WaistAways Team Chat - DECEMBER 2021
jugar
Posts: 10,229 Member
Here is your Team chat room for December 2021. This is where you weigh in every week, post your goals and progress, discuss any issues or topics of interest, share ideas, support your teammates, receive help when you need it, and dream big. Try to post often, and help each other succeed!
We have five great teams. The group and team leaders are as follows:
Our Moderators:
Liselyn - @jugar
Megan - @Megan_smartiepants1970
Ashley - @minstrelofsarcasm
Jessica - @jessicakrall8
Our Team Captains:
Downsizers - @lindamtuck2018 and @Megan_smartiepants1970
Mission Slimpossibles - @broncobuddee and @TeresaW1020
Weight No More - @minstrelofsarcasm and @melaniedscott
WaistAways - @jugar and @ashleycarole86
Shape Shifters - @jessicakrall8 and @TheMrWobbly
Our Team Motivators:
Downsizers - open
Mission Slimpossibles - @katmary71 and @trooworld
Weight No More - @rachelrjh
WaistAways - @conleywoods
Shape Shifters - @angmarie28 and open
HOW IT ALL WORKS:
Every challenger weighs in on their chosen day, every week without fail! At the end of each week, the tallies are done to determine the team and individuals with the most weight lost. The best losers are announced with full fanfare every Sunday. The team competition is all in good spirits - may the most losing win!
We also celebrate those small, steady losses. If you lose, however small an amount, you are in the green! At the end of the month, we celebrate everyone who lost at least a bit every week. You are heading steadily towards your goal even if you aren't at the top of the weight loss leaderboard!
To make your weigh-in easy to find for your team Captains, please put it right at the top of a message, and use this format:
Username:
Weigh In Day:
PW (Previous Weight):
CW (Current Weight):
If you miss two weigh-ins in a row without asking for a break, you will be dropped from the team, so be sure to inform your team captain if you are traveling, sick, or just need some time off. If you take a break, you are moved to the Support Team. You can remain on the Support Team for as long as you need to. You still participate in the discussions, you can weigh in if you want to, but it will not count in the weekly tally.
Once you reach your goal weight, you join the Goal Zone! You continue to weigh in every week. If you have 2 weeks above your self-defined goal zone, you go back to the regular team to lose that amount before it builds up. You will have a chance to hone those maintenance skills and stick with your team!
In addition to your own team, there are weekly F2F Full Group CHALLENGES. You can do all or none - it's up to you. Participating adds a lot to your success, so we hope to see you there often! These can involve anything fitness, health, or nutrition - and they’ll get you moving, thinking, and learning about this journey. Check the Announcements section for full group challenges.
Let’s show our fellow challengers some F2F love! Introduce yourselves right away, and let the new month begin!!
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Welcome to December!
This is our home for the month, where all of our triumphs and challenges take place. Please (re)introduce yourselves and set some goals and daily actions for the month. Focus on the small every day choices, and you will get where you want to go!
I am Liselyn, co-captain along with @ashleycarole86 . I live in rural Québec, and I'm a retired university professor of music. My weight loss story? After being somewhat overweight for most of my life, I really packed it on while in an admin job that involved a lot of sitting, meetings, travel, and meals. I tried many times to lose, but it was not until I was 58 that I got really serious with both food and exercise. I have been in a good zone for 9 years now, always refining and figuring out the things that work best, and making sure I don't have to do it all over again. Yes, it is possible to lose weight and get in shape during and after menopause!
I know there are people on this team who have a lot to lose, others who have lost a lot and are closing in on their goals, and some who might be working on losses that are stubbornly resisting. There is much wisdom here, and the most important lesson we learn from each other time and time again is that it is not a straight shot, there will be trials and errors, and sticking with it when it feels like you have fallen off yet again is the best thing you can do for yourself. Plateaus can be good, but going back the way you came is not!
Some helpful information/tools:
Posting your daily updates
We know from experience that posting daily (or as often as you can!) makes a huge difference to your success. Use any format you like to let everyone know how you are doing on your daily goals and habits. You can report on food, exercise, water, sleep, or whatever you are tracking and trying to stick with. While you're there, talk about how you are, ask questions, and if you can answer someone else, please do! Congratulate others, commiserate, enjoy someone's rant, or go ahead and rant yourself. It all helps make the kind of community where we are in each others' heads when the hand is reaching for that off-plan snack, or the couch is feeling way too inviting...
