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

[OCDOC]

@Chlz1997  Amazing..enjoy the success! 🙂

@sgbaumann It sounds cliche, but it sounds like water...I don't think 'fat' grows that fast..be brave 😉

Thursday weigh-ins are working for me, and yes I do take off the Fitbit lol

USW 246

CSW 212

LstWk 209.6

Today 207.0

CGW 200

UGW 200?

The plateau of a few weeks ago has shifted into 'melt mode', and I'm very happy about it! (I had a LOT to melt...)

Notables:

1) Now that everybody at work has commented on the loss, some are expressing concern that my face might look 'saggy' if I lose more...I'm still almost 20 lbs over so-called 'ideal' BMI. I'm not sure what to think about these kind of 'pseudo-negative' comments.

2) My wife now eats what I eat, and is 'frustrated' that she is down 'only 2'....sheesh 🙂

Congrats to the success stories and keep it up! to the stalls; it WILL come down.  Rob K

[HelenKr]

@Chlz1997 Heather - Wow! you are doing awesome!

@OCDOC Rob - Wow! you are doing great also!

@SunsetRunner - I could have written your post!  I hit 152 last challenge and went up and down and was 151.6 last week.  I'm trying to be more rigorous in my walking and dieting to break through.  I really, really, want to get below 150.  🙂 

[sketchdoll]

I'm a little late to the challenge, but seeing as it is still going on through the end of May...I figured, why not!  I am attempting to lose the 10lbs I've gained due to a couple of surgery recovery periods this past year and get back into shape. I'm excited to complete this challenge because I have a vacation scheduled in June that involves a beach 😄

USW: 125lbs (3/30)

CSW: 123.2 (4/14)

GW: 118lbs (5/30)

UGW: 115lbs (6/11: The day I leave for vacation!)

[Lathandria]

Hi all!

I haven't checked in since this started around Easter so I figured I would give an update! These were my stats when I started the challenge:

USW - 221

CSW -216.6

GW -205

UGW -170

Now my current stats (2 and a half weeks in) are:

SW - 216

GW - 205

CW - 209.5

I've lost 7lbs so far! I am super thrilled about it and think I will no problem making my goal and then some by the time memorial day rolls around. I hope everyone else is doing well 🙂

[professorpete]

Just want to add my two cents about something critical. Although we all want to look good, we are really trying to be healthy, have vitality in our lives. The diet industry is a multi-million dollar business, often taking advantage of people like us. Anyone at all can create a "diet" or "fitness" plan, with nothing healthy behind it. And anyone can lose weight quickly if they aren't mindful of their health. Of course, that leads to bigger priblems. We need to be careful what plan we follow. Some here have me tioned a 15day challenge. I have not read all the mAterial, but my can tell you this: 1. The ISSN nutrition certificate is not considered professional. It involves paying money for membership and an exam that anyone can take. Most nutritionists have taken quite a program of study in an accredited school. 2. A gallon of water daily, may be dangerous for some people as it could deplete electrolytes. A marathon runner in desert heat might need that; no one else. Salt does not fix the problem as sodium doesn't replace all electolytes. 3. The average, not very active woman, needs an average of 46 grams of protein daily. Athletes who do strenuous workouts about 5-8 hours daily need 1 1/2 times that, or about 70 grams, depending upon their size, workout intensity, etc. I have never heard of a sports physician recommending 3 times that. My brother was in trials for an Olympic team and never ate nearly that much protein. Saying it is necessary sounds more like a sales pitch. The average American eats quite a lot of protein in meats and plant foods. it is rare that supplements would be needed. Many protein supplements have cholesterol, sugars, chemicals, dyes. Too much protein and too much water can be very dangerous. Please remember the important reasons to lose weight and strive to be your healthiest.

[OCDOC]

@professorpete

Welcome to another challenge thread! You posted in the previous one too, but you forgot something!! Enter your stats! 😛

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

You sound like you read a ton..I do as well. I agree with everything you say!

Many 'nutritionists' have little or no credible training; in Canada at least, it's the DIETICIANS who have formal training.

Supplements, potions, miracle remedies are all snake oil. If people are trying to get your money, it's probably a hoax.

