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

[DJC_63]

My check in for the week. No loss this week, kind of disappointing. I did work out 5 days but it was probably more strength training than cardio. At least I didn't gain back everything I lost when I was sick. This week I have to chill on Thursday due to a small surgery, I have to ask what I'm allowed to do after that day. I hope I don't have to take too much time off!

USW - 207.5 (1/15)
CSW - 202 (1/1/16)
PW - 192.8 (3/12/16)
CW - 193.6
GW - 190.00
UGW - 170.00

[awood08]

@DJC_63 I know our gym just got that machine, they also had a handheld device that they claimed was within a few percent of correct accuracy. That may be the same thing yours has 🙂 I'd definitely say give it a shot!

[SunsetRunner]

@DJC_63 You'll notice that anything that is salt free/low salt has sugar in it and anything that is sugar free/low sugar has salt in it. Either way you'll have something you shouldn't have. Once you omit the salt from your diet, you'll taste the salt in things you never knew had salt.

[Samalama217]

@lusry  YES!  Orange theory is awesome.  It's a great workout and you get to see just how much you're burning on a screen.  The calories burned are based on your heart rate monitor.  It's too expensive for me, plus they make you buy the HR monitor.  But if you can afford it, you'll definitely lose weight.

[hannahbebrave]

You guys are all so inspiring, and I can really use some help.  I've been checking out the forums on here while I wait for my cast to be removed so I can finally start getting healthy.  I need to lose 40 pounds (to start) and I am in terrible shape. I have never eaten well, or cooked, or been active. Since being laid up I have started reading about different approaches to food and exercise and I want to get a good plan in place, but there are way too many options that may or may not make sense.  I mostly want to get healthier and be active.  I could really use some suggestions about food.  I want it to be easy and very healthy.  And filling.  I'm thinking about cutting way back on meat.

What do you eat for lunches and dinners that aren't meat based?  All I can think of is beans twice a day - uh, no thanks.  I'm not even sure what a normal sized meal is.  I'm used to eating out and having 3 courses.  (ok, so there is a reason I'm not thin and have health problems).  So, what do you all eat?

Thanks so much for any ideas/recipes/menus.

[Caymanjet]

HI Hannahbebrave welcome. I am currently on a diet and have lost 25 lb and have 101b more to go. It is best to find a plan that works for you and stick with it as long as you can. I love WW but find I am thinking/planning my next meal all the time. This time around I have gone simple and have someone else worry about the food. I am doing Jenny Craig. I go to their office once a week and have a consultation. Buy my food for the week. Its working and makes it nice and simple. You will be surprised at what a portion size is. Probably equal to most of the starters you have on your three course meals. You do get use to the size of the meals and if you need more you will have to go with more veggies and salad. I am finding I am more healthy. extra weight does bring with it health problems. 

[Chlz1997]

I've been MIA but I'm back now! Looks like lots to read to catch up on!

I've had some issues with my neck & back last week.  Finally went to the chiro dr and he said I had 2 ribs out and my neck was out again.  Needless to say, I haven't been keeping up with my steps as much as I had wanted.  I am feeling much better today and am back on track!  Even took a quick 15 min power walk during lunch today.  With the sunny skies, I am planning on making this into a regular habit.  I am actually going to weigh-in 2x this week....once for my normal Thursday weigh-in and again Easter morning.  #KeepMoving Forward!

[Elle0904]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it's been a rough couple of weeks.  My anxiety has been through the roof and I was not sleeping.  I was averaging about 2-3 hours a night, and that was in 15 minute increments.  Finally went to the doctor and agreed to take medication for my anxiety.

Been on it for a week, and it's helping some.  I got 6.5 hours of sleep last night with one stretch being 3 hours long!!!  The longest I've had in a LONG time (thank you FitBit for tracking my sleep!)

I haven't had major weight loss, but I've had some.  Here are my updated numbers:

USW    236

SW      206

2/20     203.2

2/27     202.8

3/7      202.2

3/13    202.2

CW    199

GW    192 (REVISED to 196)

GW by June 8th 170 (cruise and 35th bday celebration week)

UGW  150

I had gotten a bit discouraged, but I didn't allow it to stop me.  I will say that my anxiety did not help at all with this.  I took pictures of myself in underwear this morning and compared it to January when I started, and HOLY COW what a difference!!!!  I just cannot stop looking at them.  So I've had a huge smile on my face.  Plus people are starting to notice the weight loss!

