WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE - 7 Weeks-10#'s

[kelownagirl]

Well Kano, I can definitely be positive because I'm nearing the end of this journey. Here's where I started, and here's where I am now, more than a year later btw.

height 5'3" most of my life 105-115 lbs.

weight: 141 - 120
bust: 38.5 - 35
waist: 33.5 - 28
belly: 37 - 34
hips: 41 - 36
upper thigh: 22.5 - 20
calf: 14 - 14
pant size: 12 - 4

My advice is don't expect miracles 2 lbs a week is ok in the beginning but overall it's more realistic to lose a pound a week. And try to change your eating habits, not just "diet". And when you fall off wagon, just get back on - 15 minutes later, or 15 days later. And I have learned that I can only "maintain" my weight by diet alone, or exercise alone - to lose, I have to do both. But that might just be me. YMMV.

[kelownagirl]

Sandra - I eat an apple in the morning, 1-2 ryvita whole grain crackers with 1T (each) low fat cream cheese after school, and another 100 cal. snack in the evening if I'm wanting to nibble.

I love cheese but it's high in fat and cals so I weigh it and only eat 1/2 oz. I sometimes buy the 100 calorie bags of stuff. It's kind of dumb and not very healthy but sometimes I want to eat crap and that way I get a taste without overdoing it. I am pretty good about not opening multiple packs but have no willpower with a regular open bag. I LOVE cottage cheese and sometimes in the evening, I will eat 1/2 cup with 1 pkg splenda and 1T unsweetened cocoa powder. I mush it up pretty smooth. It's very chocolately but low fat and I like it but it grosses out a lot of people. Fruit, baby carrots, snap peas are all snackies for me too.

[Biker Jo]

I also hope I'm not too late to join.

I weighed in at 137 yesterday, but I was at a banquet tonight, and I overdid it. I'd like to get down to 125 by the end of the year, but I think that may be overly optimistic. Hopefully you gals will help keep me on track.

Jo

[jobob]

My motivation is to never, ever, EVER look like this again.



I was teetering around 170 here.

That's when I started WW the first time around and got down to around 150.

[Kano]

Kelowna --


slicing and weighing is handy, and so are those hundred calorie things. I admit to making DH crazy with creating serving-size portions of stuff. He actually asks if it's okay if HE eats that food, when of course, the point is to make it EASY for me to not overdo! My current "junk of choice" is to buy those silly jello pudding and jello cups -- the sugar free ones -- because, like you mentioned with regular sized packages of junk, it's way too easy to get mindless once the package is open!

Not skipping meals has been a key item for me -- and plenty of water rather than diet sodas. And fast food -- dunno how long it's been since I've been through a drive-through!

Then there's a healthy dose of FEAR: it's kept me out of the Halloween candy! I know that one of those fun sized bars is an okay treat, and it would be okay if I only had one of them in the house, but I'm pretty sure I'm not ready yet to eat one and leave the rest! For now, while there's crap in the house, I like the fear! (I also like that the new ski jacket is size ten! It's remarkable how motivating new clothes with a smaller number can be!)

Karen in Boise

[Tuckervill]

Karen in Boise--you ROCK!

Someone said their weight crept up and they wore the same size clothes? Well, when we moved here 4 years ago I weighed 170. My highest weight is 206, and except for a pair of Land's End jeans (18), I haven't worn anything but a 16 the whole time! Of course, pants/jeans were looser or tighter depending on my weight. But I would love to change sizes! (I have some size 14 stretch Levi's that fit fine right now, and the 16s in the same model are a little too big, but I don't mind the way the look in either size, so that's curious.)

In fact, for our cruise at the end of January, I'm planning on buying ALL NEW CLOTHES, and if they have to be 16's I'm going to be upset!

Give me a bump for keeping on keeping on!

Karen

[nonsmoker3]

Not sure if anyone else posted this, but this website is amazing and free for logging food and activity. It also provides grades for the foods you eat as well as an overall analysis of your eating for the day. Plus the food library is HUGE compared to spark people.

www.caloriecount.about.com

[redrhodie]

How's this for motivation????

