*Snowflakes to Sunshine* Discussion Week#16 4.22.11

Krys_T

Hello Snowflakes! Hope everyone is having a great week...or should I say HAD a great week! I hope the changes people decided to make are working for them. Looking forward to hearing all of your successes and goals for the upcoming week. You guys are doing wonderful and are so strong. We are nearing the final stretch of the challenge. We literally only have 6 weeks left! WOW! And I am extremely happy with all that you all have accomplished physically, mentally and emotionally! Give yourselves a pat on the back and let's turn it up these next 6 weeks and make them count! 2 questions for you all this week:

1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far?

2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge?


I am thinking of starting another one, with a little different goal. So looking for feedback . Have a wonderful upcoming week! Rock it out ladies!

Christine1110

One thing I have learned from this is ...I didn't realize how strong I am. I have always used my age as a excuse. Not anymore ; )

I would love to be in another one of your challenges! They keep me motivated, but I have less then 20 pounds to lose. They say the last 10 is the hardest....so I need you!

robynrae_1

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TeresaSavage

Hello!!

What I got out of this challenge:

Learning to eat healthy, My self esteem, Happiness




I would like to see for another challenge:

strength training
Eating healthy
10 to 15 pound weight loss ( Boy, Im asking for alot:bigsmile: )

forgiven4life

Good morning ladies! I am soooooo happy to report my weight loss this week. I'm down 3.4 lbs! I can hardly believe it. As I said last week, I was tweaking some things and it seemed to have worked. :bigsmile: I'm going to continue to do the same thing this week and then I will switch it up again to keep my body guessing. I have cut down on my carb tremendously, but have not cut them out altogether. What carbs I've had have come from veggies and fruit and yogurt. I've been eating clean (I think) and I have been enjoying it every minute. My meals have been fabulously tasty and I love eating this way. I feel good and I can see changes happening to my body. And moreover, my self esteem. The one thing I have NOT done is much exercising. I have kind of let that fall by the wayside. So my goal this week is to make sure I add that back in.

As far as another challenge, I would love to participate in another challenge! I love your encouraging words and the way you help us out Krystal. I've enjoyed being in this challenge and have made some good friends along the way. What I would like to see in the next challenge is maybe something based around nutrition and maybe exercise as well as a weight loss goal. What ever you have in store, I am sure it will be fantastic! Thanks for all you do!:flowerforyou:

onlyhalfcrazy

Good morning everyone!! Hope everyone is healthy and happy and EXCITED about the changes they are making for themselves.
Krystle I am so excited about this challenge!! I have to tell you, I did this a couple of years ago, Lost 40 pounds and then life went crazy (long story :yawn: ) so I gained it back and that is what brought me to MFP. But let me say, The other website I used did the same thing, I joined a group, got involved in a challenge and no joke I think we ended up with 6 or 7 different leaders because our leaders kept giving up. I hope you know beautiful lady, how much of a difference you have made in each of our lives. I am the happiest I have been since the birth of my son 13 years ago. Thank you for encouraging us and keeping us on track.

This week im down another 1.4lbs!! 29.2 all together. I have right at 11 more pounds to loose. I would like to loose it before this challenge ends but not sure if that is reasonable considering Im average a pound or so a week.

I would love to be involved in a challenge with you this summer. Count me in whatever it is!! I NEED the accountability.

By the way, dont know if Ive shared what broke my plateau ~ I am eating non processed foods. It is making all the difference in the world. I can see muscle definition I could not see 3 weeks ago!! Amazing!!

simplyxaddicted

Hello ladies
I hope you are all having a tremendous day thus far... as for me My legs are very sore ever since I did the 30 day shred level one and HIIT 15 turbo fire at the same time... I pushed through my workout yesterday despite the discomfort but today I am in no shape to be jumping around my legs are just DEAD! :ohwell: So im gonna take today as a rest day and give my muscles a chance to repair !
I noticed the energy I have now is amazing when I first started this challenge i could barely do 20 jumping jacks and last night I did 100 wooo hoo !
I have stuck at a plateau for about 3 weeks now.. gonna try to tweak somethings here and there... Cuz it is getting frustrating..
AS far as another challenge I would just love to Count me in

healthydoseofglitter

1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far?

2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge?

