May 25th to July 4th 2020 Challenge

[Cele21]

Hello and welcome to the 4th challenge of 2020!

We are celebrating our scaled and non-scaled victories and progress. Any one is welcome to join at any time, just hit reply on the most recent post and let us know a bit about yourself.

Following are some acronyms typically used by those who post. Some of us also track body fat or measurements, etc. please add those as you wish.

USW - Ultimate start weight

SW - starting weight for this challenge

CW - current weight 

PW - previous week's weight/weigh-in

LW - last weight/weigh-in

GW - goal weight for the challenge

MGW - mini goal weight

UGW- ultimate goal weight

To join the challenge, please just hit 'reply' and post!

If you want to respond to or 'tag' a particular person with your response, type in @ and you will get a drop down box of recent users to choose from, this will alert them that someone has responded to something they posted and we will all see who you are talking to or about. For example: @_Lilac_  hope to see you here!

[PCMagic]

Hi, new to the community, and new to fitbit.  My daughter got it for me last week (5/27) to try to track erratic heartbeats.  It doesn't work for that, but I have found it to be very helpful for exercise and weight loss.

USW - 260 (5/28)

SW - 250 (6/5)

CW - 250 (6/5)

GW - 238

UGW- 180

I moved to Florida late last fall.  I am in my late 50's.  I enjoyed tennis several times a week prior to moving, and discovered Pickleball is much more prevalent here, so now I play that much more than tennis.  I was active 4-5 days per week until Covid.  Put on about 10 pounds with that, but was already far too heavy.  I struggle with intermittent lower back issues and some hip issues as well.  Two weeks ago I was struggling to walk 200 yards because of the pain in my left hip.  I kept pushing through every day, and yesterday I walked 6 miles and the pain is almost gone.  I know I need to stay active and that will keep my hips and back in much better shape.  Losing all the extra weight will also help. I have done the Adkins diet and lost about 50 pounds, and put it back on within a year and a half.  I did Medifast, which was a quick way to lose weight, but eating candy bars several times per day doesn't change the bad habits.  I lost 60 pounds with Medifast, and made my target weight.  I was putting some back on, then dropping back and got Lyme disease which knocked me down for several months.  I put on about 30 pounds and then slowly continued to add more and more.  I am hoping the fitbit will "teach" me better eating habits with the calorie counter and exercise/calorie tracker, and that when I hit my target weight I will be able to maintain it.  (It's so unfair that I can put the weight on in a few months, but it will take a year to take it off.)  At this point I am walking every other day and playing Pickleball every other day and it is working great!  The beginning is always easiest and pounds drop off the quickest, but I know what to expect moving forward and am confident I will get there again!

[Li_sa]

Hi everyone,

I’m also a Lisa Marie,

I’m 52, married, we live in Illinois with our 2 Golden Retrievers Thor and Banner. I garden inside and outside, some of you know I have terrible allergies, so my husband does the outside work mostly.

I’ve trained all of my dogs. Right now, Thor is 3, Banner is 2 so there is still a lot of puppy in Banner. Thor looks for my hand signals, or a click sound from my mouth - so I do not talk a lot when it comes to training. All of my dogs are lap dogs - they don’t know they’re 70 pounds. They are a fun, wild, hairy bunch. Yes, I vacuum a lot.

I’ve had a Fitbit for a long time. I focus on my weight goal and plan, then life happens, and I stop working out or get busy with life.  I do a lot of reading on foods, health but mostly exercise and weightlifting. I love lifting weight. I challenge myself to increase what I can squat, curl, lift…. I keep track of my numbers. So, when I fell off my plan, I knew what I could do and work my way back to where I left off. I’ve been weightlifting off and on with my husband since I got married (26 years ago). I also do Yoga.

 I lost about 60 pounds in 2013 and felt amazing. That is why my goal weight is 180. But I did not continue to keep the weight off. During this time, I bought a pair of jeans that were crazy expensive. I still have them and will wear them again!!  Since I keep track of my weight, I also keep track of my measurements. I know what my measurements need to be to fit these jeans….

I’ve been reading and I just started a bible study from Priscilla Shirer and love how she focus the reading to everyday life and situations and brings you back the Word. I watch her videos as well as others that Minster to Women and female speakers. There are a couple of readings and videos that stay with me and help keep me focused and strong.  

