Women 200lb+, Let's Be All Stars This April!!!

RavenStCloud
RavenStCloud Posts: 375 Member
edited April 1 in Motivation and Support

⭐ Hello, ladies, and Happy April!!⭐

⭐ The weather is changing, and we're changing with it! What are your goals for this month and for the spring overall?

⭐ What do you feel like you've been doing right? Feel free to brag! And is there one specific area that you'd like to concentrate on or something in general that you'd like to work harder on in April?

🟡 If you've never been here before, please know you are welcome to join at any point in the month. All you have to do is post something, and then BAM!, you're one of us.

🟡 In this group, we post our weekly and monthly goals and provide support and motivation to each other as we share our triumphs and our struggles. This group is all about accountability.

🟡 All are welcome, and if you think you belong here, you do! No matter how much you currently weigh or how you measure (or don't measure) your weight, we'd love to hear from you.

🟡 Victories, both scale and non-scale, are great to hear about, but, conversely, we know that weight loss isn't all sunshine and roses. If you're going through a rough patch, please feel free to be honest and vent your heart out. The struggle is real and we're all here to support each other!

⭐This April, let's astound and astonish ourselves with everything we can accomplish because, hey now, we're All Stars!!!⭐

Tagged:

Replies

  • quolwy
    quolwy Posts: 85 Member

    Hi all! I was MIA for a few months, and while I've been staying consistent in the gym, I was getting a bit overwhelmed with starting my job and couldn't keep up with juggling everything so I took a break from posting, but now I'm hoping to jump in sporadically with updates and to read everyone else's journey!

    ⭐ The weather is changing, and we're changing with it! What are your goals for this month and for the spring overall?

    This month marks 10 months of consistent gym going! That's more than twice as long as my last time going to the gym, and its lead me to want to try a "cut"! I like to think the holidays helped me with a "dirty bulk" (croissants and cookies rather than intentful proteins) but I'm ready to start a 10 week Challenge to see if I can make controlled decisions and discipline to see how my results are. I've been floating just above 200lbs since August, and frankly I'm tired of it 😂 So my goals are to increase my fitness level (according to my plan with my trainer), eat more mindfully within my macros (again collaborating with my trainer), and to see any and all changes by the end of the month!

    ⭐ What do you feel like you've been doing right? Feel free to brag! And is there one specific area that you'd like to concentrate on or something in general that you'd like to work harder on in April?

    I've been consistent with exercise! I've prioritized my health by going to the dentist (no insurance as I'm self employed so it's tough to shell out the money)! I've realized I was overworking myself a bit so I've taken an additional day off each week, which will hopefully help me feel better work/life balance. Something I've been slacking on since making it a goal in December, is making my 10k steps/day average, as my Saturday rest days tend to only get 2-5k steps, so knowing that I need to compensate the other days to make it 10k average.

    I will be doing a weigh-in and seeing my fat/muscle percentages tomorrow at the gym, and I'd LOVE to decrease the fat this month by 3-4% while ideally maintaining my muscle, and in a perfect world to possibly lose 6-8lbs.

    I'll see about posting my stats when I know them. Good luck to everyone who is still here, whether you post or lurk!

  • pamperedlinny
    pamperedlinny Posts: 1,784 Member

    Morning all!

    Yesterday was rough. I started my period and that was interesting. I haven't had one since January when I got my copper IUD and stopped using hormonal birth control. Since I have PCOS, the pills have helped with symptoms for most of my adulthood. However, I also started showing signs of perimenopause over a year ago and so it was decided to lose the pills in favor of letting my body do it's own thing. I almost forgot how bad periods are without help. In the past, that could mean 6 months of nothing and then being miserable and taking iron tablets for up to 6 weeks. Thankfully, I did pick up iron supplements when they did the insertion. I actually crashed on the sofa after dinner last night. I just couldn't even function anymore and was completely out for an hour or so.

    Tonight I'm meeting my neighborhood book club. There are only 4 of us that meet regularly and we always have a great time. They really are some of my favorite neighbors. We read something a little bit paranormal and spicy for March and I'm excited to discuss. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/190008600-a-wolf-in-the-garden

    Also, it's spring break week for my daughter. We had another sleep over with one of her friends last night. I swear they were still giggling at 3am. I love that they were having such a great time, but between that and falling asleep too late in the day, I didn't get nearly enough sleep throughout the night last night.

