March/April weight loss challenge

[Possegal]

Next two months of 2011 and the continued quest to getting in shape for me! :)

So, another 2 months of the weight loss challenge.

Let me know
(1) if you want to join in
(2) what your weight is on Friday the 4th of March (or whatever day works best for you)
(3) what your goal weight is for 29 April - if you want to, if you don't want to set a goal like that, then no worries.

I'll post the link to the chart later in the week.

[surgtech1956]

Count me in. My goal is 15#, Thanks for doing this. It's very good motivation

[gnat23]

Yes please! Start is 139.8, no set goal*.

* (I just blazed through Geneen Roth's 'Breaking Free from Emotional Eating' in one sitting, very eye-opening...)

-- gnat!

[klesko]

Thanks for doing this - it is very motivational to post my weight and be part of this community! My end of April goal is 134. I have been losing half a pound a week and I can do that and still survive around my 6'5" husband with the really fast metabolism and my professional athlete son - man they eat a lot!

[limewave]

I'm going to take another go at it this challenge, but I don't plan on starting for another 2 weeks as I am doing a lot of traveling and have a TON of work. I don't want to stress about the number on the scale, just focus on good nutrition.

Thanks Possegal!

[GLC1968]

Definitely count me in again! My goal will be 139 (eek!) and I'll post on Friday with my starting weight. :)

Thanks for keeping this going, Possegal!

[WindingRoad]

Yeah count me in. I'm at 160 and I would like to get to 155. Thanks again for taking care of the tables for us. :):):)

[channlluv]

Me, too. Goal: 220.

Thanks, Possegal!

[woohoo]

I'm in again, thanks, although I'm not setting a target except to keep heading in the right direction - will weigh in on friday :)

[nolemom]

I'm in. Current weight 150. Goal weight - 142

[Tri Girl]

I'm in again. Thanks for doing this Posse!!! :)

Starting weight 161. Goal is 150 by the end of April.

[Blueberry]

I'm in. My weight had jumped up this AM to 234. I think it's water, but honesty and all....

My goal is 220.

[GLC1968]

OK, my starting weight is 149.5.

I'm up a little from last week but I had a hard bicycle effort last night and my legs are already sore. This won't change though as I will have a hard cycling effort every Thursday night for the next 12 weeks so I guess I've kind of set a new baseline here. It's also TTOM, so I think that if my actions are good this week, I should see a nice drop by next Friday. That's the plan, anyway!

[ultraviolet]

I'm in again. 218.5 for my start weight--I had a bounce this week. 209 for my goal.

[Catrin]

I am in again as well, it really does help me. Today I am 134 and would like to be 127 by the end of April.

[channlluv]

228.8 this morning. (Friday)

227 (Saturday)

Roxy

[azfiddle]

I'm in- basically on maintenance now- 112 today, with a goal of 110.

[klesko]

I was 139 yesterday - forgot to post.

[Possegal]

The page should be at the link below. But I swear google docs has changed the way to 'share' a page yet again. So let me know if this doesn't work. I've been trying to work with my family on something and half could get to that page and half couldn't. Though that could also be them more than google docs. :)

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[Tri Girl]

it works! Thanks, Posse!!!:D

[Glory]

Count me in! My starting number is 203.6 (Saturday) and my goal is 195.

[surgtech1956]

Sorry forgot to post. 185#. My goal is $170#.

[skhill]

I'm not doing the challenge this time, but-- I was under 130 this morning for the first time in months! Despite some shrove tuesday overindulgence... Weird how that happens

[linzq]

I'm in!

I'm at 142.4 (precise because I go to weigh in on a WW scale), and goal for end of April is 138 (I'll be traveling for 3 weeks!)

Thanks all for the motivation and support!

[klesko]

I am 140.2 today. It has been a busy week at work and my Mom is having health issues so I have been stress eating. I am going to try and be calm and focused this coming week :)

[Tabby]

I was in ATL last week, but I'm in. Course after being in ATL, I'm up at 138 today, goal is still that dang 135!

Thanks for your time to keep everyone on track.

[Catrin]

Back to 133.2

[GLC1968]

149.5 again for me this week.

[Blueberry]

230. I'll take it!

[nolemom]

150.5 - :( Had to get back on my meds for this week and I hate the almost immediate weight gain. Trying to use that compassionate self-talk this week to keep from using it as an excuse to eat everything in sight.

[ultraviolet]

217

[azfiddle]

112.4 today
about the same

[Glory]

203.8 today

[Tri Girl]

159.8

[channlluv]

228


sigh.

[surgtech1956]

186#:(

[Possegal]

Adding in some updates. :)

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[Trek420]

At the Dr's for a tough of the flu so they weighed me. 176. I like their scale ;) less than mine at home.

[gnat23]

A little up at 142. Prolly monthly related.

-- gnat!

[channlluv]

Is it too soon to post? I weighed 224 even this morning. It's the lightest I've been in, oh, about seven years. Not kidding.

According to LoseIt!, I've lost 20 pounds since September 2009. Not quite what I'd hoped for as far as progress, but I'll take it.

I've got to go to a dinner tomorrow night honoring my daughter and the other people who earned their black belts or achieved the next level during the last year. It's a nice Chinese restaurant. I'm afraid I'm going to gain back the couple of pounds I've lost this past month.

