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

[eowarner]

I'm in!

CSW- 147.6

GW- 125

[HelenKr]

I'm sharing this great recipe my friend gave me for low cal/low carb breakfast in case anyone's interested.

Egg Protein Casserole

Make this recipe once a week and enjoy a piece each morning for a high powered breakfast that can get you on your way without carbohydrates.  It is flavorful and delicious, and a great way to get rid of your slightly old veggies!

Can be divided - quantities are approximate.

12 eggs
diced veggies; cleaned, cut, and sauted.  Use peppers of different colors, mushrooms, spinach, onions - whatever you like and have on hand.
olive or coconut oil for cooking veggies
16 oz. low fat cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
salt and pepper to taste.
2 oz grated cheese - not necessary if you are trying to cut calories but makes it taste good - can use mozzarella, cheddar, whatever.

Saute the veggies to remove extra water.  Break the eggs and lightly beat - I do three at a time in a separate bowl.  Blend the soft cheese, eggs, salt and pepper.  Fold in the sauteed veggies. Pour into a lightly greased 9 X 13 glass pan.  Bake at 375 for 40 minutes or until a knife comes out clean, like a cake.  Cut into 12 pieces and enjoy, one at a time.

[Barrymomof6]

I am joining in late, but joining all the same since I need the extra encouragement!!!

USW - 180

CSW - 179

GW - 176

UGW - 155-160

I am a mother of 6, ages 21-11.  The older I get the harder I find it to be active, so I am really trying to master my eating habits and exercise.  I love to exercise, but love to be lazy!  Just trying to find the balance!  I have put on about 20 pounds over the past 4 years, most of it the last year.  Some is stress eating, not exercising enough and aging!!  But I do not want to use those as excuses, so I am trying to get back on track and feel good again instead of so tired all the time!  Thanks for having me! 

[IamRBrown]

I am checking in early this week because I am REALLY excited!  For the first time since I started joining these challenges, I HIT MY CHALLENGE GOAL!!!!   Not saying I haven't lost because I have, but not met the goals...  

I got so excited I went back and totaled my weightloss since I started back last year and I am down a grand total of 21 lbs.  So...  I'm going to modify my goal a little & see if I can do a little more before next weekend. 

Here are my stats:

USW:  206 (last year)

CSW:  190

LstWk:  186

Today:  185

New Goal:  182

UGW:  160

Ruth

[sgbaumann]

Thanks!  Sounds great!

[IamRBrown]

@HelenKr - this does look good... I don't do the cottage cheese, but will do the grated sharp cheddar made with lowfat milk!  Do you have the nutritional info for the recipe?  I can put it in MyFitnessPal if you don't... 

I don't do breakfast (can't lose weight if I do - I drink coffee with about 1/8 tsp sugar and non-dairy creamer until lunchtime or early snack time).  This would make a good supper after a gym visit tho!

Ruth

[HelenKr]

@IamRBrown Ruth - I don't have the nutritional info.  If you calculate it, I would love to see it.  You can use lowfat ricotta instead the cottage cheese.  I don't like cottage cheese, but that's what was in my friend's and I liked it.  Hope you like it if you try!

[IamRBrown]

@HelenKr - Here is the link on MyFitnessPal for the recipe with nutritional info...  it may not be exact since I had to play with the veggies & each person may like theirs a little different, but it will give an idea of the calories for a "base" recipe:

It does clock in at a small 124 calories with a total of 3 g of Carbs the way I entered it, so it will be tested in my kitchen this week!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/view/273784358308925

[iniya]

very nice recipe. saving for future use.

[awood08]

I'm blown away and wanted to share. On another post a member was asking about why they weren't loosing weight. I shared my opinions and experience and advised they should choose a heathier diet. That calorie quality is important. Yes, I know calories in vs calories out is the "standard" but ultimately every body responds differently to certain foods. My downfall is starchy carbs, breads, and alcohol. I really do better with whole grain, veggies, and healthy options. I shared that with the member and was basically written off by other posters about how I was wrong, that I shouldn't have shared my own experience, that low carb is a silly way of thinking. First bad experience i've had in a Fibit forum. What do you guys think? Is your quality of food important or should we all just go on the McDonald's diet?

[sgbaumann]

It's your opinion!  Tell them what they can do with their comments!  If it makes this person who is struggling re-think his/her eating patterns, it's certainly not hurting anyone!  Geez, people need to lighten up.  And I'm SURE those who made the nasty comments are licensed nutritionists, right???  Yeah, jerks!

[medusahair]

SW- 236

Current weight - 221

GW- 209

UGW- 165

slowly but surely losing weight, may not make my challenge goal weight, but am constantly going down in weight, I will cope 🙂

[awood08]

Exactly!! I feel like we all breathe the same air, put our shoes on our feet the same way, and all have something to offer. Whether it personal experience and opinion or whatever, anything that does hinder should always be offered.

