Weight No More Team Chat - OCTOBER 2023
Options
jugar
Posts: 10,216 Member
Fat2Fit has 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 Slimpossible - @broncobuddee and @trooworld
Weight No More - @minstrelofsarcasm and @melaniedscott
WaistAways - @jugar and @ashleycarole86
Shape Shifters - @jessicakrall8 and @Pupowl
Our Team Motivators:
Downsizers - @Slimmersixties & @JaysFan82
Mission Slimpossibles - @katmary71
Weight No More - @rachelrjh
WaistAways - @conleywoods & @cleaneater80
Shape Shifters - @Sbus12 and @Cyncia85
HOW IT ALL WORKS: The October challenge runs for 4 weeks, from October 1 - 28. F2F months always start on a Sunday and end on a Saturday, so adjust your calendars!
Everyone weighs in weekly on their chosen day right here in the team chat. 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:
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 want a break, you can be excused for a week or two, or are moved to 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. Don't worry! You can always come back even if you get dropped.
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!!
0
Replies
-
Our October Week 1 Group Challenge is open and ready to begin on Sun, Oct 1st. Please join us and the wonderful @Katmary71 birthday girl herself, for the Eat the Rainbow Challenge! Expand your nutritional goals with us! Here's your link:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10900540/october-week-1-group-challenge-eat-the-rainbow/p1?new=1
Look forward to seeing you in the chat thread!
Jessica
1 -
My steps for this past week. Didn’t know if I post here or in September. This is my best stepping week so far!!
My stepping goal for this first week of October is to get 10,000+ steps every single day.2 -
Weigh In Day: Sunday
PW (Previous Weight): 238.6
CW (Current Weight): 233.6
First week back to trying to stick to calories. Don't really have a introduction to myself at this time. My best friend for pretty much my whole life since we were little, (I'm 33 now.) just died a few days ago, after losing my Grandfather in January, and Mom in Feb. I really hate this year, there's been so much death around me, I'm REALLY hoping that next year is A LOT calmer. 🙏 It's been hard moving forward and wanting to live with so much death happening around me right now, but I'm really trying harder than ever to stay on the right path, and not do things I used to do. I haven't self harmed in a year, last Rehab visit was in 2019 of Sept. - Oct. And I haven't stupidly overdosed on anything in 2 years, so I feel like those are little things, but maybe they're actually big things and I just minimize everything. Anyway, I'm trucking forward! Well, trying to anyway.
Guess that was sort of an introduction, but not much of one, I kind of suck at intros anyway, lol.
5 -
Weigh In Day: Sunday
PW: 197.6
CW: 197.02 -
Team Results
By Percentage
By Pounds
Individual Results
By Percentage
By Pounds
Team Winners
2 -
Team Results
By Percentage
By Pounds
Individual Results
By Percentage
By Pounds
Team Winners
2 -
Question: Are we automatically assigned to the same group we were in? Also do I need to mention I want to register for October? Weight no more again please, if possible.
If so I am up for month 2 October!
Weigh ins Saturday
October Start Weight:156.6
September Goal Weight:148
Ultimate Goal Weight:140
October 7:
October 14:
October 21:
October 28:
Worried for week 2 I will be on vacation and hope not to ruin the progress I’ve made🤞0 -
It's another intro! Four months in a row! I'm still stealing Ashley's spoilers idea, 'cuz I like it and my intro is also a bit long...
Welcome to all the new ladies & gents! And welcome back to a couple of our returners.
I'm Melanie and I'm from Kansas. I’m the other team Co-captain. Truly, Ashley does most of the heavy lifting. I generally do the steps post.
My (short version) storyWhen I was young, I was always was skinny. I got away from my nutty family, met my husband, learned to be happy. Then I got fat. I found myself weighing in about 230 and my size sixteens were too small. I bought a couple pairs of 18 pants from the thrift store and joined MFP.My special snowflake challenges
I lost ~70 pounds in about a year and was pretty pleased. But I wanted another 20 off...and it didn't move. And things got a bit crazy with my husband's family...so I decided to maintain for a bit. Instead of maintaining, I gained a lot of the weight back. Then my MIL died and I've spent more time trying to keep my husband okay than taking care of me. And now I'm actually a bit over my prior highest weight. So...now I'm working on the weight all over.I'm fairly significantly asthmatic (on meds all the time).What I do about it
I have terrible allergies, mostly mold. Which is literally everywhere. And cats. Anything that doesn't have square pupils (but not things with square pupils!?!).
I have migraines.
And I have connective tissue issues (not enough collagen, too stretchy, lots of joint slippage).
August 2020, I acquired some vertigo problems and persistent deafness on one side. Yay.Several years ago, my doctor recommended glucosamine for the connective tissue disorder. I didn't think it helped until I stopped taking it. It helps. But a couple years ago, it wasn't helping as much. So I added collagen supplements. And that helps a lot. When I have bad days, I also drink collagen peptides (but I really dislike them). That helps, too. And I've been supplementing with Vitamin C for decades, not really knowing why. In the past few years, I learned Vit C helps the body produce and process collagen. Suddenly, my obsession with the C makes sense.What is the point behind all this?
My neurologist recommended I take 500 mg of ginger and 400 mg of Vitamin B2 every day to reduce migraines, it has helped a lot. The migraines are so much better (almost non-existent) and manageable when they happen. The ginger also helps some with the vertigo. I have no excuses for not doing exercise when the vertigo is managed, except for being lazy.
After adding some nasal sprays and sinus irrigation, adjusting my diet a bit, and stopping coffee (EXTREMELY, TERRIBLY sad), I’ve got the vertigo mostly under control. Again.The special snowflake stuff is not woe-is-me drama llama. It is that everyone has to do what works for them now. The stuff a lot of people go on about are not good, for me, and are sometimes dangerous, for me. Sometimes people get down on themselves because they don't do the stuff everyone talks about HIIT, Insanity, stair steppers, etc. I not only don't do those things, I shouldn't. But I should exercise.My GoalsMy daily goal to get about 30 minutes of walking a day at least during the week. I try to get a walk in otherwise but frequently fail. When I travel for work, I may be on my feet training all day but it isn't really all that much exercise and I generally drive three or four hours. Ugh.
