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]

@pcobb8

Ahhh there's hope for me yet! 🙂

I'm hoping this increase in weight is just my initial body shock to this weekend. I kicked my own butt yesterday during a Step class for an hour at the gym. Hope to have at least a 2 lbs loss at the end of this week to keep me motivated.

[P_Haze]

I just found this thread. Still getting familiar with all the forums here. This is great !

I had a labor day challenge for myself because: a) I am traveling to Hawaii for labor day and gotta look good on the beach; and b) running a half marathon a day before labor day !

Original weight (June 15th)  = 215 (BMI = 30)

SW (July 4th) = 203

CW = 185

GW (for labor day) = 185

RGW (Revised GW for labor day) = 180

UGW = 165

Although I made my goal a little early its getting harder and harder. So my plan is to try lose another lb or two over the next 7 days and then just try to maintain the weight during vacation till labor day.

[ReecesMom]

Hi all,

I've been a looky-loo for quite some time now and I thought I should finally dive in and post my goals.  

SW   271.8  March 18 '15

CW   224

LGW 221

UGW 165

To lose 3lbs by labor may not seem like much, but I had knee surgery last week and it's put a damper on my total steps.  I have a very active job in a hospital and with walking my dog, I would average about 14000K steps a day.  Now, if I'm lucky, I can get in about 1500 (with a crutch) a day.  Woo-hoo. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and I should be totally healed in a month or so and back at it.

In the mean time, albeit hard, I am still sticking to a low carb, high protein/fat meal plan.  Believe me, calling Domino's would be much easier than cooking on one leg.  Thank goodness for cheese sticks, almonds and the occassonal Quest bar.

You all have been a great inspiration for me.  I love the updates and stories.  Keep'm coming.  

.

[auroram]

I see a lot of folks upset by a  bit of gain..but  while I can so relate, we have to remind ourselves that ups and downs will happen. I had a great day..call it a cheat if you like,I do..doing my fav activity of wine tasting followed by a small amount of gourmet pizza, I love Napa...ah well, I gained all of one pound. I am trying to eat with INTENTION. I know I am "cheating" and that if I get right back on track the next day I will be fine. In fact, many experts say an occassional increase in intake (we are talking a meal...not a week of meals, no binging) revs up the metabolism. I actually chose to cleanse the next day (whole fruit smoothies..not juicing!!) with super greens to flush out the crap..It's amazing how quickly a short cleanse can help me feel back in balance..I also did not let myself shirk on the walking the next day, whereas before I would have wanted to laze in bed and recover 😉 Right now I am having a super smoothie for breakfast (protein powder included) light raw lunch, and a light dinner..such as an asian salad (light dressing) and a small amount of asian seasoned chicken (breast). I hope to see another couple pounds gone this Sunday morning..Ill let you know 🙂 Im staring down my anniversary vacation and hope/plan on wearing a bathing suit the whole time Im on that big RC boat!  Thanks for all the sharing folks, it helps to know we are all here to support each other 🙂

[Bobbinyc]

Auroram- your "cheating" sounds like just living well. You are mindful, making conscious choices, and actively staying on track. To my thinking, that is exactly how i want to be doing it. I want to have great food experiences on occasion. And it will work if i do it like you did. Were your smoothies all fruit? I have been doing a smoothie daily, but as a snack, to get in a bit more nutrition.

[awood08]

@auroram

I agree with having a reward day every once in a while. I have done that a few times. You are lucky and while your day made you feel better, I feel miserable after my "cheat day" because here it is almost a week later, I haven't lost my weight I gained over the weekend, haven't lost any inches, and I've been busting my butt in the gym every day and eating what I am supposed to be eating. That's why I only allow myself one meal a month because for some reason my body rejects me everytime I have a small reward and it takes me weeks to get back to loosing weight.

Good luck on those pounds you are trying to lose by this weekend 🙂 Hope that you get to enjoy that boat in full bathing suit mode! lol

[auroram]

every "body" is different 😉 . I also think alcohol can be a killer, I mean we are basically poisoning ourselves a bit 😮 I m really just trying to convey that when some folks beat themselves up they end up making things far worse. Sometimes people get so down on themselves, they give up..turn to more food...or create further stress hormones...which make losing weight harder.. Gotta pick yourself up, dust yourself off..and get movin again 😉

The bathingsuit..bain of my existence...LOVE to swim, LOVE the beach...have  hard time finding a bathing suit Im happy in (been that way sincee after my 2nd child). BUT I am determined. Have a trip to LA this weekend, going to Universal Studios and going to walk a lot...but Ill have to watch what I eat 🙂

[auroram]

 I try to put a spinach kale combo in each smoothie to pump up the volume. I am also careful of the fruit I put in because the calories can stack up quickly. or instance, i add banana for sweetness but only a quarter of one. I find the tiniest piece of fresh ginger (and i mean like half a pea) really masks the flavor of the kale. I use baby kale because it is a bit milder and less fibrous. Yesterday I put in a few small chunks of fresh pineapple, quarter banana, small piece of honeydew melon and a quarter of peach, plus spinach kale mix. It was really tasty 🙂 I use a vitamix, which really does a good job..I also add a bit of ice 🙂 I dont juice because you lose all the fiber but keep all the sugar. It just isnt as healthy (5 big oranges for one glass of juice..thats a LOT of sugar!)

