Summer Challenge

renaegry

Not a good eating day - not ever finishing logging for the day. Still debating whether I am going to hit the treadmill this evening. Leaning towards no - very tired, and sore. Promise myself that I will get on it tomorrow. Pretty sure I gained a pound this week, feeling very bloated. Hope everyone is having a good week.

Well I ended up going for a 5.75km walk, and I did end up logging my food - went over but not as bad as I thought

inskydiamonds

Hey everyone! Hope it's been a good week!
Don't forget, weigh-ins are tomorrow!

Here are your next challenges:
- Pick one thing you should cut out of your diet and CUT IT OUT for the week
- Add FIFTEEN MINUTES of exercise to your normal routine
- Share your STORY with the group - why are you here and what motivated you to lose weight?

andreamkelly

Good Morning all!

I weighed in at 220.1 this morning.

I will give up diet soda's again. I did it for lent, (but gained a bit of weight), I will do it again, but not go overboard on the sweets this time.

My boss showed a bunch of us at work how useful a tool MFP is. He uses it to track his food for his dietician. My husband was told to lose weight, so for the first week of his eating healthy, I ate good at home and pigged out at work. After a bit, I wondered why I was such an idiot and started MFP to track food and exercise. Normally when I commit to something, I am totally committed. It will be five weeks tomorrow and I'm doing pretty good. Just have to make sure I can keep it up when the 1st plateau comes.

I don't have a normal routine... I'll add extra time when I do work out and try to add 15 minutes of sleep each night...

NYAngel1089

- Increase your FRUIT/VEGETABLE intake this week
6/5 Pineapple, zucchini, celery
6/6 Strawberries in cereal, carrots, celery, onions, cabbage, mushrooms, broccoli
6/7 Strawberries in cereal, blueberries, pickles, string beans, lemon
6/8 strawberries in cereal, blueberries, mango, string beans, corn, apple
6/9 strawberries in cereal, side salad, carrots, tomato, cucumber, basil
6/10 strawberries in cereal, pineapple, string beans, spinach, roasted red pepper, peach, apple, blueberries
6/11 strawberries in cereal, string beans, pineapple, blueberries, cauliflower

- Get 30 minutes of CARDIO at least 4 days this week
6/5 45 min on treadmill
6/6 60 min on elliptical
6/7 43 min on treadmill
6/8 60 min on treadmill
6/10 54 min on elliptical
6/11 30 min on treadmill

- Share a RECIPE with the group
Eggs in tomato sauce posted earlier


SW= 170 lbs
Wi1= 168.6 lbs

Wi2= 166 lbs

Loss this week = 2.6 lbs!!!
GW by end of August= 155 lbs

Curvimami

CW: 205lbs

Goals for June:
- Lose 6 lbs (199 lbs and under 200!!! )
- Work out at least 4x a week
- Drink 10 glasses of water a day
- Eat every 3hrs
- Eat all calories and maybe some exercise cals (dont want to go into starvation mode)

CW: 204lbs (-1) 5lbs to go for June

CW: 204lbs (-1lb)

6/12/2011: 204lbs (-1lb)

devonette

Summer Challenge week 2 results:

Challenge SW 5/29: 158
Weight 6/5: 157

Current weight 6/12: 155.5 (1.5 lbs. lost this week)

Challenge GW:143 (total 2.5 lbs. lost toward goal since start of challenge, 12.5 lbs. to go!)

week two additional challenge results:
1) increase fruit/vegetable intake: I added one additional fruit each day and either increased portion size or added one additional vegetable each day -- SUCCESS!
2) 30 minutes of cardio for at least 4 days -- I averaged at least 1 hour of cardio each day -- SUCCESS!
3) Share a recipe with the group -- I shared my Deviled Veal Cutlets recipe a page or two back -- SUCCESS!
(I'm still working on the week one challenge of drinking 2 additional glasses of water per day. I've never gone under 7 per day, but want to get a week of 10 each day to feel like I succeeded)

Oh, I did attain two goals yesterday that my doctor and I set at the beginning of the year -- I've lost 30 pounds so far this year, and yesterday the doctor took me off one of my two blood pressure medications because my blood pressure has dropped significantly due to the exercise and weight loss!

