200+ (Week 52) "Hot for Halloween"

akasullengal

It's a big week for our group for several reasons. First, it's the last week of our six-week challenge. Also, it's the last week until we've hit a year here at MFP (well, some of us at least). It's amazing how far we've all come. I know I couldn't have done all that I have without your support.

Victoria and I are hitting a major running milestone running our first half marathon together this weekend. Will try and get pics!

So everyone check in and let us know how you've been doing.

It's been a horrid eating week with the parents being in town. I've still been able to get a fair bit of exercising, but really not wanting to look at the scale tomorrow. I might take a by-week. :grumble:

I did get my last training run in today- 2.6 miles at a 10:30 pace! Can you believe it??? Granted, I was definitely done after those miles. Could not have kept that pace up for very longer, but I'm proud of myself for doing that, and I think I need to add more short speedy runs to my repertoire.

Good luck everyone!

Laceylala

I won't come back on here till Saturday or Sunday so you guys have a great weekend and a great run!!

pinbotchick

bump

anvy0530

Hi all - I lost 2.8 pounds this week! I was so happy, I was dancing around my bathroom. I did really well this challenge - I lost 5.8 pounds over the past 6 weeks and am now under 215 pounds. I'm really stoked to finally see my hard work paying off! I'd like to be under 200 when DH gets back from the States in December and, if I keep losing like this week (which I probably won't - but I CAN dream, right?) I think I can make it. I'm starting off my Friday with some homemade Banana Wheat bread (it isn't a sweet bread like banana bread so it has less fat & sugar but still tastes like banana bread without the guilt!)

Kristina: You were on FIRE with your last run!!! WOW. Good luck at your race this weekend. Take lots of pics!

Lacey: Have a good weekend.

Victoria: Good luck at the race!!!!

makeitallsue

Good Luck at your race Kristina and Victoria.....Run like the wind my friends!! Can't wait to see pics!!


OMG...Amy that is fantastic news!!! What do you think your success stems from? The early morning run/walks or your eating? Great job!!

pinbotchick

Morning Gang - Wow is time flying!!! TGIF!!! 2 more days until the race. Thank you to all that have made this year go by so fast and so successfully!!! I would not be here today - smiling and thinner and about to run my first 1/2 marathon (please note this was on my dream bucket list before I started here)... Check-in for today 183. I seem to be hovering in this area from 182 to 184. Part of me is terrified that after this race - when I go back to normal exercise, I'll start packing the pounds on. I do intend to start logging food again just to make sure all goes well. Enough about my obsessions. I will take and post pictures of the race!!!

Amy - flips and twirls for you - that's an amazing amount to lose!!! I'm very proud of you.

Kristina - wowsa - you're getting to be like the speed of light. I'm impressed!!!

Have a nice weekend!!!

KendalBeee

Checking in at 217.8 today. Up another .2 from last week (that means I'm up .4 from 2 weeks ago). Still hoping it has something to do with my outrageous sodium intake....seriously, I've been 3000mg OVER my daily limit several times this week due to eating Progresso soup for lunch (so few calories though!).

I went to the gym last night and did 45 min on the bike. It was a nice break for my knees, but I hardly broke a sweat and my heart rate never got over 130. I only burned 328 cals but I was using muslces that I don't normally use so it kinda burned.

anyone else ready for a nap already?? lol

akasullengal

Kendal- I'm TOTALLY ready for a nap. I bet the sodium is definitely affecting things. Sucks that so many things have so much in it. Just keep chugging water to hopefully compensate a bit. Nice job on the bike! It doesn't burn as many calories, but it's using a different part of your body, and it's good to mix things up. At least that's what I tell myself!

Victoria- getting excited!! I know you were thinking that longer distance training might be affecting your weight loss. Perhaps the change to difference exercise, or at least less running will mix things up and the losses will start piling up again. Logging food will help!

Debra- nice to hear from you! we miss you around here!

Amy- WAY TO GO! Nice loss girl!

So I will count my weight for this morning, as it wasn't as devestating as I thought: 178.8... that's up 0.6 from last week. Considering my exercise has been down and I've eaten out hmm... let me think... at least one meal every day for the last week, it's pretty effing incredible and I will definitely take it. Unfortunately the last week of our challenge is falling dangerously close to my TOM, which will not be pretty.

