JULY MONTHLY CHALLENGE
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Sunday 07/01
Sunday 07/08
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
New to this group but definitely in for July! I have my weight for the first and I think I posted it on the spreadsheet. My July 8 weigh in wont be great because I'm really JUST starting today BUT the rest of the month should be better.
Looking forward to getting started
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@stormywxs288 I definitely have the bad habit of letting loose right after hitting milestones. I did it after hitting 199, and when getting out of the obese BMI range. Man I'm not here for that nonsense. I think for me personally I need to sit back and analyze my goals and set new ones to work toward. Setting reasonable dates to achieve them by also help me a lot. I am at a weight where I feel happy "enough" so the drive to work hard to continue changing my body just isn't there. "The real work starts here". I think everyone gets to a point where they have to do the harder work, and they either push forward, or quit. I'm going forward with the mindset that every lb from here on out is going to take more work than before. Since I've found that weight loss alone isn't enough to keep me driven, I'm shifting focus to physical activity and building muscle. Regular exercise also helps to keep me from overindulging. I'm not going to put in an hour at the gym every day, to sabotage it for a few minutes of eating whatever carb-crap is in the house.
Things I've been doing lately:
Getting to the gym in the morning. (makes me think twice about eating the crap)
Making sure I have a protein rich breakfast before leaving to the gym (gotta have the right food to maintain/build muscle)
I know a lot of people swear by IF, and I do it on ocassion, but I eat better throughout the day when I eat eggs in the morning.
Keeping convenient keto-friendly foods in the pantry at all times.
Giving up the daily caffeine. I always go back to it, but after almost a year on keto, I know for a fact I don't lose weight while having caffeine. It's not the creamer or sweetener, because I can have decaf just fine.
Log the darn food no matter how annoying it is. (love/hate relationship here).
This is just what works for me. Everyone is different, but everyone has things they are going to have to do, eat, give up, keep doing to make the weight come off/keep it off. We just need to identify what those things are for ourselves.6 -
Keto Starting Weight: 153
Current Weight: 132
July Goal: 125 (7 lbs)
Ultimate Goal: 115
Thursday 07/05: 132
Sunday 07/08
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
I did not weigh myself on Sunday. I only lost 4.5 lbs in June. I was not strict with my eating and it shows in the numbers!
I'm frustrated that I find myself at the same weight I was in May when I was so proud of having lost 20 lbs. But that frustration is with myself because I KNOW the process works when I am diligent - I have not been diligent. (I know this story from me is familiar)
I have found that asking friends from this forum for help and admitting I need encouragement and to be checked up on has been super helpful. Just getting a note (tap on shoulder) that someone is looking does make a difference! It can talk you out of a poor food choice, or spur you to log honestly, etc.
Don't underestimate the difference others on here can make and the difference you can make when you choose to encourage someone! (thanks @stormywxs288 and @River_Goddess !!!!)
On the other hand - I have really been enjoying my life (and food when I want to) and have not gained since my 20lb loss and I know I can lose the last 17 if I practice what I know to work!
In July, we have the CA Mid-State fair and 3 concerts, along with family vacation, so it will be a little tricky. I am committed to reaching my goals this summer while still doing what I 'want', by being strict with myself, but not depriving myself. I'm hoping that if I'm "on" when possible, I won't feel bad when I go "off" for our special events! So, we'll see if 7 lbs this month is still possible. I'm hoping to ramp up my exercise to compensate a little.
My other goal is to continue with strength training, but to add an actual program rather than just winging it, and also to make sure I am eating the right things so that the added exercise does not make me want to eat a lot more. I hope to start the new weight program this next week....4 -
@Keeping convenient keto-friendly foods in the pantry at all times.
Giving up the daily caffeine. I always go back to it, but after almost a year on keto, I know for a fact I don't lose weight while having caffeine. It's not the creamer or sweetener, because I can have decaf just fine.
