Exercise and Weight Loss Challenges
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Glad you had a great feast and a good Christmas with family. I am still 'away' so no scale to scold me yet. I will have weigh in on Sunday am.
I enjoyed being able to get to a gym again. On my list of activity next week, community centre join. I can get too focused on exercise but the 'mini's sort of have to because of low BMI and daily calories. There is no room for extras at all, unless you exercise.
Maintenance is tough. But I know you will do it and hopefully help me when I get there. I am struggling with the end of this challenge both because I think I am a long way off getting under 160 and that it is at an end.
I am up for another from January if you ladies will stay with me, it will be easier. Thinking about what I want to do. I am thinking behaviour, not scale.
Christmas was good to me with a camera and sewing stuff. Well spoiled. We have one more Christmas with another brother, so one more meal but that will be a home cooked one so a bit easier to manage than the large portion restaurant meals I have been facing. Lamb shanks were good but huge meal and even only eating a portion of it was too much.
I am off home today and will check in with you tomorrow. Keep up the good work!0 -
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time Marney and glad you are thinking about your next goal for 2015. I'm back down to 188.3 (my mfp low is 186.6) so only 1.7 to go to recover from my holiday excess. I believe it is healthy (psychologically) to have these planned cheats.0
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Oh, I agree about the planned "cheats." I don't like to use that word though. Instead I just look at it as another form of mindful eating. I know what I am doing and choose to do it. I just reserve it for the most special times.
Marney, I like your idea of a behavior change. I really need to do that to, but I know what it should be and I'm just not ready to commit. Okay...Strength Training! There I said it. Although I try to do it and know I should do it as part of my workout routine, I am not ready to commit myself to a challenge. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I hate strength training.
I have been working on stress relief and techniques for my current behavior change. Still need to keep up with that. Hope the Tai Chi will help.
I think we are all doing good. Sometimes I wonder how to get past a big gain or struggling with a bout of hungry days, but I get through it and then "whoosh", I will lose. However, I must admit, those bouts can last weeks and can seem very discouraging. That is why I like to go up to the "reports" and look at the chart for the past several months. Then I see a nice steady downward incline that doesn't feel steady at all. Progress photos help, too!
Do you ladies do rewards? I try to do about every 15 pounds. I owe myself one from when I hit overweight; but, with Christmas expenses, I just haven't wanted to take the $$$$. I have said I want a massage, but I did get a B&B card and I have two restaurant gift cards for two upscale restaurants. Maybe, I'll just make those my rewards for the next few times. Won't be my dime, either!0 -
One of my goals for 2015 is to meditate by following my breath or using a mediation tape daily. Everything goes better when I do and I'm sorry I got out of the habit. Also want to work for at least an hour daily in the studio and write daily. I'm still working on my exercise goals, that is one of my inactive areas.
I too look at the reports fairly often, a good encouragement! Rewards, that's harder--I am a desert first person sort of person and have never really succeeded at delaying gratification, although telling myself that I will "eat that tomorrow" has worked for the last few months. Wonderful that I rarely crave that thing the next day. If I want something (I usually want art supplies) I often delay no longer than the next payday. Childish, I know. So extra "rewards", no. But now that I think about it I should reward myself with a new pair of pants of the like, for the decade marks. So, change of plan--yes, I will reward myself with new pants each decade I lose, starting in 2015.0 -
I love the "next day" strategy. Sort of how I quit smoking after 35 years of chain smoking up to 3 packs a day. This was now about 16 years ago. I couldn't do it day by day, but craving by craving, so sometimes it was only 30 seconds. The thought of never smoking again was overwhelming. So every time I would reach for a cigarette, I would say, "You are a grownup and can smoke if you want to. But you really don't want this one." I occasionally still want a cigarette and tell myself the same thing. I haven't yet had even one.
I'm not a sweet lover, but sometimes I want sweets. I know. It doesn't make sense. For me I will walk around the bakery and then nothing looks good so I walk out. I don't think that would work though if I loved them. Would it?
I didnt know you were an artist. Tell me about it.0 -
Exactly Charlie! I was a chain smoker too, my lungs remind me some times. I quit in 1986. Hypnosis worked for me with that, also taking a deep breath whenever I wanted a cigarette. Yes, and delaying the cigarette, knowing that that intense craving would pass. Both my parents smoked and my mother smoked during her pregnancy with me. I was never really smoke-free until I quit, all those years later. Yikes!
Yes to the walking through the bakery and leaving. I am getting better at determining what I really want to eat, eating more consciously and mindfully. And not letting my taste buds run the show.
