Wagon Jumpers - August 23 - 29, 2009 (3 Waiting List Spots Available)
Welcome
(I keep the waiting list capped at 4 people as it can be a 16 week wait with that length. If you are interested in spot 2, 3 or 4 please read below and contact me.)
Welcome to the Wagon Jumpers weekly thread. We are a group of CC members who have identified that one of our main challenges with achieving our weight loss, maintenance or general health goals is consistency.
This thread is designed to encourage long term commitment to our goals by publicly declaring them and asking the other members of this thread to hold us accountable. The primary focus of wagon jumpers is not how much weight you have lost, or need to loose, but what you need to do on a daily basis to meet your long term goals.
There are two rules for Wagon Jumpers:
1. All members must post once per week between Sunday and Friday.
2. All members must check the thread for members who have not posted by Saturday (a short list is posted on Thursday) or are on the MIA list on Sunday and send them a polite and positive message to stay involved in the group and on track with their goals.
If you would like to be a member of this thread please see the guidelines below and send me a PM if you are still interested (there may be a waiting list).
Medium Size Group = Some Time Commitment
The original idea of Wagon Jumpers was to create a close community where participants could get to know each other and hopefully form virtual-life and perhaps even physical-life bonds to create a support network as they attempted long term weight loss.
We quickly discovered that this was impossible with an 'always open' group as there were too many people coming and going. For this reason the group is finding its optimum level is between 20 and 25 participants.
A medium sized group means that we have an active thread that produces between 30 - 45 posts per week. Members do not need to read / respond to every post every week. I do notice that those who respond regularly do tend to keep their goals top of mind, and have a better chance to achieve them. I estimate the average time spent by an active member on Wagon Jumpers to be between 1-2 hours per week.
If you are looking for an always open group on CC there are several that operate by different weight criteria, similar motivational patterns etc... There are also many small groups that cap their numbers between 4-10 people to keep the group more intimate, and easier for members to keep up with.
Interested in Joining?
General Guidelines for Joining
1. Are you a wagon jumper?
Do you know how to loose weight, you often have success but then you find yourself loosing interest in your plan, or sabotaging your plan. It's not the "how" to loose weight that is the problem, it's the "how" to stay motivated.
2. Do you have a long way to go?
This group is designed so that members can get to know each other and support each other. Ideally you are planning to be a CC member and part of this forum for at least 6 months or more to achieve your goals and hopefully stay in motivation for a further 6 months or more.
Yes. This is, a long term plan.
3. Do you have the time?
This is a medium sized group, the thread does move fairly quickly each week. If you do not have regular internet access this is likely not the group for you.
Still interested?
Send Supersized a PM. (Please do not reply on the thread)
An overview will be sent to you, you will have a chance to ask questions and an invitation will be sent to you once a spot is open.
Google Group
We have recently added a google group as an option for members, past members, and members on the waiting list. If you would like access to the google group (and are in one of the above categories) send a message to beaglesmuggler (at) roger.com with your username and e-mail address and I will add you to the google group.
Wagon Jumpers Participants
Year 1 - Week 16 Riders - Congratulations Year 1, Month 4:
Supersized 
(myself)
Year 1 - Week 12 Riders - Congratulations Year 1, Month 3:
Year 1 - Week 11 Riders:
Defrog3 - Maternity Leave to October 31, 2009
Year 1 - Week 8 Riders - Congratulations Year 1, Month 2:
Year 1 - Week 6 Riders:
Year 1 - Week 1 Riders:
Week 47 Riders:
Week 40 Riders - Congratulations on 10 Months!:
Week 38 Riders:
Week 36 Riders - Congratulations on 9 Months!:
Week 34 Riders:
Week 30 Riders:
Week 10 Riders:
Week 5 Riders:
Week 4 Riders:
Week 3 Riders:
Week 2 Riders:
Week 1 Riders:
New:
Missing In Action:
Missing In Action - 1 Week:
Missing In Action - 2 Weeks:
Current Membership: 22
Current Waiting List: 1
Outstanding Wait List Invites: 0
12 Week CONSISTENCY GOALS
(as set w/o June 28th, 2009)
By September 19th, I will be...
Msmeg1984 - NEW: eating a weekly average of 2,000 cal/day and, MAINTENANCE: exercising 3x/week for at least 9 of the 12 weeks.
Dovelette - NEW: NROLFW 3x week for 9 out of 12 weeks.
Merimeriqcontrary - NEW: 3 times/week exercise for at least 9 out of the 12 weeks.
Wenchie58 - NEW: Logging my food intake of <1500 cals per day at least 5 days per week.
