Wagon Jumpers - May 17 - 23rd, 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 0 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 finding its optimum level is between 20 and 25 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.
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 2 Riders:
Supersized 
(myself)
Week 50 Riders:
Week 46 Riders:
Wenchie58 - extended sick leave
Week 44 Riders - Congratulations on 11 Months!:
Week 43 Riders:
Week 40 Riders - Congratulations on 10 Months!:
Week 37 Riders:
Week 34 Riders:
Week 30 Riders:
Week 26 Riders:
Week 25 Riders:
Week 24 Riders - Congratulations on 6 Months!:
Week 23 Riders:
Week 22 Riders:
Week 21 Riders:
Week 20 Riders - Congratulations on 5 Months!:
Week 7 Riders:
Week 1 Riders:
Missing In Action:
Missing In Action - 1 Week:
Missing In Action - 2 Weeks:
Current Membership: 20
Current Waiting List: 0
Outstanding Wait List Invites:
12 Week CONSISTENCY GOALS
(as set w/o April 5th, 2009)
By June 27th, I will be...
Msmeg1984 - Maintenance: I will continue to eat less than 1800 cals/day on average New: Exercise at least 3x a week at least 9 of the 12 weeks.
Defrog3 - To continue eating healthfully for me and my little fetus, which means I need to stick to 2,000 balanced calories/day. My NEW goal is to start exercising regularly, meaning moving my butt in some fashion for 30 minutes, 3 days a week.
Cawilder - NEW: Attain a 30 / 30 / 40 food combo 80% of the time. MAINTENANCE: Running @ least 5 hours / week and 2X weight lifting.
Unlimitedana - Maintenance goal: Eat 1550-1650 cals a day. New Goal Achieve the 40-40-20 at least two days per week.
Raven21 - 1. Exercise at least 3 x a week (maintenance) 2. Average daily calorie intake of 1450-1650 (new)
Figurethefat - For maintenance: I will continue to complete a minimum of 1,500 exercise minutes per month. New goal: I will drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day.
Supersized - MAINTENANCE: Continue to eat at or below 2,000 cal/day average for at least 6 of 12 weeks, and never over 2,500 cal/day average. NEW: start going to the gym (again), and achieve at least 4 weeks where I attend the gym 3x/week.
Lam7 - NEW GOAL: Participate in our Navan Walking Club 10 Week Program (Tuesdays) starting April 21-June 26; as well as attend 6 "Spring into Spring" Interval Classes which will run on Thursday evenings starting April 9th, 2009.
Constanza - (new) Eat an average of 1700 calories/day. (maintenance) Exercise at least twice weekly (calculated by average)
Thesilverstar121 - Excercising at least 3x a week.
Kyashiis - Maintenance goal:Exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes a day 5 days a week. New goal: I will zig-zag on my food intake consistently throughout the week and end up with an average daily calorie count of 1,200 cals.
Nannygabber - Maintenance goal of doing NROLFW 3x per week with an allowance of two weeks slack for this 12-week session.
Pelkeyjm - Maintenance: Exercise a minimum of 30 minutes at least 3x per week. New Goal: Log ALL food on calorie count.
The_Vitamin_Dominatrix - Maintenance goal - I will continue to eat 1400-1500 calories daily with a ratio of 15% fat, 25% protein, 60% carbohydrates. New goal - Gym or no gym, I will workout 3 to 4 times a week.
Previous Threads:
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
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
As always all members are encouraged to tag this thread so that it is easy to find.
Jessica - Awesome job on your exercise goal, that's always been my hardest part. It's so encouraging ot see people succeeding, it makes me feel like maybe I can too!
Sara - On the NROLFW, are you doing the stretching before and then really really good after? I'm only asking because after our first two sessions hubby and I were super sore, but since then we've taken a LONG time to stretch after and have had pretty much no soreness. Almost to the point that we were worried we weren't working hard enough, but at the gym when I'm on rep 12 or whatever, I feel like maybe I can't squeeze those last three out so I know I must be where I'm supposed to...of course I just started so maybe the later workouts will hurt more lol. What stage are you on?
Figurethefat - CONGRATS on that stellar BMI! Woah! I hear you about maintaining...but it sounds like you have the right attitude about continuing to log etc. Have you found you are able to up your calories etc and not gain?
MsMeg - That's such a great attitude to have about the pounds on scale not being your main priority...I keep trying to get my head around that and logically I believe it...but somewhere inside I get disappointed when I'm not losing. I'm in the process of the whole lifting vs. running thing too. I decided to give NROLFW priority and run on in between days if I was feeling up to it. And if I started liking running more I decided I would to 2 days of lifting and 2 days of running
Julie - you have ALWAYS been a huge inspiration to me on this board and it's so great to see your progress!!! Where are you now in NROLFW? I have heard of Zumba, do they have DVDs or just classes? Obviously we don't have Zumba in Cape Verde lol.
Constaza - For me as a weight loss surgery patient, I've always had to eat my protein first and also drink protein shakes to ensure that I'm not losing muscle. I think that is why low carb fits for ME - I'm supposed to be doing it for my health. I've gotten used to eating 2 bites of protein, one bite of veggie, two bites of protein, one bite of veggie, and then ONLY if I'm still hungry eating hte carb. Of course I don't always follow this and would sometiems eat the carbs first, but now that I just don't put a carb on my plate (veggies excluded) I don't even worry about it. I definatley don't think this way of eating (not diet) is for everyone..but after the surgery, plus I have PCOS and insulin resistance...it's the right way of eating for me. I lose slowly, but have no cravings and FEEL better.
