100 day Challenge #23 May15.25 – August 22.25

Re “I haven’t had more than 4 hours of sleep per night in about a week now. I just wish I could sleep in but my body wakes me. Cold and rainy in Michigan.”

The heat has moved on in southern Ontario as well. Today it rained and we needed it.
I’ve also struggled with sleep. There are lots of suggestions on how to train our bodies to sleep better. I’m sure you’ve tried them. I find no alcohol, no water after 9pm and a little gentle stretching before bed helps. I also use some breathing techniques when I can’t fall asleep. Occasionally, I’ll take a melatonin at bed time to get to sleep. The last few weeks, I’ve been slowly counting backwards from 99 to stop my mind from spinning. It seems to be working, I rarely get to 1, because I fall asleep first.

I hope you are able to get some sleep.

@Crochetluvr Re "I also picked up a new bathing suit I ordered from Macy's. I was so pleased as to how it looked on me! Five more pounds and it will be perfect, but I can still wear it. No plus size suits anymore!" —> To me, this statement is what this is all about…. Feeling good in our skin and in our clothes.

@Jon4189 Re "199.5 ********** UNDER 200 ********** WOOT" —> Those big milestones are always so exciting. Congratulations. By far, you are the most consistent in this group. I'm sure you'll stay under 200.

How are you calculating your projected weight? I just use the trend line.

@Jon4189 @dawnbgethealthy Re"You are losing about 1/2 lbs a week! Which is very healthy, but it looks like your trying to get 1-2 lbs reading your weekly goals. Try and walk or exercise another 15 minutes a day in low impact (zone 2), and reduce calories by 150 a day, and you should get to 1 lbs a week. You are doing great!!! Keep up the great work!" —> Dawn works three jobs, at least one of which is 'on her feet walking' during the entire shift. She is also post-menopausal.
Normally, I'd agree with your suggestion of reducing calories by 150 day, however, in Dawn's case, she is often only eating 1000 to 1200 calories per day. So, I do not believe any calorie reduction is healthy. In fact, I believe she might be better off with more consistent calorie intake. Her three jobs and split shifts make eating at consistent times difficult, if not impossible. Right now, she's also working 35 days straight. I'd suggest spending more time on meal planning and meal prep, but I honestly do not know where she'd find the time to do that.
Low impact zone 2 exercise for post-menopausal women is up for debate. Dr. Mary-Claire Haver (The 'Pause Life by Dr. Mary Claire Haver) advocates for it. Dr. Stacy Sims (Dr Stacy Sims - About) discourages it. Both advocate for strength training. Both of these women are post-menopausal medical doctors who specialize in women's health and aging. Based on the reading and watching I've done on these two women and their approaches, I lean toward Dr Stacy Sims. As such, in Dawn's case, I believe the better path is to add strength training and a protein intake goal of a minimum of 100 grams per day. These two changes will increase muscle, boost metabolism and burn more calories. The challenge for Dawn is to find something that she enjoys and can easily add into her already busy schedule.

Dr Stacy Sims' article regarding "What Women Need to Prioritize instead of Zone 2". Good news - bad news … she forces readers to subscribe to her newsletter to read the full article. It is easy to unsubscribe later on.

@dawnbgethealthy You got so much on your plate! You are doing awesome!

100 Days of Weighing In #23 ^^^^^ May 15, 2025 thru Aug 22, 2025

My Name is Donna, Age 65. I am 5’5” tall & I live in Northern Michigan USA

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

“We will encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

Maya Angelou

Starting Weight from End of Last Challenge: : 194.2

Goal This Round: 184.2 (10 pounds)

Challenge Actual Ending Weight: xxxxx

Total Lost/Gained this challenge: xxxxx

🔜🔜🔜🔜🔜Ultimate Goal: 145-155 (I’ll know when I get there!)

Thoughts at the start of this round:

My goal from the very beginning has been to lose one pound per week for a total of 12 pounds per challenge. I have never considered that to be too much and I never thought in a million years I would find it this difficult, even at my age and with my health problems. But it’s proved to be nothing but an uphill climb and in most cases, impossible. I am going to lower my goal to 10 pounds per challenge and see if that will feel more right, more do-able. This breaks down to 0.7 lbs per challenge week. I don’t think that is too much to ask of my mind, my body and my spirit! I, again, thank you for sharing my journey with me and allowing me to travel with you on yours. It is reassuring, refreshing, enlightening and inspiring and I am forever grateful.

Previous Rounds Tallys:

Every healthy habit brings me closer to scratching each of these off to NEVER see them again!

250’s💋-- 240’s🎵-- 230’s🐸-- 220's📘-- 210's🌸-- 200's🎨-- 190's🌈-- 180’s🤑-- 170's🐋-- 160's🙋‍♀️-- 150’s🌻

PREVIOUS WEEK’S CHALLENGE:

CURRENT WEEK:

06/26-190.2 ❌ - (Trend Weight: 191.1) Wow! I woke up ravenously hungry yesterday and couldn’t get satisfied all day! The BBQ never materialized as they decided to go swimming at the Lake instead. I stuck to my pre-logged meal plan but went off the rails a bit at snack time late last night. I had fit about 12 oz of wine into my allowances but then later found I needed something with volume. Too bad because my menus were so on point otherwise yesterday that the needle could have went down. My trend weight is still going down, however. I’m happy to see that. I’m hoping for a good day today. I haven’t had more than 4 hours of sleep per night in about a week now. I just wish I could sleep in but my body wakes me. Cold and rainy in Michigan. The heat may kick on! I’ve went back to using my exercise bike a bit. Working my way back up to the level I was when I last rode it regularly. Have to accolade my knees to it again. I did it 30 minutes last night in one sitting as I watched the first episode of the new season of The Bear on Hulu. I was going in 3 ten minutes sessions and then 2 fifteen minute sessions so to do the whole 30 in one session was an improvement for me.

🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊 Day 44—06/27—189.8 ✅ - (Trend Weight: 191.0) Dipping my toe back into the 180’s pool and it is feeling good. I think I’ll dive right in! I’m looking for that magical 7 (187 point anything or less) My clothing feels so much better when I’m bouncing around the 180’s over the 190’s. Records show that I was mid 180’s last June so that makes sense. BTW, I FINALLY got a little sleep last night. Almost 7 hours which is UNHEARD of for me. Feels SO good! Have a great weekend everyone!

Day 45—06/28—

Day 46—06/29—

Day 47—06/30—

🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠 Day 48—07/01—

Day 49—07/02—

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️ Week 7 Start Weight: 190.0

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️ Week 7 Goal: 0.7 lb Loss to land at 189.3 which is EXACTLY the 0.7 goal I aspire to wkly.

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️ Week 7 End Weight:

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️ Cumulative Weight Loss/Gain So Far:

WEEKS TO COME:

..

@age_is_just_a_number that is because the average changes with every measurement. So over time that average goes up and down.

My youngest daughter used to take magnesium to help manage anxiety. It is supposed to have a calming effect on the nervous system.
I’m on (and have been in since 2017) an SSRI. I’m a late bloomer, based on the reading I’ve done this year, I’m really convinced that I should go off it and likely that I never really needed it. I think my husband might have a different view. Regardless, I have a family doctor appt in July. I’m going to ask him about going off the SSRI. Perhaps a magnesium supplement would be a good trade off. Thank you for sharing.