10% by Halloween Challenge (CLOSED)

(Note: This challenge is no longer accepting new participants.)

This is a 12-week challenge (starting on August 11, 2008) where participants will work toward losing 10% of their current body weight by Halloween. 

Here's how it works:

• Weigh-ins: Weekly weigh-ins will occur on Mondays.  That's right ... no more slacking off on the weekends. 
• 1-3 rule: Participants are encouraged to comment on three other posts when they do their weekly weigh in post.  This will ensure that each participant will get an adequate amount of support as they journey toward better health.
• Journals: Participants are encouraged to add other participants to their friends list and leave plenty of comments about their journal entries.  Of course, it's also encouraged that each participant write their own journal entries.

Your weekly weigh in posts should appear in this format:

This week: XXX lbs.

Last week: XXX lbs.

Loss/Gain (week): XXX lbs.

To JohnnyAppleseed ... Crazy how much weight you can lose by just eating apples!  Good job!

To PaulaDeanFan ... That butter will kill you.  I sympathize with you as a fellow butter lover.

To CookieMonster ... I wish I had your willpower!  Truly inspiring!

The results of the challenge will be tracked on this online spreadsheet.

Good luck to everyone in this challenge!  I can't wait to see the transformations!

Awww well this week has pretty much sucked since I have eaten out 3 times... Chili's, Iggy's and Cancun Cafe! Wow Let's hope the weight stays under control! I did pretty good up until the mexican night that killed me! lol The parade of homes are going on where I live and so the people I was with wanted to eat out every day that we went!

And I have a question...so is our first weigh in this next monday or is it on the 18th?

oakmommy ... The challenge doesn't officially start until Monday, which means the first weigh in would be the following Monday (18th).  However, I did mention that if you want to give me an updated weight on this monday (11th), you could.  I know for some people, the weight they stated earlier will not be their true starting weight on the first day of the challenge, myself included.

Clear as mud?

I'm not sure if I'm happy or upset that I'm losing a bunch of weight before the challenge even begins.  When I started the thread, I weighed 239.2 and I'm already down to 235.6.  I'm pretty sure this is all water weight I'm losing from being "off the wagon."  So I try to remind myself that losing weight, in and of itself, is way more important than some minor technicality of a competition.  But still, there's a part of me that wishes I would've saved this water weight loss for the first week of the competition so that I could get a good start on the 10%.  Is that weird or what? 

oakmommy ... the Monday weigh-ins are going to be hard on all of us in terms of eating out as I'm sure many of us are accustomed to eating out more on the weekends.  I know that will be the most challenging part of this for me.  Hang in there!

Aww don't worry about eating out so much oakmommy. I started this journey at almost 200 lbs and I still eat out a lot. It's all about making the right choices. I know it's a struggle though. Monday I am taking my mom out for BBQ as a thank you to her. Sigh I hear those ribs calling my name already!

Alexanderrob I ended up doing the same thing losing some. When I posted I was 158 this morning I was 155. Oh well.....

Mintberrykin and Alexanderrob, you guys are cracking me up about losing weight before the challene actually starts.  I see the competition thing, but.. you're losing weight!!

Wish I could say the same :)

Yeah eating out *can* be a pain sometimes.

But i generally look up the nutritional value for the foods i'm interested at most of my favorite restaurants online. Yesterday I had Chili's for example, and ended up getting a chicken fajita pita (450cal 34%fat, 31%carb, 38.2% protein) and substituting broccoli instead of fries (saving at least 500 calories in the process). Little things like getting veggies instead of fries will add up in the long run let me tell you.

Just gotta be smart when ordering, stay away from fried foods, lots of bread, sugar-rich stuff...the usual. =]

easier said that done I know right?

oakmommy24 I hear you about the eating out it can be a challenge. The places you listed do not really have too much to choose from to be on the light side.  You'll be fine. That's what we are here for! 

alexanderrob I wanted to use my original weight but not if it's gone up.  If I was you I would defiantly use it.  You deserve to track that success.

mintberrkin BBQ sounds so yummy. Again there is nothing wrong with using your start weight. 

 I've been home a week from vacation and I'm up a pound over my original for this challenge start weight.  I hope it's "water gain" and that it'll be gone by Monday. 

I plan on working harder this week.  I really want to complete this challenge.  10% puts me at my ultimate goal and I have never been that small in my adult life.  I think I might have been there when I was 10.  I do plan on working out and gaining some weight back but not the fat. 

Everyone says that the last 15 pounds are the toughest, I hope not.  I know I am closer to goal then most here but if you read my bio then you know my weight has been all over the board and if this pizza loving emotional over-eater can lose weight then anyone can.  I hope to make the friends this challenge that will stay with me as I try to reach then maintain a healthy weight and more importantly a healthy lifestyle.

