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

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda This is the second time I've been widowed. My first was when the kids were still babies. Both men were extremely ill for more than a year. No more for me!! 

And yes, I'd walk the mile to the library to get the books. A mile is about 20 minutes. So, 20 minutes there and 20 back is a good walk! On my walks I usually find I have adventures or discover something unusual or inspiring or even weird. 

[Glenda]

                                     Wow Lilac,  You have survived a lot.  I can't imagine losing a husband when you had babies.   Babies are so exhausting and a financial challenge even when there are two healthy young people to deal with it all.   A big disadvantage for the babies not to have a full time mother as a result of your whole wituation.  I don't think I could have done it.   Definitely time for you to do more for yourself now. Hope you can.  

        But if you took your dog, what do you do with him when you go in the library or anywhere else?

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda I walk my dogs but then I also walk to do my errands. I never take them with me when I have to go in somewhere unless my daughter is with me and she can hold onto them outside. I am not allowed to drive because of the epilepsy so I have no car. My trick to going places too far to walk all the way is to take the bus only part way (to the transfer point) then I walk the rest. 

Today it was snowing again and I was struck with headaches/minor seizures that forced me to nap. That means few steps. I marched in my livingroom for 3500 steps so far. I'll watch a basketball or hockey game this evening and do a few more thousand. I've got 64 oz of water in, along with 30 oz of coffee. Gonna switch to tea tomorrow in case the coffee is causing some of this headache. It doesn't usually. 

I've eaten really well today (I usually do) and I still have plenty of calories to play with. I'll have to have supper pretty soon or it will become too late.

I think I'm going to have to go to the gym tomorrow simply to get enough activity in. Weekends and winter are a struggle. I'm determined though. I MUST do this and sitting around is not going to cut it.

[dancefoxtrot]

@Glenda

Wow that is shocking news about your brother. Sorry to hear about his condition. I hope that he beats it as some men do in spite of it being aggressive.  I have a friend that is still ca free 10 yrs later.  He changed his diet, took supplements after surgery and maybe radiation. I don't remember the details now but it seemed amazing that he beat the rotten cancer.

I hope that your brother is one of the survivors, 

Not all of us are towers of will power. Just do what you can to eat fresh healthy food in sensible portion and dance or walk at home if it is frozen outside.

We are all pulling for each other. Today I have taken only 7600 and it is nearly bedtime. It is okay to take that journey in the way you like. 

Well since I'm watching a movie on TV with multiple commercial that I mute I think I'll walk a bit during the commercials. 

We can do this in each our own way.

[dancefoxtrot]

@_Lilac_

Hi 

Cover all the holes on the recorder including the one on the back. Lift the lowest finger then lowest 2, then 3, etc. You have just played a scale. Don't worry about learning notes at first just create your own tune. If you can type you can play the recorder a bit. Enjoy. It's great to hear how you are able to find ways to walk in spite of the weather. You are wonderfully determined. 

Have you seen the info about CBD element in cannabis reducing seizures in children? Amazing improvement demonstrated. The grower's made a specific strain with low THC so they don't get stoned just seizure control occurs. Sanjay Gupta narrated it on CNN. Does Canada recognize this form of medicine?

All the best strong challenger,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@Bobbinyc

Well I just watched your video clip of Stephen Jepson and is he a character. He was born the same year I was and as much as I dance I would not be skate boarding, unicycling or walking on a rope off the ground. Holy cow! I ended up watching a few of his videos some of which weren't as risky to try so more my speed. 

He has a great attitude about inventing tasks and challenging himself. Interesting in one of his videos he stressed how much improved your brain is by trying new things even if you aren't very good at it after a month's practice. So new and different seems to work. 

Stand on 1 foot on the ground is my speed or even walking on a 2x6 on the ground as well for balance. 

Thanks for sharing this enthusiastic person with us. Making our own play ground sound like fun. I really used to like the jungle gym as a child as well as the swings. 

Walking or dancing briskly puts us in the fat burning range before we get to cardio. I think that we need some of both. Those ab muscles are still there just waiting to belly dance again. Do you have any mid eastern or greek music for inspiration?

Hope that your conference was interesting. 

Up past 2 AM again so off to sleep again, perchance to dream.

Warmest wishes,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

@A_Lurker

Your mom sounds like me in her pattern of starting off on one task and before completion moving on to the next, etc.. Making many trips back and forth to get different tools. It certainly get many steps in. 

I think that the Fitbit is wonderful but if I ate extra calories to go by what they assign us I'd be gaining more weight. If I get to the end of the evening and I'm a little hungry I'm pleased so my body can burn my fat while I sleep. 

I don't understand eating each calorie they alot since how in the world can the system measure your own metabolism? I think it is based on an average and lots of us aren't average in our metabolism. 

