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!

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot  And just to show how inspiring you are, after reading that you did more than 10,000 steps, took care of the garden and were off to go dancing, I looked at what I had done.  I was up to 8 flights of stairs.  A little bit later, I have 20. I did most as fast as I could, and the rest were carrying large pieces of art.  Not many steps today, but I did do a new yoga/pilates class that was tough for me as well as an hour of light stretching and strengthening.  I figured, if you can do gardening, home repairs, climb ladders, use a saw, walk a lot, dance...well, I can do a little more than I have.  Feels good to push myself more.

I'm thrilled that the scale is moving the right way for you.  If you are using an Aria, they are not the most accurate scales.  Fitbit told me they can be 3 pounds off.  Whatever your number is, it is clearly going down.

I also read Hyman and Fuhrman and watch them on PBS.  I was still surprised when I realized that after all these decades, my stomach is no longer growling, and I eat a fraction of what I used to eat and am never hungry.  I love that some of the rewards for healthy behavior are immediate.  Mostly I think of myself as helping my body fight cancer etc. - I don't need that scare again.

Bobbi

[AndyDandyPandy]

@Bobbinyc Glad to hear that exercise is helping you lose weight. Many people says diet is the most important part but to me exercise is just as important. They both compliment each other. I've come from being sedentary and sluggish to can't wait for the next workout or the next jog. When your body gets used to exercising, you'll love that burning sensation and want to improve your health physically and mentally. 

Good Luck. 

[Bogdel]

@DJC_63, I am so glad that you mentioned the word  "diabetes". A couple of years ago the doctor told me that I was pre-diabetic. Then, last fall, another doctor told me the same thing (pre-diabetes and high cholesterol). I asked how can I lower my blood sugar and improve my cholesterol, and the doctor told me: 1. loose weight, and 2. exercise. I also asked for a blood tester, so I can monitor my progress in my fight against this dreadful disease. He prescribed one, and I am still using it, just to check and make sure that I am still on the right track. At that time, my sugar was between 130-160. My weight was 183 lbs (I am 5'5"). 

As I talked about it to a friend (who has diabetes), he sent me the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pjkC71exKU.

I was fascinated. I watched it to the very end and it has changed my life. This is a case study of real people who were able to reverse their type 2 diabetes and return to heath.

While I did not follow the same regimen, I did follow the principles, and I eliminated anything that is white (i.e. anything that has sugar, flower, rise, or potatoes). I started in January, when I got my fit-bit. Since then, I lost 34 lbs, and my blood sugar returned to normal limits (85-100). 

I also listen frequently to Dr. Joel Fuhrman's audio-book, The End of Dieting: How to Live for Life. I am still listening to it, because it keeps me motivated to exercise and eat healthy. It is VERY educational! You may look him up on Youtube, as well. He has many lectures. He also wrote Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss. Many people have been helped immensely by following the principles of his books. 

I know that diabetes and heavy weight can kills us slowly, but surely, as they affect every organ in our body (kidneys, cardio-vascular system, nervous system, etc.). I have seen both my friends and relatives who have all kinds of problems because of diabetes, but prefer to suffer rather than change their lifestyle. They think that if they control their blood sugar with medication, they are OK. But I learned that diabetic meds cause people to gain weight, and weight gain cause them to increase the diabetic meds. So, their condition gets worse, and so does their diabetes.

I decided to eat and live healthy, rather than eat myself to death, like I started doing over the last few years.

Sorry this has gotten so long, but I hope it helps anyone who reads it and identifies himself or herself with this situation. 

[Bogdel]

@Bobbinyc, I totally identify with everything you shared here. Since I started eating mostly veggies and got rid of the empty carbs and sweets, I am no longer hungry all the time, and the scale goes down (as long as I move!). No walking, no weight loss for me either . Another thing I learned was to discern true hunger from false hunger (I learned this from a book that I was reading, and I found it true). False hunger is when you feel it in your stomach (usually after I eat starch or fruit, stomach growling, or just a sense of nervousness in the stomach). True hunger is somewhere in your throat. Anyone can testify to it?

Best to you all!

[Bobbinyc]

@Bogdel I think we are reading/listening to the same things.  I just love seeing the little changes I hadn't given much thought to.  I'll have to watch for where I feel hunger.  Right now I am focused on flooding my body with great nutrition and bringing down any inflammation.  Interestingly, it is all very low cal.

[Bobbinyc]

I am thrilled to be having non-scale victories.

By 8am I walked a mile (finally good enough weather), did some stretching, and went to a new supermarket for organic veggies and fruit.

And, even though that wonderful French pastry shop near me has re-opened, I have not gone near it!  Their being closed for 8 weeks (gotta love the French vacations) helped me get over them.  That is huge for me. 

[Chlz1997]

wowsers - been absent for our county fair and I come back to another wonderfully active challenge!! AWESOME!  This is the first year that I can ever remember where I did NOT gain weight during the week of the fair.  For those who don't know...we raise registered Jersey heifers & have one cow at home.  We take them to the county fair and practically live there all week -so with all the food temptations,  I'm stoked I didn't gain and my step counts were at high levels (for me).

