TE Fall Weight Loss Challenge - Sept/Oct

[3for3]

I'm glad others are up for keeping this going! I agree - my goal may be just to maintain during the holidays - or if I'm super lucky, lose one or two pounds. I was also thinking....Is there any way of helping each other make sure that our weight goals are healthy for us? There's a big difference between someone who is 5'8" wanting to weigh 110 and someone who is 5'2". Maybe we should share how tall we are so we know what is healthy for our build? I am 5'5" and was, about a year and a half ago 113 lbs. I don't think that was healthy or realistic to maintain. However, I also don't want the scales to KEEP going up as I am now 125...Pretty healthy, but I'd be happier with 120. Anyone else have thoughts on this topic or want to share their height in relation to their weight goals?

[Miranda]

I'm glad others are up for keeping this going! I agree - my goal may be just to maintain during the holidays - or if I'm super lucky, lose one or two pounds. I was also thinking....Is there any way of helping each other make sure that our weight goals are healthy for us? There's a big difference between someone who is 5'8" wanting to weigh 110 and someone who is 5'2". Maybe we should share how tall we are so we know what is healthy for our build? I am 5'5" and was, about a year and a half ago 113 lbs. I don't think that was healthy or realistic to maintain. However, I also don't want the scales to KEEP going up as I am now 125...Pretty healthy, but I'd be happier with 120. Anyone else have thoughts on this topic or want to share their height in relation to their weight goals?

Here's one of my thoughts about this personally...
I'm similiar to you. I'm 5'5". I have always carried my weight like a pear.

When it all goes to one place, it makes it hard to not look heavier quickly vs things being spread out. The shorter you are also, the less places the weight has to go.

The other thing that is just a killer since I've had babies, gotten older, and carried a lot of extra weight for a long time is my skin elasticity. Even one of my gyno docs told me, it's just how some ladies are made. They can do crunches like crazy, be fit, but the six pack of abs will never show.

With all my extra stretched skin that never "re-shrank" in my navel section, any pound that goes navel down to the pear turns into an instant muffin top roll. 125+ it starts to hang off the front of the jeans. Hitting the 120+ it hangs off the back of the hips. The skin taughtness just isn't there to hold any extra pounds in.

I know some of my gym GFs that are even very fit instructors have the same thing from babies. I guess that's when lycra becomes your friend beyound biking clothes.

I just don't do it though. With the pear shape, and long torso, I think the "mommy jeans" aka high waist, make my pear shape look even bigger. The lower rise ones just look better on the curve. Like I'm not so cut off. However, that leads me back to the 5-7#s and muffin top skin issue *sigh*.

As far as how I feel at those weights, well... I do indeed feel better 5-7#s lighter. It's less work to pedal my bike, climb hills, spin, climb stairs, etc. It doesn't sound like much. But it really does add up. My heart can feel the difference.

[limewave]

I won't be able to weigh in tomorrow . . . leaving for my Bahama Cruise

I'm 5'6"
Weight: 181.5 (up)

I'd be thrilled to bits and pieces if I'm between 195 and 200 in May (my due date). But we'll see.

After that, my goal weight would be to eventually get to 150. If I keep my current muscle mass, that would put me at about 15-17% body fat, which would be pretty darn amazing for me.

[Aggie_Ama]

148.5. I hit goal but still have about 18-20 lbs I want to lose. I am pretty short so 148.5 is too high but I feel much better than I did.

[ASammy1]

Was out of town last week and forgot to post.

Final weight... 204... bummer. There was alot going on for me the last 2 months, so hopefully I'll be able to maintain over the holidays.

[KerryCrow]

Sorry I have been such a bust on this challenge...was just getting back into it and took a spill from my bike and broke my collarbone. So no riding for me for awhile.

I'm trying to make healthy choices and not obsess about exercise and weight in the meantime.

[crazycanuck]

66.4kg's

[squirrell]

Ok--I'm back. Sorry all; the last 3 weeks have been hectic. Since I was gearing up to do my first Century last Friday, I had increased my calories to ensure I was properly fueled. On top of that, I gained my usual poundage after a long ride, so up until Wednesday, I was actually back up to 215. BUT, I dropped most of it over the last 3 days, and am now back to 208.8.

