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

[Bogdel]

@saraj91, Looks like I beat you by 1 inch (I am 5'5"), but I probably have a larger bone structure. My ideal weight, when I was in  my 20's, was 61.5 Kg (about 135 lbs, I think). I am 62 years old now, and I am not sure if I need to go back to 61 Kg or allow myself to stay at 65 KG (when I reach it). Right now I am at 70 Kg. Have not lost much the last couple of weeks, and I am traveling through Europe during the next couple of months. While I would like to continue to loose, may main hope and prayer is that I will not gain any of the weight that I lost. 

I hope that you will reach your goal of 130 lb and stay healthy while you are at it. 

Cheers!

[Bogdel]

@OCDOC, Oh, you looked good, Rob. You should see my husband now! While he is happy with my accomplishments, he still refuses to let me buy him a fitbit... I hope he will change his mind soon!

You should let us see you after pic, as well (smiling). 

[Bobbinyc]

Hi all.  I was part of this group for most of last year and then was benched with surgery several months ago.  I'm just starting to walk again now.  Of course, while sedentary, friends were "kind" enough to bring me the most wonderful pastries from a local french pastiserie.  (There is a limit to my will power).  So...25 pounds later, I can now walk a little bit, and am renewing my determination to get on track.  I want to focus mostly on health as I hope to never go through another scare like that one again.  Right now I have no energy at all, no strength, no aerobic capacity - and I weigh more than I have ever weighed.  I barely feel like myself.  So...it's only improvement from here.  

I'm going to use the fitbit to help me consistently add more steps gradually.

I also need to focus on drinking water, cutting out the sugar (now that I'm totally addicted again), eating very very well, and finding other exercises to do.  Although I need the scale to go down, I really really need to focus on getting healthy.

I always found this group to be incredibly supportive, engaging, smart, and funny.  I hope you don't mind my posting things like how much water I drank, or how much sugar I turned down (if only!) until I can really get on track again.

SW 188, 2 glasses water daily, and 500 steps today. (and more sugar than a kid's birthday party)

GW 186, 6 waters, walk daily to 5000 steps, some other exercise, huge reduction in sugar and carbs, 4 veggies daily.

[OCDOC]

---

@Bogdel wrote:

@OCDOC, Oh, you looked good, Rob. You should see my husband now! While he is happy with my accomplishments, he still refuses to let me buy him a fitbit... I hope he will change his mind soon!

You should let us see you after pic, as well (smiling). 

---

You are being sweet and supportive as always..thx! 🙂

Re the before-era pic....

In October 2015 my parents visited. First thing my dad did was pat me on the stomach and said 'So when's the baby due..haha'. My dad would only make that kind of 'joke' if the message was real.

In late December 2015, we did a family vacation in Florida...my 'warm weather' clothes didn't fit (had to buy new at the gift shop), and I was too embarrassed to take off my shirt to enjoy the pool and ocean with my kids. My eldest son (now 14) said it would be 'cool' if I got in shape....that did it. I told my wife I MUST!! smarten up...she bought me the Surge for Xmas.

I enjoyed the holidays, but made the most serious NYear's resolution I ever made..joined these challenges Jan 2016, and am down about 50....everybody is happy 🙂

I might try to get a 'now' picture by the end of this challenge..no promises lol.

TY again for your perpetual joy and encouragement..maybe my story will inspire your hubby 🙂  Rob

[saraj91]

So another week of maintaining. I've had a hectic (but good) week, I stuck to my exercises, mostly, I skipped my kettlebell video as I fell asleep on the sofa at 8pm that night lol! We had some yummy, healthy dinners & there was no overdoing it in the snack department so I think I can be happy with that.

Still not sure why I am so stuck. Maybe my body is trying to tell me that it's happy, mentally I can't put into words how much healthier & more confident I feel, maybe my body is now trying to tell me the same thing... still, I don't want to listen just yet. There is a part of me that just wants to get to 9st 4 (130lbs) so I can officially say that 'I've lost 4 stone', it might sound silly but that would just be amazing!

We've got a nice weekend planned, 5k parkrun, woodland walk & some yum meals, back to work Monday so going to try & keep on top of the diet & exercise, hoping to post a loss soon! 

@OCDOC 50lbs since the start of the year is incredible, congrats!! 

@Bogdel hope you have an amazing time travelling round Europe! 

USW 23/3/15: 186

PW 5/5: 135

CW 13/5: 135

GW 30/5: 130

UGW 23/6/16: 126

[SunsetRunner]

@Bogdel

get a zip/one with a clip holder, and secretly clip it onto him in a hidden place 🙂

I have a One with a magnetic clip holder, easily put on and removed, quick and easy

might do that to my dad to see how inactive he really is and then use the stats to prove/make him move more

[Bogdel]

@SunsetRunner, LOL! What a great idea! I may actually do that as soon as I get back home (I am our of the country at the moment). Thanks for the tip! 🙂

[Bogdel]

@OCDOC  Rob, I told my husband about you and he was truly impressed. The last couple of days, since I came to France, he reported that he had a long, long walk with out little dog, Angel (a Yorkie). He wants to lose weight, but isn't quite as motivated as we are here (yet). I trust that in time, he will join us all.

I didn't realise that you lost 50 lbs since January. That is truly remarkable! Congratulations! Yes, I hope to see the "after" picture some day. Take care and God bless!

[RubyH]

@OCDOC, Rob your weight loss is inspiring, congratulations

My stats for this challenge prove I have to stick to my LCHF ratios, back on 1300 calries a day with a burn of 1400-1600per day, but Ive found for me that the defecit is meaningless to me and sticking with my ratios of 9-10%Nett Carbs, 25%Protein and 65%Healthy Fats the unwanted fat just falls off, on 1300 Cals per day that equates to 29.3gr Nett Carbs, 81.3gr Protein and 95.3gr Healthy Fats.

