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!

[Road-runner]

typo.  I meant 20 lbs.  I managed to lose over 18 lbs just last month, so I think it is entirely realistic to expect to be able to lose another 20 by Mother's Day.  Here's my secret:  I had a gastric bypass 27 years ago.  They bypassed a large section of my small instestine as well as reduced my stomach size.  So I don't absorb all the calories (and nutrients!) that I eat.  I lost over 250 lbs back then, but I have struggled with the same 60 lbs off and on all these years.  I am now in an Eating Disorders Program and also on a specialized diet that maximizes the nutrients in my food while minimizing the calories.  So, since I absorb less than HALF of the calories I eat, combined with my low-calorie diet, the weight is just dropping off.  The difference is that this time it will stay off because at the same time I'm losing, I'm changing my lifestyle from sedentary couch potato to active walker and fitness nut.  Also, I'm finally dealing with my issues with food and overeating on a psychological level as well.  Going to lose the extra pounds, keep 'em off, and be a whole new, better me!

[KAnn]

Hi, Bluetree.  Can you tell us more about the sprints and calisthenics?  What exactly and how many do you do?  Is is easy to fit into your day?  

Thanks,

Kim (KAnne)

[jcprttyeyes]

I would like to join also!!  How do I join?

[Miss_Primrose]

I would like to join! I would be very happy just to lose 10lbs by Mothers day. 20lbs is my goal though. Please repost your rules for this challenge. Thanks

[Shelley]

Welcome to all new folks!  I started this challenge on December 31st and guess I didn't think about how the title would look the closer we got to Mother's Day.  I thought 20 was reasonable starting in January but not very reasonable if you are just now joining.  But I love having a bunch of us working together to get healthy so just adapt the goal to fit something reasonable for you given the shorter time to reach the deadline.

Rules are pretty simple.  Post at least once a week or even more frequently so we can keep each other motivated.  Post what you are doing to lose weight and how things are going.  I have to say I haven't even followed my own rules very well.  Back in the beginning I did but it has fallen off more recently.  

Anyway, here's what I am doing.  I follow the Dr. Fuhrman Eat to Live plan which is mostly plant based whole foods.  I try to get at least 10K steps a day, sometimes more.  I had an 18K day last Friday which was the most I had ever done.  This week I started switching my dinner with lunch so that I had a lighter amount of food in the evening and I cut out all snacks.  Last Friday I weighed 160.6 and this Friday 159.7.  First time to be in the 150's in about 15 years.  Very happy about that.  I have lost 40 pounds since getting the Fitbit last September.  Still have 20 more to lose to get to the upper range of healthy BMI.  I would like to lose 25 more pounds so I am solidly in the healthy BMI range.  But for this challenge, I have 9.7 more to meet the 20 pounds.  To be honest, I have doubts that I can get there now that we only have about 5 weeks.  I used to lose 2 pounds a week and if that were still happening I could get there.  But I have been at this now for over 6 months and my weight loss has slowed down.  I keep getting in plateus.  But I am going to keep plugging at it and who knows maybe a miracle will happen.  With the last challenge, it was lose 30 by Christmas.  I met it on Christmas day.  Maybe that will happen again and I will reach 20 on Mother's Day!  Cutting out snacking sure has made a difference this week.  Everyone have a great weekend and keep your focus on HEALTH!  Getting fit, eating healthy and good self care. 

[mobley001]

Ca you send me a link for that site please

[Elansc]

Hi everyone and welcome to the newbies!!!! Here is my weekly check in..... The scale is still not going down (up one pound this week) but I am meeting my goals -- calorie goal under every day, 20 active minutes every day and 10,000 steps 6 of 7 days. I am EXHAUSTED today so I am going to enjoy the sunshine and not worry about my active minutes or step goal -- it is an amazingly sunny and warm day here. Haven't been getting my 8 hours sleep for a few weeks now and I wonder if that is the piece of the puzzle that I am missing

Hope that it is gloriously sunny where you are too! Still 8 lbs down and 12 to go

[Elansc]

Hi Shelley. Super news about getting into the 150's!!! Congrats!

