25 pound challenge: Jul-Nov '09

This is a continuation group for the members of "25 pound challenge" which started in Feb and is to end June 30th.  I know many of us need to continue in our goals, and to kick it off I decided to start a new group -- hopefully this will give us extra motivation too!

The woman who started it all "pook" had the following original post, and I wanted to post it here so that we have the same ideas/goals/points.

I hope to see all the members of the old group, and any additional people who would like to join us!

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Original Post (modified with current dates):

I’m looking to start a support and accountability group whose main goal is to lose 25 pounds by the end of November. 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 November 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.

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If you’re in, do an introductory post including: stats, weight loss plan, exercise plan, weight history, etc. and anything else you'd like us to know!!

Here's my introductory post:

SW: 278 (2005)
       220 (2006)

CW: 211

GW: 180-175

Lowest Weight: 197 (Nov. 08)

I'm ekai, 25, 5'11.  I like to exercise and lift weights, but nothing specific because I switch it up a lot.  Anything that makes me move is good!  I need to eat 1200 calories a day in order to lose weight but I need some encouragement because I've not been sticking to it lately...  that's where you guys come in!

Hi! I've been trying to lose weight actively and healthily since February. I have only lost 18.5 pounds cause honestly I haven't been good all the time. A 25 pouind challenge is exactly what I need to get motivated and lose some weight before the winter sets in. I know it will be harder for me to lose then cause my favourite excersizes are outdoor and I live in Toronto, Canada where it gets COLd in the winter.

Here are my stats! (Start, Current, Challenge Goal, Final Goal, Lowest Weight Ever)

SW - 230

CW - 211.5

CGW - 181.5

FGW - 130

LWE - 118

Good luck to everyone!

ekai, i really agree with what you've said about lots of communication, so i am going to try even though i am normally a pretty shy person because i really want all of us to succeed.

ekai, it is okay if you don't start until july 1 (is that tomorrow? wow), just don't completely binge and then regret it.  make sure the foods you are eating are ones you really want to eat.  don't just eat saltines or something because you know you aren't going to after july 1.  i try to eat just over 1,000 calories and i know it is not easy.  i know it isn't a lot, but i am so short.

Roger, amazing progress.  you are incredibly inspiring.  i don't know if you've tried this, but if you have a pool available, swimming is amazing exercise that won't put stress on your joints.  keep up the good work!

Holly, don't worry that you are the biggest.  you just had a kid!  but i think maybe playing outside with your four year old would be great exercise as well.  and some tips on restaurants: know your favorite restaurants.  if they are big chains, a lot of the nutritional info is on line, if not, just try to think about it logically.  you don't need to order garden salads everywhere either.  just try to order healthy choices, but make sure you enjoy them because otherwise they are just empty calories!  or, if what you want comes in huge portions and you know you won't be able to stop (like me!), ask for them to put half in a togo container when you order it and then you can either eat it the next day or give it to the fiance or just forget it!  there is a great book on eating out but i forget what it is called.  if you maybe tell me what some of the restaurants you go to the most are, i can help.

littlejaybird, i like that you have a goal with your jogging as well as your weight.

mfajita, i really like the rewards thing so i've invented a few for myself :)  and exercising everyday, even if it is for ten minutes is a great habit to get into.

Jennifer and Natalie you are going to look stunning in those dresses!

Susie, you can do this!  accepting it is half the battle, then you can move on and fight!  do start exercising, though.  get a jogger and go walking (maybe in the future jogging) with your daughter.  then you can't even feel guilty for taking the time for yourself :)

Tanya, i know what it is like to have to lose weight for what you love.  i do ballet seriously and am one of the best, definitely one of the strongest, but this extra weight it bringing me down!  lets lose this weight so we can look and feel fabulous!

Everyone, keep it up!  we can all lose this weight and improve our live :)  good luck everyone!

Hi!  I'm Tammy, 44 yrs old and 5'6", medium build.  I started losing weight in Oct '07 and did well until about Oct '08 and I think I just got tired of all the counting and trying.  I hit a plateau and couldn't lose an ounce to save my life. 

Now I'm having trouble with eating late at night.  I do so well during the day, then about 9pm, I want to eat and eat for no reason.  I'm serious about this  and want to get the last 20-25lbs off now. 

SW: 240lbs (Oct '07)

CW:  183lbs

GW:  160lbs, maybe 155

BTW, I try to walk outdoors every day.  I'm limited as to what I can do.  I walk with a cane and have serious problems with my back and left leg (nerve damage from discs).  So everyday I struggle with pain and force myself to move as much as possible.  3 yrs ago I was in a wheelchair and got out of it on my own!  So I know I can lose this weight with support from all of you!

Good luck and let's do this!!!  ;)

Help!  i am going to soup plantation tomorrow for my little sister's birthday party and welcome any advice on how to control myself.

