Women 200lb+, Let's Hold Onto That Feeling this February!!!

nebslp I can relate to the ravages of sugar and also fell off the wagon around the holidays. Glad to hear that you are building good habits, sounds like things are going well for you. I admire your positive mindset!

Thank you @RavenStCloud!

Keri
71 years old
Challenge Starting Weight: 260 (May 2024), Pre-retirement weight 262 before May.
UGW: 167 (healthy weight for a senior woman my height)
5'6" Tall
I do check-ins when I lose:

💕How did January treat you and how have you been treating yourself? Are there any new resolutions you've added to the list or any that you've set aside because they just weren't working?

January was tough. It took a while to get back on track after the Holidays. Last week I finally did my goal of 6 days a week of exercise with a minimum of 30 minutes a day, a long walk each week and 1 aquafit. I also took most of the month to get off pounds gained in December. I even lost a few pounds.

💕What are the things you'll be specifically focused on in February? And what's one way you've already made yourself proud in 2025?

I decided after the holidays I needed to get my sugar intake back down but to do that I took another step in reducing my weekly sugar intake by nixing daily desserts after dinner. Instead I have one serving of dark chocolate with no refined sugar and no lead. My dessert was a Haggen Das dark chocolate ice cream bar. So it took me awhile to find a safe substitute for this chocolate in my diet. Dark chocolate is good for you but most regular brands have been found to have lead in them. Ghiradelli is lower. I found a chocolate bar sweetened with dates and tested to have no heavy metals. I am just trying to keep my calories on the lower side and planning/cooking/eating meals at home. I think I need to work on lunches next. Also maybe 1 more healthy breakfast option. I need more protein.

12/5/2024: 246
1/2/2025: 248
1/26 244.8
2/3/2025: 246.6

After getting down below 245 I popped up again which is typical for me. I vary a lot. I weigh daily. So I am glad that I am back to 246.6 today. I would like to be in or close to the 230s this month I usually aim for 4 lbs a month loss but I feel that some of these pounds have already been lost and need to be kicked to the curb so I am aiming for a 5 lb. loss this month.

I have gotten back to having 60 minute walks 1-2 times a week but I am still feeling too weak. I want to come up with some exercises to add to my walks besides the Aqua-exercise I do. I want to do sit to stands, and stairs and other exercises to keep me stable and strong. It maybe that I just feel weak after my long walks but I still don’t like it.

February Goals:
• 30 minutes minimum of exercise 6 days a week. Have longer walks until I can walk around Greenlake (almost 5K). 1 day of aquafit. Add strength and stabilizing exercises 3 days a week or daily.
•GW: Get into the 230s
• Keep getting 7-8 hours of sleep
• Meal plan and cook 3+ dinners a week
• Keep my water intake up

@rorymason I think I had the same epiphany last month looking at photos from visiting my Son, DIL and grandson around Thanksgiving. I feel that my weight is getting in the way of exercising the way I want. Exercise is the 1st thing to do for health even more than losing weight but I seem so limited in what exercise I can do. I am glad you are happy!
@lisakatz2 Take care and feel better.
@nebslp I have the same 2025 weight goal but have another 10 lbs to lose than you. I think @RavenStCloud had it spot on with February and focus because it took me until February to get that focus. I identify with your description of the sugar revolt. There were so many holidat=y treats left in January. I would like to hear more about your focus on macros. One thing I like about my spreadsheet is it is a way to acknowledge the exercise I do daily. I am glad you are seeing results in photos.
@CupcakeCrusoe I agree about January but am reserving judgement on February. However Iif I look beyond my own personal life I am not very happy with things. My spreadsheet does average weekly weight. I was looking at that today and it was helpful in figuring out January. I am trying to find a balance too with keeping up with what is going on to stay positive and informed but not to be depressed. Hope your little one is better soon.

Good morning everyone!

Weight down, pulling average back down this morning. Better than waking up to my weight being up.

My order of skinny syrups came in yesterday, so I'm enjoying the toasted marshmallow flavor in my coffee this morning.

I like to play little new york times style games in the morning, but not the NYT ones, so I play waffle, circuits, and murdle. I failed at all three this morning. I think I need more coffee.

Didn't work out yesterday. Got to do that today, then I'm playing a cozy video game with a friend tonight after work.

Take care of yourselves, have a great day.

Good morning everyone!

No weigh in this morning because Whatsisface is sick, and so he's locked into the bedroom, I slept on the couch last night. It was... Fine. I got to sleep pretty easily, because I stayed up too late making a character sheet with a new D&D group last night, which was fun.