[kabethd]

I will like to join this challenge..please give me more detail on what I need to do.. Thanks,

[Shelley]

Hi kabethd!  Nothing to it!  Just post what you are doing to lose weight and how it is going.  This challenge started the first of the year so we are getting close to the end now.  My suggestion is not to try to lose 20 in a month's time but to set a reasonable goal for you and work toward that.  Keep checking in with us!

I was stuck and the scale wasn't moving but I gave up snacks last week and started eating salad for supper and that really helped!  I am continuing that this week.

Also I watched an inspiring interview through Gaiam TV which I realize most people probably do not have because it is a subscription I pay for.  So I can't send you to it but I can pass along one of the take aways.  The person suggested being grateful for the change you are seeking as if it is already here.  Evidently this practice appears to increase the liklihood of actually achieving the change.  For some reason, that really peaked my interest.  I realized I have been setting myself up for failure by already predicting that there is no way I can reach the 20 pound goal at this point since I still have almost 9 pounds to go.  After listening to him I decided, why predict failure?  Why not give thanks and gratitude everyday until May 11?  So today I started practicing gratitude for the change of having a healthy fit body.  As I took my walk, I kept giving thanks and I noticed that I felt more confident and got out there and got over 13,000 steps.  

I am grateful for the fitness that is already on its way to me! 

[TICKET]

Just checking in--

As of this morning I'm down 16 lbs.--that leaves four to go! I invested in a Bellicon rebounder and I am amazed at the workout I can get in on that thing--it burns about 85 calories per 15 minutes. Because your constantly stabilizing it's a great workout for the legs. Good stuff. 

Lately, here's something that has really helped me. My husband I use the phrase "Isolate it!" if we miss a workout or eat something that isn't clean. Now--that doesn't mean we go and do this a lot, but when we do--we put up walls around that incident and make the next workout and the next meal as good as it can be. I think so often this is where we fall short--we eat something we shouldn't or miss a workout, and then we throw in the towel--figuring that "Well, I messed up, I might as well eat what I want the rest of the day" (or even week!) Try these words next time--don't throw in the towel--you're worth giving yourself another chance! 

[Shelley]

That is great advice, Ticket!  I love that!  Gonna start using it right away.  Congratulations on only having 4 more to go!  I am still trying to catch up!  I lost 3 last week so now only have 8 more to go.  If I can lose 2  a week I could make it.  I have increased my activity and am continuing to switch the big meal to lunch and salads for supper with no snacking between meals.   I do hope this works.  I also just purchased a rebounder but it hasn't arrived yet.  I couldn't get myself to spend the money on the Bellicon without having made sure I will actually use the thing.  So I went with Cellerciser which is supposed to be the second best and Bellicon is the best.  I decided that if I really like it and use it, then at some point I will spring for the Bellicon.  I have heard of a number of people using rebounders and getting a lot of steps that way and it is great exercise and easy on your joints and knees.  Do you use a workout video with it?

[blutree]

KAnne-

Sorry I have not checked on the discussion in a few days!  It's easy to fit in my work outs.  They take me about 30 minutes now, but less when I first started.  I do intervals Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and calisthencis on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Sunday is a rest day.  You could do both work outs on the same day (I would do calisthenics first, then intervals), but I wanted to get into a routine of being active every day.  

intervals: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/01/27/kick-your-ass-and-kickstart-your-metabolism-in-20-minutes...

calisthenics: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

I love these because you can adjust them to whatever your fitness level is at the start and they are easy to make more difficult as time goes on.  For intervals, I did 6 my first run with 30 seconds high, 120 seconds low.  I made it a goal to add one more interval each run (it's really not that much work to add!).  I am currently at 30 seconds high, 75 seconds low (with my ultimate goal being 30 high, 30 low).  I am up to 12 repetitions.  I think 20 minutes total for the intervals is a good goal to have-- whatever you're speed. (Meaning, when I am at 30 seconds high/low I will have to do 20 repetitions.) For the body weight exercises, I am at 4 reptitions and have adjusted it somewhat for my own fitness level-- I do 30 second plank, and I started doing incline pushups on my counter, not I do them on my knees, ultimately I'd like to be doing regular pushups!  I think it woudl be easy to add an exercise or replace one if you want to focus on something different.  I hope that helps!

