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!

[RASG]

You are doing great! Just enjoy the path and don't give up!

[Bogdel]

@Bobbinyc, Thanks for the tip on how to clean the microwave. I am going to try it. The good thing is that I bought a new microwave a few months ago that is so easy to clean. Even if some food splatters on the inside, it does not stick. I just wipe it, and it's gone. 

I think it's good to give ourselves permission to eat things that we chose to avoid every once in a while. That way we don't feel psychologically deprived or overly tempted. When I do that, I just do a little bit of extra walking to burn those extra calories. 

Recently, I bought Dr. Furhman's cook book and started to experiment with his recipes. They are pretty delicious, filling, and healthy. Last night I fixed the Apple Bok Choy Salad (page 116). It was surprisingly delicious! This is the first time I had Bok Choy (never heard of it before). Today I had Black Bean Lettuce Bundles (page 262). My husband loved them too. He is also beginning to make positive steps toward a healthier life-style. A few months ago he gave up sugar and started going to the Rec Center. Now he is starting to remove the fats from his diet. As you said, our bodies can be trained to like what is good for us and to actually detest the things that are bad for us. It starts in our mind. 

I hope you have a great time/dinner tonight, and a great week as we move into October. 

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

About dizziness

Have you checked your water intake as lightheadness is a dehydration sign. Also, dizziness can be a side effect of medication especially blood pressure meds. but you probably don't take bp meds. 

Enjoy the journey,

Barbara G

[jadedkisses]

USW - 235.4 

SW - 225.0 

CW - 225.0

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

Week 2- 220.8 (-2.80 & - 4.2 "Total") Sept 19

Week 3- 219.6 (-1.20 & -5.4 "Total") Sept 26 Just a wee bit posting!

Week 4- 217.6 (-2.00 & -7.4 "Total") Oct 3

GW - 215.0 

UGW - 180.0 

A little more weight lost this week but realistically I know a good portion of it was water weight, I tend to retain quite a bit right before my monthly cycle so I always have to factor that in and not let the non-moving scale get me down!  Still going at it steadily, spin class keeps me on my toes and my first 5k race in a few weeks.  Last night I went to my first Paint Nite which was so much fun, I did have a beer but chose not to stress over the calories.

[SunsetRunner]

Good morning everyone!  Even though I expected it, it was a bit disappointing this morning to see a gain of 1 pound on the scale.  Could be some of the water weight from my Chinese food.  I'm going to try and be more consistent in my efforts to lose weight for this Halloween challenge. When I deviate from my good eating habits, even for one meal, it haults my body's weightloss momentum and takes many days to get myself back on track.  Now, if I can just remember those words when I hit the next "hole in the sidewalk".

Oh well, onward, right?

Starting Weight 164       Goal Weight 154

Week 1:  163

Week 2:   no post

Week 3:   162

Week 4:   163

[_Lilac_]

One month officially complete!

USW 355 (May)

SW 347.6

Week1 344.8

Week2 343.2

Week3 338.8

Week4 335.4

Total for challenge so far = 12.2lb 

I had very little sleep last night and then I had three seizures from 8:15am-9:45am, so that's thrown me off my plan. I'm exhausted with a headache. I need to get some activity in! I am going to take a nap and then take the dogs for a long walk with my daughter along for security. I'm so scared sometimes that I'll have a seizure and let go of the leashes and they'd wander or go in the road. I don't collapse but I have to stop and try to find support against a pole or step and if they pull on me I might lose balance and fall. If I have the energy, I'll go to the evening pool class. My mother has gone on a trip into Pennsylvania for 2-3 weeks so I won't have my walking partner. This is going to test my dedication, to keep myself moving without an accomplice. As with walking down the junk food aisle at the store, this will prove my strength. I need to keep up my activity daily. I can't slip up after doing so well so far. 

We are halfway there! 

[nmroadrunner]

Hi Everyone!

We're enjoying some beautiful weather here in NM with warm days and cool nights. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is off to a great start with three beautiful mornings for launching the balloons. Unfortunately, a cold front is due in later today which means high winds so the balloons may be grounded the next couple of days.

My weight has been going up and down this past week but all within the "margin of error." Must buckle down more and watch the intake. I really want to reach my goal for this challenge.

USW  199

CSW   178.8

CW      174.8

GW      170

UGW   <150

Keep on stepping!