Tammy, your story is very inspirational.  overcoming something as huge as being confined to a wheelchair makes losing weight seem like no big deal.  although the eating at night can be very difficult.  i think some motivation might help though.  maybe if you come up with a reward for not eating at night it might help.  maybe factoring in one food you really love during the day if you don't eat the night before.  or if you don't eat at night all week, giving yourself a nonfood treat like getting your nails done or something you really enjoy but feel it is an indulgence or maybe a new pair of shoes.  but i feel it helps to give myself some reason not to eat the whole package of pasta other than looking better.  all the money you will save on food can go towards things you will actually enjoy.  you've done so well with the walking, maybe try and transfer that way of thinking to your late night eating.  i know, easier said than done.

Well, it's the 1st, so I figured I would weigh in.

SW: 183
CW: 178.5
GW: 150 (for challenge)
       &nb sp;140-145 (overall)

I'm down 3 pounds from when I originally posted in this thread. Here's hoping I can keep losing. :) If I stick to this challenge, I should be at my goal weight by Christmas. That would be amazing. ^^

SW: 247
CW: 244.4
GW: 160

Total lbs lost: 2.6 lbs

109.9 this morning!  so excited!  i've lost a pound since sunday.  3 pounds down, 22 more to go.  we can do this!

Ah heck why not, I can use all the support I can get!

My name is John, I am 32 and have been extremely overweight for as long as I can remember. I have recently come to the conclusion that nothing will change until I take the initiative to change it. I tried going to the gym regular and just lost motivation after my first trip took me out of the routine. I have decided a new approach may be more manageable for me right now which is simply paying attention to what I eat, how much I eat, making healthy choices, and staying active with things I like. I play softball once a week, I am in a bowling league once a week, and I try to go hiking once a week. I also try to walk (instead of drive) as many places as I can. Occasionally I will hit the gym as I have the time or the weather prevents me from doing outdoor activities. With that being said here are my stats:

SW 332.8 (5/25/09)

CW 317.2

GW (short term) below 300 by Labor Day

GW (long term) 175-185 (I have a long way to go, that is why short term goals are so important to me).

As far as eating, I have learned fruits and vegetables are my friends. I have learned how to make an excellent salad and that egg whites are not as nasty as I once thought they were. fortunately I have always preferred wheat bread so that is not a big deal for me. I have started subbing wheat flour into more recipes (for white flour of course) and I am learning about fat substitutes for oil. I try to cook as much as I can, bbut I do not always have the time for it. During the week when I work I find that I do a lot of the Weight Watchers Smart Ones (for breakfast and lunch) because they are so easy, sized well and reasonable on the nutrients, though I am quickly learning they may not be as healthy as I thought so that may be changing.

So there you go I will try to update in here at least once a week.

I'm Misty. I'm 26, 5'3" and 154.6 as of this morning. I eat about 1,200-1,400 calories a day, aiming for 1,200. I run and am currently halfway through the C25K plan. I walk on my off days. I want to get more exercise in, but I am not pushing myself too hard until all the other stuff I am doing feels like habit (which it is starting to, especially the running). And, actually, not just habit, but I actually want to do it. So far I think that the running has become something I look forward to and even cringe at the thought of missing it. The calories have been less of a desire, but I am starting to get excited about meeting my calorie goal everyday. I hope that by updating my calories eaten and my calories expended and my weights on here every day or so that I can not only recieve good advice when I need it, but also inspire you all to reach your goals.

Stats

CW: 154.6

GW: 120

Intake: ~1,400 (I havn't had dinner yet, but so far I'm at 669) calories.

Output: 1,700 sedientary BMR + 280 for the run + 60 for my bike ride to and from work + 644 for working all day = 2,684

Deficit: - 1,280-ish

Good Luck, all!!

misty, i was wondering if maybe you had some advice for starting a running routine.  i don't want anything as intense as you, but maybe to be able to jog a couple miles.  thanks!

-elly

misty, i was wondering if maybe you had some advice for starting a running routine.  i don't want anything as intense as you, but maybe to be able to jog a couple miles.  thanks!

-elly

I definately reccomend C25K. It starts out really easy, all running and walking alternated, which is best for loosing weight anyways, alternating the two. I've tried many ways of running and this is the best. I did alternating one minute running, one minute walking for a while, that wasn't bad, either, but I like C25k a lot. Go to

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.s html

And then I also use mapmyrun.com cause its the best for calculating distance and calories and all.

The thing about any running plan is you can start out sprinting or just jogging according to your fitness level. You don't have to run hard right away.

CW: 152.6

GW: 120

Walked 75 minutes = -235 calories

Breakfast: Coffee, skim milk, cup of blackberries = +88 calories

Yesterday:

Intake: +1,584

Output: -2,684

Deficit: -1,100 calories

More updates later or tomorrow.