I got my my bachelor of fine arts (drawing and painting) in 1988. It has always been a passionate hobby but now that I am retired I am going more professional. Run some art groups and constantly looking at art and thinking about it as well. Right now I am making painted paper collage (pictures created with snips of hand painted paper).
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Wow!!! Is that ever beautiful!
I did not log my weight gain over Christmas. It was too discouraging and New Years is around the corner. I have really lost it on holidays. Too much food, too much salt, not enough water and guests for dinner tonight; our first day back. However, cleaning and doing 5 loads of laundry should help a little. DH cooking sausage rolls for lunch did not help! However, he is not responsible for what goes in my mouth. Need to get re-focused.
Funny when I retired, I got really interested in handmade paper but I can only draw stick figures and I shortly realized that the interest was in texture and colour and I switched to fabric and sewing. There I stayed. Did not like sewing as a kid. It was frustrating to not be able to do the couture sewing that my mother taught me and seemed to expect. She knew the techniques but I never saw her sew??!!!! Now, I love it and I am relearning techniques I was taught as a child. I wish she was around to ask and share.
Gayle, I still cannot get over how lovely the iris is! The purple detail inside the flower is gorgeous. And I love the scale-like pattern on the blooms. Even the background brown has interest. WOW!
I have to get my new camera out and learn how to post pics.
Meditation is an idea. I never smoked so I did not have that monkey on my back. I really, really respect people who have successfully quit. It is obviously so very, very tough and seems a struggle years later. An ex-smoker rather than me, a non-smoker and there seems such a difference.
For me, only weigh gain. And not until my 40s which sort of screws up my thinking because I still think of myself as a small person, and I am not. It cannot be that bad, because I am a small person, sort of thinking. I think I will add good behaviour bit by bit and when I conquer one, I will reset for another. A different concentration each week or two. A bit strange and maybe hard to keep track in this blog but it might work.0 -
Marney, thanks for your kind words! You can see it looks sort of like a fabric piece and if I wasn't currently afraid of my sewing machine I would sew on my art pieces as well. I had the same singer for many, many years and gave it away when I got a newer brother machine but now this machine is a stranger to me and having a hard time starting with it. But will soon. I have never been one to sew something to wear but have made a few comforters and the like. Like the free stitching. Love texture, love color.
I know what you mean about thinking about yourself looking a certain way--I think I still think I look the way I did when I was in my 20's, and started on mfp when I caught a glimpse of myself in a store window and finally realized how heavy I was. I have friends who never knew me when I was slender even though it has only been 15 or so years that I have been heavy. But almost back to my more slender self. My "real" self in my mind.
I like your idea of focusing on various behaviors you would like to improve. I certainly would like to work on all my resolutions I'm thinking about for the New Year.0 -
Still hoping to hit my goal. I have been hungry though the past couple of days. Worry that I will go on a food binge. When I say hungry, I really mean hunger. Stomach growling right now. Doesn't make sense. Had a huge dinner-sized salad with grilled bbq chicken, tortilla chips, cheese, corn, tomatoes, etc. And a slice of pumpkin bread with coffee for dessert (I never do that.) It wasnt early either. Around 7:30. I had a glass of a smoothie about a half-hour ago. Again, I seldom eat after dinner. It is only 10:30 and my stomach is growling again. I usually do 1200 calories. Did almost 1400 today and I'm still hungry. Makes no sense.
Love the collage, Gayle. You are very talented. I too love the color and textures. How large is the piece? What is the base material.
I have some talent, but little imagination. I do mostly portraits and figures when the mood strikes me. I like charcoal, but can't do color. More able to illustrate I guess you could say. I do sew, crochet, but mostly love to craft with my granddaughter now. She will call me on Sundays to find out what our Monday craft will be when I go over to visit.
Like you, I am a huge art lover. I have a goal to visit the major art museums of the world. I have been to many, but more to go. Love the sculptures and paintings of the Renaissance masters and some of the French impressionists. Michelangelo has brought tears to my eyes more than once. I like glass artists like Chihuly and when it comes to abstract art, I prefer sculpture like Moore and Pomodoro.
I understand the feeling thin, as i was thin most of my life. I found being overweight so cumbersome. No flexibility. No room to manuever. I surprise myself now as I don't hesitate picking something up off the floor or think of how I'm going to squeeze though a crowded restaurant. When I walk at the gym, I feel as light as air.
Im yawning. Hope I can fall asleep being hungry.
