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!

[Bogdel]

"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!"

I like your attitude, @_Lilac_! Keep it up! 

[Bogdel]

Welcome, @AshleyAnn! You are going to love this group. I started in January and I lost over 30 lbs in the first four months. I maintained my weight since then, but I am ready to loose another 10 lb this time. 

Best wishes to you as you move into a healthier life style!

[Bogdel]

Welcome, @Luzgonzalez99! I think that most of us were nervous when we started. I know I was. But this is such a great group, and we can encourage one another as we move toward a healthier lifestyle. 

Best wishes to you!

[echussey]

New and a little bit late but excited to be here!!

USW - 180

SW - 178.4

GW - 162

UGW - 115

I am starting my weight loss journey after having my 4th baby 2 years ago! I need to get my health and energy back so I can be the best version of me!!

[dancefoxtrot]

Welcome all the new challengers and of course a big shout out to our ongoing group. 

Special thanks to @Bobbinyc for starting this new challenge. 

I am not making good progress recently and think I gained a few lbs. during this last challenge. Eeek.

Perhaps a little less cheese and peanut butter would help. Still eating healthfully but darn.

So off we go again since I made it to 133 last year so just need to eat less and move more. 

This morning CW 150

GW 143

UGW 135 

I'm 5'7" and 75 yrs young and 23.5 bmi which sound good but I had too much belly fat.

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

" 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."

Thank you for the above post that get to the bottom of it all. I love that you labeled the stinking thinking that has changed for you and yet you are mindful of it. I agree that it is so much easier to stay motivated than getting back on track after the proverbial slide happens. Okay for me it is eating late at night when I'm hungry but sitting around without burning it before bedtime.  

Steaming some fresh from the garden broccoli right now. Not many calories in broccoli.

Hugs and cheers to you,

Barbara G

[AshleyAnn]

Good morning everyone. It is 5 am where I'm at and I am up and getting ready to walk on the treadmill awhile to get my body going. Of course I have already drank some water to rehydrate after the night. Hope everyone has a wonderful day and remember today is a new day! Let's do this and kick butt!!!!!

[hannahbebrave · Accepted solution]

I have already learned so much from this challenge!

I have no internet right now so I'm down the road at a neighbor.  I'm at the old family farm trying to go through things since my mom passed.  I was thinking that I would have to put my weight loss on hold til I was done here, and then I read the posts here.

There was a message to _lilac_ that I can't find now.  It was about changing Habits.  I definitely need to work on that.  What I am learning already is:

1. Read all posts even if they are addressed to someone else.  Those tend to hold the most wisdom and best advice.

2. Motivation- 

from bobbinyc to debb

"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."

What a great idea.  I just made my list and I feel so focused now.  

also bobbinyc

3.Motivation and thinking 

"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."

I really need to learn a lot more about my thinking.  I don't seem to notice it, but your examples seem like normal thinking to me, and you are right - they make it worse!

from dancefoxtrot to bobbinyc

"stinking thinking"  

I remember seeing that from you before.  You know a lot about it, but I don't think I paid enough attention before.  I need to work on this. I think you had also referred to junk food as poison.  I love that idea but I need to work on that too.

4. What matters

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.

Remembering that this is about health and not only the scale makes a huge difference.

We have some very wise and smart people here.  Thank you. Sorry it got long.

[CalgaryCoachDad]

---

@CalgaryCoachDad wrote:

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!

---

Sept 7th - CW 232.8

The water weight in the first few days is a nice kick start, now the real work begins.

[_Lilac_ · Accepted solution]

AshleyAnn what a go-getter so early in the morning!!! So full of motivation. 

Day 3: I walked to my aquafitness class and back, already racking up 6000 steps. My feet are NOT appreciating the extra movement I've been doing and ache horribly. I have decent shoes and arch support insoles but I have to find some way to get more active without the use of gravity. Being close to 350lbs SUCKS. I just have to tell myself 'slow and steady'. We have three natural parks here with walking/biking trails but I'm a non-driver so it's difficult to get there with multiple transfers by bus. And if I go without the dogs I'd be eaten away by guilt...I need to find a way!

