May/June Weight Loss Challenge

[Possegal]

Next two months of 2011 and the continued quest to getting in shape for me (yeah, AGAIN)!

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 6th of May (or whatever day works best for you)
(3) what your goal weight is for 1st of July - 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.

[chryss]

Do you have space for a new member?

I'm at 162-ish right now after 6 months of losing weight, but will of course give you an official weekly number Friday. Goal will be, hm, let's say, 149.5 pounds or 68 kg.

[Possegal]

There is ALWAYS room for new members. :)

[Tri Girl]

oh I'm in again. Didn't even come close to my goal last time, so I think this time I'll just set a goal of trying to lose a few pounds. I'll weigh in on Friday.
Thanks, Posse!!! :)

[extra-vert]

I was in this a long time ago and I would love to get back on board if i may. I am 5"7, 140ish, hoping for 132. Official weigh in Friday the 6th, :eek:

Thank you!:D

[jennyrc]

Okay, I'm in...Need to get in shape to fit into my wedding dress end of July :)
Also need to get in shape for the MS bike ride I'm doing middle of September. I've discovered competition (so to speak) helps me stay on track for sure. Current weight 170, 5'5"...will be 150 by beginning of July. If I believe it I can make it happen...at least I hope so :) Will give official number Friday.

[surgtech1956]

I'm in again. Last week 179# - goal is 169#. Thanks for doing this.

[GLC1968]

I'm in again. March/April showed no progress for me (admittedly, my efforts were marginal at best!). I just joined a challenge for the entire summer with some friends with a goal of FINALLY getting to my end goal weight of 133 by September!

Anyway, I'll weigh in on Saturday (my weigh day for the summer challenge) and post my goal then. Timing for this period is good for me as I've got a 'girls weekend' in Chicago in early July and I'd like to be looking fit! :)

[Tri Girl]

well it starts today. Last week (before the marathon and the crap-food fest that followed for 4 days) I was 158.
Today I'm 161.8. 4 lbs in a week. That's impressive. :rolleyes:

Time to jump back on that wagon. No... time to hitch up and PULL that darn wagon.;)

[carolync]

I want in! I need a little extra motivation/support.

Today the scale said 131.2, and I'd like to get down to 125 by July 1st.

Hoping the warm weather and lots of biking will get me there.

[chryss]

OK, let's start this at 162. 150s, here I come! Goal is to get *through* them and to come out at 149.5.

[nolemom]

Back at 149 this morning:(
Goal 140

[jennyrc]

Starting weight... 168. Goal 150. Weather's nice here today, no work, and new saddle...hoping for a long ride (well, long for me...aiming at 25 miles)

[ultraviolet]

I seem to be in the midst of a hyooge water bounce (for me). A couple of days ago, I bounced up 8 lbs. overnight. A couple of them came back off this morning, but I'm still pretty puffy. So, since I have no idea when this will finally subside, and I have no idea what my actual (normal water level) weight would be, I'm just going to go with what I was at this morning.

I'm starting this one at 220.7

Goal: 209

And once again I say: silly body.

[azfiddle]

This helps me stay on track.... still 2.6 lbs above goal at 114.6 today. I am just setting my sights on getting back to 112 and staying there!

[Catrin]

Still 134.2. My weight isn't budging at all - either way - which is better than it could be! I suspect that things will start to head the right direction once the weather allows me to ride more consistently.

[Jones]

I would like to be in please, I weigh a very discouraging 200 lbs. My goal is 192. I know that I have to change the way I eat for life but am really struggling with eating too much sugar so much sugar that I put on all the weight I had lost in previous challenges. I need to figure out how to not eat junk and to stick with it.

Thank you Possegal for taking your time to do all of this for us.

[Possegal]

So I went yesterday to have my resting metabolic rate tested and my body composition in one of those 'bod pod' thingys. Talk about sobering. I know I'm way too heavy, I know I'm unhappy, but to see those numbers was kind of frightening. I'm 49% fat. UNBELIEVABLE. My sister kept telling me - don't let it discourage you, don't let it get you depressed, use it to motivate you. On the plus side, my RMR was much higher than my height/weight/composition estimated. Based on teh estimation, with no exercise, I'd have had to eat only 750 calories to lose 1 lb a week. The RMR measurement takes it to about 2000. The guy who did the measurements was pleased and so glad I opted to do both so that he could see that it was totally doable to have a 500 calorie deficit based on my RMR.

At first I swear he looked at me like - why are you here? It is a bike shop that has coaching and such, so I'm sure he's used to getting fit athletes in there. But he quickly moved to very encouraging - what's your plan, how are you going to attack this, I don't care about this first number, it's the next one when you come back in in 3-4 months that matters. So, wasn't nearly as humiliating as it could be, but still DAMN humiliating. :)

Here is this challeng's spreadsheet! Let's kick some butt everyone.
https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

[Tri Girl]

I've always wanted to do the bod pod thing. I'm so afraid the numbers will mess with my head, tho. I guess I don't want to know, but maybe knowing will help provide the motivation.
Proud of you, Posse!! I think taking that first step is the scariest part. We CAN do this!!!!!:)

[azfiddle]

Posse, good luck- I'm proud of you for facing it and now you can move from stress to success with your plan! Keep us posted, and of course we're all here to support each other.

[channlluv]

Rock on, Possegal. How do you find a bod pod? I've used one of those little handheld units and it showed me as 52% fat. Yikes. My BMI is 39. No idea about the metabolic rate, though, and I'd like to know. Unless I'm sleepwalking over to Chick-fil-a every night, I don't know why I"m not just melting off the fat with all the walking I'm doing.

