Let's Do this! - 2019 Challenge - Be the best you can be!

kimmie373

It’s been awhile since I have checked in here. The flu hit me pretty hard. Still going to chemo 2X every 2weeks, a never ending constant in my life. I lost 5 pounds while sick but gained 4 back in a week. I wasn’t trying at all to watch what I eat and I hadn’t been exercising. I think I have the strength again to get moving and work on eating habits again. My goal this week is to close all my activity rings on my Apple Watch for a week. I really want the reward badge for that. My husband is concerned I will overdo it. I think he needs to get healthy and start working out. He is taking me to Hawaii in April. I want to be more fit and lose 10 pounds by the time the trip is here. Glad to see everyone is still working hard on their goals. Cheers for everyone!

loonyhiker

Welcome back @kimmie373! I commend you for wanted to get back to being active but I hope you don't try to go from zero to 100% all at once. This could lead to injuries and pain. Maybe you can gradually increase your activity times rather than try to close the rings all at once. I give myself one day off to let my muscles and body recuperate from exercising the other days. Maybe you can inspire your husband to join you if you tell him it would help you if you do it gradually together (but don't let him know that he is actually going to benefit from it too! LOL).

msarobix

I had all my knitting friends over for Knit Club today. I use to hold knit club every month, but last year when work was so crazy I completely stopped having club. It was so nice to get everyone together again for a visit.

Because I knew I was having everyone here for most of the day today I wanted to get my workout completed before everyone arrived. That meant that I had to have a shorter workout then I normally do on Saturday. But because I also got all my weekly chores done before everyone arrive that leaves me with the rest of the weekend and a clean house. So I will probably do my long run tomorrow (at least 6 miles).

@loonyhiker - It is so true that you can’t out run your mouth. I agree, some days when I workout I feel like I can eat more junk because I worked out. But I know that will never work in the long run.

@kimmie373 - sorry to hear you have been under the weather, but glad to hear you are feeling better and are getting back to working out and watching what you eat. When I am sick I eat whatever I like. There is no reason to make yourself suffer any more than you really have to.

kimmie373

loonyhiker wrote: »

Welcome back @kimmie373! I commend you for wanted to get back to being active but I hope you don't try to go from zero to 100% all at once. This could lead to injuries and pain. Maybe you can gradually increase your activity times rather than try to close the rings all at once. I give myself one day off to let my muscles and body recuperate from exercising the other days. Maybe you can inspire your husband to join you if you tell him it would help you if you do it gradually together (but don't let him know that he is actually going to benefit from it too! LOL).

I agree I need to be careful and not go straight to full on exercise. Even though I want to close those rings I will take it easy with the exercise. I have tried all kinds of ways to try and have hubby join me. It will be easier to do come summer and we get outdoors more. He just isn’t a gym guy.

loonyhiker

@kimmie373 My hubby isn't a gym guy either. When we can get outdoors, we walk together every day because there is a nice trail near our house. When we go to the end and back, we walk 3 miles. Glad you are exercising sensibly!

NSV - Hubby told me that he can tell I have lost weight. He was surprised and said usually the person you live with can't tell so I must have lost enough where it is noticeable even to him! I told him that his comment makes me want to continue losing weight and I appreciate his support!

msarobix

I had every extension of working out today, but by the time that I got around to working out I just didn’t feel like it. Since I have worked out EVERY day so far this year, I figured I could take a day off without feeling guilty.

I will however make sure that I still close all my Apple Rings today, even if that means that I do a bit of walking on the treadmill today.

@loonyhiker - AWESOME NSV!

SallyLuvsFitness

loonyhiker wrote: »

@kimmie373 My hubby isn't a gym guy either. When we can get outdoors, we walk together every day because there is a nice trail near our house. When we go to the end and back, we walk 3 miles. Glad you are exercising sensibly!

NSV - Hubby told me that he can tell I have lost weight. He was surprised and said usually the person you live with can't tell so I must have lost enough where it is noticeable even to him! I told him that his comment makes me want to continue losing weight and I appreciate his support!

Awesome!

msarobix

When I started my workout this morning I had every intention to make it a short workout. My plan was to warm up for 10 minutes, then run for 25 minutes and then cool down for 10 minutes. As it turned out I ended up running for 45 minutes straight. After 25 minutes, I said to myself, I can do another 5 minutes. then after 30 minutes I felt the same way, and ran another 5 minutes. And it continued like that until I had reached 45 minutes. Right around the 42 minute mark I was feeling like I was reaching my limits, so I stopped at 45 minute, then cooled down for 10 minutes. I was very happy with this extended run.

