SUPPORT GROUP/CHALLENGE for 20-somethings!

This is a now CLOSED support group for 20-somethings looking to loose 20+ pounds over the next several months.  We will have our weigh-in closing date on Monday (meaning if you would like your weigh in to be counted for the week the posting should be made by midnight on Monday night). We also will have weekly challenges for whoever wants to participate!  Which I believe should start on Mondays unless anyone thinks otherwise.

I have posted all of the stats as a Journal entry under my name, and will post an abbreviated version below which I will update weekly. I still believe the important part of this group is posting and helping each other on a consistent basis, so if you don't want to do the weigh in that's fine, you just need to be actively participating in the group by posting. At this point looking at everyones goals I think that this group should go at least until the end of the summer (last weigh-in 9/1/08) and then we can choose if we'd like to continue.  I also think those of us who are committing to the weekly weigh-ins should maybe set mini-goals for ourselves.  Something like the end of May and middle of July may be good.

Future Weigh-ins should be posted like this:

LW (Weight last week): ***

CW (Current Weight): ***  

Just to make it easier for me to find and post. Let me also note that because of the nature of this group (it's size and it's purpose) the only thing that I feel needs to be steady in this group is people being consistant.  It is totally fine if you choose to not weigh in, or if you are busy for a few days or are going on vacation, but the main purpose of this group is to have a support group, and I don't want the group to be defunct by the end of the month because everyone has forgotten about it or has just given up (which this group should help anyone from doing!).  I have done it myself, joined a group and fallen behind, and just forgotten about it, but since this group is so small to begin with, it would be pretty pointless if that happened.  So the one rule that I feel should be in place is that you need to check in at least weekly, and if you aren't going to be able to just place a post saying that you will be gone for awhile.   If you are gone for more than a week I'll send you a message seeing how you are doing, because I am here to help :)  But if anyone vanishes for over 2 weeks your spot will be open for someone else to take.  I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, I just feel that it's the only way to guarantee that everyone is committed.

Please let me know if there are any mistakes in my postings of your stats.  

emma_lizardbreath:

SW:  227       CW:  220          GW:  170  *

funshinevenus:

SW:  157       CW:  136          GW:  130  -1!

katie4983:

SW:  189       CW:  181          GW:  135  *

kerrilynndrown:

SW:  139       CW:  137.4       GW:  115-120  -1.2!    

marie_von:

SW:  147       CW:  137.5       GW:  115-120  *

megoo4u:

SW:  183       CW:  155.8       GW:  142  -2.4!

milwaukeegal:

SW:  185       CW:  176          GW:  135 -1!     

sparkleriot:

SW:  180       CW:  168.2       GW:  135  -2!

star_dust_03:

SW:  194       CW: 176           GW:  150  

weddingmama: 

SW:  188       CW:  175          GW:  150  *   

xzcandizx:        

SW:  175.5    CW:  165          GW:  125  -1.4!

6/25  Our loss for this week is 9 pounds!  

This brings our total loss to 114.8 pounds!!!

REMEMBER The challenge this week is to stick with the basics of healthy living.

A water challenge sounds good - although I'll have to figure out how to measure my intake.  Usually I just keep a bottle in my backpack and a glass in my desk, and sip/refill throughout the day. 

My weight (from Friday) is at 173, down from 174.5.  My mini-goal is to be in the 160's by the time I graduate in mid May, so things are looking good so far!  Did my cardio this week on the elliptical - I love being able to set up a book on the little stand and read as I work out.  I don't go quite as fast that way, but I can keep exercising for a lot longer when my mind isn't focused on the time.

xzcandizx - are your allergies seasonal?  I know people in my area have been sniffling and itching from pollen over the past couple weeks - it makes a lot of people absolutely miserable every spring.  Hope the visit helps!

Whoo! yay, finished the challenge this week today. I wonder what the scale will say tomorrow. .. hmm...

Anyway, I have been upping my intake of water and my bloatedness (is that a word? haha it is now for me) is somewhat getting better. I am guessing is from all those sodium... ugh ... Well, this challenge should really help me get rid of that! Gotta get rid of that sodium from KFC hot wings I ate today! Yeesh ... i am soo guilty!

Have a good night.

Weighing in, lost a lot this week.

