November/December Weight Management Challenge

[Possegal]

Next two months of our weight management challenge!


Let me know
(1) if you want to join in
(2) what your weight is on Friday the 9th of November(or whatever day works best for you)
(3) what your goal weight is for the 4th of January - 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 before the end of next week.

(also, how the heck is it already the final two months of the year for this challenge? :) )

[Catrin]

I am in again, and I hear you about it already being so close to 2013!

My weight this morning is 127.8 and my goal is 125. Maintain and to lose just a bit is my goal this time.

[Crankin]

I'm in.
Weight today is 105.2
Goal weight is 104, but really, I just want to maintain. It's been almost a year since I lost my initial 6 pounds. MY new "high" weight is now what my low weight used to be, but I need accountability, especially at this time of year, when I don't ride as much outside, but the trainer isn't set up and there's no snow yet.

[indigoiis]

I am in and THANK you Possegal for this.

Today's weight: 131
January goal weight: 125

With maintenance and allowance for holiday treating.

Major goals are continuing to avoid dairy, sugar, and refined carbs. I am training for a March marathon, and like my new feeling of being a little faster and feeling better (no more bloat! Yay!) But it IS hard to pass up pie, cake, etc etc etc.

I have been able to maintain 131-133 for about four weeks now, which is good. And I'm happy with everything and at the low end of the BMI, body fat percentage is on the low end, cholesterol is good, blood sugar good, so I don't really *need* to lose weight, but I still have a little carry bag below the thighs that would be nice to see gone before I'm 45!

[goldfinch]

OK, I am going to stop this weight gain stuff and actually cut the calories. I am 112.5 today and that is unacceptable. My goal for the end of December is 107.

[solobiker]

I am going to join in this time to keep me accountable during the holidays. I usally don't gain anything...but you never know. I am starting at 143 with a goal of not gaining and possible getting down to 139. Good luck everyone!!

[emily_in_nc]

In again. At 106.5 today and shooting for 105. That's not much of a goal, but I'm not dieting, just trying to maintain and not gain!

Thanks!

[indigoiis]

129 this morning. Racing on Sunday (8 mile trail run), so it's pasta the next couple of nights.

[emily_in_nc]

106.5 again today. Darn it, I was 105 just a few days ago, right after TOM (my first in 90 days, yay!). Did eat a fairly heavy (but YUMMY!) restaurant meal yesterday. Cutting back now, but with next Thurs. being Thanksgiving, next week's weigh-in could be an ugly one. :eek:

[goldfinch]

111.5
better, but too soon to tell

[Crankin]

104.2. It's been easier to maintain, as I've been super busy and DH worked 2 nights, so I ate really good Paleo type meals.
Yea, having a weigh in the day after Thanksgiving is not such a good idea.
Maybe we should weigh in Thursday morning.

[solobiker]

142 for me. I am happy with that.

[Catrin]

127.2, and I will likely weigh in either Thursday or Saturday morning.

Thank you SO much for keeping this going month after month after...your work is greatly appreciated!

[emily_in_nc]

Thank you SO much for keeping this going month after month after...your work is greatly appreciated!

Indeed it is! Thanks, Possegirl!

[azfiddle]

Please add me back in. I need to jumpstart my weight management again. I have crept up to about 118.5, since hovering around 117 for 2 years, which is enough over my goal weight that I can't fit in a lot of my pants right now. Goal for Nov-Dec is 116- it's hard to stay on track with the holiday temptations.

[Crankin]

OK, I am weighing in this morning, before eating Thanksgiving dinner, around 4.
104.6. This surprised me, as yesterday, I had a very weird eating day, but I did go for a 16.5 mile ride at 4 PM, which is something I rarely do after work.

[Catrin]

I weighed in this morning at 127.6. I seem to be ranging right now between 127.2 - 127.8 and that really isn't "ranging" at all. Until August my weight fluctuated between 133-137 so I will take it :)

[emily_in_nc]

Good going, Catrin, that's a real change. :)

I also weighed in today as I am going to a turkey dinner event tonight and plan to enjoy it!

