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

[GettingfitinSC]

@em.kz Don't forget- Your body adds up steps even when Fitbit doesn't! Keep walking and pretend you're wearing it. Your body will still know you're walking. I had to remember that when I forgot to put Fitbit on one day. 🙂 

[_Lilac_]

@em.kz  When I used a non-waterproof fitbit but had to use the pool for my exercise, I would seal it inside a freezer zip lock, making sure to take all air out. Then I'd fold the bag and put it inside another freezer ziplock and stuff it in my suit. I've also put it under my bathing cap and inside the bra part of the bathing suit. Now, fitbit will tell you it's not designed for that, and will urge you to purchase a waterproof one. I certainly can't guarantee the bags won't leak, so use this method only if you feel confident it would work or if you have the cash to buy another one if something goes wrong. I never had a problem though. That old fitbit is still in use. 

[IdahoSandy]

I'm in!  Thank you for creating this challenge. 😀

4TH OF JULY CHALLENGE
USW 208 lbs (5/22/16)
SW 166.9 (5/30)
GW 161.9 (7/4)

Plan: mfp food tracker and exercise 5 days per week

[MBKickinHypo]

Hi Y'all! This is my first time in a challenge. I love my Fitbit but I haven't taken advantages of its perks, such as, the community. So, here goes nothing.  

USW: 165

CW: 152

GW: 145

UGW: 125-130

5'2" BMI 27.8 

[Bobbinyc]

@mltayor0873  I've at times needed to focus on something besides the scale.  After some foot surgery and just beginning to walk again, it really helped to set specific step goals and report them here.  I'll still sometimes focus on something besides weight - maybe how much water I drink, days without sweets, etc.  Whatever you need to pay attention to, if it is a specific goal and you use this group for support and accountability, you'll get there.

[Bobbinyc]

@danicalifornia7 Welcome!  Of course you will make progress.  Use this group in whatever ways work for you - support, ideas, accountability...it can all help.  We can all do this together.

[Bobbinyc]

@Cele21  When I struggle with making progress with weight, exercise, eating sweets...whatever...for me it really helps to focus on one goal until that behavior becomes more of a habit.  Last time I committed to giving up sweets and started with one week of no sugar.  That was one of my downfalls and it really helped to just focus on that.  I used the group for accountability and support (and humor).  Once I had the sweet tooth under more control, I focused on drinking more water.  I've also focused on increasing activity.  It helped me to look at what needed work, pick one thing that seemed doable, and just tackle it until it was done, or at least much less of an issue.  I also worked on food planning with some help from this group.  It can be overwhelming to tackle all of it.  Our lives are not that controlled and consistent.  Maybe trying one habit at a time would work for you too.  What do you think?

[Bobbinyc]

@em.kz  Maintenance is tricky (so I hear).  When you get closer, bring it up in hear and I bet there will be folks with ideas to help.  You have been doing an amazing job.  I hope you are very proud of yourself.  You accomplished something difficult to do in freshman year, and you succeeded.  That takes a lot of determination and discipline, and self-control.  Nice work.

And I have to ask, how was everything else your first college year?  And (it's the mother in me asking) how were your grades?  Sorry if it's too intrusive.

I do hope your summer is a great one.  You earned it.

[Bobbinyc]

@MBKickinHypo Welcome!  I think you'll find this group amazingly supportive and knowledgeable.  I found for myself, the more I participated, the more I stayed focused on my own journey.

[em.kz]

 @GettingfitinSC That's very true! Thank you for the reminder!

@_Lilac_ Thank you for that suggestion! Unfortunately, I do not have the funds to buy another one if something goes wrong with this one and even if I did, I don't think my boss would like me guarding and teaching with it tucked in a suit or something because it could be a distraction. Oh well, I'll just have to remember GettingfitinSC's note that my body will still count the steps even if FitBit doesn't.

[em.kz]

@Bobbinyc Thank you so much for your very nice words! I don't mind you asking; my first year at college was incredible, I definitely feel like I've gotten more comfortable with myself and found a great group of genuine friends as well as a major that I'm passionate about. My classes went well too, after a lot of hard work I actually managed to get a 4.0! All in all, the past school year was wonderful but I sure am glad to be home and have the summer.

