Labor Day Challenge 2015

[GoneForARun]

Hello and welcome to the Labor Day Challenge 2015. 

We welcome all newbies and the awesome achievers from our 4th of July Challenge. 

This new challenge starts on July 5th and ends on Labor Day, Sept 7th.  So please feel free to post your Labor Day weight loss goals here and we'll be sure to provide lots of encourgament and support along the way.  I've listed my goals below.  Hoping to ready for my Labor Day Disney vacation.  For the newbies, here is a short key: SW = Starting Weight, CW = Current Weight, GW = Goal Weight, UGW = Ultimate Goal Weight.

SW: 200 (Jan 5)

CW: 173.3

GW: 159 (Labor Day)

UGW: 150 (Oct 13th, Wedding Anniversary!)

Trish

[awood08]

@dancefoxtrot

I have a desk job Mon-Fri but I always make sure to get up and move around. I even do squats at my desk in between phone calls. I usually do a 30 min stationary recumbent bike workout at least 5 times a week (Saturdays are my weekend work out days). I walk/run 2 miles Mon-Saturday When its the weekend I'm usually just cleaning the house and playing with my kids. Sundays are my rest days. I think it's that one day on Sunday where I'm just not burning the extra calories I was throughout the week. I always maintain my 1200 calorie minimum even on my non active day. 🙂 Thanks Barbara!!

[dancefoxtrot]

AWood

Looks like you have this weight loss and calorie intake covered. Enjoy your kids and day off.

You are inspiring in your persistence. 

Best,

Barbara G 

138.1 this AM so now looking for the 137. something next.  Off to unload pavers and get to dance classes and then open dancing with my fitbit tied around my ankle to get all steps counted.

[Bobbinyc]

WordWhimsy,
I am so touched by what you said about not letting your insecurities stop you. I've had to start exercising through some physical pain, but when I read about those slim ballet bodies, my stomach tightened and I felt the self-consciousness. I think that can be so hard to fight through. It is common to say "I'll do this when I am thinner, or look better" instead of just pushing through. We deserve to live our lives the way we want to, no matter what size we happen to be. Holding your posture high and powering through and doing your best is such a wonderful way to go through life. Great attitude. Thank you for sharing that.

[Bobbinyc]

Barbara, 138.1!! Wow. But I love how you casually mention things like "dropping off pavers", building a patio, remodeling a kitchen..all before dancing. You are quite the powerhouse. I know ab fat is very hard to lose, but if anyone can do it, it's you.

[Bobbinyc]

Awood, very impressive weight loss. Your level of activity sounds great. So does a day to "rest". (do mothers ever rest?). You are also setting a great example for your kids of being physically active and eating well.

[Mermaid3011]

Hahaha Thanks @Bobbinyc

Well I started out with yoga for "XLent bodies" in January. They designed classes especially for bigger bodies and I felt more comfortable than between all those skinny lululemon girls that are doing nothing else but downward dogs and pretzel their legs. 

After two sets of 7 classes I was much more comfortable with my own abilities and also about the fact that IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT HAPPENS ON THE OTHER MAT. All that counts is what you do on your mat. Some days that may be a downward dog and on other days you may only do a puppy pose and be more gentle with your body. Whatever is available to YOU is yoga. Not what others do. 

With that philosophy I signed up for two retreats. One weekend for XLent bodies and the next weekend for "regular" folks. 

Well I have to say that EVERYBODY has limitations - big or small, tall or short - it doesnt matter. 

So I decided: there need to be more teachers out there that are full bodied and make yoga more accessible for people that are rounder or just dont feel they can "do a regular class". They can - they just dont know it yet 🙂 

So I signed up for the yoga teacher training starting in SEptember. And I can't wait to make yoga something for EVERY BODY. 🙂

[Mermaid3011]

O.k. and here comes the latest weigh in. 

Theoretically I should be happy, and I am, but if you ask me, I would have liked to skip last week and not lost those 2 lbs. 

