30 pounds to lose challenge by March 2021

RubyRed427

Hi! I'm Ruby. I have 30 pounds to lose. I need motivation and to set some goals. I figure we can chart our weekly progress on here- positive or negative. I'm in my 50s and have slowly gained back all that I lost over the last two years due to stress and metabolism being all messed up. I just want to feel healthy and happy and that means being at a normal weight for my height.

I'm going to track pounds or ounces lost every Saturday. I'd love for you to join me.
Starting weight 191 lbs.
Goal weight 161 lbs.

12/5 Today's gratitude: Thankful for my twinkling Christmas tree, my morning coffee, scented candles

RubyRed427

Just for laughs!

amacias0662

I’ll join you. My goal is to drop 15-20 pounds but to also build muscle mass.
Weight: 235
Goal: 217

SunnyDays930

Count me in! My first short term goal is to lose 12-15 lbs by my physical, Jan 7. I've lost 2 so 10-13 to go.

SunnyDays930

Oh forgot. Starting weight at highest: 170. Now 165. Goal 140.

WeatherJane

I'd like to join you for this challenge.

Dec 5th starting weight: 183.0

SunnyDays930

I'd love to hear your tips, especially recipes. One thing I have learned to do recently is to mix whatever I usually mix with mayonnaise , like tuna, hard boiled eggs etc. I now mix with Tzaziki sauce. It's in the section of your market near the hummus, usually, or one can make their own. It's basically Greek yogurt , cucumbers and some spices. It is really very good as your "mayo" in egg salad or tuna salad and much lower in calories.

lynnellengehrke

I’ll join you! I’m in the same boat as you but 10 years older. Same situation. Goal - lose 30 by April 1.

RubyRed427

Awesome, friends!
My starting weight is 186 lbs. A few days ago it was 191. Funny how the scale fluctuates.

@jent304 Good ideas- I love mayo but it is so fattening.
@weatherjane Welcome!
@lynnellengehrke April 1st is a good idea.
@WeatherJane We are similar- happy you're here.
@amacias0662 Happy you're here too!

tazzb75

Hi I'm Taz and I am 43yrs old I weigh 143lbs as of today and would love to lose 30 by end of April then start lean bulk n build some muscle so I'm in.

RubyRed427

@tazzb75 Welcome! Let's do this!

Barrettobabe

Hello Ladies,

Omg! I gained some weight after summer time. It happened so fast.....I didn’t even notice until about last month.

It is...what it is!

I also joined a really nice gym

Let’s get this weight off!

SW: 160
Jan GW: 140
Feb GW: 130
Mar GW: 120

171lake

I’ll join, although it may be a bit aggressive. I still would love the support and accountability.

5’1” F 33

12/5/20 Start Weight 146
4/30/21 Goal Weight 116

1/1/21 Goal 138
2/1/21 Goal 132
3/1/21 Goal 126
4/1/21 Goal 121
5/1/21 Goal 116

tazzb75

@171lake
Similar position to me and I love how you have planned it out i think I might use your goal weigh ins to keep me on track sounds like a plan 😀

RubyRed427

I think 30 pounds by April sounds more reasonable for me! So whatever each of our goals, it's just good to be accountable like @171lake and a few of you hav said.

RubyRed427

"Stress causes weight gain in many ways. One has to do with our stress hormone cortisol. When in stressful situations, our fight or flight response is triggered, leading to a release of various stress-related hormones that give us boosts of energy, shifts in metabolism and blood flow and other changes." quote from Andre Brooks

We are all going through stress and this does alter the body. I am also an emotional eater; I feed my soul when I am stressed. I really have to get a handle on stress, because it does add weight to the middle.

For me, my weight gain has its origins in addiction and dopamine. I am not getting the dopamine high from alcohol for example (I used to), so now I think food gives me that high.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cortisol-and-weight-gain#effects-on-weight

Just wanted to share the emotional aspect of weight loss. Wishing you a great day!

RubyRed427

@Barrettobabe I am happy you joined a gym. Yes, weigh gain crept up on me.
I keep thinking why did I let it get this far. But you said it right "it is what it is".

jan110144

Count me in! Between a kitchen remodel (no cooking forc2 1/2,months) followed immediately by Covid isolation, I really took a nose dive.. I have gained nearly 30 pounds over the last year and am really, really disappointed with myself
Time to get back on a healthy track.