I agree with you that some steps are more active than others and therefore burn cals. at a different rate. 

All the best,

Barb G

[dancefoxtrot]

@A_Lurker

Your mom sounds like me in her pattern of starting off on one task and before completion moving on to the next, etc.. Making many trips back and forth to get different tools. It certainly get many steps in. 

I think that the Fitbit is wonderful but if I ate extra calories to go by what they assign us I'd be gaining more weight. If I get to the end of the evening and I'm a little hungry I'm pleased so my body can burn my fat while I sleep. 

I don't understand eating each calorie they alot since how in the world can the system measure your own metabolism? I think it is based on an average and lots of us aren't average in our metabolism. 

I agree with you that some steps are more active than others and therefore burn cals. at a different rate. 

I'm impressed that you are chasing 20k now as that is something I has done only 1 or 2 times in the year and a half of Fitbit tracking. That is lots of movement!

All the best,

Barb G

[Glenda]

                                     There is a new prostate cancer treatment that has a 98% cure rate and only 5 treatments instead of 5 weeks of less effective ratiation treatments.  In case you hear of anyone newly diagnosed, it is called cyberknife.  

 It almost never freezes here in the subtropical Houston Texas area.   It often is too hot, humid , buggy  or too sunny & sweaty for walking outside.  I have shade, airconditioning, and a big fan in front of my treadmill with fast music and a newspaper on my book holder.  If I read on the sofa I feel guilty.  So reading on my treadmill saves me from guilt and wins me a self pat on the back.  It is easier to maintain a good habit too I think when I don't have to consider weather or appearance maybe?.

[Glenda]

                                    Barbara G, or am I supposed to address this to DanceFoxTrot?  Anyway I'm concerned that you are going to bed at 2 am.   Seems like that can't be good for you.  If it didn't cost a ridiculous amount ($135.) I whould suggest you go to myshuti.com and read about their online program to develope better sleep habits and skills.   "SHUTi"

     I agree with you about tight rope walking.  I do that in my kitchen more safely by just walking the groute lines of my kitchen tile, in retangles around my Island.  Glenda

[almost_where]

Turkey Day Weight - 275 - (11/25)

Sunday 1 - 274 - (11/27)

Sunday 2 - 272 - (11/24) - CW

Sunday 3 - - - (12/11) 

Sunday 4 - - - (12/18) 

Christmas Goal = 266 lbs.

-2 lb

If you go for a walk in 20 degree weather with all the right clothing & layers but forget your gloves the only thing you are going to remember about that walk is your hands froze. Then the next time you want to go for a walk you will remember your prior one which might disuade you from going.  Wearing incorrect layers is the same thing as forgetting your gloves. Find a good knowledgable sales rep (i recommend like an ems or rei outdoor type store) and get everything down head to toe. Even getting in a half mile walk when its cold out does wonders for the soul. If you live in a warm climate, then the rules still apply.

Happy Stepping

[Glenda]

You probably know, keeping up your body temperature in the cold uses calories. Sweating in heat doesn't help.

[A_Lurker]

@dancefoxtrot- I look at the calories burned as a baseline.  I do think I hit the average on calories burned though, which is nice.  It allows me to plan and eat around it.  I've been particularly bad this week.  I was off work for a few days and fighting the urge to just lay down and eat.  I kept the eating in check but... have come pretty close to finishing off a tin of quality street chocolates that I bought to mix in with the cookies I bake for the people at the plant.  I was trying to eat enough calories and opened the chocolates (knowing I was still burning enough to make up for it).  Since I'm not calorie counting anymore I just keep a running total in my head, but I know I'll likely been over this week.  I'm still down this week so overall I'm happy.

I think it's important to get a baseline on how accurate your numbers are.  For me though, this took well over 6 months until I got to the point where I could trust the numbers.  I'm actually eating more than I was over 60 pounds ago.  Yes, I'm more active, but my daily burns are roughly the same.  I've added steps to keep my calories burned high.  I find chronically undereating more of a problem when I'm trying to lose weight.  My body becomes very efficient at running on fewer calories and then I stop losing weight.  So, for me at least, eating enough is something I need to do.

[A_Lurker]

---

@A_Lurker wrote:

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

---

I had a touch of something this week, possibly flu - just a horribly upset stomach.  It threw me completely off whatever plan I was trying to follow.  I could have just curled up and not eaten anything, not moved, whatever.  So I just made a point to keep moving and ate what I felt like.  Not sure how it started, but it ended with an 870g tin of Quality Street chocolates that I've had in the house for well over a month.  I made some soup and pretty much ate soup, chocolates and fruit all week.  I went back to work on Thursday and ended up buying lunch out of the vending machine both days (2 x cups of kraft dinner, which I never eat, although the two together are only 440 cals).  I managed yesterday to get back to a more normal meal schedule and have made breakfast bakes for the next few days.  Anyway, crappy eating with enough movement still led to a weight loss this week - and the tin is empty.  I'm not opening another until I'm making up the Christmas stuff in a couple of weeks.