  • KeriA
    KeriA Posts: 3,373 Member

    Thank you @RavenStCloud

    Happy April All

    Keri

    72 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

    ⭐ What do you feel like you've been doing right? Feel free to brag! And is there one specific area that you'd like to concentrate on or something in general that you'd like to work harder on in April?

    I have generally been doing well nutritionally and have lowered my refined sugar down to as low as I want to go:

    A little maple syrup on weekend mornings

    Marmalade no more than once a week

    Ice cream for weekend dessert ( Used to have it everynight but now have dark chocolate sweetened with dates

    Yes if cookies or other desserts are appropriate on occasion I will have them such as birthdays etc. I generally limit going out to 1 meal a week if that.

    However I realize I need to have more protein in my diet and it needs to be spread throughout the day not just at dinner. Americans usually get enough protein but they usually get it at the end of the day when they need it at the beginning of the day and through out the day. I have been adding protein to breakfast and lunch but not enough.

    Also I have set up a good exercise schedule for me now. However I sometimes don’t follow it so that is what I will be working on in April.

    As to weight loss I am hovering in the mid 240s and keep losing the same 3-4 pounds. I had a week that we ate out more than usual and gained 5 pounds but I got that off before March ended.

    I do check-ins when I lose:2/27: 244.8 (low for February)

    3/31: 245

    4/2 245.2

    Here is my exercise schedule:

    *1 session a week of Aquafit (50 minutes)

    *1 session per week - long walk (60 minutes) 

    *4 sessions per week of 30 minute walks and 7 minute exercise for strength, stability and flexibility 

    *1 day of rest

    April Goals:

    ⭐ get out of the 240s 

    ⭐ drink more water

    ⭐ keep sugar intake low ✔️

    ⭐keep making healthy meals at home with only 1 day a week meal out.

    ⭐ see exercise plan above 

    ⭐ increase general activity level with cooking, cleaning, gardening going to the basement once a day. 

    So my plan for April is to make more progress with weight loss and to keep to my exercise schedule while maintaining what I have already accomplished. I am reading the Whole Body Reset which is based on better health for those over 50. It says we need more protein than other adults so that along with exercise we don’t lose muscle mass and rid ourselves of tummy fat which is so bad for us. Other fat on our bodies isn’t made up of some of the toxic aspects of fat around your stomach. It emphasizes we need to start our day with enough protein.

  • pamperedlinny
    pamperedlinny Posts: 1,784 Member

    Morning all!

    I want to start with good news from Upstate South Carolina! The Table Rock Complex fire is nearly 100% contained as of this morning!!!!!! So thankful it didn't get closer than 20 miles from us and that we didn't have to evacuate. I hate that people did have to, but my understanding is there were no deaths reported and it stayed within the wooded areas without jumping to any homes.

    Last night, for the first time ever, my phone starting going off with an alarm for an urgent low. I haven't been below 130 but for a handful of times in the past month. It was at 49. So at 1am I was panicked, trying to eat something, wake up my husband just in case, and then actively watching the numbers for about a hour. It actually went up slightly and then started to dip again, so it was way more fun than I am used to dealing with. Especially in the middle of the night.

    All of that to say…. I am soooo tired today. I can barely function. I didn't exactly fall right back to sleep after all that. This morning at 8am my fasting number was back at 162.

    I did my weigh in each day this week because I haven't had a cycle since January and I started one this week. Those numbers are something. I was down a lb, up 4 lbs, went back down by 3… all within 3 days in a row. lol I'm not even trying to count anything weight-wise happening until I'm on the other side of that.

