100 Day Challenge #17 September 23, 2023 through December 31, 2023

Week 14:

Day 92-12/23: 172. 4 9:46pm, the party is officially over 😉 Know wt will flare up but just focusing on next Friday’s wt. Working next 3 days. WIDRT - avoided alcohol, my mocktail is Freshco's Fizzy Tangerine & Lime with an extra shot of lime juice all over ice. Only 2 slices of bread, No peanut butter or jam etc. Didn't make any mincemeat or butter tarts.

Day 93-12/24: 174.2 Just popping in to wish each of you a Very Merry Christmas. Hope your Day is full of joy, love and laughter.
Work tomorrow and my back is sore so heading off for a relaxing soak.
Most weird weather ... might mow some of our lawn tomorrow
WIDRT: Resisted holiday baking, chocolates etc gifted to us by residents’ families.
Behind on my water drinking.

Day 94-12/25: 172.8 Merry Christmas everyone. Re-joined Noom for the 3rd time .. tired of feeling the effects of this extra weight. Nice dinner and evening playing cards with DS and his girlfriend.

Day 95-12/26: 174 Yesterday was quiet; but I feel like “I survived” and now to just cruise thru to the end of the year. Off to work soon. Later: work is a struggle for many reasons. Aware that I’m forgetting little jobs. Exhausted so was in bed before 7! Persistent caller woke me an hour later then had trouble falling back asleep.

Day 96-12/27: 172 Plan is to tidy house, pack away many ornaments etc. Have company coming next week so want to be ready for a relaxing visit w/o last minute cleaning etc. Aware on encroaching depression so need to up my game and avoid slipping into it.
. . . . excited b/c driver just dropped off a late Christmas present .. a dehydrator. My hope is dried fruit will satisfy the evening cravings for something sweet. Crossing my fingers 😊

Day 97-12/28: 172.2 Got hooked into watching silly little series on Netflix last nite; stayed up waaaay too late. 2nd load of apple in the dehydrator; 1st was so yummy. Need to get my butt outside for a walk while there's no snow.

Day 98-12/29:

Day 99 – 12/30:

Day 100 – 12/31:

WEEK 14 Target Wt: 170
Week 14 Actual Wt: ____
Accumulated Loss or Gain: ____

Back again! I went from 79 kg to 71.5 kg in the last Challenge. Planning to get down to 67 kg (147.4lb) in the next 100 days.
Day 01-09/23-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. Received news this morning that a family member in Ireland has had a heart attack. It was partly her fault because she heard of my weight loss success and tried to go on a crazy sort of almost religious diet with nothing but raw fruit and walking 18,000 steps a day. At 62 years old! Luckily she is recovering well, but it makes me more careful about sticking to a slow, sustainable rate. The tortoise always beats the hare.

Day 02-09/24-xxxxx- 72 kg. Unsure of my BMI because I used to be 5' 10" (177.8 cm) but now I've lost, maybe an inch? Or Two? I'll tentatively say 175 cm. So 23.5 BMI. Pretty good, but I'd like to, ideally, 22. But will settle for 22.5.

Day 03-09/25-xxxxx- 72 kg. Found a whole $NZ3.00 (USD1.80) out walking today. Wish it was like that everyday!

Day 04-09/26-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. Went to an Art Exhibition opening and demolished a plate of sandwiches. I am not safe in the presence of bread.

Day 05-09/27-xxxxx- 72.1 kg. Whatever has happened! Could it be something I ate last night?

Day 06-09/28-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. I think the scale has a sense of humor and is playing pranks on me.

Day 07-09/29-xxxxx- 71.9 kg

WEEK 1 LOSS OR GAIN: 0.4 kg gain. Not off to the best of starts. Trying to keep the total calories in at less than 1600 regardless of amount lost through exercise.
Accumulated Loss or Gain:

Day 08-09/30-xxxxx- 72 kg. Normally I drink my coffee black, but today I had my annual treat of pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. (the smallest size)

Day 09-10/01-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. ....number on the bathroom scale, whither will you wander? Upstairs, downstairs, in the refrigerator....

Day 10-10/02-xxxxx- 71.7 kg.

Day 11-10/03-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. Hopefully have recovered from the mindless snacking of the last 10 days and back to better habits ..... but now I am stress shopping online a lot .... telling myself that it is all for Christmas gifts....

Day 12-10/04-xxxxx- 71.2 kg.

Day 13-10/05-xxxxx- 71.2 kg. Second day in a row off eating less than I burned ..... hopefully I can go the next 5 days and see some results. Picking up the exercise to 90 mins walk a day.

Day 14-10/06-xxxxx- 71.1 kg. Ate some cheese I hadn't planned for, walked for an extra 60 mins to burn it off. Tired but in a positive mood.

WEEK 2 LOSS OR GAIN :minus 0.8 kg - more than anticipated - seems like I was eating a lot and not losing much, but I started Week 2 heavier than at the start of Week 1.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 0.4 kg. Hopefully I can lose this much every week in order to meet my goal of 67 kg.


Day 15-10/07-xxxxx- 71 kg Ate over my limit. Start again and try for a week.

Day 16-10/08-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. Ate under my limit, but then had a can of gin and soda....(a rare event for me)

Day 17-10/09-xxxxx- 72 kg. Looking in my closet I found a size 4XL top I haven't worn since I was 100 kg (220 lb), back in 2021. I dropped it off at the Salvation Army after making a solemn vow never to get that heavy again.

Day 18-10/10-xxxxx- 71 kg. Started off with avo on toast for breakfast, but later in the morning felt very unwell. Stayed in bed for the rest of the day with no food, just water/

Day 19-10/11-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. Was able to get up and go out today. Still not much of an appetite, and coffee taste horrible, but at least I'm losing weight.

Day 20-10/12-xxxxx- 70 kg Waist 31.5 ins, Hips 40.5 ins.- not the best way to reach the stretch goal I set at the start of the year, but I'll take it. Feeling much better today, still ate some extra protein and went easy on the fiber. At the start of the year I made myself a disincentive promise that if I didn't lose the weight I would send a $240 donation to a Politician I Very Much Hope Is Not Reelected. If I can keep at the current weight until the end of the year Mister Obnoxious will get nothing from me!

