Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

@Karen that's great, you made my morning

Name: Rachel
Age: 22
Height: 5'6"

Start Weight (week of April 19): 199.4 lbs
Goal Weight (week of June 28): 185 lbs (aka out of obesity)

Weigh in week of:
(Weeks are listed by Wednesdays)
1. April 26 - 197.4 lbs
2. May 3 - 200.2 lbs
3. May 10 - 199.6 lbs
4. May 17 -194.2 lbs
5. May 24 - 192.4 lbs
6. May 31 - MIA
7. June 7 - 194.4 lbs
8. June 14 - 194.6 lbs
9. June 21 -
10. June 28 -
Final weight: Saturday, July 1 -

Weight -/+ this week:+0.2 lbs
Weight -/+ challenge total: -4.8 lbs
Weight -/+ overall total: -27.0 lbs

So "maintaining" again this week weight wise. But half marathon training has been going well - 4 to 5 days of running a week for the last couple of weeks plus I've been trying to keep with some stability weight training to supplement that. My running watch has a "Running Index" metric which indicates the efficiency of your running based on heart rate and speed. Was quite surprised that this morning's run had me on the verge of the "Very Good" category as I don't see myself as a very good runner nor did I really feel like it was a very good run this morning I'm feeling pretty confident for the 10K coming up in a couple of weeks but need to make sure that I am staying 100% committed to my goals as I don't think I can afford to slack off.

Having a rough day here. Just devoured a pot of leftover pasta, for no reason other than that I'm super stressed out! I hope that when my husband gets home I can take an hour for myself to go for a walk, or to the gym, or something, because being well over my calorie goal at 1:30 in the afternoon is NO BUENO.

How's everyone else's day going? @gullagr , I just want to say you inspire me! I have my sights set on a 5K this fall, and my ambitious goal is a half marathon the following spring. I am so excited for you, and hope to follow your progress as you train for this!

Name: Sue
Age: 67
Height: 5'6"
SW 280
GW 150

so I started this journey at the beginning of the year on my own. I Lost 13 pounds the first month and nothing in February . Made a call to a local weight loss center. I had an informational appointment at the center in March. I weighed in at 266. Started tracking my food trying to stay around 1200 calories. In April I had an appointment with the bariatric doctor and weighed 256. A month later, in May when I had my appointment with the dietitian I weighed 250. She said I should eat 1400 calories and I freaked out! So we settled on 1300! Sometimes I am below that and sometime, over! But I have noticed my weight loss has slowed down a bit. I weigh myself only once a week now, usually on Fridays. Hopefully tomorrow's weight will show a loss! Last weeks weight was 243.8. Its so HARD! Inching my way to the first 50 pound goal, but feel like I should have made that already. However all I know is that it's now or never. Trying hard to change my eating habits/lifestyle. Soon I have to get back into the walking and exercise groove. I so mind the heat and humidity though, so we will see how that goes.

@sue- welcome! Yes, losing the weight takes time. I started out at 247 and it took about 9 months for me to get under 200, and then another year to get to my low of185. I maintained that for 2 years before gaining back about 15 lbs. I've been hovering in the high 190s for about a year now, and I'm determined to get back to making the scale go down. But you're right--it's hard. The support of the people on this thread have helped keep me motivated even through the rough patches, so come back often to share your successes and struggles.

@RunningOnWontons --Maybe your body was craving carbs b/c of all the running you've been doing? I hope you got to go to the gym or for your walk.

@kizanne1 -- I have hereditary high cholesterol and took statins for about 2 years. They brought my levels down slightly, but I gained a lot of weight in my abdomen while on them. As I worked to lose the weight, I found that what really affects my numbers is the amount of carbs I eat. I give blood about every 8 weeks and they always check my cholesterol. If I've been eating more carbs prior to the visit, my cholesterol is higher; if I've been eating lower carbs, my cholesterol is lower. This is regardless of the number on my scale. I know everyone is different, but it might be worth a try to reduce your carbs for a week or so prior to your next cholesterol test, to see if it affects your numbers.

@rachel-- great job with the training! I need to get back to running more than a couple of days/week now that my knee and ankle have healed and I'm out of school for the summer. I really have no excuse not to...

@pneschich --my sympathies for your sciatica pain. I used to suffer from it when I was in my 20s; then I discovered that good shoes were my remedy. However, if you've had 3 back surgeries, I'm sure your solution isn't so simple.

