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

[Bobbinyc]

@HelenKr  Wow, fantastic! Congratulations.  Good for you!  You should do something fun, nurturing, and healthy to celebrate.

[Bobbinyc]

@RubyH  Good for you!  I'm in the same boat.  But I was a bit slow and got a scary diagnosis.  So - instead of choosing sugar, I'm choosing life.  (95% of the time - working on it).  You certainly deserve to be healthy and vibrant.

[Bobbinyc]

I may not be losing weight yet but..

I am up to 5 glasses of water daily - up from 1 (my tricks for drinking are working)

I have not had sugar in 3 days - that's up from going 3 hours without sugar!

and I'm eating a ton of veggies.

[ca-north]

@bobbinyc. Fantastic! I like to focus on these sorts of "wins" too. So much more motivating than waiting for the scales...

[RubyH]

Congrats @HelenKr, we can do it, we have the potential each and every one of us.

I was most disturbed to wake up this morning with a bladder infection and a 1.5 lb gain in weight overnight, and interestingly a drop in body fat from 34% to 29.7%, either I'm retaining a lot of fluid or I need to put new batteries in my scales. Maybe both. Or is my body just rejecting the new challenge before it, but I am sticking to my macros and working to get there ,130lbs, this challenge. 

Best wishes everyone and congratulations to everyone on the weight loss struggle.

[DJC_63]

I have a question for those of you who are trying to build muscle as well as lose weight. Every month I measure myself, and so far although I haven't lost very much weight, I've kept getting smaller. Until today, where it seems I've gained a little over an INCH on both thighs. I've also gained a little in my right arm. The only changes I've made this month is to exercise more, especially walking and doing some DVD workouts. I don't think I've eaten any more than prior months.
I'm so confused about this. I figure either I gained muscle but didn't lose any fat, or I just gained fat. Has anyone else had this happen? I'm also curious of how some of you find out your body fat percentage. I live in Pittsburgh and our hockey team (Go Pens!!) has a training center that is also open to the public for Sports Medicine. I'm thinking maybe some Dr. there could tell me what my % are. Is there a test they do?

[RubyH]

Hi @DJC_63, most of us are using the Aria scales which give both weight and body fat. As to the muscles, you are gaining muscle tone and yes you are losing fat, it's just that muscle weighs more so it may look like your not losing on the scales, but you are and congratulations !

[bluenose1962]

PW - 190 25/1/16

CW - 163 27/3/16 160.5 02/4/16 158 10/4/16 156.5 17/4/16 154.8 30/4/ 02/05/16 154.5 152.1 08/05/16

150.9 22/5/16

GW - 145

UGW - 145

Total mixed feelings about this weigh in, as I managed to let things slip for a few days, had a gain, then worked like mad to get back on track.

Lessons were learned though, so not all bad.

I suppose with this hernia operation, and a few other, non-routine things happening my defences were down and just another hurdle, but the worry is that as my weight increased a little, my resting heartbeat increased a lot.

However, last nigh I managed a 5k treadmill run in 25 mins and a few seconds, to burn off 367 cals., so I won't be hitting the ice creams again, the pain is just not worth it.

Decided to do the 5k daily, with a 2 day fast thrown in, and lets see where next Sunday reads.

I am glad that this bit of a "blip" has happened now, and not post-hernia op, when i would not be able to respond as pro-actively.

On the good side, I will be enrolling on the next challenge, as I am sure that there will still be something left to do. Hoping that I can go through most of the challenge with no movement though, and then try to gain some muscle etc.

I am determined that my body will be a "work in progress" and not an "un-finished project". Lets see !

Happy last week everyone, hope it is good for us all

[RunnersHi]

I've been MIA for the last few weeks. My last update was 5/1 and then that next Sunday 5/8 I was in the middle of a trip to visit family in Alabama (for Mother's Day and my sister's graduation from grad school). The next Sunday, 5/15, I was disheartened. Although I know I had been losing before my trip, I was back up to 170 by the end. I didn't feel like I could be very motivational in a post.

