100 day Challenge #16 – Saturday June 15 2023 to Friday September 22 2023

@dawnbgethealthy

I originally measured in the middle of a challenge so now I wait until 10 or 11 days in each time to see the difference. Last check was no change. Now I must say that my batwings seemed more deflated and not so much fat in them, but because my skin is not snapping back it measures the same. My arms really are not round anymore. More flat like a piece of paper (mainly below the real arm I guess) so it's like measuring two sides of a piece of paper. Maybe I will get brave enough to get a pic at some point and post.

I noticed on my posts that I lost nearly 6 pounds in just 3 days this week. I love to see that but I would rather see the steady uninterrupted progress. Going without all the foods I love, getting through the cravings and even the hunger sometimes is really really hard. And sometimes it's just so difficult to push myself to get my exercise in when I have a hard time breathing due to the heart disease etc. The only thing that makes it all worthwhile when I push through the diet and exercise is seeing a little progress on the scale or in how your clothes fit. When I am bloated with tummy issues or especially the water retention the scale is higher and the measurements of the trunk of my body are bigger. It's impossible to see the progress. Impossible to see what is working and what is not. So many times I am trying to tweak my plan or research better ways when all I really need to do is pee a lot to see that what I am ALREADY doing really is working. It get's exhausting and confusing. I do love to see that I've actually been doing great (when issues finally resolve), but I would much rather see the daily honest progress or setbacks. It is horrible navigating through this like a blind man when I really need to see. Anyway, sorry for the rant. It's just that I was really hoping last time I measured my arms I would see something since it's not on the trunk of my body where the fluid often builds up. Also, a little disappointed today that the scale went up nearly 1/2 of a pound when I had to add fake food to my entry to bring it over 1000 calories to close out of MFP last night and my carbs were 50% less than my plan even allows. No exercise but I was on my feet all day and got in plenty of steps. Yes, I can feel the fluid building already in me. I actually could feel it last night. I spent extra time with my legs and feet up but I prolly did not drink enough water so it would release since I'd been so busy all day. I don't have all my answers, I know that no one completely does. I just needed to get this off my chest. There may be times when you see dramatic changes both up and down in my weight that I just can't control.
Sorry for the rant. I may be 0.4 pounds heavier today but at least I got THAT off my chest : )

1st week goal weight: 336
1st week actual weight:

Day 75 – Monday August 28 - 339.2
Day 76 – Tuesday August 29 - 341
Day 77 – Wednesday August 30 - 335.4
Day 78 – Thursday August 31
Day 79 – Friday September 01

Sometimes it seems like the climb to success is like standing at the bottom of Mt Everest. Hundreds of days of "dieting" and really no signficant change. however I guess if we consider that the 'average' person gains 5lbs a year, then we're doing okay by just yo-yoing the same few pounds.
A WW story that saves me from totally giving up is the reminder of a newborn learning to walk; how many times they fall but always push back up onto their feet and try again. This is exactly what we're doing. But it gets harder and harder when we're also dealing with physical issues. Perhaps this is one of the barriers to losing wt as we get older. Back to back aerobic classes would have me immobile for a week!

A couple of nights ago a friend was sharing how her doctor was worried about her weight and it turns out I was 4 lbs heavier than her (she's a bit taller than me too). That was my reality check .. have big boobs so when I look down I don't really see the midriff and belly. Also, the full length mirror is in downstairs bathroom.

WW has corn on the cob at 0 points but I think I need to mentally go back to the "old" program where the heavier starchy vegetables had points value. Also have been baking cookies for one of our residents and of course the recipe makes 2 1/2 doz and I only bring a doz to her. I think life would be easier if I was a terrible cook and there was no cheese on the planet.

Slept better so actually have energy to do a bit of deep cleaning. Have a lot of extra shifts next month so have to get ahead start on fall clean up.

12th Week:

Day 73 – Saturday August 26: 171.8 Dinner out with cousins. Have been “on the go” for past 4 days. Tired, no deliberate exercise, evening eating is out of control.

Day 74 – Sunday August 27: 174.2 Got thru shift okay. Need to get a handle on my sleep problems. Took ¼ sleeping pill.

