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

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where Congratulations!!  Breaking that next 100 is such a thrill.  Enjoy it.  No matter what happens in the future, you did it, you are capable of doing it.  Look at how much you accomplished!  That takes so much strength, insight, self-awareness, effort, learning....etc.  You are very inspiring.   I love reading your wise posts.  Donating/recycling the old size is a great idea.  I actually have a pair of the next size smaller jeans hanging up where I see them easily.  I keep picturing myself the next smaller size and much stronger.

I really relate to what you say about the old habits and hybernation.  I had once given up sugar for almost a year and had a tiny taste of a friends home made cake.  Total cravings the whole next week.  It really is poison for me.  Hence Bobbi's law #1 - No junk in the house.  If it's in front of me, it is too much of a struggle, and that is exhausting.  I have noticed that I finally no longer have cravings - you know.. the it's -only-a-small -blizzard -and -the- middle -of -the -night-and there- is -no- chocolate -in- the- house-so-I'm-going-out..... those kind of cravings.  Soap on cookies is a much much better idea.

And thanks for welcoming me back.

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Yippee on the scale finally moving. Really strange when it moves down at a time that you would expect to opposite. Hope this starts a new phase of movement for you. So glad you went off sugar since the bad bacteria in us feed on it. 

Off to dance class. Less pain each week so almost healed. 

Barb G

[dancefoxtrot]

Congrats to all the folks making their goals. Happy Birthday Donna.

I managed to get to 145.8 this AM so 10.8 more lbs to go to hit my UGW. The belly fat is clinging on hard but I'm eating healthy food and moving though most days I'm under 10k.

Off to dance class for more steps now.

Barb

[Bogdel]

Hi, @debb21! Thanks for your feedback and words of encouragement. I joined this group (under different challenge names) back in January, and I lost about 30 pounds by May 10. Then I reached a plateau, and I also went overseas for about 2.5 months. I was really afraid that I will gain back a lot of what I've lost, while overseas, but I kept my healthy habits most of the time (with a couple of exceptions), and only gained about 4 pounds back (I believe). 

After coming back to USA, I joined the group again, but I took it easy, as I was trying to recover from the jet-lag. I still ate healthy and walked several times a week, but I didn't pay much attention to the portion size, and did not stay within the limits of the required deficit. Loosing the 4 pounds inspite of it is a good thing. Now, I think I am ready to be more intentional in logging my food, walking, and staying within the limits of my required caloric deficit. If I do this (and I will!), I believe that I am ready to loose the extra pounds and reach my ultimare (revisable) weight goal of 145 pounds, by the end of this challenge.

I need to get back to your previous posts and learn a bit about you and your goals. 

Best wishes to you!

Ellie

[Bogdel]

@Bobbinyc and @SunsetRunner, Great suggestions on smoothies. I have several recipe books on smoothies and juices, and they give me great ideas. I absolutely love the taste of peanut butter in some of my shakes, but I noticed that I gained weight pretty quickly from peanut butter. So, I decided to stay away from peanut butter most of the time. 

@SunsetRunner, there is a Super Dieter's Tea that may help you with the weight and water loss. I use it often. I find it at Walmart, on-line, and I believe in any grocery store. It's all plant based. You may want to try it. If you don't care much about the taste, you can mix it with green tea or other flavors (lemon, mint, etc.). Here's the link for the Super Dieter's tea: http://www.iherb.com/natrol-laci-le-beau-super-dieter-s-tea-natural-botanicals-30-tea-bags-2-63-oz-75-g/6080

Best wishes!

[professorpete]

I don't know what is in that particular Super Dieter's Tea, but most have ingredients that are not safe if you have any health problems.  Even without health problems, they should be used judiciously, if at all.  If you are on any medications, they are not advised, especially without a doctor's ok.  I would question any doctor approving them.  Most have a mild laxative and that is not safe to take on a regular basis or without a specific reason to (i.e. constipation).  Many have appetite suppressants which can make the heart race.  Some have herbs that will dehydrate you.  What you lose in pounds on the scale will not be fat, but usually water.  That can become risky for many people.

I do not promote any websites but these are overseen by physicians:

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/senna-uses-and-risks

from drugs.com:

Senna is a natural medicine containing sennosides that are derived from the leaves of the senna plant.Sennosides irritate the lining of the bowel causing a laxative effect. Senna has been used in alternative medicine as a laxative and an aid to treat constipation.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/527113-dieters-tea-ingredients

[Cherylwith5]

USW	231	12/29/2015
CSW	217	7/4/2016
CW	218.4	7/19/2016
CW	215.8	7/27/2016
CW	216.4	8/10/2016
CW		8/17/2016
CW		8/24/2016
CW		8/31/2016
GW	210	9/5/2016
UGW	135

HEIGHT 5' 1"

[rachel_g22]

Wednesday check in for me:  

Start: 152

Last week: 152

Current: 152

Goal: 144

Guess I'm staying steady again! 

[SunsetRunner]

@Bogdel Thank you very much for the link. However, I cannot take any of those things. I'm on heart medication due to Heart Failure. Anything I take I must ask the doc before taking it. But I do thank you for it. Had this been in my younger days I may have tried it but then in my younger days at 135 lbs, I didn't worry about weight. lol 

[mommo77]

SW: 212

CW: 170.2

GW. 150

Finally hit the 40lb. mark.  So ready for the weather to cool off, it is so hot walking outside, even at dawn.

