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!!

[Gayle1018]

Checkin gin!   WE have winter storm Helena visiting right now - plus windchill of 8.  So I'm whimping out of long outside walks.   Starting to do my Pilates CD's for 30 min each night, and hoping to get 5K steps in (even though my daily goal is 10)....

Stay warm and happy all!  It's a new year.

So far so good!

[Gayle1018]

Checking in!   WE have winter storm Helena visiting right now - plus windchill of 8.  So I'm whimping out of long outside walks.   Starting to do my Pilates CD's for 30 min each night, and hoping to get 5K steps in when weather is not cooperating. (even though my daily goal is 10).... all the rest is going great - 

Stay warm and happy all!  It's a new year.

So far so good!

[HeartBiller]

Well I will consider today a good day..lol. I weighed in this morning showing I have lost all the holiday weight I had gained.. So I am happy with that.. Yes it was a set back, but now we are moving forward. Today is day 4 of the Daniel Fast and we are doing great. It has been a wonderful experience so far. We are looking forward to the remaining days.

I got a 30 minute walk in before work and hoping to get another in after work. Things have been a little crazy. People in my area freak out at the first snow flake.. (which was today) so we are having patients panic about getting to the office. So we are doing a lot of rescheduling. It makes for a hectic day, but hey its all good and maybe we will get out a tad early.

I hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying the day! Ill try to check back later!

[Annabel398]

Coincident with this challenge, I signed up for StepBet -- it's one of those modern-psychology-of-motivation things, where you pay some money into a pot and you're betting that you can meet your step goals (which they calculate based on your Fitbit history, so yay for that!) They also sync with Fitbit to track your steps, so it's very little effort over and above what I'm already doing.

Basically, they set an "activity" goal (must hit 4x per week) that's a little bit more than my current FitBit goal, and a "stretch" goal (must hit 2x per week) which is about 20% higher. You get one "free" day a week. It's a six-week game. Everyone who meets their goals for the week gets a payout of (total pot) / (number of weeks = 6) / (number of people who made goal). That sounds complicated, but it really comes down to this: putting my money where my mouth is. I am guaranteed to at least break even and probably win some $$ if I make my goals each week. 

It's working for me so far: three days in, I've made two active days and one stretch day, for an average of 11,442 steps a day. That's significantly higher than the 8-9K I've been averaging the past month. 

Here's a link (disclaimer: I get nothing but "attaboys" if you use this link)

http://step.bet/s5ah/ONWgJAWvCz

Here's the website FAQs:

https://www.stepbet.com/faq/

The pot in the game I'm playing, btw, is over $30,000(!) and it runs through 2/12, so it matches up quite nicely with our Xmas to VDay challenge. I think they start a new game every week or so, and the first week is a "warm-up" (doesn't disqualify you if you don't make your goals for the week). Wish me luck determination!

[bookseller]

Checking in! Freezing here, so did 5000 steps on gym treadmill, 15 minutes of arm weights, and I'll walk 5000 more this afternoon. Hoping my aria scale arrives today. Still enamored with the fitbit food log. Yesterday was a 'just right' day regarding balance of fats/carbs/protein/fiber and water. As someone who believed I drank plenty of water, I've learned I've only been drinking 24-30 oz...yesterday was 64! I felt pretty awesome and the good kind of tired by the time I went to bed. So far, 2017, so good!

[smwcbrie]

@Glenda- watched the video -- was great. Have you tried the Harcombe diet? I just bought her book for my nook, am reading it now. I think I'm going to give it a try. Of course it's all snowy here so I'm not about to drive at the moment (I'm a chicken for starters but it's really that bitter cold that's putting me off), but maybe buy a few things over the weekend and start on Monday. I'll let you know if it's anything awesome. 🙂

[Glenda]

Smwcbrie, I'm guessing a nook is an e-reader? I'll look into having it put on mine. I don't know anything about her diet yet, but just being aware that carbs sort of cost you about 20 or 25% more in calories is enough to make me much more cautious about eating them. I've been absolutely terrible today. My new years resolution is to remind myself 2 things about going to the grocery store. 1) don't go when you are starving..............(2) remember it is much easier to diet for 30 minutes while in the grocery store than trying to resist stuff you were idiot enough to buy after you get it home. There is no eating a little of it. (I bought a berry cobbler. So dumb. You are better off buying one fresh doughnut than the super cheap over supply of something. I swear I've learned my lesson again) Thanks for telling me there is a Harcombe diet. She may have mentioned it at the end of her video but I was interrupted and didn't see the end of it. Thanks again.