This time in my weight loss I have made a promise to myself and remind myself daily.

I look forward to walking (pun intended) this journey with you all in sharing our experiences our wins and listen to our struggles,while we cheer each other on.

Stay Focused - Stay Strong

[Li_sa]

Hello,

The board is really quiet.

Here are my weeks numbers:

USW      236.4

SW         233 (5/25/20)

LW         230.6 (6/1/20)

CW         226 (06/8/20)

Goal Weight       215 (7/4/20)

Stretch Goal       210

Mini Goal            200

UGW     180

[_Lilac_]

Sorry I've been quiet. I've had a weird medical scare. The other day I was eating and felt a weird sensation in my jaw. I touched my face and found it swollen! Half my face was swollen and hard from cheekbone down to under my jaw and ear. I waited until the morning to call doctor and since they aren't seeing patients in office I was directed to the local ER. It turned out to be a silly issue of a blocked salivary gland and the stone passed, allowing the swelling to go down. Who would have thought??

But, in the triage my blood pressure was taken. The nurse attempted it six times with the machine and my arm is bruised. It never registered. He did it manually and it was super high. Like...super duper high. He gave me the speech about how much increased weight affects the blood vessels, etc. 

The doc gave me another blood pressure med to help in the meantime. 

Sigh. 

I mowed my lawn this morning. I'm going out shopping later so I'll have more activity. I need to fix this immediately.

[Cele21]

USW - 218.0

Current starting weight - 210.2 (5/25/20)

LW - 208.8

CW - 206.4

GW - 204.0 (7/4/20)

Stretch goal weight - 200.0

Mini goal - 195.00

UGW - 150.0

Sorry I've been quiet lately too.  It's great learning more about you all!

@Li_sa where in Illinois are you? The dog we had years ago was also named Thor! I sense a bit of fellow geekiness in your dogs names (Banner instead of Hulk maybe?).

@PCMagic  - What is pickle ball and how is it different than tennis? Where did you live before Florida?

@_Lilac_  - So glad your jaw scare wasn't anything worse but at least it caught the high blood pressure. I love how you say the doc gave you THE speech, like this is all new and something a lot of us have never heard before. 

I've moved back into a slump with no one reason that I can find. Stopped taking daily walks - sometimes because of the weather, sometimes because my knee is too bad, sometime because I just don't feel like it and don't force myself. Low on the water intake and stopped calorie tracking too.

I think I need to get back to posting daily - or at least more often to help with the motivation. 

[Li_sa]

@_Lilac_ How scary…..glad you are okay. How was shopping? As I was reading your post, I first thought abscess. That’s how I woke up when I was in my 20’s. The side of my face was huge.

@PCMagic …. I know what you mean - it is unfair that it takes a lot longer to get it off than it does to put it on. I think I can smell food and gain a pound… lol  What is pickle ball?

@Cele21  NW burbs – yes as in the Hulk.  We had a huge discussion over his name – I wanted his name to be Logan(wolverine) or Klaus. For those who follow Vampire TV shows – you probably recognize that name. We had really bad weather the other day, it was sunny then a storm came through. I felt like I did not accomplish much those couple of day.

It is so nice out today. I sat outside for a little while this morning reading – getting a little sun.

After I finish my courses I might go do a little yoga outside. I must take advantage of the amount of time the sun is in my yard and determine how long I can be outside.

[Cele21]

@Li_sa  - I think we might actually live pretty close to each other, NW about 7 miles outside the city. We got hit by the same storms. 

I would get Logan right away and while my daughter and I watched Vampire Diaries we never got into The Originals. I like Banner - it's subtle and could also reference his tail waving like a banner in the wind.

[PCMagic]

@Cele21 @Li_sa  Pickleball is played on a court similar to tennis.  It is about half the size, the net is a little lower.  You use paddles instead of raquets, they are smaller and you typically don't hit as hard. The ball is like a wiffle ball, just plastic with holes in it.  It's a pretty fast game if you play experienced players, and good exercise without the bigger movements of tennis.  You can still run, but not far.  Much more bending and knees than tennis, if you do it right.  Many older people can still play the game quite well.  It is a very popular sport in Florida (and elsewhere) and is one of the fastest growing sports. I play for about 90 minutes and get in about 6000 steps (sitting out between some games as it is just pick-up games with a bunch of people).  Here is a video if you are more curious:  https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiL6LGGi_vpA...

