Determined December 2016: Week 1 (12/1-12/7)
baconslave
Posts: 7,018 Member
There's a statistic going around that something like 25% of people will gain weight between Halloween and New Year's. It's Holiday season. We're busy with work, school, get-togethers, and shopping. It's easy to just say to heck with it and cave. And wake up on New Year's Day and looking in the mirror, unhappy with what extra weight we've gained. It happens to the best of us.
Last month we focused on the basics in an effort to avoid gaining during a hectic time of year. There's lots of treats around. But many of us managed to hit our goals and not gain. Some of us even lost a few pounds, or gained insight into our own patterns when faced with pressure.
Planning ahead and keeping an eye on the basics are two of the most important focal points if we want to keep on the up and up in the face of all the junk and goodies rampant this type of year.
This month we are again going to focus on the low-carb basics. They really are so important to success. And keeping tabs on them reinforces good habits that will serve us through our weight loss journeys and beyond into Maintenance Land. We're shooting for Determined December. Some people choose to handle this time of year completely on-plan, supplementing low-carb recipes for all our bad-ol' favorites.
This may not be realistic for some. After all, there are many temptations in our faces this month. And a lot of celebrations. What I have done in the past was pick 1 or 2 events that were most important, enjoy them that day, and the next day was immediately back on track. No guilt, but no excuses. Every other time, I planned ahead. Eat before going to a carby event or bring plan-approved goodies. I actually lost weight in December of 2014. It can be done.
You can pick either strategy, but in this challenge monitoring our plan Basics are what makes the difference.
Consistency + Persistence + Time = Success
I really can't parrot that cliché formula enough. Because it's true.
Any low-carb plan is welcome. Just post your monthly goals and/or beginning weight, or if you are just planning to maintain through the month, or have NSVs to achieve, check-in daily or weekly with how well you did.
The Basics:
Staying under carbs
Staying under calories
Logging and measuring
Getting in exercise/movement if that's one of your goals
Keeping an eye on electrolyte levels
Getting enough water
Planning ahead
This thread will be stickied to the top of the Group, with links inside to the weekly threads. So if the weekly thread gets buried in our busy little group, you'll be able to easily find in in the sticky.
Share recipes, problems, thoughts.
Determined December is possible!
We are DETERMINED to maintain, and maybe even lose, this year.
We are DETERMINED to not let December run rough-shod over us, right?
We CAN do this.
To give you and idea of possible check-in entries here's what mine might look like:
Feel free to go ahead and post your goals today if you're wanting to look ahead.
To get a feel for how this works, check out one of the weekly November challenge threads, but up in the blurb is a sample daily check-in and sample goals.
Challenge starts tomorrow. See you then.
Last month we focused on the basics in an effort to avoid gaining during a hectic time of year. There's lots of treats around. But many of us managed to hit our goals and not gain. Some of us even lost a few pounds, or gained insight into our own patterns when faced with pressure.
Planning ahead and keeping an eye on the basics are two of the most important focal points if we want to keep on the up and up in the face of all the junk and goodies rampant this type of year.
This month we are again going to focus on the low-carb basics. They really are so important to success. And keeping tabs on them reinforces good habits that will serve us through our weight loss journeys and beyond into Maintenance Land. We're shooting for Determined December. Some people choose to handle this time of year completely on-plan, supplementing low-carb recipes for all our bad-ol' favorites.
This may not be realistic for some. After all, there are many temptations in our faces this month. And a lot of celebrations. What I have done in the past was pick 1 or 2 events that were most important, enjoy them that day, and the next day was immediately back on track. No guilt, but no excuses. Every other time, I planned ahead. Eat before going to a carby event or bring plan-approved goodies. I actually lost weight in December of 2014. It can be done.
You can pick either strategy, but in this challenge monitoring our plan Basics are what makes the difference.
Consistency + Persistence + Time = Success
I really can't parrot that cliché formula enough. Because it's true.
Any low-carb plan is welcome. Just post your monthly goals and/or beginning weight, or if you are just planning to maintain through the month, or have NSVs to achieve, check-in daily or weekly with how well you did.
The Basics:
Staying under carbs
Staying under calories
Logging and measuring
Getting in exercise/movement if that's one of your goals
Keeping an eye on electrolyte levels
Getting enough water
Planning ahead
This thread will be stickied to the top of the Group, with links inside to the weekly threads. So if the weekly thread gets buried in our busy little group, you'll be able to easily find in in the sticky.