The two voices in my head for that whole 90 minutes: TREK AND KNOT! Trek is saying, "Intervals!" and Knot is yelling, "CORE!" Just the coaching I need. Thanks, ladies!

I've still be walking every day on the treadmill except for yesterday and today. I had surgery this morning -- minor outpatient thing. Radiofrequency reduction of my turbinates in my nose and the base of my tongue to open up my airways so I can breathe better and hopefully ease my sleep apnea.

I'm hoping if I can start sleeping better, I'll have that hormonal boost toward weight loss, too.


So this morning, 226.2.

Goal for July 1: 200. Might as well aim high.

Roxy

[Veronica]

Bod pod locations. (http://www.bodpod.com/clients/locator)

Veronica

[Possegal]

When I was looking, I also did a google with bod pod and my state, which brought up this bike store, which isn't listed on that bod pod locator thing and was closer to me than the ones on that site. Not sure how many are out there that aren't on that locator, but worth a google search. I have to admit, I got the idea to look around for one after watching an episode of the show Ruby on The Style Network. :)

[Catrin]

Way to go Possegal! I wouldn't mind finding one of them myself, it sounds very useful!

Count me in again as I have made no real progress...

I am currently 134.2 and really want to get to 125...

[extra-vert]

Ok, guessing, (as I am in the middle of moving from SF to LA), so start me at 140 officially please. When I get the chance to unpack my scale, I'll have something more solid.:D

[goldfinch]

May 3 was 136.5. Been stuck at around 137 for several weeks. I am running an average of 1200 calories. My exercise has increased a lot in the last several weeks because I want to maintain as much muscle mass as possible. Because the real likihood is that I am on a plateau do to a drop in metabolism from loss of muscle. It happens when you are on calorie restriction diets. :( I have to either reduce calories more or exercise more. Ack! I don't want to go below an average 1100, it increases the chance of me being too hungry and binging.

My July 5 goal (nine weeks) is to be down to 129, slightly less than dropping a pound a week. May be too aggressive given the plateau I am on.

[Blueberry]

I'm gonna put my starting weight at 226. I've been retaining water and it's been bouncing horrendously for 2 days (yes, I know why - yes, I'm correcting it). Goal: 215.

[surgtech1956]

178.5#

[channlluv]

This is a mid-week checkin, but as of a few minutes ago, I'm down to 221. This is the lightest I've been in probably ten years.

I had nasal/base of my tongue surgery on Friday and I was on narcotics until last night. I've been avoiding them today because I want to go back to work tomorrow.

DH went and got me three days' worth of acai bowls from Robeks, sans the granola topping, and I've eaten a whole jar of TreeTop Apple Sauce and one can of soup, plus grits and scrambled eggs. I tried a peanutbutter sandwich, but the whole grain bread is just too rough on my throat.

I'm off exercise until further notice from the doctor - nothing strenuous that might put pressure on my breathing passages. I'm not allowed to blow my nose, I'm doing twice-daily neti pot rinses. Multiple daily spritzes with nasal spray and saline.

I'm wondering how much of the loss is water and muscle mass -- I'm feeling really weak, but I'm coming off narcotics, too. The woozy is probably from that.

Now, when I can get back to exercise and eating solid food...can I keep this weight off?

Wednesday morning: 218.6 -- makes me wonder if I take another day off and sleep and eat nothing but applesauce...

Roxy

[GLC1968]

Take care of yourself, Roxy!

My official starting weight is 149.6. I weighed in on Saturday morning but totally forgot to post. My goal for July 1 is 144 lbs. :)

Thanks for doing this again, Possegal!

[RadicalEdward]

Is there space for a late-comer??

Weight at the beginning of this month was 83kgs/182.6lbs
Currently weighing in at 82kgs/180.5lbs
Would like to be 75kgs/165lbs by July

Have already lost 16kg/35lbs since November :)
But its just coming on winter here.. I really just need to stay motivated, but its so hard when the bed is so warm and the outdoors is so cold....

[Catrin]

137.4 :( No scales again until next Friday. There was next to nothing actually healthy to eat at the conference - though it was all yummy! My body just isn't used to eating like that these days.

[carolync]

grrrr. Up @ 131.8. I've haven't lost a thing since March. Was really good this week, was out on my bike twice, once a 58 mile ride, did yoga 2 times - one was a Bikram class, and ate between 1300-1600 cals a day (except the ride day which was way more -- I ended on a 600 cal deficit). Started weight watchers and had 50 activity points left at the end of the week.

What gives?

[channlluv]

220.4 this morning.

I've been living on applesauce, soup, unsweetened almond milk, and acai bowls the last few days, but last night I had pasta, which is the first solid food I've been able to manage well. The sauce burned a bit going down. I ate a plum yesterday, too. Took me 45 minutes to finish it because it burned so much going down. I didn't realize plums were so acidic.

I was also able to manage some soft white bread soaked in sauce last night -- glutton for punishment, I know, but the hunger was overwhelming and I've found if I chew on the right side and tilt my head to the right to swallow really small bites, the food doesn't track across the painful area down the middle and left of the back of my tongue. The whole grain stuff I usually eat was just too rough going down my throat.

I have to say, it's pretty easy to stick to a "diet" when it hurts like h-e-double hockey sticks to "cheat." I made brownies for desert last night and I tried a small bite. Ouuuuuuuuuuuucccccchhhh. I literally teared up from the pain.

