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

[Tybokitty]

Weighed in this morning and finally broke the 165 mark.  Now how long it will stay that way is another question.

USW - 172

SW - 170

CW -  5/30 -166.2

6/5 - 164.8 

GW - 160 by July 4th. 

UGW - 150

 I was talking with my health coach Friday and she said that it is the quality of what you eat in your carbs and fats.  My protein was fine, but a lot of my carbs and fats really had no value.  So I changed it up this weekend and really watched it and not only did I feel fuller and went longer without having to snack. Now I just have to really watch what I eat.  Maybe this time I will reach that goal. 

Everyone have a great week!  

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

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  I love your concern for the baby crow.  Baby birds without any feathers can't survive without help- they need to be fed every 15 minutes, and kept warm.  I used to have a neighbor that rescued those infants, and kept them going until they fledged.  Usually parents will figure out what to do.  If a baby bird has feathers, it means it outgrew the nest but can't fly yet.  Most birds are on the ground for a couple of days before they can fly.  Parent birds are extremely protective.  They know how to take care of the babies.  When people try to save them (as I once did), we are interfering and can usually hear the parents scolding us.  Crows are amongst the smartest animals on the planet.  They don't just use tools, they create their own tools.  They live in extended families, and they have amazing memories for everything, including human faces.  They may harass you and your dog for quite awhile, at least until the baby is flying safely.  If I remember, your dog is small.  You may not want to leave it out in the yard alone for awhile.  So, you had an experience that ornithologists have studied for years!

[awood08]

Long time no see! It's been a while since I've been on the boards and I'm happy to see lots of familiar users on the board! Last time I was on here was probably back in October, right after we moved and I got a new job. Things have been going great! I'm currently enrolled in college courses, I was elected to two committees at work, and I have my two kids keeping me busy with school and sports. I took too long of a break from Fitbit. I unfortunately gained back some of the weight I had originally lost 😞 But I'm refocused and competing with a few coworkers in a local weight loss challenge. I hope you all are doing wonderful! 

USW June 2016- 238lbs

PW October 2016- 160lbs

CSW June 2017- 198lbs

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where (my weight loss and meal prep hero)  What would help with getting back on track?  

For me it is taking one small step.  If I stopped walking, instead of getting back into my routine, if I am really off track, I just try walking to the corner and back.  Usually I go further that day or the next.  If it is with food, instead of just getting back in the whole game, I try one big healthy salad.  For me small steps helps.  Sometimes I just need to take a good look at myself, why I let myself get off track - was it circumstances I didn't take charge of, or is there something in the way I think that did it.  ie I used to think, it's ok to have a treat once a week.  For most people that works.  For me that is disastrous.  Once I have sweets, since I'm so addicted, I have trouble stopping and I have to go through the whole ordeal of getting off them again.  I also learned that for me, self-sabotage  is big - when I get close to success I have to be very careful for all kinds of reasons.  We get so tied in to a particular body image, it's hard to let go of it.

All this by saying, you have done this before, it's external or internal; emotions, thought or behavior; self-talk or ideas about yourself.  Coming as far as you have could not have been easy.  You have had to handle all kinds of things.  And  you did it!  That took a lot of strength.  Whatever it is, we have all been there, including you.  You can do this.  If we can help, let us know.

[Gayle1018]

Morning,  little disappointed in the weigh in  up a whole .04 - but did get all my steps in and plus, and true to the calorie count.. did a lot of physical stuff.   But did drink lots and lots of water cause it was hot.  So not too disappointed but had hoped for staying the same or a  little loss...   day by day.

** Been walking around a retention pond for last year.   This spring there has been 1 little duck,  with bad parents.  Mom left, Dad isn't paying attention and is hanging around with other boys...  so poor little duckie has been swimming alone -- I've named him Henry.

-- Saw him last night, good little swimmer and getting big, image one of these days he'll fly away- but it's been fun checking on him couple times a day and getting my 10,000 steps in at the same time.

Heading off to kids camp for the rest of the week with my pup to do pet therapy with the campers -- so will check in next week.  Ya all have a good week, and remember day by day makes the way.

[Bobbinyc]

@awood08 Hi!! Hugs!  So good to see you again.I remember clearly how focused you were, with food and all that exercise.  You sound great.  Hope the new house, new job are going really well.  And hope your family is all well.  I often hear that maintenance is harder than losing.  Yikes!  

