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!!

[Brujita]

@HeartBiller Im 5'3.5 So i totally understand. I see your ugw is 125. I dont ever remember being that low, 128 is the lowest. I know that I feel best at about 135. The ladies in my family are petite. My daughters are teeny tiny even though they were over 8lbs at birth. During their dr appts they are always under the average percentile for height/weight, they are pretty healthy girls and the dr always says they are just petite is all. I carry all my weight in my tummy. it hardly goes anywhere else. 

[almost_where]

@em.kz

I log food on the fitbit app very strictly and have been doing so for about 10+ months but don't go by the ( + / - calorie ) number my fitbit says. I go to sites such as teh following

http://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html

and plug in all my information. Im 6'4", weigh 264 and am 40 yrs old so i get the following for Lightly Active.

You need 3,037 Calories/day to maintain your weight.	3,037
You need 2,537 Calories/day to lose 1 lb per week.	2,537
You need 2,037 Calories/day to lose 2 lb per week.	2,037

I NEVER go below 2,000 calories a day period. I try to adjust my calorires between 2k and 2,500 based off how active I have been for the day but usually end up around 2,500. Personally, even if my mind is tricking me by telling me I am full when I'm under 2k, my body will snap back at me the next day and I will get big time hunger. Try plugging in your info into the site, compare ur history what fitbit has been telling you vs what you have been doing and report back, I would be curious.

Good luck

[HeartBiller]

@BrujitaI guess if I had to say there was anything good about my weight it is that I carry it all over. It seems to disperse evenly though out my body..lol. Except when losing and of course when you start losing, you lose in the couple areas you don't necessarily want to... lol, but it is all good, what ever it takes to get it off.

So if I am reading this right. You are 28 yrs old. So are your girls young? I have graduated from the mother of two girls to the grandmother of 8 children.. I sure wish I had their energy. This weight loss might not be as hard.

We come from a large family and food has always been the certain of it... We have big get together's for everything.. Good occasions as well as sad ones. It is always food.. I guess that is how it was so easy to get my little frame up over 200 pounds.. It sure has been a task getting it back down.It helps so much doing this with my husband. We are each others biggest supporters. We walk a lot (really not enough though) but I am going to have to somehow get into some other type of exercising. I am getting giggly flab every where and I need to figure out how to tighten that up and walking is not doing that...

You mentioned you don't ever remember being 125...lol. Well I don't remember that either. I do remember 130, but I set the goal, really unsure why I picked that number, but I am gonna aim for it. If I get to 130 and it makes me happy, I may be content with it, who knows,. It is just a number which can be edited anytime..lol.

We can cheer each other on!

[HeartBiller]

Where should a beginner start when wanting to try to firm up some flab. I have lost 45 pounds (now44lol)  and now have giggly flab in my stomach, inner thighs and underside of the arms. I would like to start working on this, but as of now really the only exercises I have been doing is walking. Where do you start as a beginner? I still have 40 more pounds to lose so I know this will only get worse unless I can start working on it now. So before you advise, I will give you my back ground as to me saying I am a beginner. I was NEVER active when young. I hated sports, I hated outside.. Yes I am an odd duck..lol. After adult hood set in, I have had a sedentary job for all of my adult life (still do). So there is not much physical activity in my day outside of walking 30 to 60 minutes a day. I work 40+ hours a week, I am raising a grandson, I am a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, so it seems life is ALWAYS so busy, but not with anything that is going to help me lose weight or tone up...lol. SO I need a plan to start for a true beginner. I want to make a plan and devote time to it and I want to become a healthier person so I can be a better person to each of them that depend on me. I am open for any suggestions.

[nightswimming]

@HeartBiller Do you have a pool nearby? Swimming is a great all-over exercise that will work loads of muscles that you don't use when walking, without much risk of injury when you are just getting started.

[HeartBiller]

Well.. lol. I actually have a pool in the back yard.. However it is not functional at the moment for a couple of reasons.. One it is too cold, but maybe I can get my husband to get it up and running for summer. I have never really gotten in it much, it is more just for the grand kids. So I don't know I guess we will see, but that would be a summer thing for me.