Day 21-10/13-xxxxx- 70 kg. Exercising a little less, for maintenance, but also eating a little less - only half a lemon cupcake as a treat today, everything else was healthy. My focus now is less on continuing to lose and more on keeping the weight steady through the Holiday Season to the end of the year - which will be on us sooner than we expect! I do still have my rescued can of beer in the fridge, but will wait a few more days - alcohol once a week is enough.

WEEK 3 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 1 kg.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 1.5 kg - that's a little over one pound a week, just as MFP predicted.

Day 22-10/14-xxxxx- 70.3 kg. I took some of the money I have found on the ground during my daily walks and bought a bag of colorful cotton yarn at the Sally Army. Intending to knit myself a pretty summer shawl. Then I met up with a friend for lunch and we shared a chicken salad wrap, which I thought would be healthy, but it turned out to have a bucketload of super sweet mayo.

Day 23-10/15-xxxxx- 70.1 kg. Today was very wet so I stayed in and knitted. Changed my mind about the shawl and started to knit a lacy summer top - in size M!!! ..... well, a pretty loose size M, but M nonetheless. I did make pizza for dinner, but it had a sprouted seed base, not too much cheese and loads of veggies.

Day 24-10/16-xxxxx- 70 kg. Started a new health goal - gradually cutting back on coffee. Hoping to have it down to one small cup a day by the end of the month, and cut it out completely in the New Year. In the past, when I was on stricter diets, I found coffee acted as an appetite suppressant. When I tried going cold turkey I started eating like crazy - after I was able to wean myself off for 18 months I was in a much better place both physically and mentally.

Day 25-10/17-xxxxx- 69.8 kg

Day 26-10/18-xxxxx- 69.9 kg. "Only" 4 cups of coffee today, and slightly over my calories allowed (but still in a deficit - just not a 500 cal deficit).

Day 27-10/19-xxxxx- 70 kg. Grapes are fruit. Fruit is good, but the calories still count .... it couldn't have been the toasted cheese.....

Day 28-10/20-xxxxx- 69.7 kg.

WEEK 4 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.3 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 1.8 kg

Day 29-10/21-xxxxx- 69.8 kg

Day 30-10/22-xxxxx- 69.5 kg (152.9 lbs). Another 70 days to lose the last 2.5 kg - a little under 1.5 ounces per day (I switch from kilos and grams to pounds and ounces depending on which number seems more manageable - or impressive!) Losing 35.2 lbs sounds way better than losing 16 kg.

Day 31-10/23-xxxxx- 69 kg. Mainly healthy eating today, but was shopping for canned fish and mushrooms when I got waylaid by a chocolate bar .... need to exercise more self control with the holiday season coming up.

Day 32-10/24-xxxxx- 69.3 kg

Day 33-10/25-xxxxx- 69.5 kg.

Day 34-10/26-xxxxx- 69.3 kg.

Day 35-10/27-xxxxx- 69 kg.

WEEK 5 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.7 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 2.5 kg. Overall progress slow and steady - just over a pound a week. Just what the doctor ordered.


Day 36-10/28-xxxxx- 68.8 kg. Down to a BMI of 22.5 or so, depending on how tall I actually am. It's harder to measure height accurately than weight. So long as I stay in the healthy range I'm not so concerned about BMI - more concerned about waist/height and waist/hip ratios which are also used for risk assessment.

Day 37-10/29-xxxxx- 68.9 kg

Day 38-10/30-xxxxx- 69 kg. So a slight increase, but I cheer myself on by realising I am down 31 kg (68.2 lbs) from my highest weight, about 3 years ago.

Day 39-10/31-xxxxx- 68.8 kg. We don't really celebrate Halloween here (tho the marketers are trying hard to push it) The seasons are the wrong way round for us. Hope all my American online friends have a fun night.

Day 40-11/01-xxxxx- 68.7 kg. Years ago I stayed for 3 months on a dairy farm. The family all drank raw milk and they were fine. The cows were free of disease. But after a few weeks of drinking it myself, I developed severe gastro-intestinal problems. Even after leaving the farm, I had diarrhea for 18 months and lost a ton of weight. It only cleared up after I cut out dairy completely. Nowadays, I can tolerate it in small amounts, but if I have more than half a cup of milk daily, after a while the gut/bowel problems come back. I rarely drink milk, but have been eating quite a bit of cheese lately, and it is definitely beginning to affect me. I need to give it up for a while, or at least cut back.

Day 41-11/02-xxxxx- 68.6 kg. I am rapidly losing the battle to quit coffee .... but drinking it helps suppress my appetite and keeps me from snacking.

Day 42-11/03-xxxxx- 68.5 kg.

WEEK 6 LOSS OR GAIN: 0.5 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 3 kg. Yes! I can have a slice of pizza now and then and still lose weight. How awesome that at the age of 65 I am finally learning to practice moderation.


Day 43-11/04-xxxxx- 68.6 kg.

Day 44-11/05-xxxxx- 68.7 kg.

Day 45-11/06-xxxxx- 68.4 kg. I hadn't thought of this previously, but a few months ago my doctor reduced one of my medications - which has increased appetite and weight gain as side effects! I did, in fact, start to eat more and gain more after I was put on it. Now I am eating less, but I'm not hungry.

Day 46-11/07-xxxxx- 68.3 kg. Went for a walk across the campus today and saw a dollar coin (USD0.60) on the ground. But when I went to pick it up some prank playing student had glued it to the sidewalk!

Day 47-11/08-xxxxx- 68.2 kg

Day 48-11/09-xxxxx- Forgot to post for the first time in 225 days! (I did skip one other day but I was out of town and had no net access.)

Day 49-11/10-xxxxx- 68.2 kg.