106.5 once again.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[solobiker]

Hanging in at 143. This just may be my body's happy point.

[Possegal]

Just realized I never posted the link. Sorry. :)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdHlfRS13ZnN2Wmo1ZHdodmRTMmxYQnc

[indigoiis]

133 this Monday morning - I was away all weekend. And I hiked, ran a 5K and an 11 miler, too. I guess it wasn't enough to counter desserts! Back on it today...

[Megustalaplaya]

A little late to the group but would still like to participate. I weighed 118 at the beginning of November and weighed in at 116 yesterday. I was down to 114 until the bike rides stopped and Thanksgiving started. ;) Since I'm not even 5ft tall and have a small frame, I really should be between 95-105lbs. Those numbers are from a Anthem insurance chart back from 2009 when I used to work in the individual health insurance area. At the moment I would just be happy to get to 110. :)

Any other "fun size" ladies here? :)

[Crankin]

By fun sized, do you mean short?

[Megustalaplaya]

By fun sized, do you mean short?

Yes, short! :)

[emily_in_nc]

Yes, short! :)

I'm 5'2" -- I guess that makes me fun sized! :D

[Crankin]

I'm 5' 1" barely.

[Crankin]

104.8
I didn't weigh myself until Tuesday, after Thanksgiving, and I was up 2 lbs., then down a pound the next day. On Wednesday, I went out to lunch and had a tuna salad and a cup of chicken tortillini soup, which must have had a ton of salt, because yesterday, I was up again. I think it was the salt, as I don't usually fluctuate that much day to day, unless I've eaten a lot.
I have a lot of eating occasions over the next month (anniversary, Chanukah, son's visit) and this is going to be very hard. I don't want to readjust my goal weight, but I won't be surprised if I don't maintain.

[indigoiis]

127 this morning. I think last week I was retaining water because of sodium from Thanksgiving and TTOM. Sticking with the maintenance nutrition this week which has been fine for running. I spoke to a nutritionist who evaluated my diet and said I need to put a protein in at lunch, which I haven't been doing. So, more fine tuning... I also asked her about avoiding sugar during the holidays and she recommended eating a protein/fiber source before a party or event (like, have an apple with peanut butter, or a fiber granola bar...) and a full glass of water. She also recommended choosing the dessert with the best fuel. So if confronted with a peanut butter pie, a cheesecake, a chocolate cake or cupcakes, she said choose the cheesecake or peanut butter pie.

I like that she said "choose" and not "don't eat any of them." The thing is, for me, choice has traditionally been "one of each." But I have been so sensitive to the sugar crash and burn in the past few months that this is becoming a problem. Something to think about.

[emily_in_nc]

108 -- ugh. I weighed 106 yesterday but splurged on some very salty (but delicious) broccoli-cheese soup and a piece of garlic bread (plus salad) for dinner last night. I couldn't believe that added 2 lbs, but hopefully it is just water weight!

We will be traveling in Mexico the next two weeks so will miss the next two Friday weigh-ins. I am sure the food and drinks will be amazing, but we'll be walking a lot, so hopefully I won't gain more than a couple of pounds overall.

[solobiker]

142 for me.

[Megustalaplaya]

Weighed 116 this morning.

[goldfinch]

Back to a scale and still backsliding substantially. 114 on Friday.

[Catrin]

126.6 this morning - WOOT! This is my lowest weight in at least 26 years :D :o

[emily_in_nc]

Congrats, Catrin! :) What an accomplishment, particularly at this challenging time of year.

Goldfinch, I feel your pain. Hope we can both get back on track. :(

[Catrin]

Thanks Emily! This is one of the advantages of being single and having no family in the area. I am rarely in situations where I am tempted - so that makes it much easier on me than those with families or who don't live alone.

Goldfinch and Emily, I've certainly been there, and I am sure you both can get things back on track!