Curvimami

-Will cut out candy for this week to reduce sugar intake.
-Will add 15 min of exercise to my usual 45 min for a total of 60 minutes

-Im on MFP because I put on alot of weight during my pregnancy with my son after I had lost 40lbs right before he was born (see what happens get sexy and get pregnant :grumble: . Didnt realize I was as big as I was till I saw a pic of me from behind :sad: out in public in a fitted dress. smdh. But anyways I had been working out off and on but never seriously and never counting calories, turns out I was eating way too little calories and all the wrong things while NOT working out. FAIL. I ended up putting on more weight after I stopped breastfeeding. So here I am son is 16 months and working out. Since joining MFP on 5/16/12 (3 1/2 wks ago) I have lost 8 lbs and 44lbs to go. Thank in advance everyone for all your inspiring stories and support

dajackson81

SW: 176
1st week: 174

Still at 174

dmull123

weigh in!
62.5kg

(note- had to remake account. old username was 'daisymullins)

jenpeterson96

weigh in - 162.4
(gain 2.1 from last Tuesday)

sdai3

SW:178
Wk1: 176.2
Wk2: 174.4
GW: 160

I got really distracted and didn't exercise as much as I usually do but I'll still take that loss.

renaegry

Was really surprised this morning. Got on scale and was 152.2. Not much of a loss but at least not a gain. Did good in all challenges except the fruits and veggies, will have to work on that.

raph97

Tough week for me. Not achieve my training goal. Getting back on track this week.

CW: 234

Have a great one everyone!

zerbe6982

CHALLENGES:
- Increase your FRUIT/VEGETABLE intake this week
- Get 30 minutes of CARDIO at least 4 days this week
- Share a RECIPE with the group

6/5 Update:
Vegetables - No; This is going to be my weakness this week
Cardio - Yes; Elliptical - 40 minutes
Recipe - Crockpot Chicken Santa Fe by Closet Cooking (page 2 of thread)

6/6 Update:
Vegetables - No; This is going to be my weakness this week
Cardio - Yes; Yoga - 60 minutes
Recipe - Crockpot Chicken Santa Fe by Closet Cooking (page 2 of thread)

6/7 Update:
Vegetables - Yes; Finally, I had tomatoes, pickles and avocado
Cardio - Yes; Elliptical - 40 minutes
Recipe - Crockpot Chicken Santa Fe by Closet Cooking (page 2 of thread)

6/8 Update:
Vegetables - Yes; Woot!
Cardio - Yes; Yoga - 60 minutes
Recipe - Crockpot Chicken Santa Fe by Closet Cooking (page 2 of thread)

6/9 Update:
Vegetables - No;
Cardio - No;
Recipe - Crockpot Chicken Santa Fe by Closet Cooking (page 2 of thread)

6/10 Update:
Vegetables - Yes;
Cardio - No
Recipe - Crockpot Chicken Santa Fe by Closet Cooking (page 2 of thread)

6/11 Update:
Vegetables - No;
Cardio - Yes; Yoga 60 Minutes
Recipe - Crockpot Chicken Santa Fe by Closet Cooking (page 2 of thread)

jillica

CW: 183.6 lbs (I loss this week! :happy: )
W1W: 186lbs
SW: 185 lbs
Challenge GW: 170 lbs

zerbe6982

SW= 196 lbs
Week 1 = 193.6 lbs
Week 2 = 192.6 lbs
Loss this week = 1 lbs!!!

Not as good as I wanted, but considering my birthday was this past weekend, I'm very surprised I didn't gain.

Next week will be better!

Cateyes0831

CW: 276

EmmaM2211

MFP SW: 170
Challenge SW: 155
Week 1: 156 :-(
Week 2 153.8 :-D 2.2lbs loss from last week

Challenge GW: 141 (would love to get into the 130's though!)
MFP GW: 126 (will possibly go further but see when I get there - I'm only 5'2" so this is still quite big for my height)

Are loads of fruit and veggies this week and drank plenty water
Got my 4days of cardio in (swimming, exercise bike x2, cycling, mowing)
Posted my jalfrezi recipe on page 4


So my story....

