Stew's Crew -- 15-20 by Halloween? CLOSED TO NEW MEMBERS

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p SPnLlFRvr2d78CiporCyWA&hl=en

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pSPnLl FRvr2d78CiporCyWA&hl=en

(This first link is the spreadsheet and the second is the check-in form)

Anyone trying to Lose 15-20 pounds by Halloween?

I have been messing around with this last leg of my weight loss journey for far too long. I'm really going to get serious about this last push and wondered if anyone else is in a similar situation and would like to help motivate each other?

Here are my stats, too:

5'6" female

157

28.9% BF (would like to be 25%)

Goal is 140

Moderate Activity Daily (I'm a SAHM with 3 little ones who keep me hopping!)

40 min. cardio 3-4 times a week, 90 min cycling once a week, 30 min. strength 3-4 times a week

(edit: added links to weigh-in form)

sorayazada -  hot chocolate and brownies sound so good, I'll have to build those into my calorie count some day soon.  I know I'd gladly jump rope for an hour for that kind of reward!  The down side is if they are home-made brownies they are never alone!

A quick check in, 159 today.  So I'm down another 1 lb, and broke into the 50's.  I was actually sitting at that since monday, hoping to see another drop before friday.  Maybe next week!  So 11 down and 9 to go this challenge.  I'm over the halfway hump for that, so it's good to see the 'to go' number smaller than what I've lost!  Honestly I'm quite happy with a 1lb/wk rate, it's pretty easy to stick to right now (I'm sure it'll get tougher as I get closer to my end-goal).

Back to goofing off and enjoying a lazy saturday.

arghhhhh...weekend was not a good one. Fun wise...it was great...food wise, not so much.
Soraya - I totally broke down on Friday night when I went to dinner with my family, had 3 glasses of wine and a scotch on the rocks...blah...which was then followed by 3 long beaches when I went to the bars in San Fran with my friends on Sat night...and then I had a lil bailey's w/creme de menthe las night...blah!!! No change on the scale...but not LOSING anything!
ohtobethin - I did actually do my measurements on thurs/fri last week. I've lost .5" from my biceps and .5" on my waist, but that's about it...from about 4 months ago! I was hoping that they had changed more. Will do them again in a few weeks...but my progress seems to have ground to a halt . I know these last 15-20lb will be the hardest...and I've been losing slowly but surely since last september (started at 207...now at 178...so 29lb)...so hopefully just crankin things up a notch...more exercise, less food will kickstart my weight loss again! Thanks for your input though

Add onto that...I had this crazy craving for a BBQ Burger and onion rings (I work at Red Robin on the weekends)...totally ate the whole thing plus rings and dipping sauce, and a large serving of yummy garlic fries. I seriously had trouble going to sleep because my stomach was so engorged! That's bad.

Goals for this week: 1) Hydrate hydrate hydrate! Aiming for 14 8oz glasses a day 2) No drinking until Sat night (we are only in Reno for one night...so doable) 3) When going out to eat...make smart decisions! (have 2 dinners planned this week, and then the weekend in Reno (probably 4 meals out)...so it'll make a difference) 4) and of course get in my 4 days of cardio and 2 of weights...add extra exercise where I can!

K...that should be enough goals to keep me busy!

Well I completely avoided everyone last week because I was so frustrated with myself, but it turns out everyone had similarly difficult weeks.  Didn't bother to weigh in or anything.  Usually I have a cheat day on the weekends, and two weekends ago it went from one day to five!  I just couldn't stop eating, I think partly because I'm getting over being sick. 

However, my cousin is coming to visit me next weekend, one I haven't seen in about 8 years.  His dad is super crazy and fit and notices a spare pound on anyone, so I need to give him as little as possible to report back!  Which means ten days no booze, 1300-1500 calories.  I've taken to writing how many pounds I've left to lose on my hand where I can see it when I eat to remind me of my goals, and that does seem to help.  I see it and want it to get smaller so I eat less, healthier, and less at night....

I promise I'll weigh in on Friday!  I'm hoping against hope it'll be down from my weighin two weeks ago: 149.4.  I want to get back in the 140s!!!

