🍃🍂September Daily Weigh-in and Logging Challenge🍂🍃

Hi There. It's 2 days till September but I'm new to this group and couldn't wait. I am retired. Hubby and I both overweight. He chose to go on a Mediterranean diet. I lost 62lbs, he did not. That was last year. I gained 9lbs this year. I am presently 219lbs and have no intention to gain another pound. I honestly don't know where I want to end up, but guessing 150lbs but healthy is really the goal. I stay active with garden (flowers and veggies); love mother nature, wildlife and paint when I can. Presently trying to understand macros, read labels and increase recipes for Mediterranean diet. OMG trying to figure out which macro to go on has been so overwhelming. I finally just picked the %'s and will test drive by logging on food diary daily. Presently on information overload. I feel like my first 62lbs came off (very easily) by eliminating prepackaged food in our home. Now I need to tweak the diet to continue my journey. And hopefully by mid Sept. I can add in some exercise. Any suggestions are VERY welcomed.

Hi I'm Darlene and have been with this group for a while - it was the first "challenge" I joined on MFP, so holds a special place in my heart. I am 64, married, (Greg - 37 years), one adult daughter (Allyson), one pup - Monty the Goldendoodle. I retired in 2020.

🍂 🍎 Hello September 🍎🍂

I always love the start of a new month. Fall is my favorite time of year; the cooler temperatures are ideal to become more active. It’s also harvest season; fruits and vegetables are abundant. The summer vacations are ending, so the vacation mindset stops too. I am reminded of the quote by Ruth Ahmed “There is something so special in the early leaves drifting from the trees – as if we are all to be allowed a chance to peel, to refresh, to start again.”

For the newcomers a little about my weight loss journey.

I started my weight loss journey in January 2023. My husband went back to work on a temporary assignment and for the first time ever, I was alone during the day. I thought it was the perfect time for me to take care of me for a change. There is a rails to trails park literally in my backyard and for years I said I was going to walk the whole thing. I announced to the world that I was going to do it, and that made it so I couldn't back out. I started the journey on January 12, 2023 and did a little bit at a time; I completed the 62 mile in and out adventure on February 22, 2023 and lost 16 pounds in the process.

I found MFP and started logging my food, this kept me going for a little bit, but as usual was getting bored of it. I've lost weight many times before, and then I get bored, quit and gain it all back. I had to find something to keep me motivated to keep going. That's when I found the challenges page on MFP. This group was the first I found, and as I mentioned above holds a special place in my heart. Such a supportive group and in a non-judgemental way. I come back every month, for the support that this group provides. I also tried quite a few other challenges and especially like a couple team based ones (the Hogwarts and Biggest Loser). I found that I will do more for the "team" than I will do for myself; and if someone gives me a task to do, I'll do it. The more homework the better. These two groups have given me the accountability I need.

I am happy to say that with the help of these groups, I am just as motivated to get to my goal weight as when I started. I am down almost 85 pounds. I have learned that persistance and not perfection is the key to my success. I'm working on my last 10 pounds (which have been coming off VERY slowly), but I know I will get there. Slow and steady wins the race (and less excess skin too - LOL).

Sorry about the book - but just excited to start a new month. Here are my goals this month:

Starting Weight 228

SW Dec: 228 | Jan: 217 | Feb: 212 | Mar: 207.6 | Apr 200.2 | May 194.8 | Jun: 189.6 | Jul: 187.4 | Aug: 179.8 | Sep: 174.2 | Oct: 169.6 | Nov 164.6 | Dec 164 | Jan 159.8 | Feb 156.8 | Mar 152.8 | Apr 151.6 | May 149.6 | Jun 145 | Jul 143.5 | Aug 142.4

My September Goals

👣 Average 12k Steps per day
📝 Log Daily
🥗 Stay under my calorie range
💪 Strength Train 3 days per week
🫀 Cardio 3 days per week
🦵 PT Knee Stretch and Strength 3 days per week
🧘‍♀️ 1Rest day - stretch routine
💦 8+ glasses of water
🧂Stay under sodium goal
⚖️ Get to the ideal bmi range - just 2.5 pounds to go