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

[rissadoodlebop]

@DJRMel - You're soooo close to your goal weight! Congrats on keeping it up! 

[Brown-eyedG2]

Please join us at
https://www.fitbit.com/group/22KLTT
Spring Into Summer 2016
See you there!

[OCDOC]

I love this group (and its predecessors). It has definitely kept me motivated.

Just an observation on my '2 month anniversay' (did the New year's to Val Day group..).

For the last week, I stopped driving for mega steps (20K per day), and instead do either 20 minutes of HIIT or 40 mins weights daily. (I was walking >3 hrs/day to hit 20K). I've also REALLY focused on diet.

It's early, but my weight is falling FASTER than when I was walking like a madman.

Anybody have similar experiences or comments? I'm thinking the diet micro-managing is the thing that's working here, but I'm surprised (and kinda happy) that dropping my step ambition seems to not hurt.  Rob K

[rissadoodlebop]

@OCDOC I have not had this happen to me as of yet, but I'm sure you've heard of that "fitness is made in the kitchen not the gym" quote. I think you're an example of that happening right now! Since you've begun to really work on your diet, it seems to be giving you some real fast results! 🙂 Congrats! Hopefully it continues to stretch you towards your ultimate goal!

[HelenKr]

@OCDOC - I agree with @rissadoodlebop's comments.  Also, it sounds like your keeping your activity levels up where it's considered a healthy lifestyle vs sedentary which may have health issues even if you're not overweight.  Congrats on your success!

[DJC_63]

Interesting ! I can't do even 10k without being sore all over that night and the next day, so I don't gave experience with your results. But I hope it's true! I've been doing 40-45 minutes on the elliptical instead of 30, and I'm SO tired and sore. I feel like I should be able to do this with no pain. Maybe it's my age(52). I have a hard time accepting that my body isn't the same as it used to be. Anyone else here have a similar experience?

[Caymanjet]

I am the same. Just last evening when I was walking with my husband. He said its the first time you haven't asked me to slow down. With walking on a regular basis I have gained stamina and strength.

[RubyH]

@DJC_63, make sure you are wearing good supportive shoes at all times, sounds like early onset of osteoarthritis or some form of inflammation. You should be tired after exercise, not necessarily sore unless you are overdoing it. Build up slowly as your body is your best guide.

[RubyH]

@OCDOC, my Surge and Aria arrived today and both connected without any issues, thanks for your info. Keep on tracking those macros, it makes a world of difference, so I have found. I am a little ocd about mine, but found with all my issues (health wise and weight wise) that I have to be. Good wishes and best luck.

[fbuser2015]

Checking in!

I was getting completely frustrated with my scale over the last few weeks. I understand weight fluctuates over time, but I would hop on the scale within a span of like 2 minutes and there would be sometimes a 5lb spread. Too much variability for me lol, plus I lost the instructions and some of the functions (i.e. body fat, etc.) either I couldn't remember how to activate it or it was just broken, so I went and got a fitbit scale today. Even though it wasn't an optimal time to weigh (after working out and eating) I went ahead and weighed. I'll probably try and weigh in the AM to see if there is any difference. Glad to finally see some movement (or my true weight), still a ways to go to goal.

SW: 212.5

PW: 212

CW: 210.8 (3/1/16)

Total Challenge Loss: 1.7 lbs

[hadley1979]

@OCDCD I have had similar results. Weighing food to the gram, watching my
macros and eating a mostly clean, vegetarian diet has helped me see
noticeable results. I also think that the inforced down time has helped too
so will be adding rest days into my routine from now on. Good luck with you
goals.

[saraj91]

Hello all, checking in one more time before we head off on holiday for a few weeks on Saturday.

The next few evenings are a bit hectic as we are house cleaning, out to dinner with family & packing so here goes with my stats. I maintained the 1lb loss I saw last week so that is a positive! I was cheeky & hopped on the scales Saturday morning & saw that I had gone down another 1lb to 131 but then I had an amazing day Saturday & we celebrated with Pizza & a few, ok a lot, of drinks!  It was totally worth it, it's fun to treat yourself! So with that in mind I was really pleased to see that I was still at 132 when I got on the scales this morning.