[TT_is_me]

USW - 315

SW -   274

Week 1 -  269.5  -4.5 lbs

Week 2 - 267.2  -2.3 lbs ( -6.8 total)

Week 3  - 266.5 -0.7 lbs (-7.5 total)

GW -  260

UGW - 160

Guys, I am frustrated today. I let the scale define my victories of this week. I'm beating myself up that the loss wasn't higher. I sitting here, stewing about a .7 loss when I shoudl be celebrating an amazing weekend. After being in two fiercely competitve weekend warrior competitions, I ended up getting 33K steps this weekend (which is huge for me). I worked harder, lasted longer, and overcame struggles. I did 15 MILES in TWO DAYS  and all I can think about is why I couldn't even get a -1 loss. Who cares that I went down a pants size? Who cares that I'm not hurting after such a busy weekend? Who cares that my 3 week average is still -2.5 lbs? I let that number skew my outlook of my week (which before the weigh in, was pretty stinking good)! 

So I'm here to say eff the scale! Despite the low number, I'm make a list of all the good things that happened this last week and move on. Hopefully evreyone can celebrate the big things changing in their lives beyond the numbers on the scale!

[RhondaSmith99]

Here is my weekly weigh in. I spent 4 days last week riding in the car so I didn't get my exercise in, plus my food choices weren't as healthy as they could be because my meals came from restaurants. So if I want to meet my challenge weight I'm going to have to kick it in high gear! Or as high as I can kick it....LOL.

USW - 219  - May

SW   -  212.6  - (9.4.16)

CW   -  206.5  - (9.12.16)  -6.1  - Water weight

CW   -  208.2  - (9.19.16)  +1.6  - Backlash!!

CW   -  206.3  - (9.26.16)  -1.8  - Not bad, could have been better

CW   -  205.4  - (10.3.16)  -.9  - Almost a lb gone, wish it could have been more but a loss is a loss

GW   -  200

UGW - 145

Have a great week everybody and keep at it! 

[AndyDandyPandy]

Update: Week 1: 4 lb loss

              Week 2: 3.4 lb loss

              Week 3: 0.8 lb loss

              Week 4: 3.4 lb loss

              Total loss: 11.6 lb

USW: 292 

SW: 236 lb

PW: 227.8 lb 

CW: 224.4 lb 

GW: 210 lb

UGW: 170 lb

(Life)GW: 150 lb

Unofficially finished my first phase of P90X. Starting 2nd phase today. Bought me some recovery supplement. Been sore and hurting everywhere for awhile but after taking the supplement, I can say I'm back to 99% recovered. Gonna push harder for the 2nd phase of P90X since the recovery supplement will play a big part in making me recover for the next day and so on. Not eating enough have resulted me in losing muscle mass. But when you lose this much weight ofcourse anyone will lose some muscle mass. I am not as strong as when i was 290+ lb but I can say I have way more stamina and I'm more flexible and more defined also.

[dancefoxtrot]

@TT_is_me

Love the writing on the scale pic. Enjoy all your warrior success of 33K steps. You probably gain muscle for heaven's sake. Just stand up to the negative voice that wants u to focus a small loss and not your huge success. 

Best,

Barb G

[dancefoxtrot]

 Hi all 

Well I went off track at my son's house with dinner choices. We worked in his garden and picked lemon cukes. onion. tomatoes and basil. He made fresh pesto with pine nuts and put it over pasta. I helped cut everything up and we had caprice salad and cuke salad. His lady friend made fresh french bread with oregano on top. 

She was willing to use whole wheat flour for the bread when I asked her. My son wouldn't use spaghetti squash instead of whit flour pasta. It was yummy and this low carb lady had 3 slices of it and 2 helpings of spaghetti with pesto sauce!!! Holy cow and the scale shows it with a gain of .9 within 24 hours. Good thing is that check in for me is tomorrow morning and I made it to 7001 steps so far today. I need to get up and walk some more around my studio right now since it is finally raining out here in No. Ca.

Back on track with the low carb regime. Just a few more weeks so let's stay strong.

Barb G 

[A_Lurker]

@dancefoxtrot - it sounds like a yummy meal nonetheless, with lots of fresh ingredients. 

[DJC_63]

@TT_is_me  I've been there, as I'm sure many others have been. Logically you know that it's more important that you're gaining muscle, getting smaller, and getting healthier. But the number on the scale is the easiest way to judge our progress so I think we rely on it the most for a "reward".  I'm glad that you have the insight to know that the scale's number isn't the be-all and end-all.  

Do you have any old photos to look at?  I found some from last September and I look much heavier in them, even though I've only lost 17 pounds since then.  Of course I've put on weight in muscle, so what I've lost in fat has been evened out by the gain in muscle weight.  I know this if I think it through instead of just focusing on the number.  You're doing great!

