Halloween to Thanksgiving (U.S.) Challenge 2016

[Bobbinyc]

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

This challenge will begin on Halloween October 31st and finish on Thanksgiving (U.S.) November 24th. This is a little less than 4 weeks!  It helps us be realistic about weight loss goals and practice good habits before the next set of  holidays.

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.  Generally we have found that the more we check in and offer support and ideas to others, the more we get for ourselves.

We list our weight, as well as any other goals we might have related to being healthy (such as increase water, more active minutes, etc).  Developing good health habits is primary.

A little rundown of terminology for anyone who is new.

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight

CSW- Current Starting Weight (for this challenge)

GW- Goal Weight   (for Nov. 24)

UGW- Ultimate Goal Weight   (what your healthy target weight is)

PW- Previous Weight

CW- Current Weight

MFP- My Fitness Pal

List as much info as you like.  Some people include age, gender, height....whatever seems relevant to you.

We keep it as serious or light as we feel, but we always keep it focused on being as healthy as possible, while we support each other kindly.  We can do this together!!

[mommo77]

SW:  212

This challenge 158.6

Current:  153

Goal 150

Ultimate goal 135

I had a lovely walk this morning.  The air was chilly, crisp and clear.  Hardly anyone in the park, just me a few runners.  I had holiday music playing on my phone, it was great.  I'm surprised at myself for being really okay with the way my weight loss has slowed.  As long as it keeps going down, even by tiny bits, I'm happy.  I hope that means I'l be better prepared to maintain once I get to goal.  So thankful for Thanksgiving, a week off from work, time to enjoy my family and ready the house for the holidays.  I even have some shopping done, go me!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  God bless and keep you safe.

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all,

Just read your inspiring posts. Hope that those of you who are ailing are getting better each day. 

I was talking to my sister about her lack of motivation to exercise just a couple hours before I read the discussion here. 

Now I want to copy and paste to my sister, Bobbinyc's post about her motivation and not listening to internal excuses and negative thoughts. Sometimes it does take just getting started.

We got this. 

My weight is playing bouncing ball recently and 2 days ago it jumped up to 149.3 and this AM it fell to 147.7 and hopefully tomorrow morning it will be lower. 

Since I'm in the healthy BMI range it is easier to not be so motivated to get in every last step or remind myself that it is too late to be snacking.  It is not a health issue but a vanity preference since it is mostly the belly fat that I want to go away. 

All that said I'm aiming for the 135 range so off to sleep without a snack and up in the morning to teach my 2 excerise classes. 

Good night and sweet dreams,

Barbara 

[HeartBiller]

Happy Monday morning to all... Hope all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was great until last night when the nasty stomach bug dropped by... YUCK! So today I am dragging badly. However it will not defeat me. I will get thru this with the help of my good Lord! So I am not going to let it get me down too much! I am much better this morning then I was last night.

I went back and read all the other post and there is so much inspiration in them. Both in the ones who are meeting their goal and those who are not. I guess that's what I love best about this group it is just sheer support and encouragement no matter where you are. Tomorrow is my weigh day. I am feeling good about it, especially since nothing I ate yesterday should count....(guess that is the plus to being sick) sorry... it was funny to me..Sometimes I have to laugh to keep from crying. Not sure if I will eat today or not. I guess it depends on how long this bug wants to visit. Either way, if the Good Lord is willing I will weigh in tomorrow and add my totals. I figure tomorrow will be my last official weigh day before Thanksgiving ... (Unless I sneak down to the office on Thanksgiving morning...lol) No matter what I do tomorrow.. or any of us do by Thanksgiving, we will all truck on to the next challenge and work harder toward our goals. WE GOT THIS!  I am already doing the Christmas challenge as well.. So goal is already set.. Hopefully that will keep my focused on Thanksgiving Day, to not over do it.

I'll be back tomorrow with numbers!!! Have a great day to all!

[Gayle1018]

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight  196.6

Today’s weight: 157.2

GW- Goal Weight   (for Nov. 24)   157

GW for Christmas 153

UGW  143  (and maintain!!! 142-146 range)

Not coming off fast, but least it's not a gain .2 from T/D.  

Praying to make my goal for Thursday! and make it through th week without a gain..

Happy Holidays!

you all are an inspiration!! 

[Gayle1018]

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight  196.6

Today’s weight: 157.2

GW- Goal Weight   (for Nov. 24)   157

GW for Christmas 153

UGW  143  (and maintain!!! 142-146 range)

Not coming off fast, but least it's not a gain .2 to go till Big bird day.

Praying to make my goal for Thursday! and make it through th week without a gain..

Happy Holidays!

you all are an inspiration!! 