A while back I did some PT for some shoulder issues and that got me into doing some resistance/mild strength training. I did well for a while and ... then I got tired and stopped. And I haven't done well at walking consistently for, well a year. I need to get back to doing that consistently. When I do light strength training/resistance, it helps the connective tissue issues.
Even when I do well during the week, weekends are a mixed bag, so that's my goal, do better on all days and especially on the weekends...
I also need to consistently drink at least two liters of water daily.
Anyway, I've been with WNM for a while now. I keep re-committing to getting back to work on losing and more than losing, improving my exercise and I keep falling short of what I need to do. I'm traveling at least once a week, on average, which means at least one 12 hr day and working overtime on top to catch up. My vacay last week put me way off track. I just can't keep up. That said, I'm going to try. Anyway, lets make October awesome!
4 -
Question: Are we automatically assigned to the same group we were in? Also do I need to mention I want to register for October? Weight no more again please, if possible.
If so I am up for month 2 October!
Weigh ins Saturday
October Start Weight:156.6
September Goal Weight:148
Ultimate Goal Weight:140
October 7:
October 14:
October 21:
October 28:
Worried for week 2 I will be on vacation and hope not to ruin the progress I’ve made🤞
Yes, no. If you are in good standing at the end of the month (don't have two NWI in a row at the end), you are automatically assigned to the group you were with. So WNM is your home base until you decide to stop participating. Not that we want that.
Vacay can be challenging but it can also get you back in an exercise grove. Think of ways to continue positive habits while relaxing. For example, I made sure I walked every day on mine a couple weeks ago, even the day I drove 8 hours.1 -
Hi all - I’m Daria and returning for my second month here on Weight No More. I’ve had a really good September month absolutely because of this group and the motivation it gives me. I have about 40 pounds to lose. This weight has crept up on me over the past 10 years or so. A 4 pound gain in one year isn’t much, but if it keeps happening every year for 10 years, well the math adds up.
Each week we get a one week challenge which changes things up. I’ve been trying to do the given challenge each week and then also continue what we’ve done in past weeks to a certain extent.
We also have some of our group participate in keeping track of our steps. This has greatly improved my walking time. I really appreciate having that motivation as well.
Welcome to all the new people and enjoy!0 -
Hey WeightNoMores! Welcome to July August September October (already???). I'm Ashley, I'll be one of your two co-captains here to guide you through the month (and even longer, if you'll stick around with us).
While most of this information has been copied and pasted, I have updated some of my information to be more current and accurate. And if there are any questions, any at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I'm more than willing to talk about my struggles, my digestive tract, my sleep schedule, how starting a new relationship stresses me about because there are very few healthy date foods and I don't want to look like that person, how lifting heavy saves me from potentially beating up my coworkers, stress baking, stress eating... you get the idea.
There's a lot of content here, and it's spoilered, so it doesn't make a long post even longer. You get to pick and choose what you read.~ THE BASICS ~Name: Ashley
Age: 28
Pronouns: she/her
Location: Ohio, USA
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Height: 5'7"
Highest Weight: 234lbs
Current Weight: 179lbs
Lowest Weight: 6lb 10oz (August 28th, 1995)
Medical Diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis~ MY HEALTH STORY ~I grew up in a Clean Plates Club™ household, with the idea that food could stuff down any emotion and mask any discomfort. This led to being bullied as a child, expecting people to be mean to me in middle and high school (and then being mean to people first so they didn't have the chance), having an identity crisis in college, and being scared (ahem) poopless after a doctor told me I was on the edge of being pre-diabetic.
I used this fear to catapult me into fitness, starting with indoor cycling classes. I expanded into trying out OrangeTheory, Barry's Bootcamp, F45, and numerous smaller boutique fitness studios. Eventually, I landed on a nice gym that offers group fitness but also allows you to use their equipment for your own personal use. That, combined with having a personal training session once a week, and dropping into group fitness studios from time to time, has led me to have a balanced fitness routine.
In the middle of me getting my (ahem) stuff together, November 2019, I had my first major Multiple Sclerosis relapse and could not feel half of my body. At the time, I had no diagnosis and did not know what was going on outside of the sensation of pins and needles on my left side. After playing a rousing game of Musical Neurologists™, I found a doctor who did not believe my condition to be severe anxiety. He ordered an MRI and a spinal tap, and I was on my way. 14 vials of blood, 2 MRIs, and one spinal tap later, I had a diagnosis. My symptoms are mostly manageable, and my active lifestyle along with reasonably healthy eating has allowed me to continue on with my life without much interruption. My next MRI is in a week, and I hope it shows no further deterioration, as there is currently no cure for MS.
And now? Now I'm focused on building muscle, maintaining my cardiovascular health, and holding back the icky side effects of the autoimmune disorder. Losing weight would be fantastic, but it's not my focus anymore. I'm also studying to become a certified personal trainer, with the intent to make fitness more accessible for those with chronic illness. I've just gotten through the base level nutrition section, and oh boy, do I have some new fun facts bouncing around in my brain.~ FUN NUMBERS ~Number of Spin Classes Attended: 1160
Deadlift Personal Best: 180 lbs
Fastest Mile Run: 6m 11s
Percent Body Fat: 25.7%
Times "Started Over": Too High to Count~ THINGS TO KNOW ~- I am also a moderator for F2F, so if something doesn't look right, you can let me know and I'll take care of it.
- As a chemical engineer, I am VERY familiar with a lot of the chemicals we put into our bodies, and numbers are my friends. I also do research for a living. You want facts? I'm your girl. I am always (ALWAYS) happy to explain the science behind something.
