Hi again everyone! So....Sunday, Jan 31st, officially kicks off our February Challenge! This challenge runs from Sunday Jan 31st to Sat. Feb 27th . So the 1st weigh ins will be those people that chose Sunday as their weigh day. Sorry for the confusion, it keeps things equal.
We are also going to be running (Optional) Mini-challenges again this month: Question of the Week and Daily Posts

First and foremost is that participation in these challenges is optional. It's up to you as to whether you want to try this. If you don't want to participate in these challenges, you don't have to, the choice is yours, but I would like to encourage you to participate as it seems to help keep us on track and thinking about our goals on a daily basis and it's encouraging to see other's successes and struggles so that we realize that we are not alone!!

The Daily Posts Challenge is based on another challenge on MFP called UAC (Ultimate Accountability Challenge). The way UAC works is that the aim is to follow 5 basic rules.

#1. Track EVERYTHING you eat that has calories.
#2. Stay inside your allocated daily budget.
#3. Try to do at least 20 minutes of activity a day (anything: walk, run, cycle, swim, gardening, housework, yoga, gym, etc.. As long as it gets you active and off the couch)
#4. 1 pass day permitted per week (went over calories, could not track, not enough exercise, intentional pass)
#5. Check in daily (tracking yes/no, calories yes/no, exercise yes/no).

****End of the week. those who have managed to keep to plan for 6 out of 7 days are recognized in the thread as being part of the weekly "Winners Circle".

A side note as there has been a bit of confusion for new members in the past, this is not the same as the official results, which are weight based, this is just another tool to help you reach your weight loss goals.

**REMEMBER**
You set your own daily budget.
You choose you own exercise and intensity (no step limit, no exercises you cannot or should not do, 20 mins of gardening counts as much as a 10 mile run, activity is activity, anything that gets you up and moving!).
Is not weight based (as weight fluctuates day by day).
Can continue beyond weight loss.

Daily check in keeps you in touch with those doing similar. Longer term weight management is hard to do on your own.

It also has frequent resets (as in a circle each week).

It works on an honor system. Being honest with yourself and others is a key to making things work. Remember, this is a judgement free zone, everyone has good days and bad days, but the way to get to the finish line is by being honest and when we have a bad day, picking ourselves up and carrying on the next day!

Consistency and new habits have been shown the only long term successful way to change weight. We all want the progress made here to last a lifetime.

Your posts should look like this:
Daily Post (Sunday/Date)

Track: Yes/no
Calories: Yes/no (were you under)
Exercise: Yes/no (what type and how long)
Goals/Day/Comments: (Tell us a brief description about your how your day went or your goals for the day)

The Question of the Week Challenge is a fun participation booster and we will be using it sometimes just as fun and sometimes it can help to foster new ideas for others as we all are different and have different experiences so sharing ideas can help someone else with motivation of freshening up their routine even!! Keep on the lookout for these questions.[/color]

Please post your weight on your scheduled weigh in day, as if you miss weigh-ins, you may be eliminated from the challenge and we don't want to see that happen!!

Your posts should look like this:
Username:
Week: November Week 1
PW =(previous weight)
CW=(current weight)
Just type PW & CW if you'd like (or if it's easier, you could keep a note on your PC desktop to make it easier to copy and paste from week to week.)

Please, please setup your posts in that format as it really makes it much easier for me to track your progress for the challenges and the weight loss!!

I'd like to help us be as successful as possible and if I can help in any way, please let me know. Also, if you have any suggestions for the team or fun ideas to spice things up a bit, please feel free to share them, I look for new ways to help engagement and keep people motivated!!

I am committed to this group and to help where I can, and please let me know if I can help in any way!!

Your team Captain,
Melinda@mram3582

WA_Teacher
Feb WK# 1
Sunday
Previous Weight: 231.5
Current Weight: 230.7

Hi team, good luck to everyone. This is my first time trying a challenge like this.

I did add another post when I registered, i had a typo in my SW, it is down as 308lb but is 318lb. Down from 337lb.

Thanks

Track: Yes
Calories: Yes
Exercise: Yes elliptical 30 mins
Goals/Day/Comments: Felt pretty good today. Stayed under calories and got on elliptical. Want to start incorporating a little bit of yoga.

Hoping to change my weigh in day to Monday @mram3582. Thanks

Track: yes
Under calories: yes
Exercise: yes. 30 minutes of arm weights and abs. 3 times 30 minutes shoveling snow.
Goals/day/comments: I hurt everywhere from shoveling snow...and that darned stuff is still coming down!

Track yes
Under yes
Exercise 25 min run, 40 min cross country ski and 30 min runners strength
Comments: we are doing a wellness challenge at work. This week I choose no sugary snacks. I handcrafted had a sugary snack since Thurs!

Track: Yes.
Under calories: Yes.
Exercise: Yes. 50 minutes on elliptical
Goals/day/comments: It was a good day all around.

Hi everyone. My name is Lori. I have been using MFP off and on for a few years. December 2019 I decided I needed to make some lifestyle changes. I was over 300lbs and feeling terrible. I had high blood pressure & was pre-diebetic. I knew I needed to make some changes. So I started doing intermittent fasting and using MFP to track my eating. I have lost 90 lbs so far and my AC1 has gone from 6.1 to 5.2. And I feel great. I started keto in August because I hit a plateau. And it has been working. I have been helping Melinda as co-captain when I can. If you'd like you can send me a friend request.

Welcome everyone & good luck!

My partner and I had some much needed time off together at the end of January so I decided to let myself go awol from tracking and just enjoy the time. So now I'm back and though I'm expecting a gain this week I'm not gonna let myself be mad about it. Ready to hit the ground running and get back on track. Looking forward to hearing how everyone is doing!

Track: Yes
Under Calories: Yes
Exercise: Yes, 62 minutes treadmill
Goals/Day/Comments: It was a good day!

Track yes
Under yes
Exercise 30 min bike & arms workout, and just heading out for a ski
Comments feeling great!

Track: Yes
Under Caloires: Yes
Exercise: Yes. 30 minute walk at lunch, 30 minutes yoga in evening
Goals/day/comments: My boss brought in donuts today. I resisted and didn't eat one! I gave my donut to a coworker to take home for her 3 year old daughter.