  • KeriA
    KeriA Posts: 3,373 Member
    edited April 3

    I have been experiencing something weird since retiring. I have been eating healthier and for a while I was losing. I have upped my exercise but not enough. I have hardly any refined sugar or carbohydrates. I eat more healthy fats and less unhealthy fats. I am eating more protein but not enough and a lot more fiber from fruits, vegetables and whole carbs. Last year I woke up and I smelled a strong smoky metallic smell. I got up to see if the stove was on but the smell was really in my bedroom. In fact I started to smell it mostly on my pillow. I even got new organic pillows but slowly the smell returned. Since I am older I don't need deodorant or anti-perspirants any more. I shower every morning and that is all I need. I do have night sweats sometimes. But I do not have BO. I have asked my family but they don't smell it. I have googled and the closest I can come to an explanation is that it is ketosis. My body is burning less glucose but more fat. I am not on a keto diet but you can achieve it in other ways. I am not losing weight I think because I am not exercising enough. Usually my calories are low enough. However I feel like I am losing belly fat. If I just work on exercise more I will get healthier and stronger. So I need to keep doing what I am doing but up the protein throughout the day and exercise. Dinner and breakfast are better but except for when there are healthy leftovers I need to work on lunches. I did get my 30 minutes of exercise in yesterday and my husband wants to walk with me today.

    @pamperedlinny I am glad the fire missed you and is stopped. We have had problems with wildfire smoke in the summers where I live. It has been better the last few years. Most people don't have air conditioning here so that when it is a hot day we open our windows and use fans but when the smoke is bad we have to keep the windows closed due to air quality issues. I hope your air quality is okay. I hope you can keep your numbers okay as well.

  • kiteflyer105
    kiteflyer105 Posts: 198 Member
    edited April 5

    Happy April everyone. I hope we are out of the snow storms. 10 more days until my region is in the clear. This makes me tickled pink for the season change. In my area, things are growing green. Hooray.

    Pamperedlinny-Good luck on your MRI!

    Quolwy-Awesome job on your consistency at the gym. Bravo! That is hard work.

    My goals for this month are to 1) complete my downsizing, and move on with my life. I’ve been listening to “Defy Gravity” from the Wicked Soundtrack to keep moving. 2) Continue my insulin regularly with movement. 3) As far as weight loss, I will lose 3 pounds. This is reasonable.

    I have been drinking water and chai tea (decaffeinated) regularly.

    I found the gym I will join in May. This will be my reward for hitting my downsizing goal. I love in Spring how everything feels fresh and new. It has been raining a lot. I can’t wait for the grass to be cut. I love well-manicured lawns.

    I can't wait to make my favorite Panera salad.

    https://www.eatingonadime.com/copycat-panera-strawberry-poppyseed-salad/

    I add sugar snap peas and orange bell pepper. Delish!

  • CupcakeCrusoe
    CupcakeCrusoe Posts: 1,478 Member

    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

    ⭐ April Goals: ⭐
    ⭐ Goal weight (average):
    ⭐ 4/1: 179 (average)
    ⭐ 4/5: 179.3 (average)

    Shark week ruined all my numbers, lol. We'll get there!

    On the plus side, I feel like I'm looking good today

    image_2025-04-05_082615775.png

    At the gym Thursday, we did Splits and Giggles, where we do our split exercises and talk, and one of the questions was what you're proud of yourself about. Mine was that I am thinking I'm getting hotter as I get older. Bucking the trend! Defying physics! Lol. But to be fair, this was me in college at about my heaviest, 220-230, I'm the one in the metallic shawl (I need to find that thing, I love that one):

    DSCN0663.JPG

    So to be fair to me! I am getting hotter! As discouraged as I get now, I'm maintaining a lower weight than I used to by 50-60 lbs!

    Okay. Meal planning for the week. It's the week before vacation, so I need to clean out the fridge.

    Fridge:
    6 apples
    1 lb ish carrots
    5 oranges
    2 packs deli meat
    american "cheese" slices
    7 eggs
    almond milk
    half a head of cabbage
    various condiments and pickles/kimchi/saurkraut
    beer
    coffee
    juice

    Freezer:
    4ish lbs chicken breasts
    6 kimchi rice balls
    3 personal chicken pot pies
    5-6 breakfast sandwiches
    bread, skinny bagels, etc
    some bean "hamburger" patties
    hamburger patties (plenty)
    costco cauli pizza
    chicken nuggets
    some pierogies
    frozen fruit
    frozen veg

    Pantry has lots of rice, pasta, instant noodles, flour, beans, PB, animal crackers, other crackers, soups and condensed soups, sardines/tuna/spam/chicken etc. My pantry stays full, lol.

