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!

[Shelley]

Well that is a great question Brooke Marie!  I live in USA and didn't even think about a different Mother's Day for other parts of the world!  This reminds me to remember that these forums are international.  So, when I set this up, I was thinking about the American Mother's day which is May 11th.  I looked up the British one and it is March 30th, this year.  So, there is around 6 weeks difference.  Go with the May 11th date so we are all on the same deadline.  Good luck and happy stepping!

[Mykkisu]

I'm a bit frustrated... I weighed today, and according to the scale I've gained a pound.  That's not the way it's supposed to be going.  I've been eating well every day and exercised every day but Sunday. 

So, I signed up for a program at Fleet Feet here called Ton of Fun.  It starts this coming Sunday, and we have an exercise class/weigh in every Sunday for 12 weeks.  I'm hoping having other people I have to see every week will keep me motivated.  Plus there are prizes, and I can't resist prizes!

[Sunshine1979]

I'm in. I'd like to lose between 30 and 45 lbs.

[CrystalG]

This is a great idea- 20 lbs by Mothers Day. Love it.

[mcaldwell1954]

Well here goes...  I hope I am posting this correctly.

I just got "the Force" on 1/2 and so far love it!!  I really despise trying to lose weight.  I lose weight slowly and it is very frustrating.  I recently retired so have more time to devote to healthy living.  I hope joining this challenge will help.

[Shelley]

Welcome Crystal G and Sunshine!  Let us know how it goes for you!

Mykkisu, I feel your pain!  I have been gaining too and am realizing that even though for the most part I have been eating the same way I have for the past three months when I was losing weight easily, I actually have been making a lot of exceptions and those are coming back to bite me!  I was walking for an hour a day and lately it is more like 30 minutes and maybe 45 occasionally.  I have also been snacking a bit after supper while socializing.  I tell myself, I can eat just a little but once I start, I can't get myself to stop.  I just keep having to learn some of the same lessons over again and some new ones too.  I am figuring out that since it got colder, I have not walked as much and apparently, it was really making a difference with the weight loss.  So, while it is so cold in the mornings, I am going to start riding the stationary bike indoors even though I find it boring to do.  At least I can do it without having to go out into the sub-freezing weather.  I am also figuring out that it is better for me to make sure I am full from dinner because then I don't get hungry later and want to snack.  Hopefully this will get my back to losing again.  Hang in there Mykkisu!  Joining the group sounds like a good plan!

[Suzy]

I feel the pain for those of us who have not lost that 2lbs after all that exercising.  However, I can tell you even though I only lost 1/2lb last week, I am firmer.  So I'm trading the flab for fab even though the scale hasn't changed much.  I do want to lose at least 30lbs, which I hope will happen in time.  For now, I'm just happy that clothes are not stretched to the limit.

[UNIX]

I would like to join this challange

[SunsetRunner]

I hope I can still join you guys even if I'm a few years away from being a mother?
20 lbs by May 11th sounds like a reasonable goal, even for me. My goal is to lose about 50 total, but I care more about my overall health than the numbers on the scale.

[RMN]

Four of the seven holiday pounds are gone. It's a start in the right direction.

[Kelsothonto]

Don't worry alastra, I'm not a mom either but I do have a mom who would want me in shape and feeling good about myself. Also way to go RMN!!

[SunsetRunner]

Count me in!!  I just got my fitbit this week and I'm loving it.  It really motivates me to try to get more steps to reach my goal.  I also like the sleep analysis function. 

I want to lose 35 pounds, so this is a great, attainable goal for me. 

[LGI0524]

I'd like to join in also! I got the fitbit One for Christmas, but have not taken advantage of the community portion of it yet. Prior to reading this post, my goal was already to lose 20 pounds by May 10 because my husband and I are taking a trip to Europe. So I'd love a group to help with motivation!

[RMN]

My scale goes down and then doesn't move for a while but I feel the difference in my clothes and inches come off while the scale  stubbornly insists on remaining in one spot. Over the holidays the numbers crept up but now they are moving down again but much more slowly this around. 

[Ladyeliz]

Hi

Sounds like a great idea! I need to loose  20 lbs too to reduce my blood pressure and stop the pre-menopausal weight gain. Im planning to cut out sugar, all the other bad white stuff, chocolate and stop nightime snacking. I am very active but hope to increase daily steps (thanks fitbit) as well as increase weight training etc. Any ideas or support is greatly appreciated!

[Jenn822]

Am I too late to join? I would love to! I need this little bit of accountability and teamwork! I feel this is a realistic timeframe. thanks for helping us set achievable goals. I often fail because I set my goal too high and I get mad for not sticking to the plan. I wanted my fitbit soooo bad. I am trying really hard to meet 10,000 steps everyday. This is harder than I thought it would be. I think since Jan 1st I missed goal 3x. I can do this! We all can!!!!

[DanaC]

How is everyone doing?  I am going to weigh myself tomorrow - have been going back and forth about doing so.  Would love just to focus on how I feel and how my clothes fit, but really want a number.  I have cut out dairy and feel awesome!  I had been suffering from heart burn, acid reflux so my friend suggested that I try cutting out dairy to see if that worked, and it has - haven't suffered from it in 9 days - the day I quit.  

Love the food tracker!  I hadn't been doing it the whole time, but started a few days ago. I love how it tells you how much fat, protein, sodium, etc. you have taken in.  

Good luck, Everyone! Dana

[Shelley]

Wow!  So many new people in the challenge since the last time I looked!  I love it!  And you don't have to be a mother to be in this challenge!  Everyone is welcome.  The more the merrier!  It is great to have people check in too and tell us how you are doing.

I set some goals to walk 10K a day and I have met that so far.  I also set goal to do abs exercises everyday but have missed that about three times in the last 9 days.  And third goal was to do yoga 3 times a week and I finally did it for the first time yesterday.  I hadn't actually set riding the stationary bike as a goal but I have ridden it for 20 minutes the last three days.  My diet has been pretty good.  No sugar, no processed foods, lots of fresh fruits and veggies.  I haven't lost my post Christmas weight yet.  I am anxious to get that off.  So far I am only down one pound of the four I gained.  But I know it will come off eventually so just need to keep focused on the goal and stick with it.

Hope everyone else is doing well!  Keep moving!

[RomaS]

Shelley--thank you for starting another goal for all of us.  The short term goals are great motivators to keep us as fit as possible.  My plan will try to keep walking at least 40 min everyday as much as possible with the occasional jog thrown in will be my plan.  

[Ann3601]

Hi, I would like to join the challange! I need to lose 40 lbs so 20 by Mothers Day will be halfway to my goal. I am planning to cut all sweets (especially Ice Cream!) and go to the gym at least 4 times a week. On days that I have Zumba I make my goals easily, on other days it's a struggle. It will be nice not to struggle alone.