We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Prepping for the Holidays (October Challenge) Week 4 Check-In (10/22 - 10/31)
baconslave
Posts: 7,041 Member
This is the Check-In thread for Week 4 of the October "Prepping for the Holidays" monthly challenge.
You can report your progress/checklist every day, or every few days. As long as you are working on those basics, there's no "losing." You're winning.
Here's a rehash of the challenge parameters for those who haven't yet read them or need a wee reminder:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10261595/prepping-for-the-holidays-october-challenge
Happy Collecting.
You can report your progress/checklist every day, or every few days. As long as you are working on those basics, there's no "losing." You're winning.
Here's a rehash of the challenge parameters for those who haven't yet read them or need a wee reminder:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10261595/prepping-for-the-holidays-october-challenge
Ahhh...it's that time again. Fall. Temps turns cooler. Leaves change color. And all those holiday foods start creeping in on us. Pumpkin this and that, cider, with hot cocoa. And shortly after that Thanksgiving and Christmas parties smack us in the face with all those goodies. Before you know it, it's the New Year, and you're wondering "What the heck happened?" You're sporting extra weight. You feel guilty and unhealthy. And disappointed in yourself.
But it doesn't have to be that way! This month's theme is Prepping for the Holidays: A Basics Crash Course. This is my second Fall as a low-carber. And I lost weight the entire season. It CAN be done.
The keys to success in this WOE, or any eating plan for that matter, is three-fold:
- Consistency
- Persistence
- Time
Well, isn't that trite and overly simplistic? I'll admit it is simple, but not easy.
To let those 3 keys work for you, you need to be prepared. PLAN PLAN PLAN. I can't stress this enough. Plan ahead, log ahead. When you have a firm plan and procedure in place, you create good habits. And good habits work for you by keeping up momentum even when things get busy, chaotic, or just plain hard. You've already paved the road for yourself! All you have to do is stay on the smooth way and enjoy the scenery.
So in this challenge, we'll be working to set up and reinforce those good habits before you get in the thick of it. We'll be setting up those easy paths and building up that momentum by practicing a habit pattern to predispose us to sail through the holidays. There will be a weekly thread where you can keep track of the goals you reach. We can encourage one another, get advice about any trouble spots, share low-carb-legal recipes of our holiday favorites. In honor of this being the scary month, you can opt for the add-on challenge and get extra credit for working on a fear or scary pattern that often derails you or inhibits your progress.
We're going to compete with ourselves, trying to get the max daily score and collect the max daily pumpkins, or work toward collecting more than you did previously. We'll set up good habits in the following areas: water, electrolytes, staying under carb goal, logging daily, staying close to cal goal, hitting our exercise goal, and can earn an extra pumpkin for resisting a temptation or working on our "fear."
This is what your daily entry would look like:10/1:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal within 100:
- At or under carbs: 28g/30g net
- Exercise as planned: 20min HIIT
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food (carbs):
6/6
Earned 6 pumpkins.
Bonus: resisted temptation or worked on fear: +1
Daily Pumpkins collected: 7
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 13
The above is certainly just a template. You all may want to add a goal like: "Pre-logged Day" or "Planned Ahead" or "Resisted Off-Plan Halloween Treat" or "Packed On-Plan Lunch". I do not recommend nixing the logging calories or carbs, however, if you are one who becomes stressed by calorie counting, that's ok. But I recommend at least keeping track of your daily carb intake. Portion and carb creep are real. And it helps to occasionally reset our ability to "eye" our carb-count. Now would be a good time to recalibrate your carb-sense. I want every single one of you guys to coast through the holidays, enjoying them to the fullest. Preparation and consistency are key.
On the First of the month, sign in to let us know your personal goals. You can wait until you've done your daily checklist and lump it all together if you want.
Goals might look something like:SW: 155.8
GW: 154.8
Get in the habit of pre-logging before things get nuts so I don't accidentally go over carbs and calories.
Stay on top of electrolytes so I don't get low.
Find low-carb-legal treats for the Halloween party.