What I didn't do was work out yesterday, beyond my walk at lunch that I do. Tonight is going to have to be that, if I'm still feeling well by then. Maybe I'll get lucky and won't get it. In any case, I need to make sure I'm not sick and N's not sick, since her allergy appointment is today. Next target for the kids not being sick is Saturday, since it's a big day in their theater group, and Julia has a birthday party to attend.

Tonight's dinner is up in the air at the moment, I'll probably pick something pretty easy, since Whatsisface is not going to be eating with us. We'll see.

@KeriA the snow does make it so hard!

Have a great day everyone, stay safe!

Good morning everyone!

Still no weigh in today, Whatsisface is still sick. I'm still feeling fine at the moment.

N's not allergic to anything the allergy doc suspected, which is wonderful. All my food could come back into the house, I'm so glad. It would have been a hard thing to deal with. Poor thing was so tired after the allergy appointment that she crashed on the couch more than an hour before her normal bedtime.

Today! Friday pizza day, although I might just be diying my own pizza kasha, since I still have a lot of that left. I made a whole box, 8 cups cooked. Oops. It is good, I like it, just not all at once. And at work, I still have a lot of provolone and pepperoni, so pizza kasha sounds like it will be a thing.

I meant to play video games last night, but one of my buddies got into an accident where his car slid on some ice into a pole, so I ended up just finishing up my D&D character for Sunday and watching Michelle McDaniel on YouTube. Got a new idea for lunches for next week.

@kristinwoods919 happy anniversary!!! I love restaurant leftovers, they're different than home leftovers, haha.

Have a good day everyone, stay safe out there.

Just thought I'd pop in. Surprised no one has posted for a while. This thread is usually very active.

My cold is still lingering, or maybe it's the cold mixed with allergies at this moment (tree pollen). Congestion and post-nasal drip is better but still annoying. Hubs and I have been eating cold medicine everyday which helps a lot but leaves you spaced out and draggy. Don't feel like exercising, weighing myself, or logging. My eating habits haven't been that good either. Finding solace in sweets which is stupid because in the long run it doesn't make me feel better and I'm going to feel more miserable if I put on a lot of weight! I need to put a stop to this!

Hi everyone!

I'm brand new to weight loss (this time around!), and I've got a good 50-60 pounds to lose if not more 😬. I've lost weight before but not in a sustainable, healthy way. I'm determined to lose it without being scared of any foods this time.

I've just started my 3rd week and have lost 2.4kg so far so my February goals are just to continue plodding along while still enjoying foods. I have dietary restrictions so I am finding it a little difficult finding low calorie treats I can enjoy that aren't just fruits and veg but I'm sure that will come with time and experience!

If anyone has any tips or tricks, I'd really love to hear them!

Just popping in to say hi to everyone after rereading all of the posts.
Yesterday I achieved my personal record. I had 12/12 active step hours on my Fitbit. Woohoo!! I'm on track to make it happen again today. 8/12 so far which is my goal.
I have been thinking about my softball shirt. The realistic thing is that I will not feel comfortable in the shirt by the end of March even if I lose 5-10 pounds. I checked and it's the same size as the other sports shirts I have which are all black. It's just that the team switched colors this year and it's a pretty Carolina blue and every bulge is emphasized by that. I may end up ordering another shirt in a bigger size (shhh). It was a Christmas present and no one needs to know!

@rorymason Have you gotten back to tracking? I always see better results with that. Hopefully your weather has allowed for more outside walks. Not here! Too icy these days.

@lisakatz2 I hope everyone is feeling better by now. It's hard to feel motivated when you are under the weather. You've got this!

@CupcakeCrusoe I'm so sorry that you're having a rough time. Maybe things are improving by now. I sure hope so. It's great that N's allergy tests came back negative. Maybe the rash was a one-two times thing and it won't happen again. (fingers crossed). Hope all is well there by now. I've been missing hearing what's going on with you recently.

@KeriA I like a tablespoon or two of Ghiradelli chocolate chips for a sweet snack after supper. A date sweetened chocolate bar sounds really great. Can you share the brand? I had a date shake in Arizona last spring and it was amazing. Are you getting walks in or has the weather stranded you inside?

@kristinwoods919 Happy Anniversary! Asking for a to-go box at the beginning of a meal encourages me to pack away half the meal before I start, and I like knowing I'll have a second treat the next day.

@jenbroussard71 Take care of that knee. I hope you have good luck at your appointment next week and recovery won't be too intense. Nice that you were able to make adjustments with your trainer.

@Skz3racha143 I'm glad you're here! It's good to have that concert to look forward to and motivate you to keep going. How's are things going for you these days?

@laurenbutler38 Welcome! Plodding along and enjoying food. Love that!!

Good morning everyone!

