July 4th to Labor Day Challenge 2016

[dancefoxtrot]

Welcome one and all to our next challenge for better health and weight loss or maintenence.

We gather here to support each other, cheering and empathizing with the process of life style

change to improve our health and quality of life.

Set reasonable goals so you can feel success.

USW= heaviest weight when you began to lose

SW=starting weight

CW=current weight

GW=goal weight for Labor Day

UGW = Ultimate goal weight - long term healthy weight goal

Some people include their BMI = Body Mass Index, and some add their height as well. 

You can stop by once a week and post your progress or every day to get and give ideas and support. 

Most people track their food intake as well as steps to make sure you burn at least 500 to 750 more calories than you consume. Remember eat healthy food and portions in a way that you can maintain.

We can do this together. We have seen great progress over the last 7 challenges. 

Welcome.

Barbara G

[saraj91]

@DJC_63 I hope you get the support you deserve, you are a wonderful person, caring for your Mother in the way you do. We care for those we love of course but it cannot be easy being the primary caregiver when you know others could easily help. I understand what you are going through to an extent as recently my Nan's health has declined quite rapidly & my Parents are basically her carers with my brother & I helping where we can, while in the meantime my Uncle lives abroad & posts pictures to Facebook every 5 minutes of him on the beach with a beer... how my Mum hasn't said something to him will forever impress me but I think it comes down to being the bigger person. Being able to look at yourself in the mirror & be proud of yourself & your actions & know the amazing difference you make. The words of encouragement & support from this group were so lovely to read, I hope you get some well earned downtime soon.

Gosh... has it really been 2 weeks since I last posted. That is too long! These last 2 weeks have flown by.

I've been reading through & trying to catch up, there has been a lot going on! @dancefoxtrot I hope you are well & truly on the mend after your accident! @awood08 I hope your house goes through all ok!

I've had an odd few weeks where my work has changed. I had my last day in the office on the 8th, then spent all last week in secondary school for work experience. Then today I started working for a parcel delivery company part time over the summer to earn a bit of money before my Teacher Training course starts on 1st of September. So all change career wise. I am quite an anxious person, although this has improved lately, so I've eaten some food I shouldn't have (oreo dairy milk bar... the whole bar.. in the space of 2 days ) & I missed my parkrun on Saturday because it was cancelled. We did go for a walk but I didn't go for a run at all when I should have. This has contributed to my weight going back up a couple of pounds. It's not ideal but I know that it was all me & it's something I can improve, just have to be less nervous & more positive about stuff this week!

Hope you all have good weeks!

USW 23/3/15: 186

CSW 4/7: 133

CW: 135

GW 18/7: 130

UGW 5/9/16: 130

[mommo77]

The stubborn blasted scale still refuses to reward me with good news, lol.  However, I shall not be bested!  4 miles in the park this morning, (had to start in the dark, lol it's just so dang HOT).  Clothes fit better, some baggy to the point of being uncomfortable, shoes too, lol who'd a thought it? 

SW:  215

CW:  177.2

GW:  150

ultimate goal 135

[Bobbinyc]

@awood08 I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you too for the house.  Hope it works out soon.  Enough stress!

[Bobbinyc]

@saraj91 wow Sara, that's a lot of changes.  I'm sure you will get your weight back where you want it to be in no time.  You are like a warrior.  What do you do to ease the nervousness?  I bet the running helps with that a lot.

[Bobbinyc]

@mommo77  It seems we have the same scale.  4 miles is fantastic, especially in heat.  If clothes fit better, you are doing something right.  That is a far better test than the scale.  

[alegria16]

This is such an inspiring group. Good thoughts and happiness to all!

USW 6/19/16) = 204 lbs

SW (6/27/16) = 200

Beginning Week 1 (7/4/16) = 198

Beginning Week 2 (7/11/16) = 196

Beginning Week 3 (7/18/16) = 195

GW (9/5/16) = 188

UGW = 155

I'm really surprised at the loss so far -- 10 lbs in a month. I don't know how the first 4 came off, because I wasn't doing anything different. This just never happens. Measurements have started to shrink, too. I hope the loss continues; next summer I don't want to be able to wear the clothes I got for this summer. 

[Bobbinyc]

@alegria16  Wow.  10 lbs in a month is  a lot.  It should slow down, which is a good thing.  But enjoy the jumpstart.  You must be doing something different than before.  Food? Activity?

[khreed]

@alegria16 Those 10 pounds were over a three-month period beginning 4/20 -- so it's not all that much. But I'll take it.

[dancefoxtrot]

@khreed

Have a good trip to PA. Let me know about genetic genealogy when you return. I did the DNA through Ancestry.com and it is interesting. Found a few more 4th-6th cousins. 

Congrats on the 10 lb mark. 

Barb G

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all,

Made it back to 146.0 this AM so that is 1 lb lost since 7/4. I'm glad even if it is slow it is in the right direction. Drinking water now so no more food at 10:45. Have pump issues at the well so up in the AM to deal with the early morning workers. They need to cut down a tree to pull the pump. Goodness this pump repair could be costly but needs to be fixed. Fingers crossed.

Wishing you all the best,

Barbara

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Hi my friend. Glad that you are getting to the doctor to figure out what is stalling your loss. Hope you have your thyroid hormone levels checked. Just stay with the healthy eating and exercise as your body is healing. I believe that you will get to the bottom of this.

Love all your right on and compassionate comments.

