Trick or Treat Challenge

It is time to set your goals for the next challenge.  Based on the feedback this year we will eliminate the Labor Day Challenge and go for the Trick or Treat Challenge. 

Time:  July 11, 2009 until October 31, 2009

The Challenge: State your goal and remaing accountable to the yourself and the group. 

Reporting:  Weigh ins will be on Wednesdays each week.  I will keep track of our progress for this challenge and update weekly. 

Count me in!

Challenge Goals:

Weight-- maintenance. I want to show up at the start line of the Chicago Marathon anywhere in the range of 155-158 lbs.

Fitness--my primary goal is to run the Chicago Marathon (October 11) in under 3 hours. I don't care if it's 2:59:59--I just want to go sub 3 this year. At the very least, I want to finally qualify for Boston (need to run a 3:20 or faster). Marathon training will officially begin on July 20, where I will use the plan developed by Pfitzinger/Douglas in the 2nd edition of Advanced Marathoning. It is a 12 week plan that averages 89 miles per week with a peak week of 105 miles.

In the meantime, I have two half marathons scheduled which should help me to gauge my fitness and to zero in on what my goal time should be for the marathon. The first race, the Chicago Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon is on August 2nd. The second race is the Chicago Half Marathon, scheduled for September 13th. My goals for those are:

Rock 'n Roll Half (if I end up racing it)-- 1:23:30 (or about a minute faster than my current PR at that distance). There is a chance that I might not race it, especially if I'm given the opportunity to work as a pace group leader.

Chicago Half-- 1:22 to 1:23. I'm definitely going all out on this one, as it will be a good test of my fitness heading into the final weeks of marathon training. I realize that at this point, the margins of improvement are going to get smaller.

I'm in as well!  Last year at this time I was just getting started with weight loss.  Between July 08 and October 08 I ended up losing 25 lbs before having foot problems.  This year I am looking for more of the same without dropping off.

Challenge Goals:

Weight Loss:  I'd like to average a weight loss of 2 lbs a week.  There are 16 weeks in this challenge, so I am going to set my weight loss goal for 30 pounds from my starting weight.

I continue to follow the principles of the Warrior Diet where only vegetables and some fruits are eaten during the morning and afternoon, and a larger meal consisting of a big salad, some protein and cooked vegetables, and either some carbs, fats, or sweets at the end of the meal.  I monitor my calories and target approximately 1750 per day.

Exercise:  Continue to exercise four times a week with Russian Kettlebells.  This is a very good workout that continues to challenge me.  With a calorie deficit its difficult to build muscle, but the calories it burns are very helpful and my overall fitness is improving.

I'd also like to start regular exercise in the afternoons such as walking, hiking, using my elliptical trainer, etc.  This is mostly for endurance and to supplement the kettlebell workouts.

Halloween:  Obviously stay away from all the candy.  The real goal this year is to find a costume and avoid having to choose from a limited selection of the 'XXL' sized costumes.  :)

Looking forward to the start line!

Kv

Don't know if we were posting today or not, but here are my numbers

CW: 169
LW: 170
GW:150-154 - Normal BMI & HS, Military, Marriage until 1979!
Step Goal: 160
Starting Weight: 165.5 (7/10, peak: 222 in 1999)
Fitness Goals for 2009:
*Run 600 mi;
*Get clearance from cardiologist to train for a half marathon - stress test Monday 7/13 - hope its not an unlucky day for me!

Same goal as last challenge. Will measure myself this week! A must so I can compare with an early Jan set of data. I do know tho that there has been no chance in stomach (@belly button) measurement). Had to miss boot camp workout this morning. I reviewed stress test paperwork last night and realized that I needed a fasting blood test by tomorrow in order for the Cardiologist to get it for Mon. I hope to blow away the stress test and get cleared to run a half marathon. Am not anticipating any problems but who knows? Its the 13th ain't it!

Am continuing to run at least 3x/week and getting mileage up as I continue to be pain free - finally. For me the Galloway run/walk method has worked to allow the healing process to complete while still letting me run. I know I can still run more than 1 min at a time, but the run 1/walk 1 ratio as been working for me. I have occasionally decided to run 3-5 min stretches when feeling good, and have walked for 2-3 min when overheated or tired. Gotta let the bod tell me what to do.

motto: Never Give UP, Never Turn Back!, Can Do!