How do you motivate yourself to workout or to push a bit harder?

loonyhiker

I'm getting ready to go to Myrtle Beach for a conference tomorrow. I've already come up with a plan for my eating. Hubby and I will go out for breakfast each morning. A vendor is bringing us lunch tomorrow during set up which I may have time to eat or not. Tomorrow night we are going out to dinner with friends who I usually only see once a year at the conference. I plan on eating half my meal and getting half of it to take back to the hotel. On Friday there is an awards luncheon and I am so busy that I don't usually eat much then. Hubby and I will eat dinner somewhere on Friday night alone (I usually need some alone time away from the conference by this time). On Saturday I will eat leftovers from Thursday night for lunch in my room. Then a board meeting in the afternoon will be the end of the conference. Not sure I will have the energy to eat dinner by this time but if I'm hungry, hubby and I will eat a light dinner. On Sunday we will head back home.

Just planning all this helps me think about not overeating.

kimmie373

I find earning badges on the activity app motivates me. This week it spurred me on to go a little bit longer on the elliptical and the treadmill. I earned badges for getting the highest calories burned to date for each one. I also earned a first time hiking badge. I have hiked before but never used my activity tracker for it before. I guess this badge collecting gives me a sense of accomplishment. Still need to get my eating under better control.

msarobix

Wow, February got away from me, sorry I haven’t posted in a couple of days. I have been working out every day and closing my rings on my Apple Watch.

February Wrap Up:
I lost a total of 3.5 lbs, an inch off my bust, and 1.25” off my hips. I also added additional measurements that I wasn’t taking before for a better idea of how well I am doing.

Sure I lost less than a pound a week in February, but honestly with the 2.25” lost I am still super happy about this. Plus,I haven’t been very strict on my diet and I know if I step up my diet I will easily drop weight faster, but at the same time I want to be happy about what I am eating and don’t want to deprive myself.

I have been thinking about doing the Whole 30 diet in March, for nothing more than to step up my weight loss. However, what I am afraid of is that as soon as I go back my normal way of eating I will just put the weight back on. It is slightly unlikely since I am working out so much. But the one thing I don’t want to have happen is for me to loss motivation, and I think if I lost a bunch of weight only to put it right back on again I think that would de-motivate me.

@loonyhiker - I hope your conference goes well. It sounds like you have really given it a lot of thought on how you are going to stay on track while you are there. Planning ahead is the best way to stick to it.

@kimmie373 - Badge collecting does exactly the same thing for me. I love to close my rings and get those rewards each week and month. And when I have the ability to beat my best it feels so good to see my progress. Congratulations on finding your motivation. Eating better is the most difficult part for me as well.

BackInSoFL

@loonyhiker have a great trip, your plan sounds great. My plan (or lack of) left me with little results for February.

@kimmie373 Congrats on the increase in activity. Eating is 80% vs 20% exercise, you're on the right track now.

My February results (or lack of) was all due to planning. I've got lots of excuses, hurt my back, husband has been out of town,..I've just been off track with meal planning (ate out too much) and morning walk. Anyway, I am glad Feb is over and it was a short month.

Average daily eat cals 1400
Average daily burn 1600

lost 0.60#, and 1/2 inch. Sounds like I am on maintenance.

I appreciate these monthly check ins and updating my spreadsheet, it really makes me take a look at the level of activity and calories and regroup each month. Accountability and adjustments moving forward!

Happy March everyone! I am going in like a lion (or is that the weather lol).

msarobix

Every month my Apple Watch gives me a challenge. January was fairly easy, it was only to close my stand goal 30 out of 31 days. As long as I was conscious of when I needed to get up and move around that was very easy to do. February was a bit harder, I had to close all 3 activity rings 24 out of 28 days in February. I achieved both of these Challenges.

The March challenge is a bit harder. It is to burn 24,500 calories during the month. That is an average of 790 calories a day. Currently my Move calorie goal for the day is 460, which I really need to increase at least a bit. However, I did average 791 and 796 calories a day in January and February respectively.

So I know it is possible, but it makes me nervous because I have been pushing myself for the last two months, and I expect at some point I am going to lose some motivation and I will back off on my workouts a bit. I have already had at least one day in February, where I just didn’t feel like working out, and did just enough to close my rings that day.

With this challenge I think I will push just a bit harder than if I didn’t have this challenge.