[Bobbinyc]

Weekly Check-in:

SW      186

Nov 1   186

Nov 7   186

Nov 14  186

Nov 21 186.5

At this point all I can do is laugh.  This has been since August, I think.  

On the bright side, I am definitely stronger.  Since being laid up for so many months last winter and having everything atrophy, I now am a bit stronger than I was before my health problems.  (But I can't blame this on muscle gain).  My balance is greatly improved, my agility is getting better, I have been consistently eating well (not perfectly).  

And I have been healthy enough to go for long walks and do the things I love to do.  So, if that is as good as it gets, I'm fine.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where You did it!  Despite that blip you had, you still did it, ahead of schedule!  Amazing!  I hope you are doing it in a very healthy way.  You are like a machine with this.  A role model for me.

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot  These scales certainly do get very stubborn sometimes.

That said, I know you as an incredibly determined person.  You are very strong, very active and very much in charge of your health.  You are the woman who can climb ladders and fix siding, saw wood, plant the vegetables, teach a few exercise classes, go hiking in the hills, and then do a fox trot competition in one day.  And I'm sure I left some things out.    

You lost this weight before, not too long ago.  You had a tough year, with injuries, a car accident, worrying about the future of our country...too many set backs that side-lined you. Now you are back on track and that extra few pounds doesn't stand a chance.

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63  We tend to have an image of what family holidays should be like, and the reality often doesn't measure up.  There are always some difficult people, everyone has their quirks, and as we get older the illnesses and losses change things.  I hope you get to spend time with your nephew.  Maybe you can make a plan for holiday dinners next year (or later this year) that involve friends. Figure out what would be truly meaningful for you.  Sometimes we have to create our own family traditions, even with friends who become "family".  

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63  I know you have been taking much better care of your health and I applaud you for that.  (I haven't nagged your for awhile )  That said, are you on top of the pain you get when you exercise?  I have used physical therapy a number of times as a way of learning how to manage pain as well as easing into an increase in exercise.  Would that help?  Would a different type of exercise help?  What about slowing down  to give your large and small muscles the time to adjust and strengthen?  I don't know but I am suggesting that maybe there is a way to get on top of this so you don't experience pain.   Has your doc had any suggestions?

[Cele21]

USW = 215

SW =211.8 (Labor day 2016)

LW = 214.2 (Last weigh-in weight)

CW = 215.2

GW = 210.0

UGW = 140

Looks like I'm not making my goal by Thursday and added another pound to boot.

[debb21]

SW: 143

GW: 139

CW: 139.2  Yeah!!!

UGW: 133

Hopefully I can behave this week.  I would like to be at UGW by the end of the year.

[Bobbinyc]

@Cele21  These things happen.  None of us does it in a straight line.  Do you have a sense of what you might try to do differently?  I've been experimenting with lower carbs, fewer calories, more activity, different activity, more water....just trying different things for a week or two to see what helps.  Is there something you can try?  Sometimes, for me, I feel better if I pick one teeny tiny thing and don't focus on the scale, but give myself credit for doing one more thing for my health.  Every little thing adds up.

[Bobbinyc]

@debb21 Great job!  

[_Lilac_]

Week 4 Day 1:

I am not going to make goal. After losing 25lbs in the last challenge (too quickly because it helped make me ill), I thought the trend would continue. I've lost 2lbs only since the beginning of this current challenge. I am exercising the same. I am eating well, though I still struggle to eat enough calories to get into the green zone goal. The only difference between then and now is that because of the struggle with trying to meet my calorie goal, I added a few things to my diet that I don't typically eat, and that I didn't eat during the last challenge. Granola, I ate a higher meat portion during meals, popsicles, two toast instead of one in the morning, not restricting myself to two bread in a day, etc. I think my carbs/sugars have gone up in my efforts. So I need to fix that issue. I don't want to stagnate at this point. 

I have my day planned for tomorrow with lots of steps and activity while doing errands. I must plan so I don't get stuck marching in place for 8000 steps in my livingroom in a day (yesterday). 

Good luck everyone with your numbers and especially with your upcoming weekend holiday. 

[DJC_63]

You are so right, @Bobbinyc.  We used to have family get-togethers at my Dad's when he was alive and I lived in Atlanta near him. My other family always had get-togethers, and I'd usually fly home at least for Christmas. I just didn't realize that once the kids were grown that would be the end of it. There were a few years when I lived in SoCal that I didn't come home, and I discovered then that I could enjoy spending Christmas alone. One year I did a web-video get-together with my family for a bit and then I went to the beach by myself. I felt so FREE, it was wonderful. I come from a rural, blue-collar family, and I never dreamed I'd live in California and be able to walk by the ocean on Christmas day. I'll never forget that day. I was okay with spending Christmas by myself when there was no family nearby, but it bothers me that I moved back here to be near my family, and now none of them care if we see each other. If I had the money I'd go back to California in a second.