WEEK 7 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.3 kg. Now that I weigh less I need less calories to sustain me and given that my daily net limit remains at 1210, my deficit is less and the rate is slowing down. Still pretty confident of getting to 67 kg by the end of the year.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 3.3 kg

Day 50-11/11-xxxxx- 68 kg! Yeah, scale, you goin' DOWN!

Halfway Progress Report: …..Pounds Lost so Far: 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) GONE!!!! I think I can .... I think I can ..... get to my goal in the next 50 days. 67 kg here I come - maybe even 65!

Day 51-11/12-xxxxx- 68 kg. Waist 31 inches. Hips 40 inches.

Day 52-11/13-xxxxx- 68.1 kg. I can fit comfortably into size 14 jeans for the first time in I don't know how many years - think that's a US size 10. But the dress size measurements vary so much between manufacturers you always have to try the durn things on anyway. Vanity sizing!

Day 53-11/14-xxxxx- 68 kg. The students are all finished with exams and I had to be careful in my walk across campus today because there was a load of junk dumped outside all the abandoned digs. I did pick up a whole still wrapped dozen rolls of toilet paper and a couple other useful things.

Day 54-11/15-xxxxx- 67.9 kg.

Day 55-11/16-xxxxx- 67.8 kg. I have heard from my family member in Ireland who is recovering well from her heart attack, but she has also been diagnosed as prediabetic. I tell myself I don't eat much cake and cookies - well, I don't buy or bake them. But looking back at my food diary, the truth is whenever I'm at an event or just having coffee with a friend, if I'm offered goodies I can't say no. Also looking thru the pantry I'm shocked at the amount of sugar in cereals, baked beans, sauces, etc. I need to be much more vigilant.

Day 56-11/17-xxxxx- 67.8 kg

WEEK 8 LOSS OR GAIN: Only 0.2 kg lost this week, but it's still a loss. We are getting close to the feasting season, and I'm already succumbing to the offered treats.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: Minus 3.7 kg.


Day 57-11/18-xxxxx- 67.7 kg. Did Not Eat Sugar Today! Will try to avoid it for the whole of this week.

Day 58-11/19-xxxxx- 67.7 kg. I fasted before early Mass as usual, only for 12 hours, which has never been a problem before. Father asked me to do the readings, OT, Psalm and Epistle. So 3 in a row, quite lengthy. I was part way thru when I started to feel a bit light headed, but kept going, and then the words started to blur. I just got to the end of the last reading, then blacked out. Everyone was very kind and helpful. Someone brought me some cold water and after a few sips I felt better. They wanted to call an ambulance, but I insisted it wasn't necessary and was able to walk home afterwards. I've had this problem for years. When I'm moving I'm fine, but getting up in the morning and standing for long periods always makes me dizzy. My doctor says it is low blood pressure, but doesn't want to put me on drugs. She says it isn't dangerous unless I hit my head falling.

Day 59-11/20-xxxxx- 67.6 I didn't worry about eating under my limit today, I just ate healthy (no sugar) and drank lots of water. I'm thinking I may have been losing weight a bit too fast and that accounts for the weakness yesterday. So I will just concentrate on keeping my weight stable until New Year. If I do get down to 67 kg that's great, otherwise I'm already slap bang in the middle of the healthy BMI range. I'd like to get my waist back down to 30 inches, but I'm taking my time.

Day 60-11/21-xxxxx- I did check with my doctor today, and she said it was likely due to dehydration. I need to be more vigilant about drinking water whenever I feel the urge for coffee, instead of opening the fridge door and grabbing whatever's there. She did weigh me, and on her scale I am 73 kg! (albeit fully clothed) I am 5.3 kg (11.66 lb) heavier than I thought I was! But still in the healthy weight range. Maybe I will drop another kilo by NYE, maybe it will have to wait till 2024.

Day 61-11/22-xxxxx- 72.5 kg. Alleluia! Dropped a half kilo overnight! Which Saint do I thank for this miracle?! Is there a patron saint of weight loss?

Day 62-11/23-xxxxx- 72.4 kg.

Day 63-11/24-xxxxx-72 kg.

WEEK 9 LOSS OR GAIN: PLUS 4.2 kg!!!! Durn scale.
Accumulated Loss or Gain:plus 0.5 kg. Not so bad after all. If I can end this 100 Day Challenge at the same weight as I started, despite scale variation, I'll be happy.


Day 64-11/25-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. Yay! back where I started.

Day 65-11/26-xxxxx- 71.4 kg. Just 5 weeks to the end of the Challenge and the end of the year. With today's deficit, MFP tells me I will get down to 69 kg.

Day 66-11/27-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. Today I decided to eat up what was left in the fridge and pantry (not much left from my Eat Down The Pantry Challenge). For breakfast I had butter flavor popcorn and 2 apples. Lunch I mixed a spoonful of ricotta with some milk powder, an egg and a little Italian seasoning and turned a poppy seed bagel into savory French toast - I prefer mine savory to sweet. Dinner I cooked up some potato gnocchi with the last of the frozen broccoli and a can of mushrooms, and instead of sauce I stirred in a generous amount of garlic hummus. Sounds like a weird day of eating but it was all quite tasty, and I still came in under my calorie limit. Oh and a banana for a snack. I still have plenty of rice and flour and lots of canned veges, beans and fish which will last me till next Tuesday when I get paid. I will also be able to access my Christmas Club money then and will use some of that to stock up again.

Day 67-11/28-xxxxx- 71 kg.

Day 68-11/29-xxxxx- 71.2 kg. I had an attack of the munchies in the wee hours ....

Day 69-11/30-xxxxx- 71.2 kg. I can fit a Medium top comfortably.

Day 70-12/01-xxxxx- 71 kg.

WEEK 10 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.5 kg.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 0.5 kg. Down 8 kg since the beginning of the first Challenge. Down 14.5 kg since started tracking on MFP. Down 29 since my highest weight ever. My aim is to maintain over the holidays.


Day 71-12/02-xxxxx- 70.8 kg.

Day 72-12/03-xxxxx- 70 kg. Dunno how that happened but I'll take it.