Hope to see continued steady loss now that I've scaled back my riding for the season.

11/1/08: 208.8

[jesvetmed]

Hey all. VERY bloated all week... despite better eating and more exercise, I'm up yet again. 172.2. WT heck? Oh, someone asked about height: 5 ft 7.5 in.

I've actually been completely bloated for 4 days now -- a nice surprise TOTM that isn't the RIGHT TOTM. Very Nice. HOpefully some of this extra weight is related. Now, to get the Halloween candy OUT of the house! Going to the trunk right now and I'll take it to work tomorrow!

So, are we starting a new 8 weeks? I can't remember where we are at this point.

If we are, count me in.
THANKS!
Jes

[Miranda]

I didn't get on the gym scale Friday for our official end weight on 10/31. Earlier in the week it was 127 *sigh*. Yuck, feeling grossly bloated too. Seems a bit less today. Think I'll have to say put down 126# for my 10/31 end weight. Ugh, wrong direction.

[Over50Newbie]

Final weight for this challenge - 143. Not happy!

I am a 54 year old woman who is 5 feet, 1/2 inch tall (or should I say short)!

I think I would look and feel really, really great at 129. Not sure if I will ever get there. My body seems to be very content when I am at 138, and fights me when I try to get lower.

But I am not giving up.

More important than weight, I have gone from a size 12 jeans, to a size 10, and more recently to a size 8. I would love to be in a size 6 by Christmas, but I will have to work a lot harder at it than I did for this challenge, if I am going to be successful.

Lynette

[firenze11]

Sorry for the late post. I was testing my theory about being up on Friday and down on the weekend. I was right this week, I think it's just my muscles retaining water from exercise.

Anyway, I'm 137.6 - soooo close to my goal! And I'm 5'8". I'd like to get down to 130-135.

I have to say I'm really proud of myself for getting so close to goal, especially since I've been afraid to actually diet and haven't counted one single calorie this whole time. Exercise has been a huge factor and I've let myself follow my hunger and eaten whenever I felt I needed it. I've noticed great changes in my body, much more muscle tone and I've lost a little over an inch off my hips and waist each. My resting heart rate has also gone down from the high 70s to the low 60s.

Thanks for this challenge! I'm definitely going to stick with it over the holidays and I hope to just maintain. And great job to everyone who stuck with the challenge. And if you didn't reach your goal, don't worry, it took me 2 or 3 challenges I think and a break from a couple of the challenges to even start losing and finding the right balance for my body.

[Blue_Wildflower]

I joined TE after this challenge started. Will there be a Nov/Dec challenge?

[five one]

134.2

Up and down, up and down these last few weeks. Between water weight gain/loss and a totally unreliable scale, I'm not sure where I really am. Never saw the 120's, though.

I had been slacking on aerobic workouts during the week in October, but still doing weights and 30-40 mile rides on the weekends. No real change up or down in my weight. Doesn't matter what I eat or don't eat, exercise or not, I stay in the same 3-4 pound range. My body likes it here apparently. Lynette, it sounds like we have the same problem (I'm 56 and 5'1").

What do you all do with left over Halloween candy? I bought more than usual because Halloween was on a Friday and I thought we'd be really busy. Then the weather changed and we hardly got anyone. I hear it calling to me. Must. Not. Eat!

[deeaimond]

The last two months were really horrid, and not only did I not lose weight, I put on weight. I guess I just eat too much. Was too busy with work, I couldn't really ride or spend much time on anything. The schedule has cleared up, and I'm back to riding again. I have a 24 hr endurance ride up this coming weekend. But the big thing is.. I need to lose the belly I gained this last 2 months in 1 month. I'm going to NYC to visit my BF in Dec and I can't go with my new-found belly. argh. I'm trying to be good but, considering I just had a slice of pizza and chocolate sticks on top of the fried rice I had for lunch. I might be in big trouble. One month is beginning to feel like much too little time to lose 6 lbs.