Labor Day to Halloween Challenge 2016

[Bobbinyc]

Welcome to the next Challenge!

This one will start on Labor Day and continue to Halloween, 2016.  That gives us 8 weeks to work toward our next set of goals as we try to lose weight or maintain in a healthy way.

Everyone is welcome to join this terrific group. You can post once weekly or every day - whatever you like - to share your journey, give and get support, offer advice, get some tips.  We have celebrated each other's successes, and empathized with the setbacks.  I personally found, the more I respond to others, the easier it is for me to focus on my own journey in a positive way.  We have seen great progress in previous challenges, because we are in it together and focusing on being healthier and living better lives.

Some of the terms used to report our weight:

USW - ultimate starting weight - the heaviest weight when you began to lose

SW - starting weight for this challenge

CW - current weight for the day you report in

GW - goal weight for this challenge, for Halloween

UGW - ultimate goal weight that you intend to reach eventually

Some people also include their height, their age, their BMI.  

All  you need to do to join, is start posting, usually with some of the weight information.

I'm very excited about continuing with this wonderful group of people and meeting some new folks too.

Thanks to dancefoxtrot for starting the last challenge.

See you here on Labor Day!

[RhondaSmith99]

Well I'm in! I'll "officially" join when I'm at home and can weight myself. Because I know the weight I have on my fitbit app is off! Glad to be here.

Rhonda

[almost_where]

Thanks for starting this challenge, September has been challenging for me historically.

USW-363 - March 9

SW- 293

Halloween Goal -275

[Bobbinyc]

@RhondaSmith99 Welcome!  Feel free to post your ideas, support, wisdom, concerns, victories, etc, as often as you like.  Most will be coming here on Monday or Tuesday.  Have a great weekend, and see you then.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where  Hi!  What is it about September??  I know I always get hungrier in the fall.  You'd think I was a bear.  I hope the holiday goes well for you.  I am so impressed with how much you have accomplished.  You totally inspire me.  

[DanielleinDC]

Okay, i'm game!

[awayigoooo]

Would love to join the challenge!  Like the fact that each challenge is about two months.  Small goals over time is less intimidating.  I know it will be close to a year to reach my goal of losing 110 pounds.  As they say slow and steady wins the race.  Will enter stats on Monday, looking forward to being a loser!  

[SunsetRunner]

Fantastic!  Count me in for this challenge!

I live in the desert and it's really too hot to walk very far in the daytime.  I've been on my ellipitcal, but I really do like walking more.  I wish my FitBit One could count the calories I burned as I washed and detailed my car today.  Guess I had better find more ways to step it up a bit more.  Any suggestions?

Here's my count for the Challenge:

SW     164

CW     164

GW     154

[TatiG]

USW - 260 lbs

SW - 258

CW - 10/25 - 242

GW - 240 lbs

UGW - 160 lbs

I'm 6'0" tall and am a teacher. My activity level will pick up as the school year begins, which is great for a Halloween challenge. I'm also doing 5:2 fasting during this challenge ~ eat within my dieting calorie range 1750 for 5 days and have two days where I eat 500 calories or less. (Might sound harsh, but I love it!)

Updates:

9/17 - 250 - 10 lbs lost

9/24 - 250 - still here but I did 249 peak out a bit a few days ago 🙂

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Manage-Weight/Labor-Day-to-Halloween-Challenge-2016/m-p/1577438/high...

10/8 - 245 - 15 lbs lost

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Manage-Weight/Labor-Day-to-Halloween-Challenge-2016/m-p/1599505#M468...

10/25 - 242 - 18 lbs lost

TWO MORE LBS TO GO WITHIN A WEEK! I GOT THIS!?!

[SunsetRunner]

I'm new here and would love to join! I just got my fitbit last week and love it so far. Trying to lose 40lbs and recover from knee surgery. Taking a lot longer that the dr and I thought, and really limited what I could do. So this may keep me motivated - can't wait

[debb21]

Trying to lose 5 more lbs, but since losing 50 last year, not too motivated.  Love this group, hoping to finally get motivated.  I do exercise, but my eating needs to be better.  Maybe this challenge!!!!

[Bobbinyc]

Welcome all, old timers and newbies!  We officially start this Monday, Labor Day.  Don't forget to post  your starting weigh, current weight, and goal for the next 8 weeks to Halloween.  Feel free to post whatever else is meaningul for you - your story, tips, advice, concerns, questions, encouragement, support, wisdom, etc.  We can do this in a healthy way, together.

