**Accountability Buddies**: Lose 20lbs by April 5

Starting Weight on 4/1/2019: 280
Current Challenge Weight: 195.6
Goal Weight: 180 (this is my ultimate goal weight from when I started my WLJ last April. It will mark a 100 lb total weight loss. These last 15 lbs will most likely be the toughest for me, but I will give it my best shot! Good luck everyone!)

W1 12/1: 195.6
W2 12/8: 193 (upped my workouts this past week, but have been eating back all my calories...apparently not enough! I'll take it though We'll see if it holds by next week.)
W3 12/15: 191.6 (Thought for sure I would gain some back this week but reduced my salt intake and not retaining as much water now.)
W4 12/22: 192.6 (yesterday I was 190.8, but today is weigh-in for the challenge. I'm used to these wild swings. They've been happening since day one of my journey. No worries.... Merry Christmas everyone!)
W5 12/29: 192.4

W6 1/5: 189.6 (on the last day of 2019, I hit 189.8 and NORMAL WEIGHT BMI...I must have been retaining a ton of water from the holidays and even lost a little more since then, for today's weigh in. I haven't seen the 180's since 2001...Happy New Year everyone and welcome to all the new people!)
W7 1/12: 188.4
W8 1/19: 187.8 (Slow, steady, and healthy as I get closer to my ultimate goal of 180 lbs..my setting on MFP is to lose 1/2 lb per week now. I had a really good week, exercise wise. Pushed it when I didn't feel like it at the time.)
W9 1/26: 187.4 (challenge weight loss 1/2 way point, -8.2 lbs. This is actually more than I thought I would lose by this time since I am near my goal weight. Total weight loss since April 2019, -92.6 lbs.)

W10 2/2: 185.8 (Lost more than expected this week. I didn't really change anything in my daily routine. Knowing my body weight fluctuations, I'll probably be up next week. Also, I haven't been 185 lbs since 2001! .....Keep on Truckin'!)
W11 2/9: 185.4 (Still moving in the right direction and exactly how I want to ease into maintenance.)
W12 2/16: 185
W13 2/23: 184.2 (So close to my ultimate goal weight, I can taste it. Can I hit it by my year anniversary? We shall see 🤔)

W14 3/1: 184.4 (fluctuations have been all over the map this week for me. On Friday, I was 183, then Sat I was 185.4....this morning, 184.4 ... crazy, but it's all good )
W15 3/8: 182.6 (Finally broke out of the 184's/185's! I was a little surprised when I weighed myself this morning, since I was over on my calories all week long. Just 2.6 lbs to go for my ultimate goal and 4 weeks to do it by my year wlj anniversary. I've got to do it the right way though and continue losing slow. I have not been this "light" since the 90s)
W16 3/15: 183 (up a little, but not bad considering I was eating over my goal almost the whole week.)
W17 3/23: 183.8 (a day late, but still in the marathon! went up some more, but I have no issues with it because my body and mind are deciding where I am comfortable weighing. I feel fantastic too! I'm still wanting to hit my ultimate goal weight of 180 lbs. and maybe even another 5 lbs from there, but after nearly a year and all the stresses going on, I needed a diet break. This is lifelong journey, not just a quick fix. onward I go!)
W18 3/29:

Final!!!! 4/1: 184 (Great job everyone and I may even join the new 10 lb challenge since I didn't quite meet my ultimate goal yet.)
Total loss on this challenge: 11.6 lbs
Grand total since 4/1/2019: 96 lbs
What I've learned about myself : read my year anniversary wlj with before and after photos> https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10790793/so-i-went-to-the-dr-a-year-ago-today-and-the-news-was-terrible/p1

Current Weight: 143.6
Goal Weight: 135

I weigh in on Monday.

W5 12/29: 143.6 at 8:00 a.m.

W6 1/06: 146.4 at 5:30 a.m.
W7 1/13: 140.2 at 5:30 a.m.
W8 1/20: 140.4 at 8:00 a.m.
W9 1/27: 144.0 at 5:30 a.m.

W10 2/03: 141.2 at 5:50 a.m.
W11 2/10: 144.0 at 6:30 a.m.
W12 2/17: 142.0 at 8:30 a.m. ...hip surgery in 22 days. EGADS!!!
W13 2/24: DNW

W14 3/02: 144.2 at 5:30 a.m.
W15 3/09: 143.6 at 5:30 a.m.
W16 3/16: DNW
W17 3/23: 144.6 at 9:00 a.m.
W18 3/30: 145.0 at 8:00 a.m.

Final!!!! 4/01: 145.0 at 8:30 a.m.
Total loss: none
What I've learned about myself

Current Weight: 212.2
Goal Weight: 207.3
Ultimate Goal: 160

W5 12/29: 237.3

W6 1/5: 234.7
W7 1/12: 229.8
W8 1/19: 228.0
W9 1/26: 224.8

W10 2/2: 224.0
W11 2/9: 221.5
W12 2/16: 224.6 Went on a vacation and gained some weight. Back on track now.
W13 2/23:220.0

W14 3/1: 217.1 I hit 20 pounds today, I’m so excited. I started finally seeing the results this last week too. I am going for 8 more pounds by the end of the challenge. See you all next week. Have a great Sunday!
W15 3/8:215.9
W16 3/15: 215.5
W17 3/22: 215 haven’t seen the progress I’d been seeing. Got away from logging my food, will start back this week and see if that gets me back on track.
W18 3/29: 213.5, even with the world’s current stressful circumstances I was able to loose 1.5 pounds last week. Back to logging food and I have been exercising more, it’s a good stress relief.