Plans for today are to relax with the family whit evening. I'm thinking about taking a walk with them tonight. Originally thought about going to the gym, but should go easy on the legs until the race.

Glad to hear from everyone! Keep it up!!

anvy0530

Debra: I honestly think the success comes from watching my sodium intake while continuing with my exercise and healthy eating. I honestly had no idea how much sodium is in things like bottled pasta sauce & light salad dressing. These things always fit into my calorie intake but now I am limiting these processed foods as they have soooooo much sodium (not to mention preservatives & artificial colors & stuff). So I am trying my darndest to eat fresh foods whose ingredients I can pronounce. It worked this week - we'll see how next week goes.

Kendal: Nice job switching up the workout - sometimes the body needs a break from doing the same things all the time. And I don't think that you "only" burned 328 cals - that's a good burn!! And you used new muscles! Great job!

Laceylala

It is SO encouraging to hear how well you guys arendoing with consistency. Makes me know its possible to do it too.

Victoria you've been doing the heavy running thing for quite a while now, maybe when the marathon is over and you start doing other exercises and routines your body isn't used to it It will jump start weight loss all over again?

Okay gotta get going so I can hang with the girls in portland today!

akasullengal

Lacey, the word consistency is just the right one! I mean look how long we've been around. We keep plugging at it and we're going to see results. It might be slow, we'll also have slip-ups, but knowing that we've all made changes for the better in our life that we can sustain in the long-term is the biggest accomplishment.

pinbotchick

I'll be running in less than 24 hours - eeeekkkk. I now have to pack and we are leaving in less than an hour... I'll try to check back later.

akasullengal

eep indeed Victoria!!

We'll be leaving Ann Arbor shortly (waiting for game to begin) and are heading first to the Expo to pick up my goodie bag and bib and then to the hotel. Can't believe the race is tomorrow! Still seems a bit surreal. I don't know if I'll be able to check in again before the race, as I don't want to pay for internet at the hotel, so I won't be taking my laptop. We'll see!

I imagine I'll sleep pretty crappy tonight before the race, combination of nerves and staying in a hotel and not my normal bed. Will be out of my normal pre-race running routine, so I hope that doesn't screw me up. *shrug*

Hope everyone is doing well!

anvy0530

Victoria & Kristina: SO excited for your race!! Hope you both do well and have a great time!!!

As for me: I woke up with a sore throat and aches everywhere. I think it's due to the change in weather (we went for being in the 60's to being in the low to mid 40's PLUS it's been raining ALL day). I went to Gabe's soccer game (42 degrees AND rain - absolutely a miserable hour) but it was a really good game and Gabe got his first goal (in a game) so that was cool. Then we slogged to the commissary to pick up ingredients for a birthday cake. Gabe informed me that I MUST have a birthday cake for my birthday to be "official" - he offered to make a boxed mix cake for me but said that anything I make will be sure to be better than what he ends up with (sometimes I think the kid takes lessons from his father on how to manipulate me into doing what he wants me to do). At any rate, I will be making myself a strawberry cream cake for my upcoming birthday (I figured it would be lower in cals than my German Chocolate cake recipe). Then we came home and vegged ALL day. We have been working our way through Season 4 of The Office (yeah, my 7 year old thinks it's hilarious - he's an old soul, I guess) so we watched that for the rest of the evening. THEN - I flipped through the pages of my hubby's Men's Health magazine to find a New Balance ad that I could NOT ignore. It had a picture of a guy running and the copy said: Nothing hurts more than sitting on a couch. Seeing as I mostly spent my day in exactly that way - I felt drawn to my treadmill by the ad. I ran for an hour (at 8:30 PM) because of that ad. So I ripped it out & stuck it to the wall by my computer so it can continue to get me up off my butt on a regular basis.

Ya'll have a great day.

makeitallsue

Good Vibes your way Victoria and Kristina...CAn't wait to hear how it was...Exciting!!!