What challenges you, or encourages you to push a bit harder than you would without the challenge?

@BackinSoFL - there will always be days, weeks, and months where we don’t make much progress, but as long as you are still moving in the right direction, or at the very least standing still then you are still healthier than you were before. I hope March bring much more progress for you.

loonyhiker

I like the monthly challenges with my watch too. My challenge this month is to reach my exercise goal 13 times. I have no problem getting my steps in, my movement and my stand goals but I really struggle with closing my exercise ring. This is a good challenge for me.

I also like getting the awards when I reach something I hadn't realized I did.

Unfortunately, with all my good intentions, I didn't do as well as I had hoped during my conference and gained 2 lbs. I believe it is water retention because I drank a lot of diet soda when we went out to eat. I tried to drink bottled water when I was desperate. A bottle of soda cost $3 at the hotel so I refused to buy it! When hubby and I went out to eat, we ate sensibly but when a vendor bought us lunch, I overdid it. I was so busy talking and having fun that I did a lot of mindless eating. Plus, I didn't get a lot of sleep and no exercise. Hopefully this week, I will get back on track.

msarobix

@loonyhiker - sorry to hear about your weight gain, although it sounds like you might be right that it is just water retention. I am sure you will lose that in the next day or so.

I am still keeping up on my workouts, but diet is still a bit too much relaxed. I am going to do some meal planing before I go to the grocery store later this week so that I can get ingredients for some healthy meals that I can prepare this weekend and have all next week. I know I need to eat more veggies and less carbs.

loonyhiker

Yesterday was better. I did my workout and drank a lot of water so today I'm down 1 lb. Hooray!

loonyhiker

Back down to what I was before I went to the beach this past weekend. It was definitely water retention!

BackInSoFL

@loonyhiker yeah!

msarobix

@loonyhiker - Awesome, so happy to hear that.

I have been about the same for 2 weeks now. Going up a little then back down a little. I have been thinking more about structuring my diet a bit more rather than just focusing on moderation. I might start tracking my intake on MFP to see if I am anywhere close to where I think I am on calorie intake.

mynacha73

Hi Everyone - I haven't posted (or been on MFP) in about 5 weeks. I got caught up in some health things for me, work stuff, heading to Florida to help mom with her broken hip, then the school trip. Lots of "monkey wrenches" were thrown into the mix that I let distract me from checking in. I'd give myself a C on food choices (dealt with all the emotional stuff with a few too many poor food choices) and about a B on exercise. I missed the connection with this group and the larger MFP world.

I just got back from the school trip and I'm taking advantage of the jet lag, to switch myself to early morning exercise. I just got up early for a pilates workout (note that it is an added challenge to "do the 100" with the cat climbing on you), and I'm planning and shopping for the week's food today.

It's great to see what all of you are up to. Welcome to all the new folks and congratulations on the many successes over the last month. I think that just showing up together is a really big accomplishment for all of us.

msarobix

Hey everyone,

Sorry I haven't checked in the past couple of days. Nothing really new here. Other than a bit of a break on the exercise. This weekend I was feeling a little worn out, so instead of doing my usual run workouts on Saturday and Sunday, I only worked to close my Apple Rings. Saturday was a bit of a struggle because we went out to lunch and I ate a bit too much, and felt miserable the rest of the day, and I had not done any walking in the morning.

Sunday I got up and vowed to walk 10-15 minute ever 90 minutes or so. I did quite well at keeping moving all day, but I didn't really consider it a workout.

I have been running a solid 45 minutes for most run workouts this past week or so, so this week I am going to do some speed work to help me get faster.

CdnChick

I would love to join this challenge if it’s not too late! I just starting using this app about 2 weeks ago and love it. I have an Apple Watch too and would love to have some friends to stay accountable with! I’m not sure how to add people on this yet so feel free to add me:)

I used to be really into my health and fitness until my love for food and being lazy got the best of me. Stress from work didn’t help but I remember how great I felt when I took care of myself. My goal for 2019 is to get toned and fit! I would love to lose 35lbs but my focus is more in being healthy this year and tracking daily. I’m down 4 lbs since I started so on the right track. Just need some help staying motivated this time and I find in the past having support from others always helps.

loonyhiker

@mynacha73 Wow! You have been busy! Glad to see you again.

I'm excited that I've lost another pound. Like Tina, I go up a little and then down a little (I weigh every day) so it depends on how much salt or water I had the day before. But this morning I was down in a new territory!! Yippee!

