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!!

[A_Lurker]

@juli1321 - big swings up and down are mostly water and sometimes undigested food (trying nicely to say missing a bowel movement).  Not sure of your age, but if you are pre-menopausal you can retain a lot of water before your period.

[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 - 262 -  (01/22)
Sunday-5 - (01/29)
Sunday-6 - (02/05)
Sunday-7 - (02/12)
Valentine's Day Goal 255

-2 lb

Well I started this current weight loss mission around the first week in March-2016 and just earned the 100# Badge Today 🙂. After all the weight logins, goal/daily/workweek/weekend challenges, activities, food logging, tracking, meal planning, etc. it has been a long journey for sure but well worth it. I am now at my lowest weight in probably the last 20 years and plan on continuing this journey to reach a lower weight.

I've told this story before, but when I first got the fitbit and logged in to the fitbit site for the first time I deleted the friends tile thinking I had no use for it. What a mistake! I can honestly say without the support provided from all of you, I would not have been able to achieve this on my own so a BIG thank you for everything.

[GettingfitinSC]

@_Lilac_ I agree that the first couple of posts about the marches were focusing on the topic of getting steps in and encouragement. It just seemed that there were longer and longer sections where it was all focused on politics and not weight loss. I hope everyone did have a good day yesterday, whether in the marches or at other activities. 🙂 

[GettingfitinSC]

@almost_where what an awesome encouragement you are to me! I hope I can achieve the same. I'm hoping to lose 100 # total. It seems a daunting task, but when I see that someone has done it, I feel more like I can do it too! Congratulations! 

[GettingfitinSC]

USW Christmas- my highest weight ever- 235

CSW- 235

PW- 229.3

CW- 228.3

GW- 225

UGW- 125

I started this week out not so good. Last Saturday, I went to a dinner party that had very unhealthy foods- no veggies, nothing not fried or breaded in some way except a bean salsa, but of course, that went with the chips. So after my great weigh-in where I got below 230, I shot right back up on Monday to 232. It slowly dropped each day all week though, and I am happy to report that I dropped a pound.:)

I did well with walking most days this week. I didn't think I would yesterday because I'm taking a class on some Saturdays and it's pretty much sit most of the day. I also knew I had a dinner party to go to last night, and it was going to be sitting most of the day. However...things didn't work out that way. I got to the class early and went for a 20 minute walk. Then, during the first 15 min break, I overheard two ladies talking about going for a 'lap' to get some steps. I spoke up and asked if they were going to walk. They were, so I invited myself along for a quick 10 min walk instead of just sitting and talking like most others. It turns out that they're fit-bitters too. ") We went for a couple of walks throughout the day whenever we had a break. 

So, by the end of class, I actually had 8000 steps, which is the most for a Saturday so far. I was pretty happy with that. Then my husband was asked to help set up for the dinner party, so I went with him. Talk about work...we moved tables and chairs for 30 min, then came home to get ready for the dinner. After the dinner, my husband, daughter, and I cleaned up. I vacuumed the huge room, moving all the chairs out of the way and back again. My the end of the day I had 11,000+ steps! And I thought I wouldn't even get to 2000. 🙂  And by the way, last night's dinner was MUCH healthier- grilled chicken, small portion of roast potatoes, steam green beans, and a salad. I only took two small bites of the brownie dessert. 

🙂

[_Lilac_]

@GettingfitinSC  What a successful day! I love that you spoke up and found more fitbit-ers to walk with. I think this journey is about finding opportunities to improve our lives and health. Stairs instead of elevator, walk on breaks, etc. My mom used to go to events and sneak in her own diet-friendly food so she could eat and not feel tempted or eat the bad stuff then feel guilt.  Those opportunities we find become second nature eventually, I hope. Right now it requires being vigilant. Good for you.  

[Brujita]

@Bobbinyc thank you for your kind words and advice.

I have been really involved in my girls school activities. Previous to moving here, we lived in WA state and I was volunteering at their school 2-4x/week between 2 classrooms (field trips, reading, parties), PTA (popcorn Fridays, counting boxtops etc, school functions) and putting a few hours in the school library as well (shelving, helping kids, binding/mending books). I made many friends there, some who I now I consider family. One of the moms I met is now my best friend and I was able to witness the birth of her two littles.

I tried to get involved here but its just not the same. Maybe its because its a different community altogether so its a different feel. I am a lot younger than the other parents of my kids friends. I still volunteer once a week sometimes twice. My girls are 4th/5th graders so parents in the class are needed less, but I come in on thursdays to make copies for both grades as I know its a great help to the teachers and I enjoy that kind of busy mindless work. I'm still loosely involved with the PTA (its called PTO here where we now live). Book fairs and even clipped boxtops last week. I watch a little girl here in my home during school hours and thursday is the one school day I dont have her, so its the only day I can volunteer. 