Figurethefat - NEW: to run/walk a minimum of six 5ks per month. MAINTENANCE:to continue doing a minimum of 1,500 exercise minutes per month.
Kyashiis - NEW: Run a minimum of 3 kilos 12 times over the 12-week period. MAINTENANCE:I will zig-zag on my food intake consistently throughout each week and end up with an average daily calorie count of 1,100 cals.
Raven21 - NEW: Eat all my yummy, healthy meals (3) and snacks (2) before 9pm for 12 weeks, with no more than 12 days missed. MAINTENANCE:Exercise at least 3 times a week
Supersized - NEW: Go to gym 3x/week for 6 of 12 weeks. MAINTENANCE: Log all food for 9 of 12 weeks.
Cawilder - NEW: Log my food 85% of the time. MAINTENANCE: Running at least 5 hrs/week and lifting 2x/week.
Nannygabber - MAINTENANCE: Strength training 3x/week for 9 of 12 weeks. Macronutrient ratio of 40/30/30 (carb/fat/protein) for 9 of 12 weeks.
Germaica - NEW: Exercise at least 3x/week for at least 30 min for 9 of 12 weeks. MAINTENANCE: Continue to eat 1 portion of high iron food at least 4 times per week.
Jessicaanne2001 - NEW: Keep calories under 2,000 checking by logging food 4x/week. MAINTENANCE: workout at the gym 4x/week
Carryonandon - NEW: Exercise 3x weekly MAINTENANCE: 300-500 calorie deficit daily.
Constanza - NEW: For the next 12 weeks, less twelve days I will follow this meal plan: 3 meals, 1 snack and 1 dessert per day, no more than 7 alcoholic drinks per week. MAINTENANCE: exercise an average of 2x/week.
Previous Threads:
Wagon Jumpers - August 15 - 22, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - August 9 - 15, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - August 2 - 8, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - July 26 - Aug 1, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - July 19 - 25, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - July 12 - 18th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - July 5 - 11th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - June 28 - July 4, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - June 21 - 27th, 2009
Wagon Jumper - June 14 - 20th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - June 7 - 13th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers May 31 - June 6th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers May 24 - 30th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - May 17 - 23rd, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - May 10 - 16th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - May 3 - 9th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - April 26 - May 2nd, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - April 19 - 25th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - April 12 - 18th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - April 5 - April 11th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - March 29 - April 4th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - March 22 - 28th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - March 15 - 21st, 2009
As always all members are encouraged to tag this thread so that it is easy to find.
This Week's Topic: Recipe Exchange
One of the big switches my nutritionist gave me was to eat a lot more dark greens (spinach, collard greens, kale etc...). It may be working, as I'm loosing, and at a good pace, but I can't say I like the greens. So, this week's challenge is mildly self-serving. Post a recipe you like involving dark greens. Remember to use the recipe tool to log it into the cc system so that others can easily tag it and enter it into their food log.
Time Off
Hectic week, back to school, having a baby, vacation? Send me an e-mail with the dates you will be away from and to and I will mark you as away so that you do not end up on the MIA list.
WELCOME White Sakura
Sorry I didn't get a chance to welcome you on our last thread, welcome to the group!
Hey Sara,
The only dark green vegetable I eat regularly (kale doesn't grow here, neither do collard greens...) is spinach. And I like the classic green eggs. So this is my recipe:
Check in:
Last week wasn't so great foodwise. Something got into me, I keep abusing some dark chocolate covered almonds that my gran brought from the states. (Irresistible). I don't eat much but I feel bloated all the time without the physiological side-effects. My body isn't feeling ok. Neither is my digestion or sleeping pattern (for some strange reason I only fall asleep at about four am lately)
Have been working out, yay. But eating candy, nay!
At this rate I'll probably never lose the weight I need. Help.
My love to all.
Good Sunday Morning All!
I don't know what happened. All I can tell you is... I heard a very strange noise in my sleep yesterday morning, and then the alien let me out the door, and then I was at home in bed, in my very own pajamas.
LOL! Kiddding! ...
I will tell you really where I've been now... hehe. Our website is up and running! It really is an all-consuming power. Now I know why designers want the big dollars. It would be intensely lucrative! However, this is not a job for me. My rear literally HURTS. That is not even a joke. Not to be pious, but it makes sense why now, that webmasters are generally overweight. They never are out of their seat! This was a very difficult thing for me to sit and do, not that the work is so very tedious, but more that I can't sit still that long! BUT - glory be, it is finished. (Aside from the thought that it's a work in progress...), its up and going. Take a peek if you care to - www.guidobrotherz.com
My apologies for missing my posting responsibility last week. As for the homework: I have been focusing on Zumba. Its my primary energy expenditure these days. I have had to lay off lifting, due to injuring my shoulder. (I may end up going for acupuncture and chiro, a massage would not be a bad thing either!) And as far as goals, I have pretty much lost the battle this round. I'm not giving up by any means, but will just take this next few weeks to rethink my agenda.
