TEAM: Gutbusters (October)
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One year and one day ago today I bet approx. $700 dollars that I would lose 55 pounds in 13 months. Potential winnings were approx. $2100.
For me, this was the start of winning the mental battle of weight loss and learning to persist when things got hard. I learned that I'd need other resources to keep me strong. I had to learn about macros, hunger, and eating out reasonably. I used a smaller monthly bet to keep on track with frequent weigh-ins with consequences (losing small amounts of money if I didn't meet monthly goals). I joined this forum were I found tons of motivation, information, and support.
Today, I weigh 66 pounds less. I went from a size 1X to an 8. 221 to 155 lbs. A size 9 shoe to an 8. Normal towels fit around my body. I'm comfortable in a plane seat and don't feel guilty about taking up more than my "fair share" of space (I don't believe there is a fair share but it's how I used to feel about myself). I don't want to hide when photos are being taken. I went
from completely sendentary to doing the strength challenges on this forum to running on the elliptical 6 days a week with a weekly body weight strength class.
I'm planning on training for a 5k this spring. I intend to start actively trying to build muscle and tone up once I lose 10 more pounds. I now date. I reach out to old friends without hesitation. I'm heading to a law school interview next week and not once will I wonder if my weight will affect the interviewer's perception of me (due to the laziness stigma unfortunately--and falsely--associated with being overweight).
The face photo shows me at 221 (the beginning), 185 (middle), and 155 (still going).6 -
Weigh in week: October Week 4
Weigh in Day: Friday
Previous Weight: 170.8
Current Weight: 172
Sorry team currently slammed and lots of stress eating! I promise the team, and myself, that I will find a better coping method. Funny, I know when I am stress eating but at times can't stop myself, it's like watching a train wreck happen. Heres to a leaner Nov!5 -
October 28
Exercise. Yes
Calories No. Over
Tracked. Yes0 -
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Weigh in week: October Week 4
Weigh in Day: Friday
Previous Weight: 170.8
Current Weight: 172
Sorry team currently slammed and lots of stress eating! I promise the team, and myself, that I will find a better coping method. Funny, I know when I am stress eating but at times can't stop myself, it's like watching a train wreck happen. Heres to a leaner Nov!
@cjscoey. It happens.
It's a habit of a lifetime you are trying to undo. This takes time.
Until you learn strategies to cope with stress, this will continue to occur (and expect it to continue, and do not mentally beat yourself up over it).
What can you do you remove yourself from the stress? (slow walk around the block to clear your mind, have a drink of water, have a comfortable place to relax and have a cup of tea).
I've seen someone describe successful stress coping as ignoring a threat. You need to do things that would NOT do in a flight or flight type situation. Things like walk deliberately slowly, or drink water, close your eyes and breathe deeply. These are things you would NOT do if about to be attacked by a tiger. De-stress is actively ignoring the tiger.
What can you do daily to de-stress BEFORE you get to a stressful situation? (meditation, listen to music, go for a walk, etc..). Starting from a lower stress level, stress overload is not reached as quickly.
Work out a strategy that works for you and try enact it next time. If you successful tried to take an alternate reaction to eating your way out of stress, reward yourself in some small way. Keep this up until you get a stress coping strategy that works for you.
Repeat, reward the ATTEMPT. Only by continued attempts can you hope to succeed.
Having an ongoing non food related way to de-stress is essential to continued success. It will be hard as it is reversing a lifetime of experience. However, it will be worth it longer term.4 -
October 28
Exercised?: Yes (drone track setup - full days competition on my feet all day).
Calories?: Yes
Tracked?: Yes
Helped set up a drone track at a local club in the morning, standing pretty much all day (apart from when flying).
BBQ lunch provided (sausages, but without bread).
Flew well today. Made final 6, and ended up 4th in the finals through consistency (more than speed).
Still would like to go faster (but I break less stuff when I fly within my limits).
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WishfulThinning18
Sunday
Previous 290.4
Current 289
This is the lowest I remember being in probably 5 years!!! It also means I have lost 40 lbs in 100 days... it also means I have only 100 lbs to lose until goal!!6 -
Message to all Team Members:
@LeslckaBod.
@WishfulThinning18.
@90kgtoNewMe.
@CDiddyGetsFitty.
@cdqtducks.
@eevang.
@Mariamamjad.
@michellelagle.
@westray16.
@12sarah2015.
@bendiz_.
@Edising.
@hayleymace90.
@inshapeCK.
@cjscoey.
@Colleen790.
@Grebber1.
@fe452436.
@KillaLindzilla.
@Rocknut53.
@emmclean.
@ShareASmile.
This is the last week of the October Challenge. After this week, all members will be rolled over automatically into the November Challenge.
The November challenge thread is:
TEAM: Gutbusters (November) https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10703861/team-gutbusters-november#latest
If you wish not to participate next month, please message the team captain or Ashley (@AB0215) or Craig ( @craigo3154. )
Please view your team thread and post a brief introduction so others in the team can know who you are.
