25 pound challenge (Closed)

I’ve got about 50 lbs to lose, but I really need to break it up a little. I was thinking about doing a 50 lb challenge, but I didn’t want to shut out losers who have less to lose! So I thought that a 25-to-lose group would be a happy medium. I’m looking to start a support and accountability group whose main goal is to lose 25 pounds by the end of June. That’s about 1.5 lbs a week, which I think is very doable. I’m looking for folks who are losing with healthy diet and exercise, any plan is fine, but no “cabbage soup” fad diet nonsense, no pills, etc. Just healthy lifestyle changes.

Goal: To lose 25 pounds by June 30th.

Motto: Who dares, wins!

Members: Anyone with 25 or more pounds to lose.

Post: Daily if possible. Post goals, daily food and exercise stats, problems, anything related to your weight loss journey. Post tips, articles, stories, anything helpful or motivating. Post recipes and exercise routines too, if you want.

If you’re in, do an introductory post, and here’s mine!

I’m Pook. I’m a 43 year old woman who lives in Louisville KY. I’m 5’ 7”. I started at 230 lbs, and I’m presently 199. My plan is to eat healthy food, lower fat, higher fiber, and daily exercise. I mostly walk, but I also enjoy yoga, water aerobics, weights, bike riding and dancing. A year ago, I got down to 175, but then I got stupid and went back up to 205. I’m back down to 199, and determined to make up lost ground.

hi guys! good to see everyone is well and on track! good for us!  i did it.  30 mins on the elliptical.  it was hell staying on, but i forced myself to. i feel great!  wooo

stay on track everyone!  we are in this together!

Hi Folks.  I'm watching the news... I can't believe it's snowed today in Alabama!  Are of you guys down south and getting a once in a decade event?!

I had an okay day today.  Studied studied studied... so exciting (it's pretty pathetic when the barista knows your name and order and that you like fun colored pens), and ended up not going to the gym -- I'm so sore from yesterday! Decided to give myself a re-coup day.  Will 100% go tomorrow.

I also have a really cool snack for those of you who like peanut butter and chocolate and do okay with control and moderation with things sitting in your pantry ... I don't know how many of you get this in your grocery store, but the Peanut Butter Co. (my all time favorite peanut butter, they own a really cool restaurant too, and are all natural) has a Chocolate Peanut Butter.  It's 170 cal per 2 tbsp, which is less than the typical 200 cal in regular peanut butter.  There is a bit more sugar, but less fat, and is sooooo amazing.  I eat a teaspoon or two as a treat (60 cals!) and it completely satisfies my peanut butter and chocolate cravings.  Just thought I would pass it along :)  You can check if it's stocked near you on their website.

Mamamia - climbing stairs is actually less impact on your knees than running (2x body weight instead of 4x for running).  it's going down that is high impact (6-7x body weight, yikes!).  It's actually recommended for people who are overweight and have trouble running!  there was a great article in the NY Times about stair running recently.

onetwothreeme - such a good job substituting and working out!

Jltoffer - awesome job out to eat! Portion control is so hard! All of the studies about our brain and food say that we have such a hard time telling if we have eaten enough when offered large portions... you did great!

Amber - great weight loss!  I'm 151.2 today, and hope by next week I have lost that much! It seems like i have slowed down a bit, which has been frustrating.  I bet being under 145 was a great surprise!  Also, have you thought about switching to egg whites?  They are almost all protein, and you can get them in cartons so that you don't feel like you are wasting the yolks.  I think they are just as yummy, and eat them all the time!

Hi pook and everyone,

I have been reading your posts and think this is an involved group :) and I could use some help to stay on track. I am back at 140 (again) am a 5'2" lady and would really like to hit 130 by my 30th birthday. My clothes are all tight and I would really like to fit into them again. I hope 2 months is enough time for 10 lbs. My ideal body weight is closer to 120 but I wouldn't mind taking a bit longer to get there.

Is there room for me in this group ? I know you guys were talking of closing the group - but I would appreciate it if you could give me a chance! If you are done with newbies for now I will understand. Let me know!

Thanks :)

Edit: My birthday is at the end of June :) so that gives me 4 months (I suck at Math). I will shoot for 120 if you guys are ok to have me around.

Amber- Congrats on the loss!  It sounds like you are doing great!  I have to watch my fat intake as well, so I know where you’re coming from.

Onetwothreeme- Great job on the elliptical!

Fly- if you’re that sore, you should rest a day.  Maybe you overdid it a little yesterday.  That is so weird about the stairs vs running thing.  Now, with my knees, I can’t do either, but on the stairs, down is easier than up on my bad knee.  I think I do favor it a bit on the way down.

