Halloween to Winter Holidays Challenge

[_Lilac_]

Hello everyone and welcome to the Halloween to Winter Holidays Challenge!! We'll tally up Dec 31 and start the New Year running! (or walking, or swimming, or biking, etc). There are many people who kinda disappear during holidays so I want to cover as much ground as we can while we can and be here over the next 8 weeks for these trying times!! 

We can post (daily/weekly) about our weight and non-scale successes, share helpful tips, support each other and talk about our ups and downs.  The following abbreviations can be helpful to use:

USW - Ultimate start weight

SW - starting weight for the challenge

CW - current weight 

PW - previous week's weight

GW - goal weight for the challenge

UGW- ultimate goal weight

To join, please simply post and you are in! Have a great time, let's get this going!

[HeartBiller]

Well I am so glad it is Friday. I am still not up to par yet.. This is just about to get the best of me. SO hoping some much needed rest will help. My grandson says to me on the way to school, why do you go to work when your sick..... So I respond with, it is what you do when your an adult.. You have to go whether you feel like it or not.. He has decided he does not want to be an adult, because he wants to stay home and watch cartoons when he feels bad! SO there you have it, I guess he is not gonna grow up..lol.

You know the first few days I was sick, I lost weight, but for some reason, I am not losing any more and I still am not eating hardly anything. Who knows... at least the weight loss was a plus to feeling so awful.

I am counting down the next 4 hours until I can go home and rest!

I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed day!

[yagirltildz]

Junior year of college is hitting me hard... I need the accountability and motivation of this to push me to reach my goal. Sometimes I just feel like I am fighting an impossible fight. Does anyone have any advice about sticking with a diet/exercise plan long term (not just 2/3 weeks)?

USW - 145

SW - 152.8

CW - 152.8

PW - 150

GW - 142

UGW- 140

[_Lilac_]

@HeartBiller   This is what happens when people under-eat. They go into starvation mode and their body shuts down the loss. "Just don't eat much" is NOT a solution!! As you are experiencing. I hope you feel well enough to eat good, healthy food and get a good balance. 

[_Lilac_]

I had quite the day. Mom and I planned to go grocery shopping this morning and it was 17C !!!! outside. Okay...so, normal temps for Nov 3 in this area are about 4C...so 17C at 7am broke all the records. It got up to 19C. Yesterday I had to run the wood stove all day to take the chill out of the air and max was 8C. Anyway, we decided to walk the river trail. We watched the tide come in (tidal bore) and one of the officials who cares for the river's health was on a boat following the tide's wave. I've never seen a boat on the river before. We walked for a long while and realized we hadn't checked the time. We had 3200 steps and had to go BACK. Mom was limping with sore knee when we returned and my foot was in agony. Her husband had taken the car, thinking something must have happened to us and he went in search of us. It's a good thing she didn't leave her cell in the car with her jacket or he would have lost us completely. Anyway...grocery shopping was good and I needed a nap this afternoon. I hit 10,000 steps on my walk with the dogs before supper. PHEW. I'm taking it easy the rest of the day. 

I hope everyone has had a great week. Keep up the good work. Keep focus over the weekend.

[cyncitylimits]

accountability is key for me. i answer all challenges from Fitbit friends. win or not i at least try to make the top 5. they keep me moving. 

[_Lilac_]

Walked to the library this morning for my writers group meeting, missed the bus home so I walked all the way back too. I hit 10,000 steps just after I got home. My writer's block seems to have broken along with my plateau. I wonder if they are related. Haha. 

I'm going to relax the rest of the day and try to get in as much writing as I can before the dogs harass me again. Mom is hosting a birthday breakfast tomorrow morning. I know there will be healthy things since two others are being careful, but some of the items on the menu are things I can't have. 

My steps have increased this week and I am making sure my foot is iced and exercised to prevent further damage. 

It's great motivation when you see the scale numbers going the right way after so long of staying the same.

[_Libella_]

Just thought I's join for a little extra push to not slack over the holidays.  Since I've lost over 20 lbs in 2 months, I want to keep it up.

USW - 295

SW - 271

CW - 271

PW - 274

GW - 260

UGW- 195

[_Lilac_]

@_Libella_  yay!!! congrats. I'm glad you joined us. Keep up the great work. 

