Easter to Memorial Day Challenge 2016

[awood08]

Welcome to the next challenge!!!

Our challenge starts Easter March 27th through Memorial Day May 30th. (USA holiday)

To be part of the challenge you start by posting your initial weight stats and what you would like to achieve by the end of the challenge. You can then check in as often as you'd like with a weight update, to share a story from your week or start a conversation about a topic you'd like some advice on.

Welcome to all our new members, old timers, and anyone who is just following our challenge! Let's continue to work hard, meet our goals, and most important, give each other the encouragement and positive thoughts to keep all our spirits up!

Thanks to @saraj91 for the last challenge! Hope to see you again in here 🙂

 
A little rundown of terminology for anyone who is new: 

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight

CSW- Current Starting Weight

GW- Goal Weight

UGW- Ultimate Goal Weight

PW- Previous Weight

CW- Current Weight

MFP- My Fitness Pal

Here is a link for our group! Thanks @Brujita

https://www.fitbit.com/group/22KZ7F

[Chlz1997]

Thanks @professorpete for the advice - looking forward utilizing my freezer 

[Chlz1997]

Looking forward to this challenge & I am setting an agressive goal as Memorial Day is our unofficial start of summer.....camping, boating, hiking --- can't wait!!

USW - 220 (Jan 1, 2016)
CSW - 214.6 (Mar 27 - Easter)
CGW - 199 (May 30 - Memorial Day)
UGW 160

Welcome to the newbies & good luck to all!   #KeepMovingForward 

[Samalama217]

Hi, all.  I hope everyone had a lovely Easter.  So I really sucked it up in the last challenge and ended up gaining weight, but I kind of expected that.  The weather is getting warmer now though and I'm entering beast mode!  I plan to kick this challenge's butt!

USW: 163 lbs (March 2015)

CSW: 141 lbs

CGW: 136 lbs

UGW: 125 lbs

Good luck, everyone!

[OCDOC]

@Samalama217 @Chlz1997

I hear you! I've done the usual 'lose the easy stuff', and am now facing my traditional 'plateau' zone.

It will be a CHALLENGE for sure to push below the stall line, but like I said on sign-in...bring   it   on!  🙂

Good luck to you and everybody here...let's slay this dragon!!!  Rob K

[Sine]

Looking forward to this next challenge. Starting to feel a little better and hoping this cold is finally gone by the end of the week.

USW: 215.6

CSW: 208.6

CWL 208.6

GW: 199

UGW: 145

Good luck everyone!

[HelenKr]

@dianenyc - Good to have you back!

[TracieT]

I needed some motivation and found this post.  It's meant to be.

USW   210

CSW   210

 GW    190 -for this challenge

UGW  160

[dianenyc]

Thanks, Helen.  Good to be back among friends.

Anyway, day one back and a friend takes me out for dinner.  I'm expecting to go home and do roast chicken and a salad.  I ate lunch at 11 am (school teacher late lunch) and I'm so hungry that as soon as I sit down I commence eating enough focaccia dripping with olive oil to feed a pack of ravenous teenage boys and wash it down with a high carb, very large glass of red wine.  So I'm not feeling particularly spry at the moment.  Here's my take aways:

First, I need to chill.  I went from Lent to Easter weekend with lots of family and friends gatherings (all quite wonderful) all of which knocked me off my regular food/exercise/sleep routine.  So I accept that I'm off kilter.

Second -- are you listening, Di -- one or two over the top meals may show up on the scale Saturday morning but won't make a difference in the long run if you get back on track.  Remember, oh overstuffed self: It's not what you did, it's what you do next.

Finally, it made this friend very happy to take me out to dinner. So I can eat roast chicken and a salad tomorrow night and walk extra steps this week.  To quote Julian of Norwich:

                                                     All will be well and all will be well

                                                     And all manner of thing will be well.

Have a goodnight, everybody.

DianeNYC

[MegCH]

Excited for this next challenge! Especially so since I have my UGW as my goal, and the end of this challenge is my 30th birthday!! Bring it on!!

USW: 175 (Thanksgiving 2015)
CSW: 157.5
CGW: 150
UGW: 150!!!!

I'm exicted to begin/continue...and to see how everyone else is doing! Hoping that the results of this challenge will be 'happy birthday to me' 🙂

[tiffy79]

Hi everybody! I'm going to try again.