Back to the applesauce and acai today.

Roxy

[Tri Girl]

161.8 - excactly the same as last week.
I lost my beloved 16 year old cocker spaniel this week and I haven't worked out one day and have eaten like crap. I'm glad it's not higher with all the emotional eating I've been doing.

[channlluv]

Tri Girl, you've had a really devastating week. Be kind to yourself.

Roxy

[chryss]

160.4 this morning.

It's funny how my weight is currently bouncing all over the place. I was down to 159.8 three days ago and then it jumped up 2 pounds overnight. I've been losing weight in a controlled and prolonged way for the first time in my life since last year and am down over 30 kg / 65 pounds. It was going a lot less harder than I expected, but now that I'm in this unfamiliar region of "only 15 pounds or so overweight", suddenly my body is doing new, unexpected things.


channlluv - hang in there! It'll get better, you know that, right? (My starting point last year was very close to where you were recently -- 227 pounds -- and I was at that weight or thereabouts for a long time before that. Though you're probably taller.)

Tri Girl - so sorry to hear that. We have 6 Siberian Huskies living indoors with us. I'm sure s/he had a great (and clearly long) life with you.

[Blueberry]

224. Yay!!

Having the period from hell, which is making exercise rough (I am not one of the fortunate people who exercise relieves). I'll take it.

[jennyrc]

166.6 Kinda a creepy number, especially on Friday the 13th. However it's weight loss so I'll take it :)

[Blueberry]

Roxy- OUCH!!! How much longer are you exercise restricted, and how much longer do they think it will hurt like that?? Maybe mix some protein powder into your almond milk? Doesn't sound like you're getting much protein - might help you feel some better (or at least it would me). That sucks:(

[azfiddle]

114.8

Roxy- feel better!

[Jones]

201 wrong way, wrong way!

[channlluv]

Roxy- OUCH!!! How much longer are you exercise restricted, and how much longer do they think it will hurt like that?? Maybe mix some protein powder into your almond milk? Doesn't sound like you're getting much protein - might help you feel some better (or at least it would me). That sucks:(

I'm not supposed to do anything strenuous that might put pressure on my sinus cavity, so no heavy breathing, for about a month. Four to five weeks, until it's fully healed. I can walk, slowly, but that's about it. Honestly, today's the first day I've had enough energy to even think about it. (And really, the twice-daily neti pot irrigations are pretty brutal.)

I have some protein powder. I just keep forgetting to mix it in, but that's a great tip. Thank you.

As I type this, I'm enjoying a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Thank goodness for mushy veggies and Kings Hawaiian Bread, which soaks it right up. The celery is a little course, but the carrots and the little bread chunks slide right down.

I can't help cringing a bit at all the white flour, but oh well. I'm getting burnt out on acai bowls and applesauce.

:)

Roxy

[surgtech1956]

178.5# still

[Possegal]

Making some updates!

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

[extra-vert]

Finally a scale unpacked again! :)

Update: 138

Thanks Possegal

[extra-vert]

Looks like I forgot to mention my goal. It's about 132 me-thinks. :)

140 down to 138 yay!

[GLC1968]

151.5 :eek: It looks like the past few weeks of overeating at every opportunity have finally caught up to me...with a vengence. Oops.

No matter. Next Saturday starts my 14 week summer challenge to finally get to my goal, so there will be no more gluttenous/slothful weeks in my future. ;)

[angelaslc]

Is it too late for me?

I just found this forum today and just got my first bike last week.

I've already lost 15 pounds but I would like to lose another 15 pounds.
5/6 I was 149.5 and 5/13 I was 149.9

My goal weight is 135.

[Possegal]

Never too late and all are always welcome!

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

Have to laugh at myself, clearly showing my profession, as I typed your name as analgesic. :)

[Catrin]

136.2

[jennyrc]

#165.0

[extra-vert]

136 lbs :) :confused:

[chryss]

158.8 this morning, which is .6 pounds down from last week.

It's odd how things change now that my weight has come down or close to [still overweight but] never-been-as-low-in-my-adult-life levels. Suddenly the number on the scales bounces about from day to day a lot more. Until 2-3 weeks ago, I lost 2 pounds+ nearly every week like clockwork, but it stands to reason that this needs to slow down, especially given I'm also working on fitness and strength.

So after thinking about it hard, I think I need to revise my goal to 1 pound/week, that is 154 by the end of June. The 140s can wait a little longer.

[channlluv]

224.6

damnwhiteflour

[Tri Girl]

161.8
3rd week in a row. To the ounce. I had gained 2 lbs earlier in the week, so I guess it's good that it's not more.:rolleyes:

[chryss]

Oops, I just saw I mistyped -- 159.8, not 158.8. Freudian typo?

Possegal, could you disregard the first one on the spreadsheet.

[azfiddle]

Today was better than yesterday, so I'm going with 114.6 from this morning;)

[ultraviolet]

I'm still on a water rollercoaster. Watching the numbers bounce up and down has actually become my daily morning entertainment. This morning: 218.2

[Jones]

I'm late and it is not good news, 201, but in good news I have not had any sugar in two days which is huge for me.

[surgtech1956]

179#. Dang

[Possegal]

More updates.

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

[GLC1968]

150.7 for Saturday's weigh in. Totally forgot to post it!

[angelaslc]

Hello - I haven't been connected until today. This was my weigh-in:

150.5 :confused:

So I'm going up....but my clothes are fitting looser? Some sort of plateau maybe - but it's been a month since I've lost weight.

