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

[bugsy1114]

I would like to join! Unfortunatley I didn't meet my July 4th goal but I am now more motivated because of it!

SW (January 1, 2015): 156

CW: 147

GW (Labor Day): 135

UGW: 120

[intentonthis]

Morning,

Thanks for doing this; I need a challenge to keep me motivated.

Just got my fitbit back; had left it at a friends house across country. On top of that, currently have stitches on my shin (mowing accident) but I can still walk and watch intake.

SW: 175 (Apr 2015)

CW: 168

GW: 153 (Labor Day)

UGW: 147 (I'm short)

[alaw_425]

I'm in! Even a few days late! 

SW: 216 (Jan '14)

CW: 199 

GW: 185

UGW: 165 (Dec. 31 - my 25th birthday)

WE CAN DO THIS!!!

[ginnyjones09]

We traveled for the 4th of July and I wasn't as careful with my calories as I am at home. The scal reflected my decreased exercise and increase food consumption and My weight when I came home was 154.  It has started to come down already so I'm hoping most was water weight due to eating processed carbs and having alcohol over the weekend.  I'm amending my SW for the challenege to reflect this increase.  

SW 178

Starting Body Fat %: 33%

CW 154.2

Current Body Fat %: 24.4%

Challenge Goal: 135

Goal Body Fat %: 20%

To help me shake thse last 20 lbs I'm increaseing my step count to 15-20,000/day.  I'm also changing my excercise to include HIIT, and workout time from 60 minutes to 120 minutes per day with one day of rest.  I'm also sticking with my low carb diet, no bread, pasta, potatoes, limited processed foods.  I'm trying to focus on whole real foods, and increasing my vegetable intake.  I have a daily allowance for one cup of coffee with real sugar and half and half, its the only way I like it and with two little kids to chase all day I need the caffine! 

[work_it_out]

Good morning! I started the July 4th challenge late...so I want to make sure I start this challenge right away! You were all very inspirational! Okay...onto my goals...I believe 2lbs per week is reasonable, I have been very good with my eating/water intake/exercise even though I gained some back over the 4th weekend. I am an accountant, which means a LOT of desk time! I am 28, and 5'5" and just want to start being healthy again! I started my journey back in 2013, and then had a few setbacks with eating and working out regularly.

SW: 175 (July 2013)

CW: 155

GW by 9/7 (my wedding anniversary!): 137

UGW: 130

[mcfloozy]

Good for you. What progress you're making!

[mcfloozy]

Good for you! Keep it up. You can do it, and it's worth the effort!

[mcfloozy]

OK. I can see my comments are going hither and yon. Basically, I'm cheering on all the success I'm seeing in this thread. It's inspiring.

I'll join.

SW = 182

CW = 169

GW for labor day = 162

Ultimage goal = 145

Keep calm. Carry on!

[Annegirl]

@work_it_out,

Office jobs are hard! I worked as a translator for a year (last year) -that's why I got my fitbit! It was a struggle even maintaining at first. The thing that ended up helping me the most was having mini goals all day long. For instance, I'd say I wanted 1500 before I started work- so I'd get there 15min early, grab a cup of coffee and walk around my office building once. In order to hit 4000 by lunch, every hour to hour and a half, I'd walk the office hallways briskly for 3-5 min (I felt guilty at first, but realised the smokers in my office took longer breaks than I did!). After eating a packed lunch, I'd use my remaining lunch break (usually 30-40 min left) to walk 3/4 mile to the nearby coffee shop and grab an ice green tea. That put me at around 7000. So I could hit 9000 by eod, and take a quick walk before dinner and get to 11k or 12k.

Funny enough, this method improved my work productivity as well! I took to walking every time I was stumped on a translation, and the break and activity usually helped me untangle the problem by the time I got back to my desk. It increased my focus and energy as well.

