August 2025 Ultimate Accountability Challenge

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itladyee
itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member
edited July 25 in Social Groups

Hello and welcome to this month’s edition of the Ultimate Accountability Challenge (UAC).

😁 To all new and returning members:We are happy to have you with us! We invite you to introduce yourself below. Please feel free to include as much information as you feel comfortable sharing about yourself. We look forward to getting to know you a little better. Any questions, please ask any group member. We hope you enjoy your time here.

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As we begin our August challenge, remember that every small step/effort counts toward your goals. This month, let's focus on consistency and supporting each other through our journey!

❓New here? Click the spoiler to learn how this group works. (Rules and other info.)

❗As a UAC member, you will:
Be accountable to yourself in your own health journey.
Post every day in that day's check-in thread. Look for the check-in threads on the Ultimate Accountability group page: scroll down past the ANNOUNCEMENTS threads until you see DISCUSSIONS. When you check in for the day, please state whether you followed each of the three daily rules below; and include your tally of pass days for the month. (Scroll down to learn about pass days.)
Be honest with your check-ins. If you cheat, you are only hurting yourself. Our group exists not to police each other, but to provide a friendly environment for learning, self-improvement, and mutual support ❤️

❗ The 3 daily rules:
EXERCISE EVERY DAY FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES. We define exercise as an intentional and planned choice to be active beyond your "run of the mill" day to day activities. This can be chair yoga, physiotherapy, running, swimming, aerobics, weight-lifting, dancing, vacuuming, washing windows, or anything else that gets your body moving beyond your general daily movement. You can do a mix of activities, and you do not have to do all 20 minutes at once.
CONSUME ONLY YOUR BUDGETED CALORIES. Set your own personal calorie goal for the day, and don't exceed it. (Yes you may "eat back exercise calories" if you wish.) Any day that you went over what you planned, it is considered a pass day. We are happy to help if you would like help figuring out how to set a calorie goal for yourself.
TRACK ALL THE CALORIES YOU EAT AND DRINK. How you choose to track is up to you: you may use a paper tracker or journal, MyFitnessPal, another app/website, or any other (online or offline) tool that works for you. And, you guessed it: anytime you skip a day, for any reason, it is a pass day. Please note: Some folks fret about finding an "exact" match on their tracker. We encourage you to find the best possible match and if in doubt about a meal or snack when dining out, overestimate.
❗ Rule #4:
Each member is expected to report in within three days of each check-in day. This is to help us build helpful new habits through daily consistency. You may check in later if needed, but this counts as a pass day. If you do need to check in late, you are free to post a combined check-in to catch up.

❓ What's a pass day?
Whenever you do not observe all 4 UAC rules, any day, for any reason, that day is considered a pass day. Pass days can happen due to injury/illness, emotional eating, lack of planning, family issues, busy schedule, forgetfulness, vacations/celebrations, hormone fluctuations, "didn't feel up to it," or a myriad of other reasons. We will never judge anyone for taking a pass day: they exist as a tool for you to keep track, and learn where you can improve.

🏆 The UAC celebrates its Winners every month!
A Winner is a member who had 3 or fewer pass days during the previous month. This is a noble and fun goal to strive for, but please know that Winner status is NOT necessary for you to meet your health goals. We also celebrate our Champions, who exceeded their monthly pass day limit but continued to check in every day of the month. And last but not least, even if you find yourself struggling, as long as you are here we consider you a Learner, and that is your first step to a better future! So always count those pass days, always aim to improve, and -- most importantly -- keep coming back every day.

❓ Quick hints to help you navigate the group (under spoiler):

Please do NOT open any threads in the Discussion area: they will be deleted. Discussions are set up as one post per day of the month. If you have questions please ask in the daily thread, or in the What's on your mind today? thread.

Click the little flag icon in the top right corner of any thread that interests you. When the flag is blue, you will receive a notification anytime someone posts to the thread. To unsubscribe, simply click the flag again to turn it white. Please note: there is currently a technical issue with this function. You can still bookmark, but you have to go into each thread and then bookmark it… MFP says they will fix this issue, but probably not right away. The easiest work-around is to right-click each day’s thread from the list (opening each day in a separate tab) and then hit the subscribe flag on each thread, closing the tabs as you go.
You can use the "Quote" function at the bottom of every post in this group, to copy what someone previously wrote and then respond to it.