To keep it orderly, on Oct. 1, this thread will be pinned in the stickies at the top of the group page and all you will have to do is go to it if the Weekly thread is buried and click on the links below. (So if you've already read the challenge parameters, try not to get too upset with me when I repeat them at the start of each Weekly Challenge thread.) We'll accept challengers at any time of the month. Remember, you are competing against yourself, and starting on getting the basics down (or refreshing them like I am), before the hectic holiday season is fully upon us, is our goal.
Happy Collecting.
0
Replies
-
For those with a keen eye, you may have noticed that the week dates were a little off. Due to the way things fall this month, we'll only end up with half a week or so next week. So I'm just going to combine them. Week 4 will last until the end of the month, the 31st so we'll keep posting our check-ins in this thread until the month is over.
Whether or not it's practical or makes sense, it means less work for me next Thursday, so I'm all for it.
Today is the first day of the last extended week of the challenge.
I weighed 153.8 this morning. So I have lost 2lb since the beginning of the challenge.
It may not stick but it is what it is for now.
TTFN and I'll see you all here with my Thursday Check-In stats later.0 -
Got a surprise whoosh this AM. Down another lb. 2.8lb to goal. .8lb to 100lb Club.
Of course now I'm probably going to mini-stall for a couple weeks. My body is capable of much silliness.
Annnnnyway...
Thursday, 10/22, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): Not quite. Almost. 93cals over. Darn you, Applebees and your Caesar dressing.
- At or under carbs: 20g/20g
- Exercise as planned: Too much DOMS. I'll catch up.
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
4/6
Earned 4 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 4
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 4
Monthly: 110
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
baconslave wrote: »Got a surprise whoosh this AM. Down another lb. 2.8lb to goal. .8lb to 100lb Club.
Monthly: 110
Amazing!!!!!
0 -
Here's a recap of my October Goals:
1. up to 40 gms of carbs per day
2. 12,000 steps/day
3. Minimum 80 oz of water each and every day
4. More consistent with exercise especially weight lifting this month!
SW: 163
CW: 161.4
GW: 158
10/22 - 4 pumpkins - did everything I was supposed to do!!
0 -
Recap of monthly challenge:christineellis wrote: »SW: 179
GW: 172
1. <25 carbs/day
2. 10,000 steps per day
3. Log food every day
4. 80 oz. water every day
On to the extended 4th week! This morning I am at 172.5, so close to the monthly goal. I had a secret goal of 169, but not sure if I will get there in a week. Doing well on carbs, not on steps. I am logging every day and getting 80 oz. of water every day. Checking keto stix and still in ketosis, so must be doing something right, even if my weight is up and down all month!
Hold strong until Halloween everyone!!!0 -
10/22
1. Stay under 25-30 net carbs a day most days of the month (see #3)-1 pumpkins
2. Plan meals for the following week on Saturday or Sunday and stick to meal plan- 1 pumpkins
3. Two special occasion days take place this month and my goal is to go no higher than 50 net carbs-N/A
4. Try to add exercise in 3-4 times per week as joint pain permits-0 pumpkins
5. Try at least one new keto friendly recipe per week to keep things interesting-1 pumpkin
3 pumpkins
(61 for the month so far)
0 -
Thursday, 10/22:
Weigh-in: 144.4
Water: 128/75oz
Calorie: 1249/1312
At or under carbs: 4g/30g
Steps: 4685/ 7,500
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking
Logged food
6/7
Friday, 10/23:
Weigh-in: 143.7
Water: 148/75oz
Calorie: 1508/1312
At or under carbs: 9g/30g
Steps: 5611/ 7,500 (I really thought I was going to hit goal yesterday, argh!)
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking
Logged food
5/7
Weekly Pumpkin Count:
October's Pumpkin Total: 1190 -
BAM! 100lb Club!
You may resume your regularly scheduled programming.
Friday, 10/23, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): Yep!
- At or under carbs: 24g/20g Damn avocado.
- Exercise as planned: Bodyweight routine. Plus 30 min walk
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
5/6
Earned 5 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 5
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 9
Monthly: 115
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
Sooooo happy for you @Baconslave!! Those markers matter so much to our psyche!!!
Keep on ROCKIN everybody! You've all done very well!
Still waiting for a report from @Fit_Goat. I'm still curious about his trial with no spices!0 -
Thanks!Sooooo happy for you @Baconslave!! Those markers matter so much to our psyche!!!
