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!!

[SunsetRunner]

I haven't done as well on this challenge as I would've liked but at least the scale is going in the right direction now. I'm down a pound from last week. I kept up with steps when we were out of town over the weekend even though eating was totally thrown off. I give myself Sundays off from exercising so I barely reach my 8000 step goal on Sundays. The rest of the week though, I'm usually well over 10,000 steps. I think all the extra steps now is helping me feel better even if it isn't ramping up the metabolism. Good luck on the last week everyone.

[Bobbinyc]

@A_Lurker It is so nice to hear from you again (unless you posted and I missed it).  20,000 steps?!?  Yowza.  I feel burnt out if I do too many days of over 10,000.  There's a sweet spot for me where it just feels great to be active, where the goal is encouraging.  But when it feels like pressure and it is more about the number than feeling good moving my body, I need to back off.  I find it hard to just focus on the goal  - it's motivating for awhile and then de-motivating.  I had taken a break from looking at the numbers and just did things that were fun - hoola hoop (I was great at it when I was a kid, now it's an exercise in bending down to pick it up), trampoline, dancing.  It was all just for me as I couldn't do any of it, but I got to be silly with it, instead of pressured.   Just had to have time enjoying moving.  Then I was able to get back to steps again, though not that many.   It seems to me it is hard to find the exact right balance, as it always changes.  

You know, you can post here anyway, no matter what you are choosing to do with food and activity.  We are all just taking care of ourselves the best we can with whatever seems to make sense for us at the time.

Well I hope your break is satisying, nourishing, and replenishing in body and soul.  And I hope it is short!

[Brujita]

@Bobbinyc Just wanted to pop in and thank you for mentioning hooping. After reading your reply I went into my garage and pulled out my hoops and did 15 minutes of hooping with some music. I made my own before and added water to the tubing for some weight. its been quite a while since i used them. Thanks again for the inspiration. 

[_Lilac_]

Sick. Ick. 

Half the mall laps. Afternoon nap. 

Forced rest, tis a test.

Fitbit poem for the day.

[em.kz]

I am feeling good today! YIPPEE! I only had one class this morning so afterwards, I returned to my dorm, changed, and was on my way to the gym by 11. I normally stay at the gym for about an hour, doing cardio, weights, and if I have time/energy I'll walk on the treadmill for 10-20 minutes. However, today I didn't get back home until 1pm! When I first got to the gym, I was feeling a little burned out and begrudgingly started my elliptical routine. By the end, I was in a somewhat better mood and then I worked my way through my lower body weight exercises and finally decided to do some treadmill walking. I ended up staying on the treadmill for over 30 minutes! I ended up in front of a television that was playing HGTV so I plugged my headphones in and got sucked into it all. When I left, I smelled awful (sweat) but I was so proud of myself.

[Bobbinyc]

@Brujita I'm so glad you broke out the hula hoop.  Did you have fun?  I am a firm believer in getting silly with activity.  I can't believe you put water in it! That has to be heavy!  You are one athletic woman!

What else do you do?  Your usual steps and active minutes are inspiring!

[Bobbinyc]

@em.kz  You are doing such an amazing job.  Isn't it amazing how even when you have no motivation you can just get into it anyway?

[A_Lurker]

@Bobbinyc- it was slightly insane.  I actually hit 25,000 steps a couple of days and at some point wondered why I was doing that.  As much weight as I've lost I'm still carrying around an excess hundred pounds or so.  I don't want to do anything that's going to throw me off track, so time to slow it down slightly as I know I can adjust the food to suit.

[A_Lurker]

@em.kz- I don't do as much as I used to, but I've done a lot of treadmill work while watching TV.   Music is good too but unless you get just the right mix it doesn't distract me as much.

[Bobbinyc]

I also need distraction on the treadmill.  I can walk outside endlessly.  But I get on the treadmill and do all the negative thinking - this is boring, I have work to do, I'm tired, etc. Like I'm talking myself out of it - not a good plan.   My favorite distractions are  listening  to Ted Talks and taking courses.  I also listened to a couple of mystery podcasts, thinking the suspense would keep me going.  I'm thinking of using the time to learn a language.  That might motivate me more.  I'm always amazed by people who can just go for 45 minutes with no distraction.  

[Bobbinyc]

My Canadian friends - it has been 65F here in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.  And tonight we are supposed to get 1 foot of snow.  First snow of the winter.  Crazy, eh?  The poor birds don't know if they should migrate or not.  When I was a kid it snowed several times each month in winter.  You know, back when the dinosaurs ran around.

[HeartBiller]

@BrujitaHow have you been doing? I didn't get to get on here much in the past two weeks, but hoping to get better at it. I "think" I am headed back in the right direction for this week. Hope all is well with you and the kids.

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc  it's -19C/-2F right now and yesterday we had freezing rain and snow (about 4 inches), then we are getting blasted with a storm tonight, expecting a foot of snow. Going out to walk is not going to be an option until they plow the roads, which is done very quick here. We have FLEETS of snowplows.