When I walked in grandma's house, one of the first things she said was, "I bought all your favorite treats!" I couldn't be upset with her, since she didn't know and was doing it to show her love, but they were all out on the counters in clear canisters...you guys can imagine the rest, I'm sure. 

I've kept pretty well to my moderate meals with no snacks since I got back though, and was very excited with the results this morning! Finally broke through my plateau. Thanks for all your support on here. I did go back and re-read about everyone's progress yesterday--it is wonderful to have a community to work through this with! We're in the final stretch of this challenge--good luck this week, everyone!

USW- 216 (12/5/15)

CSW- 176 (3/27/16)

PW-170 (4/24/16-5/15/16), 171 (4/17/16), 174 (4/9/16)

CW-164.6 (5/22/16)

GW- 164

UGW- Somewhere between 140-150 (not sure yet)

[almost_where]

USW-363 - March 9

Easter Weight - 353

Week 1 - 351

Week 2 - 348

Week 3 -  348

Week 4 - 344

Week 5 - 340

Week 6 - 336

Week 7 - 334

Week 8 - 329 - CW

Memorial Goal  - 333

- 5 lb (24 lbs total)

Received the 30# badge today which was nice. Also when I went out to restaurants previously, I would avoid high top tables at all cost. It was awkward as F to tell the party I was with that I didn't want to sit at that type of table. The real reason, which I  never told them and am telling you all is because my excess weight would make it painful as hell to sit at the high top and cause my mid section to actually go numb in about 5 minutes of sitting. Tried a high top last night and the numbness never came and I can actually tolerate the high tables now.

I really do think the fitbit community(esp this group) is more valuable then the fitbit itself. Good luck to everyone out there this next week and see you at the finish line.

[SunsetRunner]

When I was sick, I quickly went down to 259. But when I got better, my weight went up to 263.8. Two days ago it was at 262.4 and this morning it's at 265.4. This water retention is driving me crazy. I never really know what my actuall weight is. I've been told by my doc that if I gain more than 3 lbs overnight I am to go to emerge. But I take double the water pills now when I gain more than two, so we'll see what happens.

[RubyH]

Hi @SunsetRunner, be careful with those fluid pills, they can damage your kidneys and lead to further problems, my dear departed husband had the same battle and fluid retention is really hard to shift. Keep an eye on your sodium intake, both the Fitbit app and My Fitness Pal have this feature in their food logs, and try to keep it under or around 1500mg, and use a circulation booster daily or just small walks to stimulate youor circulation. My best advice is to watch your dietary intake as well and try to find what is triggering the fluid retention besides sodium, you may be surprised at what you find, some sugars will trigger it and some carbs will too. It was a constant battle for my poor husband, he had a burst portal vein and fluid would build up in his lungs as well as his body and was constantly monitored physically, dietary and yes, in the end it was his kidneys that failed due to all the fluid medications. I wish I knew of LCHF when he was ill and it is worth giving it a go, but no added salt at all and avoid bacon and ham.

Best wishes. Ruby.

[saraj91]

Final stretch of the challenge guys & gals! Lets do this! 

Hope everyone had good weekends! I was celebrating a little personal victory with my 5k parkrun, as for the first time I managed to run it in the 25 minute range, just. 25:52 to be precise, there may or may not have been a little dance round the kitchen to celebrate lol. This was a target I set myself way back when I first started running about 18 months ago. 

Also I was pleasantly surprised to see a drop on the scales of 1lb, we did have a very active weekend with my parkrun, a long dog walk as we look after my Nan's dog & a day spent hanging pictures round the house (more mentally than physically stressful lol), plus a few super yum & healthy meals. So hoping I can keep this up for the last week of this challenge. 

Hope you all have great weeks! 

USW 23/3/15: 186

PW 17/5: 134

CW 22/5: 133

GW 30/5: 130

UGW 23/6/16: 130

[DJC_63]

@RunnersHi You're doing great! You're making progress that I'd love to be making. I totally understand about your Grandma. If I still had one living I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings, either. For many Grandma's thats what they do to show their love.  That time with your Grandma will I'm sure be a treasured memory and since she doesn't live near you it's not going to happen every week.  