I'm also excited about our upcoming travel plans. We booked a European cruise in May and will be gone a whole month. We will visit Copenhagen, Estonia, Russia (St. Petersburg for 2 days), Finland (Helsinki), Sweden (Stockholm), Germany (2 cities - Berlin, Hamburg), Scotland (4 cities - Edinburgh, Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway), Northern Ireland (Belfast), Ireland (Dublin), France (Cherbourg), Belgium (Brussels), Amsterdam, and Norway (Oslo). Then we come home for 1 day to wash clothes and pack the car before leaving on a month long road trip for Minnesota! I'm afraid how my weight will look after 2 months of traveling!

Also, my new book - The Successful Teacher's Handbook - I wrote will be released in 4 days! I'm so excited!

janetay01

Hi guys, just found this thread and would love to join you! I’m Jane, UK bases, 42 years old and 134lbs - but only 4’11” tall so I need to lose some. For me, exercising is relatively easy - I work out 2-3 times a week when I’m working from home, walk lots and have a 4 year old who definitely keeps me moving! But food - oh dear, I just like it too much and I fall into the trap of mindless snacking when I’m tired. We are trying for a second child and I need to be in the best possible shape - and looking for a thread and challenge where I can keep myself accountable and give and receive encouragement to and from others. Also need to take and start tracking my measurements.

msarobix

Today, I incorporated an additional running day. So my schedule looks like this:

Monday: Walk
Tuesday: Run - 45 minutes - slow
Wednesday: Run - speed work - 40 minutes
Thursday: Run - 45 minutes - slow
Friday: Walk
Saturday Run - 45 minutes - slow
Sunday - Run - Speed work - 40 minutes

I have also been doing an ab challenge to ramp myself up for some strength training in the next couple of weeks. Before the end of March I want to be doing strength training at least 3 days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, along with my walk. However, I might decide to put this off until I am doing a bit of running most days, because otherwise I might find it difficult to close my exercise ring each day.

My ultimate goals is to get to the point where I am running most days of the week. Some days being light or shorter runs, while other days will be more intense with speed work or a longer run. I just need to figure out how to also do the strength work without over doing it. I just really hate strength exercises.

@CdnChick - Welcome, it is great to have you here. This is a great group, where we share our experiences of what works, what doesn’t and everything in between.

@janetay01 - Welcome to you as well. I have the same problem with food. We can keep each other accountable.

@loonyhiker - WOW, it sounds like you are going to have a busy summer. Your cruise sounds amazing. I have been thinking about booking a cruise, but I tend to get motion sickness so I am very nervous that I won’t enjoy a cruise. I think I need to book a 3 day cruise just to try it out, but your month long cruise sounds absolutely wonderful. And then a road trip to follow. I would probably miss my own bed if I were away that long.

loonyhiker

Welcome @janetay01! This group has really helped me keep up my exercise and stick with my healthy eating habits. I keep a notebook and log in my measurements on the first day of the month. Sometimes I don't lose weight but I lose inches so I consider it a win!

@msarobix I love your exercise routine! I still have some problems with my left heel so I am sticking to a rest day one day a week. Rolling a tennis ball under my foot at night really helps. My daughter gets motion sickness and wears these wrist bands that she bought at Walmart and they seem to really help her. When she really feels the motion, she eats crystallized ginger and she says that helps her a lot. I am excited about our trips. Our road trip will end up in Minnesota at the Zombie Knitpocalypse knitting retreat that I love going to. That means before our cruise, I will need to pack stuff for the road trip like knitting projects, yarn, etc.

My exercise schedule looks like this:
Monday - walk for 13 min. jog 2 minutes, then repeat 4 times on treadmill - total 60 min.
Tuesday - exercise video https://youtu.be/KDmqv_XMouA
Wednesday - walk for 13 min. jog 2 minutes, then repeat 4 times on treadmill - total 60 min.
Thursday - exercise video
Friday - walk for 13 min. jog 2 minutes, then repeat 4 times on treadmill - total 60 min.
Saturday - exercise video
Sunday - rest