@Cele21, I lived in Wisconsin most of my life before moving to Florida last fall.  The last 35 years in the Madison area.  We left a lot of family in the area so we will be going back regularly.  We didn't miss the snow this past winter, though.  We are by the Gulf coast, north of Fort Myers, south of Tampa, and had about 4 months of mostly 70's temps.  Now we are in the upper 80's and 90's every day, and high humidity, but I am pretty used to it already.  I walk in it daily, which makes me sweat profusely, but it's still better than trudging through snow any time during the year.

[PCMagic]

I wanted to post my progress as well since my last post.  Not much changed.  Still same weight, still figuring it out, but staying positive.  A day of poor choices negates 3 days of hard work.  Still, happy to be maintaining, and I'm sure I'll see positive changes this coming week again.  On a positive note, my resting hearbeat is down from 64 when I first got the fitbit to 56 now.  My blood pressure is down as well, at least it's in reasonable levels for an obese guy.  I am encouraged with my progress on making healthy choices for food most of the time.  Tracking the calories really helps me see what makes more sense when I have choices.  Most restaurants are open in Florida, so we eat out 3-4 times per week and it's more difficult, but still very doable to have healthy meals.  They definitely aren't what I would prefer, but there are always good choices that are satisfying, or I won't eat there.  I also have the advantage of liking most food, so vegetables and fish are some of my favorites.

Anyway, I want to encourage everyone to keep getting out there and working at it.  If it's hot out, just be glad you aren't going out at 7:30 in the morning so it's only 85 degrees and 98% humidity so you get the cool part of the day, and get out and walk or do something anyway, and hydrate regularly.  Keep walking, or biking, or gardening, or whatever is getting you off the couch.  I am the hungriest and least satisfied when I am sitting doing nothing.  When I am up doing things, I don't think about being hungry, I'm doing something productive and burning calories.  Doing nothing hurts twice, being active helps twice. Be good to yourself, your family and your friends and get out and do things!

[Cele21]

USW - 218.0

Current starting weight - 210.2 (5/25/20)

LW - 206.4

CW - 207.4

GW - 204.0 (7/4/20)

Stretch goal weight - 200.0

Mini goal - 195.00

UGW - 150.0

So this last week was pretty good even though my weight went up. I had a casual conversation with one of my co-workers that stuck with me and I'm ready to dig in and really try again. The conversation was about how my dad quit smoking cold turkey when I was about six because the cost of cigarettes went up and they became too expensive but he never gave up his bad eating habits even though he lost a leg due to diabetes. So money was a bigger motivator to him than his physical health. I never connected the two behaviors before. I don't want to be like my dad. I don't want my son to be like my dad.

I'm going back to more of a Mediterranean diet base, zero to minimal treats (sugar), water or tea and as usual no fast food. A walk every day even if it's short (weather permitting) and I want to pick up light weights 2 to 3 days per week and use my son's Ring Fit game on the other days (hoping to motivate him to more movement too).

I know I can be as stubborn as my dad but I want it to be for a better reason. 

[Li_sa]

SW         233 (5/25/20)

LW         226 (6/8/20)

CW         223.2 (6/15/20)

GW        215 (7/4/20)

SG          210

MG         200

UGW     180

Hello,

Today is another day we get to enjoy; I hope you all are enjoying your week.

@PCMagic  thank you. Yes, we must stay positive…I try to log everything. But since I started eating the same thing, it became a lot easier for me.

@Cele21   It Sounds like you have a great plan and you are on your way…..we still have a couple of weeks to go. What is ring fit? We probably do live near each other. Let us know what the Mediterranean Plan is.

I have an area in the back that I would like to make a little neater. So, I got some grass cover/fabric stuff and a solid mulch. I ordered the wrong border, so that will have to go back. I am doing little areas at a time, and in small tasks. 

Tonight, I plan on making a cheese and egg omelet. I have a microwavable omelet maker, pour egg whites in and cheese, sometimes I use meat for veggie burger.

I hope you all stay motivated and remember why.

[_Lilac_]

Lost a few pounds over the last week. That's good, but it's going slower than it did last time I worked at it. I guess menopause is messing with me. Not great.

