Unwrap the fat..lose 20+ pounds by Christmas

I think there is another group but it is closed...so I thought I'd start a new one. It really helps me to have some sort of accountability to a group when I want to lose weight. Even if its not really a competition, having others in the same boat helps me to keep going. Hey, I don't want to be the only one in the group who doesn't lose weight! This helps motivate me. Here is what I am thinking:

1. Weekly weigh in on Fridays.
2. Exercise at least 3 times a week. Post to let us know what you do, how long you do it, how you'd like to improve etc...
3. Keep track of your calories whichever way is best for you.
4. Have a reward picked out for your success at the end of the Challenge
5. BEGIN:Friday October 10, END: December Friday December 19th (10 weeks)

I'd like to keep the group not too large, that way we can really get to know each other and motivate each other. So, I will close it at around fifteen people or so. I know some people tend to drop out, so if we keep the group small enough, maybe we can help everyone make it to the end and reach our goal!

Together, I hope we can make it thru the Holidays. This can be such a challenging time to lose weight. With some support, and some structure, and some motivation.....I think that we can do this!

If you are interested....Post your introduction. Please include your current weight and your calorie target. Also, please post a little about yourself. I'll make a new post and go first!

I'm being sabotaged by weight fluctuations! I briefly covered this before, but I weigh consistently less when its NOT weigh-in day. Because my weight today is 209.4. That's a 1 pound increase from yesterday. Why must it do this to me?

Novi, I can relate on the banana bread... I LOVE to bake (and eat) all types of cakes. Since I started my "lifestyle" change, I've gotten rid of most of the baking stuff at home, and when I do bake, I try to give it away. I'll probably do the same for Christmas, just to avoid the temptation. It's gonna be hard cuz my mother is gonna be here... cooking all those home cooked meals... baking all those goodies.

I'm back to 134.5. Was under the weather earlier this week, and with exams coming up next week, I haven't been to the gym since Saturday. Once classes are over, I'll be able to get back on the gym wagon.

Mom's home cooked meals are evil! They're fattening, delicious, thick, rich... mmm. Ha! I hope you can get back to the gym - this group seems to be dwindling, and anyway, the challenge is almost over. It would be nice to officially get to 207 by the end of this - a 60 lb loss from where I started.

Another evil, evil thing? Cheese balls. Apparently store-bought isn't good enough, because my cousin's asking me to make cheese balls for her office party. Ingredient one? 1 lb cream cheese. Ingredient 2? 8 oz salted whipped butter. Ingredient 3? Me, sitting there staring at it, whimpering "If I eat it with broccoli, it doesn't count, right?"

"If I eat it with broccoli, it doesn't count, right?"....LOL my dad always says that you can eat whatever you want as long as you drink diet soda. My weight is 173, which isn't great but at least it is not more than 175. I guess I wasn't that successful with this challenge, but in a way I was somewhat, because at least I didn't gain a whole lot. I seemed to be gaining with just smelling sweets. So at least I've made some progress! How are you guys going to deal with christmas cookies?

I'm at 107.8... Not the biggest loss I've ever had, but it IS the 1.5lb "healthy" loss for one week, so I'm okay.

I guess I wasn't successful either (I'm about 7 lbs away from the goal, and can't take that off in a week), but I did lose over 13 lbs through this, and hey... My starting weight was 267. I'll have lost 60 lbs by the end of the year! So, not a loss at all.

That is fantastic novi! Thirteen pounds in several weeks and 60 pounds by the end of the year! Way to Go! That is alot of weight. I bet that you look great. Congratulations on your weight loss success.

December 19th is soon here. I hope that this challenged has helped some of you get closer to where you want to be. I apologize that I did not keep up with it. I guess life just got in the way. I am still working on my goals and have a long way to go. I guess the important thing is that I keep trying and don't give up!

Sorry I was MIA for the Friday weigh-in. It was a hectic day at work, and my husband and I went to see the Nutcracker afterwards.  I was 133 on Friday, a 1.5lbs loss from last week. I got back in the gym, but now TTOM and Christmas shopping is getting in the way, so I'll be out again for another few days.

Novi- congrats on your weight loss. I know you'll do just fine getting rid of those last 7 lbs.

Lulu- no need to apologize, sometimes life gets in the way of our plans. It's just like you said, the important thing is to keep trying and not give up.

This challenge was fun, it actually helped a lot to keep me on track. I'm not down to where I thought I would be by now (8lbs from goal weight), but I feel sooo much better than I did when I started. Thanks to you guys for sharing your experiences and seeing it thru the end. Hopefully, we'll all be able to maintain our loss over the holidays. Enjoy what's left of the weekend:)

I think we've all done pretty well, regardless of whether or not we met the goal. It was a nice goal, but weight loss and health are a lifestyle.

Unrelated note? When I lose five more pounds, I'll no longer be officially obese!

You guys have done a great job. Ice, you are so close to your goal weight! and novi, five more pounds and then no longer officially obese, WAY TO GO!  That is such wonderful progress. I hope you guys are as proud of yourselves as i am of you! And you can start the new year out as being that much smaller!

I'd have hoped to lose weight for my last weigh-in, but then my TOM came and shattered that dream. Oh well. All the lighter I'll be when its gone!

This has been fun, girls. Good luck with your future goals!

Good luck to you all! Congratulations to those of you who made it to the finish. I have lost a few and hope to maintain that thru the holidays, then plan to keep losing!