CdnChick

Morning everyone! Well this morning I started my day doing Chest, Shoulders & Triceps then finished up with 40 mins of cardio. I've been very consistent over the past few weeks and this app is amazing so it's also helping me be accountable. I am frustrated though because usually when I eat and workout like I have been I slowly start to lose the weight. I did Keto last year and lost about 20 lbs but of course as I hear from many it's really hard to sustain and I'm really focusing on things I can stick with by making lifestyle changes. I'm an ex smoker and starting vaping to quit a few years ago. I finally gave up that habit and have been nicotine free for almost 3 months now. Since I quit I haven't been able to lose much weight as easy. A trainer friend of mine told me to try carb cycling which is going well and I find it's much easier to stick too but it's hard when you're not really seeing the results. I know the scale doesn't reflect true progress but it's hard not to get stuck in your head sometimes. Here is what I'm doing these days:

Monday - Chest, Shoulder, Triceps - 20 min Cardio
Tuesday - Leg Day - Abs and 10 mins HIIT
Wednesday - 40 mins Cardio or Rest day if I need it.
Thursday - Back and Triceps - 20 mins Cardio
Friday - Chest, Shoulder, Triceps - 20 min Cardio or 10 mins HIIT
Saturday - Leg Day - Abs - 40 mins Cardio
Sunday - Back and Triceps - 20 mins Cardio or Rest Day

I lost 75 lbs with weight training and clean eating 7 years ago but again always eating clean became something that I wasn't able to maintain. I'm trying to balance things now a bit more since i'm 43 and in the end I just want to be healthy. Anyone else an ex smoker that had any of these struggles? I know it can slow down your metabolism but any tips would be great! I'm going to keep pushing through no matter what but could use some advice or feedback if others have been through this.

Have a great day everyone!

KeriA

I have been MIA for several reasons. I am now the boss at work until Tuesday. My boss is on a 2 weeks vacation and I am next down. We have been trying to remodel our bathroom and hit a glitch and it is all torn up. Water damage etc in the walls and they need to check the floors. We were just going to tile. It was my birthday last week and I have been celebrating that. However what did I get for my birthday?

A Fitbit Versa watch. OK not an Apple watch. We just picked it up today at the post office. I have been setting it up on my laptop and phone. It can go in the pool with me when I do aquafit. I can track stairs and steps again. I hope you all are doing well. I have not been doing well in terms of losing weight. I was in charge at a night meeting last night meaning I missed aquafit. However in general I have been going except for those night meetings. For one thing we are down to one bathroom in the basement. So it helps to do some showers after Aquafit at the Y. I am hoping that the versa will help me to add in walks on the days there is no Aquafit. I am adding better dental care into my goals after a trip to the dentist.

Congratulations @CdnChick on being nicotine free. That is a real achievement. My husband gave up smoking just before we got married and it has been a gift that keeps on giving.

Great job losing @loonyhiker . Congratulations on your book release.

@msarobix I wish I could give you all the seasickness remedies we didn't use on our cruise. We were worried since my husband gets vertigo but it turns out that is different. However there are some moves in aquafit he can't do like otter rolls.

I hope to soon get back to a healthy routine again. It is hard when all your bathroom stuff is in your living room.

loonyhiker

@CdnChick Congratulations on having a nicotine-free body. Are you logging in your food? On the program I'm on, it reminds us that we can outrun our mouths so don't eat more just because you are exercising. Are you drinking enough water? Are you measuring inches? I just read a great book called Finish by Jon Acuff that says many people feel like their diet isn't working but that may just be bad thinking and stick to the data. I lost inches when I wasn't losing pounds and that helped me stick with my program.

@KeriA Congratulations on getting your new watch! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy my Apple Watch. I'm so sorry about your remodel - it sounds like a nightmare! Whenever my routine gets disrupted and there is a change until something gets "fixed" or back to normal, it is hard to stay on an exercise routine or even healthy eating due to all the stress. Hang in there!

janetay01

Thanks for the welcome all!

@loonyhiker - logging measurements on a monthly basis sounds like a good plan. I measured on Wednesday morning so I will probably do so again at the start of April and see where I am at - as you say, an inch lost would be a win! That sounds like great holiday plans for you this year and congratulations on the new book coming out - that's very exciting!

@msarobix - definitely let's try and keep each other accountable on the food. Like you, I'm planning to start doing some more strength work as well - I can easily get my cardio in but doing anything else seems a bit of a challenge. I've downloaded an exercise app on my phone which gives short, sharp workouts so will give that a go over the next few weeks.

@KeriA - that sounds hard work with the bathrooms, hope you get it all sorted quickly.

So glad it's Friday. We are switching my little boy into a bigger bedroom tomorrow so lots of furniture moving lined up - so that should give me a bit of a workout. I'm going to put some thought over the weekend into my workout plan for next week so will aim to put that on here for accountability in the next couple of days.