MEN Only -- A.I.M Challenge: Labor Day Challenge OPEN

This is a Motivation/Challenge designed for Men.  This is a continuation of the April Fool's Challenge and the July 4th Challenge for men started by pinksalmon.

Pick your personal goal: Weight Loss, Increased Fitness, or Fat Burn.  Post it and commit to it.  This forum is here to challenge you to meet your goal.  The Purpose of the AIM Challenge is to provide:

1.  Accountability:  Weekly check in to update your progress.  Weigh in each Wednesday Morning. 
2.  Information:  We will share our experiences, what is working to get into shape, nutritional suggestions, fitness advice, and best practices for results.
3.  Motivation:  Encouragement to make and continue life changes that lead to burning fat, increased fitness, and overall health.

Challenges follow a quarterly time frame and are open to any men willing to commit.  Do you want it?  We are getting it DONE!

AFC Result:  277.5 lbs and 971,250 calories burned off
J4C Result:  172.6 lbs and 604,100 calories burned off
2008 combined total: 450.1 lbs and 1,575,350 calories burned off

Check out our previous challenges here:
http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/716 05.html

Want your current BMR?  check out Phord's BMR page 

Check out our results:  AIM Challenge Results

LW: 268

TW:269.5

Up 1.5lbs. but I predicted an increase last week. My weight loss is following a pretty predictable pattern. I don't really care about the daily weight as long as the trend line keeps going in the right direction. Let's see how predictable my pattern is. I say that my weight next week will be 266.5-267.5.

Since everyone is talking about their running experience I might as well add mine although I'm not sure if you can call what I do running. Finished W4D2 of C25K. I repeated week 3. I just wasn't ready to advance. It was more mental than physical but still. I just keep thinking that I have no business running. I weight 270 pounds. What the hell am I doing running? I guess I'm just surprised that my knees haven't shattered yet.

ledgehanger- If you are going to try the C25K program, I would second the suggestion on the running shoes. I started out doing the first week or 2 in my everyday sneakers. I went and got some good running shoes and I can tell you, they make a huge difference, at least to me. Also, C25K is a 9 week program but there is nothing that says you can't take more time than that if you want to. Like I said above, I wasn't mentally ready to move from week 3 to week 4 so I repeated. Looking ahead, I'm sure that it won't be the only week that I repeat. I just wish I could keep up with bobev. I think we started C25K the same week and he is just blowing me away.

ledge: I am inclined to agree with the rest.  Start slowly.  When I first began my quest to lose weight I started running right away. About three weeks in I hurt my knee.  It took three months before I could walk pain free.  It was another five weeks before I even tried running again.  While I was waiting for my knee to heal I focused on other exercise and drilled down on my diet and maintianed a significant calorie deficit and lost about 40 lbs. (Started at 250).  When I started running again I was closer to 210 and put significantly less stress on my knee when running.

 I wholeheartedly agree with munrori, if you have significant damage to your ankle get a medical opinion.  Keep working the elliptical and the bike for your cardio in the meantime. 

I look forward to seeing your results.

Thanks, all, for the prompt responses.

Having said that... meh.

I think the best thing for me to do at this point is probably to stay with my low impact workouts on the elliptical until I am successful in at least reducing the load on my ankle when I do run.  Considering the significant stresses that running puts on the joints, losing about 40 pounds before I pick up any kind of extended running is probably the wise choice.  Even though I have an advantage over some of you. My knees are safe.  My ankle will give out WELL before my knees... LOL.

I have talked to a doctor on a few occasions about my ankle. The responses I've gotten have all been in agreement on the fact that there isn't really anything they could do about it, and that the best thing *I* can do for it is to reduce the load (ahem) it has to bear.  Working on that... There has been some disagreement among the docs about whether I just have no business running at all ("you need to lose some weight, but you definitely should NOT take up jogging") or if it's something that is dependent on my ability to tolerate it ("you won't damage it any more than it already is, but it might just be too painful to jog").  In any case, this leads me - at least - to the same conclusion; that I need to remove some of the load first.

I may start doing the C25K program as part of my workout on the elliptical, just to start building some of the endurance I'll need if I do it later without taking the hits on the ankle joint for now... or I may just keep muddling along where I am.  Mostly I'm trying to find ways to add some variety to my exercise routine to make it easier to stay with it...

Welcome to the AIM Challenge, mullenrob.

It looks like you'll make your challenge goal, dybo70.

Great job (as always), bobev!!

I would also be really careful with your ankle, ledgehanger. I'd start with W1 of the C25K program, especially since even though you have done well with building up your cardiovascular endurance through elliptical training, your body will need time to adjust to the pounding on rougher surfaces. And while we're talking about surfaces, try to find softer surfaces for your runs/jogs.

Bubbaluffagus--Way to go with keeping a positive attitude and not getting upset over the occasional fluctuation. Remember, the trend (green) line is our friend.

I'm glad to see that so many in this group are embracing the C25K program. I wish that I had found this program when I started.  

LW: 280.5

TW: 280.0

Goal (Challenge): 275

Goal (Overall) 185

Daily weight numbers keep fluctuating, but the trend is still inching its way downwards.  Was hoping for a bit more of a loss this week but had a couple days where I didn't stick to the eating plan 100%.  Looking forward to a good week this week!

All: I noticed today that the powers that be have added a tab for Groups.  The groups have additional forums and will allow for more discussions, more visibility for other men to join, and would allow us to diversify the challenges etc.  I have started the Men Taking AIM Group.  The group site is here:

http://caloriecount.about.com/men-taking-m-g2 00

We can finish off the Labor Day Challenge and take off on the new Group as we go.  If you are inclined take some time and check in on the new tab.

ww

Agreed WW!  when I saw that this morning I thought that making this a group would be the best way to go

Go for The Group!

moving to the group would be great!