Day 75 – Monday August 28: 174.8 Day went better, still indulged in evening snacking; made cookies for resident so incl a few in my snacks. Took ¼ sleeping pill

Day 76 – Tuesday August 29: 174.8 Slept okay last nite but felt ‘draggy’ all day, couldn’t wait for the shift to end. Mood was flat. Hubby hurt his back so plans for walking etc didn’t happen. Also it’s v smokey so sinuses are in an uproar. Stayed up too late last nite watching Netflix show; essentially just sat all evening. Really have to get a handle on this drifting away from ‘my plan’.

Day 77 – Wednesday August 30: 172.2; so far a good day; on plan with food, lots accomplished; having a non bread evening snack, screens off in 10 minutes. Crossing fingers I sleep well tonite.

Day 78 – Thursday August 31: 171.6 Finally might make my weekly goal!

Day 79 – Friday September 01
Goal Wt: 171
Actual Wt:

100 Days of Weighing In ^^^^^ June 15, 2023 thru September 22, 2023
My Name is Donna, Age 63. I am 5’5” tall & I live in Northern Michigan USA




Every healthy habit brings me closer to scratching each of these off to NEVER see them again!
250’s; 240’s; 230’s; 220's; 210's; 200's; 190's; 180’s; 170's; 160's; 150’s


Previous Rounds Tally & Thoughts:

“We will encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” ~Maya Angelou

Goal This Round: 182.0 (Sounds like a Dream but it’s 4 pounds per month)
Starting Weight from End of Last Challenge: : 194.0
Challenge Ending Weight: xxxxx

Mini challenge: My monthly goal is always about 4 pounds per month. HOWEVER, I never seem to make that. I will continue to keep that goal because it Should Be achievable (even though it is not for me) but never say never, right? So, Between Independence Day Holiday (July 4th) and Labor Day Holiday (Sept 4th) I will weigh somewhere, ANYWHERE in the 180’s. I don’t care if it’s on the brim. I’ve got to start getting further away from the 200’s again! Starting Weight on 7/4 is 195.4.

Previous Weeks:
WEEK 11 LOSS OR GAIN: 2.4 lbs LOST
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 1.6 lbs GAINED


Weight in blue makes me blue because it’s a gain. Weight in fuchsia pink makes me feel cheery because it’s a loss. Weight in black means no change.

Day 73-08/26-197.6-(Trend weight 196.9)

Day 74-08/27-195.2 -(Trend weight 196.8)

Day 75-08/28-193.6-(Trend weight 196.4)

Day 76-08/29-191.8-(Trend weight 196.0)

Day 77-08/30-192.2-(Trend weight 195.6) I’m not sure why the scale jumped up. A fluctuation I suppose. My diet was very much on point, however, the exercise was non-existent except for my strength training, so maybe that’s it. Trend weight has been going down dramatically each day so that is a good sign of my efforts. I travel tomorrow to see the endocrinologist for my diabetes. Lunch will be out (afterwards) and I am craving Chicken Alfredo. Pasta is something I don’t get to eat often on my plan. I realize the scale will not like it the following day (Friday) but I don’t think there will be any lasting damage as I plan to have a clean eating weekend. I will also strive to come home and make good choices for my dinner or snacks. I do not need to blow the whole day and eat stupid *kitten* late into the night just because I had a little pasta! It’s a plan!

Day 78-08/31-191.8-(Trend weight 195.2) I’m posting late due to the travel to the endocrinologist today for my diabetes. His scale showed that I was down a couple of pounds from my last visit. He was happy to see my glucose numbers on my monitor were better. He reminded me that excess sugars in the blood are stored as fat and when I keep my numbers better, I maintain much better and even lose weight. I needed that reminder. I left feeling very inspired and able. I ate most of my Chicken Alfredo at the restaurant for lunch today. It was so so good. I will finish the rest tonight for dinner so I will be 100% back on plan tomorrow. I will not be snacking tonight since it is already getting late. Tomorrow I have a huge bow window being put in my living room to replace the old picture window that was flanked on each side. I also have to start getting up early on Fridays to drive my kindergarten grandson to the nearby bus stop by 7:20 am. I have to get him up and get him ready for school since I always babysit on Thursday nights and Fridays. Then I will pick him up from the bus stop at about 4:00 pm. I am not looking forward to getting up that early since sleep is already so elusive. It’s not that I can’t handle the 6:30 part (which is when I’ll need to get up). It’s that no matter what time I get up, I seem to need about 2 hours to chill, drink coffee and get ready to see other human beings and be nice. Ah well.

