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!

[A_Lurker]

@RASG - good luck, my first day back is tomorrow.  One thing that helps is to take things you truly enjoy for lunch and snacks.  I keep a number of self-made 100 calorie snacks in my desk.  There are nuts, dried fruit, some trail mix, etc.  There are also two small bags of chocolate covered fruit and gummy fruit snacks.  This way if I'm in the mood for ..... I have something that I can control my input.

[Ardalady]

This challenge has come around at the perfect time.

My new fitbit Alta arrived yesterday!

USW - 223.5lb

SW - 223.5lb

CW - 217

GW - 210

UGW - 150

Good luck everyone

[alegria16]

Hi! I'm in it for the Halloween Challenge! I missed my goal for the last challenge by 3 lbs. However I did lose weight during the last challenge, so that is good. Any progress is good progress, and weight loss is not a constant or linear thing. Knowing what's ahead of me in terms of work (overtime, travel, meetings, mega-stress) over the next couple of months, 6 lbs. for a goal is probably a little ambitious. More important than the weight will be the focus on eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and spending more time outside as soon as this evil heat leaves and cooler air settles in. Sending positive thoughts for everyone!!

USW (6/19/16) = 204 lbs

SW (9/5/16) = 191

GW (10/31/16) = 185

UGW = 155

Height: 5' 6"

Age: 42

[RASG]

Thank you A_Lurker!

[Cherylwith5]

Determined to make goal this time!!!

USW 231     12/29/2015

CSW 218.4   9/6/2016  (just got back from Galveston for the long weekend.  Gained some weight 😞  )

CW                9/12/2016

CW                9/19/2016

CW                9/26/2016

CW              10/3/2016 (Birthday!!)

CW              10/10/2016

CW              10/17/2016

CW              10/24/2016

CW              10/31/2016

GW 210

UGW 135

[Cele21]

I'm in!

USW= 215

SW= 211.8

LW= 211.8 (Last weigh-in weight)

CW= 211.8

GW= 205.0

UGW = 140.0

[scottie0714]

Thanks @Bobbinyc for starting this challenge.  I am most definitely in. I will add my stats soon!

[nmroadrunner]

Hi Everyone!

I'm so ready to start this challenge. I met the last goal and then backslid and gained a pound in the last two weeks. This time, I will set a little more ambitious goal and try not to get distracted toward the end of the challenge. Are any of you doing the VR Adventure? I just finished the Vernal Falls walk and thought it added another dimension to my FitBit journey to better health and fitness.

USW   199

CSW    177.8

GW      170

UGW   <150

Keep on stepping!

[AshleyAnn]

This is my first time on here so not sure how it works but I have to try.

USW 230lbs.
CSW 210lbs.
GW 199lbs.
UGW 160lbs.

I am 5'7" and a 32 year old female. My weight has gone up and down for years. Trying to get healthy and be more active so I can truly enjoy life to the fullest.

[AshleyAnn]

Hey Lilac

I am generally lazy too and considering I don't work and have been blessed with the ability to stay home with my children I have grown to a weight heavier than when I was nine months pregnant. This is also my first challenge and really my first day in the Fitbit community. So let's kick butt girl we can do it a little at a time. Remember one step is more than nothing!!!

[khreed · Accepted solution]

I seem to have much more moderate goals than many who are here. For the last challenge, I had a goall of 188 -- I made it, but I'm 188.4 today. That's OK. 

Starting Weight - 202 (4/20/2016)

CW - 188.4

GW - 183

UGW - 175 (to be revised later)

Since April 20th, I have lost 12.6 pounds. I'll take it. If I lose 5 more pounds in the next two months, it will make a visible difference. My other numbers are also improving (cholesterol, muscle weight, BMI, etc.) for the first time in a long time, I'm not classified as obese. It's hard to keep that motivation up, but with your encouragement, I'll make it. Let's all hang in there together. Welcome to the new members of this group.

[jadedkisses]

USW - 235.4 

SW - 225.0 

CW - 225.0

GW - 215.0 

UGW - 180.0 

A bit late posting but here it is, glad to be apart of this challenge.  

[dbalge]

I'd like to be part of the challenge. 

USW - 295

SW - 206

CW - 206

GW - 185

UGW - 177

David

[_Lilac_]

Thanks, AshleyAnn. Since joining the challenge I've been moooving this lazy butt. I'm drinking my water and my four trips to the bathroom during the night will attest to that! I should have been wearing my fitbit during those walks. I know now! I went to my aquafitness class this morning and I ache all over, which is supposed to be a good thing. I also don't work due to a disability (not physical so I can still move). However, I'm so lazy I can do the meanest netflix binge watch of anyone I know. Yesterday I mowed the lawns and put together my new vacuum cleaner. It's hot out there so I might not do more stuff until it cools down in the evening. Oh, and after all that darned peeing in the night I've officially lost some lbs of water. Hopefully the fat with follow. Have fun on your journey the next two months. We'll keep in touch with each other.

Edit: How do we calculate how many calories a fat woman burns trying on three snug bathing suits...full body sweat achieved!

[mommo77]

Okay, I didn't do too bad the last time, let's see what happens next.

USW:  212

SW:  166

GW:  158

UGW:  150

FUGW: 135

I'd love to be out of the 'obese' range by Halloween, Candy Season will be my ultimate challenge!

[Bobbinyc]

@khreed  Your accomplishments are just terrific.  Congrats, not just on the weight loss, but on all the important health measurements improving.  That's what this is really about.  I can't wait to see that happen for me too.

I know motivation is tough to maintain.  I do find for me, the stronger my good habits are, the easier it gets.  In the beginning, everything was emotional - what did I feel like doing, or not feel like doing.  Now it is about just doing what makes sense for me, what I committed to, what will keep me healthiest (well, most days that is).  I am working hard on changing my thinking and watching out for the destructive thinking (ie. I can go for a walk later, just one won't hurt, i'm doing well so I can treat myself, etc.)  The more time I can spend with being active, eating well, and thinking about health first, the easier it gets.  If I get off track, it gets so hard to get motivated again.

Your understanding and encouragement have helped a lot.

We can do this together.

[Bogdel]

Welcome, @_Lilac_! You are in the right place. This is a great group, and it has helped me a lot. While I cannot brag about walking 10,000 steps daily, I try to walk 30-45 minutes daily (weather permitting). However, the thing that helped me the most was replacing all starchy foods with vegetables - both raw and cooked - and drinking more water. Two thirds of my meal is veggies. I and use meat more as a condiment, rather than as an aliment. But, since you already lost 80 pounds once, I am sure that you know what to do to lose it again. As far as walking, do as much as you can at the beginning, and I am sure that you will be able to increase your walk in time. I started with 15 minutes, and then I moved progressively to 20, 30, and 45 minutes. Your water exercise should help you a lot, too. 

My condolences on the loss of your husband and best wishes to you as you start your journey on taking care of you, now. 

Blessings and strength!

[khreed]

@Bobbinyc We need each other.

[Luzgonzalez99]

This challenge looks like fun and I am looking forward to being motivated and motivating others along the way!  Here are my current stats:

USW: 210

SW: 193.4

CW: 193.4

GW: 185

UGW: 150

I admit I am kind of nervous, but I want to face my fears!  Thank you in advance for the support!!

[_Lilac_]

Thank you, Bogdel for your welcome and words of wisdom. I've been increasing my activity and tracking my food. I got in 8000 steps today, including my water aerobics (I put my fitbit ultra inside two ziplock bags and stuff it in my bathing suit). Things are going well so far. This challenge has given me motivation!