Memorial Day Challenge

[Bobbinyc]

Welcome to the next Challenge!

This one will start on April 18 and continue to Memorial Day (May 29th) 2017.   That gives us 6 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.

[Gayle1018]

loving this weather finally quit raining all the time, cool and sunny!  Great camping/ kayaking and walking time.   actually been able to meet my step goal 8 days in arrow-- that's a first!!! going for day #9 to day!

one week or so to go for the challenge, don't know if I'll make it, but finally on the right track!

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight  196.6

 Staring goal weight 160.2

 CW:  155.6

CGW: 150

UGW  143  (and maintain!!! 142-146 range)

"Everything is a gift of the universe--even joy, anger, jealously, frustration, or separateness. Everything is perfect either for our growth or our enjoyment." Ken Keyes Jr.

[ThatGreen]

Wait, it's Tuesday? Where did last week go?

CSW: 95.9 kg
W1: 93.9

W2: 93.9

W3: 94.1

W4: 95.1

W5: 92.7

CGWRange: 91.8 - 89.9 kg

I think my scale is starting to come out of it's funk and decided to give me a break, but I feel like my body is still holding on to some extra water. There's still hope I'll fall somewhere in the goal range at the end of this!

Yesterday I counted up my hiking and realized I only have two more mountains to go before I hit my goal of 10 this year. I've already decided which the next two are going to be and I think I'll hit those before the end of the month so I'm definitely going to have to up my goal for hiking.

Other NSV's:
- Feeling surprisingly comfortable at the gym and like I can do more (which I'll adress with my physio when I see her next).
- Finding and trying new foods and possibly discovering a versatile staple breakfast.

- Food prepping like a boss so there's always good food around.

[DJC_63]

The scale went in the wrong direction this week. I did take 2 days off from walking due to foot pain, and ate too many goodies on a few days. I had to tell my Mom not to buy me any more junk food, which she likes to do even though she knows I'm trying to lose weight. At first I didn't say anything because I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but when I used my will power to avoid buying two-bite cupcakes, and then she bought me some the next day, I had to say something. Hopefully that will help me go back down next week.

This past week I went from 194.7 to 195.3, and my goal is 193.0. I'm hoping that I can make it!

[Ava_]

Weekly weigh in 

USW - 154 (12/30/16)

CSW for this challenge – 135.5 (04/18)

PW – 135.5 (04/25)  

PW - 135.5 (05/02)

PW - 135.0 (05/09)

PW - 136.9 (05/16)

 CW - 138.4 (05/23)  !!!!!!!

GW for this challenge - 129

[Ava_]

@ThatGreen What are NSVs?

Well done with the mountain hiking goal!  Very impressive.

Weather is so nice now - makes such a difference to the mood.

[BLLingg]

No time to read or write much.    Had a TON of stuff waiting for my return today.  But did want to get this posted for y'all!    Should have more time this Weekend.  It's a 3 Day Weekend, but I'm in the "Honor A Hero Mile" Walk on Monday so I won't have all Day.

http://www.active.com/vancouver-wa/running/distance-running-races/race-to-remember-memorial-day-race...

28 July 2010 - PW - 280.8  BMI 51.4  (My highest known.)
06 June 2016 - USW (in FitBit) - 216  BMI 39.5

18 April - CSW 156.8  BMI 28.7
24 April - GW 155.1 - PW 155.0  BMI 28.3
01 May -  GW 153.4 - PW 154.4   BMI 28.2
08 May - GW 151.7 - CW 153.2   BMI 28.0
13 May - GW 150.0  - CW 154.8 (Day I leave for Europe)
23 May - GW 149.0  - CW 149.0 (Day I return to Work & Scales)
29 May - GW 148.0
31 May - GW 147.8

UGW - now 135  (This will put me into a"Healthy" BMI)

Just got this Today!

[_Lilac_]

@Ava_  NSV = Non-Scale Victories

[_Lilac_]

@BLLingg  Way to go!!! That trip did you well! Sometimes, all it takes is a change, huh? I hope you had a great time and refreshed and ready to rip off those last few pounds. I am your biggest supporter!

[_Lilac_]

Today I am meeting with my flooring guy to discuss options for refinishing the hardwood in my house. From there I walk to the doctor's office, we'll discuss my knee, then I take the bus to Walmart to get more yarn for a crochet project. Ran out of what I was using. I'll come home to rest that knee from there. 