I used to be a tiny little thing at school until about the age of 17 when I discovered alcohol, through college I was still small but not tiny anymore and that's when I started to gain weight. I then went to uni and really let myself go! Had 3 years of drinking, eating, partying and enjoyed every minute. I kept telling myself uni is not the time to diet (and I still agree with that) I wanted to make the most of the experience as it's only 3 years and most people only get to do it once. So I finished uni in summer '10 and had to move 200miles from home to start my new job, sitting at a desk all day every day! I thought I was eating healthy and the weight would have to shift eventually. I mostly maintained for 2 years until this Feb when something finally snapped. I needed to do something. I saw my Aunty who was looking amazing, she told me about MFP and how she'd lost 8lbs in a month and suggested I join - so I did! and I've never looked back. In hindsight I know the reason I'm overweight is the alcohol. I've given it up since April and feeling loads better. I was never a big drinker really, would only drink when I was out with friends but I would drink about 5000calories on a weekend, then order pizza then have a big fry-up and sunday dinner the next day. Essentially my weekly calories in 2 days (slight exaggeration)!!

So I found myself in Feb 50lbs overweight and hating myself. I've lost 18lbs so far and feel so much better for it!! Another 28lbs to go!

I'm looking forward to reading all your inspirational stories! xx

vmilam03

SW: 200
W1: 200
CW: 199.6

This past week was tough...but I'm happy to see a loss, even though it is a small one.

Week 3 Challenges are interesting, and I look forward to working my butt off and seeing a bigger loss by next Tuesday!
Good luck to all! And Congrats to last week's biggest losers! Great job! Keep it up!

magtize

Did more fruits and veggies 5 days
did cardio 3 days
no recipe(oops)

sw 169.4
cw 164.8
gw 155

jennyhynek

I still need to post my recipe from last week's challenge. This came out of Outside magazine and it's super yummy and healthy.

Quinoa and Bison Chili

Ingredients:
2 cups quinoa
3 cups organic chicken broth
1 diced red onion
1 pound organic ground bison
2 diced green peppers
2 tablespoons minced garlic
15 ounces precooked kidney beans
1/2 cup corn (I used frozen)
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander

Add quinoa and chicken broth to a small pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. While quinoa is cooking, combine red onion and bison meat in a large skillet. Then cook for ten minutes on medium heat, stirring often. Add peppers, garlic, kidney bean, corn, chili powder, cumin, and coriander. Cook on medium-low until the bison is heated through and the peppers are tender. Season chili to taste with salt and pepper, then mix with quinoa and serve.

I preferred to keep the quinoa and chili mix separate and just combine and I reheat for dinner each night. Enjoy!

kbresso

SW: 145
CW: 147.8 TOM and a lot of extra stress at home and work last week
GW: 130

I wasn't really successful this week. There was just too much going on and I was happy if I just stayed under my calorie goal for the day, which some days I didn't. Sigh. Hopefully, this week will be better.

To get the first challenge out of the way. I started working out and watching what I eat around December 2011 but didn't find MFP until January. My New Year's resolution was just to keep up with this lifestyle change and I've been going strong ever since. My "aha" moment and what made it really click for me this time were two things: One, I didn't want to think about what my health and body would be like some 20 years from now when my children are out of the house and me and my husband can do the things we can't do now, like travel. At the rate I was going, I don't think I would be up to doing anything except sit on the couch all day and watch TV. I want to feel and look they way I do now (as much as reasonably possible) 20 years from now.

Two, my sister. She injured her back at work and now she's in constant pain. She can't workout and I know she wants to. It has made me really appreciate the body I have and I want to treat it right. Ok, one challenge down, two to go.

The thing I'm going to cut out this week are crackers - wheat thins, animal crackers. I usually don't eat more than a serving but carbs for the day are always more than half of my daily cals and I'm shooting for 40% (not really getting there, though).

araxiedyck

SUMMER CHALLENGE
SW 145
CW 140

UGW 125
5/01: 139
5/07: 139
5/14: 137
5/21: 137
5/28: 137
5/31: 137
6/1 137
6/5 137
6/12 137 very discouraging as I worked so hard this week to exercise and watch my intake. I really was hoping for 1 poud loss. Well, I hope next week. Now I must keep motivated this week--it's hard when the scale does not move!

jennyhynek

This past week was tough for me too. I had to leave town on Wednesday for a funeral and didn't come back home until Saturday. This made it difficult to stick to my normal routine and I ended up consuming a lot more calories than I would have preferred. Nevertheless, the scale was up on Saturday, but it's back down this morning to what my weight was last week. I didn't lose any weight during the week, but I really thought I would have gained a pound or two.

