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!!

[BLLingg]

I agree completely, @A_Lurker. 

I'm not a frequent Pasta eater.  But every so often, I get a hankering for Mac & Cheese (once, maybe twice a Year).  That happened this Week.  So I shopped around, looking at the Fat & Sodium then grabbed a Box of Italian Chef's.  (For 1/3 Cup, 202 Calories, 1 Fat, & 484.8 Sodium.)  Since Sodium was the bigger issue, I used Salt Free Butter instead of Smart Balance's Olive Oil Blend.  However, I also used only 2 of the 4 Tablespoons of Butter to keep the Fat lower.    I added a Package of Tuna to it to up the Protein since I tend to miss that Goal.  (If it weren't for the Fat, I'd have no Problemo.  But I won't allow myself to eat like the Carnivore I want to be!)  I porked out and at the entire Meal in 2 Days. 

I've been under on Fat & Sodium for 7 Days in a Row now!   WHOOPIE!!!    I still have a problem getting enough Calories and Carbs.  Carbs are almost always lower than recommended.  Calories are also often below the Goal set by FitBit but at least they're above my BMR Burn Rate.  I'm getting better with the Fiber.

I'm not a big Pizza eater.  Every so often, though, (maybe once every few Years) I do get a hankering for Tostino's Mexican Pizza.  Or a Domino's Thin Crust Vegeterian (sans Spinach & Feta Cheese).  When I do and I give in, I pork out. I eat the entire Tostino's in One Day or the Domino's in Two.

I know that porking out like this is not good, but I make no apologies and experience no guilt.  'Cause I do it so seldomly and by porking out, I'm fully satisfied.  For another Year or so.  Ironically, if I didn't pork out, if I portioned it out so that there were more Meals, I'd probably get sick of it and just throw the rest away.  I can't handle many Foods for too many Days in a row!  Worse yet, I might also get another craving sooner.

I AM a Bread Eater.  Love Sourdough.  Love Rye.  Love Whole Wheat.  These are incorporated into my Diet almost daily. 

[almost_where]

USW = 363 (March 8, 2016)

Christmas Weight = 267

Sunday-1 - 270 -  (01/01)
Sunday-2 - 269 -  (01/08) (Weigh in was on 1/10 due to no scale avail)
Sunday-3 - 264 -  (01/15)
Sunday-4 - (01/22)
Sunday-5 - (01/29)
Sunday-6 - (02/05)
Sunday-7 - (02/12)
Valentine's Day Goal 255

-5 lb

[almost_where]

@Bobbinyc

Thank you for your kind words. Your challenges and posts are very inspiring also and mean a lot to me. Just a couple more notes on my cravings for sweets. I really break them down into two different types.

1)Physical Cravings

2)Emotional Cravings

1) As i dicussed before, doing the mini cuts throught the day and really trying to taper down. It seems that in any point in time my Physical Craving = Rolling average of the past few days of all the sweets/sugar i have had. At my worst point, where i was going every day to the grocery store/mini mart and devouring sweets (2k cal in sweets) my Physical Craving level was extremeley high. I remember starting off my goals was to have 2 huge donuts (bout 800 cals a day) This is when i was 360lbs. I always made straight upsweets a destinatin trip, NEVER kept them in my kitchen. I eventually tapered down to 1 donut a day, then after that no donuts but sweetned cereal, then i changed my cereal do lower sugar alternative, then the lower sugar yogurt, then the black coffee, etc. My phsycial craving got down to the point where i just didnt crave the stuff anymore.

2)Emotional cravings for me are weird and are completely unrelated to the physical cravings. I remember being months into my "no sweets" path, wasnt having physical cravings at all and then some good old family drama rolls on in and boom i have a bag of choco chip cookies in front of me. I remember getting out of that one from speaking to a good friend on here and putting soap all over the cookies.Or some days when I was at a friends/familys place that had sweets and I was bored, that combo to this day is SUPER hard. Keeping an arsenal of really good fruit around just so you have options is helpful. If they serve dessert at gatherings, I tried and continue to try to keep distracted (do dishes, or make a cup of coffee that takes forever to make). Ive had situation where people stay and leave something really tempting like a pint in the freezer. Boom grab the pint, run it under hot water, get rid of it. Put soap on leftover cookies. And of course if Emotional cravings do get the best of you for a round, you will waking up the PHysical cravings bear. Just be aware of this relationship. Expect it, prepare for it.