I have to admit, I haven't been as strict with my diet because I figured my body needs the fuel for these long rides....However - I need to drop the last 15 pounds and I know I need to go back to being very strict with my diet.

So - I've made a decision to start logging my food again on the Livestrong web-site. It has a great database of foods and it's free and pretty easy to log food and exercise. I do eat really healthy foods but I tend to mindlessly eat things....like nuts

I will cut out the coconut yogurt and stop snitching my boyfriends chips....those Whole Foods wheat tortilla chips he buys with the cilantro jalapeño hummus is amazing but I know it's taking away from my calorie deficient and preventing me from losing the weight..

So maybe it's a plateau and maybe I'm overdoing it on the snacking....maybe both. Either way, I think using the Livestrong web-site will help me be more concious of what I am eating.

[RadicalEdward]

Good Luck! I found that logging food made it easier to stop snacking on the bad stuff- knowing that even if I only had a 'little' bit I would still have to log it at the end of the day was enough motivation to not have any :)
If you're dropping sizes though it's quite likely that there's muscle gain there!

Missed the last weigh in - have ben curled up in a ball on the couch with flu :( Just starting to come good now though! (But oh goodness have I eaten some terrible things this last week!)
Muscles are itching to get back out there - as soon as my sinuses clear enough for me to breathe standing up I'll be back on the bike.. It's taking ForEVER....

[carolync]

I totally forgot to check in last week.

Scale finally dropped. 129.6. Woohoo! Nice to be out of the 130s, even if barely

[jennyrc]

164.4....slow but steady I guess, so no complaints here.

Ready for the weekend! I'm hoping exercise will counteract some junk food I plan on eating while out camping. Heading of to yoga this am, then hopefully a run this afternoon, then golfing this evening. Tomorrow I'm hoping for short ride before heading out to float the river and camp. Got to love Alaskan summers when the days go on and on!

Hoping everyone enjoys the long weekend and has beautiful weather too :)

[Catrin]

136.4

I know there is a diet/calorie and exercise imbalance going on here - though with the weather as it has been there is little surprise I haven't been able to get out there as often as I need/want. My diet isn't bad, by no means, but have probably gotten a little lax...

[angelaslc]

Well...logging food the last couple of days but I haven't been able to train since Saturday...I pulled a muscle in my right calf- or over streched it?...not sure but it hurts....even walking has been painful...cycling and stairs are very painful.

I weighed in at 149. At least I am back into the 140's....but not by much.

[chryss]

158.0

Slow and steady, though there's still a lot of day-to-day bouncing. Clearly my water retention fluctuates widely, but then I've been leading a hectic life, including fishing trips starting at 11 pm (it's not getting very dark any more at night and sunset is now at 11:50 pm). I have no complaints -- one pound a week would be ideal if it's steady (revised goal for the July 1 weigh-in is 154 right now, by the way, in line with a 1 a week goal).

[extra-vert]

back to 138, quel domage

[Jones]

201

[channlluv]

I'm really embarrassed to post this: 227.4.


Apparently I'm not one of those people who can eat whatever they like and not exercise and not gain an ounce.

I'm really hoping this is just my body's coping with the onslaught of white flour and other less-than-ideal...okay, really bad...food choices I've made the last two weeks. My first actual salad I've been able to get down my very sore tongue/throat (post-surgery) was Tuesday.

The last couple of days my face and chest have been breaking out everywhere I got a little too much sun last weekend. I'm breaking out in these tiny little red bumps, some of which have pinhole white heads. Yesterday I couldn't even wear my usual powder foundation because my face actually hurt. My chest, too. Everywhere that was sunburned. It's like my body is purging toxins, but I'm not sure what they are. Unless it's all the bad food that I'm not used to eating.

I'm wondering if it's some medication that I'm on and I'm not supposed to get into the sun.

I'm also very bloated. I practically slosh when I walk.

So I go from 218 and feeling hot, to 227 and feeling like a slug in the matter of three weeks or so.

argh.

Roxy - I can get back on the treadmill now, but nothing too strenuous, per the doctor. Nothing that would make me breathe very hard -- my nasal passages are still raw from the surgery on the 6th. Gross and gory details from the follow-up visit on Thursday have been omitted. :)

[Possegal]

I'm wondering if it's some medication that I'm on and I'm not supposed to get into the sun.



I have to say, as a doctor of pharmacology (ie, drug doctor), that was what was going through my mind when you said it.

Hope you are feeling back to your self soon!

[channlluv]

Thanks, Possegal. You know, I was on a really strong antibiotic up until a week ago. Augmentin or something like that. Is that an antibiotic?

[Tri Girl]

163.8 WTH???v:mad::confused::mad: Awesome- I gained 2 lbs. Super.

grrrrr... I am NOT happy about gaining 2 lbs this week. I didn't eat that terribly.... but I didn't workout as much as normal (2 days less than normal). Some days I swear I just want to take diet pills and say to hell with the consequences of damaging my heart. I'm SO sick and tired of fighting this weight battle- I want to scream. Why can't my weight be a non-issue instead of an all-consuming issue all day, every day of my life since I was a teenager? I know it could be worse, but still...just feeling frustrated. ;) Just so sick and tired of fighting this battle and so sick of the emotions that darn scale brings out in me. I'm down I'm happy for a week. I'm up I get cranky. And everyone of my naturally thin friends keep trying to tell me tips and tricks the last few weeks (and I'm not even asking for their help) and I want to punch them because they've never struggled with weight and they don't know what it's like to eat well, deprive yourself and still struggle to lose poundage.
Sorry for the rant. I actually feel a little better.


