LOCKED TOPIC

20 pounds by July 31st Challenge!!!

I know this is a hefty challenge, so only people that are serious, want to work hard for it, and wont get their heart broken if they don't meet the deadline!

I'm doing this by eating very small meals throughout the day, getting up early to exercise hard at the gym each morning for at least an hour, and cutting out sugar and wheat.

Just like an athlete trains to get in shape, I'm training hard for these 9 weeks and then I'll slowly back off and add 100 calories per week until I'm at my maintenance level.

It always helps to have each others support!! Want to join me?

CW:153

GW:125

Height: 5' 8"

Frame: Med to Small

By July 31st I want to be: 130-135

Hey monty1953, I saw your post and just thought I'd wish you good luck!!!

cori_jessy: You are my twin!!! I checked out your profile pics and you're right, we do have exactly the same problem! Let's do our best to look good in our bikinis once more! (Your bikini pic is exactly what I'm aiming for - definitely thin but still healthy!)

Somehow I ended up staying up until 6am yesterday and had a flavored coffee from 7-11 before I went to bed (because I was SUPPOSED to stay up later still, lol) and couldn't find the calorie information anywhere so I was getting kind of scared... but I knew I should have room for it since my calories were a little low that day. Finally I found it and the 16oz I had was only 200 calories, so it still kept me under 1400 for the day. Whew!

One quick complaining post... but I'll finish it by being positive, promise!

So I've been stepping on the scale every morning and not recording what I see, because I know the official weigh-in is on Tuesday. Problem is, the scale still hasn't moved! I really need to stop doing this, it's just discouraging. Ugh.

But I'm going to be positive and say it's probably just bloat from TTOTM. That'll have gone away by Tuesday and I'll have had a successful first week of the challenge--like everyone else, I hope!

Keep up that counting, we can do it!

hi guys and gals, its bedtime here in balmy west sussex UK lol, and end of day three of my route to physical well-being!! so far ive had 3 x A days which im pleased about and each my daily cals average around 400 inside the recommended allowance. so am hopefull for a good result after the first week, when i weigh in on tuesday

Geoff (Monty)

I have been to the gym today for an assessment and I told the instructor that I had joined in a challenge to lose 20lb by 31st July.  She wrote it down on my notes so now I have someone else keeping an eye on me!!I figure it can only help my renewed motivation.

To make the gym more interesting we have changed the routine and added more interval training, incorporating it with weight machines.  The trainer also suggested purchasing a heart rate monitor. Has anyone got an opinion on these?  I don't want to spend a lot but £20-£30 would be OK.

well guys, end of Day four and still going well i think 4 x A days so thats ok, and still am keeping within the calories i need to be, have done bit of exercise bike too, despite my being on crutches so at least some is being burned off, kinda looking forward to tuesdays weigh in now

monty

I hope it's not too late if I join today! ^-^

Height: 5'.5"

CW: 127

ultimate GW: 100

So around 20 lbs would take me to 107.

 

welcome rylindis, am sure its never too late. day 5 fast approaching a close for me and i hope another good day, all 5 days have been within my calories target/allowance and have had 5 successive A's on the analysis so look forward to weigh in tuesday with optimism

geoff UK

 

Original Post by monty1953:

welcome rylindis, am sure its never too late. day 5 fast approaching a close for me and i hope another good day, all 5 days have been within my calories target/allowance and have had 5 successive A's on the analysis so look forward to weigh in tuesday with optimism

geoff UK

cool, I'm going to try my best on this challenge! ^^

Good job, you're doing awesome! I hope I can keep up with you :D

Thank you cori-jessy ... though I'm no hero, just a busy mama  LOL.

I think a link to the new forum thread at the end of every week would work best.  We can all just tag the new thread each week.  Is there a way to "lock" the thread after each week?

I'm still going strong, and I think this Tuesday's weigh in will be great.  I bought a pedometer this weekend and have decided to do two workouts a day instead of just one.  I've also enlisted my 13 yo DD as my workout partner so we can encourage each other.  I bought her her own set of weights today and she's quite excited about getting started on Monday.

Yay all of us, we can do this!

OK   So its Day 4 for me. I think I'm doing pretty good. 'Cept I think I will see a weight gain instead of loss - that time. Anyway I'm doing pretty good and I walked my 3 miles today. For some reason it was harder to walk my 3 miles today than when I started last week but I pulled through. YAY ME! Will let you know my weight at weigh in...there was a correction...Im starting at 248 not 245 X(

YEE-Hah

weighed in today on day 6, so as can regularly do it on a Monday. i have lost 4 pounds which im very happy about, 24 to go by July 31st

Geoff

I was at the same weight this morning but I guess tomorrow is the official weigh day right?  Good!!  I need to lose 6 by then... lol.  I went to a really good restaurant for a birthday on Friday night and I didn't count calories to be honest.  Those are rare times (specialy in such good and expensive one) so I just ate what I desired (aka dessert...).  I did good Saturday and Sunday considering the food hungover after Friday night and today at least I can say that I didn't gain anything.  Oh well, I know I should do better but I'll try from now on.  

