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!

[almost_where]

Labor Day - 290 CW

Week 1 - 290 CW

Halloween Goal -275

Decided to get rid of my old USW of 363 because I was focusing too much on how far i've come rather then focusing on where I want to be. These past few weeks I have received comments on my progress (I'm very appreciative of these and don't take them lightly), but my mind would focus on these and it made me too comfortable.

Looking back at my weight history, there was a point when I was (say 250 lbs) and was putting weight on and reached a weight of 290. When I reached 290, the same people irl that are complimenting me now for getting back down to this weight were criticizing me or expressing concern back then that I had let myself go by letting my weight get up to 290. If you have read up this point and are starting to get confused please don't feel bad because I think I'm starting to get confused.

Anywho, just bought a pair of new walking shoes(reward from last challenge), did 3 loads of laundry and am now ready to get cracking on my Halloween Goal.

Good Luck to everyone and have fun out there.

[DJC_63]

@khreed  I just saw your first post here about losing 12+ pounds since April.  I'm pretty sure that I haven't even lost that much since April.   I'm starting to wonder if I'm like some other people who just have to exercise a lot to lose.  Certainly cutting calories isn't working for me.

Have you gotten any new info from your Dr about the swallowing pain?

[DJC_63]

Here's my weekly weigh in. I've had a lot of pain in my back this weekend so I haven't done too much. I think it's a pinched nerve because the pain runs down to my inner thigh. It hurts so much it's hard to stand unless I take lots of my meds, and stress definitely makes it worse. Going to call my pain management doc to see what she can do. At least I got my blood work done last week. Yay! (No results yet). So here's another week of just barely losing some weight.

as of 9/10:

USW - 207.5 (1/14/15)
CSW - 202 (1/1/16)
PW - 189.5 (9/3 average)
CW - 188.9 (weekly avg)
GW - 185.00
UGW - 160.00

[khreed]

@DJC_63 I mainly had pain that resulted in shallow breathing and feeling like a muscle pull. My cardiologist suspected a blood clot. Another doctor felt like it wasn't a blood clot as it resolved without medication. I have an appt. on Oct.12th with a hematologist, as I do have a genetic condition that makes me more likely to clot than others. Exercise is not the best way to lose weight, but it makes you burn calories even after you quit. Since I do not like to do 10,000 steps, I guess it's my way of getting in activity. Besides, it's the other numbers that are improving. I'm sure yours are, too.

[RASG]

Hello everybody! Last week wasn't easy for me to stick to healthy food. My hubby's birthday and my uncle funeral made me cheated my plan... But I am not giving up! I started again today decided to keep in track the whole week. I know I need motivation and strength but most of all I need to find them inside me. Have a nice and successful week.

[SunsetRunner]

Week 1 Complete...

-5.3 lbs for the week.

USW 154.7

SW 153.2

CW 147.9

GW 137.2

UGW 130.0

SBF: 23.4%

CBF: 22.5%

5'5", M, 40y

I had six workouts, 3 easy 3 mile runs, and 3 stronglifts 5x5 workouts (squat, bench, overhead press, row, and deadlift.)

Total calories burned were 17,181 and total calories eaten was 9,810 (1,401 per day) for a total deficit of 7,371 which accounts for 2.11 lbs of my weight loss which is why the rest is water loss.

As predicted I lost a lot of weight, mostly water weight in the first week. In fact most of the weight was lost in the first 3-4 days of the week. It will be a tough go the rest of the way but I'm still being agressive and aiming for 2.0 lbs per week although to reach my goal after this big 1st week would require less at about 1.5 lbs per week.

Good luck everyone!

[Bobbinyc]

Weekly check-in:

PW 187.0

SW - 9/6 187.5

9/12 185.5  

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot  Congrats on the weight loss!  Sometimes each little bit seems so hard fought for.

 I was in the Newburgh area.  It is just beautiful there.  It has a lot of great hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty, and beautiful scenery of small mountains overlooking the Hudson River.  A lot of it is preserved to prevent development.  

Is your Fitbit under warranty?  Try customer support as they are usually responsive.  I just got a Charge HR as they are on sale now (being discontinued) and I can tell it won't hold up well.

I love that you go from elegant dancer to using a chop saw to repair your siding, to fixing your faucet.

You are inspiring in so many ways. You seem to go through your life boldly, fiercely, with wisdom and no excuses.

Thanks for everything you share on here.

[Cele21]

USW= 215 SW= 211.8 LW= 211.8 (Last weigh-in weight) CW= 212.8 GW= 205.0 UGW = 140.0 Went a pound in the wrong direction - but not giving up.

[_Lilac_]

Week 2 Day 1:

Awesome Awesome. Yesterday I wrote that I made a pact with myself to do something amazing this week. Well, my daughter wanted to go to an Indian restaurant downtown so I tagged along. I ate sensibly (shrimp and veggie dish, though there's more salt and oil than I'm used to) but from there we WALKED along the riverside trail and watched that tidal river come in that I wanted to do! We got caught in the rain then WALKED to the grocery store where I got healthy stuff. Sundays has no aquafit class but I got in a lot of steps. But now I'm practically lame in pain from the exertion. I did go to my pool class today to get away from gravity. I felt so good, like a chubby mermaid with sore fins.