[DJC_63]

Thanks, @A_Lurker, I needed to hear this today.  I took it easy Sat, Sun, and Monday and the pinched nerve seems to have resolved itself. But I have this fear that I'm going to gain 10 pounds from not working out enough!  Your post made me feel a little better.  

---

@A_Lurker wrote:

@DJC_63 - don't discount rest and recovery.  It's important to keep yourself well along the way.

---

[SunsetRunner]

Week 4 Complete...

I'm a day late reporting and weighing in because I was on the road yesterday. The values below represent an 8 day period this week.

-1.9 lbs for the week down -8.8 lbs from the start.

USW 154.7

SW 153.2

CW 144.4

GW 137.2

UGW 130.0

SBF: 23.4%

CBF: 21.0%

5'5", M, 40y

I had six workouts. 4 easy runs of 2, 3, 3 and 4 miles. I also had 2 stronglifts 5x5 workouts with some limits as I continue to get over my previous intercostal muscle pull (feels like a side stich over your ribs) that happened the previous week while doing heavy squats.  

Total calories burned (in 8 days) were 19,200 and total calories eaten ended up at 11,707 (1,464 per day) for a total deficit of 7,493 which in theory should have created a loss of 2.14 lbs but I actually lost -1.9 lbs which is pretty close. 

I'm have mixed feelings about my eating this week, my goal was to average 1400 calories and yet again I fell short by a tiny amount but early in the week I had some really bad days eating in one case 2700 calories in a day so to make up for that I had some really low calorie days, almost fasted, at the end of the week to average out my total. It worked and I lost about 2 lbs as I wanted and surprisingly I don't feel tired but I really shouldn't be eating 1000 calories in a day to make up for a previous days mistake. That isn't a receipe for long term weight loss and I know it but once I've lost the weight I suppose it will be easier since at that point I will be able to eat about 2200-2400 calories a day to maintain.

I remain on track for my goal which to reach I will now need to lose 1.8 lbs per week having averaged 2.2 lbs per week so far.

Good luck everyone!

[IamRBrown]

ok, guys...  I've been MIA for the summer - just too busy to get on here...  Good news:  haven't gained any weight during that time!  Bad news:  haven't LOST any weight during that time either... 

I started keeping bees this summer - never done that before & it has been interesting to say the least!  I've learned that those little jewels need lots of tending to stay healthy in my area with all the potential pests that are prevalent around here.  Good note on this one, tho... my 5 year old grandson was TERRIFIED of bees - any kind of bees or anything that looked like it might be a bee...  we got past that.  He will now watch from a safe distance while I work & asks lots of questions... maybee another beekeeper in the making!

I'm jumping in late here & don't figure I will get far on this challenge, but here we go.

Original starting weight (2015):  207

Current weight (10/3/16):  185

Goal by Halloween 2016:  180

Ruth

[Ardalady]

I was up half a pound last week but made up for it this week with a 3.5 pound loss. Very happy with this week and am determined to keep up the losing streak 😉 a total of 10lb off in 5 weeks 🙂

USW - 223.5lb

SW - 223.5lb

Week One: -0.5 lb

Week Two:+0.5lb

Week Three: -3.5lb

CW - 214

GW - 210

UGW - 150

[_Lilac_]

Week 5 Day 2:

I went to water aerobics this morning and forgot I had an appointment at the bank soon after, so when I got home I rushed out. I don't drive so it was a good, fast walk. I checked my fitbit when I left the bank and thought, 'Where can I go to get in more steps?' I decided to go over to the local meat market two blocks away and got mostly VEGGIES. I bought the dogs some cow knuckle 'tartar busters' that are keeping them VERY quiet right now. I walked home and when I synced I had an almost continuous activity graph for two hours! Yay me! 10k steps by noon. I will take the boys out for their walk a little later too. 

My plans for the day are to scour my kitchen, watch a few episodes of a show on netflix, do some writing. Isn't it funny that all the stuff I love to do requires my rear end to be in a chair?? It's been that way my whole life. Art, writing and reading, computer stuff, etc. I just have to find a healthier balance.

Keep going everyone! Great choices and being good to yourself is what we are all trying to achieve.

[klan7044]

Well I am not a hundred percent sure what my stats were from but looking at my fitbit weight tracker I was 177.6 PW

171.2 CW

170 GW 

I think my body is still trying to rebound from all the things that happened the past few weeks. I am starting to see it flucuate consistently in the low 170's and high 169. My revised goal weight for the rest of the month is going to be set for 167. That will get me to 40 lbs of weight loss since I started roughly in June. 🙂