If you would like to respond directly to what another group member wrote, add an @ right in front of their username , like so: @username (This will tag the person you are responding to by turning their username into a blue hyperlink, and they will receive a notification.)

In order to see whether someone has tagged you, click/tap the bell in the top right hand corner of your screen, and check your notifications. If you are using the app, first access Community mode, then tap your avatar in the top right corner, then tap the bell. (You must have notifications turned on.)

Privacy Note: This challenge group is open for public viewing until the end of day on the 6th of the month when it is set to "private". From that point forward, and for all time, all the postings made in that month become private and are only accessible to individuals who were registered as members of that month.

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Replies

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    @ShockinglyFit @YellowButterflyWoman @jenblake684 @Inspired45 @slinkymalinky7 @melissahunter220 @RandyHargreaves @sharnamiller18 @RGomez127 @Clarajessica @ver0n1ca10 @klolzeske @mattWilson2534 @Kellhark72 @iamaseniorpm @Mia_Vojago

    Welcome to the August UAC – we’re happy that you’ve joined us! 🎉
When you have a moment, drop a quick hello and share a little about you, your goals, or what brought you to UAC. We’d love to get to know you!

    Feel free to explore and get familiar with everything UAC has to offer. Be sure to check out the rules (don’t worry—they’re simple!) and the helpful info pinned at the top.

    It might seem like a lot at first, but you’re not alone—if you have any questions, just ask. We’re here to help and support you on your journey!

  • Mia_Vojago
    Mia_Vojago Posts: 295 Member

    Hi everyone! I am Mia - a 55 year old mom to 6 "kids" ages 29, 26, 24, 20, 19 and 15. Even though my youngest is in high school I still feel like an empty nester now. My husband works in another city so most of the time its just me and the dog at home.

    My new passion is pickleball. In my youth I was an avid tennis player but I gave it up long ago due to all my weight (My highest weight was 265 and I now weigh 237). Pickleball has been a blessing though — I have been playing for almost two years and have used it to help me lose over 20 pounds this past year.

    I am new to UAC but - back in the "old days" — I was a dedicated member of Sparkpeople (are there any former Sparkers out there?) and at one point I lost 40 pounds thanks to the various challenges and the wonderful support on Sparkpeople.

    My goals this August:-

    (1) Be accountable! Track my food, exercise daily and report it to UAC.
    (2) Be mindful! When I really think about what I am doing, eating and drinking - I am able to make good choices.
    (3) Lose 6 pounds during the month of August. I am at 237 today and would love to weigh in at 231 on Aug 31.

    My MAIN goal is to hit "One-derland" by Dec 31 2025 and weigh in at 199 or less.

    I look forward to getting to know you all!

    🌺🌿 Amor Fati - Memento Mori 🌿🌺

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    @Mia_Vojago ~ Welcome to UAC! Yes, I was a member of Sparkpeople, but I wasn't aware of the challenges on that platform. You've got some great goals for August! You WILL be successful. I want to try Pickleball… my DH bought us rackets for Christmas and we've yet to get out and play!!

  • takinitalloff
    takinitalloff Posts: 3,865 Member

    Hi all,

    I've been a part of the UAC for just over two years now. I've been inadvertently maintaining at around 70 lbs lost. My goal is to lose another 60 lbs, but life has been throwing me some curveballs these past couple years 🙃 so maintenance it is, for now. I'm in much better shape than I used to be: exercising regularly; eating healthy; and overall living a more stable and happier life.

    I will be spending August in temporary housing, as my home will be undergoing repairs after some water damage. As you can imagine my routine is a bit off, but I will make an effort to still check in here every day and stick to my goals (track all food ✅ stick to my calorie goal 🏁 and get my 20 minutes of exercise 🏊🏻‍♀️) because as I have learned from the UAC, being healthy is all about daily consistency. Even when the curveballs keep coming 🤣

    Let's do this! Team UAC!

    @Mia_Vojago Bonvenon 😁

  • mattWilson2534
    mattWilson2534 Posts: 64 Member

    Hey all,

    I am new to UAC this being my first upcoming month doing this. I am a returning MFP user who has been going through cycles of weight loss and weight gain for many years and have had a struggle with keeping with this app. I figured if I got more involved with the community, I might have better odds.