SW: 151
CW: 150
GW: 135

A little about me, I have gone through periods in my life where I worked out a lot and was in amazing shape. As I've gotten older, my metabolism has slowed down some. I also got married a little over a year ago and we started going out to eat a lot and I put on about 10-15 pounds. I have been consistently working out for the past couple years and I'm in good shape, but I want to drop these pounds once and for all. I think the biggest challenge for me is staying consistent with my diet and exercise on the weekends. My husband is into craft beer and has gotten me into them as well. Of course these beers tend to be heavier in calories, so I'm sure this has contributed to the weight gain some too.

Thanks InSkyDiamonds for putting this challenge together and tracking everyone's progress!

bleistiftspitzer

Here are your next challenges:
- Pick one thing you should cut out of your diet and CUT IT OUT for the week
- Add FIFTEEN MINUTES of exercise to your normal routine
- Share your STORY with the group - why are you here and what motivated you to lose weight?


SW:163
WK1:162
WK2:160.2

The 150's are so close I can almost taste them! I was up and down weight wise this week, probably only lost so much weight because I did a really hard run last night.

I'm going to cut out string cheese. I'm eating it less and less now, but I'll just see if I can go a whole week. (But it's so delicious!)

Two years ago, I had a lot of stress from life and school that caused me to just eat until I felt sick. I would stuff myself full, and I felt the only way to feel better was to eat more rather than wait to digest. Last summer, I went running everyday, but my diet was still the same, so I didn't lose much weight. Near the middle of school this year, my one pair of jeans ripped. I went shopping, and all I barely fit into was a 9. After wearing 5 for years, I was too embarrassed to buy any bigger, so I just squeezed myself into that one pair for the rest of the year. I want to do ROTC in college, and I know I am above their acceptable body fat, so that's my major motivation. I'm thankful for MFP because it has really gotten my over-eating under control. I actually stop when I feel full now, and that's success enough.

amycjd

CW: 155
GW: 145

Gained back the 2 pounds I lost last week and am really discouraged. Seriously thinking about quitting.... I did well with last week's challenges; overall I'm a healthy eater and I exercise regularly; I admit I'm not tracking calories but I know I've made improvements in my eating. Is something wrong with me? Why can't I lose these 10 pounds?

momshorses

Yay!!! I found you again!!
My weigh in today is somewhat depressing. I gained .7 pounds. My current weight is 173.3.

I am not going to be too bothered by this though, because I know my weight fluctuates and I am trying to build some muscle back after being off my feet for a while. I am still not at full workout mode because I still have to be careful with my foot. I am going to work towards a lower weight for next week and try to get more water into my system again.

momshorses

CW: 155
GW: 145

Gained back the 2 pounds I lost last week and am really discouraged. Seriously thinking about quitting.... I did well with last week's challenges; overall I'm a healthy eater and I exercise regularly; I admit I'm not tracking calories but I know I've made improvements in my eating. Is something wrong with me? Why can't I lose these 10 pounds?

Weight fluctuates. Don't be too hard on yourself .You can do this. Just focus on staying healthy.

chichi128

Don't forget your challenges!

CHALLENGES:
- Increase your FRUIT/VEGETABLE intake this week
- Get 30 minutes of CARDIO at least 4 days this week
- Share a RECIPE with the group

The spreadsheet is up! You can see it here: https://docs.google.com/a/u.pacific.edu/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au1jrXpKSwMddFU3SVFjYm5RLTN4NGxkbERydXRFcFE#gid=0
It will be updated every week and I will repost the link every week.

Congratulations to the biggest losers this week!

1. cateyes0831 - 7.4
2. livextoxrun - 6
3. chichi128 & jenniferv1986 - 5
4. abby1176 - 4.2

yay!!! thanks!!

devonette

CW: 155
GW: 145

Gained back the 2 pounds I lost last week and am really discouraged. Seriously thinking about quitting.... I did well with last week's challenges; overall I'm a healthy eater and I exercise regularly; I admit I'm not tracking calories but I know I've made improvements in my eating. Is something wrong with me? Why can't I lose these 10 pounds?

Weight fluctuates. Don't be too hard on yourself .You can do this. Just focus on staying healthy.

^^^ I agree with what she said about weight fluctuating, wait and see what next week brings.

If you gain again next week or don't lose even a little bit, I would seriously consider tracking your calories to see if the explanation lies with your calories. You can eat healthy, but sometimes the healthy food you are eating has more calories than you think, and as you get more fit, sometimes your regular exercises don't burn as many calories as they used to.