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]

Welcome to the Group, @ToniaLynne!  I started a lot higher than you but we have about the same CW and your GW is 10# lower than my present UGW.  So I will be looking forward to your Reports!!  I expect to follow in your Footsteps!!!

[alegria16]

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

1/2/17 = 192

1/9/17 = 191

1/16/17) = 192

CW (1/23/17) = 193
GW (2/14/16) = 187
UGW = 155

The online dating Fellow lit up like a thousand stars when he got to show me the antique spinning wheel he'd found and how the parts moved and how we could tell that the metal parts were hand-forged. He beamed even brighter when I bought the wheel. We did a lot of wandering on foot, which was good for both of us, which brought me almost to my 10k steps for the day.

Thank all for the thoughtful posts and clarifications.

[Gayle1018]

happy Monday all!   wonderful weekend-- in the 60's!!!   Had great walks, but was bummed I took off my fitbit to charge it and missed getting it back on before taking a 4-5 mile hike.    Wondered why my friend fitbit notified her when she made step goal and mine didn't!  dah.

Done .7 lb this week slow and stead..

and had an ah-ha, yeppie moment, was able to get into my skinny undies....Nice.

right now very motivated,  little warm weather and sunshine really warms the sole.

Have a good week!

[BLLingg]

Weekly Weigh in Time!  It's REALLY Good this time! 

28 July 2010 - PW - 280.8  (My highest known.)
06 June 2016 - USW (in FitBit) - 216
27 Dec - CSW - 183.4
02 Jan - Goal - 182.2 - CW 182.6
09 Jan - Goal - 181.0 - CW 181.0
16 Jan - Goal - 179.8 - CW 178.2
23 Jan - Goal - 178.6 - CW 175.4
30 Jan - Goal - 177.4
06 Feb - Goal - 176.2
13 Feb - Goal - 175
14 Feb - GW - 175
22 May - 1st UGW - (but not a "Healthy" BMI) - 150

[BLLingg]

My Arm Muscles are so bad, @Glenda, that I'm lucky right now to just get in 5 Minutes with 2-1/2# Weights and the "Weakest" (??) Resistance Band!  However, I just started last Week with the Weights and with against the Wall Pushups, and the Week before that with the Resistance Bands, so there's still hope for me!  I'm doing them (trying to!) every Day since it's such a miniscule Weight.

When I was working out in the Gym, quite a few Years ago, I rotated the Muscles 3 Times a Week.  Did a certain Group of Muscles on M,W,F and a different Group on T,Th, Sat.  That's how my Trainer set up my Schedule.  Can't remember how I did it now, though.  It's just been too long.  But I was fairly strong for a Woman back then.  Not super strong, just fairly strong.

[BLLingg]

Oh no, @Gayle1018!  Regarding your Message# 682, what a , , thing to do to yourself!!  I'm willing to bet we've all "been there, done that" to one degree or another!  But 4-5 MILES!?!?! 

GREAT Job on your Skinny "unmentionables!"  CONGRATULATIONS!!  That ALWAYS adds encouragement!!!

[BLLingg]

Oh no, @Gayle1018!  Regarding your Message# 682, what a , , thing to do to yourself!!  I'm willing to bet we've all "been there, done that" to one degree or another!  But 4-5 MILES!?!?! 

GREAT Job on your Skinny "unmentionables!"  CONGRATULATIONS!!  That ALWAYS adds encouragement!!!

[GershonSurge]

---

@Glenda wrote:

                                    Muscle building question:  Do you all think it is easier to build a habit or routine doing a  relatively long exercise session 3 times a week or exercise muscles everyday for 15 minutes.

---

Resistance training seems to have many philosophies. I haven't seen any research or read any book that is even slightly authoritative. By authoritative, I mean documented workout routines for a period of five years or more. Therefore, I've had to settle on my own preferences that may not be the best.

I prefer to lift weights for about two hours each day with no rest periods between exercises. I've grouped a large number of exercises in smaller groups that address different muscles. Mostly, I use one dumbbell, so each arm gets to rest half the time.  I take a day off when needed, but these days off are infrequent. For instance, I've worked out the last eighteen days in a row. This seems to be the best for me for increasing the resistance level the quickest, which presumably is building muscles, too. 

There are references for short periods less than an hour. Most of the elite runners from the 60's and 70's say they run everyday for at least an hour. It's torture to exercise for less time because it take about twenty minutes to start enjoying the run. 

Lately, I've been negligent on cardio, but soon, I'll add it to my day.

On a side note, I've found resistance training hardly burns enough calories to make a difference. If a person wants to burn the most calories and isn't in good shape, I recommend walking, running, bicycling or swimming in that order.  Treadmills, etc., burn fewer calories than the actual excercise, but a person should do what's possible for them.

[Glenda]

BLLingg, Since I hate doing muscle exercise that was what seems most tolerable to me. And I don't think you need to do anymore than 5 minutes for biceps and 5 minutes for triceps one day and 10 minutes for legs the next day. Then a little balance every day. It would add up to just as much as the longer sessions . I have such a good habit/routine for steps I hardly notice doing it but I am struggling with developing a better more reliable routine for muscles. One day instead of getting right on my treadmill with my newspaper I got on my glider for 5 minutes of biceps first. I think that seemed quite a bit better than doing it after. Or at least not quite as bad. Heck. Legs are easier because I can do that and read at the same time. I just need to REMEMBER balance every day. It is so easy to do. It is 30 steps around my kitchen island counter which is surrounded by tile with a grout line I can walk like a tight-rope trying not to fall off. I can do that while microwaving something and then 1 minute standing on each foot.

Those blood clots sound so scary and life threatening to me. I hope they are definitely gone and never happen again. Do you feel safe? Take care.!