    A little about myself: I am 30 years old, my CW is 408lbs and I hope to at least lose 100lbs for a GW of 300lbs. I really hope to lose enough weight to be able to run again! My goal for this challenge is to track all food and stick to my calorie goal set by MFP at the very least, and bonus if I get in exercise during my lunch breaks at work.

    I look forward to when the challenge starts here soon. Hopefully I get some good weight loss this month.

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    @mattWilson2534 ~ Welcome and I wish you well with your goals. If it weren't for the community aspect of MFP, I would have been gone quite some time ago… Your goals are 100% in line with UAC. Good Luck to you!

  • ShockinglyFit
    ShockinglyFit Posts: 8 Member

    Hello!

    I got a MyFitnessPal account a long time ago, but I forgot about it. I figured I could lose weight in a low key way by cutting down on junk food and exercising more every day. It was hard to stay consistent though. I do feel like I eat healthy and try to exercise but it is apparently not enough.

    I think my biggest problem is portion control. I am clearly eating more calories than I am using. Although I didn't want to do it, I am now going to have to resort to tracking my meals. I have been tracking for three days and it is so helpful. It makes it easy to see that I am clearly eating more than I need. It feels like just tracking meals is already helping me because I can be more honest. I can really see how often I stay on track and how far I stray from the track. Also tracking motivates me to stop eating snacks once I have already exceeded my limit.

    I saw the invitation to join the August challenge and think that will help me with accountability.

    My goals for this month is mostly to get in the habit of tracking, and figuring out meal plans that will let me stay within my goals. It is going to be a learning month.

    I am completely new to interactive challenges, specifically the UAC. I look forward to becoming healthier, being more fit and energetic, and losing weight. I think doing this as a group will help all of us keep up the motivation, accountability, and support.

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    @ShockinglyFit ~Welcome and I do believe you've come to the right place. Each month I post some information regarding tracking to help us along the way. Look for it around the 4th or 5th of each month. Portion control is a big one, and one that trips me up constantly. If I cook something that I enjoy, it's hard not to go back for more. I've tried to manage this issue by only cooking proper portion sizes for both my husband and I vs having leftovers. Good Luck to you and I think you'll like it here.

    @Learningmoments ~ Always a pleasure to see you return!!! ❤️

  • ShockinglyFit
    ShockinglyFit Posts: 8 Member

    I like to cook big batches and freezing in individual sized containers for convenience. It makes it easier to not have to cook every day and also to have food always available so I can eat healthy food instead of having to go out to eat. The cooking day is definitely harder to avoid going back for seconds. I am also trying to avoid eating nuts and seeds as snacks since I can get carried away.

  • TerriRichardson112
    TerriRichardson112 Posts: 20,102 Member
    edited July 29

    Hi all. So here we are in another new month. I’m Terri, and I live in Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. Good to see both returning and new members with us for August 2025. Little sustainable changes over time can create wonderful results. 

    image.jpeg

    I've been with UAC since 2017. This is such a great motivational space, where you get valuable support from the kind, caring members. It has helped me finally reach my UGW (just before Covid hit the world for six) and stay there for the duration. Posting everyday helps build solid habits which will help you on your quest for better Health and Fitness. 

    Although my focus shifted from weight loss to fitness/health well before I went on full maintenance in 2019, I'm delighted that, in October 2021, I fell below my original UGW, and I have managed to maintain this. 

    Bring it on!!! 

    Potted Bio - 2025

    Terri: Female; 78; living in Northern Ireland; married 58 years; 2 daughters, 3 adult grands: ex Maths teacher; volunteer group leader for U3A (University of the Third Age, life-long learning charity)

    SW: 227 (Mar 2014).
    LW: 131.2 (December 2022).
    GW: 130 < 140 (on maintenance)



    Daily Habits Update - August 2025     (Things I aspire to, but don't always achieve)
    1. Log ALL  CI/CO (Daily) .
    2. Stay under goal (Daily) .
    3. Balance macros/micros (Daily) .
    4. Hydrate adequately (Daily) . .
    5. Choose healthy options (Daily) .
    6. Steps > 5500 (Daily) .
    7. Stretch before/after workouts 
    8. 15+ minutes Cardio > 5 days a week .
    9. 15+ mins Strength > 5 days a week .
    10. 15+ mins Flexibility > 5 days a week .
    11. Active hours > 6.
    12. Practice self-care (Daily) .
    13. Stay up to date with accounts  (monthly) .
    14. Mindfulness Practice/meditation ((Daily - morning/evening) .
    15. 1 > 15 mins Declutter sessions (Daily) .
    16. Be creative .
    17. Purchase essential items only .
    18. Read > 1 book from 'to read' pile .
    19. Work on art/craft projects (monthly) .
    20. Learn something new (daily) .
    21. Actively Build Healthy Habits .
    22. Be proactive re Celebrations

    image.png




    THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES OR SHORTCUTS     to achieving permanent change. 




