(NEW) OPEN CHALLENGE: FIT BY OCTOBER!!!

Good morning, fitties! :-)

Welcome to all the new challengers! And yes, this challenge is always open. If someone wants to join us on October 6th, we will welcome them in for one day of a fun challenge! Why not? ;-)

Anyway, I'm still feeling sick today, unfortunately! Stupid cold. My voice has dropped like two octaves, does that happen to anyone else when you get a cold? I feel like a man today. Part of my job is answering the phones, and no one knows who I am. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

Okay, time for another QOTD!!! I think that I will keep on posting the last several, in case anyone that joins in hasn't had the chance to answer the last couple. Answer whichever questions you want to answer, and/or ask some questions of your own!

QOTD #1: What is your favorite kind of exercise and why?

QOTD #2: How did you find MFP, and how do you like it compared to other programs/sites/diets/etc you've tried in the past?

QOTD #3: What was your "a-ha" moment, meaning was there a specific moment that made you decide that it was time to lose the weight?

(1) Kettlebells b/c to me I feel like I'm doing a whole body workout.

(2) I was googling something and stumbled upon MFP. Love MFP!

(3) Clothes and jewelry were not fitting properly.

Leah, I hope you are getting over your cold ok..Summer colds are the worst!

QOTD #1: What is your favorite kind of exercise and why?
My favorite exercise is cycling! That's pretty much all I do on some days..I love it because it's fun (and fast) and can double as cheap transportation. Saves gas $$$.

QOTD #2: How did you find MFP, and how do you like it compared to other programs/sites/diets/etc you've tried in the past?
I've tried calorie counting sites (the ones where they just tell you how many calories different food items contain...no forums or anything, that are free, at least) in the past and they've worked fine. I love mfp because of the support mostly! Also because I can get access to good information offered by honest people who aren't trying to sell me stuff. I found out about MFP on a weight-loss/fitspo blog..glad I found it

QOTD #3: What was your "a-ha" moment, meaning was there a specific moment that made you decide that it was time to lose the weight?
I had grown comfortable with my "slightly above average" body type (always hovering between normal/overweight in terms of BMI) and was able to get away with eating junk when I was super active and rode my bike everywhere! This was before I got my driver's license. Once I did..I realized how many extra calories I was burning off the year before. The crappy food was also always putting me in a crappy mood...that paired with no self confidence..and lots of stress from school and work...did some damage to my relationship with my (now ex) boyfriend and many of my other friends. Much of the "me-problems" which triggered a good deal of the fights we had, seem to be suspiciously health related. So,feeling better because I ate fruits and veg instead of pizza...along with being single (^_^) helped me (motivation-wise) to get a head start on my fitness journey.

Sorry for the long answer! Good luck to everyone!

QOTD #1: What is your favorite kind of exercise and why? I really enjoy working out on the elliptical and some weight training..

QOTD #2: How did you find MFP, and how do you like it compared to other programs/sites/diets/etc you've tried in the past? My daughter was telling me about all these different apps. that you could get on your phone, so I started looking for weight lost apps. and MFP pop up that is how I started using this program.. Do not have much to compare it to but I do really like this site..

QOTD #3: What was your "a-ha" moment, meaning was there a specific moment that made you decide that it was time to lose the weight? Well I have had many a-ha moments. But my daughter was graduating and moving on with her life while I was just sitting around doing nothing with mine, I was so wrap up in taking care of everybody else but me.. So when I started using MFP a week later I started going to the gym and its been on since then.. Every now and than old habits try to reenter but I have to stop and remind myself why this is so important to me..

testing something...

more testing...

LOL!!! WTF just happened? How did I end up with the pic in middle of my last post? Surely I am a genuine *kitten* 'cause I just can't figure this out! LOL!!!

First challenge. Yay!

NAME: Megan
AGE: 19
HEIGHT: 5'2''
START WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 170
GOAL WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 160
START PANTS SIZE: 12/14 (US)
GOAL PANTS SIZE: 12 (US)
FOLLOW ANY SPECIAL DIET: Just calorie counting
DIET GOALS: eat more fruits and veggies, and to have a set work out schedule
EXERCISE GOALS: to be able to jog between a half a mile and a mile without slowing to a walk
OTHER GOALS: To tone up
FUN FACT: I am a major sucker for almost any sort of boy band. I also own two cats (Hazel and Tigger) and two dogs (Sheena, and Tessie). Also, I am a major geek :P

This is AWESOME!!! I know how you feel about the "closed" challenges. So I am super super excited about this!!!!


NAME: Heather
AGE: 36
HEIGHT: 5'6''
START WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 195
GOAL WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 170
START PANTS SIZE: 16 (US)
GOAL PANTS SIZE: 13/14 (US)
FOLLOW ANY SPECIAL DIET: Count calories and fat and log on to MFP
DIET GOALS: portion control
EXERCISE GOALS: Complete "The Firm Express"
OTHER GOALS: Think of this not as a diet but a lifestyle change
FUN FACT: When I was a little girl I wanted to be a pro boxer and drive a yellow station wagon w/wood grain on it.....Can anybody say "DORK".....LOL )

Thanks for this!

