Approaching the Finish Line Group: Only 20 pounds or LESS left until your goal!!!

Hello all! This is a group for those of us who have been living a healthy lifestyle for sometime now and have dropped a lot of weight. I know personally after a year of losing weight steadily, I'm finally seeing the finish line approaching. I started at 230 pounds now down to 179 with 19 pounds to go, and I'm thinking it would be nice to chat with other people nearing the end of the line. So if you're getting close to that wonderful phase of your life where you get to maintain, this group is for you! We'll encourage each other, track our progress, and congratulate each other as we meet and exceed our goals!

So go ahead... post your story including where you were, where you are, and where you will be soon!!!

Together I KNOW we can finish up strong!!!!

Thursday  Check In
Current Weight: 123 lbs
Progress This Week: LOST 0.7 lb

Hooray for Me: 

I actually exercised this week and almost met my goal of 600 cal burned via cardio. WooHoo I was out and about a lot b/c i had a lot of stuff to take care of and i always walk

Needs Improvement:

Portion control when I visit my parents on Sundays, although I don't log anything on that day

Thursday Check In:

Curent Weight:  132.4

Progress this week: -1.2 pounds

Hooray for me:  Still working through the C25K program, almost finished with Week 3, nope - I still do not love it though!  On my running days I follow the 30 minute program with an additional 30 minutes of walking.  The off days I go to the gym. 

Needs Improvement:  Did not do great on protein intake this week.  I was a lazy chef, I preferred eating easy stuff over cooking good stuff. 

I'm really really hoping to get down safely into the 120s before (American) Thanksgiving, because that's probably the only way I can be in a good position to meet my Christmas goal of 125.  There are so many parties and happy hours during the Christmas season, so I can't expect to continue to lose a pound a week when I'm having regular non-counting days. 

Best of luck my friends, hope everyone is as lucky as cricketro and able to post a LOST number this week!!

Original Post by a_mckh:

Best of luck my friends, hope everyone is as lucky as cricketro and able to post a LOST number this week!!

thanks. you've done well as well:)

i folowded the C2.5 k program when i incorporated HIIT into my stepper routine for the first time; i still use the program when i feel lazy

Thursday Check In:

Curent Weight:  157.5  Only 4.5 pounds to go!

Progress this week: -1  pound

Hooray for me:  Last weekend at that retreat where we were surrounded by food and alcohol 24 hours a day, I did awesome! I didn't overdo it, and I felt great about it. When everyone saw how healthy I was eating, they actually made the comment "Yep, that's why she looks like that and we look like this!" It made me feel really good.

Needs Improvement:  I have to work on cutting out the extra snacking. It's really bad once I'm home, at the end of the day after dinner. It's like I NEED to have something in my mouth, and I've tried substitutions like gum, tea, etc. and it doesn't seem to work. I'm working on at least reaching for healthy options, but man it's so hard!!!

Incidentally, does anyone else have people constantly saying you don't need to lose anymore? I'm kind of tired of hearing that... I mean I appreciate the sentiment. But I do need to lose more, and more importantly, I need to tone up. If they're saying that now, what will they say in another 5 pounds? My aerobics instructor decided to announce to everyone that I don't need to lose anymore weight in our class yesterday. That was too much attention, but I just smiled and kept on. I know where I want and need to be. This isn't it.

Anyway, congratulations to all on your losses and accomplishments! Keep up the great work, and I look forward to hearing from more of you on your progress this week.

Lauren

Thursday weigh in

Current weight: 150

Progress: lost 1 pound (back to start weight)

Hooray for me: I finally made it back to my start weight. I have been working hard for it and it has worked. Now all I need is to see the 140's. Well, not just see them, be them.

Needs Improvement: I did eat some sugar this week. I was trying very hard to stay away from it this week. I had a small amount of chocolate. Not bad but more than I wanted.