[azfiddle]

I haven't been too good about posting, but was 118.0 yesterday...

[azfiddle]

Way to go Catrin, and Goldfinch, I'm with ya! I got to my goal of 112, stayed there for about 6 months and gradually inched back up. My new set point is around 117 but lately the scale has crept up to 118-120 and all my new pants are tight or too tight. I'm trying hard to get back on track. Good luck with turning it around.

[indigoiis]

130 this morning, a week of regular eating and training, no reduced calories, just maintenance. I am trying to alternate maintenance weeks with reduced cal weeks while I am training for the marathon.

[Crankin]

105.6.
And this was my lowest weight of the week. Noticing an upward trend and I can't figure out why, except for the transition to a bit more indoor exercise, replacing outdoor riding, until we get some snow... weekend eating has been a lot, but that's not unusual for me.
A year ago, I would have been thrilled with this weight, but I don't want to get complacent.

[Catrin]

up about a pound from last week to 127.6 - but I will take it! I've backed off on cardio this week to give a suspected muscle strain in my right leg a chance to rest so I am not surprised. So no running or riding at all this week, hopefully it will be all recovered Sunday.

[Megustalaplaya]

Okay, looks like I need a kick in the rear. 116.8 this morning. It's been rainy here so I've only gotten about 23 miles in and I've been making fudge and no bake cookies. Need to get back on track!

[solobiker]

well, up one pound to 143..not too bad considering my back went out on me yet again on Monday and today was the first time I could get dressed without the help of my husband. Talk about pain and not being able to move. Yuck...

[goldfinch]

153. I did spend the week in bed, though. So not unexpected.

And I'm still in bed!

Are you sick? I saw you were thankful for Rudy Project helmets and wondered if you had an accident. Or, I am reading too much into posts.

[Crankin]

I was thinking the same thing!

[indigoiis]

Solo, ow... are you okay?
Muiren, I hope you feel better soon.

127 again. I'm happy with the 127-130 range.

[Crankin]

105.8
Slowly creeping up. This was my lowest weight all week. Had a good eating week this week, no going out commitments, but still not maintaining as well. Next thing to try is cutting down on my almost daily glass of wine for awhile. We are going to friends' for dinner tomorrow, but other than that, I can have a "clean" weekend. Unfortunately, next week my son and his wife are coming, so there will be some going out, etc, and I think they will expect some grains in their meals! I will try and be good, but am feeling very deprived right now. This seems to happen every winter, but at least my starting point was 5-6 pounds lower than last year.

[Catrin]

Another little creep up to 128.2 :( I blame this on my lack of cardio as I wait for my bruised ribs to heal... I am tempted to really cut my calories but THAT won't help my body to heal. I've cut back a bit but I don't want to cut them too much.

I am a bit nervous over my visit home in a week. Their diet is about as bad as it gets, and my mom is already stressing over having the "perfect" meal, ugh. My sister understands why I eat the way I do, and I am bringing a duck that I will cook so at least I will know the source of our meat. I will be taking some of my own food for breakfast while I am there - and I've done that before so they won't think anything about it.

[indigoiis]

Another little creep up to 128.2 :( I blame this on my lack of cardio as I wait for my bruised ribs to heal... I am tempted to really cut my calories but THAT won't help my body to heal. I've cut back a bit but I don't want to cut them too much.

I am a bit nervous over my visit home in a week. Their diet is about as bad as it gets, and my mom is already stressing over having the "perfect" meal, ugh. My sister understands why I eat the way I do, and I am bringing a duck that I will cook so at least I will know the source of our meat. I will be taking some of my own food for breakfast while I am there - and I've done that before so they won't think anything about it.


I know what you mean. My mom is a great cook but everything is butter!

Kennedy Baker just did a great post on this on her blog: http://kennedybakernutrition.com/2012/12/14/your-holiday-eating-survival-guide/

Hope that is helpful!