[JODII]

It is so great you respond to people lilac. So I am happy to report i did 12k steps yesterday and I'm up to almost a mile twice a day. This is helping to see everyone else doing it. Did some Oa service  yesterday, I'll go again Tuesday. I'm looking forward to doing it again tomorrow. I am loving my ionic. It helps to motivate me I can log my treadmill time too.

[martob]

I am in! SW/CW  217. UGW: 140  Just want scale to go down during the holidays!

[JLC614]

USW - 189 - August 2017

SW - 161.8 - 10/28/17

CW - 161.8 - 10/28/17 

PW - 161.8 - 10/28/17

GW - 145

UGW- 130 

The last challenge helped me stay on target, sorry I didn't post a lot but just knowing it was here was helpful. Also I still plan on continuing weighing in biweekly..it really seems to help me no get discouraged. I am continuing my intermittent fasting which works well for me, my walking, and I am going to start adding some upper body weights to firm up my upper arms.

Good luck everyone! Let's help each other through these tricky holidays

[Gayle1018]

Happy Monday-  weather was actually warmer this weekend - but thunder/ lightning storms and flood warnings.. was able to get a lot of yard and house work done.  First really good weekend in months to meet all my goals for a change.

 **even got my Thanksgiving birdie-- he was on a great sale for .30 cents a pound. -

current walking goals:

goal of 10,500 k steps every Saturday & Sunday
Monday -> Friday = 7,000k steps a day

Saturday: 11/4:  21,814

Sunday: 11/5:  10,858

Actually able to keep my calories  <1,200....(and ate the right stuff verses Halloween candy )

[HeartBiller]

Good Morning all...

Well I "think" I am finally kicking what ever it was that I had going on for almost 2 weeks. Shew.. It as rough. I was able to eat some yesterday with out getting so sick. So I think I may be back on track. Some how I gained a couple pounds over the last few days, even though I wasn't able to eat hardly anything.. But all in all to just be over it makes it all worth it to me. It was a horrible feeling. I ate a salad yesterday and it wasn't as horrible as it had been. So today is the first day I have been able to drink my water and not feel like I was going to die, so I am hoping everything is getting back to normal.I haven't eaten anything yet, but I am getting ready to try something..lol. So prayers it is still good..lol.

I still have not gotten my steps back up... I have to MAKE myself get back in gear and get my steps back up..

I guess I will get this Monday started.. I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed day!

[HeartBiller]

@_Lilac_   I sure wasn't "not eating" on purpose...lol. I hadn't felt that rough when it came to food, since I was pregnant 25 years ago..lol. It truly was a horrible experience. Each time I tried to eat or drink anything, I would get so sick.. So I just didn't want to try anything, because I couldn't stand the sick feeling.. I am so thankful that it is passing. I did end up eating some cookies on Friday, that I normally wouldn't have, but for some reason in my mind, I thought they would help settle my stomach... and who knows maybe they did...lol. I sure felt better yesterday than I have in a little while. I only had about 5 through out the whole day, so I am not sure that they are the reason for the couple pounds gain.. or if maybe it is just because I was not able to drink my water to keep everything flushed out..lol. Who knows..

Tomorrow is my weigh day. So I am going to try to drink all my water today and see if it does flush anything out..lol. I would at least like to be the same tomorrow and not see a gain from last week.

I just have to figure out how to get my motivation back to get my steps back up and maybe start some exercises...

You are such a HUGE inspiration to me.. You truly have no ideal!! Thank you for being you!!

[yagirltildz]

Have been eating healthy, logging calories, and worked out 3x last week, and I only have lost 0.5 pounds. Feeling a little upset and defeated on this cold and grey Monday morning. 

Sticking it out, and I guess I just have to push myself harder this week. 

[_Lilac_]

Went to the breakfast Mom hosted yesterday for the baby of the family. He turned 1 year last week. His mother had a birthday Saturday so it was a double birthday. I had a horrible brain day yesterday. Sensory overload. I had a few minor seizures while at Mom's so I developed a headache and memory issues. I couldn't even do my sudoku puzzles before bed! When my brain is good, I can do experts but I could barely get through mediums yesterday. This sort of thing is getting worse and I'm so scared my brain function will deteriorate. It's a major stressor for me. I'm seeing a specialist later this month in another city, doing a high quality MRI and tests. 

