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!!

[DJC_63]

Here's hoping this challenge goes better. I'm determined to do something different in the hopes I can jump start my weight loss.  Last week I didn't get much exercise due to a) social outings and b) lack of sleep/energy.  For some reason for the past week now I haven't been able to sleep more than 6 hours. According to Fitbit I'm so restless I'm not getting more than 30 minutes of sleep at a time, which I know isn't enough for a proper sleep cycle. I don't know why this is, though, so I don't know what to do about it.

So here are my beginning stats:

As of 11/1:

USW - 207.5 (1/14/15)

CSW - 189.4 (10/31)

GW - 186.00

UGW - 160.00

[EmeraldBC]

Great idea! I'm 57 and really appreciate the challenge.
CW 207
GW 200
UGW 155

[_Lilac_]

Week 1 Day 2: Gloomy and cloudy again. When will it ever clear up??? I'm forcing my butt to move and go to the pool. I think I have to go back to the doctor to get some more tests done. I almost fell forward last night before bed and I'm finding the world feels like it's jerking in my dizziness. During the last challenge I was critically low on one of the important electrolytes. It might be happening again. I'll call after my swim. 

Have a happy and healthy day everyone. Keep the legs moving and the hearts pumping.

[HeartBiller]

Well I am going to try this challenge. I did'nt do to well on the last challenge. I need motivation... I seem to have lost mine somewhere along the line. I started with my fitbit lifestyle change on April 25th 2016. I have since lost a little over 30lbs, but still have over 50lbs to lose. I am trying to lose this the right way with eating right and exercise. I know I have come a long way, but have a longer way to go....

I weigh every Tuesday, since I can weigh at work on a good digital scale...lol. I like weighing on the same scale and the same day of the week. I have set a small goal. I will consider it a victory if I can make myself get back to my motivated state of mind...lol

My husband and I are working on this together. He was diagnosed as a diabetic toward the end of last year and then in April of this year we decided to get serious about the lifestyle change. He too has lost 30 lbs and is doing wonderful on his health. He has his A1C back down to 5.4 which was a great shock to the Dr. So I am proud of where we have came from, but we both still have a long way to go...

MY stats

USW - 210 lbs

  SW - 210 lbs

 CW - 177.6 lbs

 GW - 173.0 lbs

UGW - 125 lbs

[dancefoxtrot]

@_Lilac_

As we lose weight it is necessary to modify meds of many types. BP is one of them that makes people dizzy. I suggest that you review all meds for dizziness side effects with your doctor. Sounds like a good idea to take a daily electrolyte drink powder in water since you are flushing it out. 

Best of health,

Barb G

[dancefoxtrot]

@lusry Congrats on a baby in the oven. Nutrition is sooo essential for baby so eat lots of veggies and lean protein. Your walks help you and baby both since it oxygenates your blood.  Eat walnuts, salmon, avocados for babies brain as well as yours. All nerve cells are wrapped in Omega 3s and we have 80 billion in our brain alone. How exciting. Hope your mom goes walking too. 

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all 

SW 147.5

GW 145

UGW 135

5' 7". 75 yrs young

Barb G

[_Lilac_]

@dancefoxtrot THREE of my meds have dizziness as a side effect. But I'm feeling like I did just before the health scare a few weeks ago. I don't want to spend extra money on electrolyte drinks when I feel I eat enough potassium rich foods daily. Bananas, squash, spinach, yogurt, etc etc. Something is draining it from me. I've made an appointment to see the doctor again tomorrow. I'm going to demand more tests and to find out what's wrong with me.

Week 1 Day 2: I got my 10k steps by 2pm today, including my water aerobics class. I can take it easy for the rest of the day besides taking the dogs out for their exercise. I'm going to nap now. Maybe watch a game on tv tonight, get some writing done. I'll just be good to myself. That's what this is all about, being good to myself and taking care of ME. 

I've had no Halloween candy at all. I don't want to give myself sugar cravings. Not easy to resist the chunky tootsie rolls but I'm doing it. (Last minute my daughter ran out to buy junk to pass out for Halloween then decided it was boring so I'm stuck with this stuff here.)

I was impressed with a local bus driver today. One of his regulars had brought him caramel candy apples but he told another driver he can't eat it, so he put it in the garbage can. Being brought up in a poor household, I have a hard time tossing stuff out so I would have found someone who wanted it, but I was impressed that he didn't EAT it when it was something he shouldn't have. He was changing shifts so then he *jogged* to his car a few blocks away. 

For anyone who wasn't in the last challenge from Labour Day to Halloween with me, you'll learn pretty quickly that I blah blah a lot and my posts are big...kind of chain of thought stuff. Sorry. I find so many things interesting and inspiring and have great meaning to me on my journey of fitness and weight loss. And I like sharing my thoughts, in case it's of help to anyone else. Ok, nap time!