My kids also play sports. My oldest swims competitively and was doing it year around. My younger one swam this past summer as well and does soccer. I've made friends in both aspects of school and sports here but nothing of real substance. Just friendly at events and sitting together. Not that its a bad thing. I have a couple of friends I have made but they are single moms who work a lot so hanging out is little hard sometimes. 

I guess the other part of it is that we are a military family. Previously we lived on base so in the military community. Currently we opted to live away from base and military housing, about 40 minutes. So my current community is different in many wyas. We will be moving again this year. 

[A_Lurker]

---

@A_Lurker wrote:

USW- 407

CSW- 360 (Feb 2016)

PW - 264.2 (1/8/17)

CW - 263.0 (-1.2 lbs)

GW- 254.4   (for Feb 14)

UGW- No idea yet 

---

So I'm struggling a lot with my all or nothing attitude still.  Whatever I pulled last week is still giving me some light nagging pain.  It's not keeping me from walking, but I think I should have considered this a full rest week and spent more time in the sauna and/or hot tub with some stretching, etc. However, I'm still paying too much attention to calories burned and steps.  I don't usually like time based goals, but somewhere in the back of my head I wanted to do the first 100 pounds in a year. Notice that I've completely ignored the family doctor who told me I should slow down the rest of my weight loss.  LOL - he simply wasn't telling me what I wanted to hear.

USW- 407

CSW- 360 (Feb 2016)

PW - 263.0 (1/15/17)

CW - 261.4 (-1.6 lbs)

GW- 254.4   (for Feb 14)

UGW- No idea yet 

[GettingfitinSC]

@A_Lurker You have done fabulously this past year! If I'm reading the numbers correctly, you only have 1.4 lbs to lose and you'll have lost 100 lbs since last February. You can do it! Even if for some reason you don't make that goal by Feb, you have A LOT to be proud of. Your weight loss is very encouraging to me. I have 100 lbs to lose and sometimes it seems impossible. I can picture myself going down one pants size, but it doesn't seem likely that I'll really lose 100 lbs. Seeing that you have done it gives me the inspiration to believe I can as well. I can understand an injury this close to your one year mark would be discouraging. Just keep pushing on and know that others are encouraged by what you ahve accomplished so far. 🙂

[_Lilac_]

Today: I called Mom early this morning to see if she wanted to walk. Sundays are good because the stores in the mall don't open til noon and the only people there are the walkers. She didn't answer so I was trying to figure out what to do for my activity today. My daughter has been nagging at me to rest because I keep saying I'm tired. She's afraid I'm overdoing it. And I keep saying I'll have a rest day and I never do. I am tired, but I have a drive to move every day and I can't stop working on this, ya know? I don't want anything to harm my momentum. When I say I'm tired, I think what I'm really saying is that I'm stressed. It's hard to differentiate the two most times because they cause each other to happen and snowball. I'm not physically worn out, aching or injured, so it's not my activity making me tired. It's the dentist, the doctor, the current news, the dogs needing me all the time, responsibilities, my seizures this week, etc. My normal ways of coping with life's stresses are not necessarily healthy, sitting and escaping into a book or five, into writing, binging on tv series, a craft project. Everything directly involves me being on my butt! I haven't done much of any of that in so very long. It's difficult to make big changes in your life that last. Don't we know it! I need to make sure I have some of my usual coping mechanisms mixed in with my new ones, so I am successful in the long-term. 

After finally getting in touch with Mom, we decided to go for our mall walk. She'd already done 3000 steps in the morning and was excited at the prospect of exceding her typical daily goal of 5000-6000 steps. The sign on the locker room for the walking club said there are 400 walkers every day. Wow. I had no idea. We did 6000 steps so she got to 9000! She told me she is so happy we started doing this together. Alone, you can just get bored or lose motivation. She will be 70 this year. Keeping young and keeping strong. She was going out to dinner tonight and with a 'you can still eat 1000 calories today' pop up for her, it gave her the freedom to enjoy a meal without the automatic guilt that would always accompany it. 

For me, I've eaten well, still need 2500 steps but that's quick to get. I might take the dogs for a second walk tonight because they need their activity too. They are soon going to start their fighting, which I know they've learned to do as a way of training me to take them out. Sigh. They are much smarter than we are, I think. Yup, here they go...growls, one sits on the other, gnashing teeth. 

Ok, time to do something...maybe I'll just go hide in my room??

I forgot to add (so I've done an edit) that my bed frame broke last night, so I had a huge job trying to get it out from under my extremely heavy mattress and box spring, it's still in the hallway, and now tonight, the bottom of my dresser drawer fell out so I had to search for tools to fix the darned thing. It just seems to be stuff piling on my head.