I tried adding you but please message if you have any other questions. You can do this.

[Glenda]

                                     Have  you read or heard about  the  "Volumetrics weight-control Plan"  book by Barbara Rolls, PH.D and Robert A Barnett ?  It was first published in 2000.   It is a way to NOT EAT LESS and NOT avoid any food but lower calories and lose weight.  It even has a "pasta experiment" in it.  I love  doughnuts too but I wonder if anyone is a sugar-aholic, or maybe it is a sweet-aholic.  I eat gobs of aspartame even though the sugar industry has spent billions of dollars telling us it is toxic.  

     I like big servings and they tell you how to do it with HALF your food so that you can still have some small servings of high calorie stuff too.  It is hard to change eating habits but you might be happier changing the way you eat rather than trying to eat small amounts and nothing sweet etc.    

[GettingfitinSC]

USW- 235 

CSW- 234.5 

PW- 230.5

CW- 229.4 (Yay! Below 230!) 

GW- 225

UGW- 125

Loss since Christmas- 5.6 lbs

I'm excited that my weight is finally below 230. Kudos to those going sugar/carb free this week/month. I considered it, and I'll try to cut back, but my husband and daughter are "carbeterians." Every meal is high carbs (pastas and breads.) I know it would be healthier and much better for weight loss to cut out carbs, but lifestyle-wise, it will be very difficult since I'm the only one in the family who wants to cut them out. I'm going to start making more small changes this week in that direction to see how I can do with it. Thanks for the encouragement everyone! Hope you all have a great week!

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where  You certainly seem to be on track now - another 5 pounds!  You have done so much.  And I know most of it is very hard fought for.

I hope you feel accomplished and good about your self on a really deep level.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where  Oh do I know what you mean.   If I give in to an emotional craving, I get totally caught in the cycle of physical cravings.  I usually am pretty good by now at not going with the emotional craving.  I have found that no matter how many techniques I have, and I have worked hard on learning quite a few, if I am totally sleep deprived, I can't manage much.  I just went through a period of pretty intense stress, combined with overnight stays to take care of someone.  I forgot about how I am with lack of sleep- 3 hours nightly for a few nights and I'm toast.  Too old for this.  It lowers my ability to use all those coping techniques, but I think it also makes me crave the quick energy.  Not a good plan.  The last few days I planned it better and carried little snacks with me and made sure to eat, even a little, very regularly.  It helped a lot. I actually got more sleep last night and feel like I'm back.  

I had made a list of coping mechanisms to use yesterday.  After sleeping, they feel so much more automatic.  

I love the soap on the junk food thing.  I have seen people host big fancy parties where people bring a dish, and at the end they wrap up the less healthy food  for people to take home.  They simply say "We won't eat this and it is too good to go to waste".  The first time I heard it I thought, "aren't you supposed to stay up all night eating all the sugary stuff?"  I thought that was normal.  

Thanks so much again for your support, advice, encouragement, wisdom....etc etc

[Bobbinyc]

@GettingfitinSC  Congrats on the new number!  It took me a long time (first time I lost weight) to change how I ate despite how other people around me ate.  And to let them know how to support me by not eating certain things in my presence.  

[Bobbinyc]

Sometimes when we get off track we stay away from this forum, from posting our weight, from talking about it.  I did that at first last week.  But, pushing myself to face reality and come in here and just say what was going on with me has led to so much support, advice, encouragement.

You guys are great.

Thank you very very much.

[Kelsie49]

LOL!!!!! HELP!!!!  I cant post anything in the room why? What am I doing wrong.

[debb21]

@BLLingg, @A_Lurker, I agree too!  I eat bread every day.  I will eat pasta, and pizza every once in a while.  I love pizza, but the calories are just too much!!!  I have learned and am still learning how to eat in moderation. Salty carbs are my weakness.  I try to eat fruit or vegetables before the carbs, and I track what I eat.  I have lost 57 lbs and I am at my goal!!!!  I run, walk, and do stairs every day.  It is part of my routine in the morning.  I miss only if I am sick (today!!!) I am lucky that I am retired. It has been a lifestyle change!!!