But sometimes these jerks get busted 🙂 http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/17/health/senate-grills-dr-oz/

Protein never needs to exceed 30% of calories (about what you suggest)..Atkins advocates blew it by overdosing on protein, which causes gout (as you mention) as well as being as bad as sugar once the necessary amount is exceeded.

Thirst is a fine guide for how much water to drink. The reason fitness sites ALL talk about drinking 8+ glasses of water is that these sites also recommend exercise. Some people get dehydrated without knowing it via insensible losses, and can faint, get renal failure etc. Can you smell a lawsuit? "DRINK LOTS OF WATER!" is akin to "CAUTION CONTENTS HOT!" on McDonald's coffee.

Seeing a Doctor to monitor blood pressure, electrolytes, FBS, HgbA1C, renal function, lipid profile is excellent advice also. I'm speaking for myself, but I have mine checked every 3-6 months, esp since I'm at an age where insurance companies want ANY excuse to jack up my life and disability rates!

What you say sounds very intelligent imo, Professor...now show us your stats! lol...jk...  Rob K

[sgbaumann]

I was going to ask why a physician is on a fitbit weight loss site myself!

[Samalama217]

@Chlz1997 Great job!  Love your optimism!

@OCDOC  It's so great when you bust through a plateau!  Congrats!  Keep up the momentum.  And I sympathize with your wife! lol.  Men have a much easier time losing weight.  Boo.

[IamRBrown]

yuck... it  has been a high-stress week at work & harmones have been kicking along with that... I get the munchies with either & I've had both!  Needless to say, not much progress this week.  Doesn't help that good old Arthr(itis) has been my close companion for the last week or so, either!  Here are my stats:

USW:  208 (last year before any attempt to lose)

CSW: 188 (this challenge)

CW:  187 (hit that yesterday, stayed there today)

GW:  180 (hope to hit that this challenge)

UGW:  160 (hopefully by Christmas!)

I just keep reminding myself - 20 pound sack of potatoes gone already... only 1.5 sacks to go!

Ruth

[mborras]

I am a little behind on this challenge, but I want to start walking 10K steps a day and I think this will help me. My goal is really to lose around 10-15 lbs during the challenge.

CSW/USW 229.9 lbs
UGW 140 lbs

[RubyH]

Greeting all

USW June 1, 2013, 84kg, 185.2 lbs

CSW Apr 9, 2016,   61.6kg, 135.8 lbs

CW  Apr 16, 2016, 61.9kg, 136.5 lbs, diappointed but not discouraged, plateaus are a test of your persistance and perseverance.

I am working on eating 1300 a day and burning 1575, leaves me a deficit of 275 daily which should see me lose 1kg (2.205 lbs) each month if my calculations are correct.

GW 57kg, 126 lbs

Best wishes everyone and keep on plugging along even if it seems everything is against you.

[HelenKr]

Happy Saturday everyone!  Checking in a day early because I'm happy!

I really tried to work extra hard this week to push through a plateau I've been on.  Met my 10k step goal for the last 11 days.  (Thanks to my buddies on the work week hustle and Easter to Memorial Day challenge for the motivation!)  I watched my diet more closely and cut back on bread and potatoes in particular and drank more water.  And I got under 150!  YAY! 

USW- 173    (10/01/15)

CSW- 152.8 (03/26/16)

PW-   151.6  (04/10/16)

CW-   149.4  (04/16/16)

GW-   147    (05/28/16)

UGW- 135

Total loss this challenge:  3.4lbs

Total loss since Oct:      23.6lbs

Keep it up everyone!  Good Luck and have a great day!

Helen

[sedentarynomad]

down 5.5 lbs in two weeks!

[sharoncraft37]

Well I have been sick this last week and finally joinging the land of the living.  Now to get my steps back up and start working out again 😉  

[bluenose1962]

PW - 190 25/1/16

CW - 163 27/3/16 160.5 02/4/16 158 10/4/16 156.5 17/4/16

UGW - 145 (subject to revision based on BMI)

On the last post, it was my 11th week, and I thought the hardest. (how little I knew !)

Had an excellent session in the gym with PT, involving intense interval running, which i thoroughly enjoyed, but the pain afterwards was equal.

My GP confimed that I have an inguinal hernia, so there go my olympic aspirations.

The core of my plan, now has to be around steps again, but I did feel sorry for myself for a few days, with binges on sweets, muller bliss and almonds that I had bought for protein.