Hi guys,

I hope stewmama's ok? she hasn't checked in ??

So how about we make our challenge this week to stay away from the drinks! !? I'm going to drink lots of water everyday try to get my 100oz in**

I had a similar weekend to you guys... Drank like crazy on Friday and Sunday nights / went out ate really late and then the next day ate like 5slices of pizza! and had curry rice and all processed stuff...this was yesterday I feel like ****! so I'm going to work out...plus just got some bad news so I'm a bit on edge...;(

It's my birthday this Saturday so I want to look pretty and happy at my dinner ...

Oh well this week will be a good one... it has to be!

Hey there!  I am so sorry for the long absence -- I went to PA to visit my family and their antiquated computer wouldn't let me log on!  Argh!  I am back and looking forward to scrolling back through the last week and a half's worth of postings.  I hope everyone has been doing well.  I did ok -- I lost some weight despite lack of exercise and terrible eating -- I actually was very surprised to see that I lost 2 pounds!

On another note, had a doc appointment this morning and my ongoing struggle with moderate high blood pressure issues has the doc concerned.  I'm now at the stage of monitoring for 6 months and then re-evaluating.  I will have to work to cut back on sodium (ugh -- I'm a salt addict!), eliminate caffeine (le sigh), and limit alcohol to no more than a glass of wine a day (I might as well just cut that out too, I guess).  The sodium will be the most difficult to moderate, I think.  Anyone else on a low sodium diet?

Ok, I'll check back after reading the posts.

Whew!  You all have been busy tap tap tapping away!  I Love it!   I was trying to remember everyone I wanted to address and I'm sure I will forget, but please know I am simulatneously proud for those of you have had great achievements (Misschelle!! WooHoo!) and rooting for those of you who are struggling (I feel like I fit in with that group myself).

Ohtobethin -- GOOD LUCK with your testing.  Major bummer, but think positive thoughts.

Johgar -- AH!  I am so sorry I wasn't able to get a challenge posted!  I'll post one for the remainder of this week.  I'm so glad you enjoy them!  I know it helps me stay focused, too.

Soraya -- Don't beat yourself up with your plateauing. I feel like I have been doing the same for the last several months.  It's really frustrating, but I try to remind myself that I am making positive life long changes, even if they aren't translating into huge numbers on the scale.  I am technically within my healthy BMI, but definitely want to lose another 15 pounds to feel my best.  The less you have to lose, the harder it becomes.  And I hear you on the wine.  I am pretty good Sunday through Thursday sticking to my one glass with dinner, but come the weekend my husband and I can go through one of the larger bottles of wine together.  Ugh.  With my BP issues, that simply has to stop.  I'll go no drinking with you, too!

I didn't recall seeing much from Momof2 -- how is she doing?  A couple of others were missing, too.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Finally, whoever suggested a New Year's challenge next -- count me in!

This Week's Challenge:

For the remainder of the week (till Sunday), add some extra walking in wherever you can -- park at the back of the parking lot (awesome misschelle!), walk to the corner store instead of driving, walk an extra lap around the mall when you go shopping, stop at a park on your way home and take a stroll -- get creative!

yay!!! Stewmama you're back!! happy that you are :) congrats on the 2pounds!!! that's amazing!  I say we continue our stew crew for New years??? what do you guys think??? ... I like this group and it's helping me to know that I have other people in the same boat as me and we are working together to the same goal...

OK SO confession to make.... I fell off my wagon last night! Went out and drank ALOT had about 5 glasses of wine! and a vodka soda late night then when I got home... I had 2 packs of ramen noodles! I am so pissed at myself but today is a new day... I had to get my confession in wooohh ... now that's off my chest!!! thank god! ok, putting my halo back on and hopping on my wagon again

xo

Soraya

Great to hear from you stewmama!  Congrats on your 2lbs!

