30 pounds to lose challenge by March 2021
Replies
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@samskiB Awesome results!4
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RubyRed427 wrote: »"Stress causes weight gain in many ways. One has to do with our stress hormone cortisol. When in stressful situations, our fight or flight response is triggered, leading to a release of various stress-related hormones that give us boosts of energy, shifts in metabolism and blood flow and other changes." quote from Andre Brooks
We are all going through stress and this does alter the body. I am also an emotional eater; I feed my soul when I am stressed. I really have to get a handle on stress, because it does add weight to the middle.
For me, my weight gain has its origins in addiction and dopamine. I am not getting the dopamine high from alcohol for example (I used to), so now I think food gives me that high.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cortisol-and-weight-gain#effects-on-weight
Just wanted to share the emotional aspect of weight loss. Wishing you a great day!
We are very similar. I am a stress/emotional eater and our society supports that with everything be celebrated or grieved around food. The stress of 2020 was difficult to live through but 2021 so far has been harder for me. I gained some weight back, went back on low carb food plan and am back to where I was 203. My goal is 175. My lowest on this journey has been 198 which I can't seem to break past.
My weight gain originated from addiction. When I first switched addictions it was to exercise but society doesn't support that as well so quickly switched to food. It took a long time to discover that my biggest issue is carbs. I hated all the press about low carb diets. Fruit and vegetables are carbs. I get it now. The easiest way for me to lose weight is Keto. The second is high protein. Both low carb.
So here I am 203, only 28 pounds from goal. Full disclosure, at 198 I had lost 100lbs. I did not record my heaviest weight on MFP and this is the first time that I am mentioning it because it is not really true. I cannot stick there or get past it. I think there is some mental/emotional charge around it. This time must be different. Do the work. Get it done and back to maintenance which for me is high protein, fat and moderate carbs, always will have to watch those carbs for the rest of my life. 14 weeks at 2 pounds per week on average would get me there.
Thank you for your post and best wishes to all that have joined this journey.8 -
@JenT304, thanks for inviting us (on another forum) to drop in even if 30 lbs. by March is not our goal (My metabolism says 30 lbs. by summer is just doable). But the motivation here is great, and Ruby is wonderful at keeping a forum lively.
Since July 6, when I quit drinking alcohol, I've lost 31 lbs. So 6 lbs./month seems to be where my body is happy in weight loss. A couple of things that have helped me:
1. I created a graph for each month with the lbs. (by 5's) down the left hand side--with the top being a weight I knew I probably wouldn't exceed even with fluctuations--and the dates along the bottom. I weigh every day, so each day I put a dot where my weight is and then draw the lines between dots. Here is why that has helped me:
A. Each month, that top number I have to write in gets lower, so that's encouraging.
B. Looking back at the 5 graphs, I can see a lot of "M" shapes--where the weight jumps up (sometimes by a LOT, like 3 lbs. in one day) but then goes right back down, then up again, then down, then stays down for a while. It helps when I'm discouraged to look at those "M" shapes and realize they happen a couple of times every single month, so not to let myself panic at a jump. The scale definitely has a mind of its own. And I'm beyond menopause, so those jumps aren't the "time of the month" things.
2. For me, weighing every day is great. I know people say to weigh once a week, and I'm sure that is best for many people, especially psychologically. I just keep thinking, "But what if that weekly weigh-in falls on one of the "up" days of my "M" shape? I wouldn't know that I'd actually lost nicely during the week and that this is just a one-day blip."
Anyway, if anyone is a data nerd like me, the graphs are kind of fun. And the top number for December is way lower than the top number for July was. That's gratifying!
Goal: Down 5 more pounds by Dec. 31
It's crazy that we're doing this during the holidays, but with COVID, it's the perfect time. I'm thinking of this time as being in the cocoon--we'll emerge as beautiful butterflies one day.