Weighing in
Please try to weigh in on time! When you post, put your weigh in at the TOP of a message, so it is clear and easy to find. If you cannot post your weight for whatever reason, please request a week off, or if you need a longer break, you can request to move to the "Support Team" where you can still participate but your weigh-ins will not be part of the weekly tally. This is where members who are ill, on vacation, or just needing a break can hang out for as long as needed.
The F2F Habit Tracker
If you want a simple place to track your most important habits, give this a try. You can see how your teammates are doing too
The link is under "Announcements" on the main F2F page. Or go directly to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hhudkEoPoIPpasl1Bs914kF7K3F9HvGFgobXNxlXDjo/edit#gid=1801852206
So everyone, tell us a bit about you, your goals for the month, what steps you are going to work on. It's fun to know your name and where you live (if you're willing to share that), what brought you here, how your weight loss journey has been, and where you are headed now. Let the introductions roll!1 -
Hi, WaistAways, I'm Courtney and I live and work from home in cottage country Québec. I am now rocking a desk job again after 4 years in a physical job but the amount of home renovations and landscaping work I do after work hours has helped me compensate for the increased sitting hours per day. The snow is finally arriving so I will soon be getting back to shovelling the yards and decks and the skating rink to keep my activity levels up.
I decided to take @jugar's advice and look back on my introduction post from November to see what my goals were then and think back on how it worked to set myself up for a reasonable December.
The 'Dry November' experiment worked and we had good behaviour and some reasonable downward trends on the scale, although I struggle with being 'regular' so that seems to cause a significant zig zag and yoyo like effect to my weight tracking chart. That likely won't change so I've learned to allow myself grace when things haven't necessarily 'processed' at the speed I would prefer for my weigh-in date. 😉. I need to remember that weight loss is a marathon and not a sprint. I hope to continue with moderation with the red wine even though it is December, because my weight loss is more important to me than the fleeting happiness of sipping from that glass in the evenings. I also intent to shake the mentality that food not eaten is "going to waste". My husband tends to be a food pusher, saying things like 'there's not enough left to bother saving it for lunch tomorrow so just eat it now'. When things like that come about, I'm going to do my best to stand firm and either wrap it up, or toss it out! It may be a waste, but I'd rather it not be on MY waist!
With my father being admitted to the hospital, knowing he will never be released to come home again and life being in limbo around his situation, I find I'm not taking the time to exercise like I had planned for November, and everything surrounding the Christmas holiday meals and gatherings just makes everyone very emotional so I expect some weak moments during that time where I will likely turn to this group to bring me back to earth. This is life, and life gets messy. We all have our struggles and though someone else's may be different from yours, everyone has a perspective and experience on how to deal with troubles that can be just what you need to hear.
In December I'm going to commit again to logging honestly and to let that logging STOP ME from eating larger portions than I should.
My goal is to get to a new decade by 2022. I have between 2-3 lbs (depending on the day!) to go. I made my calendar for the month, mapped out my planned days of overindulgence and I'm going to call it a win if I stay below 1500 calories on 13 out of the 31 days.4 -
I’m at a convention in Vegas and we made a grocery run so we’d have sensible drinks and snacks in the room. I carried 24 pounds of water over a mile back to the room and it kicked my butt!! I’ve lost over 30 pounds this year and it’s hard to believe that that’s what the extra weight felt like.7
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The December - Week 1 - Scrabble Challenge is posted. Here's the link. Please take part and enjoy!
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10850345/december-week-1-challenge-scrabble#latest
Jessica
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Hi everyone, happy December and welcome to all who make up our wonderful group. I am co-captain with @jugar and I'm responsible for the step challenge. Existing members can let me know if they want to make any changes to their step pledge.
I'm married to fellow teammate @bowens1973 and we have been implementing positive lifestyle changes since early this year. I have lost 100 pounds and Brad is well on his way to doing the same. I have about 25 pounds or so left to my goal weight and then I look forward to taking on the challenge of maintenance.
For December, I know there are many days I'll be planning to eat at maintenance. I am hoping to enter 2021 in the 180's so I'm planning to work towards a bit of a loss this month. I routinely try to hit 10K steps a day or equivalent and like to do so through walking, biking, strength training and yoga.
I continue to work on staying level mentally when things don't go as planned. I haven't really had to deal with any regain periods this year. Sure, other times, but I've never before made the permanent changes I've implemented this year. Staying positive and remaining realistic is what I hope to bring to this group despite any challenges I may be dealing with.