When viewing the thread, please "bookmark" the thread by pressing the "star" icon (it should turn yellow).
This way you can be notified whenever someone posts to the thread (your "bell" icon on most forum headers will show if there are any notifications).
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WishfulThinning18 wrote: »WishfulThinning18
Sunday
Previous 290.4
Current 289
This is the lowest I remember being in probably 5 years!!! It also means I have lost 40 lbs in 100 days... it also means I have only 100 lbs to lose until goal!!
@Wishfulthinning18 Way to go! What a wonderful interim success to celebrate!
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craigo3154 wrote: »
@eevang Yes, absolutely awesome work! You look like you have a happy spirit in all of these pictures, growing healthier in all of these. You have given yourself a wonderful gift this year by undertaking this journey. I'm so glad for you!3 -
October 28
Exercise: yes, 3 hour hike
Calories: yes
Tracked: yes
Fingers crossed that my head is finally on board again. Had a good heart to heart talk with my hubby about his upcoming cardiologist visit: things he can do to prepare if he does have to have surgery soon, my in depth research into what is going on based on his echocardiogram, ekg and chest xray results and what we can expect for his future, and the deep sadness that I feel about him not taking his health seriously for a long, long time and the impact it is having on our relationship. We've been married 39 years, I'm not giving up on him and he knows that. We find out on Tuesday when his surgery will be. It may be soon, it may be in the future. It is inevitable, however.
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So hot and it's only spring. I moved recently to the tropics in Australia. I don't want to work out at all, just lie in a hammock all day
not sure how I'm going to burn calories now. I will try and go for a late night walk tonight. 1 -
12Sarah2015 wrote: »So hot and it's only spring. I moved recently to the tropics in Australia. I don't want to work out at all, just lie in a hammock all day not sure how I'm going to burn calories now. I will try and go for a late night walk tonight.
@12Sarah2015. Usually good weather in Oz in tropics. Get out an walk for a bit. See the sights. Discover your area, meet people (Us Aussies are usually pretty friendly). Find somewhere you can swim (without crocs or jellies). But wear a hat and use sunscreen (Aussie sun can be quite brutal).
Also, hot weather usually does not make you feel like eating much. Just try not to overdo the drinks (unless it's water). Not too much amber fluid
Usually plenty of good tropical fruits and vegetables around too, so you can often find good food to eat that is not calorie dense.3 -
WishfulThinning18 wrote: »WishfulThinning18
Sunday
Previous 290.4
Current 289
This is the lowest I remember being in probably 5 years!!! It also means I have lost 40 lbs in 100 days... it also means I have only 100 lbs to lose until goal!!
@WishfulThinning18. Amazing work.
Keep up what you are doing, it's working.
You CAN get to onederland. Will just be working on taking steps in the right direction one day at a time.2 -
October 29
Exercise No
Calories. Yes
Tracked. Yes
Intended to exercise after work, but was at the hospital visiting my mother.3 -
craigo3154 wrote: »12Sarah2015 wrote: »So hot and it's only spring. I moved recently to the tropics in Australia. I don't want to work out at all, just lie in a hammock all day not sure how I'm going to burn calories now. I will try and go for a late night walk tonight.
@12Sarah2015. Usually good weather in Oz in tropics. Get out an walk for a bit. See the sights. Discover your area, meet people (Us Aussies are usually pretty friendly). Find somewhere you can swim (without crocs or jellies). But wear a hat and use sunscreen (Aussie sun can be quite brutal).
Also, hot weather usually does not make you feel like eating much. Just try not to overdo the drinks (unless it's water). Not too much amber fluid
Usually plenty of good tropical fruits and vegetables around too, so you can often find good food to eat that is not calorie dense.
The weather is shocking. Humidity and no rain, even the locals are complaining. And it's just spring. Too hot to go for a walk tonight.
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It's early but im looking forward to the Nov challenge. This morning I weigh 325. I had a goal of being under 300 by Jan 1st. If I really crank down I can be close by Dec 1st.
I have a few cycling challenges that I'm going to do starting in November. To complete the ones I want to do together I will have to take my nutrition seriously so I can maximize the rides.
I was pretty excited to lose weight when i started. It was all about how I looked. Nothing about how it would make me feel. When I went on my little trip and actually FELT the benefits of losing weight I got hooked. I still have so much more to go and I'm excited to see how I will feel next year riding and what ever else I decide to do.
Right now I'm saving for more trips and new clothes. I'm saving the money I used from all the fast food I use to buy. That crap adds up!4 -
I was pretty excited to lose weight when i started. It was all about how I looked. Nothing about how it would make me feel. When I went on my little trip and actually FELT the benefits of losing weight I got hooked. I still have so much more to go and I'm excited to see how I will feel next year riding and what ever else I decide to do.
Right now I'm saving for more trips and new clothes. I'm saving the money I used from all the fast food I use to buy. That crap adds up!
@grebber1 So happy to hear that you're feeling the benefits of weight loss! Keep on riding on those feelings, and I'm sure you'll reach your goal.