Amy...I am down with a bug of somekind too...chills, headache


Go Gabe..with his first goal...that's awesome...and hugs for the whole cake idea...my son is a sweet talker too....but over the years has became quite the "baker"....he makes some awesome cookies...and now after years of being int he kitchen with me...he'll even reduce the fats in them..using apple sauce or chia seed gel...he'll get such a proud look on his face when he tells me he's made cookies...I'll give him the eyebrow and tell heim that he knows I can't have any....and he'll say "oh yes you can!...chia in them there cookies"...he has a great personality too!

You've also motivated me to get moving this morning...I was on the couch most of the day yesterday....I got sick during my run and just layed around all afternoon and even went ot bed early...my back is killing me now...Your right...Nothing hurts more than sitting on the couch all day!...Off to exercise.....Thanks I needed to hear that!

akasullengal

Guess who finished their race???



Will have more details and pics later this evening. My parents are packing up and leaving and I'll have some more time to discuss. All in all, great weather, great race, great time!

anvy0530

Kristina & Victoria: YOU GUYS ROCK!!! You look sooo happy in your picture. You should be super-proud of yourselves!

Debra: I'm sorry you are feeling crappy. I tend to deal with sickness in 2 ways: 1) I'll curl up under a blanket and hibernate for a while and, if that doesn't work, I'll 2) go for a walk or a jog or do some kind of exercising thing and see if that makes me feel better. Sometimes sitting around like a slug makes me feel like a slug. Sometimes it helps me get better - every cold/flu is different. I hope you are feeling better. Your son sounds really sweet. I am also grooming mine to be a healthy chef. Just today, I taught him to use a sharp knif (his first time & he was pretty excited about that) to slice strawberries for the cake we're making tomorrow. He was soooo proud of himself. He loves cooking; he can make a mean scrambled egg, loves flipping pancakes, can measure anything in a measuring cup quite accurately and is learning the nuances of an omelet (he prefers black beans, cheese and salsa as him omelet filling) - I think he's doing quite well for a 7 year old....I think I was 12 before I learned how to even make spaghetti!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Laceylala

Congrats to victoria and Kristina on the race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Deb what is this chia seed gel you speak of?? Ive never heard of it and am alwaysmlooking for different alternatives.

Amy your cake sounds amazing! I can cook anything but have a massive he11 of a time baking anything except no knead bread. I want to make a pavlova roll with marscapone cheese filling and I am sure I can do that since I can make meringue cookies okay.
That I'd great about teaching Gabe to cook too. I let Gracie help as well at least once a week.

I'm reading a book called Food Matters. Basically the author is talking the way of Food Inc and goes on to suggest eating vegan until 6 pm for a number of reasons. Ive been considering going vegetarian for a while and like this idea. So staring tomorrow morning, vegan until dinner time as much as I can. Might add in some cheese here and there during the day but I am excited to get going.
What get me to top going vegetarian/vegan is the fact that the effects of soy on the body is relatively unknown and there is some stuff vie read regarding the soy estrogen having bad effects. But then I think, can it really be as bad or worse than eating meat and dairy full of antibiotics and chemicals? Hard to say. Everyone has to pick their food battles.

Well it's time to put the girl to bed.

KendalBeee

I'm still around. Been kinda lurking lately. Isn't this the last week of this challenge? Should we start coming up with the next challenge name?

Laceylala

My challenge for the next period is to eat Vegan/Vegetarian until dinner and to get to the gym five days a week.

Since the challenge will end right around TG day, maybe we can do something like Takin' off for the Turkey? And focus on a goal of X minutes of exercise per week? LOL. Sorry thats all I got.

Laceylala

I just got my flight itinerary for my trip. I have to leave Eugene at 5:20 am pacific and don't arrive to my final destination until 7pm eastern time.
Getting up at 3:30 is going to kill me. Kill. Me.

akasullengal

Kendal-- yep, this is the last week of the challenge.

Any thoughts for names? Also, it's the end of the first year for some of us (or at least this group on the board). Do we still want to continue to have 6-week challenges, or have more of an ongoing support thread? Or, instead of starting a new thread every week, we can have a new thread for each 6-week challenge (and just have multiple pages on it). Thoughts?

Lacey- keep us updated on your vegan quest! I love cheese too much to be vegan. I've been a vegetarian for 10+ years now and have no regretted it!

Amy- thanks for the congrats!