- I used to have a blog on MFP before they removed the blog feature. I didn't save everything I ever wrote, but you can find some of it here: LINK
- I am an open book. You want to know about life with MS? Just ask. You want to know when my last bowel movement was? Just ask. You want my maple donut cookie recipe? Just ask. There is not a single topic I am unwilling to chat about - all it takes is asking the right questions.
~ RECENT DRAMA (CONTAINS DRESS PICTURE!) ~One of my childhood friends is getting got married on September 23rd. Her bachelorette party was in June. She planned it herself, because she wanted it to be perfect. And when she sent out the agenda/packing list, she also sent out a dress code.
The dress code body shamed a good half of her friends.
Don't believe me? She sent out a second message, to just a select group of us, which started with "And to my curvier friends..."
Her rules included gems such as:- No lace
- No mesh
- No cutouts
- No dresses shorter than just above the knee
- No heels higher than 2.5 inches
- No strapless outfits
- No one-shoulder outfits
- No distracting cleavage
I intentionally broke several of her rules, but not in a way that would ruin any of her photos. She elaborated at one point, claiming that her rules were for aesthetic purposes - this didn't help her case.
(For context, she has been very body-shamey for most of her life. There have been a lot of comments to me about my figure, about how I must have loved food more than the idea of being loved, fun things like that. Similar comments have been made to (and about) others. And over the years, I have done my best to make her recognize that she's doing this, but she slips back into old tendencies from time to time. I don't think this is because she actively wants to hurt anyone, but because she hasn't needed to be considerate of anyone else for the majority of her life, a luxury I've never had. She can learn. I hope.)
And now the plan is was to get a spite body. It's similar to a revenge body after a break-up, but this time, it's driven by spite. Maybe it's not the healthiest motivator, but it's certainly a fun one.
UDPATE - August: I've ordered a bunch of potential dresses for her wedding, and there's one I'm excited about. It's slightly smaller than I am right now, but I'm hoping I can fit into it in time. I've got a little less than two months. Send me all the fat-burning vibes you've got.
UPDATE - September: The dress mostly fits. It's got a corset back, so I can't lace it all the way up on my own without dislocating my shoulder, but I can guarantee there's enough ribbon to fully lace it.
UPDATE - October: The wedding was fun! The bride was less of a problem than expected, one of our mutual friends was more of a problem than expected. I was not anticipating needing to remind my friend that she doesn't need to look like what she did in high school, and had a hard time navigating her "I want to eat whatever I want without limitation" mentality combined with her hatred for exercise (which I assume is because she hasn't done much of it and doesn't like the idea of being "bad" at something).
In a more positive note, here's how I looked in my dress (the bride is also in this picture, and she looked incredible and glowing and excited, I was so happy for her!):
~ CURRENT STRUGGLES ~My weight has been slowly increasing over the past year. And even though I know there's been quite a bit of muscle growth, and plenty of sources of water retention, it's getting to me.
In an attempt to quell my anxieties, I ordered a new scale.
I know what you're thinking. Obsessing over my weight even more will not help.
But that's not why I ordered a new scale. This new scale has a couple built in features I'm excited to try out, tracking a dozen more metrics than a standard scale, including BMI, body fat percentages, muscle mass, etc. I am hoping (HOPING) that these new numbers will help me re-center myself and trust that this slow process is working for me, that my plan to build muscle to increase my basal metabolic rate (BMR) while losing fat from a slight caloric deficit has been benefitting me.
Because sure, my BMI claims I'm overweight. It's been decades since I haven't been overweight. But I know I'm more muscular than I've ever been at 180lbs, and I've been here several times before. And I know I can do far more than I ever could previously.
So, it's going to be okay. But my brain needs a few more numbers, just a little more data, before it believes that.
UPDATE - OCTOBER: The new scale was incredibly helpful. Here's what I posted soon after testing it out:minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »~ New NSV!!! ~
I mentioned in my long rambling post about myself that I ordered a new scale to better track the numbers in a way that matters, and oh boy was that a smart idea. I have the results of the InBody scan I did way back in May last year, when I was actively participating in a challenge at my gym at the time, F45. And while there are some things to be wary of when comparing two different methods of obtaining these numbers, I am still ridiculously proud of how far I've come.Let's take a look...
May 9th, 2022
Weight - 177.1 lbs
BMI - 27.7 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 74.3 lbs
September 8th, 2023
Weight - 179.4 lbs
BMI - 28.2 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 88.2 lbsBut what does this mean?
So here's the thing. My weight went up. For a lot of people, this is a huge no-no. And because my weight went up, so did my BMI, because BMI is based solely on weight and height, not levels of health. I wrote a blog post back in the days when MFP still had the blog feature (I was smart and made a copy of this blog, so if you want to read it, you can click here).
But let me draw your attention to what I'm actually proud of: Skeletal Muscle Mass. According to what my special scale told me this morning, I've gained almost 14 whole pounds of muscle over the past 16 months. And if I gained 14 pounds of muscle, but only 2 pounds of weight, that also means I've lost approximately 12 pounds of fat, give or take a pound or two to account for hydration levels and how much heavier my hair may have gotten.
All of this is to say that the number on the scale isn't the whole picture. I can already see a couple issues I have with the measurements my new scale has taken, because there's way too many variables that could affect the values they're giving me, but it's a lovely way to compare my values one day to my values on another, and that's a better picture than a standard weight-only scale could ever provide.4 -
minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »Hey WeightNoMores! Welcome to July August September October (already???). I'm Ashley, I'll be one of your two co-captains here to guide you through the month (and even longer, if you'll stick around with us).
While most of this information has been copied and pasted, I have updated some of my information to be more current and accurate. And if there are any questions, any at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I'm more than willing to talk about my struggles, my digestive tract, my sleep schedule, how starting a new relationship stresses me about because there are very few healthy date foods and I don't want to look like that person, how lifting heavy saves me from potentially beating up my coworkers, stress baking, stress eating... you get the idea.
