Thanksgiving to Christmas 2016

[dancefoxtrot]

Our Challenge this time has 31 days so we can set realistic goals for 4 weeks of weight loss or maintenance. Come and share your stories, successes, struggles and what you are learning on your journey to a healthier life.

OSW= 153 Feb 2015

CSW= 149.3 Today

GW =  145 12/25

UGW= 135 and maintain it

OSW= Original starting weight when began with Fitbit

CSW= Current starting weight

GW= Goal weight for this challenge ending on 12/25

UGW=Ultimate goal weight.

Okay we going together toward healthier bodies and minds. Sadly holidays have been commercialized to focus on consumption including lots of sugar, empty carbs and calories.  We can make much healthier choices since we are not mindless puppets of the greedy manufacturers. 

Let's give ourselves and others the gift of healthier food and attitudes.

All the very best on this Thanksgiving Day.

Anyone want to share a few things that they are thankful for to inspire us?

I'm thankful for my home to keep me sheltered from the storms.

I'm grateful for my work teaching exercise and health to older adults and it

helps me, too.

I'm grateful for still being able to dance.

I'm thankful for my son and his kids just 1 hour away.

I'm grateful for my sister and brother across the country that I can call.

I'm grateful for my garden with some organic veggies and fruit.

I'm thankful for the good nutrition that my late momma taught me to eat.

I'm thankful for my Fitbit friends that are so kind and supportive.

We are doing this one day at a time and we can reach our healthy goals!

Hugs to all our fierce challengers,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all,

Time to move to the shower and get myself in gear.  Oh noooo. Time to leave for my dance class darn. 

148.8 this AM so losing already post Thanksgiving gain.

Barb G 

[Cele21]

Hi everyone! I found the new challenge, yay!

USW = 215

SW =215 (Thanksgiving 2016)

LW = 

CW = 215

GW = 211.0

UGW = 140

Thanksgiving was nice, Hubby was able to go to his brother's house with us for almost four hours and he ate a whole plate of food (he keeps losing weight). I ate way too much, but expected to. Didn't move at all Thursday or Friday. Trying to do a little more today.

I'm thankful to have all of you as cyber friends. Sometimes it is much easier to talk to someone you have never met in person than it is to share with people you have known your whole life. You are all so supportive and inspiring. Thank you all!

[_Lilac_]

Well, I was up at 4am. My belly was grumbling and I was hungry. That's what happens when you don't eat enough the day before, I guess. I got up after tossing in bed for an hour to make breakfast. I made the mistake of turning on the tv so now I'm watching a movie and it's 7am. I'll have a nap later, but I hope it doesn't mess up my day too much. 

Keys to Sunday:

Eat enough and regularly

Move

[almost_where]

Turkey Day Weight - 275 - (11/25)

Sunday 1 - 274 - (11/27) - CW

Sunday 2 - - - (12/04)

Sunday 3 - - - (12/11) 

Sunday 4 - - - (12/18) 

Christmas Goal = 266 lbs.

-1 lb

If you are really really comfortable during these challenges it might be time to change the routine up. I find myself paying more and more attention to this the further I go. Best wishes to all this week.

[A_Lurker]

To keep things consistent I'll stick with the goal I set for the other Christmas challenge.  I'm not sure I'll meet it, but it keeps things less confusing for me. 

So, this week changed how I was approaching things.  I took a generally set food plan and decided to drop the calorie counting.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still mentally keeping track when I have to.  If I deviate from what I've planned I'm making a point to eat more or less depending on my calories burned.

USW: 407.0

CSW: 360.0 (Feb 2016)
PW: 269.8 (11/20/16)
CW: 267.4 (-2.4)
GW: 259.2 (Christmas)
LT: 2.15 lbs/week for 43 weeks

[Bobbinyc]

I was totally unfocused today, helping out a friend and losing track of what I needed to do for me.

Fresh start tomorrow.

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all

Went walking today when a friend called and she was walking in her neighborhood. I threw on a coat and sneakers and went walking with via cell phones.  Tonight I talked to my sister Carol about how much I procrastinate things involving paperwork like sorting and filing. I decided that while she was on the phone I would sit down and start the filling. With her on speaker phone I chatted and filed. It is so amazing that with some support we can do so much more. It is 9 pm already and I have only 8800K on my Fitbit so I'm going to get up and move right now. 

Best to all and remember that you are not alone as we are pulling for you.

Barb G

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Sending you some balancing energy so you remember you as well as your friends.