[_Lilac_]

@Kelsie49 it worked!

[_Lilac_]

@debb21 and everyone...I am not working either so it's easier to set up a routine and stick to it, really focusing on what I need to do to be healthy. I eat 1-2 bread/day, mostly only one. I never eat pasta because I know that it makes me starve. Physically, I get hunger pangs and a drive to eat more that is too strong. So I just stay away from it. It has nothing to do with the new 'fad' of having no flour or white foods. I can't eat rice because it gets stuck behind a tonsil and bugs the heck out of me. Back in the 70's-80's fat *scream* was the devil...now it's sugar and flour. I eat sugar in my food. My body processes sugar. I don't eat cakes and pies and donuts or overdo it. I don't use artificial sweeteners unless I'm out and need to pick up a bottle of flavoured water (rare) or something. I'll get the stuff with stevia but try to stay away from the aspertame, etc. I trust my body to process sugar better than those chemicals. I am not going to cut out food items that I'm not willing to live the rest of my life without, because that's what it will take if I need to remove those things just to lose a few pounds. To maintain it will need to stay gone too. I drink my coffee with cream and sugar. As long as I track it, I move my rear end sufficiently and I am within my goals, I might as well enjoy my fuel. I just bought a softball-sized ball of frozen pizza dough from a local. I'll split that in two or three and make some pizzas with all healthy toppings. All veggies. As long as I keep my portions in check, I don't see the harm. I just don't go back for that extra piece or three.

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  I know what you mean about getting the hunger pangs and drive to eat more when you eat pasta.  I get that with sugar.  Unfortunately, for years I did eat more.  And more.  Not a good plan.  It's just one of those things my body just doesn't handle well.  

[jamk]

I have one I bought from Amazom it has ounces, grams kilograms,pounds. the name Is Eat Smart precision kitchen scale.For $ 19.95 I have had it for several years and love it. Very light weight that I can take it with me when I travel. I have yet to change the battery. Love it 

Take care

Judy

[jamk]

oh gee that would be hard, you mean you cannot have anything with flour or
sugar in the ingredients?
Judy

[Gettingthere17]

Hi all,  I made it through my Vegas vacation.  We did lots of walking.  Had minimal alcohol (3 drinks total over the 5 days).  Ate pretty healthy (didn't track food because too hard to do on mobile phone app with my aging eyes).  Didn't snack between meals.  Ate lots of salads, limited the simple carbs (like breads and pasta and candy).  Lots of walking--over the 10K steps a day (my pain did limit me some toward the end).  Lots of water to drink did at least 8 glasses a day.  So disappointed that I didn't loose anything.  Weight today 215.2.  and the body fat on Aria scale increased to 50%--so I guess what I am loosing is more the water weight?  I really thought after all the walking (and less stress being on vacation) I would see at least a 2 lb loss - so to not really see anything is disappointing.   I'll get back on tracking intake this week.  I am just frustrated.  All the activity has increased my pain more so I need to be careful again.  Any suggestions??  How can I make big progress when my activity is limited due to pain/mobility issues (which doctors have still not found the reason for).

[Bobbinyc]

@jamk I am trying to go without added sugar or processed flour for one week to lower my cravings and blood sugar level.  I still eat fruit and natural sugars.  The flour is about white processed foods.  

[Chocobo9]

In the last three days, I lost 0.4kg which is around 0.9lbs, giving me a weight of 130.3lbs (59.1kg).

I think I'm on the right track to get to my goal !!

Let's hope I don't get weird craving that make me eat junk food/sweets !

[SunsetRunner]

Hi all,

I felt I was doing well this week. I've been getting all my steps in, meeting activity goals and tracking my food. I was down a pound too! Then this weekend hit. We had two retirement parties and a dinner with my husband's co-workers. I don't think I over indulged too much but we've been doing the Whole30 diet this month and totally wrecked that. The only thing that was whole30 at today's retirement party was meatballs but they were so spicy I couldn't eat them. Tomorrow is another day so back on the no sugar, no grains and no legumes! Hope everyone has had a good weekend.