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!

[Luzgonzalez99]

Thank you @Bogdel I am really looking forward to being active with this group! 

[Luzgonzalez99]

@dancefoxtrot  Thanks so much for sharing your struggles.  It is ALL too familiar and I like your perspective on doing what makes sense and not what feels good at the moment.  I am good a procrastinating good behavior and this reminds me how I need to stop and be serious.  Good food for thought!

Cheers

[mommo77]

USW:  212

SW:  166

CW:  164.2

UG:  150

U(Ultimate Ultimate Goal):  135

Shocked to see a loss this week, but I'll take it!

[A_Lurker]

@tdvr43 - I know I shouldn't but if you haven't been, go to Joe's.  Great food, and choose kansas caviar as your side.  Very busy place, but well worth the time.

http://www.joeskc.com/

Seriously trying to figure out if I can get some brisket shipped to a friend's place before my trip....

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63 I can't tell you how happy I am for you that you are focusing on taking good care of your health.  I'm getting my blood work done tomorrow too.  I've been working way too hard to only lose 3 pounds in 4 months.  Problem is, blood tests don't always tell the whole story.  We really have to continue taking good care of ourselves, and maybe push our docs to be better detectives.

And I'm really glad you set up the cardiologist appt.  You are so on top of things!  Besides, "putting your head in the sand" as you called it makes for a bad hair day 

I know it hurts not to have had that last goodbye with your dad.  I went through that too.  Until my son was older and I realized, I know what is in his heart - there is nothing new I would need him to say.  Your dad knew you, knew how you felt.  

And I do like your attitude and idea about being proactive.  I'm stepping up the exercise too, and plan to continue no matter what the season or weather.  

And khreed is right (again), your dad would be very proud of you.

[Bobbinyc]

@Luzgonzalez99  I have struggled with procrastination too.  But, really, what are we waiting for?  This is our lives we are talking about.  What is more important?  I had a health scare last winter and then spent way too much time bed-ridden, or unable to walk.  It gave me plenty of time to think.  Not only had I put myself at risk over what? sweets? carbs?, but then I lost precious time recuperating.  Now when I think "just one cookie" or "I'll exercise later", I catch myself.  Why is it so hard to just plain take good care of my health?  I've done harder things than this, so no more "later" allowed.  Excuses are now banned from my life.  (I hope)

[DJC_63]

@Bobbinyc I'll be curious to know what results you get, if you decide to share them. I'm getting a glucose test and a liver function test. I've been taking meds for insomnia for many years (and they cause weight gain of course). The Dr wants to check liver function due to that. It's a little scary to know results but I try to think positive unless I have a concrete reason to think otherwise.
And you're right, sticking your head in the sand makes for a bad hair day! 😀

[Melleigh]

Hey! I hope I'm not too late to jump in on this. I love the eight week challenge. I've owned a Fitbit for some time and have used them on and off. It's a long story but I'm more motivated now than ever. My fiancé was beaten to death in front of me in a mugging and needless to say I went to **ahem**. Shut myself off, picked up some horrible habits, gained 150 pounds. Met a great guy who saved my life, lost a ton of weight and was a smaller than I'd ever been and pretty much got pregnant the same day I hit goal. Gained almost everything back with a high risk pregnancy and being told my daughter had high chance of having downs. Had a healthy baby girl who promptly stopped eating and had to have a feeding tube for months. Her father decided he loved drugs more than his family and became incredibly abusive. Knives, beatings, police, choking, more police, protective orders etc. Basically, I am for the first time in a decade finally able to truly focus on myself. My daughter is now 5 and has started kindergarten and I've started running again with the free time. Despite my weight I LOVE running! I'm ready to finally wash myself off all the issue in my past and gve myself a real fresh start. I'm hoping to find some friends to help motivate each other because all my friends with FitBits are "no longer active." I'm really looking toward to getting to know all of you and seeing everyone meet their goals!

Melissa
Baltimore
30 / 5'8"
USW: 375ish
SW: will update
GW: -15lbs
UGW: 150

[awood08]

Hello to all our old friends and new ones! Excited to get back into the challenges again 🙂 

I have to admit I'm super excited for Halloween, mainly because at our old house we were out in the middle of nowhere so we never got Trick or Treaters. But now we live on one of the most kid friendly roads and in a major Halloween fun part of town! I found this awesome recipe I thought I'd share 🙂 Good luck to all!!!

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250001/peanut-butter-pretzel-truffles/

USW 235

CSW 158

CW 150's

GW 150's

[awood08]

@Bobbinyc and @DJC_63 

My mom recently switched medications she was on and sure enough, it was a huge cause for her weight problems. It's unbelievable how the medications for us, can work against us in other ways! Good luck with your testing & results!

[khreed]

@Melleigh If anyone ever needed support, it's you -- and you'll get it here. You are definitely a survivor.

[Nora58]

@Melleigh You are a survivor ! Never forget the strength it took to get through these hard times and use that to motivate you to do this for yourself. You are up for this and you and your daughter deserve this so much. So glad to see you posting and making that first step toward your happy, peaceful future!