Rant over- back on the wagon...

[Veronica]

I'm not a naturally thin chick, so don't punch me. :D Especially since I'd punch back.

Are you doing any weight training? Seriously, I think my weight training work with my trainer is the best thing for keeping my weight down.

Veronica

[Tri Girl]

I'm not a naturally thin chick, so don't punch me. :D Especially since I'd punch back.

Are you doing any weight training? Seriously, I think my weight training work with my trainer is the best thing for keeping my weight down.

Veronica


I won't punch you (mostly because I KNOW you'd punch back and I know it would hurt). :D
I stopped weight training about a year ago. I know that it helped when I lost weight before, but I was starving myself back then and when I started eating again (but still weight training), the weight all came back +10.

It's not that I don't know what to do, it's just that I'm so tired of counting every bite. I just want to eat healthy and maintain a healthy weight. I have two extremes:
1. I'm either being SUPER strict and watching/counting every bite and losing weight or
2. trying to eat normally and gaining.
I have NO idea how to maintain.

I'm just uber frustrated lately. Less than a month ago I was 6 lbs lighter right before my marathon. I gained 5 lbs in 2 weeks, without much change in anything. And now I can't lose 1 lb to save my life.
Bring on the phen-fen

I know, I know... I should start strength training again, I'm just being pouty...:p Thank you for trying to be helpful (and not telling me to just get more sleep and I'll lose weight, or only to eat out once a day and you'll lose weight- not that I eat out at all- or just drink green tea the weight will melt right off.... grrrr skinny chicks)

[Veronica]

So my next question...:D

What's your ratio of carbs/protein/fat? What's worked for me is a 40/40/20. I'm not super strict about it, but it's my general goal.

What I'm hearing is that you're restricting what you eat instead of finding a way to incorporate what you like into your diet. For example I love Trader Joe's cinnamon bread - 390 calories of carby goodness! plus the butter Totally throws my carb ratio out of whack. I eat it on days I run, have a race or a long bike ride. If it's a swim, weight training, yoga day, forget about it. I swear the stuff makes me run better!

I HAVE to have a sweet after dinner drives me crazy if I don't. Drives me crazy that I need it. Right now it's Trader Joe's chocolate covered frozen banana bits. A serving is 4, I eat 2.

Life sucks when you don't eat what you like, but you have to figure how to make it work. Depriving yourself isn't going to work. Which I know you know, but I wanted to say it anyway. :D

And you know, how many IM and marathons have you completed? You rock girl and you can do this.

Veronica

[Tri Girl]

So my next question...:D

What's your ratio of carbs/protein/fat? What's worked for me is a 40/40/20. I'm not super strict about it, but it's my general goal.

What I'm hearing is that you're restricting what you eat instead of finding a way to incorporate what you like into your diet. For example I love Trader Joe's cinnamon bread - 390 calories of carby goodness! plus the butter Totally throws my carb ratio out of whack. I eat it on days I run, have a race or a long bike ride. If it's a swim, weight training, yoga day, forget about it. I swear the stuff makes me run better!

I HAVE to have a sweet after dinner drives me crazy if I don't. Drives me crazy that I need it. Right now it's Trader Joe's chocolate covered frozen banana bits. A serving is 4, I eat 2.

Life sucks when you don't eat what you like, but you have to figure how to make it work. Depriving yourself isn't going to work. Which I know you know, but I wanted to say it anyway. :D

And you know, how many IM and marathons have you completed? You rock girl and you can do this.

Veronica

Thanks for the encouragement, V. When I incorporate what I like to eat, I go back to gaining. Maybe when I eat what I like I eat too much and that's the reason for the gain. I have to find that perfect medium of eating what I like, but maintaining. I think it all comes down to me being incredibly frustrated that I lost 35, gained back 45 and am struggling like heck to just lose 20. I don't need to be a size 4 like last time I lost: I would be slap-happy with an 8/10 (I'm almost 40, my body doesn't lose like it did when I was 30).
I guess I want it to be easy and I know it's not. I was so determined to NOT race as athena this season, and with my first two races next weekend, I'm still WELL above the athena cut-off. I'm disappointed that food rules my life and that the scale rules my emotions. I just want to be normal (not that I have ever been that way, but I can dream).

Thanks for the tips. I'll jump back on the wagon and get this thing taken care of. I WILL be 150 or less by the IM in late September. I might kill me, but I WILL do it!!!

[Veronica]

I don't need to be a size 4 like last time I lost: ...

I just want to be normal (not that I have ever been that way, but I can dream).

Thanks for the tips. I'll jump back on the wagon and get this thing taken care of. I WILL be 150 or less by the IM in late September. I might kill me, but I WILL do it!!!

This bit made me laugh. I went clothes shopping today and had to get size 4 pants. Ahhhh... I weigh 142 pounds. I should not be a 4! So I suspect you'll be a 4 or a 6 when you get to 150. :p

Normal... you sound pretty normal to me. I obsess over my weight, what I eat, my training, my classroom... That's normal.

Yeah, you will do it.

Veronica

[SheFly]

Ahhhh... I weigh 142 pounds. I should not be a 4! So I suspect you'll be a 4 or a 6 when you get to 150. :p


What the h*ll am I doing wrong! Even when I am 150 (which is my typical summer race weight), I am STILL a size 10! GACK!

SheFly (who is currently closer to 160, and who's DH just told her so...)

[Veronica]

Maybe it's where you shop? You're taller than I am. I'm just really compact I guess.

