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!!

[Bobbinyc]

There were enough of us up in the middle of the night to have a party!  Let's hope we sleep better tonight.

[Bobbinyc]

Quotes for the week : STEPS TO SUCCESS VS. QUITTING

Thomas Edison - When asked by a reporter how he felt about having 1000 failures in his attempt to make a lightbulb "I never failed.  The invention of the lightbulb had 1,000 steps".

Edison: "I have not failed.  I have just found 1,000 ways that didn't work".

Edison: "Many of life's failures are by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

Edison: “Negative results are just what I want. They’re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don’t.”

RubyH: "Nothing is impossible, can't only means you haven't practiced enough. Can means you keep trying until you achieve it."

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc I'm resting it. My feet are up. I got 6000 steps in so that's going to have to be enough for today. Having homemade veggie lasagna for supper and fresh veggies. 1500 calories available for supper so I think I'll be okay. ha. 

Oh, I went to the restroom at my sister's and she has a big mirror. I was surprised because I noticed the few pounds I've lost. Wow...how inspiring.

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_ Isn't that amazing!? We focus so much on the scale when that is really the least rewarding and not the best indicator of health.  You can do so much more than you used to do just a short time ago. Your medications have changed.  My guess is you have all kinds of indications that your health is getting better.

And isn't it fun to start seeing the difference?  You've earned it!  Enjoy!

[Gayle1018]

Good weekend! very pretty fall, so was able to do lots of outside stuff!

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight  196.6

CSW- Current Starting Weight (for this challenge) 162.8

Todays weight: 158.

GW- Goal Weight   (for Nov. 24)   157

[alegria16]

I missed my mark in the last challenge by 3 pounds, but I'm not at all discouraged. I was travelling for work for about a month solid, and my exercise, sleep, eating, and everything were all messed up. So it's just time to get back on track now that I'm home for awhile! Saturday was a good day -- hit 10k steps without trying. Yesterday was a good day -- took the dogs for a long walk and a long soak in the sun.

Wishing everyone a happy week! Sending lots of positive thoughts to all!

USW (6/19/16) = 204 lbs

SW (11/7/16) = 188

GW (10/31/16) = 183

UGW = 155

Height: 5' 6"

Age: 43

[hannahbebrave]

@_Lilac_ Thank you so much for thinking of me.  That means a lot.  I have been walking a lot, at least for me, and dance around the house when I can.  I've also been stretching afterwards.  It seems to give me more energy and I feel more able to do the little every day things, like get out of a chair or car, more easily.  I stopped eating food from cans. Nothing processed passes these lips.  I use the two cans left as weights.  

When I walk in town, I usually slow down to walk with someone else for awhile.  This week two people joined me at my pace.  I'm not fast yet, but clearly walking with purpose.  I have fantasies of bringing real health to this town.  Me first, though.

[hannahbebrave]

@Bobbinyc  I love those quotes.  I love that you included RubyH with Edison.  I had no idea about Edison's wisdom.  I guess scientists have the right attitude.  We experiment with different things until we find what works.  

When I get off track or don't see the results on the scale that I want, my tendency is to get annoyed with myself as if I failed on purpose.  Then I think about giving up.  Those quotes are such a great attitude.  It's all just a learning experience.  I try to remember that and think about what to try next and think positively - that "failure" was really just another step to getting there.  How nice not to feel so negative.  Much better for my self-esteem this way and more productive.

Thanks for that.

[lusry]

@Bobbinyc I've noticed that one of your goals every day is to drink more water. I'm not sure what you are doing to get yourself to drink more water but, I thought I'd share what has helped me. I got a large red water bottle (32 oz) and fill it up with water when I get up in the morning.  Then, depending on what I'm doing that day I put it on my desk (if I'm working) or I put it in the place where I will walk past/see it multiple times. Every time I pass by it or it catches my eye I think about the last time I had some water and that I should probably drink a little bit and before I know it the 32 oz is gone and I refill and do it all over again. I don't make myself drink at least 8 oz an hour or anything, I try to just finish the bottle at some point during the day. My goal is actually to empty the bottle 3 times, and I don't always do it, but I usually do it at least twice. I started doing this a little over a year ago and my husband always comments on how much water I drink. It's gotten to where I crave water a lot of the time instead of any other type of drink. Also, if I go somewhere I try to keep a bottle of water with me in my purse, or just with me in my car so I have it in case I'm gone for a while and haven't had any water for a while.

[HeartBiller]

Well after a fun filled stressful, emotional weekend. I am back to get this week started. I don't feel I did horrible over the weekend, but by no means did great. I am still hoping for a lose.. I wont weigh until tomorrow, so that will tell the real tale..lol.

I really am not the best at knowing the best of all this eating/calories. I KNOW we are suppose to eat healthier, but there are a lot of times I don't eat the best foods,but don't go over my calorie budget for the day. So am I still okay in doing this? I have lost weight in the past few months, but I was talking to a nutritionist and she is not a fan of this and she is NOT a beef fan... As one might expect...lol. BUT my husband and I are... 😞 . We buy a half of a fresh beef every year which just happened to be last month. So we eat a lot of beef. I do try to prepare it more healthy. We do a lot of grilling out, and broiling... It is rare to fry any of it... But it is very hard when you LOVE meat...lol. I am adding more vegetables. We don't generally have potatoes, due to my husband being diabetic. So we are mindful of the carbs when we eat, but do not do low carb diets. We are just trying to eat healthier.

