Wagon Jumpers - March 15 - 21st, 2009 (Closed, Waiting List Available)
Welcome
(If you are interested in being on the waiting list, please read below and e-mail me. We currently have a waiting list of 5 people.)
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 capped at 30 participants.
A medium sized group means that we have an active thread that produces between 40 - 60 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.
Wagon Jumpers Participants
Week 45 Riders:
Supersized (myself)
Week 41 Riders:
Week 36 Riders - Congratulations on 9 Months!:
Week 35 Riders:
Week 31 Riders:
Week 30 Riders:
Week 25 Riders:
Week 21 Riders:
Week 19 Riders:
Maureenz - Holiday to March 23rd, 2009
Week 17 Riders:
Week 16 Riders - Congratulations on 4 Months!:
Week 15 Riders:
Week 14 Riders:
Week 13 Riders:
Week 12 Riders - Congratulations on 3 Months!:
Missing In Action:
Missing In Action - 1 Week:
Missing In Action - 2 Weeks:
Current Membership: 20
Current Waiting List: 5
Outstanding Wait List Invites: 0
12 Week CONSISTENCY GOALS
(as set w/o January 11th, 2009)
By April 4th, I will be...
Letsgetitstarted - consuming an average of 1,500 cal/day and 3 times a week for a minimum 30 minutes.
Jessicaanne2001 - exercising 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes, and logging my food daily.
Supersized - logging all of my daily calories and eating in a calorie range of no more than 2,000 cal/day and no less than 1,500 cal/day (calculated by weekly averages).
Figurethefat - exercising a minimum of 1,500 minutes each month, and I will restrict using the scale to two weigh-ins per week on Monday and Friday.
Unlimitedana - eating between 1,500 - 1,600 cal/day and exercising three time a week.
Cawilder - maintaining a 500 - 1,000 calorie deficit on a daily basis measured by my food log and, working out 5 to 6X per week combo of cardio and lifting.
Carryonandon - maintaining 300 - 500 calorie deficit daily and, exercising 3x per week.
Raven21 - drinking a minimum of 4 bottles (2L) of water daily and, exercising a minimum of 3X per week.
Nannygabber - doing the NROLFW program 3 times per week, and I will establish a 40/30/30 (Carb/Fat/Protein) macronutrient pattern on a weekly average for a minimum of 5 weeks of the next 12.
Germaica - exercising 3 times a week and logging my food for at least 4 days per week.
Pelkeyjm - logging my food daily and exercising at least 3x per week for at least 30 minutes.
The_Vitamin_Dominatrix - logging my caloric intake on calorie count at least six days every week and, exercising in the gym at least 3 days each week.
Tiegurl - eating 1,500 - 2,000 calories and exercising 5x a week.
Kyashiis - running 20 kilometers a week and making progress on the number of repetitions in my calisthenic exercises (starting at: 20 push ups, 30 sit ups, 0 chin ups, 2x 30 sec plank, 20-30 jump rope)
Lam7 - Logging all daily calories at least 6 times a week and, exercising minimum 40 minutes 3x per week.
Msmeg1984 - Following the 40-30-30 diet guidelines in NROLFW and working out 3 a week NROLFW plan.
Constanza - using the CC food log every day and, exercising an average of 4 times per week across the 12 weeks.
Defrog3 - eating with improved nutritional quality of food, specifically ensuring that I am getting enough daily protein and carbs and, walking six miles a week weather permitting.
Wenchie58 - keeping my calorie intake between 1,400 - 1,500 a day and, drinking at least 2 liters of water daily.
Previous Threads:
Wagon Jumpers - March 8 - 14th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - March 1 - 7th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - February 22 - 28th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - February 15 - 21st, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - February 8 - 14th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - February 1 - 7th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - January 25 - 31st, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - January 18 - 24th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - January 11 - 17th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - January 4 - 10th, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - December 28 - January 3rd, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - December 21 - 27th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - December 14 - 20th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - December 7 - 13th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - November 30 - December 6th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - November 23 - 29th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - November 15 - 22nd, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - November 9 - 15th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - November 2 - 8th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - October 26 - November 1st, 2008
As always all members are encouraged to tag this thread so that it is easy to find.
Jen If you get the mac buy the AppleCare Protection Plan, everything they did was 100% free for me because I did that. Your boyfriend is right they are more expensive to fix. PC's are build of composite independent units, which means you have many different suppliers that are making a wide selection of mother boards, hard drives, CD drives etc... that are all installed in a way that the average tech-guy who paid attention in computer science class and take out and swap parts. Macs are not build to be easily taken apart and put back together, they also don't have third party redistributors at this point (although I hear they are starting that in the US to get larger market share).... which means you can't go to your cheapie guy around the corner and get him to fix it at a more competitive rate, so if it does break and you don't have a warranty it will be more expensive than a PC to fix....