A New Years challenge after this does sound fantastic :)

sorayazada, I too fell of the wagon.  I hopped on good, but must have lost balance   I vanquished some doughnuts.  They will never again threaten that napkin.  The world is a safer place now 

I didn't do weights these past three days, due to weather and work.  The poor bulbs and peppers had to be brought inside today as we approach freezing lows overnight.  So I spent most of my free time today playing in the dirt and cringing every time I had to break a fat root to pull up a bulb for dormancy.  I doubt that burned much though! 

Ok, finishing my coffee and then off to bed.  Hope you all have a great night!

I drank a gallon of water yesterday to even out the fact that I had Ramen Noodles at 2AM! yuck! at least it was the first time I had it in a long time, maybe about a year or 2... so still on wagon thank god! haven't been good with working out... gonna do it today get about an hour or so in... windrinre I'm adding jump rope back into my cardio I noticed I lost a lot of weight fast when I did it consistently and have stopped from boredom and weight crept back up so on it again ...

uuuuhhhhh ! okay it's super hot out here again so I have to wait to work out it's 94 degrees! it's like a fire box every where go! 2 more days till my bday so I want to look pretty in a dress... everybody I know is skinny! I'm the biggest one uh... all good that will end soon...

did we decide to keep our group going???? I'm down if we do...xoxo

soraya

Hello all,

Frustration is abundant in my bathroom (because of the scale!).  I'm back up to 150.2.  I was in the 140s on Wednesday but apparently someone didn't think it was such a good idea.

So!  Last time I weighed in: 149.4

today: 150.2

Goal: 145?  ARGGGG!!!!!!  I've been in the same couple pounds for like a month and a half!  I know it's because I cheat on weekends and my low cal days during the week just end up balancing it out, but I've been STARVING lately!  I just can't eat enough and staying within calories is so hard.  Wahhhh I just want to give up and say fine, my weight's ok, I'm healthy blah blah blah.

New Year's might not work because I'm going home to America for the month of December...unless the challenge is a weight GAIN challenge!

sorayazada:  It can get boring pretty fast jumping rope, unfortunately.  And I suck at trying to learn the different tricks.  Hope it's fun for you again after your break from it :)

SW: 175 (170 this challenge) GW: 130 (150)

CW: 162 (+3) LW: 159

It's TTOM, so I'm ignoring this week's weigh in.  I need to drink more water this week, because I know I haven't been getting enough of it.  Other than that, just resolving to do more exercise.

Ok, coffee's done, so I'll check in on you all later :)

I too am up a pound.  I haven't counted my calories in 3 weeks.  Time for me to jump back on the wagon.  I need to lose 5 more pounds in 2 weeks

SW=165

LW-149

TODAY=150

GW=145

·  Aug 22:  180.6lbs

·  Aug 29:  182.4lb (+1.8!!!) 

·  Sept 5:   183.0lb (+.6)

·  Sept 12: 178.6lb (-4.4)

·  Sept 19: 179.0lb (+.4)

·  Sept 26: 179.0lb (no change)

·  Oct 3: 174.6! (-4.4!)

·  Oct 10: 178.4 (+3.8)

·  Oct 17: 178.0 (-.4)

·  Oct 24:

·  Oct 31:

Well...at least I had a loss this week. I'm kind of in the same boat as tink cause I do great during the week, get all my workouts in, yada yada, and then the weekend rolls around and BAM! all my hard work for the week is gone. tink don't feel so bad about being on a plateau for a month and a half, because seriously...my weight has not changed since JUNE!!! that's 4 freakin months!!! I always have to remind myself that although I'm not losing...I'm not GAINING. Gotta stick to the positive...but
I'm seriously almost to the point of not caring, because I just am so sick of tracking everything, and worrying about how many damn calories are in food when I go out...and soraya  like you...I am one of the bigger of my friends...which makes things hard too! I totally ate ramen last night for dinner, at like 10pm...it was in my cals for the day...but I think bc I ate late at night it threw me off. I haven't drunk at aaaaaallll this week...yay! but...
This weekend will not help. Going to my girlfriend's house tonight to have dinner/drinks with her family, then we are going out to the bars, then tomorrow we are driving up to Reno for the weekend! ahhhhh. I've decided I'm going to drink anyways, so I'm just going to make sure to super hydrate and watch the food intake, and hopefully it'll balance out.
stewmama thanks for the challenge...I'm gonna use it for the rest of the week! Congrats on the 2lb, and welcome back :)

No way I'm going to make the goal...BUT...I'm so in for a new challenge...keep chug-a-luggin right? Have a good weekend everyone!