Friday night I've got a fundraiser where there will be appetizers and fancy desserts, but no dinner. It should be fun, but I can't imagine I'll maintain this weight loss.

I just wanted to record it while it's still there. :)

Roxy

[ultraviolet]

Is it too soon to post? I weighed 224 even this morning. It's the lightest I've been in, oh, about seven years. Not kidding.


Congrats! :D

I reached my lowest weight in many years this morning. But, since I don't have any Chinese restaurant dinners taunting me in my immediate future, I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning to report in officially. Here's hoping it doesn't pop back up overnight! Hah!

[channlluv]

Congrats! :D

I reached my lowest weight in many years this morning. But, since I don't have any Chinese restaurant dinners taunting me in my immediate future, I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning to report in officially. Here's hoping it doesn't pop back up overnight! Hah!

Okay, I'm inspired to stick to the healthier eating plan as best I can -- steamed veggies, lean meat, limited bread, no rice, potatoes, sugary fake stuff, etc.

This morning I was 223.6. I could hardly believe it.

I might actually make 220 by the end of the month.

Whoop!

Roxy

Edit: 10pm, just got home from the Chinese restaurant where we had ten at our table and we were served on one of those big lazy Susans, family style, and I didn't keep track of what I ate at all because except for a fish dish and the beef and broccoli, it was all battered and fried or smothered in some kind of sauce, which was all delicious, but I'm already feeling the salt swelling my fingers. I'll still report in tomorrow as usual, but I think I'm going to be missing that 223 this morning.

And tomorrow I've got a fundraiser for my school that will involve champagne and appetizers flowing all through the evening, and then some gourmet desserts specifically designed to loosen the purse strings. I even get to wear a dressy dress. Should be fun.

[Catrin]

135.2 - the WRONG direction :mad:

Can't figure out what I am doing wrong, but am meeting with a nutritionist Monday. I know that I've been remiss in taking my thyroid replacement every day lately - which is probably much of it. I don't have a thyroid...probably also too many carbs & not enough calories - a combination that always causes me to gain weight.

[Tabby]

I'm stuck at that 138 again. Dang, once I get off track, it takes me forever to get my s*** together again.

But Ohio has some sunny weather in the 50-60s, so that will help with even more riding, hiking and trail building.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

[channlluv]

223.4!

I'm happy with that.

Roxy

[Blueberry]

I'm still at 230.0. For reasons I won't go into here, I'm happy with that.

[ultraviolet]

216.2

Finally broke through 217, which I'm happy with, because that's the weight I got stuck at 7+ years ago (after losing from my high of 260-ish). I spent about a year bouncing around 217-219 and then watched it go up and down in the 225-235 range for ages, eventually climbing higher and bouncing around 240.

All of that to say that I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. :p

[GLC1968]

I can't weigh in this morning. My scale is buried under a mountain of furniture (we are having carpet installed in 1/2 of our house this morning). I'm going to go with 149.5 as a 'no change' weight for this week.

I'm also refocusing myself starting today. I've been remiss about recording my points the past couple of weeks and that trend needs to end, now.

[azfiddle]

113.4 this morning

[klesko]

I am 141. I am unfortunately reverting to stress eating and need to work on that. I also did not exercise very much this week because I felt tired and overwhelmed. I know I feel better when I eat well and exercise most days and will try to think about that for the next few days.

[Glory]

Back to 203.6 *sigh* Not getting anywhere very fast and I'll be visiting family all next week. I'm on the slow track until after that. I hope everyone else is winning the scale war =)

[Tri Girl]

158.8 :)
I lost a pound while on vacation at the Grand Canyon this week, despite eating crappier food than I have in a while. I had McDonalds twice for crying out loud (and I *never* eat there). Must have been all that Canyon hiking! ;)

[surgtech1956]

183.5

[gnat23]

141

-- gnat!

[Possegal]

Looks like I've missed some updates. What else is new. :)

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[Tabby]

138, which considering my unknown reason to self sabotage is better than a gain.

[channlluv]

225.2

Gotta get back on the bike.

[Blueberry]

228

Shoulder is stable enough to start doing some good strength training. Yay!
Need to focus on more cardio, but building back some upper body strength will definitely help my comfort on the bike.

[klesko]

I was 138 this morning - getting back on track and trying not to stress eat - in the last couple of weeks I had to tell my Mom she can't drive any more and also my sister is back in the hospital because her cancer is growing even with the chemo. I am still stressed out but trying not to eat everything in sight because it really does not help me feel better (except maybe the chocolate covered pomegranates :)

[ultraviolet]

216.5

I think I'm holding onto water right now. The tops of my VFFs have felt tight the past couple of days. Whatever, silly body. Whatever.

[GLC1968]

148.8

Three weeks into this new strength training program and my body has finally settled down and started losing again. Phew! I'm feeling stronger, too. Gotta love that!

[Catrin]

133.4 - heading the right direction now! I suspect water retention has been the problem, especially since the weather is still keeping me from riding consistently.

[Tri Girl]

159.8

gained a little this week. TOM and I ate two whole boxes of Girl Scout cookies (darn you, thin mints).

