Shape Shifters Team Chat - May 2025
Here is your Team chat room for May 2025. This is where you weigh in, 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! Bookmark this thread to make it easy to land here any time.
Fat2Fit has five great teams. The group and team leaders are as follows - contact them any time!
Our Moderators:
Ashley - @minstrelofsarcasm
Jessica - @jessicakrall8
Lauren- @lauren_989
Megan - @Megan_smartiepants1970
Our Team Captains:
Downsizers - @Megan_smartiepants1970 and [open]
Mission Slimpossible - @Katmary71 and @trooworld
Weight No More - @minstrelofsarcasm and @melaniedscott
WaistAways - @ashleycarole86 and @lauren_989
Shape Shifters - @jessicakrall8 and @frankwbrown
Our Team Motivators:
Mission Slimpossibles - @micaroo4
Weight No More - @BodyTalking and @daria0919
WaistAways - @MaddawgMadsen
Shape Shifters - @LaurieWrobo and @nancyinmiami
HOW IT ALL WORKS: The May challenge runs for four weeks, from May 4th - May 31st.
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, and may everyone else get to work on next week!
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 single week. You are heading steadily towards your goal even if you aren't at the top of the weight loss leader board. In March we are aiming for every team to hit 50% green every week - let's do this!
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 can be moved to the Support Team for as long as you need. 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 or re-introduce yourselves right away, and let's get May on the road!
Replies
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Tomsgal1985
Weekly Post
Weigh In Day: Friday
Highest weight: 239.8
Previous Weight: 238.5
Current Weight: 237.6Finally going in the right direction! I’ll be away for the next 3 weigh-ins. Have a blessed May 🤗
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@nancyinmiami I have not yet read The Nightingale, but I saw @DaffyGirl88 has given it high marks 🥰 I will put it on my list. I really loved The Great Alone also. Her characters are so intriguing.
And thank you for your kind words 💕2 -
Best wishes for your time away @Tomsgal1985 — keep up the good work! 👍🏼
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- Hello Shape Shifters and welcome to our new members! I’ve been a member of the group for almost four years. I joined at the height of the COVID pandemic, which paused our busy family life and emphasized the importance of good health. Since then, my nutrition and exercise has fluctuated while trying to balance family, work, and community activities. Here are some highlights of my journey:
- Joined MFP App in December 2019 at high of 168
- Improved tracking consistency by March 2020 and gradually adjusted portions and nutrition choices
- Moved to a healthy BMI after 6 months - March to September 2020
- Engaged in MFP discussion pages April 2020 through May 2021
- Continued to move very slowly from high end of a normal BMI (145?) toward my goal of 125
- Joined the MFP F2F Challenge Group (Shrinking Assets team) in June 2021 at about 135 pounds
- Achieved my goal of 125 by September 2021
- At some point, the Shrinking Assets combined with another team to form the ShapeShifters
- Maintained weight between 120-130 for a little over a year, until November 24, 2022 when I weighed-in at 130.5
Between November 2022 and April 2023, I gained back 10 pounds - and gained almost 5 more by September 2024. So, I gradually ended up at 150 pounds and I’ve been fluctuating between 145-150 for the past six months.
I’m more active in the warmer seasons because I row on the local rivers and play soccer a couple of times a week. So, I really want to focus on good nutrition to move back to a healthy BMI and then figure out how to sustain it with a better routine during the winter when I tend to gain. I also need to build exercise into my schedule when I travel regularly to Boston to help my mother as she ages. I appreciate the support and accountability of the group - Go Shape Shifters!3 -
Hey Shape Shifters; I'm the Team Motivator- also, I'm an empty nester, married 34 years; both me and my husband work remote from home; my son and daughter-in-law live 4 houses down the street from us with their daughter; my youngest son lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife.