There's a lot of content here, and it's spoilered, so it doesn't make a long post even longer. You get to pick and choose what you read.~ THE BASICS ~Name: Ashley
Age: 28
Pronouns: she/her
Location: Ohio, USA
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Height: 5'7"
Highest Weight: 234lbs
Current Weight: 179lbs
Lowest Weight: 6lb 10oz (August 28th, 1995)
Medical Diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis~ MY HEALTH STORY ~I grew up in a Clean Plates Club™ household, with the idea that food could stuff down any emotion and mask any discomfort. This led to being bullied as a child, expecting people to be mean to me in middle and high school (and then being mean to people first so they didn't have the chance), having an identity crisis in college, and being scared (ahem) poopless after a doctor told me I was on the edge of being pre-diabetic.
I used this fear to catapult me into fitness, starting with indoor cycling classes. I expanded into trying out OrangeTheory, Barry's Bootcamp, F45, and numerous smaller boutique fitness studios. Eventually, I landed on a nice gym that offers group fitness but also allows you to use their equipment for your own personal use. That, combined with having a personal training session once a week, and dropping into group fitness studios from time to time, has led me to have a balanced fitness routine.
In the middle of me getting my (ahem) stuff together, November 2019, I had my first major Multiple Sclerosis relapse and could not feel half of my body. At the time, I had no diagnosis and did not know what was going on outside of the sensation of pins and needles on my left side. After playing a rousing game of Musical Neurologists™, I found a doctor who did not believe my condition to be severe anxiety. He ordered an MRI and a spinal tap, and I was on my way. 14 vials of blood, 2 MRIs, and one spinal tap later, I had a diagnosis. My symptoms are mostly manageable, and my active lifestyle along with reasonably healthy eating has allowed me to continue on with my life without much interruption. My next MRI is in a week, and I hope it shows no further deterioration, as there is currently no cure for MS.
And now? Now I'm focused on building muscle, maintaining my cardiovascular health, and holding back the icky side effects of the autoimmune disorder. Losing weight would be fantastic, but it's not my focus anymore. I'm also studying to become a certified personal trainer, with the intent to make fitness more accessible for those with chronic illness. I've just gotten through the base level nutrition section, and oh boy, do I have some new fun facts bouncing around in my brain.~ FUN NUMBERS ~Number of Spin Classes Attended: 1160
Deadlift Personal Best: 180 lbs
Fastest Mile Run: 6m 11s
Percent Body Fat: 25.7%
Times "Started Over": Too High to Count~ THINGS TO KNOW ~- I am also a moderator for F2F, so if something doesn't look right, you can let me know and I'll take care of it.
- As a chemical engineer, I am VERY familiar with a lot of the chemicals we put into our bodies, and numbers are my friends. I also do research for a living. You want facts? I'm your girl. I am always (ALWAYS) happy to explain the science behind something.
- I used to have a blog on MFP before they removed the blog feature. I didn't save everything I ever wrote, but you can find some of it here: LINK
- I am an open book. You want to know about life with MS? Just ask. You want to know when my last bowel movement was? Just ask. You want my maple donut cookie recipe? Just ask. There is not a single topic I am unwilling to chat about - all it takes is asking the right questions.
~ RECENT DRAMA (CONTAINS DRESS PICTURE!) ~One of my childhood friends is getting got married on September 23rd. Her bachelorette party was in June. She planned it herself, because she wanted it to be perfect. And when she sent out the agenda/packing list, she also sent out a dress code.
The dress code body shamed a good half of her friends.
Don't believe me? She sent out a second message, to just a select group of us, which started with "And to my curvier friends..."
Her rules included gems such as:- No lace
- No mesh
- No cutouts
- No dresses shorter than just above the knee
- No heels higher than 2.5 inches
- No strapless outfits
- No one-shoulder outfits
- No distracting cleavage
I intentionally broke several of her rules, but not in a way that would ruin any of her photos. She elaborated at one point, claiming that her rules were for aesthetic purposes - this didn't help her case.
(For context, she has been very body-shamey for most of her life. There have been a lot of comments to me about my figure, about how I must have loved food more than the idea of being loved, fun things like that. Similar comments have been made to (and about) others. And over the years, I have done my best to make her recognize that she's doing this, but she slips back into old tendencies from time to time. I don't think this is because she actively wants to hurt anyone, but because she hasn't needed to be considerate of anyone else for the majority of her life, a luxury I've never had. She can learn. I hope.)
And now the plan is was to get a spite body. It's similar to a revenge body after a break-up, but this time, it's driven by spite. Maybe it's not the healthiest motivator, but it's certainly a fun one.
UDPATE - August: I've ordered a bunch of potential dresses for her wedding, and there's one I'm excited about. It's slightly smaller than I am right now, but I'm hoping I can fit into it in time. I've got a little less than two months. Send me all the fat-burning vibes you've got.
UPDATE - September: The dress mostly fits. It's got a corset back, so I can't lace it all the way up on my own without dislocating my shoulder, but I can guarantee there's enough ribbon to fully lace it.
UPDATE - October: The wedding was fun! The bride was less of a problem than expected, one of our mutual friends was more of a problem than expected. I was not anticipating needing to remind my friend that she doesn't need to look like what she did in high school, and had a hard time navigating her "I want to eat whatever I want without limitation" mentality combined with her hatred for exercise (which I assume is because she hasn't done much of it and doesn't like the idea of being "bad" at something).
In a more positive note, here's how I looked in my dress (the bride is also in this picture, and she looked incredible and glowing and excited, I was so happy for her!):~ CURRENT STRUGGLES ~My weight has been slowly increasing over the past year. And even though I know there's been quite a bit of muscle growth, and plenty of sources of water retention, it's getting to me.
In an attempt to quell my anxieties, I ordered a new scale.
I know what you're thinking. Obsessing over my weight even more will not help.
But that's not why I ordered a new scale. This new scale has a couple built in features I'm excited to try out, tracking a dozen more metrics than a standard scale, including BMI, body fat percentages, muscle mass, etc. I am hoping (HOPING) that these new numbers will help me re-center myself and trust that this slow process is working for me, that my plan to build muscle to increase my basal metabolic rate (BMR) while losing fat from a slight caloric deficit has been benefitting me.
