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

[swimr12265]

@Elle0904,

What a nice thing to read!  I do think you are "reasonable"...because you restrain yourself despite the temptations.  I have to work on doing that more.  Thanks for the advice about the portions.  Of course, I know what you say is true.  It's just that "knowing" and "doing" are two different things.  I will work on "doing" better.  I agree about the food in Puerto Rico.  I had some flan there that was so good I almost went back just to get more!  I love Puerto Rico!!  Keep up the great work!  Something tells me you're going be sporting a bathing suit while you're cruising the Mediterranean, and you are going to ROCK it!!

[Elle0904]

@Tasha91

I had never heard of that!  Do you do the reg free version or the premium version?

[swimr12265]

Wow @Tasha91!  

Thanks for the info.  I've never heard of "bounts."  What exactly is it?

[Papa-Paul]

I did a little homework on Bounts (https://www.bounts.it/how-it-works/) and it looks to be legitimate...lots of positive reviews.  The greater benefits are in the premium versions which cost either $12 per year or $20 per year.  You can still get benefits, although limited, with the free version.

[Elansc]

---

@awood08 wrote:

I have lost nothing...very disheartening...stuck at 171-173 for weeks, then finally dropped to 169 and gained back to 173 and can't seem to break it again.

I am in my goal clothing sizes, so why am I so disappointed in the scale number? These last 15 pounds are tough, even tougher than quitting smoking. 😞

USW  6/16/15 235

CSW  2/12/16 169

PW    2/16/16 173

CW    2/23/16 173

UGW  6/16/16 160

---

I hear you!! I am also at my goal clothing size but 15 pounds off my goal weight and I just can't shake that I want to be at the goal weight... which will definitely put me down another size!!  Those last 15 pounds are hanging on for dear life!!!    And they are nasty -- giving me all sorts of cravings so that they can stay 

Good luck with the challenge!  

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi all,

I think it takes a food consumption choice changes to move the slow poke scales. We need to consume enough fiber from veggies maybe and healthy fat to feel full long enough to not go craving crazy.

I'm struggling with the last 5-6 lbs. We will get there. We can do it.

Best,

Barbara G

[Tasha91]

@Elle0904

If you do the reg free version for the first 2 weeks they give you premium free. which allows you to get doublethe points. I upgraded to the premium plus last week as you can earn a lot more points that way. in the free memebership I think you can earn 5 points for 7000 steps, 5 points for a 20 min activity tracked through a free excercise tracking app (I use strava) and 5 points for a gym check in (I can't use this as I'm not a member of a gym) for premium plus you earn 20 points for each activity over 20 mins (3 actvities max)

and 20 points for reaching each step threshold 7000, 14000, 21000 

If you use my referral code when you sign up we each get 100 points after your first activity. Hashim40856
Sent from my iPhone

[Tasha91]

I got a 3 year premium plus membership for £31.99 which is pretty good value, not sure how much the same plan is in the US but in the UK you can get 1,2 and 3 year plans. 

[awood08]

@Elansc

haha I like that...definitely the extra pounds causing the food cravings...I'm hoping signing up for the boot camp at my gym will put me over where I need to be. Nothing like starting 5am workouts to change up your schedule! lol

Thank you @Elle0904 & @HelenKr you guys have done amazing things as well and are truly inspirations to others out there 🙂 You both look fabulous in your photos!

[KimShea]

Wednesday Weigh in - finally down on a Wednesday!  Hooray!

USW 235

CSW (2/13/16) - 177.2

Avg, week ending 2/20 - 178

Today, 2/24/16 - 174.9

CGW - 174

UGW - 145

I highly suspect some of the loss this week is water weight.  My BP was refusing to cooperate, so doc switched meds to one with a diuretic.  Still, I'll take it!

[SquigglesMum]

USW- 227lbs

CSW - 217lbs

GW- 211lbs (by Easter)

UGW- 175 (by Christmas 2016)

Cheers to you all

[Danimri84]

First weigh in of the challenge!

USW 235

(2/17)CSW 231

(2/24)CW 226

GW 205

UGW 150

Down 5 pounds for the challenge, 9 pounds overall since starting!

[awood08]

@Danimri84 awesome for you! That's a great start for the challenge!

[swimr12265]

@Tasha91 and @Elle0904 and all,

Have you heard of GymPact? It actually PAYS you to work out...no lie!  You wager how much they (the GymPact people) will take out of your credit card account if you don't work out (my wager is $5; it DOES bite to miss a workout...as you can imagine) and indicate how many days in a week you will work out (I work out every day).  I have been doing this for over two years now.  The most I've ever earned is something like $1.84 in a week (those who work out are paid by those who don't), but it paid for my fitbit (Charge...I bought it at the end of 2014) and I'm hoping to buy a Blaze when I have amassed enough funds.  I will only use the money I accumulate to buy exercise-related products since I earn the money by exercising. I've currently got $80.52 in my account.  It is super motivating--I hardly ever miss a day of working out!  I'm going to check out Bounts, as well.  My goal in life is to be paid to do what I love.  A bit more than $1.50 a week or so would be nice...lol!!

[swimr12265]

Hey @Tasha91,

Maybe I did something wrong, but it didn't allow me to enter a referral code.  Any idea how I can correct this?  Thank you!  I think I signed up.

[Danimri84]

Thank you!

[ndervis]

REALLY???
You get paid to work out?


Sent from Samsung Mobile

[Tasha91]

I like the sound of gym pact, do you know if it's available in the UK? I would really like to join a gym again but I know what I'm like I'll just sit in the sauna 🙂

Sent from my iPhone

[Tasha91]

@swimr12265 I have no idea, when I signed up there was an option to type a code in. Glad you've signed, up I find it very motivating.

[kmme]

 Good Morning All ,

 Been a great week for me , feeling better after the back surgery ( minor ) a few weeks ago and finally able to step up my work outs again , feels good . And now 1 pound ( so close ) to my low weight again.  Looks like everyone has been crazy busy great to catch up on the reading. As for my diet , i am kicking off my challenge with a liquid fast 60 hours in now . Really not sure how long i will go , my body loves to fast so i aleays have extra energy and don't feel hunger. I will probably go 3-5 days before breaking it. But here are the numbers.

USW- 175 - July 2015

CSW - 132 - Feb 15

CW - 130 - Feb 25

CGW- 120?? - maybe UGW as well? unndecided yet