    REMINDERS: One or two thoughts which might give heart to some of you. 

    📍Daily weight fluctuations are normal, and can be as much as 2 lbs a day for no apparent reason. .
    📍A general downward trend is what we are looking for. .
    📍Eating out can cause apparent weight gain because of high sodium levels, but usually goes quickly. Drinking extra water helps with this. .
    📍The human body does [b]not [/b]react instantly to what we do to it. Sometimes it can take several days to see results. .
    📍Plateaus are a normal part of the process. The body is consolidating and adapting to your new way of eating/exercising. .
    📍The closer you get to your goal weight, the more difficult it becomes to lose weight, as your body becomes more efficient at using what you feed it. .
    📍When you exercise you build muscle, which takes up less space than fat, so use measurements as well as weight to assess your progress. .
    📍Getting/Staying fit and healthy requires a lifestyle change for most people. 

    Stick with the process. It DOES work! But it does take time, effort, and most of all,  patience! 

  • TerriRichardson112
    TerriRichardson112 Posts: 20,102 Member

    @Joannex10 Being aware of that 5-10 lbs is half the battle. I have a 10 lb maintenance range which I tend to stay in the middle of. It stops me stressing about the daily fluctuations, and allows me to enjoy the odd indulgence with a clear conscience. It’s all about choices 😂

    I used to weigh daily but now step on the scale once a week. Developing and consolidating Solid Habits is my main focus to keep me on track. I’m looking for permanent lifestyle changes to support good health and fitness, so I make minor changes over time.

  • Chinkiri
    Chinkiri Posts: 1,781 Member

    Good morning! I am Elsien, live in southern France and have been on MFP for some 15 years.

    I've been in and out of UAC since 2018, with my weight topping 82.4 kg at some point (I'm 1m 68cm) but I have now done well over a year on MFP (459-day streak today), building healthy habits and have lost more than 15 kg. For several months now I have more or less managed to maintain my ideal weight of between 61.5 and 62.5 kg, which is where I feel best. 62.4 kg today, so my aim for August remains the same.

    I have established quite a good eating, sleeping and exercice routine: Pilates class, Swimming, Step counter set at 8000 steps minimum, three healthy meals a day, sleep pretty well, have a very active social and cultural life and intend to keep all that up. Going to my native country of the Netherlands for three weeks soon, see friends and family, so maintaining might be a little more challenging.

    A big hi to my other fellow health travellers and welcome to new members. Never give up!

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    @TerriRichardson112 ~ Welcome back, Terri. I love that meme, it always puts me back on track at the start of each month.

    @Joannex10 ~ Welcome back. Kudos on being very mindful of the 5 to 10 lbs that you’re working on.

    @Chinkiri ~ Welcome back!! Sounds like you have a perfect combo of eating, exercising and sleeping to meet your needs. That is so important and inspiring! Have fun on your trip if I don’t remember to mention it later.

  • tlwoodbell
    tlwoodbell Posts: 171 Member

    Hello! My name is Tammy. I'm 50 years old and live in the Eastern Mid-Atlantic region of the US. I'm hoping to get back to focusing on my health and building strength as I age. It's been a a few months, so I need all the help I can get. I'm looking forward to encouraging others along the way and am excited to share this journey with you all.

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    @tlwoodbell ~ welcome back. I wish you much success on your journey!!

  • klolzeske
    klolzeske Posts: 7 Member

    Good Morning!🌞

    I am Kristi, 59, and I live in Minnesota. I have grown kinds and young grandkids and my greatest happiness is we are all geographically close, see each other often and get along. So wonderful.

    I work full time in county government, run a small business with my husband and enjoy being active - walking, running, pickleball and going to the gym for weight training. The best thing I did for myself was add daily activity to my life, so I am looking forward to hitting that daily move goal.