Not sure if the scale will cooperate with 30 pounds off by March, but hopefully I will have healthy habits established and be well on my way to goal

Starting weight - 164.2
Goal - 135

RubyRed427

Just substituted skim milk for most of the cream in may coffee. I put a dash of hazelnut creamer plus skim milk. I definitely know that the creamer (the way I pour it) adds up to too many calories. @JenT304

SunnyDays930

Good morning, All! I am so happy Ruby started this thread as God knows I need motivation! My sister in law pointed out something that gave me an "AHA!" moment. She said, "Once we get out of Covid jail, don't we want to look our best? Don't we want to buy new clothes to go out in and travel? We aren't going to any hoilday or New Years eve parties...isn't this the perfect time to do this? " Well I give that a big "HELL YEAH!" My youngest daughter lives in London and I plan on looking and feeling fabulous when we finally meet again.

Starting weight 170
todays weight 164
goal weight (for Dr.s visit) 151-154 for 1/6/2021
goal weight 140 by 3/1/2021

Today's tip: If you are like me and enjoy walking for exercise, add hand weights. I started with 2 lb ones and today I used 3 lb. You can do arm curls, overhead presses, 2 in one hand etc. It really adds to the whole body workout. I am 57 years old so you youngsters can probably do heavier ones.

donimfp

@JenT304, thanks for inviting us (on another forum) to drop in even if 30 lbs. by March is not our goal (My metabolism says 30 lbs. by summer is just doable). But the motivation here is great, and Ruby is wonderful at keeping a forum lively.

Since July 6, when I quit drinking alcohol, I've lost 31 lbs. So 6 lbs./month seems to be where my body is happy in weight loss. A couple of things that have helped me:

1. I created a graph for each month with the lbs. (by 5's) down the left hand side--with the top being a weight I knew I probably wouldn't exceed even with fluctuations--and the dates along the bottom. I weigh every day, so each day I put a dot where my weight is and then draw the lines between dots. Here is why that has helped me:
A. Each month, that top number I have to write in gets lower, so that's encouraging.
B. Looking back at the 5 graphs, I can see a lot of "M" shapes--where the weight jumps up (sometimes by a LOT, like 3 lbs. in one day) but then goes right back down, then up again, then down, then stays down for a while. It helps when I'm discouraged to look at those "M" shapes and realize they happen a couple of times every single month, so not to let myself panic at a jump. The scale definitely has a mind of its own. And I'm beyond menopause, so those jumps aren't the "time of the month" things.

2. For me, weighing every day is great. I know people say to weigh once a week, and I'm sure that is best for many people, especially psychologically. I just keep thinking, "But what if that weekly weigh-in falls on one of the "up" days of my "M" shape? I wouldn't know that I'd actually lost nicely during the week and that this is just a one-day blip."

Anyway, if anyone is a data nerd like me, the graphs are kind of fun. And the top number for December is way lower than the top number for July was. That's gratifying!

Goal: Down 5 more pounds by Dec. 31

It's crazy that we're doing this during the holidays, but with COVID, it's the perfect time. I'm thinking of this time as being in the cocoon--we'll emerge as beautiful butterflies one day.

donimfp

P.S. When I said "by 5's," I didn't actually mean that. I meant by HALF lbs. (.5). So there's, say, 170, 170.5, 171, etc.

jan110144

donimfp wrote: »

For me, weighing every day is great. I know people say to weigh once a week, and I'm sure that is best for many people, especially psychologically. I just keep thinking, "But what if that weekly weigh-in falls on one of the "up" days of my "M" shape? I wouldn't know that I'd actually lost nicely during the week and that this is just a one-day blip."

Me too! I am much better at dealing with day-to-day scale fluctuations ( especially when I "know" I have been on plan) than I am with finding myself "up" a pound after a week of hard work because I weighed on an "up" day.

annliz23

HI, I have 9 or 10lbs to lose but seems stubborn but I aim to lose it.

jan110144

I would really like to get to know a little about everyone who is participating in this challenge. I'll start...