Also, our cow finally had her calf on Labor Day.  Momma Mollie & her calf Marcus stayed home while our other 4 heifers made the trip to the fair. So lots of excitement going on at my house!  This was the first calf born on our little farm.  We were anxiously awaiting the calf's arrival like new parents   Here is his one week pic taken a couple days ago.  Since we had a bull calf instead of a heifer - we'll raise him for beef instead.

I'll post all my stats tomorrow on my normal weigh-in day   Hope everyone has a fantastic day!!

[Bobbinyc]

@Chlz1997  Congrats on not gaining at the fair.  That is terrific!  

And congrats on little Marcus.  He is so cute - a really beautiful face.

[SunsetRunner]

I'm getting a little angry at my scale. On Monday, I weighed myself as I usually do and scale said I weighed 258.6. I figure YAHOOIE!! After brushing my teeth, I wanted to see the numbers again. We they went up to 260.9. I thought no way. I'm sticking to the 258.6. Then on Tuesday I weighed myself as usual and the scale said 260.6. After brushing my teeh, the scale again said a higher weight. And again today. I told hubby I'm never brushing my teeth again cause it seems that brushing my teeth makes me gain weight. lol He thinks our scale might be on the brink. I'll weight and see if it's the battery ( I think it has a battery) and then go from there. But for now, I'm sticking with my weight of this morning wich is 260.

Goal Weight - 252 

Week 1 - Sept.6 – 260.2                               

Week 2 - Sept. 13 –260

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-

[jadedkisses]

USW - 235.4 

SW - 225.0 

CW - 225.0

Week 1-ish- 223.6 (-1.4) Sept 14

GW - 215.0 

UGW - 180.0 

Late as usual!!!!!! Between work and family it's a miracle I even remember to put matching socks on! 

---

[_Lilac_]

@SunsetRunner I know what you mean, but it can also mean you have flexy-floors. Haha. Depending on the floor surface and if they have cushioning, if there's a soft spot, etc you might get different results. If my balance shifts to the back of the scale it is different than if its toward the front. (digital) I'd suggest finding a good solid surface and place the scale in the exact same spot every day. That way you know if you are going up or down and the number won't matter as much.

[Bogdel]

@dancefoxtrot. Yes, Barb. I only take 1.5 mg of melatonin, when necessary (I break the little pill in a half). It helps me relax and then I fall asleep. melatonin is a substance our body is sup[posed to produce. However, it seems that, as we age, our body does not produce as much of it, and we may need to take it in a pill form. I also learned that keeping the room really dark also helps our body to produce melatonin. 

Glad to hear that you have read Dr. Joel's Fuhman's book. I did no go to his website yet, but now, you got me curious, and I will (smiling). I just noticed that he has a lot of seminars on You-tube. I did not listen to any of them yet, but I definitely found his book helpful for my weight loss and health purposes.

Best to you, too!

Ellie

[_Lilac_]

Week 2 Day 3: 

Woohoo I made 10,000 steps for the first time!!! Walked to the pool, did my aquafit class, walked home. I took the dogs for our new extended walk and decided I wanted to do a little more so I took the bus over to the mall and did some grocery shopping. I hit my 10,000. It's so exciting. And everything in my bags is healthy. The bus driver even commented that he liked my spinach when he saw it at the top of the bag. I'm tired, but that's a good thing. 

The more success, the better I feel. I hope everyone else is doing well and moving and feeling great.

[Nora58]

@Bogdel You reminded me I had one of Joel Fuhrman's books. I pulled it from the cookbooks and it's titled  "The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss". I think I will leave it out where I have coffee so I can read a few pages after my morning walk with Nora. Got in 4 miles this a.m. as it was a nice fall morning but it did get up in the high 70's later.

I too have cut out the white stuff  3 years ago because Nora is allergic to wheat, flour, corn, soy, beef, chicken. so the only thing she has is deer, rabbit, duck, salmon, other seafood and any other vegs or fruits so I can work with that. I can find 1 or 2 foods premade for her and a couple of snacks because an egg is a boneless chicken so no egg product, lol.

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_ I just can't get over you.  Totally amazing.  I hope your feet are ok.

You have just inspired me to do a lot more tomorrow.

[Bobbinyc]

What a group!!  So many people having non-scale victories.  Those are the best kind - they create real health and energy, and expand our lives.

I am so impressed and inspired.

Thanks for all the sharing here.

[Bogdel]

@Nora58, Thanks for mentioning "The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss". I will look it up. Anything by Dr. Joel Fuhrman should be good. I also have some menus he has attached to my book. I did not follow any of them, but, as I mentioned in my previous posts, I follow the principle (although I must confess, I have my cheating moments, too!). 

BTW, you need to thank God that Nora cannot eat any of the "bad" stuff (LOL!). This keeps both of you on the healthy lifestyle .

Great group we have here. We all learn from each other.

Best to you both! 

[NikkiT333]

Did you put soe weight back on then after your surgery?

[NikkiT333]

USW -  221

SW -  196

CW -  194.5  - 1.5

GW - 185

UGW -  140.  

Only 1.5 pounds down last week- it is going to take me forever at this rate. I am doing as much movement as possible and really watching what I eat. It it normal to lose this slowly?

[DJC_63]

Yes, it's normal and the healthiest way to do it.

Sent from my iPad