    The calories and tracking are the challenge. I know that being consistent in the kitchen is required if I want to be leaner. I am fortunate to have the month of August off; I work all year to scrape together a full month's vacation - so I have the time and hopefully the energy get some really solid routines in place. A consistent month will be considered a win but a 5# loss would be icing on the cake.

    Nice to meet you all and I am reminded the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. There is nothing in the world that makes you feel younger, smarter, stronger and more powerful than meeting a big, exciting goal you have for yourself.

    Looking forward to celebrating you all -

    Kristi

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    Welcome Kristi!! @klolzeske

    So happy you found MFP and even happier that you immediately found UAC!! It sounds like you have a lot going on so I especially I love that you have the entire month of August dedicated to YOU! I look forward to seeing and celebrating your success!!

  • FitMary202
    FitMary202 Posts: 2,165 Member

    Just joined! I'm FitMary, 70 but still working so will sometimes need the Pass Days when things get crunchy. I'm a "refugee" from the old Spark People, if anyone remembers them. I'm looking for accountability and an inspirational support group. So glad to be here! Thanks in advance!

    💃🎉💞

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    Hi and Welcome @FitMary202 Yes, I remember Spark People. I didn't do the challenges there, but I was a member! Good luck on your journey~ We are happy you joined us!

  • Chinkiri
    Chinkiri Posts: 1,781 Member

    Hi Jill @jmu1965 We are still friends from when MFP still had a Newsfeed. How nice to see you back on here!

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    Welcome back @jmu1965 Good to see you again. Rules are the same 🤓

  • EllieLou3
    EllieLou3 Posts: 24 Member

    Hi, my name is Louise and I live in the UK. I’ve been overweight most of my adult life and have decided before I turn 50 in February to address this once and for all! I’ve been on a wellbeing journey for the past few years. This began with me leaving a high stress job in ‘21, getting a dog, joining a gym and changing my eating habits. I’ve lost 20lb and have another 15 to lose.

    I joined the July challenge mid-way through but enjoyed the chats, supportive intelligent comments and found it helped keep me accountable. Each night I’d get into bed early and read others posts and add mine (away from the kitchen!) to the UAC. I lost 3lb on the challenge - slow and steady is where I’m at!

    Looking forward to more of the same this month but in the full knowledge that our big summer holiday to Mexico next week means I’m likely to OD on pass days! But with 31 days in the month, I’m not going to allow those 7 days to derail me!

    Thanks to the volunteers/ admins - this is a great group. X

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    Hi @EllieLou3 ~ Glad you returned! Congrats on your 20lbs lost and 3lbs on the challenge and that was only half the month!! How'd that dog work out for reducing stress 😂. I'm on a waiting list to get a puggle, hopefully it will be in Sept but I haven't had a puppy in 16 years so it's causing a little stress for me now! LOL

    Have fun in Mexico…then return and get back on plan targeting February. You've got this!!!

  • itladyee
    itladyee Posts: 7,492 Member

    @Patti241

    Hi and welcome to the August UAC – we’re happy that you’ve joined us! 🎉
Take a moment, drop us a quick hello and share a little about you, your goals, or what brought you to UAC. We’d love to get to know you!

    Feel free to explore and get familiar with everything UAC has to offer. Be sure to check out the rules (don’t worry—they’re simple!) and the helpful info pinned at the top.

    It might seem like a lot at first, but you’re not alone—if you have any questions, just ask. We’re here to help and support you on your journey!

  • klolzeske
    klolzeske Posts: 7 Member
  • Alsison
    Alsison Posts: 677 Member
    edited August 2

    Hi Everyone! I am Alison and I have been an member of UAC on and off for a couple of years now..

    This group is FANTASTIC and has helped me tremendously with my weight loss journey. It has been a slow and steady journey…

    • Starting weight: December 2023 - 225 lbs.
    • Mid weight: December 2025 - 200 lbs.
    • Current weight: August 1st, 2025 - 183 lbs.

    My goal for this month is to get under (and stay under) 180 lbs., so I am committing to the process of daily tracking, exercising and staying below my calorie goal this month.

    I know how, it will work, and it will ABSOLUTELY be worth it!!

    Good luck everyone! I look forward to getting to know everyone as we go along.. 😉

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