1) That I need to eat my net calories. That has been the best piece of knowledge from me that I would not have realized on my own. I also did realize how strong I am, I can do this!!!

2) Praying for a new challenge group again. This has helped me so much!!! I would love to see some fitness added to the challenge like Week One we have to take an extra 10,000 steps Week Two we need to get 1000 jumping jacks in ... something along those lines we can keep each other accountable for during the week As to lbs lost I have a lot to loose so any number is good with me!

Have a good week ladies!!!

Steph_135

I'm happy with my 1.5 lbs loss this week, but I'm switching to an electronic scale now (finally) for a more accurate number. The scale was actually a gift for my mom. (hint hint Mom... ) So anyway, as expected, my weight is a little higher than the analog scale reading... or maybe I gained 4 lbs from breakfast! :laugh: :noway: Whatever, I'll just pretend my start weight was a little higher, or something. I'll figure it out next Friday.

1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far?
2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge?

1) GREAT FRIENDS and support. I love you all, even if you haven't personally connected off the forums. And the sense of moving along down a stream with everyone onboard the same boat. I love that!

2) I really want to reach my goal weight by the end of August (40 more lbs). At the far back of my mind, I think it could take until the end of the year, which is fine, but I wanna give it my all. Maybe it's just the time of year, but the boards seem to be a little quieter. I think it will pick up in the summer, cause that seemed to happen last year. I think it would be cool if someone thought of a way to make the boards more interactive. I really like the questions that Krys posts to keep the conversations going. I feel like posting weights on one board and discussions in another is kind of cool, but I kind of feel like I'm posting or reading the same things twice on each board sometimes, so maybe they could be merged... Other than that, I'm happy with whatever happens.

I like ttv2004's idea of weekly challenges. I'm doing that with some other groups, and it's really fun to try and complete those with a bunch of other people.

Great loss Brandy! What a change in you from a few weeks ago!! :drinker:

dinareed

Oh Krys_T... I have gotten so much from this challenge that I could not even begin to post it all on here. I have gotten to know some great women, I've gotten support, I've gained some self-esteem and realized that I am a lot stronger than I give myself credit for. In addition, I've learned quite a bit about nutrition. You guys have motivated me when I wanted to quit. I'm not losing the weight as fast as I want, but it is coming off (slowly!). I am so thankful to all you guys and this challenge. I am nowhere close to my goal weight yet, but I am losing inches and my clothes aren't as tight as they were.

As far as another challenge, I love ttv2004's ideas of weekly challenges.... I also would like to see a focus on healthy eating (maybe weekly challenges for this as well... like this week eat at least 4 servings of fruit and vegetables...) We could even do something like a walk across America... we could add up our exercise miles (biking, swimming, walking....) and see how far we could walk? I am not very creative so just throwing stuff out there! Of course the main goal is weight loss (or maintaining for some!) but maybe we could focus more on the steps to get there? Or instead focus on the inches lost versus weight loss? Just ideas...

Thank you guys for all you do to inspire, motivate and challenge each other. Y'all are the greatest!

givprayz

I think I am breaking through this plateau at last! I am only down .4 from 2 weeks ago, but like 1.8 from last week, and I'm the lowest weight I've been in probably 13 years. Considering it's TOM, I might even see some big losses this week.

I didn't really do anything different this week, except to keep sticking to the plan even though the scale wasn't behaving. I am weaning myself off of several medications, so my lack of energy probably has a lot to do with that. I want my sleep/wake patterns to normalize without the use of meds, and the pain from my fibromyalgia isn't really any different since I stopped those meds, so I expect to be off everything except thyroid hormone by the end of the challenge as well as almost 40 pounds lighter (I hope.)

What have I gotten from the challenge? I have been motivated to keep at it when I might have given up if I wasn't a part of this group. I have been encouraged when I was down, and been able to give support and share knowledge, things I really enjoy.

