Labour Day Challenge?

[Elansc]

It is only 15 weeks until Labour Day. I have 20.5 lbs to go to reach my goal weight (lost 76 so far) but recently decided to focus more on my % body fat -- I am about 1.5-2% away from the normal range. Anyone up for a challenge? 1-2 pounds/week from now to September 1 OR decreases in your body fat (your choice). I am going to try to lose 0.5% body fat each month (although I have no idea how realistic that is.....)

[patmckee]

I take my hat off to you on your weight loss. Bravo!!! 😄

[arvadacoorsguy]

Im late to the party but want to join. I have a crazy goal of 303 down to 235 memorial day to labor day!

Down 13 so far $1000 and more importantly pride and health on the line. Love the fitbit

keeps me inline

[Elansc]

Welcome to everyone new! I have been out of it for the past couple of weeks -- just exhausted (blaming work) and really need some time off (3 weeks to go until my 3 week vacation!). I have lost a pound or so since my last check in -- down 78 lbs with 18.5 to go. As I get closer to my goal weight it is coming off more slowly but it has been slow and steady for 18 months now so I know I will get there if I am patient.
I am also trying to tone up and started the 7 minute workout which is great when I just have a few minutes or very little ambition but I think I need more -- a 30 second plank hardly breaks a sweat (wouldn't have said THAT a year ago). We will see if I have made any progress on reducing body fat at the end of the month.
Hope everyone has a great week!

[Queen_Cookie]

Hi, new to fitbit (2nd week).  Was doing WW points, but hit a plateau and needed something new to shake things up.  Happy to report that I am down 4 lbs due to the fact that I am tracking and trending data, which is my forte (Sr Scientist/Auditor).  The numbers are really helping me focus so I would love to join this challenge.

I am even doing stairs so I can get numbers on my charts and that is something I have never done, although I walk a lot...yesterday I hit 9 and today my goal is to get 15.  I think this is going to help refocus me in terms of my weight loss program.

[Queen_Cookie]

Whoa that is an impressive goal!  Good for you!

[Conversegirl68]

I'm in!!

[Spicegal]

I would like to jump in a little late too! I've just started using the groups and forums and commited to lose 10+ lb as my first goal.

[patmckee]

Hello everyone!

I had hit a horrible plateau, of course I moped around for a half a day; then said "I need to help someone!" Silly huh? I helped a lady clean an elderly couples house. I dug my feet in and put all my frustration into cleaning that house. No senior should live in a dirty house. I pledged I will take care of this!. I sound heroic don't I? I worked for 4 and a half hours straight. Soaking wet with sweat. When we were done the whole house sparkled. I mean whole house upstairs, downstairs, walls, floor, furniture, pictures, beds, clothes, dishes....yes!...windows and the kitchen sink. I sweeped the sidewalks and drive way too.  I'm telling you this because I was too exhausted to walk after, I swear my legs were wobbling. I went home took a bath...I soaked for 20 minutes. I looked at my fitbit and my steps were 5200 and my calorie burned was...2736! I'm telling you I worked myself to a tither. My mind told my body "this needs to be done and done extremely well" Guess what ! I lost 2 pounds!!!! I broke the plateau. Nice story huh? God Bless you.

[Queen_Cookie]

Finished up strong second week....down 8.2 lbs.

[Elansc]

Great to hear how well it is going for everyone! I am only down 1 pound this month BUT down 1.9% on my body fat!!! Weighed myself 3 times on my aria scales to triple check!! I am 0.8% away from "normal" -- but still 18.5 pounds from the top of my BMI range (hmmm??? -- I must have very heavy bones 🙂 For July I am going to continue to focus on toning, keep up the 500 calorie deficit, and try to get my 10000 steps in every day -- I have been trying to put in time on the rebounder at night if needed - relatively painless way to get in a workout. Only 8 more days of work until 3 lovely weeks of vacation -- my first skinny summer vacation in 15 years and I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

[Elansc]