Saturday, 10/24, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Saturday rules: Who cares about calories! Nobody in my head on Saturday. The Voices are unanimously in agreement.
- At or under carbs: 50/50g. I did it! The first Saturday in 2 weeks. Those chocolate chip cookies I was forced to make for the kids and their sleepover guest were taunting me. I just made a keto choc mousse. Yum. Not a cookie was tasted.
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged carbs:
4/4
Earned 4 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 4
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 13
Monthly: 119
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
Saturday, 10/24:
Weigh-in: Okay, I weighed in but apparently I didn't record it. I remember it was down but I don't remember the number. But check anyway!
Water: 44/75oz
Calorie: 1904/1312
At or under carbs: 85g/30g
(friend made 'LCHF cookies' which, it turns out, used a $H!T TON of erythritol.. like 60g carbs' worth, which upset my stomach and I threw a lot of the carbs back up, but I couldn't measure that deficit...)
Steps: 8812/ 7,500
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking, party prep, washing a nasty rusty folding table and make it look amazeballs
Logged food
4/7
Sunday, 10/25:
Weigh-in: 143.6
Water: 62/75oz
Calorie: 1416/1312
At or under carbs: 34g/30g
Steps: 5611/ 7,500 (spent most of the day sitting in a tattoo parlor)
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking
Logged food
3/7
Weekly Pumpkin Count:
October's Pumpkin Total: 126
Never mind the carb indiscretion on Saturday, I forgive myself that because I didn't know how many carbs were in what I was eating (friend brought cookies to our pumpkin carving party and I didn't get the recipe so I could log it until yesterday). Mostly I'm annoyed my water was so low, but that's pretty typical for a weekend. I did better the weekend before, so I know I can do it!0 -
Here's a recap of my October Goals:
1. up to 40 gms of carbs per day
2. 12,000 steps/day
3. Minimum 80 oz of water each and every day
4. More consistent with exercise especially weight lifting this month!
SW: 163
CW: 161.4
GW: 158
10/22 - 4 pumpkins - did everything I was supposed to do!!
10/23 - 4 pumpkins
10/24 - 2 pumpkins
10/25 - 2 pumpkins
OK - I just cannot get 12,000 steps on the weekend even taking walks and cleaning the yard/house. I was great with food though! Even Saturday, I hardly sat down at all (I was cleaning out our walk-in closet that was filled to the brim) and didn't get near as many steps as I wanted. Lots of stairs though as I was moving stuff down into our storage room in the basement
0 -
Sunday, 10/25, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): Yep!
- At or under carbs: 20g/20g
- Exercise as planned: none planned. I did housework. While tripping over my 4-year-old the whole time.
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
5/5
Earned 5 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 5
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 14
Monthly: 120
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
Week check-in:
1. Pre-plan meals - check. I got the week's meals ready with minimal veggie prep left.
2. Shopping completed! No need to pick up anything this week other then Halloween decorations and a bag of fresh salad mid-week.
3. Over the weekend we had one meal out (bbq brisket, which was a bad idea, I paid for it with a massive migraine), and a cup of bulletproof-style coffee at the farmer's market coffee stand, which was a much better idea. This week I am planning a trip to Starbucks on Thursday evening, and whatever low carb alcohol comes my way on Saturday.
4. N/A.
I'm doing pretty good.0 -
10/23-10/25
1. Stay under 25-30 net carbs a day most days of the month (see #3)-3 pumpkins
2. Plan meals for the following week on Saturday or Sunday and stick to meal plan- 3 pumpkins
3. Two special occasion days take place this month and my goal is to go no higher than 50 net carbs-1 pumpkin (went to a party and had nothing off plan!
)
4. Try to add exercise in 3-4 times per week as joint pain permits-2 pumpkins
5. Try at least one new keto friendly recipe per week to keep things interesting-1 pumpkin
10 pumpkins
(71 for the month)0 -
Monday, 10/26, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): Yep!