[Bogdel]

I understand, @SunsetRunner. I believe this tea is totally safe, but I would definitely ask the doctor. I hope you will find a way of managing the water retention that works best way for you. 

Blessings and Health! 🙂

[Chlz1997]

weigh-in day and feeling spectacular!  This is 2 weeks since joining WW on-line .  lost 2.8# this week for a total of 4 # in 2 weeks!!  Feels so good  

The major changes I have made are drinking at least one healthy shake a day (pea/rice chocolate protein powder, almond/coco milk, a little water, vanilla extract, frozen mixed berries, big handful of baby spinach & ice)  and eating one cup of a cleanse soup I made (coco milk, chicken broth, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, onion, mushrooms, ginger, turmeric, garlic).  I made a batch on Sunday and it lasts me all week (10 servings). Both recipes are from PeerTrainer and both are easy ways for me to get in LOTS of veggies!!  I also boiled a 6 pack of eggs for quick breakfast....an egg, a veggie sausage and a piece of fruit... then I munch on cucs and peppers for snacks.  I noticed I have more energy this week and not nodding off at my desk! I have had no diet pop this week (not even craving it now) - replaced it with propel flavored water (love the kiwi strawberry!)  My activity level has actually declined some --- only getting in around 8000 steps per day now - still some issues with the fitbit but my replacement shipped out yesterday afternoon.  Can't wait to get it!! 🙂

Tomorrow I am taking my son & 3 of his friends to a water park to celebrate the end of their summer vacation.  I am actually not stressing putting on my suit & having some fun!! 

Keep moving forward, make time for YOU, take the extra time to prep & plan because it really does = success!

Ultimate Starting Weight - 220 (Jan 2016)

Week 1 - July 4 - 209.2

Week 1 - July 28 - 210.8

Week 2 - Aug 4 - 209.6

Week 3 - Aug 11 - 206.8

Week 4 - Aug 18

Week 5 - Aug 25 - bday!

Week 6 - Sept 1

FINAL - Sept 5 - LABOR DAY

Challenge Goal - 199.8

[Bobbinyc]

@Chlz1997  Fantastic!  Sounds like you are doing a great job getting healthier and more active.  I hope you enjoy the water park.

[almost_where]

This is just over the half way point where things become a little sluggish, you start convincing yourself things can wait an hour, or "Ill take care of it tomorrow" or "its an 8 week challenge, ill take a break from posting and start posting near the last few weeks" or whatever else sneaks in trying to throw you off course. Its the point where pedometers, fitbits, heart rate monitors, garmins, etc. move one step closer to ending up permanently in the junk drawer and never used again. The point where your fitibit friends stop showing up in the ranks and show as inactive. I know from falling off the path way too many times in the past that the "falling off" begins when you start letting these little things above sneak in and accumulate.

Lets get back on track and hit that goal come Labor Day!

(If that voice came on and said I'll never reach my original goal by such and such date so screw it, ask yourself what are the alternatives? Stay where you're at now or recalculate a new goal and bust **ahem** to get there. You decide.)

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where Wise and helpful words as always.  Thank you.

There was a tv movie in the 70s about a couple dealing with the times.  The woman tells her husband, after raising the kids and being a housewife, that she decided she wants to go to college.  He says, "College?? But you'll be 50 when  you finish!"  And she says, "But I'll be 50 anyway".

Labor Day is coming anyway.  We get to decide if we will get there with more good habits firmly in place, with our bodies that much healthier, with our energy that much higher. (and hopefully some scales moving)

Sometimes I need a reminder, so, thanks.

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63  Happy Belated Birthday.  Hope it was terrific.  I love the idea of going to the gym as a present for yourself.  I hope your stress is easing a bit, and that you have gotten some support or relief.

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot  How are you feeling?  How is the dancing going?  Hope all is well.

[almost_where]

USW-363 - March 9
Independence Day Weight - 314
Week 1 - 311
Week 2 - 309
Week 3 - 305
Week 4 - 303
Week 5 - 298 - half time goal met 300 lbs
Week 6 - 298 - CW
Week 7 - ***
Week 8 - ***
Labor Day Goal - 290 lbs

-0 lbs

I think I was a tad dehydrated on the previous weigh in so was happy just to maintain this week.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where You have been such an inspiration to me.  It's always hard to know if we are losing fat or losing water or muscle.  Weight loss and getting healthy also involves biological processes that we have a lot of influence over, but not minute control.  When I lost some weight last year, I found that I would lose fairly steadily and then, for no reason apparent to me, the loss would just stop for a bit, then start again.  

Keep taking good care of your body, the best gift you can give yourself.

[scottie0714]

Hi everyone! Checking in for the week. After being sick last week and not working out for almost 7 days, I'm feeling much better. I have a loss to report as well. Almost 2 lbs! On another note when I went back to work, almost everyone indicated that I had looked thinner/lost weight. It's like not seeing me for several days made people notice?? Who knows...I just said thanks and kept it moving. But it was very nice to hear. I plan to go back to gym this week - hope I'm not too sluggish!

USW - 213 (1/14/16)
SW -191.1 (7/3)
PW - 191 (7/10)
PW - 190.0 (7/17)
PW - 189.5 (7/24)
PW - 191 (7/31)
PW - 189.4
CW - 187.8
GW - 181 (Labor Day)
UGW - 170's