Great to hear how well it is going for everyone! I am only down 1 pound this month BUT down 1.9% on my body fat!!! Weighed myself 3 times on my aria scales to triple check!! I am 0.8% away from "normal" -- but still 18.5 pounds from the top of my BMI range (hmmm??? -- I must have very heavy bones 🙂 For July I am going to continue to focus on toning, keep up the 500 calorie deficit, and try to get my 10000 steps in every day -- I have been trying to put in time on the rebounder at night if needed - relatively painless way to get in a workout. Only 8 more days of work until 3 lovely weeks of vacation -- my first skinny summer vacation in 15 years and I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

[Shelley]

Elansc, that is so great about your change in body fat %!  You are way ahead of me.  I only have 9.4 pounds to go to get to healthy BMI but a long way to go to get to healthy body fat %.  But I am tackling that now too and just started doing weights at the gym.  I hope I can build some muscle and see a change there.  But as for the Labor Day challenge, I have lost 9.3 # since we started it and have 9.4 more to go by Sept 1st!  Half way there!  I will need to keep up this pace if I am going to make it!  Enjoy your vacation!!

Hope everyone else is doing good with their exercise and diet.  I just watched a very interesting documentary that I thought I would share about a guy who lost weight and built muscle eating a diet very heavy in fat.  I have to say that since I started Paleo, it seems to have busted me out of my slump!  The movie is free until 7/4/14 so you will have to watch it soon if you want to see it for free.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/28/cereal-killers-movie.aspx

[Sushma]

Some how I was having problem doing this weight thing,if you don't mind can you tell again.Thx

[Lisa87]

I'd love to join this challenge!  I've hit a total stall in my weight loss and have gained back pretty much what I lost over the past 4 months.  Want to kick it into high gear with a goal of losing 15 pounds by Labour Day.  Here's to keeping each other accountable!

[Spicegal]

It's early, but I hope I have finally busted my plateau! I've been putting in 15k plus per day & have been logging my food in MFP. The scale moved! Only 1 lb, so I'll keep on doing what I'm doing & see what happens. I've been enjoying the challenge. It keeps me motivated.

[crystalcrall]

I'm in rather late to the party, but I need the encouragement and I love friendly competition! I'll lay it all on the table....I'm 168 and would like to get down to 135-140 by November. This challenge is a good way to kick it into gear. I've been using my Fitbit Flex since Father's Day (thank you to my wonderful husband who bought both of us one!), and I haven't lost anything, though I feel SOOOO much better! Need to lose weight and strengthen my spine (bulging disc).

[Elansc]

Thanks Shelley for the great link. Just finished watching and it is very interesting. I have made great strides in reducing my bread and sugar and this only increased my resolve to keep it up. It is amazing what a remarkable change it made for me. I no longer crave cookies or crackers or bread. In fact, the other day I threw out a box of cookies (chocolate) because they had been sitting around in my office for so long that I was sure that they MUST be stale -- didn't even try one to see if that was true, I just threw them out. 78 lbs ago the cookies would not have lasted a week in my office (I think that they were there for 5-6 months). I started this journey after reading "the wheat belly" but have moved on to Joel Fuhrman's books ( he has several)

[Queen_Cookie]

Hi Ladies, been slackiing on the posting but maintaining my form on this challenge.  Since starting on the fitbit three weeks ago, I am down 8 lbs.  I was on Weight Watcheres and doing the point system, so counting calories has been a little bit of work, but I am getting there.

I love the ability to track all my step and calories burned in one place.  Plus the addition of the steps per day has made me walk up stairs more.  I try to do at least 20 floors M-F.  Also because I am so number focused in terms of hitting goals, I find myself walking to get extra steps or calories.  Last Friday I did an additional workout so I couldd earn a 20,000 step badge.

Hope everyone is doing well on hitting their goals.

[Elansc]

Good for you!! I have never made it to 20,000 steps but hey my VACATION begins in two days so who knows what a bit of free time will do!

[Sushma]

Sounds good

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