LW: 174

CW: 169

Happy Monday All. I knew I wouldn't be able to weigh in this morning. SO I weighed Friday and I am at 185. 

What are the ideas for a challenge this week.  I am supposed to finally start working out..although only for 20minutes and nothing to strenuous.  I have failed at exercise programs before because I was too sore to work out for several days.  I am trying to keep the pain as low as possible.

I could go for a water challegne. I am the worlds worst at remembering to drink fluids unless I am very dehydrated.  One evening I was doing my calorie count totals, and realized the only drink I'd had all day was my morning coffee.  :(  I drank a glass of water and finished up. 

This weeks is going to be particularly difficult for me. I am out of town and will be staying between a motel, my moms house and a friends house.  This past weekened I through in th towel on counting the calories in the MOST awesome chianese take out I have ever had.  Sunday morning I was back on the horse.  My DP was like ...oh you are counting "Everything" I said it was the only way for me to drop any weight.  For hte curry chicken I ate, I Found the most calorie loaded Curry chicken and devided the portion in half. 

I did bring my food scale with me on this trip and plan to put it to go use.  While eating out I am only going to eat at places that offer nutritional information.  THis will make things a bit less stressful. 

Goodluck all. I will check back for the challenge. 

 LW 188

CW 185

Denise

Hey guys- just a quick note.  Although I do read all of the posts :) it is a little hard for me to find your weights when I go back through and they aren't layed out in the format and are just in a paragraph without the previous weight.  If you guys could just try to follow the format it would be a huge help to me as entering in the info would go MUCH quicker!  Can't wait to see everyones progress, seems great so far!

Morning! I think that challenge sounds great too, I always have trouble drinking enough water.

mysticdragon: I'm pretty sure 64 oz is just under 2L. And, if I remember correctly, the typical 591mL bottle is 20 oz. That's why they chose a silly number like 591mL instead of just 600mL, since a lot of our bottles come from the states. So I guess you're aiming for just over three bottles a day.

Funny how we still use pounds for body weight, isn't it?

LW: 163 lbs

CW: 161.5 lbs

I'm losing faster than I should be for the amount I'm eating, which I'm blaming on the whole exam anxiety problem, my body is just sort of rejecting the food it's given. I'm going to keep a smaller than usual deficit this week, to make sure my body doesn't start to feel deprived and try to gain it all back. I'll make sure I can settle at this weight for a week before I really try to lose more. Slow and steady, right?

ugh i don't even want to post it...i drank tons of water yesterday but i guess it wasn't enough.

LW: 188

CW: 190

Hi guys~

I'm still alive! LOL honest!

I was able to do 3-35 min swim sessions (does that count? lol I hadn't mentioned it before but I also have problems with my knees) and 1-one hour walk this week... YAY!

Here's my weigh in for this week:

LW:155.6

CW: 153.2

Mysticdragon~ I've taken Step classes, and MAN! They really are a lot of fun! It's a nice way to tone your butt, thighs and calves, but you've got to be careful because if you don't have the right support, or don't stretch, you can end up doing damage to your knees, which was the reason why I had to stop :(... but it's a great cardio workout and sometimes you can even get some muscle building at the end, depending on the teacher or course. ^^

The Water Challenge sounds great! kingje is right, 64 oz is roughly 1.89 something something something liters, which if you grab one of those 1.5 L bottles that cost like $1.50, you can drink that, refill it, drink half and you're already past your 64 oz "requirement". Though I can imagine, for those of us who are students, it's a pain in the butt to carry around a 1.5 L of water to class... ;D

Good Luck everyone! <3

LW:  187.8

CW:  187.0

I'm thinking I'm in a bit of a pleateu...my weight has been right around here for the past three weeks.  Meh.

I completed the challenge for the past week-four days of 35+ mins of cardio...it felt really good!  Today, I'm meeting with a trainer...yikes!  It's exciting but at the same time nerve racking for me.

Can do on the water challenge!  Every day I drink around 3 litres of water...so, I guess it won't be too much of a challenge for me--but I need to cut back on sodium...I think I'll make that my own personal challenge!