 

MintBerryKin - Congrats on loosing so much sofar! How long have you been counting? And I understand about the call of the ribs. They are just so darned yummy that they are worth the indulgence every once in a while, at least to me.

AlexanderRob - I want to thank you for putting this challenge together, I always see the threads for them, but have never found one to join before. I tend to be more of a lurker anyway, reading but not commenting.

The Monday weigh-in's won't be a problem for me, I already do my weekly weigh in on Mondays, my main problem these days is getting back into exercise. I am just starting to get over a pretty bad patch of Anemia, so for a while (read a month and a half) I was way to tired all of the time to wake up an hour early to go to the gym. Now that I am starting to feel better, I still cannot get myself to wake up early, or if I do manage to get myself woken up, I never get further then sitting in front of my computer checking my emails.

Thanks guys! and thanks for the suggestions!

It's just so hard... lik at Chili's they have there yummy chips and queso that I have never gone there without getting until this last time! Oh what a temptation and it is also hard to stick to there tiny low cal menu when there are so many other good things to choose from lol... I got fajitas and just ate half... and then at Iggy's I managed to stick to a salad, it was awesome by the way!        ;    But honestly... what can you get healthy at a Mexican restaurant? It is my favorite and definitely the most unhealthy food!

saxkat13: Don't worry you can still lose weight without excercising! Although it does help! You know what I always do when I haven't worked out in a while and I am trying to get motivated is to just FORCE myself to go one day and then I realize how good it makes me feel again! That usually gets me going, I know it's nothing special but it makes you feel damn good after you get in a good workout!

leann: Congrats on your weight loss so far what an acheivment!

alexanderrob:Thanks for putting this together! Oh and I am with you on kind of saving up your calories for a bit larger dinner. I do that and sometimes I have cals left over so I have to crunch them in there! :)

Has anyone decided on rewards they are going to give yourselves after you reach your goals?

 

Yeroc you are so correct in substituting fries for the veggies. Those little differences add up fast when counting calories.

Leanne congrats on getting so close to your goal! We will try to keep you going so that you will be there but the end of October.

Saxjat, I've been counting for a year now. I am not trying to lose fast, when I set out to lose weight it was to be healthy about it. I would rather lose gradually than lose a ton then gain it back plus some. I am with you about the exercise. I took the summer off because it is just way to hot here, but with the kids starting school on Monday I hope I will be able to make more of an effort to get to the gym.

Alright everyone - im out for the weekend.

I will see you all on Monday!  BE GOOD, BUT HAVE FUN!  Haha.

later!

 

-A

Are we only supposed to weigh once a week or can I still continue to weigh 10 times a day?

I really hate my afternoon weight.

10 times a day? haha Are you seriously weighing that much? I think that is a little obsessive compulsive? lol but I am sure you can weigh as many times as you want we are just reporting our weights on Mondays!

my scale has mysteriously disappeared from my house...

this could pose a slight problem come Monday...

Oh well, good luck over the weekend everyone, I just got back from the gym and I am quite dead. x_X

LisalacI too weigh multiple times a day.  I only count the morning one though.  I also only compare weights from the week before, Mon to Mon or Wed to Wed you know?  Yes it's a little OCD but so is my calorie counting.  I could have worse habits.

yeroc Who would remove your scale?  Good for you going to the gym.  Do you drink a protein shake before you go or do you eat when you get home?  My husband does a shake about 15 minutes before his workouts and it helps keep him going.  Just curious for future reference.

I just redid my calorie counter so I would know how much I can eat to reach goal for this challenge.  1245  I think it sounds crappy low.  I'll try it for the next week or so.  I think I'm going to have to start exercising just so I can eat more.  Or maybe  zig zaging my calories.  When I first started I did 1200 cals a day but I have since worked my way up to 1400.  I do have a few high cal days every now and then just to shake things up. 

What is every else doing?  I know I'm nosey! 

leanne~You started at where I am now and where you are now is where I want to be! lol You look great! I just got through reading your profile and all your journal entries and it is very inspiring! What an accomplishment all that in 6 months? That is fabulous! I hope I can be down that much in 6 months, I was actually hoping by Christmas! But yay you really got me excited to see that I too can reach my goal! Congrats! and I am sure you will be able to kick the rest by Halloween!

By the way what has your excercise and eating plan been the past 6 months? Has it fluctuated much? Did you ever plateau?

oakmommy24- I know you can do this! When I started I followed CC recommendations and only ate 1200.  (If your breast feeding make sure to eat at least 500 calories more than recommended.)  I lost 6 lbs in the first two weeks then I started about 2 lbs a weeks or just a little more so after the first 20 lbs I added some calories.  I wanted to slow it down a little.  You do not want your body to get used to eating so little. And I have a high call day every week or two, hi- cal being maintenance not overboard.  I do not believe in cheat days but if I should "fall off the wagon"  I eat light for a few meals and get over it.  This is for life and if you really want something have it, just be smart about it.