I am having oral surgery next week....so I hope it goes well and I can start working out soon after.  Don't want to lose the momentum. 

[OCDOC]

@Bogdel

Hi 🙂  Yes I should have chosen my words better; there is a place for 'calories in-calories out', especially if one can keep the metabolism going! (I've found that my 'stalls' are probably my BMR falling..feeling bleah, tired, cold etc..vigorous exercise seems to perk it up again).

I definitely should have specified the 'a calorie is a calorie' thing some people mention...this is NOT true..at all. Useless carb calories are a major problem to be avoided. I think most agree with this 🙂 Rob 

[hannahbebrave]

Caymanjet - Thanks for the info about your eating plan.  I love the idea of someone else cooking for me and planning, shopping, etc.  I really need to go super healthy though, so I'm not sure.  It also sounded expensive.  I will look into it more though.

Anyone here vegetarian or have some great snack ideas or meal ideas?  I am trying to totally revamp how I eat.

Since I wont get the cast off or go off these awful meds for at least two more weeks, I am using this time to get a head start.  I want to have meals planned and I am trying to get into the habit of drinking a lot of water.

I really do greatly appreciate any and all suggestions from this terrific group.  Thanks.

[Sine]

Hi @hannahbebrave,

I've tried a few different types of food plans, as I'm sure many of us here have. The trick is finding something that works for you. I know that is way easier to say but much harder to do! The biggest thing is finding a plan and sticking to it for at least a few months to let your body become accustomed to the new way of eating and see how it is going. I have found for me, that I feel better when I eat less carbs from grains and starches. It isn't necessarily high protein, just low in that type of carbs.

Right now, I'm following the Extreme Transformation food plan from Chris & Heidi Powell's new book. Their plan uses carb cycling and eating 5 meals per day, every three hours. The first 4 days are high carb, low fat, the next two are low carb and higher in fat and the 7th day is a reset day where you increase the total calories. 

The plan has worked really well for my husband - he has lost 23 lbs since Jan 3 with no exercise as he has some chronic back pain issues. For me it hasn't been that great but it has made us plan our food and meals and I think that has been the key - reducing the junk food, increasing the water intake and having a plan for our meals.

One thing that helps if your life is busy, is to have two or three things that you can rotate for each meal / snack. And also preparing other things in bulk so that you can freeze the extra to have on hand. Every Sunday (our reset day) we try to make a big batch of one of our lunch meals and freeze the extra. This could be a big healthy stew or spaghetti sauce or the really yummy butternut squash chili recipe we like from the book. I have a small white board on the fridge and plan the meals and snacks for the week. That way we both know what we need to eat and when.

Anyway - just some suggestion that may help you on your road to getting healthy.

[DJC_63]

@Elle0904,
I used to have horrible anxiety so I sympathize with you. I don't think there is any feeling I hate worse than anxiety. Exercise should help, though, so I hope that you are able to get back to it soon. I agree that seeing the difference in your body is such a great thing. I've only lost 15 pounds since May, but I've lost a lot of inches so instead of looking soft and flabby I can see muscle now. It makes me feel so much better about myself. It does sometimes take a long time with weight loss, but remember muscle weighs more than fat. I think the best way to gauge your progress is how you look and if you're losing inches. So don't give up! Look at your photos more than the scale.

[OCDOC]

Final Check in for this challenge (working all weekend... 😞  )

USW 246

CSW 223

LstWk 217 (March Break Binge Bloat..thanks kids 😉 )

Goal 215

Today 212

Really strict after last week's binge/fiasco, and it seems to have worked (yay!!).

My progress is starting to 'annoy' my wife; whenever I say "Guess what?", she says "Don't tell me...you're down again..."  Actually she is thrilled that I'm not scary-fat like I was last year..

Looking forward to the next challenge... Good luck and best to everybody here!  Rob

[Chlz1997]

check in day!  I missed loggin in last wek so I've included it in this weeks stats as well.