My husband is Type 1 diabetic from his Stage 1 pancreatic cancer as they removed 2/3 of his pancreas 2 years ago in April. He is currently in remission from pancreatic cancer but has residual effects from chemo - neuropathy in both feet plus other nerve damage issues from herniated disk 12yrs ago
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Please add me to step challenge- I walk around my neighborhood
7,000 steps/day
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Hi! In the Big Apple 🍎 for the weekend and don't have access to my prewritten intro so just gonna wing it. 😁
I'm Sue, soon to be 65 and just successfully signed up for Medicare. Wuhoo!! I've been on MFP for about 13 years, more actively since COVID-19. After struggling for years to get below 155 I somehow managed to get down to 140 in 2019 and stay there for a few years. I've crept steadily up to 150 though so my goal this summer is to get back down to 140. Like @PatriceFitnessPal I am much more active in the summer as my favorite thing is biking .
I'm married for 37 years, have 2 adult children, two grandsons and am dividing my time between MD and VA until I retire and move to VA permanently.
Here's to a great month!!!
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FAQ for New Shape Shifters Members
How do I post my weigh in?
Userid
(Day of Week) Weigh-in
PW: 204 lbs (previous weight)
CW: 202 lbs (current weight)
LTD: 12 lbs (optional loss to date)
Where is the Weigh in stats spreadsheet?
Start at the Fat2Fit Main Page and under the header information, you’ll see a section at the bottom that says “TO ACCESS THE SPREADSHEETS FOR JANUARY CLICK HERE” followed by the link in blue. Once you click on that link, it will take you to the Summary page. Find Shape Shifters on the tabs at the bottom and click on that and that brings you to the stats page. Also on this page (scrolling down), you’ll find the Step Challenge chart as well. This is where we record your daily steps if you sign up to be part of the monthly step challenge. More info on how to sign up is below! Join us!
How often should I post in the chatroom?
Whenever you have a question, suggestion, story, news announcement or just want to brighten someone's day!! There's never too much...and please share recipes, tips, laughs, challenges, cartoons, pictures of your pets, pictures from walks you've taken, etc...we love it all!!
What if I have to be out of town during my weigh in?
Send a message to one of the Captains (JessicaKrall8 or FrankWBrown) in the chatroom or in a private message on MFP's mail and let them know your circumstance...if it's just for a week or two, you can be excused from the weigh-in. If you must leave for longer than a month, you may be moved to our support team until you return. When you're ready to come back, send another message and the MODS will move you back to active status.
Who are our team Motivators?
LaurieWrobo and NancyinMiami are our two motivators. They’re here to answer questions, give suggestions and help with times when you need a little more support!
What happens if I miss a weigh in?
If you're late, you'll be marked as LWI (late weigh in). If you fail to report in at all, you'll be labeled as NWI (no weigh in). After two NWIs, you're put on the drop list if no explanation has been provided. It's always best to let your Captain know what's going on and they'll make sure you're covered.
How do I sign up for the Step Challenge?
Send the Captains a message that you'd like to join (in the monthly team chat thread), provide your daily step goal and share your favorite place to walk. It's that simple! Please be aware though, you're making a commitment to post your steps every 2-3 days, which helps the Captains keep the stats caught up. If you're not willing to do this, please do not sign up. (THANKS!)
Do I have to re-register each month to remain part of Team Shape Shifters?
No, your membership will carry over month to month. The only place where this is NOT true is for the Step Challenge. You have to sign up each month to participate in it and this gives you the opportunity to adjust your daily step goal.
If I've missed anything or questions arise, just post them! We'll find the information you need as much as possible! Hope this helps!
Welcome!
Jessica
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@nancyinmiami , congratulations! Good to see the cat distribution system is hard at work. I have a cuddly Void too, he's my darling (and doesn't get along well with my 35 lb. dog who was here before him sometimes).
Sorry for being so quiet, an unusually violent storm ripped thru my city earlier this week. The city as a whole is still picking up the pieces, which is almost unheard of. 250,000 people got their power back (including me), but they're still working on the last 75,000. The outages were pretty erratic, so traffic is a mess all over the area due to powerless traffic lights and businesses being closed.
I just wanted to check that I am part of the Step Challenge for May. The replacement band for my Fitbit arrived, so I will start posting my steps! I'm aiming for 5k to start with, I guess?