Log the darn food no matter how annoying it is. (love/hate relationship here).
I definitely agree and identify with these 3 points you listed. I have known for a while that caffeine is a "sabotager" in my weight loss efforts. It causes cravings late in the day that I seem to have no willpower against. Years ago when I lost a bit of weight (not on Keto) I made a list titled, "What I was doing" to remind me of the good habits that were helping me. One of the habits was 1-2 cups of coffee - weekly. The other days I could have 1 cup of green tea, and 9 am was the cut off time. If I had caffeine after that I was like Golem at the refrigerator that night! Another was no less than 3 liters of water daily. I was following a low'ish carb diet at the time but it didn't last. Keto is the only way of eating that had me at, "Hello."
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@eggfooyamyam See, I thought I was the only one who had the issues with caffeine. Luckily I have a decaf espresso that I LOVE! I'm behaving myself this week so far. Let's see what happens.2
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KristinLeeD wrote: »Keto Starting Weight: 153
Current Weight: 132
July Goal: 125 (7 lbs)
Ultimate Goal: 115
Thursday 07/05: 132
Sunday 07/08
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
I did not weigh myself on Sunday. I only lost 4.5 lbs in June. I was not strict with my eating and it shows in the numbers!
I'm frustrated that I find myself at the same weight I was in May when I was so proud of having lost 20 lbs. But that frustration is with myself because I KNOW the process works when I am diligent - I have not been diligent. (I know this story from me is familiar)
I have found that asking friends from this forum for help and admitting I need encouragement and to be checked up on has been super helpful. Just getting a note (tap on shoulder) that someone is looking does make a difference! It can talk you out of a poor food choice, or spur you to log honestly, etc.
Don't underestimate the difference others on here can make and the difference you can make when you choose to encourage someone! (thanks @stormywxs288 and @River_Goddess !!!!)
On the other hand - I have really been enjoying my life (and food when I want to) and have not gained since my 20lb loss and I know I can lose the last 17 if I practice what I know to work!
In July, we have the CA Mid-State fair and 3 concerts, along with family vacation, so it will be a little tricky. I am committed to reaching my goals this summer while still doing what I 'want', by being strict with myself, but not depriving myself. I'm hoping that if I'm "on" when possible, I won't feel bad when I go "off" for our special events! So, we'll see if 7 lbs this month is still possible. I'm hoping to ramp up my exercise to compensate a little.
My other goal is to continue with strength training, but to add an actual program rather than just winging it, and also to make sure I am eating the right things so that the added exercise does not make me want to eat a lot more. I hope to start the new weight program this next week....
I'm just saying that with the events you have this month why not enjoy them and set yourself a goal that is less severe? 7lbs in a month is a lot, especially at your current weight. Why not set a goal that is much less, like 3 or 4 pounds or even if it's a holiday month just not gaining weight through July might be enough. There's no point (IMO) of setting yourself up to feel like you may 'fail' when you've already had success. If you look to remain the same or loose just a couple of pounds then if you do loose more it's a bonus!! Enjoy your events and holidays!4 -
Hello everyone.. I did keto last year and lost over 25 kg but then work pressure and some personal issues, I went back to my old ways and gained 20 kg back. Now I want to make it a way of life. So here I am starting again.
SW : 105 kg
CW : 98.3 kg
Age : 34
Height : 170cm
Here goes...2 -
chinatowninchina wrote: »
I'm just saying that with the events you have this month why not enjoy them and set yourself a goal that is less severe? 7lbs in a month is a lot, especially at your current weight. Why not set a goal that is much less, like 3 or 4 pounds or even if it's a holiday month just not gaining weight through July might be enough. There's no point (IMO) of setting yourself up to feel like you may 'fail' when you've already had success. If you look to remain the same or loose just a couple of pounds then if you do loose more it's a bonus!! Enjoy your events and holidays!
