September/October weight loss challenge

[Veronica]

I'm not actually a part of the challenge, but I saw a number on the scale today that I don't think I've seen since I was 19 and swimming 5,000 - 6,000 yards a day.

I wish I had taken my training more seriously then. I don't know if I could have been a great swimmer - but I know I could have been better than I was. Oh well... the folly of youth.

Veronica

[goldfinch]

118.2

I am bummed. Up two pounds. I really have been vacillating around this weight for a while. I thought I'd broken out with last week's 116 weight but back up again. Not getting enough exercise in the cold and rain. I have to head south.

[channlluv]

226.8

Definitely in the right direction, but is it just water weight?

I've been mixing up my exercise routines, too. It turns out that my Y has classes in the morning. With other people. Who knew? There's more there than just the pool and the sauna.

So this week I took two step aerobics classes, one hatha yoga class, one Zumba class, and I swam a half-mile twice (two different days) and I actually sat in the Jacuzzi for a bit and chatted with a really lovely internal medicine doctor who referred me to a holistic cardiologist and the Center for Integrative Medicine. I have an appointment in October.

Oh, and I started South Beach two days ago. I'm in Phase 1, of course. Nothing but veggies and lean means. I'm a pretty good cook, though, and so far it's painless. I quit buying bread over a week ago and have relegated my DD to brown rice tortillas for her school lunches. I think she's happy with it so far, too.

I also signed up for myfitnesspal.com. We'll see how that goes. Their forum people aren't as nice, some of them, as we are here. Not all, but there was enough snarkiness I don't think I'll be chatting much over there.

My goal is 200 by Christmas. I think I can do it.

I am going for a bike ride this morning on my 37-lb steel frame Palomar GT. This is the bike on which I lost that 20 pounds a couple of years back. I never lost anything on the road bike, I think because of the different posture and my belly getting in the way of pedaling a steady pace, and my hands kept going so numb I couldn't work my brakes.

I'm back on platform pedals and a more upright posture this morning, with friends who are training for an upcoming triathlon. We'll see how it goes.

Roxy

[Blueberry]

228 this morning.

I think I have an idea of what caused the blip last week and have corrected it. Missed 2 workouts earlier this week, but have completed then the last 2 days (and will today). At least I moved on and didn't let the missed ones get me down.

[jobob]

Hi, I'd like to join in, if it's OK to do so mid-challenge.

I'm now at 164, and my goal for the end of Oct. is 158.

[maillotpois]

Stayed the same.

My last double century of the year is tomorrow and I came down with a bladder infection 2 nights ago, which kept me up all night. Joy. The antibiotics I am on say they may make me dizzy and I should stay out of the sun, which is exactly what you want to hear when you're going to go ride your bike 200 miles. So I have been having a mini pity party for the last couple of days and just not worrying about food or exercise.

Roxy - good for you! Sounds like you have a solid plan and are heading into it with real commitment. Keep it up.

[GLC1968]

148.0 - and the scale paused on 147.something before settling on 148. It looks like my body has finally figured out that this paleo thing is here to stay and it better start cooperating!

[Possegal]

Hi, I'd like to join in, if it's OK to do so mid-challenge.

It is always OK to join in at any time! Welcome aboard.

[Aggie_Ama]

153.

My goal is still to be in the low 140's for my first marathon of the year on 11/20. I know from the past I lost very quick at the beginning, so I expect to slow down from 2-3 pounds a week soon. I did get into some smaller pants this week, that felt good!

[chryss]

144.2. Fluctuating like mad, having a cold etc.

I had my 6-week checkup today and am cleared for any and all activity I want to do (though I get occasional muscle pain where the surgery scar is, so it's not yet all back to normal).

[jobob]

After all the great reviews on this & other threads about the new Points Plus plan, I went ahead and joined Weight Watchers. I had pretty good success with it many moons ago with the old plan (online), but this time around I thought I'd give meetings a try.

I enjoyed the meeting I attended yesterday, and the leader is an absolute hoot.

And I do really like the new plan and it's emphasis on fresh fruits & vegetables. It's going to take a bit of adjusting; turns out yesterday I ate only 17 out of the 29 points allotted to me*. Um, ooops?

---

Here's a fabulous recipe that I made for dinner last night, but instead of sweet potatoes I used butternut squash. And I used 1 tbsp cannola oil instead of 2 tbsp grapeseed oil. And I used curry powder instead of turmeric.

Cauliflower with Sweet Potatoes

Best I can figure, this comes out to about 1 point per (very large) serving. No wonder I went under my points total, heh ...


*I suppose next time I'm in danger of going under the daily points, I could have a beer (5 points; yes that's one of the first things I looked up )

Oh, and activity points. Goodness. I went out for a nearly 2-hr ride today and the system wanted to give me 17 actvity points. Hmmm. I plugged in 1 hr instead and gave myself 11 APs. And I should in theory use those today. Maybe I'll have a tiny bit of the incredible Rogue River Blue cheese we picked up during our trip to Ashland last week. Heh.

[ny biker]

I also signed up for myfitnesspal.com. We'll see how that goes. Their forum people aren't as nice, some of them, as we are here. Not all, but there was enough snarkiness I don't think I'll be chatting much over there.

I think "pal" and "snarky" are two words that don't go together. But maybe that's just me.

145.0 this morning. I was up to almost 147 a few days ago.

[Catrin]

135.4....sigh

I think this maddening plateau is due for two reasons: too many carbs on non-ride days, and a decrease in my long rides. Recently assorted schedule problems have decreased my number of road rides. I still prefer the trails to the road, but if I don't have time to fit in the number of rides that I KNOW I need, I need to find some other way of getting in that cardio work.

I feel like a fat slug, though I know I am not any more...part of this is also my internal self image.

[Susan Otcenas]

143. It's just a pound, but it's a pound in the right direction.

I haven't done a single thing remotely athletic since Sunday's Muddy Buddy, though. I gave myself permission to take September off/easy after a long hard year of PBP training. It feels incredibly decadent to do nearly nothing, but I think it's a good mental break, and my left knee sure needs the rest. I have a picnic -oriented bike ride (think: 2 five year olds along for the ride, and you'll get an idea of the pace ) planned for tomorrow and a trail walk on Sunday.

Susan

[azfiddle]

117.4
Same zone as the last few weeks, but much better than 118-119 from Sunday until yesterday.