Well, you did it before, with amazing focus and intensity, and you will do it again.  

Great to be sharing this journey with  you again.

[_Lilac_]

@ThatGreen  Oh...I didn't mean that the exercise is the only thing that will work...not at all. We aren't disagreeing. The only mention in that original post was of training 3X/wk and nothing about food, so my mind kinda latched onto what was mentioned. My mom can lose weight just with diet. I can eat like a bird and not lose unless I move. I think it all depends on your metabolism and how your individual body works. 

I told my old doctor I can't lose unless I'm moving and he retorted, "Well, how do all those people in the hospital lying like vegetables lose weight so fast?" (ya, he's a jackass). Those people are on drips or lose muscle or just don't have MY metabolism. I have an engine that I need to fire up. Even then, I have a huge calorie deficit and I'm still not losing a lot, sooo...I'm screwed up I guess.

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc The baby crow has feathers. It's almost full grown except the tail feathers are shorter and it looks softer on it's underbelly. The parents 'swooped' my head 6 times as I dashed to get in my house today. And the baby has now pressed itself up against the foundation of a house two doors down after a lawnmower in the neighbourhood startled it out from the cover of a deck. So, ya...they hate my bigger dog now because he's the one who'd gone to examine the baby in my yard. They hate me. They chased my sister half a block when she left yesterday (she's the one who'd put it outside my fence and yes, she wore gloves). I can't go out to mow. I can't leave the dogs out long. They dive at the bigger dog. LOL...it's neighbourhood chaos!! My neighbour has been watching out for it too. Her deck isn't covered so they can't go out either. I hope it gets itself up in the air soon.

[_Lilac_]

Today: 

My daughter wanted to go out for brunch. I said I'd only go if we walk there, because I would be missing my water aerobics class. She agreed. It took 40 min to go to the place and then I rushed home by bus to take my dog to the vet again for a blood test. Got home and felt bad that the small dog didn't get to go, so I took him for a walk and then by the time I got home I was at 9300 steps! Yay! 

My house is a disaster with all my daughter's stuff she's moved in but hasn't put away yet, so I'm fighting the urge to organize. It's her responsibility. 

I'm trying to drink a lot of water today to flush the sodium from a slice of ham that was in my crepe. I don't eat any processed meats so this is gonna bug my system. 

My knee has improved so much I have to keep reminding myself not to strain it again. Can't do a whole lot more today but I don't want to just sit around either. 

Alright, going to have a healthy meal and drink lots of water. New week, new goals. Have fun everyone.

[Daithílocha]

Hi all great reading your posts I'm definitely finding the Fitbit helps me motivate myself. It makes me so much more cognisant of what I'm physically doing.  I have always been able to loose but it's the long term that I'm not so,good with. Just wondering how y'all manage with that. Is it pure discipline and self will or does it actually get easier?  I'm 47 and really want to make permanent changes that I can stick with. I have a 8 yr old and I want to be energetic and healthy for both our sakes.  I think I have spent most of my adult life yo yoing and ultimately messing my body about.  I'm not looking for anything magic or any fast fix but I would really appreciate if anybody could share anything they found helps to make permanent changes.  I am feeling good about myself and the changes I am trying to make. It's a killer exercising as I am so unfit but I know that's the only way this is going to work.  I am telling myself to just do day by day and every day where I eat healthily and do some exercise is another day towards my goal.  I just wonder will this ever just be? I mean in the sense that I don't have to consciously do it it just becomes who I am. Anyhow great reading all your ideas.

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_ You have lost a lot.  I'm guessing your body is in the next phase.  Maybe your metabolism is thinking of changing, or your muscles are thinking about getting stronger.  It just need to go through the adaptation phase.    I think of it as the body saying "oh, she means it.  This is our new way of being for the long haul.  Better get with the program and figure this out."  All the biological systems need to find a new way of working together.  

I have never lost an ounce without being active.  When I was laid up last year, I ate like a bird (wait, they eat a lot - well, you know what I  mean) and still gained over 10 pounds each month (yeah, that was fun).

I know years of being sedentary have really slowed my metabolism.  So, I'm walking more and more, and doing weights and pilates, etc.  At least, this is what worked in the past.  

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  Your baby bird story is too funny.  Your neighborhood is being held hostage by a crow family.  