- At or under carbs: 18g/20g
- Exercise as planned: 20 HIIT workout (45/15 intervals)
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
6/6
Earned 6 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 6
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 20
Monthly: 126
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
Here's a recap of my October Goals:
1. up to 40 gms of carbs per day
2. 12,000 steps/day
3. Minimum 80 oz of water each and every day
4. More consistent with exercise especially weight lifting this month!
SW: 163
CW: 161.4
GW: 158
10/22 - 4 pumpkins
10/23 - 4 pumpkins
10/24 - 2 pumpkins
10/25 - 2 pumpkins
10/26 - 4 pumpkins
0 -
Tuesday, 10/27, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): Yep!
- At or under carbs: 14g/20g
- Exercise as planned: 28min of bodyweight stuff
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
6/6
Earned 6 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 6
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 26
Monthly: 132
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
10/26-10/27
1. Stay under 25-30 net carbs a day most days of the month (see #3)-2 pumpkins
2. Plan meals for the following week on Saturday or Sunday and stick to meal plan- 2 pumpkins
3. Two special occasion days take place this month and my goal is to go no higher than 50 net carbs-n/a
4. Try to add exercise in 3-4 times per week as joint pain permits-1 pumpkins
5. Try at least one new keto friendly recipe per week to keep things interesting-1 pumpkin
6 pumpkins
77 pumpkins for the month0 -
Here's a recap of my October Goals:
1. up to 40 gms of carbs per day
2. 12,000 steps/day
3. Minimum 80 oz of water each and every day
4. More consistent with exercise especially weight lifting this month!
SW: 163
CW: 161.4
GW: 158
10/22 - 4 pumpkins
10/23 - 4 pumpkins
10/24 - 2 pumpkins
10/25 - 2 pumpkins
10/26 - 4 pumpkins
10/27 - 4 pumpkins
10/28 - 2 pumpkins. I did not get in enough water yesterday and because I was out and about I didn't track my food so I'm not sure if I stayed under 40 grams. I think I was ok, but it's so hard when it's restaurant food where they don't post nutritionals!0 -
10/28
1. Stay under 25-30 net carbs a day most days of the month (see #3)-1 pumpkins
2. Plan meals for the following week on Saturday or Sunday and stick to meal plan- 1 pumpkins
3. Two special occasion days take place this month and my goal is to go no higher than 50 net carbs-n/a
4. Try to add exercise in 3-4 times per week as joint pain permits-0 pumpkins
5. Try at least one new keto friendly recipe per week to keep things interesting-0 pumpkin
2 pumpkins
79 pumpkins for the month0 -
Monday, 10/26:
Weigh-in: 145.2
Water: 125/75oz
Calorie: 1567/1312
At or under carbs: 23g/30g
Steps: 6273/ 7,500
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking
Logged food
5/7
Tuesday, 10/27:
Weigh-in: 145.4
Water: 84/75oz
Calorie: 1957/1312
At or under carbs: 12g/30g
Steps: 4793/ 7,500
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking
Logged food
5/7
Wednesday, 10/28:
Weigh-in: 143.7
Water: 125/75oz
Calorie: 1541/1312
At or under carbs: 16g/30g
Steps: 4478/ 7,500
Exercise: Brisk Walking
Logged food
5/7
Weekly Pumpkin Count:
October's Pumpkin Total: 141
0 -
Wednesday, 10/28, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): Yep!
- At or under carbs: 25g/20g Damn avocados. But they need eaten. Net carbs were 14g, but I'm technically over my 20 total so no pumpkin.
- Exercise as planned: 30 min walk
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
5/6
Earned 5 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 5
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 31
Monthly: 137
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
Thursday, 10/29, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): Yep!
- At or under carbs: 20g/20g
- Exercise as planned: Bodyweight stuff per the usual
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
6/6
Earned 6 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 6
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 37
Monthly: 143
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
Friday, 10/30, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calorie goal under (Sun-Fri schedule): No. Over by about 100. Well-intentioned-spousal-sabotage. He ordered wings for me and pizza for them. I didn't know about it to budget it in. Oh well.
- At or under carbs: 18g/20g
- Exercise as planned: Nope. More sabotage. We didn't get home until late. I'll catch up.