Next week will be better.

[Possegal]

Late updates.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[Glory]

206.4 Ughhh! Vacay and my birthday wrapped up in one, not good. At all.

[azfiddle]

113.6
mostly on track....

[surgtech1956]

182.5

[gnat23]

141.0

-- gnat! (half-a-pound a week by my graph, ok, I guess that works)

[klesko]

141.0

-- gnat! (half-a-pound a week by my graph, ok, I guess that works)

I have been losing half a pound a week - it adds up :)

[channlluv]

Back up to 228.4.

I just don't get it. I have been doing a 5k on the treadmill every day this week because it's Spring Break and DD is home and doesn't like to ride for exercise, so my getting a workout in on the bike isn't going to happen unless I drop her off for a playdate somewhere.

So I've been walking on the treadmill. And I gained five pounds since last week.

Is is the bread, really?

Oy.

[Veronica]

Is is the bread, really?

Oy.

It could be. I am much leaner with a 1 to 1 ratio of protein to carbs.

Veronica

[channlluv]

I have to think there's something to it. I cut way, way back on bread last week and dropped about four pounds. I think partly because where I was eating a sandwich every day for lunch (whole grain bread and turkey with lettuce and cucumber, or almond butter and jelly, depending), I went to eating a head of celery with that almond butter instead, or leftovers from my breakfast scramble of spinach, onions, peppers and an egg. The fiber ratio went way, way up as the bread went way, way down.

This week I went back to my normal bread intake and ploomp...last night I was back up to 231.2. I feel like that blueberry girl in Willy Wonka.

I upped my water intake yesterday. I was feeling really dehydrated and constipated -- another bread-related issue? That helped, but I still feel bloated.

So, breakfast this morning is fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt and a half-cup or so of pomegranate seeds from Trader Joe's. Lunch will be an apple and a head of celery with some almond butter. That seemed to agree with me really well last week.

I'm about to go get back on the treadmill. I'm going to continue doing the 5ks because I like how my legs feel really muscular when I'm done, like after a hard bike ride.

I've also been told I need to do more weight-bearing exercise. I wonder if some of this bloated feeling is from inflammation because my body's not used to the pounding it's taking.

I dunno. Why, why, why does French bread have to taste so darn good when it's right out of the oven?

Sigh.

[Tri Girl]

I understand your frustration, Channlluv.:(
I've been upping my workouts lately (marathon in 5 weeks and Ironman training started last week) and even tho I'm working out more, I'm not losing. So frustrating.
Do you think it could be that you've been walking so much everyday- that the mucsles are retaining water while they are growing and repairing? If you haven't been walking that consistently and then started ramping it up, perhaps that's it. Hopefully next week you'll see yourself return to your previous weight.
Or maybe it is the bread...
bread is one of my BIG weaknesses. I've recently gone gluten-free to try to resolve some of my tummy issues, and GF bread is pretty gross- so I think it's curing me of my affection for it. :rolleyes:

Funny how your weight can fluctuate so much in one day- yesterday I was 1.5 lbs lighter than this morning. I need to stop getting on the scale everyday (but I'm trying to also figure out what foods I'm eating are helping me retain water to try to reduce that).
Oh well... my progress has been about .7/lb lost per week for the last 14 weeks. At least it's progress. Slow... but progress nonetheless.
I gotta keep my eyes on the big picture. And at least this time I'm losing weight and still eating things that I know I'll continue eating for life. Last time I lost 35 lbs I was losing 1.5-2.5 per week, but I cut out everything remotely bad for me. Then when I reached goal, I went back to old eating habits and gained it all back (plus 12 more). I'm hoping that this time since I'm cutting back on portions and losing it will help me maintain my loss when I eventually lose it all. I have to remind myself that slow is better in this game... ;)

[GLC1968]

148.5 - not much of a loss, but I'm actually quite pleased. It's been a week of gluttony and sloth. Bad combination. I was sure I'd see a gain.

I'm picking up the intensity again on my training now that a few other things in my life are settling down, so I'm hoping for some nice progress in April.

[channlluv]

TriGirl, I hope you're right about my muscles just retaining water. I suppose that could be it, the trauma of working out every day. I'm burning about 350- 400 calories per workout according to the machine.

I don't want to get into a super-restrictive diet. I'm just not good at that for very long, and then, like you, I gain the weight right back.

We want to go to Hawaii this summer. I really would like to be under 200 by July. I think I could do it. I mean, on paper, I could do it. In reality...who knows.

Roxy

4/1, 12:30pm, Exercise update: 4.5 miles at elevations 1 and 2, 90 minutes, a little over 500 calories, according to the machine

[Veronica]

I don't want to get into a super-restrictive diet. I'm just not good at that for very long, and then, like you, I gain the weight right back.



You have been working at losing weight for quite awhile and you're not happy with your results. At some point, if you want different results, you're going to need to change something.

I can ony speak to personal experience. In 2000 I weighed 180 pounds. I had always worked out, but it wasn't enough to overcome bad eating habits and the amount of stress eating I was doing. I had to make changes. I lost 25 pounds in about 6 months, which I mainly kept off.

