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!

[khreed]

@Bobbinyc I'm not sure I know how to reply to a private message. I wrote to you -- let me know if you got the response. If not, I'll post here. All is well.

[A_Lurker]

@_Lilac_ - glad to hear that you're better, but please do take care of yourself.  I know from my own experience that it's far too easy to get too much into the weight loss and not pay attention to yourself and how you are feeling overall.  I admit that's why I tend to push the slow and steady agenda when it comes to weight loss.  Every time I've dropped weight fast I either end up sick or hit a point where I don't follow the plan very well.

[_Lilac_]

@A_Lurker Well, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong. I was exercising and being careful to get between calorie 750-1000 deficit. I eat potassium rich food every day as part of my regular food intake. Maybe the fact I've been peeing non-stop, sweating so much more than when I was sedentary, and the change in my lifestyle has just led to the imbalance and it was taking a bit of time for my body to adjust. I have dropped a lot of weight but I'm not starving myself. I eat when I get hungry. I measure stuff. I've felt lots of energy and healthier than I have in so long. Then BAM. I've had low potassium once before and it made me tired and weak. I really think it's my meds leeching it out of me. I'm going to talk to my docs and see if what I'm taking is necessary. Anyway, I'm better but I went out shopping and now I'm tired and dizzy and need a nap. I'll go rest. 

[RubyH]

Greetings all, congratulations and best wishes to all, this is a fantastic support group and so full of very good ideas and tips.

Its been a fortnight since my last post, have been doing the doctors and regular tests I have done this past two weeks, nearly done thank goodness, at least for another three months or so. So far all has been positive.

for me.

USW  June 2013 84kg; 185.2 lbs

SW     Sep 5 2016 57.9kg; 127.7 lbs

PW     Oct 1 2016 54.1kg; 119.3 lbs

CW     Oct 8          55.2kg; 121.7 lbs

GW and Maintenance 55kg is 121.3 lbs so I have intentionally gained a little as I dont want to be too much of a string bean but it has been easy for me to sit around the 54kg mark strangely so as I have never gotten this low on any diet ever before so I must say that LCHF will always be the way to go for me, even better is the fact that I've had no auto-immune flareups since I have been eating this way either, so I am one very happy girl.

[almost_where]

Labor Day - 290

Week 1 - 290

Week 2 - 287

Week 3 - 286

Week 4 - 284

Week 5 - 284- CW

Halloween Goal -Original 275  Revised-Anything that begins with 27x

-0 lbs

Hope everyone is a having fun out there. I am thinking of sending this letter out now.

October 9, 2016

Reese's Peanut Butter Company

1234 Peanut Lane

Peanutville, PA 12345

Deer Mr. Reese:

I can handle the temptation of regular Reese Peanut Butter cups in the grocery store checkout lanes but please keep those Peanut Butter Pumpkins out of the aisle. While I have your attention, you might as well keep the Peanut Butter Trees away during Christmas.

Regards,

Almost_Where

[debb21]

I have wanted to lose the "last" 7 pounds since July, and I just can't get motivated. My "bad" eating habits are creeping back, so I am declaring my goal again.  I exercise regularly, but I need to focus on my eating.  I want to lose at least 3 lbs by Halloween.  

[A_Lurker]

@almost_where - not sure it will help, but I think of my calories in as a budget.  It helps me make good decisions some days.  They had a Costco rep in the plant last week selling memberships.  With this came the free samples.  I was headed in for my break and there were a couple of chocolatines (chocolate pastry) and I considered taking one.  The calorie sticker said 270 calories.  The protein bar in my hand was 280.  So, I could afford it, and both were processed foods.  So I passed on the pastry and ate my protein bar.   I did, in the afternoon though, choose to take 2 coffee crisps (the halloween size) at a total of 120 calories.  I decided to spend the calories on something I knew I actually liked better.  I truly don't believe in denying myself something I want.  I simply find a way to work it in.

I think I approach things differently, although when I think back maybe not so much.  I'd rather take my calories in on something I enjoy and eat a limited quantity of it.  I bought some Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream yesterday to serve with some Cracker Barrel blackberry cobbler filling this weekend.  Between the two it will be an ~350 calorie serving, but I'm quite looking forward to it.

[A_Lurker]

---

@A_Lurker wrote:

USW: 407.0

CSW: 288.6 (Labour Day)

PW: 282.2 (9/25/16)

CW: 280.0 (-2.2)

GW: 275.8

LT: 2.3 lbs/week for 35 weeks

---

Definitely a lower energy week.  Not sure if it was work related or not.  I struggled a number of days to burn enough calories and had to force myself to do my lifting.  The weather turned from gorgeous (Fri) to downright depressing (Sat).  I'm talking pool and swimsuit weather changing into putting a jacket on yesterday to go shopping.  Today isn't looking much better.