Back to normal, albeit with slightly less enthusiasm, and I have shifted the couple of pounds that I put on.

I have to add, that the "My fitness pal" app works seamlessly with the fitbit app, and the scanning helps no end.

I have a bit of a re-union with some school pals from 35 years ago in 3 weeks, so that should keep me on track.

12 weeks with no alcohol is another bonus.

This next week should be good. I am now looking to get below 11st for the first time, in a long time.

This is going to be the week of "my fitbit pal"

Bring it on !!

[ffcarpy]

Hey for those of you losing weight - Keep up the great work!  I have been in non-stop business and kid mode for the last two weeks (April vacation this past week).  From Manhattan to Boston and everywhere in between and not keeping my mind on the goal.  I know there is some water weight in there but I do need some motivation to get this train back on the tracks!

USW 227
CSW 206     (3-27)
WK1 203.5. (4-03)

CW   205.5  (4-10)

CW   207.5  (4-17)
GW   194.    (5-30)
UGW 180

[RunnersHi]

Congrats to all of you on your progress! We're doing great!

@OCDOC I'm getting some "pseudo-negative" comments from people too. For me, those moments are an opportunity for self-reflection. I reaffirm with myself why I'm on this journey and double check my methods. Am I eating too little? Am I exercising too much? Do I feel deprived in some way? Is my goal unhealthy or unrealistic?

So far, I can honestly answer no to all those questions, so I feel like this must be a growing pain. Change is hard. We're committed and motivated, but the people around us might not be...and they get dragged along as witnesses to our journey whether they like it or not! It's very interesting how others interpret and respond to someone else's weight loss. Many do it with compassion and encouragement, but the ones that I notice most are the ones who respond with resentment and insensitivity. They say it takes 5 positives to erase a negative...or something like that, so the positive vibes I get from a community like this help so much. 

Three weeks into the challenge, and I've lost a total of 5 lbs so far. That's a total of 45 lbs since I started on December 5! I'm 5'8 and am now fitting into most size 10 clothes (I started at a size 16).

USW- 216 (12/5/15)

CSW- 176 (3/27/16)

PW-174 (4/9/16)

CW-171 (4/17/16

GW- 158

UGW- Somewhere between 136-146 (not sure yet)

[scottie0714]

Week 3 check in. I worked out 5 days this week - averaging about 40 min/day. Also only met my step goal 3 out of 5 days. 😞 felt a little off this week. But did stay under my calories. So, I'm down 0.5 lb. this week.

USW - 213 (1/14/16)

CSW for this challenge - 198

PW - 198 (3/27)

PW - 196.8 (4/3)

PW - 196.2 (4/10)

CW - 195.6 (4/17)

GW (Mem Day) 185

UGW - 160

[RubyH]

Congratulations all, awesome efforts,

For those getting negative feedback, ignore it, what they say is more about them than it is about you, and this is your journey, your goals, your achievements, stick with it, we all need support and encouragement, any thing else is of no valid use. Ignore the knockers, I feel sorry for them because the y really want to be doing it too but are unwilling to try because they use their shape as a form of protection psycholog ically. 

I love the feedback and info within the fitbit community and I think you all rock even when the scales dont budge or go up instead of down, its our resolve to keep on keeping on, to get back up when we get knocked down, our focus and determination that will get us there in the end.

Have and awesome day one and all.

[DJC_63]

I missed check in last week, probably because I was in a large amount of pain. I'm not sure what I did but from Sunday - Friday I had the worst back and leg pain that I've had in a long while. So the past week I didn't do any work outs (I suspect that trying out some new exercises was what brought on the unusual amount of pain.). So I was worried about what the scale would show today, but it wasn't too bad.  The weather is finally getting warmer, too, so I'll be back to my usual workouts tomorrow. Now if I could just find my go-to snack, Pomegranate Arils. Trader Joe's has been out of them for weeks. I'm seriously addicted to them, without them I gravitate toward Gummy Bears, which is obviously not good when you look at the direction I'm going.

As of 4/18:

USW - 207.5 (1/14/15)

CSW - 202 (1/1/16)

PW-  193.5 (4/3/16)

CW - 194.6 (4/18/16)

GW - 182.00

UGW - 170.00