Because sure, my BMI claims I'm overweight. It's been decades since I haven't been overweight. But I know I'm more muscular than I've ever been at 180lbs, and I've been here several times before. And I know I can do far more than I ever could previously.
So, it's going to be okay. But my brain needs a few more numbers, just a little more data, before it believes that.
UPDATE - OCTOBER: The new scale was incredibly helpful. Here's what I posted soon after testing it out:minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »~ New NSV!!! ~
I mentioned in my long rambling post about myself that I ordered a new scale to better track the numbers in a way that matters, and oh boy was that a smart idea. I have the results of the InBody scan I did way back in May last year, when I was actively participating in a challenge at my gym at the time, F45. And while there are some things to be wary of when comparing two different methods of obtaining these numbers, I am still ridiculously proud of how far I've come.Let's take a look...
May 9th, 2022
Weight - 177.1 lbs
BMI - 27.7 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 74.3 lbs
September 8th, 2023
Weight - 179.4 lbs
BMI - 28.2 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 88.2 lbsBut what does this mean?
So here's the thing. My weight went up. For a lot of people, this is a huge no-no. And because my weight went up, so did my BMI, because BMI is based solely on weight and height, not levels of health. I wrote a blog post back in the days when MFP still had the blog feature (I was smart and made a copy of this blog, so if you want to read it, you can click here).
But let me draw your attention to what I'm actually proud of: Skeletal Muscle Mass. According to what my special scale told me this morning, I've gained almost 14 whole pounds of muscle over the past 16 months. And if I gained 14 pounds of muscle, but only 2 pounds of weight, that also means I've lost approximately 12 pounds of fat, give or take a pound or two to account for hydration levels and how much heavier my hair may have gotten.
All of this is to say that the number on the scale isn't the whole picture. I can already see a couple issues I have with the measurements my new scale has taken, because there's way too many variables that could affect the values they're giving me, but it's a lovely way to compare my values one day to my values on another, and that's a better picture than a standard weight-only scale could ever provide.
You look AMAZING in that dress 👗
1 -
Hi,
Weigh In Day: Mondays
PW (Previous Weight): 178.6lbs
CW (Current Weight): 176.8lbs
Happy October to everyone... hopping this month will be better than last and the scale starts moving down.
Yesterday attended an event... I was able to fit (very comfortably) in a dress that I hadn't in a long time... felt fantastic... then at the event, took a couple of photos with a couple of my skinnier friends, and when looking at them, found myself thinking that I am still 40-50lbs heavy.... at my heaviest, I was 230, and now I am at 177, that is 53lb loss. There are days I see and feel that loss, and there are days that I do not see or feel that loss. I guess yesterday was one of those days that I felt that loss but did not see it after.
My determination is not wavered, I will continue to work towards a healthier me. Yesterdays experience tells me that I need to work on my mental and emotional health as well.5 -
Hi Friends! Well here's to a new month! I am looking forward to really seeing the connection between regular exercise as well as monitoring my food intake. Of course, the past 2 weeks I've been nursing a bum foot/leg and so I've been feeling a bit discouraged -but am glad I have you all to keep me motivated! So thank you in advance for your support!!!
beabenitez1978
Weigh In Day: Mondays
PW (Previous Weight): 9/25 - 298.2
CW (Current Weight): 10/2 - 299.0
2 -
Hi - I’m Syd -
This is my first month here. Very excited as I love a challenge, and I’m hoping it will make me stick to my plan. I’m 48 with a desk job and have had the hardest time losing weight. I’ll lose a few pounds and then immediately gain them all back. I lost a bunch of weight 17 years ago using calorie counting, but that doesn’t seem to be working so well now.
So - I’ve started counting macros. So far so good. I’m actually sticking to it. Mostly because it takes me so long to plan out my food for the day that I don’t want to ruin it all with a piece of candy at work. I’m sure it will get easier! Also, I’ve started adding in more weight lifting and less intense cardio. We’ll see how it goes.
Anyway - nice to meet you all!
4 -
minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »Hey WeightNoMores! Welcome to July August September October (already???). I'm Ashley, I'll be one of your two co-captains here to guide you through the month (and even longer, if you'll stick around with us).
While most of this information has been copied and pasted, I have updated some of my information to be more current and accurate. And if there are any questions, any at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I'm more than willing to talk about my struggles, my digestive tract, my sleep schedule, how starting a new relationship stresses me about because there are very few healthy date foods and I don't want to look like that person, how lifting heavy saves me from potentially beating up my coworkers, stress baking, stress eating... you get the idea.
There's a lot of content here, and it's spoilered, so it doesn't make a long post even longer. You get to pick and choose what you read.~ THE BASICS ~Name: Ashley
Age: 28
Pronouns: she/her
Location: Ohio, USA
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Height: 5'7"
Highest Weight: 234lbs
Current Weight: 179lbs
Lowest Weight: 6lb 10oz (August 28th, 1995)
Medical Diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis~ MY HEALTH STORY ~I grew up in a Clean Plates Club™ household, with the idea that food could stuff down any emotion and mask any discomfort. This led to being bullied as a child, expecting people to be mean to me in middle and high school (and then being mean to people first so they didn't have the chance), having an identity crisis in college, and being scared (ahem) poopless after a doctor told me I was on the edge of being pre-diabetic.
I used this fear to catapult me into fitness, starting with indoor cycling classes. I expanded into trying out OrangeTheory, Barry's Bootcamp, F45, and numerous smaller boutique fitness studios. Eventually, I landed on a nice gym that offers group fitness but also allows you to use their equipment for your own personal use. That, combined with having a personal training session once a week, and dropping into group fitness studios from time to time, has led me to have a balanced fitness routine.