Wednesday Wish:
I posted my Thursday Truth a day early--I completely lose track of what day it is during the summer--so I'll do my wish tonight. I was back to 199.8 on the scale this morning, so my wish is that I can make that go down a bit by the time we weigh-in next Wednesday.

My furniture arrived today, and I absolutely love it! I wish I were done with the room, but I still have to paint, so tomorrow I will be patching and sanding nail holes. Then it's off to Home Depot to get my paint and any other supplies I might need. I'm hoping to get it all done over the weekend.

Name: Karen
Age: 47
Height: 5' 7"

Start Weight (week of May 24): 199.8
Goal Weight (week of June 28): 193

Weigh in week of:
(Weeks are listed by Wednesdays)
5. May 24 -199.8
6. May 31 - 202.5
7. June 7 - 201.6
8. June 14 - 200.2
9. June 21 -
10. June 28 -
Final weight: Saturday, July 1 -

Weight -/+ this week: -1.4
Weight -/+ total: +.4

Ready for Summer 10 week challenge

Name: Jennie
Age: 30
Height: 5' 3

Start Weight (week of April 19): 224
Goal Weight (week of June 28): 214

Weigh in week of:
(Weeks are listed by Wednesdays)
1. April 26 - 223.2
2. May 3 - 219.2
3. May 10 - 219.2
4. May 17 - 218.4
5. May 24 -219.4
6. May 31 - 217.4
7. June 7 - 216.4
8. June 14 - 215.6
9. June 21 -
10. June 28 -
Final weight: Saturday, July 1 -

Weight -/+ this week: -.8
Weight -/+ total: -8.4
Total weight loss: 39.4

Fitness friday: headed back to the gym today. Being so close to 40 lbs lost and being stuck is getting on my already shot nerves!!!! I'm trying to re find the motivation/focus that I had for the first 80 days of this journey, you know back when I was rocking it!! But between back pain, sick self/kids, endless other places to be and neverending time sensitive things to get done just to live has derailed my focus. It was easy when I was focused, now it's hard. I think this challenge is the only thing keeping me on this very slow downward path, and I am sooo thankful for you all!!

Ready for Summer 10 week challenge

Name: Barb
Age:69
Height: 5'3"

Start Weight (week of April 19): 226.2 lbs
Goal Weight (week of June 28) 210 lbs
Weigh in week of:

1. April 26 - 224.6
2. May 3 - 224.8
3. May 10 – 220.2
4. May 17 – 222.0
5. May 24 – 217.6
6. May 31 – 217.2
7. June 7 – 216.0
8. June 14 – 217.4
9. June 21 -
10. June 28 -
Final weight: Saturday, July 1 -

Weight -/+ this week: +1.4
Weight -/+ total this challenge: -8.8
Total Weight Lost: 40.6

I'm struggling here, along with company for the past 10 days and eating out at least half that time, I am still depressed at losing my little dog. I have been eating in the evening after I finish logging and going over my calories almost every day. Another problem is our weather, we have been in a drought for several months but thankfully we can't say that any more. We have had heavy rains and thunder showers daily for the last couple of weeks and that has really impacted my bike riding! I'm hoping to get back on tract starting today!!! This thread is about the only thing keeping me going right now...

Name: Ana
Age: 41
Height: 5'3"

Start Weight (week of April 19): 188.3 lbs
Goal Weight (week of June 28): 170 lbs

Weigh in week of:
(Weeks are listed by Wednesdays)
1. April 26 - 183.4
2. May 3 - 182.1
3. May 10 - 181.0
4. May 17 (*) - 177.8
5. May 24 (*) - 176.5
6. May 31 (*) - 175.1
7. June 7 (*) - 172.9
8. June 14 (*) - 172.3
9. June 21 -
10. June 28 -
Final weight: Saturday, July 1 -

Weight -/+ this week: - 0.6
Weight -/+ total: - 16.0
Weight loss so far: - 57.3

(*) will be in Italy ... land of wine and gelato (and as regret to have discovered, amazing bread too!)

@jam5660 - yes, but you are soooo close, only 1.6 lbs to go to meet your June 28/July 1st goal weight! Hang in there, you can do it! And congrats on your gym success! I can't do a regular elliptical yet, still using the reclining one, but you are AWESOME!
@Birdygirl15 - Woot Woot, congrats on making below the 300 mark! Great job!
@bapcarrier - having company over is sooo hard, I can imagine how hard it's been sticking to your guns with them there. On top of that losing your sweet-pea has made it harder. We're rooting for you though, I know you can get back on track!
@MermaidPrincessRach - some things work for some people, some other things work for others. I know you'll find the right motivator for you, just hang in there.
@happygirlxxx - when do you come back from Italy? You sure did great even with all that temptation - only 2.3 lbs to go to meet your goal weight! I don't know how you did it with all the great food over there!
@JeanieWww - great loss this week!