I remember doing the graphs one time. It didn't work for me because my husband would comment. He was supportive but I didn't want his comments. I never told him. I just quit. Like you I realize that my body does and ebb and flow of weight loss. I weigh daily understanding that my body fluctuates. I don't count a weight loss until I have been there several days. Similarly I don't count a weight gain after an indulgence, my body will assimilate it unless there has been a pattern of indulgence or the weight is there for several days. If I didn't weigh daily there would be too much of a possibility to weigh on a high day and not see the progress over the week. January - March has been my best times of weight loss. Socializing is down, really down now thanks to Covid, many people are mindful due to New Years resolutions. It is cold outside so a bit of being a hermit and able to concentrate on me.
I also do well with something to look forward to. It is hard to know what that is right now with the state of the world. In March I would love to go to Florida and ride the coast but if CDC is correct the fast moving Covid from UK will be here and it will be spreading like wildfire through the country then. sigh.
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Good Morning🌅
Hope everyone is having a good(good enough)weekend.
A couple of questions:
I'm a 2 week newbie, so bare with me,
1)how do I comment on someone else's post? Do u have to have a Premium Membership?
2)Dumb question, but Ruby are we to weigh in on Sunday?
I'm scared to weigh myself!!!!
Still having a hard time visualizing and believing I will be able to lose the weight even though I spent time last night going through all the success stories and seeing pictures of people that have lost substantial amount of weight!!
Have a great day.
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Good Morning🌅
Hope everyone is having a good(good enough)weekend.
A couple of questions:
I'm a 2 week newbie, so bare with me,
1)how do I comment on someone else's post? Do u have to have a Premium Membership?
2)Dumb question, but Ruby are we to weigh in on Sunday?
I'm scared to weigh myself!!!!
Still having a hard time visualizing and believing I will be able to lose the weight even though I spent time last night going through all the success stories and seeing pictures of people that have lost substantial amount of weight!!
Have a great day.
You can and will lose weight!! I've done it 3 times successfully!! I'm doing it this time and never going back!! Remember it's about making real life changes and adjusting you habits!! Never diet!! You got this!!5 -
Checking in:
Lost 66% of my Challenge goal!
(15.9 lbs out of 24lbs)
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I'm scared to weigh myself!!!!
Still having a hard time visualizing and believing I will be able to lose the weight even though I spent time last night going through all the success stories and seeing pictures of people that have lost substantial amount of weight!!
You can do it! Every success story you read had a starting weight. Take the first step of your success story. I regret not being brave enough to weigh myself when I started. Who knows how much weight I have really lost?3 -
There are two ways:Good Morning🌅
1)how do I comment on someone else's post? Do u have to have a Premium Membership?- type their membername, preceded by an ampersand, like this @rnc52012.
- alternatively, you can quote their entire post (or part of it, like I've done here), by clicking the "Quote" link at the bottom of their post.
Either of the above will notify them of your post.
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Good Morning🌅
Hope everyone is having a good(good enough)weekend.
A couple of questions:
I'm a 2 week newbie, so bare with me,
1)how do I comment on someone else's post? Do u have to have a Premium Membership?
2)Dumb question, but Ruby are we to weigh in on Sunday?
I'm scared to weigh myself!!!!
Still having a hard time visualizing and believing I will be able to lose the weight even though I spent time last night going through all the success stories and seeing pictures of people that have lost substantial amount of weight!!
Have a great day.
When you press the word "quote" you will see the other person's post in the yellow box. Then place your curser after their post and the word {quote} and type away.
Weigh in any day you wish. This is more of an informal "challenge". It helps everyone to post anytime you wish.4 -
Totally agree- each person picks a day that works. Some weigh everyday - some once a week. Whatever suites you.
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I decided to eat more of the food I have at home. I am starting a challenge on my own to eat what I have in my freezer, fridge and pantry. I buy food at the grocery store and then eat out a few times a week (take out that is) and waste good food.