Lauren, I get that too. " You don't need to lose any more", "You're going to blow away in a strong wind". If I didn't need to lose anymore my stomach would be flat and my thighs would not jiggle so much. I have plenty of fat on me to get rid of yet. It is nice to hear the comments but they're not true. I know the number I want to get too and I will it will just take me a while, I think. How did you get down under the 5 pound mark? WOW. That number has eluded (sorry not sure of spelling) me for  long long time. You must be so happy, I am so happy for you.

Good Job to everyone this week. We all did a good job. Hopefully next week will be as good.

Thursday Check In
Current Weight: 143.2

Progress This Week: lost 0.6

Hooray for Me: still running.

Needs Improvement: gah!  only everything that goes in my mouth!

Thursday weigh in:

Current Weight: 140.6 pounds

Progress this week: -.6 pound

Horray for me: i haven't binged since I've been back and started logging more strictly! YAYYYY!!!!! AND i owe a lot of this to not keeping cereal in the house.  there's no need for it and if i make it harder to get these easy snack foods, not only will i spend less money, but i'll make healthier choices! FINALLY I FEEL IN CONTROL AGAIN!

Needs Improvement: I'm consistently over my target calorie count. 

Great job everyone! I am so proud of everyone who's trying so hard what a great inspiring community to be a part of! keep up the great work!

haha im new to this post but i guess ill do the weekely check in too!

My current weight: 151.5      goal:130

hooray for me: im breaking my plateau and i just got a job at my gym! ill be working out 6 days a week! im excited to get ripped =]

Need improvement: I need to drink more water then coffee!

Thursday Check In:

Curent Weight:  131.2

Progress this week: -1.2 pounds

Hooray for me:  Completed 2 of 3 runs for week #4 of C25K.  I'm almost afraid to put this in writing, but at the end of yesterday's run, I almost felt something that resembled strong.  I'd really love to keep feeling that way.  I ran in a park near my house yesterday, on some great paths through the woods.  I'm going to try that again, maybe that helped improve the experience?!  I also did a very good job of upping the protein this week. 

Needs Improvement:  My first goal is 125 lbs, by Christmas.  If I work really hard, I could see that goal by December 1.  I'm already knowing I'll have to adjust that goal though, because I'm still feeling really fat.  I need to work on body image and recognize I'm not fat any more.  I had hoped I would outgrow that problem, but it doesn't appear to be waning.

tammy, luckiest, cricket, pg, smiles, valerieeee - I hope the scale has been kind to you this week.  It's good to be amongst others who are pushing hard for these little successes every week, we're getting to our goals, ounce by ounce, meal by meal, run by run.  Be strong everyone!

Thursday  Check In
Current Weight: 123.5 lbs
Progress This Week: UP 0.5 lb

Hooray for Me: 

Needs Improvement:

Ugh, up again. I might not have access to chicken scale or bathroom scale for the next  3 weeks ; I'll let you know by Sunday evening. Either way, I will have net though.

Thursday Check In

Current Weight: 148

Progress the Past Two Weeks: +2 lbs. (Boo!)

Hooray for Me: I've been really good lately about actually going to the gym and completing my full work out. AND even though I'm up two pounds from my last weigh-in, my most recent short-term goal was to be below 150 by my birthday, which was this past Saturday, so I guess I met that!

Needs Improvement: Gah! I have such a sweet tooth! I was trying not to worry about counting calories over the mini-vacation I took for my birthday, and I ate waaaaay too much cake and other sweet things. In general I tend to be sort of weak when presented with delicious baked goods.

a_mckh, I totally know what you mean about adjusting your body image. It's hard when the change in your physical appearance is so gradual. It sort of weirds me out when I see current pictures of me and realize that I don't look fat because I feel like I look the same as I always have when I look in the mirror in the mornings.  I know that I need to work on this, too, or I still won't be happy when I get to my goal weight.

Thursday Check In

Current Weight: 156

Progress This Week: -1.5 lbs. Oh my goodness! Only 3 pounds to my goal!