Tracy
TX

RunningOnWontons wrote: »

Birdygirl15 wrote: »

Woo Hoo!! Finally into Twonderland (I made that up if it hasn't been used on MFP before)

So awesome! HOORAY for you! Isn't it just great to see that first number drop down? Just changes one's whole outlook, I think.

I am with you on the mojito thing--as well as other calorie-laden alcoholic beverages. Hard to avoid, when you're enjoying the warm weather, relaxing w/friends, etc. WHY are they so full of calories??? I do like to make my own non-alcoholic mixer sometimes using tonic water (full strength, can't do diet with that) and fresh lime juice. I'm sure other fruit, or mint, would work as well. It has fewer than 100 calories. Looks pretty in a glass, at least.

Thank you I'm wondering if mojitos made with Stevia or similar would pass muster? I mix with plain soda water (carbonated water - seltzer, is that what you call it over the pond?). That way the only calories are in the alcohol. Otherwise it's back to vodka and diet tonic, though I'd prefer orange juice. Wine spritzer? Terrible way to treat wines, but sometimes their sacrifice helps my hips

Thank you too, @GOINSTD12, it is a big milestone, and one I don't want to ever have to meet again.

@gael-- where were you on holiday??

@karen-- yeah, I'm in the same boat right now having gained the first week that I joined; now I'm finally below my starting point, so hoping I've reached a turning point.

@jeannie-- great loss this week!!

@jennie-- that's great about your workout! I've found the same thing with my running. Even when I had to take 10 weeks off with bronchitis, once I started again, I could still run a couple of miles. Like you, I feared I would be back to square one, but not so.

@ana-- where in Italy are you visiting? One of my good friends went last year, and she loved it so much, she planned another trip this summer. She's also planning a 50th b-day getaway there in 3 years and I'm invited, so I'm hoping I can join her for that. I've never been.

@rach-- sorry this challenge isn't working for you. We used to switch up the challenges every month, so maybe we can try something new for July.

@barb-- You are doing so great considering the company and the loss of your baby. I don't know that I will be a functional human being when my Gunner goes. I always tell my husband that when it's time, I hope he goes in the summer b/c I can't even imagine trying to go to work right after that loss. I'm so proud of you for sticking with this despite the challenges you're facing.

@linda-- Woohoo!! Congratulations on meeting such a momentous milestone!! I've heard Twoderville on MFP, but never Twoderland, so I think you've coined a phrase. We will call you Shakespeare from now on. Oh, and it's regional regarding soda water vs. seltzer. In Chicago, I can call it either and bartenders know what I mean, but I've traveled places in the south where people looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for soda water.

@linda and @RunningOnWontons --I hear you both about the cocktails. I try to stick with vodka and soda or rum and diet coke (only about 60 calories), but it's hard to resist some of those fruity, higher-calorie concoctions on a hot summer day.

@tracy-- Yes, if we keep plugging along we will reach our goals. Sending good thoughts for your surgery next week.

Friday Fitness:
Well, another day of no actual work out, but between prepping my bedroom to paint, a trip to Home Depot, walking my dog, and doing some yard work, I am at 10,000 steps today. Tomorrow I paint!!


Name: Karen
Age: 47
Height: 5' 7"

Start Weight (week of May 24): 199.8
Goal Weight (week of June 28): 193

Weigh in week of:
(Weeks are listed by Wednesdays)
5. May 24 -199.8
6. May 31 - 202.5
7. June 7 - 201.6
8. June 14 - 200.2
9. June 21 -
10. June 28 -
Final weight: Saturday, July 1 -

Weight -/+ this week: -1.4
Weight -/+ total: +.4

Name: Rich
Okay, so this is long, but I've hit a frustrating plateu. I've lost a little over 70 lbs and have about 70 to go. This is the first week that I have stalled on my weight loss. I had been averaging three to four pounds per week, which I know is high.

A little background: male; 51 years old; a variety of health problems that come with being obese. I have been keeping track of my calorie intake very strictly. I have also adjusted my calories downward using the profile section of mfp. I lost the first 20 lbs on my own, and then started food journaling again. Initially MFP suggested 1840 calories per day. That was assuming a low activity rate, and I add in "earned" exercise calories. 90% of days I do not eat any exercise calories back. Most other days I eat only a few.