[BLLingg]

Regarding your Question in Message# 687, @Glenda, yes I feel safe.  At least enough that I've agreed to make the Long Flight to Scotland in May.  I'll take precautions while I'm in the Air, though.  There are Exercises that you can do while you're sitting to minimize the potential for Blood Clots. 

And the ER Attending Doctor, at the request of my Surgical Neurosurgeon, has "ordered" me to start taking Baby Aspirin.  Since thinning my Blood was not desirable right after the Aneurysm exploded, I'm very confident that it's ok now!  And that will also help minimize the potential for Blood Clots developing again!

[Kelsie49]

I will join you! I have been cutting my sugar and carbs out as well. I lost a couple of pounds and gained back a couple. However, today is a new day and a new week. Time to start again!

usw=200 lbs.

cw=195.5 lbs.

gw= 186 lbs.

ugw= 135 lbs.

[Annabel398]

---

@Annabel398 wrote:

12/25 | (start) 134.2

1/1      ███▌-0.7

1/8     ██████████ -1.9 (goal -1.4)

1/15    ██████████▌-1.6 (goal -2.1)

1/22   ██████████████ -2.0 (goal -2.8)

1/29   █████████████████▌-3.5

2/5     █████████████████████ -4.2

2/12    ████████████████████████▌-4.9

2/14    █████████████████████████▌ goal: 129.1 (-5.1)

Moving in the right direction, if not at my desired speed.

I bought myself a new pair of hiking boots, after realizing that the running shoes I wear nearly every day are over 3 years old. The boots are SO cute! Kind of a cadet blue, so they look great with blue jeans. My reward to myself for passing 20# lost.

How's everyone else doing? 

---

[Florriel]

weigh in day for me today after a lazy weekend spent at my neices birthday bash.

However I did enough last week to shift some weight even if my thighs have only just forgiven me - haha!

USW 191

CSW 186

GW Feb 14 179

UGW 154

PW 182

CW 181

Maybe not as much as I would have liked but every little counts as they say.

Was back in the gym today and almost at my step goal for the day. I will also be doing some of the Fitstar sessions later.

Happy Monday everyone 🙂

[dancefoxtrot]

@almost_where

Wow what an incredible acheivement to earn your 100# badge!!  Good for you to have improved your health so much and are continuing.  I agree that the support from this forum is so important. 

Keep on keeping on as you are getting healthier by the day. 

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@juli1321

Hi Juli

Water and waste accumulate and then empty out of us.  Stay strong and hopeful.  Hope it didn't rain on your parade a couple days ago.  It rained a bit here on Sat and Sunday so many umbrellas opened up. Quite a sight signs, hats and umbrellas. 

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@sierradreamin17

Thanks sooo much for your articulation of the reason to rally. Just scrolled back and found it.

Barbara 

[dancefoxtrot]

@professorpete

Just read your post and was touched. Thank you for joining us and articulating your appreciation and concern.

Best,

Barbara G 

[monarchsfly]

I'd like to join the challenge! Even though the 14th is only a  few weeks away. I think I could use the support! I  get frustrated as when I start exercising, I always gain weight. usually .5-2pounds. But this week I finally lost. I weighed and measured this morning.

USW - 179.5

CST - 174.6

CGW - 170

UGW - 160

Measurements:

W-43

H - 47

B - 13.25

[GettingfitinSC]

I finally got my -5 lb Badge. I actually earned it on Jan 13, but I never received it. After contacting support just now, they figured out that I changed my Food Plan on Jan 1, so that somehow reset my starting weight for my Weight Loss Goal. I think that was when I was playing around with all the tabs since I just got FitBit at Christmas. Anyway, I got my badge; double actually, because it says "earned two times". Didn't know you could do that because, I would think that is -10 lbs, but I'm not trying to delete in case I mess it up. I'll wait until I get to -10 and see what happens. 🙂 Hope you all have a good night. I think I'm done for tonight. 

[em.kz]

     Hey all! I figured it's time for a little life update. I have moved back into college and am starting my spring semester! I'm really happy to be back and after my first day of classes, I easily made it to 10k steps. Since It takes me over 10 minutes to walk to class from my dorm, I've gotten all my active minutes in pretty easily.

     But as things get easier, other things get harder. I have found that on most class days I will not make all my active hours due to long classes. I can't just get up, walk 250 steps and come back every day, so I guess I'll have to give that up. Additionally, I anticipate that it will be much more difficult to get to the gym while back at school. While I was home, I had next to nothing going on and was mainly hanging out with my mom, who is a very frequent gym-goer. This all made it easy to get that in. However, now that I have a firm schedule I need to work the gym in. I know that Wednesday and Fridays I'll be able to get there after my first class. I'm hoping I can work it in on Monday as well in between classes, otherwise the weekend will have to do.

     Finally, I'll end on some good news! When I was at home, I got a new scale so that I would have one in my dorm to weigh myself with in the mornings (my only other option is at the gym, but I will not be going at a consistant time in the day, so that wouldn't work). However, I found that the carpet in my home was too "fluffy" to give an accurate reading, so I simply brought it to the bathroom every morning. I wasn't sure what to do at school because I'm sharing a bathroom with all the girls on my floor and didn't really want to bring my scale to the bathroom, leave it sitting while I used the toilet, and then weigh myself... that seems too weird. But this morning when I weighed myself on the carpeted floor in my room (not very "fluffy"), I got a number in line with what I was getting at home. It looks like we're off to a good start!

[A_Lurker]

@BLLingg- I never have a good reading from the hydration on my scale (I think it just doesn't work).  Usually you can tell if you are retaining water, so unless you feel you are retaining water I'd likely not worry about the specific number.  I tend to not look at individual numbers, but at trends.