So I just had my allergy tests done, and apparently I'm allergic to the world! haha, but serioulsy I'm allergic to just about everything outside and a few things inside.  Trees and grass came up really high, and so did cats and dust mites (can't complain that I'm allergic to the mites though!).  I got some prescriptions, but I think that I will likely start shots so I don't have to deal with this again another year.  Because I get it a little bit in the fall as well. They are weekly for several months, but if all goes well I hope it will be worth it in the end.

Food and weight wise I had a pretty decent week, with a couple of slight slip ups, but the more I think about it I realize that it is a lifestyle change and not letting myself have that cupcake/bagel/panera could end up hurting me more than helping me later on.  I am trying to eat more "whole" foods though.  Trying to stay away from processed and when I do eat packaged foods I've been much more careful about it.  Eating things with less ingredients and no words that I'm unable to pronounce.  I have to say though I'm a little nervous about the cupcakes.  This AMAZING cupcake store opened up in my town and all my friends are already addicted.  I guess I should just be happy that they sell mini ones!

So all in all it was a good week, I also fulfilled the workout challenge, I walked outside one day (bad idea with the allergies but it was SO nice out) for about an hour, did my 3 metatraining (my cardio regimen at the gym on the elliptical, it's preset for me so that really helps me out) and my trainer 2x.  I just think about if my food intake was just a tiny bit better how well I could have done.  I so am not giving up my treats but I know I could substitute fruit a little more often.  I lost 1.8, and if I work a little harder with the food I'm hoping to make it to an even 2 one of these days.  Good for everyone with the challenge, lets keep it up!

As for me ....

LW: 144

CW: 142

Whoo hoo! 2 lbs for me. oh that makes me feel happy!

Last week: 198.5

This week: 195

Did the Y-A-Thon on the weekend, which was aquafit bootcamp and a spinning class. It's exam week now, I've been busy with assignments, essays and projects last week and now this week I've been busy studying for four exams. I just finished one of them, three more to go.

xzcandizx - If you really like cupcakes have you tried making your own? At least then you know whats going into them> you can also buy mini cupcake trays at most stores. I like making some mini cupcakes once or twice a month. I share with the family and then I sometimes take 1 to school with me or have 1 after dinner. Much better than eating a large one i think, and they taste great with or without icing.

I agree with you on the "lifestyle" change part. I dont like to think of this as a diet. I never want to be the person who says "ya i cant eat that...ever". For me, the key is remembering NOT to eat the whole bag of chips, or not having 4 servings of birthday cake. *giggles*

 

EDIT: I also wanted to say that it looks like everyone is doing really well.
Sometimes i feel down because when i look in the mirror i dont see the changes, but then i try to remember, i see myself in the mirror everyday, so its not likely that i'll see a change.  So I hope everyone is feeling good! =)

 

Original Post by mysticdragon:

 

 

I agree with you on the "lifestyle" change part. I dont like to think of this as a diet. I never want to be the person who says "ya i cant eat that...ever". For me, the key is remembering NOT to eat the whole bag of chips, or not having 4 servings of birthday cake. *giggles*

 

 

 

 

 I am right there with you on this.  I have tried swearing off certain foods before and it only led to a binge one afternoon at a pizza buffet.  I am taking this weight loss and life style change one step at a time.  If I can just learn to count calories effectively on a daily basis I should be fine.  At some point I will start working out on a regular basis...soon because my Thighs and Upper arms really need help before summer LOL.  

I am doing okay. AF showed up two days early (that has me concerned for other reasons) and I was at a thrift store and stepped on a scale.  Ug..I was nearly 7lbs heavier than when I started. I am wondering if Altitude has anything to do with that..I am down nearly around sea level at home I live up in the Mountains at abut 1500ft above sea level. 

I realize what really matters is that I lose weight and my old clothes fit.

 

BTW, Does anyone have any ideas on the in between weights..when yu are too small to wear your old clothes but too big for something new. I am dealing with that. I think I am going to have to pull out the sewing book and take in the waiste on the pants and skip shopping for a while. 

 

Denise

Ooh, the altitude thing is a very interesting thought. I probably wouldn't have ever crossed my mind (but that's probably because where I live it's flat, flat, and more flat). I can answer it for you though.