That being said, the sheer amount of problems I've NOT had with this machine as compared to a PC, even a new one, is incredible, no error messages, no freezing, no crashing until yesterday and it was VERY easy to fix...
The other thing that I didn't do that I should have done was use the time machine to backup as much as I should, but it went smoothly none the less.
Sara.
Weekly Check-in:
I'm doing pretty well this week. I'm recording my calories even when I'm not particularly proud of what I've eaten, which is really key for me. I haven't been to the gym yet this week, which is a problem. I always did my best when I was in the gym in time to watch the sun rise through the window, so I really need to get back to that.
Goal Check-in:
I've been doing well with recording my food, but I must admit to falling flat lately on making it to the gym 3x a week. The good news is that I'm getting a huge dose of motivation; I just ordered my wedding dress, and they ordered it in a smaller size for me. It's a corset back, so it's not that risky of a move, but motivation it is, nonetheless.
I'm having a great week. I weighed in this morning and i'm only .4lb away from my first mini goal! Sweet!
I hope to keep this momentum going! I really want all those rewards!
I went for a long walk yesterday and today so that really helped combat some of the calories from the cheesecake and cinnamon rolls. Tomorrow i have a lunch meeting, so I'm fretting over what to order...
Weekly check-in: Things are going pretty good these days. The exercise is going well, but I'm still falling behind on the logging.
Goal check-in: I will not make my goals a 100%, but I may make it to 75%. I had some trouble in the beginning with the exercise portion of the goal. Now I'm much more motivated and I'm feeling some of the benefits. When it comes to logging calories I was super motivated and logged 5 to 6 days a week. Now I'm not so good, I guess my interest has gone. I may have to add a calorie deficit goal next time. Probably like Sara does, reducing my calories every week by 100 calories.
For all the Mac users and for those thinking about it, going Mac is the best. I've switched about 6 years ago at home. I'm a graphic designer so I'm on a Mac all day at work. I always laugh when my PC colleagues complain about viruses and constant crashes. I've only had one major crash, the hard disc failed, but with my time machine I was able to get all my files back.
Happy healthgain everyone!
The Vitamin Dominatrix I find that recording my calories is the first step for me the rest falls in line if I can get that under control. My cousin did a corset back for her wedding, it was a really simple dress, full corset top and the corset back was done up with red braided chord it was really beautiful.
MsMeg Great job! You'll be at that first goal soon!
Germaica I find the reducing by 100 calories each week is the best way to make sure that I don't completely fall of the wagon into a major binge after 3 weeks. I simply can't go from 3,000 to 1,500 over night and maintain it.
The thing that impressed me the most is that I had been lax about my time machine (which is now properly set up), and I still got back no only all of my files. As a former PC user when I say 'all of my files' I basically mean my 'my documents' folder.... but I got back every tiny e-mail in the zillion folders I had set up and all my blog feeds etc... without skipping a beat. This was pure magic to me.
Sara.
TWO DAY REMINDERS
Look for our members below to post today or tomorrow, if they have not posted by Saturday or are on the MIA list on Sunday send them a polite and positive reminder to stay on top of their goals and involved in the group.
Just chiming in on the mac thing - I am *so* getting one once my overpriced PC reaches the end of its useful life (which will be soon). A lot of my friends have them, and now they are more affordable and have programs compatible with word, excel, etc. Plus KeyNote is great!
Just to keep on topic (though I've already reported). I'm doing well so far this week and even fit into the dress I need to again! yay.
Seem to barely have time to breathe this week. I am on track for the week and feeling good!
As far as my goals...I am about 75%. Always drinking my water but finding that logging sometimes slips away when things get busy.
Carry For PC users that need Mac to be compatible with PC there are two options. If you just need your documents to be compatible you can simply buy MS Office for Mac, your PC using co-workers will never know the difference. If you need to be able to run PC programs you can actually (easily) partition the hard drive and run a windows sim on one half, that way you can download any PC only programs and have a mac and a PC on one computer.
Wenchie When I'm on top of my game and know a busy day is coming up what I often do is pre-log my foods in the morning, then in the evening I simply need to go in and make any adjustments, which is usually a late night snack that I didn't plan on.
Sara.
I'm super excited! .2lb to go until my first mini goal! YES!
I am so proud of myself. I forgot how easy it was to take care of myself and eat well.
I took my puppy for a 3 mile walk yesterday. It was great! We jogged a little bit of the way, but I need to work back up to being able to run or jog for extended periods of time!
So glad its friday... This week has dragged on!
Congrats msmeg! Great job. Puppies are great company (and reason) to get out for a walk or run. I just started taking mine for runs now instead of walks (as part of my training for a 10K race in June). At first he was like, "why are we running", but then he quickly got into it and LOVED it. The only thing I worry about with taking a puppy for runs (my dog is just over a year now) is that I have heard it can be hard on them when they are really little as their hips are developing and you don't want them to get hip dysplasia. It might depend on the breed though or it could be rumor but I have heard it from a few people with dogs.