No stats on me yet, I still haven't eaten dinner.  I just wanted to drop in and see how folks are doing.

Pook

so far no binge attacks tonight! yippeee!  just checking in and saying hi!

I am new to this site. If I reply- does that get me added to this group?

4myhealth- Welcome!  Consider yourself part of the group!  Why don't you write a short post to tell us about yourself?

Pook's Sunday-
I had a great day today!  Super good for me on a weekend.  I’m not usually good at exercising on the weekend.  I had a one hour Zumba class, and bounced on my mini-tramp for 15 minutes.
Calories burned- 2780
Calories eaten- 1734
fat- 24%
Sat fat- 11 grams
fiber- 35 grams
I didn’t eat enough fruit and veggies during the day, but made up for it a bit at dinner, so I did ok, but not great.

Hi everyone!  I thought I'd check in.  I am trying to check in and read everyone's posts at least once a day.  Even though I've been a member for years posting and group challenges are still kind of new to me so I am still trying to get a hang out of responding and checking in but am making an effort.

Fly ~ thanks for the kind words.  It is always nice to have someone help you look on the bright side of things :).

I did much better yesterday!  I took my son on a long walk to a near by park and then we stopped at a cafe for a quick bite to eat.  I was also able to stay within the range I like to be in calorie wise so that made me really happy.

Today I did pretty good too.  Turkeys were on sale yesterday for $1/ pound so I cooked it up today with all the trimmings for my boys (partner and our son).  I bought a digital kitchen scale on Friday so I was able to portion and freeze a lot of the bird so I will have lean protein for meals on the fly >> no pun intended I assure you!

I have been off school for a week now and tomorrow I have an 8:00 a.m. class.  I plan to get in some cardio on the elliptical tomorrow right after I get home from my classes.  Pook, exercise is still one of those things that I am trying to make more consistent too, sounds like your Saturday went well!

Tori

I just joined today and enjoyed reading every ones entries. I joined because I do need motivation. At times thinking about how much weight needs to be lost can be depressing. I was at the point where it did not seem to be a matter of will. Then I stopped the pitty party and went online. I will be dedicated to this- even when I feel the fatigue is too much to handle. I just have to say "JUST DO IT" I was a runner five years ago. Since then I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have gained 50 pounds since. I know I will feel better once I get myself on a exercise routine. Thank you all for your motivating entries.

good morning everyone.  i feel refreshed and a little different today.  maybe its because i didnt gorge on crap this weekend like i usually do.  jeez it was painful to control those binge attacks.  so happy i didnt give in. i stepped on the scale and today i am at 162.5.  god only knows i would have gained instead of lost this weekend if i caved into my habits. phew!  a good lesson learned and strength and confidence gained to reach my first goal.  

today my goal is a buttload of water, elliptical 30 mins, low carb, high protein.

STATS:

HEIGHT: 5'8
START: 164.5
CURRENT WEIGHT: 162.5
GOAL: 150

TOTAL LEFT TO LOSE: 12.5

LOST SiNCE FEB 28 2009: 2

Hello Everyone!

This sounds like just what I need to get 25 pounds off by June 30.  My 40th wedding anniversary is in June, and I want to get it off by then.  I presently weigh 176.   I have started Curves, counting calories, and walking. 

Today my goal is to exercise, drink 64 oz of water and keep my calories down.

Hey all-

So I went to the cycling class last night like I said I would...and it was rough. haha. However, I was talking to the instructor (she's currently a medical student at our school, along with being a certified spinning instructor and fitness instructor) and she recommended I get a heart rate monitor so i can train my body to burn more fat at a lower heart rate.  It was actually really interesting!  I'll let you all know how it works out once I get one in a couple weeks.

Other than that, I ended up eating a few girl scout cookies last night.  They're definitely hard to stay away from. I only ate 3 though. haha.

Today's goal: more water, kickboxing and weights tonight (ugh) and getting this stupid midterm paper done that i'm working on (or procrastinating from).

Have a great day!

awesome to see everyone in check and serious about losing this weight.  snow day today.  reached my goal of 30 mins on the elliptical.  nice to know its out of the way already.  still chugging that water and contemplating on what to eat.  stay on track everybody!

Hey girls! I think we're all girls here?? sorry if there's a guy out there and I missed him! haha. So I'm still moving along doing low carb and all. It snowed today and I got up early to shovel before leaving for work. Didn't really want to but it's some easy "necessary exercise." Either doing cardio and pilates tonight or weights and pilates, I haven't decided yet. Hope everyone is doing well and moving in the right direction! 

