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!!

[Welshscot]

i will give this go.

CSW 88Kg

GW 80Kg

UGW75Kg

MFP welshscot72

good luck everyone

🙂

train together lose together

[Bobbinyc]

@scottie0714  Hi again!  So glad to see you again.  I hope things have been going well.

[Bobbinyc]

Wow! What a group we are!  I was off line for one day and there are so many new people and new messages - wonderful.  It's great to see how positive and focused on health we are being.  

I love what BLLingg said:

      It doesn't depress me when I go up since I KNOW that it's a temporary occurance.  Yesterday, I           had gone up.  Today I'm down the lowest I've been so far. As an Army Brat, it's easy for me to think       in Military Terms.  Reaching your UGW is a War.  Going down to it is a series of Battles.  You win           some, you lose some.  But losing a Battle is not the same as losing the War!!

I think we all need a framework for thinking about the ups and downs, or lack of downs so we don't get discouraged.  I try to think like a scientist - keep it objective and not emotional - just "what can I learn from this" and evaluate honestly what happened and what changes I am ready to make.  For me it helps stop the negative thinking.

[Glenda]

Lilac, You have made me so happy. Have her take LOTS of pictures for you to choose from. I took 75 pictures of my daughter when she was going to go through college sorority rush because the professional pictures she had were not good. There is all the difference in the world in a smile, in whether the picture pleases you or not. Maybe strike some attitude in a few pictures . I read a study recently that said changing your posture can change how happy or depressed you feel. Like putting your hands on your hips. (That isn't how you stand when you are depressed. Interesting, don't you think?) You can have fun with it. It isn't serious business.

[Gayle1018]

Morning all!  all the goodies are now either eaten or out of my house,  the office is another issue, but gonna just "walk on by"....

So new day, new beginning,  so far so good.  Just hard to get steps or exercise in with working 8-10 hours in a sit down job and cold weather/dark.  Get my steps in on weekends but weekdays are hard.    day by day!!   Good to see everyone on the challenge and support, gets me inspired and motivated.  Happy 2017! and may the odds be in your favor. 

[Bobbinyc]

@Gayle1018  It is hard to get the steps in when you have to sit so many  hours.  I found that getting up 1/2 hour earlier worked for me.  I could at least get in some steps at a good cardio pace.  I had gotten very caught up in the no. of steps, which is important, but I had neglected the amount of time at a faster heart rate, which is very important.  I feel much better if I am able to get that done early.  During the day I have a silent (vibrating) alarm set every hour to go walk a bit, drink some water, do some jumping jacks or stairs- whatever I can.  After work, you can use videos at home. There is an amazing range of them online - free.  If you have some form of cable, there are usually loads of exercise programs.  Just doing one when you get home, or after dinner - half hour even, helps.  

[BLLingg]

Boy, @_Lilac_, I use a variation of your Willpower Trick.  I can only dimly think of my Sense of Taste having a Memory.  But I'm a Numbers Cruncher.  Instead, I just remember how high the Sodium or Fat was when I entered something into FitBit the last time I had it.  That scares me off a lot of Bad Stuff!!!  (Safeway's Brownies which I used to consume by the Pair or even Triplet, St Louis Style BBQ Ribs, Honey Ham, etc!!!) 

It's still not easy, but I can (most of the Time at least!) walk through Safeway's Bakery Dept or Red Apple's Deli and NOT get the REALLY BAD stuff.  I do still get Bad Stuff at times!  Yesterday, I thoroughly enjoyed some Poppers.  Used to have them Daily.  Now, just every so often.  Best of all, my Sodium was "only" 43 above my Maximum.  Ironically, it wasn't the Poppers.  It was the Pico de Gallo which I never even considered when pre-calculating my Sodium!!!  A Veggie Dish?!?!?!  High in Sodium!?!?!?  Oh well.  Another Food to add to my "BAD" List!  Next time I want some, I'll just buy the Veggies and dice them up myself!

[rshew]

Hi,

61yrs old, My Dr. has warned me Im on the boarder line of type 1 Diabetes and need to lose weight!

New to Fitbit Charge 2 (3 weeks in)

USW: 248.7 lbs.

CSW: 245.4 lbs.

GW: 233.0 lbs

UGW: 200.0 lbs

I have started by watching my Calories-in vs Calories burned, so far I've had a calorie deficit of around 800 to1200 a day, Walking and using a stationary bike.......

Really looking forward to being part of this group..........

[BLLingg]

You won't regret it, @Welshscot!  This Group has been a REAL Blessing to me!!!  They are so filled with Understanding, Acceptance, Encouragement, Words of Wisdom, et alii!!!

I had to use my Calculator to convert your "Everyone but the USA" Kgs to "our" Lbs so that I could understand you!  We Americans are somewhat pathetic, aren't we!  Especially when your Numbers look so much "prettier" than do ours! 

CSW 88 Kg = 194 Lbs

GW 80 Kg = 176 Lbs

UGW 75 Kg = 165 Lbs

[NicoleIsEnough]

While not new to Fitbit, I am new to the community forums. I am just over half way through a 12 week workout plan, and slowly making progress. I like the idea of trying out this challenge groupfor the support and community aspect, so here goes!

USW: 265+ (9/2016)

CSW: 234

GW: 215 (For 2/14, this is going to be a challenge for sure!)

UGW #1: 199

UGW #2: 160

A behavioral goal I have is to manage my emotional eating and find other strategies for when I seek comfort from food.

Good luck everyone!