[dancefoxtrot]

@awood08

Welcome back. Congrats on all the success that you are having.  Glad that you are back to weight loss as well.  I remember how happy you were last time to reach 170 and 160.  You can do it again!!

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Love, love, love your response to Lilac's crow experience. So scientific and accurate. I bet you saw the PBS documentary on crows that was so enlightening.  They remembered 4 different steps to open latches and used tools to do it.  I remember the experiment with the researcher wearing a mask. I feel different about them since then.  

I saw a varied thrush and a scrub jay on a hike yesterday.  I don't think they are birds from back east tho' at least I met them out here. 

Work day today part time. Skipped a meal last night and had almonds instead. Hit 144 so let's see if I can maintain that.  It seems that I have to skip a meal to move the scale as well as watch what I eat if I'm plateauing.  Have you tried that as yet?   

Stay strong my dear friend, 

Barbara 

[OrionNebula]

My fitbit is really encouraging me to get moving! I hit 7,000 steps pretty early in the day as I walked around campus to various meetings and class. I also had about 50 minutes between my class and a meeting that I didn't expect to have due to finishing up everything early. Rather than park my butt somewhere to relax, I did a lap and a half around the north part of campus - about 1.5 miles. By the time I got home, I was almost at 10,000, and a quick trip to the grocery store hit my goal. I'm now over 11,000 for the day - the highest yet since getting my fitbit!

I also tried checking my heart rate again against my phone while playing my dancing game last night. Turns out my fitbit was pretty accurate (again, assuming my phone is). During some of the slower bits, my heart rate was comparable to walking and during the really active bits, my heart rate was over 130... so an average of 120 seems reasonable. I did notice this afternoon I was reading a very high heart rate while I was walking. It said I was at 145 at one point, but I wasn't even out of breath. It was, however, hot and sunny which tends to stress me out a bit and could have raised my heart rate. I also was experiencing some vasodilation in my hands and wrists (where they feel swollen) which I suppose could have affected the reading.

[almost_where]

@Bobbinycand to others.

Really appreciate the support and suggestions. During this funk I (was/am) in, although I truly think Im out now,  I kept on thinking of the Mike Tyson quote:

"Everyone has big plans until they get punched in the mouth"

Even though I was 3 lbs away from my original fitbit goal of losing 123 lbs I really think I had to experience getting punched (symbolically) and go through this difficult week and learn from it in order to move/progress forward.  My original set of plans needed tweaking. I have tried to take the small steps approach to getting back into the swing of things and so far so good.  Thank you again for the support!!

[Ava_]

Quick post just to weigh-in (with dreadful numbers!)

Will post again later today to reply properly.

USW - 154 (12/30/16)

SW for this challenge - 138.4 (05/30)

CW - 138.6 (errrr....noooo!  That's the wrong way!) - 06/06

GW for July 4th - 134

[DJC_63]

@TT_is_me  You have gotten some great insight in your therapy! I love your idea of prepping food to eat after your session and eating something before you go. I'm going to try applying that for my life. I realized during the last challenge that I do the same thing as you described. Even if I'm just thinking about something that upsets me, I want to eat something yummy to distract myself and make myself feel better.

I really do believe that knowledge is power, now that you know your triggers it will be easier to deal with them. You're doing great, imo.

[DJC_63]

@Bobbinyc  Thank you so much for your kind words. They really mean a lot to me. I am determined, and I don't give up easily.  It took me 12 years to get my bachelor's degree but I didn't quit. I just have to find my path out of where I'm at. Sometimes I get scared that I won't be able to find a job that pays me enough (and that I can physically do), or that I won't have a car that can get me to one. That thought literally terrifies me so I have to talk myself out of that place. I was in a pretty depressed mood last week but I still walked every day. I keep telling myself that I'll have the money to get my car fixed soon, so I just have to hang in until then. I've been driving it short distances and it hasn't quit yet! (It's 18 years old, so it's amazing that it's lasted this long.) I started watching "House of Cards" on Netflix to distract myself. Plus my hometown hockey team is in the Stanley Cup Finals so I'm rooting for them and using that as a distraction. 

Problems are probably always going to be there, so having the skills to deal with them is the most important thing. But having kind friends helps a lot, too! Really, thank you so much. You made me cry, but in a good way.

[DJC_63]

@WalkingLisa  Welcome to our group! I lived in Atlanta for around 10 years, and my brother and his family still live there. What area of the city do you live in?