Thanksgiving to New Years Eve Challenge 2015

[saraj91]

Hi All! 

This is the Thanksgiving to New Years Eve Challenge... Welcome !!

We'll begin on Thanksgiving, November 26th and finish on New Years Eve, December 31st. This gives us 5 weeks for this challenge so set your goals accordingly & don't worry if you don't hit them, it's not all about the numbers, it's about how you feel about your own health & being part of a fun, supportive group. 

To join the challenge all you need to do is post your weight stats & check in as often as you like with an update or just to share a story from your week. This group has proven to be so supportive the last 2 challenges I've been a part of so I hope you find it just as great to be a part of as well.

So, enjoy being part of the group & have fun working towards your goals! 

 
A little rundown of terminology for anyone who is new (thanks @awood08 for this list from the last challenge).

USW- Ultimate Starting Weight

CSW- Current Starting Weight

GW- Goal Weight

UGW- Ultimate Goal Weight

PW- Previous Weight

CW- Current Weight

MFP- My Fitness Pal

[HelenKr]

@HelenaFitbit  I'm trying to drink more water too and get more sleep too.  I keep a water bottle on me at all times now and it has helped.  Sleep can be hard to manage with working a busy job and also having a long commute.  Plus my kids are stressing about their finals and I am feeling that stress too.  I'm going to bed earlier, but still struggling to get 7 hours of sleep.  I am making it some times and generally coming pretty close most of the time and I do feel better.

Trying to get 10k steps in every day, but some days it's just hard.  I get in extra when I can though so I can get over 70k for the week.

Have a great week everyone!

[KimShea]

Hello, I'd like to join.  

I'm new here - just got my fitbit for my birthday on the 2nd & enjoying it so far!  Let's see - my USW I guess would be 235 several years ago prior to gastric bypass.  Maybe 7 years ago now?  After that I got down to about 135 or so, but in the years since have gained quite a bit back.  I'm currently at 178.  I'd like to drop maybe 4 pounds during this challenge.  At my most recent dr. appt, she upped my blood pressure meds and told me to start walking.  Hence the fitbit! LOL!  When I elected surgery all those years ago it was because I honestly feared I would not live to see my children grow up.  More and more issues with blood pressure and astronomically high cholesterol.  For many years after I was able to give up all medications, but about a year or so ago had to go back on a low dose blood pressure med.  Now she's had to increase the dosage.  I do not ever want to go back to where I was, so I'm working to get back to a healthy BMI again.  I had been running a lot and got up to doing one lonely half marathon.  My goal for December is to just get back to walking regularly, and then I've signed up for a virtual 5k on New Years day, which I intend to walk.  After that, I will start running a bit again, and my new years resolution is one 5K or higher every month in 2016.  I love the idea of this challenge to get me through December!

So:

USW 235 (early 2006ish??)

CSW 178

CGW 174

UGW 145

Hope I got those abbreviations right!

[healthyin2016]

Thank you!

[ninjamidget25]

@saraj91 - I've always been a night owl and falling asleep is much harder than staying asleep for me.  I've found that taking a melatonin (10mg) an hour before bed helps to make me tired enough to fall asleep.   That's all I've got 🙂

[healthyin2016]

Ok ladies, I have always wanted to be a jogger... I am about as far from it as can be. For those of you who run any tips?! I will probably have to start on the treadmill since we are getting to the very cold times. I have downloaded c25k but don't know what speeds qualify as what... and I get winded fast. I am fine with repeating weeks if needed. Just looking for any advice one may have. TIA 🙂 Turning 38 on the 21st of this month and I WILL jog my first 5k in 2016

[awood08]

@ninjamidget25 @saraj91

Same here, I take 10mg Melatonin each night and it doesn't make me fall asleep but makes my sleep more restful with less periods of being awake or restless

[jescoleman]

Checking in:

USW- 185 lbs

CSW- 181.4lbs

GW- 175 lbs

UGW- 135 lbs

This past week presented a number of challenges. First, my fitbit became defective. I wasn't able to sync with anything. Luckily, it's under the 1 year warranty and my replacement should be here Wednesday. My wrist feels so naked right now.

