Kicking *kitten* In Our Twenties - January Challenge!!

Okay I have officially made it into the 160s! I weighed in yesterday at 169! Very excited about that.

QOTD 1: I am looking forward to working out and eating healthy....kind of lame but without all the treats everywhere, I think I am going to rock this month!

QOTD 2: My favorite month is November...it's my birthday but it's slowly changing to July because we always go on vacation during that month and with me losing weight...I'm actually looking forward to sporting the 'smaller clothes' while on vacation.

Quick update - I finally was able to complete W6D3 of C25K...yay!! I ran for 27 min @5mph = 2.25 miles!!! This is the longest I've ever run & am so so so sooo happy!! I did the eliptical after that, as usual. And, had a grand dinner. Not proud of that but I can't help it. Have to go out tonight too but I promise this is the end. I'll be back to eating out only once a week after this. I anyhow have to lose weight before my anniversary next month - about 5 weeks to go!!

QOTD: October & November are my favoritest months since it's my birthday & my parents anniversary in Oct, my hubby's birthday in November, and most of our festivals, including the biggest one, fall in Oct / Nov.

Way to go!!!!You rocked it. Im about 3 weeks behind you... although I will prlly repeat some weeks. We shall see how it goes! :drinker:

Meag- you are making my mouth water with all your amazing recipes!! I wish I lived at your house and you cooked for me!! I am really lucky the boy cooks a lot, but I am the one who finds recipes and broadens our horizons. With training and work I have not had the time to get too crafty during the week. I plan to try to make one interesting meal every weekend if I can....

Oh my gosh so much to catch up on! I'm sorry if I miss some people. I didn't check the forum yesterday because I just had the brilliant idea to sell a bunch of crap on ebay since I am not working and want money!

Mary--Congrats on reaching your lowest adult weight ever!!!!! That is an amazing accomplishment. About your mom, only you know how low your body needs to go weight wise. I'm sure your mom is just not used to seeing you this size. (What was your starting weight by the way?) My mom tells me I need to gain some weight all the time so I totally get it! And I would love to be able to go for a run in my sports bra in the summer! It is seriously so hot in the summer so it would feel awesome to not have a sweaty shirt clinging to you, but I am so self conscious if I have the slightest bit of a "muffin top" in my shorts!

Cait--Nice losses on inches!! I love your positive attitude! You make me smile!

Jill--You did so well with your goals for December. So awesome. How'd the interview go?

Tai--I am so sorry about your not so great Christmas. It's so hard to focus on your health when you've got bigger issues going on with family. 2011 can only get better!! I hope weight watchers works for you!

Rai---My Christmas stuff is still up and not looking like it will be taken down any time soon! Glad you're getting back on track!

Meag--You are doing so well on cutting your sweetener use. I am impressed! Just go get that darn test so you can lay it to rest! You can get generic versions pretty cheap!

Melissa--I am so impressed with how you have taught your daughters to be healthy without using the "fat" word. I've always wondered how I would go about that if I ever have daughters and I think your way is great. About tracking intervals--I did intervals today also and wondered how I would track it while I was running. Then I got off the treadmill and it gave me my average speed in all the info that flashes across when you stop. So I just logged that. If your treadmill has that feature I would think that's a decent enough track. HOWEVER, I do think your burn would in actuality be higher, but I'd rather under log calories than over log.

mkingraham--I love sore arms when I wash my hair! Also love sore legs getting in and out of the car. It sucks but you definitely know you did something!

CaptainJim--I am so so so sorry to hear about your Aunt... Wishing the best to you and your family.

Spellbinder--You're doing great! You'll be into that dress in no time! It's a great feeling to slip into something again that had gotten tight!

Guam--Hula sounds FUN!!! I've done the hula game on the wii and it's hard! I can't imagine a whole class. Geez your brother's ex is crazy. Surely she wouldn't do something so stupid, not that it would matter since you're a good mom, but still!

KanCrav--Welcome! 5 lbs is a great goal!

Seripha--Your Christmas gain is quite enviable! You will lose that in no time! That clothing exchange sounds super fun! I've heard of those but no one I know has ever had one.

Aly--Have you been to the doc about your dizziness? I'm sure it's nothing, but it's always great to rule stuff out. I hope it goes away!

Silver--Welcome!

Laura--Congrats on the 160s!

WHEW!!!