I didn't get a whole lot of steps yesterday, 4700, after running up and down the stairs to the basement to keep the wood stove lit. It was chilly! Today is not good either. I'm so tired, headache, brain...so I guess I just need the rest. Besides, it's raining really hard so walking outside would not be pleasant. The dogs won't even go out. 

I'm trying to get my sister to join us in this challenge. She received her new fitbit last week and is working really hard to improve her health. She just hasn't gone to the website yet to access the forums. She has been using the app only. I'll prod her again. I find this group invaluable in the struggle!

@HeartBiller Oh, I know you would have preferred to have been eating the last two weeks. I just meant that people wonder why they don't lose even if they cut back on food. It's because of that 'starvation mode' we go into. You will see a difference when you begin to pee profusely again..haha.

Alright...I'm going to go rest my head and relax. Tomorrow I'm determined to get my steps in at a good heart rate. 

[HeartBiller]

Well today I have definitely felt more normal.. I have gotten 6 bottles of water down so far, so I consider that a major plus.. I was struggling to get in 2 to 3 this past week.. I am so hoping for some sort of miracle over night and to not have gained when I weigh tomorrow. I did get a new scale at home and that is about a pound difference in my old scale, but tomorrow when I weigh it will be on the same faithful work scale..lol, So I am still praying for at least no gain, even if I did not lose..lol.

@_Lilac_  I hate to hear your struggle with the seizures, I am sure that has to take a toll on you. You are definitely an over-comer though.. You overcome so many obstacles to get where you need to be! You should be so proud of yourself! I think this whole group would disappear if it wasn't for you! You work hard to keep us all lined out... lol.

I have about 45 minutes before it is going home time.. So I guess I should get off here and finish up what I have to get done today! I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed evening!!

[HeartBiller]

Well I guess I am going the wrong direction AGAIN... I am not going to get too upset about it. I had a couple of rough weeks and I am finally feeling more like myself, so now I just have to get back in gear... I want to get back to my April of of this year weight. I want to surpass that number but want to at least get to it first..lol.

We are in revival at church this week, so it is rush rush rush for me all week. I work until 5/5:30 and then rush home and have to leave by 6;30 to get to church... 3 days a week I work 30 minutes from home, so it is a constant rush. I wish I was better at meal prepping or at least using the crock-pot more.. I am a mess... See I need help in more areas then just my weight..lol.

Well I guess it is get this day started time... I just wanted to do my official weigh in even though it wasn't anything I want to admit..

I wish you all better luck! Have a blessed day!

MY stats
USW - 210.0 lbs -  April 25th 2016
04/25/17 -  156.8 - My lowest in many many years

10/31/17 -  159.4

11/07/17 -  162.4 - Gained 3 pounds..

Goal Weight for this Challenge is 149.?

Ultimate Goal Weight: 125.0

[Gayle1018]

@HeartBiller-- I need to be like you and just weigh in--- I haven't been very good eating wise the last few weeks and scared to see what I did to myself....  Thanks for sharing and I'll take the leap in the Morning to see where I'm at.   Yesterday was a downer and kinda went over overboard on "comfort" foods-didn't get the water or walking in.  

**gotta get steady on my life style.  

your an inspiration, thanks for posting...

[_Lilac_]

Is it the weather change? Ugh...I'm in the same boat with @Gayle1018 and @HeartBiller. I just don't feel good. My last few days have been rough, without any energy. I'm finding I'm out of breath and my heart pounds if I've been sitting for a while and get up to do something like climbing stairs. Normally I have no trouble. Been very tired and of course, my head has been so bad. I did take the dogs for a walk this morning. I'll go by myself again later, do a really good pace. Need a cattle prod for my butt. 

I'm stressing. I know it. I have little patience with the dogs and everything around me. I get irritated quickly. The sensory overload isn't helping. I am currently locked in my room without any lights on, my computer monitor dimmed, no music or noise. The smallest thing feels like chaos. I hope that specialist has some answers for me. 

I had something a little salty for lunch so I need to flush it with water. Hope my feet don't swell. 

Alright...drink your water, eat your greens, move your rear end and LAUGH today.