Looking forward to enjoying the holidays with all you lovely folks.4 -
Hi everyone, I'm on the support team for now as my mental health is taking a dive. I know some of that is because I don't feel very in control of my work or school. I definitely turn to food for comfort and have sugar cravings that get out of control. I'm trying to make some small changes in December and hopefully come back more focused in January7
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Yinxfed
Weigh in day - Sunday
PW - 186.7
CW - 186.7
Happy to stand still this week!
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Hello, my name is Kelly. I am a wife, mother of 4, and Kindergarten teacher. I have been in this group for 2 years and love the support. My weight loss definitely isn't lunar, but it is going down. I am hoping to end the year at 143.5
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Steps
Sun 12,035
20 min elliptical
Mon 12,325
45 min weights
Tues 12,694
10 min elliptical
Wed 12,140
35 min weights
Thurs 12,165
Fri 16,814
Sat 19,5132 -
PW 158
CW 158.5
Oh my gosh! Ever since they changed Community, I’ve had trouble finding my way here to report. I just discovered that I wasn’t signed in to Community even though I was in MFP. Going around in circles. A search for Waistaways doesn’t work… Anyway, I made it here today. 😬🙄
@jugar Thank you for your message last week.6 -
Hello everyone, and Happy Sunday!
My name is Yinka. I'm 58, married to Ben and we have a grown son. We live in Bewdley, a beautiful Georgian town in Worcestershire and we both work from home. He's a marketing guru and I am a digital course creator and English language teacher.
I have struggled with my weight for the past 20 yearsor so and now that I am in menopause, I am finding it even harder. I am heartened, though, by Liselyn (@jugar) who started losing weight at a similar age to me, so I know that it is indeed possible.
Fortunately, I love the workouts that I do, so exercise is not a problem. My problems come with nutrition. I need to find some joy in the necessary changes that will bring about weight loss success. I think that I need to lose around 40lb. I know that progress is slow, but I need to be making progress. And I'm not at the moment.
My goals for this month?
To finish the year at 185lb or less
To check in here every day
To start recreational walking again
Welcome to all new, returning and existing members. This really is a terrific group!6 -
Hello everyone. I am Kim, from NC USA. I started my weight loss journey in April. I am down 120 pounds. My goal for November was to get below 300 pounds and I made it. My goal for December is to lose 2 pounds per week. The holidays shouldn't be bad because my family lives so far away and we will only have a lot of food on Christmas day. I have had a gastric bypass and that alone will limit my intake.
Today is graduation day for me so to celebrate we are going to an escape room and for coffee (well coffee for me..drinks for everyone else). I live pretty far out of town and don't wanna be drinking and driving. Hope everyone had a great weekend8 -
Hi all and happy December (wow, where did this year go). I'm Kay, 27, living in Boston, working 90% remotely until the new year in finance. Been with the team since Aug 2020, and hoping that 2022 is the year to reach my goals!
I also tested positive for Covid last week, and THANK YOU to all for the well wishes! I am feeling MUCH better today, and I think my sense of taste is back about 80-90% as of an hour ago, which is very exciting. It was a boring week for someone addicted to food...
@PlaneMonkey omg your CATS!!! How old are they all? I have been keeping tabs open on various local shelters because I think I really want to adopt a cat. Would love to have a furry friend around.
@ashleycarole86 steps for last week! Not my strongest of course, but glad that I pushed myself to take a few late (masked, distanced) walks during the week when I wasn't feeling super.
Sun: 10,104
Mon: 11,220
Tues: 11,819
Wed: 2,922
Thurs: 8,299
Fri: 1,500
Sat: 10,944
Things are off to a good start here - slept in, did yoga, took a 95 min walk and already hit my step goal. Taking it easy the rest of the day, planning my week with meals and workouts. Some of my favorite trainers are doing Instagram live workouts a few days which I love because someone scheduled my workouts for me!
My goals for December:
1. Get as close to 200 lbs as we can.
2. Make a smart plan for Christmas to minimize family-related stress
3. Be more energized! Find new sources of inspiration, play happy music, get pumped to work towards my goals5 -
November's challenge is now over! Click on the links below to see the results from the final week and the month overall!
Here's a sneak peak of how your team did...
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@Kali225 the black one (Marty) is 3 AMD the white and brown tabby (Jackson) is 5. They're from a couple of local rescue groups I found on petfinder.com. Kitties definitely bring joy, especially if you get a snuggly one! They all have such different personalities.
