July 4, 2017 challenge

[Bobbinyc]

Welcome to the next Challenge!

This one will start today, May 30 and go to July 4th.  That gives us 5 weeks to work toward our next set of goals as we try to lose weight or maintain in a healthy way.  

Everyone is welcome to join this terrific group. You can post once weekly or every day - whatever you like - to share your journey, give and get support, offer advice, get some tips.  We have celebrated each other's successes, and empathized with the setbacks.  I personally found, the more I respond to others, the easier it is for me to focus on my own journey in a positive way.  We have seen great progress in previous challenges, in weight loss, health, learning, and non-scale success, because we are in it together and focusing on being healthier and living better lives.

Some of the terms used to report our weight:

USW - ultimate starting weight - the heaviest weight when you began to lose

SW - starting weight for this challenge

CW - current weight for the day you report in

GW - goal weight for this challenge, for Halloween

UGW - ultimate goal weight that you intend to reach eventually

Some people also include their height, their age, their BMI.  

All  you need to do to join, is start posting, usually with some of the weight information.

I do find this to be an amazing group of smart, wise, kind, and determined people.  I look forward to this next challenge, and sharing this journey and all we learn with each of you.

Bobbi

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63  You are one of the lights in these challenges.  You are always supportive and encouraging and caring of others.  I am not saying this lightly.  I am saying this having seen you through hard times for quite a while now and if we were standing together I'd put my hands on your shoulders and make sure you heard me:  I believe in you.  You have enormous determination, a huge heart and beautiful dreams.  I am rooting for you.  And I am sure that is true for many many people on here.

Don't you ever forget for one moment that the hard stuff you are going through now will end at some point and you can make your life better.  You deserve that.

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_ housecleaning?!! no no..  better get to class. hurry. 

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc  I went to class. When we were entering the instructor said, "I hope you guys had breakfast, I'm going to work you hard." And she did. I'm sore, tired, want a nap, taking a naproxen and going to relax. I am so glad I went though! 

I have GOT to get some laundry done today and scour my kitchen. Housework will have to be in the schedule. It was pouring rain when I left the house this morning but now it's sunny. The dogs are going in and out the back door. 

I could really really use that nap...hmmm...

[dbalge]

Hello all,

Trying to lose the remainder of my extra weight and a little more. I'm 61, 6'00" and according to BMI, I need to weigh less than 185 and almost there. I'd like to get to 175 by end of the month or by July 4th. 

What I do to lose weight is I watch what I eat and log it into MyFitnessPal which is linked to my Fitbit app. I haven't walked a day under 10 miles in about 2 months. Currently averaging about 17 miles per day with rest days of 10 miles, other days get into 20 miles or more. 

My weight stats:

USW - 295 February 2015

SW - 189.8 June 1

CW - 189.8 June 1

GW - 175

UGW - 175

[RachelShrinks]

@dbalge: I wish I was you! I'm averaging about 10-12 miles a day (which, a year ago, I'd've said was just plain impossible), but it's literally all I have time for. I'm trying to work on my running endurance. Two of the camps my kids are going to this summer are 2.5 miles away, and it'd be awesome to take them there on the bus and then run home. Last year, I walked home, which sort of nearly killed me at my fitness level back then :). I'm better now. 

And I've reached thirty pounds lost for the year, people! I wasn't expecting it today, and I have no idea whether it'll be the norm for the week or the anomaly, but dude, 163.6: 30.4 pounds lost since January 1. GO ME!

And go all of us! I know I don't contribute as much (I'm working on that for this challenge), but Lord, I love to see the support we all get here! It's especially helpful if you don't tend to get a great deal of support at home. Thank you to everyone here for being awesome and amazing!

And @_Lilac_ I'm very glad you got to class this morning. Go clean something :P!

[Gayle1018]

@dbalge - GREAT idea to go with the kids and then walk/run home!!  keep up the good work!

@_Lilac_  Good job on getting to class!  proud of you.

[TT_is_me]

USW 315 (1/1/2016)

CSW 217.2 (5/30)

CGW (7/4) 210 

UGW 160-170

Well I completely failed the last competition but I feel like I'm starting to feel like I might have a better control over my eating and exercise (maybe )

I know why I struggled so much last competition - last month I started going to therapy with my husband and also by myself.  I've realized that every time that I start digging up emotions and struggles during therapy, I instantly want to eat junk food and a lot of it. Some days I did horrible and just gave into the cravings. Other days, I did ok but not amazing.

Now that I've been going for a month, I've been taking note of those emotional eating cravings and tackling them better. I know to either eat before therapy or have a plan for quick, healthy food afterward. I still get the thought in my head to go eat out afterwards but I have been better about noticing it and dealing with the emotions behind it.