For those who don't really know what Zumba does, click this interesting preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwVdBH4vjLU and if you like that, you can find plently more on youtube! (My faves are the girls in Hickory, NC)
I am still eating healthy, and still losing very slowly (the plateau seems to have been toggled by a bit of zig-zag calorie levels). Yet, I do agree that having specified goals is essential not just to achieving, but also to maintaining. I still have some ground to cover to get to where I want to be, so I will have reworked the plan by next goal-setting session. For the remainder of this one, I will maintain my current level of Zumba 3x/week, and making healthy food choices.
HOMEWORK: (this week's!)
This is an area I too need help with currently. Its one of those phases where I just don't feel like cooking. I find myself eating pre-prepared items like yogurt, Better'n eggs, tuna or peanutbutter sandwiches (on 12grain of course...), lean cuisine meals, protein bars and shakes, things like that. I even have finished off about a half box of cheerios. (Not UNhealthy, but not my normal choice for breakfast!), and of course salads, nuts and fruits.
About all I have actually cooked in the last month would be a pot of blackbean chili, grilled chicken, a turkey burger or three, eggs and turkey sausage (breakfast is the most important meal, you know).... I am out of inspiration and ideas for what to cook. I suppose that has been lended from not having much time, and that my mind was focused on the computer work. BUT - time for me to get with the program.
I am really intrigued by your dark greens addition, Sara. I too would wonder how to cook those! The only way I have ever learned is from my grandmother, where you douse the collards in bacon fat and fry them in a skillet! NOT the most healthy recipe! How about if you shred them up real thin, pop them into a pot with some green onion and garlic, and simmer them until tender? Maybe a little olive oil?? I will have to try a few ideas and let you know how that goes.
My grandmother also cooked her spinach that way, and when it was served onto the plate, she would drizzle vinegar over it. I think I was about the only kid who ever liked spinach, and I still do. I mix a can of spinach in a can of tomato soup, and there you have tomato soup florentine. LOL!
OK, time for a real recipe from me... I have to go do some lab work and run a few experiments. I'll be back on this one.
Welcome to all the new members, I will catch up with you individually SOON!
Carol - Lovin' the new photo!
Hoping all of you have a healthgain weekend!
~Julie
Check in: WOW it's been a while since I've been on here! I was on vacation from the end of July until August 11th, and then I was sick and time just went zooming by! I'll be headed out again September 12 and probably won't be back til the 17th of October or later...sheesh!
I have fallen off the exercise wagon, what with my traveling and not feeling well. BUT I'm hopping right back on it tomorrow. My question is: I stopped NROLFW Stage 2 with 2 workouts left in it. Do I just pick it back up where I left off and continue on to Stage 3? Or do I need to start elsewhere?
Food wise...I low carb and also watch calories. During my trip, I did a LOT of excess drinking and ate more carbs than usual, including the 11am french fries...which were consumed after being up partying all night (yes, 11 am, still out from the night before lol). Then I was sick and stuck to a banana, oatmeal and cracker diet. My weight went from 163ish pre vacation to 166.2 post sickness. EEK! BUT...
It was all water weight and now, less than a week from re-joining the wagon, I'm down to 160.2, BELOW where I started! I am THRILLED that I lost the carb gain and then some. Hoping to hit the 150s VERY soon - I've been in the 160s since April 10th!
This Week's Topic:
http://caloriecount.about.com/low-cal-lentil- soup-recipe-r177267
Combines low cal, high fiber, kale and deliciousness! I LOVE it!
TOPIC: I'm not a huge fan of dark green vegetables. I like spinach in salads or omelets. I buy salad mix with darker greens, too. But cooked? Not so much.
I've been lax about exercising the last two weeks and not consistent about logging what I eat. And yet, I lost weight. I have been aware of what I eat and have mostly stuck to my proper calorie level. This week I need to get back to exercising and logging calories.
This weeks Assignment:
I'm a very picky eater, and the only dark green veggie i can eat is baby spinach.
Strawberry and Spinach Summer Salad
I usually top this with a poppyseed dressing and its delish!