AFM--January is going great! I am losing all the faux weight I gained over the holidays and I am super excited to start losing some of the real stuff! I'm wondering if I should change my goal of 125 since I am already at 126. I don't want to get ahead of myself but don't want to be complacent either. Today I ran intervals on the treadmill. 5 min blocks at 6, 6.5, 6, 6.5, 6, 6.5, then walking to cool down. THEN, a super upbeat song came on and totally inspired me to run more so I kicked it back up to 7 for a few minutes then was done!

QOTD--I love using Pandora when I work out! It gives you new songs all the time and it's a free app!! (I have an iphone)
QOTD--I am looking forward to my birthday on the 13th!!! My bday is Thursday, but Friday we are going out with some friends to bar hop. Yeah that will be a calorie buster of a day but whatever! I always say calories don't count on your birthday! (And in this case, the day after your birthday!)
QOTD--Favorite month is June because it's nice and warm but not blazing hot and there is no sign of cold anytime soon!

Hey everyone!! I know I'm a little late but I would love to be in for this challenge!! I am 23 and 7 months post labor....Just wanting to get healthier for me and my family, lose weight, tone up and gain some self confidence! My starting weight 2 weeks ago was 193, current weight (as of today) is 178!! My overall goal weight is 140 by March 15. I absolutely love MFP!! I am doing the 30 day shred and managing to stay about 200 calories under my goal so far. Adding my name and goals to the list!!

skiptomylou32--scale goal: 125, non-scale goal: stop waiting till tomorrow, making excuses, and being complacent with my fitness goals
Lauratx22-to lose 7 pounds! Weighing 163!
Roobean33 - cardio 5X/week, lifting 3X/week, try out CrossFit, lose 2lbs, H20 guzzle, take measurements.
kvr414- 1 hr cardio 3x a week, try 3 new recipes, 12 cups water/day, lose 6 lbs.
meagalayne- curb late-night snacking and emotional eating, limit carbohydrate consumption after 4pm and experiment with new Low-GI recipes once a week, maintain under 130lbs, and complete first 4 weeks of Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training (Novice)
emmarie1630- lose 4 pounds, 4x a week workout, use wii fitness games a ton, MORE WATER!
wardiemelissa-continue to maintain between 120-125lbs; plan healthy family meals at least 5 nights a week; begin training for half marathon (just need to find one in May or June)
tjradd73-lose 8lbs, 80oz H20 per day, and cardio 3x per week.
Mike (CaptainJim) lose 5-8 lbs, 3x (30-60 min) cardio per week, fit into size 32 jeans (I'm 34's right now)
Finncmh- see a loss on the scale, continue strength training 2x's a week and update the routine at the end of Jan, continue running training- increase to 5 min running intervals, 1 new healthy recipe a week, and get back in to yoga/stretching routine in the am and/or pm
briar_rose: lose 5 pounds, exercise 3x/week, no potato chips
mkingraham: lose 15 pounds by Feb 1., exercise 5/6 x a week with 3/4 days of strength training, eat breakfast everyday (a healthy one), two servings of fruit a day.
GuamGrly (Bethany) - DO NOT focus on the scale. Focus on changing my lifestyle by incorporating fruits and vegetables in my diet more, drinking my water everyday, planning my meals, working out 120 minutes per week, and getting back to C25k traning.
LostAlyKat (Aly) : Be under 170lbs for the end of the month. Do weight lifting or strength 3 times a week, be active in some way every day. Get back into doing Yoga do a class at least 1 time this month. Write down my feelings more often.
Stuartme123: JanSW = 156. Check-in with this thread 3-4x/week, 30 min of cardio 3x a week, Restart and keep up with 100 push-up challenge and C25K, Keep unhealthy snacking to under 200 calories/day, Add veggies that wouldn't normally be there to at least one meal a day, Try one new healthy recipe a week, Lose 1lb a week for a total of 4lbs.
seripha - exercise 5x a week for at least 30 minutes each. Try to eat at least 1 cup of dark green food every day and only 1 sweet thing per day.
miss_amy: to lose 8lbs (38 total lbs), work out 5x a week for an hour & log EVERYTHING!
Ngoat (nancy): Lose 5lbs, Drink more water, and eat healthier dinners!
rai8759: lose at least 4 lbs (164 by 1/31/11); work out 3x a week idevelop a consistent weight training regiment and work my way up to 2x a week weight training; drink 8-10 cups of water per day; eat more veggies; track everything in my food diary!!
Dteg: Scale to lose 5 LBs making under 140 for the first time in 5 years!!!! non scale: to eat more fresh food, eat in more often not going out as much anymore, excerise three times a week
Allie7383- be at or under 155, eat more fruits/veggies, and drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
katecampbell03- Lose 5lbs this month and make time to fit in a work-out before/during/after work
pags221 - weigh 1.31.11 @ 123lbs / make it to the gym 21 days this month
Allislefttogain - Stay below 120; run 70 miles; 64 ounces of (straight!) water daily; complete weeks 2-4 of Turbo Fire; try kale & brussel sprouts; strength train 3x a week
tai_88 - drink at least 8 cups of water a day. I must drink at least 4 cups before i can have tea or my sprite zero; stop mindless/emotional eating; work out at least 4 times a week; log every day; continue the push up challenge; lose 4 lbs.
spellbinder25 - (1) Continue with C25K, (2) Cook twice a week, (3) Have a serving of fruit everyday, (4) Do strength training thrice a week, (5) Reach 142lbs by the end of Jan.
KanCrav - I want to loose 5lbs by the end of January
angels and wolves-scale goal: 169 by feb 1st; non-scale goals: continue 30DS everyday, drop a pant size by feb 1st, give up soda and caffeine, and be able to run a mile.