Yesterday I spent many hours helping a friend and then we went for a walk as it started to get dark and rainy.

Also here is some focusing energy for you too. It seems that I get unfocused and then find my way back and I know that you will too. 

You give so much to us so it is time to also direct some toward yourself as well.

Hugs

Barbara G

[alegria16]

Checking in. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I gained weight in the last challenge and didn't meet my goals in the previous two challenges. So my goal between now and Christmas is to not gain any more. If I lose weight, it'll feel super.

USW (6/19/16) = 204 lbs

SW (11/28/16) = 191

GW (12/25/16) = 191

UGW = 155

Height: 5' 6"

Age: 43

[HeartBiller]

Well I was so proud of myself when I beat my Thanksgiving Day Goal. My goal for Thanksgiving was 173. I weighed in at 171.6. I was so super excited... I don't know how I so quickly forgot about that excitement. I ate like a pig over the 5 days I was off. I am so beyond disappointed in myself this morning. So much hard work, which now has to be done over. So I am guessing I wont make my Christmas goal, unless I do some major dieting and exercise and not sure I still could. BUT with that said, today is a new day and I HAVE to get my mind set right again. I am going to start my constant prayers and pray for God to help me keep my mind where it needs to be and unhealthy food out of my mouth. I love sweets so much. They are truly my weakness.Obviously I had too many over the last few days.

I am up for suggestions on how to re kick start my weight loss.

USW - 210.0

Thanksgiving weight - 171.6

Today's Weight - 175.2  😞  Gained 3.6 pounds

Christmas Goal - 167.5

[_Lilac_]

I missed the pool by accident this morning. I am planning to walk with the dogs in a few minutes then go do an errand that will require me to walk, then Mom and I are hiking in the park this afternoon. I also have to do a full sweep/vac/mop of the main floor of the house. 

Food is fine. I need to vary up the recipes but I'm not a dedicated planner so I don't put any effort into what I'm going to eat. I just make sure I have only healthy stuff around and can pick at will. 

The sun is shining, it's -9C/16F with the breeze, and my southern US adopted dog is NOT liking Canadian winter so far. I don't mind the weather as long as I'm dressed for it. I'm a big woman, as long as I'm moving out there, I can sweat when it's -30. The good thing about December approaching is that soon the city might think about making the outdoor rinks. They put one in front of city hall, another in a park near me, and a few other places. I'm nervous about falling. At my weight I'd likely break something. The last time I was on skates I waddled around the hockey rink holding onto the boards. There won't be boards in the park! It's funny, the things we did as children, zooming around carelessly, without fear, yet as we age we get so much more cautious. I just have to tell myself my legs know how to do it. 'I used to do it. Just relax. Have fun. That's why you're here.' 

Ok, enough stalling. I have to get that Georgian dog out into the cold!! Right now he's snuggled up in the warm spot in the middle of my bed!

Edit: btw, we are expecting 6 inches of snow overnight. 

[_Lilac_]

@HeartBiller  It's been FIVE days since Thanksgiving. You did not gain 3.6 lbs of fat in five days! Get that in your head right now! It's likely you've eaten salty stuff and you are retaining fluid. I wouldn't be surprised to see that number come down as you drink more water and do a little sweating. Don't beat yourself up! Gosh. Just get back in the groove and you will see it fix itself. I have faith you will be very happy in a few days. Also, if you've been eating sweets, those tell your body to eat more sweets, it's a vicious cycle. So as long as you are aware of that sugar monster prodding you, you can control it. 

We'll work at it together! All of us.

[A_Lurker]

@HeartBiller- ditto what @_Lilac_ said.  3.6 pounds in 5 days means that you ate 12,600 calories above what your maintenance level was.  Back in September, while on a trip, I went up 6.6 lbs over a 4 day period.  I knew at the time that most of it was salt but it still took 4 days before I was down below where I had been.  Without going into too many details, the excess carbs in sweets affects your glycogen stores.  Glycogen loves to hold on to excess water.  This is why people who start low (or even lower) carb diets often see their weight change drastically the first few days or the first few weeks.  Just go back to what you normally eat and take water to flush it out.  The body won't flush excess water unless you're drinking a fair amount.

[HeartBiller]

@A_Lurker& @_Lilac_ Thanks so much for your words of wisdom. I was so heart broken this morning. I knew I had eaten things I shouldn't have, But I really didn't think it was that bad. We also made sure to walk at least 3 miles everyday while we were off. I had read that you needed to drink plenty of water to flush the salt from the Ham out... so yesterday I drank 150 ounces of water. I am going to try for the same today. I really don't know how much water to too much or if there is such a thing...lol.