[Nora58]

@DJC_63 I get liver and kidney function test every 9 months just to be safe. If my Dr. forgets I always mention it and so far everything is fine with that.  I did find out I have MGUS  when checking why my platelets were so low so now I go to Oncology once a year for extensive testing to make sure it is not full MM. Good luck with the testing and see how often your insurance will pay for a blood panel to put your mind at ease.

[Nora58]

For me it's really about maintaining around 104 and not getting over 110 or my pain level goes over 20 on a scale of 1-10. had a few surgeries , last one in 03, so trying to manage without meds now. Really can't do things I could do a month ago with the meds but worth a try to find out how damaged I am by seeing how much I really hurt. Nora, my dog had surgery the first 2 weeks I was going off meds so I was at home all day with her and I was ok but now walking 3.5 to 6 miles and feeling like my back is broken and my hips are on fire. If i don't do it Nora packs on the pounds even without treats or anything other than her meals. She is allergic to everything so her meds are not weight friendly and I walk her to keep her weight steady and it keeps me healthy. I have a Flex and now I  use a Charge HR to stay motivated and keep both of us healthy.  Reading the post gives me great ideas and makes me happy that so many are having success and feeling better.

[nmroadrunner]

@Melleigh You are in the right place to find motivation and support. In spite of the horrors you've been through, you have survived and you owe it to yourself and your daughter to be in the best health possible. My daughter spent 20 years in an abusive marriage. She finally got a divorce but the abuse continued. She finally fled to another state with only the clothes on her back and her car. Three years later, she has conquered her emotional demons, has a full time job and has started power lifting. Her ex is still unemployed and on his fifth "engagement" and between "engagements" lives with his parents.

My very best to you and your daughter. Always put yourselves first. Looking forward to watching your journey.

[Luzgonzalez99]

@Bobbinyc  YES! Today I will focus on these words.  Thank you again for the encouragement and sharing your experiences and perspectives! I'm glad that you took a negative situation and turn it into something positive.  Too often the opposite happens, and we're in worst shape later.  Kudos and cheers to a positive and healthy day!

[SunsetRunner]

Well I'm a few days late for my first weigh in. I did weigh myself as I do every morning. I will put down my weight from Tues.

Went to the Cardiologist. Whatever tests they took (as always) before I see the doc is gobbledeegook to me. But doc said nothing to concern myself about. There's nothing that can be done. About the Anemia #'s he said not too worry too much about that. He said if the number gets below 100 then I should worry. As for the sharp pains I've been getting, he said the scope would probably tell us more on if it's the heart or not. So to wait until the scope is done. But he did say that nitro would help with the sharp pains. So I shall try it. 

About 30 min after getting home from Cardiologist's, I got a phone call from my sister in BC. I new something was up as she never calls. My brother has passed away. He was in a hospice due to his stroke, and was found in his room. What caused his death, I don't know yet. I'm assuming it had to do with his heart, or something to do with his stroke? He will be cremated and then we'll have a celebration of life next year when we can all be together. 

So here are my stats: 

Goal Weight - 252 

Week 1 - Sept.6 – 260.2                               

Week 2 - Sept. 13 –

Week 3 – Sept. 20 – 

Week 4 – Sept. 27 – 

Week 8 – Oct. 04 - 

Week 9 – Oct. 11-

Week 10- Oct. 18-

Week 11- Oct. 25 -

Week 12- Nov.01-

[Luzgonzalez99]

@Melleigh It's NEVER too late!  Thank you for being so open and sharing your story.  It's a big step just being open and admitting you need help.  You CAN and you WILL do it again.  We all will if we keep are minds and hearts in the right places.  It doesn't mean we won't make mistakes, but we should always dusto ourselves off and try again no matter.  I'm working on focusing on the positive, even with the little things.  It's always a work in progress and I know this will be for the rest of my life.  Good luck to you and your baby girl on your journey and I look forward to seeing and hearing the progress!

Cheers!

[Luzgonzalez99]

@SunsetRunner I'm really sorry to hear about your loss!  There are never any words to make the pain go away quickly, but know good thoughts are being sent your way.  Looking forward to your progress despite the current situation.  Hang in there!

[dancefoxtrot]

hi all

What a great group we have again. So many positive stories and messages. Condolences @SunsetRunner on the loss of your brother.  

Well loss.3 of a lb. this AM and I'm encouraged. I too crave more food in cold weather so off it comes in this challenge I hope and intend.

Thanks for reminding me @Bobbinyc that I was slowed down by an injury then accident. I have to want the slim look in my ballroom gown again as much as I did before! Dancing a waltz on Oct. 15 and lose at least a couple lbs by then. 

Also I'm glad that several folks are getting blood work done. I see my doc next week for my annual as week and will get the blood work as well. 

Today 149.7 this morning.

need to get going now.

Stay strong everyone and know that you have lots of support on your journey.

barbara g