[Bobbinyc]

@rshew  You have come to a great place to start turning around your health.  And congrats on taking the first steps.  Are you working with a nutritionist specializing in diabetes?  That can be very helpful.

It's not just about calories but the quality and kind of calories.  My own non-professional take on it from reading a lot, is that it is imperative to eliminate all sugar and refined carbs, and maybe even watch non-refined carbs.  You should probably get as much information as possible, and follow the healthiest guidelines you can.  You have a great opportunity to turn your health around.  How nice to get a warning, instead of a terrible diagnosis.

[Bobbinyc]

@NicoleIsEnough  Welcome!  Emotional eating is very common for many of us.  If you get stuck any time, come here and I know there will be several people who can share what worked for them.  The one thing I'd suggest right off, is no self-criticism.  No matter what.  You are on a journey with a learning curve and any time you don't like your choices or results, your job is to learn from it and figure out how to do it differently next time.  Criticism has no place in that.  Be gentle with yourself.  We are nurturing our souls as well as our bodies.

[GettingfitinSC]

A little discouraged today. After 10,000+ steps yesterday, I'm not even at 6000 today. I was outside walking and playing with my son yesterday, but it's cold and windy today, so we're sticking to the house. I may try an online walking video later this evening, but I had hoped to at least get 8000 every day. Plus my weight was up a pound this morning, but I know it fluctuates so I'm trying not to let it bother me. After the great day yesterday, I'm hoping for more great days, not days like today. 

Thanks for listening to (reading) my vents. 

[dancefoxtrot]

@rshew

Wonderful book about diabetes named End to Diabetes by Dr Joel Fuhrman, MD.  Here is some of what I know. Print out a glycemic index foodchart from online. Just like @Bobbinyc suggested give up the sugar and empty carbs (refined carbs white bread, rice, Pasta)  Other than wonderful veggies, the non starchy ones, markedly reduce the other carbs, even whole grain ones like brown rice, and whole grain bread. It is not calories only it is carbs to lower. The American Diabetes Assn suggests maximum of 130 carbs a day but other docs suggest less. Read labels, ask at restaurants for nutrient breakdown since some have that, and learn all you can. Do you have a meter to test your blood glucose before breakfast and 2 or more hours after dinner yet? Did you get the results of an A1c test from the doc?

You can reverse this very awful condition so that you don't destroy your eyesight, kidneys, blood vessels and peripheral nerves.  Do this like your life depends on it because it does and you will do yourself proud. I have worked with people would have changed their health spectacularly and surprised their doctors. 

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all

Back to losing the Christmas extra 3 lbs in 3 days of gain!! Darn it. 

I ended last challenge on 12/24 at 147.2 and on the 12/27 my scale said 150.3 so that is my starting weight. Today it is 149.8 so happily we are starting back down. Now off to dance for an hour & 1/2 after sitting too long this lazy morning. 

We can do this since health is so precious and as @_Lilac tells herself we are know what sweets and carb foods taste like.  I plan to be more diligent in lowing at least 5.3 lbs by Valentines Day. That will put me 8-10 lbs from UGW.

Hugs and best wishes to all,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Welcome to the new people in this challenge. Just keep showing up for yourself and us and together we will get healthier. None of us are perfect at this and all of us seem to get healthier as we move toward our goals.

Barb G

[_Lilac_]

@GettingfitinSC  I discovered Leslie Sansone videos at the suggestion of someone here. They are on Youtube, free, and the 'happy mile' is the best starter video. It's at a good heart-pumping pace and takes only 15 min. After you do it a few times you can just do the exercises on your own, to your fav music or there are also some 'hiking' videos of scenery on youtube. I've done a lot of livingroom marching/walking to make up steps and get a good sweat on when I haven't had enough activity. 

Good luck with it!

[Bobbinyc]

@GettingfitinSC  Assuming we are in the same time zone (east coast U.S.), the day's not over.  You have time to get in plenty of steps, activity, cardio.  Play a game with your son like chasing tag and run around the house.  If you have steps, go up and down as long as you can as fast as you can.  Do a video (Leslie Sansom has several) and you can just put on music and dance.  Many of us who sit at work all day have to get the activity in in the evening.  Walk while on the phone or watching TV.  That's how many of us do it.  Not ideal, but it works.  You can do this!

[_Lilac_]

My Day:

I got up a little late to get to the pool, though I could have made it if I'd tried really hard. Instead, my daughter and I walked to the hospital for some tests then went downtown to have brunch. The mall wasn't as crazy today as it had been reported the last few days. By the time we got home I had 8000 steps, with one session of at least 30 min in fat burning. I might get on the treadmill for another 30 min to make sure I get in a good sweat. 

My brunch was all fresh fruit with a crepe wrap that had ham in it. My ankles are now swollen...sigh. I'm SOOO affected by sodium. I'm on my 2nd litre of water. 

Snowstorm tomorrow. A significant one. That means no dog walking. So, I've just changed my mind about the treadmill tonight. I'll take the dogs out for their walks tonight instead. I don't like walking in the dark with a black dog, but I'll try to stay safe if cars are approaching. See ya in 4000 steps!!

[SunsetRunner]

I'm a littlelate to the challenge but will start immediately. I received a FitBit Blaze for Christmas and absolutely love it! It is so much fun seeing the goals met. Last year I lost almost 40 pounds but have regained almost all of it without being sure how???? Thanks for the group! 

USW 230 (several years ago)

CSW 183

GW 170

UGW 160