Last week my doctor prescribed me a different antidepressant and had me come off the other one. We kept the second AD Wellbutrin. Well... I ended up having major discontinuation effects and developed a very rare condition called "serotonin syndrome". Feel free to google it. But it pretty much feels like having the flu, the stomach flu and a migraine all at the same time. 

Obviously I didnt eat much, couldnt drink much either and not even the ER could help. 😞 Nasty business.

All that being said I feel better now after I have stopped both medications. My doctor now wants me to go off EVERYTHING in order to slowly reintroduced medication by medication. Which means that by this weekend I will be back with discontinuation symptoms. Apparently they are comparable from withdrawing from cocaine. 

Fun stuff ey?! And that only to find the right Antidepressant. Ugh.

Anyway. As you can see. My weight has plunged last week. Going forward I'll be drinking a lot more ginger ale and eat bananas so the weight loss should slow down. 🙂

Have a wonderful week everyone! I'll be back online next week probably! 

Labour Day Challenge
USW Jan 1 - 283.4 lbs (size 22/24)

CSW July 4  - 241.6 (size 18)

CW Aug 5 - 228.6 (-13.0)
GW - 228.0 new: 224.0
+++++++
Halloween GW 218 (BMI drops to "overweight" from "obese"
Christmas GW 210
Valentine's day GW 200
Easter GW 190
Ultimate GW 180 by Victoria Day 2016 (May 23) - BMI drops from "overweight" to "normal/healthy"

[GinaBee]

1.1.15 W 265

SW for this challenge was 216

CW 210

GW for Labor Day is 205.

UGW around 155/160ish.

I can't believe how good I feel!! Still doing yoga - eating well! Not starving myself or "treating" myself!! Last night went to a really good southern bbq place in Rochester New York and I was amazed at how much food I got!! Eight months ago I would have fniished it!! Last night as soon as it came to the table I asked for a to go box. It was enough for three servings. 

I'm getting better at recognizing sweets, not going hog wild and being satisfied w/a taste or a serving but not a gallon. Last night if they hadn't been out of bread pudding I would have gotten it, split w/my girlfriends and been happy w/it. I didn't order something else because it wasn't available though. 

I went for ice cream w/my daughter not too long ago - I live in the frozen tundra and during the summer ice cream huts pop up all over the place. I am obsessed w/firecracker ice cream - think atomic fireballs. If they don't have it, I don't get anything. That's a NEW habit. Eight months ago I would have ordered something else. When I do find it, I order the baby size (not the size of a real baby) and sometimes I don't finish it. That's a NEW habit. 

I am holding TIGHTLY to those NEW habits. 

I hope everyone is having a FABULOUS WEEK!! 

[ksollod]

Hi!!  New to the message boards here and trying to get the hang of things. I know it's late but I'd love to join the challenge:

SW:     250 (8/1)

CW:     250

GW:     239 (by Labor Day)

UGW:  150

Hoping being part of the challenge helps keep me motivated.

[Powie]

Hello,

I hope I am not to late to join the Labor Day Challenge.  Even though it's a shorter time to join, I think it would give me some real motivation to take the challenge on with a group. I need all the helpful tips and encouragement that I can get, and hopefully I can motivate someone else.  So here are my stats below:

SW: 217

CW: 217

GW:  200

UGW: 172

Thanks for thinking of this,

Powie

[Powie]

Hello Again,

Correction to my starting weight below:

SW - 209.8

CW - 217.2

GW - 200.0

UGW -172.0

I got so excited about the challenge that I messed up on my starting weight, so there it is. 

[mcfloozy]

I admit to being stalled out on weight, and a bit frustrated.

Also, some folks have a pretty ambitious goal for only a month away! Wow. That's amazing, and discouraging, and difficult. Of course, I wish everyone success, but I would think it's better to plan for 1-2 pounds per week rather than 15 pounds in a month. 

Anyway, kind of stuck, and trying to keep positive and do the best I can with eating healthy food, and being active. I'm aiming for 10,000 steps per day, but some days just don't get there.

Oh well.