In Bean, Title 9 and Athleta stuff I take a 6. But at J Jill I'm a 4. :rolleyes:

Veronica

[SheFly]

I don't shop a lot at Title 9 or Athleta, but at Bean, I am definitely a 10, but a small on top (guess that tells you where I carry the extra). Sigh. Doomed to be a size 10 forever (or, at least for now and the past 10 years...) :D. :D :D

SheFly

[GLC1968]

Hang in there, TriGirl! And, V is wise. I have similiar thoughts and she's pretty much covered what I was going to say. I will mention that restricting your calories really low is a BAD idea. Been there, done that, refuse to ever go back again!! You know you've done something bad to your metabolism when you are doing 800 vigorous minutes of exercise a week (including heavy weight training and intense cardio), eating 800 calories a day of super clean food in a 30/50/20 ratio (c/p/f) and still barely eeking out a 0.5 lb loss a week when you still have 25-30 lbs to lose. Yeah, that was me about 7-8 years ago. Never again. I think that because I have now made it a priority to NOT cut my calories low, I have made peace with a slower rate of loss. If it means that when I'm done I've preserved my muscle and my metabolism, I'll be a very happy girl.

Right now, I'm in 4's and 2's on top, 6's and 8's on the bottom and I'm 5'4" and 150 lbs. Go figure.

Speaking of which - 149.7 for me this week. It's TTOM, so I'll take it!

[Possegal]

Updates.

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

[Possegal]

Thanks, Possegal. You know, I was on a really strong antibiotic up until a week ago. Augmentin or something like that. Is that an antibiotic?

Augmentin is an antibiotic, and though some antibiotics are known to cause sun sensitivity, augmentin isn't really a drug that is known for it. But that said, there can always be instances where a person has a reaction to a drug that isn't a common one. Your reaction didn't sound to me like just 'I got some sun'. I wouldn't rule out the possibility.

[channlluv]

Augmentin is an antibiotic, and though some antibiotics are known to cause sun sensitivity, augmentin isn't really a drug that is known for it. But that said, there can always be instances where a person has a reaction to a drug that isn't a common one. Your reaction didn't sound to me like just 'I got some sun'. I wouldn't rule out the possibility.

Thanks, Possegal. It could easily have been something else. My face is somewhat better, but I still have a lot of little red bumps on my chest and neck, and a few on my forehead and on my right cheekbone that hurt to touch. My face is still red and it feels warm -- it looks like I got sunburned, and I did, last Saturday. I just keep splashing cold water on. I'm still puffy, too.

Too much salt, I guess. I need to get back on my clean diet as soon as possible.

Roxy

[surgtech1956]

177#. :)))))))

[azfiddle]

The scale has a mind of its own... 114 on Thursday, 116 on Friday, 118 yesterday and 117 today. So...I guess I'll take the 116 and see how things sort out by next Friday! That goal of 112 seems very far away right now...

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, Possegal. It could easily have been something else. My face is somewhat better, but I still have a lot of little red bumps on my chest and neck, and a few on my forehead and on my right cheekbone that hurt to touch. My face is still red and it feels warm -- it looks like I got sunburned, and I did, last Saturday. I just keep splashing cold water on. I'm still puffy, too.

Too much salt, I guess. I need to get back on my clean diet as soon as possible.

Roxy

You could also be allergic to one of the meds you've taken. Medication allergies often show up as rashes (ask me how I know this...). If you're still on any meds, I'd call your doc just to ask and report your symptoms. Otherwise, it should clear up soon.

[RadicalEdward]

I'm late.. whoops!
180.5 - absolutely ZERO loss this last fortnight. Grr....

[ultraviolet]

I was out of town again for most of last week. And found this morning that my scale has been possessed...OK, so really I think it just needs a battery replacement. I didn't get around to fixing that situation today, so I'll just have to join back in next week. With any luck, my schedule will settle down soon. *fingers crossed*

[channlluv]

228.4

wrong waaaaaaaaaaaaaahy

[nolemom]

150 - Wrong Way:( Good news, I'm riding stronger than I have in a long time. Now to just quit eating everything in sight.

[ultraviolet]

Never got around to fixing the scale. Maybe I'll be able to take care of that today. But between the nice weather and the amount of work I have to do, that doesn't seem realistic. *sigh*

[Catrin]

135

[Tri Girl]

164.2
Guess I'm not the only one in the WRONG WAY club this week. Grrrr...:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[carolync]

129 Down .6!

Shocked. I ate so much last weekend, and barely exercised or tracked my calories this week.

[goldfinch]

131. This was my first chance to weigh myself since the beginning of May. Down 5.5 pounds for the month of May. Averaged 1164 calories per day for the month. My metabolism is too efficient. :)

[jennyrc]

165 today...up a bit but I think I'm still doing okay. I ate like crap this weekend, but I have been exercising more than normal so I'm going to call the extra half pound muscle :) Hopefully this is actually the case and I can start going down again next week...

[azfiddle]

115.8

Could be worse, but not going back down...

[channlluv]

164.2
Guess I'm not the only one in the WRONG WAY club this week. Grrrr...:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Maybe we're all premenstrual and it's just water weight. Yeah, that's it.


Roxy

[Possegal]

Today's updates.

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

[extra-vert]

Well I weighed in this morning then forgot to log in and post! :eek: 137 for me. (Course after the dinner I made tonight, we'll see about tomorrow! LOL

[chryss]

Oops, I forgot to post yesterday. Busy day. 157.6 for me. Stagnating a bit.