Good Luck TODAY, ALL!

first off, thanks misty.  i think i am going to start that 5k program once i get back from NY in a week and a half.  i think i might drag my little sister along because she does track but won't do cross country because of the distance.

so i've been doing amazing this week if i do say so myself.  i've been in fun situations where i would usually overeat and haven't.

keep up the great work everyone!

Hi everyone!  I lost 17lbs during the last 25 pound challenge and I'm excited to join the new group! - thanks for starting it Ekai.  I recognize a lot of the names here :)

I'm kinda busy right now with company & the holiday so this will be brief -

Mia - 5'7" - Medium build, age 43.
SW on Jan/06/09:205.6
Quit smoking Mar/24/09
Diagnosed w/anemia Jun/05/09
SW on Jul/02/09: 171.8
159 lbs will put me at a healthy BMI
Goal for this challenge: 147

wow the support so far is great!! keep it up

I had a good week last week but this week i'm not doing so well... I've been more tired which makes me want to eat more.. and i'm not making good choices.... what do you guys do when you're getting off track?

Elly - i think it's great that you want to start a running routine... I really like the routine that Misty showed you but I wanted to offer an alternative, i know i don't like keeping track of distance so this one only requires you to pay attention to time... and for that I use music.. I make a new playlist for each week so that if i'm running for two minutes I'll use a two minute song and when it switches I know I can walk again anyways heres the link if you are interested... or if anyone else is! http://running.about.com/od/getstartedwithrun ning/ht/getstarted.htm

John - welcome!! looks like you're doing well so far

shaye, foffles - way to get a great start!

Tammy - I agree with Elly, you're story is very inspirational.. I also struggle with late-night eating.. but it gets easier if you can resist for a few days!! If I don't for 5 days than I don't want to on the sixth because I'll ruin the streak haha be a little competitive with yourself.. I like Elly's idea, a reward for going without the late-night snacks!

akasharaine - I can empathize with you, I also live where the winters are COLD which I find makes it much harder to lose weight and very easy to gain... I always want to eat and never exercise in the winter

ekai - thanks for starting this and for encouraging everyone!!

Sorry, I don't think I even got through half of the members of this group... but keep it up everyone!!

Happy July :) The official start of the challenge

Hey MIA!  Nice to "see" a familiar person here! 

My story inspirational?  Heck, I gained 10 lbs in one week!  Everyone said I'd lose it quick and it stuck to me like Super glue! I still can't get rid of it!  I was at 170 for months on end and then in February I put on 5 lbs over night, literally. Then a couple days later, 5 more pounds!  Can you imagine???  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  Everyone I talked to said it was water weight and it would go away in a week or so.  Yeah, right.  I still have it hanging around.

I'm starting over now.  I know I relaxed over the winter bc I'm scared to walk outside when there is snow on the ground. I can't afford to fall.  Anyways, I have to lose this weight before winter rolls around again. Ya know?

So far, I'm doing good this week.  No eating at night, except some strawberries once in a while.  But no chips, ice cream or anything.  ;)  I have to keep this up.  I can't cave! I just can't.

BBL   

Today:

Weight 152.6

Goal weight: 120

Output: -1940

Intake: +1617

Deficit: -323

Bad day, but its always a good day when there is at least some deficit. Was it worth it? No, I need to space my calories out better instead of lumped all at dinner.

littlejaybird thanks for the other running plan.  i think i might do some of both.  i like the idea with the music!

keep it up tammy!  you've been staying away from the bad stuff at night this week so now you really know you can do it.  be strict.  you can do this :)

as for me today, i went to the fair.  don't worry, no fair food, but i did replace dinner and snacks with chocolate covered raisins and yogurt covered pretzels and a little other candy, so not great but could be a hell of a lot worse.  and i still totaled 1,300 calories.  i'm just praying the number on the scale tomorrow morning isn't up.

Weighed in at 221 lbs. Up a lb. this am, still down 29 lbs from my starting weight, that is good. We will see what tuesday brings forth.  June average cc was 1609 per day, the goal is 1650 so I did good there.

Roger from Western NY 

I'm in. 

SW:  ??? (235-ish in January, I'm guessing.  I didn't weigh myself til mid-March.  At that point, I'd lost a bunch of weight.)

CW:  203

Goal: 165-170

Diet plan: 1800 vegetarian (ideally vegan) calories, most days.  I'm giving myself a free day every now and then, because I can't squeeze a beer into an 1800 calorie diet.

Exercise:  Kickin' butt at the gym on the cardio machines and on weights six days a week.  My cardio routine is brutal.  Weights, not so much.  Also, my wife takes the car to work, so I have to walk anywhere I want to go.

I'm motivated now, but that's because I'm a teacher and have nothing to do during the summer except stay motivated.  I'm worried about my motivation level when school starts up in August.