[HeartBiller]

@_Lilac_ I had a spell of dizziness and just plain not feeling right. I work for a cardiologist and when I talked to him about first thing he did was take my pulse.. then became very concerned until I went over my meds with him. (he is not my family Dr.) So as soon as I told him my meds he instantly said with the weight loss my blood pressure was too low. The weight loss was controlling the blood pressure and I was still taking my medicine twice a day. So I am proud to say, I am totally off BP meds. I know that may not be your case, but wanted to share that weight loss does affect it. I had lost 30 pounds when I went back to my family Dr. and she is the one who took me off the BP medicine. Now I am just praying I can keep this weight under control and stay off the medicines.

I like reading your posts! you always give encouragement to us who need it. I dont get to post alot (I am hoping to do better) but I do love to read the post!

[SYG]

My first time trying something like this.  I'm nervous and excited at the same time

Female, 57, 5'4", Midwestener

USW- 190

CSW- 190

GW- 175

UGW- 150

PW- 165

CW- 190

[Bobbinyc]

Hello to all new comers and old challenge friends.

In the last challenge, I once again weighed exactly the same every week, give or take 1/2 pound.  No, I am not on maintenance.  I was going to a gym, doing pilates and yoga, increasing my walking, eating well and then had the occasional time off, well, way off track where I did nothing but eat not-so-well.  Weight never changed.  My body defied science!  So, for the next 3-4 weeks, I am staying totally focused.  We can do anything for 3+ weeks, right?

So...

CW 186

GW 185 (I'm desperate here.  Surely the scale can give me ONE pound, right?)

Other goals - drink lots of water (I forget), be active throughout the day, walk over 10,000 daily with some of that at a good pace.

Those of you who have been stuck too, let's pull each other along.  Be clear about what you will do each day.  The nice thing about a short challenge, we can do anything for such a short time, right?  

We can do this together!

[mommo77]

Bobby yours isn't the only body that defies science, lol.  Mine thinks it's part yo-yo.

Starting weight:  212

SW:  156.8

This challenge GW:  150

Ultimate GW:  135

[hannahbebrave]

I want to thank you all for the support and encouragement in the last challenge.  I have been walking a whole lot more and even though I get tired I am also starting to need it.  It's like I get antsy until I walk.  And I am walking faster and farther then I thought I could.  

I learn so much from you all.  I have read over some of the old posts.

@dancefoxtrot  you used to say amazing things about how we think.  It made it so clear to me about how I make my life harder.

@Bobbinyc  You posted two things in the last challenge that I hope you re-post some time.  One was about your list for motivation.  I found that so helpful.  I made up my own list that I check every day first thing.  It helps me get focused for the day.  You had another post on 10/16 where you weren't at all motivated and pushed yourself out and saw people doing the Breast Cancer 3 day.  The way you wrote that was just so beautiful and put things into such perspective.    Well, I think those should be posted again.  

I live in a more rural area and in town people are just not motivated for anything at all.  They do the same thing day in and out, have the same narrow view of the world, don't ever try to better themselves. Most folks don't take care of their health at all - lots of smoking and eating junk and using their old beat up cars to go a few blocks.  In my grand parents' time things were very different here.   Even though I know them and am very fond of many of them, it really is a sad life.  

I've never known there were so many amazing people out there who could be so open about their struggles and not give in to them.  You all define courage and determination, no matter how many bad days you have.

[Dressageviolist]

This is my first challenge ever, I hope to get back on track with my weight loss.
USW: 185
CW: 164
PW: 148
GW: 160
UGW: 145
As you can see, I've bounced around a bit, losing 25 lbs from February to July this year, but then gaining half of it back. I gave away all my bigger size clothes and felt great, now the new clothes are getting tight and I don't feel so great about myself. Our family "Christmas" is Thanksgiving in Disney World, so this is a good time to start over!

[_Lilac_]

@hannahbebrave You are doing a wonderful job! I'm so impressed with your motivation and desire to do better. I applaud your walking! And I love your antsy feeling pushing you to walk. I call that my little pixie voice telling me to move. I have a monster of laziness too, but I don't hear him as much at all. 

I bet you are feeling like a whole knew person. *cheer*

[Bobbinyc]

@mommo77 I'm with you - time for some real progress.  I'm going to try to focus on increasing walking fast, # steps, # glasses of water, other activities.  My food has been good, so not much I can do there.  What about you?  Do you have a plan yet?

[Bobbinyc]

Yikes - 10:30 pm and I have barely walked at all today.  Luckily houseguests are all gone and I can focus more on what I need to do for me.  So...borrowing @_Lilac_'s pixie, and putting in the steps.  

[Bobbinyc]

Just added on 3,000 steps, 10 flights of stairs, and had my heart rate up for over 30 minutes.  Thank you @_Lilac_'s pixie.  But, please, Lilac, take your pixie back!

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc Oh that Pixie will start chirping at me when I get up in the morning. I'll take the boys for their long walk first thing. I'm going to try to join Mom for a walk in the natural park then I have that doc appointment, to which I'll hoof it. I'll likely get all my steps in and maybe more than 10,000 in total. Looking forward to it.

[Bobbinyc]

You can recycle Halloween candy through Operation Gratitude.  Many stores throughout the country (U.S.) are accepting candy that will be sent to our troops.

I only recently learned that it is possible to toss candy into the trash vs. my mouth.