In the middle of me getting my (ahem) stuff together, November 2019, I had my first major Multiple Sclerosis relapse and could not feel half of my body. At the time, I had no diagnosis and did not know what was going on outside of the sensation of pins and needles on my left side. After playing a rousing game of Musical Neurologists™, I found a doctor who did not believe my condition to be severe anxiety. He ordered an MRI and a spinal tap, and I was on my way. 14 vials of blood, 2 MRIs, and one spinal tap later, I had a diagnosis. My symptoms are mostly manageable, and my active lifestyle along with reasonably healthy eating has allowed me to continue on with my life without much interruption. My next MRI is in a week, and I hope it shows no further deterioration, as there is currently no cure for MS.
And now? Now I'm focused on building muscle, maintaining my cardiovascular health, and holding back the icky side effects of the autoimmune disorder. Losing weight would be fantastic, but it's not my focus anymore. I'm also studying to become a certified personal trainer, with the intent to make fitness more accessible for those with chronic illness. I've just gotten through the base level nutrition section, and oh boy, do I have some new fun facts bouncing around in my brain.~ FUN NUMBERS ~Number of Spin Classes Attended: 1160
Deadlift Personal Best: 180 lbs
Fastest Mile Run: 6m 11s
Percent Body Fat: 25.7%
Times "Started Over": Too High to Count~ THINGS TO KNOW ~- I am also a moderator for F2F, so if something doesn't look right, you can let me know and I'll take care of it.
- As a chemical engineer, I am VERY familiar with a lot of the chemicals we put into our bodies, and numbers are my friends. I also do research for a living. You want facts? I'm your girl. I am always (ALWAYS) happy to explain the science behind something.
- I used to have a blog on MFP before they removed the blog feature. I didn't save everything I ever wrote, but you can find some of it here: LINK
- I am an open book. You want to know about life with MS? Just ask. You want to know when my last bowel movement was? Just ask. You want my maple donut cookie recipe? Just ask. There is not a single topic I am unwilling to chat about - all it takes is asking the right questions.
~ RECENT DRAMA (CONTAINS DRESS PICTURE!) ~One of my childhood friends is getting got married on September 23rd. Her bachelorette party was in June. She planned it herself, because she wanted it to be perfect. And when she sent out the agenda/packing list, she also sent out a dress code.
The dress code body shamed a good half of her friends.
Don't believe me? She sent out a second message, to just a select group of us, which started with "And to my curvier friends..."
Her rules included gems such as:- No lace
- No mesh
- No cutouts
- No dresses shorter than just above the knee
- No heels higher than 2.5 inches
- No strapless outfits
- No one-shoulder outfits
- No distracting cleavage
I intentionally broke several of her rules, but not in a way that would ruin any of her photos. She elaborated at one point, claiming that her rules were for aesthetic purposes - this didn't help her case.
(For context, she has been very body-shamey for most of her life. There have been a lot of comments to me about my figure, about how I must have loved food more than the idea of being loved, fun things like that. Similar comments have been made to (and about) others. And over the years, I have done my best to make her recognize that she's doing this, but she slips back into old tendencies from time to time. I don't think this is because she actively wants to hurt anyone, but because she hasn't needed to be considerate of anyone else for the majority of her life, a luxury I've never had. She can learn. I hope.)
And now the plan is was to get a spite body. It's similar to a revenge body after a break-up, but this time, it's driven by spite. Maybe it's not the healthiest motivator, but it's certainly a fun one.
UDPATE - August: I've ordered a bunch of potential dresses for her wedding, and there's one I'm excited about. It's slightly smaller than I am right now, but I'm hoping I can fit into it in time. I've got a little less than two months. Send me all the fat-burning vibes you've got.
UPDATE - September: The dress mostly fits. It's got a corset back, so I can't lace it all the way up on my own without dislocating my shoulder, but I can guarantee there's enough ribbon to fully lace it.
UPDATE - October: The wedding was fun! The bride was less of a problem than expected, one of our mutual friends was more of a problem than expected. I was not anticipating needing to remind my friend that she doesn't need to look like what she did in high school, and had a hard time navigating her "I want to eat whatever I want without limitation" mentality combined with her hatred for exercise (which I assume is because she hasn't done much of it and doesn't like the idea of being "bad" at something).
In a more positive note, here's how I looked in my dress (the bride is also in this picture, and she looked incredible and glowing and excited, I was so happy for her!):~ CURRENT STRUGGLES ~My weight has been slowly increasing over the past year. And even though I know there's been quite a bit of muscle growth, and plenty of sources of water retention, it's getting to me.
In an attempt to quell my anxieties, I ordered a new scale.
I know what you're thinking. Obsessing over my weight even more will not help.
But that's not why I ordered a new scale. This new scale has a couple built in features I'm excited to try out, tracking a dozen more metrics than a standard scale, including BMI, body fat percentages, muscle mass, etc. I am hoping (HOPING) that these new numbers will help me re-center myself and trust that this slow process is working for me, that my plan to build muscle to increase my basal metabolic rate (BMR) while losing fat from a slight caloric deficit has been benefitting me.
Because sure, my BMI claims I'm overweight. It's been decades since I haven't been overweight. But I know I'm more muscular than I've ever been at 180lbs, and I've been here several times before. And I know I can do far more than I ever could previously.
So, it's going to be okay. But my brain needs a few more numbers, just a little more data, before it believes that.
UPDATE - OCTOBER: The new scale was incredibly helpful. Here's what I posted soon after testing it out:minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »~ New NSV!!! ~
I mentioned in my long rambling post about myself that I ordered a new scale to better track the numbers in a way that matters, and oh boy was that a smart idea. I have the results of the InBody scan I did way back in May last year, when I was actively participating in a challenge at my gym at the time, F45. And while there are some things to be wary of when comparing two different methods of obtaining these numbers, I am still ridiculously proud of how far I've come.Let's take a look...
May 9th, 2022
Weight - 177.1 lbs
BMI - 27.7 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 74.3 lbs
September 8th, 2023
Weight - 179.4 lbs
BMI - 28.2 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 88.2 lbsBut what does this mean?