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I'm Katie, 33, living in the UK with my husband and our two cats. I work in IT, full time at home alone these days as husband now has a job outside the house. I gained weight in my early 20s and this year had a really focused 6-7 months then lost some of that focus in August-October, and am getting back on track. I like running and weight lifting, but my more sedentary hobbies include cross stitch and I'm still on a big decluttering kick!
@ashleycarole86 steps for last week
28th - 3785 (bad weather so we stayed in!)
29th - 13203
30th - 9515
1st - 11112
2nd - 11431
3rd - 9825
4th - 7938
I don't have an easy way to go back and look at my steps from a couple of month back, but I know that these past few weeks have definitely been trending higher so that's good.
We did indeed buy the car we saw yesterday, then I drove it the 80 miles home as OH was a bit nervous, with it being a manual; he only passed his test two years ago, and in that time my cars have been automatic. We came back via Snake Pass which is a twisty single lane road and notorious for being dangerous in bad weather; totally impassable in the ice/snow and gets closed a lot over winter. It was very wet (and dark) but I think in better conditions I could've had a lot of fun with this car!
Today we took the car out for OH to start getting used to it and went shopping the first time (for car and DIY stuff) then just to do his commute the second time. Haven't done a lot else; a zoom call with Dad, sitting on the sofa with the mogs. It's felt like a really busy weekend so I think we both just needed some R&R.7 -
Happy Sunday everyone. I'm Mandi, I'll be 35 the end of next week. I live in the Chicago are with my son who's almost 12 and my retired mother lives with us as well. I work in workforce planning/HR administration for a large home furnishings retailer.
I have struggled with weight my whole life, but especially since becoming a parent. I often fall into the trap of believing fast food/takeout is the easiest option. I have been on a roller coaster the last year and a half. I lost about 60lbs, and tgen started a new job (that put me at a desk compared to my old physical job) and a new relationship (that led me to going out and eating out more often) and gained a bunch of weight back. Now my pants are getting tight and I have gotten rid of all my bigger pants and refuse to buy new pants unless they're smaller than the ones I have currently. So I've been back at it about 2 weeks now and starting to get back into my routine and the boyfriend is being very supportive.6 -
What an inspiring beginning to December! As always, is is so lovely to hear everyone's status reports and plans.
Week 5 of November was ruled by our guys! Great job Sam, Gary, and Brad! But for endurance, the top 3 for the month were Katie, Ashley, and Pearl
WTG all of you!
My goals for the month? Strength work more regularly, keep the partying under control while my daughter is visiting, and then while I'm visiting my dad if that works. The border between Canada and the US has rules changing every 5 minutes, so I'll see if it will be possible to get down to my dad's and back home again. In my car. Alone. No stops on the way - gotta be sure to take care of the old happy pappy!
So - Sunday and Monday weigh-in people? Here we go...
@Terytha
@DD265
@kdblpn
@tasoconnor
I'm so glad you re-found us @deniners2 ! I never knew until all these changes that logging into the Community and the regular MFP site are 2 different animals. There is not a lot of transparency about that, but I guess it explains why your "streak" disappears if you only come onto the community area and not on your news feed/diary/mail area. In any case, glad to see you!5 -
@jugar I will remain on support this month and then you can plan to have me back on the regular team in January!4
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Hi! I'm Kristi and I'm 39 married mom of 3. I live in Washington state in the US. I started my weight loss journey in February 2019 at 255. Right now I'm on support team while I increased my calories for awhile. I was eating about 1350 calories and the scale wasn't moving so it was time for a break. By the end of December I will have been at maintenance calories for about 10 weeks and hopefully that will be a long enough break for my body. Right now I'm between 228-231 lbs. I have been lifting weights but have missed a lot of workouts lately. I'm getting back to my regular exercise routine which feels good.5
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@Kali225 You got COVID and you still crushed out respectful steps there lady.. wow. Glad to hear you're on the mend.
@DD265 That's awesome that your steps have increased... I have actually been thinking that I might try to incorporate my own retroactive stats for the team in 2022 so I can produce more data to that effect... will take some organizing so we'll see if I get there but it would definitely be fun if I could drop a stat or two for people that's got more history than just the current month.
Well, Christmas is pretty much set up here. All the battery operated decorations need to be set up with new batteries and there's some stuff to move and put away, but the tree is decorated. Hard to believe the holidays are only 20 days away!!2 -
December Step Team
In addition to your weekly weigh-ins, all members are welcome to join our step challenge as well.