Thanks! And just to clarify...I originally had my goal of 140 lbs by June 12. I know that is still stretching it. But I have learned that in order for me to keep motivated(in pretty much anything I do), I have to have my goals set a bit higher...even though in the back of my head, I know it prolly won't be that much(I'm expecting more like 155-160). But I totally understand where you are coming from!! And I didn't know that about the calorie deficit. I thought staying consistently under was a good thing!?

Well staying under is encouraged by the system (as it glares angry red #'s at you for going over- drive me CRAZY) but you should try to be as close to the goal # of cals as possible and being too far under for a sustained period of time will eventually work against weight loss (because your body will determine that you are slowly starving- hence why being over once in a while is actually a good thing!). I typically give myself a range of about 100 +/- the goal.

Glad to hear you are prepared and ready to stick with it. 140's by june doesn't sound like too much of a stretch tho!

That helps a lot!! Thanks! I was always told that you should try to stay under and take in what you burn off....but the people giving me that advice are actually very overweight themselves, now that i think about it....

I did read that you should give yourself a "break" day to trick your metabolism every once in a while also....is that true? I guess I wasn't as in the know as I thought I was...lol...But I want to do this right and have re-examined my goals and changed them to fit a better schedule. (They are now posted in my signature...lol) 140-145 is my overall goal by June. So if there is any more advice out there, please, feel free to give it to me!!! Cuz I really want this to work and not only lose the weight but keep it off by changing not only my exercises but my whole lifestyle.

And thanks to all those who have been through this already and are helpful and motivating me to keep at it!! Even though I don't personally know ya'll....I feel like I have gained you all as friends!!!

Hey,

This seems like a fantastically supportive group and I would love to join if you'll have me

I'm 24, currently 132 lbs - at only 5'2" thats a belly tire and thighs that touch. I was following my fitness pal all during the summer, and even when I stopped counting calories I managed to keep up my healthy eating and fitness routine. My lowest weight was 121 and I felt AMAZING!!! Not just because I liked how I looked, but I felt good, healthy, energetic. I literally felt on fire, like nothing and no one could stop me and I was just buzzing with life.

NOW I NEED HELP!!! I went nuts eating and partying over the holidays and have put every lb back on And I just can't seem to get back into the routine and get motivated again. I had every intention of going for a run and to yoga after work tonight, but what did I do instead? I bought a mccains chocolate cake and mint icecream, drizzled it with baileys and parked my *kitten* on the couch. Feel free to give me a hard time...