Setback number two is I learned I will be losing my gym membership come 1/1 due to changes in my benefits program. Luckly, my mom has an old treadmill I'll be able to use.

I'm learning how to handle stress and disappointment in life without falling face first into a bag of oreos. So I'm taking the .5 loss as a win and setting determination at NOT letting these minor set backs completely derail my goals. Here's to another week of being a work in prorgess

[awood08]

@healthyin2016

I started my weight loss journey in June and just ran my first 5k in October. The C25k only tells you to jog or walk fast and doesn't give you the speed, after a few weeks I figured out what my key jogging and walking speed is (4.7-5 for jogging) and 3.5 for brisk walking. You'll have to play trial and error and see what speeds you work well at 🙂

I can tell you from personal experience, when you cross that finish line, you feel INCREDIBLE!!! 🙂 Good luck!

[kynoel]

Good Morning Everyone!!  I haven't had a chance to check in at the end of last week.  So I have lost 1 pound since starting this challenge.  I have been trying to increase my activity by walking or taking a class at the gym.  I thought I would be losing a little faster starting out.  However, I do feel better overall.  My energy level has been up as well!!  So I will say my first full week has been a success.  I am very deteremined to stay on track and make a lifestyle change.  I wish everyone success this week with their weight loss goals!!!!

USW   196.6

CW     185.5

GW     175

UGW   155

[IamRBrown]

Well, I'm not going to post the full statistics today - I posted on Friday.  BUT...  I did drop those 2 pounds I had found!  YAY! 

On the topic of sleep... I'm pre-menopausal & staying asleep can be a real struggle right now.  I've found a few things that work well:

• Melatonin - can do wonders if you are low, but doesn't work for me - my levels are normal & it makes no difference in my sleep pattern.  It is worth a try for others since all bodies are a little different.
• St John's Wort - good for stress since it basically does what I call "mood-leveling" and that is something I NEED when the harmones are kicking!  Be careful if you take it with birthcontrol, tho - it can cause the birth control to not be as effective...
• Valerian Root - stinks to the heavens, but is a great relaxer.  I haven't noticed it making me sleepy, but I sure rest better if I do take it.
• Benedryl - as an allergy sufferer, I know all about the "sleepy" that goes with this one...  a nurse told me once that Tylenol PM is just tylenol with benedryl...  not sure how accurate that was, but it makes sense.  I don't take benedryl much since I feel sluggish the next day when I do, but it is a good one occasionally.

Good luck with the challenge!

[saraj91]

Hey @awood08 @ninjamidget25 @IamRBrown

Thank you for the advice when it comes to getting enough zzz's 

There is a brand in the UK called Nytol, not sure if its the same state side, which is a one a night tablet, they also do a herbal version. Think I might try those & going to try having a warm drink like some lemon tea (which I love) before bed instead of a cold glass of squash, see if that makes me feel a bit cozier lol!

@healthyin2016 I jog at least twice a week & when I started I was running laps round my local park. I would run one side or one part of the track then walk the next & so on, gradually building up to being able to do a full lap. Then I would complete 1 lap & then walk for a bit, get my breath back, have a sip of water & then onto the next one.

Some things that I have found to be important when I jog are being comfortable in what I am wearing, otherwise I found it distracting constantly having to 'adjust' lol, you don't have to invest in expensive running gear (my leggings were £12 & top £8), but I found it much easier to concentrate on the running itself if I felt comfortable & confident in what I was wearing. Oh & if you enjoy running & want to keep at it I would recommend getting how you run analysed at a running/sports shop so that you get the right type of running shoe. 

