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]

@almost_where I am so impressed with how consistent you are.  As always, you are a major inspiration for me.  I am using your food prep tips - thank you so much.  Now that I can walk a lot more, I really need to focus on my stamina and just doing it.  I keep thinking it's a lot, but I suspect I am doing relatively little.

[Bobbinyc]

@A_Lurker Sounds like you had a wonderful trip.  I know when I am eating out a lot, especially if I am travelling, no matter how well I order, there is a weight gain.  I only avoided it last time because I was able to be very active and hike far more than normal.  I know a few chefs who say that in all but the very best restaurants, food is flavored with sugar, salt and fat.  The higher quality restaurants charge more to pay for the herbs and spices, and better cooking techniques.  So, I am with you on building up stamina, being more active, and being able to eat out or travel without it throwing me too far off.

[Bobbinyc]

I am trying very hard to continue improving health, and focus on non-weight victories as well.

Today I set the fitbit alarm to go off every hour.  Despite doing a lot of desk work and reading the Sunday paper, it will be my reminder to move (250 steps including 5 flights) and drink water  - two things I forget to do when sitting.  So, why didn't I think of this before??

[_Lilac_]

Week 2 Day 7:

I'm not sure if my fitbit ultra is tracking properly. I just did the mile workout by Leslie Sansone and after doing some housecleaning and laundry (on another floor) this morning, my fitbit says I did a total of 1891 steps today. Is it possibly not catching the side-steps or the leg lifts? 

And my scale must be broken too. I have NO OTHER explanation for why it is staying the SAME number. I work so hard at eating awesome, healthy food (at a definite deficit) and moving my butt every day more than I have in so long. I've been posting my progress and the scale is not budging!!!! I think my body is rebelling and doesn't want to change. They do that sometimes. I just have to remind myself of it. My mom and I had a chat and she reminded me too. She said it will come. All of a sudden the scale number will drop and I'll be able to breathe in relief again. I'm not doing anything wrong...the monster is just being stubborn and I have to be more stubborn. It will fail. 

It is raining here today. I can't do my dog walking so I did the walking video. I'll do it again later. I need to find some more in-home exercise since 'winter is coming'. My daughter is in the livingroom right now doing some kind of kickboxing workout or high intensity interval training from youtube. Oh, to get to that point!! I think weekends are going to be a struggle without my aquafit classes. It just means I need to be creative. 

My sister held a BBQ last night with hotdogs and burgers (none touched these lips). I took my own healthy food and stayed away from the bowls of chips and all the processed stuff. I tell ya, I'm doing all the right things!!! *begs scale* please please be kind to me!! I'll do my official weekly weigh in tomorrow to start the week off. 

Here is to all of your successes and if you have stubborn monsters too, we can all beat him down! We are stronger than monsters.

[klan7044]

Well after the last challenge the weight packed on with going on vacation/birthday celebration but I am ready to start new with some extra motivation. I got engaged while on vacation so it maybe time to try and not just lose it for health but also some decent wedding photos! 🙂 That being said starting my official weigh in for this challenge...

CW 182

GW 170

UGW 130

My weight has been in the low 170's last challenge but poor food choices, high salt and lack of physical activity was a reminder of how fast the pounds can add back on. Good luck everyone!

[almost_where]

@klan7044

A big congrats on the engagement!!!

[Bobbinyc]

@klan7044  Congrats on becoming engaged!  How wonderful.  Have you set a date?  

I find I need as many motivations as possible.  I try to keep health first, but sometimes vanity works too.  

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_  I think we have all been there at some point.  I had been laid up for several months, gained way to much weight (it flew on!) and when I began walking again, and eating very well, I assumed it would come right off.  April - mid August - nothing.  I mean not one pound.  I couldn't have kept my weight that steady if I tried.  Then in the past month I've lost a few pounds.  That was a long time to go with no weight loss.  I tried different scales, different food, more water....my body just wasn't ready.  Hopefully it won't happen again too soon.  But, I do have to say, it gave me a chance to focus on being healthier.  I still think in terms of how much water, how much cardio, how much strength - and making sure I keep adding more as I'm able to - the non-scale victories.

You could also try measuring yourself.

The scale is not  the best measure of health, it's just an easy one.  You are doing a lot to be healthier.  In fact, you are an inspiration to so many of us.  Keep taking good care of your health, keep eating well and getting stronger, and eventually the weight will follow.  

And to me, going to a BBQ and being able to not eat the hotdogs and burgers - wow!  Now that is a victory!