[almost_where]

@HeartBiller

I would start off with the following:

-Basic dumbells

One of the following - 1#,2#,3#,4#,

Two of the following - 5#, 8#,

-Exercise ball (follow size chart to get the right fit)

-rubber stretch band

-exercise mat

With these 4 type of items you can really set up a nice home routine that you can follow based off your schedule. The beginning stage would be to really get the form down pat while working with a lighter weight. There are excellent youtube videos showing each particular exercise. As you progress you can add to your collection but the list above will get you started.

[HeartBiller]

@almost_whereThank you. I have to get started with something. I am thinking I can transform a spare bedroom into a work out room... Maybe this will give me the incentive to do it sooner rather than later.

[Kilwinkie]

New to these discussion boards and not terribly sure if I am doing this properly

USW   216

CSW   170

GW     160

CW     167

UGW  140    

My lovely husband bought me my Fitbit as a Christmas gift as I have been trying to 

understand why my body refuses to lose weight even although I am following a Healthy Eating Plan (Slimming World) and attending the Gym (Curves) approx 3 times per week. 

So far, I have discovered that there are certain days that I simply dont burn enough calories and therefore I am overeating.....some days that I am just downright lazy.... and some that I am doing everything right. 

I feel that I am in control now and I am looking forward to meeting my target of being 160 by Valentines Day by staying in the Zone!!!

Totally agree with Nightswimmer that swimming is the best overall exercise that you can participate in ... note to self : "get swimming"

[GershonSurge]

@HeartBiller,

At some point in life, we need to demand time from other obligations to keep ourselves physically fit and healthy. I define the second as mostly related to nutrition, and the first as mostly related to the ability to perform normal motions during the day without getting tired or sore. 

The first step is to set aside time for yourself to try to develop a passion for exercise. Since you are a beginner, I suggest a half hour a day. Later, an hour a day will suffice. I recommend spending half the time walking and half the time lifting weights.

Before you cringe at the thought of expensive equipment, all you probably need is one 2.5 lb dumbbell and one 5 lb dumbbell. You can find them at WalMart or Target. Everything can be done at home. They aren't expensive. As you get stronger, you can buy dumbbells one at a time. You probably won't need many.

If this idea appeals to you, I can give links to exercises that will likely work for you. 

[SunsetRunner]

@HeartBiller Do you have a Y or other low key gym near you that has weights and weight machines? I agree that it is easy to pick up some dumbells but it is important to have correct form so that you don't injure yourself. My Y has a free training demo and when you join you get an appointment with a wellness coach who shows you how to use the machines. Often for people who have never done weights the machines are less intimidating.

As for my week, I got a ton of steps in today - 13,000+. I was also down a pound 184. Since I was down one last week, I've almost lost the weight I gained the first week. Maybe my body is adjusting to this Whole30 thing. I really miss my yogurt and cheese. Tonight we had lamb meatballs with spaghetti squash - it would have tasted so much better with a little grated cheese on it. I do feel as if it has been good to get rid of the grains and added sugar. We will add grains back in but in much less frequent amounts. 

I read everyone's post but don't get on to post myself often. I get email notifications so I can read them through my email. Hope everyone's week is off to a great start.

[almost_where]

@HeartBiller

This is a sample video of dumbell exercises that can be combined with the exercise ball(swiss ball)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga8TZdDPdtw

1)You might want to check with your doctor and get cleared for this kinda of stuff (prior injuries, etc.) to make sure ur ok.

2)The ball can be a little bit tricky at first so maybe try the movements without any weights first. Get the form down, then progress slowly.

3)I like to lift after a walk, that way I am warmed up and the blood has had a chance to circulate. After the lifting you can add some gentle stretching also.

4)The exact weight, number of times you lift the weight (repetition) and the amount of sets you do and the days you work out a particular body part can all be worked out but the suggestions above about finding a class / or trainer just to get you started would be a good idea imo.

