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

[dancefoxtrot]

Jocy

I'm a night snacker too so I'm forcing myself most nights to go to bed by midnight and not stop at the frig. 

If I'm sleeping I'm not snacking!

Try it.

B

[ffcarpy]

Another week and another Shooter McGavin win! -0.7. Good luck everyone. I will be pushing on to ONEderland!!

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
WK8 201.2 (5-22) -0.7
GW 199.9 (5-30)
UGW 180

[DJC_63]

@almost_where I appreciate you telling us a bit of your story. What a great feeling it must have been to not have that pain. I hope that things keep getting better and better!

---

@almost_where wrote:

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.

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[DJC_63]

@RubyH  Thanks to your post where you mentioned a 1500 mg max for sodium, I looked through my daily food logs and noticed that most days I'm over the recommended sodium level for my age (52) much of the time.  I've never paid much attention to my salt intake, as I never was one to add a lot of salt to food or eat chips, pretzels, etc.  I've used sea salt for many years, which I notice has A LOT of sodium. And here I thought that I was being healthier by using sea salt.

So I'm suspecting that I'm retaining some water, and I'm going to have to work on cutting some sodium out of my diet.  There are so many things to think about it gets hard. Lower carbs, more protein, less salt.... I've never watched what I eat so closely so it's all new for me.

It's nice to have everyone's input, anyhow.

[SunsetRunner]

@RubyH Thank you for the advice! I watch my fluid intake most days. I have heart failure and my cardiologist has cut down my water intake. He keeps telling me to cut down on liquids but then he tells me it's up to me to determine the amount of liquids I take. Make up my mind will ya?? Sheesh. But I am down to bare minimum on my liquids. Of course that's not counting watermelon, celery etc. They all have some water in them. I have one or two coffees that will last me until mid afternoon, then a glass of water in afternoon and one at night. At the most I'll have another cup of water. I don't add salt to anything I cook or eat.

Sometimes I just need a reminder. I'm so busy watching my sugar that I forget about my salt. I did notice that when there's less salt, there is more sugar and vice verse.

[SunsetRunner]

@dancefoxtrot Thanks B! I'm going to have to try that starting tonight. lol Hubby is nights for two days. And Stick a crochet hook in my hand.

[SunsetRunner]

@DJC_63 I myself was surprised at how much sodium there is in one slice of cheese!!! There is more salt in foods that we buy than what we would normally put on our plates.

[scottie0714]

Hi - checking in for last week. I am maintaining but hope to pull out a few more pounds before our Memorial Day deadline.

USW - 213

CSW (3/27) 198

(4/3) 196.8

(4/10) 196.2

(4/17) 195.6

(4/24) 195.8

(5/1) 195.8

(5/7) 192.4

(5/14) 195.6

CW - 192.6

GW (Mem Day) 185 - probably won't reach this...but want to keep it all the same

UGW - 150 - 160

So, I've lost about 5 lbs so far during this challenge..but on a positive note I have lost my first 20 lbs since starting this FITBIT adventure in Janurary. 

[RubyH]

Hi @SunsetRunner, yes sugar often replaces salts and vice versa and both have the potential to raise fluid levels and halt fat loss. I empathise with your heart issues, I have COAD and have both heart and lung issues, but thanks to caring for my husband during his last years, I learned a lot about salts and sugars while monitoring him and his food intake. The national health guidelines have got it wrong for the majority of us with weight and fluid issues. Avoid all processed foods if you can. If you didnt make it, do not eat it. Stick with all natural foods, meats, dairy, eggs, vegetables, tree nuts, seafood, and an occasional piece of fruit as much as possible and you will win the battle. My favourite fruit now is avocado and I have a 1/2 at each main, diced, sliced or mashed. no salt, just a little pepper or lemon juice.

have a great day and best wishes.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where congrats on the 30 lb!  that is just fantastic.  

[Bobbinyc]

@saraj91  How wonderful that you made that speed!  For me that would mean so much more than a pound here or there.  Great job!

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63  Hang in there.  The scale never moves in a straight line the way we want it to.  Just keep taking good care of yourself with good food and activity  - that is what matters most.  The rest will fall into place.

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot  Barbara!! Where have you been?  Big hugs to you too!  I've missed you.  How is your knee?  Have you been dancing?  I want details!   Is everything ok?  