    Okay, so meal planning, focusing on fridge stuff first.

    Apples/oranges are snacks for me for the week. Gotta use those up before we go. Probably more oranges than apples, because I know the kids like apples more than oranges. My other snacks will be protein bars, which I've got plenty of. I'll make more jello, too. I know it's an old wives tale about it helping nails, but I really think it's helping mine.

    Breakfasts for me: kimchi rice balls from the freezer and the fruit I just mentioned.
    Lunches for me: those bean patties (no one else in my house will eat them) and a stir fry of carrots and cabbage

    Dinners:
    Tonight: Probably a rotisserie chicken from harris teeter, with some mixed veg type things from the freezer to add to it.
    Tomorrow night: Some kind of chicken casserole
    Monday: leftovers
    Tuesday, quick, I have a meeting: Sandwiches. Back in the freezer with whatever bread we don't use. Hopefully this uses up all of our deli meat, otherwise it's more sandwiches for Whatsisface for lunches.
    Wednesday, I gotta take the cat to the in-laws: Chicken pot pies, what's left of the pierogies
    Thursday: We should be scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as fridge stuff to use up, so possibly just all out of the freezer/pantry. Fridge cleanout before we leave.

    Friday: We'll be getting on a plane, this one gets outsourced.

    So. Lots to do this week, and no official gym, so I need to make sure I'm stretching and working out and getting my steps in at home this week, along with getting ready to go on vacation.

    There are many things going on, and I hope we're all taking good care of ourselves. Tag party:

    @RavenStCloud thanks as always for this thread. 💗

    @pamperedlinny I'm so glad to hear that the fire troubles have passed. My cycle messes so badly with my weight too, haha. As someone who also got The Device, my first cycle after insertion was 8 days long and twice as heavy as I was used to every single day, it was miserable, haha. It's getting better now, four months out, it's almost back to it's usual length and just a little more heavy.

    @quolwy I love hearing that you're being consistent about movement, it helps so, so much!

    @jenbroussard71 I agree that at some point in weight loss, it is not usually a plateau so much as a mental block. I have found that out quite a few times now, lol.

    @KeriA I did find, while I was doing an extremely low carb diet for a little while, that my BO did smell different than usual, so it's possible!

    @kiteflyer105 I agree, I don't like lawns for the waste of space, but there is something nice about an expanse of green cut right. I also love that salad!

    Remember everyone:

    image.png

    Have a great weekend! Let's get it!

  • rorymason
    rorymason Posts: 192 Member
    edited April 7

    SW: 226

    GW: 170 Todays Weight: 219

    ⭐️The weather is changing, and we're changing with it! What are your goals for this month and for the spring overall?

    Haha Ill say! Had an actually decent day yesterday. Physically having issues but made the decision to push through and went for an hour hike with the hubby and the dog. Through forest and fields and ultimately arriving at the beach where I let the dog run before returning. I worked up a nice lil sweat and was feeling well despite being surprised by what I initially thought was an old piece of tire. Got closer and realized it was not!

    It was a huge snake!!!

    Did not let it dampen my day and moved on. Arrived home to find a tick crawling on me. And then before bed after more tick checking and bathing found another munching on my side 😱. Me thinks they hitched ride on the dog then exited as he is on tick prevention medication. Hopefully I got it off before any tick borne illness was transmitted. I have enough medical issues.

    Plan to clean vacuum steam carpets and furniture all day today. I am grossed out!

    ⭐ What do you feel like you've been doing right? Feel free to brag! And is there one specific area that you'd like to concentrate on or something in general that you'd like to work harder on in April?

    Accountability and saying no to eating sweets. Exercising more 🤔minus the snakes and ticks !

    I was able to get hired for a per diem position that is extremely flexible. Work when I want kind of thing. This has improved my mood quite a bit. I have alot of MD appts and tests this month so if all goes well, and there are no medical hiccups, then this will work out for me.

    Fingers crossed!. Have a great week everyone 😀

  • rorymason
    rorymason Posts: 192 Member
  • rorymason
    rorymason Posts: 192 Member

    Tried to post the pic of the snake but maybe better off i could not

  • kristinwoods919
    kristinwoods919 Posts: 91 Member

    Happy April!