[solobiker]

Solo, ow... are you okay?
Muiren, I hope you feel better soon.

127 again. I'm happy with the 127-130 range.

I am much better. It still is a little twingey..if that is even a word but at least I can move around and lightly ride my spin bike. :-) I also have been going on several daily walks after work to help loosen it up.It goes out every couple of months. grrrrrr..I actually now have a reacher and sock aid to help me out the next time. Glad I am an OT and know about this stuff!!

Weight is 142 for me which is down 1 #. Woot woot.

[Crankin]

Hey, my weight is back down to 104.6, a day after weigh in.
Not sure what's going on, I ate very carefully on Thursday and Friday, and I just don't know if I can live without bread for the rest of my life. I guess I'll just keep going the way I'm going.

[Catrin]

Back down to 127.2 today - I've been weighing in on Saturday most of the time recently so this will be my official weight for the week. My ribs are almost 100% so I will ride this afternoon and start getting back to my normal activity level tomorrow - there is still hope that I might actually hit my target weight by 1/31, we will see...

[Anelia]

My weight is going up and down all the time... The difference between the days is 2-3 pounds and it's changing EVERY DAY. It's not the PMS, it's not the food (I eat almost one and the same thing) and I don't know what it is. I count calories and I keep them down to 2000 while I tend to burn 2500 but I haven't seen a steady weight decrease.
Well, my workouts are very different. For example from ten and a half hours biking on Saturday to half an hour swimming today and half an hour home workout (squats, push-ups, planks). Maybe the endurance workouts get in the way because I had to fuel the 230 km 40 dgrees F winter ride and then my muscles became full with water.
If I eat less than 2 000 calories I starve and I don't want to starve my body because I remember from last winter that I lost weight thanks to a fat burner but then when my season started, I began intensive training and racing for which I needed fuelling and recovery so I gained everything back.

[Catrin]

125.8 this morning!!!! I've been trying to get to 125-anything for quite some time and I did it :)

Anelia - I hear your frustration, and you are right about keeping your calories where you know they should be. We have to figure out what works for our bodies and run with it. I've found, at least for me, that it is good to mix things up in both diet and exercise (and it sounds like you do this). The biggest thing that did it for me when I got stuck on a loooooong plateau was to give grains up totally - but I am not telling you to do that. I feel so good not eating them that it has become a permanent change. My workouts vary from lifting heavy things that focuses on compound lifts, tabatas, metabolic conditioning, and riding inside/outside. Injuries have kept me from endurance riding for well over a year, but I think you nailed part of the problem as water retention from the really long rides. Hang in there, you will figure this out!

[Crankin]

Congrats, Catrin. You have worked really hard.
I may do my weigh in tomorrow, as I have a weekend of heavy eating, with my son visiting. Well, we'll be going out a lot, including Friday night to a Puerto Rican restaurant before going to a play.

[Catrin]

Good idea Crankin, I think I will just make today my official weight for the week. My group training schedule has changed today is my rest day rather than tomorrow - hard workouts for the next three days plus office holiday lunch - and I WILL have a beer tonight or tomorrow night :)

[Cyclingfun]

Well, I can see this is a bit late in the day for me to join The Challenge but I hope there'll be a New Year one... I'll certainly need it with Christmas coming up! Anyhow, I thought I'd at least make contact with you all as we clearly have some things in common (like cycling and weightlosing...er, gaining... ah, and then losing again :-)). I'm 145 lbs, having gone from 168lbs to 133lbs between Jan 1st and Nov 1st 2011 (Thanks to WW). So creeping upwards again but very keen to keep the creep as minimal as possible. Have just got a turbo so am trying to work out how best to use it during these winter months. Best of luck to you all on the final days of the challenge, especially with that HUGE obstacle in the way called celebrating Christmas! (Here in the UK we seem to make Christmas span a very long time, from early December till January 5th/6th (depending on when you think 12th Night is!) and, as society here has become less religious, the eating and drinking has become a more central part of the whole period... making a tough challenge to WW like me.