My daughter is moving back home. *looks at watch* Didn't take long. She just moved out May 1. They were in that apartment no more than a week when her best friend's boyfriend invited a buddy of his to stay on their couch. And Dude's girlfriend then landed there too. Someone smoked an illegal substance in the apartment, and the litter box isn't changed.....so, she's coming home to Momma. I don't mind. We get along well. 

I have to call my own mother today after my appointment since she's worried about me. I don't see that she's updated her steps on fitbit, so I'm not sure what's going on there, if she's walking much. She said she would be. 

Ok, enough about life updates. My scale dropped a bit this week then inched up a bit. I think it's water retention, so I'm just motoring on...as much as I can for now. I'm looking forward to the pool tonight.

After the walking I'm doing today, I think I'll really need the therapy pool. It's a piece of heaven walking into that thing. 

Have a great day everyone. It's Wednesday!!

[Gayle1018]

@_Lilac_  Looks like you have lots going on!!  enjoy the pool and your daughter.

[Gayle1018]

yippee it's Wednesday! one more day and I'll have a 4 day weekend / taking Friday off.  home improvement days - I'm trying to get my house and self in order.  So doing outside painting, carpet shampooing etc..  I have a dream that my house will be fully in order one of these days  

gonna rain today,  but decided to do a Goal Day anyway to keep me motivated.  thrilled that I've met my step goal 9 days in a row, and not too bad on the eating- ate stuff I shouldn't have yesterday- but didn't go over calories--so anxious to see what happens with the scales. 

Probably won't check over the weekend--hoping all have a great weekend and remembrance of our veterans.

"Everything is a gift of the universe--even joy, anger, jealously, frustration, or separateness. Everything is perfect either for our growth or our enjoyment." Ken Keyes Jr

[_Lilac_]

KNEE-d I say more??

So, doctor confirmed I have moderate to severe arthritis in my knee. I told her it's not just in my knee but my hips and possibly my ankles. How can it not be?? I've been obese since 8 yrs old. And pain in those joints are non-stop. I can't sleep well due to my hips. So, she's sending me to a specialist to discuss options for helping with pain. She mentioned scoping and scraping the knee. 

I told her I am not denying I have arthritis, but what I've been experiencing is different. I told her my symptoms again and explained why I feel I've damaged the tendons and muscles at the back of my knee. She said the specialist will order an MRI if he feels the need. I guess she's wiping her hands of this mess.

My sister stopped by to invite me to cheap night at the all-you-can-eat buffet at the casino. (??????)  Seriously?? Anyway, I declined and plan on having a beautiful squash soup I made last night, some raw snap peas (I love them as my crunchy snack watching tv) and maybe go wild and have a popsicle (40 calories). 

After going to doc, shopping at walmart and taking the dogs for a small walk in the neighbourhood I hit 10,000 steps. I'll go to the pool in the morning and begin to use that as my primary source of exercise now. 

It's always something, huh?

[Gayle1018]

@_Lilac_   Good for you!  go wild with the Popsicle stick - may be have 2.  Proud of you for turning down the buffet! 

[ThatGreen]

I had ice cream today! And yesterday, for that matter. The ice cream truck came by yesterday and I got a pack of vanilla ice cream covered in raspberry sorbet or something. All on a stick at 100 calories.

--

Went to the gym today and boy was that underwhelming. My gym is very small and sometimes I'll have to skip around in my program (set by physio) to find something other than what I planned to do because someone's in my spot. Today I was the only person there for most of my hour, I could just hop around from machine to machine and use any weights I wanted and was done in record time.

I recently decided to do most of the floor exercises (mostly crunches and the like) at home so I don't have to worry about being in someone's way and to get more quality time at the gym where they have a bunch of equipment, but I decided to proceed and do that as well.

I'm a bit confused because it was a good workout and I got things done super efficiently and I've found a great way to increase my load, but I ended up feeling like I'd done nothing because I felt so great afterwards.

I decided it was enough because I still consider myself very out of shape and the last thing I want is an injury.

My calorie burn was also just so low I'm going to have to try to get my heart rate up between sets somehow.

Going to ask my physio if we can add stuff to my program so I can spend more time at the gym when I'm there.

