HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE (yes this is a continuation of our fall/ summer challenge)

HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE 2016
(November December January)

CHALLENGE STARTING WEIGHT: 148.0 (11/3)

11/07/16: 147.4 down for the count with a stomach bug today - I'll eat anything I can, which isn't much
11/14/16: 146.0 been doing some shopping in my closet, finding "new" stuff to wear!
11/21/16: 145.6 [they need a half smiley] Any loss is a good loss during TOM's visit - I'll take it.
11/28/16: 143.6 YAY - managed to keep the ball rolling through the first holiday hurdle
12/05/16: 142.0 [think I forgot to post last week
12/12/16: 144.0 oops! those extra margaritas and nachos last night (and lack of sleep) are hanging on
12/19/16: 143.2 Too much "fun" over the weekend showed on the scale this morning, or this would have been better ... oh well
12/27/16: 144.2 Enjoyed the Christmas food fest a bit too much - hopefully that will drop off fairly quickly
01/03/17: 141.0 Scale moving back in the right direction after the 2-week food fest
01/09/17: out of town
01/16/17: 140.2 slowly but surely ...
01/23/17: 140.2 Can't complain - stayed flat even though I was traveling thru the weekend
01/30/17:

WEIGHT LOSS FOR THE WEEK: -.8
GOAL WEIGHT LOSS FOR TOTAL CHALLENGE: The final 13 lbs
GOAL WEIGHT RANGE: 135
ULTIMATE WEIGHT LOSS GOAL: 135 (comfortable size 8)

Great job @StepWise123! Congratulations!!

deleted as I quoted the wrong post in error.

MFP Starting Weight: 174.6
Challenge Starting Weight: 171.9

11/7: 171.9
11/14: 170.4
11/21: 169
11/28: 169 - can't remember the last time I actually lost anything during TOM at least no gain either
12/5: 170.4 - tough week, ate way too much crap, going to try and be better this week
12/12: 169.5
12/19: 169 - this is so frustrating, I can't get past this number
1/2: 171.5
1/8: 167.7
1/24: 166.8
1/30:

WEIGHT LOSS FOR THE WEEK: -0.9
TOTAL CHALLENGE LOSS: -5.1

HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE

MFP Starting Weight: 257.8 lbs
Challenge Starting Weight: 207

11/7/16: 205.5
11/14/16: 204
11/21/16: 203
11/28/16: 202
12/5/16: 201
12/12/16:
12/19/16:
12/26/16: 216
1/2/17: 217.8
1/9/17: 214.6
1/16/17: 213.5
1/23/17: 213
1/30/17: 221

WEIGHT LOSS FOR THE WEEK: +8
TOTAL CHALLENGE LOSS:

GOAL WEIGHT LOSS FOR TOTAL CHALLENGE: 15
GOAL WEIGHT RANGE: 190
ULTIMATE WEIGHT LOSS GOAL: 140 lbs

MFP Start Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .338.8 LBS
Challenge Start Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 LBS

05 . 11 - 280.9 LBS - Halloween week...after a rough start I managed to recover and had a mini loss.
12 . 11 - 280.9 LBS - This plateau is getting really annoying. Been stuck for over month!
19 . 11 - 279.4 LBS - finally broke this plateau! Onward and upward.
26 . 11 - 279.5 LBS - Sigh....here we go again.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .November Loss: . . . . 1.5 LBS
03 . 12 - 276.5 LBS - Finally a decent loss!!
10 . 12 - 275.2 LBS - So happy to still be losing!
17 . 12 - 277.2 LBS - Chrismas party on Friday = Gain
24 . 12 - 277.0 LBS - ok not a gain. Hope for better numbers next week.
31 . 12 - 275.4 LBS - yes!! A loss!!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .December Loss: . . . . .4.1 LBS
07 . 1 - 278.4 LBS - really? Water retention due to muscle repair.
14 . 1 - 276.8 LBS - I'll take it.
21 . 1 - 273.1 LBS - Finally a nice number! [/color][/b]
28 . 1 - 274.9 LBS - sigh.
04 . 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .January Loss: . . . . . . n/a

Weight Loss for the Week: . . . . . . . . . . . +1.8 LBS
Weight Loss During Challenge So far:. . . . . . - 6.1 LBS
Weekly Weight Loss Goal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- 2 LBS
Challenge Weight Loss Goal: . . . . . . . . . . . . .- 20 LBS
Challenge Goal Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260 - 265
Ultimate Goal Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 LBS

So, this was the last week of the Holiday Weight Loss Challenge. I joined this forum as an accountability partner as I started my weight loss journey again on 23Oct16 – the day before this challenge started. I was lucky to see the post and join.