USW- 187
CSW- 180
GW- 160
UGW- 135

Tiffany 😃

[Ste26]

I am new to this so I am going to give it a shot

CW  139

GW  125

[Bogdel]

HI, @Lathandria! Welcome to the Challenge. This is my third challenge since I got my Fit-Bit after the New Year. So far, I lost 24 lbs (about 10.8 Kg). I am glad to hear that you like your fit-bit experience already. Keep it up. This is a great adventure, and I trust you will find it very encouraging and helpful.

Best wishes!

[Bogdel]

Hi, @Cuali! Your goal is very conservative, considering that this is a 2 month challenge. You should bot have any problem reaching it. As long as you stay active, eat healthy, and log your calorie intake, you should see results each week.

This is the 3rd challenge for me. In the previous two challenges I lost 12 lbs. each ( 24 lbs.- total). Try to set a goal that is both challenging and realistic. 

Best wishes!

[Bogdel]

Hi, @TinaYar! That is a very aggressive goal for this two month term. It is better to lose slower and keep the weight, and to lose too much too quickly, and gain it back. I lost 24 lbs since I got my fit-bit, at the beginning of the year, and that, without much effort. I just decided to develop a lifestyle that I could easily keep for the rest of my life, and aim toward my perfect weight. I think my perfect weight (Ultimate Goal) is similar to yours - 140 lbs. I will see if thast's true when I get there. For this challenge, I am aiming for 10-12 lbs loss. 

Best wishes to you!

[Bogdel]

Welcome, @mgsnickers! I've been on this challenge since January 7, when I got my fit'bit. So far, I lost 24 lbs, and I am aiming for another 10-12 lbs. loss by middle of May. I trust you will find this as helpful and rewarding as I do. Yes, reaching 130 lbs. will take a while, but once you started the journey and see how rewarding it is, you will make it there. We are all here to encourage one another. 

Happy journey, and best wishes on reaching your first challenge!

[Bogdel]

Hi, @dianenyc! Welcome back! Great to see you again. I trust you had a great Easter. 

Best wishes on your new challenge!

Ellie

[Bogdel]

Hi, @slglover126! I was listening recently to an audio-book on goal setting, and the author (a scientist in the medical field), said, don't say "iI'll try". Say "I'll do it". Psychologically, sayin't "I'll try" is a non-committal word that does not take us anywhere. I just revised the wording on my own posts, and said, "I will ...". Though you might find this helpful. Your goal looks great!

Best wishes in achieving your new goal!

[Bogdel]

@dianenyc, thanks for sharing this. I reached my goal for the Easter challenge on 3/26, and then went overboard on Easter Day. I had guests for dinner, and I ate the deliciously sinful desert - Coconut Cream Pie. When I went on the scale in the evening, I could not believe my eyes! The scale climbed from 149.5 to 164. So, hearing you say, " It's not what you did, it's what you do next." was helpful. Today I went for a longer walk and fixed myself a deliciously healthy mixed salad. Oh, those taste buds! How they can enslave us if you let them. But I will beat them. Back to the healthy eating and the walking routine. 

Blessings and strength!

Ellie

[Bogdel]

WOW, @MegCH! Congratulations! You are heading toward your final goal! This must be so encouraging and rewarding. You are also an inspiration! Keep it up, friend!

Best wishes!

[Bogdel]

Hi, @Brujita! My dog Angel (a Yorkie) is also 6 years old, but I am 62, and we make a good pair. In the last two challenges we've been walking about three times a week for 30 minutes (except for the time when I was sick with a cold. Although I reached 10K steps a few times, I sought to walk the time, speed, and distance that I thought I could keep for the rest of my life. I like fast walk, but not running. 

This time I want to increase my walking to 5 times a week, and aim for the 10K daily steps. Today I did well. I take one day at a time as I develop a more active lifestyle. I am delighted by my previous success, both in the Valentine and the Easter challenge. Although walking has helped a lot, changing my eating habits was crucial to my success. 

I like to succeed at what I am doing, and to do so, I aim for realistic goals. In the previous two challenges I lost 24 lbs. total. This challenge lasts longer (two months), and I could loose more than 10-12 lbs., but I will be traveling to Europe in the middle of May, and I am not sure how that will affect my ability to keep it up. So, if I can lose 10-12 lbs. in the next six weeks, and keep it there for the next three months, I will be happy. 

I have not heard of Virtual Strides, but I prefer to keep all my records in one place. The Fit-bit app offers me all that I need to achieve my weight loss/health goals. 

I enjoyed reading your logs and I am impressed with your record. Keep it up, friend!

Best wishes!