@chinatowninchina I think you are exactly right. I have been setting goals based on the rate I was able to lose when I first started. I feel that my weight loss has slowed down as I get closer to my goal and also since I am feeling 'okay' about how I look, I choose to indulge more when I feel like it.
I agree that continuing to set unrealistic goals may stop motivating me and end up discouraging me when I continue to not meet them. I am going to re-set my goals, and then as you said if I lose more, it's a bonus! Thanks for really looking at what I was doing and speaking up!2 -
Revised July Goals
Keto Starting Weight: 153
Current Weight: 132
July Goal: 128 (4 lbs)
Ultimate Goal: 115
Thursday 07/05: 132
Sunday 07/08
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/294 -
Yup, it seems a lot of people struggle with weekends, myself included. The kids are home, we make them delicious carby breakfasts and since I'm home all day there are snacks constantly in my face.
I'm going to sit down this afternoon and come up with my meals for this weekend so I'm not left trying to figure out what to eat after I've made breakfast, then wind up shoving a buttermilk pancake into my mouth after deciding I'm not cooking 2 breakfasts.
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eggfooyamyam wrote: »@Keeping convenient keto-friendly foods in the pantry at all times.
Giving up the daily caffeine. I always go back to it, but after almost a year on keto, I know for a fact I don't lose weight while having caffeine. It's not the creamer or sweetener, because I can have decaf just fine.
Log the darn food no matter how annoying it is. (love/hate relationship here).
I definitely agree and identify with these 3 points you listed. I have known for a while that caffeine is a "sabotager" in my weight loss efforts. It causes cravings late in the day that I seem to have no willpower against. Years ago when I lost a bit of weight (not on Keto) I made a list titled, "What I was doing" to remind me of the good habits that were helping me. One of the habits was 1-2 cups of coffee - weekly. The other days I could have 1 cup of green tea, and 9 am was the cut off time. If I had caffeine after that I was like Golem at the refrigerator that night! Another was no less than 3 liters of water daily. I was following a low'ish carb diet at the time but it didn't last. Keto is the only way of eating that had me at, "Hello."
It's so interesting to me how we are all so different (yet alike in other ways) and how each of our bodies require or want different things to lose weight and to feel good. I feel that caffeine is something that helps me because I have found that when I start to feel sluggish, etc. I crave sugar or certain foods and a little additional coffee takes care of that for me.
I love that on keto, I am able to track how different foods affect me. I think that the mass quantities of sugar and carbs I was consuming before were 'clouding' my ability to see what different foods were doing to me so it was impossible to make any effective changes. I am not just more mentally aware, I am more physically aware and in tune with my body.3 -
@KristinLeeD
It probably wouldn't be so intense if the coffee I make wasn't an XL mug of black gold you could practically cut with a knife. I so agree about Keto helping to pinpoint trigger foods. On the 4th of July, I was all good until I wasn't. I tried all of it, corn chips, crackers, pretzels, etc... And lo and behold, 20 minutes later I was scratching my arms like a lunatic from hives I get when I eat gluten. No matter how off the rails I go (and it's never totally horrible), I still haven't eaten pasta or pizza in 4 months. That would send me over the edge.
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KristinLeeD wrote: »Revised July Goals
Keto Starting Weight: 153
Current Weight: 132
July Goal: 128 (4 lbs)
Ultimate Goal: 115
Thursday 07/05: 132
Sunday 07/08
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
Yeah! Good Luck in July and enjoy those events and holidays!!
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Seven months ago, if you had told me it was a good idea to eat fat to lose weight, improve your health, body and mind, I would have said, “Codswallap”. I was wrong back then. Today I couldn’t even tell you why I tried Keto, but so far it appears it may be a lifestyle decision that is going to break my 40+ year cycle of failed yoyo diets.
