February Calorie Deficit Challenge - Newcomers always welcome!

**UPDATE**

March challenge can be found here: http://caloriecount.about.com/march-calorie-d eficit-challenge-newcomers-always-ft130192

Anyone who wants to share their total monthly weight loss, please do!  Then we can all see how the math adds up (or doesn't!).

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We all know that in order to lose weight you need to have a calorie deficit.  This challenge is about that deficit! 

You can sign up anytime by posting in this thread and indicating which group you want to be in.

We'll start counting on 2/1/09.

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How it works
Each day you keep track of your calorie intake and calorie output, then compute your calorie deficit.  You post in here (daily, weekly, whenever) your running deficit for the month in the form of: deficit to-date / goal deficit.  Be sure to post a new post every time you post - do not edit previous posts or I will not see it!  Also, be sure you keep track of your on-going total - I won't be doing the math for you! 

For example
Let's say I want to lose five pounds this month.  So, I sign up for the 17,500 Challenger group.  On day 1 my calorie output is 2000 and my intake is 1500.  That makes my day 1 deficit 500, so I post: 500/17,500.  On day 2, my calorie output is 1800 and my intake is 1500, making my deficit 300.  So, I add my day 2 deficit onto my day 1 deficit, and post:  800/17,500.  On day 3, I didn't do so well and took in 2000 calories and burned 1800 calories.  So, on day 3 I subtract the calories I took in over maintainence and I post my total montly deficit as 600/17,500.   For more examples check out the January Calorie Deficit Challege found here: http://caloriecount.about.com/january-calorie -deficit-challenge-newcomers-always-ft124268

Questions?
Ask!

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CHALLENGERS
10,500 (3 pounds) challengers
     alle0299 - 9100 (1 pound lost!)
     carlynj21 - 11844
     gladys32 - 6977
     lemntwist - 7868
     mtiras -  2941
     sugrplm
     v_avila - 2348

14,000 (4 pounds) challengers
     candilovesjon - 1080
     ckuhfahl - 5626
     iamacommitmentto - 11005 (1.5 pounds lost!)
     illingal - 3900
     kaffwynn
     quintanion - 12357
     salmander23 - 603
     werethylacine - 14367

17,500 (5 pounds) challengers
     ashmommyof2 - 7643
     bowlinsara - 8014
     chaimberbell - 4572
     flowergirl21 - 3985
     immom - 2646
     leighlightful - 500
     lianih14 - 17860 (3.5 pounds lost!)
     lilygirl1970 - 18015   (4.4 pounds lost!)
     lw146993 -  6733
     ntack2 - 15078
     r4eboxer - 24864
     sarabear - 448
     wesmoot - 17549 (1.5 pounds lost!)

21,000 (6 pounds) challengers
     annulyju - 17196
     cbussiere - 21157 (15 pounds lost!)
     cristin - 3331
     dovelette - 14106
     jordielg - 8820

24,500 (7 pounds) challengers
     betzc - 24500+ (4.8 pounds lost!)
     februarybride - 12680
     kamoody
     sereniticat -   29156 (3 pounds lost!)
     sstephen27 - 25125

28,000 (8 pounds) challengers
     blakereese - 24978
     eat4health - 26809 (6 pounds lost!)
     jennifer1100 - 11799
     kellytx1977
     louised1991 - 8035
     shandrake -  16656 (4.4 pounds lost!)
     shonaghmartin - 8521 (2 pounds lost!)

Oooh, me me! I totally want to join this one! 

I'm a newbie, new on this site anyway! I was bummed to have missed the January challenge, but I am glad to join in now.

I'm going to go for the 28,000. Oh, there is only 28 days in February, so that is 1,000 a day!  OK, I am up for it, I need the jump start! 

Looking forward to the challenge with you all!! 

How do you know what your output is?

hey, im well up for this!

ill join the 28,000 challengers.

looking forward to being 8lbs lighter!

I'm going to go for 4 pounds in February.

THANK YOU!!!

Original Post by kamoody:

How do you know what your output is?

You can get this from the blue box on your 'My Account' page.  Assuming you set up the user details and update it with your daily activity.  For example, what I do is list myself as sedentary than add on any exercise I do.  Does that help?

Yes thank you!  I will be in the 7 pound group (24500)

I'm going for 5 lbs again, put me down for 17,500.

I'd like to try for the 14,000. Thanks!

I was looking at this challenge last month, and since I track my deficits already, this is a good challenge for me.  Thanks for setting it up Alle!

I'm in for 14,000.

I am taking a break this next month so I am only going for 10,500. Still 3 pounds and I am almost to my weight goal now. This has really kept me on my toes.

I looked at 28,000 and thought "1000 calories a day???" Then I looked back over my past few weeks and realized that's about my normal deficit, so I want to be in that group. If anything, this will keep me honest and focused on the goal.

I would like to join!

You can put down 5 pounds for me. (17,500) 

I think I need a little help with my calories burned, though.  I am a teacher so I move around pretty frequently throughout the day.  (I rarely ever sit at a desk.)  I know how to put in my daily exercise, but I do not know what do put in as my base daily calories burned.  I know most people put sedentary and then add their exercise calories burned, but should I go for moderate instead of sedentary?

me too! put me down for the 14,000 (4 pounds). This means a 500 deficit everyday!

Awesome idea!  I'd never thought of tracking it in this way... how cool!

Sign me up for the 14,000 group.

And.. more for me than for you I'm going to set up my posts this way...

Sunday: /500 (Starting Sunday since that's Feb. 1)
Monday: /500
Tuesday: /500
Wednesday: /500
Thursday: /500
Friday: /500
Saturday: /500

Week to date: /3,500  (updated daily, using edit)

Week 1: /3,500 (updated at the end of the week, in a new post)
Week 2: /3,500
Week 3: /3,500
Week 4: /3,500

Month to date: /14,000 (updated at the end of the week, in a new post)

Weight lost: /4lbs (updated Feb 28)

Alle- so excited you are going to do this for us again.  It was a great motivator.  THANK YOU -THANK YOU!!

I am going to go for 28000 again!  It is going to be a little more difficult since there is only 28 days.

Bowlinsara- I am a teacher as well and also never sit.  I put moderate.  I think it is pretty acurate because I did the challenge last month and the scale and the deficit were in line with each other.

17500 thank you this really helps me keep track, do well, and feel motivated.

I'll be away on vacation from Feb 20 until March 3rd.  I plan to vacation from EVERYTHING after the 20th and come back fresh in March! But I need this challenge until then. It keeps me so on track! Thank you SOOOOO much for having such a wonderful idea!

Can I join the 17,500 group up to and including the 19th of February?

i'm up for the challenge!!! sign me up for 17,500 :)

Hiya Alle, thanking you for doing this challenge again.  I'd like to be put in the same group please 24500 for 7 pounds. 

Good luck everyone !