I weighed 147.4 on Sunday, already down 2.4 lbs yay! I was looking to get to 142 by March 11th, which may be doable, we shall see. That would mean I have lost 10lbs since January, and I can do another set of measurements.

SW: 149.8
CW: 147.4
STGW: 142
LTGW: 130

~2.4 lbs lost, 17.4 to go!

Hi, I was invited to join last week and here I am, Hope to keep on track with my diet, just started on CC on Feb 22, 2009 Suppose to keep calories around 1650 and have averaged a little over 1550 so far, It would be hard to keep track if I did not use cc. Will try to check in every day that I can. Wanted to get out and walk today but to cold for me, about 15 deg and windy.  Roger from Western NY

Happy Monday everyone! 

Oh my!  I can see I can't skip checking in on the weekends!  There were a lot of posts to read!  LOL! 

Hey Pook- I have a suggestion... after this DOES get closed, I think we should do a re-cap post, listing all of the members and our stats.  That way, we can have a quick snapshot of who we all are, ages, current weight, goals, etc!  And also whether we are male or female!  Welcome Roger! 

Nancy

Greetings everyone!

I second Nancy's re-cap post suggestion.  I think it's a really good idea.

Well today wasn't the most academically productive day of my life ha!  I stayed up late last night getting everything together for today so that I could get ready quickly and eat breakfast before my early class and guess what???  I slept right through my alarm!  My SO woke me up right at the time that I should've been out the door...oops.  Don't get me wrong, I am not taking a non-chalant attitude towards school but I'll forgive myself this time around. I have good grades, (I'm on the college's honour roll) so missing one day won't hurt them. 

I had this insane idea of crushing up my vitamins and putting them into my water bottle... I wouldn't recommend it.  I have a sandy-metalic taste in my mouth that I just can't shake and I also read that you shouldn't take calcium and iron at the same time..(which I did).

I made a 115 calorie /50g slice banana bread today using avocadoes instead of butter.  It is very moist and you can't even taste the avocado... could use a little more sweetening though but it is still a very palatable whole-grain treat.

I haven't worked out today...yet but I promise I will.

Original Post by rogervanderwalker:

Hi, I was invited to join last week and here I am, Hope to keep on track with my diet, just started on CC on Feb 22, 2009 Suppose to keep calories around 1650 and have averaged a little over 1550 so far, It would be hard to keep track if I did not use cc. Will try to check in every day that I can. Wanted to get out and walk today but to cold for me, about 15 deg and windy.  Roger from Western NY

Hi Roger, I'm glad you've joined!  Good job on your calories, I couldn't do this without the tools and people on CC :)

Hi Ladies and Roger!

Today started out as a downer and then ended up really great!  

My weight has be fluctuating a ton this week, and yesterday, finally, it looked like I might have lost a pound, and then this morning it was back up again! So frustrating!  I have until Wednesday for this week to be official, but my guess is I won't lose much at all!  It's all the more troubling because I haven't had one slip up.

But anyway, this evening, I went and signed up with a brand new gym that had a great deal for the spring and is way fancier, and lots more classes.  Very exciting!  And then I did day 2 of week 1 of couch to 5k, and that went really well, followed by another half hour of walking and then a lovely vegan dinner.

So I am very content, despite the morning frustrations.  And now am watching the first Harry Potter Movie while reading my textbooks.

PS - Crushed up vitamins sound completely disgusting.  Once, my mom had the amazing idea to put all of her supplements into the blender with a smoothie... she forgot one of the things she took was fish oil.  GROSS.

Hi I'm Liz! I live in Ontario, Canada. I am 23 years old and have 2 kids under 2, my daughter will be 2 later this month and my son is almost 8 months old.

Start weight: (July 2007) 234 lbs.
Current Weight: 189 lbs.
Current Goal Weight: 164 lbs. (By June 14th... approximately 1.5-2lbs a week)Future Goal Weight: 134lbs.

My new exercise routine consists of:

Mon       Curves 1/2 hour / 20 minute brisk walk
Tues      Curves 12 hour / 20 minute brisk walk / 30 minute walk/jog combo
Wed      30 minute walk/jog combo
Thurs    30 minute walk/jog combo
Fri          Curves 12 hour / 20 minute brisk walk / 30 minute walk/jog combo
Sat        Curves 12 hour / 20 minute brisk walk / 30 minute walk/jog combo
Sun       30 minute walk/jog combo

I just joined Curves today and already love it!!! I started the walk/ jog combo on Feb. 28 and it makes me feel great to finally be able to run again... haven't done that since highschool. May seem a little extreme, but the exercise is more for being able to have "me time." Before this I was just taking brisk 30-45 minute walks 3 or 4 times a week.