My all-time high weight (that I measured) was 226 lbs on 17Feb2016. I weighted 221.4, when I started *again* on 23Oct16. Each week, I recorded my losses (and gains). I weighed myself every day and graphed the change…..It looked like a ticker of a falling stock…jagged up and down….but with an overall down trend. I “checked-in” here on Mondays. You’ve seen my progress. I’ve had 3 up weeks, where I gained weight, and 11 down weeks, where I’ve lost.

As I said, I weigh myself every day, and I graph my weight change. I do so here on MFP, by checking-in and via an Excel spreadsheet saved to my desk-top. I’ve learned that my weight goes up and down during the week in small increments and it goes up and down during the month in larger increments. As long as I see an overall down trend, I know I am doing the right things. It also re-affirms that weight fluctuation is NORMAL. I don’t beat myself up because I gained half a pound (or a pound, or two) overnight, over a day, or a week. But I do review my diary to see what changed (Did I get enough Sleep?, Did I poo?, Is it TOM?, How were my calories?, my Steps? How was my mood – Did I stress eat?). All this brings me awareness and mindfulness. It has allowed me to be honest with myself.

I know I gain weight leading up to TOM, and then remain constant for several days following. (Can anyone say water retention, then constipation)? Then the week following, I have a big loss. I’ve found that if I eat less than ~1000-1200 calories (e.g. too few), then I don’t have enough bulk (e.g. fiber) in my diet and I get constipated, and the scale tips up until things get moving again. I lose best when I consume 1300-1500 calories a day.

I’ve found that I enjoy being active, and appreciate the strength and stamina I am gaining from losing weight and generally being more active. (I’m still a sloth, but I am a more active sloth than I was before). I’m slowly learning, I can eat out, eat *junk/bad/taboo* foods, I can drink wine….I just can’t eat/drink it as much as I want, as frequently as I want. I have to make choices….and that’s OK. Some days a second glass of wine is worth it. (And worth the extra exercise the next day to make up for the overage in calorie consumption). I still eat out every Sunday after church and I still have Eggs Benedict…..I just have a lower calorie dinner that day. I’m learning, after doing this for 14 weeks, that this is a life-style change, that I can’t just give up _____(fill in the blank), unless I truly can give it up forever, otherwise I just need to be sensible as to when I consume it and how much of it I eat.

I’ve learned that setting mini-goals, helps keep me motivated. I use seemingly arbitrary numbers (not even 5’s or 10’s) …maybe the next goal will be down 6 or 7 lbs., which equals reducing to the next BMI point. Or obtaining the weight were I crossed the line from being “Obese” to just “Overweight” as I did this month. Or the big one for me (although it is an even 10s)…when I reached “onederland” on 14Dec16.

I’ve learned that this format – accountability – really works for me…so, I will continue to do it. I knew this Challenge was ending in January, so I joined the “52 lbs. in 52 Weeks” group on 1Jan17. I’ve had dual postings for the last month (Sundays with them and Mondays with you). It’s liberating to say, “I screwed up this week, but I’m getting back on track.” And then show you I can do it (and did it) the next week…not just silently disappear and hope no-one will notice.

Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble. I hope everyone has had successes during this Challenge. If you didn’t reach your ultimate goal, or challenge goal, I hope you met some of your smaller ones, and learned something about yourself…something, that will help you along your journey.

It’s time for me to set my next mini-goal….So, I choose reaching 184.0 lbs. (by the end of February). That will be BMI=28 for me. (I still hope to reach 140#, but I will get there steps at a time).