What would I want from a new challenge? I hope to be at or very near my goal weight by the end of this challenge, so I wouldn't really want to join another challenge based on weight-loss. I think I might like the weekly fitness challenges, and I will either join or start a maintenance group.

emma44ny

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Suzeesmu

BUMP for later

Krys_T

Happy Saturday! Well I looked at the calendar today and realized that it is crunch time for me! I am going to California for my brother's graduation and I want to be under 200. Now since my family has seen me, back in September, I have lost about 30lbs but I would really like to see ONEderland by then. I live on May 26th and that is about a week before the end of the challenge as well....which also happens to be Memorial Day Weekend (BBQ everywhere in my family, good thinking Krystle yeesh) and although I will have not lost 40lbs, being in the 100's will suffice. So I am really going to have to buckle down with eating these next 5 or so weeks! Hardcore! I know its doable though, I have done it before and I will do it again.

To answer my own questions;

1) What I have gotten out of this challenge...WOW! I can't even put into words! I have found a passion and met the most amzing people I have ever met in my life. It has been so wonderful to be a blessing to you all and to have you all as a blessing to me. Like Dina said, I realize how strong I really am. I think when I gained weight...I totally lost sight of how strong I am and stopped setting goals for myself. Now, I have a list of them that I am looking to accomplish in the next 12 months and I am so excited about them all. I owe all of this to you all. Always, uplifting me and showing me that all things are possible with a little motivation and inspiration from others! Thank you all so much! Also, researching stuff to talk about on here has opened up my own mind to a mountain of knowledge in exercise and nutrition. You all have had wonderful ideas that will be with me forever!

2) The next challenge I am liking the mini-goals each week related around exercise and nutrition. I think I like the idea of servings of foods, steps taken, calories burned...awesome. I think since nutrition is such an enormous part of weight loss it is important for us to attack it head on. Also, weekly calories burned will be good as well and I will say, I would like more conversation in this next challenge since it won't be based around reaching another number.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter Sunday tomorrow and a great day today

CuteMommy88

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whittrusty

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TeresaSavage

Next Challenge

A thought, If we all choose 5 specific nutritional goals. For instance ( SODIUM, SATURATED FAT, FIBER, PROTEIN & CHOLESTEROL) Daily...... cholesterol 300 mg , saturated fat is 10%, sodium 1500, fiber 25 to 30 and so on. we can all research and get the real facts . and then calories burned a week is a great idea. and we'd all set our own burned calories goal for the week? Is that what you where thinking of Krystle? or where you thinking of working it differently?


I wish I was computer / excel savy But Im not! Sorry :ohwell:

If we do this by ticker ( exercise) we only have miles / steps or hours to go by.
And I don't see any tickers for nutrition :ohwell:

kaylenlawrence

hello lovely ladies..Everyone is doing such a fabulous job..keep your heads high and keep kicking butt!!!

i just realized at the beginning of this wonderful challenge i started at 205lbs i weighed in at 173..6 today.. i am roughly 8 lbs shy of the 40 lb challenge!!
Saturday, I went shopping and bought a size 10 pant !!!! which is huge being i started in an 18..
I have learned so much about myself during this journey, I feel like a stronger person on the inside and outside :]


so ladies, lets kick fat's *kitten* !!!!!


also this week, I am revising my workout schedule
3 days - 30 minutes of cardio, ABS, and arm routine..the routines i am not sure of yet i will finish compiling that tomorrow so if you have any suggestions, ill take it
3 days - and hour of cardio
and 1 day of rest or yoga if i cant stand to rest

emma44ny

Hi everyone! :flowerforyou:
Last week was tough. I developed some kind of respiratory infection and working out went out the window. I tried to run on Friday and ended up having what I think may have been a mild asthma attack! SO... I'm a little out of commission until it really clears up. This coming Friday is the final weigh in of my Biggest Loser challenge at work. I was hoping for a good loss but without really working out I'm worried that may not happen.

What I have learned in this challenge...
That I am officially ready to be healthy. I have played this game with myself several times before and i always ended up giving up and going back to a bad diet and sedentary lifestyle. I am just not that girl anymore. I have will power and I am strong. I have also learned that I don't totally hate running! I have been jogging now for several weeks and am signed up for (2) 5ks and a 10k!! Who knew a once 250lb girl would be running races?!?!

Having said that, I NEED to say that this challenge has been amazing. I wake up every Friday morning so excited to see how much my hard work has paid off. Krys, I thank you for being so driven and focused on US, We owe you if nothing else, a tremendous THANK YOU! You have definitely been the glue that has kept us together. Many, many, many, thanks!