“Trick or Treat” Challenge Start

My Goal (s):

1. 175lbs and a 34” waist  Basically to lose weight, inches and a pant size(s) in a sustainable way, not a quick weight loss but an adjustment of my life style for the better.  Firm up and tone up to the best of my ability while revitalizing my nutrition for weight loss and health benefits. According to the on line weight loss tool,  based on my current weight and light activity,  I should consume about 1,842 calories or less a day to reach my goal weight of 175 lbs at a reasonable weight loss average of 1 lb per week.  This should have me reach my goal by October 15, but Thanksgiving is on the 12 so October 31 is realistic. will try to follow the GI diet and stick with the “green” foods.
2. An Effective non gym exercise program incorporating cardio, resistance and stretching. Something I can make a daily/weekly routine to be done anywhere at anytime. I have made walking a 6 day a week habit so I want to pick up the pace while introducing a weight/resistance program every other day. I know I should be doing strength training three times a week to reach my goals.

My Motivation(s):  first the preventative/repair aspect for wellness: avoiding or managing diseases and general fitness, for better moods and energy (needed especially while job hunting) and finally for the self-conscious reasons of looking fit/youthful and anti-aging. 

Starting numbers (based on current home scale):

CW: 189 (2009 low 186, 2009 high 207+)
GW: 170-175
Step Goals:  August 1st <=185, September 1st <=180, October 15th <= 175, October 31st 170-175

Best regards,

CB

Trick or treat challenge

my goals:      &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;  

170 lbs by the oct 31...........gain an inch in my biceps and 2 inches in my chest while losing 2 inches in my waist.

cw 194lbs 34 in waist

starting weight 220 38  in waist.

goal weight 170lbs 32 inch waist

Goal setting will usually effect a positive result, either a partial or full goal achieved. Initially, the skill of setting a goal and learning to work towards it may be where the most practice is needed.  And I point out, practice may be needed, it may not happen right off the bat.  In time, with the proper application, motivation, and inspiration, that practice will progress to higher levels and better results. 

This pattern of goal setting can be translated into other areas of life.  For starters, many find it easier to set a goal involving the body and physical exercise.  Step one of learning how and what our psyche is may be to do something simple, like a diet. From that point, it would be possible to set and achieve other even more important life goals.  Often, diet automatically spills over into other life areas as the individual is energized, alive, and now fully empowered.

Society benefits from this as well.  Seeing is believing.  Dysfunction is replaced with function. This can only happen if we do it, we cannot just talk about or desire it. This has to be done empirically.  That valiant task is ours!    

Ok.  I'm currently 156.4 pounds and set my goal at 156.0 pounds for October 31, 2009. I will continue to exercise for about 50 minutes 3 times each week carefully increasing muscle tone & mass.

John

(Hope you don't mind about my little weight joke.  I did start here at 170 pounds and ended up at 156 thanks to this group and this webiste.)

ToT Start: 263.00
ToT Goal:  233.00
TW: 263.00
CW Progress: 0.0
ToT Progress: 0.0
Pounds from goal: 33.0

So here we go!  The last few days have been pretty good and I am actually down a few pounds from the end of the J4C challenge to the start of the ToT challenge.  I think my biggest problem is the evening meal where we go out to eat.  I try to choose healthy options but there aren't many healthy options when eating out.  I looked at the nutritional information for what I thought was borderline reasonable for a restaurant meal and it ended up being over 3000 calories.  Ugh.   So add to one of my goals eating out a LOT less, and researching beforehand what to have.

I worked out with the Kettlebells five days this week (Mon - Fri) which was a first in a while.   I am hoping this weekend to do some hiking and get the elliptical bike set up for a bit of work on my endurance.

Good luck everyone!  Let's have a strong start across the board.

Kv

TOT Start: 199
TOT Goal: 180
TW: 199
Pounds from goal: 19

Weight Loss Goal: On the board again.  My weight loss goals have not changed much.  I have determined that I have maintained at ~200 range for long enough.  A 20 Lb loss over the next four months is both achievable and sustainable.  This will get me within 5 Lbs. of the "healty BMI"

Fitness Goal:  Training continues.  I am committed to two long runs between now and the middle of October.  The Rock & Roll Half marathon in Virginia Beahc September 6th (56 days away) and The Richmond Marathon November 14 (125 days away).  During this time I would like to hit all my planned training and cross training commitments.  Finishing goal for the Half 2:24:06  Finishing Goal for the full 5:15:24 or less. 