Saturday weigh in days
Christina
36 years old
5'4"

SW: 220ish
Re-SW (Feb 2022): 200.4
UGW: 150
2025 goal weight: 160
SW 2025: 179.7

💕 February Goals: 💕
💕 Goal weight (average): 174

💗 2/1: 178.2 (average)
💗 2/8: couldn't weigh, Whatsisface was in quarantine with my scale, he's better now
💗 2/15: 177.4 (average) (-0.8)

back to basics:
❌ Logging everything in grams
✅ Getting at least 8k steps every day
✅ Prioritizing going to sleep on days I don't go to the gym
❌ Gym at least 2x a week, with at least 2 home workouts. Home workouts can be replaced with gym workouts, but only in emergencies can gym workouts be replaced with home workouts.
✅ At least 64 oz of water every day
✅ No doom scrolling for more than half an hour.

I didn't do everything, but I did a lot. It's something. I just went back and logged yesterday, since I forgot.

Whatsisface is finally back out of the room and feeling better, which has been great- I got to go to the gym once this week, and going again this morning. I need to make a meal plan so I can figure out what I need at the store. I love going to Costco, but it might be an Aldi week. We'll see.

I've been so tired lately. It's weird, because I did absolutely everything around the house and otherwise for a week straight, but now that I don't have to do everything, I'm exhausted and don't want to do anything. I did have a productive day at work yesterday, so there's that.

Things have not gotten better, but there's hope that the worst won't happen.

Tag party time!
@jenbroussard71 I'm glad you and your trainer are working on a way to work out while not hurting yourself further, that's so great. I, too, have been very absentminded lately, maybe there's something in the water, lol.

@lisakatz2 I mean, gotta go easy on yourself when you're sick. But, the nice thing about being sick (if there is one) is that when you feel better, in comparison you feel really great, so you'll be ready to tackle everything.

@Skz3racha143 Welcome back, Kika! I don't think I was using this group 10 years ago, amazing that we've been going this long! A k-pop concert sounds so fun! Can't wait to hear more from you

@laurenbutler38 welcome! We're living in a great age for low calorie carbs. I especially like the schmidt breads and there are quite a few low calorie tortillas out there. I feel like stuff on bread is an easy way to make a meal that's not a salad when I don't want to think about anything, you know?

@nebslp the macros, if you like to track that way, really will work out the calories by themselves. I love that for you! When I was having the easiest time losing, that's what I was doing as well- except I was just tracking protein at a certain level, and letting the rest fall where they may. I might do that again, actually, since I'm about to make my meal plan for this week... thanks for the reminder!

Baby girl is not allergic to anything, thank goodness.

Have a great day, everyone! Stay safe out there!

@nebslp and everyone too...
I have been away so weather has not been an issue. Its beautiful. Was really good with walking daily tracking and kayaking.
Met some ppl here ( we usually keep more to ourselves but im trying to put myself out there a bit) which resulted in dinners and drinking and dinners and drinking..repeat.
Now my grandkids unexpectedly came to visit which is great but again, all the family going out and eating. Less drinking thankfully.

I have been terrified to step on my scale and have not been tracking.
I have had tons of pics taken of me and I look like a whale. Everyone else is very fit.
I take full reponsibility for it all. Will force myself to weigh at the end of the month, and take it from there.

Hi everyone! It’s been several months since I last posted. At the time, I had finally gotten to 10 pounds lost. Now I’m at over 30!

Age: 30
SW July 2024: 228.8
CW: 197
UGW: 150 ish and lots of muscle

I lost the first ~22 pounds with strict calorie counting, but got frustrated when the scale was slowing down. I have blood sugar issues and hormonal issues that point to PCOS, and so I was considering GLP1s for a while. I’m happy to say I’m on compound tirzepatide now and it is SO validating to feel satiated by my meals for the first time in my life! It tells me that yes, something really is not functioning right in my body, and I’m so thankful for the help. I see a way forward now.

That said, the last couple weeks I’ve been struggling with the flu and am weak and tired. I look forward to getting back to the gym tomorrow and having a regular routine again. It’s been a really, really rough couple of weeks. My house is in shambles!

I hope you all have a great week. Get some sun if/when you can!

Hello,

Back after a very long hiatus. Health issues such as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, knee and back issues have made me realize I need to make changes.

SW: 275 lbs
CW: 270.8 lbs
GW: 220 lbs
UGW: 190 lbs

Goals:

-Tracking food every day
-Weighing food for accuracy
-Tracking water intake. Goal is 64 oz per day
-Fasting 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
-8,000 steps per day (this is hard for me, managed to get 6,000 which is an improvement from the 2000-4000 I average)

And yay for learning to be gentle with yourself! That is a big win!