WaistAways Team Chat - January 2025
Megan_smartiepants1970
Posts: 43,763 Member
Fat2Fit has five great teams. The group and team leaders are as follows - contact them any time!
Our Moderators:
Ashley - @minstrelofsarcasm
Jessica - @jessicakrall8
Lauren- @lauren_989
Megan - @Megan_smartiepants1970
Our Team Captains:
Downsizers - @Megan_smartiepants1970 and [open]
Mission Slimpossible - @Katmary71 and @trooworld
Weight No More - @minstrelofsarcasm and @melaniedscott
WaistAways - @ashleycarole86 and @lauren_989
Shape Shifters - @jessicakrall8 and @Pupowl
Our Team Motivators:
Mission Slimpossibles - @micaroo4
Weight No More - @rachelrjh and @BodyTalking
WaistAways - @MaddawgMadsen
Shape Shifters - @LaurieWrobo and @Cyncia85
HOW IT ALL WORKS: The January challenge runs for five weeks, from December 29th - February 1st.
Everyone weighs in weekly on their chosen day right here in the team chat. At the end of each week, the tallies are done to determine the team and individuals with the most weight lost. The best losers are announced with full fanfare every Sunday. The team competition is all in good spirits - may the most losing win, and may everyone else get to work on next week!
We also celebrate those small, steady losses. If you lose, however small an amount, you are in the green! At the end of the month, we celebrate everyone who lost at least a bit every single week. You are heading steadily towards your goal even if you aren't at the top of the weight loss leader board. In March we are aiming for every team to hit 50% green every week - let's do this!
To make your weigh-in easy to find for your team Captains, please put it right at the top of a message, and use this format:
Weigh In Day:
PW (Previous Weight):
CW (Current Weight):
If you miss two weigh-ins in a row without asking for a break, you will be dropped from the team, so be sure to inform your team captain if you are traveling, sick, or just need some time off. If you want a break, you can be excused for a week or two, or can be moved to the Support Team for as long as you need. You still participate in the discussions, you can weigh in if you want to, but it will not count in the weekly tally. Don't worry! You can always come back even if you get dropped.
Once you reach your goal weight, you join the Goal Zone. You continue to weigh in every week. If you have 2 weeks above your self-defined goal zone, you go back to the regular team to lose that amount before it builds up. You will have a chance to hone those maintenance skills and stick with your team.
In addition to your own team, there are weekly F2F Full Group CHALLENGES. You can do all or none - it's up to you. Participating adds a lot to your success, so we hope to see you there often! These can involve anything fitness, health, or nutrition - and they’ll get you moving, thinking, and learning about this journey. Check the Announcements section for full group challenges.
Let’s show our fellow challengers some F2F love Introduce or re-introduce yourselves right away, and let's get January on the road!
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Welcome to January 2025!
I am Lauren, co-captain along with @ashleycarole86. I am 38 years old and from North Carolina, USA. I have been on a weight loss journey most of my adult life. I have done a lot of the yo-yo thing, losing a lot of weight in 2012 and then gaining it back. Over the last few years, I seem to be gaining and losing the same 10-15 pounds.
November and December were rough months and I gained 12 pounds overall. Some of this is from the holidays last week, so it should hopefully come off quickly. My goal for January is to lose 6-7 pounds by tracking every day, getting 7,000 steps daily, and getting more sleep by not being on my phone in bed. I need to get back to the basics and start tracking diligently again.
Some helpful information/tools:
Posting your daily updates
We know from experience that posting daily (or as often as you can!) makes a huge difference to your success. Use any format you like to let everyone know how you are doing on your daily goals and habits. You can report on food, exercise, water, sleep, or whatever you are tracking and trying to stick with. While you're there, talk about how you are, ask questions, and if you can answer someone else, please do! Congratulate others, commiserate, enjoy someone's rant, or go ahead and rant yourself. It all helps make the kind of community where we are in each others' heads when the hand is reaching for that off-plan snack, or the couch is feeling way too inviting...
Weighing in
Please try to weigh in on time (but don't sweat it if you have to use a different day sometimes)! Put your weigh in at the TOP of a message, so it is clear and easy to find. If you cannot post your weight for whatever reason, you can request a week off, or if you need a longer break, you can be moved to the "Support Team" where you still participate but your weigh-ins will not be part of the weekly tally. This is where members who are ill, on vacation, or just needing a break can hang out for as long as needed.