So, a little more info on the half, as I have more time now. The parents and I got into the city later in the afternoon on Saturday and met Victoria at the Expo to pick up our tees, bibs, and freebies. Got up at an ungodly hour on Sunday and walked over to the race with the parents and Victoria and her mom. Sucks having to start in the dark, but what made it worth it was the view of the sun rising as we ascended the Ambassador Bridge into Canada. It was a pretty flat course, minus the Bridge and the tunnel. The worst part was the tunnel, mostly because it was so much hotter in there. I felt good throughout the race.. was really worried I would tucker out, because it was longer than I'd ever run before, and I was going at a faster pace, but I was good! Ran with Victoria for the majority of it, and the last 5K ran it alone. Finished in 2:53:14. Was very happy! My only real goal was to finish, but was happy to go faster than I'd ever run for any distance remotely close to it, was able to run the whole time, and was under 3 hours. Woo! Definitely want to run another half-- will have to investigate other races for the future.

I'll attach some pictures from the race in my next post.

akasullengal

Victoria and I popping out of the tunnel from Canada, back into the US. Just passed mile 8 at this point.



And we're still moving...



Remarkably still smiling as I approach the finish line. Notice the guy in front of me, about to finish his MARATHON. Obviously, he's feeling the burn more than me.



Just a few more feet!



The back of the half-marathon shirt participants got. Loved it!

Laceylala

YAY Kristina! Those pics are great!

Personally I would think that we could just keep the same thread going so we don't have to find a new one each week and you don't have to keep posting new ones..as for the challenges...I like them, but I will take what I can get.


I'm only going vegan till dinner...then going to eat meat, cheese, etc.. There are way too many good cheeses out there. Speaking of I bought two things of haloumi cheese at Whole Foods in Portland this weekend and I need to geto n foodgawker.com and see what to do with it. I only know you can grill it....

Off to the gym soon.

stroynaya

Congrats Kristina and Victoria on the successful 1/2 marathon!

Sorry I haven't been around too much. I'm struggling right now, which is when I should be on the boards, right? Anyway, am still maintaining at 285, I think. TOM has arrived and I am staying away from the scale until that is done. But I don't expect great things because I have been bad about giving into cravings this month.

I'm not sure how much I'll be around the next week. I found out earlier today that my Grandpa died, so will be traveling home for the funeral. Still waiting for details on that.

As far as new threads--maybe once a month instead of once a week?

KendalBeee

Sarah- I'm so sorry about your grandpa.

Victoria and Kristina- I am so jealous that you two were able to do a half marathon! maybe someday I will be able.....



I'm all for the no more new weekly threads. It will take us a LONG time to fill up a 500 post thread. Then we won't have to come up with challenge names. We can change it do 200+ November, 200+ December....


I have 2 measly little pounds until I hit 215 and I have 2 weeks to get it done.

makeitallsue

Hey everyone...I can't sleep so I am upstairs...Not sure what is up with me...I have been so moody. Noone in this house stands a chance around me...nothing is making me happy. Again I do believe it is hormonal...and I am so sick of this....last night I couldn't stop eating to save my life.

Kristina and Victoria...Seriously...VERY VERY proud of your accomplishment....awesome, just awesome...you ladies rock!!

Amy I have been trying to watch the sodium too, your right it is in everything....for some reason I have been craving pickles too???? What's up with that???? No Not pregnant...just eating like I am...:sad:

Lacey...chia gel is made from the chia seed. I take 3 TLSP of dry chia and mix it with 9 TLBS water, the chia absorbs the water and then you are able to refridgerate it and you can use it in baking to reduce the fat by half. We use it in our cookies all the time, and you can see the little dark fleck of chia...it doesn't effect flavor, reduces the fat...you gain fiber and other good for you things. I thought I shared the info last year when I started using chia, it is a hydrator, energy boost...etc, supposedly the indians used it centuries ago, also helps regulate bowels with regular use. I used to take a serving everyday, but got away from that...but we do use it to reduce fats in cooking and baking...I have some web sites book marked...if you like I can share them...just have to find them....lol

KendalBeee

hey whats up?


just feel like we've become incredibly quiet in the past 4-5 weeks. We had less than 30 posts one week! Thats ridiculous! We should post more!