[Crankin]

I am using yesterday's weight and that was up a bit from what I ate on Wednesday night.
105.6
Not as much variation this week. Mostly in the 105 range. My son is here now and last night, after 2 beers and eating at Redbones, where my other DIL is the GM, I decided to try to be watchful, but enjoy myself with my son and daughter in law. I did a super hard boot camp class yesterday and I think I am taking a rest day, as I haven't had one in 10 days, for some reason. Next week will be more normal for me, with the exception of my annual Jewish XMas meal of Chinese food.

[goldfinch]

113.6. I've been restricting my calories now for about 3 days. See if I can dump this ten pounds that crept up on me.

Doing lots of riding. Doesn't help. Or maybe it does. If no riding maybe it would have been 20 pounds.

Did not meet my goal for this challenge.

[solobiker]

140 today. Woot woot!!

[emily_in_nc]

108.5 yesterday, which is high for me but not nearly as bad as it could have been after 16 days of eating and drinking our way through Mexico!

Fortunately, we did walk LOTS and LOTS and carried backpacks to/from bus stops, etc. Otherwise I'd be looking at 110+. Only splurge coming up is a Christmas potluck at friends', which I plan to enjoy thoroughly, and then right back on the horse.

Back to the bike yesterday and yoga today. Would like to get back to 105 by the end of January.

[murielalex]

Okay, I'm joining in. After injuring my ankle on November 8th, and learning that I have zero cartilage left, along with other not fun stuff, I'm taking dropping pounds seriously. Since I was in a cast and on crutches, not really exercising, I went strict paleo with a 1200 calorie count and lost 17 pounds since that day. I started up weight training again a couple weeks ago, and since I got my cast of yesterday, I'm slowly going to start doing more cardio (didn't want to sweat and stink up the cast; been there, done that, not good at work), get back on the bike, add a bit more healthy carbs in, etc. Today, I was 162.6, which is a good 20 pounds from where I need to be. My goal is to be in the 150s by the new year, and hopefully, lose about 2 lbs. weekly until I'm at least at 145, which was a weight at which I was always happy. I'm pretty muscular, and I don't like to look skinny, but I'm also 5'5" and fairly small framed minus the hips. Since I haven't been below 145 in at least 15 years, I don't even know what a healthy low weight might be for me. All I know is that I need to get any extra weight off my ankle now. The plus will be I might get better on my bike :)

BTW, all the holiday goodies are killing me, but I haven't had a one. I keep telling myself that there will still be good food left in the world and I don't need to eat it all today. :)

[indigoiis]

127, happy with it.
Had a week of TTOTM, Holiday parties with lots of sweets, family in town, and college cafeteria 2 nights, so I was surprised it stayed 127. I did try to really watch my portions, eat S L O W L Y, and enjoy each and every bite. I'm in week 8 of marathon training so I'm not dieting, but I have pretty much stopped eating dairy and I think that has helped a lot.

[Catrin]

125.9 this morning, I am happy that my weight is still below 126! It's taken me a few years to get here. It wouldn't be bad to lose more but as I am actively trying to change my body composition I am not sure what to expect from my weight...

[Possegal]

It's never too late to join in and there will definitely be another 2-month round starting in January.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkxMKcttLKvTdHlfRS13ZnN2Wmo1ZHdodmRTMmxYQnc#gid=0

[murielalex]

Nice re Jan/Feb round. I'm in need :)

[Trek420]

I rarely post to this but now at 166, think I was near 180 at some point. Now wearing size 10 jeans. I was in the 18-20 range before.

[Catrin]

I will be in for the next round, I just need to decide if there will be a target weight or maintenance since I finally hit my target this time...

[Crankin]

I will be in for the next round, and not for maintenance.
Target weight is 104.5
Right now I'm at 106.8, but I imagine this will be higher on January 1st.
It's been a year since I joined this challenge, and it really motivated me to lose 5 pounds and maintain.

