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

[Elansc]

@Bobbinyc getting enough protein is hard (and protein bars are expensive) but I recently discovered lentils -- lots of protein, fast and easy to cook, and no bloating like beans....     I am a huge fan of googling ... I just type in lentils and see where it takes me.  My newest "kick" is lentils and curry.   

p.s. water reminder so works for me... I am on water #3...

[DJC_63]

@RubyH  After reading your post I'm starting to wonder if the deficit means anything to me, too.  I'm on the Fitbit "plan" to have a 750 calorie deficit each day, and most days I hit close to that. The past 3 - 4 weeks I've upped my activity level and started varying my workouts so as to not remain "stuck".  Yet I'm stuck at 195-ish.  Last week I read an article about how much protein one needs daily and I realized that I was not getting enough, so I've been eating more most days.  I started eating KIND bars after someone in these groups said they keep one in their purse for an after-workout protein snack. I try to eat pomegranate seeds as my snack but now I've added in the KIND bars, too.  But I realized that they have a fair amount of carbs, so maybe they're not helping me so much.

Did you come up with those percentages yourself or was it a recommendation?

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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

[DJC_63]

@ca-north Good for you! I hope your weekend went well.

---

@ca-north wrote:
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.

---

[DJC_63]

@almost_where  You're doing great!! I'm envious of your steady loss.

[DJC_63]

Well, I was excited yesterday when I weighed and it said 193.0.  I thought I'd finally broken through my plateau! Then I weighed again this morning and it was 195.5.  😞  I decided to list a median of the two for my official weigh-in.

The weather was really bad for this time of year this weekend - rain, snow, sleet, and record-setting lows. That always makes me feel less like exercising and more like eating "comfort foods", like bread. But I did an exercise DVD Sat. and went for a walk Sunday (there was a break in the rain, until I was far enough away from home that I got soaked getting back). I've managed to keep my carbs to a minimum, but it's not been easy!  I have mostly cut bread out of my diet, which is a major thing for me, but once a month I allow myself a pack of 4 cinnamon muffins, and I eat one for breakfast.  I really wanted 2 this weekend but I didn't.  I see I won't meet my goal weight but I'm not giving up.  Are we going to do this group over the summer, too? I'm hoping so!

As of 5/15:

USW - 207.5 (1/14/15)

CSW - 202 (1/1/16)

PW - 194.6 (5/1/16)

PW - 194.6 (5/8/16)

CW - 194.5 (5/15/16)

GW - 188.00

UGW - 160.00

[RubyH]

Hi @DJC63, my macros came initially from the keto calculator and no matter how many calories I am allowed daily depending on my outputs, I stick with my percentages to maintain the balance of carbs, protein and fats, I use a spreadsheet to calculate the variations ie sum =((calories X 10%)/4) for nett carbs, sum=((calories X 25%)/4) for protein and sum=((calories X 65%)/9) for fats.
You can google for the keto calculator yourself, but if you are office savvy you can set up the formulas yourself.
Cheers Ruby

Sent from my iPad

[almost_where]

@DJC_63 Thanks! Good on you fighting the 2nd serving temptation. A few weeks back I bought this cereal that I really enjoyed. It wasn't garbage cereal like captn crunch or anything but def had a certain sweetness to it that I enjoyed.  I started the first morning with one bowl and everything was fine. Then I had a bowl the next day and something clicked in my brain to have another. The moment I gave into that 2nd bowl temptation my addictive/compulsive personality kicked in and I was on my 3rd bowl. I ended up squirting dish soap into the box and shaking it to end the spiral because I would have finished the entire box easily.

Lets both finish this challenge strong and I def look forward to future summer challenges with everyone.

[SunsetRunner]

CSW- 123.6 lbs (March 27th)

GW- 113 lbs (May 30th)

CW- 117.4 lbs (May 15th)

[Bobbinyc]

@ffcarpy  wow...great job.  So consistent!

[Bobbinyc]

@Elansc  The protein bars I've seen are too full of sugar and carbs and way too many chemicals for me.  I've been eating lentils too - lentil salad and made a lentil soup this morning.  Tomorrow I'm doing a traditional Italian bean and veggie soup.  I find soup fills me up too;  and I make big batches so I don't have to cook all the time.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where  I love your soap method of weight loss!  But I think it is against the law to put soap on a French pastry (my worst vice).  I also love the saying you have at the end of your posts -"ya can't run away from yourself".  So true, though my scale says I've given it a good try.