The F2F Habit Tracker
If you want a simple place to track your most important habits, give this a try:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10929534/habit-tracker-january-2025#latest
So everyone, tell us a bit about you, your goals, what steps you are going to work on. It's fun to know your name and where you live (if you're willing to share that), what brought you here, how your weight loss journey has been, and where you are headed now. We all have information to share, things we can learn, and lean on each other as a team for a successful month!0 -
Hi everyone! Happy, healthy 2025!!! So I went back to my January 2024 post and it’s as if the year never happened. Here it is again slightly updated.
Hello friends! My name is Michele. I’m 60 years old, married with two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. I live in the Philadelphia area in Pennsylvania USA. I have been with Waistaways since February 2019. Wow! I’ve been fighting my weight for all of my adult life. Lost and gained. Hit Lifetime long ago with WW. I was doing pretty well here. Bounced around during the pandemic. Hit a VERY long plateau that I wish I was at now. Two moves, menopause, and going back to teaching full time has me pretty much (almost) back where I started. But I will try again this year. I don’t feel healthy. I just feel fat. I look unrecognizable (to my brain) in photos. So time to focus on getting healthy for me again. It won’t be easy I know. I will start logging my food again and get just 10 minutes of activity each day. 10 minutes. That’s not much. I can do that.
I will not beat myself up. I am human. I will do my best. My goals are pretty attainable.
• Get below 200 asap
• Log all of my food. This is 🔑
• Move my body 10 minutes a day 3-5 times a week. I’m starting from almost 0.
• Drink ample water 💦 64 ounces
• Hit 7,000 steps a day.
• Check in here. Support is necessary for success.
@ashleycarole86 Please put me back on the step team for 7,000 a day.
Wishing everyone all you need to be the best you can be.
Happy New (you) Year!! 🎊🎉3 -
@micki48 Those are great goals! I agree that tracking is key along with support. Do you have a starting weight for January?1
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Sunday: 11,834
Monday: 4,804
Tuesday: 6,114
Wednesday: 3,291
Thursday: 7,511
Friday: 4,695
Saturday: 10,941 + 45 mins walking @ 3.6mph2 -
This past week was a time for family, friends, holidays, and not worrying about what you were eating. I hope everyone had a great holiday and is ready to start this new year strong!
Team ResultsBy Percentage
By Pounds
Team Winners
Percentage of Members in the Green!
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Team ResultsBy Percentage
By Pounds
Team Winners
Percentage of Members in the Green!
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Celebrations!
Congratulations to @Alatariel75 for top winner this week and the overall month!
Congrats to our other winners: @Lyss983 @bowens1973 @cleaneater80 @MaddawgMadsen!
Overall this month, we had 38% in the green!
Let's get ready for January! 4 -
Let's get ready for January indeed!
In 2024 I set a goal to weigh less at the end than I did at the start.
That did not occur, not even close.
In fact, I'm nearly back to my original start weight of 293.
Brad and I are starting by getting back to exercise.
We have a lot going on right now and we need to stop using food as a crutch.
Off to ride the Peloton!
Glad to see so many team members joining the January step challenge. It's not too late to give me a daily goal and join yourself!2 -
I have had 2 perfect days now! I am definitely feeling the (added) sugar withdrawal. Fatigue, headache, irritable. Hopefully today will be the last day of it since I work tomorrow.
Discussion Question
Do you make resolutions for New Years? Have you made any this year? Any traditions?
I don't usually make new year resolutions. Our tradition is to go over to my inlaws and have snacks and sweets, then watch the ball drop. This year, we are also exchanging Christmas gifts since we went to RI for Christmas.2 -
No resolutions so to speak. We do have a lot of things we need to work on but it's not concrete goals at this stage.
We are having a quiet NYE just the two of us after having family company for two weeks.3 -
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lauren_989 wrote: »Discussion Question
Do you make resolutions for New Years? Have you made any this year? Any traditions?
These are all great questions!
Resolutions: I have in the past, however this year instead of setting a goal like “lose # pounds” I want to focus on what is going well in my present day instead of always looking to the future to be better.