I took a chance back then and tried what I thought at the time was a radical idea. Very recent conversations on this thread have convinced me to consider, what for me is, another radical idea. You see I am an addict. I am hooked on caffeine. I start out my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) daily routine the same way each day. I weigh myself, let in/feed the cat, start my 1st K-cup of coffee then go get the paper. I have anywhere from 1 to 5 k-cups a day.
I’m not sure whether I need it or just want it? Maybe it is time to find out. I’ve been looking for something to move the dial on my last ten pounds and this could be the ticket. I’ve also been trying to increase my water intake and I’d like to incorporate apple cider vinegar into my diet. I agree with the idea that keto has helped me understand how I react to different foods. Even without keto, I predict I will have some big-time withdrawal symptoms.
Not sure when I will muster the courage to give this a go either. But thanks for planting this seed in my mind and possibally eliminating the k-cup step from my OCD morning routine.
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Hi everyone! I am 2 weeks into starting keto and am amazed at how I do not crave all the junk food I was eating at night! I have struggled with my weight for almost 20 yrs after turning 40. Prior to that I was a constant 132-140lbs. Life & stress have taken it's toll and I have tried every diet under the sun, some worked but the cravings were always there. I have a ways to go to be at my goal but enjoying the journey so far.
Keto Starting Weight: 211
Current Weight: 206
July Goal: 200 (6 lbs)
Ultimate Goal: 160
Saturday 07/07: 206
Saturday 07/14
Saturday 07/21
Saturday 07/28
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@diaforest59, I feel the same way, isn't it amazing?
@stormywxs288 I kicked coffee because of heart arrhythmia (cured now/fingers crossed) but started again. I limit myself to multiple uses of one k-cup per day, so after a couple drips, it's flavored water (w/almond milk). Don't know if that appeals to you, but it's one way of enjoying the ritual with less caffeine.0 -
@stormywxs288
Beware of cutting it cold turkey. You will have headaches for several days. I used to drink a lot of it until I figured out that the caffeine was making my heart do weird things. It took me three days to get it out of my system and finally feel like myself again. Now I drink decaf and I'm just fine with that. You don't have to give up the routine, just remove the caffeine. (Hey, I think that rhymes! ) Start by replacing 1 or 2 cups per day with decaf. Over a week or two gradually increase the decaf ratio until that's all you're drinking. Or you can cut off the caffeine right away and still have your coffee. I'm just warning you that you will probably have negative withdrawals if you do. I've decided if something affects me that badly when I DON'T consume it, it can't be all that good for me when I do. I haven't missed caffeine one bit, and avoid it altogether now.2 -
@PaulaKro & @Cbishop7777: Thanks for the advice! Besides discussions on this thread about caffeine, I’ve been motivated to consider quitting coffee for my own health concerns. Lately, I’ve been able to hear my heart beat through my hearing aids. I’ve been on the verge of high blood pressure for a while now. I routinely monitor and check my blood pressure and it has been creeping up lately. It may be because of my increased activity or other reason but I think eliminating caffeine is worth investigating.
I tend to approach problems with the brut force approach, so I value your kinder gentler suggestions. Now I need to get the motivation to do it before health issues make it a requirement.
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@stormywxs288, I quit caffeine in 2000. It really is not hard to switch to decaf but as suggested by @cbishop7777, you may want to try weaning yourself off it. Not having caffeine did give me headaches for a few days. I've been drinking decaf now for 18 years so still get a bit of caffeine but if I drink "hi-test", wow. I get jittery, get heart palpitations and/or feel over heated (sweaty). It's pretty bad stuff, for me.1
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Hi all! I'm new to the group! I'd like to join the July challenge if it's not too late! For the spreadsheet, do I enter my name and go from there? Thanks!