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Hello All! Hope you are staying warm. It is below zero here. Tomorrow it is supposed to warm up again, glad. Charlie, thanks your comments about my collage. Can't decide whether to do a lotus or a sunflower for my next one. Also working on a large one that will definitely take me awhile. I'm almost back to my pre-feast weight. Wow, tomorrow is New Year's Eve! A final weigh in and the new challenge begins on the first! I'm up for it. And Marney and Charlie, you definitely do not have to be good at drawing to be a creative artist. Everyone has their own form of expression. Know it gives meaning to my life and everyone has their own way of doing that (or should, I think).0
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Hi all,
Good news and bad news. Good news, my DH and I went stationary bike shopping today and we will pick it up tomorrow. Bad news, I got hungry before dinner and hit the corn chips we had around. I am down a little and hope to be at my 162 before New Years. I looked at reports and I have been gaining and losing the same 4 lbs all this past month, so that will spur me on in the new year. Out to friends for New Years and staying over night. Country partying, you always stay over. So, weigh in either tomorrow or the 2nd for me.
-18C here and snowing. Happy New Year everyone!
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It is 13 degrees right now. Brrrrr.... I have to walk over to our main offices soon.
I still have 1/2 pound to lose by tomorrow, but I have my food already planned and I usually lose on my days off. Maybe because I sleep longer and better. Go to bed feeling less stress. Only bad thing is that I'm planning on Asian food tonight and that tends to be a water weight gain sometimes. I might rethink that.
Problem will be working out today. Gym closes today at 5 p.m. so I won't make it. I think I will shut my office door at lunchtime, put on some fast music, and dance! Haven't done that in a while. It is a good workout and easy to accomplish. Tomorrow gym is closed entirely. Although it is to be little warmer, so unless it is too windy, I might be able to handle a walk in the woods tomorrow. Frankly, I can stand the cold better than the heat!
Marney, great about the bike! I love using the recumbent stationary bike at the gym. I put on Hulu and the 1/2 hour flies. It is also great since you can usually adjust levels. I started at Level 3 last January. I'm at Level 11. It goes to 20. I keep track of my heartrate to keep it in fat burning level. If for some reason, my heartrate gets too high, I back off to level 10.
Are we going to make it an Easter challenge? That would be 14 weeks. It is getting harder to burn enough calories to have a pound a week. (As Marney says, for a mini!) Oh, what the heck. I'll make it 14 pounds in 14 weeks. 140 is my goal!
Have a0 -
Hi Guys
Last day of our challenge for 2014. Do a weigh in on January 2, 2015, as the starting weight for the 2015 Easter challenge, to keep it as a Friday weigh-in. Our last weigh-in for the Easter Challenge will be April 3rd, Good Friday.
Start--207
Sept. 5--205.6
Sept 12--203
Sept 19--202.8
Sept 26--200.9
Oct. 3rd--199.2
Oct. 10th-198
Oct. 17th-198.3
Oct. 24th-198
Oct. 31st--194.6
Nov. 6th -192.6
Nov. 14th-191.9
Nov. 21st-191.1
Nov. 28th-192.5 (up 1.4)
Dec. 5th - 190.3
Dec. 12th-188.7 (1.6 down)
Dec. 19th-187.1 (1.6 down)
Dec. 31st -187.5 (up .4)
19.5 pounds lost during the challenge
Happy New Year!!0 -
My last weigh-in for the year today because I am eating Moo Shu tonight and that can't be good for the scale. Marney I'm buying a treadmill this month, at least that is the plan. My son and I are both up for it.0
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So, I didn't make 154. I came in today at 154.5. Close enough? Oh well, I'm happy. Last year at this time I was over 231! Could only walk 15 minutes at 2 miles an hour. I've come a long way baby!
It is really cold but I'm going to bundle up later and try a walk in the woods. Should get up to 30 today and it is sunny. Wish the gym were open.
Gayle, what a great job! That is over a pound a week!
I still can't decide on Easter goal. 10 or 14? I'll let you know on Friday! I am slowing down and need to be realistic.0 -
Charlie, that is great!! Wow, 231 to 154.5, amazing. I hope when I get to my one year mark (in July) I will be the slender, fit person I've been visualizing. I've gone from 218 to 186. 6 so far (notice I don't record my bumps up). Today I feel so sick from staying up too late and eating too much. Man, just not worth it. Can't really believe that we are actually in 2015 now. Can't decide what to eat today to get back on track, nothing sounds good. Trying to find the directions for a one day protein fast I used to use. Chicken breasts and eggs, but can't remember the quantities.0
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Oh, Mary is coming back for the next challenge. She's changed her user name though and still trying to figure out how to accept my invitation and get in. That will be great to have 4 of us in the challenge!0
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Hi all,
Whooohoooo!!!! Charlie, you are amazing. What a look back! Easter here we come! And, Gayle, who knew 20 was realistic! I remember the doubts. Not 20 for me. Weigh in tomorrow for which I am grateful.