I mowed my back yard yesterday and my heart rate went too high. It happened the other day too when I did the front. Worried,  since the blood pressure is high. I need to be able to exercise! I did a couple of living room marching/stepping workouts without going too nuts. 

My nephew is graduating from high school today and there's a BBQ at my sister's house afterward. Supposed to be 93F/34C (That's a Canadian's nightmare) and my sister refuses to put on AC. And, she's making lasagna. That's not for me. I hope they have some reasonable stuff. I doubt they'd have their pool up yet. Too bad. I could get my workout in there!

[Glenda]

@_Lilac_ I am so impressed with your accomplishments; losing 100 pounds, walking in spite of bad back pain.  dealing with a difficult YMCA situation (so disappointing ) .  And your blood pressure is so scary to then exercise.  When your blood pressure goes up you probably feel exhausted too.  Take care.  Hope you have a cuff to take it at home and good medicine.  All the more admirable that you are going to do it all again after regaining.  

@dancefoxtrot  Barbara I am 78, very small boned so should weigh 10% less than medium boned people, and am 5'1.5 " tall, and have less muscle than when young too.   (so that is more less I should weigh)    I have gained 10 pounds since last October.  I have lost my confidence recently that I can take that back off.  I don't know why I'm having so much trouble.   I weighed 108 for decades when I had muscle.  I think it will help if I can try to report progress here.  I gave up wine 3 nights ago. PROGRESS 

    @PCMagic        I'm so surprised it has been HOT in June in Canada and I am  surprised PCMagic exercises outdoors in Florida in the heat and humidity.  I live in sub tropical south Houston Texas and I exercise on my treadmill or bike indoors in shade, air conditioner, fan, cool drink at hand, fast music, and handy bathroom, (with no mosquitoes) while reading a book

[Cele21]

@Li_sa  Quite a while back I was looking up eating plans - Keto, Paleo, Whole 30, etc. What I found was that the one that got the highest doctor rating was a Mediterranean diet. It's not a set plan but cleaner choices. Lots of vegetables, more fish or chicken, good fats in low amounts, etc. If you google it or Mediterranean recipes you'll find a lot. The Mediterranean covers a large area so the salad I made is actually called Chopped Israeli Pasta Salad. Bowtie pasta with chopped cucumber, radish, tomato, yellow and orange bell peppers, red onion, black and green olives and feta cheese. The dressing is olive oil and fresh lemon juice. If you want you can put some chicken in it too.

Ring Fit is a game for the Nintendo Switch. It plays like a video game where you are fighting monsters but uses exercise moves to get through each level. It has one sensor you wear strapped to one thigh and one sensor in a resistance ring that you hold in both hands.  It has running in place, squats, lunges, yoga moves, twisting, pressing or pulling the ring, leg lifts and a ton more. You shop for clothing and smoothies which can give you more stamina or strength or health. Three levels of difficulty you can choose from and a heart rate monitor after each level. Warm up and cool down stretches and some moves can be adjusted if you can't do the exact move. I have bad knees so instead of running in place, I can just bounce up and down, if it calls for a squat, I just sit down and stand up. You travel from town to town so it's not always the same monsters or the same moves. I'm finding it really enjoyable

[Vamoose2]

SW - 150 (6/17)

GW - 145

UGW- 125

Hi, I'm new to this Challenge. Missed the first few weeks, but no time like the present!  I've been too lazy and eating too much being at home with little exercise.  I am hoping to find a little motivation here!  I ran a half-marathon in October, then came to a screeching halt.  I would like to get moving again!  

[PCMagic]

USW - 260 (5/28)

SW - 250 (6/5)

CW - 248 (6/17)

GW - 238

UGW- 180

After a week of stable weight, it's finally starting to come down a bit again.  I've been running a calorie intake deficit every day, sometimes substantial, around 1500 calories, the lowest daily deficit was 700 calories.  Typical is around 1000 calories deficit, so I should see at least a pound loss every week which I can live with.  I've been between 1500 and 2200 calories I've been eating daily.  I haven't felt like I am depriving myself too much, so it's sustainable.  That means I won't meet my goal weight for this challenge, but I'm in it for the long haul, and you have to have goals that make you stretch, right?  I will work a little harder the next couple weeks hopefully.  I'm going to Phoenix next week (because it's not hot enough in Florida) to see my son and grandsons, and will get some hiking in the hills in there, and I'm sure the temps will be 105+ but no humidity, so that helps.