I had the same feeling that focusing on weight loss was saving me money for other things. I always meant to actually compare my financial records to get the accurate comparison by month, but never did. I've been thinking that taking care of my health is not only probably a savings in the short term, but in the long term, it's like an additional investment in my retirement, because I'm lowering the likelihood that I will need to be buying drugs or managing health care for chronic disease. Changing our mindset to focus on long term rewards is difficult, but it's clear that the rewards are absolutely worth making these lifestyle changes now and saying "no" to the short term "rewards" of convenience food and inactivity.2 -
Happy Monday, Week 5!
Today I'm looking for weights from:
Me!
@90kgToNewMe
@CDiddyGetsFitty
@cdqtducks
@eevang
@Mariamamjad
@michellelagle
@westray160 -
October Week 5
LesIckaBod
PW: 165.5
CW: 166.5
Annnnd, right after posting my rah rah message for @Grebber1, I have to come to terms with the fact that this month, my head was not in the game. I'm down only 1.5 lbs for these 5 weeks of the October challenge.
I know that both my husband and I are affected by certain seasonal challenges -- not seasonal affective disorder, just kind of ennui of adult life that cycles with the school year and aspects of our work. I feel like this is the big problem I'm facing right now, and there are probably smaller aspects of this problem that I can identify and target to improve for November, and I have to, because I hope my life has a lot of Octobers remaining in it!
What's good is that I was consistent with my exercise this month. In fact, I wasn't able to exercise until after dinner yesterday, and it felt like it had been days and days since I'd done activity. In reality, I had my usual basement workout on Thursday, missed my Friday basement workout for work but had two 20+min episodes of walking during the day at a brisk pace, and only took off Saturday as an off day. It felt like days of inactivity, because I've become so used to doing more.
So, my goal for November is to figure out what the little things are that are happening in these fall months that cause me and my husband to be more willing to get "sloppy" about eating and for me, tracking. And I need to find a way to replace these habitual little things with better habits.
What are your goals for November?2 -
October 29
Exercised?: Yes (3km walk in 24 mins - hills).
Calories?: Yes
Tracked?: Yes
Work from home today. Not much else to report.
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Week:5
PW: 164
CW: 164
Well I cheated a little,but I'm still the same weight,so can't complain.2 -
Goals for november:
Tighten up my food calculations and eathe as clean as possible besides Thanksgiving LOL.
Get as close to my goal of hitting 299 as possible this month.
Complete (or at least stay on schedule if the program is longer then 4 weeks) of training on my bike.
Put back extra money for clothes and more riding trips next year. This kinda isn't a goal for this forum but since losing weight has indirectly been saving me money I might as well put it down there5 -
Wk5 Monday weigh in
Westray16
PW 197 lbs
CW 197 lbs2 -
My goal for November is to eat half my dinner as salad or vegetables4
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October Week 5 Weigh-In
Previous: 156.0
Current: 154.8
Being not sick is the best. One more week (and a half) before my doctor visit and I can work out again. Eager for my cardio.
This is the first time the weight loss has felt "healthy" since I've been sick. My willpower isn't too great right now but I've been alternating between maintenance and deficit calories and it seems to be working just fine. I'm definitely getting back in the groove.
November goals: strength training! If doctor approves. As that healthy BMI nears, I'm ready for toning up.
ALSO: I've heard of this happening to others but it's the first time it's happened to me--a co worker told me that I should stop losing weight. They meant it in a nice way. "You're disappearing," she said. "You definitely don't need to lose any more." And I think the rapid loss from my illness made her concerned...but still. I'm overweight. I have about 35 pounds I could lose before I actually could be considered "too" skinny.
It's just a little odd. I think the loss of even 5 pounds is starting to look far more noticeable at this lower weight.5 -
Exercise Yes. 35 minutes treadmill
Calories. Yes
Tracked. Yes
I'm not feeling very confident of Thursday's weigh in. I got knocked off my routine and mind set with my mother being in hospital and my time has been taken up with it all. Then it was my eldest son's engagement party last Saturday night and I endulged in too much food and drink. The scale was not very nice about it. I am realising at least some will be water weight. Then some photo's came up from the engagement party and I got depressed seeing myself in them. Any way onward and upward. Christmas is coming. Got to make November count!3 -
Good morning everyone. Home stretch. Make it count. .
This group was really talkative early on. Where everyone go? Maybe it's just me but seems we lost some people.3 -
October 30
Exercised?: Yes (5km walk in 40 mins - hills).
Calories?: Yes
Tracked?: Yes
Work from home again today.
Not much else to report.
Happy Halloween to all for tomorrow.2 -
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Goodness, this month is almost over! What a doozy it's been for so many of us: work, personal illness, family illness - and even a party and weekend trip or two.
But this is life, right? And we're all working on losing weight and getting fit in order to get better at life.
What do you tell yourself to stay motivated when you're going through one of these difficult stretches?3
This discussion has been closed.