The other thing that derailed me last month was trying to balance time with my husband and exercise time. It's pretty hard because I want to work on things with him but at the same time I don't feel like I can sacrifice my health. The balance is really difficult, especially when he says he wishes I would spend more time with him and not as much exercising. I think we are both learning how to compromise and take advantage of the time we do have together. 

So here is to the next weight loss challenge - may I be more intentional with my time, eating, and relationships! Hope it's a good one for everyone.

[almost_where]

@DJC_63

Nice to see you too amigo. Indeed we have been in quite a few challenges ranging over a year now and I def enjoy reading your posts.  Sorry to hear you are having car problems. Remember this about the gym. If it becomes difficult for you to continue there due to transportation issues there are many other tools available. The most important part is having the desire to workout.  Billionaires can build an entire gym for themselves with all the latest equipiment but they still have to do it. Vice versa, look what some inmates do physically being locked up in a cell.  Suggestion, make a video of the car noise and post it up on a car forum site and try to add as much detail as possible. You might get some free direction of what the problem could be.  If the car does stop working, please let me know and maybe we could brainstorm and set some temporary home routine up.

Take care DJC

[WalkingLisa]

I'm trying to lose 17.6 lbs for this challenge, ambitious but I think I can do it - roughly 3.52 lbs per week (I am in a medical program and I am supervised weekly by my doctor - full disclosure)

Lisa - 40 F 5'2"  Atlanta

USW -  386

SW - 317.5

5/30/2017   SW -    317.5

6/6/2017     CW -   

6/13/2017   CW -

6/20/2017   CW - 

6/27/2017   CW -   

7/04/2017   GW-    299.9

UGW-  165

[debb21]

USW 190 Jan 2015

CW139.2

GW 132

I was at 132 for I think 5 minutes lol.  I keep snacking especially at night.  My goal this challenge is to log my food again.

[WalkingLisa]

@dbalge - You can do it!  Your stats are amazing and that's a ton of walking!  I put in 8.5 miles yesterday and thought I was going to die, LOL.

[RachelShrinks]

@WalkingLisa, you go girl! Aim high and reach for it—if you don't make the goal (as I didn't the last two challenges) at least you'll be lighter than you were! Let your doctor know about the goal and see if there's anything extra that you can do to make it happen.

Good luck!

[_Lilac_]

@WalkingLisa  Woohoo! Glad to have you with us!! I was at your exact starting weight a few years ago. And we've both done soooo much work. Look at those numbers. Thanks for checking in with us and keep posting. We'll both do it!

[mmt421]

To be honest, I've looked at the replies on these challenges before and have been too ashamed to join in. Here we go!

USW - 201

SW - 178.6

CW -178.6

GW - 170

UGW - 155

I'm a 25 year old vegan who transitioned and assumed the weight would just fall off. The problem was I was just replacing meat and dairy with vegan junk food. I am 5'5" and was at the heaviest I had ever been at 201 pounds. Now I'm almost 23 pounds down eating correctly and going to kickboxing 5 days a week! 

Good luck to everyone!

[Gingermom6370]

Thanks Barb for the great advice!  Evenings are the worst for me as well .. I seem to lose control at night!

Amy

[_Lilac_]

@mmt421  Glad you posted! My daughter went vegan and she discovered the same thing. Who knew Oreos were vegan?? lol. She soon found out you can eat REALLY unhealthy and be vegan. Kickboxing 5 days per week is awesome. Keep up the good work. Welcome to the group.

[Wilson22]

Hello

I would really like to take part in this challenge but do not have Fitbit scales so will have to enter my progress manually I hope this is acceptable? My USW was 12stone 10lbs that was on the 1st January 2017. Since then I have lost roughly 7lbs a month and my current weight and starting weight for this challenge is 10stone 6lbs. I would like to lose 8lbs over the time of the challenge which is quite ambitious for me as over the last month my weight lose has dropped to 1lb a week. I would like to be part of this as I need others to keep me motivated. So if I am able to participate that would be great.

Thanks and here goes

[_Lilac_]

@Wilson22  Welcome! Not many of us have the fitbit scales so don't worry about that. Just hop on in and I hope we can entertain you while you get the job done!

[WalkingLisa]

I was able to get in 8.5 miles yesterday and 7.5 more miles today.  Just aiming for 4 miles tomorrow.  Working hard for the results!

[_Lilac_]

@WalkingLisa  Great job! Don't wear yourself out and rest when you need to. I hurt my knee by being ambitious and it's finally healing up after a few months of pain. People here told me to take it easy and I struggled through because I was so scared to stop moving. Keep up the great work of being active! I hope we can share many successes together.