Hello Team Slimsons and Welcome to January!!

My name is Ashley @AB0215 I will be your captain (coach) for this month.

Here's a little about me:
I am 31, and I have been overweight basically my entire life and in the last 18 months or so, I decided to change that, I decide that my 30s really will be the best years yet!! I am currently down over 50 lbs and still going, however I don't actually have a goal weight as I weight train and I realize that my weight will likely be more than one of those ridiculous BMI charts, but I do have a fat % goal, so I will know my goal weight when I get there, but it's not really possible for me to know what it is along the way.

We are also going to be running (Optional) Mini-challenges again this month: Question of the Week and Daily Posts.

First and foremost is that participation in these challenge is optional. It's up to you as to whether you want to try this. (If you take the attitude that "this is not what I signed up for", that is up to you). I would like to encourage you to participate as it seems to help keep us on track and thinking about our goals on a daily basis and it's encouraging to see other's successes and struggles so that we realize that we are not alone!!

The Daily Posts Challenge is based on another challenge on MFP called UAC (ultimate accountability challenge). The way UAC works is that the aim is to follow 5 basic rules.

#1. Track EVERYTHING you eat that has calories on MFP.
#2. Stay inside your allocated daily budget.
#3. Try to do at least 20 minutes of activity a day (anything: walk, run, cycle, swim, gardening, housework, yoga, gym, etc.. As long as it gets you active and off the couch)
#4. 1 pass day permitted per week (went over calories, could not track, not enough exercise, intentional pass)
#5. Check in daily (tracking yes/no, calories yes/no, exercise yes/no).

****End of the week. those who have managed to keep to plan for 6 out of 7 days are recognised in the thread as being part of the weekly "winners circle".

**REMEMBER**
You set your own daily budget.
You choose you own exercise and intensity (no step limit, no exercises you cannot or should not do, 20 mins of gardening counts as much as a 10mile run).
Is not weight based (as weight fluctuates day by day).
Can continue beyond weight loss.

Daily check in keeps you in touch with those doing similar. Longer term weight management is hard to do on your own.

It also has frequent resets (as in a circle each week).

It works on an honor system. Being honest with yourself and others is a key to making things work. Remember, this is a judgement free zone, everyone has good days and bad days, but the way to get to the finish line is by being honest and when we have a bad day, picking ourselves up and carrying on the next day!

Consistency and new habits have been shown the only long term successful way to change weight. We all want the progress made here to last a lifetime.

My commitment to this group is to post my daily results for this accountability tracking (and help out where I can).

Which should look like this:
Daily Post
(Tell us a brief description about your day or goals)
Track: Yes/no
Calories: Yes/no (were you under)
Exercise: Yes/no (what type and how long)
Water Intake: how many ounces? (optional--but good to help keep track)

The Question of the Week Challenge is a fun participation booster and I'll be using it sometimes just as fun and sometimes it can help to foster new ideas for others as we all are different and have different experiences so sharing ideas can help someone else with motivation of freshening up their routine even!!

Please post your weight on your weigh day as scheduled, as if you miss weigh-ins, you may be eliminated from the challenge and we don't want to see that happen!! Your post should look like this:

Username:
Week: December Week 1
PW =(previous weight)
CW=(current weight)
Just type PW & CW if it's easier, you could keep a note on your PC desktop to make it easier to copy and paste from week to week.

This is my first month leading the team and I'd like to help us be as successful as possible and if I can help in any way, please let me know. Also, if you have any suggestions for the team or fun ideas to spice things up a bit, please feel free to share them!!

Welcome to January and let's make things happen this month together!!

Your Captain,
Ashley (@AB0215)

Bring on January!!! Hoping to get under 200lbs by the end of the month.

Hey everyone, I apologize I forgot to weigh in last week. On Wed my 3 year old, autistic, non verbal son was left on the bus for almost 5 hrs in the cold by himself. The rest of my week was filled with phone calls, meetings, and interviews. I am so sry but in the shock and anger of it all I completely forgot! Having said that I will drop out for the remainder of Dec but if at all possible I would love to come back in January. Please let me know if I can!