Hooray for Me: I've been working out regularly, but to be honest, I'm not sure how I lost 1.5 pounds this week. I feel like I really over ate Friday and Saturday. I'm guessing it could be the 3 days of cardio this week. I'm going to do Pilates tomorrow to off set that.

Needs Improvement: My body image. I still feel very fat, and I'm worried if I don't get this under control, I'll end up anorexic. I'm 5'10" and big boned, and I'm at a "normal weight". But I don't feel thin. a_mckh and halfawake, I totally agree with you, and I'm not sure what to do about this.

As a side note, my in-laws have let me know I'm running in a 10K on Thanksgiving Day. I've never done a 10K and just started running about 6 months ago. I'm scared. I don't want to come in with a really terrible time and look ridiculous, you know? I have 5 weeks to prepare, any tips? help? I've never done this before and I don't know much about how this works. I can run about 5.25 miles at a time, which is less than 10K. I don't want to look like an idiot when another family member will be running in the race, and she's totally in shape and I'm huffing and puffing at the end of the pack. I don't know what to eat the day before/the morning of a race. I don't know what to wear in a race that long. I'm totally at a loss, and I'm so nervous. *sigh* I wish my inlaws weren't so competitive.

Lauren

Thursday weigh in

Current weight: 151 ARRRGGHHH

Progress: What's that? Up again 1 pound

Hooray for me: I don't feel like I can put anything here. This hold that my body has on 150-151 is getting OLD.

Needs Improvment: Pick a area. I am just so mad at myself right now.

a_mckh, I know what you mean too about body image. I still feel fat most of the time and my family thinks I am crazy. Like I'm making it up or something. They don't believe me, that I feel that way. My husband gets sick of it too becouse I still see myself 100 pounds heavier. It is a work in progress, slow progress.

luckiest, you are so close to your goal. I am so happy for you. How are you losing this steady this close to your goal weight? Got any advice for me? I need some right about now.

Thursday  Check In
Current Weight: 134 lbs
Progress This Week: LOST 1 lb

Hooray for Me: 

My husband has had to start a vegan diet as part of a migraine treatment.  Surprisingly I've really been enjoy the diet and the new challenges it brings to planning meals.

Needs Improvement:

I need to exercise!  I've been so unbelievably lazy that its no wonder I've only lost 1 lb in the last 3 weeks.. bah

tammy_180- My advice? I've been eating very close to my calories, measuring everything. That plus intense cardio 3 times a week. When you get this close to the end, you start to generalize and guestimate your daily calories. Don't do that. Be realistic and be honest with yourself. If you've eaten some extra little things here and there throughout the day, log it! Even a bite of a muffin, and even if it means you'll be over your daily limit by a little, or a lot, sometimes you need to see that large number. If you're truly honest with yourself, you can probably think of some things you ate this week that you didn't log or didn't measure. If you really want to keep losing, you have to be diligent. I learned this the hard way after a miserable plateau at 160.

Plus, and I can't emphasize this enough, don't weigh yourself too often! It will make you feel like your weight is out of control because day to day, your weight changes. Only weigh once a week, and even that may be too often.

You can do this! If this were easy, everyone would be at their ideal weight! This is HARD, but WORTH IT! When you're at a low point like this, think of your motivation, whatever that may be. I think of my bridesmaids dress I have to get into soon and stand in a line with a bunch of size 2's. I think of this 10K I'm going to have to run in 5 weeks. YOU CAN DO THIS. You just need to remember why losing is important to you, and refocus yourself.

Keep at it even when it doesn't seem to be working, because on some level, it IS working. This is no easy thing you're doing. Kudos to you on sticking with it.

Thursday Check In
Current Weight: 144.1

Progress This Week: gained 0.9

Hooray for Me: still running.

Needs Improvement: hmmm.  i've actually been a little better in the last week, but the previous week caught up to me in a big way.  but i've been at 144.1 for three days now, and my period started this morning, so i'm expecting a 1-2 pound drop by the weekend.  blah!

