Valentines Day to Easter Challenge 2016

[saraj91]

Welcome to the next challenge! 

This one will run from Valentines day to Easter, so from February 14th to March 27th. Everyone and anyone can join this challenge in which we all set our own weight loss goals, this gives us 7 weeks in total to work towards them! 

This group of lovely people provides encouraging support and words of advice as we all share our experiences, good and bad. It has proved beyond helpful to myself and many others as we become healthier and achieve amazing things.

To be part of the challenge you start by posting your initial weight stats and what you would like to achieve by the end of the challenge. You can then check in as often as you'd like with a weight update, to share a story from your week or start a conversation about a topic you'd like some advice on.

 
So excited for us to keep working towards our goals with the fantastic friends from the last challenges and a big 'Hello!' to all the challenge newbies! 

Thank you @awood08 for kicking off the last challenge! 

 
A little rundown of terminology for anyone who is new: 

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

[ffcarpy]

@fbuser2015  I love how you said ONEderland!  Looks like we have similiar goals.  Keep going and maybe we can help hold ourselves accountable...

[HelenKr]

My weekly checkin.  Happy to be reporting a loss again, but I was hoping for more than .4 pounds.  LIke @dianenyc my downfall has been bread (and potatoes).  Nothing too crazy, but I have one of them at most noon and evening meals.  Guess I have to try to dig in little harder - that's ok,  as I'm determined to lose this weight.  I know it's about the long term and has to be a lifestyle change.

Congrats to everyone who is posting losses!  And those of you that are struggling, get back in, you can do it!  Remember nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.  Well, doesn't have to be skinny, but I mean a healthy weight where you can be happy when you look in the mirror and enjoy good health and energy.

Good luck all!

USW:   173        (10/2015)

CSW:   156.8      (2/14/16)

CW:     155.2      (2/20/16)

CW:     154.8

GW:      149     

UGW:    135

[DJC_63]

@HelenKr  I know what you mean about bread, it's one of my favorite things! This week I keep thinking of a yummy cupcake with a bunch of frosting. I noticed a new Pure Barre place in a shopping plaza, and thought it ironic that there is a cupcake place right beside it.  I rarely allow myself any bread, only on the rare occasion that I eat a sandwich out somewhere.  

I had a pleasant discovery this morning. My scale weighed me at 199.0 but it only rounds to the 1/2 pound. Later I weighed myself on a different scale and I'm actually down to 198.6!! If I weighed on that scale first thing in the a.m. without clothes I think I'd be 198. I'm so excited!! I did 2 really intense workouts this week so it's nice to see a reward.  My body doesn't seem to lose weight very easily but little by little I'm getting there. Yay!

[Elansc]

Weigh in was this morning and i am down another 0.8 lbs!! If i can keep it up i should be able to meet my goal for easter but i think i will try to take another 50 calories off my daily max. I also think that i need the psychological boost of getting to the 170's

Met my step goal each day and my calorie goal 6 of 7 days! That one day i wasnt logging throughout the day and i was surprized at the total calories once i logged everything in.... 😳

It is great to see that so many of us are successfully losing!

Weight on Feb 15th 184.2
Weight on Feb 21st 181.8
Weight on Feb 28th 181
GW 177 (by Easter)
UGW 165 (by June 30)

[Elansc]

Great news and great work DJC 63!! Every little bit adds up to a lot -- just 1/2 pound every week = 26 pounds light this time next year!

[Caymanjet]

I have found loosing weight a great struggle and to maintain even harder. This time around I am doing Jenny Craig, so I don't have to focus on food. I add vegetables and one fruit to what they give me. I keep a check on the calories out of habit and can sneak in a small glass of wine or chocolate treat, (my usual down fall). If I keep between 1100 and 1300 calories a day I see a very small weight loss, but over time it adds up. Down 23.4lb since September. Keep going, you can do it.

[awood08]

I finally dropped those dreaded pounds that were hanging around! I have noticed an inch decrease in my waist line so that's also very welcoming 🙂

My husband and I's friends got married last week just out of the blue at the courthouse after being together for 10 years. Didn't tell anyone, just went off and surprise....got married! So last night we threw them a surprise reception and had a blast! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend 🙂

USW  6/16/15 235

CSW  2/12/16 169

PW    2/23/16 173

CW    2/28/16 170

UGW  6/16/16 160

[dancefoxtrot]

ffcarpy

Steam up lots of veggies to get full with low carb, high fiber and this can create fullness. Healthy fats like walnuts, salmon and avocados help with fullness feelings too. 