Its actually fun once you get going because you can keep track of your workouts using nice charts and will be able to see your progress. Any questions that you have along the way feel free to message me.  Good luck with it.

[Glenda]

                                    HeartBiller,  Lots of people get exercise equipment and never use it.  Fixing a workout room sounds like a bad idea to me.   You probably will do better to start off with an absolute minumum and do more if you want to later.   Also you are supposed to exercise muscle and then let the exercised muscles rest for a day to repair  before exercising them again.  You could  do arms one day  15 minutes, and legs the next for 15 minutes and walk for 40 minutes every day.  That is more than the government recommends.  You can use an exercise band which is the same as weights and it gives greater resistance like heavier weights by using it differently.  There are videos on youtube.   Or you could buy one set of weights and see if you use them before you buy more.  If you have that one set by your favorite chair & TV it is easy to pick them up and use them on the sofa.   You can do chair dips off a step or coffee table or chair for triceps too.  Lunges for thighs in front of the TV .  Stationary bike in front of a TV is good thigh exercise and you can get steps both in front of your TV.  I bought a  used bike for $25.   If you can record TV shows  the "Sit and be Fit" show on public TV isn't too energetic  for a beginner to do along with.  I bought a 2 foot square "stair-climber" thing at a Goodwill store for $9.  They have some "stair climbers on ebay but they are good for thighs too.  Walking doesn't do anything for thighs.

        I read the newspaper on my treadmill and bike so that I will not feel guilty reading on the sofa.  Some people dance to videos.  But try to find something you will not mind doing ,and don't  think you should spend a lot of time at it.  Just enough to stay healthy and maintain muscle so you can do things.  Don't get overwhelmed trying to attempt too much.  Any exercise is better than none.  I think telling people they have to exercise at a certain heart rate will encourage them to not exercise at all. 

            When we sent our astronauts into space we wanted them to come back fit but we would have been mad if they spent all their time up ther exercising..   Just my opinion.  I'm not big on exercise.  I do as little as possible  but I walk in stores and use a sledge hammer in my yard and other active things rather than "exercise" much.  Grip & balance exercises are worthwhile.  But that is just standing on one foot for a minute while watching TV or walking on a line without falling off the pretend  "tight rope".  The best thing for grip is the little container of plastic putty but you may be too young to need that yet.  It is hard to find except at Amazon.   

[A_Lurker]

@Chocobo9- I don't know what calorie level you're working with, but I always leave calories for a snack after dinner.  Now, here comes the trick - amounts.  Two options.  #1 I pick up some single serving bagged items at Costco (chocolate covered fruit, gummies, etc.) and #2 is make something fruit based with a little granola.  The important thing to start with is to set them aside while making dinner.  Tonight I made some stewed fruit (rhubarb from my summer garden with 3 berry blend from Costco) with stevia and will take 17g of granola on top for the crunch.  The two items together will be just under 200 calories. 

I find a lot of my success with dieting last year came from admitting that I'm going to snack after dinner and plan for it.  I know you read a lot about not eating after a certain time but that's pretty much assuming they are extra calories.

[HeartBiller]

@GershonSurge I am very interested in this. I really want to start. I know I do have to start with demanding time for myself. That is where I am going to start. 

We have a treadmill, a glider and a powerhouse gym.. It's not a big fancy gym, but it appears to work the arms. So we have a little start, but I know that isn't going to help my stomach or inner thighs.. Lol. 

I will continue to check in and update you as to my progress.

[HeartBiller]

@SunsetRunner Thanks for the repsonse. No I do not have a Y or gym near me. We have a local work out place but it offers nothing more than access to machines. It is normally filled with what I call young men looking to impress each other... Not much for health or fitness in my opinion... So I stay clear of there.. Lol. 