Last November (2010) I committed to losing more and I have taken off another 11 pounds. That 11 pounds meant giving up a weekly pizza (or 3!), and really cutting out a lot of extra carbs. I love pizza, rice, bread and pasta. But those carbs seem to become fat moleclues right away for me, no matter how much exercise I do.

I love having 17% body fat way more than I love that food. You have to figure out what changes you can really make and then stick to those changes. Believe me I know it's not easy to give up food you love. And starving yourself isn't the answer either. A healthy, satisfying diet is what you need. All that lettuce would send me running for a pint of Ben and Jerry's. :p

Veronica

[GLC1968]

You have to figure out what changes you can really make and then stick to those changes.

THIS. Big time. And being realistic is very important. Saying that 'you'll never eat bread again' (like I did once) doesn't work. You have to be brutally honest with yourself and what things you are willing to sacrafice and what things you won't. And these decisions must be made in moments of clarity - not immediately after an over-indulgence, during a post-race high, or in the middle of an emotional upheaval.

Another key for me was finding the right motivation. For some people, looking better or being able to wear certain clothing is enough. Actually, that was plenty of motivation for me when I worked in the fashion industry as it was a very big part of my life. When I became an engineer/farmer in the PNW - what I looked like mattered a lot less and it wasn't enough to keep me on track anymore. I had to find something else. Now, racing performance and feeling good doing my workouts is what motivates me. Of course, getting the benefit of better looking clothing is nice too, but it's no longer my primary motivator. For some people, health markers are a great motivator. I could never get on board with that when even at an 'obese' BMI, I had excellent HR/BP numbers, low cholesterol and excellent insulin results. Getting healthier? Why? ;)

Now I have my 'why'. Everyone needs to find their 'why' before long term success is possible.

[klesko]

138.2 this morning.

[klesko]

I have been reading the above posts and thought I would chime in. My high weight was 184.6 in May of 2008. I am 5'4" so that registered obese. I lost about 15 pounds and then held for a long time. Then I just decided I would write down everything I ate and ramp up my exercise. I have tracked all my food intake and exercise on fitday.com for almost a year and a half. I gradually figured out that if I eat less than about 30% fat, I am STARVING. I try to eat healthy fats (almonds, avocados) and if I stay around 30% I can eat a lot less and not feel like I am so hungry I want to chew on my arm. I am down to about 22% body fat and feel great - I would like to lose about another 8 pounds. I have been losing about half a pound a week (lost over 46 pounds so far), and figure I will keep doing the same thing when I reach my goal - just eating a little bit more of the same ratio. My husband and sons all have raging metabolisms and it is disappointing to eat a tiny amount of food compared to them, but that is just the way it is.

[Tabby]

136 ....

[Tri Girl]

158.6

[Glory]

202.8

[Possegal]

I'm way behind. Catching up now.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[Blueberry]

227. Slowly and steadily. Lots of life stuff going on right now, but I've been managing some form of movement lots of days and really paying attention to the food (which is getting easier thanks to spring veggies).

[azfiddle]

113.6

[azfiddle]

Roxy,

just a thought- are you tracking everything you eat? I think it often makes a huge difference.

I started back on weightwatchers in January 2009 and tracked faithfully. I lost 13 pounds, then hit a plateau until I started cycling. Some things I changed were switching to whole wheat pasta, cutting out most (but not all!) sweets and replacing with more fruit, nuts etc.

I hope that you find something that works for you.

[channlluv]

Thanks, AZ. Yes, I do track most days in LoseIt.

And thanks, Veronica, for the message. You're right. I do need to make some significant changes. I think cutting out bread may be part of it. At least in the short term. I saw significant pounds lost the week I cut out bread, and three days into reintroducing it, I was back up to my average weight.

I did five miles on the treadmill this morning. I will try to get in at least two miles (30 minutes for me) each day. That's what all the plans recommend. Thirty minutes a day. My metabolism should rev up a bit from that, yes?

I'm already doing almost all whole grain, organic veggies, lean proteins, and no scary sugars. (The sweets I eat are like Tofuti minis or the coconut Fruitstix.) I do need to drink more water, but since I started doing so many treadmill miles I'm just eating too much, I guess. I need to track it more closely. Measure out the meat servings and so on.

Thanks, all.

Roxy

[Catrin]

Lose it is awesome!

135 today... could this still be from my cookie weakness Thursday? Trainer is also building the amount of weight I am lifting as we focus on building strength until mid-May when I will drop to maintenance. I suppose part of it is fluid...

[Veronica]

At least in the short term.

I'm already doing almost all whole grain, organic veggies, lean proteins, and no scary sugars. (The sweets I eat are like Tofuti minis or the coconut Fruitstix.) I do need to drink more water, but since I started doing so many treadmill miles I'm just eating too much, I guess. I need to track it more closely. Measure out the meat servings and so on.



There is no short term. The changes you make need to be forever changes, otherwise, as you have discovered , the weight will come right back.

It's not just about what you're eating, it's also about quantity. Whole grain still has calories. Whole grain and organic veggies have nothing to do with weight reduction. It's all about calories in, calories out. How often are you eating your sweets? And how much?