[almost_where]

Memorial Day Starting Weight - 243 

  Sunday1 -000- (06/04) 243 Target

  Sunday2 -000- (06/11) 242 Target 
  Sunday3 -000- (06/18) 241 Target 
  Sunday4 -000- (06/25) 240 Target 

  Sunday5 -000- (07/02) 239 Target 

July 4th Goal - 239 (Meet my original Fitibit goal

when I signed up on 3/9/16 of 123lbs)

Coming off a 7,000 calorie Memorial Day binge and feeling sluggish I'm finding it a bit challenging to get things in gear. I really want things to happen during the month of June and I know it all starts with getting off the couch today and going for a walk.  I wish everyone all the best on theirs, lets do this.

[Tybokitty]

@_Lilac_

Glad you like the quote. Feel free to use it as a theme.   That quote has gotten me through a lot of things.  Makes you think where you was at to start with and then see where you are at now.  It makes you realize that you are better now than what you was way back when.  I use it in my everyday life for a lot of things and it gets me through every time. 

Have a great day and week.

" I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be". Joyce Meyer 

[Tybokitty]

@_Lilac_

Congratulations on all the weight loss!!!  You kept at it and succeeded in staying strong and losing that weight. Every little bit counts no matter if it is ounces you lose or lbs. Proud of you!!  

" I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be". Joyce Meyer 

[Bobbinyc]

@em.kz Now that's what I was hoping to hear!  Being more comfortable with yourself, great friends and a major you are passionate about - in my opinion that matters way more than the scale and even more than the grades (but don't let them drop anyway)  Having the friends and passion will keep you grounded - they are what life is really about.  And being comfortable with yourself gets you through most anything.

Stay strong and healthy this summer and you'll be off to a great start for your second year.

[Tybokitty]

Congratulations to all those who achieved their weight loss at the end of the Memorial Day Challenge.

And Congratulations to all those that may not have achieved their goal but still lost weight or worked hard at it and kept up the momentum to reach that goal.  The way I see it everyone is a winner in some way.  We worked hard, we never gave up, we watched what we ate, we walked/exercised and we cheered on, gave advice and encouraged all our Fitbit friends here to never give up and to keep moving. 

This the GREATEST GROUP OF FRIENDS that a person could have and I feel lucky in being part of this group with such wonderful people.   Every one have a wonderful, awesome day!!

" I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be". Joyce Meyer 

[snickel]

Thanks @Bobbinyc!  I'm hoping to be more active in the group this time, in hopes that it gives me more motivation to stay on course.

[ThatGreen]

Hello again, everyone!

CSW: 92.3 kg
GW: To be consistently in the 80's, leave the 90's in June 2017 and never come back.

[Bobbinyc]

@snickel If motivation is your issue, just ask people in here what they do.  I think everyone struggles with it at some point.  For me, I started with a list of all the reasons I wanted to lose weight.  Some were superficial (look good in shorts). Some weren't (live to be there for my family).  But out of the long list, on any day one reason would resonate.  I also decided that I couldn't count on motivation.  It often comes and goes depending on external things.  Although it gets us started, for me it's about creating different habits and thinking differently.  That was hard work.  Much harder than waiting for the will to do it.

It means I try hard to make no excuses at all, I have to think very positively, etc.  I have a list.  I know the kind of thinking that gets me off track, and the kind that keeps me on course.  A big part of this journey for me has been learning so much about myself, including how easy it could be to undermine my own goals.  (I can eat just one, I deserve a treat, everyone else is eating this, I'm too tired to walk, I deserve to have fun, it's too hot out, etc.)  I also had to learn to build in success through things like meal planning, carrying snacks so I'm not tempted to get junk, etc.  And learning to separate emotions from food.  That's a big one.

Now I think of motivation as just another set of emotions that I can't give too much power too. 

I'm in this to be healthy, long term, so I have to always think: "is this good for my health?  is this nourishing my body, giving me what I need?  Can I feel good about myself for doing this?"

I think the hard work is in the details and I think this group can be very helpful with all of it.  

[Gingermom6370]

New to this board ... looking for support.  Starting fresh

USW - 135.6 lbs.

SW - 135.6 lbs.

CW - 135.6 lbs.

GW - 128 lbs.

UGW - 120 lbs.

Age: 47 in three days .. struggling with mid - 40s weight gain

Got advice? I will take it!