On the other hand, I'm not trying to excuse myself but... tomorrow I have to attend a dinner that is all about food (since I'm working for a "food company"), on Friday is my sister's in law 10th year anniversary (food),  the 15th I'm attending a graduation (food), the 18th my sister's in law birthday (food), the 19th a dinner for business (food), the 21st my niece's dance recital (food) and two more graduations during June that I don't know the dates yet.  Crazy food schedule right?  I'll do my best but I don't see me reaching my goal... 

Hey!  If there's any chance you're still letting people in, I'm super excited...

I'm planning on doing a triathlon on Aug 23--so to be down in weight by July 31 will help me to focus on speed training for the last few weeks (and getting more relaxation in before the race)....it's my first--cori_jessy, any tips on how i should train for a 10mi bike?

Stats;

5'2"

147.4lbs (down .4 from yesterday)

Medium Frame

GW 125--(<129 by Jul 31)

GAME PLAN;

I am hoping to do two a days for the next two weeks: strength/pilates/yoga in the mornings and kick ass cardio at night.  Then I'm going to focus on training for the triathlon (following a training plan really closely) and really watching what I eat.  For the past week I haven't been eating anything processed (except yogurt, light salad dressing and milk...) and making sure to get more veggies....any tips would be much welcomed!

Wow, good job Geoff!!!

Hey everyone!

Yes, tomorrow is official weigh-in day. The group will stay open until then and I'll ask a moderator to lock it after I create a new one and post the link. Then it's a closed group after that, and we're all on our way! People who want to leave the challenge can just not post in the new forum, and everyone else that's committed can let us know how they did! I'll try to have it up fairly early, but it might not be posted until 8:30 Pacific Time.

Sounds like people are doing good and it's great to see people encouraging each other! Sorry I've been absent for awhile, crazy week for me and I was exhausted. Still going strong though and I can't wait to see our progress.

 

Oh- and maddie109, kuddos for signing up for a triathlon. I've personally never done one, but I'm a runner and I cycle. I think the most I've done is a 60+ mile day.. but that didn't include running or swimming. I did read you want to do some running and cycling in the same exercise routine to get your body adjusted to changing activities, and that it helps to cycle the rpm that is about the same you would run... but I never tried that and I'm sure you know that stuff already. I do know what helps train you fast on the bike when you have limited time is to make your easy days really easy and your hard days your serious training days. Do a few easy rides a week, and then a couple times a week really push yourself doing intervals. Make sure you let your body recover in between those workouts though, because if you do super hard intervals of like 20 seconds various times throughout your ride, than your body may not be able to recover if you don't go easy the next time. That's what has been passed onto me from a seasoned rider (I was lucky enough to learn the insides about cycling when I went on a ride through the Rockies with a group of them). Honestly, once you get those leg muscles strong you can easily go 20, 30 miles without it being hard at all. That's an easy ride to me, it's just that it's time consuming... about 2 hours at a moderate pace. So try to ease your miles up and do interval training are the best tips I can give you.

As for nutrition, fueling right for your kind of training is very important. Before you exercise try to eat at least an hour ahead with a higher ratio of carbs... like oatmeal or cereal with some protein powder. Something like a banana could work too... but it would be better to have a banana with almond or peanut butter. Get the idea? You always want to have carbs and protein with some long burning fat, but you want more of the carbs. Don't worry, you'll still lose weight. Then the rule of thumb is for every hour on the bike, you need to give your body more fuel. This can be like a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, gel, cliff bar shots, honey packets (which are my fav), or a energy power bar. I still try to keep my stuff organic without the extra stuff in them... just like how you've cut out processed food. I also always have stamina in my water, some form of electrolytes so my muscles don't cramp. Then when I get done you need to eat within 45 minutes and have a good mixture of carbs and proteins. I forget the amount of carbs you need, I think about 20-30g, but you need at least 10g of protein, I wouldn't be afraid to go higher.

Alrighhhttt.. I think I've written more than you wanted to read! I hope you can pull a few sentences out of this to help you out. I'm training hard and still keeping my calories low and I feel great! The key is to eat small and frequently, that's what I've found helps me survive while exercising so much. Sounds like you're definitely on the right track, just remember not to do any cycling right before your ride so you give your muscles a good rest, and eat lots of carbs the night before. Like spaghetti and meat.. perfect ratio. Let me know if you have any more questions! Good luck!

thanks so much!!! i really appreciate all the info--  i'm just getting started on the training--i can do all three events on their own, and most likely all three on one day......but it's getting to competition performance that i'm trying to do.  i need to get myself a road bike (i have been using my mtn bike, the stationary bike, and a friend's road bike sometimes), so any suggestions on that? 

this is my first triathlon, so i don't want to spend a gajillion dollars on it...

Posting my stats for the weigh in day:

LW: 223

CW: 221

Going to try hard to keep this up! 

will do my first week weigh-in tuesady morning GMT here in Blighty

Good luck everyone

 

Geoff

i might not be on 2moro soooo i would like to announce that i lost 2pounds i know its not much but im glad im seeing some kind of result.

LW:130

CW:128

good luCk everyoNe, stay positive and stay on track!!

when you want whatever your craving just remember this " 5minutes on your lips and a lifetime on your hips" :)

taa taa

Loosing 2lbs is great! I also lost 2 this last week and feel great with the new lifestyle!