I just had a 90 cal chewy granola bar for my morning snack and I'm tempted to have more. And that is whats on my mind for the moment.

Laceylala

Kendal - are you still hungry? That Food Matters book I'm reading stated something about living with the hunger for a while before you eat. Now I know that, but the way it was written came through to me...and I am struggling with it but trying to live with the hunger for a bit before I eat to see if I am really hungry or not. Its hard!

Deb - perhaps you did post something about chia gel a while ago but I have the memory of a dog lately so remembering things that happened two days ago, much less months ago is impossible! LOL. I looked it up yesterday and am goign to buy some to try. I am thinking it would be a great addition to my smoothie in the morning.

And Deb - I was like that a few weeks ago. It is totally hormonal. I just really wanted to snip and snap at everyone and was filled with all this horrible bad emotion and stuff. It sucks and is completely unfair that we have to go through that.

Sarah - I am sorry to hear about your grandpa.

Amy - I saw pics of your cake on FB...was it as amazing as it looks??


I went to the gym, logged my cals did great then came home and drank a bit of beer, ate a bit of candy and overate at dinner. I've logged everything but I think I am off on how much I ate and it should probly be a couple hundred more. gah!

KendalBeee

Lacey- yeah I gave in and had a 100 cal rice krispie treat. I logged everything and have zumba tonight, so I'm not TOO worried about the extra cals.


I just got an email that they have started planning our 10 year high school reunion. :noway: I was around 210-215 when I graduated high school. Considering I'm 217.4 this morning, I'm not too far off. But I want to shock the hell out of everyone and seriously drop more weight. It'll be nice to have a timeline that I have no control over.

Yall have Wii's, right? what games do yall play for exercise?

anvy0530

Hiya - I've been around but my time management skills suck. I blink, and somehow it has become time to make dinner and I have no real idea how I spent my day. I'd claim narcolepsy or something but I'm pretty sure I remain conscious the entire time. Anyways, I started a new running program that should help me to speed up. I can run 4 miles at a 13:30 pace but I'm looking for more distance and a better pace. The Bridge to 10K program wasn't doing it for me so I switched to something from the Cool Runnings page that starts at about 20 miles a week and includes fartleks, hill training, and tempo runs. I'm thinking I'll see some results with it. Today, Gabe and I ran 4 miles. Usually, Gabe rides his bike while I run but he wants to improve his endurance for soccer so he said he'd run today and he DID GREAT! I was super proud to see him running and LIKING it. I also got a nice surprise in my mail today - the Recovery Socks I ordered arrived. Now, I'm sure they aren't for everyone but they are perfect for me. They are basically fancy-looking compression socks to aid with circulation for the calves to speed recovery. Since I had blood clots in BOTH of my calves last year, I severely damaged the vascular system in both of my calves so they often ache after running as blood is pooling down there and not recirculating back into my system as fast as it should due to the damaged veins. Well, I pulled these babies on this evening (ok, that kind of makes it sound like they were easy to put on - they weren't it was like putting on pantyhose that was 2 sizes too small x 1000) and my legs feel really good!

Kendal: I used to love my Wii but the damned power supply broke and I haven't gotten a replacement as I live out of the country and it's a pain in the *kitten*....but I WILL replace it...at some point. I like pretty much any game for the Wii but the ones I particularly enjoy are the Raving Rabbids games because they are funny, enjoyable and you move around a little. They really aren't exercise though. For exercise, I like the EA Sports Active and the Wii Fit. I also totally dig Punchout (it's boxing AND fun!). I didn't go to my 10 year reunion; I just didn't see any reason to fly halfway across the country to see a bunch of people that, if I really was friends with them, I would have stayed in touch. Maybe you high school years were better than mine. I'm sure you will knock 'em dead at your reunion!

Lacey: my cake was amazing. I froze half of it and then threw away what we didn't eat so I didn't feel guilty "letting it go to waste".

Debra: That chia gel sounds interesting, I'll have to do some research on that. I hear you on the being a grumpy pants. I have found myself WAY more PMS-y than usual. And not just in the scream at people for no reason way - but I've also had more physical PMS symptoms than usual the past couple of months (way sore boobs, back aches, cramps, etc). It sucks.

Sarah: I'm sorry about your grandpa. Take care of yourself.