You're right in thinking that you will weigh more at a lower altitude. But, since the radius of the earth is something like 21 million feet, a drop in altitude from about 1500 ft to sea level would only change your weight about 0.01%. So from your stats, if you weight about 188lbs at home, you'd weight about 188.02 lbs at sea level because of the difference in gravity so unfortunately it's not really a factor here.

Phew! I'm happy seven years of physics has finally been useful for something ;)

But really, if your clothes are getting too big you're definitely doing something right. I'd totally ignore the thrift store scale if I were you! It may not have been calibrated properly and you were probably wearing all your clothes and shoes. I would probably weigh 7lbs heavy in the middle of the day if I were covered in clothes and had a big lunch.

In other news, I'm having trouble with the water challenge. I've been able to do it and I know it's good for me, but I just don't like drinking things period. And, it sort of makes me hungrier. I feel like it flushes out all the food and I'm ready to eat again sooner. Maybe I'll get used to it...

wedding- AF=period???  I am really confused with that.  Never heard that saying before and I'm trying to figure out if it stands for anything?  Or if I'm even right with my guess.  I wouldn't take that scale too seriously either, your best bet is to weigh yourself at the same time of day on the same scale everytime you do to get the more accurate reading.  As for your pants being loose, especially since the weather is getting nicer wear more dresses maybe??  Or sweatpants on the weekends? Ever since I've been heavier I've bought lots of dresses because I couldn't stand going pants shopping anymore.  And there have been too many times that I convinced myself that "next week" I would fix it.  ha- that never worked!  But being on track now (for all of us) is exactly what counts!  And having your clothing be loose is awesome!

 

kingje- I'm sorry you are having trouble with the challenge!  I'm surprised because when most people up their water intake they usually feel LESS hungry because their stomach is full of water.  Like you said maybe it will just be a few more days to get used to.  It definately becomes easier after time.  For the longest time I've been a pretty big water drinker so its hard for me to "get" why people don't drink a lot because it's just really natural for me.  But this week for me even I'm actually going to pay attention to see if I'm really drinking as much water as I thought.  I'm thinking it should get easier for you though!

Hey Everyone,

 

I know I haven't been around lately, but I've been extremely busy.  This last week the Counting Crows were at school and I was in charge of their concert, also last week the fund raiser I was planning for 3 months went down.  We raised $200 in our 3rd annual Carthage Idol contest for the boys and girls club.  Then starting this week i've been playing catch up with classes and I have two internship interviews this week for the summer.  Things should settle starting today.  I'm in Oshkosh right now just chilling before my interview tomorrow, then I have one more Thursday and my life should settle a bit.  My current weight is 195lbs up 2lbs from last week because my stress level is high and I'm currently a going through that monthly problem. 

Again, I apologize for not being more involved.  I hope everyone is enjoying nice weather as it is 60 degrees in WI, one of the highest temps as of lately.

Talk to you all later.

AF could be "Aunt Flow"? I'm just guessing that that's what you meant too, I've never seen it abbreviated that way either.

Thanks for the encouragement xzcandizx, I'm definitely going to keep up the water intake. I'm probably so used to being perpetually dehydrated that that's what feels normal to me. I'm expecting to notice soon that I feel way better in general when I stay hydrated--I've already noticed that I feel much better after running than usual.

I feel for you Yenniferbangs, it sounds like you're really busy. I'm playing catch up in classes and trying to be ready for exams so my stress level is super high too! I just keep thinking to myself that I only have two more weeks left until I'm done classes...forever. I shouldn't give up now, no matter how tempting. I hope things do settle down for you soon.

Forever?!  That's a scary thought for me, I'm a junior.  I just scheduled my classes for next semester.  I have to write my two thesis presentations first semester.  Scary, I don't even want to think about it.  I think I'll start writing them this summer as so I don't contemplate suicide.

I'm jealous of you that your classes are over so soon though.  I have another month to go before finals week.  Then I'm going to take a HUGE breathe. 

my college finished super late compared to other schools! our finals finished up the first or second week of june. that was hard. but then we didn't start in the fall until the very last week of september.

i'm curious how many ppl are just starting their weight loss and how many have been working at it for a while? I'm wondering b/c i've been at this for over a year now so my losses are coming more slowly and take a lot more effort. it gets to be extremely frustrating wehn you work so hard adn the numbers don't reward you. anyone else in teh same boat?