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

Catching up on some of the daily questions~


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

I don't know if I have a favorite type of exercise, I like to mix it up a lot. Probably my favorite workout would be to play badminton though

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?

MFP is the first website I've used in my weight loss journey. Before I was keeping track of my calories in a book, but MFP is just so much easier and that database is simple to use.

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?

When I hit my highest weight during Winter Break AFTER I thought I was trying to lose weight. I had no idea what sort of calories I was consuming unthinkingly and I just wasn't pushing myself physically either. I had to realize that I was in denial and that I wasn't really being consistent or eating healthy. Since then I've stopped a lot of the binging and high sugar/high fat snacks

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?

I used to think that I hated tomatoes unless they were cooked in something, but now I LOVE tomatoes raw-in a caprese salad, or just on any salad, sometimes all alone. I also like mustard and brussel sprouts now apparently

OH MY GOD. You life saverr!! i'm feeling HORRIBLE right now because i committed a sugary crime
this is what i need... I WILL BEHAVEE may God help me!! ughh ugly cravings and dumb choices..


AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 5'4
START WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 147
GOAL WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 141
START PANTS SIZE: 8/6 (US)
GOAL PANTS SIZE: 4/ 6 (US) maximum 6
FOLLOW ANY SPECIAL DIET: i try to be healthy moderate in my choices and i like the blood type diet ideas + i count calories.
DIET GOALS: more natural foods,stopping binge eating whenever../avoiding carbs/and drinking more water and less of other drinks.
EXERCISE GOALS: to be able to do 50 pushups in a day WITH ease like i used to ... and exercise vigorously whenever i can i want biceps and stronger abs with less back fat. lol
OTHER GOALS: toning the butt,thighs, and abs

Hello Everyone!

QOTD #10: How are you tracking your food right now? Do you pre-track or track as you go? Do you track everything you eat, or only certain foods? Do you eat your exercise calories or not?

I just started MFP about 4 weeks ago and I have been obsessive compulsive about tracking everything (even when I screw up, binge on sweets and go way over!). I usually track as I go, but sometimes by dinner time I'll pre-track and figure out how much I can eat to stay within the guidelines. Then for a night time snack I'll definitely pre-track to see what I should eat. I definitely eat all of my exercise calories and some days I'll even exercise just so I can eat more! I know it's probably not supposed to be that way. But it seems like I'm feeling hungry every 2 hours after a meal! Eek! 1200 calories seems pretty low, but that's what MFP recommended for me and I am happy with the results thus far.

Catching up on my QOTD's!!!

QOTD #1: What is your favorite kind of exercise and why? My favorite excercise is jumping rope or jumping jacks... I guess I like to jump! LOL

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 husband and cousins got me started here and I became totally hooked!

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? When I went to put on my pregnancy pants for work and they totally fit as if I were still pregnant...

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? I realized that I actually do like Rice Cakes! SO I much on them if I get a little 'snacky' between lunch and dinner.

QOTD #5: What do you do to keep yourself on track while traveling or on vacation? I buy varieties of different things so that I don't feel let out... So if my fam gets icecream, I'll eat frozen yogurt!

QOTD #6: What is your main motivation to get in shape right now? Right now, I have a closet full of fabulous clothes that I cannot wear! I need to be able to wear them! So my new wardrobe is my motivation!

QOTD #7: Other than working out and losing weight, what have you done to improve your self esteem? I have spent a little more time in the beauty parlor to get my hair done!

QOTD #8: What's your workout plan this week? List it! This week I will be doing weigth training, brisk walking and jumprope.... mixed with interval training on 3 out of the 5 day week...

QOTD #9: How do you stay on track with diet and exercise in times of severe stress? The excercise actually helps me to destress. I also have found alternatives of my favorite foods to eat, when I am stressing out.

QOTD #10: How are you tracking your food right now? Do you pre-track or track as you go? Do you track everything you eat, or only certain foods? Do you eat your exercise calories or not? I wanna know everything, hahaha. I sometimes pre-track or track as I go, depending on how much time in the morning I have to prepare.

Leah, I think it is awesome that you are making this open group! Thanks so much!