Day 73-12/04-xxxxx- 70.2 kg

Day 74-12/05-xxxxx- DNW

Day 75-12/06-xxxxx-DNW

Day 76-12/07-xxxxx-DNW

Day 77-12/08-xxxxx-70 kg. I'm thinking this may be my destination weight reached. Some family and friends have commented I am getting too thin - but they are def on the larger side themselves. If I look at old photos I can see I weighed less in the past - and was taller - and people then thought I was normal. I think with the increase in obesity people's perception of healthy weight has changed. I remember in my childhood the popular TV series Bonanza. Big Hoss was thought to be a very big man at 300 lbs - but he was also 6' 4". Everyone was very shocked when he died suddenly in his 40s. I went to a high school of 400 and only one girl was truly obese. We were sorry for her because her home life sucked and we understood why she was eating all the time (some of the boys were mean, but they didn't really know her) We were all so excited to see her at the 25 year reunion - she'd been in therapy, lost all the weight and was running marathons. By contrast virtually all the rest of us had gained weight ....

WEEK 11 LOSS OR GAIN:Minus 0.8 kg.

Accumulated Loss or Gain: Minus 1.5 kg.


Day 78-12/09-xxxxx- 70.2 kg. I had a fruit mince tart at a friend's today as a starter Christmas treat. It was soooo sweet I could barely finish it! So I am thinking I might not bake or buy any goodies this year, as they tend to come in amounts for families, and I am worried if I open the packet I will down the lot and wind up throwing up - as I used to when a kid, and ds did the same. I might get some nice cheeses instead - in smaller amounts. And some fresh cherries, since they are in season here now.

Day 79-12/10-xxxxx- 70.1 kg. Attended the Service with Nine Carols this evening and enjoyed the singing by the guest Samoan choir. There was a special collection for those islands whose livelihoods are being affected by climate change. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to choose to eat less, and be able to buy nutritious food, when so many around the world are struggling with crops failing and seas being fished dry. Please remember the poor this holiday season.

Day 80-12/11-xxxxx- 71 kg. A few too many goodies at the potluck supper last night....
We have two priests, who I will call Father Round and Father Lean (how disrespectful!) Both are careful to keep the regular Friday fast, but Fr Lean does more. He runs three or four times a week, only drinks wine at mass and no soft drinks, mostly water and black tea, and only eats cake and cookies at celebrations like weddings, christening, Easter Sunday etc. Fr Round jokes that he can keep the fasts, but is a little too fond of the feast days (of course I don't tease him about his weight, when my own has been an on and off problem for years). I am thinking I really need to adopt Fr Lean's rules....

Day 81-12/12-xxxxx 70.5 kg.- Our women's group met at a local cafe for lunch. It was more expensive than expected - was it inflation or because the portions were so enormous? I had a panini with Greek veges, which was nice, but the bread was quite sweet. I thought of eating only half and taking the rest home for tomorrow, but You Clean That Plate! Think of the Starving Children in India!

Day 82-12/13-xxxxx- 70.2 kg. Time slipping by so fast - less than 3 weeks to the end of the year. My NY resolution (starting now!) will be to keep weighing and tracking daily. I also am resolved to not buy any yarn next year and work on knitting down my stash ..... I really do have too much, and think I will have to keep resolutely working away until I pass - and maybe after! If there's no knitting in Heaven I ain't going!!!

Day 83-12/14-xxxxx- 70 kg. Splurged on some fresh raspberries for lunch, as they were on sale. They tasted less sweet than I remember as a teen, earning money for college by fruit picking at, I think it was, 7 cents a pound plus all you could eat.....

Day 84-12/15-xxxxx- 70 kg.

WEEK 12 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.2kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 1.5 kg

Day 85-12/16-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. Only 2 weeks to the end of the year - maybe I can drop just one more kilo?

Day 86-12/17-xxxxx- 70.4 kg.

Day 87-12/18-xxxxx- 70.3 kg.

Day 88-12/19-xxxxx- 70 kg.

Day 89-12/20-xxxxx- 70 kg. Too many goodies at the party - feeling rather sick from so much sugar. Def have to cut it out.

Day 90-12/21-xxxxx- 70.1 kg.

Day 91-12/22-xxxxx- 70.3 kg.

WEEK 13 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.2 kg.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 1.2 kg.


Day 92-12/23-xxxxx- 70 kg. DS usually prefers to do his own cooking, but this morning he asked me to make pancakes. We haven't had them for a long time. I made the batter from scratch, with no sugar since ds is diabetic, and anyway I like the plainness in contrast to my preferred topping - lemon juice and brown sugar, British style, much loved by my dad (when we were kids he would make them for us every Tuesday after dinner). It may sound weird to USians, but the sourness of the lemon with the slightly molasses like taste of the brown sugar makes a very nice combination. TBH, I find premade pancake mix with added sugar plus the maple syrup to be far too sweet. I recommend adding a pinch of salt to the home made batter to bring out the taste of the egg. Also the batter is improved if you allow it to stand for 30-60 mins before cooking. ff you can afford the extra carbs and want to make it a bit healthier, you could add a quarter cup of oats, or some yellow cornmeal (In the latter case I will put in leftover veggies to make savory pancakes)

Day 93-12/24-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. It's already Christmas Eve here and my little piggy is well into the trough - er, I'm trying not to binge on all the goodies tonight. I've decided not to attend the Late Night Carols and Midnight Mass as I don't go out so much after dark nowadays. I'll just go to the Blessing of the Crib tomorrow.

Day 94-12/25-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. There was temptation - a big box of Ferrero-Rocher choc hazelnut truffles on my doorstep when I got back from Christmas Morn service. Followed by Gluttony. Then the afternoon was spent in Sloth. Trying to remember who said something like "If you want to sin, sin boldly".

Day 95-12/26-xxxxx- 70.6 kg. Good job Christmas comes but once a year - but it leaves you with enough leftovers for 12 days....