Traditions: They’ve changed for me over the years. When I was young and lived at home with my family, we ordered Chinese food and watched the New Year’s countdown. The past few years, different friends have hosted parties and my husband and I have gone to them. This year, we will be going to a party, but likely leaving before the ball drops, because this friend lives about an hour away from us.
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Heathere244
Weigh In Sunday
PW 180.9
CW 185.6
Hello, my name is Heather,
I am 53 years old living in Central Ohio. I have an adult daughter and 3 grandchildren. My goal is to be more active and more healthy with my eating habits.
I don’t really do New Year resolutions but I would like to be a more fit me at the end of 2025. Good luck to everyone meeting all their goals this year.3 -
lauren_989 wrote: »@micki48 Those are great goals! I agree that tracking is key along with support. Do you have a starting weight for January?
I thought I posted but here it is again.
CW 222.62 -
Hi Team. I'm Vikki 53, Baltimore, MD , Married. I've been doing this weight loss thing for what seems like my whole life, I did well last year, made it to my goal weight of 145 and stayed below that for a good bit of the year, I was 142 at the end of Nov, I decided to take December off from the team, and now I am 149/ 150 this morning, so my # 1 goal is to get my snacking back under control and stop with the sweets.
Do you make resolutions for New Years? Have you made any this year? Any traditions?
Yes, I've made resolutions every year, and not once have I actually achieved them fully, or really remembered what they were, so why bother anymore. lol
If I did make resolutions though, it would be to work on my strength, and mobility. To make some new friends who live close to me and try to be more social.
We do have a tradition; we do a 1st day hike. It's a thing our State Parks do, you just go on a hike to start your new year off being outside. They do guided hikes with rangers, self-hikes, etc. So we do that, and they give us stickers. I'm a sucker for stickers.
We went to Longwood Gardens on Saturday with my kids, and it was alot of fun, I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time. It seems that I have tweaked my ankle/ calf though, so I am thinking we will have to reconsider my trail I choose, it had about 600ft elevation, and hills seems to aggravate it, so I think we will stick with our regular flat park.
Apparently, I am hypermobile in several joints, so it doesn't take much for me to over stretch my joints. I just found this out this past year, I always thought I just I had arthritis, or something, but it's cause my joints don't have much stability due to lax tendons and such. But since I've found this out, I've learned what to work on, and how to avoid it, and I knew I should have changed my shoes before we went and walked 6 miles around that garden, but I thought " ahhh it won't be an issue" - turns out , it's always an issue !
Have a great day !
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Hi!
I'm Bridget, a middle-aged, married mom of two school a boys living in the Midwest (Michigan). Jan 2025 marks my one year anniversary with F2F.
12/28/24 (12/30/24)
Weigh In Day: SATURDAY
PW (Previous Weight): 168.2
CW (Current Weight): 168.6
@lauren_989
How was 2024 for you? This week, spend some time reflecting. What worked well, what didn't, what challenges did you face?
I am pleased with my 2024. I set out to end the year lighter than I came in and I did that. When it comes to weight release it was definitely a journey. Being a part of MFP Communities worked well, but I also realized I don’t have to be a part of every community. Sometimes, less is more. I just need to set a limit to how much time I can contribute to them, create and sustain a rhythm to be engaged because connection and consistency is important to prevent relapses or lapses in judgment.Apple Fitness + app was a big part of my journey this year and I enjoyed their Custom Plans to help me stay the course.
Having a clear exercise plan at the beginning of the month and following it each day by exercising first thing in the morning, jump started my metabolism and mind. It was nice to close my rings by 10 am. Staying on top of water intake, and planning and tracking food intake were keys to my success.
I almost got lost in “the wrong metric” by getting so hung up on quantity of steps/miles or minutes. I noticed I must focus on the quality of spent time and types of exercises I do to make sure I maintain a balanced workout and stay healthy. I recognize that strength training and stretching can easily get neglected.
In the beginning of the year, I was really focused on quality food intake and it made a difference in my waistline and mood. I was also focused on decluttering.
I noticed a shift in June as I begin to struggle with food. I started to listen to different voices and should have honed in intuitively on my own and what I believe to be best for me and the desired lifestyle I want to live. It’s not enough for me to know and clearly define what I want, but also be ok with actually wanting that thing and doing what it takes to secure it. It’s always a price issue. Sometimes I’m not willing to pay the price because I’m afraid of what others might think or say. So being addicted to the affirmation of others can make me lose traction and be a distraction. I Iook forward to building better internal and external boundaries in the areas of overthinking/decluttering, food and people pleasing in 2025.
