November/December weight management challenge

[Blueberry]

I'm in too - if it's OK, I might not set a goal for this one, though. I'm not meeting my goals - but I am getting in better shape, tweaking my diet, and generally becoming healthier. I'm going to focus on those things, and see where the weight ends up, I think.

[azfiddle]

Still trying to get back to my elusive goal weight - my real goal is 112 but just put me down for 114 because that seems realistic.

By the way, NPR had an interesting story this morning (Oct 31) on Morning Edition about why it is harder to keep weight off and lose it again a second time. It involves a lot of biochemical messages (leptin and other substances) that make your body think it is starving, and then reducing your metabolism so you actually must eat fewer calories than a person who is at the same weight, but did not have to diet to get to that weight. And how you need to do an hour of activity or so, at least 6 days a week, to maintain. The deck is really stacked against us!

[ny biker]

My goal is (still) 140.

I woke up this morning with a pain in my left foot and no idea why it hurts. I'm hoping it's a minor muscle pull. Otherwise it will really mess with my ability to exercise.

[Possegal]

I decided it isn't enough that I can't do any working out due to a back/leg thing, so I added in a slip and fall in the tub that may possibly have done something to a rib.

I'm seriously thinking of wrapping myself in bubble wrap from here on out.

[maillotpois]

(I think I may be up a little from last week owing to a trip to a 2 Michelin star restaurant with about 11 courses on Sunday. Worth it. )

Heh, I think I gained a few pounds looking at the menu on their website.

If you're going to splurge, make it worthwhile!

Agreed! It was well worth the splurge and I don't even care if I gained a little from it. I don't often (um ever) go out to a 2 Michelin star restaurant - I think there are only a couple in the Bay Area. A four hour dinner is truly extravagant. And we didn't even do the wine pairing!

I truly believe that it's got to be a lifestyle and not a diet and any lifestyle that doesn't make room for the daily beer and very occasional over the top splurge just isn't sustainable for me. I can generally fit those indulgences in and continue to maintain or lose, in general.

[Crankin]

Goldfinch, perhaps you are thinking about how tough maintaining your weight loss is going to be. With all of the negativity around about how hard it is to live a healthy lifestyle, sometimes we feel like we are the only ones with this goal.
As for your other concern, while losing weight does help with the health issues you talked about, it is not a cure. My DH takes bp medication, has 2 stents, and also takes 2 cholesterol lowering drugs, and a blood thinner. He rides 2-3K miles a year and is thin. He looks like a very fit, healthy person. Genetics plays a large part in this. Perhaps you should look at it from the point of view that if you hadn't lost the weight, these conditions would be worse.

[Dannielle]

Goldfinch, I'm in the exact same place. My weight has stabilized at 143-145 (I'm 5'11") after years spent working on weight loss (started at around 350lbs). I've been this weight since July and I'm scared to death to loosen the reins. I still weigh myself daily. I still count calories and weigh/measure everything I eat. I've worked so hard to accomplish this and the fear I could gain it all back easily is huge.

[goldfinch]

My weight last Friday was 112 but today it was 114. I thought the 112 it was a blip. Either way, I am wanting to now maintain my weight. I've been losing weight since the end of December of last year. Ten months, 45 pounds. Thirty percent of my initial weight. I am now in the normal range. But I want to join the challenge because I have the toughest challenge ahead, not regaining the weight I lost. This challenge will continue for the rest of my life.

I really enjoy being thinner than I have since the mid 1980s. I enjoy the increased energy. Looking and feeling better. Being able to ride 50 miles on a bike rather than 2 miles. Being able to walk indefinitely. But for some reason I have a bit of depression, or maybe it is anxiety, about the weight loss. Now I am here. How in the world am I going to stay here?

Also, my weight loss was not a "cure" for health conditions I have. My blood pressure is still high enough to require drugs. My cholesterol still requires drugs and is unchanged. I still have sleep apnea. These things did not magically go away and I am kind of bummed about it.

Sorry for feeling sorry for myself today. I know that I am extraordinarily lucky. Lucky to be retired early and have the time to work on my fitness.

I remain obsessed with food. I probably should be.

My goal weight for the challenge is 112, a maintenance goal. I left for a trip so I'll use 114 as my weigh in weight.

[Possegal]

I'm in too - if it's OK, I might not set a goal for this one, though. I'm not meeting my goals - but I am getting in better shape, tweaking my diet, and generally becoming healthier. I'm going to focus on those things, and see where the weight ends up, I think.

Totally OK. Others have done that before. Some folks need to not have that hanging over them.

This chart is all about helping people in what ever way works for them. So all of you do what works best!

[Possegal]

Busy weekend, behind on updates. Working on them now and will add the link in a few minutes.

[Possegal]

OK, below is the link. I'm exhausted right now, so could be some errors. Let me know if I need to correct, or if I missed some first weights from folks that posted them before the weekend. I promise to be more coherent next weekend.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...EVWbW5yT3doS0E

[solobiker]

OK, below is the link. I'm exhausted right now, so could be some errors. Let me know if I need to correct, or if I missed some first weights from folks that posted them before the weekend. I promise to be more coherent next weekend.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...EVWbW5yT3doS0E

Looks good. Thanks!!

[klesko]

I am in. The last several months have been really hard. It meant a lot to me to have the members of this forum be so supportive and caring while my sister was ill. She passed away October 15th, and I stress ate everything in sight and cut way back on my exercise during this time. I am doing a little better now, started exercising more, and am trying to eat healthy food, although I am having trouble getting my sweet tooth back under control. I was 143 on November 4th and I want to be 135 at the end of the year. That will about get me back to where I was last August. Pledge: I stopped logging my food - and pledge to log every bit during this challenge period!

[klesko]

Possegal - thank you so much for doing this and I hope you heal up soon. I have had that feeling about wrapping myself with bubble wrap too!