Health matters,

Barbara 

[dancefoxtrot]

ffcarpy

Do you like to dance? Any exercise that gets your heart rate up helps your metabolism burn up those calories better. Many experts say weight loss is 80% dietary changes and 20% exercise.  So add some more steps each day can help.  Put on your favorite tunes and dance about or walking a few extra blocks even inside your house. Small changes add up. 

Best,

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

swimr 

Holy cow 18 or 19 BMI I'm impressed. You are at low end of healthy weight. Congrats.!!!

I get happy when I'm  in the 21 BMI range. Right now I've drifted up to 22.1 so buckling down on less late night eating. 

Barb

[Bogdel]

@Elle0904, I am impressed and inspired by your discipline and determination. I didn't do as well during the last couple of weeks. A bigger dog bit my little Yorkie (Angel) pretty badly, and I spent most of my days around the house, taking care of her. She is now almost healed, and I am able to take her for walks, again. Yesterday I reached the 10,000 steps, and I plan on being more intentional in reaching that on a daily bases. I lost about 4.5 lbs since we started this challenge, and I have abut 5.5 lbs more to lose on this challenge. If I continue to lose about 2.5 lbs/week, I expect that I will be loosing more 5 lbs that by Easter (maybe 7-8 lbs, Lord willing). 

Thanks for sharing about your activities and meal planning. It is inspiring. I have been able to keep my calories on the low side (except for one day, when I ate out, and broke the rule). So far, I have only been walking, but I am thinking about going to the Rec Center, and begin to work out some of the muscle groups. 

Best wishes to you, as you continue your journey on a healthy path!

[Bogdel]

Hi, @dancefoxtrot! Great advise! In addition to steamed veggies, I also like to eat many of them raw (mostly in salads). My basic salad includes lettuce or spinach, mixed with carrots, celery, and a lot of parsley leaves. I fix a big batch and keep it in an air tight container, in the fridge, for several days. When I serve myself, daily, I add a few walnuts, dry cranberries, green beans, or quinoa seeds. I change what I add to eat from one day to another, so it tastes a bit differently each day. I never use salad dressings. On the meat side, I eat chicken, tuna, or turkey burgers (without bread). 

I pay close attention to Fit Bit's feedback on intake vs. burn out calories, and that keeps me on track. So far, as long as I did my daily walks, I have not reached any plateau. I am very thankful for that. 

Best wishes to you and all!

[Papa-Paul]

You're doing great, DJC_63 ! Anything in a downward direction is progress and an encouragement to just stick with it. Go for it!!

[Papa-Paul]

Inspiring, awood08! You are kicking butt!!

[Ppaatt]

It's a great feeling isn't it 😀😀😀

[Chlz1997]

Thank you @dancefoxtrot for this swift kick in the rear!!  IT's just what I needed to hear going into the weekend.  AND for the first time in a LONG time I did not over-indulge.  I did have pizza with the family on Saturday but I ordered the thin crust and only had 2 slices instead of the usual 4.  On Sunday, I planned ahead and ate a big salad with broasted chicken breast before heading to my son's basketball tourney and I'm please to report I resisted the snacky concessions food!  I took a peek this morning at the scale to gage my efforts and it is showing a .4 gain but that is nothing compared to the typical 3-4 # I would have normally gained.  So going into this week feeling inspired and pumped up for a great weigh-in on Thursday.  THANK YOU for your guidance!!!  Hope your dances went well 

[MegCH]

Hello! I weighed on Saturday, but had a busy weekend so checking in now. I sayed the same this week, kind of a bummer, but am going to try changing some things for this week to see if it makes a difference. I hope it does, since this puts me not exactly on track any more for Easter 😞 Anyone have any tips on what to do?

USW: 175

CSW: 165.5

CW: 164.5 (2-28)

GW: 158

[Sine]

Had a bad week last week. A couple of cheats plus not feeling great so actually gained a pound but hoping to get that off this week - and more. 🙂

USW- 215.6 (Jan 3, 2016)

CSW- 209.4

GW- 199

UGW- 145

PW- 209.4

CW- 210.6

[Milehighkerri]

...

[rissadoodlebop]

I would like to try to! And get some accountability to get my butt into gear! 

USW- 152.0

CSW- 145.8

GW- 140.8

UGW- 123.0

PW- 156.0

CW- 145.8

*Using a FitBit Charge HR, MapMyWalk, LoseIt, MyFitnessPal* 

Working a sedentary job, where I can barely get in 10k steps/day. 

Attempting to walk 2miles/ to get in my steps after work. 

Trying out cardio in an effort to keep my metabolism up and burn more calories to help me reach my goal!

Have Hypothyroidism

5'2

26yo female

Ultimate goal date: 08/18/16