USW: 407.0

CSW: 360.0 (Feb 2016)
PW: 267.4 (11/27/16)
CW: 265.8 (-1.6)
GW: 259.2 (Christmas)
LT: 2.14 lbs/week for 44 weeks

[Glenda]

                                    A_Lurker,  After reading about soup here recently, yesterday when it was unusually cold here, in the 60s, I made some soup.  Nice and hot & enjoyed it lots.  Hit the spot.  This is definitley the season for hot soup.  I had some that was only 100 calories for a whole cup.  When I was young I ate a lot of tomato soup for a while, having dental work done, and lost weight,  but last year noticed it is full of sugar.  !!!  That makes sense because it wouldn't have any calories at all without sugar.  Gives me pause now though.

[A_Lurker]

@Glenda- acidic tomatoes can need some kind of sweetening if you're just making a straight tomato soup.  I'm assuming when canning soup that sweetener is automatically added as the tomatoes come in bulk containers with varying ripeness.  If you were making your own tomato soup you might not need a sugar added.  Tomato juice on it's own is ~40 cals a cup, so I'm assuming that a tomato soup is more thickened tomatoes.  Tomato is one of those vegetables (well, scientifically it's a fruit) that can add more calories than you would think if used in large amounts.  However, if making a soup with some tomatoes in it I wouldn't worry about it in the least.

[_Lilac_]

I think the boards are messing up a bit. Tech issues. Hopefully they get it sorted out soon. 

I feel crappy. This headache is still plaguing me. I went for a 4000 step walk earlier and felt I didn't have energy, so maybe I'm fighting a bug going around. 

Water and tea consumed today, healthy food, and the scale is being nice to me. I lost two pounds this week. I'll do the official weigh in tomorrow I guess. 

I'm looking forward to going to the pool tomorrow. Weekends suck for trying to get in a good workout. I'm nowhere near my daily goal, though some days I exceed it. I blame the weather. I know the weather is simply a hurdle that I need to make my way over. It's my fault if I don't do the work. I am going to have to become creative in getting my activity while in the house this winter. Most of our sidewalks don't get plowed by the city and homeowners are not required to clear them here. We just get too much snow to do that. Walking on the streets is soon going to be problematic. Honestly, it's problematic for me right now or I'd be out there chugging along. Lots to think about...

We have exactly three weeks until the end of this challenge. Three weeks goes by so fast! We can do this...all of us. Get your goal in mind and think of that number when faced with holiday extras around us. Can your calorie budget afford it? Can you burn enough to earn that treat? 

[Glenda]

                                    A_Lurker,  after I posted about the soup I realized I probably should have mentioned I am a HOPELESS cook and my soup was right out of a can.  My recent soup was Progresso light / Creamy potato with bacon & cheese with only 2 g sugar and 100 calories for 1 cup.  Campbells tomato soup has 12g of sugar and 90 calories for only 1/2 cup.  I would nnever make soup from scratch.  And soup in a can has the calorie count on the side.  

    ...............No one considers tomatoes fruit because all the other fruit has lots of sugar in it.  .  

This last week I made a huge mistake for a non cook by not following the recipe exactly for my nominee for the best new favorite Thanksgiving dish: carrots with the red chillies and ginger, shalot sauce.  I still ate 3 pounds of carrots.  So good

[_Lilac_]

@Glenda  You won't make homemade soup and I won't eat soup out of a can or any other pre-made soup. It's so full of salt and preservatives and it is NEVER as good tasting as homemade. My great grandmother was the best soup maker in the world and she taught my mom and she taught me. My adult children beg for 'grammy's soup or grammy's stew' when they want the comfort of home. 

[_Lilac_]

Well, well well, in regard to my  last self-pitying post about the weather and not getting enough activity on weekends, something interesting happened. My daughter texted from work saying she hadn't brought food for her 8 hour shift and could I bring her something. My first reaction was to say no because it was dark out, the walking isn't super safe with some black ice. But then I thought, 'what the heck am I doing??' I was making excuses for NOT going out and getting exercise. I had slipped into my old way of thinking...that it was too much effort. So I told her I would bring her food. I had 25 min to get the meal together and make it there. I arrived just as her lunch break started. I turned around and came right home. 3500 steps at a great pace and cardio heart rate. 8800 for the day (all at fat burning and cardio rate) and I can get the last 1200 easily by marching in front of the tv. Woohoo. No excuses! Stupid ice is going to be on our sidewalks til April. I have to work around it. I have to DO something instead of whine. None of us can use any excuses!