Share recipes, problems, thoughts.
Determined December is possible!
We are DETERMINED to maintain, and maybe even lose, this year.
We are DETERMINED to not let December run rough-shod over us, right?
We CAN do this.
To give you and idea of possible check-in entries here's what mine might look like:
Monthly Goals:
To lose that rotten, stinkin, stubborn, no-good, malicious weight that has crept on thanks to lack of sleep, a supplement, and general bad attitude.
100g daily, 1700 cal, 6 days/week with 1 FATurday. Weekends have gotten too loose.
Keep working them muscles.
Be sparing with the alcohol, Jess. And plan for calories to be preposterous on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day.
Start weight: 165.4 (Thanks for the lil' extra, adrenal support supplement!)
Goal weight: 159 and to stay there.
Sunday, 11/29:
Water: 120/120oz
Electrolytes Good:
Logged Food:
Exercise as Planned?: 60 min Dreadmill walk
At or Under Carb Level: 100/100g total
At or Under Calorie Limit: Yes!
Planned Day Ahead: Yes!
7/7
Weekly Trees of Christmas Awesomeness Collected:
Feel free to go ahead and post your goals today if you're wanting to look ahead.
To get a feel for how this works, check out one of the weekly November challenge threads, but up in the blurb is a sample daily check-in and sample goals.
Challenge starts tomorrow. See you then.
1
Replies
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Determined December goals:
Stay under calories every day (going back to 2lb loss/week goals)
Complete all scheduled exercise (month 3 Beast)
Target loss of 2lb for December
2 -
Monthly Goals:
For December I will continue my keto diet and I will get to the gym a minimum of four times a week for lifting. This is going to be a challenge since I seem to have lost some of my gym motivation toward the end of November. I will track my water more carefully this month, begginning with water tracking on 12/1. I will reinitiate the zero artificial sweeteners policy beginning the second week on 12/8. I will continue to work on an increase in protein while staying in ketosis. For the holidays: with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I'm going to allow myself some cheat time but I will limit it to those two days. On New Year's Eve I will not have an entire cheat day, but instead limit it to dinner and after dinner cheating (the worse kind, hehe). This month I will really focus on vitamins, echinacea , C , flaxseed for omega-3 and my multi to keep my immune healthy so I don't take myself out of commission by getting sick.
Start weight: 224
Goal weight for morning or 12/31: 214
Intake Goals:
Stay in at least moderate ketosis
Have a calorie deficit
a little higher protein
Gym/Lift
Water, Water, Water
No sweeteners
No cheat days except the 2.25 days planned
Vitamins and Herbals daily, no exceptions
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My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
1 -
Thank you for continuing to keep us motiviated and on task.
Getting back to it. So far this week:
Under carbs
Under calories
Logging and measuring - starting again to be accountable.
Exercise/movement -Done today
Water!
Planning ahead - Got lunch, not sure about dinner yet. Need to hit the grocery store tonight and get my meals planned for the rest of the week.1 -
My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
I want to start taking DE but I don't have a stretch of time I can take it where I'm not going to run into food. Clearly I'm going to have to think harder about it.1 -
baconslave wrote: »My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
I want to start taking DE but I don't have a stretch of time I can take it where I'm not going to run into food. Clearly I'm going to have to think harder about it.
I drink a tsp in a 24 oz glass of water right before I leave for work (so, 4:45 ish) and have BPC on the way to work. I eat lunch around 1 usually.1 -
December Goals:
- Drink more water every day
- Lose 7 pounds - goal weight for Jan 1 is 185
- Make exercise a priority
- Stay below calorie goals - I have no problem staying under carbs, but I do have a problem with calories
- Take my supplements regularly - I missed all of last week
This week has been a challenge because I have a big show on Sunday that leaves little time - feeling the pressure. My schedule should ease up next Monday...as long as I don't think about Christmas planning.2 -
baconslave wrote: »My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
I want to start taking DE but I don't have a stretch of time I can take it where I'm not going to run into food. Clearly I'm going to have to think harder about it.
I drink a tsp in a 24 oz glass of water right before I leave for work (so, 4:45 ish) and have BPC on the way to work. I eat lunch around 1 usually.
If I can do coffee after and fast till lunch I'll be ok then. I didn't know whether coffee with a tad of creamer would be ok or not.2 -
baconslave wrote: »baconslave wrote: »My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
I want to start taking DE but I don't have a stretch of time I can take it where I'm not going to run into food. Clearly I'm going to have to think harder about it.