Day 96-12/27-xxxxx- 70.7 kg. I emptied the pantry of all the unwrapped packets and boxes of cookies, cereals, bottles and jars of sauces - anything that contained sugar, and took it all to the free food community pantry. Someone else had left some of their garden produce (it is summer here) so I took a little kale, broad beans, and a couple kumara (sweet potatoes) and made a sort of paella for dinner with veggies, rice and leftover cooked ham. Yummy!

Day 97-12/28-xxxxx-70.6 kg. Didn't go for a walk today - the first time I have missed in 270 days. Stayed home and knitted on my shawl instead - we are going to the geegees on New Year's Day, and while the weather is usually good, I sometimes need something to slip round my shoulders from a cool breeze.

Day 98-12/29-xxxxx- 70.7 kg. I did leave the honey mustard mayo off the burger yesterday, but it doesn't seem to have made enough difference .... maybe leave the cheese off next time?

WEEK 14 LOSS OR GAIN: plus 0.7 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 0.8 kg.


Day 99-12/30-xxxxx-

Day 100-12/31…..(Final Weigh- In)-xxxxx-

Back again! I went from 79 kg to 71.5 kg in the last Challenge. Planning to get down to 67 kg (147.4lb) in the next 100 days.
Day 01-09/23-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. Received news this morning that a family member in Ireland has had a heart attack. It was partly her fault because she heard of my weight loss success and tried to go on a crazy sort of almost religious diet with nothing but raw fruit and walking 18,000 steps a day. At 62 years old! Luckily she is recovering well, but it makes me more careful about sticking to a slow, sustainable rate. The tortoise always beats the hare.

Day 02-09/24-xxxxx- 72 kg. Unsure of my BMI because I used to be 5' 10" (177.8 cm) but now I've lost, maybe an inch? Or Two? I'll tentatively say 175 cm. So 23.5 BMI. Pretty good, but I'd like to, ideally, 22. But will settle for 22.5.

Day 03-09/25-xxxxx- 72 kg. Found a whole $NZ3.00 (USD1.80) out walking today. Wish it was like that everyday!

Day 04-09/26-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. Went to an Art Exhibition opening and demolished a plate of sandwiches. I am not safe in the presence of bread.

Day 05-09/27-xxxxx- 72.1 kg. Whatever has happened! Could it be something I ate last night?

Day 06-09/28-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. I think the scale has a sense of humor and is playing pranks on me.

Day 07-09/29-xxxxx- 71.9 kg

WEEK 1 LOSS OR GAIN: 0.4 kg gain. Not off to the best of starts. Trying to keep the total calories in at less than 1600 regardless of amount lost through exercise.
Accumulated Loss or Gain:

Day 08-09/30-xxxxx- 72 kg. Normally I drink my coffee black, but today I had my annual treat of pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. (the smallest size)

Day 09-10/01-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. ....number on the bathroom scale, whither will you wander? Upstairs, downstairs, in the refrigerator....

Day 10-10/02-xxxxx- 71.7 kg.

Day 11-10/03-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. Hopefully have recovered from the mindless snacking of the last 10 days and back to better habits ..... but now I am stress shopping online a lot .... telling myself that it is all for Christmas gifts....

Day 12-10/04-xxxxx- 71.2 kg.

Day 13-10/05-xxxxx- 71.2 kg. Second day in a row off eating less than I burned ..... hopefully I can go the next 5 days and see some results. Picking up the exercise to 90 mins walk a day.

Day 14-10/06-xxxxx- 71.1 kg. Ate some cheese I hadn't planned for, walked for an extra 60 mins to burn it off. Tired but in a positive mood.

WEEK 2 LOSS OR GAIN :minus 0.8 kg - more than anticipated - seems like I was eating a lot and not losing much, but I started Week 2 heavier than at the start of Week 1.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 0.4 kg. Hopefully I can lose this much every week in order to meet my goal of 67 kg.


Day 15-10/07-xxxxx- 71 kg Ate over my limit. Start again and try for a week.

Day 16-10/08-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. Ate under my limit, but then had a can of gin and soda....(a rare event for me)

Day 17-10/09-xxxxx- 72 kg. Looking in my closet I found a size 4XL top I haven't worn since I was 100 kg (220 lb), back in 2021. I dropped it off at the Salvation Army after making a solemn vow never to get that heavy again.

Day 18-10/10-xxxxx- 71 kg. Started off with avo on toast for breakfast, but later in the morning felt very unwell. Stayed in bed for the rest of the day with no food, just water/

Day 19-10/11-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. Was able to get up and go out today. Still not much of an appetite, and coffee taste horrible, but at least I'm losing weight.

Day 20-10/12-xxxxx- 70 kg Waist 31.5 ins, Hips 40.5 ins.- not the best way to reach the stretch goal I set at the start of the year, but I'll take it. Feeling much better today, still ate some extra protein and went easy on the fiber. At the start of the year I made myself a disincentive promise that if I didn't lose the weight I would send a $240 donation to a Politician I Very Much Hope Is Not Reelected. If I can keep at the current weight until the end of the year Mister Obnoxious will get nothing from me!

Day 21-10/13-xxxxx- 70 kg. Exercising a little less, for maintenance, but also eating a little less - only half a lemon cupcake as a treat today, everything else was healthy. My focus now is less on continuing to lose and more on keeping the weight steady through the Holiday Season to the end of the year - which will be on us sooner than we expect! I do still have my rescued can of beer in the fridge, but will wait a few more days - alcohol once a week is enough.

WEEK 3 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 1 kg.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 1.5 kg - that's a little over one pound a week, just as MFP predicted.

Day 22-10/14-xxxxx- 70.3 kg. I took some of the money I have found on the ground during my daily walks and bought a bag of colorful cotton yarn at the Sally Army. Intending to knit myself a pretty summer shawl. Then I met up with a friend for lunch and we shared a chicken salad wrap, which I thought would be healthy, but it turned out to have a bucketload of super sweet mayo.