Good Luck and Best Wishes to you all,
Jenn

Date Weight Change for Week Change from all-time high of 226#
10/24 - 220.0 Week Change: NA Change from high: -6
10/31 - 213.4 Week Change: -6.6 Change from high: -12.6
11/7 - 208.6 Week Change: -4.8 Change from high: -17.4
11/14 - 205.4 Week Change: -3.2 Change from high: -20.6
11/21- 204.2 Week Change: -1.2 Change from high: -21.8
11/28 – 202.8 Week Change: -1.4 Change from high: -23.2
12/5 – 203.0 Week Change: +0.2 Change from high: -23.0
12/12 – 200.2 Week Change: -2.8 Change from high: -28.8
12/19 (Sun 12/18) – 196.6 Week Change: -3.6 Change from high: -29.4
12/26 – 197.0 Week Change: +0.4 Change from high: -29.0
1/2 – 196.4 Week Change -0.6 Change from high: -29.6
1/9 – 194.4 Week Change -2.0 Change from high: -31.6
1/16 - 191.4 Week Change -3.0 Change from high: -34.6
1/23 – 192.6 Week Change: +1.2 Change from high: -33.4
1/30 – 189.4 Week Change: -3.2 Change from high: -36.6

Total Weight Loss for Challenge: 30.6 lbs.
Total Overall Weight Loss: 36.6 lbs.
Starting Weight: 226.0 lbs.
Starting Weight for Challenge: 220.0 lbs.
Ultimate Goal Weight: 140.0 lbs.
Next Mini-Goal Weight - <190 lbs by 31Jan17 – REACHED!!!!!!
New Mini-Goal Weight – 184.0 lbs by 28Feb17

Challenge starting weight- 205.6
Goal weight - 198

11/7 - 205.6
11/14 - 209.8 vacation weight
11/21 - 208
11/28 - 206.6
November loss - +1

12/5 - 206.6
12/12 - 205.6
12/19 - 206 birthday last week
12/26 - 208.2
December loss - +1.6

1/2- 210
1/9 - 209.2
1/16 - 206.2 finally a great loss
1/23 - 205.4 was hoping for a whole pound but .8 is still great
1/30 - 205.6
January loss -4.4

Well I gained and lost over this challenge but in the end I weigh exactly the same as when I began.

WEIGHT LOSS FOR THE WEEK: +.2
GOAL WEIGHT LOSS FOR TOTAL CHALLENGE: 7 lbs.
GOAL WEIGHT RANGE: 198.6
ULTIMATE WEIGHT LOSS GOAL: 160

11/7- 149
11/14 - 149.5
11/21- 148.5 (My Challenge Start Date)
11/28 - 146.5
12/5- 146
12/12 - 144.5
12/19 143.5
12/26 - 142.5
1/2- 142 (not what I was hoping, but I’ll take it!)
1/9 - 141
1/16 - 140
1/23 – 138.5 (Goal! Good riddance 140’s!)
1/30 -- 138
Weight loss for the week:-0.5
Weekly weight loss goal: -1
Challenge weight loss so far: -11
Challenge weight loss goal: -10
Challenge weight goal: 139
GOAL WEIGHT: 125 lbs by May 1 2017

This challenge has really worked for me. Instead of gaining weight over the holidays, I was able to lose and get a jump start on the usual January resolution to get my weight down. It was hard to skip out on my favorite holiday goodies and give up wine. Exercising has been a big part of reaching my first goal. My BMI is back in "normal" range and my old wardrobe is "new again." Looking around for a new weigh-in challenge since posting seems to be a little extra motivation and I don't feel alone in working toward a goal. You have all inspired me.

HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE 2016
(November December January)

CHALLENGE STARTING WEIGHT: 148.0 (11/3)

11/07/16: 147.4 down for the count with a stomach bug today - I'll eat anything I can, which isn't much
11/14/16: 146.0 been doing some shopping in my closet, finding "new" stuff to wear!
11/21/16: 145.6 [they need a half smiley] Any loss is a good loss during TOM's visit - I'll take it.
11/28/16: 143.6 YAY - managed to keep the ball rolling through the first holiday hurdle
12/05/16: 142.0 [think I forgot to post last week
12/12/16: 144.0 oops! those extra margaritas and nachos last night (and lack of sleep) are hanging on
12/19/16: 143.2 Too much "fun" over the weekend showed on the scale this morning, or this would have been better ... oh well
12/27/16: 144.2 Enjoyed the Christmas food fest a bit too much - hopefully that will drop off fairly quickly
01/03/17: 141.0 Scale moving back in the right direction after the 2-week food fest
01/09/17: out of town
01/16/17: 140.2 slowly but surely ...
01/23/17: 140.2 Can't complain - stayed flat even though I was traveling thru the weekend
01/27/17: 137.4 SO CLOSE! OK, this is my WI before leaving town on 1/27 - I know I'll put some of that back on this weekend!