I like to cook and make just about any recipe calorie friendly.  I went through a baked zucchini strip faze where I might eat a pound of squash at a sitting.  Now I'm into pizza.  I take a high fiber low cal wrap (71) , and place it in the microwave for 2 min.  Then I slice tomato or use sauce (1/4 cup) add fresh basil and oregano. Top with 1/4 cup ff cheese or an once of feta or whatever. then I add onions, peppers ( which I dice up and keep in the frig for eggs or pizza or whatever. If you microwave them a little it makes them soft without added fat) Sometimes I add ham or ff hot dog.  Or I might just have them plain.  They are also good with pita bread I slice it in half and toast it and make 2 at a time.  I like the pita best with re-fried beans and salsa. MMMMM.... Sorry

I also buy the lowest cal stuff I can find so I can eat more.  I keep my bread and rolls in the freezer so they do not go bad.  Boca burgers are good with lots of toppings and a small salad.  My 2 year old loves them!

 I was trying to do Pilate's at least 4 times a week for about 40 min.  and I have a stability ball that I also alternate with.  (DVD's)  Now I just try to walk a little farther when I park the car and I take the stairs.  My goal is to get back into the Pilate's and ball stuff at least 1/2 hour a day and weights for another 30 min. 

I'm just not into the cardio and bouncing around thing.  I wish I was and maybe I will be someday.(I have Taebo DVD's)

I hope this helps as I seem to have written a small book.  If you have any questions I'll try to anwer.  And  just know you are not alone. 

leanne21071: I generally have a shake *after* working out as soon as i get home, not that this is any better or worse than drinking one before working out, but solely out of convenience. Also I seem to be eating a little under 2000 calories a day, average. 1850 if i had to estimate. According to my logs (BMR+activities) though I'm burning 2900 calories per day on average so I should be doing pretty well.

Oh and I located my scale, seems that someone decided to borrow it, then bring it back and leave it somewhere I would never look for it at.

On a side note, I started taking a daily creatine supplement yesterday, so from what I can tell I might not 'lose' as much weight according to the scale because my muscles are going to hold more water. I'm cool with that though, I'm a lot more concerned with how I look and how lean my body is than a number on a scale.

I agree on the whole calorie intake! I mostly just try to keep within a 500 to 1000 deficit! So the more I work out the more I can eat! :) Your cooking suggestions just got me so hungry lol to bad I have eaten all my cals today! Sounds great though and healthy I will definitely have to try them! I am unfortunately not breast feeding any longer :(. I wasn't producing enough milk and so after 3 weeks her ped said I need to supplement with formula, which she did really good on both up until a few weeks ago! I really enjoyed it though and was hoping to get in atleast a good six months! I also decided that I wouldn't start "dieting" until I was done so thats why I started this. So I can eat lots of tuna now lol!

But that is great information and inspiration! Thank you so much!

Revised starting weight Aug. 11: 172.0#.

 

All righty roo! It's Monday and Here we go!  Thank you alexanderrob!

 I'm keeping my original weight (which is only a little more) cause the 10% puts me at goal and I do not want to lose more then that.

132.6

Not to bad as I had too many Gin and Tonics yesterday instead of swimming....I counted them though!  The weather turned bad and although the pool was warm the lightening strikes tend to keep me out. 

corey I'm glad you located your scale.  I hate it when people move my stuff.  I might be messy but I know where in my mess things are.  Good for you on not worrying about the number.  I hope to be that way soon but at this point I do really want to see the number.  At least on my scale without holding on to the wall to make it lighter. 

oakmommy24 I just reread my post and I'm hungry as well.. Sorry about the breastfeeding.  But at least you tried and did go for 3 weeks which is more then a lot of people do.  But tuna is good!

  On with getting your body back!  I wish I had done it sooner, but I do not think I was ready.  I have now made this a commitment for the rest of my life.  I was not willing to do that before.  I also had not found anything that would work for me long term.  WW is good but too restrictive for me as well as every diet I have tried in the past.  When people say you " you can only eat X amount?"  I say I least I can eat ANYTHING without guilt that I have done something "wrong"  I choose to eat lower cal foods because it will get me where I want to be quicker but If I eat something dense it is not the end it's just a slow down.

I tend to babble and rant a lot, sorry!

 www.hungry-girl.com 

This is one of my favorite sites.  I have the cookbook and get lots of quick and easy ideas from it.