Final!!!! 4/1: 212.2
Total loss: 25.1 lbs
What I've learned about myself : I’m am so happy to be 25lbs lighter. I feel great and have new habits that I know I can stick with. I’ve just recently started walking 4-5 days a week for 30-45 minutes and I now look forward to it at the end of my day. I am more motivated then ever to form healthy life long habits.

I would be in for doing another challenge for this next quarter and keep in touch.

Starting Weight: 240 (July 2019)
Challenge Starting Weight: 218.1 (Dec 1, 2019)
Goal Weight: 198

W1 12/1: 218.1 - Enjoyed Thanksgiving but didn't succumb to it.
W2 12/8: 217.2 - Continuing to move in the right direction.
W3 12/15: 218.1 - Yikes! I need to commit to exercising harder ... starting right now.
W4 12/22: 216 - Too lax on the holiday party eating but close to my milestone goal of 215 by EOY.
W5 12/29: 218.3 - Arrgh! Too many Bowl games, soft pretzel bites & beer. Disappointed December is a write-off.

W6 1/5: 215 - A few days late to hit my 2019 year-end goal but I'll take the late win!
W7 1/12: 213.5 - Daily High Knees, Climbers & Flutter Kicks (Jan exercise challenge) and healthy eating are doing the job.
W8 1/19: 212.4 - Will need to move the needle faster to hit my goal by Apr 1 but still moving in right direction.
W9 1/26: 211.9 - I was 1.5 lbs lighter just a few days back (a little water weight maybe?)

W10 2/2: 211.2 - I was in the 209s earlier this week but need to clean up my Friday night & Saturday food choices!
W11 2/9: 209.7 - Despite a crazy calorie day yesterday (which I paid for), it was a good week!
W12 2/16: 207.6 - Good progress but will still take work to get down to 205 by end of Feb
W13 2/23: 210.8 - Too much Mardi Gras celebrating! I see more exercise & small portions in my future.

W14 3/1: 208.0 - I've been bouncing around a lot lately but am glad to be sub-210 again.
W15 3/8: 207.5 - I was 205 yesterday but the Fajitas & tortilla chips didn't do my weight any favors this am.
W17 3/22: 211.4 - Unable to weigh in last week (no scale) and just arrived home from vacation so I'm not surprised to be up 4 lbs but the weather was great, food was fantastic (except for the 2-day road trips down and back which was mostly fast food) so no complaints. Bottom line is we had a great time and everyone returned safe and healthy (so far). I'm looking forward to getting back to my normal routine - and on track again.
W18 3/29: 211 - Just returned home from picking up daughter from college and mid-day weigh in after fast food lunch didn't do me any favors.

Final!!!! 4/1: 209
Total loss: 9.1 lbs
What I've learned about myself: Losing weight isn't easy it takes a plan, willpower, determination & consistency. Unfortunately this was harder than I thought it was going to be at the bookend months - In December we had all the holiday parties and in March I had all 6 days on the road between driving to/from vacation and moving a daughter back home from college. Not that these are good excuses - I need to own my results. While I'm not satisfied with the results, I'm in a better place than when I started. I need to change my game plan as working from home is much more challenging on the eating side but it does offer more time to work out. Anyway, thanks everyone for the motivation and accountability. A healthy lifestyle is a journey and it's OK to take some detours every now and then as long as you continue to move towards your goals.

Current Weight: 212
Goal Weight: 192

W1 12/1: 212
W2 12/8: 211
W3 12/15: 211.4
W4 12/22: 211.4
W5 12/29: 211.4 😩

W6 1/5: 210
W7 1/12: 209.8 (was 208 on thurday before that time of the month happened 😒. Should be back down next week 🤞🏻)
W8 1/19: 208.8 (started intermitted fasting a few days ago. Too early to see results but lets see if it helps at all next week!)
W9 1/26: 206.8 !! (This marks 30lbs down since Jun. 2019! Also just noticed i surpassed my lowest weight a couple weeks ago. Looks like i was 210 back in 2013 which was previously my lowest weight recorded here on mfp!)

W10 2/2: 205.2 👍🏻
W11 2/9: 204
W12 2/16: 203.2 (still moving down so thats good)
W13 2/23: 201

W14 3/1: 200.4 (so close to being under 200lbs!)
W15 3/8: 200.4 😩
W16 3/15: 197.4 😱 (finally hit my first goal set on mfp. Being under 200lbs!! My next goal is 160lbs!)
W17 3/22: 198.2 😫 (gained a little. With everything going on and gyms closing i didn't work out this week and was not logging my food. This week i'll do better!! Going to have to find some at home workouts or go for longer walks. Stay healthy everyone ❤)
W18 3/29: 199 (really confused as to why i gain... i've been logging my food and staying under my goal. And i've gone on 3 hikes this week to make up for the 3 days i usually go to the gym. 🤔 going to lower my calories this week and see if that help 🥺)

Final!!!! 4/5: 197.8
Total loss: 14.2
I'm happy with the amount lost even though i didn't hit the intended goal. During this challenge i discovered intermitted fasting. I feel like it has really helped me! The last few weeks were hard and I had to lower my calories because my activity level went down. I try to do workouts at home but sometimes i lack the motivation. Without this challenge i think i would lack all motivation so i hope it is continued!!

For those interested in joining a shorter Accountability Challenge - a new one has been posted.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10774096/accountability-buddies-lose-20lbs-by-april-5#latest