Healthy for the Holidays Challenge - 9/06 - 11/22

9/6: 175.4
9/13: 173.2
9/20: 172.5 ( Not huge but just got an unwelcome visitor so I'll take it. Damn you TOM)
9/27:
10/4:
10/11:
10/18:
10/25:
11/1:
11/8:
11/15:
11/22: Goal Weight (165)

On my 10 mile goal - I did a 6 miles on Sunday with 4/2 jog/walk intervals and I made it in 1:25. So I'm on track to do 10 miles at the end of October in under 2:30!

So I'm curious to get some people's input on something. Now I've always been of the (popular MFP) opinion that this whole weight loss thing needs to be about a lifestyle change but also needs to be sustainable. Meaning we're making changes that we can actually keep in our lives long term becuase obviously if we can't keep it up we won't keep the weight off. Recently I think I've gone off track from sustainable. I've been exercising 6-7 days a week for about an hour at time and basically eating a ton which turns into a cycle of having to keep up the exercise to make up for the eating. (Or am I eating so much becuase I'm exercising so much? Eh, different question.) But what I'm curious about is how much does everyone actually exercise every week and do you think its something you could sustain? I think 4 days a week is probably more realistic for me (sat, sun, tues, thurs) and I've decided to try and go back to that and try and keep my eating more on track. Occasional challenges aside of course because who can't use an occasional bump! But long term I just don't see myself keeping up that level of activity. So....to sum up my rambling I guess do people think they will keep up how much they exercise or drop it down to a maintenance level like how you up calories when you no longer need the deficit? I suppose my other concern is the effect of decreased activity on the body's ability to burn calories if I don't sustain the same level of exercise. Any thoughts or experiences here?

Sorry I'm late getting started but I'm in. I love to have a challenge and for the holidays make it even better. :happy:

Join the "Healthy for the Holidays" challenge beginning Tuesday, 9/06 thru Tuesday, 11/22!!!

Come join us if you're looking for extra motivation as we approach the Holiday season. We've got a great group of ladies & gents helping each other stay motivated and we are always looking for others to join our group.

Each week will have a different food & exercise challenge with a weekly check in that will allow you to share your progress towards the goal weight or NSV you set for 11/22.

How to join? Starting Tuesday 9/06 post your current weight (CW), your 11/22 goal weight (GW) and/or the NSV(s) you wish to achieve by Tuesday, 11/22. Each subsequent Tuesday post that week's current weight (CW) and/or your progress made towards your NSV(s). Everyone's progress will be tracked & the group's weekly successes will be posted.

Hope to hear from you on Tuesday!!

*** NSV = 'Non Scale Victory" ***

How do I add my weight to show GW, SW to the bottom of my tracker. I'm not doing very well trying to figure out.

So I'm curious to get some people's input on something. Now I've always been of the (popular MFP) opinion that this whole weight loss thing needs to be about a lifestyle change but also needs to be sustainable. Meaning we're making changes that we can actually keep in our lives long term becuase obviously if we can't keep it up we won't keep the weight off. Recently I think I've gone off track from sustainable. I've been exercising 6-7 days a week for about an hour at time and basically eating a ton which turns into a cycle of having to keep up the exercise to make up for the eating. (Or am I eating so much becuase I'm exercising so much? Eh, different question.) But what I'm curious about is how much does everyone actually exercise every week and do you think its something you could sustain? I think 4 days a week is probably more realistic for me (sat, sun, tues, thurs) and I've decided to try and go back to that and try and keep my eating more on track. Occasional challenges aside of course because who can't use an occasional bump! But long term I just don't see myself keeping up that level of activity. So....to sum up my rambling I guess do people think they will keep up how much they exercise or drop it down to a maintenance level like how you up calories when you no longer need the deficit? I suppose my other concern is the effect of decreased activity on the body's ability to burn calories if I don't sustain the same level of exercise. Any thoughts or experiences here?

At the beginning of the summer I wasn't working, and I was exercising close to 6 days a week. That's definitely not sustainable for me. I think I'm aiming for closer to 3-4 days a week now - I'm not hitting even that most weeks, but I think it will be good for weight loss and maintenance. When I was doing really well with my food planning, and not exercising at all, I actually saw some of my best losses. Now, with the exception of those couple weeks at the beginning of the summer, I was never a regular 6 days a week exerciser, so I don't know that my body ever expected that. I think as long as you watch what you eat, you shouldn't have a problem cutting back on exercise. As long as you eat less on the days you don't exercise, you should be fine.