I will add my weight tomorrow, to compare where I was last week and this week. Tomorrow is the day I set my self a goal to under 175...lol. I would take 174.9...lol. But deep inside of me, I don't feel I made that. But I will pray for it up until the scale says what ever it says...lol.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

[nmroadrunner]

Hi Everyone,

We're finally having real Fall weather here in NM. We even had 0.5 inches of rain over the weekend. It doesn't sound like much to many of you but it's a nice amount for us as our annual rainfall is about 9 inches a year. The temperature is also cooler which is a relief. Hubby's eye is healing well but he has some dizziness when he bends over and we'll find out what that's about today at his follow-up appointment. If his surgeon has no answers, we'll find out Wednesday at Hubby's physical exam. 

I didn't do well on the weight loss front this week but am hoping my body is just adjusting to a new set point which will lead to another weight loss down the road. It's a slow journey but you have to keep the goal in mind. I'm also adding a 30 minute exercise routine to my walking schedule, so hope that helps.

USW  199

CSW   171.4

CW     172.6

GW      169.?

UGW  <150

Wishing everyone a great week. Keep on stepping!

[_Lilac_]

@lusry and @Bobbinyc I also have a 32oz water bottle. I put ice cubes in it in the morning or freeze it with about 8oz of water in it the night before. I take it to the pool in the morning and fill it up. It's empty at the end of my water aerobics class. Then I fill it again at home and drink another 32oz throughout the day and usually fill it again. I squirt lime concentrate in it to give it flavour sometimes. I also drink hot tea and coffee off and on. Lots of fluids!

[jadedkisses]

USW- 234.4 lbs

CSW- 210.2 lbs

Week #1 209.8

GW- 205 lbs

UGW- 180 lbs

Slow going this first week, been having behavioral issues with my 7 year old son so the gym took a bit of a back burner while I focused more on trying to find an underlying issue.  I was able to get about an hour to myself last night for a walk around the neighborhood so I didn't feel like a complete bum!

[HeartBiller]

@jadedkissesI am raising a 7 year old grandson. I feel your pain. I don't know about you, but I find it very hard to find time for myself... He doesn't want to walk with me, he gets bored to quickly. Most places where I can walk are not exactly kid friendly. There are a few schools I could walk at, but the track they have doesn't allow you to see the playground the whole time, and I wont walk where I cant see him, but even when we do find a place he can play while we walk, he gets bored so quickly.

[jadedkisses]

@HeartBiller I completely understand, mine gets bored so easily.  We have one park in our subdivision that has a path that wraps around it, that I will walk around and around while he is playing on the play ground.  I of course get bored with the same repetitive short walk but it's better than him being bored.  I love my time at the gym because they have a kids club there that he goes to and can play and is supervised but with him being in trouble and grounded this past week I couldn't take him because he considers that fun time.

It is definitely a challenge trying to balance everything.

[A_Lurker]

@HeartBiller - I wouldn't worry too much about the content of your meals.  I eat beef, pork, chicken, turkey, shrimp, etc. and have managed to lose weight consistently while doing so.  Now, I do tend to eat more chicken and turkey,  but I think that's just because it's in my freezer at the moment.  Also, I can be liberal with things I'm adding to it as the starting calories are lower.  I'd be more concerned with the sauces and the ingredients you cook them with (ie. grilling is adding only spices, stewing is often browning in oil and then making a gravy).

I recently went from a diabetic A1C level to a normal one, just from weight loss.  Not sure if this would help your husband or not.  I don't do low carb, but I probably do lower carb (~40%)

[HeartBiller]

@A_Lurker Congrats on the A1C. My husband was diagnosed around November of last year as a diabetic. By March of this year his A1C had claimed From 6.1 to 7.0. So he went to what they call a diabetic bootcamp...lol. It was a 4 hour session of learning about diabetes. He really took it to heart and I have been soo proud of him. We started changing our lifestyle and adding in so walking on April 25th of this year. Since then, when he went for his last Dr. visit last month, his A1C was down to 5.4. He has lost 30 pounds. She was so impressed with it. As am I. We are both working toward this healthier life. We are both obese and we are raising a grandson who is obese. I really want to make this work for all of us. Since April 25th I am down 33 pounds, and I am so happy about that, but at times you do get discouraged that it takes alot longer than you wish it did. I keep telling myself it took me 45 years to get this body like this.. I cant change it over night... lol.

[AndyDandyPandy]

SW:213

WK1CW: 209.8 (-3.2LB)

GW: 205

[Bobbinyc]

@lusry What a great idea for drinking more water!  Thanks.  I started counting the number of glasses I drink.  As usual, I thought I was doing great.  It was only 3!  I'm now up to 5-6 daily.  Keeping a large bottle in sight will help.  

How are you feeling?  Drinking a lot of water is great for the baby, and if you decide to  nurse it will be great for that too.  

[Bobbinyc]

@nmroadrunner I hope your husband gets some helpful news and advice from the doc.

Adding 30 minutes has to be good for you.  It would probably  help with weight, but, depending on what you do, it might also make you stronger, more flexible, give you better balance or agility - all great.