[RadicalEdward]

181.8
Wrong way. but I quit smoking last week.. It's going to take a little while to get the hand/mouth fixation under control methinks
And that's not as bad as I thought it would be

[GLC1968]

Maybe we're all premenstrual and it's just water weight. Yeah, that's it.


Roxy

I'm actually post-menstrual and I always either maintain or go up this week in my cycle. ;)

150.2 - add me to the wrong way club for the week.

[surgtech1956]

178.5# I'm also in the 'wrong way club'

[goldfinch]

Another week, another pound: 130

I am surprised to be down a pound because I over ate yesterday by 400 calories and got no exercise in the pouring rain.

Off to ride. The heat has broken. This will be nice.

[channlluv]

228.4

[jennyrc]

163.2

[chryss]

154.2

[carolync]

128.4.

[Possegal]

More updates.

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

[Tri Girl]

164.2 :/
I cannot break 160 and stay below. Whenever I do, I seem to jump back up. Maybe my body's telling me something... ;)

[GLC1968]

149.7 - back on the way down...

[surgtech1956]

179#. :(((((((((

[goldfinch]

129.5

Half a pound this week. This week was a struggle because I had a day where I was nearly 500 calories over and tried to make up for it the rest of the week, which was painful. Ended up averaging only 1103 per day. I'd rather be averaging 1200 and exercising more but I am still working up my tolerance.

Happy to have broke the 130s barrier though!

[Catrin]

136...

[jennyrc]

162.6

[channlluv]

232.2

I'm blaming the clarithromyacin I'm on after that nasal surgery a month ago. And I have zero willpower lately, and I'm still not supposed to do anything strenous. Argh. Five more days of antibiotics, then I'm on the serious probiotics and regular exercise again. Hopefully I can turn this weight gain around.

Roxy

[Veronica]

232.2

Hopefully I can turn this weight gain around.

Roxy

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

That was my previous sig line quotation, before "Discipline is remembering what you want." You seem to bounce up and down within the same 5 - 10 pound range. I know you have a lot of stuff going on, but until you take the bull by the horns, nothing is going to change significantly.

I know because that's what I had to do to go from 180 pounds to 150 in 2001. And I know that you can't ever go back to the same habits (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=42141).

I can't tell you what exactly will work for you. For me it was cutting out ALL the junk at work. If I didn't bring it, I didn't eat it. Figure out your plan and stick to it, no matter what sort of crappy day you're having (stress and boredom eater here) and you'll see results. The reason I have those sig lines is for me - so every time I post I'm reminded of my goals and what I want.

Veronica

[klesko]

I did not participate in this challenge, but will again in July. I successfully finished my sprint triathlon, but fell on wet pavement and landed on my shoulder. My rotator cuff is torn and I am scheduled for surgery July 1. I am worried about weight gain since the recovery from that surgery does not allow much exercise besides walking for several weeks.

[channlluv]

Thanks, Veronica. I appreciate the words of wisdom.

What sort of plan did you follow, or was it one you made for yourself?

Roxy

[chryss]

154.8. Stalling again, but that's ok. This time.

[surgtech1956]

177.5# - finally heading in the right direction

[Possegal]

Sorry for the delay with this week's updates.

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&output=html

[Veronica]

What sort of plan did you follow, or was it one you made for yourself?

Roxy

One I made for myself. You have to decide what you can live with and without and then stick to it. It takes trial and error and really being honest with yourself about what you need to stay away from.

When I weighed 180 I was eating at least three of my homemade chocolate chip cookies a day. Plus any other chocolate I could get my hands on. When I decided to lose weight that became one cookie a day AND no other sweets. That's where my rule of, if I didn't bring it, I didn't eat it come from. That worked to get me down into the mid 150s along with just regular exercise in about 6 months. I held that from the end of 2001 until 2009.

When I become more serious about triathlon in 2009, I cut out the cookie. That got me down to around 150. Last November, I seriously upped the protein and become more conscious of what kinds of carbs I was eating and when. That got me down to 142 and 16% body fat. I don't always eat clean. I really like Trader Joe's frozen raspberry macaroon cake thing. We share one on Saturday's - the day I do my long brick or run and Thom works out with the trainer. I would love to also eat a cookie when we go to lunch at Panera on Saturdays, but I don't because I'm having the raspberry cake thing in the late afternoon.

I drink water most of the time. I don't eat much fruit - it's all sugar and doesn't satisfy me.

I hardly eat any chips or fried food.

I really pay attention to what I have already eaten each day and make decisions based on that. We have a teacher who makes really good homemade cake and frosting. If Penny has brought a cake, you can bet I'm having some. But if I have some "Penny cake" - I'm not having any other sweets that day. Typically I'll save my sweets for night time, that's when I really crave it. Right now my evening sweet is a Trader Joe's raspberry and yogurt bar.

I have discovered that there are certain sweets I can't have in the house - chocolate and ice cream. I don't buy chocolate at all anymore. But I still get it from my students and I eat it and enjoy it when I get it. I wish I could make it last a little longer. :cool: Ice cream has become something we go out for when on vacation.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

I forgot to check in this weekend - weight was 148.1.

My body fat barely moved at all though and based on my week, I'm certain the loss is water. My goal for this coming week is to not gain it back which means actually burning 1.6 lbs of fat so that I weigh the same next Friday! ;)

[goldfinch]

Another week. 128.5. I am surprised I am down a pound because my average calories this week were up, to 1334. I should only be down about a half a pound or even a bit less. But calories out is a variable that is hard to pin down, as well as hydration. Either way, I have met my goal for the two month challenge. I am happy. :)

[Catrin]

Still 136....but it is true the weather has prevented me from riding since Sunday. So many of the cardio machines hurt my knee or tweaks my hamstring injury scar tissue from last year that I hesitate to use them...