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@morenin 5k it is then. (Are storms your favorite places to walk?) 😉
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Mulecanter
CW 218.5
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Izzyred9400 Sat weigh in
PW 141.9 CW 137.3
Thank goodness 🙏
@Tomsgal1985 enjoy your break
@morenin Ihope your town gets full power back soon.
It's Bank Holiday weekend here & the sun is trying to come out.Got a job today of tidying up my back yard.Hope everyone has a great weekend 😀
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Thursdays Steps
Daily Goal: 7,000
4/30: 5,0223 -
The May Week 1 Group Challenge is live and ready to begin on Sunday, May 4th. Join us for the Move It in May Challenge!! Get a good 4 of 7 days of activity and post your adventures! Here's your link:
May Week 1 Group Challenge - Move It in May — MyFitnessPal.com
Looking forward to lively discussions! See you in the chat thread!
Jessica
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@frankwbrown grins Honestly, I've really let myself fall apart the last couple months. So I'm going for the low hanging fruit of moving around the house actually catching up on housework! If, on the off chance I don't hit my steps, I'll probably hop on the treadmill if it is raining (like today), or very busy with people outside. I have social anxiety issues, so exercising in front of people is not my favorite (which is why I have trouble with the gym, unless I go at midnight!).
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@morenin I get it…people can be so nosey and very judgy…who needs that when they're trying to accomplish some hard work. Nothing wrong with working out at home or simply taking a walk. Any activity is better than no activity.
Do you, Boo! 😁
Jessica
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Step Report
Daily Goal = 7,000Friday, May 1 = 1,443
Saturday, May 2 = 5,8221 -
Step Goal:10,000🏃🏻♀️(Thu-Sat)
Thu 5/01: 4418
Fri 5/02: 5331
Sat 5/03: 2774May; Week1:📉Lost-2.4lbs
CW(5/04): 152.8lbs
Pw: 155.2(April-Wk5)~ I got sick after dinner last night(I think I drank too much carbonation?)
~ my foot has been bothering me all week so I haven’t been working out. Im sure it doesn’t help that I have to wear my glasses and they bother me too!
~ I feel like my body is missing the action so I really can’t wait to get moving again.4 -
I’m going to take a break from the step challenge this month.
In March, I did well with my goal of 5,000 steps and I think I actually averaged more like 6,000 steps per day. So, last month, I raised my daily goal to 7,000 for but that was too high.
I’ll be traveling to South Carolina for my son’s graduation later this week and then I’ll be in Boston the following week. I plan to build more walking into my day and gradually increase my step numbers. Keep up the good work everyone!3 -
I wish I was motivated to work out at home more like many of you — @morenin, @jessicakrall8 etc.
Can you share what works for you? Do you have a specific exercise area already set up? Do you workout as a way to start your morning routine or follow a specific online program at a certain time of day?
I think I remember that @DaffyGirl88 has a Pelaton bike (in the basement?) and @angmarie28 has a weight lifting station in the garage. Our house doesn’t have a basement or garage and I’m afraid I’d just hang clothes on my exercise equipment. @LaurieWrobo - When you workout to the online videos, do you have a specific time and place that is dedicated to that purpose?
My son will be back home after his graduation and he’s often my workout buddy. We sometimes play tennis and complete core/ ab exercises together. I hope his return jumpstarts a new routine for me before he sets out on his next life adventure!
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Daily step goal 10000
5-2: 12312
5-3: 10705
Friday Strong Seniors
Sorry, I meant to get this posted before the April thread closed
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@PatriceFitnessPal said "…I’m afraid I’d just hang clothes on my exercise equipment."
I inherited a full home gym from my Doctor whose house I bought when he moved to Los Angeles. So I have, among other things, an adjustable incline bench, a treadmill, a recumbent bike and an elliptical. They don't get a lot of use, because I prefer the gym and seem to lack motivation once home.