 

the group sounds like the wave of the future!

Late, as usual.  Well, later than usual.  No worries if you want to ignore my data until next week, ww.

 

Last week: 177

This week: 175

Sorry I can't stay and chat... 

Phil

 

 

Thanks for settin up the Group page WW!

 

For anyone looking for the Group page, it can be found here:

 

Men Taking A.I.M.

Well the weekend is almost over.  Did anyone watch the men's marathon last night.  What a race. 2:6:32 is a wicket time.   I really feel for the guy who came in forth.  He lead the race and just at the end in the stadium he dropped back from 2nd to 4th.  It was like watching someone hit the wall in slow motion.

 

Sorry for the delay in tabulating our weekly weigh in results.  With two weigh ins remaining for the challenge we have four men in the 5lb club and several others knocking on the door.

5lb. Club

bubbaluffagus
dybo70
bobev
jharris32

Congratulations to all who are losing and maintaining.  This is where we want to be.  Keep on pressing on!  Labor day is just around the corner.

Please be sure to check out the new group link. 

Men Taking A.I.M.

The success of this thread has to do with everyone's participation.  Each man is helping the others to stay focused and committed.  I am fortunate to be in your company.

ww

Can't weigh in today. Am in a hotel with no scale.  I was up a bit when I left home on Monday. Medications adjustments seem to be affecting fluid load (slight reduction in overnight frequent urination issues). I hope I reach equilibrium soon so I can continue down a shifted weight loss slope...

Anyway,

Finished W6D2 near my hotel on a route with steeper inclines & declines. The first mile had a 150 foot climb over the last 3/4 mi (>5% if my math is right) and the first 10 min jog! I jogged more slowly than normal and it worked, controlled my hr. Overall pace for a 2.5 mi route was 14 min/mi, a touch slower than the 13:33 I've been doing at home. Friday's 25 min run should be a piece of cake at home!

I'm trying to put a team together for this worldwide challenge run. Everyone signed up will run at the same time worldwide. US Eastern time is 5 pm Sat Oct 11. It will be a chance to run a 5k with others without the pressure of being in a race. Check out: Lets run the "Kick the Couch 5K Together" on October 11-12 Challenge

Start Weight 264 lbs.

Current Weight 256.5 lbs.

Down 7.5lbs this week and need 6.5lbs next week to reach Labor Day goal.

LW: 280.0

TW: 277.5

Goal (Challenge): 275

Goal (Overall) 185

Slow but steady.  I am happy with my progress so far - in the seven weeks since I've started, I've lost 14 lbs - and can easily maintain what I am doing to get in shape and eat healthy.  I am incorporating more organic foods into my diet and feel a lot better.

Keep up the good work everyone!

still at 210 lbs.  home sick, still in pain.

 

   My name is abner some of you have known me for some time now....

I use to be very active on the previous forum. 

My story goes a little like this " the readers digest version". 

I grow up poor, but not wanting. as a teen i started working out. running, lifting weight, learning the fighting arts.  went to collage majored in Physical Education minoring in psychology. Got married, never completed collage on the first round. had kids gained fat..

20 years of failing to restart my program led me into a deep depression (it was always there, the depression). I topped out at 280 lbs down to 250 lbs back up and down, up and down. you get the picture. developed diabetes, leaning towards high blood pressure and passing my 45 birthday. in 2006 my diabetes was out of control and heading for the needle. My wife is a full blown, insulin injecting diabetes, and I knew i would not survive her life style....

I knew from many years of fallers that the only way for me to  win was a three prong approach. cardio. weights, and spiritual. and no not religion but for some that may help.  I was able to lose over 60 lbs. I was strong and felt great.

then **** it the fan. sometime in may I started getting slights pain in my left neck, shoulder area. it started getting worse. no not a heart attack  thank god...

the pain just increase I could not sleep, and it was always worse at night..anyway after doc app and mri's I have stanosis and thinning of the 5 and 6 disc's in my neck.  the pain just keeped getting worse.. and I tend to eat when im in pain. 

today after pain meds and injections nothing is helping. Im not going to give up. I wont forget all that i have achieved. I started a new life style and this is just a major bump in the road that I will over come. but dame it it's hard.  each day is one big f'en struggle. I don't want sympathy, I don't get any at work or at home. I just want the pain to go away.  and it will. and I will start again.

thats sorta why im not truly involved in this forum. not a good excuse i know but that the truth. 

oh, by the way I did go back to collage and got my degree, now I have two grown kids (still living with me, and thats ok) have my own home (until the mortgage is paid off). so life is good. 

 

 

 

my name is abner

I will never give up. I will never surrender.

I am not on a diet, I am changing my life style.

LW: 265.6

TW: 262.4

GW (for this challenge): 263.4

GW (overall): 200

Fitness Goal: Continue with the C25K program (currently on w4d2)

 

Woohoo!  I reached my goal a few days early!!!  I think it's thanks to the C25K program which is going really well over the past week after a horrific 1st day run during week 3.  I have to say that I am very happy with my results thus far and owe a lot of my motivation to this group and it's members!  Thanks everyone!

Not sure where to post, so I'll post both here and in the AIM Group thread:

TW: 174.0 (another drop of 0.2 from LW)--this downright sucks!!

Congrats on your successes, mullenrob, kvalhion, dybo.

Hang in there, abner. Continue to take care of yourself and remember that we're here for you.