[_Lilac_]

I'll make my update quick. 
Water aerobics and walking the dogs and some housecleaning got me to 11,000 steps yesterday. I'm feeling ok and not like I've continued to hurt myself. Slept horribly with 6 seizures overnight and feel like I'm in slow motion. Putting on the tea kettle and settling in for a rest day during the heavy rain and dreariness. These seizures are off-schedule so I'm baffled. 

Scale said 293.8 this morning. I won't be making my goal of 285 by May 29 but I don't really care. I got under 300 on the doctor's scale and now I've lost more. Loss is loss and I'll get there soon. 

Alright, off to make breakfast and take it easy. Have a great Friday everybody.

[DavidSchneier]

---

@_Lilac_ wrote:

I'll make my update quick. 
Water aerobics and walking the dogs and some housecleaning got me to 11,000 steps yesterday. I'm feeling ok and not like I've continued to hurt myself. Slept horribly with 6 seizures overnight and feel like I'm in slow motion. Putting on the tea kettle and settling in for a rest day during the heavy rain and dreariness. These seizures are off-schedule so I'm baffled. 

Scale said 293.8 this morning. I won't be making my goal of 285 by May 29 but I don't really care. I got under 300 on the doctor's scale and now I've lost more. Loss is loss and I'll get there soon. 

Alright, off to make breakfast and take it easy. Have a great Friday everybody.

---

We take success where we find it. Good for you, getting to a lower weight. Goals are great, but we shouldn't measure our progress by whether or not we reach them.

Enjoy your rainy, lazy day and get some rest; those seizures probably beat the stuffing out of you.

[_Lilac_]

@DavidSchneier  Yes, they wake me in the night so I don't sleep well, then the next day I'm confused and just 'not all there'. Low energy too so I'm glad I got two days in a row of 10,000+ steps. 

I lost a lot of weight quickly at the beginning of my journey and it has slowed quite a bit, but that's safer anyway. Big changes have happened during this 60 lbs that give me lots of motivation to keep going. 

[Bobbinyc]

Hi all,

It's been ages.  I haven't been so absent since I started here over 2 years ago.  I've been at conferences, working, involved in meetings about health insurance plans and their impact on hospitals  and people with health problems, etc.  I kept thinking about this group, and the struggles some of us have.  There were a number of Republicans in gov't there leading different discussions.  It was all pretty interesting.  And it meant I sat way too much and had to eat the food that was there.  I've struggled so much with losing, and was sure this time I'd gain.  True to form, the scale still hasn't budged.  How I could sit and eat high carbs for 3 weeks and not gain, and then go back to walking a lot and eating very healthy and not lose, is beyond me.  

I'll try to catch up on posts. I've missed you guys.   Hope everyone is doing reasonably well.  

As we come in to the last few days of this challenge, I always find this a good time to review what worked, what I learned, what I want to change.  And celebrate all of the victories.

[em.kz]

Weekly Weigh-In!

USW - 161.6 (12/25/16)

SW - 149.2 (4/18/17)

CW - 149.4 (4/21/17)

CW - 147.2 (4/28/17)

CW - 145.8 (5/5/17)

CW - 145.0 (5/12/17)

FW#1 - 145.2 -- GW #1 - 146.6 (5/17/17) MADE IT!

CW - 142.6 (5/19/17)

CW - 142.2 (5/26/17)

FW#2 - 142.2 -- GW #2 - 145.0 (Memorial Day)

UGW #1 - 140

UGW #2 - 135

This may or may not be my last weigh in for this challenge... I'm not sure yet. I am leaving in a few minutes to go to my boyfriend's family lake house for Memorial Day Weekend so I won't have my scale to weigh in on Monday. I see two options: (1) count today as my final weigh-in, or (2) weigh-in on Tuesday when I'm back. We'll see what I want to happen when I come back. However, if I go with option one, then I officially made my goal!! YAY! All that's left is that 2.2 lbs until I meet my first UGW! Woot Woot! Party time!

EDIT: I went with option one! Congrats to everyone else, regardless on whether you made your goal or not, I know you're all working extraordinarily hard!

[_Lilac_]

@Bobbinyc  It's good to see you back!! I've missed you posting. I think your scale is broken/stuck. Have you tried taking a hammer to it? Have you jumped up and down on it? Maybe it needs its attitude adjusted!