Check in:
I was on a rough patch the past few weeks, but since hiding my scale and developing a points system to reward myself, i've been doing tremendously better. I haven't gone out to eat a single time this week, and i've made much healthier and conscious decisions when it comes to snacking! I'm actually feeling much better and I already feel like I'm seeing my body in a more positive light.
1 Year, 3 months With Wagon Jumpers:
I can hardly believe I've stuck around here for so long! Thanks as always to Sara for all you do to keep this group running. Its been the one driving force that has kept me from giving up completely at times.
Hope you all have a wonderful week!
Not much a fan of the dark greens myself. They're always in the house since collards & mustard are about the best thing I can feed the dragons (veggie-wise... you probably don't want to know how many bugs I share this house with for love of dragons!) but I seldom share them. I like raw spinach when I do eat them, but the "curves quiche" isn't bad (although once I entered it here I started wondering if curves really wanted me to lose weight.) calorie-wise, it's not awful, but it is rather fatty. http://caloriecount.about.com/curves-quiche-r ecipe-r102455
merimeriqcontrary- oh goodness, chocolate almonds got you too? My boyfriend doesn't eat real meals, so he's always dragging home lovely (HORRIBLE!) snacks and then leaving them lieing around after his narcolepsy meds knock him out. And then I nosh on them uncontrollably in the morning when my son won't let me get in 5 minutes to make real food. :P
As for me: plugging along. No real progress, but I'm not really backsliding either. Actually, I'm going to go get dressed and find some pants for the baby now, and go for a walk to return my library books.
Hello all,
This is my first post, having moved up the ranks of the waiting list. This comes at a good time for me, actually, when my motivation is kind of in the toilet.
About me- I am 36 and live in Arizona. I'm down from my highest weight of 300 lbs to 222 as of today. I'm coming off of a long plateau.
For work, I ride a pedicab (bike taxi) which means I'm very active, but since I've done it for so long it doesn't seem to translate into weight loss nearly the way it used to.
My goals are:
On non-riding days, under 1500 calories and some other form of exercise.
On riding days, under 2000 calories.
For now, I'm going with simplicity, and I can modify that as it goes. So far so good, with a loss of about 20 lbs since the end of June.
Anyway, thank you and glad to be a part of the group.
-Zora
Welcome to Zora! Congrats on your success at getting where you want to be. Hopefully the group will help boost your motivation again. I know it has helped me when otherwise I would have just given up.
One of my favorite dark leafy greens is Bok Choy. I don't usually make it myself, but this recipe sounded good and got an A in the nutritional analyzer: Provencal Bok Choy
I'm doing pretty well on my goals this week - keeping up with the calorie defecit and getting in my 3x exercise. Now that I'm reading NROLFW, I'm thinking of adjusting my calorie levels and the way I think about it for the next challenge. I'm a little worried about accidentally gaining weight, though.
Welcome to new people, nice to have more enthusiastic Wagon Jumpers :) And congratulations for hitting the one year mark Kathy.
Here's my recipe that uses kale: Colcannon. It's kind of a comfort food. Sorry I haven't actually tried this exact recipe but I've made it several times before. I will try the recipe though because Sara and her nutritionist have inspired me to eat more dark greens!
Weekly Check In: I'm 100% with both my goals so far, but my eating has been a disaster. I wonder if all the exercise is making me want to eat more often. My boss, a marathon runner, tells me it's a fine balance between training hard and eating healthy. I'm hoping to find that balance over the next week.
I tried this recipe from Allrecipe, with some of my alterations. I still think it's delicious: Spinach Cantaloupe Salad with Mint. I only had vegetable oil at the time, but I am sure olive oil would make a fine substitution. It was intentionally a serving for 2, but I really love my spinach and avocado, so I made it a one-size thing.
I would like to make my weekly commitment plan:
Eat before 7:00PM 5 days of the week. Burn at least 500 calories every weekday.
Good Morning Wagon Jumpers!
Hope your weekend was healthgain. Mine was! I spent all day Saturday at the pool, and all day Sunday cleaning house and cooking some healthy stuff. The recipe exchange did get me thinking about how I was cooking before this little "sabatical" I am apparently on.
I entered this recipe today, Crock Pot Beef Roast - this is what I cooked this weekend!
I also want to thank all of you for the gentle nudges last week, sorry I missed out on posting. I am back to being "me" again, whew!
Bleedtoblue, Peera, Zora, White Sakura - Welcome to the group! I hope to get to know each of you, and wish you the very best with your healthgain journey.
Just one more shameless plug for the website we just launched. www.guidobrotherz.com Now, I'll leave you alone about it! LOL!