So here's the thing. My weight went up. For a lot of people, this is a huge no-no. And because my weight went up, so did my BMI, because BMI is based solely on weight and height, not levels of health. I wrote a blog post back in the days when MFP still had the blog feature (I was smart and made a copy of this blog, so if you want to read it, you can click here).
But let me draw your attention to what I'm actually proud of: Skeletal Muscle Mass. According to what my special scale told me this morning, I've gained almost 14 whole pounds of muscle over the past 16 months. And if I gained 14 pounds of muscle, but only 2 pounds of weight, that also means I've lost approximately 12 pounds of fat, give or take a pound or two to account for hydration levels and how much heavier my hair may have gotten.
All of this is to say that the number on the scale isn't the whole picture. I can already see a couple issues I have with the measurements my new scale has taken, because there's way too many variables that could affect the values they're giving me, but it's a lovely way to compare my values one day to my values on another, and that's a better picture than a standard weight-only scale could ever provide.
I agree with @daria0919. You really rock that dress. And it is a really good color for you. I looked at the dress code...how does it violate? Distracting cleavage? You said something about a corset back--does it count as cut out or something?0 -
Laurabb99
weigh in days: Monday
PW 208
CW 207.6
Hi everyone, I'm Laura. I'm 42 and stay at home with 5 kids (ages 14 to 2.5 years old). I started homeschooling last year. My husband's mom moved in with us at the beginning of the summer. Her short term memory is failing. So, we've been adjusting to her being around. She's 70 and will likely be around until we can no longer care for her. I'm trying to work on myself now that my baby is no longer a baby. Trying to get off the 50+ lbs and focus on mobility as well. We live in North Texas.5 -
Hi - I’m Syd -
This is my first month here. Very excited as I love a challenge, and I’m hoping it will make me stick to my plan. I’m 48 with a desk job and have had the hardest time losing weight. I’ll lose a few pounds and then immediately gain them all back. I lost a bunch of weight 17 years ago using calorie counting, but that doesn’t seem to be working so well now.
So - I’ve started counting macros. So far so good. I’m actually sticking to it. Mostly because it takes me so long to plan out my food for the day that I don’t want to ruin it all with a piece of candy at work. I’m sure it will get easier! Also, I’ve started adding in more weight lifting and less intense cardio. We’ll see how it goes.
Anyway - nice to meet you all!
Welcome! I’m curious as to what macros settings you have? Looks like their adjustable on MyFitnessPal. I’m not sure what the best settings are for weight loss? Thanks
0 -
melaniedscott wrote: »minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »Hey WeightNoMores! Welcome to July August September October (already???). I'm Ashley, I'll be one of your two co-captains here to guide you through the month (and even longer, if you'll stick around with us).
While most of this information has been copied and pasted, I have updated some of my information to be more current and accurate. And if there are any questions, any at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I'm more than willing to talk about my struggles, my digestive tract, my sleep schedule, how starting a new relationship stresses me about because there are very few healthy date foods and I don't want to look like that person, how lifting heavy saves me from potentially beating up my coworkers, stress baking, stress eating... you get the idea.
There's a lot of content here, and it's spoilered, so it doesn't make a long post even longer. You get to pick and choose what you read.~ THE BASICS ~Name: Ashley
Age: 28
Pronouns: she/her
Location: Ohio, USA
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Height: 5'7"
Highest Weight: 234lbs
Current Weight: 179lbs
Lowest Weight: 6lb 10oz (August 28th, 1995)
Medical Diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis~ MY HEALTH STORY ~I grew up in a Clean Plates Club™ household, with the idea that food could stuff down any emotion and mask any discomfort. This led to being bullied as a child, expecting people to be mean to me in middle and high school (and then being mean to people first so they didn't have the chance), having an identity crisis in college, and being scared (ahem) poopless after a doctor told me I was on the edge of being pre-diabetic.
I used this fear to catapult me into fitness, starting with indoor cycling classes. I expanded into trying out OrangeTheory, Barry's Bootcamp, F45, and numerous smaller boutique fitness studios. Eventually, I landed on a nice gym that offers group fitness but also allows you to use their equipment for your own personal use. That, combined with having a personal training session once a week, and dropping into group fitness studios from time to time, has led me to have a balanced fitness routine.
In the middle of me getting my (ahem) stuff together, November 2019, I had my first major Multiple Sclerosis relapse and could not feel half of my body. At the time, I had no diagnosis and did not know what was going on outside of the sensation of pins and needles on my left side. After playing a rousing game of Musical Neurologists™, I found a doctor who did not believe my condition to be severe anxiety. He ordered an MRI and a spinal tap, and I was on my way. 14 vials of blood, 2 MRIs, and one spinal tap later, I had a diagnosis. My symptoms are mostly manageable, and my active lifestyle along with reasonably healthy eating has allowed me to continue on with my life without much interruption. My next MRI is in a week, and I hope it shows no further deterioration, as there is currently no cure for MS.
And now? Now I'm focused on building muscle, maintaining my cardiovascular health, and holding back the icky side effects of the autoimmune disorder. Losing weight would be fantastic, but it's not my focus anymore. I'm also studying to become a certified personal trainer, with the intent to make fitness more accessible for those with chronic illness. I've just gotten through the base level nutrition section, and oh boy, do I have some new fun facts bouncing around in my brain.~ FUN NUMBERS ~Number of Spin Classes Attended: 1160
Deadlift Personal Best: 180 lbs
Fastest Mile Run: 6m 11s
Percent Body Fat: 25.7%
Times "Started Over": Too High to Count~ THINGS TO KNOW ~- I am also a moderator for F2F, so if something doesn't look right, you can let me know and I'll take care of it.
- As a chemical engineer, I am VERY familiar with a lot of the chemicals we put into our bodies, and numbers are my friends. I also do research for a living. You want facts? I'm your girl. I am always (ALWAYS) happy to explain the science behind something.