How do you get back on track after a holiday, vacation, birthday, etc?
Best way to get back on track is not wait until the next day, but the next decision. It’s always the right time to do the right thing. I know I fall short of this—and what it looked like for me this week,was that I had every intention of tracking every B.L.T (Bite, Lick, and Taste) and I didn’t do it the day of, before or after I ate it. I also lost track of quantities. I could have just took the loss and “start over next week”. But I ended up taking the time and doing the best I can to account for the foods I ate since Tuesday Christmas Eve on Saturday afternoon (12/28).
A 10 minute workout is better than no workout at all. I try to not to go to bed until I close my Exercise Ring and it’s set to 25 minutes each day.
Reflecting/revisiting goals by reading and or writing them out helps me get back on track. I am learning not to judge the derail and allow self to “vacay” from time to time. But if I can make “better-for-you-decisions” in the process, it’s helpful. And when I fall short, I try to do better on the next play.
And the fact that sometimes for me when it come to desserts “One is too many and 1,000 is not enough.” So It’s best if I can limit myself by not brining indulging items home—and to exercise self-control on the front end. For example: when at a Staff Christmas Party—I had an amazing slice of homemade chocolate cheesecake. There was one slice left, and though the host was trying to send me home with it, I respectfully declined. I choose to leave it cause I truly wanted someone who didn’t try it to experience the joy I had. And sometimes saying things like, “I know what a cookie taste like” is sometimes helpful in taking the sting out of eating something I truly don’t want or need.
Do you make resolutions for New Years? Have you made any this year? Any traditions?
I don't make New Years Resolutions. I DO re-visit an amazing blog post and the book, "Atomic Habits" in the fall in order to prepare for the upcoming year. Lots of journaling and reflecting. I try to build the habits I need to support my intentions. In 2025, I Iook forward to building better internal and external boundaries in the areas of overthinking, decluttering my home and people pleasing. Relationships and stress affect my overall wellness and food choices.
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@StayFITTer I love you post. Wise observations and great reflection. 👍🏻
Great article too btw. So much to think about and a way to structure a project/plan. Thanks!2 -
I am on day 3 of perfect and glad to weigh in tomorrow, before I have a not so perfect day
We have plans to go to the in-laws to celebrate NYE and Christmas. We typically have snack foods and desserts. I am going to try to eat light during the day and limit what I eat in the evening. We will see how it goes
I went to body pump tonight for the first time in 5-ish weeks. It was good to get back, but whoa did I lose some muscle. I hope I am good sore tomorrow and didn't overdo it.
@StayFITTer I loved your reflection and reading the article about resolutions. I like how it broke it down into a goal, a plan, and an intent.
@Gidgitgoescrzy I have hypermobile joints as well, that I learned about a few years ago. I always wondered why when I was a kid, I could twist my ankle just going up the stairs! That New Years hike sounds like fun, even if it's on a flat surface! It's a great way to get people outside and moving.
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Last weigh-in of the year!
Previous Weight: 153.4 lbs
Current Weight: 153.6 lbs
I'll take it, given I was on maintenance calories last week! I got my workout space moved into it's new location and got my first workout in weeks in today, as well Happy New Year!!! 5 -
Hi all!!
Weighing Day : Monday
PW: 175.4
CW: 174
I am Timi, mom to a middle schooler and an elementary school. Absolutely love Strength training. I been on weight loss journey for a while and sort of at heaviest weight now. Weight slowly creeped on me after my younger one was born and now it’s struggle. Sometime I wonder how I used to think 125 was overweight, instead of enjoying that stage of life. I am happy with my body while working on getting to my goal.
Resolution: this year I am making a bingo with all my goals. Got idea from insta post. Would be fun.
Traditions: we make cake or buy cake and cut it while watching the ball drop in NYC. Kids are allowed to be awake till 12:30 am😊.
For today’s weight, I am skeptical but will take CW in heart beat😊.
Happy New Year everyone!! May 2025 be the best year Yet!!5 -
Yesterday was good, I actually logged every bite. I never do that ! I wanted to snack sooo bad last night, but I went and did laundry instead. I did a small amount of strength training. Tonight is pilates. My new fitbit gives you a cardio range goal for the day, so I'm still not sure how it works, but I am going to figure it out.