I am answering this directly from email so I can't give you a vote right now but when I get into the community place later I will. Or at least I don't think it is possible. I'm a little new at this.

[Glenda]

                                    Smwcbrie,  I went to Yahoo and found some comments about the Zoe Harcombe diet .   Her whole diet is online too.  at  theharcombediet.com  I have never been able to follow someone else's diet plan  but I do believe low carb and more protein is good.  I'll look forward to your report.    I'm going to limit carbs more every day and stick with my 5 - 2 diet which works well for me, for now.  Please lets us know how this works out for you.

[Kilwinkie]

I am new to fitbit and am hoping that it will help me shed weight. I have been on a plan and have lost 50 pounds ( I won't tell you how long it has taken me!) so far. About another 30 to go, so any advice will be welcome. In my first week using Fitbut I lost 2lbs...target was 1.5 so happy days. 

[GettingfitinSC]

Another 10,000+ steps today! WooHoo! My official goal is 8000, but I want to move it to 10,000 once I start regularly hitting 10,000+. It wasn't too difficult. I walked 30 min at my school gym- had to get there early, but that's not a problem for me usually. Then, I made sure to pace around the classroom while teaching instead of 'perching' on my stool like I normally do. I also walked around with the students at recess for a little while before heading to the 'teacher' area to chat while we watch the students. Looking forward to 10,000 steps again tomorrow! 

[_Lilac_]

Well, I took my life in my hands tonight (or should I say in my feet?) and took the dogs for their walks. It's ICY. I was scared I'd fall but I was careful and went the safest route. I couldn't get my heartrate up to the level I wanted because I had to be slow in places. Oh well, it calmed them down since they've been suffering cabin fever and driving me mad. I had done 50 min walking this morning so that is good. I hit 10,000 steps as I returned to the house tonight. I have to go to the pool in the morning.

I am waaayyy under for calories today so I have to have a snack. I made banana bread muffins yesterday so I'll have one with some milk maybe. Not nearly enough, but it's late. When I make homemade soups or stews or chili, I have a difficult time trying to figure out how to track it. I make an entire big pot but only have 1-1.5 cups of the thing.

I am going to a movie with a friend tomorrow afternoon. The pass I have includes drinks per person and a popcorn to share. I can't do the popcorn because of the sodium so I'll sneak something into the theatre in my purse if I feel the need for a snack. *looks around for theatre police in the forums*  

I hope everyone moved enough, ate well, had a laugh, loved and took care of themselves today!

[BLLingg]

Thank you for the Link, @smwcbrie (your Message# 279 on Page 14).    I just used it then exported the "results" into my Wholeness Worksheet where I track my Scale & FitBit Data every Day.  This gives me a daily "check". 

What was curious, however, is that the Sodium it had listed was much higher (4,000 mgs) than what is (generally) recommended (2,300 or less).  The creators must have figured that the user was as bad as most of us are.  I've been reducing my Sodium since I got my FitBit.  Trying to do so, at least!  

It also listed the Body Fat (46.9%) a lot higher than do my Scales (39.8%).  I went into the Advanced Controls and set those to actual.

[BLLingg]

Do you know your Resting Metabolic Rate, @dancefoxtrot?  If you cut your Calories too much, (i.e. below your RMR)  "they" say your Body goes into a Starvation Mode and begins holding on to everything it can.  So you start putting weight on instead of losing it.  "They" say that it goes back to our Primal Days when Feast or Famine was a Regular Way of Life.  (I'm referring to our Distant Ancestors, not today's Paleo Lifestyle!)  And those Primal Ancestors provided us with almost all of our DNA.

This WebSite has a Calculator but also provides the Formula.  http://www.globalrph.com/resting_metabolic_rate.htm   I don't know a lot about it.  But I do know that there are Studies to back all of this up.  