[Bogdel]

So far, so good. I lost 3 lbs in 3 days. Walking is a slow start, as I am still adjusting to being home, but I did pretty good with my fruit, veggies, and home made soup. I also alternated some fish and turkey burgers these days (without the bread) for dinner. I hope I can pick up on my waking this week and get back to my normal life style. 

USW- 183 lbs

PW- 143

CSW- 162 (1/19)

CW- 159 (1/22)

GW- 152  (for Feb 14)

UGW- 140  (what your healthy target weight is)

Best wishes, everyone!

[Bogdel]

@Bobbinyc, your tips on push-ups and more are so helpful. I was never able to do push-ups. I am going to use your method and start doing it against the wall, etc. 

Congratulations on staring the ballet and belly dancing! You are an inspiration. 

[GettingfitinSC]

So, I've lost 6.7 lbs since Christmas, but I have not received a 5 lb Badge. All I have for weight loss is a badge for setting a goal. Has anyone else had this problem? I'll contact support soon but wanted to check here in case it's something I'm doing wrong. I confess, the little badge hanging out there was a little bit of a motivation. I know it's a little thing, but I was looking forward to getting my 5 lb badge, and it's been a little disappointing to not get it. 😞 

[_Lilac_]

@GettingfitinSC  Sometimes it takes a bit of time for fitbit.com to kick in and recognize an achievement. I've entered a new weight and had to wait til the next day to get my badge. I hope that's the same in this case. You'll get it! Heck, 10 lbs is just around the corner for you now!

[Bogdel]

@A_Lurker, Congratulations on choosing the right path and lowering your A1C level! I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes last year and, like you, I started changing my life-style. I don't think my A1C is normal yet, but my morning glucose reading has been between 83 and 118 for the last seven-eight months. 

It is amazing how many people prefer to "dig their grave with their fork and knife" rather than give up their junk food and embrace a healthy life-style. Like your father, I have members in my own family who rely on medicine to balance their symptoms (blood sugar or blood pressure) instead of dealing with the root cause of their problem and overcome their addiction to bad food. 

It's so good to be free of that, isn't it? 

[A_Lurker]

@GettingfitinSC - my problem is that I have never been the correct weight.  I was a heavy (but active) child and when I hit my teens I was still active but then in the obese category.  Then I started the cycle of every diet/supplement known to man.  I stopped the cycle maybe a decade ago, but still wasn't smart about my weight loss.  Illness derailed me twice.  I still have probably another 100 pounds to lose (my family doctor gave me a number but I think it's still too high) but I can't even begin to picture what that would look like since I've never been it.

[Bogdel]

@BLLingg, It is unclear what the women are marching for. I assume it has to do with the repealing and replacing of the Obama care, which includes de-funding planed parenthood. They call this taking away women's rights. The fact is, they say that women have the right to do whatever they want, as long as they do it with their own money. Pro-life people believe that planned parenthood is infringing on their rights by using their tax money to pay for someone else's abortion or birth control. This administration is not taking away anyone's right to have abortion, as long as they doing it with their own money. This way, everyone's rights are being respected. 

[Glenda]

                                     Bogdel,  In Texas most of the Planned Parenhood clinics have been closed so  poor women don't get any services at all unless they travel long distances in this big state.  The people against abortion for any reason even in the first 3 months are also against sex eduction and birth control.  Colorado made long term birth control available and their abortions dropped almost the nothing.  Texans would rather force poor young women to have unwanted babies they can't afford  than make it possible to buy good over the counter birth control.  We have 12000 unwanted kids already in foster homes being neglected and abused & will have lots more soon at much greater expense than preventing them.  It seems to me to be about control and a pose of moral superiority by hippocrits.    The womens march may have gained in numbers of people by making their concern of possible policies by Trump vague and many but I think lack of focus wasted a strong message on this issue.  Unfortunate.   Maybe they needed better leaders.  

[Bogdel]

My husband always opens the door for me, including the car door, and I love being treated like a lady. At the same time, I have my own ways of treating him like a gentleman. By affirming each other's role we both feel loved and respected. Yet, we affirm our equality by making family decisions together. 

However, I don't believe that the women's march has anything to do with how they are treated by other men. Rather, it has to do with the extent of the health care they receive (including abortion) at the expense of the government (tax payer's money). Personally, I could never afford health insurance under the Obama Care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is far from affordable for me. 

Since we all have different views and feelings about the political events taking place in the world today, I recommend that we keep the political comments outside of this forum and focus on the topic and values we all have in common, which is losing weight and developing a healthy life-style.

[GershonSurge]

Seriously, some of us need a safe place where we can stay away from political discussions some time each day.