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]

@_Lilac_- the first winter I was here there were lots of places without power, which for most means no heat either.  I was lucky in that I was still staying at a hotel and they had a generator for the short time and the plant itself and town wasn't without power..  I have a gas hook-up roughed in for a fireplace in my basement but I've never bothered to do anything with it.  Mainly because I don't think I would use it and it's a fair cost for something I wouldn't use unless we're out of power for a long period of time.  Short periods I'd just open a tap and go somewhere else.  I'm definitely already tired of winter.  Spring / summer sounds like a much better time.

[_Lilac_]

@A_Lurker I have a wood stove in the basement so I'd not go cold, but as you mentioned, the threat of frozen pipes is certainly a reality for people without heat. Most of the time people just take in family members who lose power/heat. Isolated communities can get hard hit though. Hopefully it will be fixed soon. 

We aren't expecting any bad weather this week at all, so it will be some relief. It means more walking outside!

[DJC_63]

@dgwheeler I understand about the cold weather. I moved from Southern California back to Western PA a few years back and I was terrified to drive in the snow again. I belonged to a gym so I didn't have to walk outside. Could you do that?

[DJC_63]

Not a good week for me as far as exercise goes, only got to the gym once. Just not a good week re: motivation. Some of you will understand, I've just been too distracted.  I couldn't weigh myself this morning because my back wouldn't let me bend over. So I'm using my average from the rest of the week. I hope that everyone has a good week!

USW - 207.5

SW - 190.3 (1/1/17)

PW - 195.4

PW - 193.2

PW - 193.9

CW - 193.9

GW - 189.9

[BLLingg]

Well, another Week has gone by.  I bounced up & down.  I hit 176.6 on Friday, the 27th.   Today, I'm back down to where I started the Week!

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 - PW 182.6
09 Jan - Goal - 181.0 - PW 181.0
16 Jan - Goal - 179.8 - PW 178.2
23 Jan - Goal - 178.6 - PW 175.4
30 Jan - Goal - 177.4 - CW 175.4
06 Feb - Goal - 176.2
13 Feb - Goal - 175
14 Feb - GW - 175
22 May - 1st UGW - (but not a "Healthy" BMI) - 150

Wish I had been a Good Girl all Week.    Glad I wasn't a Bad Girl the whole Time!   At least I'm still below the initial Planned Target for Today!   

Hopefully, this Week will be a better one for me!  I would really love to make it down to 150 and have a whole brand new Wardrobe when we go to the UK!!  (Although based upon the 40 Pounds I've lost since last June, even close to that will necessitate some new Clothes!  )

[alegria16]

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

1/2/17 = 192

1/9/17 = 191

1/16/17 = 192

1/23/17 = 193

CW 1/30/17 = 194
GW (2/14/16) = 187
UGW = 155

The scale is going the wrong way. I'm thinking 7 pounds in 2 weeks ain't gonna happen. Just keep on keepin' on, I guess.

I would love to know how many actual steps I got in on Saturday. I think the fitbit under-reported by a long shot. I went with my gentleman friend to an English country dance event. He played, and I danced for three hours. Yet all I got for three hours of nearly constant dancing was about 3,000 steps. I hadn't done any kind of folk dancing like that in about 20 years. It was so much fun!

[Gayle1018]

Happy Monday!  we had snow yesterday - nothing stayed but made it slippery and cold, pretty though.  Off for another fun week @ work and hoping to keep my steps in!  

here's my update: 

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight  196.6

Start of challenge 161 - as of (12/30/16)

CR 152.6- (1/29/17) Ta=Da!

GW for valentine’s Day :  154

New goal for V-Day: 152. (make sure it stays off!)

UGW  143  (and maintain!!! 142-146 range)

[_Lilac_]

I awoke with a sore knee this morning. I decided to go to the pool because I shouldn't do as much on- land-gravity walking today so I can rest it. For those who don't get too much international news, a Canadian mosque was shot up by two gunmen last night. Six men were killed and 5 are still hanging on for their lives in hospital. There are vigils all over the country today, one planned for my city as well. I'll walk down there later. It's a 40 min trek, so I'll get in plenty of steps, but I'll bus home to avoid putting too much pressure on my knee. I think I simply overdid it this weekend, especially the extra long walks with the dogs, during one of which I did some jogging. I always say a 300lb+ woman shouldn't be jogging but I forget and trot a little with my dog. He loves it. Well, my knee doesn't, I guess. I'll rest up and nap/knit and then go downtown after dinner. Hopefully my knee will improve. 

I've got a chill from the pool, so it's time for a snuggly warm blanket and hot tea!

[Cele21]

USW- 215.0

CSW- 213.4

LW- 212.0

CW- 212.2

GW- 199.4

UGW- 150

Up .2 pounds this week, not bad considering my lack of movement and bad food choices. The sun is out today! Yay!! I heard on the news that we had no sun for 8 days straight, the last time we went that long was 25 years ago. My mood definitely reflects the lack of shine. Looking forward to finding a few minutes to bask in it today.

@Bobbinyc- Congratulations on the weight loss! I would have thrown in the towel a long time ago. You just kept chugging along - a true inspiration.

To everyone else who has lost, maintained or gained - all your stories are inspiring/helpful. Keep up the good work!