Day 23-10/15-xxxxx- 70.1 kg. Today was very wet so I stayed in and knitted. Changed my mind about the shawl and started to knit a lacy summer top - in size M!!! ..... well, a pretty loose size M, but M nonetheless. I did make pizza for dinner, but it had a sprouted seed base, not too much cheese and loads of veggies.

Day 24-10/16-xxxxx- 70 kg. Started a new health goal - gradually cutting back on coffee. Hoping to have it down to one small cup a day by the end of the month, and cut it out completely in the New Year. In the past, when I was on stricter diets, I found coffee acted as an appetite suppressant. When I tried going cold turkey I started eating like crazy - after I was able to wean myself off for 18 months I was in a much better place both physically and mentally.

Day 25-10/17-xxxxx- 69.8 kg

Day 26-10/18-xxxxx- 69.9 kg. "Only" 4 cups of coffee today, and slightly over my calories allowed (but still in a deficit - just not a 500 cal deficit).

Day 27-10/19-xxxxx- 70 kg. Grapes are fruit. Fruit is good, but the calories still count .... it couldn't have been the toasted cheese.....

Day 28-10/20-xxxxx- 69.7 kg.

WEEK 4 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.3 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 1.8 kg

Day 29-10/21-xxxxx- 69.8 kg

Day 30-10/22-xxxxx- 69.5 kg (152.9 lbs). Another 70 days to lose the last 2.5 kg - a little under 1.5 ounces per day (I switch from kilos and grams to pounds and ounces depending on which number seems more manageable - or impressive!) Losing 35.2 lbs sounds way better than losing 16 kg.

Day 31-10/23-xxxxx- 69 kg. Mainly healthy eating today, but was shopping for canned fish and mushrooms when I got waylaid by a chocolate bar .... need to exercise more self control with the holiday season coming up.

Day 32-10/24-xxxxx- 69.3 kg

Day 33-10/25-xxxxx- 69.5 kg.

Day 34-10/26-xxxxx- 69.3 kg.

Day 35-10/27-xxxxx- 69 kg.

WEEK 5 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.7 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 2.5 kg. Overall progress slow and steady - just over a pound a week. Just what the doctor ordered.


Day 36-10/28-xxxxx- 68.8 kg. Down to a BMI of 22.5 or so, depending on how tall I actually am. It's harder to measure height accurately than weight. So long as I stay in the healthy range I'm not so concerned about BMI - more concerned about waist/height and waist/hip ratios which are also used for risk assessment.

Day 37-10/29-xxxxx- 68.9 kg

Day 38-10/30-xxxxx- 69 kg. So a slight increase, but I cheer myself on by realising I am down 31 kg (68.2 lbs) from my highest weight, about 3 years ago.

Day 39-10/31-xxxxx- 68.8 kg. We don't really celebrate Halloween here (tho the marketers are trying hard to push it) The seasons are the wrong way round for us. Hope all my American online friends have a fun night.

Day 40-11/01-xxxxx- 68.7 kg. Years ago I stayed for 3 months on a dairy farm. The family all drank raw milk and they were fine. The cows were free of disease. But after a few weeks of drinking it myself, I developed severe gastro-intestinal problems. Even after leaving the farm, I had diarrhea for 18 months and lost a ton of weight. It only cleared up after I cut out dairy completely. Nowadays, I can tolerate it in small amounts, but if I have more than half a cup of milk daily, after a while the gut/bowel problems come back. I rarely drink milk, but have been eating quite a bit of cheese lately, and it is definitely beginning to affect me. I need to give it up for a while, or at least cut back.

Day 41-11/02-xxxxx- 68.6 kg. I am rapidly losing the battle to quit coffee .... but drinking it helps suppress my appetite and keeps me from snacking.

Day 42-11/03-xxxxx- 68.5 kg.

WEEK 6 LOSS OR GAIN: 0.5 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 3 kg. Yes! I can have a slice of pizza now and then and still lose weight. How awesome that at the age of 65 I am finally learning to practice moderation.


Day 43-11/04-xxxxx- 68.6 kg.

Day 44-11/05-xxxxx- 68.7 kg.

Day 45-11/06-xxxxx- 68.4 kg. I hadn't thought of this previously, but a few months ago my doctor reduced one of my medications - which has increased appetite and weight gain as side effects! I did, in fact, start to eat more and gain more after I was put on it. Now I am eating less, but I'm not hungry.

Day 46-11/07-xxxxx- 68.3 kg. Went for a walk across the campus today and saw a dollar coin (USD0.60) on the ground. But when I went to pick it up some prank playing student had glued it to the sidewalk!

Day 47-11/08-xxxxx- 68.2 kg

Day 48-11/09-xxxxx- Forgot to post for the first time in 225 days! (I did skip one other day but I was out of town and had no net access.)

Day 49-11/10-xxxxx- 68.2 kg.

WEEK 7 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.3 kg. Now that I weigh less I need less calories to sustain me and given that my daily net limit remains at 1210, my deficit is less and the rate is slowing down. Still pretty confident of getting to 67 kg by the end of the year.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: 3.3 kg

Day 50-11/11-xxxxx- 68 kg! Yeah, scale, you goin' DOWN!

Halfway Progress Report: …..Pounds Lost so Far: 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) GONE!!!! I think I can .... I think I can ..... get to my goal in the next 50 days. 67 kg here I come - maybe even 65!

Day 51-11/12-xxxxx- 68 kg. Waist 31 inches. Hips 40 inches.

Day 52-11/13-xxxxx- 68.1 kg. I can fit comfortably into size 14 jeans for the first time in I don't know how many years - think that's a US size 10. But the dress size measurements vary so much between manufacturers you always have to try the durn things on anyway. Vanity sizing!

Day 53-11/14-xxxxx- 68 kg. The students are all finished with exams and I had to be careful in my walk across campus today because there was a load of junk dumped outside all the abandoned digs. I did pick up a whole still wrapped dozen rolls of toilet paper and a couple other useful things.

Day 54-11/15-xxxxx- 67.9 kg.