I'm doing better.  It's taken forever  (apparently top surgeons can't be bothered with follow up even if there may be a problem) but I am walking more and more each day.  Actually using the Fitbit to rehab my foot, control how much I walk and how often.  It is great to be able to actually move around again and manage basic things.  I got way off track after being stuck keeping my foot up for so long - lost my routines and motivation. I weigh more than ever before and have lost a lot of muscle.  It was so strange to feel like my body, my life, weren't my own, and at the same time be grateful that it wasn't worse.   But, I'm getting back on track now, slowly.

It is very good to see you my friend.

[saraj91]

@scottie0714 congratulations on getting your -20lbs badge! 

@Bobbinyc Thank you ! Yes it's been a real boost, now just to try & keep it up. I did do something crazy to celebrate though... I signed up for my local half marathon (what was I thinking lol). It's not til October so time to build up my distance but it's a new target to aim for. 

To those of you seeing your measurements not move in the direction you're after, hang in there! Your progress isn't stopping, it's adjusting to the new you . 

[DJC_63]

Thanks for this @bobbinyc. I normally am pretty upbeat but the measurements not going down this month really threw me. I really, truly felt like giving up today for the first time. I won't give up exercise because I enjoy it (I went tonight despite my gloomy mood), but I might give up weighing myself. I have given up so many foods that I like, and if it's not going to get me anything I'm not sure I want to continue feeling deprived. A few people have suggested I get some tests done to check my thyroid and sugar levels for diabetes, and I am going to do that. Actually I was supposed to do it a year ago (the glucose test). Maybe those will shed some light on the problem.
Thanks again for your kind words- they meant a lot this particular day!

Sent from my iPad

[Bobbinyc]

DJC - I know what it is like to want to just give up/give in to the cravings/indulging/emotional eating.  But giving up means giving up on yourself and that is never an option.  Never.  I think we get stuck sometimes by our thinking.  At least I have.  You said you have given up so many foods and it isn't getting you anything.  Excuse me but that is nonsense.  It is getting your body a chance to be healed and healthy.  That is the most important thing to ever get.  You are not depriving yourself, you are giving yourself the greatest gift - a chance to live the best life you can live, with vitality and ease, for as long as possible.  You would trade that for, what? some pasta? some donuts? (been there, done that, paid the price, not worth it) What you choose isn't about short term comfort and it's not about numbers on a scale or tape measure.  It is about the chance to be fully alive and be who you really want to be,not someone sick or in pain or limited by her body unnecessarily, or focusing on the next "treat".....but living a meaningul life.   And part of taking care of yourself means getting good medical attention.  No more procrastinating.  Thyroid problems and diabetes should not be ignored and they are treatable.  So be brave, make the appointment.  Keep reminding yourself that you are doing the very best you can for yourself.  And never give up on your chance for a healthy life.  These are things I have to remind myself of every day.  End of lecture. 

[awood08]

It's been a long time since I checked in. I have soooo much going on! We are currently in the middle of selling our home, finding and purchasing our new home, my son is starting summer baseball, my daughter is in the pre dance program, my husband has a whole garden planted at his grandparents house that he tends to, almost time to pick (squash, zucchini, tomatoes, peas, greens) and I have started playing on a softball team on Wednesday nights (and I still work full time 8-4 Monday through Friday). To say my schedule is busy is an understatement lol I never thought I'd see the scale dip below 160 but it was a very happy surprise. Just focusing on maintaining and keeping myself tonned and healthy 🙂

Glad to see all the familiar people on here! Hope you all are doing fabulous!!!!

USW  6/16/15       235

PW      5/5/16        162

CW      5/24/16      159

CGW   5/30/16      150-160 (maintain this)

[Bobbinyc]

@awood08Great to see you again.  Wow you do have your hands full.  And congrats on all of it, including the weight and the new home.  I'm very impressed with how athletic you are.  Congrats!

[saraj91]

@DJC_63 Stick with it, you've made so much progress already & we all know you are capable of amazing things. Keep checking in, the support of this group is great & we're all here for you! I completely agree with @Bobbinyc ' never give up on your chance for a healthy life.'. You got this! 

@awood08 great to see you back on the boards & congratulations on getting below the 160 mark, amazing work! The fresh veg sounds lovely & how nice for summer salads to use your own produce! 

[Bobbinyc]

@saraj91 thanks.  nice to hear.