Competitive person looking to start by losing ten pounds

I am 25 yrs old, female, 5'4", 154 lbs.  I never struggled with weight when I was younger, but have begun to.  Im looking to lose 30 lbs.  Right now Im focussing on the first ten.  Having someone to keep me going is a big plus, so Im looking for someone with similar goals as me to compare workouts, calories burned, calories eaten, and weight lost with.  Weigh ins once or twice a week with a log of what we did for exercise and calories consumed.  I definitely don't know a lot about working out so I think that comparing notes will help us figure out what works the best.  Im very competitive and want someone else who likes to win.  If we both push ourselves to "win" we can only help eachother.  Please respond if you are interested.  I live in Albany, NY so if anyone's from around here even better.  Thanks and good luck to everyone!

~L

help out the math dummy.....    poupe did a good example, but I need to hear/see it again....   let's just use today to keep it simple for the slow girl.

cals in by the end of the night = 1600

cals burned = 390

how does that translate to my deficit?  is there more info I am missing?   like here's what it is in my head.... 

I ate 1600 - 390 = 1210, but..... that just gives me cals in, right?   uummm,  see?   that;s as far as I can get.   seems like a number is missing...  like my expenditure maybe? 

OKAY EDIT:   so my burn rate is supposedly 2100, so my deficit is 890, is that right? 

SORRY in advance, lms, I am not sure I am smart enough to that daily or even weekly.   you may HAVE to help.  on the upside, if you ever need anything proofread, I am your girl for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ( :

WEDNESDAY WEIGH-IN: 139.2

Janay, did you want us to fill in the dates below with our goal weights, or actual weights? Lemme know, and I'll post. Thanks:)

Start Weight: 

Goal Weight: 115 - 120

• 10-29: 
• 11-5:
• 11-12:
• 11-19:
• 11-26:
• 12-3:

lol- LMS is the boss, applesauce.   ( :  

I think real weights, but I don;t know.....  

I am ticked.  I saw 153 this week, have been good eating and working out, pretty much stopped drinking at all  (was drinking a LOT), and this morning my weight is 159!!!!!!    yesterday 154.6.  what gives????   ) :    oh well. 

Name:  Janay O

Height: 5'6" short

Start Weight:  I GUESS 159, agh. 

Goal Weight:  149  (my original goal was 150 when I was 230, so....) 

    * 10-29    159
    * 11-5
    * 11-12
    * 11-19
    * 11-26
    * 12-3

Hey everyone! You should put your goal weight once at the top and then put your actual weight by the date.  I dont weigh in until tonight after the gym.  We had staff lunch today which we usually do on Friday's and so we got Chili's.  At least they have a "low calorie" spot on the menu.  I had a "Guiltless Chicken Sandwich," but I still feel guilty about it.  At 490 Calories it was a lot better than anything else on the menu... and I didnt eat the big tub of black beans so I feel like it wasnt even 490.  Either way.  In order to get your deficit you basically need to subtract your calorie intake total from your burn meter total at the end of the day.  Between 500 - 1000 is good, or at least thats what I read.  Didn't go to the gym yesterday since it was Tuesday, but it made me feel lazy.  Im currently trying to motivate myself to go today.  Wednesdays are so busy at my gym right after work and I know if I go home and then go to the gym it'll probably never happen.

Janay... Your weight fluctuation could have to do with what time of day you are taking it.  Are you doing it at the same time every day?  The morning is the best time to weigh yourself.  I dont have a scale at home so i tend to do it after I work out.  It's the first day so for now ur gonna try to get down to 149... thats good.  Check it tomorrow and see if it fluctuates a lot.

Ill be weighing myself tonight and will post it later on.  My weight today will be my starting point for the ten pound initial loss.  Good luck everyone and keep working hard!

I <3 CHili's.    I like the black bean burger from that part of the menu.  ANd the grilled chicken plater BUT it is all really high sodium.   ) :    dang it

I weigh every morning after my workout/shower.  I even try to stand the same place on the scale = a little OCD.  =P  lol

I am logging everything REALLY seriously so that this post will be the plateau breaker/ get me to my goal post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks, LMS!

ooh, sorry I've been totally MIA!
I love the organizational skills in this thread.