USW - 220 (Jan 1, 2016)
CSW - 217.6 (Feb 11)
W1 - 216.4 (Feb 18 {-1.2#})
W2 - 216.2 (Feb 25 {-0.2#})
W3 - 213.0 (Mar 3 {-3.2#})
W4 - 213.6 (Mar 10 {+0.6#})
W5 - 214 (Mar 17 {+0.4#})
W6 - 215.2 (Mar 24 {+1.2#})
CGW - 209 (5% loss)
UGW 160

As you can see - gains last week and this week.  I am on the mend though and feeling better each day.  I plan to hit it hard the next couple of days to finish strong.  My goal at this point is to finish the challenge at least 213 or less.  I know if I can stick to better eating - this IS an achievable goal.

@hannahbebrave I agree that you have to find what works for you.  Over the years I have tried Nutrisysyem (lost 40# in 3 months but as soon as I tried doing the foods on my own...the weight crept back on)...I've tried WW several times...both online version and meetings.  Meetings definitely helped me more but due to scheduling issues I dropped out and the weight came back because I fell back into old habits.  I also subscribe to PeerTrainer.com and am somewhat following the Cheat System Diet.  I take all that I have learned from the various programs and mesh what works best for me.  For me personally, I know when I drink 80 oz of H20, focus more on vegetables & leaner meat and TRACK everything I put into my mouth I do exceptionally well.  I know after eating sugar or carby foods my body shuts down, I get extremely tired.  My problem is even though I KNOW what works for me, I have a tough time following through.  I will do great while at work.  Evenings and weekends are my down fall.  My husband and son are at healthy weights.  They do not have to watch what they eat nor will they eat the foods that I should be eating.  It makes things more difficult because by time I get home from work and do barn chores, I'm hungry and do not feel like making multiple meals so we eat out or make the frozen pizzas or mac n cheese etc. It's a cycle that I am still struggling to break but I WILL eventually find a way to make it work.  

This week's NSV (non-scale victory)  I have logged everything (the good, the bad & the ugly!) into MFP for 39 days.  This is my longest streak yet  

Hope everyone is hanging in there - #KeepMovingForward!

[MegCH]

A late post to check in from Saturday...got sick on Monday and that has been yucky. So pumped with the results though!!

USW: 175 (Thanksgiving 2015)

CSW: 165.5

CGW: 158 (Easter 2016)

W on 2-20: 164.5

W on 2-27: 164.5

W on 3-5: 160

W on 3-19: 158!!!!!!!!

UGW: 150

Hoping that I've been able to maintain despite feeling gross. Saturday will tell! Either way, I consider this goal met! I'm 8 lbs away from my ultimate goal...thinking maybe I can make a mini one after that for 5 lbs. to make it 30 lbs. lost by my 30th b-day in May!

[OCDOC]

@Chlz1997

This struck home:

"Evenings and weekends are my down fall.  My husband and son are at healthy weights.  They do not have to watch what they eat nor will they eat the foods that I should be eating.  It makes things more difficult because by time I get home from work and do barn chores, I'm hungry and do not feel like making multiple meals so we eat out or make the frozen pizzas or mac n cheese etc. It's a cycle that I am still struggling to break but I WILL eventually find a way to make it work."

This was (AND REMAINS!) the hardest part, especially when the whole family goes out for pizza or a sporting event. I can gain 2-3 pounds of bloat by going 'what the heck..ya gotta live!'...even for a day or two. 

It's only by being super-strict as much as possible that I am getting anywhere. It CAN be done though 🙂

All the best..keep the faith! 🙂  R

[Chlz1997]

@OCDOC   Thank you!!

[Chlz1997]

@MegCH Congrats on making your goal!!!! Hope you are feeling all better now

[awood08]

I haven't seen @saraj91 around lately, I hope all is okay!

I can start the next challenge if everyone is okay with that? Should we do it from Easter to Memorial Day? It's May 30th so that gives us just about 8 weeks? Let me know what ya'll think!

Keep up all the hard work, and try to stay away from that Easter Candy, I know it's going to be hard for me since I have kids and regardless of what we give them, Grandparents love to spoil them! lol

[OCDOC]

@awood08

Hi

Can I suggest Mother's day May 8? 6 weeks instead of 8, and is 'universal'...

Would also allow a Mother's day to July 4 (July 1 in Canada) afterwards..8 weeks..

I'm ok w anything tho  Rob