[Glenda]

Lilac, Do you feed your dogs dry dog food or treats? This morning it was a struggle but I managed to read the entire section of ingredients on some dry pet food and it said."Wash your hands after handling pet food or treats." Shock! I never had considered pet food dirty. I was surprised that fish flakes say the same. If you Yahoo or just go to www.cdc.gov/features/samonelladrypetfood It says, "Dry pet food & treats often contain germs such as salmonella. It is important to wash hands right after handling pet foods and treats." I've had a cat for years. How important could that be? I didn't get sick yet and I had to read ingredients with a magnifier almost it was so little on the package. If it is important why don't they write that bigger on the package. Maybe they think it would be like a skull and cross bones on a cigarette package? Do you have little socks or boots for your dogs? Glenda

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda I always wash up after giving their dry dog food and treats, because my hands just feel dusty or icky. And I have a 'super-nose' and can't stand the smell residue to stay on my hands. My small dog hates the rubber bootysocks we got him. The big one would never tolerate me putting them on him. He frightens the groomer trying to clip his nails. It was very cold last night during our walk but my newest rescue from the state of Georgia (who has shown aversion to Canadian winter), loves his walks more than he hates the cold. He does fine, even though he can't quite figure out he is too heavy to walk on the snowbanks his little brother can climb on easily. He used to be an outdoor dog there but that's illegal here. Can't leave a dog outside for more than a certain amount of time, so he's had to learn to live in the lap of luxury as an indoor dog now. I think he's ok with it. Haha.

[Glenda]

BLLingg, That doesn't happen in a day. That is if you do it lots of days. That is why I like the 5 - 2 diet. You metabolism doesn't slow. Some people diet 2 days in a row but non consecutive days are recommended. So much nicer than dieting all the time, as far as I'm concerned.

[Glenda]

Lilac, I wish I could smell something, even yuk pet food.

[smwcbrie]

@Glenda- Definitely stick with what's working for you. 🙂 I'm trying hers, decided to start right away. I also bought the recipe book she has (for my nook) because I have a lot of whole foods for sure but probably not enough to do it with the recipes in the main book. Definitely heading to the grocery store tomorrow. I won't be weighing myself again until the 11th, but at the moment I'm where I was yesterday, up a couple ounces from when I started, but nothing tragic or upsetting. It is what it is. I'm still down 1.8lbs overall.

ZH says we don't HAVE to exercise to lose weight, but I'm still going to be hitting my bowflex today (started this week with the goal of 3x/week, today is day 3) and of course my steps on the treadmill. We have enough snow that I need to shovel my sidewalk like most of my neighbors have done. It's just so cold!! We moved back to Indiana after living in Texas for 4 years (and Charlotte 2 years prior to that), and I'm still not reacclimated.

I hope everyone has a great Friday!

[_Lilac_]

I went to the pool this morning for water aerobics and I was disappointed. The regular instructor for Fridays wasn't there and a young girl (no older than 20 maybe?) was in her place. She had energy to start but then the workout, halfway through, was like it was for the dead and dying. When she stopped the cardio portion after only 15 min, I was shocked. And then another 10 min later she went on to noodles, which is usually only for balance and ab work at the end in the last 5 min. She did the noodles for 20 min!! Well, I wasn't going to float around like the dancing hippos in Fantasia. I got to work. Soon after she stopped the cardio I realized I was just going to have to do my own stuff so I probably looked silly but I don't care. I huffed and puffed running in place, toe touches, leg lifts, etc etc etc...and I was sweating and red faced and felt great. I'm too big to be floating around. I need to MOVE. There were complaints around me that people were cold. Now, how many people get cold at an exercise class?? 

I got 6500 steps in! I've had a good breakfast, had a litre/quart of water already, and now I will have some hot tea and relax a tiny bit before doing more darned housework. It never ends. 

Feeling great and proud for working hard. Hope everyone has a fabulous day.

[Gayle1018]

Happy Friday!   we have 7 degress with windchill of -6, too darn cold to go walking outside,  missed doing Pilates last night but did get 8 hrs of sleep-which I needed!!

So looking forward to the weekend,  gonna do the church thing, other than that - stay in and make veggie soup - do some cleaning and crocheting -- hoping to talk a friend in to walking at a fitness center this weekend.  

think I've lost a little this week-- feeling good --- 

All I need to do now is figure out how to get some excerise in on my PUP.... he's in to the hibernation mood.  (me too)..   stay warm all and have a great weekend, catch ya on Monday!