Day 79-09/01-xxxxx-(Trend weight xxxxx)

WEEK 12 LOSS OR GAIN:
Accumulated Loss or Gain:



Strength Training Mini Challenge Round 4:
I will continue to work on batwing arms and flabby thighs. I will also try to engage in some floor/standing/chair exercising to tighten stomach area especially. I will try to add in some aerobic exercise like walking or dancing or the exercise bike AT LEAST 5 days a week. This is not my dream, it is my pledge to myself.

Day 01 - Aug 28 – 7 min with 5 lb weights. 15 min of chair exercising, Quad Iso x 3.
Day 02 - Aug 29 – 7 min with 5 lb weights. Quad Iso x 3.
Day 03 - Aug 30 – 5 min with 5 lb weights, 12 min of chair exercising both standing and sitting, 10 min on exercise bike, Quad Iso x 1.
Day 04 - Aug 31 –
Day 05 - Sept 01 –
Day 06 - Sept 02 –
Day 07 - Sept 03 –
Day 08 - Sept 04 –
Day 09 - Sept 05 –
Day 10 - Sept 06 –
Day 11 - Sept 07 –
Day 12 - Sept 08 –
Day 13 - Sept 09 –
Day 14 - Sept 10 –
Day 15 - Sept 11 –
Day 16 - Sept 12 –
Day 17 - Sept 13 –
Day 18 - Sept 14 –
Day 19 - Sept 15 –
Day 20 - Sept 16 –
Day 21 - Sept 17 –



Future Weeks:

Ultimate goal 70 kg
Day 1 Thursday June 15 Already the 15th on my side of the world. 79 kg. I am at 25 BMI but my ethnicity calls for a lower BMI to get in a healthy weight range. Went for a 3 hour walk. went 1 cal over my net limit.
Day 2 Friday June 16 79 kg. No loss but maintaining is better than gaining. Didn't do much today as I'm coming down with a cold.

1st week goal weight: 78.8
1st week actual weight:79 kg

Day 3 Saturday June 17 78.8 kg
Day 4 Sunday June 18 78.4 kg. still coughing quite badly and food doesn't taste great, so keeping the calories down.
Day 5 Monday June 19 78 kg. 1 kilo in 5 days? Holy cow! I feel I'm eating enough. remind self that weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Prob this rate won't continue
Day 6 Tuesday June 20 78 kg
Day 7 Wednesday June 21 78.1 kg. Every day it isn't raining I go for at least a 60 min walk. While walking I look out for dropped coins. So far I have found 90 cents (US 54 cents) I plan to save it all and buy myself a non food treat at the end of the Challenge.
Day 8 Thursday June 22 78 kg. Keeping the salt down - but it's fat I want to lose, not water.
Day 9 Friday June 23 77.8 kg. Found $2 (US1.27) while walking. This week has def gone well.

2nd week goal weight: 78.3 kg
2nd week actual weight: 77.9 kg. Wow. Just wow. Don't know if this rate will continue, but I'll take the loss so far.

Day 10 Saturday June 24 77.8 kg
Day 11 Sunday June 25 78kg. Going in the wrong direction! So what did I do? Spent the day eating buttered toast and honey.
Day 12 Monday June 26 77.8 kg. Feeling lazy today so bought some potato salad for lunch. The spuds were undercooked and the mayo so sweet my teeth almost fell out. Maybe my tastebuds are becoming accustomed to less sugar? I am trying to avoid sauces and dressings and just using herbs and spices in cooking.
Day 13 Tuesday June 27 77.9 kg. Eating too much bread.
Day 14 Wednesday June 28 77.5 kg. Raining today so didn't walk. Drinking a load of black coffee which acts as an appetite suppressant for me.
Day 15 Thursday June 29 77.6 kg. Tried on a size 16D bra, was a little loose. Tried on an old 14C, was a bit too tight. How uncomfortable do I want to be until I lose a little more weight?
Day 16 Friday June 30 77.4 kg

3rd week goal weight: 77.2
3rd week actual weight: 77.4 Didn't quite reach target but I'll take the loss anyway.