Keto Starting Weight: 191
Current Weight: 182.1
July Goal: 177
Ultimate Goal: 125
Sunday 07/01 183.2
Sunday 07/08
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/291 -
@stormywxs288 I keep on the counter a lovely tin of half regular, half decaf coffee. I don't always use it. The last few days I've been having regular coffee with my husband in the morning. The mornings I do use the half decaf coffee, it still does the job. You might consider a slow transition using decaf mixed in with your regular coffee. I need to get back to it, too! I've also noticed that when I ease up on the caffeine and drink more water, I look less tired - the circles under my eyes lighten up. I'd love to get rid of it altogether, but I'm not ready. Thank you for always contributing to this forum!3
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@sdw1262 Hi and welcome, yes just find the next space on the spread sheet and add your name. Generally, as you will have seen, we also add our weight here in the Monthly Challenge weekly as well and also use this part to chat, ask advice and occasionally moan!!1
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Start weight 09/24 184
Sunday 06/24 149.2
Sunday 07/01 148.0
Sunday 07/08. 148.0
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
I'll take that as a positive as I've not gained especially as we've just had friends staying and there was some free flow alcohol and food, must have been restrained!!2 -
Good morning everyone! I hope last week went well for all.
I have some weird water weight thing going on right now- I've put on a pound or two every day for the last 4 days. Not sure what is going on, but hopefully it will go away by next weigh-in.
I ended up eating at maintenance this week because I have been struggling at the gym. Sadly, more calories didn't really help- I couldn't even handle my warm-up weights at the gym yesterday. Annoying, especially on top of the scale numbers. If I'm going to gain 5 lbs in a week, I should at least be awesomely strong at the gym.
Sunday 07/01- 167.3 lbs
Sunday 07/08- 172.7 lbs
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
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I didn't exactly have a perfect Keto day on July 4th, and though I have been so good and so focused since then, I'm still paying for it. I try to keep positive and recognize that 4 months ago before starting this journey I was 25 pounds heavier. But when weight loss stalls, it can be frustrating. I spent a considerable amount of time yesterday watching Keto videos trying to find answers. I'm keeping my carbs extra low and I'm hitting my fat macros - keeping my protein very moderate in hopes to kick start some weight loss again. Also, if it were a perfect world, I'd have a bowel movement right before weigh-in on Sundays, but that almost never happens. There it is folks - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly! Thanks for always showing up here and sharing your experiences.
Keto Start 3/01 - 184.5lbs
Sunday 07/01 - 157.6lbs
Sunday 07/08 - 158lbs (+.4)
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
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Yay!!! I had a good week!
HW: 321
Keto SW: 301
7/01/2018: 285.4
7/08/2018: 281.8 (-3.6)
7/15/2018:
7/22/2018:
7/29/2018:
My goal for next week is just to maintain. I'm on vacation (less control over diet), but we will also be doing a little hiking so maybe it will all even out. Fingers crossed!!!5 -
I had another good week. I walked 12.4 miles yesterday and just finished 6 this morning. I'm happy with a 2.6 loss this week.
My stance on "cheating" or "cheat days" is...... NO cheating, at all.... for any reason. Period. I didnt cheat this week, even with a potluck at work on the 3rd and eating out with my sister and her family on the 4th! It's just toooo hard (and takes way tooooo long) for my body to re-group and get back on track after cheating, which makes it simply not worth it to me.
When I get REALLY REALLY tempted, I remind myself that I won't ALWAYS have to be this strict and that SOMEDAY I'll be able to splurge and enjoy (occasional) treats again. But RIGHT NOW it's NO! Lol.
That being said..... and being the choco-holic that I am, I do enjoy my keto coffe. (just 1 large cup) with sugar free dark chocolate cocoa powder in the mornings and I allow myself an Adkins Royale Dark Chocolate protein drink mixed with 1 glass of sugar free almond milk for a "snack" after my long walks (min 5 miles). Those both seem to help satisfy my choco-cravings!
Have a good week y'all!