Like I said, I know it's hard. Two years ago I used to eat a homemade chocolate chip cookie every day for dessert at lunch. Just one, but that was 310 calories that I really got nothing out of. I switched to a Trader Joe's yogurt, 140 calories, as my dessert. Back in November I cut that out as well. I still make the cookies for events (every couple of months) and I'll eat a few then. But not every day anymore.

Change is going to take time. It's not going to happen overnight, or over a week or a month. Stick with what you change and it will happen. Don't keep changing your changes. :p

Veronica

[azfiddle]

I agree- measuring is as essential as tracking.

Veronica- of course you're right about the calories in-out. Weightwatchers does seem to give lower point values to high-fiber foods, so that a cup of whole wheat spaghetti is less than a cup of regular spaghetti.

Typical day's menu for me when I was on WW and not doing more than an hour of cycling.

bowl of oatmeal with raisins & about a teaspoon of brown sugar and a splash of milk, or 1/2 bagel with light cream cheese and lox cup or 1 slice of toast with an ounce of melted cheese of hot tea with milk and honey

snack around 9:45 something like: handful or almonds, 1/2 luna bar, handful of pretzels, small banana, or trader joe's fruit cereal bar

lunch: salad with chicken, no dressing but something like a few artichoke hearts, olives or parmesan cheese to give it extra flavor, slice of bread or about 100 cal worth of crackers, piece of fruit Or- leftovers to equal about 250 calories, or on really hurried days- a frozen meal (WW, lean cuisine, etc)

snack around 4 pm about 100 calories-

dinner: 1 cup pasta with chicken and veggies, salad, OR stir fry and rice OR corn tortilla quesadillas with veggies- basically less about 300-350 calories total calories- not a big dinner.

snack: 100 calories

So there is room there for bread, or the occasional small cookie or bowl of light ice cream or whatever. Just not a lot of any of those things.

I lost 38 pounds and am in my maintenance range but just barely....

[Tri Girl]

make changes you can live with forever. I have decided that I'm not going to give up sweets forever. I did that before and lost 35 lbs, but it didn't stay off because giving up sweets is not something I'm willing to do. I'll work out more if I need to, but that's one of the things I'm not willing to live without. I am willing to live with smaller portions, eating more veggies and fruit, cutting out many grains and drinking more water.
You have to find what works for you and be able to live with your changes/choices. Everyone is different. I won't pass up a homemade chocolate chip cookie. I won't eat 10, but if someone makes some I'll eat one.
Just figure out what you can live with forever.

[Veronica]

I agree- measuring is as essential as tracking.

Veronica- of course you're right about the calories in-out. Weightwatchers does seem to give lower point values to high-fiber foods, so that a cup of whole wheat spaghetti is less than a cup of regular spaghetti.



My Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Penne is 210 calories per 3/4 cup. My Barilla regular penne is 200 calories for the same amount. 3/4 cup of pasta does not look like much on a plate and unless you're measuring, I think it's one of those things that it's really easy to eat more of than you think you are.

Veronica

[azfiddle]

Sorry- to clarify- I meant- Weightwatchers counts it as fewer points....its not lower in calories

[ultraviolet]

I've been out of town for a professional conference. Home now, and I'll be joining back in this week. :)

[surgtech1956]

Weight. 183%

[gnat23]

Ride mountain bikes for 4 hours, eat like a pig after, aaaaand gain. Foo.

144.0

-- gnat!

[emily_in_nc]

Ride mountain bikes for 4 hours, eat like a pig after, aaaaand gain. Foo.

144.0

-- gnat!

Just read this, and I agree - know it's true for me. More exercise = more hunger = more eating. But it's still good for ya! :D

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857-1,00.html

[gnat23]

Yeah, the guy who weighed me in at Weight Watchers was trying to be supportive about my gain, and I had to shuush him like, dude, it's ok, I was dehydrated after a bigass race, then I refed and prolly had a glycogen puff as well as a salt bloat, not to mention a few celebratory beers...

-- gnat! (SCIENCE!)

[limewave]

Okay, ready to start participating again. I'm at 150 as of today. I'll weigh-in again on Friday.

Don't really have a goal in mind for the end, just want to see continual improvement in firming up and slimming down. I have a huge training routine right now (for me). I'm simultaneously training for a mountain bike race and 25k run. Finding the proper balance between staying properly fueled and maintain a reasonable calorie deficit for weight loss is a continual challenge. But I'm figuring it out :)

[Tabby]

I always look to see total pounds lost on possegal's chart .... over the past couple years, there's been some great achievements, congrats to all!! think surgtech1956 could share her secret for loss between Mar 18-Mar25?
Yowzer!

[Tabby]

136 today ....

[limewave]

149 for me.

[azfiddle]

114.2 today. Better than yesterday.

[Catrin]

136 today, there has to be something off with my diet.

[channlluv]

227.0

I've been walking five miles a day on the treadmill for nearly two weeks - 90 minutes, so I know that's not a blistering pace, but it's good for me.

According to LoseIt!, I've had an average of 500-800 calorie deficit every day. I've nearly doubled my liquid (water/tea/EmergenC) intake and I've upped my fiber.

So, 227 every single morning this week.

Roxy, off to the treadmill (with the cushiness turned up so I don't hurt my MCL again - remember the "5K a Day in August" plan that crashed and burned on day five?)