Day 55-11/16-xxxxx- 67.8 kg. I have heard from my family member in Ireland who is recovering well from her heart attack, but she has also been diagnosed as prediabetic. I tell myself I don't eat much cake and cookies - well, I don't buy or bake them. But looking back at my food diary, the truth is whenever I'm at an event or just having coffee with a friend, if I'm offered goodies I can't say no. Also looking thru the pantry I'm shocked at the amount of sugar in cereals, baked beans, sauces, etc. I need to be much more vigilant.

Day 56-11/17-xxxxx- 67.8 kg

WEEK 8 LOSS OR GAIN: Only 0.2 kg lost this week, but it's still a loss. We are getting close to the feasting season, and I'm already succumbing to the offered treats.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: Minus 3.7 kg.


Day 57-11/18-xxxxx- 67.7 kg. Did Not Eat Sugar Today! Will try to avoid it for the whole of this week.

Day 58-11/19-xxxxx- 67.7 kg. I fasted before early Mass as usual, only for 12 hours, which has never been a problem before. Father asked me to do the readings, OT, Psalm and Epistle. So 3 in a row, quite lengthy. I was part way thru when I started to feel a bit light headed, but kept going, and then the words started to blur. I just got to the end of the last reading, then blacked out. Everyone was very kind and helpful. Someone brought me some cold water and after a few sips I felt better. They wanted to call an ambulance, but I insisted it wasn't necessary and was able to walk home afterwards. I've had this problem for years. When I'm moving I'm fine, but getting up in the morning and standing for long periods always makes me dizzy. My doctor says it is low blood pressure, but doesn't want to put me on drugs. She says it isn't dangerous unless I hit my head falling.

Day 59-11/20-xxxxx- 67.6 I didn't worry about eating under my limit today, I just ate healthy (no sugar) and drank lots of water. I'm thinking I may have been losing weight a bit too fast and that accounts for the weakness yesterday. So I will just concentrate on keeping my weight stable until New Year. If I do get down to 67 kg that's great, otherwise I'm already slap bang in the middle of the healthy BMI range. I'd like to get my waist back down to 30 inches, but I'm taking my time.

Day 60-11/21-xxxxx- I did check with my doctor today, and she said it was likely due to dehydration. I need to be more vigilant about drinking water whenever I feel the urge for coffee, instead of opening the fridge door and grabbing whatever's there. She did weigh me, and on her scale I am 73 kg! (albeit fully clothed) I am 5.3 kg (11.66 lb) heavier than I thought I was! But still in the healthy weight range. Maybe I will drop another kilo by NYE, maybe it will have to wait till 2024.

Day 61-11/22-xxxxx- 72.5 kg. Alleluia! Dropped a half kilo overnight! Which Saint do I thank for this miracle?! Is there a patron saint of weight loss?

Day 62-11/23-xxxxx- 72.4 kg.

Day 63-11/24-xxxxx-72 kg.

WEEK 9 LOSS OR GAIN: PLUS 4.2 kg!!!! Durn scale.
Accumulated Loss or Gain:plus 0.5 kg. Not so bad after all. If I can end this 100 Day Challenge at the same weight as I started, despite scale variation, I'll be happy.


Day 64-11/25-xxxxx- 71.5 kg. Yay! back where I started.

Day 65-11/26-xxxxx- 71.4 kg. Just 5 weeks to the end of the Challenge and the end of the year. With today's deficit, MFP tells me I will get down to 69 kg.

Day 66-11/27-xxxxx- 71.3 kg. Today I decided to eat up what was left in the fridge and pantry (not much left from my Eat Down The Pantry Challenge). For breakfast I had butter flavor popcorn and 2 apples. Lunch I mixed a spoonful of ricotta with some milk powder, an egg and a little Italian seasoning and turned a poppy seed bagel into savory French toast - I prefer mine savory to sweet. Dinner I cooked up some potato gnocchi with the last of the frozen broccoli and a can of mushrooms, and instead of sauce I stirred in a generous amount of garlic hummus. Sounds like a weird day of eating but it was all quite tasty, and I still came in under my calorie limit. Oh and a banana for a snack. I still have plenty of rice and flour and lots of canned veges, beans and fish which will last me till next Tuesday when I get paid. I will also be able to access my Christmas Club money then and will use some of that to stock up again.

Day 67-11/28-xxxxx- 71 kg.

Day 68-11/29-xxxxx- 71.2 kg. I had an attack of the munchies in the wee hours ....

Day 69-11/30-xxxxx- 71.2 kg. I can fit a Medium top comfortably.

Day 70-12/01-xxxxx- 71 kg.

WEEK 10 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.5 kg.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 0.5 kg. Down 8 kg since the beginning of the first Challenge. Down 14.5 kg since started tracking on MFP. Down 29 since my highest weight ever. My aim is to maintain over the holidays.


Day 71-12/02-xxxxx- 70.8 kg.

Day 72-12/03-xxxxx- 70 kg. Dunno how that happened but I'll take it.

Day 73-12/04-xxxxx- 70.2 kg

Day 74-12/05-xxxxx- DNW

Day 75-12/06-xxxxx-DNW

Day 76-12/07-xxxxx-DNW

Day 77-12/08-xxxxx-70 kg. I'm thinking this may be my destination weight reached. Some family and friends have commented I am getting too thin - but they are def on the larger side themselves. If I look at old photos I can see I weighed less in the past - and was taller - and people then thought I was normal. I think with the increase in obesity people's perception of healthy weight has changed. I remember in my childhood the popular TV series Bonanza. Big Hoss was thought to be a very big man at 300 lbs - but he was also 6' 4". Everyone was very shocked when he died suddenly in his 40s. I went to a high school of 400 and only one girl was truly obese. We were sorry for her because her home life sucked and we understood why she was eating all the time (some of the boys were mean, but they didn't really know her) We were all so excited to see her at the 25 year reunion - she'd been in therapy, lost all the weight and was running marathons. By contrast virtually all the rest of us had gained weight ....

WEEK 11 LOSS OR GAIN:Minus 0.8 kg.

Accumulated Loss or Gain: Minus 1.5 kg.