Hi ladies

I'm still at 146 no weight down since TOM so I know the drinking is catching up to me.... it's hard because this wknd I'm def. drinking my bday dinner/dancing is tomorrow so I get a pass...

Johgar - congrats on the loss girl and I think that not drinking at all is def. working for you... even if your down to 174 on the 31st that's a significant loss! congrats all the way around.

missechelle - congrats on making 15pound loss w/in this challenge...I'm inspired

windrinre - Your right jumping gets pretty boring... and during TOM it's not even worth looking at the scale it causes me to go into a tail spin.

tink- you will break into it by the end of this challenge I believe in you!

where's the mama?? Stewmama thanks for the challenge, I purposely left the remote far from me so I would get up and move around if I was watching tv...

So I'm bummed that I didn't make my bday goal but that's ok... I recognize the root and I know that I have to cut back on the wine, waaaayyy back...and I will ... I'm still not sleeping and need to get it checked super stressed out... was on the lounge site yesterday and some of the people were so horrible and nasty to me when I was making my point, I had made a nasty comment back but then realized I need to step away from that negative energy. Some people like to bring other people down and attack them personally on these sites especially since there is a bit of cowardice involved when it's so anonymous here on these sites... people say the nastiest things to other people and are rude but really they do it because they hate themselves and are probably very sad and lonely people, again I feel there is an unbelievable amount of cowardice to say things when you don't know who the person is... anyway, that's my rant! staying away from the political debates from now on for my own sanity sake... I'm glad you ladies are genuine people...stew put together a good crew and I'm happy here! ...xoxo ... soraya

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SORAYAZADA!

Hope you've had a fantastic day today so far, and that the rest is even better!

THANK YOU WINDRINRE - YOU ARE A DOLL BABY!

Yes!  Happy Birthday Sorayazada! 

I really wanna keep this goin till New Years!  Can we just change the name of the group or do we need to make a new thread?  I am Totally going off my diet for Halloween!  Huge party here, and I am gettin my drink on!  I have been trying really hard to not drink while I'm on this diet.  I haven't had wine in about 2 mos!

Congratulations to everyone who lost this week.  If not, it's nothin but a thing.  Keep on keepin on, we are all in this together!

SW-190

LW-179

CW-178.5

Not much, but I'll take it.  I haven't seen that for a very, very long time!

Happy Belated Birthday, Soraya!  Hope it was a happy one!

Well, I weighed in at exactly the same from last week (154/ 28.5%) which I am actually thrilled about because today TOM came to town.  I can't tell you the last time I didn't gain even half a pound for TOM! Plus, I actually ran all weekend, too, and usually TOM knocks me out the couple of days prior. 

Definitely want to keep this going -- let's start a new thread, though.  Stew's Crew New Year's Challenge?  I'll have it up Nov. 1 in the games and challenges forum.

Today marks the start of my total dryness from the vino.  I'm going to take that one day at a time -- treat myself to a spa pedicure if I make it two weeks.  I'm going to see a nutritionist on Wednesday about my hypertension and imagine that I will told to also cut back on sodium.  Sigh.  I will happily never eat sweets again, but giving up salty treats feels almost impossible!

Goo luck this week everyone!

This week's challenge:

Commercial Break: If you're taking a break and watching the tube this week, use the commercials to get some extra exercise.  Jillian Michaels from BL suggests doing an activty like jumpking jacks or jumping rope (real or mock) for the entire 3 min. commercial break.  Over a two hour period there are approximately 10 CB, so that is 30 extra minutes of exercise!

So next time you're watching TV, use the CB to do some jumping, running in place, stretching, crunches, push-ups, dumbell curls, etc.

Good luck!