Today, day 2 of eating in. Just finding food that I have and finally eating that lettuce container I bought. I also threw a bunch of berries and greens into a morning smoothie. It sure tastes light rather than a plate of food. I feel better.
Lately, I have been getting nauseous after certain fatty foods and Ice cream. I think my body is saying "stop that!!!" and eat real food.8 -
This week I walked 37 miles total. Not too bad. I am part of that step challenge (it's an app called StepBet). For three weeks straight I have walked over 9,200 steps which is a goal they set for me based on past history. I must say my clothes are a tiny bit looser overall.9
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RubyRed427 wrote: »This week I walked 37 miles total. Not too bad. I am part of that step challenge (it's an app called StepBet). For three weeks straight I have walked over 9,200 steps which is a goal they set for me based on past history. I must say my clothes are a tiny bit looser overall.
You walk farther in a day than I walk in a week! Keep it up!
(I'm aiming to get there too, but it's gonna take me some time - to regain muscle strength and cardio.)6 -
frankwbrown wrote: »RubyRed427 wrote: »This week I walked 37 miles total. Not too bad. I am part of that step challenge (it's an app called StepBet). For three weeks straight I have walked over 9,200 steps which is a goal they set for me based on past history. I must say my clothes are a tiny bit looser overall.
You walk farther in a day than I walk in a week! Keep it up!
(I'm aiming to get there too, but it's gonna take me some time - to regain muscle strength and cardio.)
Thanks Frank! Little by little, you'll get there!! I sometimes walk in my basement listening to self help youtube. I'm also "lucky" because my job as a teacher (we are back at school) also contributes to that total. Have a great week!6 -
RubyRed427 wrote: »Good Morning🌅
Hope everyone is having a good(good enough)weekend.
A couple of questions:
I'm a 2 week newbie, so bare with me,
1)how do I comment on someone else's post? Do u have to have a Premium Membership?
2)Dumb question, but Ruby are we to weigh in on Sunday?
I'm scared to weigh myself!!!!
Still having a hard time visualizing and believing I will be able to lose the weight even though I spent time last night going through all the success stories and seeing pictures of people that have lost substantial amount of weight!!
Have a great day.
When you press the word "quote" you will see the other person's post in the yellow box. Then place your curser after their post and the word {quote} and type away.
Weigh in any day you wish. This is more of an informal "challenge". It helps everyone to post anytime you wish.
Ahhhh I see now👍
Thank you everyone!
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Be_theBest_Me wrote: »Good Morning🌅
Hope everyone is having a good(good enough)weekend.
A couple of questions:
I'm a 2 week newbie, so bare with me,
1)how do I comment on someone else's post? Do u have to have a Premium Membership?
2)Dumb question, but Ruby are we to weigh in on Sunday?
I'm scared to weigh myself!!!!
Still having a hard time visualizing and believing I will be able to lose the weight even though I spent time last night going through all the success stories and seeing pictures of people that have lost substantial amount of weight!!
Have a great day.
You can and will lose weight!! I've done it 3 times successfully!! I'm doing it this time and never going back!! Remember it's about making real life changes and adjusting you habits!! Never diet!! You got this!!
Thank you for your support😊4 -
RubyRed427 wrote: »This week I walked 37 miles total. Not too bad. I am part of that step challenge (it's an app called StepBet). For three weeks straight I have walked over 9,200 steps which is a goal they set for me based on past history. I must say my clothes are a tiny bit looser overall.
That is awesome! 👍4 -
In appreciation to the many of you who have generously shared your wonderful ideas and approaches that have helped you lose weight, I wanted to share what I am doing differently this time that has helped me. I hope these ideas may help someone else. In order for this post not to be too wordy I will break this post into multiple parts.
Please note: Everyone is different. Just because this works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for all.