As far as a new challenge is concerned... I am in HUGE favor of a new challenge. I will probably still need to lose 30-40 ish lbs when thi challenge is over so I would love to have something to look forward to and to keep the PRESSURE ON!! Not too sure about what to add to a new challenge but exercise with strength training would a wonderful asset to me. I also think we should put it out to the masses... I can't get over how many people still peek in on our discussions and want to be a part of it. It would be great to share the wealth:happy:

Have a great week everyone. You are all so fabulous I can hardly stand it!!!

TeamLeela

1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far?

2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge?


I am thinking of starting another one, with a little different goal. So looking for feedback . Have a wonderful upcoming week! Rock it out ladies!

I can't believe its only 6 weeks left. I haven't had a chance to read what everyone is up to, but I just wanted to come on to stay connected.

1)I have developed priceless friendship and support from this challenge that I know will carry on well beyond the end of the challenge.

2) I love this challenge, the set up, the format. I love how everyone participates. I love the spreadsheet and how easy it is to input data.

For another challenge, I would be more interested in measurements. Toning, getting stronger (i.e. more pushups, no more girlie push-ups), endurance (running longer without getting winded). I still need help on the eating side of things, staying under in sodium, eating healthy fats, eating less carbs.

I don't know what everyone else said, but I look forward to reading them when things get back to normal.

barefootbeauty

Hello everyone! Happy post-Easter. I hope everyone had a wonderful time with their family and friends.
Last week, I stayed the same - no loss, no gain. I didn't work out as much as I'd wanted to because of a major muscle cramp in my thigh/butt. I did my yoga and ate well, so that was good. I'll take a no gain any day!

1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far? -- When I stop and think back on what I've received from this challenge, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I've gotten a positive support group that has been with me, helping me for months. When you have no other support system for getting healthy, that is a wonderful thing to have.

I've learned that I can do this and I can stay on the right path even though life throws me curve balls. Perservance means more than any fancy exercise equipment. Little things matter. Even though I am still 24 pounds shy of the 40lb goal, I know that I can do it. It might take me longer, but I can do it.

2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge? ---- YES, YES, YES! I would love to do another challenge. Since summer is here, I'd like to have a challenge that is both about pounds lost but also about being active. Maybe a 5K challenge, or a "miles walked/hiked" challenge. With exercise as my biggest weakness right now, I do need some encouragement in that department this summer.

This past week was good for me, albeit emotional because of my job loss. I feel like I've overcome that hump in my path this past weekend and I'm ready to move on and find my next adventure. I ate well and even though I really, really overindulged for 2.5 days this past weekend I made some good choices. I didn't eat candy or drink soda; I tried to snack on fruit and veggies; and I tried to be good. What did me in was the sodium (because everything was processed, it seemed, and my body just isn't use to that) and the WINE! Goodness gracious, I drank a lot of wine.

My NSV for today is seeing that getting back into the habit of healthy eating is easy now. Once the festivities were over, it was back to counting calories and I didn't miss a second of the splurge. So far today I've done really well with my eating and planning for the week. That is a huge success in my book.

leandread

1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far?

2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge?


#1---This is a deep question for me. The last couple of weeks, I have been looking around for new work outs, new ways to burn fat and just keep active. In this challenge so far, I have gotten to a commitment to exercise where I don't "phone it in" as Jillian would say. I stand in my living room and I sweat, scream and push it harder than I've ever done in any class at the gym. But the scale doesn't budge. I have had to learn some really hard lessons about my relationship with food. I love food. I love to snack. Somehow I try to lie to myself that if its only a handful of this or a taste of that, it doesn't really count. But it does count. It counts in a scale that doesn't move and muscles that are hidden under my flab. I can feel the hardness under the pudge. And the only reason it stays hidden is because I try to cheat the process with food. Its not going to work.
I have learned that I have to drink a gallon of water every single day to keep from retaining fluid
I have learned that sugar is an addiction and that I have to recognize it as such every single day.
I have learned that clean eating is the only way that I am going to get to that whole, healthy life that I want for myself.


#2. If we have another challenge, it would be great if we could have a weight loss goal but also an inches/toning goal. That would be so cool. The only thing that's been keeping me going forward is my tape measure.

LJ0508

Ughhhh, I just typed this long post and my 3 year old decides to go to nickjr.com as soon as I told him no. I'll be back later to post again.