- I used to have a blog on MFP before they removed the blog feature. I didn't save everything I ever wrote, but you can find some of it here: LINK
- I am an open book. You want to know about life with MS? Just ask. You want to know when my last bowel movement was? Just ask. You want my maple donut cookie recipe? Just ask. There is not a single topic I am unwilling to chat about - all it takes is asking the right questions.
~ RECENT DRAMA (CONTAINS DRESS PICTURE!) ~One of my childhood friends is getting got married on September 23rd. Her bachelorette party was in June. She planned it herself, because she wanted it to be perfect. And when she sent out the agenda/packing list, she also sent out a dress code.
The dress code body shamed a good half of her friends.
Don't believe me? She sent out a second message, to just a select group of us, which started with "And to my curvier friends..."
Her rules included gems such as:- No lace
- No mesh
- No cutouts
- No dresses shorter than just above the knee
- No heels higher than 2.5 inches
- No strapless outfits
- No one-shoulder outfits
- No distracting cleavage
I intentionally broke several of her rules, but not in a way that would ruin any of her photos. She elaborated at one point, claiming that her rules were for aesthetic purposes - this didn't help her case.
(For context, she has been very body-shamey for most of her life. There have been a lot of comments to me about my figure, about how I must have loved food more than the idea of being loved, fun things like that. Similar comments have been made to (and about) others. And over the years, I have done my best to make her recognize that she's doing this, but she slips back into old tendencies from time to time. I don't think this is because she actively wants to hurt anyone, but because she hasn't needed to be considerate of anyone else for the majority of her life, a luxury I've never had. She can learn. I hope.)
And now the plan is was to get a spite body. It's similar to a revenge body after a break-up, but this time, it's driven by spite. Maybe it's not the healthiest motivator, but it's certainly a fun one.
UDPATE - August: I've ordered a bunch of potential dresses for her wedding, and there's one I'm excited about. It's slightly smaller than I am right now, but I'm hoping I can fit into it in time. I've got a little less than two months. Send me all the fat-burning vibes you've got.
UPDATE - September: The dress mostly fits. It's got a corset back, so I can't lace it all the way up on my own without dislocating my shoulder, but I can guarantee there's enough ribbon to fully lace it.
UPDATE - October: The wedding was fun! The bride was less of a problem than expected, one of our mutual friends was more of a problem than expected. I was not anticipating needing to remind my friend that she doesn't need to look like what she did in high school, and had a hard time navigating her "I want to eat whatever I want without limitation" mentality combined with her hatred for exercise (which I assume is because she hasn't done much of it and doesn't like the idea of being "bad" at something).
In a more positive note, here's how I looked in my dress (the bride is also in this picture, and she looked incredible and glowing and excited, I was so happy for her!):~ CURRENT STRUGGLES ~My weight has been slowly increasing over the past year. And even though I know there's been quite a bit of muscle growth, and plenty of sources of water retention, it's getting to me.
In an attempt to quell my anxieties, I ordered a new scale.
I know what you're thinking. Obsessing over my weight even more will not help.
But that's not why I ordered a new scale. This new scale has a couple built in features I'm excited to try out, tracking a dozen more metrics than a standard scale, including BMI, body fat percentages, muscle mass, etc. I am hoping (HOPING) that these new numbers will help me re-center myself and trust that this slow process is working for me, that my plan to build muscle to increase my basal metabolic rate (BMR) while losing fat from a slight caloric deficit has been benefitting me.
Because sure, my BMI claims I'm overweight. It's been decades since I haven't been overweight. But I know I'm more muscular than I've ever been at 180lbs, and I've been here several times before. And I know I can do far more than I ever could previously.
So, it's going to be okay. But my brain needs a few more numbers, just a little more data, before it believes that.
UPDATE - OCTOBER: The new scale was incredibly helpful. Here's what I posted soon after testing it out:minstrelofsarcasm wrote: »~ New NSV!!! ~
I mentioned in my long rambling post about myself that I ordered a new scale to better track the numbers in a way that matters, and oh boy was that a smart idea. I have the results of the InBody scan I did way back in May last year, when I was actively participating in a challenge at my gym at the time, F45. And while there are some things to be wary of when comparing two different methods of obtaining these numbers, I am still ridiculously proud of how far I've come.Let's take a look...
May 9th, 2022
Weight - 177.1 lbs
BMI - 27.7 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 74.3 lbs
September 8th, 2023
Weight - 179.4 lbs
BMI - 28.2 kg/m2
Skeletal Muscle Mass - 88.2 lbsBut what does this mean?
So here's the thing. My weight went up. For a lot of people, this is a huge no-no. And because my weight went up, so did my BMI, because BMI is based solely on weight and height, not levels of health. I wrote a blog post back in the days when MFP still had the blog feature (I was smart and made a copy of this blog, so if you want to read it, you can click here).
But let me draw your attention to what I'm actually proud of: Skeletal Muscle Mass. According to what my special scale told me this morning, I've gained almost 14 whole pounds of muscle over the past 16 months. And if I gained 14 pounds of muscle, but only 2 pounds of weight, that also means I've lost approximately 12 pounds of fat, give or take a pound or two to account for hydration levels and how much heavier my hair may have gotten.
All of this is to say that the number on the scale isn't the whole picture. I can already see a couple issues I have with the measurements my new scale has taken, because there's way too many variables that could affect the values they're giving me, but it's a lovely way to compare my values one day to my values on another, and that's a better picture than a standard weight-only scale could ever provide.
I agree with @daria0919. You really rock that dress. And it is a really good color for you. I looked at the dress code...how does it violate? Distracting cleavage? You said something about a corset back--does it count as cut out or something?
The dress code was for her bachelorette party - I'm sure I have pictures somewhere, but my dress was lacy and short and I wore heels that weren't as short as she would have preferred, but it looked classy and didn't clash or stand out in any of the photos she had taken, so I like to think it worked out just fine.
Her only dress code for the wedding was to fit a certain color scheme and "be smart", which quite a few of us took as a veiled threat.2
This discussion has been closed.