[Veronica]

227.0


According to LoseIt!, I've had an average of 500-800 calorie deficit every day. I've nearly doubled my liquid (water/tea/EmergenC) intake and I've upped my fiber.



I used MyFitnessPal for awhile. The days I worked out it seemed to think I should have about 3,000 calories. If I ate that much I'd gain a pound a week.

Veronica

[channlluv]

Well, LoseIt only allows me about 1,400 calories as it is. And the calories I am taking in, generally, are veggies, fruit, lean proteins. About the only added fat I have lately is olive oil (cooking) and almond butter. I did have some EarthBalance spread on a sweet potato a few days ago.

Last night I had a Starbucks hot chocolate and a brownie. Self-medicating after a really rough day. It was exactly what I needed on a cold, rainy night sitting alone in my car for two hours waiting on DD to finish her martial arts class.

Roxy

[nolemom]

149 - not bad considering it included 10 days on vacation. The new meds seem to be getting my inflammation under control and I rode this morning without pain --:D

[Triskeliongirl]

Last night I had a Starbucks hot chocolate and a brownie. Self-medicating after a really rough day. It was exactly what I needed on a cold, rainy night sitting alone in my car for two hours waiting on DD to finish her martial arts class.

Roxy

Hi Roxy, please don't take this the wrong way, but I think thoughts like this may be sabotaging your weight loss efforts (and I only bring it up because you have been complaining that you are not succeeding). No matter how stressful a day I had, I would NOT think that I 'needed' a hot chocolate and brownie. I cannot lose weight if I eat sugar or starchy carbs, no matter how few calories I am eating. When life is stressful, its all the more reason to take good care of yourself and feed it healthy food. And why were you sitting in your car for 2 hours? Was it really impossible for you to find a better way to deal with the situation? Would it be possible to attend the class with her, at least that way you could spend the same amount of time doing something good for your body. I don't know the details so this is just an example.

[Catrin]

I need to stop weighing myself more than once a week. Today I am 134 pounds, two pounds lower than yesterday. Probably water retention has something to do with this. Still think my diet has gotten a little lax, probably a little too much bread and a little more fat than is best for me.

[Tri Girl]

158.5

[klesko]

I was 137 on Friday (sorry for the late post). I have hit a plateau, and need to be patient because I only want to lost 9 more pounds.

[klesko]

I log all my food and exercise on fitday.com (free). It seems to be pretty accurate. I check it by reconciling my actual weight loss with what fitday.com says I should have lost from what I have logged. I adjust my basal metabolism in fitday.com. I am burning a lot less calories the more I lost weight - it is important to take that into account.

[Trek420]

:eek: 172 wrong way, wrong way! :mad:

[surgtech1956]

183# - at a plateau. :(((((((

[ultraviolet]

Cramp. It somehow totally slipped my mind to weigh last week. Writing a Post-It now to stick on my bathroom mirror as a reminder for this week.

Probably just as well, my eating has been pretty atrocious since I've been back. Also, I've preferred napping over pretty much any other activity. I came back to town seriously run down and totally zapped. I have the rest of this week to get myself straightened out, so I can jump back into the work game next week.

[klesko]

137.7 today

[klesko]

183# - at a plateau. :(((((((

Hang in there! You are doing great!

[nolemom]

148

[Tri Girl]

157.1
I was sick the last two days, so I don't know how much of that loss will last- but I'll take it. I enjoy the sick diet once or twice a year. ;)

[Catrin]

133 pounds today - finally heading the right direction :cool:

[Tabby]

136 ...

thanks for your time

[channlluv]

227.4

Not watching what I eat, and only 30 minutes on the treadmill all week.

I may donate my body to science for people who study metabolism.

Roxy

[GLC1968]

Roxy - I think you might not be eating enough when you are watching your intake. 1400/day? And you weigh 227? That's not enough, particularly if you are exercising! 1400/day would barely sustain me on a sedentary day - add in a heavy training load and I'd be chewing off my left arm.

When you drop that low and up your exercise, your body holds on to everything for dear life. AND (more importantly) you feel deprived. You make up for the deprivation by eating the wrong things (I did the exact same thing!) every once in awhile and it makes staying consistent really difficult. This is why when you don't track and you don't exercise, you also don't gain - your body relaxes, kicks in the metabolism and keeps you at a steady state.

Weight loss (or fat loss) happens when we can walk the careful line between fueling our bodies for activity and limiting our calories for weight loss in just the right amounts. Some people can hit that balance intuitively. Some can hit it with just an average amount of effort. Others (like probably you and me), have to really dial it in to get it right.

My theory is that some of us have bodies that are incredibly adept at survival. As such, they are very quick to dial up or down our metabolism based on what is going on in our environment at the time. If there is a surplus, we can rev it up and not gain as fast as some. If there is a shortage, we slow it down and not lose as fast as some. This means that back when we had to hunt and gather our food, our ancestors were the ones who survived the droughts or the harsh winters. It also means that in the world of plenty we live in now, we have to really do battle to get lean.