[murielalex]

Weight this morning: 161.2

My trainer killed me this morning. My arms are shaking as I type. Right now, the plan, other than sticking to my diet, is hard-core strength training four days a week, and riding two days a week until my ankle/calf/cardio ability is back up to a place where I can start pushing things a bit more, then switch back to two days of interval training on the bike during the week, one long ride plus one recovering medium-length (30-40) ride on the weekend, and drop down to three days of strength training. That's what I had been doing the two months prior to my injury. It felt good, and I was starting to see results. The Sunday "recovery ride" is really just me having fun with my friends with a lot of goofing around, like kids on our bikes again, and ending with a fun, big breakfast at my fav restaurant by the beach, which I always considered my "free meal" of the week, eating and drinking anything I wanted.

So I feel like I'm just starting out new again. I got my cast off one week ago, did a seven-mile ride last Sunday, but after three miles, my calf (the casted one) started cramping, so I turned back. On Christmas (gorgeous day out), I did 20 very slow miles (11-13mph), and was shocked on how fast I'd lost all my conditioning. In just two months off the bike, I'd gone from being able to comfortably ride 80+ miles solo at 16-20 mph, depending mostly on wind conditions with my heart rate in the 130s-140s (I can't maintain distances with anything higher). At the speed I was going on Christmas, my heart rate would have been in the low 100s to maybe 118ish, but it was in the 140s, and I was struggling at about mile 15. Ugh. I guess it is what it is.

Anyway, blab blab blab. My goal by the next weight-in is to get into the 150s, with preferably a 2-pound loss to 159.2. Since I haven't seen the the 150s in a few years, it will be a HUGE psychological boost to start of the New Year.

My goal for the next two-month round is realistically 152, but my secret fantasy goal is to see the 140s again, even if that's 149.999999.

I just want to thank you ladies for starting this thread. I know checking in will help keep me motivated and at least give me a place to hold myself accountable other than just in my head, which tends to have a....er....elastic accountability system when I get discouraged or just plain tired.

[Crankin]

My final weight for this challenge is 106.
That's higher than I've seen for the end of a challenge since maybe the first one I did.

[goldfinch]

113. This challenge was a failure for me. In the next two months I want to get down to 110. I don't want an aggressive goal. Mostly I just want to quit gaining weight.

[emily_in_nc]

105.5

Very happy as this is the lowest weight I've seen in several months and 3 lbs. less than last week's post-Mexico vacation weight. However, I came down with a cold last Sunday and thus have been a slug, so I am sure I've lost muscle, and my appetite was suppressed from being sick. I am hoping that I can keep from gaining once I start feeling 100% again -- that is usually when my appetite comes roaring back, and even though I'm more active, I eat more than enough to maintain my weight.

[murielalex]

Though it's not weigh-in day, I just want to say that this morning I woke up to 159.2! This, psychologically, is huge for me. I haven't seen the 150s since 2007/8. It was my little secret wish to get there before New Year's. I tend to bounce up and down for a couple days before any loss holds, so even if I bounce back up a bit, it's nice to see the 150s peeking out at me. I'm really happy and motivated.

[emily_in_nc]

Congrats murielalax, that's fantastic! Especially this time of year when most people are gaining. Good on ya!

[Cyclingfun]

Happy New Year to you all :D - Is this thread going to continue for the next challenge period, or will a new one be starting? Whatever, I'd like to join in in order to lose the 14lbs that's crept up on me over the past year... So, starting from 147lbs, I need to get to 133lbs... I'll find any tips on keeping the balance between exercise and diet regimes very valuable. I've proved over years (and years) that I don't stick to exercise regimes in the strictess sense but have a turbo-trainer and am willing to do my wayward best on that till the weather improves ( cold high winds very off-putting :( ). Does anyone use cycle-training videos with turbo/roller exercising? Can you recommend anything attractive (I've got one cheap one but the landscape is so mind-bogglingly boring it seems rather pointless.)