Holiday Challenge! Maintain or lose but do not gain!

[Shelley]

I read that the average person puts on 6 pounds over the holidays and doesn't ever lose them.  Let's not let that happen to us!  This challenge will run through December 31st!  Here is the challenge:

Pick a goal for how you plan to eat through this challenge.  It is your choice but some examples might be giving up all processed foods, eating mindfully, eating plant based diet, etc.

Choose an exercise regime you will commit to do daily.

Stay accountable to the group by reporting in daily or if you can't do that just report as often as you can.

Who is with me??  Let's do this!  Here is my commitment to the challenge:

I am eating 90% plant based diet with no processed foods and limiting salt.

I will walk enough to get 10K steps a day 

[Walkergirl052]

I'm in...I will get my walks in and try to eat clean. But, I can't promise no sweets on Christmas Eve and Christmas ! But, I refuse to gain!!! We can do this

[Shelley]

Awesome Pam!  Thanks for joining in!  This may be the first Christmas ever for me not to gain weight!  It will be great to have some support.

[Buck_Furpees]

Count me in!  My goal is not to gain; want to lose 25 llbs by April.  

I really need to eat better... ugh!  This means cutting the bread-stuffs by half, at least.  

[Shelley]

Welcome to the challenge Buck Furpees!!  Glad to have you on board.  You are half way there.  You got the eating goal down and now need to establish an exercise goal too for the next 17 days!  We can do this!!

[urnmor]

Shelley 

I am in.  My goal is to lose two punds per week, and most importantly, not to gain weight during the holiday season.  

[Shelley]

Welcome ummor!  Glad you are going to join us!

I love that people are showing up for the challenge.  There are three parts to the challenge.  Research has shown that people are more successful with goals when they are specific.  Also, when the goals are do-able.  So make sure you pick something that is realistic for you.  My wish is for all of us to be successful with our goals.  

1.  Pick a goal for how you plan to eat through this challenge.  It is your choice but let us all know what kind of dietary plan you are following.  It might be something organized like Weight Watchers or just that you are eating healthier by ____________ (fill in the blank).  

2.  Choose an exercise regime you will commit to do daily.  Again, this is your choice but tell the group what you are doing.

3.  Stay accountable to the group by reporting in daily or if you can't do that just report as often as you can.

I am looking forward to seeing you all here over the next 16 days!  We can do this!!

[TheLastDiet]

OK, I'm in:

1a) Food plan--keep going with the low-fat, high fiber, more protein, less sugar and booze plan that I've been doing: eat rationally, *not* emotionally.

1b)The latter is tough during the holidays b/c of so many triggers in the environment for emotional eating, so part of my goal is to pay attention enough to at least recognize the triggers.

2a) 45 very active minutes per day, minimum. I mix it up between low impact step aerobics, treadmill and stationary bike. 

2b) keep working on the abdominal muscle tone (I'm doing a modified version of the 30-day ab challenge), lift weight at least 2x/week for arms and upper back.

3) I would really like to lose at least a pound a week because the more I'm losing the easier it is to stay motivated and the easier it is to pass up those holiday treats.

[Shelley]

I love your name, The Last Diet!  I am all about making life style change and diets do not work!  Welcome to the challenge!  Sounds like a really good plan and I know what you mean about how much easier it is when you are losing to stay motivated.  

How did everyone do today?  So, I did okay on my eating.  But with putting up Christmas tree and visiting with family, and a little shopping it is now almost 8pm and I still have to get over 6,000 steps.  I sat around too long this morning and should have got my walk in early.  Kept thinking "I have all day!"  Ha!  So when I leave here, I will go get those steps!  Yesterday, I did get the walk in and today when I weighed in the morning, I had lost 9/10ths of a pound.  One thing that I have really done well this weekend is that I didn't go out to eat and usually do that a lot on the weekends.  And when I eat in restaurants, I tend to gain unless I eat a salad without dressing.  Restaurants use a lot of butter, oil, and salt which all cause you to gain.  Looking forward to hearing from others on how things are going!

[urnmor]

Did OK walked over 10,000 steps and stayed within my calory goal.  

[LindaGarrison]

Count me in, Shelley! Just finished my 10,000 steps today by doing a workout on my Bellicon rebounder. Also didn't snack as much as some days, only eating a homemade cookie at my mom's.  Will be at my Zumba class in the morning, so that should help, too.

We can all maintain the status quo for the next 3 weeks!

[Lays]

Count me in!

[Shelley]

Welcome Linda and Lays!  Glad to have you with us for the challenge.

Doing good Urnmor!  Keep it up!

Well, I got my steps in tonight!  I do not think I would have done it had it not been for this challenge!  I don't usually exercise so late.  Interesting thing is I had no snacking after supper so maybe I should do this more often!  

[Walkergirl052]

Good morning everyone
Today was my weigh-in...1pd. Lost. I love all the inspiration here it really help with motivation.
Have a healthy motivated day everyone!

[TangledWood]

Good morning. If I count the time from Thanksgiving, I've already GAINED the weight. But I am determined to get it off.

So I am going to go back to exercising, I slowed to almost nothing when we dropped into negative temperatures and didn't start again when the weather improved.

And go back to following a high protein, low carb eating style that works well for me.

[SunsetRunner]

Ok I'm in too! I start my Christmas vacation today (well technically it started last Thrusday, but I had a weekend ITLS course (I'm a paramedic) and since work was paying I attented  This will help keep me on track for the holidays and beyond!

1.  Pick a goal for how you plan to eat through this challenge. I follow a Paleo WOE so my plan is to stay with that, and also to eat when I am actually hungry, not because I'm bored or everyone else is eating.

Given that we are travelling throughout the holiday and someone else will be cooking at my parents house, I don't expect to be 100% on plan, but trying for 95%.

2.  Choose an exercise regime you will commit to do daily.  I plan to walk daily, to get my steps in plus 5000. If I can run, all the better, but weather and travel may make that difficult, but walking can be done anywhere!

3.  Stay accountable to the group by reporting in daily or if you can't do that just report as often as you can.  Travelling with the phone and computer most likely so not a problem there!

[joshl]

I am in! I got my fitbit 2 weeks ago and have lost 5 lbs in that time. I do not want to gain between now and the new year but that will be difficult because I will be traveling. 

1. I plan to eat fewer sweets.

2. I plan to reach 10,000+ steps each day and do strength training 3x per week

3. I plan to check in often.

[Lays]

Here's how I am starting my day. I hope this story inpires you as much as it inspired me this morning. Never give up! Believe in yourself and stick to your goal!

[urnmor]

great video.  It clearly points out that our success is within us and not what others beleive we can do

[RomaS]

Very inspiring video.  My Fitibit Force finally arrived from Amzaon 6 days after I ran over my Fitibit one on the driveway.  Now, I can get on back chasing those " fitbit crazy" walkers on my  Fitbit leaderboard and climb right back at least up to the top 20 and aspire to be on the top 10.  

Thanks Shelley for starting this group.