    • Kristin
    • 42 years old
    • SW for 2025 :236.7
    • April 1: 219.3

    I started off this month on steroids. I hate that! I have been more sick this year than I have been in the last several years.

    I am starting to train for my 4 mile this week. Goal is at least 2 lbs per week but maybe for this week just not to gain. I will be weighing in on Fridays.

    I lost quite a bit of weight last month, but was starting to slow down. I have been just eating a lot less.

  • jenbroussard71
    jenbroussard71 Posts: 309 Member

    ennifer

    • 53 years
    • Re-started 4/24/24 - 236.2
    • CW 202.8
    • GW 165
    • Total lost 33.4
    • 5'3" tall

    Monday weigh ins

    • 4/1 - 202.8
    • 4/7 - 202.6
    • 4/14 -
    • 4/21 -
    • 4/28 -
    • 4/30 -

    Today is my first day back in the office and I am more exhausted than I thought I would be. But I need the structure and the routine. Plus, my eating is more on track when my pantry is at home and I am at the office. I meal prepped my lunches over the weekend. My steps right now are a little over 4K. I started counting PT as a workout since I am doing so much more - abductors, adductors, squats, calf raises, hamstring curls, 10-minute bike ride and a couple of machines that I don't know what they are called. The whole process takes an hour, and I go 3 times a week (thru the end of April). I will try tonight to get a little core work in.

    While I was recovering, I ordered a diamond painting kit off of Amazon. I don't know what made me think this was a good idea. The picture is of some hydrangea flowers (my mom's favorite). I hope to finish it for Mother's Day. But it is a very tedious hobby, and my OCD sometimes gets the best of me when the lines are not straight. I think this is the project that will teach me patience.

    I hope you have a great week!

  • pamperedlinny
    pamperedlinny Posts: 1,784 Member

    Morning all!

    • Linda
    • 42 years old
    • SW: 300 lbs (2009)
    • April 1: 233.6
    • April 9: 235.8

    Sorry I've been silent and not checking in over the past week. I was a mess waiting for the MRI and results. Well, on Monday we did the MRI and just a few minutes ago the results came back. The really great news is that the radiologist says there doesn't seem to be anything concerning and the lesion on the ultrasound isn't showing at all. All the other stuff looks good. I do have a gallstone, but it isn't causing any complications at the moment and no pain… so probably just waiting that out. The bad news is that my entire deductible is due to them and I need to figure out where I'm getting $3,000 now.

    In other news, I got into a class / study being done by Clemson University Extension for Diabetes. Every Tuesday (starting yesterday) I'll be in a Zoom call. On alternating weeks it will be a class and then a support group. It's been over a decade since I did any real diabetic education and, with how my hormones are changing, it'll be good to learn some new tricks and tips and just get a better handle on how things are set up right now.

    Sorry I don't have much time to look through the previous posts right now. I'll try and do that later if I catch a few minutes.

  • CupcakeCrusoe
    CupcakeCrusoe Posts: 1,478 Member

    Good morning everyone!

    I forgot my meds day before last, so my weight shot straight up, lol. I take a diuretic. AND I haven't been doing the best this week, the lack of protein (because I'm cleaning out the fridge first and thinking about protein later) has been biting me in the butt.

    But! It's almost vacation, so there is that. I feel a little like the dog with the coffee in the fire, being like "this is fine," lol.

    @rorymason oh NO I wouldn't have dealt well with a snake AT ALL, haha. I'm glad you're liking your work setup.

    @kristinwoods919 a four miler is a nice distance for someone who runs, I always thought so.

    @jenbroussard71 I totally hear you on having your pantry at home, haha. It's true for me too, that going into the office does help with weight loss.

    @pamperedlinny I'm so glad everything's okay, and I'm so sorry that health care is so broken. My mom used to work in hospital billing, so I can tell you that as long as you are paying something, anything at all, they can't send it to collections, was what she used to tell people. So hopefully that's still the case.

    @sharon81 I'm so glad to see you back, welcome back!

    Be safe out there, everyone.