[chryss]

153.4.

This is fine after fluctuating up and down this week, and already having reached my 1 lb/week goal for June.

BUT. I'm considering going to maintenance for a while. The reason is that I'm having a bit of a health scare at the moment. I went to my first ever appointment to a US physician a week ago -- just to establish a relationship, checking if my weight loss means my blood pressure is normal again (it was) and having a PAP smear done, which I hadn't in 10 years (oops). What happened is that didn't like the looks of my abdomen very much and sent me to get a CT scan. Well, the bad news is that I'm harbouring something I shouldn't and that it's big and not simply a cyst. The good news is that I'm otherwise fine. But of course I also have "weight loss" on my symptoms, which is ironic because I worked damn hard at losing 70 pounds! Anyhow, next step is a gynaecological surgeon. It doesn't help that I've been living in two different health care systems in major Western European capitals, where you have access to state-of-the-art in just about every specialty, for the last 15 years feel a bit lost about Fairbanks, Alaska, in that regards. Anyhow, maybe sticking around in the mid-to-low 150s is a good plan under the circumstances. Life there is sure different from the 200s, or even 180s.

[indysteel]

((((Chryss)))). Sending positive thoughts and vibes your way. I hope that whatever is your abdomen is benign and that it can be removed without any complication.

[goldfinch]

Take care Chryss!

[Tri Girl]

Yes, take care, Chryss. Keep us updated, please.

Well, for me the May/June weight loss challenge has been a HUGE failure. I haven't lost a thing. I've sorta tried, and my exercise has definitely increased, but my weight is the same. Just started strength training so hopefully that will help.
Oh well... there's always next time.:rolleyes:

[chryss]

Thank you indysteel & goldfinch. I'm not too freaked right now though I'm sure I will be in the near future.

[azfiddle]

I have been out of the loop for a few weeks- just read back a page and sending hugs and positive thoughts to you Chryss-


After a gradual and successful road from 150 two years ago, to my goal weight of 112 last May, I have had some ups and downs and the scale has inched up since winter. Just back from 2 weeks vacation without seeing a scale and this morning it was 118.8. It is so easy to fall back into old habits!

Might not sound scary for some of you, but I'm am 5'1" and 5 lbs is enough to change a full size. So my intention is to return to the "no exceptions" mindset that worked for me last year. This is a good reminder to stay focused.

[Possegal]

Weekly updates

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdG5nbjRmVlRsMmM4NC02VEdZejAtRUE&hl=en_US&authkey=CJWV14MB

[channlluv]

230.2

Still working toward getting back on my bike. I have another followup next week with the doctor, so it shouldn't be too long. I've gotten in a couple of 5ks on the treadmill this past week.

Roxy

[surgtech1956]

178.5. Wrong way again!

[Catrin]

Friday I was 136, today was 134.5. Probably will be back to 136 tomorrow :(

Obviously something is off in my diet, exercise, or both. I will participate in the next challenge and can hopefully address this.

[ultraviolet]

So, I did end up getting a new scale...just in time for the end of this round. Since I don't know how much of the change in my weight is because of scale difference, I won't be posting another weight for this one. I'm still not sure if I'll jump in on the next round here or not.

I've actually joined a challenge on another site that seems to make more sense for me. It's more goal-focused than just tracking weight loss. We've all stated specific goals around nutrition, activity and weight and/or body fat percentage. Then we record where we're at weekly, along with any "failures" or cheats. That kind of accountability is helpful.

But then, I tend to be of a similar mind as the things Veronica has chimed in with a few times. Goals are great, but without a plan they really don't mean much.

[Tri Girl]

well, after hitting 166.6 last week, I took the bull by the horns this week.

162.9

Amazing what can happen when you actually start writing down what you eat and seeing it all laid out. I have gotten lazy and it's time to buckle down and lose 15 before my Ironman in September.


Are we doing this again in July/August? :)

[Possegal]

Yep, we'll be back for July and August! :)

[chryss]

151 this morning.

My goal for the next two months, until surgery if and when it happens, is to maintain around 150-ish. That's a little premature as my original diet goal was to get into the 140s and then work on strength and fat percentage (I'm somewhere just below 30% according to our scales, FWIW). But I do not want to lose the control about my diet that I've maintained for the last 8 months and gain back significantly either! I'm now so used to my deficit eating patterns that it takes planning to eat just a little bit more.

[channlluv]

228.2 this morning.

I've been really cautious about portion sizes and I'm back on the treadmill as of a week ago. I'm doing a 5k every day, and this morning I plan to bump it up to 5 miles.

Roxy

[azfiddle]

117.0

Back in the right direction!

[klesko]

I have not been participating in this challenge, but I will be in the next one as I had shoulder surgery Friday July 1st and don't want to gain over the next couple of months while I am less active. Also, this morning I weighed 5 pounds more than the morning of my surgery, which is undoubtedly just my body acting weird after anaesthesia, etc. but it is still disconcerting.

[surgtech1956]

178.5#. Still. Sorry a little late. Count me in for July/August

[goldfinch]

127 as of the first. Beat my goal by two pounds. I am not sure I am going to do the next challenge as I will not have easy access to a scale and it never would be the same scale.