This has been an excellent week so far for me. I am on track with eating and exercise and am even adding in more exercise in the evenings. I also just found out yesterday that I'm going to the Dominican on April 19th so that is definitely some added motivation to keep to my eating and exercise plan since it will be hot and that means less clothing that we're wearing now on the first day of spring in Nova Scotia (yes, it's still cold but at least it's sunny 
)
Have a great weekend everyone!
Raven
I'm so proud of myself! I've been to the gym the past two days and I kicked my own arse both times. Of course I'm taking arnica like there's no tomorrow because the DOMS is already appearing, but it feels so good to know that I'm actually doing something. It's been way too long since I pushed myself that hard.
I only wish I could take credit for it, but I'm no good at going to the gym on my own. My fiance went along with me and, heaven save me, I need that companionship and that element of friendly competition. It's a fair trade though; he won't go alone either, and he's no happier with his physique than I am with mine.
I'm hoping to get at least one more workout in this week to meet my goal of 3x/week.
Hi! Sorry I'm late to the thread--I was reading early in the week, but then got distracted/busy with work/personal stuff.
Jen--just to chime in on the MAC v. PC debate--my husband is a tech-head. His last job was as the Tech Director at a public school district here in NJ. Because the PCs in the district (3 buildings) were giving him such a headache, he used some grant $$ to buy ~100 Macs or so, and once he got them all up and running, they never gave him another hint of trouble. PCs are such a nightmare, he is always complaining about the Bill Gates conspiracy, etc. He's actually converted 5 of my friends from PC to MAC, but I won't give in--I'm too used to my Excel shortcut keys, which don't work on the Mac, even if one is running the program through Windows. One time when my PC was dead and I was using my husband's MAC at home for work, I lost all of my work on a financial model b/c I used a sequence of shortcut keys that screwed everything up--I had to go back and redo about an hour's worth of work. I was so angry, I was crying, hysterical, the whole nine yards--without pregnancy hormones!! My punishment for working on Wall Street, I suppose...
BUT, my nickname in college (in the early 90s) was MacQueen, b/c I used to be able to rock those old Classic MACs, back when I was into Advertising/Graphic Design...
Me--I've started showing this week! The bump is very clear, but the fat feeling isn't very cool. I'm 17 weeks along now--only 5 more months! :D
Goals--I'm going to give myself 50% on the goals. I'm eating very healthfully, although vegetables taste like poison most days. For example, yesterday I tried to eat a raw slice of cucumber and I really thought it was acidic/poisonous. My husband didn't see anything wrong with it, and it didn't look bad, but ugh, getting it down my gullet was so difficult!! My doctor says that as long as I get in some spinach and/or broccoli a few times a week, I should be OK, though--I'm living on fruit, milk/cheese, meat, and whole grains.
I'm only getting 50% b/c I've just not gotten the walking in that I wanted to, mostly because the weather has been so icky here. Spring has sprung, though, so I'm looking forward to getting in a walk after work a few nights a week!
observation--I'm interested to see how many people are 50/50 on their goals this time around, compared to what I (anecdotally) have seen in the past--I wonder if Jan/Feb is a typical time for people to let the wagon drive past? I know for me the weather has been a big factor--all I want to do is hibernate!!
I'm happy to report that I reached my first mini goal this week! 4 lbs lost since March 10th! I'm so proud of how hard I worked and that I actually accomplished it. Since i didn't technically give myself specific time limits for my goals, i am just going to plow away at them. I know the next 10lbs won't come off nearly as fast as this last 4 did, but I'm prepared for that.
for me, once i get under than 150 mark, it gets sooo hard to get my body to do anything. I just want to get to 145 and then get back to concentrating on Muscle Definition!
Anyway, I just wanted to share that little success with all of you!!!
Have a great day!
MsMeg Congratulations on making it to your mini goal! That must feel great! Keep going, you've done it before and you've caught it early, so you can do this!
Raven I think that is only really before they are 6 months. After 6 months, I've found good luck keeping them still. Or at least that's been true for mine.
TVD DOMS? I agree 100% with the having a partner to help with the exercise, my partner though is a skinny freak who has a gifted metabolism, I'm hoping he'll hit 40 and crash, then maybe I'll get a work out buddy.
Denise Have you tried the MS office for Mac 2008 (post vista?) I'm not a big keyboard shortcut person but the few I know work, I am a big right click mouse short cut, that does work.
I've figured out that you and my cousin must be due very close to each other, she's due in August. They are calling the baby the 'wiggly' at the moment because it was moving around so much on the ultrasound. She's also now showing, when I saw her last week it was really clear where before I couldn't tell too much.
Sara.
THIS THREAD IS NOW CLOSED, PLEASE POST ON OUR NEW WEEKLY THREAD:
So you can keep track of what you eat - which enables you to analyze your foods and receive the following:
- Health Score of your overall diet
- Warning when you approach your daily calorie limit
- Overview of the good and bad nutrients