OpalAurora:

Height: 5'4"

Today's weight: 139  (I've been stuck here for a loooong time *sigh*)
Goal weight: 115-125

10/29: 139

had an awesome day yesterday, worked out AND ate well.  Today, I've been stress-eating like crazy.  I'm definitely over my calorie target, but I dont think by too much.

Halloween is coming up!  Eeek!  I'm going trick or treating with some friends (heh, yeah I'm a bit old, but I'm really doing it more for  the memories than for the candy).  I plan on giving most of my candy away, ASAP!

What are you guys doing for Halloween?

PS:  Thanks for this thread!

I have the best plans for Halloween!!!

I broke up with my ex a month ago , and I am going to see my high school sweetheart in St. Louis for Friday-Sunday.      so excited!

I hope it goes well.....   it;s been a long time, but there's great chemistry.  guess we'll see..... wish me luck!

Name:  Pouple80601

Height: 5'6" 

Start Weight: 140 

Goal Weight: 115 - 120

    * 10/29 - 139.2

Opalaurora: Glad you came back! Looks like we have similar weight stats and goals. 

dang, did I forget?  

10/29  159  (up for some reason)

and then this AM, 157.  who knows? 

Hey everyone. 

5'4" - 25 yrs old.

Goal weight - 124 lbs

10/29/08 - 148.5 lbs

I started out excersizing 3 weeks ago at 154.  I changed my eating habits about a week and a half ago, so Im doing pretty well.  My ultimate goal is 124 by Valentines Day, but thats almost 2 lbs a week til then and with working out and gaining muscle it doesnt seem very realistic.  But hey, a girl can dream...  Im gonna compile a formal list for everyone. 

Alright ladies,

  Here are the starting weights for our overall goal of ten pounds.  I know some of us have already lost since we started working out, but for the purposes of this group we will try to lose ten lbs. from yesterday's weights.  In future weeks Ill log the weight and the + or - from the week before.

LMS1317 - 148.5

Janay101 - 159

Poupe80601 - 139.2

OpalAurora - 139

It's great that there are a bunch of us, but not so many that it's too complicated.  Im excited to see where we all go from here... hopefully down!  I went to the gym yesterday, did 50 min on elliptical, weights for approx. 20 min.  Had a big chicken salad for dinner (same as two nights before), so tonight I think Ill have something more than a salad so I dont turn into one.  Planning on hitting the gym after work again today and doing similar amount of exercise. 

My bf has to work on Halloween and Im not much for dressing up, so Im gonna stay in.  Otherwise I would go to the bar my friends own, but yesterday they got their liquor license suspended so they won't even be open.  It sucks cause thats like my, "comfortable, dont care what anyone thinks of me" bar.  I don't think they will reopen so now I'll be stuck going to other people's bars and dealing with stupid kids.  Not going out Friday night will decrease my weekly cal intake pretty substantially though!

thanks for running this post, lms   ( : 

I look forward too--to breaking out of my cycle of up and down the same 2 lbs (154-156)  I think the total math accounting will keep me honest. 

LMS: I lost 20lbs. in 10 weeks without a hitch last March - May, so I bet you'll have no problem by Valentines day. Thanks for the organization and the list. Love this post!

Don't know why, but lost a bit of motivation today. I felt deprived, not 'cause of any cravings, but just hungry. I just sat down and ate like a 1000 cal lunch. Gosh! But, I'm not hungry anymore;) If I don't eat much of anything for the rest of the day, I'll average out okay for the last 4 days, but I really hate it when I get like that! And, it leaves no extra calories for tonight (friends over for treats) or the weekend. It was sooooo much easier last March, when I knew I'd have to get into my summer clothes. Errrr! Oh well.... I WILL DO THIS!!

YOU CAN DO IT, poupe.   ( : 

I know how you feel.... I have done so well all October, and the kids broguht homemade cookies this week, and that;s hard... had a few, under cals still, but seriously.... I need to just say no.  Nothing tastes as good as fit feels  (PB cookies are close though.....)  =P 

I have been up SUPER late for me (like 12) for 3 nights in a row - not motivated at 5AM to run or bike.   We will BOTH do better tomorrow.   ( :

Something I already know will motivate me about this post?  my current weight looks terrible next to you other girls.  I would love to be under 150 finally....  I WILL GET THERE THIS TIME>  I weighed 152 my sophomore year of high school, and have never seen that number since.  153 last week.  How is that for a mini-goal?   