What I am doing differently this time #1 -
Eating right and exercising are only 2 legs of my weight loss approach. The last leg that stabilizes it is sleep. Not only is sleep necessary to our body’s repair cycle (and weight loss), but I have found that it is very hard to stick to my diet and my exercise goals when I am tired.7 -
What I am doing differently this time #2 -
When using MyFitnessPal I remember the “human error” factor. Error creeps in via what we input (was that really a flat teaspoon or a heaping one?) and what is in the system when we choose that food item (is the nutritional information correct?) or exercise (Did you really burn that amount of calories?).
The way I counter this is two ways.
-First, I try to stay within the last 200 calories of my Calorie limit (If my Calorie limit was 1900, I would try to eat between 1700 and 1900 calories and limit how much over 1900 I went. I would never go below 1700).
Make sure you get the nutrients you need. I sometimes change what I eat for dinner if I find I have gaps in my nutritional needs (not enough protein?) I also take vitamins when I haven’t gotten enough of it in my diet (not enough Vitamin C?), and I also make sure to take it with food that helps my body absorb it better (Vitamin D with Milk) and avoiding the reverse (do not take iron with Milk).
-Second, I don’t add the calories burned with exercise to my allowed daily calories.
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What I am doing differently this time #3 -
I started extending the amount of time I exercise. Our bodies start burning stored fat after 45 minutes of exercise. I have slowly worked up from exercising 30 minutes at a time to now exercising 1 hour at a time.
Don’t get disheartened. One can only move forward from where they are today. Getting off the couch was where I originally started.
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What I am doing differently this time #4 -
This is something I took to heart after watching the MyFitnessPal “Ask the RD” videos with nutritionist Whitney English. I take each day as its own. I no longer allow calories to be balanced between 2 days, with too many calories one day being balanced by less the next. I found it had a surprising side effect. The guilt no longer lingered. Everyday stood on its own. A new start. A new challenge. A chance to get it right.
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Starting Weight 160.2
Goal Weight 135
12/28 160.2
1/4 155.8
1/11 155.4
1/18 154.2
1/25 152.410 -
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*162lbs - 01/11/21* Start Date & Weight
(GW - 140 lbs)
Progress:
01/11 = 162lbs
01/18 = 160lbs
01/25 = 159lbs
Measurements:
1)Neck is same
2)Waist down 1.5"
3)Hips down 1"
Ordered a digital scale yesterday, but not going to get too caught up on numbers!
My yoga pant feel a wee bit better this morning 😁
Gratitude for being part of this group.
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Monday Weigh In Day Results!
I've been doing this for awhile...it's been a struggle but slowly progress is being made! I'm a very "lets get it done" kinda a person so this slow process is very hard on me! Thank you to everyone who shares their journey and stuggles as it is very inspiring and encouraging to all of us!
I'm going to go back a little further with weight results as I don't want to look at the weekly weigh-ins because they don't show the true story! So here's my story as of today!!
December 20, 2019 - 176.2lbs
April 27, 2020 - 174.8lbs (started WW)
January 25, 2021 - 162.2lbs
Total lost to date: 14lbs
Goal Weight: 134lbs (wishing for end of May)
Wishing everyone a great week and don't give up...we are all worth it!!!!
Shannon9 -
Way to stay committed @shannonkelly08 ! Losing weight is one thing, but sticking to it is another. Slip into an old pair of pants that fit you 14 lbs ago. That’ll remind you where you were and how far your dedication has taken you. 😊
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Clothes do tell a story:Way to stay committed @shannonkelly08 ! Losing weight is one thing, but sticking to it is another. Slip into an old pair of pants that fit you 14 lbs ago. That’ll remind you where you were and how far your dedication has taken you. 😊
I'm still wearing pants with a 44 waist, but they're getting looser and looser!
I've gone from a 3XL tee-shirt to a 2XL tee-shirt, and even those are a bit loose.
I'm wearing shirts that were too tight for me until now.
I have a whole wardrobe (several in fact), that I will be shrinking into, and that is a satisfying feeling.
(and I have some clothes I'll be donating to Goodwill/Salvation Army/etc. because I'll never be that size again!)10
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