[A_Lurker]

@HeartBiller- I'll say this in the nicest way - you've lost 6.6 pounds in roughly 2.5 weeks.  This is better than average weight loss.  Every dieter likes to see those 5 or 6 pound losses in a single week, but honestly, this is not the biggest loser.  Those kind of continued weight loss are done with very low calories and very high levels of working out.  Most people who lose weight this way don't maintain that loss.  High drops can be followed by small drops, and sometimes even gains.  This freaks a lot of people out.  You have to stick to the plan you've picked and move forward.  If in another couple of weeks you aren't losing then you can adjust.  Take care, and keep going.

(I'm also pointing this out for others who may be sad that they only lost a certain amount each week.  Even small losses add up over time.)

[A_Lurker]

@em.kz- under is okay, just watch you don't go under by a huge amount for a long period of time.  I'm sorry, I don't remember how much weight you have to lose (and I'm trying to limit my time online tonight as I have an early morning).  If you eat for a long time at a very low calorie level your body can set that as your new normal.  If you have a lot of weight to lose this can make it tougher later on to lose weight.  I'm often under my levels as well (although I burn a huge amount so my under is still a lot of calories each day).

[_Lilac_]

My day:

I took the dogs for their walks then caught the bus to the library but got off early to grab a coffee. While in the library I sewed my infinity scarf into a cowl. Yes, I brought a little sewing kit with me. I did some writing and spent time wondering about all the people there. If a person has a library card they can use the computers for two one-hour sessions per day. This allows people down on their luck, who might not have access to the internet or who are job searching, to be able to catch up on things. There are about 16-20 computers and they are always full. There's a couple of printers, etc. What a service for those in need! I take my own little laptop and use the city wifi. 

On the way home, I got take-out from a japanese place. Spicy chicken and veggies on rice. mmmm. I'll be in it with the sodium though so I'm on my second litre/quart of water. The music they were playing was funny. It sounded like the modern American music we are hearing nowadays but with Japanese lyrics. So, one girl was singing a peppy tune and it sounded like she was repeating, "Choke me, choke me, choke me." It stuck in my head for ages. I walked home and found one of those guys who collects bottles and cans to turn in for $$ at the recycling places. I told him I had a bag of bottles at my house if he wanted them. I don't have a car to take them and he needs the money more than I do. 

I hadn't hit 10,000 steps by 7:30pm and I didn't have a good fat burning/aerobic session today besides the 40 min walk home, so I did a marching/jogging workout in my livingroom while watching tv. I get a really good workout doing that. I have a lot more endurance than I thought I would have ever again. I just had supper, which was really breakfast. Haha. Corn flakes in yogurt, cheese, an orange. And plenty of water. 

I find I'm irritated today, annoyed with little things that are going wrong, like dropping things, handles on bags getting caught, silverware dropping wrong into the drawer. Stupid things. But the laws of nature seem to be against me today. The dogs are wanting too much of my attention or fighting/playing in order to keep me occupied. I'm really tired, I think. I haven't had more than 5 hours of sleep each of the last three nights. I've felt low-energy too, though I'm pushing forward with my daily goals. I keep wanting to sleep in but I get awakened. Mom is getting me by 8:30 tomorrow to go walking. Thursday I'll have to go to the pool. And on Friday we have a ladies' breakfast. Four or five of us gather at mom's for a healthy breakfast once a month. Busy busy mornings! 

It's 10pm. I think I can head into bed. The dogs are in my lap now, ready for sleep. I just hope I don't start getting texts after midnight like sometimes happens. Sigh. Kids who are nightowls or study late!

[A_Lurker]

@HeartBiller- bodyweight exercises are a good idea to start.  I like this list of 50 items you can do at home:  http://greatist.com/fitness/50-bodyweight-exercises-you-can-do-anywhere

Pick one from each section and do 8 to 12 repetitions of each.  You can check YouTube for examples if the wording isn't good enough.  Some you'll master easily, some will take time.  Cats especially love watching you fall on the floor, but it's okay, they can't tell anyone.  Once you feel comfortable with the specific exercise you picked, choose another.  Oh, and some of them, if you're doing them right, well - you're going to hurt the next day.  No big deal, do them every other day to allow your body to rest and recover a bit.

No investment, but a good way to start and see if you can make yourself put the time in.