March 20 (began keto)
Starting weight: 225
Sunday Jul 1: 195.8
Sunday 7/8: 193.2 (-2.6)
Sunday 7/15:
Sunday 7/22:
Sunday 7/29:
Tuesday 7/31:
Jul goal 8 lbs
100 miles (walking) = 44.15 (completed)7 -
eggfooyamyam wrote: »I didn't exactly have a perfect Keto day on July 4th, and though I have been so good and so focused since then, I'm still paying for it. I try to keep positive and recognize that 4 months ago before starting this journey I was 25 pounds heavier. But when weight loss stalls, it can be frustrating. I spent a considerable amount of time yesterday watching Keto videos trying to find answers. I'm keeping my carbs extra low and I'm hitting my fat macros - keeping my protein very moderate in hopes to kick start some weight loss again. Also, if it were a perfect world, I'd have a bowel movement right before weigh-in on Sundays, but that almost never happens. There it is folks - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly! Thanks for always showing up here and sharing your experiences.
Keto Start 3/01 - 184.5lbs
Sunday 07/01 - 157.6lbs
Sunday 07/08 - 158lbs (+.4)
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
Just wondering if you would be better dropping the fat amount and increasing the protein? Maybe try that for this week and see where it takes you?1 -
eggfooyamyam wrote: »I didn't exactly have a perfect Keto day on July 4th, and though I have been so good and so focused since then, I'm still paying for it. I try to keep positive and recognize that 4 months ago before starting this journey I was 25 pounds heavier. But when weight loss stalls, it can be frustrating. I spent a considerable amount of time yesterday watching Keto videos trying to find answers. I'm keeping my carbs extra low and I'm hitting my fat macros - keeping my protein very moderate in hopes to kick start some weight loss again. Also, if it were a perfect world, I'd have a bowel movement right before weigh-in on Sundays, but that almost never happens. There it is folks - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly! Thanks for always showing up here and sharing your experiences.
Keto Start 3/01 - 184.5lbs
Sunday 07/01 - 157.6lbs
Sunday 07/08 - 158lbs (+.4)
Sunday 07/15
Sunday 07/22
Sunday 07/29
Stay positive. You're 25 pounds down. You're not in a "stall". Haven't you lost at least 4 pounds since the beginning of June? Also if you eat keto then have a "not so keto" day, your weight may jump due to water/increasing glycogen stores. You know this. Right?2 -
“Life gets in the way”! I have a lot of good things going for me. I’m within ten of my goal and I’m feeling better than I have in about 20 years. Because of the many NSVs I’ve gained doing keto, I’ve been able to increase my activity. I love my morning exercise group. I’ve looked forward to starting my activity filled days with exercise every weekday for about three weeks now. I’ve also enjoyed playing double headers of softball every Monday and Wednesday for all of May and June. In addition, I’ve had the energy, motivation and health to do things I couldn’t or wouldn’t do when I was carrying around three bowling balls of extra weight. Things were going great!
Then, I dislocated my left shoulder making a top 10 Sports Center quality catch playing softball. So, softball, exercise and activity will be compromised until I recuperate. I’m determined not to let this set-back sabotage my efforts to kill off these last ten! I think it is ironic that my last few posts have been about sabotage. I’m not sure how I will navigate my way out of this self-inflected wound that threatens to sabotage my efforts. However, I know it will include support and advice from some friends here on this thread.
Today I weighed in at 164.0. Another gain of 2.6 pounds. My initial thought was, “I wonder why these things happen TO me” (Dislocated shoulder). But, after further consideration, I know they don’t just happen TO me, they happen FOR me. I’ve got to earn my idea weight, I’ve got work at good health and I’ve got make these things happen. It won’t be easy and obstacles, like dislocated shoulders, will get in the way. I’m no longer going to accept that things happening TO me run my life. Instead I will embrace that these things happen FOR me and make accomplishing goals more gratifying, meaningful and worth the hard work it takes.
My NSV for this week is all of you. My keto lifestyle is evolving and growing each day. The support and advice I receive from this group has motivated, inspired, educated and shaped my approach to this lifestyle. In short, I have grown to keto and you.
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