Looking forward to hearing from others.

cant check in tomorrow, so ill do it now.

sw-194

gw-170

today-191              &nb sp;  really excited about progress and looking forward to my first 5K in november.

ToT Start: 189
ToT Goal:  170-175
TW: 189
CW Progress: 0.0
ToT Progress: 0.0 (#$^%&*@#%^)
Pounds from goal: 14

Walking continues and I have started periodic stretching with light resistance ( body) exercises. No real weight training started yet.

Cheers,

CB

CW: 171
LW: 169
GW:150-154 - Normal BMI & HS, Military, Marriage until 1979!
Step Goal: 160
Starting Weight: 169.0 (7/10, peak: 222 in 1999)
Fitness Goals for 2009:
*Run 600 mi (330 mi thru June);
*Achieved 7/13 - Get clearance from cardiologist to train for a half marathon

up 2 from last week. Not good. Part of it is the pizza we had Mon night to celebrate the stress test results. I have a meeting next Tue night with the Leukemia/Lymphoma society's Team in Training to see if I can hook up with a training program leading to a half this fall. Wife doesn't want to go to San Antonio in mid Nov, so it might be Dallas in mid Dec, or a local, smaller race in Nov with the Fort Worth Runners club. Will have to see how training goes. Sure hope pace gets down when the weather cools, otherwise my goal will be a 15 pace for the distance which would take 3hrs 15 min to complete.

Training and cross training going well. Running pain free which feels great. I hope I've learned my lesson and don't over do it again. Cut Sunday long run short due to heat and finishing fluids (~50oz) in 90 minutes! Heat index was 86 when I got home. Not mixing the G2 Gatorade with water has helped with not needing to eat during the long run. Might need to use full, higher cal Gatorade, for longer than 2 hr runs tho. Will monitor.

Boot camp training continues. We covered 1.8 mi this morning with all the obstacle courses and combo exercises, e.g. lunging accress the parking lot while doing dumbell overhead lifts, bicep curls, etc. We did four passes accross the lot! I was thinking I should have bought the 6lb dumbells instead of the 8's! The FWRC has a high noon 1/2 mi race this Sunday that I will participate in. Will probably run with a 20oz gatorade in my hand to stay hyrated.

motto: Never Give UP, Never Turn Back!, Can Do!

It's time to get this going!!

Challenge Start: 158.0 (upper end of maintenance range)
Challenge Goal:  155-158 (maintenance range)
Within range: Yes (but barely)

Yes, I'm in my goal maintenance range, but just barely, coming in 2 lbs heavier than where I ended the most recent challenge. I need to make sure I keep thing under control w/r/t my nutritional intake. It will be a challenge with my weekend trip to Boston (we're leaving tomorrow morning and returning on Tuesday morning), but hopefully I can get by with minimal damage.

This week will mark the end of what has been an extensive base building period aimed at improving my long-distance endurance. Heck, I may even take a complete rest day on Sunday, which would break my running streak of what will be 147 days. Hopefully this training will give me exactly what I have needed along to have a very successful marathon training cycle (which starts on Monday) and an extremely successful marathon performance in October.

Bobev, congratulations on getting the clearance for the HM!! You have worked so hard for this, and you have come such a long way!!

TOT Start: 199
TOT Goal: 180
TW: 198
Pounds from goal: 18

Everyone is off to a great start!  Keep focused and push for success.

ToT Start: 263.00
ToT Goal:  233.00
TW: 261.00
LW: 263.00
CW Progress: -2.0
ToT Progress: -2.0
Pounds from goal: 31.0

More of the same!  Been working out, eating smart and avoiding fast food as much as possible.   Im still getting over an annoying cold, although it hasn't stopped me from the kettlebell workouts.

This Monday the gym I go to for kettlebells is having a 6 week weight loss challenge.  I signed up for that so I'll have all my measurements and weight taken and can see how I progress over the next six weeks.  That should be good information so I am looking forward to it.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Starting Weight (1/23/09): 170lbs

Current Weight: 154lbs

Goal: Never higher than 159lbs 

Sensible weigh-ins are performed on Fridays. Data shows that people eat more on weekends, the arch of the diet graph goes into Friday, tapers off on the weekend, then resumes on Mondays. Everyone knows that. Hence, I will be posting my stats on Fridays.