Day 17 – Saturday July 01 77 kg. Waist 33.5 ins. Hips 43.5 ins.
Day 18 – Sunday July 02 76.8 kg. BMI 24.5. 2 more kilos to lose and I will be in the healthy range for my ethnicity. Hint - if you calculate BMI, use a calculator that takes into account age, gender and ethnicity, not just weight and height.
Day 19 – Monday July 03 76.7 kg
Day 20 – Tuesday July 04 76.5 kg - have lost a total of 9 kg (19.8 lbs) since starting MFP
Day 21 – Wednesday July 05 76.7 kg
Day 22 – Thursday July 06 76.8 kg. I am 65 today! Celebrated retirement by going to an Indian restaurant. Mmmm .... buttered naan bread ....
Day 23 – Friday July 07 76.4 kg. Today is Day 100 of tracking my food and exercise on MFP. I have lost 9.1 kg altogether (20 lbs). Jeans getting rather loose.

4th week goal weight: 76.5 kg
4th week actual weight: 76.4 kg. Made it!

Day 24 – Saturday July 08 76 kg! woot woot!
Day 25 – Sunday July 09 76 kg
Day 26 – Monday July 10 76.8 kg. Neighbor gave me a pot of homemade apricot jam. Note to self - pass on such future goodies to food pantry immediately instead of devouring jam sandwiches non stop ....
Day 27 – Tuesday July 11 76.4 kg
Day 28 – Wednesday July 12 76.2 kg
Day 29 – Thursday July 13 76 kg. Tonight we celebrated Matariki, the Rising of the Seven Sisters (the Pleiades). I was very restrained at the feast, only a small portion of roast pork and sweet potato, no potato bread, and just one scoop of ice cream. Part of the invite required a contribution to the food pantry, so I found a box of cereal, a jar of honey, some other sweet stuff and a can of coconut milk to donate - I hope someone needs to put on weight!
Day 30 – Friday July 14 75.5 kg! 3.5 kg lost in 30 days! Wow!

5th week goal weight: 75.5 kg
5th week actual weight: 75.5 kg. Go me!

Day 31 – Saturday July 15 75.9 kg
Day 32 – Sunday July 16 76.2 kg
Day 33 – Monday July 17 76 kg
Day 34 – Tuesday July 18 75.3 kg
Day 35 – Wednesday July 19 75.1 kg
Day 36 – Thursday July 20 74.9 kg. Waist 33 ins. Hips 42 ins. Yes! Down in the Healthy BMI range! Aim to get down to 22 BMI.
Day 37 – Friday July 21 74.8 kg Thinking of doing some weight training in order to replace fat with muscle and develop some upper body strength.

6th week goal weight: 75 kg
6th week actual weight: 74.8 kg

Day 38 – Saturday July 22 75.1 kg
Day 39 – Sunday July 23 74.9 kg
Day 40 – Monday July 24 75.1 kg
Day 41 – Tuesday July 25 74.9 kg. This feels like a plateau tho I'm still regularly below my net allowed calories.
Day 42 – Wednesday July 26 74.8 kg.
Day 43 – Thursday July 27 75 kg. Think I may be missing recording some calories somewhere. Need to be more vigilant.
Day 44 – Friday July 28 74.3 kg. Before MFP I weighed 100 kg (220 lbs) but managed to lose a fair bit of it even without tracking. Now I've lost over 25 kg (55 lbs) I tried on a cardigan I knitted for myself back then - and now it's enormous! I feel like the Saggy, Baggy Elephant wearing it. Off to the thrift store with it! I'll knit myself a new one after I've kept the weight off for a while.