Anyway, that's just my little theory. To win, you must eat more, but not too much. And you must exercise consistently, but not get hurt. Balance. Balance that you can sustain over the long haul because loss (and gain) are not quick for us. They will happen, but you must be consistent and patient.


That said - my weight this week has also not really changed. This is pretty amazing considering that I've been a human vacuum the past two weeks and pretty much eating everything in sight (until today, thankfully). Anyway, put me down for 149 for this week.

[Blueberry]

I've been fluctuating, but put me down at 226. Still slowly headed in the right direction.

[Possegal]

I've been AWOL for a bit. SORRY. Catching up now.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[Possegal]

think surgtech1956 could share her secret for loss between Mar 18-Mar25?
Yowzer!

That may have been my fat fingers. :)

[Tri Girl]

thanks, Posse!! :D

[limewave]

I had a super-stressful week last week. I don't handle conflict/stress well. I ended up spending 3-4 days in bed eating everything in site. I haven't done that in a long, long time. I wish I could break that habit. I think in some ways I have, as I don't do that every time I get stressed out anymore. A more manageable level I can go for a walk/run/bike and help relieve some of that emotional baggage. This situation was too much and it left me paralyzed.

I don't even want to get on the scale after that mess. Yesterday I managed to get myself back on a reasonable diet. Not a weight-loss diet, but a balanced one anyways. That's my goal again today. I just need to get my feet back under me until I can focus again on weight loss.

Life. The never-ending roller-coaster.

[nolemom]

Here's hoping this is a much better week for you Limewave. I find that sometimes the best I can do during a very stressful period is to minimize the damage. I am 1 1/2 pounds away from reaching my "normal" weight after a very stressful last summer and fall. I hope that you can continue to focus on the positive on the progress you have made . The older I get the more I realize that I have very little control in my life but can only focus on my responses to the *%*% that happens.

[surgtech1956]

181.5# sorry to post late, but I keep forgetting to do it on Friday.

[channlluv]

Muirenn and GLC, thank you for that input. Little bit of an eye-opener there, and I needed to see it. It makes total sense the way you put it, GLC. And Muirenn, thanks for the link. I'm going to go check it out now.

I can say that my husband says I'm a lot skinnier since walking five miles each day (even with the five days off because I felt like I was going to injure my calves). I'm back at it this weekend, and will walk tonight.

It's hard getting on the bike lately -- I'm trying to work on my writing during the afternoons when I used to bike (working on a couple of contracts), and I have my daughter at night, who does not have a bike that can keep up with mine, so she doesn't like to ride with me. I'm thinking I need to let her take the Ruby Comp and I'll ride the steel frame MTB, but I'm a little scared to let her get on the carbon bike. I'm afraid she'd get going really fast and lose control and get hurt. Like mother, like daughter, you know? And it goes fast. Still, she needs to learn sometime.

Her dad suggested I take her over to the grassy area at the park to let her get used to the posture and speed, and she said, full of exasperation, "WHY would I want to ride a ROAD bike on GRASS?" Like, really, geez, parents. Insert rolling her eyes here.

She's thirteen. Yeah.

So I'm enjoying the treadmill, especially since we got the Google TV set up and I can watch Netflix. I'm on episode 31 of Veronica Mars. Buffy is next. And then maybe Merlin. I can get caught up on the cool YA TV shows I always wanted to watch, but couldn't, and get in shape, too. Win-win.

The weight, I just don't know. My therapist says I need to release the emotional baggage from my childhood and the weight will just peel off. Has that ever worked for anyone?

Roxy

[Possegal]

I totally understand Limewave. I tell everyone that the way I've dealt with my nephew being killed is to 'take to my bed with chocolate', said like I'm joking but in reality, that is exactly what I did. I told my sister that I can hear him somewhere just laughing and saying - don't you go blaming your bad behavior on me. :) In reality I'm kind of thinking I may need to go find someone to talk to about all the things I'm dealing with, or not dealing with as it were. Just filed my taxes and for someone that usually files on Feb 1, that's a bit of a bad sign.

Today I packed my lunch for work for the first time since December. I wanted to shout it through the halls. Baby steps I guess.

Never-ending rollercoaster indeed.

[azfiddle]

I don't think I posted last week... been a big spike on the scale lately and I need to get back into the routine.

115.4 is actually down from earlier in the week, following the 73 mile event I did Saturday (post ride recovery / water weight!)

[Trek420]

169.4 this morning. Thanks for the motivation, gals.

[channlluv]

229


sigh.

[Tri Girl]

yup- just as I suspected: the weight I lost being sick for 2 days didn't stay off. And I gained a pound. :rolleyes: Could be all that Easter candy I've been eating this week....:eek:

159.1

[Catrin]

132.5 :)

[Possegal]

169.4 this morning. Thanks for the motivation, gals.

I just realized I don't have you on the chart. Why did I do that? At first I thought - oh I think she said she wanted to check in but not do the chart. But I don't see that. Did I just miss you? If so - SORRY. :)

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[klesko]

I am skipping this week - out of town on business and then to my in-laws with no scales anywhere to be seen.

[ultraviolet]

So, I finally was at home (where the scale is) *and* remembered to weigh, and then promptly forgot to post. Ack.

Anyway, 214.5

[surgtech1956]

178#.