Mini goals are great.  They give you a sense of accomplishment more often, which when you're talking about weight loss, everyone needs.  Everyone breaks down and eats more than they should.  it happens and you just try hard not to do it all of the time.  I had a lean cuisine around 11 with intent to eat something small again around 3, but my bf called me at 12:45 and wanted to stop by to go get lunch.  That NEVER happens. It was so nice, but then it was like, well, what can I eat?  We went to a Greek diner.  Ultimately i got a salad with cottage cheese.  In the entire diner they didnt have any low fat dressing so I got oil and vinegar with the intent of only using the vinegar, but I ended up putting some oil on it.  Oil has the most ridiculous amount of calories.  Ive taken to cooking with Canola spray, 0 calories, instead of butter or oil.  My bf ate an open face sandwich with bacon, cheese, tomatos and french fries, plus a cup of soup.  My mouth was watering.  If I thought I might turn into a salad before I think I def. am now.  Im having chicken and rice or something for dinner.  No salad tonight.  I can't handle it anymore.  Thats the best way to fall off of a diet.  No variety.  Ive gotta check out the recipe section of this site and get some ideas.

YAY for surprise bf lunches!   

are you a cook every night fo variety kind of girl, or a cook once a week and eat it several days?>  I love my crockpot for yummy, healthy, low cal soups....    I do eat a lot of salads, but I need protein too.....  I'd love to exchange low cal recipes.... 

not the best day for my calorie-wise. great job to all of you though! I've been stress eating like crazy. midterms and pms all in a bundle this week. I think I need to sit down and have real meals more rather than snacking constantly. Those calories really add up! 

poupe, 20 lbs in 10 weeks is amazing! If only I had that kind of willpower. 

I think I will treat myself to a peaceful afternoon of magazines when I hit 137. I have been stuck at 139-140 for FOREVER it seems. 

my low-cal contribution for the day is a egg drop-corn chowder:

bring about 2 c. water to boil 
mix 1-2 eggs in a bowl, and pour the eggs over the boiling water, stirring immediately. (the eggs should get wispy)
Then dump in a can of creamed corn, and add salt and pepper to taste.
(add water to thin or cornstarch to thicken the soup)

This recipe is from my dad, but I've never accomplished the egg part successfully...I always get chunks of egg, still yummy though!

I usually cook every night, but not a large variety.  I eat a lot of white rice, corn and chicken.  That soup sounds amazing.  I love cream corn and corn chowder.  Im def gonna have to try it, plus it's so simple.  Last night I roasted two chicken breasts and made white rice and corn.  it was better than a chicken salad.. haha I have some leftovers that I'll probably have for dinner tonight.  I don't have a microwave so I cook often.  I know it seems crazy, but we always had one supplied in my apartments so when my bf and I moved in june we didnt have one and we havent gotten one yet.  We get by pretty well although sometimes it can be very annoying.  Although I do think that it stops us from eating a lot of frozen junk thats bad for you.

The hardest thing for me right now is having breakfast.  I am not a morning person and I am very forgetful.  I started keeping apples, bananas and some lean pockets at my office so that I can eat something in the morning and get my metabolism going.  Friday mornings I spend driving all over the Albany region delivering paychecks to all of the employees that i have out on jobs.  So of course I forgot to bring an apple... refused to stop at Dunkin Donuts and was starving come lunch.  Still managed to eat a lean cuisine panini and a half a banana.  I hit my caorie goal yesterday about perfect... Im usually under, and I actually feel a little bad about it, which is silly.  Thats my goal for a reason.

This afternoon I have done some work and now im anxiously waiting for 5:00.  i wish I had something exciting to do tonight, but it's just gym and home to watch some tv and veg.  Not going out on Halloween... I feel so old.  maybe someone will call and I'll change my mind and go out (in which case I have left myself like no room for alcohol calories.. haha).  Oh well.

LMS --   if I was not on a very special trip, I would not have gone out last night either, so not old.  Adult.   ( : 

I too am NOT a breakfast person, BUT to get my evening munchies under control,. I started having a one scoop (70 cal) protein shake before I leave for work, and then I have a banana or apple/string cheese every day at break (at my work/school).    the shake is small, does not feel like I am "eating," but helps me get going in the AM.  I can DEFINITELY tell the days I am late getting around and skip it.   just my two cents.   ( :    good job on skipping DD too!!!!

I was just asking about cooking because I LOVE my crockpot for just that kind of reason.