Mother's Day Challenge. Lose 20 by Mother's Day! Who is with me?

[Shelley]

Being involved in a challenge helps keep me motivated and it seems like it works for others too.  It also helps to have a goal and a deadline to get there.  Let's all get healthier for ourselves and for our families.  Let's do this for our kids, or our grandkids, or for our own mothers as well as for ourselves.  Come join me and let's do this!

[BDRuggles]

I've started adding tofu and spinach to things. I dice it up or put it through a food processor. So far I've used it in tuna fish (with veggie pesto instead of mayo), meatloaf, meat balls, and hummus. I've like it, I don't think it has changed the texture or flavor, and the kids don't seem to have noticed.

[KAnn]

RE: protein ideas.  How about 8 oz roasted skinnless-bonelss chicken breast (cooled), 1 oz toasted pecans, fresh celery, 1/4 sweet raw onion all pulsed in a food processor to which you add ~ .75 cup - 1 cup of Canola or Olive-oil based mayo seasoned with cracked pepper and smidge of kosher salt?  

1/2 cup of this concoction boasts ~ 9 grams protein and 150 calories.  It has other nutritious attributes and it makes a great dip with carrots/caulflower.  I had this today for lunch and it kept me full all afternoon!

[Shelley]

Those sound like yummy recipe ideas, ladies!  Another way to boost protein is to add chia or hemp seeds to smoothies and ground flax seed sprinkled on salads and other foods.  Quinoa is another way to get protein.  Also veggies are very low in calories and all veggies have some protein in them.  You have to eat a lot of veggies to get enough protein but since they are low in calories you can eat a lot and it won't harm weight loss. Also because they have fiber you get full.  

[Kristi-schw]

Thank you all for the protein ideas! I'll give those a try. I have been doing tons of veggies, but I'm continually low on protein. I do eat a lot of chicken breast,we actually raise our own chickens so I have an ample supply. I haven't tried tofu in years maybe it's time to give it another go.

Does anyone use protein powder? I bought some and added it to a smoothie, but it was awful!! I couldn't get it down.

Kristi:)

[BDRuggles]

I've never been too happy with protein powders in drinks (they always seem gritty) but I use Designer Whey chocolate Protein Powder in banana/walnut muffins. I don't use very much, just enough to give the muffins a hint of chocolate and I think the extra protien makes them more successful as a snack.

[MicheleH]

Another way to sneak protein in is to add silken tofu to smoothies.   I make them with nonfat greek yogurt, some silken tofu, and various fruits - even my kids love them.   I have also used it to add to butternut bisque or creamy asparagus soups.

[Elansc]

Thanks for the great ideas about how to get more protein. I have always struggles with that. As I get closer to my goal weight I am trying to wean myself off these 30g protein shakes that have helped so much but I don't want to buy protein shakes for the rest of my life. Slowly getting the hang of it -- at least now I remember to eat more protein and way fewer carbs.

Scale didn't move again this week but meet my calorie goal each day, step goal of 10,000 steps 5 of 7 days and active minutes goal of 20 minutes 6 of 7 days. I know that I must be building muscle as my clothes are getting way too baggy (thankfully I can start to buy spring clothes soon! ). I stopped in at my neighbourhood Value Village (godsend for anyone who has shrunk almost 8 sizes like me 🙂 and for the fun of it I tried on 5 different pairs of size 12 pants (my goal size) and I could get them on and the zipper up!!!!! Way too tight to wear in public but I did a happy dance in the value village change room. Bought 4 of the 5 (one was too short 🙂 the 14s were too loose so I left them there -- I will have to settle for my baggy 14s and 16s for another 10-20 pounds. If you would have told me this time last year that I would have fit into a size 12 I would not have believed you but 1 pound at a time I have shrunk by 70 pounds and almost - into my goal size. Can you tell I am excited!!! For anyone at the beginning, keep it up -- honestly log your food and get in as much exercise as you can (I didn't do much until I had lost 40 pounds). I was at my top weight for 12 years and it was stubborn but logging my food worked like a charm to keep me honest about what I was really eating And don't worry if you are doing everything right and the scale doesn't move..... Happens to me every couple of months -- I think my body just needs time to adjust 🙂

8 pounds down and 12 to go -- I realize the goal of 20 pounds before Mothers Day may not be possible now but I will just keep plugging along

[Kristi-schw]

Elansc, your story is very inspiring!! Sometimes it is frustrating. Congratulations on the weight loss and being so close to your goal!!

[watherto]

I like the idea of breaking it down to mini challenges. I am in!

[JYancey]

Is it too late for me to join??  I'd love to lose 20lbs by May 10th!!  I have about 50 total to lose.  I received my FitBit for Christmas and have worn it faithfully - I just increased my daily steps from 10,000 to 15,000!  I havent really lost any weight - just up and down the same five pounds.  I need the scale to keep going in the right direction!!!

[JYancey]

oh - Mothers Day is just around the corner - 20lbs might be a lofty goal - 10lbs might be a better one!!!  LOL

[luckiemommie]

I am in on this challenge, such a great idea. Is there a weekly update that is going to happen?