I drink a tsp in a 24 oz glass of water right before I leave for work (so, 4:45 ish) and have BPC on the way to work. I eat lunch around 1 usually.
If I can do coffee after and fast till lunch I'll be ok then. I didn't know whether coffee with a tad of creamer would be ok or not.
Shoot, I don't know. I didn't know we weren't supposed to have anything after the DE. Crap, I might be doing this wrong!!
1 -
December Goals
Present weight: 259.4
Goal weight:254.0
Logging and monitoring daily
Exercise five days a week
Avoid beer at all costs (worst kind of sugar! Maltose!)
No eating after 7PM unless it's dinner
Daily Carb limit (30-35g)
Good luck! Looking forward to the challenge!1 -
In for December - goals:
1. Net Carbs under 40
2. Calories under 1600
3. Workout everyday (gym 5 days plus activity on the weekends)
4. Drop at least 5 lbs this month
5. IF 16/8 at least 5 days per week, preferably 6 (can't do 7 because of breakfast with family on Sundays)1 -
I have my full share of dietary weaknesses but I'm lucky in one respect. Being around a large number of people, especially when the usual holiday UFO's (Unidentified Food Objects) are on display, actually takes my appetite away. Buffets affect me the same way: ugh, too much of everything. Last year I lost a couple of pounds in December and will probably do so again this year. My goals will all center around keeping up with my fitness activities.
And, oh yes: drinking more water. Why is that so %$#*!!^ hard?2 -
Starting Weight on MFP 264
Present Weight 233
Goal Weight 150
My goals for the month of December are to lose 13 pounds and help a friend starting a Keto lifestyle.0 -
December Goals:
Don't give in just because it's "The Holidays" (especially at work the all the crap food and treats co-workers bring in)
Take my walk at least 4 nights or days per week or ride bikes with my son. (Yes I live in Florida so it's still 80 degrees!)
Cut down or out alcohol...maybe only some wine at our Christmas Party and on Christmas Eve.
Make low carb appetizers for the Christmas Party we are hosting at our house this year.
Calories between 1200-1300
Carbs between 30-50
Enjoy my family's traditional Christmas Eve Dinner and then right back on track!
Lose 8 pounds
Current weight this am: 163.2lbs
Goal at month end: AT LEAST 155lbs1 -
December goals:
Under 50 net carbs
Take a walk (can be subbed for other exercising) at least 3 days per week
Limit Halo Top to no more than 4 nights a week...it fits in my carbs but it's becoming a nightly habit....
Drink more liquids
Maintain weight +/- 5 lbs for water retention/hormone fluctuations
0 -
My goals for December are:
1)Lose 4 lbs.
2)Drink 64 oz. of water each day.
3)Average 5,000 steps per day.1 -
I have to just Keep Calm and Keto on! Not going to try to fix anything or tweak anything because I am stressed enough as it is. 6
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My goals are to stay as LCHF as possible, walk a little more, get my blood sugar under better control, and stay off the scale until my next doctor's appointment in February.
PS, formerly Sugarbeat returning under a different name because I locked myself out and couldn't get back in.1 -
December goals:
- Hit 200 lbs
- Drink more water and less diet soda
- Log water and soda
- Make an amazing Keto Gingerbread
- Don't strangle the cat that is now sleeping under my desk, on my footrest while I work and when I try to use the footrest. (she growls at me and tries to bite my toes. (This may be the hardest to achieve - wish me luck)
2 -
My goals for Dec are:
Keep within 1200-1500 cals/day
Keep my sugar intake under control (I struggle with this one a lot)
Keep the carbs low which I do normally
Exercise 5 days/wk + week-end run around
Limit my "free day" Saturday so I don't blow everything I did all week
I am currently 166.6lbs would like to hit the 150's (159 or lower)
0 -
I forgot to add drink water - I hate water so this is a very hard one for me!!0
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baconslave wrote: »baconslave wrote: »My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
I want to start taking DE but I don't have a stretch of time I can take it where I'm not going to run into food. Clearly I'm going to have to think harder about it.
I drink a tsp in a 24 oz glass of water right before I leave for work (so, 4:45 ish) and have BPC on the way to work. I eat lunch around 1 usually.
If I can do coffee after and fast till lunch I'll be ok then. I didn't know whether coffee with a tad of creamer would be ok or not.
Shoot, I don't know. I didn't know we weren't supposed to have anything after the DE. Crap, I might be doing this wrong!!
