New Challenge: 10% by Halloween (CLOSED)

(Note: This challenge has reached its full capacity.) I am starting a new 12-week challenge where participants will work toward losing 10% of their current body weight by Halloween. 

Weekly weigh-ins will occur on Mondays so that we are motivated not to slack off on the weekends.  Another way I hope to use motivation during this challenge is to encourage participants to comment on three other posts when they do their weekly weigh in post.  This should ensure that each participant will get an adequate amount of support as they journey toward better health.

Your weekly weigh in posts should appear in this format:

This week: XXX lbs.

Last week: XXX lbs.

Loss/Gain (week): XXX lbs.

The results will be tracked in an online spreadsheet, which you can access here.

The group will be cut off at 25 people and sign ups will end this Friday, August 8th, at which point I will open up a new thread in the challenges forum.

So if you're interested, post a reply telling us a little bit about yourself, your weight loss goals, and maybe even where you're making great strides or stumbling a little bit.  Also, make sure to give your current weight so that I can calculate what a 10% loss would be at the end of the 12 weeks.

I suppose if I'm going to start the challenge, I should join it, so here it goes.  I am a 27 year old male and I currently weight 239 lbs.  I started to lose some weight earlier this summer (25 lb. loss) but have slacked off for the last month or so and want to get back on the bandwagon.  My goal is to lose 24 lbs in these 12 weeks, which is the max I can lose in a healthy manner.  To do this, I am going back to counting all of my calories and I plan on joining the local gym this week and working out in the mornings.

I'll join up on this challenge!

Hey, I'm Corey, a 19 year old male (turning 20 on the 14th!) 6' 3" tall weighing in at about 205 lbs.  I play recreational soccer/futsal 2-3 times a week, and go to the gym to lift/ do some cardio (running/stationary bike/elliptical) about 3-4 times a week. Just really started dieting about 6 weeks ago, working out 2 weeks ago, and i've already lost about 12 lbs (starting weight was about 218 at the peak).

So my goal is to lose 20 lbs during these 12 weeks. (185lbs) I've been sticking with a pretty good (..in my rather untrained opinion at least) high protein/low-cal diet in order to maximize fat loss while keeping or even promoting more muscle growth/strength. (which I've found is somewhat hard with a large calorie deficit on most days.)

long term goal: six-pack abs. (basically a single-digit body fat %)

Anyways, i'm looking forward to seeing some results after 12 weeks!

Count me in!

Hello my name is Crystal and I am 28. I am 5'11 weighing in at 203lbs. I join CC on July 11th weighing in at 205 and I have been dieting seems like forever. I am trying to lose about 30 pounds +/- depending on how I look when I get there. This should be a good challenge for me, as I love challenges. I workout at least 5x a week. I walk 4-6 miles a day and I strength train 3x a week. Can't wait to get started on this challenge. YEAH!

 

Hey I'll join! I joined CC at the beginning of July at 5'2" and 157 pounds. I'm currently at ~150. I'm looking to get down to 125 by February so this sounds like a perfect interim goal for me. I play squash, bike and do pilates at least once a week each, and I'm just starting to get into some free weights.

Woo for challenges!

Oh, also my name is Jasmin and I'm 20.

Awesome, I was wanting to lose 20 lbs by halloween, this challenge is perfect!  I want to have some really good momentum going into that holiday so I have more motivation to avoid all the goodies that come pouring in.

My name is Erynn, I am 31, I currently weigh 206.  I am a single mom of three and my biggest challenge is finding affordable healthy food that I have time to make that my family will actually eat.  I have lost weight in the past, but I can't afford the same foods I was eating at this time so I am having to learn how to menu plan and shop differently.  Also, my antidepressants are being adjusted and this freaks me out as far as the threat of weight gain.

 

Corey, Crystal, and Jasmin ... you guys are in!  I put your stats on the spreadsheet now, so that makes you OFFICIAL!

I'm enjoying reading your stories too. 

Erynn, I got you in the spreadsheet too.  I'm having some of the same issues as you as far as cooking for a family when you're the only one concerned with losing weight.  So far, the only way I deal with it is to consume far fewer calories during breakfast, lunch, and snacks and then cook a normal meal that everyone's used to for dinner.  By doing this, I am usually still able to hit my calorie target for the day as long as I don't get seconds.  Like you, I cannot afford the healthier food all the time.

Anyhow, welcome aboard! 

I definitely understand that dieting and counting calories becomes alot harder when the people you normally eat meals with could care less! But it will all pay off eventually.

Though I know many have their own personal preferences and tastes, one of the best foods I have found over the past few weeks is boneless, skinless chicken breast. I generally have some every day.  Most of the calories come from protein, so it is rather filling (to me at least, i'm a pretty big guy and eating two 4 oz. filets is more than enough even if i'm starving) and you can put a little of whatever kind of sauce you prefer (bbq, fat-free ranch, or some low-cal honey mustard being some of my personal favorites) to add some extra flavor with the meal still being low cal.

Anyways good luck to everyone, I'm definitely looking forward to the gym tonight!

