into some for me too!!  be safe

Just found some on Amazon.com for $13... So Now I won't slip either,  was pretty dicey last week around here on the ice. 

[em.kz]

Alrighty time for my weekly weight update! I'm really happy with my progress so far, but these numbers may be decieving. Just a few days ago my scale read 160. Because I've only just begun weighing myself daily, I'm not tuned-in to what normal fluxuation looks like. I've had a rough couple weeks not only getting the weight off but keeping it off! Does anyone else experience weight fluxuation like this on a daily basis?

USW - 161.6 (12/25/16)

CSW - 161.6 (12/25/16)

CW - 159.4 (12/30/16)

CW - 158.6 (01/06/17)

CW -  (01/13/17)

CW -  (01/20/17)

CW -  (01/27/17)

CW - (02/03/17)

CW - (02/10/17)

GW - 155 (2/14/17)

UGW #1 - 140

UGW #2 - 135

Oh well, I'm off to take my dog for a walk and get some steps in! Unfortunately it's too cold for him so we can't go on a particularly long walk.

[bookseller]

So my aria scale arrived and I weighed myself. After a week of walking 10,000 steps a day and religiously logging my food, keeping my calories within range, I did. not. lose. an. ounce. Super bummed. 😞

[smwcbrie]

@booksellerDo you mean that you weighed yourself for the first time ever on the aria and it didn't change from what you weighed on whatever you weighed yourself before?

[bookseller]

Yes. First time I weighed on Aria.

[smwcbrie]

@booksellerOk, then I'd call this first weigh with the aria a success because the idea that two scales are going to be exact in how they weigh, I think that'd be a bit miraculous. The real test will be your weight tomorrow or a week from now or whenever, on the same device. I was weighing daily, and that works for me. But some people fare better doing it more sporadically.

I will say that you should do your best to weigh at the same time every day, wearing the same thing (or wearing nothing at all) every time.

Good luck and chin up -- you can only do your best and if this were easy, we'd be a world of healthy, perfect bodied (whatever that is) people.

[bookseller]

ok, thank you. I was wondering about the difference between scales...just thought FOR SURE I'd see at least a 1/2 lb-1lb...but I'll give it a go again tomorrow...and ha, I won't be giving up anytime soon.

[nightswimming]

If you are planning on weighing daily have a look at trendweight.com, it connects to your fitbit account and lets you see how things are going, cancelling out any daily blips, particularly useful if you get large changes in your water weight.

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc I bought some hiking boots this year with good treads, but what I've discovered is that hard treads against hard ice = slippery. They don't prevent slippage. Some kind of spikes or grips might be best if walking on icy sidewalks. I should look into getting them. They are NOT recommended for walking on a floor, as they'll chew up any surface. I bet you'd spark if crossing the pavement..haha.  You'd have to have a mat immediately inside the door and take them off without hitting the floor. 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi everyone!

USW: 224.5 lbs (7/6/16)

CSW: 177.0 (12/23/16)

CW: 176.5 (12/30/16)

CW: 173.5 (01/06/17)

CW: (01/13/17):

CW: (01/20/17):

CW: (01/27/17):

CW: (02/03/17):

CW: (02/10/17):

GW: 167 (02/14/17):

UGW: 155

Another week in the challenge and down 3 lbs this week. Thanks to whoever mentioned the Leslie Sansone walking videos. I bought two of them last weekend and have been having a blast!  Have now added them to my workout collection and it's nice to have some variety. 

[_Lilac_]

@SunsetRunner  Youtube has them also, for free. I like the energy the groups have.

[lmoody]

Hi-- I am late to this, but I hope I can join! I am a long-time fitbit user and super happy to see this group. CSW- 107 GW- 103 (for Feb 14)

[_Lilac_]

I was so tired last night that I wanted to 'sleep in' but that's impossible when I'm tackling weight loss because my bladder gets me up a few times and if it's anywhere between 6-9am, I'm UP. So it was 7:54am this morning. I called Mom to see if she wants to go walking since there is a snowstorm heading our way tonight that will dump 9-12 inches on us. We'll do that, then I'll need to take the dogs out, because that same snowstorm will keep the dogs trapped in the house with me for a couple of days. That's what happens here, every few days we get some active weather than controls our lives. We will get a cold snap for a week too, that will likely be in February, throwing temps into the -30F/-30C range. And this mess of winter lasts til April. 

It's the weekend so I need to be diligent about getting in my workouts. I tend to under-step. 

I went to see the movie 'Hidden Figures' yesterday and I highly recommend it. The audience clapped at the end! My companion ate our free popcorn with extra butter and in my mind was, "SALT!!! SODIUM!! SCREAM."  I had none. And instead of the free pop they give for our movie pass I got a bottle of water instead. 

That patch on my arm, caused by the fitbit, is growing and is itchy and burny feeling. I keep moving the fitbit so it's never in one spot for long. 

Alright, I've gotta get ready to go. Have a great day everyone, move enough, eat enough, have fun enough!

[Glenda]

                                     Cherylwith5,  you have made good progress already toward your goal.  Good for you.  I like your name which is so much easier than the names with a bunch of letters I try to remember that don't make any sense to me.  Thanks for that.  Also  I like having the age and height given.  I suppose it doesn't really matter  since none of us are tall enough to weigh what we weigh, but I like it anyway.   Pats on the back for you.   Glenda

[BLLingg]

I was in WalMart earlier today, @Bobbinyc, and they had furry lined Mittens as well as some of those Knit Mittens attached to Fingerless Gloves.  (You can flip up the Mitten part so that your Fingers can take case of something without removing them completely then just flip the Mitten part back over your Fingers.)

I believe WalMart has about the same thing most places.  Although with it being Year End, they don't do a lot of restocking.  (Not sure if it's their Fiscal Year End or just Calendar Year End.  I do know that they don't restock a lot of Seasonal Items.)  If you have a WalMart in your Location, check them out.

Here's a Link to Amazon's Women's Mittens:  https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Cold-Weather-Mittens/b?ie=UTF8&node=2478148011

Here's another to Amazon's Cleats:  https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Sports-Outdoors-Ice-Snow-Traction-Cleats/zgbs/sporting-goods/516...

Here's a Link to a Wiki Review of the Top 7 Ice Traction Cleats:  https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-ice-traction-cleats?id=adw&gclid=CPWSuKuwsNECFUlNfgodO00Ipg

[ldavis1029]

I love her videos too!

[ldavis1029]

I would also like to participate in the challenge if I'm not too late. I'm trying to get back on the ball.

USW: 248.4

CSW: 247.8

CGW: 235

UGW: 160

[BLLingg]

Greetings & Welcome, @ldavis1029.  You're definitely not too late!!!

I have no doubts that there are a lot here who can help you get back on that Ball!  I should know.  They sure have and are and will continue to help me!!!

[_Lilac_]

I went for our walk this morning. I cleaned out my fridge, took the dogs for their walks, made lunch, and now I'm going to nap. By 11:00am I had 9300 steps already!! Phew. And I was worried about it being the weekend and not getting enough exercise! Since I have so many already, I might do an extra 30 min workout later and then take a 'rest day' tomorrow since I'll be snowed in anyway. 

I had more dizzy spells this morning and felt very weird. I hope it's just my brain problems and not that I'm having potassium issues again. I'll try to see the doc next week for followup bloodwork. 

Mom and I calculated we get 1500 steps per lap of the mall. We've now gone from three laps to four. Someday we'll be doing 5 but I think 4 is good for now. She is 70 yrs old but you'd never know it. We'll keep each other young and fit. 

Drink your water!