  • quolwy
    quolwy Posts: 85 Member

    Hi all! I was MIA for a few months. I've been staying consistent in the gym (10 months 2-3x/week), but now I'm hoping to jump in sporadically with updates and to read everyone else's journey! I'm currently doing a 10 week "cut" (started April 1st) so I'm training more, tracking my macros, and having weekly weigh-ins with my trainer.

    SW April 2nd: 207.5lbs

    GW April 30th: 202lbs

    CW: 204.2lbs

    Starting BFP April: 37.1%

    Goal BFP April: 35%

    Current BFP: 36.9%

    GOALS:

    •Eat 1600-1800cals/day

    •Get 165-200g protein/day

    •Keep daily carbs 100-150g/day

    •Keep daily fats ~50g/day

    •Work out 4-5x/week

    •Average 10k steps/day for the week

    •Enjoy a delicious indulgent meal once/week

    Another thing I might consider, if my fat percentage isn't dropping accordingly with my weight, is to increase my cardiovascular health using high incline treadmill, or by jogging to/from the gym. That way I'm not losing the muscle mass (as much) when losing weight.

  • lisakatz2
    lisakatz2 Posts: 652 Member

    Hi, coming back after being MIA. I started by falling off the wagon and found myself having trouble getting back on. Now I'm COVID-19 positive (as of this past Friday) and feeling like a wet dishrag. Can't think about weight loss and fitness right now. Just resting and sleeping a lot. Want to say Hi. Haven't weighed myself or tracked in weeks but I'm not worried about it. It is what it is and I'll get back on the horse when I'm ready.

  • bmzwiener
    bmzwiener Posts: 3 Member

    Hello I'm new here :)

    HW: 241

    GW: 200

    4/14 W: 219.2

    Goal by end of April: 217

  • bmzwiener
    bmzwiener Posts: 3 Member
  • 7vxsjm57b5
    7vxsjm57b5 Posts: 3 Member

    Hi everyone

    I’m new here.

    Height: 4”11

    SW: 309

    I’ve been trying to loose weight for years but all I seem to successfully accomplish is pick it up.
    This month I had a huge health scare. I got a kidney stone (which I didn’t feel) and only saw a doctor after a week. The blockage caused a kidney infection which resulted in systemic septicemia; that in turn led to me contracting pneumonia as well.
    I spent a week in ICU & during surgery my breathing stopped. It took the doctors hours before they could take out the breathing tube as I was unable to breathe on my own.
    My blood pressure is all over the place & I am on the verge of developing diabetes.


    This has been a wake-up call for me!

    I would really appreciate support & hope that the accountability of weekly weigh-in’s will help motivate me & keep me on track.

  • lisakatz2
    lisakatz2 Posts: 652 Member

    I see we have two new people, want to say 'Hi'. You may have ups and downs, but the most important thing is, always get back on the horse! Don't give up! We've got a supportive group here so please try to post even if you're having a rough patch and not making progress or even backsliding (like me).

    Still sick with COVID. Only positive about it is that although I feel depressed, I'm too sick to go out and buy anything to binge on (not that I really have the appetite for it, but I'm so frustrated). Where are all the regulars?

  • DeshotelK
    DeshotelK Posts: 184 Member

    Hi.

    Kristy
    Age: 46
    Height: 5' 9"
    SW: 244
    CW: 237.9
    I weigh-in on Fridays.

    Goals:
    - I don't have a weight goal. Whatever weight I feel good at will be my goal.
    - Track food daily
    - Do some type of exercise/activity 5-6 days a week

    New to this group, not to MFP. Been on and off the app since 2012. Early menopause hit me a couple years ago and I felt horrible and gained a significant amount. I'm tired of being tired so I recently started tracking my intake again. I also started walking, which I'm loving while the temps are cool enough. I live in the very deep south and soon it will be too hot and humid to do much outside. I'm really hoping that being a part of a group will help to keep me accountable.

  • lisakatz2
    lisakatz2 Posts: 652 Member

    Welcome Desh, great to see new people join this group!

    Do you have plans for any indoor exercise activity? Do you have plenty of fans/AC?

    I have a Reebok step (I know, so '90's) I bought off of Ebay. I like stepping to music inside when temps climb. Right now I'm sick though and not up to exercise, except maybe a gentle walk up and down the street with a mask on.

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