I see lots of places that say mix it into whatever you want, including food. Others say take on an empty stomach 1hr before or 2 hours after a meal. And one resource that tells you to mix it into food. And then in the next paragraph to take it on an empty stomach. Way too many contradictions!0 -
baconslave wrote: »baconslave wrote: »baconslave wrote: »My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
I want to start taking DE but I don't have a stretch of time I can take it where I'm not going to run into food. Clearly I'm going to have to think harder about it.
I drink a tsp in a 24 oz glass of water right before I leave for work (so, 4:45 ish) and have BPC on the way to work. I eat lunch around 1 usually.
If I can do coffee after and fast till lunch I'll be ok then. I didn't know whether coffee with a tad of creamer would be ok or not.
Shoot, I don't know. I didn't know we weren't supposed to have anything after the DE. Crap, I might be doing this wrong!!
I see lots of places that say mix it into whatever you want, including food. Others say take on an empty stomach 1hr before or 2 hours after a meal. And one resource that tells you to mix it into food. And then in the next paragraph to take it on an empty stomach. Way too many contradictions!
I found a place that finally said "why".
"Some people prefer to take it in a glass of water before bed or first thing in the morning, well before breakfeast, to allow DE time to move through and absorb toxins from the digestive tract without interfering or absorbing nutrients from foods or liquids. Some mix it in juice, smoothies, oatmeal or other foods."
There.1 -
baconslave wrote: »baconslave wrote: »baconslave wrote: »My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
I want to start taking DE but I don't have a stretch of time I can take it where I'm not going to run into food. Clearly I'm going to have to think harder about it.
I drink a tsp in a 24 oz glass of water right before I leave for work (so, 4:45 ish) and have BPC on the way to work. I eat lunch around 1 usually.
If I can do coffee after and fast till lunch I'll be ok then. I didn't know whether coffee with a tad of creamer would be ok or not.
Shoot, I don't know. I didn't know we weren't supposed to have anything after the DE. Crap, I might be doing this wrong!!
I see lots of places that say mix it into whatever you want, including food. Others say take on an empty stomach 1hr before or 2 hours after a meal. And one resource that tells you to mix it into food. And then in the next paragraph to take it on an empty stomach. Way too many contradictions!
Hmmmm...I take it on an empty stomach, but do have coconut oil/cream pretty much immediately afterward. It does give me energy and has gotten rid of a couple sebaceous cysts I have had for years. And I feel like a few fine lines have lessened.0 -
My husband and I refer to it as having our mud.
1 -
My goals:
- Stay on plan during vacation 12/2-12/11 - we're driving to Oregon and staying for a week. Roadtrips are notorious carb fests for me: chips, sweets, eating out, etc. We already have planned to bring coconut oil, cream and torani and subsist on BPC for most of the drive. Gotta love my supportive husband!
- Lose 9 pounds - If I can do this, I'm at 235 and should be down another size. Great way to end the year!
- Keep up with Diatomaceous Earth every morning. It's helping with energy, IF and (coincidentally? probably, but still) the two weeks I stopped taking it I didn't lose. Plus, my skin is looking fabulous
- Start morning or evening workouts on return from vacation
Interesting notes to read about DE. I have a big container of it that I used during warmer months as a wormer & flea control product in my pets. I had started using it myself but kinda forgot about it as the weather got cooler and I stopped using so regularly for my pets. I'm gonna have to start putting it in my BPC in the morning again.0 -
have to repost... lost four pounds since Monday... usually happens at beginning of low carb with daily exercise
so need to adjust start/goal weight...
December Goals
Present weight: 255.6
Goal weight:250.0
Logging and monitoring daily
Exercise five days a week
Avoid beer at all costs (worst kind of sugar! Maltose!)
No eating after 7PM unless it's dinner
Daily Carb limit (30-35g)
Good luck! Looking forward to the challenge!2 -
I was intrigued by the references to DE until in my further research I ran across a "pro DE" site that recommended contacting your local poison control agency before trying it out. Kinda discouraging.0
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I have two goals only:
Stay under my carbs (20g tota).
Lose 8 lbs minimum.2 -
I'm starting week #1 at 144 lbs. That's one lb. up from my lowest weight in November.
Goal #1-Lose 4 lbs. in December(will look like 5, but I'm up a lb. in water weight).
Goal #2-Drink 64 oz. of water per day.
Goal #3-Average 5,000 steps per day.1
This discussion has been closed.