@Cele21I'm glad you have found your motivation.  I'm going to look more at the Mediterranean diet.  I need to get my macronutrients properly balanced and hopefully that will help, and be a healthier, long term plan in general than me just winging it.  I'm not a huge fan of most pasta, but I'll find something that will work.

@_Lilac_You can still get out in the heat.  Less comfortable, but you can still do it, and stay hydrated!  Living in Wisconsin wasn't much different and I know what you mean about it being "a Canadian's nightmare".  I would have never dreamed I would be outside walking or playing Pickleball in 90+ degrees for 2-3 hours.  Still, even doing things indoors will be helpful.

@GlendaIf I could exercise inside in the AC (and do what I want to do), I definitely would!  Good luck with your journey and hopefully you will find the motivation here to lose the weight you want to lose.

@Vamoose2Welcome, and good luck with your journey here!  Your UGW should be attainable if you keep working at it!  It sounds like you have been on your way before, so you can do it this time.

@Li_saWhat do you eat when you eat the same thing every day?  I did Medifast about 8 years ago.  It was very good from a weight loss perspective, but not good for keeping it off (as I got to my goal weight then, and gained it all back plus more).  I ate most of the same things then, but part of it was their bars, so eating candy bars 2-3 times per day doesn't really teach good, sustainable habits.  Curious what you are doing?

For everyone, I'm curious whether you are taking any supplemental vitamins?  I'm trying to eat a pretty complete diet, but I'm sure I'm low on potassium and probably other things.

Also curious what people have found to be good craving-satisfiers.  I really like cookies and ice cream, but haven't had any and binge on them easily, so I know I need to stay away.  I love cantaloupe and cottage cheese though, which is a great dessert for me.  I eat fruits regularly (oranges, apples, I need to add bananas) but don't (mentally) consider them a dessert.

[_Lilac_]

What a day!! Decided to go out to a couple of stores with my sister and daughter. We got to our first one and the car broke down. We were out in the heat 97F or 36C and had to wait for a tow truck. Walked a few blocks to Walmart and got into AC after thinking I was going to pass out. Did a bit of shopping and came home to 'flake out'. I'm so sore and tired. Had a bad headache from the heat. I've been drinking a bunch of water and had some watermelon. I don't even feel like eating, even though I've not had much today. It is not easy being 370 lb in heat like this!! 

[Glenda]

@PCMagic  I have a page torn out of a Prevention magazine that you might be able to find online that gives the recommended intake of all the vitamins, minerals and the safe upper limits.  It doesn't tell about essential amino acids though.  You will often read that many or most people are deficient in a few things like Vitamin D3 and Folate, maybe vit. K.  I take those things extra along with a 1 a day multi-vitamin and potassium, selenium, zinc and an aspirin.   Potassium can substitute for salt too but you wouldn't want to over dose on it.  More isn't always better.  

        I sometimes drink a protein drink instead of a meal and for me it is better to buy the powder and not take in more protein and calories than I need since I am very short.   95 calories and 15 grams of Protein are plenty per meal for me.    Protein is another thing you can over do I was just reading.  If you only eat the necessary amount of the essential acids  Threonine and Tryptophan you might have the result seen on mice who burned more calories than they consumed without reduced calories, keeping them lean and healthy.    Threonine  you need 11 mg per pound and tryptophan 1.8 mg per pound of body weight. 

[Glenda]

@PCMagic   I forgot to say,  you might enjoy 1/2 cup of  frozen blueberries and 1/2 cup  plain fat free greek yogurt with some artificial sweetener maybe, and I like a little fiber one cereal thrown in for crunch. It is so few calories, and for me, is a good substitute for ice cream

[dancefoxtrot]

@Cele21

Read your post about your dad & diabetes.  Glad that you are choosing a healthier road. Weight for me in about the same. Still 8 lbs from my goal but in the healthy weight zone.  I worked in the garden for 7 hrs yesterday and about 4 today.  Off for a walk with my binoculars & maybe my camera now. 

Stay strong.

USW 153

SW  150.0 

cw    150.4

gw     148 or 145?? I don't even remember.

Best to you all,

Barbara G