Thanks all for the comraderie and inspiration.

McFloo

[mcfloozy]

GinaBee

Hooray for better habits. I often take my tiffin and pack up half the meal when it's served. Restaurant portions are enormous. Makes for a perfect lunch the next day.

I sometimes discard half of an ice cream, because the portion is so big, and really, a small sample satisfies.

Yes. Hooray for better habits. 

It's all progress.

[ksollod]

I made my goal 11 pounds beause I figure it's about 5 weeks and 2 pounds a week would be 10. But I so want to be under 240 I made it 11. It will be a challenge but I'm hoping to make it.

It's hard some days for me to get my steps in but (sad to say) it's been slow at work so I've been walking twice a day on my breaks. Try to not get discouraged.

[DrSteele]

Labor Day Challenge update: 

Well, this has been a bit more challeniging than I thought. My current weight is now 217.1. I have been able to lose, but it has been a full time adventure. My goal weight of 209 by Labor Day may be too ambitious, but I am happy with the healthy changes I have made. I am currently walking 3-6 miles each day. Usually, 3 miles in the morning and 3 at night. Next week I go back to work. I need to find some way to keep up a healthy routine. I have noticed that I can walk 3 miles and keep talking the whole way. When I started, all I could think about was who I could call to come pick me up!

SW: 226
CW: 225
GW: 209
UGW: 180

Still Motivated!!

Laura

[mcfloozy]

Hey DrSteele,

Good for you!

Noticing that difference in your comfort level with a 3 mile walk is awesome! 

Maybe you're a teacher? Heading back to work?

I'm trying to get home tonight and have a walk. Seems lovely outside. I'm not heading for my Labor Day goal, which I thought was so reasonable. But, it's not getting worse, so...  small steps. slow headway is ok.

I've been trying TRX for some strength training. Challenging, and progress is slow. I think that progress is slow in strength training no matter what you're working with. PLANK is my downfall. I just tend to plunk. But, I can do 30 seconds, which is a big improvement from zero.

Keep appreciating those small steps. It's hard, but that's how we're going to make headway.

McF

[Bobbinyc]

Mermaid, I am so impressed with your post about yoga. Your attitude and self-appreciation is inspiring. I think you will be an amazing yoga teacher. I'll be reading your post again, whenever my own insecurities get in my way. Thank you.

[Bobbinyc]

mermaid- I am not a psychiatrist, but I know a lot of people who have come off anti-depressants. Discontinuation symptoms are very common and can be severe and last quite awhile. Most psychiatrists I have worked with will help people come off medication very very slowly, even cutting back by 1/4 of one pill every few days. I have also known many docs who make the changes quickly, and that doesnt always work out. Please read about it and talk with your doc about going slowly and avoiding some of the problems. Again, I am not a psychiatrist and not everyone goes through this. Both Mayo Clinic and WebMD have articles on it if you dont have access to medical journals.

[WordWhimsy]

@Mermaid3011 I think that you are doing yoga is great! Also the retreats sound fab. Sorry about the med issues, really sorry, it sounds just awful.  I agree to take it slow and keep in communication with your doctor, or get another doctor.

Thanks for all the kind words about me voicing my insecurities about my ballet class.  I think I have some bit of body dismorphia, sometimes I think I look horrible, others I feel I look amazing, but I'm just somewhere in between.  I think bodies are like bank accounts, there is no sense in comparison or envy, just work on your own.  I'm having a reallly good week, but husband recently got a fitbit and each evening we have been doing 12 miles on the recline bike while watching tv. We put the fitbit on the pedal, we might be getting 1/2 steps recorded, but it's better than nothing, and we don't feel guilty watching tv. 

[awood08]

SW: 235 (June 16)

PW: 217 (July 30)

CW: 215 (August 6)

GW: 200 (Labor Day)

UGW: 180

Finally broke through this week, been stuck on 217 all week. I'm an every day weigher...I know it's bad! But I have to see results every day lol

Seeing that I have 15 pounds to go for the Labor Day goal i'm getting a little nervous!