NY party, ate too much, too rich, dinner was at 9:30pm so snacking on stuff all night. Stayed up too late. Only one glass of wine though. An being with a Caribbean hostess, garlic pork with a shooter of gin for breakfast. Both Peter's and my stomach are upset. But home and thinking about health plans.
OK, week one goals for me. Post a profile pix and drink 8 glasses of water a day.
Happy New Year to all!!!0 -
gaylebodine wrote: »Oh, Mary is coming back for the next challenge. She's changed her user name though and still trying to figure out how to accept my invitation and get in. That will be great to have 4 of us in the challenge!
Gosh,I can't believe I have finally found this group.I called my computer guy and he doesn't know what happened.Thanks for helping me out.I didn't gain during Christmas,it was after when i was left with too many goodies.After sending it home with my kids and sharing it with others I still had enough to set me back because i'm so weak.
I'm ready for the new challenge and i'm shopping for a new treadmill also.
Gayle,love,love,love the picture.You are really talented.
Talk later.
Mary
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I'll see all of you on the 2nd for our first weigh in for the 2015 first challenge. Talk about your goals for 2015.0
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Jan2-165.50
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2015.My goal is to lose 26 lbs and continue to exercise.Less sweets (or none)and more vegetables.Ask for help when I need it and give support when needed.Be thankful for each day and the people God has put in my path.I'm looking forward to reaching my goal this year and helping you reach yours.
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Game on Mary!
I too am 165.5 this morning. Race you down! 4 miles...... hummmm Did some snow shovelling this morning but I don't think it adds up to 4 miles.
Away over night again. But I am cooking the final Christmas at another brother's so I have some control. (If I have control of myself!)
This week's goals, post a pix on mfp and drink 8 glasses of water every day.
I am going to repost my starting weight so it is easier to post weight trends over the challenge.
Gayle, you are a star! And, Charlie, awe inspiring. Mary and I did get some weigh off, whooohooo, so that is a win. And we are all back together again.
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Jan 2 165.50
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Wow! "and we are all back together again". Yes! Marney and Mary, can't believe that you two are at exactly the same weight! And you two are right about at my goal weight, by the way. Think I will almost get there by the end of this challenge. Charlie, I know we will see you later today since you are back at work, I think. My 1st and specific goal is to lose 20 pounds by April 3rd, 2015. My more general goals, which I will clarify and focus on as we go along are to take a lot more responsibility for my health. I will go to the chiropractor, the audiologist, the dermatologist, the optometrist and whatever specialist I might need rather than just worry about or ignore my concerns. My third goal is to establish a daily exercise routine. This last is something I have not done at all and it shows! I know that yoga and walking are two things that are doable and I have no excuse for not doing. My fourth goal is meditate daily. I feel better when I do, I have just been lazy. Lastly, and not related to this challenge but crucial for my sense of a meaningful life, is to work daily in my studio and be a more productive and successful artist. I mean to produce more work and sell more of it as well as produce and sell workshops and classes.
1/02/15: 187.30 -
Great goals, girls! I will join you in meditating. Gayle. I'm getting better at it, but not consistent enough.
Learning Tai Chi is a goal. (I start on January 7 and the classes go 12 weeks -- just the right timetable.)
I am also going to "take the stairs" every time I leave my office. It is in the basement and I have to get to the ground floor to leave. Otherwise, I will take the stairs more often. Will start doing one and two flights, then will work my way up from there.
I weighed in today at 155.5 (1 pound over my low and 1.5 pounds short of my goal for the challenge! Considering how I pigged out yesterday, I'm surprised that is all it was.) We have 13 full weeks. I will say 10 pounds or specifically 145 as it is getting harder the closer I get to goal.
Starting Weight Jan. 2, 2015: 155.5 lbs.
Goal Weight April 3, 2015: 145 lbs.
We can do this!
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I would like to lose at least 10 lbs during this challenge.
Mary.0 -
Sounds good guys. Just copy paste your weight from today and add your weight for next Friday, list style, like we did during the last challenge. Charlie, love the graphic! We CAN do this!!0
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You guys, I've lost 30+ pounds since last July. I went to try on new jeans and got a real gander at my legs--yikes! All saggy skin and varicose veins. I know part of this is losing weight without exercising and part is just getting another year older. Any suggestions, encouragement? Know I need to consistently exercise, but will my skin ever catch up with my weight loss? I've had turkey neck. But now I have turkey legs too!
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I don't know, my problem is my tummy, although it is probably better than I thought. I have some saggy in my thighs, but, don't think there is much we can do. There are "firming" creams for the body. That might help some. I haven't used it, but I think that the firming cream I have used on my face and neck has helped, so worth a try.0