This week I examined the concept of Delayed or Distant Gratification.  Studies show that people who build this ability are more patient, competent, attentive, and in control.  The need for instant gratification is going to cause problems in character and temperament.

Great progress john!!  You are down nearly 30lbs this year! 

If you would like to check in on Friday that is fine.  I find that a wednesday weigh in presents me with the most accurate weight of the week, usually nailing it between the highest and lowest points.

We have had wednesday as the regular check in day for the most of the other challenges simply because it has worked.  The key here is to set the goal and remain accountable. I will make sure to include your info when it is posted.

ww

First off let me just say that I appreciate that a group like this exists and that I can be a part of it! I think I need a group like this since I have fallen into the bad habit of not holding myself accountable to my weight and fitness goals.

By Halloween, my goals are as follows:

1. Weight: I'm currently standing at 225 lbs, and there are about 14 (?) weeks left until All Hallows Eve, so figuring about 1.5 lbs lost per week, my goal is to get to 200 lbs (for the sake of an even number).

2. Diet: Caloriewise, I think 1500 - 1800 calories should help me get to my goal weight. Other specific goals are to use less caffeine (I've been having trouble sleeping from it, which is interfering in me staying motivated and on task), more fruits and vegetables (2 more a day), and drinking more water (sometimes I'm so busy I don't drink enough and then find myself feeling dehydrated and tired and it becomes easy to reach for the hi-cal drinks).

3. Exercise: This is my weakest area. As I mentioned in my Introduction, I've developed a very bad habit of being sedentary / very inactive lately just due to stress and having to stay so busy. I continually put off exercising for no other good reason than because I'm too busy or tired. Enough is enough!

I resolve to:

• walk/jog 3 times a week for 30 minutes each time;
• do stretching / calisthenics  10 minutes each morning upon awakening;
• do 100 situps & 10 pushups a day;
• meditate each evening (it helps me feel better generally, and lets me reflect on everything including goals).

Hopefully all of us can make our goals a reality, and coming here each week should help me. Good luck to all of us!

p.s.- kvalhion: I like your Warrior Diet plan. I know lots of people have always told me to eat big early in the day, but I've often found that if I eat more sparingly earlier I feel more on track (and hence do better motivationwise) and then having a solid nutritious meal at the end of the day satisfies me. So it's good to know there's a name for this plan!

I've decided to cancel out of this, I'm on a different track.  This specific exercise is targeted at weight loss and I'm doing maintenance.  Often group members need to be at similar points.  

Even so, the principles are the same.  I keep a spreadsheet of all caloric intake and weigh in twice a day.  I exercise for the sake of exercise, not weight loss, although I'm glad to burn off calories in the gym.  According to me, the skill of dieting is restricting caloric intake, taking complete control of something as basic as hunger. For me, the reward is mostly psychological.

A lot of guys drop out, somehow the design and interaction here didn't help them, they couldn't reach their goals.  That's not the case with me.  This website has been very helpful.  

I've started a group on Facebook called "The Friday Weigh-In" if anyone's interested. We meet year round, every Friday.

Martin Luther

Well, I got on the scale today and found that my weight has actually gone up, to 227. I've had a bad couple of days in this week eatingwise, coupled with the fact that I have not begun an exercise program. I did manage to reduce my caffeine intake, and drinking more water, but neither of these has helped my weight. I will probably have to go back to strictly counting calories (which I have NOT done this past week). I also need to get out and exercise. Oh well! I will wait until others post their results for this week before I publicly post my new goals for the next week.

ToT Start: 263.00
ToT Goal:  233.00
TW: 263.50
LW: 261.00
CW Progress: +2.5
ToT Progress: +.5
Pounds from goal: 33.5

I blame my birthday!  My parents and friends and such like to take me out to dinner when its my birthday, and although I try to eat responsibly, this weekend I went a little overboard.  My mother decided to get a huge cake from CostCo for some reason.  I didn't eat a lot of it but that on top of pasta for dinner, etc has added up.

I'll chalk it up to having an off week and get back on track.  I did a weigh in and measurement check at the gym I work out in.  There is a 6 week weight loss competition so we'll see how I progress over that timeframe.

In the meantime, back to the same routine:  Eat light during the day with fruits and veggies, work out over lunch, have a moderate snack towards the later afternoon and then a good dinner.  If I can put together a week of doing this I am sure I will get back to where I was last week.

Good luck everyone!