March Calorie Deficit Challenge - Newcomers always welcome!

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

April sign-ups now open here.

We'll start counting on 3/1/09.

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How it works
To start with, you choose a goal deficit for the month.  Then 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 February Calorie Deficit Challege found here: http://caloriecount.about.com/february-calori e-deficit-challenge-newcomers-always-ft127202

Questions?
Ask!

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CHALLENGERS*
10,500 (3 pounds) challengers
     alle0299 - 8688
     looseymoose - 6591
     wildntaken - 11416

14,000 (4 pounds) challengers
     flowergirl21 - 6026
     jluffner - 4758
     leighlee22782
     lemntwist - 7773
     lilygirl1970 - 18686
     mia_v - 5997
     pleniscenta - 1966
     redhed27 - 14394

17,500 (5 pounds) challengers
     betzc - 16022 
     cbussiere - 17875
     ckuhfahl - 1649
     eka28 - 7525
     februarybride - 3400
     kacka - 18870
     lmy2301 - 7591
     lw146993 - 505
     ntack2 - 12432
     pokeylvr - 367
     shonaghmartin - 3500
     spatch - 14901
     wesmoot - 19962

21,000 (6 pounds) challengers
     cristin - 3186
     edriver -  3427
     girlfighting27 - 11756
     healthmd -  20992
     keesher
     lemntwist - 1484
     mlilly1186 - 13400
     rylindis - 678
     smartypants_57 - 2931
     tyrdrop - 2230

24,500 (7 pounds) challengers
     tealparadise - 15630
     sereniticat - 33944

28,000 (8 pounds) challengers
     annulyju - 6485
     beyondextraordinary - 28509
     diva_n_da_making - 24722
     eat4health - 28435
     flashfox - 826
     findingmeagain2009
     jesselou - 3884
     makenasmom - 20657
     shandrake - 18443

*REMINDER:  Be sure to post your running total for the month, using your
  last posted total not the posted total.  Otherwise you'd risk missing some
 calories in your total!

I know it's early and all, but I'd like to be in the 17,500 group!  Thank you for making this challenge once again.  It is absolutely great.

I'd love to join as well! I think I'd better be in the 21,000 group! I'm not 100% sure if that one's for me.  It might be just a tad bit ambitious, but oh well. I'll try it!  It might help people decide if you put it in terms of daily deficits as well.

10,500 is 339 per day

14,000 is 452 per day

17,500 is 565 per day

21,000 is 677 per day

24,500 is 790 per day

28,000 is 903 per day

I am in for the 14,000 group. My wedding is May 16th and my goal weight is 120, starting weight 128.

Yeah... thanks Ali.  Really hoping to hit goal in March!  Please put me down for 17,500 group. :)

Hiya Alle, you know I'm in for this month too ! I'd like to stay in the same group 24500 because the next group up I have a mental block against hehe !  I like the idea of having a few extra calories if I want them.

Count me in! I'll do the 28000 cal challenge. Go hard or go home, I guess ;oP

Thanks!

Hello!! I'm willing to give it another go! I think I'll go with 21,000 this time around!

I'll join the 21000 group as well. I'm scared!

alle, sorry for being a duh..... but i am not understanding this... or i am confused.... you say..... "That makes my day 1 deficit 500, so I post: 500/17,500."  where are you getting the 17,000???  i have heard about this challenge and thought i would try it, but i am not understanding it.... sorry again for being a duh.... i know about the deficit..... thanks....

Confusing, isn't it? I had a look at the February one, and I think the 17,500 is the group which represents the amount of weight you want to lose during the month (5 pounds). 17,500 is the total deficit you are aiming at for the month. The 500 is the deficit for that day.

By the end of the month, if you add all the deficits together, they should be near 17,500. Clear as mud?

The 17,500 number in the example is my goal for the month.  So, the first thing you want to do is decide what your goal is - think about how much you want to lose, how much you of a deficit you can create, etc.  Then you sign up, for that goal.  You can do this at anytime.  (Some people who join mid-way through the month might pick a smaller deficit - it's just something to shoot for)

Starting on March 1st (or whenever you want to start counting), each day you post your deficit for that day.  So, if on day 1 you intake 1500 and output 2000, then you'd post 500/17500 (the 500 representing your deficit to date, and the 17500 representing the goal for the month).  Then you do the same thing on day 2, and post your running total each day.

If you're familiar with the exercise challenge it's pretty much the exact same as that except we're keeping track of calories not minutes.

Does that help?

ok 17,000 is total for the month?? and i use what cc gives me for cals on burn meter plus my workout added? ok... i will try this... so if i do it wrong just let me know..... i am trying to bust this wall i have hit.... should i go low at first?? since i am at a stall??  like 10,500?  thanks....

Yes, the 17,500 is the total goal for the entire month and that's exactly what you use to measure the burn.  

What have you been doing?  How much more do you want to lose?  How anxious are you?  How much exercise do you do?  How much do you want to do?

The answer to your question would depend on these answers. If you want to lose more than 10 pounds and you have a fair amoutn of time to spend doing exercise, you might want to try going for the 21,000 or 24,500 goal.  If you are lacking time (or desire) to do exercise, but want to lose a fair amount - try one of the middle groups.  

I'm personally doing the 10,500 group because I am nearing my goal weight and am ok with losing weight slowly.  I know others want to lose a lot of weight and lose it sooner rather than later, they sign up for the 24,500 or 28,000 groups.  

ok the reason i said 10,500 is because i have been 170 - 175 since july... i am trying everything to get the scales to move.... so i will start off with 10,500 just so i dont get more discourged than i am now.... thanks!!

I'm excited for this to start! I've decided to start in my own journal so that I get the hang of it for a week. Yay!

However, I am working out less, not getting as hungry, etc etc.  I didn't eat very much today (good or bad, not sure...) but really I forgot about it I was so busy with school work.... Tomorrow I'll try to be a bit better balanced...

What is the rule of thumb for going over/under calorie deficits for the month? And what if you have your deficit, but lose more/less weight? I'm just wondering. I'm sure its just *good for you/try harder*, but just thought I'd ask.

I'm in for the 14,000 group. Thanks.

Ok....gonna try to get my act together!  Please sign me up for the 21,000 challenge.  Thank you so much for taking care of these challenges Alle!

I'm in for the 17,500 group. Should be good motivation to stick to healthy eating!

I'll bump up into the 14,000 group (not that I made my goal last month, but I am ready to try harder this time!)

Thanks!

I would like to join the 21,000 group please.  I have a total of 30lbs to lose so I figure by the end of May start of June I should be there :)  Do I post my entries in my journal as new ones or do I continuously edit the original post. 

Thank you for doing this Alle....it is a real motivator

Eryn :)