Dhathri

I had developed some good friendships. I am motivated by lot of member participation. To look at the numbers and see how far we come or where we failed, is also helpful. It is a well organized and executed plan. Love it.

IsMollyReallyHungry

Well the changes I have put in place have been working for me so far for the last 2 weeks. I am still going to shoot for 40 pounds. I am at a size that if I apply myself I can still get my 40 pounds by June 1st. I just need to stay committed and focused.

On questions:

1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far?

I have gotten the accountability and support needed to push forwarded even when I was struggling. I have met some awesome ladies and it has helped me to believe I can do this for sure, no matter how long it takes.

2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge?

Whatever you decide will work for me? No ideas right now. I am so in if you do another challenge over the summer! thanks!

Kkmama

Hi Sunshines!

This is my first week with no loss. But no gain, so I will take it! Initially I felt like a failure without seeing the scale budge but then realized how far I have come since the beginning of this challenge... down 26 lbs!!! And I give a lot of credit to this group. I am motivated to see the numbers on the spreadsheet.

What have I gotten out of this challenge?
Simply put... me! I am participating in my life again, not just sitting on the sidelines. I learned that I like exercise. At the beginning I challenged myself to be active for at least 20 minutes a day. Now I am doing P90X. If someone said last year that I would be doing P90X or excited about exercise I would have laughed right in their faces. I guess the joke is on me, and I'll take it.

Another challenge?
Sign me up. I am interested in something to do with exercise... weekly calories burned, body weight % loss (I still have about 35 lbs to go, if not a bit more, if I can!), inches lost. Anything really.

Thank you Krystle for starting this challenge, I appreciate your motivation and everyone else's input. Together we are stronger than on our own.

Christina

LJ0508

I'm up one pound this week, I always get down to the 190's and get stuck than eventually gain the weight back.



1) What have you gotten out of this challenge thus far?
I've gained so much from this challenge, it would have been impossible to lose the weight that I have so far if I didn't have the support from you wonderful ladies. My eating habits have changed drastically and what's even more wonderful is that my family have taken noticed to their eating habits and health.

2) If we were to do another challenge after this...how would you all be interested in tweaking it? Or what goal would you like to obtain with a challenge?
I would love to participate in another challenge with focuses on more nutrition discussions, water intake, etc.

ltlhmom

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Krys_T

Happy Hump Day Everyone! Well I am glad to see that you all are game for another challenge. I am so ready to kick some more butt. I have heard some really great ideas thus far, so I will get my little wheels turning soon lol.

So I didn't workout for 3 days because of the holiday and got back at it yesterday...almost passed out LOL TurboFire definitely whipped me for missing workouts lol. I made a promise to myself that I would not miss another workout, no matter what, unless it is my REST day and that is ALL! Because I was dragging into work Monday and Tuesday and since I worked out last night, I slept better last night and have more energy today...I had to ask myself...why don't I want to feel like this everyday! Yeesh! LOL. So no more, I have a goal and I am going to reach it dang it! I want to lose at least another 10lbs by the end of the challenge. I won't be near 40, but hey, I have gained so much more knowledge and lost some crazy inches, and I will be happy with that.

CuteMommy88

Hello ladies!! I know I am a little late in finally replying this week, but im here now!!

1) What I have learned from this challenge

I have learned that weight loss truly is a journey, its not a diet, it is a lifestyle change. I have also learned that diets dont work. I have tried so many diets over the years and eating healthy is the only thing that has actually worked for me. I have also learned that the more people who are here to support me, the better I will do. I know that If i dont stay on board I will have people to answer to, and that has really helped me to get my head back in the game. I think the most important thing I have learned, is that its ok to slip up, and its ok to "cheat" every once in a while. Before this challenge as soon as I would mess up once i would have the "screw it" mentality and just give up, but now I just treat everyday as an individual. If i mess up, I just remind myself that tomorrow is another day and one day doesnt sabatoge me

2) Next Challenge

Well I would definately be interesting in doing another challenge with all of you wonderful ladies!! You have been such a great support system for me :happy: As far as tweaks go, I would like to see the overall goal be a little lower, It seems that very few people out of this challange will actually meet the 40lb loss, heck i think i will barely lose 10!!