I will try & check in when we are away, it's time & wifi dependant, but if I don't, then good luck to you all for the rest of the challenge, I'm sure you're all gonna smash it! I will look forward to catching up with the challenge when we're back.

USW 23/3: 186

PW 26/2: 132

CW 2/3: 132

GW 27/3: 130

UGW 23/6: 126

[KimShea]

Weigh in Wednesday

USW 235

PW (1/1/16) - 178.7

CSW (2/13/16) - 177.2

Avg, week ending 2/20 - 178

Avg, week ending 2/26 - 175.6

Today 3/2/16 - 175.5

GW - 174

UGW - 145

Feeling pretty good about progress.  Need to do better with steps though.

[Nikodemus]

Starting a little late but I just got my fitbit yesterday morning. I started losing weight for a biggest loser challenge at work and I just kept going after the challenge ended. I'm hoping to reach my goal weight before my birthday (May, 14th) but my real goal date is the end of May (31st).

USW- 198

CSW- 168

GW- 161

UGW- 150

[Samalama217]

It's weigh-in time.  So I got my mojo back at the gym since I am not pounding down the baked goods anymore.  But the hunger monster is here and I've been snacking like a fiend.  And I haven't been logging these snacking binges because I'm too scared to see the damage.  Unfortunately, the scales reveal it 😞

Starting weight (2-10-16): 137.8 lbs
2-17-16: 137.4 lbs
2-25-16: 138 lbs

3-2-16: 139.4 lbs (this is a weight gain challenge, right? 😛 )
Goal weight by Easter: 135 lbs

I've been eating out a lot with friends as well and that isn't helping.  I've resolved to checking myself before I wreck myself further.  Peeled a bunch of fruit yesterday so I eat that instead of bad things (I'm that person that won't eat fruit unless it's washed and peeled and ready to eat).   It's still early.  It's a new month.  I'm going to leave all of the ugliness of February behind me!

[rissadoodlebop]

@Samalama217 Ugh... I HATE when I go out to eat! I love love eating out, but I really hate how the scale can show it!!! They say the best way to curb snacking is to not have it in the house. I can't really say too much as I literally have a stockpile of chocolate in the pantry leftover from V-Day but I've been refraining from eating the whole bag. Plus it doesn't help that the husband likes snacking... *sigh*. But! You're still doing well towards your goal! I'm sure you can reach it before the end of March - very doable! 🙂 I'd recommend some cardio and some low-cal meals for a week and if your binge-snacks don't just drop off with extra! 🙂 You're doing good! 

[rissadoodlebop]

@KimShea You're doing awesome with progress!!!!  I wish I could do as well as you have! Keep doing what you're doing, it looks like it's working for you! 

[OCDOC]

@rissadoodlebop  @Samalama217

Yup...those temptations can be irresistable.

After a 'perfect' food day yesterday, at 11pm I attacked the cookies my wife had bought and left on the kitchen counter. Big glass of milk...amazingly delicious.

Thankfully we got a big dump of snow overnight; let's hope all the shovelling burnt off those delicious morsels!  🙂  Rob

[rissadoodlebop]

Weigh In Wednesday: 

SW: 152.0 (01.17.16)

CW: 144.2 (03.02.16)

GW: 140.0 (03.31.16)

UGW: 123.0 (08.18.16)

I have started back in my cardio routine of doing at least 20minutes of HIIT cardio/day. Also I have upped my veggie/fruit intake to the recommended 5 servings/day and am also still sticking with my low-cal diet plan as suggested. I have bought a new scale (not an Aria) that I can see my weight and my body fat % I'm hoping this will get me motivated that even if I don't see the scale number change, I might see the Body Fat % going down! 

[Bogdel]

Congratulation, @ms1960! I know the feeling. Keep it up, friend!

Ellie