Well, Wednesday is my check in day!   This week I lost less than a pound.  I am no surprised. I had a few events planned that all involved food, so my goal was just not to lose! But I lost a little instead! yay!!  

I just bought a Ninja blender. I am so excited! The single serve containers will be so convenient. I love smoothies! Plus, since I eat a low meat diet, I need to make up the protein-- which is easy with a yummy smoothie!!

I hope everyone else is doing well.  I noticed quite a few comments about the scale not moving despite being good.  Don't fret!  It happens!!  I find it better to find an outfit-- maybe a size too small, but that you can still squeeze into-- and monitor how it fits.  It's just a number on the scale, but how you look is how you look.  

[formerlyfit]

It has been a long time since I have checked in.   I was having some health issues myself and wasn't motivated to do anything other than just lazing around.  I didn't know that a potassium deficiency as well as Cushing's syndrome could really make me a walking zombie.  

I was told I gained a lot of weight because of the corticosteroids I was on but I really didn't think it was anything more than that.  After my aunt died, I decided to try and get healthy but was very upset to find out that I am pre-diabetic.  I have to start monitoring my glucose every day.

I need to get this weight off.   And I still need to get another 10 to make the Mother's day challenge :-).

Hope to talk again soon.

[TICKET]

I love intervals! I use the interval timer app and do a one hour 40/20 interval each day. I usually do three cardio moves and two strength trianing moves--12 rounds. It's nice because can really mix up your routines. 

[TICKET]

Shelley, 

There are some good videos on-line--I"ve used a couple of those plus some that Bellicon sent to me. They are good to learn the moves, and once you do--then I've found I can really make up my own routines. (Love rebounding to music.) 

I can't tell you how much this piece of equipment has helped me. My knees are getting stronger, and in one month's time I've really noticed how some of the one-legged jump movements are getting easier--definitely engages all those core muscles! 

Between Fitbit, my rebounder and a supportive husband, I am feeling better than I have in quite some time. 🙂 

[MellowCrunch]

Hi everyone, I think it's been a couple of weeks since I've checked in. It's just been really busy around here. But the kids are 'napping' so I have a few spare minutes. 

Good news, the scale is finally moving! I've lost 3 pounds total which doesn't sound like much but my overall goal is only 9 so I'm actually really psyched about that. It only took 4 months! Ha! I feel like I'm in really good cardiovascular shape and my usual runs are getting 'too easy' so I love the info on intervals. A good way to change it up. I've add some more serious upper body strength training in to the mix as well. I still do a lot of yoga which I find is really important for my spine health (which I can have problems with so I stay on top of it) and that works my lower body really well but the upper body needs a little something extra in preparation for the summer. Don't think I've mentioned it before but my final goal is to look and feel great for a wedding I'm in at the end of June, that just happens to be in the Bahamas. It will be the first real trip away from our kids that my husband and I will have taken in 5 years, i.e. pre-kids. So if I can keep on doing what I'm doing I know I'll feel like I'm at a really good place by then and have something to be proud of. Really, I already am proud of myself, I just have to keep it up...like, for the rest of my life! 😉

[stacey444]

17 pounds gone & 3 more to go for this challenge.

[Shelley]

Thanks Ticket.  I appreciate your comments about how much the rebounder has helped.

Blutree, all good info!  I also do smoothies and have been adding, chia and hemp seeds for higher protein and good fats.  

Formerlyfit, I was pre-diabetic and reversed it.  For you and anyone else who wants an inspiring shot in the arm for nutritional ways to lose weight and possibly reverse diseases caused by the standard American diet (SAD), watch this video.  I have lost 42 pounds since I started trying to do what he says.  I am not perfect and think if I could stick more strictly to what he says it would go faster but never the less, I have reversed my pre-diabetes and lowered my choleserol significantly since I started this 7 months ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4katnfHzXA

Mellow Crunch you are going to look and feel awesome for that wedding.  I attended a wedding in August last year right before I got the fitbit in Sept.  Seeing my obese pictures, that will be around forever, was so disappointing.  I wish I had known about the Fitbit and had watched the video above before that wedding!

Go Stacey!  Whoo hoo!  You are doing fantastic and I know you are going to make it to the 20!

[vtroy03]

I would love to join!