The OFFICIAL University/College Challenge

I think joining the classes is a great idea! I do a gymnastics bootcamp twice a week, and all the people are really kinda and open!! Plus it kicks my butt!

Finally saw a lower number on the scale today! Booyah to 146.2. You know, this is one of the hardest, busiest semesters I've ever taken -- so I'm incredibly thankful that I've so far pulled off working out really consistently, and still (very slowly) losing weight. I still think I'm on track for my goal this quarter.

hey mike good luck in gaining and in reaching your goal!

Yay, that's awesome that you've got a solution! I'm sure your family will notice Do they know what you've been up to, or will it be a complete surprise?

My update: Weight is stable, have decided the gain is muscle because I'm lifting higher weights than a couple of weeks back in the circuits class, and my measurements are stable. Running going well, up to 14km at the mo, which is more than I ever thought I'd do. And still loving the circuits class.

Think I've worked out what my maintenance calories are - my eating has been a bit carefree this week, and my skin is suffering for it. Had looked the best ever since dropping my calories and improving my lifestyle, and now... eek. Think that's what happens when I go over. Much as I enjoyed the chocolate at the time, not sure it was worth it, to be honest! Going to make a conscious effort to indulge less this week.

Yeah, it gets pretty bad over here in Edinburgh in the winter. Really hope I can still run outside, as my long runs hit 22k by xmas. Crazy amount. Would be torture trying to do that in gym. Been looking at... Think is yaktraxs or some similar spelling for running on snow but not sure how well they'd work on ice...

Not got a challenge, but I'd certainly like one too. Maybe some sort of points system would work? Like as an extra incentive to keep doing things - but I'm not quite sure how it would run or what winning would get us lol.

I know that by the end of November, I'll be hitting 21km, so I need to keep going and doing my runs regardless of the weather. My plan is lots of new routes (I get bored doing laps and going to the same places all the time), new music, and some new cold weather tops (at the moment I have either strappy tops or a huge jumpery thing, and nothing in between). New things work well for me. It's good having a goal to aim for - maybe set yourself an intermediate goal to something?

I'd like to keep going to my circuit classes despite it getting dark so early. My fiance and I have arranged our schedules so he goes and does his weights in the evening at the same time then we can walk together. Safety and all that.

This week, my challenge was to do something completely unlike me... non exercise related, obviously.... so I dyed my hair red! Lol.

My weight has been all over the place this week - with a general downward trend despite eating unreasonable amounts of ice cream, yum. Am attributing it to coming off the pill - I take the packets back to back for several months then take a break - so whilst I know other people talk about what happens to their weight at particular times of the month, I'm completely clueless in that respect.

Had to buy a belt for my jeans today. Been feeling like every time I stood up, they'd fall down. Haven't yet, thankfully - but apparently my body shape is still changing. In the meantime though, I don't want to spend money on stuff that might not last me very long. And I ordered the most gorgeous red coat in a UK size 10 - tried it on - massively too big for me. Having to reorder it for a size 8. Apparently I don't know what size I am anymore. Or I think I'm bigger than I am. Better than the other way round though I guess! Shame though, I'm incredibly impatient and I really REALLY wanted to wear my coat already

Andforpoise, I'd love to do voice lessons. Love singing, but not confident enough in my voice to even sing when my fiance is in the flat! Occasionally he sneaks in on me doing it when he's been out for an evening run, mortifying!

Yoga has always intrigued me a bit. I'm incredibly inflexible, so it would probably be good for me, but I'm not sure I'd want to give up some of my time to do something that doesn't really burn that many calories? And I used up all my nerve starting one class by myself. Considering asking a friend to be a running buddy sometimes - bumped into her when I was doing some laps of the park and she was headed to the gym, and she jogged along with me for a bit - nowhere near as awkward or irritating as I thought it would be to have someone with you. I've always been a music only sort of girl. Might be worth a try, anyway. Especially since I've just found out that after Xmas, my uni timetable changes completely - 9-5 pretty much every day, which will play havoc with my training schedule, and I'm slightly panicing about it already. Hate it when things don't go to plan! Anyway, it's a long time off - might as well make the most of it all going so well at the moment!

I'm 20 years old, studying Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Leicester.

Current weight: 208lbs (haven't weighed my self for 2 weeks, don't plan on doing so for another week. My scales are at home :P)

Goal for the end of November: 202lbs

As for recipes, I generally cook what I want. I pretty much know what flavours work/don't work together and so go along those lines. I hate following recipes, and even when I do, I always tweak them to suit me. Cooking this way allows me to cook in a more healthier way and its really so much more fun! I love cooking!

Running in between lectures is a great idea - I'm finding my running is having to be neglected until the weekend due to not getting home until pitch black

As for snacks - I have the same problem! But here are some of my favourites:

Fruit
Rice cakes
Meat free meatballs (quorn or just tesco meat-free brand)
Soup in a flask is also a great snack - often only about 100-130 calories per half can

I always find that I eat my breakfast at 6-6.30 (about 420 calories) but by the time it gets to 8.30-9.30 I'm staaarving again!! Haha

I've just discovered Graze boxes. I don't know if they're just a UK thing, but basically you go to the website and sign up, rate the food options on there as to whether you want to bin, try, like or love them, and then they send you out a box with a random choice of 4 in there based on your ratings as often as you specify. They have all sorts of things - from dried fruit to bread, olives and dips, nuts and some with chocolate in, and each little serving comes with nutrients and calorie counts. This is totally awesome for me - I'm a bit of a picky eater with regards to trying things, but I like the idea of having little boxes of snacks to munch through during class (just to absent mindedly grab at), and this is encouraging me to try new things when they arrive - and it has to be more healthy than what I have been doing. Even if I just find a few new options I like and then I could make my own bags of munchies lol.

I've got a code so you can sign up and get a free box if anyone is interested (you can then cancel your account afterwards if you just want a one off free food lol).

Anyway, life has gone back to normal after last weekend and the stomach bug. Back on track with the running plan, and my weight hasn't really changed at all so that's good. Hard core revision starts this weekend, eek, but we have a nice dinner planned for after my long run on Sunday, so trying to keep a mixture of work and play - not something I usually manage, but a better balance couldn't hurt mentally!

Aww no! That's rubbish. That's what scares me most, actually - injuring myself whilst running and then only being able to maintain through eating properly, not being able to make it ok with exercise. Hopefully you've not done anything too serious? Have you seen a doctor about it? Maybe there's something you can still do exercise wise that puts less strain on it

Ouch! Bet that hurts! Only real suggestion I have is swimming, because at least then you're not putting any force on it. But I always find that so hard to do during term time, never know when the lanes will be quiet etc. But maybe?