[bluenose1962]

From experience the Aria does not respond to being moved around a lot

Out of habit I have tended to take 3 readings, for peace of mind as there is nothing worse than the odd false reading and the disappointment the next day.

I also use a weight watcher scale for another opinion

I really should get out more !!

Sent from my iPhone

[Elansc]

---

@awood08 wrote:

I'm blown away and wanted to share. On another post a member was asking about why they weren't loosing weight. I shared my opinions and experience and advised they should choose a heathier diet. That calorie quality is important. Yes, I know calories in vs calories out is the "standard" but ultimately every body responds differently to certain foods. My downfall is starchy carbs, breads, and alcohol. I really do better with whole grain, veggies, and healthy options. I shared that with the member and was basically written off by other posters about how I was wrong, that I shouldn't have shared my own experience, that low carb is a silly way of thinking. First bad experience i've had in a Fibit forum. What do you guys think? Is your quality of food important or should we all just go on the McDonald's diet?

---

ignore them!  sure 1500 calories of good clean food is the "same" calories as 1500 calories at, for example, McDonald's but anyone who has changed their diet to clean eating knows

1. You feel TONS better -- your skin glows, you have more energy, you are healthier (I haven't had a full blown cold for 3+ years -- I can fight it -- a few years ago I would be sick for weeks every winter)

2.  You are not hungry -- the other day I chopped up a tomato (227.5 grams, 41 calories), a cucumber (400 grams, 60 calories), and 60 grams of light feta cheese (140 calories)  That 241 calorie salad completely filled me up UNTIL the next morning.... when I had a light breakfast because I was still full (serves me right for eating the entire cucumber but it was so tasty):smileyhappy:.  Tell me that 5 McDonald's chicken nuggets (235 calories) or a small fries (230 calories) will satisfy anyone for more than 30 minutes.... both wouldn't even do it and that is double the calories of my salad

3. And finally, you just may be reducing your risk of some pretty horrible diseases.  The research on the link between cancer and processed food that has been coming out in the last few months is simply shocking.  I am sure that someone out there thinks that it is just a group of organic farmers starting a conspiracy theory to get everyone to eat more veggies but my consumption of process foods has dramatically decreased with every study that I read

There are SO many other reasons to eat clean -- I am sure everyone has their own favourites.   

[Elansc]

---

@bluenose1962 wrote:
From experience the Aria does not respond to being moved around a lot

Out of habit I have tended to take 3 readings, for peace of mind as there is nothing worse than the odd false reading and the disappointment the next day.

I also use a weight watcher scale for another opinion

I really should get out more !!

Sent from my iPhone

---

LOL!  I also had 2 scales -- Aria and a regular digital scale and I was so depressed when the regular digital scale died.... How would I double check that my Aria reading was correct???  I, so far, have stopped myself from buying another scale but it haunts me....  Is my Aria reading correct?  Have I really lost a pound?  Should I weigh myself 3 or 4 times?  What if one of them is a bit different?  

I should also probably get out more!!!  (but I am too busy obsessing about my Aria scale)

[glitterrain]

2/13/16

USW: 200

CSW: 189

GW: 175

UGW: 135-140

3/15/16:

CSW: 180

GW: 175

I have seem to hit a wall. I haven't been able to break the 180s. 😕 Gonna go hard this week though and see if I can't break through! I am turning 33 on the 22nd and I would love to be in the 170s by then! I haven't seen that in almost 10 years!!

[Bogdel]

Hi, @awood08. I totally agree with you. Since I've changed my eating habits - eating mostly raw food, some meet, and stay very low on carbs (except for some oatmeal, once or twice a week), I am feeling better and I am not hungry as much as I used to be. Keep helping those who welcome your help, and ignore those who do not. I thought we are all here to help and encourage one another. 

Keep it up, friend!

[Bogdel]

LOL! Dear @HelenKr, if I eat that, my whole weight loss achievements would be waisted, and my cholesterol will go sky high. Sounds delicious, though, and I saved the recipe (smiling). Thanks for sharing!

[Bogdel]

Welcome, @Barrymomof6! Congratuations for joining now. I did not act as early as you did, and I ended up gaining more than that over time. I can identify with your description (except for the kids). A few months ago I learned that both my blood sugar and my cholesterol were high, and I was determined to do everything that is necessary to reverse that process. So, in addition to getting a FitBit, I started reading and learning about healthy nutrition. One thing that has helped me immensely was to eat a lot of raw food (mostly salad), and less meat, and almost no carb. Also, I noticed that if I take only 30 minutes fast walk, it makes a huge difference both to my health and to the scale. 

So, go for it, my friend. I lost 22 lbs. since I joined this forum in January, and I am looking forward to loosing another 20 lbs. by the end of the year. I believe you can do it, too. Be sure to log your food and pay attention to Fitbit's feedback.