[rubbyrose3]

Hi i join this challange wnen i got my fitbit lost a little then fell of the wagon and finding it hard to get back on ..I feel lost Helen

[Shelley]

Hi everyone!  I haven't been posting regularly and I think it has to do with the fact that I am not being as successful on this challenge as I was hoping.  The first three months with the Fitbit, I lost 30 pounds and felt like I could do anything!  I expected the loss to slow down because it always does when I have dieted in the past.  So, I made my goal for 20 pounds by Mother's Day which was a little more than 5 months.  Surely I could do that if I had lost 30 in three months, right?  Well, I keep getting in these plateaus and the scale isn't moving and then all I have to do is cheat a little and weight comes right back on.  On Friday, I was at 12 pounds lost and then over the weekend I gained 1.5.  Today is Wed and I have lost one of those pounds I gained and feel good about that but you can see how it is clear to me that i am not going to reach 20 pounds by Mother's day.  I altered my goal to just lose a pound a week and I am upping my steps.  I also am trying out switching my "big" meal of the day to lunch and having salad for supper.  I usually have salad for lunch so I am just switching them around.  Someone told me that if you get most of your calories earlier in the day and fewer after 6pm that research showed that people eating the same amount of calories per day lost more weight if they did that.  So, we will see.  I will let you know.  

Helen, I have fallen off the wagon a few times too.  Just gotta get back on.  And know that is normal.  Fall off and get back on - over and over.   Over the long term, if we are exercising most of the time and eating healthy most of the time, we are going to be much better off than if we did nothing.  I find the longer I stay off the wagon, the harder it is to get back on it.  I hope you will just join back in and not get too caught up in the fact that you fell off.  Dust yourself off and start over.  Remember the goal is about getting healthy for ourselves and for our families.  Do you have anyone you love that might benefit from a healthier you?  My husband doesn't exercise and it is easy for me to follow in his footsteps but my grandkids want me to play with them and I have to stay in shape so I can keep up with them.  What about you?  What motivates you?  The extra energy I have from exercising and eating right is really something I appreciate.

Luckymommie - yes, please check in weekly or more often if you want to.  I was posting when I got my weekly fitbit email.  But I kept losing the same pound over and over so now I think it is good to just pick a day and go from there.  I usually do Friday.  Good luck to you!!

Elansc - You are really inspiring me!  You have done so well losing 70 pounds!  Congratulations!  I know you are going to be in those size 12s one of these days!  I am just about to 40 pounds total loss and need to lose another 25.  It helped me to read that the plateus happen every couple of months.  I am going to keep plugging along too.  I may not reach the goals by the deadlines but I hope to keep at it until I do reach them.  

[blutree]

Hello everyone!  This is my first weekly check in.  I am excited to say I lost 2.5 pounds! I was so surprised when I stepped onto the scale.  In addition to my daily steps, I have been doing sprints and calisthenics 3 days a week.  

Since I started this challenge last week my goal is not the full 20 pounds, but 6-10.  I like to work in ranges as I find I am not as disappointed and am more likely to keep going. 

[blutree]

Kristi-schw--

That is such a great goal to have-- a 5k!  I suggest interval training to reach that goal.  For a lot of people, that's the most efficient way to run faster.  You can do 30 seconds at a faster pace (Whatever that is for you) and 90-120 seconds at a slower pace (if that pace is walking that's great!).  Good luck!

[t32981d]

This sounds like and awesome group of people. can i join? just got my fitbit over the weekend and i love it. i get my steps in everyday but go over my calories. im trying to cutout my pop but i gotta take steps i drink way to much so if i dont i get severe headaches. id like to lose 10lbs before mothers day. its not alot but its just a step and every step counts. i don't have a lot of friends that are into fitbit so would be great for the support and just to talk.

[Road-runner]

Count me in!  I would love to lose another 30 lbs by May!  Losing weight is so hard!  But I've already lost 18 lbs last month, hope I can keep it up because I have another 60 to lose. 

 I have struggled with food issues all my life.  I just started  a group called "Eating Disorders/Food Addictions" for those who struggle with controlling their eating.  If you feel you might have a problem in this area, come check us out:  It helps to have friends who are going through the same thing.

https://www.fitbit.com/group/22235N

[NinjaTwisty]

So it has been a very long time since I have posted here. Been out sick with the flu last 2 weeks so my steps have been less than 2000 everyday :(. But, getting back into it, which is all that counts.

I am slowly getting back into the routine of training 2-3 hours at the gym a day. It's a bit hard with work sometimes, but it helps. I think my main issue is my lack of discipline when it comes to my bed time. I find I don't get enough sleep so that really effects my muscle growth, and also my weight loss.

The scales haven't changed much for me, but I expected that to happen. At the gym I have started lifting heavy, so my muscles are growing really quick. But in the process I am losing weight. The way I can tell is the shirts and pants I wear are getting looser. And I went down a size in jeans! Best feeling.

If you ever feel like you have reached a plateau try changing it up a bit. For me I never do the same cardio routine every day. I always change it up, It forces my body to stay alert and not fall into a motion of 'I do this everyday so this is how much effort to put in'. When I do my interval training I do it a bit differently. I do 30 second intervals. By that I mean I do 30 seconds as fast as I can go, 30 seconds low to moderate, then back to high. What it does is it shocks the body, increasing fat loss.

Also lifting weights can help burn fat quite well. So give it a try. Squats are probably the best as it engages bigger muscles and when you use bigger muscles, you burn more calories. You don't even need to use heavy weights. Just hand help weights would do. Or no weights to start off with.

Well, that is the end of my post for now. If you have any queries or anything, even if you just wanna chat. Shoot me a message. Good luck everyone, and I know you can all do it 🙂

[stacey444]

Road-Runner, please tell me you are joking about losing 30 pounds in 38 days.  I wish you luck and good health.