USW June 1, 2013, 84kg, 185.2 lbs, BMI 35

CSW Mar 31, 2016, 62.3kg, 137.4 lbs, BMI 25.9

LM     Apr 30, 2016, 60.8kg, 134.1 lbs, BMI 25.3

LW     May 7, 2016, 60.9kg, 134.3lbs, BMI 25.3

CW   May 14, 2016, 60.3kg, 9st 7lbs, 133lbs, 25.1

GW This challenge 130 lbs

UGW 9 st, 57kg, 126lbs, BMI 23.7

At goal I am going to up my allowance to 1500 calories a day, keeping to my ratios it will equate to 33.8gr Nett Carbs, 93.8gr Protein and 110gr Healthy Fats. I have found I cannot have even a touch of sugar without an instant headache or floury carbs without instant bloat and nausea so i will be stcicking to my ratios for life, simply because it seems to be what is best for me. And my workouts are energising me to do more so as my output rises so will my intake but I will maintain my ratios accordingly.

Remember! The successful have failed more times than the spectator has even attempted.

[OCDOC]

@Bogdel  Your husband should know that the first month or two are the hardest, but once the loss hits 10+ the incentive just grows. Lots of plateaus, but keep on pushing through them 🙂

@saraj91 Thanks sara. I am thrilled with the result of my resolution. Tricky part will be proving the 'you'll just put it all back on by Xmas' nay-sayers wrong 🙂

@RubyH Thx for the encouragement. Like you, I discovered that really cutting carbs was essential to keep the losses moving; it broke my 'one-month' plateau. I've had a few carb binges, but always felt like I had a tequila hangover the next day! Now I don't miss the starchy stuff at all. LOTS of salads, avocados, broccoli, and the occasional whey shake with berries are all the carbs I want these days. I might experiment with wine soon (zero in 2016 so far)..will see how that works out 🙂

Best to all! Rob

[ca-north]

Well, stayed with a calorie deficit. Walked over 10 K despite the sprained ankle.

No alcohol.

Not a great day, not a bad day...

Just need to stay on track over the weekend.

[HelenKr]

@saraj91 - I agree with @Bogdel's earlier comments - you look slim and great!  But if you want to lose a couple more pounds then you can do it! 

[Jcamp]

Some "hormonal setbacks" and a birthday with pizza and cake this week. Still lost 2 pounds though! 

USW- 243 (as of October 2015)
GW- 170
UGW- 160
PW- 190 (as of March 27)
SW- 183 (as of 4-28)

CW-

179 may 4th

177 may 14th

[almost_where]

Easter Weight - 353

Week 1 - 351

Week 2 - 348

Week 3 -  348

Week 4 - 344

Week 5 - 340

Week 6 - 336

Week 7 - 334

Memorial Goal  - 333

- 2 lb (19 lbs total)

[Elansc]

@almost_where wow you are almost at your challenge goal!!  Congrats!

[Elansc]

Hi everyone!!

Not a bad week for me… getting back on track and lost another 1.2 pounds…. Still not where I was at the beginning of this challenge but at least I am losing again!  I also noticed that my average body fat % is reducing...  was 37-38% in January and now is consistently around 35.5%  -- it does jump around a bit depending on how much water I drink but there does seem to be a bit of a decrease!! 

Played around with my calorie intake this week -- always at a deficit but ranged from 1600-2000 -- reading what everyone has been writing about carbs and think that I should probably play around with that too.... I just looked an I am averaging about 50% carbs but my goal is 45% carbs so I will try to be a bit more careful about that and see what happens...  It means I have to up my protein and that is always difficult for me (being vegetarian...)

Steps well above 11,000 every day (although today has been a lazy day!!) and mowed the lawn for the first time the other day and had more than 15,000 steps (amazing how that changes my view of mowing the lawn!)  I am going to keep it at 11,000 again for this week and work on the carbs (not a good multi-tasker when it comes to this...)

CSW for this challenge 177.8 on March 27th

April 3rd 178

April 10th 176.7

May 1st 180.2

May 8th 179.7

CW (May 15th) 178.5

Revised GW for this challenge  176.5

UGW 165

Hope that everyone has a great week!!  So motivating to read about all your successes!

[Elansc]

Hi Bobbinyc!    Welcome back!  yes, please do post about how much water you drank or how much sugar you turned down -- both are goals for me too! and your successes will remind me to work harder!  I constantly get it backwards -- less water and more sugar and that is not a "losing" combination!

[almost_where]

Thanks @Elansc !!!!

[Bobbinyc]

@Elansc  Thanks so much for the greeting and support.  I know what you mean - I get confused too - more sugar, less water....no no. I am eliminating bread, cake, sugar,..all processed foods.  Trying hard to be healthy.  Everything I saw that measures carbs includes vegetables, along with bread, so that makes it hard to sort out.  I am trying to both increase protein and move toward vegetarian.  How do you do it?  I've got to find more recipes.

And today I've had 4 waters and no pastry.  (small steps) 

[ffcarpy]

Another week and another Shooter McGavin win! -1.8

USW 227 (1-11)
CSW 206 (3-27)
WK1 203.5. (4-03) -2.5
WK2 205.5 (4-10) +2.0
WK3 207.5 (4-17) +2.0
WK4 206.0 (4-24) -1.5
WK5 203.0 (5-01) -3.0
WK6 203.7 (5-08)+0.7

WK7 201.9 (5-15) -1.8
GW  199.9 (5-30)
UGW 180