Hello to all the Slimsons and Happy New Slimmer Year! I have gained over the holidays. I love chocolate, cookies, nuts, fudge and it has been a disaster for me because We are visiting our daughter, husband and 4 of our grandchildren. They love to bake! So My resolve will come from you, my team Slimsons and my new year resolutions for will power! It is nice to know we can be responsible to a team.

Daily Post
Well my back has gone, not helped by having to lug a mahogany antique chair down the stairs. They are so heavy! Had my bloods done before Christmas as hadn't had a check up in years (moved around so never got round to it) and my GP called me this morning to say I have anaemia, which explains A LOT. This evening I will be going to a family event and will not be sticking to my calorie goal. I will be having several pints of lager

Track Yes
Calories No
Exercise Yes

Daily Post: I'm really getting used to this whole leaving work early thing. It was a great day!
Track: Yes
Calories: Yes
Exercise: Yes - C25K W4D3, 46 min walk

First day:
Track: yes
Calories: no
Exercise: yes
By Sunday the first week I start, hopefully, I will say calories, yes. Too much candy around and a weak me.

jirish101 wrote: »

After taking December off I have decided to come back and give it another go. I haven't counted, tracked or weighed anything since mid November and I'm proud of myself for only gaining about 2.5lbs.

That is good to have only gained 2.5 lbs, when I don't track, I gain 2.5 lbs a week...so congrats!

helen79uk wrote: »

Hi everyone, giving MFP another try, but this time getting involved in the community pages. Just been added to The Slimsons for January. Let's see where this takes me.

Me too!
I’ve just returned to MFP as tracking (carbs not calories- works best for me) keeps me accountable. I lost more than a stone earlier in the year but put it back on since September- work related stress

I am doing OMAD or Intermittent fasting and then doing KETO for my meal. I am having a KETO coffee and realize I had to raise my calories from 1200 to 1500 or I would have to give up my Keto coffee so I did that today.

KETO coffee is a real treat for me. It keeps me satisfied. I still am going to try to keep it in my window. When I do a clean fast, I cannot have it. I will try just the butter sometime.

January goals. I have 4 of them. Get under 200lbs. So lose ten pounds. This is going to be tough since I have 5 birthdays to attend (my son included). Eat less processed food. I have purchased pretty much a months worth of frozen veggies and meats. The only thing processed we eat are the sidekicks. Drink more water. So important. Last but not least. Look into instructor training. Can fit, Les mills and Zumba strong. Booya

mexiconona wrote: »

Help, I just had 3 Bailey’s Turin chocolates!

Well, look at it like this...your next meal is your next opportunity to eat towards your goals...we all mess up, but it's what you do next that's important.

Good Morning and Happy New Year.

Welcome to all the new challengers:) It's a really great and supportive team.
I'm Sarah, single mum to 2 boys in Western Australia. I am on a weight loss and strength/toning journey at the moment and I fell off the wagon hard in December, This month I am going to climb back on and kick it's *Kitten*.
I have added weight loss to my new 12 week year challenge at home that starts today, If I don't get on track I only let myself down.
Mentally and emotionally I am in a really great place, I just need to be present when I eat and start using the app properly again, It is clear to me that I can't just "guesstimate" what I am eating.

I wish you all luck with your goals in the coming month:)

mexiconona wrote: »

Thanks, I needed that!

@mexiconona Here's a couple Keto recipes that might help curb your chocolate/sweet tooth:
Keto Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Cheesecake Fatbombs The second is my recipe and sometimes I add a few Lily's Chocolate Chips to the top for a little extra treat.

@sarahann104 Really looking forward to a fresh start in January and hoping that everyone has a great time supporting each other!
I am right there with you on the being present when I eat, I usually track what I think I want to eat before I even cook it so that I know what I'm eating, because when I don't do that, that's when I over eat. And 12 weeks is a great short term stretch to help reach your smaller goals.

@gjaholy33 Looking good Birthday Girl!! I KNOW you will get to feeling better this month, just take one day at a time.
Also--are you changing your weigh in day to Sat or do you want to keep Friday?