So hopefully I am posting this right...

skiptomylou32--scale goal: 125, non-scale goal: stop waiting till tomorrow, making excuses, and being complacent with my fitness goals
Lauratx22-to lose 7 pounds! Weighing 163!
Roobean33 - cardio 5X/week, lifting 3X/week, try out CrossFit, lose 2lbs, H20 guzzle, take measurements.
kvr414- 1 hr cardio 3x a week, try 3 new recipes, 12 cups water/day, lose 6 lbs.
meagalayne- curb late-night snacking and emotional eating, limit carbohydrate consumption after 4pm and experiment with new Low-GI recipes once a week, maintain under 130lbs, and complete first 4 weeks of Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training (Novice)
emmarie1630- lose 4 pounds, 4x a week workout, use wii fitness games a ton, MORE WATER!
wardiemelissa-continue to maintain between 120-125lbs; plan healthy family meals at least 5 nights a week; begin training for half marathon (just need to find one in May or June)
tjradd73-lose 8lbs, 80oz H20 per day, and cardio 3x per week.
Mike (CaptainJim) lose 5-8 lbs, 3x (30-60 min) cardio per week, fit into size 32 jeans (I'm 34's right now)
Finncmh- see a loss on the scale, continue strength training 2x's a week and update the routine at the end of Jan, continue running training- increase to 5 min running intervals, 1 new healthy recipe a week, and get back in to yoga/stretching routine in the am and/or pm
briar_rose: lose 5 pounds, exercise 3x/week, no potato chips
mkingraham: lose 15 pounds by Feb 1., exercise 5/6 x a week with 3/4 days of strength training, eat breakfast everyday (a healthy one), two servings of fruit a day.
GuamGrly (Bethany) - DO NOT focus on the scale. Focus on changing my lifestyle by incorporating fruits and vegetables in my diet more, drinking my water everyday, planning my meals, working out 120 minutes per week, and getting back to C25k traning.
LostAlyKat (Aly) : Be under 170lbs for the end of the month. Do weight lifting or strength 3 times a week, be active in some way every day. Get back into doing Yoga do a class at least 1 time this month. Write down my feelings more often.
Stuartme123: JanSW = 156. Check-in with this thread 3-4x/week, 30 min of cardio 3x a week, Restart and keep up with 100 push-up challenge and C25K, Keep unhealthy snacking to under 200 calories/day, Add veggies that wouldn't normally be there to at least one meal a day, Try one new healthy recipe a week, Lose 1lb a week for a total of 4lbs.
seripha - exercise 5x a week for at least 30 minutes each. Try to eat at least 1 cup of dark green food every day and only 1 sweet thing per day.
miss_amy: to lose 8lbs (38 total lbs), work out 5x a week for an hour & log EVERYTHING!
Ngoat (nancy): Lose 5lbs, Drink more water, and eat healthier dinners!
rai8759: lose at least 4 lbs (164 by 1/31/11); work out 3x a week idevelop a consistent weight training regiment and work my way up to 2x a week weight training; drink 8-10 cups of water per day; eat more veggies; track everything in my food diary!!
Dteg: Scale to lose 5 LBs making under 140 for the first time in 5 years!!!! non scale: to eat more fresh food, eat in more often not going out as much anymore, excerise three times a week
Allie7383- be at or under 155, eat more fruits/veggies, and drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
katecampbell03- Lose 5lbs this month and make time to fit in a work-out before/during/after work
pags221 - weigh 1.31.11 @ 123lbs / make it to the gym 21 days this month
Allislefttogain - Stay below 120; run 70 miles; 64 ounces of (straight!) water daily; complete weeks 2-4 of Turbo Fire; try kale & brussel sprouts; strength train 3x a week
tai_88 - drink at least 8 cups of water a day. I must drink at least 4 cups before i can have tea or my sprite zero; stop mindless/emotional eating; work out at least 4 times a week; log every day; continue the push up challenge; lose 4 lbs.
spellbinder25 - (1) Continue with C25K, (2) Cook twice a week, (3) Have a serving of fruit everyday, (4) Do strength training thrice a week, (5) Reach 142lbs by the end of Jan.
KanCrav - I want to loose 5lbs by the end of January
angels and wolves-scale goal: 169 by feb 1st; non-scale goals: continue 30DS everyday, drop a pnt size by feb 1st, give up soda and caffeine, and be able to run a mile.
Nadine - Scale goals: 125lbs by my next half marathon in March. Non scale goals - successfully check off every scheduled run on my 1/2 marathon training program, thats 4 runs a week. Committ to practicing yoga at least twice a week (running injury preventer!!) Weight train twice a week. Cut fast food, make my own lunches and eating smartly - feeding my body what it needs to perform and feel its best, not foods that taste good but make me tired. My running time goals are in my signature