Halloween to Thanksgiving Challenge 2015

[awood08]

Hello everyone! Welcome to the Halloween to Thanksgiving Challenge!!!

This challenge will begin on Halloween October 31st and finish on Thanksgiving November 26th. This is a little less than 4 weeks so try and be realistic with your weight loss goals so you don't feel discouraged if you don't hit your mark.  

All you need to join this challenge is to post your stats regarding your weight, and check in weekly or as often as you'd like. We are a great support group and enjoy keeping up with each other and being there for our ups and downs.

HAVE FUN!! Most importantly enjoy yourself and your journey! 🙂

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

[Basilia]

@saraj91 so nice to see that you can go away and still maintain your healthy habits..you are an inspiratuon!

[Basilia]

@saraj91 so nice to see that you can go away and still maintain your healthy habits..you are an inspiration!

[saraj91]

@Basilia yes it is nice to go away, I did relax my healthy habbits a bit, I may have tried 1 or 2 (or 4) cocktails lol! Very kind of you to say, the way everyone is all working towards a healthier lifestyle is the real inspiration! 

@viny2242 congratulations on being in the 'safe zones'! 

[Basilia]

@viny2242 you made my day! So happy for you 😊

[Basilia]

@HelenKr you're killing it! Bravo!

[Basilia]

So many great results ( any loss for me is great 😊) congrats to you all. for those who have gained, its a time for reflexion. What could you have done differently, what were the triggers if you overate? Each weight gain is a chance to know ourselves more deeply. Turn the weight gain into an opportunity to lose better and reach that healthy state.

[Basilia]

Some more humour for our last week!

[IamRBrown]

@viny2242:  Congratulations on those results! 

My weight is still the same it has been for the last 8 weeks... not up, not down...  per my doc when I had my health screening, a1c was good, blood pressure slightly elevated (not enough for meds), cholesterol slightly elevated (ratios were good - not enough for meds)...  so, since I can't seem to beat this plateau, I'm using some natural remedy type of things to lower the cholesterol.  The blood pressure is a given when I went to the doctor from a high stress job & have a bit of white coat reaction too...  not too worried about that since it always checks pretty well in the normal range if checked at home.

Good luck moving forward!  My mindset is that as long as I don't gain back what I've lost - let it take 6 months to lose 5 lbs... I'm still better off!

[JacquelineP]

@viny2242  HOORAY!  for your recent doctor visit and all the great results!  What a wonderful feeling to see that kind of success.  That's an inspiration for everyone. And only a few days ago you were worried about the scale being stuck!

Your scale numbers are similar to mine.  And I really identified with the bouncing thing and the increased trouble once days get shorter, and the "dreadmill" issues.  🐵  I use a stationary bike for my indoor work, which also gets boring if you're an outdoor walker, but I also have gone back to walking the Mall loop--just circling inside the local Mall to get my steps.  It's better weather than outside, lately, and at least there's stuff to look at.  

Keep up the great work!

[JacquelineP]

Checking in, again.  Well, I'm still thrilled to be below 200 lbs, but I didn't lose anymore. On the other hand, I've been out to four birthday lunches or dinners, dropped a half pound, and then this morning had put it back on again.  So I'm STILL below 200.  I'll call that a win.  🐵 Now that my BD celebrations have finished, I'll have almost two weeks to lose the last two pounds on this challenge. Fingers crossed and feet moving.  Good luck to us all these last few days of challenge--May the Force be with you (us)!!!!

USW: 221 (May 5th 2015)

CSW: 201.5  (challenge starting weight)

CW: 199.5 (11/19)

Thanksgiving GW: 197.5 (adjusted down last week)

UGW: 160 - 170

PS @dianenyc  Loved your most recent update on the art of savoring!  I did a lot of that during my birthday celebrations and blessed your name each time!

[jescoleman]

That is wonderful! Great job!

[jescoleman]

Hang in there! It can be discouraging when the scale isn't going the way you think it should, but you're making positive changes and it will get better!

[awood08]

@viny2242 

That's AMAZING! Ultimately, your health is the most important thing. I'm so happy you are back in the safe zone! My mother is a diabetic so I see how hard it is on her. Congrats!

[awood08]

@JacquelineP 

Definitely a win, you got this!

[flgirl2015]

I am finally seeing the difference on the scale that I see in my clothes and face.  I am down 5 lbs (I feel like I didn't lose anything at first and the all the sudden the scale jumped), and have managed almost 2 weeks of hitting my step goals every day.  I just upped my step goal from 10k/day to 11k/day

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all,

I have not been in touch for some weeks so it is delightful to come here and see the wonderfully supportive posts are continuing. Yeah 10 times over for all the successes in better biometric numbers and weight loss and therefore health. I have been dancing in spite of being sedentary for 2 days after twisting my ankle slipping on the driveway, and healing really quickly. After hitting my goal weight of 135 and managing to 133 I have slid up again to 137.8 darn it.  I notice that when it is colder I get more hungry. Then also due to the tragedy in Paris I have been watching lots of TV CNN news and eating extra from anxiety and the horror of it all. 

I have decided to aim for 135 by Thanksgiving and be okay if I get to 136 since it is only 1 week left in this challenge. 

Sending you all oodles of wishes for continuing toward better health. 

Barbara G

[awood08]

@dancefoxtrot Glad to have you back Barb!  I'm sorry to hear you have had some problems with your weight going back up, between the stress in the world and your injury it must be tough. You can do it though, you will power through. How long before you can dance again?

[awood08]

I gained 2 pounds over last weekend, so I was back up to 189 which was very hard to deal with. Alcohol calories are the absolute worse, I swear by it! I have been hitting the gym every day since Monday and I'm trying to keep up with my runs so I am ready for the Thanksgiving 5k I am doing. Today I am resting! I've been kicking my butt so I'm happy to say I was able to get down to 186 this week. With 1 week left I need to stay tough and finish out the challenge. I'm not sure if it's because I'm only 11 pounds from my goal weight, but I'm also rethinking my ultimate goal weight. Just alot of things going on, I've done so great and feel so good, but I'm still depressed looking in the mirror and still feel disgusting.....i'm not sure what I need.

USW: 235 (June 16, 2015)
PW: 187
CW: 186

GW: 185 (Thanksgiving)
UGW: 175

[Katrice]

Awood08: u should feel so proud of ur accomplishments! Last hurdle of meeting goal is always the hardest b it u r perserving. When u look in mirror do u have an old photo of previous weight before u made ur decision for weight loss? Keep it up, doing great!

[JacquelineP]

@dancefoxtrot So GOOD to see your name back in the mix!  Sorry about your slip, but so glad that you are on the mend.  You are quite the inspiration, and I loved the dance videos last time.  Made me want to lose weight just so I could IMAGINE moving so gracefully.  I hear you about the cold and dark and personal depression making forward movement in the health sphere harder, too!  Bet you'll find this group pretty helpful for motivation and for help in hanging in there.