NAME: Kendra
AGE: 37
HEIGHT: 5'2"
START WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 186.2
GOAL WEIGHT FOR CHALLENGE: 172
START PANTS SIZE: 16 (US)
GOAL PANTS SIZE: 14 (US)
FOLLOW ANY SPECIAL DIET: nope
DIET GOALS: keep track of my calories as I have been pretty lazy about that
EXERCISE GOALS: complete homework assigned by trainer daily, been lazy about that
OTHER GOALS: flatten the belly
FUN FACT: I like to play video games, and guitar equally

QOTD #8: What's your workout plan this week? List it!
- I'm finally getting to trying new forms of exercise (outside of cycling everywhere)! I'm so excited! I set up an old calisthenics(SP?) routine that works for me and plan to do it on a daily basis. It takes about 25 minutes and works different parts of my body. I'll list what I can explain:
20 reps each of these abdominal exercises I learned about on some Japanese health show (lol)
10 push-ups
15 sit-ups
some weight lifting
2 min mild stretching
short bursts of circuit training...take a look at my exercise diary for more info..it's just weird to list everything!
I also started to power walk for cardio. I love it!

QOTD #9: How do you stay on track with diet and exercise in times of severe stress?
Exercise helps alleviate stress for me..diet is a lot harder. I'm working on it now, but I try to keep reminding myself that feeling guilty or crappy about junk food adds to stress, so its best to avoid it.

QOTD #10: How are you tracking your food right now? Do you pre-track or track as you go? Do you track everything you eat, or only certain foods? Do you eat your exercise calories or not? I wanna know everything, hahaha.
I track everything I eat and drink! Sometimes I pre-track, but I usually log my food as I eat it if I'm at home. If not, I'll write down or try to remember what I ate and track afterwards. If I pack a lunch for the following day, I will log it in advance. Occasionally I will not track things that are less than 100 cal and are too complicated to input, like a bite of okara croquette or something weird like that haha. I'll then compensate with some light cleaning . I eat my exercise calories (usually really want to) unless I burned way too much and I'm not hungry. This doesn't happen often. If I burn a lot of calories in a day...like on days I ride to school (which takes about 3 hours there and back) then I pack calorie-dense, but healthy food like PB&J.

I am not sure how but I have lost 4.2 pounds this week, Enjoying my new low weight!

QOTD #5: What do you do to keep yourself on track while traveling or on vacation?
When traveling or on vacation, it has become second nature to watch what I am eating. If I indulge in a desert, I don't over do it. I keep the desert serving about the size you would give a toddler. Just enough to take the edge of of my cravings. It seems to work and I don't fell deprived. Thinking about how I would feel if I gorge always helps me too! I take weekly pictures and I am always thinking about how my pictures will look if I just let myself go.

QOTD #6: What is your main motivation to get in shape right now?
I am getting my asthma under control. I hate the fact that when I was 189 I had a very hard time climbing the stairs to my home. I remember my sister asking me one day if I was pregnant because I was breathing so hard. That made me realize that although I was enjoying life, if I kept down that path, I would not enjoy living because I was putting myself at risk for major health issues.

QOTD #8: What's your workout plan this week?
This week I am adding heavier weights. I have been working my way back up to lifting like I used to. I am also going out of my way to get my fiance on board with me.

QOTD #9: How do you stay on track with diet and exercise in times of severe stress?
I run/walk. It helps me think things through and self evaluate, so that I can understand my part in the stressful situation.

QOTD #10: How are you tracking your food right now? Do you pre-track or track as you go? Do you track everything you eat, or only certain foods? Do you eat your exercise calories or not?
I track everything I eat, and I do mean everything. I track as I go. I usually don't have the energy to eat my exercise calories back.

Good work!

I have to catch up since I fell off the wagon last week


QOTD #8: What's your workout plan this week? List it!
I hardly worked out at all last week. I did do some walking, but not a lot.

QOTD #9: How do you stay on track with diet and exercise in times of severe stress?
Still haven't figured this out. Stress got the best of me last week and I gave in.

QOTD #10: How are you tracking your food right now? Do you pre-track or track as you go? Do you track everything you eat, or only certain foods? Do you eat your exercise calories or not? I wanna know everything, hahaha.
I do normally pretrack my breakfast and lunch since i have to pack it for work the night before, but I always always track everything, even if the outcome is bad. I do use some of my exercise calories but try not to use them all.