Thursday weigh in:

Current Weight: 142.2 pounds

Progress this week: up 1.6 pounds :-(

Horray for me: i still haven't had a major binge and i've only bough mini cereal boxes rather than the big ones.

Needs Improvement: I'm STILL consistently over my target calorie count. i might have gained because I started lifting though, too.  but i'm pretty sure i just need to cut the count down to a decent deficit.  it's just been tough with all the late night studying to keep track well, but i know I can do it! in fact, i just through out the candy i had in my room. HERE WE GO i'm Ms. strict 2000 calories!

luckiest - check out www.coolrunning.com - they are the "writers" of the C25K series, but I remember seeing on their site something about training for a 10K.  I'm sure since you're an established runner you should be able to get yourself ready for this by Thanksgiving!

ps - I LOVE your screen name, and the caption of "are you who you want to be" is so perfect too.  I think we should all ask ourselves that question every day.  Whenever I hear that song it sticks with me for hours!

My current weight: 151  (lost .5 lb)    goal: 130

hooray for me: ive been so busy that i havnt had time to sit home and eat junk all day long!!! ive just eating my healthy stuff =]

Need improvement: i have got to stop skipping the gym all the time! i need to get with it!

im so excited i offically started my job at the gym so ill be working out like 5 tim es a week! woooohoooo! my goal is to lose 6lbs in 3 weeks....i hope i can do it. im really going to be good. i want to be 144 on my bday! its been a really stressful week and i havnt been able to work out =[ but keep up the good work ladies! think thin =]

a_mckh- you can def make your goal by christmas! just keep up that running =] and congrats on the 1.2 lbs. i only lost half a pound. im so jealous of u ! haha

cricketro- dont get discouraged by the half pound....try weighing yourself tomorrow it might change. and not having acess to the scale for 3 weeks can be a good thing, weighin in too much isnt good. keep trying you can do it!

awake- dont worry about those 2lbs. they will be off in no time! congrats on achieving ur bday goal.... my goal is to lose 6lbs by my birthday which is on nov 12th. i hope i can be as successful as you were! its gonna be a rough 2lbs a week but im planning on working out 5 days a week so hopefully i can do it. i have such a sweet tooth too but dont crave cake and cookies.... i crave the bad candy that doesnt even fill you up...gummy worms,sour straws and lollipops! ..dont be upset about ur little splurge! it was ur bday!!! happy belated btw!

the luckiest- only 3lbs to your goal!!!  u really are THE LUCKIEST. hahaa i wish i was 3lbs to mine. it great that u lost 1.5 even thou u overate fri and sat,sometimes your body needs that to keep the metabolism going...about your body image...ive been there too and i did turn into an anorexic head case...its horrible. just be happy with where you are....you worked so hard....and you dont want to develope skinnyitis (thats my term for when someone looses alot of weight and still thinks they are fat) i think it helps to look at pictures from when you are heavier to make u appriciate how you look at the moment.

tammy- i know how u feel ive been stuck at 151 for foreverrrrrrrrrrrrr!

stephanie- i know how you feel. ive been lazy too! we need to get crackin on our exercise!

pgeorgian- keep up the running! def weigh yourself after ur period. u will def lose a pound. thats if you fight all those menstral cravings lol

smiles- its good that u bought the mini boxes of cereal, very smart! my weakness is cereal. i eat about 3 bowls a day!!! dont worry about the 1.6lbs! it will fly off!

Original Post by valerieeee:

cricketro- dont get discouraged by the half pound....try weighing yourself tomorrow it might change. and not having acess to the scale for 3 weeks can be a good thing, weighin in too much isnt good. keep trying you can do it!

actually i try not to weigh myself daily. right now i weigh in on Sat, Mon , Wed and Thu all for challenges. lol Yeah, 1/2 lb is most likely water weight or lack of ...well movement lol

proud to tell you that i have everything set up for our departure. wi-fi is working and i only need to get a new carry on luggage for me cause we won't be able to fit all clothes in the one we have now. so getting a smaller one for me to drag around lol