NAME: ----
AGE: 21
HEIGHT: 5'6''
START WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 133
GOAL WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 131
START PANTS SIZE: 12 (US)
GOAL PANTS SIZE: 10 (US)
FOLLOW ANY SPECIAL DIET: Vegan
DIET GOALS: Stop binging at night
EXERCISE GOALS: Workout 5-6x a week and stick to pilates and yoga
OTHER GOALS: Master basic belly dancing

I was just calculating my steady weight loss (according to 6 lbs/week). I think I will make it to 148-146 lbs by October 7. I don't lnow whether I was super excited/sleepy/ or in a dumb moment phase that I mentioned 120 lbs as my goal by October *blush*. I want to retain my weight loss and don't think will go rapid weight loss way. Sorry for the error! Here's my revised goals:

NAME: Kierra
AGE: 24
HEIGHT: 5'2.5"
START WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 164 lb
**GOAL WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 148 lb
FOLLOW ANY SPECIAL DIET: vegetarian and counting calories!
DIET GOALS: to be able to balance health and taste
**EXERCISE GOALS: To complete Zumba Exhilerate by October and complete 30 day shred in October.
OTHER GOALS: be more firm and toned everywhere and no longer afraid of exercising
**FUN FACT: I have frequent dumb moments...lol!!

I cannot figure it how STILL-technologically challenged on this site -

@Shele75

These are just things I am coming up with off the top of my head that helped me, so I apologize in advance if you have tried either of them before, do not apply to yourself, or if I am just sounding too random ^^;

1. I have found that in the past one of my major problems with trying to lose weight is getting discouraged too easily. One or two times I have seen I have made progress...only to let it go to my head and gain it right back cause I wasn't paying too much attention to what I ate...then got upset about it and ended up gaining a bit more cause of it. .2 lbs is still something, and every little bit does count ^_^ And one thing I learned, gaining weight is easier and can take very little time if one does not pay much attention, but to shed it all off again does take more time and effort. Just keep at it and you'll be seeing that 1.5 gained, lost.

2. Another thing I have personally found to be a big downfall is I would tend to snack a little more that I should....mostly with junk, but sometimes I probably snack a little too much in general. I don't know about you, but I HATE eating after i brush my teeth. Sometimes I have to in the mornings if I wake up too late...but it doesn't mean I like it. So sometimes if I have just recently eaten, and feel the urge to snack on something junky I just chew some minty (sugar free) gum. It gives me the illusion that I have just brushed my teeth for a bit, and once that feeling is gone I realize I really just feeling the urge to snack cause i was bored or something. (I don't do this every time i want to snack, it IS good to have a small and healthy snack in between meals, so I only do this if I realize that i am snacking/eating too much)


Sorry both of those are so long winded, sometimes I get carried away when typing haha. (hm...thought I had more, but right now my brain is totally blanking on me)

@Shele75

These are just things I am coming up with off the top of my head that helped me, so I apologize in advance if you have tried either of them before, do not apply to yourself, or if I am just sounding too random ^^;

1. I have found that in the past one of my major problems with trying to lose weight is getting discouraged too easily. One or two times I have seen I have made progress...only to let it go to my head and gain it right back cause I wasn't paying too much attention to what I ate...then got upset about it and ended up gaining a bit more cause of it. .2 lbs is still something, and every little bit does count ^_^ And one thing I learned, gaining weight is easier and can take very little time if one does not pay much attention, but to shed it all off again does take more time and effort. Just keep at it and you'll be seeing that 1.5 gained, lost.

2. Another thing I have personally found to be a big downfall is I would tend to snack a little more that I should....mostly with junk, but sometimes I probably snack a little too much in general. I don't know about you, but I HATE eating after i brush my teeth. Sometimes I have to in the mornings if I wake up too late...but it doesn't mean I like it. So sometimes if I have just recently eaten, and feel the urge to snack on something junky I just chew some minty (sugar free) gum. It gives me the illusion that I have just brushed my teeth for a bit, and once that feeling is gone I realize I really just feeling the urge to snack cause i was bored or something. (I don't do this every time i want to snack, it IS good to have a small and healthy snack in between meals, so I only do this if I realize that i am snacking/eating too much)


Sorry both of those are so long winded, sometimes I get carried away when typing haha. (hm...thought I had more, but right now my brain is totally blanking on me)

QOTD #3: What was your "a-ha" moment, meaning was there a specific moment that made you decide that it was time to lose the weight?

That moment came when I realized that the lifestyle that I deserved to live was no where near how I was living at that present moment. My clothes were all to tight, and I started catalog shopping. My life wasn't as enjoyable as I remembered it to be, I was 25 but felt as if I was 80 and I knew then it was time for a change.

QOTD #4: Have you "discovered" any new foods since you started eating healthier? Or realized that you DO like some foods that you used to claim to not like?

This isn't a "recent" discovery since I have lost weight once before and gained it all back plus some with pregnancy...but that first time around I thought skim milk & wheat bread were the two most disgusting foods on Earth..lol. Now, I can't stand to drink whole milk and I prefer wheat bread over white. But more recently, I discovered something maybe the opposite....I love to go out to eat. So we went to Red Lobster Saturday and I had already planned my meal to stay within my calories for the day and I stuck with that..so it wasn't really anything terribly "unhealthy". BUT I realized I liked the taste of my healthy food that I have been cooking at home lately much more than what I ate there...and my husband commented the same thing.