Hope you have an amazing day!
~Julie
Wow, sakura I tried your recipe today and it was delish! :) And olive oil complimented everything beautifully.
Cut back on the oil a bit, but yum yum, great idea and fun prep time.
Carry yours sounds absolutely divine. Tagged it, printed it and stuck it to my fridge.
Colcannon is irish, right? Anyway one to save for the winter in my case.
Welcome Zora. It's so nice to have new members. Pedicab sounds like so much fun. (and work)
20 lbs in nearly two months sounds great. :)
Julie, your site looks amazing, congrats on the hard work and hooray for the pool day.
Since I suspect the blahs have got me, I have a new challenge for myself: the 14 days of exercise challenge.
Yay for your weightloss bleedtoblue.
Checking in: I'm plugging along with zigging and zagging on the calories per day. I've been in the ballpark most of the time. I didn't get any runs in for ten days, but I got one in today and I'm still on target. I've been in a kind of slump as I haven't lost any weight in a while, but if I just keep hanging in there, I guess the weight will come off eventually. I'm not in a hurry, but a little movement would be inspiring to me.
RECIPES -> -> ->
I love broccoli. I don't have a recipe per se, but I usually take a stock of broccoli, cut it into florets and microwave it (you could steam it also). Then I take two eggs (no egg substitutes in Japan yet) and scramble them. Put the broccoli and eggs together and fold gently. Add 2 T of light mayonnaise and a scant teaspoon of mustard like puopon style. Mix and serve as a light salad type side dish.
Another dish is a spinach dish using fresh spinach (the only kind here). Rinse the spinach thoroughly, put it in a pan of boiling water and boil only until it turns a fresh green color. Pour the water off and douse the spinach in cold water to stop it cooking. Gather up the spinach in long bunches and squeeze the excess water out gently. Cut into two-inch sections and place in small bowls. Top with a mixture of shinmirin (sweet cooking sake) and soy sauce in equal amounts. (Japanese soy sauce is much more mild that other countries and has a light fresh taste. Old soy sauce is too stong in taste also.) Top with a tablespoon of ground sesame seeds. If you don't have ground whole seeds will work too. I'll make some up in the next few days and post it to my journal for others to see. It's kind of elegant looking.
These are both Japanese recipes for ordinary homes.
I didn't forget, but I got called away from the computer... Welcome to all the new people. Let's enjoy getting healthy.
Yum Kathy, that broccoli and eggs sound delish (although i think I might skimp on the mayo, light or not :P
I just ran my 5th 5k of the month with the new shoes and had a nice improvement in time, 36:06! Hooray! I think I've run 17 now since I decided to take it up a few months ago and I can really see some progress.
Now if I can just keep myself from using food as a reward for all my hard work!
Ohh! New Shoes! I love sneakers, I'm a bit of a sneaker whore . What kind did you get? I personally love my Mizuno's very light and lots of stability. Congrats on the time, that's awesome!
OMG folks I love love love dark green veggies in any form. Unfortunately dark green also means high potassium, so these days I go with them moderately. Since I love them I don't really have recipes. I steam them gently sprinkle with a little lemon juice, balsamic or cider vinegar and go to town on em.
The past couple of weeks have SEEMED very good for me. I'm feeling good except a little tired, which typically means I need an EPOGEN injection to buff up those pesky little red blood cells! Blood work Thursday...no matter how good I feel, it all comes down to the blood work.
Here is my recipe for a Kale Smoothie:
(Makes 1 serving)
1 TBS flax seed
1 banana
2 c. kale leaves
1/3 c. orange juice
1/4 c. milk
can also add:
1 scoop banana-flavored protein powder
1/2 tray ice
Last week was great - 3 good lifting days and 3 good long walks. Calories between 1400-1500 calories except for one 2500 cal day.
Saturday I arrived at the beach with a large family group and I am having trouble again. I'm drinking a lot of water and walking as much as I can, but overeating and no lifting. I can't seem to stick to my routine at all unless I am at home in my usual routine.
Welcome Zora.
Merimeriqcontrary - the dark chocolate in your almonds are probably what is keeping you awake at night. Dark chocolate is a weakness of mine, so I feel your pain. But if you want a good night's sleep, have your treats early in the day.
Ooh, kale smoothie, that sounds so healthy!
I got these kid's asics, raven, in the white/charcoal and pink colour. Since I'm just starting out I didn't want to spend a fortune on shoes, so I opted for the kid ones. I love them!
Like a personal,portable nutritionist.
Text food salad to
HEALTH (432-584) for full calorie information. FREE!
Click here to start