I found it important to keep hydrated in the day. If you know you're going for a run one night then in that day make sure to drink plenty, if I didn't I got a bad headache after my run, but everyone is different so this might just be me.

Also, I found having something fun to listen to was a great way to get through a run. I have a running playlist of some up tempo songs which I'm always changing & a few go-to podcasts that are always good for a distraction, 'Kermode & Mayo film review' is a good podcast if you like movies. 

Good luck & have fun, all the best! 

[Bri_8810]

Well sadly I did not do very good last week. With 2 work Christmas parties it was hard to eat healthy and get in my regular exercise. Not to mention I am also studying for my finals this week. Heres my stats! Hopefully this week I do  better!

USW:162

CSW: 154.3 (12/1/15)

CW: 155.9 (12/7/15)

GW:144.3

UGW:120

[ca-north]

I am new here and joining my first community.

I thought this would be a great start to get me through the holidays. I am currently at my peak weight -10lbs more than when I gave birth (8 yrs ago)

CW - 176.5
UGW - 140

Challenge goal 5lbs

[HelenKr]

@ca-north - I can really relate to your post. I was 10 pounds more than when I gave birth to my kids (now 20 and 22) and that's just exactly how I felt about it. Started my weight loss journey at the end of September and have lost 15 pounds. Still have a way to go. good luck to you.

[Gubbi]

Hi, I can relate too...I weigh about 15lbs more than I did when I gave birth 10 years ago...The important thing is that we are taking steps to change that...All the very best!

[SmithNation]

Starting late in this challenge, but I thought it would still help me stay on track!

USW 12/03/15= 197.8 lbs

CSW 12/08/15= 196.8 lbs.

GW 12/31/15= 193.0 lbs.

UGW= 150.0 lbs.

Shoo, that UGW sounds so far away... 12/31/15 GW gives me hope!

Thanks for this!

[flgirl2015]

Checking In.... I must say I love the Aria scale, I love how it keeps track for me, and keeps me honest! No fudging numbers or leaving out a decimal!

CSW- 203 estimated

CW - 200.9
GW- 195 as of 1-1-2016
UGW- 145
PW- 215-ish

[awood08]

I'm getting so close to my goal, and while I'm very excited and happy, I'm also kind of worried. I should be proud of myself. I've worked so hard to get here but I feel like I am becoming obsessed with my physical appearance. Not sure if anyone else feels like this? I've never been self concious of my appearance until this year, now I'm constantly worried about what I look like at all times, even with my husband of 7 years. I'm afraid I'm never going to feel like enough weight loss is enough. Sorry if this sounds crazy, I just can't put my finger on what's going on mentally 😞

USW 6/16: 235

CSW 11/26: 188

PW 12/1: 187

CW 12/8: 184

GW 12/31: 180

UGW 1/6: 175

[1missydog]

Are people (your husband, or friends) responding in a positive way to your weight loss? If they are not telling you that you need to lose more weight, then you can be pretty sure these messages are coming from inside you. I also get such feelings when I'm close to (or at) my goal weight. Sometimes we expect losing weight and being at goal will somehow magically make life perfect in every way, and when it doesn't we think that maybe if we just lost five more pounds the magic orb will descend upon us. The truth is, if you expect being at goal to make life perfect and without pain, you will be very disappointed. I would urge you to enjoy and celebrate in every way being at goal and to try to let go of the other negative feelings. BTW, congratulations at reaching your goal! Sent from my iPad mini

[IamRBrown]

It is normal to wonder if enough is enough... but you know if you are where you need to be.  If you are not hearing positive feedback from family & friends - shame on them!  It could be that some of them are a little jealous, tho.  The main thing is you did it! 

Congratulations on achieving your goal & now switch gears and set a goal of maintaining a healthy weight...

I have a LONG way to go before I get to even semi-healthy weight & I admire you for the staying power to get where you wanted to be.  You are a positive role model and give me hope that I can get there too.