"The Thanksgiving Ten" - losing those last annoying pounds challenge & support group

I have realized that as we get within about 10lbs of our goal weight, the challenges and struggles that we have to deal with are a bit different than for those earlier pounds.  I want this thread to serve as a sort of "kick in the pants" to get those last pounds off.  I also want this to serve as a "support group" where we can share struggles and successes or just to vent frustrations.  I chose Thanksgiving as the goal date because many people will be seeing their families and want to look their best!  I also think Thanksgiving in 8.5 weeks is a long enough time to get those last roughly 10lbs off.  Someone had mentioned having the goal be the Monday after Thanksgiving and everyone is free to chose their own goal date, but for me personally, I want to do it before the holiday.  We can then help each other develop strategies as to how to avoid the Thanksgiving overeating while still being able to enjoy our favorite seasonal foods and the decreased motivation to keep exercising and eating well between Thanksgiving and Christmas that seems to always happen.  We will also share tips and ideas about starting a maintenance plan and keeping those pounds off!  

Please post your stats: age, sex, height, current weight and goal weight for Thanksgiving (November 22nd, 2007).

We will start on Monday October 1st.  Feel free to weigh in and post at any time.  I won't impose and official weigh in day, but I was thinking that Saturdays might work well as a motivation not to over do it during the weekend.  I will keep a running tally of where everyone is.

For weigh-ins, please send me a private message, I think it will be easier this way.  I will then update this post.  You can weigh in at any time, but I suggested Saturday as a good day.

WEEK 7 UPDATES: 

PLEASE CHECK YOUR NUMBERS!!!

I have only included those that have sent me their stats.  Feel free to keep sending.  Good job everyone!!!

142by42 SW 169 CW 163 GW 155 PL 6.0

daniellew79 SW 150 CW 142.5 GW 140 PL 7.5

hbbroadbent SW 140.8 CW 130 GW 130 PL 10.8

iridescent_identity SW 135 CW 124.4 GW 125 PL 10.6

mamamunoz SW 172 CW 166 GW 162 PL 6.0

mctami SW 143.2 CW 135.8 GW 135 PL 7.4

smader SW 147 CW 139.5 GW 137 PL 7.5

southcarolinaguy SW 190 CW 182.3 GW 180 PL 7.7

caniche SW 147 CW 143.5 GW 137 PL 3.5

roc07 SW 117.6 CW 116.6 GW 110 PL 1.0

tabathar SW 133 CW 122 GW 120 PL 11.0

x17star17x SW 152 CW 139 GW 142 PL 13.0


Good job everyone!!! 

I have much more than 10 lbs to go, but I also still need to keep this weight loss going!

Age: 19
Weight: 178
Height: 5'4
Goal: (Eventually 120) but for this challenge: Around 165 lbs.

I have to cook Thanksgiving dinner again for my family this year (because I made it last year and they apparently thought I should do it all again, :) so I really really need to lose more poundage before I hit the Thanksgiving meal big time.

Thanks for starting this thread!

Age: 22

Sex: F

Height: 5'3"

Current weight: 138 lbs

Goal weight: 128 lbs .. 

Age: 25

Sex: F

Height: 5'9"

Current weight: 179 lbs

Goal weight: 165 lbs

I'm going to really need support after awhile.  The first couple of days are always great, but I pretty much suck after that.

Age: 31 (well on Sunday i will be)

 Sex: F

Height: 5'7.5

Start weight: 169lb

Current weight: 158lb

Goal weight: 143lb ideally by christmas

 

Since i hurt my back over a year ago i gained approximately 21lb, now that i have most of my mobility back i figured it was time to lose it. This support group will be great as i really struggle when i hit a plateau i feel like i will be stuck there forever

Count me in!

Age:36

Sex: F

Height: 4'11

Weight: 117.6

Goal weight: 110

OK...this looks like a great idea!

Age:  46

Sex: F

Height:  5'9

Weight: 137

Goal weight: 127

I started my diet and exercise program on New Year's Day and did really well for the 1st 4 months.  I went from 155 pounds to 134.5 and then plateaued up and down from the upper 130s to a high of 143 - over and over and over. 

I tried to exercise more to create more of a calorie deficit, sometimes up to 2 hours a day.  I was always really hungry and always ate more than I should at scheduled cheat meals.  So, it's no wonder I stagnated for the next 4 months!  I definitely overtrained, especially my left hip flexor...ouch.