I know each of us want to lose weight as badly as the other, but I just have my heart set on getting to my half way point which is my Christmas goal. I know sometimes I want things too much, but when I was eating ham and pumpkin pie, I must have forgot about it...

I greatly appreciate this group. I need the words of wisdom you all have to offer. I love the encouragement that comes from you all. I did start back yesterday with eating much better and I will do even better today. I will push the water. I am back in this office again on Thursday, so I will weigh again then.

I did buy a scale for at home... but I will still always keep my weight post from this scale here in this office, since it is the one I started with.

You all are the greatest.!!! Thanks

[_Lilac_]

@HeartBiller   --Ham. *drool* Well, there ya go! If I eat ham my hands and ankles swell up. And pumpkin pie...any kind of pastry gives me horrible heartburn and the cravings for more. Great job on your three miles per day and the water intake. You know how to fix this. Glug glug, sweat sweat. 

My sister and mother are co-hosting Christmas dinner this year for the family. They do it buffet style so I'll be able to pick and choose what I eat. And I always take a lunch plate instead of a dinner plate. If I get seconds that's fine, as long as I'm not filling up a dinner plate. I just don't have the eating capacity I used to have. Thank goodness! I get full quickly. It's not like they won't give me leftovers (if there are any) to take home or something.

Ok, enough talk about that...makes me hungry! haha. Enjoy the rest of your day. 

[almost_where]

Just  found out my beloved peanut butter and jelly sandwich (usually eat between 7-10 a week) has closer to 600 to 700 calories rather then the 470 calories due to an error in guestimating the amount of peanut butter and jelly. This 420 to 2,300 weekly calorie error has only been going on since......forever lol. Even tho this will lead to smaller sandwiches or fewer leftover calories for the day, Im glad I discovered this.

My fix will be to transfer the peanut butter (natural type that separates) into a larger glass jar and keep a Tbsp measuring spoon inside the container permanently.

[A_Lurker]

@almost_wherethis is why measuring is an important step in every weight loss attempt.  Even now, not counting calories I will measure my salad dressing (higher calories) but not worry about veggies.  I do still measure my smoothie ingredients though because it is way to easy to pile on extra calories there without even noticing.

[Glenda]

I loved reading the lists of things you were all grateful for.  Any time I feel the least bit of sadness about to overtake me, any day, I go through my list of all the reasons I MUST be happy and CAN'T be one bit sad.  I have given it lots of thought and my list is mostly in order of importance.   You  might laugh at what I think is CRITICAL.  That is OK too. ............... Blessings:

1)   I'm not a cancer patient at the moment.  (Being a patient of any kind is the worst for me) 

2)  I can afford to pay taxes;  so I have a house, electricity, air conditioning, refrigerated food,  clothes,

      shoes.  (some have clothes but no shoes)

3) Clean water to drink.  (so important)

4) car & fuel

5) books, lots of them, easily available to everyone.

6) recorded music for everyone  Think about the past when only the rich had opera & that was it!

7) flush toilets for everyone (in India most people don't have even an out-house toilet.!  Can you

       imagine?

😎 Computers, Yahoo, phones,  TV (keeps me from feeling alone)

9) family and friends I enjoy and admire.

I don't take any of this for granted and it helps me not be sad.  Maybe Yahoo is silly but I do love it.

[Glenda]

                                       If you know anyone who weighs more than 300 pounds, I hope you encourage them to stand on 2 scales and  just add the numbers together.  I would hate not being able to weigh.

               If you haven't done Xmas decorations yet,  A good little cheap decoration for your yard is an upside down tomato cage  or 3,  whch is the shape of a Christmas tree . You can put  on some left over Xmas lights ?.  The small ones are $2.14 counting tax  and big ones are about   $4.50   at Walmart.            Glenda

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi @almost_where

I pour off the oil that separates up and that drops calories in my peanuts only brand of peanut butter. Also there is Simply Fruit Jelly & Jam that has no added sugar. That lowers calories.

You can make an open face sandwich and that eliminates a slice of bread that is often is 100+ calories.  Hopefully your bread is 100% whole grain as that brings you nutrition and not just empty carbs. 

With these changes you can enjoy your P&J sandwiches and not break the calorie bank.

All the best,

Barbara G