Happy New Year Everyone, hope you have your best year yet !6 -
PW: 211.6
CW: 207.4
Wahoo! Lost a lot of fluid and just food weight. Gotta keep this up!4 -
The end of 2024 has been hard to say the least. But, today is the last day of it and I plan to make 2025 incredible.
I should probably introduce myself since we have some new people from the last time I really joined in the conversation. My name is Jolene. I live in SW Colorado with my husband and three dogs. When my husband and I met in 2013, I was in maintenance of my lowest adult weight - 130 lbs. I ran almost daily, played a lot of soccer, and walked everywhere. Later in 2013, I hyper-extended my hip which put a long pause on running and ended soccer. I stopped walking everywhere because it hurt. My husband (boyfriend in 2013) and I used to go on many hikes and would occasionally stop for a beer or cider after the hike. We started skipping the hikes and just went straight to the tap room. By the time of our wedding in 2015, I was struggling to maintain 160 lbs. Then, in 2023 I went to the wedding of one of my best childhood friends and did not recognize myself in the photos. I stepped on the scale and was 190 lbs. I know at some point it was more than that, but I didn't have the courage to step on the scale when it was more.
I joined MFP in the summer of 2023 and by winter of 2023 I was down to 170.2 lbs (so close to the 160s!). However, 2024 came and instead of continuing the downward trend, I rebounded back up. As of today, I am 182.4 lbs.
Do you make resolutions for New Years? Have you made any this year? Any traditions?
Some years I make resolutions. The years I am successful are the ones I make S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) resolutions. The best example I have of this is in 2011 when my only resolution was to run a half marathon. I achieved this goal in April of 2011, but by then I was hooked on running. This year, my resolutions are: to stick with a diet for one month, average two spin classes/week for the entire year and two CrossFit classes/week for the entire year, and (stealing this one from @ashleycarole86) to weigh less at the end of the year than I do the beginning.
For the diet, I am planning to do the Whole30 for the month of January. The great part of this SMART resolution, is that if the January plan doesn't work, I can choose a different diet and try that in February. For the exercise, they're averages. So, essentially I have to go to 104 or more of each type of class. If I do that in the first six months, cool. If it takes all year, that's fine. If I can complete the first parts of my resolution, I am hoping I will have built better habits to make the last resolution a foregone conclusion. All my resolutions were created with a little bit of grace for myself.
For traditions, I don't really have any. I did go to NYC for NYE one year. It was fun watching the ball drop in person even though it's so much smaller than you'd think. The last few years, hubby and I have been asleep well before midnight. This year, we have tickets to a party at the legion. So, no real traditions.5 -
@ashleycarole86 - I would like to join the step goal team again with 6,000 daily steps.
Also, for everyone, thank you for your patience and grace in 2024 as I constantly came in and out of posting in the group chat. Not as a resolution, but a priority for me in 2025 is to contribute more to the group. So, thanks for being there for me and here's to 2025 where I can be there more for you.3 -
Got you down @MaddawgMadsen
I count us at 7 participants for the January challenge which is the most we've had in a while.
Way to start the New Year off with a bang team!
Happy New Years Eve, hope everyone has a good day celebrating in whichever way you choose. 2024 was personally not a great year for Brad and I and we are looking forward to ringing in a new year!
Exercise catchup:
Dec 28 - 6163 steps
Dec 29 - 7878 steps + 32 minutes Peloton
Dec 30 - 10134 steps
Last call @strong_fit_ells for the final week of Dec if you have any steps for me (Dec 22-28)3 -
@ashleycarole86 can I please join too with a 10,000 step goal? Thank you!!0
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Happy New Year! 🎉
We had a great time at the in-laws last night. We also celebrated Christmas again and I got some good stuff 😊 my favorite is a new garmin watch! I have had fitbits before, so if anyone has tips or tricks, let me know!
I left any sweets at my MIL house, so now there is nothing around to tempt me. My goal is to stay on track for at least January and February, as it's just the cold dark winter with no plans for parties/meals/vacations.4 -
Which watch model did you get @lauren_989
I got a new one too - my old one was starting not to hold battery anymore
@Alatariel75 you bet - I've got you down!
Dec 31 exercise:
7639 steps + 33 minutes Peloton1