WEIGHT LOSS FOR THE WEEK: -2.8
GOAL WEIGHT LOSS FOR TOTAL CHALLENGE: The final 13 lbs
GOAL WEIGHT RANGE: 135
ULTIMATE WEIGHT LOSS GOAL: 135 (comfortable size 8)

WOW!! I'm actually starting to think I might get there!!

For everyone that keeps bouncing up/down/up/down, stick with it. You can do it - Believe in yourself. It may just be a small tweak that you need to get that scale moving. These weekly check-ins have helped me tremendously. Sure, I've recorded my weight weekly for many years on a spiral notepad kept hidden in the bathroom drawer ... BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT HERE, where people can SEE it, there's something that tells your brain to get off it's butt and get it's *@&amp;$ together and DO something. Off in search of the next accountability challenge - who's with me? We can do this!

MFP Start Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .338.8 LBS
Challenge Start Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 LBS

05 . 11 - 280.9 LBS - Halloween week...after a rough start I managed to recover and had a mini loss.
12 . 11 - 280.9 LBS - This plateau is getting really annoying. Been stuck for over month!
19 . 11 - 279.4 LBS - finally broke this plateau! Onward and upward.
26 . 11 - 279.5 LBS - Sigh....here we go again.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .November Loss: . . . . 1.5 LBS
03 . 12 - 276.5 LBS - Finally a decent loss!!
10 . 12 - 275.2 LBS - So happy to still be losing!
17 . 12 - 277.2 LBS - Chrismas party on Friday = Gain
24 . 12 - 277.0 LBS - ok not a gain. Hope for better numbers next week.
31 . 12 - 275.4 LBS - yes!! A loss!!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .December Loss: . . . . .4.1 LBS
07 . 1 - 278.4 LBS - really? Water retention due to muscle repair.
14 . 1 - 276.8 LBS - I'll take it.
21 . 1 - 273.1 LBS - Finally a nice number!
28 . 1 - 274.9 LBS - sigh.
04 . 2 - 273.2 LBS - happy with this.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .January Loss: . . . . . .2.2 LBS

Weight Loss for the Week: . . . . . . . . . . . -1.7 LBS
Weight Loss During Challenge So far:. . . . . . - 7.8 LBS
Weekly Weight Loss Goal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- 2 LBS
Challenge Weight Loss Goal: . . . . . . . . . . . . .- 20 LBS
Challenge Goal Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260 - 265
Ultimate Goal Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 LBS


I didn't reach my goal but I had a loss each month. I got through the holidays with a loss which is a first for me. I'm usually up 20 lbs. Thanks so much for this challenge!

HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLEGE
11/7/16 TO 1/30/17
CHALLENGE START WEIGHT: 127 lbs.
11/7/16: 127
11/14/16: 125.0
11/21/16: 126.0
11/28/16: 124.5
12/5/16: 122.5
12/12/16: 124.5
12/19/16: 128
12/26/16: vacation
1/2/17: 129 That's it. The line is drawn.
1/9 /17: 130.0
1/16/17: 130.0
1/23/17: 133.5
1/30/17: 130.0
WEIGHT LOSS DURING CHALLENGE: GAIN OF 3.0 LB.

I had a serious problem avoiding sweets! It is interesting that my weight went up even more quickly AFTER the holidays. I think I wasn't fighting it as hard!

ANY CHANCE THAT THIS CHALLENGE WILL BE CONTINUED? I REALLY LIKE THE LENGTH AND IT GIVES AN EXCELLENT OVERVIEW OF WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN PATTERNS. THANK YOU @poppigirl FOR GETTING US STARTED!

OK, not sure if I have the link, but have created a new SPRING CHALLENGE at
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10513425/spring-weight-loss-challenge-the-continuation-of-our-summer-fall-winter-challenges/p1?new=1

Looking forward to everyone's continued progress!