[work_it_out]

@Annegirl those are some awesome suggestions! I love the mini goals throughout the day. I am lucky enough to take a quick 7minute drive home during my lunch, and I pick up the house/do dishes/etc and make myself walk around and not sit until I go back to work. I also drink tons of water (so bathroom breaks and refills are great for steps!) and since I print out confidential information I am consistantly going to the printer. I agree that getting up throughout the day helps my productivity too, and wakes up my mind/body. I will start doing the goal steps in the morning, and making sure I get up once an hour (at least) to do a few steps around the office. Thank you for the advice! I recently increased my step goal from 10k to 12k 🙂

[Sandpiper800]

You are all inspiring me.  I went back to the gym today to do some light weights.  It has been a while because we have been traveling and camping much of the last six weeks.  I will try to do some weights three times a week.  They aren't fun, but the results will help motivate me.

I have a question.  I have a sore knee I have been babying along for the last two months.  I can walk without much pain, but not run.  I also like to bike.  Today I went 5 miles on a stationary bike at the gym.  My fitbit only gave me 400 steps.  Do any of you bike?  And how do you get steps for that?  My goal, after being inspired yesterday is to try to get 15,000 each day.  I regularly get 10,000 without too much effort.  But if I bike, to help my knee, I would like to get steps for that.  Any ideas?  Thanks.

[mcfloozy]

When I bike, I put the fitbit on the hem of my shorts. That works with the clip on units (Ultra), but probably not with the wrist band styles.

[NickR1988]

Hey there! 

Just got my fitbit for Father's Day and have never done a challenge before.  Is there some official way to join or do we just say that we are in and keep track of this thread? haha.

Either way, I'm in.

SW 216 (Jan 1)

CW 208.4

GW 195 (Labor Day)

UGW 185 (Daughter's 1st Bday Dec 25)

Good luck everyone!

[work_it_out]

@Sandpiper800

When I bike I log my activity on my fitbit phone app or online – I track not only my steps but also my active minutes. If you are riding a stationary bike you can then log on your fitbit the number of miles/calories burned etc. I don’t like to ‘trick’ the system to add to my steps for the day and just look at the overall picture of my activity.

[ginnyjones09]

@Sandpiper800 like @work_it_out said I track active minutes, calorie burn, and steps.  If you bike I would just add the activity on your phone or website later depending on what model fitbit you have.  Mine doesn't register the stair climber, but since I have the Charge HR it registers that I'm working hard and I just classify the workout later.  It kills me not to get those flights of stairs added to my total though!

As for your knee pain, if walking and biking don't hurt then do those things.  Swimming may help too.  If you're a mmeber of a gym, ask a trainer or an employee to show you some exercise to strengthen the muscles around your knee (hamstrings, calfs, and quads).  Doing low weight on a leg extension machine with a shorter range of motion, for example, will help strengthen those muscles without putting too much pressure on your knee.  

[Sandpiper800]

Thanks.  I have a Charge.  Next time I will try to put it in my pocket, and see what happens.  Otherwise, I will add it to my activites and just know I am doing something healthful. I was surprised this morning because I have gotten "steps" when I am in spin class.  I don't know what the difference was, but as you said, it is not that important.  

I have noticed it makes a big difference when I log foods.  Let's do this, everybody!

[carpediam]

I am fairly new also but know I need the support of others to be successful. I am ready and motivated for thr labor day challenge. My goal is to try and get 7,000 steps in aday to begin with. I have pretty severe arthritis in my right ankle which slows my walking down. If I can get in 7,000 steps I will be happy. 

SW   201

CW  199

GW  185 (Labor Day Challenge)

UGW  145

Excited and motivated!

[luvkoalas5373]

Ok., I'm new here and  I'm going to try this - - and pray that it works - meaning I don't give up right away.  I know me pretty well - -the motivation really slacks off.....

CW: 193

GW: 150

UGW: 135

[Sunny36]

So, I didn't make my 15,000+ step goal today. I came in at 13,833. However, I did track what I ate and I'm not in "the red," so I'm happy!

[Annegirl]

Awesome, Sunny!

I read somewhere that "they" suggest starting your goal at 500 steps more than your average, then upping it 500 steps a week. So if you find 15,000 is a stretch atm, you could adjust your goal to 13k or 14k.

My goal is actually 12k - because I see that as the absolute minimum for me unless I'm deathly ill ;-). But I AIM for 18k-20k and usually average 16k. Whatever works for the individual, I guess. Lol