[Kelsie49]

Wow!!! So sorry to hear the sad news Lilac. Thats just terrible! It seems the world is going crazy. Please be safe and take care of that knee. I totally understand about the walk, set for later to go to the vigil. I would go with you if I could. I will keep everyone in my prayers. (((Hugs)))

[Annabel398]

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   █████████████████▌-3.2 (goal -3.5)

2/5     █████████████████████ -4.2

2/12    ████████████████████████▌-4.9

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

Making up my lost ground, yay! Can I make it to 130 by next Sunday? <insert suspense emoji here>

Not much to say about this past week, except that I really shouldn't have bought half a pound of pecans  They are so delicious but super caloric and high in carbs to boot. I can't seem to resist going back to get "just a few more" (though at least I leave them in the kitchen, where I have to walk back and forth every time to get them). Somehow, I don't think 20 steps cancels out 200 calories, though.

How's everyone else doing? 

[Annabel398]

---

@_Lilac_ wrote:

<snip> I took another walk to the pharmacy tonight. I passed all the junk food, witnessed people picking up big chip bags, ice cream, loading their carts with soda, and avoided all of it. My favourite giant chocolate bar was on sale half price but I sneered at it. Victory!

<snip>

 Isn't it bizarre that pharmacies always seem to have nothing in their food sections except the most unhealthy stuff imaginable? I shake my head when I see an aisle full of vitamins and supplements adjacent to three aisles of cookies, chips, and candy and a cold case full of soft drinks and chocolate milk.

[Annabel398]

---

@dgwheeler wrote:

Haha.  Yeah no.  I am not use to the cold or snow.  I'm from the south (think hot Texas weather) and recently moved to Washington state.  I just recently began even driving somewhere if it's snowy or icy out.  I'm getting better.... I just haven't adapted to the cold yet.  Also completely underestimated the cold and am still slowly trying to get cold more weather clothing/ gear.

I also was aiming for melted snow so maybe by then my toes will be done healing.  No clue what going on with them... the last few times I went out walking my nails turn black and start the falling off process.  I'm already doing the 1/2 size larger on my walking shoes like everyone said to do so this wouldn't happen.  Any ideas on the toe issue?

---

Late reply but...

1) As a Texas gal who moved to New England for three miserable years, I CAN RELATE!

2) I had the black toenail happen a while ago.. turns out it was due to an older pair of shoes with leather uppers. They were old and a little turned up at the toes, if you know what I mean, and the combo put pressure on the toenail bed. Switched to shoes with nylon uppers and never had it happen again. So treat yourself to new shoes!

[Florriel]

it does amaze me too when we are in the States the amount of rubbish food you can buy in a pharmacy.

Right now I am really craving some stodgy food though, not sure if it is just the miserable weather or that time of the month but could so abandon all thoughts of healthy food right now! If it was just a weight lose thing I think I would not care but I really want my HB1C levels to be good when I next see the nurse so I will resist.

My steps are also low again today as I have spent all day in the office working on an event we are holding on Friday so there is a lot of last minute prep to be done. I would go out for a walk now but it is cold and wet so hubby says "lets not" so I think I will take a look at some of those walking videos that have been mentioned.

Weigh in day tomorrow so wish me luck - not feeling very hopeful

[Gayle1018]

@Annabel398  You can do it!!! great ##'s

I made it to my v-day goal plus -2LB  for 9lb in the challenge.

not expected but very thrilled.

Hoping to be @ my ultimate goal by March... one day at a time!

[em.kz]

I hope you're all doing well! I've been very proud of myself in my dedication to the gym and my ability to exceed my step goal now that I'm back at school. However, I was less than pleased with myself yesterday. After staying up late with friends watching a movie and eating ice cream (not my best choice, but it was just supposed to be a small treat) on Saturday night, I slept nearly until noon yesterday. And when I stepped on the scale, unfortunately the ice cream showed. The day didn't get much better Fitbit-wise from there, because most of it was spent sitting at my desk as Sundays tend to be homework/study days. So by the time I got to bed, I had the lowest steps I had ever gotten (I'm too embarrased to post the number). However, today is a new day! When I weighed in this morning, all the Sunday weigh and more had disappeared. It is only 4:30pm, I already have over 7k steps, and there's more places to go... it's looking like a good one! Hopefully I'll be able to learn from yesterday and make the rest of my Sundays much much better.

[wearaction]

This is Ken and I love this Challenge.

CSW- 161

GW- 158 (I have had time to keep it).

UGW- 150

I'm 5 feet 6 and love to hit 150 lb somedays. I do Cardio for 15 mins early in the morning and have lunch walk. 

5k steps is my daily goal. 

I really need to cut the diet in dinner and keep up more steps in Feb. 

How have you been going?

[wearaction]

@almost_where How many steps did you have Sunday-5 - (01/29)?

Mine went out of battery and I probably had just about 4K steps. I was in a workshop from 9 to 5pm.

[dgwheeler]

Thanks @Annabel398. I plan to go to one of those shoe stores that help fit you with shoes for whatever activity you are doing... lol once they finish healing.  

[Bobbinyc]

@SunsetRunner  Great job tying the tracker to the laces, as well as getting in so many off-bike steps.  Yes, alcohol makes a huge difference.  Being off of it for one month is a great accomplishment.  Everyone wants to eat junk and drink after reading the latest news.  But don't!  (ok, I have on occasion- this weekend was a full bag of chocolates).  Put all that fear and anger into action.  Walk more, talk to friends and family more.  Take political actions like joining a political group or calling your representatives daily.  There are all kinds of options.  The more you do the better you will feel.  Just keep thinking in terms of taking care of your health, working off the stress, and taking whatever kind of action helps you.