So I have this cold. It's minor again but it's making me tired and dizzy. The stuffy nose and throat come and go but I'm just not 'myself'. I still got my step goal yesterday but the pep wasn't in my step. Today I didn't go walking yet but I have a mammogram thisafternoon, giving me the opportunity to walk to the hospital and back for it. That will probably give me 6000 steps, the dogs will give me another 3000 and I'll just have to make up a bit for the day. 

I'm never worried about a mammogram. Since my great great grandmother, my great grandmother and grandmother all died of breastcancer, they've been testing me every 6 months for a while. But since the only one who'd died young was the great great grandmother, and the other two were in their 80's, they don't think it was the hereditary kind and after this test, they'll switch me to being tested every two years, since I'm not really at risk. My mom is 70 and has had no problems. Neither of my sisters or aunt or female cousins have had issues either. 

But after what's happened the last year with my husband dying of cancer and finally taking care of myself, it's almost like I expect a wrench to be thrown into my life, ya know? And I worry that I have so much fatty tissue and TONS of glands and milk reservoirs (they noted it in the notes last time!), I wonder if they can actually SEE much, ya know? And of course I had to see a message this morning from a former co-worker of mine who has been fighting breast cancer for a few years...she's still in treatment. Oh well. I'll get the all-clear and relax 'til next time. In two years. When I'm 50. 

I'm drinking hot tea, sucking on my lozenge, trying to convince my American dog to go out to pee (he hates the cold), and I'll think of some way to get some energy today. 

It isn't long now til the end of the challenge. I'm honestly not sure I'm going to make my goal now. The scale isn't cooperating at all, which is baffling. 5 days. Not sure I could work much harder. Maybe that's my issue, huh?

[HeartBiller]

@_Lilac_Sorry your feeling rough. We have had several of our school systems shut done for sickness. Seems to be rough stuff going on here.Hope the rest does your body good!

[HeartBiller]

@em.kzSounds like you had an amazing morning. Very inspiring. !!!

[HeartBiller]

@A_LurkerI couldn't even imagine getting in the steps you did.. WOW! I struggle to get my 10,000. I wish I had your drive!

It is good to hear from you again.. I know how hard it can be to get on here as often as one would like. However I know I do better the more I get on here and read such inspirational posts!

[HeartBiller]

@_Lilac_I am like your dog... I HATE cold..lol. I just had my mammogram and "patiently" awaiting the results. I don't generally worry to much about them as we have no family history of breast cancer, but you always have that twinge in your mind.. SO, I am hoping results come soon. They say 3 to 5 days..lol. I will call on Monday if I haven't heard anything, however isn't it, no news is good news???? lol. I will pray that both of ours are normal.

[_Lilac_]

I get a letter in the mail with my results. I would think that if there's something wrong you get a call much earlier, but who knows? I'm not going to worry about it too much. Got other things to think about, liking keeping these needy boys entertained and getting my butt in gear!

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  I hope your cold starts getting better soon.  We have something here that starts like a cold and two weeks later is a full on flu. 

I know how scary it is to get bad or unclear results.  Or to be waiting for the next bad thing.  Truth is, life does hit us with bad things and we can't do much to stop that.  We can only be as prepared as possible, by being very healthy and strong and resilient.  Lilac, I know you as someone who faces things straight on.  I know you will get the support you need, gather your resources, and find out what the letter you got really means and why they didn't call right away.  I'll be thinking of you.

I have a friend who has had odd mammograms - difficult to read, odd growths.  Though she has no cancer in her family, they tested her for the BRCA1 and 2 genes (she was negative)  and now she gets an MRI regularly in addition to mammograms.

Insurance companies here started telling women they don't need yearly mammograms.  But there has been a strong movement against that.

 Our highly predicted snow storm was just a few inches. And people are still complaining.  Really??  I told the people on line in the market who were acting like this is a tragedy that we are so very lucky - no hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc.  Look what most of the world goes through. Or, just look at the news.   I miss snow a lot.  A good snow storm to me is enjoying the quiet beauty of trees and parks.  Or sitting in a big chair by the fireplace, listening to good music and reading all day - something I normally don't let myself do.   I just love being in a place with four seasons and enjoying the beauty of each.

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc Exactly. I would miss four seasons terribly. I love them all, even though they all have their struggles. I honestly don't mind our winters. I'm used to them and a big blizzard is enough to laugh about with neighbours while shoveling, saying, "Remember 1992?? This is nothing compared to that!" etc etc. Our summers can get hot and very muggy/humid. I can't breathe in that! I think we are fortunate to get what we do. We don't get tornados, hurricanes weaken to a normal rainstorm by the time they get to us, and no earthquakes over a 3. But...we do have the snow. I've added a photo. This house is almost exactly like mine and must be in my neighbourhood. We get a storm and it just stays, so each time it snows the banks get built up and up and up. Eventually, our view out our picture windows is gone. This year has been extremely different for us. We haven't had a succession of bigger snowstorms that don't have a chance to melt off a bit. So far. We'll see how long that lasts. 

Took the dogs for a walk, leaving for my appointment now.