See you Monday!

[DanielleinDC]

USW - 155

SW - 150.8

GW - 145

UGW - 125

[_Lilac_]

I've just returned to my fitbit after being detached from it for several years. So this will be my first challenge. I trully need it desperately. 

USW -380  I weighed this several years ago then lost 80lbs 

SW - 355 Gained back 55lbs since then

CW - 355

GW - 340

UGW - Seriously? One step at a time!!

I'm having a tough time. I took care of my terminally ill husband for 1.5 yrs until he passed away in June. I swore then that I would now take care of myself and do what I can to stay as healthy as I could. I can't get sick and have someone  take care of me at this weight. I have been going to my aquafit classes at the YMCA but not often enough. My feet hurt and take two days to recover if I walk much (because of the weight), and my motivation is just lacking. Ya know? So here I am. Joining a challenge to help myself get serious. I haven't been through all the forums yet but if anyone knows of others like me who have a substantial amount of body fat to lose, I'd appreciate a flashing arrow for directions.

[RASG]

I'm in!!! Definitely! USW is 144.2 today 09/03/2016. My goal for Halloween is130 pounds. I trully need help to motivate my self to loose these extra pounds.

[A_Lurker]

@_Lilac_ - I started years ago at 407 lbs.  I lost weight but dieted myself into the hospital (too little food, too much working out, etc.).  I gained some back and tried again.  Nobody ever figured out why, but I ended up with dangerously low iron.  During the investigation into this they found another issue that required surgery to correct.  Anyway, long story short, I started again this Feb at 360.  I'm back under 290 pounds and I'm just getting to my 10,000 steps a day now.  I break up the walking into small amounts.  Even now I still try and keep ahead of them, doing 500 steps an hour from when I get up until I go to bed.  Start with that, small amounts will add up.  A walk around my basement is over 200 steps.   A walk around my yard is more (but it's been a hot summer here).

The truth is, although overall exercise is important, at this point, it really is mostly about what you're eating.  If you don't have a food scale, invest in one if you can.  Make sure you understand what you're eating, calorie-wise.  Compare it to what your fitbit says you're burning and don't eat too little.  It goes without saying, but don't eat too much. No calculation is perfect, but stick with ~1000 calorie deficit (1500 max) for a couple of weeks and see how you do.  Don't be unrealistic, two pounds a week is a good goal.  It's about changing your life in small, manageable steps.

Welcome, and good luck!

[_Lilac_]

Thanks for your words of wisdom, Anne. I did lose 80lbs several years ago then had a sudden health condition hit me and the medications for it have 'moderate weight gain' as the side effects. This will be for the rest of my life. Yay me! I do really well with 1700-1800 calories per day as long as I exercise. Without exercise I just don't lose. So finding my fitbit in a box was an 'a-ha' moment and I am determined to not hit snooze and go to my aquafit classes daily. I just have to remember that I'm determined. I forget sometimes. hehe.

[A_Lurker]

@_Lilac_ - your numbers may be too low for your current weight.  Even if you are sedentary your body needs a certain amount to help it function (BMR).  The more you weigh to start with the higher you should start.  I say this mainly because you will have to lower your calories eventually as you lose weight.  Here's a website that will give you the basic information:

http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/bmr/

When using the calculator pick a mid-point weight.  If you pick your final weight you'll likely see a warning message.  I am likely more active than you are at the moment, however, I do lose weight eating ~2500 calories a day.  I know your medication may affect this, but start eating maybe your BMR for a couple of weeks and see how you do.

[almost_where]

USW-363 - March 9

SW- 293

Labor Day - 290 CW

Halloween Goal -275

@Bobbinyc Thanks for the kinds words. In the past September has been the month where my previous weight loss missions had already failed and the pounds had started to reverse themselves. But all that is now mute because I'm looking forward to the future.

[A_Lurker]

Okay, I usually avoid short-term goals, but having just figured out that 1.6/week is reasonable for what I'm eating and what I'm burning, I'm in.

USW: 407.0

CSW: 288.6 (Labour Day)

CW: 288.6 (same)

GW: 275.8 (this is 8 weeks x 1.6 pounds)

UGW: Who knows