But overall I believe it's better to know the truth about people and accept it rather than live in a fantasy of what you wish were true.  It's a good point you make to figure out what would be meaningful for me. I will have to do that. Unfortunately right now I don't feel right just doing what I want and leaving my Mom alone on a holiday. She's honestly not that good at giving love, but she still deserves to receive love and attention. And for now it seems like I'm the only one who will make sure she has it on holidays.

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@Bobbinyc wrote:

@DJC_63  We tend to have an image of what family holidays should be like, and the reality often doesn't measure up.  There are always some difficult people, everyone has their quirks, and as we get older the illnesses and losses change things.  I hope you get to spend time with your nephew.  Maybe you can make a plan for holiday dinners next year (or later this year) that involve friends. Figure out what would be truly meaningful for you.  Sometimes we have to create our own family traditions, even with friends who become "family".  

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[DJC_63]

Your're so sweet to ask about the pain, @Bobbinyc.  Most of my pain stems from degenerative disc disease. I had surgery 10 years ago for a bulging disc that was pressing on my sciatic nerve. It helped the sciatic nerve pain, but the general back pain came back after a few months. I've been on pain meds and muscle relaxers since then. I see a pain management Dr. every month, and if my pain gets especially bad she prescribes methylprednisone, which works great. It does have the side effect of weight gain, tho, so I try to limit my use of it.

I think my problem with exercise is that when I have a period where I don't go for a few days, then when I do go I sometimes overdo it.  Overall though, going to the gym makes me feel better than any other exercise. Even walking outside can cause me pain. At the gym I do the elliptical because it's low-impact, and most of my docs recommend that. Then I do weight-lifting, but if I haven't done a certain machine for a week or so, I get pretty sore the next day. From what I've read that's normal so I just deal with it.  I've done physical therapy several times. It was very useful after my surgery but I think it would be too basic for me now (and too expensive, those 20-30.00 co-pays add up quickly!).

[DJC_63]

@Cele21  Sorry to hear about the extra pound.   If it helps, you're not alone! I wish I knew the perfect inspirational thing to write, but all that I know is what is helping me. In my case I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I've decided what I want most is to be strong and in good health. If I can lose weight in the process that will be great but I'm going to stop driving myself crazy trying to figure out why I can't lose a pound, etc. 

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@Cele21 wrote:

USW = 215

SW =211.8 (Labor day 2016)

LW = 214.2 (Last weigh-in weight)

CW = 215.2

GW = 210.0

UGW = 140

Looks like I'm not making my goal by Thursday and added another pound to boot.

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[HeartBiller]

Good Morning to all.. I am so over excited that I made my goal. Today will be my last official weight before Thanksgiving so I am super excited about it. Now just to make sure come Friday I don't go back the other direction. That will be the hard part.

I got the 24 hour virus during this week so I am sure that helped a tad on the weight loss, but I won't lie, when I stood on the scale this morning, I thought well that was worth it...lol. NOT that I want it back again...lol.

I am planning a fun filled day today (OFF work) so hoping for a good day and lots of walking and HOPEFULLY I will still do good on my eating. 🙂 I hope everyone has a wonderful day! If I am not back before then, I hope all have a very HAPPY Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for! This group is one of my things I am most thankful for!

MY stats
USW - 210 lbs
SW - 210 lbs
Week 1 - 177.6 lbs - 11/01/16
Week 2 - 174.8 lbs - 11/08/16

Week 3 - 174.3lbs - 11/14/16

TW WK 4 - 171.6lbs - 11/22/16 WAY BEYOND EXCITED
GW - 173.0 lbs
UGW - 125 lbs

[Cele21]

@Bobbinyc, @DJC_63 - Thanks so much for the support. My goal in August was to focus on one thing only and that was absolutely no fast food, which I succeeded at very nicely (and lost a few pounds and saved a few dollars). In September, I decided to up my water intake - a lot. Went for a half ounce for every pound of weight. Found out that much water didn't play nice with my blood pressure meds and made myself sick. Came to a screeching halt and haven't gotten back on track since.

This month I was going to go back to basics and just aim for 64 oz of water and meeting my step goal.

Have not even succeeded with those.

I'm working on figuring out why. Pretty sure it's a combination of dealing with my husband's (very slow) recovery and healing, taking care of all the stuff by myself that both of us used to do together, not getting out of the house very much and the days getting shorter (touch of seasonal depression).

I'm trying to get a schedule together that will allow me to get back to the gym a couple times per week. I know that excersize will help across the board - increase my energy, get me out of the house for me, boost my mood and drop the pounds.

In the meantime, I'll keep aiming for the basics.

Thanks everyone for being here!