I am pretty sure I will be the oldest member here ... turned 76 last month. I am divorced, live in Indiana and am retired from higher ed.

I am pretty active. I walk a couple of miles every day (thanks to Abby, my 8 month old standard poodle puppy) and ride. Currently my horse, Annie, is recovering from a ligament injury so I am hand walking her daily as she can't be ridden. I still manage to ride other people's horses 3-4 times a week.

The other things I enjoy doing (gym, theater, concerts, movies and getting together will friends) have pretty much been cancelled since March ☹ (Alas. I substituted mindless eating instead). I am really looking forward to the vaccine and life getting back to normal!

RubyRed427

About me, I am 51 years old and live in the midwest (USA). I have two grown kids who are wonderful. I was always thin, healthy and active until about 1.5 years ago. I got a divorced and went crazy eating and drinking to fill a void.

Thankfully, I have never stopped being active; I love to workout and exercise. The problem for me is calories. I crave salt. So, a big bag of Doritos would last me about three days. That's terrible. I am not known for moderation which is why I quit drinking three months ago.

I am a teacher and constantly under the microscope (I perceive) and stressed out. The students are my joy but the rest of the job is slowly killing me. Sometimes I just cry at the end of the day from stress. I am positive stress is causing my weight gain as well.

Now, that I quit alcohol. My weight loss journey is more obtainable. Thanks for joining me! I love looking on here and see your posts. And Thanks @jan110144 for the introduction. You sound so young at heart, mind and body. I bet no one would guess you're 76!

@donimfp I'm trying to visualize your chart. I like the idea. Is it on paper? I probably cannot make a spreadsheet (never learned how) but I can sure make a graph on paper.

@JenT304 Yes! IT would be great to emerge out of Covid isolation fit and healthy!
@annliz23 Great that you're here!!!

RubyRed427

@donimfp I reread your post and I get it. I see how you make your graph. I'm going to make one now!

RubyRed427

12/6 Today's gratitude: this community on MFP, lazy Sunday mornings, wheatgrass shot from Pulp (energizing).

SunnyDays930

I'm 57 and live in Maryland. I have 2 grown daughters, one here, married, with 2 adorable daughters of her own. The other is single and loving life in London. I was always thin....always! Until I hit about 47, 10 years ago, and started to slowly gain. Now I weigh 30 lbs more than I did about 12 years ago. I don't recognize myself in pictures. It is not good. This profile pic is old. Anyway I hope to look like her again soon. I definitely need motivation and to feel accountable. I also need to weigh myself every day. Otherwise I think, "oh I can have that cake...I don't weigh in for a week".

annliz23

Hi all, I am 58 have 3 grown up children, 4 grandchildren, 2 standard poodles, 2 cats and a husband. I am retired and used to work in a school. I stay active walking 3-4 miles with the dogs most days doing yoga, pilates at home and weights when I can as I have knee injury and hip and back issues due to a fall.
Hobbies
Grooming the dogs, knitting, crochet, gardening and play word games to keep my brain active.
Goals
Keep my brain active as we have dementia in the family
Lose weight
Keep my joints mobile as I have arthritis in my back
Cut down on y drinking and eventually stop
Live a fun life by staying young minded and having fun not getting bogged down with life issues.

Beka3695

Hi Guys!!!

I'm in for +/-20!
I have been struggling with emotional eating. I am a Christmas Grinch and feel a lot of stress this time of the year.

Age: 44
HW: 242
CW: 172 - yesterday
GW: 155ish

I am originally from Northern Georgia, but currently residing in the Florida panhandle. I am mom to 2 young adult daughters. I actually live with my oldest daughter and nanny for my 9 month old sweet grandson.

I have included a photo of my weight loss transition to date in the spoiler below. I also included the "last 100 days" pledge I made on 09/23. I am still striving for #1!!

I am also in for the gratitudes!!!
1. My grandson. I love to see his little mind work.
2. Under desk heaters.
3. My old work husband. He is the brother I never had.

I am proud of: Myself! I have grown so much in 2020!
I am looking forward to: 12/15/2020 - this is just for me.