I am determined not to flake out and stay sedentary all day. I need to do some housework (the dog sheds like you wouldn't believe) and start hauling in wood for the stove in the basement. That's going to be a very long process but a little each day won't be too bad. Small steps will get me there in the long run.

Have a great day everyone! Move move move and be healthy.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where  You raise some interesting ideas.  I hate it when people comment on my body, unless it is absolutely clearly loving concern, and even then... I don't handle it well.  It makes me want whipped cream.  (well, that says something about how I got into this!)  I hated it more when a dear friend proudly announced to others "look how much weight she lost!".  I cringed.  But I also hated it when I was young and very underweight (over active thyroid) and people commented on how great I looked.  I need a "no comments allowed" zone.  Or learn to ignore all comments.

I really like the idea of changing the USW.  It is hard to find the balance between looking back and feeling good about what you accomplished, and continuing to keep your eye on the goal and just take good care of yourself.

I am hoping that my healthy habits stick for life and all this emotional stuff continues to sort itself out.

[Bobbinyc]

@DJC_63 I think losing 1/2 pound is great.  Despite all the setbacks, the pain, the stress, you are still heading in the right direction.  

And good for you getting the blood work done.  You are on this!

[Bobbinyc]

@RASG  I am sorry about the loss of your uncle.

It takes time and effort to separate stress from food.  It certainly took me a long time.  Eventually I got it.  Now when stressed I make sure to eat even better than normal to help my body cope.  I take the stress out at the gym or by walking or meditating, or dancing around the house (curtains closed) while the music blasts - I have a list of things to do before eating junk.   I had to learn to separate the idea stress=chocolate.  I think that was the toughest weight loss/health issue of all for me.

I like that you are talking about it here.  It has helped me and I got all kinds of idea.

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  Yep, the word for you is Awesome!  You are so determined and positive.  I'm borrowing some of that.  Sounds like such a great day with your daughter.  How special.

About the feet:  About 2 years ago I managed to damage my achilles tendon and plantar fascia in one foot.  It meant over one year of physical therapy, limping, pain, and weight gain from not moving around. When I could finally walk a little again I had to get new sneakers and inserts and found that I did best with several sets.  What worked on one day, didn't work on another.  Light walking was different than just walking around the house, or taking a longer walk.  I ended up doing best with good sneakers but mostly needed great inserts.  I had to find the right combination of soft and cushiony and firm and supportive.  For long walks I used very thick soft ones with the firm ones on top.  They prevented my feet from wiggling in the shoe and hurting the tendons more.

I agree, gravity can be really tough.  As can hard surfaces.  I just encourage you to keep trying different things on your feet, especially as they get stronger and more used to walking.  And don't over do it.  I actually had gotten my fitbit first to make sure I kept at it but didn't do too  much until I was healed.

I also continue doing the foot exercises, which help both feet and prevent injuries.  They make walking so much easier.  The stronger the feet, the more you can do.

I do love how determined you are.  And funny.

[geb37322]

Late starting but here goes:

USW 265  Apr '08

SW 194

CW 192.6

GW ???.?

UGW 175 maybe less

5’ 10” M 70

walk about 15 mi per week, some strength and balance training … Happy Monday !!

[TT_is_me]

Well I'm also late to the party but I'm joining in.

USW - 315

SW - 274

CW - 274

GW - 260

The last two weeks have been really slow in weight loss. I needed something to help jump start the loss again. I'm really pumped that in just a few weeks, I could be down another 14 lbs. I'm joining a gym tonight so hopefully the classes and different variety of exercise (besides walking) will also motivate me to kick it into gear. 

[nmroadrunner]

Hi Everyone!

Hubby and I are well into our second week back home from the mountains and have cleaned up all the RV stuff and put it back and are tackling the home stuff now. I've been watching my steps and calories closely this past week and it seems to be paying off. Still loving the VR walking adventure and am on the Pohono Trail currently.

USW   199

CSW    177.8

CW       175.8  Yippee 

GW       170

UGW   <150

My best to all of your on this weight loss journey. Keep on stepping!

[RASG]

Thank you so so so much for your words and support.

[RhondaSmith99]

Well, last week I was busy at work so I didn't get much of a chance to check in but I'm here today to do my weekly weigh in. And I had a very impressive weight loss, but I am betting that most of it was water weight. Knowing how I do when I try to "diet" I decided to not obsess over food this time. So I watched what I ate, made better choices most of the time, and did stop eating when I felt full. I also increased my water intake, and did a small amount of walking. So here are my weekly results:

PW - 212.6

CW - 206.5

GW - 200

I most likely won't lose much this week at all, but this does give me some encouragement. I don't have to kill myself at the gym (not yet), and I don't have to eat foods I don't like all the time. Just make smarter choices the majority of the time. 

Have a great week everybody! 

[Cherylwith5]

USW 231     12/29/2015

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

CW    213.4   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