Hey All - I'll join the challenge - it will be my first so lets give it a go...why not?

I am a 23 years young male - 5'10" and I currently weigh in at 195lbs.  I have been on Calorie Count for a couple of years to browse forums and stuff - but REALLY started the actual calorie-counting and being generally healthy since Mid-May.  Back then I weighed in at 220lbs so I have lost a total of 25 lbs.

Like you, Alex, I slacked off a lot during July but wanna get something to kick my @$$ back into gear now, so this is as good a thing as any to start it!

My goals are to lose another 25 lbs. (by Haloween) to get down to 170lbs. but a long term of 35lbs total.  To get down to 160lbs.  While doing this I am also heavily focused on gaining muscle and have recently started a rigorous weight training plan (5 days per week) and I do HIIT cardio after every one of those workouts.  On the 6th day I do a basic cardio for about an hour and no weights.

I am also counting calories and making sure I increase my vegetables since they are my one and only weakness!

Anyways - good to meet you all and look forward to losing some weight with you guys!

-A.

Hey!!!! My name is Kelsey and I'm 19.  I am 5'9" and weight about 201 now.  I started July 21 weighing 209, so I have had some loss these past two weeks! My ultimate goal would be 145, but I would like to get down to 180 by halloween. I like weight lifting, cycling classes, and lots of cardio! I also recently decided to start training for a marathon with programs from runnersworld.com. I would love to be part of this challenge because I'm heading back to college and I am going to need some inspiration and support to keep on track!

uberman and kelsey ... welcome to the 10% challenge!  You've been spreadsheeted like everyone else so far. 

Sounds like we've got a good group going so far.  A lot of people with similar situations, goals, and outlooks.

By the way, I think you'll find me to be a pretty active administrator of this group since I have a desk job that allows me to check up on this thread pretty often throughout most days.

You and me both! LOL!
In my "10 hour work day" I'll be here for a majority of those hours haha!

This is kinda like work in a way and it's good to keep focused! :)

erynns I have pretty much the same issue. I'm a student so it's hard for me to afford rent, school, and good food. Its not so bad when you're buying KD, ramen noodles and chips and pop. I have to allocate out my grocery bill. It's hard! I have a couple low cost recipes that last for a while, if you want them.

I would love to join.  This will help motivate me to finish up.  Then on to maintenance...  I can't believe I'm almost there.

I'm 37, 5'4" and weigh 133.  I started CC at 176 and was higher.  I am a sahm of a 2 year old and I understand the budget thing.  Although I am very lucky to have a husband who doesn't complain and eats whatever I place in front of him and says thank you.

I'm looking forward to Monday!  I am an over-eater and an emotional eater.  I've got the emotions under control, at least the eating part, but I still love to stuff myself.  I just now do it responsibly. 

I would love to join if I may!

My name is Kelly and I am 33. I weigh about 164 now (last weigh in anyhow) and I am 5'3".

My current goal is 130. The 10% challenge would put me at 147, which is where I was last fall before life happened and my regime fell apart...

I ride horses and want to be in better shape to perform and look better at shows. I can't afford to gym right now as work means I miss it a lot (travel) so I have a Wii Fit that I am using, plus working horses (believe me it IS exercise if you do it right) and I have tools at home I need to use more (hand weights, exercise ball, videos).

Can I join you???

This sounds like a great challenge, starting at the perfect time for me! Sign me up please.

I'm 32 and I weigh 158 right now and am 4'10. My goal is 110 and I started at 197 back last July. I gained 7 lbs this summer though, due to many outside issue but I really have no one to blame but myself. I'm ready to get back on the weight loss track.

Leanne, nbkelly, and mintberrykin ... glad to have ya'.  Check back soon for the new competition thread once registration closes.

Awesome thanks! This will so help keep me motivated to eat better and get moving!

I'd love to join!

I'm Margot, 152lbs (as of this morning), 5'4.5" (yes, that half an inch matters!) and 24yo. I originally joined July of last year and managed to go from 170lbs down to 144 by November... But while I started out slow-n-steady by October I had devolved into a manic-veggie-only-eating-crying-through-my-7h rs/week-of-intense-cardio crazy person. Just in time to welcome the holidays. Needless to say I fell of the wagon, stopped using CC, and have been yoyo-ing between 155 and 147 ever since. I'm back now (as of July 23rd) and I'm craving some serious (read: non-manic) motivation. The kind that helped me lose my first 20 lbs.

As of today 10% of my weight is (rounding) 15lbs. Achieving this goal would a) get me to the 130's for the first time EVER! and b) put me in the healthy BMI range.

I look forward to cheering others on and getting a good dose of "put-that-cookie-down!" from others :)

I would like to join:)

I'm Stacey, 204 lbs(last time I weighed myself) I'm 5'3 and 30 yrs old.  I quit smoking on Monday,  I do not want to gain weight from this!! My goal is 160 then I will see how I look then. (I have never been small)  I have a husband, 2 girls 12 &7, 3 dogs and 4 fish so I am pretty active---I should be skinny !!! Anyway I would love to join this challenge, I am pretty new here and need motivation:)