Day 78-12/09-xxxxx- 70.2 kg. I had a fruit mince tart at a friend's today as a starter Christmas treat. It was soooo sweet I could barely finish it! So I am thinking I might not bake or buy any goodies this year, as they tend to come in amounts for families, and I am worried if I open the packet I will down the lot and wind up throwing up - as I used to when a kid, and ds did the same. I might get some nice cheeses instead - in smaller amounts. And some fresh cherries, since they are in season here now.

Day 79-12/10-xxxxx- 70.1 kg. Attended the Service with Nine Carols this evening and enjoyed the singing by the guest Samoan choir. There was a special collection for those islands whose livelihoods are being affected by climate change. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to choose to eat less, and be able to buy nutritious food, when so many around the world are struggling with crops failing and seas being fished dry. Please remember the poor this holiday season.

Day 80-12/11-xxxxx- 71 kg. A few too many goodies at the potluck supper last night....
We have two priests, who I will call Father Round and Father Lean (how disrespectful!) Both are careful to keep the regular Friday fast, but Fr Lean does more. He runs three or four times a week, only drinks wine at mass and no soft drinks, mostly water and black tea, and only eats cake and cookies at celebrations like weddings, christening, Easter Sunday etc. Fr Round jokes that he can keep the fasts, but is a little too fond of the feast days (of course I don't tease him about his weight, when my own has been an on and off problem for years). I am thinking I really need to adopt Fr Lean's rules....

Day 81-12/12-xxxxx 70.5 kg.- Our women's group met at a local cafe for lunch. It was more expensive than expected - was it inflation or because the portions were so enormous? I had a panini with Greek veges, which was nice, but the bread was quite sweet. I thought of eating only half and taking the rest home for tomorrow, but You Clean That Plate! Think of the Starving Children in India!

Day 82-12/13-xxxxx- 70.2 kg. Time slipping by so fast - less than 3 weeks to the end of the year. My NY resolution (starting now!) will be to keep weighing and tracking daily. I also am resolved to not buy any yarn next year and work on knitting down my stash ..... I really do have too much, and think I will have to keep resolutely working away until I pass - and maybe after! If there's no knitting in Heaven I ain't going!!!

Day 83-12/14-xxxxx- 70 kg. Splurged on some fresh raspberries for lunch, as they were on sale. They tasted less sweet than I remember as a teen, earning money for college by fruit picking at, I think it was, 7 cents a pound plus all you could eat.....

Day 84-12/15-xxxxx- 70 kg.

WEEK 12 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.2kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 1.5 kg

Day 85-12/16-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. Only 2 weeks to the end of the year - maybe I can drop just one more kilo?

Day 86-12/17-xxxxx- 70.4 kg.

Day 87-12/18-xxxxx- 70.3 kg.

Day 88-12/19-xxxxx- 70 kg.

Day 89-12/20-xxxxx- 70 kg. Too many goodies at the party - feeling rather sick from so much sugar. Def have to cut it out.

Day 90-12/21-xxxxx- 70.1 kg.

Day 91-12/22-xxxxx- 70.3 kg.

WEEK 13 LOSS OR GAIN: minus 0.2 kg.
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 1.2 kg.


Day 92-12/23-xxxxx- 70 kg. DS usually prefers to do his own cooking, but this morning he asked me to make pancakes. We haven't had them for a long time. I made the batter from scratch, with no sugar since ds is diabetic, and anyway I like the plainness in contrast to my preferred topping - lemon juice and brown sugar, British style, much loved by my dad (when we were kids he would make them for us every Tuesday after dinner). It may sound weird to USians, but the sourness of the lemon with the slightly molasses like taste of the brown sugar makes a very nice combination. TBH, I find premade pancake mix with added sugar plus the maple syrup to be far too sweet. I recommend adding a pinch of salt to the home made batter to bring out the taste of the egg. Also the batter is improved if you allow it to stand for 30-60 mins before cooking. ff you can afford the extra carbs and want to make it a bit healthier, you could add a quarter cup of oats, or some yellow cornmeal (In the latter case I will put in leftover veggies to make savory pancakes)

Day 93-12/24-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. It's already Christmas Eve here and my little piggy is well into the trough - er, I'm trying not to binge on all the goodies tonight. I've decided not to attend the Late Night Carols and Midnight Mass as I don't go out so much after dark nowadays. I'll just go to the Blessing of the Crib tomorrow.

Day 94-12/25-xxxxx- 70.5 kg. There was temptation - a big box of Ferrero-Rocher choc hazelnut truffles on my doorstep when I got back from Christmas Morn service. Followed by Gluttony. Then the afternoon was spent in Sloth. Trying to remember who said something like "If you want to sin, sin boldly".

Day 95-12/26-xxxxx- 70.6 kg. Good job Christmas comes but once a year - but it leaves you with enough leftovers for 12 days....

Day 96-12/27-xxxxx- 70.7 kg. I emptied the pantry of all the unwrapped packets and boxes of cookies, cereals, bottles and jars of sauces - anything that contained sugar, and took it all to the free food community pantry. Someone else had left some of their garden produce (it is summer here) so I took a little kale, broad beans, and a couple kumara (sweet potatoes) and made a sort of paella for dinner with veggies, rice and leftover cooked ham. Yummy!

Day 97-12/28-xxxxx-70.6 kg. Didn't go for a walk today - the first time I have missed in 270 days. Stayed home and knitted on my shawl instead - we are going to the geegees on New Year's Day, and while the weather is usually good, I sometimes need something to slip round my shoulders from a cool breeze.

Day 98-12/29-xxxxx- 70.7 kg. I did leave the honey mustard mayo off the burger yesterday, but it doesn't seem to have made enough difference .... maybe leave the cheese off next time?

WEEK 14 LOSS OR GAIN: plus 0.7 kg
Accumulated Loss or Gain: minus 0.8 kg.


Day 99-12/30-xxxxx- 70.3 kg.

Day 100-12/31…..(Final Weigh- In)-xxxxx-