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc My daughter also suggested measuring but I'm not so sure it's going to be accurate in someone my size. I'm 345lbs! It takes a 30lb+ loss to fit into the next size of clothing. I could try it but I think it will take a lot of weight loss to show anything on the tape measure. We often do rely too much on the scale. I should simply concentrate on how great I've been feeling and the increase of energy and my drive to want to do more. Those are truly my successes. I'll go find that tape though. Maybe I'll surprise myself.

[_Lilac_]

BTW I cannot WAIT for my aquafit class tomorrow. I need to get back into my routine. I didn't realize how much the weekend would interupt things. It's good when you actually look forward to and are determined to get to your workout. Oh, and I found my favourite workout video online to stream so I'll do that tomorrow too.

My daughter ordered a fitbit charge2 today. I am still using an Ultra (which isn't even available anymore because it's so old). I'm considering pre-ordering the Flex2 because a lot of my activity is in the pool but the wristbands aren't big enough. Now, I have to put my ultra inside a ziplock bag then put that inside another ziplock bag and stuff it down to my waist inside my suit. I'll look at my different options. 

Does anyone have particular fitbits they absolutely love?

[SunsetRunner]

I haven't had a chance to post this past week or so. I actually gained a pound last week and lost it this week, weighed my exact starting wt, so I guess it's like just starting! I really didn't do much this week, have been dealing with a miserable head cold (already...really?!). With working full-time, just completely exhausted. So not much motivation...

I hurt my knee in Feb and surgery in April. It has just not healed as fast as we hoped. Had a steroid inj in late July that helped but it's wearing off already. I have gained ~10lbs since Feb, from not moving. Got a fitibt to motivate me to move more during the day (desk job). I can only do 6-7000 steps a day. Did 8000+ once and my knee was so sore the next day. Trying to build up to more, but this week, phthh...

USW 189

SW 187.4

CW 187.4

GW 178

UGW 140-145 we'll see when I get closer

I have read many of your posts and some of you are just so inspirational 🙂 I'm going to try to participate more and get moving!!

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bogdel

Thank you very much for the good info on Type 2 Diabetes. It is a public service message. Many people can turn prediabetes and Type 2 around with changing diet and exercise. 

What a great educational forum.

Hooray for you in dropping your Blood Glucose back to the normal range. Your happy 10 tillion cells love you for it.

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@_Lilac_

You are a strong woman and you will be rewarded for all your healthy eating and working out. 

Have you talked to an endocrinologist about weight loss since our thyroid can be out of wack. 

If you are charting your food and activities you can bring the print outs to the MD and ask her or him to test for what could be blocking the loss.

All the best to everyone.

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Well I did go to exercise dance technique class yesterday but today I slugged out. I watched the news about the bombing in NYC and stabbings in MI. What an insane world we live in. I will be up and active teaching 2 exercise classes tomorrow so that is good. Sitting makes me want to just sit more... so unhealthy. 

Confession: I have only 1248 steps on my fitbit and it is 9:40 pm . Okay I'm getting up and walking for at least a few minutes.

146. lbs this morning so that at least is good. 

-4 lbs since labor day but I may bounce up in the morning after sitting all day. Okay walking in circles now.

Hope that you have enjoyed your weekend.

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@_Lilac_ 

Hope the seizures have resolved. Congrats on 10k steps recently. You are a good writer and often make me laugh. Keep up your great attitude. 

Best,

Barbara G

[RASG]

Hi everyone! Here I come again.
CW 142.8
GW 130
Getting there! I feel like I am in a home stretch. I need to stick to my plan and get focus to the final line.

[SunsetRunner]

Today I am going to join this even though it is late.  They say better late than never.  CW is 157.5.  I want to get back to the 144.5 I was.  Eating has been terrible.  This a.m. I woke up and have the want to feel better.  I know I am the only one that can do this and that is that. My eating has been terrible.  Time to switch it around.  I know it won't be perfect but it sure as heck can get better.  I was pre-diabetic last year and this year (last month) I got my results and I am not pre-diabetic any longer.  Guess I was celebrating.  Thanks for having this group.

[Cele21]

USW= 215

SW= 211.8

LW= 212.8 (Last weigh-in weight)

CW= 212.8

GW= 205.0

UGW = 140.0

No gain, no loss. Better than I expected.

[nmroadrunner]

Hi All!

I'm so pumped this morning! My BMI is finally out of the obese range, I'm down a notch on my belt and down a size in my jeans, yahoo! Besides these measurable results, I feel great and have more than enough energy to all I want and have to in a day. Thank you all for your encouragement on this journey.

USW   199

CSW   177.8

CW      174.6

GW      170

UGW    <150

Onward and downward  Keep on stepping!

[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    211.4   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