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food:
4/6
Earned 4 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 4
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 41
Monthly: 147
Good luck for those planning on staying on-plan. I have to make treats for the kiddos today. I can't promise I'm going to behave. But I do promise I'll try. And I do promise I'll be right back on that horse at the butt-crack of dawn when the kids wake me up tomorrow whether or not I resist. Because that's the way I roll.
Happy Halloween everyone.
MWAHAHAHAA! Have a great day!
0 - Water: 80/80oz
-
Thursday, 10/29:
Weigh-in: 144.2
Water: 93/75oz
Calorie: 1657/1312
At or under carbs: 12g/30g
Steps: 5912/ 7,500
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking
Logged food
5/7
Friday, 10/30:
Weigh-in: Nope! I forgot and had my whole costume on before I realized it!
Water: 76/75oz
Calorie: 2421/1312 Party Food! But the pot luck at work had lots of keto options!
At or under carbs: 31g/30g (Not bad, though, for all those calories!!)
Steps: 5719/ 7,500
Exercise: Parking Far away, Brisk Walking, on my feet all day.. does it count in heels?
Logged food
3/7
Saturday, 10/31 (Using my crystal ball to look into the future!):
Weigh-in: 144.6
Water: Gonna!/75oz
Calorie: Don't know what I'll eat but assume I'll go over! ^_^
At or under carbs: Gonna!/30g
Steps: Gonna!/ 7,500
Exercise: Brisk Walking, Chiro Exercises, push ups and planking
Logged food
6/7
Weekly Pumpkin Count:
October's Pumpkin Total: 155
Okay I definitely did not achieve my goal of dipping weight into the 130s. But pumpkin everything did not send me into a feeding frenzy or let me forget myself.
I do hope to cut out more dairy, but it'll be more on a meal-by-meal "make the best decision I can right now" basis than anything else. Really looking forward to trying new keto recipes for Thanksgiving, but mostly I just wanna keep on keepin' on, and trust my body to sort out my weight when it's ready.
0 -
10/29-10/30
1. Stay under 25-30 net carbs a day most days of the month (see #3)-2 pumpkins
2. Plan meals for the following week on Saturday or Sunday and stick to meal plan- 2 pumpkins
3. Two special occasion days take place this month and my goal is to go no higher than 50 net carbs-n/a
4. Try to add exercise in 3-4 times per week as joint pain permits-1 pumpkin
5. Try at least one new keto friendly recipe per week to keep things interesting-0 pumpkins
5 pumpkins
84 for the month0 -
In case anyone cares, it's 6pm almost and I haven't caved yet. I may be in the clear!0
-
10/31
1. Stay under 25-30 net carbs a day most days of the month (see #3)-1 pumpkins
2. Plan meals for the following week on Saturday or Sunday and stick to meal plan- 1 pumpkins
3. Two special occasion days take place this month and my goal is to go no higher than 50 net carbs-1 pumpkins
4. Try to add exercise in 3-4 times per week as joint pain permits-1 pumpkin
5. Try at least one new keto friendly recipe per week to keep things interesting-1 pumpkins
5 pumpkins
89 for the month
0 -
Saturday, 10/31, Check-In:
- Water: 80/80oz
- Calories-Saturday Rules. Ate lots of yummy fatty foods today.
- At or under carbs: 50/50g. Stayed away from the cookies! YES!
- Hit electrolytes:
- Logged food: No. Kept up with carbs but did not log.
3/4
Earned 3 pumpkins.
Daily Pumpkins collected: 3
Weekly Pumpkin Count: 44
Monthly: 150
Starting weight: 155.4
Goal weight: 152.0
End weight: 152.0
Take-away from this challenge: Accountability and keeping daily tabs on the basics helped me lose 3.4lb this month. It made me be honest with myself and gave me incentive to log consistently. And I discovered a pretty good rhythm. Hopefully it will keep working for me for 2 more pounds so I'll get to goal. Then I'll need to embark on an experiment to discover my maintenance calories. Maintenance, the next leg of the journey. But first. I have to get there.
Great job, all of you guys who stuck with the challenge the whole month. Or at least tried. Effort is effort. It's hard to defeat all the obstacles life throws at us, or that we throw at ourselves. We may not win. We may stumble and fall. But as long as we don't quit, we don't lose.
0 - Water: 80/80oz
This discussion has been closed.