This time around I am decreasing my exercise to about 45 minutes a day and cutting around 200 more calories from my previous daily target average of a little under 1700.  I am feeling pretty good exercising less and eating just a little less...it helps to cut out that glass of wine and the weekly Three Musketeer bar.  I lost 2 pounds over the last 4 days.

I know this is a long email...I'm just so committed to getting and staying in the 120's weight range - and getting back into my size 6's.

Good luck, everybody!!!

I am so in.

Age: 30

Sex: F

Height: 5'6"

Weight: 159

Goal weight: 149

Genius! I need some motivation...BIG TIME! I'm also starting Weight Watchers today. Hopefully that will make these 8 weeks alittle easier?...We'll see!!

Age:26

Sex: F

Height: 5'2

Weight: 126

Goal weight: 118...I don't think I've ever been 116. Think I skipped right over that number :)

Count me in, too!  Thanksgiving is the 11/22 and my wedding is on 11/24, so the timing is PERFECT! : )

Age: 35

Sex: F

Height: 5'4"

CW: 124.4

GW: 116.0

Thanksgiving is the day after my birthday so I'm definitely in!  I have a bit more than 10 lbs to lose but this is nice goal anyway.

 Age: 23

Sex: F

Height: 5'9''

CW: 171 lbs

GW (Thanksgiving):  157 lbs

GW (Long Term): 145 lbs

Count me in too! 

Age: 28

Sex: F

Height: 5'6

Current Weight:  176 (up really high from a bad weekend of eating)

Goal weight by Thanksgiving: 163  (that would be about 10 lbs from my normal weight without all the water that I am currently retaining).

Age: 44 (on Thurs)

Sex: No... I mean F

Height: 6' 0"

Current weight:193

Goal weight: 185

My ultimate goal weight is 178, but I'm losing really slowly so I think 8 lbs is a challenging goal for Thanksgiving.

I've got to join this!!  These last 10 are soooo hard for me, especially with my busy class and work schedule which has me eating junk at midnight because that is the only time I have to eat and who wants to cook vegetables at that time of night when you can just toss a Hot Pocket in the microwave?  I've done a fairly good job maintaining in the last month (the scales say I've put on a pound and a half in the last 2 weeks but some of that I think is water weight or muscle weight as I have increased the amount of time I spend weight lifting and decreased the amount of time I spend running and doing cardio.  My arms have really bulked up in the last few months!)  I am dying to hit the 120's... and I'm so close!  I think I just need encouragement, so let's encourage each other and maybe we'll all get there!

Sex: F
Age: 23
Height: 5'3"
CW: 132 pounds (jumps around a bit depending on the day)
GW 1: 124  pounds (I'd like to hit 122 by Thanksgiving, but 124 would be ok)

 I want to join. I would love to get to my goal weight by Thanksgiving or Dec 13th my anniversary. It seems to take me forever to lose a lb. these days but I am committed.

Age 45

Height 5'7"  Small Frame

Weight 131

Goal Weight 123

Hi! I just decided last week that I am going to take my weight loss very seriously starting October 1! I was thin all throughout High School and the weight very slowly crept on until I hardly recognize myself anymore. This is great for me! I hope group support turns out well as this is the first time I've really made a concentrated effort.

Age:23

Height - 5'6"

Weight - 163

Goal for Thanksgiving - 156

Goal for May 2008 - 131

Age: 17

Sex: Female

Height: 5'8

Current weight: 308

Goal weight: 290

:)

I am in! I set the same goal (ten lbs by Thanksgiving!)...I am 5'3'' and weigh 127. I really would like to be at 117. I am not sure how to sign up (never done this posting thing before) so just let me know what I need to do!

Realized you may need a little more info... Age: 23 Height: 5'3" Frame: Medium Goal: 117 by Thanksgiving

Age: 33

Sex: F

Height: 5'1

Current weight: 124 (less than this last time I weighed but haven't weighed in a while so I am adding a few pounds, figure its better to estimate high and then be pleasantly surprised if its lower, than the other way around, lol)

Goal weight: 119lbs

I REALLY need this motivation to get the last few pounds off!!!

Okay, I'll play, too.

Age: 37
Sex: F
Height: 5'8"
Current Weight: 174.8
Turkey Day Goal Weight: 164

The scale didn't move much this past month, but I still managed to eek out a 3-4 lb loss. I'm hopeful that the scale will keep moving, and that I can do the same these next two months. Game on!

Thanks, Kate, for starting this!