While it's a step challenge, your daily steps from your tracker AND your minutes of intentional exercise will all count.
As I mentioned yesterday, for teammates that were part of the November step team, I'll keep you on in December with the same step pledge unless told otherwise. If you didn't join in November but want to participate in December, please provide me with a daily step pledge so I can include you in those stats as well. Not required of course, but if you have one, then I'll be able to track your progress against it.
Then, report by the end of the day Sunday for the Sunday-Saturday of the previous week. You're also welcome to report daily like me, or whatever is easiest for you. As long as all the week's stats are there by end of day Sunday wherever you live, your steps will be counted in my weekly report.
Any questions, just ask!2 -
CW: 79.8kg
We ate out twice on Saturday due to being so far from home, but the scales were kind yesterday. Then we had bacon at lunch so I think it's probably water retention. I know that being out and about means I often don't drink enough as well which doesn't help weight loss.
I'm feeling pretty flat/brain-foggy today, and I think some fresh air is needed so I will get out for a walk at lunch time. Pity it's so cold and I can't open the windows wide! My friends and I are supposed to be doing a big group run after work (one of those that creates a picture in Strava) and I don't really fancy it right now but suspect the exercise/atmosphere will do me good.
We have the plasterer coming to quote later so hopefully I can get the bookings in for the redecorating. It's too big a job and will be too disruptive to DIY it; both our hallways, the stairs and living/dining room - we have to pass through these spaces to get anywhere. I have no idea what we're going to do with the cats whilst all this is going on!3 -
PW 299
CW 296
@ashleycarole86 I would like to join the step challenge for December. I would like to set my daily goal as 6000 but may increase that number once I get back into the swing of things at work.5 -
Hi, I'm Sylvia ,52, in Massachusetts, US. Been here since Jan '20 - great support AND the accountability I need. Dropped a lot of weight but finding maintenance not so easy...the old habits creep in. Currently in the midst of a disastrous medical situation with my parents (who I live with - yes, I'm the youngest who never quite left, ha) and between caregiving & fulltime office job...stress is high and time is tight. My goal at the moment and for December will be simply to stay steady.5
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@ashleycarole86 I would like to join the steps challenge. I'll set my goal at 8k for now.2
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stress is high and time is tight.
I just looked up images for "high and tight" to give you a laugh - but all the guys with that haircut look SO serious! Scroll down and find the smiling ones. There are 2 or 3 out of several zillion! Then there are the really scary ones. Don't be one of those
Stay steady, friend!
https://www.google.com/search?q=high+and+tight+haircut&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA757CA757&sxsrf=AOaemvK6Pv54uj-Ync4CGzXkkDLblehBOw:1638800012553&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiXl-zkrc_0AhUCB50JHcAbA-gQ_AUoAXoECAIQAw&biw=1536&bih=721&dpr=2.51 -
@kdblpn and @MandiSaysHey
Got you both down - so glad to have you joining the team!
I woke up feeling refreshed (even though I got way too little sleep last night) for a 5:30 Intervals and Arms ride on the Peloton. I don't do live classes very often, but this was my 50th ride and I wanted to celebrate with a live leaderboard. I finished in the bottom of the top 25% so I feel good about that. I know my biking has definitely improved since we got the Peloton and I hope that when we ride the Legacy Trail next spring I'll be closer to keeping up with my speedy husband.
I ate just below maintenance all weekend as we had lots of celebration and such. Back at my deficit today and feeling good about my ability to record a loss this week.
The cold has finally arrived to Alberta so I will be doing some more indoor exercise this week I'm sure, although the dog still needs to walk
Have a great Monday all
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I have gotten into the habit of weighing daily which is problematic for me. My logical mind knows it's normal for weight to fluctuate up and down a bit, even if eating at a calorie deficit. But when I see a lower number one day and a higher one the next, it feels really discouraging. I need to get back into the habit of only weighing once a week.5
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Happy Monday everyone. Yesterday was girls evening out. We went to an escape room. If you have never been I highly recommend it, it was a blast. My steps sucked yesterday but I am making up for it today. Ready to tackle going back to work tomorrow. I feel like my life is finally getting back in order. School is done. Graduation is over. Ready to reed the benefit of a raise because of it. Had to take my pup to get a haircut Friday. He has to be sedated because he bites when they try to cut his hair. I think they gave him too much sedation because he is not himself yet. Hopefully he will bounce back soon. It's beautiful here today and I want to take him for a long walk before the frigid air hits tomorrow.2
This discussion has been closed.