7th week goal weight: Setting weekly goals doesn't do much for me, I find - just keeping my eye on the overall goal and celebrating various milestones as they occur.
7th week actual weight:

Day 45 – Saturday July 29 74.5 kg
Day 46 – Sunday July 30 75.1 kg. I made a start on decluttering today, after watching youtube videos. Two shopping bags of size 18 clothes donated - I swear on Peter Rabbit's lettuce I will never let myself get that big again. Size 14 now - would like to get back to 12.
Day 47 – Monday July 31 74.8 kg
Day 48 – Tuesday August 01 74.5 kg. Sometimes I weigh myself with a towel on. Sometimes I don't.
Day 49 – Wednesday August 02 74.2 kg.
Day 50 – Thursday August 03 74 kg. Yay! Halfway through the Challenge and I have lost 5 kg (11 lbs). Another 50 days left to lose the last 4 kg and I will beat goal!
Day 51 – Friday August 04 73.9 kg

8th week goal weight:
8th week actual weight:

Day 52 – Saturday August 05 73.8 kg
Day 53 – Sunday August 06 73.9 kg Got a lot of exercise today doing a massive declutter and clean. I can now pretty well fit all my clothes into one closet and one set of drawers. The bedroom looks way neater and I'm thinking of repainting the walls. I learned from You Tube about "depression rooms" - that's what I was living in.
Day 54 – Monday August 07 74 kg
Day 55 – Tuesday August 08 DNW
Day 56 – Wednesday August 09 74 kg. A little off track over the last 2 days as I was on a noho marae (overnight stay at the tribal meeting place) and it is famous for kai moana (seafood). I ate a lot! Also I learned to weave a bag for collecting shellfish, so I think I'm going to be eating more ...
Day 57 – Thursday August 10 74.5 kg
Day 58 – Friday August 11 73.9 kg. ....and when the weight was up, it was up. and when it was down, it was down. and when the number was the same at the end of the week - it was neither up nor down!

9th week goal weight:
9th week actual weight:

Day 59 – Saturday August 12 74 kg. Only 6 weeks more in the Challenge! Focus, focus.
Day 60 – Sunday August 13 73.8 kg
Day 61 – Monday August 14 73.5 kg. 12 kilos down! Celebrated by having pizza -oops.
Day 62 – Tuesday August 15 73.3 kg. ....I think I can ..... I think I can ...
Day 63 – Wednesday August 16 73.2 kg ....getting closer ...
Day 64 – Thursday August 17 73 kg So close! Just 3 kg (6.6 lb) to go.
Day 65 – Friday August 18 73 kg

10th week goal weight:
10th week actual weight:

Day 66 – Saturday August 19 72.9 kg
Day 67 – Sunday August 20 72.8 kg
Day 68 – Monday August 21 72.8 kg
Day 69 – Tuesday August 22 72.8 kg
Day 70 – Wednesday August 23 73 kg - think I need to step up the walking more. On these cold winter mornings I've been catching the bus more frequently - especially since I received my Senior Card which gives me a discount on public transport.
Day 71 – Thursday August 24 73 kg
Day 72 – Friday August 25 73 kg. I have been on a thrift store diet for 30 days - except someone gave me some very nice gray yarn, but that doesn't count, right? .... I have also convinced myself that free calories don't count .... wonder why I'm stuck on this plateau?

11th week goal weight:
11th week actual weight:

Day 73 – Saturday August 26 72.9 Only 26 days to go .... think I'll make it to 72, which was my original goal, maybe not to 70 ....
Day 74 – Sunday August 27 72.9. Poured with rain all day so missed my daily walk for the first time in quite a few weeks. Spent the day knitted and didn't snack at all - I didn't want to get greasy, sticky fingers on my yarn.
Day 75 – Monday August 28 72.8 kg. I think I figured out the problem. I wanted to lose 0.5 kg a week, which is 550 cal a day below my TDEE. Initially MFP set my limit at 1280 cal a day. As I lost weight I needed less cal, so my limit gradually went down to 1210. However, MFP doesn't allow less than 1200 cal, so I've been sitting on 1210 for a while, BUT, as my weight has continued to go down, my TDEE has likewise gone down, and the gap between allowed calories and needed calories has narrowed to the point where I'm basically eating at maintenance. So my weight is remaining the same. The solution is either to lower the limit further (which MFP won't allow and it wouldn't be healthy for me anyway) OR increase my TDEE by increasing exercise, and NOT eat all the extra calories allowed - as I have been doing. I think I'll look around for second hand equipment, like a stationary bicycle, which I can use at home on cold mornings when I don't want to do a long walk.
Day 76 – Tuesday August 29 73 kg. I have found another reason for the weight .... inaccuracies! Thanx to other people also using the bathroom, the scale is liable to move position. And it shows different weights at different parts of the floor - I guess the floor is uneven. So I have to make sure it's always at the same point.... the question is: do I put it where it shows me my highest weight or my lowest?!! Also I need to visit the doctor soon, so will get weighed there and take that number as the most accurate (it's always higher there because I have clothes on, but better to over calculate than under)
Day 77 – Wednesday August 30 DNW. Got up late and had breakfast and coffee before remembering I hadn't weighed.... think this only the second day I've missed, so not too bad.... being very careful with intake as I feel tomorrow's weigh will reflect two days of eating.
Day 78 – Thursday August 31 72.5 kg. Yes! feel yesterday's self denial was worthwhile.
Day 79 – Friday September 01 72.6 kg.

12th week goal weight:
12th week actual weight:

Day 80 – Saturday September 02
Day 81 – Sunday September 03
Day 82 – Monday September 04
Day 83 – Tuesday September 05
Day 84 – Wednesday September 06
Day 85 – Thursday September 07
Day 86 – Friday September 08

13th week goal weight:
13th week actual weight:

Day 87 – Saturday September 09
Day 88 – Sunday September 10
Day 89 – Monday September 11
Day 90 – Tuesday September 12
Day 91 – Wednesday September 13
Day 92 – Thursday September 14
Day 93 – Friday September 15

14th week goal weight:
14th week actual weight:

Day 94 – Saturday September 16
Day 95 – Sunday September 17
Day 96 – Monday September 18
Day 97 – Tuesday September 19
Day 98 – Wednesday September 20
Day 99 – Thursday September 21
Day 100 – Friday September 22

I’m Teri
Age 59, 5’4”

Challenge Starting Weight: 143.3 lbs
Challenge Goal Weight: 138lbs
Ultimate Goal Weight: 130-133 lbs

Day 73 – Saturday August 26 143.9 I’m back. So much went on in the past 2.5 weeks. Finally feel like what happened on Maui and my mental state because of it are settling down. I need to start prioritizing my health and well-being again. So here I am.
Day 74 – Sunday August 27 142.9 Eating wasn’t the best yesterday… too many carbs as usual. But I got it together later in the evening – 8:30pm to be exact -- as I forced myself to finally get a 30-min work out in after 3 weeks of nothing. It’s hard to take that first step when I’ve been away from it for a while. Today, my cousin will return a vehicle I loaned him & his family after losing both of his in the fire. Can't even imagine what it's like to lose everything.
Day 75 – Monday August 28 143.6 Not sure what happened here. I think I need another day or 2 of low carb & low sugar to start a downward trend.
Day 76 – Tuesday August 29 143.4 Busy day today. Hope it keeps my mind off of food.
Day 77 – Wednesday August 30 142.8 Awesome day staying on track yesterday, which included a workout: 15 min kettlebell, 10 min core, 30 min cycling. Was also productive at work and around the house (both have been a struggle). Not sure what got into me… haha. Let’s hope I can keep up the pace.
Day 78 – Thursday August 31 142.8 Woke up this morning feeling less bloated (finally) which must be directly attributed to less carbs, less sugar and less salt in recent days. I feel good. Now to not self-sabotage, except at the party I’m attending on Saturday.
Day 79 – Friday September 01 142.7 16-hour fast (8pm – 12pm). 10-min kettlebell. Late night snacking (potato chips).

12th week goal weight: 142.9
12th week actual weight: 142.7