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63The scale may seem confusing, but it clearly says you are heading in the right direction.  And look what you did - in "comfort food weather" you did an exercise tape and went for a walk!  That is a victory!  Congrats!

[ca-north]

@djc_63. I empathize with the cereal spiral!

[ca-north]

Weigh-in day!

May 9th - 179
May 16 - 177.5 (-1.5 lbs)
Challenge GW - 170
UGW - 145

Bit by bit. I am just trying to get some momentum in the right direction.

Today went well. I ate well, almost drank enough water, and had a good amt of exercise - over 10K steps + dragon boat training. I still need to log my food. Will do now. But, I'm trying to get to the point where I log BEFORE I eat.

Here's wishing everyone a great week!!

[saraj91]

Just wanted to add a quick update to say thanks to those of you who have sent kind thoughts & encouragement my way as I've been stuck this last month or so! 

Been thinking a lot about my goals & what it was I wanted to achieve when I started my weight loss/health change in March 2015. I wanted to feel more confident about myself & get down to a healthy weight where health issues I have are less likely to impact me in the future. This was really important to me.

My self confidence is improving & I think will always be a work in progress. As far as my weight loss goes I feel healthier & fitter than I have in years & my doc agreed the other day at a check up. I've accepted that there are areas of me where the weight just wont budge as that's my shape & I'm good with that. It's been a tough but enjoyable year. I've enjoyed challenges like the 10k run in Feb & learning to cook healthier & had rough patches where all I've wanted to do (& sometimes have done) is inhale a tub of Ben & Jerry's but I am dead chuffed that I've got to where I am. So, I've revised my UGW to be 130lbs & I'm not gonna pressure myself or rush to get there. These last 4lbs will come off, slowly but surely & with a more positive frame of mind.

So with that positive change to my outlook & after quite an active weekend of woodland hikes & my parkrun on Saturday I thought, why not hop on the scales a few days early... after a month of being at 135lbs I was really happy to see that change to 134! So going to keep positive, work towards that UGW, but take the pressure of myself & be happy when I get there, whenever it is. 

Hope you're all having good weeks so far! Hope this group keeps going into the summer! 

USW 23/3/15: 186

PW 13/5: 135

CW 17/5: 134

GW 30/5: 130

UGW 23/6/16: 130

[Bobbinyc]

@saraj91  I admire your attitude.  I sometimes lost perspective about why I was working so hard.  There is a bit of vanity in there about wanting be thin in order to look good.  But honestly, the scale isn't even the best way to know if you are losing fat.  It could just as easily be muscle, water...etc   I think sometimes for me it was brain cells!  I just had a serious health problem, hopefully I won, and I am now sharing your perspective.  It's really about our health, vitality, the quality of our lives, being able to live the way we want to for as long as possible.  But there is no simple number that tells us that.  I am trying to focus on being organic, no processed junk, being more and more active, eating lots of natural foods, drinking clean water, and finding joy where I can.  I truly believe, and my experience bears this out, that if I do that, my weight will be as healthy as possible, as will my cholesterol, etc.  

You are on a wise path and you are inspiring.  And that has nothing to do with a number on a scale.

[Chlz1997]

wow! I just love coming here!  I'm glad this group has lots of active posters because ya'll are so inspiring and checking in here frequently really helps me keep me focused   Hope everyone has a fabulous Tuesday!

[saraj91]

@Bobbinyc this is an inspiring group to be a part of. 

I too found that I had lost my perspective on what I was doing & why. I had become too concerned with what was on the scale rather than how I felt. I did myself a little before & after pic of me running & putting those 2 pictures side-by-side was a bit of a reality check & really helped get my head back in the right space! I hope your health issues are resolved or getting there & I think you hit the nail on the head there 'It's really about our health, vitality, the quality of our lives', I couldn't agree more! 

[HelenKr]

Weekly checkin:  I've basically been maintaining the past 3 weeks, but I think I will be able to do a little better in the next 10 days and meet my goal by the 28th. 

What an inspiring group!  I have really enjoyed all the inspiring posts over the last couple of days.  Keep it up everyone! 

USW- 173    (10/01/15)

CSW- 152.8 (03/26/16)

PW-   149.4  (05/10/16)

CW-   149.2  (05/18/16)

GW-   147     (05/28/16)

UGW- 135

Loss this week:  0.2lbs (ughh)

Total loss this challenge:  3.6lbs

Total loss since Oct:      23.8lbs

[almost_where]

Im pulling for ya @HelenKr !!!