The Red Sox have put a weight clause in Curt Schilling's new contract. He gets $333,333 each time he maintains his weight at 3 weigh-ins next season.

Now that's a diet that works for me!

[solobiker]

I was strong today and did not give into the fresh, warm chocolate chip cookie temptation. We will see how tonight goes

[Flybye]

My first real challenge is today...

An 8 hour training on chemical dependency in a ritzy (okay ritzy for Idaho) hotel with multious yummy snacks that can clog the arteries just looking at them!

I will pack an apple and a few other things to pick on when I want the yummies.

Pass up that Halloween candy, ladies, and eat at least 5 times today. Don't forget the protein, and make veggies the #1 thing ya eat.

Let's fill up the for sale board with things that don't fit us come January!!!

PS - It isn't too late to join. No buffets. Jobob - thanks for the picture and the "want to not look like that again" statement. I have a picture of myself that I looked at about 4 years ago and said the same thing! It strangely has disappeared from the photo album!



Yeah All of Us!

[deidre]

I have been reading and re-reading the posts and checking this thread each day. However, I have been hesitant to post or sign up for this challenge. Very frustrated with my weight loss rollercoaster. Started Weight Watchers January 07 and quickly lost 10 lbs. Then the next several months I proceeded to gain and lose that same 10 lbs. I didn't take my measurements (which was a mistake since the scale wasn't changing but my body was and it showed in my clothes). I stopped WW because I felt like I wasn't really making the right food choices; I just learned how to eat the right number of points and still didn't make the best food choices for myself.

I know that WW works for many people and they are able to lose the weight and keep it off. I can't explain it too well but I decided it wasn't the best thing for me. I decided to go back to tracking my foods in my journal and trying to make better choices and to exercise consistently.

So here I am again. I am posting this time but still haven't made the decision to join the challenge

Ok, enough. The first step (again) is for me to move forward and take the step. Count me in.

Weigh-in for beginning of this week - 171. My goal is 10 lbs at a time.

Sorry for the long post.

[Flybye]

I I just learned how to eat the right number of points and still didn't make the best food choices for myself.

Weigh-in for beginning of this week - 171. My goal is 10 lbs at a time.

Sorry for the long post.

Hey, I did the same thing as you with WW the first time. Learn how to stay in range eating naughty foods. Knowing this though, gives me power to change my choices. I don't have to make the same mistakes twice. I am glad you decided to join us! How did you do?

[Susan126]

Okay . . . here I am at my best weight, 120 pounds, when I rode ALL THE TIME!



Then it started with my foot surgery in December 2005



I was in a cast through June 2006, gained weight and didn't start biking again until spring 2007!

Here I am with daughter and hubby at my heaviest in June 2007



I am 148 in this photo!!!!!

And this picture was taken two weeks ago. I am down to 138 and trying to reach 125 (120 would be super great fantastic!)



So when is our first weigh in?

Sue

[ibcycling]

kelownagirl - I make the same snack but with ricotta cheese. It's actually one that is suggested quite a bit on the South Beach board I'm on. You can flavor many ways but my 2 faves are cinnamon and cocoa. I also put a splash of vanilla in there for flavor.

deidre - I had a friend in NE that was doing WW and I noticed the same thing. She'd eat junk but watch her points. She did lose some weight but wasn't eating well and had a hard time with cravings. I hope you do join us! What have you got to lose? Oh yeah, pounds! A good support group can help lots and the more the merrier!

South Beach is the first "diet" that has worked for me. I had stayed away from it for quite a while because I thought it was a low-carb fad diet like Atkins. After I did some reading on it I realized it wasn't. Essentially it works to control your blood sugar and follows the same principles as a diet designed for someone who is diabetic. My house is now full of whole grain bread and pasta, brown or wild rice, lotsa veggies and fruit, and very little junk food. I think what's enabled me to stay on it is a combo of realizing this is the way I should always eat (even after I lose weight) and finding lots of great recipes that are "legal" but taste wonderful.

I also wanted to say I'm proud of my numbers too! I hit an all time high this year of 182 and am now down to 163. I'm also in better shape than I've been in a long time thanks to the bike. I really do feel different and I love it!

Lora