Best,

Barbara G

[hanmi]

USW = 149.9 lbs (April 26, 2016) 28% BF

Week 1 - 137.1 lbs (July 4)

Week 2 - 136.3 lbs (July 11)

Week 3 - 137.7 lbs (July 18) 22-24% BF

GW   = 132 lbs

UGW = 128 lbs

Height = 5'4

I guess I'm moving backwards on the scale. I'm not too worried yet because I've been shrinking in waist measurement at about 30-32 inches depending on the time of day. I haven't been hitting cardio due to an injured knee and additional damage from my recent 3-day backpacking trip. So I've been working on lifting and eating alternative lower calorie options ~2000 calories/day. This is a tough challenge but this group helps especially seeing all the progress posts!

[CynC]

My update is no update. I am firmly rooted at 127 lbs. My husband says that apparently, this is my body's set point. It's all fine. I am the one who is fixated on seeing 125 on my scales, nobody else. Two pounds make almost no difference in health at this point. Just a little OCD about this.

[DJC_63]

@scottie0714  I don't have a solution to the clothes thing, I'm the same as you. I hate to get rid of clothes that I haven't worn much, but I certainly don't want to grow back into them!  Fortunately I kept some of my favorite things in smaller sizes so I have some things to go back to.

Also interesting is that we're at the same weight right now.

---

@scottie0714 wrote:

Hi - update for the week.  The scale says I remained the same - so I will take it!  I hipe everyone is having a good week.  It's been an interesting couple of weeks, because now I'm having the "problem" of my pants being too big.  I've dropped 2 sizes so far...but the inches are impacting as well.  I know this is a good thing, but I don't want to buy too many new items, just to have to buy more later.  Any thoughts?  

USW - 213 (1/14/16)
SW -191.1 (7/3/16)

CW - 191.1 (7/10/16)
GW - 181 (Labor Day)
UGW - 175ish

---

[DJC_63]

@khreed  I SO understand.  I've started weighing myself every day and then using the weekly average for my check in weight, which helps somewhat. The fact that it takes so, so long to lose a little bit is still frustrating, though.  Like you, I work hard, I log everything I eat, and it's taking forever to lose the weight.  I looked at a picture my niece took of me this weekend and I looked SO much bigger than I thought I looked.  Ugh.

[DJC_63]

@dancefoxtrot I'm just now getting a chance to read this.  So glad that youre okay, Barbara! How scary.

[DJC_63]

@Bobbinyc and @A_Lurker, and others who I'll thank later...Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. They were all so nice they made me cry. I didn't even think of looking into what Health & Human Services offers, what a great idea. If I can find a spare moment I will do that. Honestly I'm just overloaded with things to do.  Neither my Mom nor my sister ever went to the Dr. unless they absolutely had to, so they're not familiar with the paperwork, the referrals Drs give for lab tests that need to be done, how to "read" medicine prescriptions, like the milligrams or how often one needs to take something, or the insurance "explanation of benefits" or the bills that come in. So I have to do all of that because I'm the only one who can. My sister has been taking her to Dr. appointments but we're hitting a snag this week so I might have to do that, too.  Then all of the things like the grass needing cut, weed wacking, 4 cats that need love and attention, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, grocery shopping... I think my head might explode soon.  I've squeezed in 2 very brief walks the past 2 days just to get some sanity.  No gym visits.  I have 2 brothers, the one who just visited lives in another state, so he can't help. The one who lives nearby has a lot of emotional issues so I don't think he's going to help.

But since I went UP a pound for my weekly average I have to start putting my gym visits first, at least 2 - 3 times a week.  Someday I'll post when I haven't been awake for so long and I'll get my stats in.  I seem to be holding at 191ish, give or take a few ounces.

You guys are the best, tho!!! Thank you so much for all of the kindness. I really needed it.

[debb21]

I am working on 5 more lbs, but when I was losing all my weight, I bought a few things, and just wore them a lot.  I had some of my pants taken in, and then I wore shirts big.  I was surpised on how few outfits I really needed.  I ended up losing 50 lbs, and I had to get all new clothes.  Nothing in my closet fit me.  That was fun, and still is ( it has been a year). 

[klan7044]

USW 199lbs
GW 181.4lbs
UGW 140lbs
PW (last week) 187.8 

SW (for this challenge) 191.4lbs

CW 185

Forgot to post yesterday, seem to be staying on track even with vacation and being sick. Yesterday I went back to working out 🙂 A little less steps but I am okay with that.

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63  Sending more wishes for you and your mom.  Another thought: I have an elderly neighbor who just fell and needs a lot of help, beyond what I can do.  I just got a local h.s. student to agree to mow the lawn, and a few other little odd jobs.  Just a couple of hours a week.  No money, but he gets a great letter saying he is a wonderful volunteer and he can put it on his college application, which a lot of high school senior are very anxious for right now.  I also hired a local college student, for pay, to come in a few hours and so some errands, help out in the kitchen, etc.  It's easier than baby sitting.  I put up a notice in the education department (student teachers tend to be very giving) and psychology department.  A lot of students are looking for a few extra dollars.  Also, maybe your out-of-town brother can help with money and with some phone calls to resources.

Also, there may be some support  groups you could go to (I know, no time), to get the kind support you deserve. 412-623-4733.  They might have resources too.  I hope I haven't overwhelmed you.  Just take one step  at a time, with lots of deep breaths.

I am very impressed with how much you are doing.  You really are very strong and kind.