Fitness/Food Challenge for week of Sept 19th.

I'm currently in the midst of the Primal Blueprint 30-Day Challenge, so I thought I'd give you a sample of what I've been doing along this weight-loss journey. You can read more about it at <marksdailyapple.com>.

Fitness challenge: Try all three, OR pick one that you don't currently do, and try it this week.

Lift heavy things--2 body-weight strength training workouts each week (planks, pushups, pullups, squats etc.) I also count heavy cleaning, moving boxes and furniture, heavy yard work, etc..
Low Level Aerobic Activity--3-5 hours of easy moving each week (gardening, shopping, walking/hiking, house cleaning, horseback riding, playing outdoors with kids, etc.)
Sprint--One all-out effort each week (stair climbing, running, jogging, whatever leaves you temporarily exhausted and out of breath at the end)

Food challenge: I've been eating lower-carb on this journey, and it's worked for me. If you are having trouble getting rid of the last few lbs. or having a hard time starting to lose--try eating about 100g carbs per day and see what happens. OR If you don't want to go lower-carb, just keep track of the carbs in your meals and notice which kind of meals/foods leave you the most satisfied.

Rose

The "Carbohydrate Curve" that convinced me to give lower-carb/Primal Blueprint a try. <http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/&gt;

The Primal Fitness E-Book describes the movements, progressions, and reps. <http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-fitness/&gt; You have to subscribe to download, but it's free, and you can unsubscribe easily.

BTW, I was skeptical when DD1 first showed me the Primal Blueprint book a couple of years ago, but I'm a believer now. I think it was the "effortless weight loss" category on the carbohydrate curve that did it for me. I'd been in the "Slow, insidious weight gain" one for far too long.

This morning's weigh in:

SW: 204.5

CW: 201.7

Weigh in time

200
Down one pound. I hoped it would be more but I guess its a loss and I should be happy with that. I really wanted to be under 200.

I feel good about the exercise challenge, I have a bad knee and its hard for me to do alot of exercise everyday. I usually do a cardio workout every other and stretchs and knee exercises on the off days.

My carbs are pretty good, but with a 1lb weight loss maybe I should try lowering it.

156.8 :grumble: TOM, up 2. ah well, its better than yesterday at least.

Checking in

SW 148
WK 1 149
WK 2 148.6 Down .4

Have a great week everyone!!!

Checking in.

SW: 180
WK1: 180
WK2: 178.8
GW: 169 (for this challenge)
GW: 140

My weight was all over the place this week. At one point I was down 7 lbs and I was ecstatic! I guess that'll teach me not to weigh in every day. Totally depressed this morning when I stepped on the scale. I exercised 7 days this week and kept my calories below my goal. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Opal

Checking in.

SW: 180
WK1: 180
WK2: 178.8
GW: 169 (for this challenge)
GW: 140

My weight was all over the place this week. At one point I was down 7 lbs and I was ecstatic! I guess that'll teach me not to weigh in every day. Totally depressed this morning when I stepped on the scale. I exercised 7 days this week and kept my calories below my goal. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Opal

You're not doing any wrong, you're doing everything RIGHT! You shouldn't lose 7 lbs in a week, it's not good for your body and not sustainable, and honestly probably wasn't a real number (less food in your digestive system, less water maybe even just a tweak out of the scale). You lost a little over a lb this week and that's great. you shouldn't loose more than 2 a week. It's all the little baby steps that lead to a new healthy lifestyle. This is about sustainable change and with that loss you are on the right path. WTG!!!!

Good morning guys,

Checking in also:

CW: 196

I'm using the weight from the weekend. How is everyone doing? I'm feeling pretty pumped and did my p90x this morning and also ran outside. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, well I 've got 5 days down and 16 more to go.

Wish you all an awesome day!!!

Olivia: Thanks for the encouragement and perspective and congratulations on your weight loss!
I really need to start seeing this as a marathon and not a sprint. :ohwell: