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]

Okay here is my info:

USW -  219 May?

SW - 212.6

CW - 212.6

GW - 200

UGW - 145

I am a 49 yo woman who had a double transplant in 2009 and my doctors are on me to drop the extra weight, which is not easy when I'm 3 different steroids, battling menopause, and am generally lazy! LOL! But I am tired of feeling this way so I am going to give a try again!!!

So let's go do this thing!

[bluenose1962]

I'm in - look forward to a very good friend Nikki T joining this one !

[_Lilac_]

Bluenose1962 are you from Nova Scotia?? I am in NB.

[NikkiT333]

I,m in although I am on holiday for 10 days at the end of the month so that might scupper things a bit!!!

USW -  221

SW -  196

CW -  196

GW - 185

UGW -  140.  

[NikkiT333]

I have joined and posted my stats. Where are yours  bluenose62?????

[SunsetRunner]

Ok here goes - my 1st challenge.

USW 189

SW 187.4

CW 187.4

GW 178

UGW 140-145 we'll see when I get closer

[debb21]

USW 190

SW 141

GW 135

[debb21]

A_Lurker, walking in small steps is a great way to start. I would dance around the house with my granddaughter, a song is about 500 steps!!! Four songs and I walked a mile!!!  I took it slowly too. I then went to getting in 5000 steps a day, and now I am getting in at least 10,000 steps.  Keep at it,  for me it is now a priority.  You are also correct about eating is the biggest part of this.  I learned everything in moderation.  I am grazing and eating snacks at night, so I am not losing the last 6.  Time to track every day!!!

[RASG]

Hello everybody! Well here I am. Day 1 of the challenge: off for Labor day. So I am at home trying to attach to healthy food instead of nice and warm biscuits my family has for breakfast! Ok. Take a slow and deep breathe, find what is motivating you to do this, and go for it. No excuses. You want it you get it.

[_Lilac_]

First day of the challenge! I bought a new scale yesterday after not really knowing my USW because the scale I had was max capacity 30lbs under my USW. When I weighed myself I was actually 8lbs lighter than I thought I was. So yay me!!! I've been out to mow the front yard already. The backyard will have to wait til I cool down and rest a few min. Then it's doggy doo patrol and mowing time. The rest of the day I don't have planned for activity yet but I'll make sure to take the dogs for a walk and maybe more housecleaning. 

I've had more energy the last few days and in a better mood, so I hope I can keep this going. Have a great, active day everyone. Happy sweating!

[SunsetRunner]

USW 154.7

SW 153.2

CW 153.2

GW 137.2

UGW 130.0

5'5", M, 40y

it's very agressive at 2 lbs a week but i'm likely to lose a bunch right off the bat in water weight. 

[awayigoooo]

Good Morning Everyone,

Here Goes:

USW:  263

SW:     263

CW:     263

GW:     240

UGW:  155

HT:        5'8"

BMI:    40.0

And I'm Off!  Good Luck Everyone!

[AndyDandyPandy]

USW: 292 lb

SW: 236 lb

CW: 236 lb

GW: 210 lb

UGW: 170 lb

(Life)GW: 150 lb

Ht: 5'8  

Age: 26  

BMI: 35.9

8 weeks is plenty of time for big results and changes. Just make everyday count! Good Luck.

[Bogdel]

Hello, everyone!  @Bobbinyc, thanks for starting this challenge. This group has been a great blessing to me this year, as I lost 33 lbs in the first four months. I just got rid of all my size 14 clothes, and I will never ever go to that size again! 

I didn't make much progress in the previous challenge, but I managed to maintain (maybe I needed a break, I don't know...). I did indulge in some empty cals occasionally, I didn't walk as much, and did not log my food, like I did in my first three challenges. Now, it's time to get back to it again. I want to lose my last 10 pounds and reach my perfect weight in this challenge. So here we go:

USW -  183.5

SW -  150

CW -  150

GW - 140

UGW - 140 

Let's get to it, everyone! We can do it!

[CalgaryCoachDad]

USW - 275 LBS August of 2015.

SW - 236 LBS

CW - 236 LBS

GW - 210 LBS

UGW - SUB-200

I've always been a bigger guy and ended up spending about 10 years right around 275 LBS - 280 LBS.  Last summer I finally did something about it and worked my way down to 225 LBS for a family vacation in November of 2015.  I held steady around that mark and when we booked a beach vacation for spring break 2016 I set a goal of under 200 LBS.  I'm 43 now and I haven't been under 200 LBS since I was in high school.  I made it the morning we left for the airport, 197 LBS.  I felt I would be comfortable sitting at the 205 LBS to 210 LBS mark but after a summer of well...slacking, I've crept back up to 236.  When I was down in the low 200s I got rid of all my bigger clothes (pants went from 42 down to 34) and the stuff I have now isn't fitting very well.  I can either fix my weight or buy new clothes, and I HATE shopping...lol.  My wife and I have made a committment to each other to get back on the wagon.  My goal is 210 LBS by halloween and sub 200 LBS by Christmas.  I'm hoping that by participating in this challenge the accountability will help.  Good luck to everyone!

[hawkpearl40]

I'll take the challenge ! I need tolose more weight and get healthy !

[RASG]

Good morning everyone! Day 2: back to work after a long weekend. My job is a very fast pace and stressing job. I am a surgical assistant. Usually starts at 6:30 and finish by 5 or 6 or whenever is done. So there are tons of coffee and snacks during the day. I have to stick to my healthy food and healthy way of life. Give me luck!

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  I am so sorry about the loss of your husband and all you have gone through.  Life hands us such heartbreak some times.  So many people I know, myself included, are great at taking care of others and totally forget to take care of ourselves when under that kind of stress.

I'm glad you are taking care of you now.

When I first started to focus on my health, it was overwhelming because I had so many bad habits.  I found it easiest to focus on one every week or two, adding a new one as I went along.  First I committed to drinking more water, and gave myself a week to make that part of my routine, not something to remember once in a while.  Then I'd pick a new small habit, something I could do, and commit to making that my routine.  

Since you like the aquafit class, why not start there.  Commit to going as often as makes sense for you now.  Give yourself a week, or whatever works, to make it your routine that you do not stray from.  Nothing should come between you and that class on the days you are committed to going.  I usually commit to something like walking each day because if I don't have a routine, it's harder for me.  Also, that way if something real comes up one day, I still have the commitment to be there the other days and I'd still get in 6 days.  Start with what works for you now.  Then you can build on it.

I hope this is helpful.  Let us know how it goes.

[Bobbinyc]

@debb21  Hi and good to see you again!  When I first started trying to lose weight and get healthy, I made a list of all my reasons.  Some were superficial - look better in a particular dress, etc.  Some were really important - live with more energy, lose the aches and pains, live a fuller life, be able to do Race for the Cure, handle emotions without food, etc.  When my motivation flagged, I looked at my list.  There was always something that struck me.

As my habits got better, I needed the list less, but I still hold on to it. I hope my good habits carry me through way after the weight down, but I know I will need to be motivated on occasion.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where You have been such a role model for me.  And an inspiration.  I hope this is a different kind of September for you, and the old ones are very distant.