---

@RunnersHi wrote:

I've been MIA for the last few weeks. My last update was 5/1 and then that next Sunday 5/8 I was in the middle of a trip to visit family in Alabama (for Mother's Day and my sister's graduation from grad school). The next Sunday, 5/15, I was disheartened. Although I know I had been losing before my trip, I was back up to 170 by the end. I didn't feel like I could be very motivational in a post.

When I walked in grandma's house, one of the first things she said was, "I bought all your favorite treats!" I couldn't be upset with her, since she didn't know and was doing it to show her love, but they were all out on the counters in clear canisters...you guys can imagine the rest, I'm sure. 

I've kept pretty well to my moderate meals with no snacks since I got back though, and was very excited with the results this morning! Finally broke through my plateau. Thanks for all your support on here. I did go back and re-read about everyone's progress yesterday--it is wonderful to have a community to work through this with! We're in the final stretch of this challenge--good luck this week, everyone!

USW- 216 (12/5/15)

CSW- 176 (3/27/16)

PW-170 (4/24/16-5/15/16), 171 (4/17/16), 174 (4/9/16)

CW-164.6 (5/22/16)

GW- 164

UGW- Somewhere between 140-150 (not sure yet)

---

[DJC_63]

I finally broke my plateau but not in the right direction.  I had one of my most active weeks in awhile, I did some sort of workout every day. I'm hoping that it will just take some time for increased activity to make a difference in my weight. I'm also going to try lowering my carbs more. It's been raining and chilly a lot here but this week is supposed to be in the 80's (crazy weather).  I tend to not eat as much in hot weather so hopefully that will help with weight loss.

As of 5/22:

USW - 207.5 (1/14/15)

CSW - 202 (1/1/16)

PW - 194.6 (5/8/16)

PW - 194.5 (5/15/16)

CW - 197 (5/22/16)

GW - 188.00

UGW - 160.00

[HelenKr]

Hang in there @SunsetRunner and @DJC_63!  If you're eating right, the scale will catch up.  And with the health benefits that go with it.

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi my dear Fitbit friends,

I have been going upward on the scale and today I decided enough is enough. In spite of the BMI of 23.4 at 148.6 I have toooo much belly fat. I bounced of 133 and proceeded to regain 15 lbs and it is sitting on my mid section. Sooo hello again. With Memorial day only 8 days a way I can lose a lb. if I limit my late night eating. It is all good food but too many nuts, humus, multigrain crackers & raisins all add up. 

I went back and copy thie below stats from 3/29 post:

Starting today to try to reverse the 11 lb gain. 

Orig wt Feb 2015 153 

low wt  Sep 2015 133

CW  Mar 29 2016  144.5

GW Memorial Day 136 

UGW 134

and today 5/22 148.6 blast it all, not even maintaining but a gain of 4.1 lbs.  

New goal is 144 by June 11 when I have to fit into my ball gown to do a 2 dance performance. 

Yikes that is 20 days away.

Congrats to all the folks making such great progress. 

Best to you all in the next 8 days,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Bobbinyc

Hello and big hugs to you. 

I am so happy to find you here my positive friend.

So you are up and walking on your foot now? Are you still in pain?

I like your making healthy snacks decision.

I'm going to check in each day to help me stay motivated late at night. 

Are you back to work now? 

Tell me how you are doing. 

All the very best wishes for continued recovery,

Barbara G

[RunnersHi]

@DJC_63 Thanks for your kind words!

Cutting carbs is definitely working for me--I eat mostly fruit, veggies, beans, lean meats, and healthy fats like avocados, nuts, and seeds. Tonight, my husband and I made a spaghetti squash with a tomato, onion, garlic, and basil sauce and added feta cheese and grilled chicken pieces. We were able to eat so much more (and feel very satisfied) because spaghetti squash is so much less calorie-dense than pasta. 

Good luck this week--I'm rooting for you!!

[dancefoxtrot]

DJC

Low carb is the best for reducing inflammation and chronic diseases from creeping up on us.

Worth a try to lower carbs to 120 a day. You can still eat veggies just not refined carbs and limit the whole grains too.

Barb G