[Bobbinyc]

I went way off track today - very disappointed. I have had some bad news this week, on top of an already bad month. But i thought i was handling it very well - very focused on not using food to cope, and exercising the stress away. Then i had a lunch meeting yesterday in a restaurant. I planned to eat before going but had to help a friend. Got to the restaurant very hungry. There was nothing there that wan't high carb, high fat and expensive. So i just had a small side salad. I left there starving and got stuck in traffic. Had to stop by the supermarket and ended up buying a pkg of cookies which i ate most of on the way home. I know I'll get back on track, but i was so determined to lose the 3-4 pounds by Labor Day. 😕

[auroram]

well, that stinks but there are still quite a few days till labor day. Bobbyinc, you can still make it...jump right back on track and tell those cookies to stuff it 😉

[dancefoxtrot]

Bobbinyc 

So sorry to hear of the accumulated stress and the going off track. Well today you are getting back on track and hopefully the overindulgence in cookies hasn't added many lbs.. What else could you have bought to help with the hunger on the way home? Nuts or carrots prewashed or an apple? 

You are strong so I know that you can get back and head for your goals. 

I was very hungry and ate beaucoup almonds on the 25 minute ride home from Costco and saw a 1/2 lb pop on the scale the next AM so you are not alone. 

Big hug, the stress melting kind, for you.

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

auroam

Very yummy and healthy smoothie.

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Receses mom

Good healing for your knee. I had knee surgery 12/2005 and getting about on crutches was something. I used the microwave a lot for healthish frozen dinners, amy's burritos, salmon patties, frozen veggies, etc.. Don't rush the weight bearing on that leg until the doctor gives OK. 

Enjoy your sedentary time with leg elevated without guilt.

Best,

Barbara 

[dancefoxtrot]

p haze

You are doing great. Wow a half marathon is impressive. Beating your goal is even more impressive.

Barb

[pge1102]

Hello Trish!  I'm new to Fitbit and the community.  I came across this Labor Day Challenge 2015 and wish I could have purchased my item earlier.  I am looking forward to losing the pounds.  Noticed the writings on the wall from my mother's passing, my father's heart problems and my health issues.  My goal is to lose the pounds by December 31, 2015. 

SW: 187 (8/15)
CW: 182
GW: 150 (11/2 - Birthday)
UGW: 148 (12/31 - New Year's Eve)

Best wishes to you and the group on accomplishing your goals!

~Patricia

[awood08]

SW: 235 June 16th
PW: 212
CW: 210
GW: 200
UGW: 175

Finally dropped 2 more pounds after my weekend of bad decisions! Wooo so relieved!!

 

[Bobbinyc]

Auroram and Barbara, thanks so much for your support and encouragement. I was mostly worried that I would start getting the sugar cravings again. I fought long and hard to get over them. I am back on track and walking more. I have smalll snack size bags with almonds in them- measured out- that I put in my purse each day for emergencies. I'm also doing my quick meditation and guided imagery each day to make it more effective when I need it. I had forgotten how much it helps me lower the cortisol and feel like I am in charge no matter what is going on. I do think I have repaired the wall I keep between the stress and how I eat. Thanks again.
How are you guys doing?

[Bobbinyc]

Awood- great! There is no stopping you!

[CoolAzzRob]

---

@CoolAzzRob wrote:

I'm ready to do this and keep this weight loss thing going -

My first foray into the weight loss challenge world was the 4th of July Challenge

SW 321lbs

CW 308lbs

GW 295lbs (4th of July goal)

Walking and watching my calorie intake got me this far. 

Labor Day Challenge -

SW 294.6

CW 294.6

GW 270.0 (Labor Day Goal)

Going to add a 30 day workout routine to this challenge (push ups, sit ups, squats & planks)

Good luck to everyone with their Labor Day goals.  Keep working toward your goal and keep your head up.

---

I am oh so close and still so far away from my Labor Day Goal.  Woke up today at 271.4lbs.  Sounds great right? 

Last Sunday I was at 272.6 but have been as high as 274.8 since then. 

I'm getting my exercise in and eating properly.  I guess that as my weight comes down, I need to do more work to burn the same amount of calories as I did when I was heavier.

I do feel good about the fact that my BMI has gone from 42 on May 24th to 35.6 today.  I'm still rated as obese but I am doing better. 

Anyway, everyone keep up the good work and hit those goals.

[Mermaid3011]

Good morning everyone!! I thought I'd check in after I had a few days (if not weeks) where NOTHING happened.
Well. I am happy to report that I'm on the downward train again...

And with one measly pound to go it kinda seems possible....

===========================
Labour Day Challenge
USW Jan 1 - 283.4 lbs (size 22/24)
CSW July 4 - 241.6 (size 18)
CW Aug 23 - 227.0 (-14.6)
GW - 228.0
+++++++
Halloween GW 218
Christmas GW 210
Valentine's day GW 200
Easter GW 190
Ultimate GW 180 by Victoria Day 2016 (May 23)