I hope everyone is having an awesome, successful day. Keep up the good work. Short term goals are meant to be laughed at through the rear view mirror!!

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  I like your determination.  When I started on my health journey, I couldn't walk much at all.  I focused on the other things - what I ate and making sure that got healthier and healthier, how much I drank, etc.  I thought of it in terms of starting new habits. I had cut out all processed food (well, most). So, I added a glass of water with each meal until that became routine  - about a week.  Another time I added one huge salad daily with some protein in it - usually chicken or beans.  I got used to that after a week.  Maybe it would help to figure out what changes you want to make and start on those.  But keep up the swimming.  That sounds terrific!

Very smart to have good shoes with arch support.  I never thought about it until I tore my achilles and my plantar fascia . Led to a year of not walking.  Not fun.

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot I think you must have the most wonderful garden.

Please don't be MIA again.  I've missed you.  

I agree, you've done the weight loss before and you will again.  But don't forget, you were also in an accident and had an injury slow you down.  That was a lot for your body, and your emotions, to deal with.

[khreed]

If you have access to a gym with a warm water therapy pool, consider walking. Once I had to have my entire knee removed due to an infection and later replaced. My rheumatologist told me to get in a pool and walk -- forward, backwards and sideways. It is not weight bearing. I couldn't believe how much I improved over time. We are with you.

[Bobbinyc]

ooops, late checking in.

PW 187.0

CW 187.5

Goal - since it took me 4 months to lose 3 pounds, I'm just happy if it goes down at all.

And I'm thrilled that I was on vacation and only gained 1/2 pound, if the scale is accurate.

I ate as healthy as I could, and hiked a lot every day.  I am so grateful to be able to walk again.

UG - as healthy as I can be, living as fully as possible while I can.

[_Lilac_]

My eating habits are pretty good, actually. Very little processed food or starchy stuff. Pasta is a no-go because it makes me starve. Rice gets caught behind a tonsil, etc etc. Everything in my grocery cart is healthy and I never eat off a large dinner plate, always a smaller lunch plate. My issue is moving. My mom swears she can't lose weight without strict calorie and carb monitoring but for me it's all about moving. If I don't move, I don't lose, regardless of what I'm eating. So, I don't have a lot to change in the food department. When my husband was ill he did want to 'enjoy' his last year and we did eat out more. And he wanted to spend a lot of time with me and he was chair/bed bound so I spent a lot of time doing the same. But now I am moving and tracking/measuring all my food (a suggestion someone made) and I feel good. I have had to increase my water intake. Small changes will make a big difference. 

[AshleyAnn · Accepted solution]

Lilac sounds like you are doing a great job with diet and Way To Go on walking to swim class that's Awesome!!!!! Keep it up I know you have heard it before but every little bit helps.

[AshleyAnn]

I have found out that if I set my clothes out the night before and set an alarm to get up early before the kids or husband that is the time I use for me.

[tdvr43]

Decided to do this for fun.  I have a trip to KC and a Trip to Seattle in the middle of this so it will be tough to hit my target weight.

USW -215

SW - 178

CW - 177

GW - 165

UGW - 160

5'11 30 years old will be 31 on 10/14

[DJC_63]

@Bobbinyc I'm the same in the Fall! The earlier sunset and cooler days seem to bring out carb cravings and a desire to hibernate when the sun goes down. Knowing that, I'm trying to be proactive. I'm going to get that blood work done tomorrow to see if they can tell why it's so hard for me to lose weight. If that doesn't tell me I'll keep looking. At the same time I want to step up my exercise. I find if I'm in the habit of doing it, I'll keep doing it. If I take even a week off of my schedule it's much harder to go. I'm hoping forewarned is forearmed when it comes to Fall!

[DJC_63]

@Lilac. Have you ever tried Vionics footwear? I was having a lot of problems with my knee and plantar Fasciitis. I got a pair of Vionics slippers and they made a huge difference? I'm a big fan now, although they are expensive.