Positives though this week, I did do all three lifting sessions (16,020 lbs) and more importantly, I booked a vacation.  Last year I ended up spending too much of my days off taking my mother places.  I did have a week off for myself, but it meant the rest of my time off was a day here and there (and working more hours to get time in lieu days).  So, I booked something that leaves Dec 26th and gets back Jan 2nd.  Our first day back at work after shutdown is January 3rd.  Sun, sand, and relaxation in Roatan, Honduras! (yay)

USW: 407.0
CSW: 288.6 (Labour Day)
PW: 280.0 (10/2/16)
CW: 278.2 (-1.8)
GW: 275.8 (Halloween)
LT: 2.3 lbs/week for 36 weeks

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_ I hope you are feeling better.  What a horrible scare!  You have seemed so on top of how you exercise and eat.  What is the doctor saying?  Keep pushing until you get an answer that makes sense to you.  I can't believe the ambulance staff dropped the stretcher.  I don't know if your insurance covers it, but it seems to me you shouldn't pay one penny.  Maybe call them and tell them before you get a bill.  You could have been seriously injured.  

I am going to copy you on something you did for me:  While you have to go a bit easier, I am going to walk today for both of us, in your name.  (so it will be all your fault when I come home with achy feet!) 

Take good care of yourself.

[Bobbinyc]

@almost_where  I love that letter!  The Halloween junk seems to come out earlier and earlier each year.  And so much of it!  

I am thinking of not giving out any candy for Halloween.  I mean, here I am thinking candy is poisonous and causes horrible diseases, and I'm going to give it to children?  Anyone have a good, cheap, alternative?

Of course, I could just not be home....

[Bobbinyc]

@debb21 When I couldn't get motivated to lose the weight, I changed my focus.  I needed something more concrete and immediate.  So I focused on different goals - drinking 8 glasses of water daily or eating 7 vegetables, or walking to do errands, etc.  It was things that would lead to weight loss, but mostly things that I wanted to be doing for health.  And then the weight came off.

[A_Lurker]

@Bobbinyc - well, if you don't think anyone should eat it, then don't hand it out.  I'm neither anti-sugar or anti-junk food, but here's some good options:

http://thekennedyadventures.com/40-alternatives-to-candy-for-halloween-treats/

I'm going to see what Costco has when I'm there on Tuesday.

[Bobbinyc]

@dancefoxtrot Hello my 5 lb. sister.  I worry that my weight loss is still so slow, especially since this  is supposed to be the easier part for me.

When is your next dance?  

How is your weekend going?

Bobbi

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc Thanks for the support. I feel better but I get tired and when I do something active (I just got back from taking the dogs for a walk) I feel like I did before my huge seizure and hospitalization the other day. Dizzy, drugged, and kind of confused. I was on heart monitors from the moment I got in the ambulance and they never found anything wrong there, so it's not my heart. The ER doctor says he thinks it's my diuretic leeching me of potassium. I didn't take it yesterday but forgot today and took it. I'm going to call my family doc and neurologist this week and make sure they got the records and see if they want to change anything about my medical care.

When the EMT's dropped me the first question was, "Did you hit your head?" I scratched up my arm and the muscles hurt from the shock of holding myself up. 

Thank you for taking the longer walk for me! I am going to my sister's for dinner. Since I haven't been able to move as much as I have been, I'll have to be careful about what I eat. She made a homemade apple pie. Sigh. Portion control!! 

[Bobbinyc]

@A_Lurker Thanks a lot for the Halloween treat ideas.  I definitely need to look around and find some creative goodies.  Some of those are adorable.

[Bobbinyc]

@_Lilac_ I'm glad your heart is ok.  Since I'm walking for you now (you started this, you know), it seems only right- I mean, the least I could do- is eat the apple pie for you too.  

[dancefoxtrot]

@_Lilac_

I'm not a doctor but if an ER doc said it is probably your diaretic I would stop taking it and stay active. If the swelling comes back I would go to the MD and ask for an electrolite to take with a new diaretic. Often when u exercise and lose weight you need less medication especially for blood pressure,diabetes  and diaretics. Maybe 3x a day drink Emergen-C to resupply your potassium and magnesium.  I would also explore why the foods that you are eating like a banana isn't enough. 

Hope that you get those electrolytes balanced again.

Take care and keep on your successful paths. 

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

I did the Waltz performance and a student videotape it last night. It seems so easy and mild but I worked so hard for so many months to get it right. I'll try to post it on utube and then 

I got some good feedback so I'm pleased. Next it is a Tango and redo my Foxtrot and maybe work on a Viennese Waltz. I'm cutting back to 1 private and 2 group classes for a while to cut back on expense. 

The debate is beginning. 

Best,

Barbara 

[Bobbinyc]

ok guys, no stress eating during the debate.

[_Lilac_]

@dancefoxtrot I'm confused too why my food isn't enough since I eat a lot of things with potassium. Bananas, squash, beans, spinach, etc. I never have swelling anymore, especially since I started moving more. I'll ask my doc to get off it altogether. I think my quick weight loss and the sweating has something to do with it too. I'm going to do a nice long walk tomorrow and maybe a Leslie Sansone video. I won't overdo it. 

I ate very reasonably at my sister's. I measured my food and tracked it all. Time for bed and hopefully I'll feel more energy tomorrow.

Everyone keep up the good work!