[GLC1968]

149.8 on Saturday. I really need to focus but I'm having so much fun eating lots of things and then exercising it off. Who would have thought 'maintenance' could be such a good time! ;)

I just committed to a challenge on a different board for the entire summer, so starting near Memorial Day, I'll get more serious. Until then, I'm just trying to maintain balance.

[Catrin]

134.2...sigh

I can't complain however, after all of the feasting at church on Pascha and we had an office dinner this week - and less riding than normal because of the rain I really shouldn't be surprised.

[Veronica]

I'm not actually part of the challenge. I'm to the point where the weight is very slow to come off, but I'm very excited because I weighed in at 142 this morning - 16% body fat now. :p That's 13 pounds since Nov. 1.

I'm eating more now to support my training. Basically a higher percentage of carbs so I really don't expect to see change. Still, every pound I lose is less I have to bike and run with. :p

Veronica

[azfiddle]

114.4. Back to only 2.4 lbs above goal

[goldfinch]

I started at 158 and am down to 137, moving from obese to overweight. I need to be at 115 to not be overweight. I've been at 137 for two weeks. Not surprising, as I was on the road all last week. It is tough for me to keep the calories down when I am traveling and getting very little exercise.

[nolemom]

146 today. Almost back to my "normal weight". 11 lbs. from dream weight.

[azfiddle]

Goldfinch- hang in there. Your trajectory mirrors mine- I started at 150 and reached a goal of 112. I had some down time from cycling and was a little less careful through the winter and crept back up to 115-116- but I'm back on track now.

Just do your best to track and watch your portions while you are away from your routine. If you can't get your preferred foods, just try to substitute as best you can and try to walk or find other exercise.

You can do it- we all can!

[channlluv]

227

I'm still doing five miles every night on the treadmill. Well, most nights. I think in the past months I've had maybe five days off all together. This week I've walked 20 miles. I'm getting some awesome muscle tone, but I still feel like I've got Alley Oop calves and I look about six months' pregnant.

Still, I just bought three pairs of shorts in a size smaller than I actually wear. Motivation.

Thinking of going back to green smoothies for one meal per day.

Anybody got some good kale recipes?

Roxy

[klesko]

138.4 this week - wrong direction. I went on a business trip 2 weeks ago (goo restaurants) and also hurt my shoulder (could be rotator cuff) in a bike accident - I fell while turning on wet pavement. My shoulder hurts, so that has translated into less exercise. I will try to adjust to this in the next month or two!

[Tri Girl]

two days ago I weighed and I was 157.1
Today I weighed and I'm 159.5 That confounds me!!!! Although I have been carb-loading for the marathon tomorrow, so hopefully that's it. Hopefully!

Put me down at 159.5 Grrrrrrr....

[Possegal]

Making this week's additions.

I made an appointment for this week to go get an analysis in one of those body pod things, and to get my resting metabolic rate measured. Not sure how much that will impact things, but I am a data junkie and I love to get numbers to better understand things. I'm hoping once I hear how bad things are, it will help to inspire me. Plus, my friend and I bought a one month boot camp thing through groupon. It is a company that has a nearby MWF camp and I had already been looking at them. So this gets me started and saved me some money. I am having tremendous trouble getting myself back on track (due to so many life issues, but I think I'm also going to line up a physical just in case it is more) and I'm hoping these two things help me.


https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdEUxdl85TUxkOEd6MFI5TFB1RE9NelE&output=html

[Possegal]

Oh yeah - and I'll start a thread this week for the next two month challenge. Once that is up, let me know in there if you are joining us for the next challenge. :) I've got to make this the one that I really start making some lifelong changes!

[Catrin]

Sounds great Possegal! Let us know what you think of the camp once you get started with it.

Thanks again for all of your work!

[goldfinch]

Goldfinch- hang in there. Your trajectory mirrors mine- I started at 150 and reached a goal of 112. I had some down time from cycling and was a little less careful through the winter and crept back up to 115-116- but I'm back on track now.

Just do your best to track and watch your portions while you are away from your routine. If you can't get your preferred foods, just try to substitute as best you can and try to walk or find other exercise.

You can do it- we all can!

Thanks!



227



Anybody got some good kale recipes?

Roxy


Kale loves to be cooked with lots of garlic.

[Tri Girl]

thanks, Posse!!

[channlluv]

Thank you, Posse, for keeping the chart.

And thanks, Goldfinch, for the tip on the garlic.

Roxy

[Blueberry]

Put me down for 226 at the finish. Not what I wanted, but life - again. At least I've not been stress eating - this is progress (normally, I would have gained weight with life as it has been lately).

Thanks, Possegal - Looking forward to the next challenge!

[ultraviolet]

I stayed at 214.5 this week. I had a few indulgences this week. I expect that my crazy schedule next week is going to make sticking to a plan difficult...but, we'll see.

[surgtech1956]

179# Count me in for the next weight loss challenge. Thanks for doing this

[klesko]

I am in California visiting my sister - who is not doing well. No scale in the hotel room (she is too sick to have guests overnight). Count me in for next month and I am trying hard not to stress eat, but my exercise has also fallen by the wayside due to my schedule and torn rotator cuff :(

I can only hope next month is better.