My favorite fitness clothing are some lightweight base-layer wool t-shirts. Can you guess what can often be seen draped over my treadmill, recumbent bike and/or incline bench? 😂
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Can you share what works for you? Do you have a specific exercise area already set up? Do you workout as a way to start your morning routine or follow a specific online program at a certain time of day?
I walk around my house…that way it's temperature controlled. Also, I have a specific area where I do my strength exercises for my shoulders and arms…it allows me to watch tv during, listen to music or just watch out the window. Again, it's temperature controlled and I can use my 2 lb weights or not, depending on how I'm feeling that day. I don't have to deal with crowds, extra costs or being watched…it's fully private.
Hope you find something that works for you.
Jessica
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@looneycatblue Since today's your weigh-in day and you didn't report your weight last Sunday, I'm putting you down as NWI (No Weigh In) last week and bringing your weight 161.4 forward from the week before. Correct me if this is wrong.
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@FWSWCindy If you're planning on rejoining us this month (and I hope you do), you need to choose a weigh-in day and report your starting weight (ideally on your weigh-in day last week).
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Hi, I’m Rita (63) retired and currently living in Alaska with DH. I am still working on consistent movement everyday, portion control and making better food choices. I joined mfp in February 2024 and this group in September 2024. I’m grateful for the inspiration and support this group provides and looking forward to continuing this part of my journey with you.
April review and May goals:
April goals:
- continue to weigh and log everything 👍
- attend all Strong Senior classes offered this month (MWF) using 5 lb hand weights and 1 lb leg weights 👍👎 (I attended each class but had to adjust weights used.)
-get bike out of shed and OPCHECK👍
-spend at least 30 minutes each day on spring cleaning/decluttering (inspired by March weekly challenge, I just needed a slower pace)👎
May goals:
- continue to weigh and log everything
- attend all Strong Senior classes offered this month (MWF)
-get a bike helmet, never used one before even though I always made the kids wear one, and try to get in at least 1 bike ride a week. *Any advice about what to look for in a helmet would be appreciated
-yoga/stretching 2 times a week
I am looking forward to the start of camping season. I have already signed up for the monthly 50ish and over hike, an Edible and Medicinal Plant ID walk and a Devil’s Club Salve Making class. I have been looking at different volunteer opportunities and recently registered with Distributed Proofreaders. All in all it should be a pretty exciting month😊
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I work out in my basement that is also my remote office area where I have my bench, weights, bands, ankle weights and bike set up - I'll take some pics tomorrow morning-also, I do it right away in the morning [by 5:15AM] b/c usually I work my 2nd job right after logging off from my full-time job and then get some things done around the house or babysit for my granddaughter
For the first time EVER = I've worked out to the app for 21 days straight whether it was weights, pilates or stretching
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@PatriceFitnessPal Honestly, I JUST cleared my treadmill of… laundry that needs put away last night. We've got a treadmill in the basement, a recumbent bike in the family room, and several different sets of dumbbells (and my prized kettlebell). About 15-20 years worth of stuff built up. I am also very fond of bodyweight exercises, and I am trying to ease back in with chair yoga using the Down Dog app.
And working out at home means I don't have to shave my legs, find shorts that fit, pack water and my gym shoes, and then haul myself down, even tho it's 2 blocks. You can see why it's easier to just squeeze it in at home! I tried doing group classes, but it was just too embarrassing and miserable for me. I am so out of shape they stuck me in the seniors class at the gym… where people old enough to be my parent easily do what has me gasping for breath. Pride goeth before the fall and all that, but assaults on my self esteem already deliver themselves.
Unrelated note, has anyone else noticed the @ isn't working all the time now? And for me the quote feature is completely broken. Should I be sending a note to MyFitnessPal, or waiting it out?
And now… my steps, which I COMPLETELY blew last night. (Didn't want to wander the streets at midnight, safe area or not. And as mentioned, I had to clean up the treadmill so I could use it!)
Daily step goal: 5,000
5/1- Unrecorded, waiting on replacement band for Fitbit.
5/2- Unrecorded, waiting on replacement band for Fitbit.
5/3- 1,816
I swear I will try to do better this week!
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