I go to the gym almost every single day. I do strength training every other day, and some cardio everyday. While mfp does not count calories from strength training, my cardio routines are usually between 700 and 900 calories burned. I have also adjusted my base calories down using MFP, and I am now at a base of 1600 calories a day.

So I have a few questions. Am I exercising too much? I very rarely take a day off. However, there are days when I go in and I do NOT do a heavy cardio or strength training. I will get on the treadmill at a moderate speed that does not really pump my heart rate too much and just walk for 45 minutes to burn some calories. For example, yesterday I did my leg routine and shoulders for strength, and I was going to take it easy on cardio but I just felt like doing some HIIT on the treadmill. So I got on the treadmill and once I got up to my walking speed and incline I did intervals of jogging and walking. Legs are a touch sore today, but rather than blow off the gym completely I will go in and just walk on the treadmill at a moderate pace that only gets my heart rate up to about 120. An easy to maintain casual stroll that's still burns about 700 calories. I probably won't eat any of those back, or less than 100 of them just to top off a snack or something.

On my diet I eat almost anything I want, but because I am counting calories I do make better choices. Occasionally though, you just want those potato chips. That's ok as long as they're in my calorie budget and I've eaten enough protein. So I don't really deprive myself of anything, but I still measure and count it all very strictly.

Now, as I have said, I have adjusted my calorie intake down to reflect my lower weight. Despite being very strict on my logging, and rarely eating back any of my exercise calories, my weight loss stalled this week. It could just be a little water retention, or a little muscle growth as I did change up my strength and HIIT routines, or both. Maybe those changes are not a coincidence. Honestly, my legs have been sore a few times over the last week from the new HIIT routines. Not injury sore, just normal DOMS from hard work. That's why today (as I did a couple of other days this past week) I'm only going to walk at a moderate pace mostly for calorie burn not for cardio. I understand that you shouldn't do strength training everyday, but I always thought cardio everyday was considered healthy. I would call my moderate walk light cardio, it gets my heart rate up a little but not really crazy, and it's not at a pace that is it all stressful to maintain. It's just a light moderately fast walk at a moderate incline, what we were designed to do. But it's a moderate level of activity because otherwise my lifestyle is pretty much sedentary.

So, I'm at this plateau. Should I just keep doing what I'm doing or change things up again? I don't think my metabolism would kick down from the number of calories I'm eating. 1600 day should not ever send you into starvation mode even if you are exercising quite a bit. It's a reasonable number of calories. If my base ever drops below 1200, I will start eating back more of my exercise calories. Yesterday I did eat back about 600 of my 800 exercise calories. It almost felt like a party, LOL.

Any suggestions? Maybe just give it another week and see if the Dam breaks? Any suggestions or motivation is welcome. I'm not going to change much right now, except maybe try not to eat as much late at night. I can't help it, I save some calories for a late snack. I have always heard that is bad, should I cut it out? It really seems to help me, I seem to get hungrier later in the day so rather than fight my natural inclinations I just offset time and keep my total per day below the set threshold. It has worked really well so far, and I don't see how this one habit would cause a plateau. Like I said, maybe the stall is just some water retention and some muscle growth from the new exercise routine.

Sunday share. It's getting harder. 110 pounds gone and it's seemingly easier to justify "cheating ". I still log my intake and I am never over BUT some days the permission I give myself seems excessive or even dangerous. I am crazy worried about failing, I just can't! I still can't eat enough to get in trouble but I find it disturbing. I have had a bad week mentally as well as physically. I either have kidney stones or gall stones. Friday was my dads 92nd bday and I miss him. It was also the 34th anniversary of my mothers passing, a bittersweet day to say the least. Cancer took her far too soon, Dad couldn't live with out her. I hope I love my wife that much. He was a great man. She was my mother so she was perfect. It's Father's Day and my oldest turns 18 in a month. Did I do everything I could to prepare him? Probably not. He has been loved and seen my love for him , his brother and his mother, my wife. He has seen me work and his mother and I sacrifice but is it enough? He is a good and kind young man. I am proud he is mine. As proud as any father can be. Like any father I worry. This life is a gift, love much, laugh as much as possible, cry when necessary.
Happy Father's Day! Dad I miss you but I am the man I am because of you. I hope you are as proud of me as I am of my boys.