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!

Hey! I still have over 50 to loose so I'm going to have to go with the 28,000 group!

Alle - Thank you..Thank you!!  These challenges are just what I needed to stay motivated.  I hate to say this out loud (or write it)  but I think I am finally making lifestyle changes and not just dieting!  I have 9 more pounds to go to hit my goal weight that I have been trying to achieve for 5 YEARS!  I am in for 28000.  I want this weight off before our family vacation in April. 

Yep Im in for the 28,000 group. I have  about 30 pounds to lose.

I really like this idea. I'll be in for 28000. I'm pretty sure I could do it.

I'd love to join you guys! I've been losing about 4-5lb a month, so put me up for the 21,000 group to challenge myself a bit. Thanks, alle!

Wonderful challenge!! 

I'm so in for 17,500 cal.

Thanks alle!!!!

Hi everyone!

This will be my first challenge, and I would like to be in the 28,000 group as I have about 60 lbs to lose. 

Good luck ya'all :)

I would like to be in the 28000 group

I would like to join the 17500 group. I just got pesky 5LB. This might make me more active. Log and move!

I'd like to join the 17500 group.  This is my first challenge.  Hoping this will keep me in line.  Looking forward to it.

Thanks for doing this challenge alle! I would like to try for 17500 again this month. I am going on a little mini vaca on March 31st, so if I could get down 5 lbs I would be pretty excited. I think I can do 565 deficit per day if I put my mind to it!

This will be my first challenge - just joined in January - please put me down for the 14,000 group :)  Thanks!

Put me down for the 21,000 group. My first challenge, I'm looking forward to it!

Original Post by edriver:

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 :)

 Definitely post a new post.  Basically what I do is each time I post I update the main post with posts that have been posted since my last post (oh my gosh how many times can someone say 'post' in one sentence - haha!).  I hope that makes sense - let me know if you have questions :)

Welcome everyone!  Remember to practice safe weight-loss this month.  Here's to a successful month to us all! :)

i want to give this a try i will go for the 17500 group!  This should be interesting i have never really kept track of this before.  Good Luck everyone

I wanted to go for the 24,500 group, but I'm not sure if I could healthily lose so much weight in a month. I'm around 121 right now, so I'm going to be safe and go for the 21,000 calorie challengers. That should take me to 115 lbs and within 10 lbs of my goal.

OOoooh!!! This sounds like a great challenge. could I join?? If so, I would like to be under the 17,500 group (5 pounds). Thank you!!

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

I want to join the 14,000 group. I'll never tried something like this before, I'm kind of looking forward to it.