Germaica - I would completely count ANY activity as exercise, especially gardening. I think that's harder than most stuff we do at the gym! For plans I'm specifically doing Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002. It's based on 4 phases, though the one most people are familiar with is Induction. That's only 2 weeks of eating less than 20 carbs, and most of those carbs are supposed to come from veggies. Now I've moved on to the OWL phase - Ongoing Weight Loss - where you add back in carbs 5g at a time each week, while moving "up" in the type of foods to eat. First I added in 5 more carbs of veggies, then 5 carbs of nuts, now I'm onto 5 carbs of fresh dairy (I eat about an ounce of yogurt cheese with green bell pepper and 3oz of homemade plain yogurt each day). This way you find out what foods will help you lose, which make you gain etc. Next week is supposed to be berries and melons but we don't have those here, so I'm skipping it and moving on to WINE! WOOHOO! lol. Actually today is my one week mark on dairy, so I could technially move up today. But I'm losing slowly so I want to take a bit of time to play around with this "rung" of the carb ladder before moving on.
Hey guys!! As you all know, I decided not to do a goal. To everyone who is on track-good work and keep up. To everyone who isn't-its okay. You can do it and the fact that you are going for the goal is something to be rewarded within itself.
So my update is pretty quick today, and hopefully I'll have time to reply to everyone tomorrow or Friday.
On my maintenance goal, I'm doing fantastic. I workout about 4-5 times a week, sometimes more than once a day (if you include the walk I take with the dog in the morning, soon to be jogs with him in the morning )
On the calorie goal, not so good. I haven't been tracking. I am fairly confident that I'm keeping around the right calorie range most days but as I said, I haven't been tracking it. I don't think it was the right goal for me to set unfortunately but it's too late for that now. What I am doing is making conscious choices to pick whole foods, natural foods over processed ones. I am also picking foods that come from all food groups, protein, veggies/fruit, low fat dairy, whole grains (gluten friendly ones) and I notice a difference in my workouts and my overall energy and weight. I probably should have known better but it seemed like the logical choice to make calorie counting a goal and after hearing about Julie's success with tracking everything it was even more convinced it was the right goal. Problem is, I hate having to track anything that closely, part of the reason weight watchers was a pain for me, looking up points, keeping track of how many I had used etc.
So to sum up, maintenance goal I'm over 100% and new goal, I'm probably a complete fail. Maybe being over on one and then off on the other equals out? lol
Carrie
Hi Carrie,
One thing that I have found good for me is to have set meals - breakfast is oatmeal, banana, coffee, milk; lunch is a salad and soup or a sandwich, dinner is chicken broccoli, etc. Also, have prepackaged snacks as well.
If you have kind of out meal outfits and you know the calories for each one of these outfits then you can put them together and make your day without having to sit down and figure out everything you can keep track of it more easily.
I do that for my lunches and breakfasts mostly.
I don't know but I have found it to be easier. Dinners are hard for me because I never know or can plan what I am going to have. I do tend to look at my calories and figure it out from there.
Hope this helps.
Carol
Carol I find that I often get tired after I eat as well, having breakfast, increasing my protein has helped with this a bit.
Constanza Staying at maintenance through a stressful time is an achievement. I often did what Carol suggested and created set meals, so that I didn't need to think about what I was having during stress times. It's a bit boring but it got me through.
Germaica I know what you mean about the weeks slipping by. I find time goes so fast and there is so much to do, that unless I make this a priority by setting a measurable goal I know that I won't do anything about it, or even worst it will be 12 weeks later and I'll be 5 lbs heavier.
Ana Hang in there. Any help you need on the percentages ask, I'm sure someone has an insight.
Dove Yes I added the stretching after the first round when I had a whole weekend that I could barely move, I'm a bit stiff now, but it is subsiding, I think it's just getting back into the gym thing in general.
Carrie The sad truth is that it really does come down to finding out what works for you. Julie and I are a bit compulsive about the numbers, so meticulous tracking works for us, but I can totally see how it can be a major inconvenience and horrendous time waster for others. Now you know this doesn't work for you, so you have 6 weeks to think about what may.
Sara.
Half Way Reminder
Yup, I need to ditch the two day reminder. My new job will be earlier mornings, so I need to do the 'not signed in yet' reminder in the evenings, and Thursday evenings are often volunteer meeting evenings so it's Wednesday now. Sorry to the folks who are used to posting Wednesday night to beat me to the crunch on Thursday.
Here is our list of members who have not yet checked in, please look for them to post Thursday or Friday. If they have not posted by Saturday, or are on the MIA list on Sunday please send them a polite and positive reminder to stay on track with their goals and involved in the group.
Missing In Action - 1 Week:
Sara,
On stretching - it is recommended you do it after and not before. I think there are articles but they have found that alot of people injure themselves by stretching before exercising. Just thought I would throw that out there...
-Carol
Sara,
On stretching - it is recommended you do it after and not before. I think there are articles but they have found that alot of people injure themselves by stretching before exercising. Just thought I would throw that out there...
-Carol
Original Post by cawilder:
Sara,
On stretching - it is recommended you do it after and not before. I think there are articles but they have found that alot of people injure themselves by stretching before exercising. Just thought I would throw that out there...
-Carol
Hi, all,
Quick check-in b/c I'm just plain EXHAUSTED this week--I'm on my way to bed. I think the kid must be going through a growth spurt, or something--I'm sleeping 10+ hours/day since Sunday!!
I only read Carol's post (quoted above), and yes, I've read the same--after my time doing yoga, etc., too--its not good to stretch when the muscles are cold--they need warmth to get going...
Weekly topic: Since the beginning of this goal session, I've been doing well on calories, but this week has been tough on exercise, with my need for rest. I'm not beating myself up about it, I'm just going to take it easy b/c that's what my body's telling me to do. Otherwise, I think I'm doing well!
OK, the new body pillow I just bought is calling me (hopefully it will help me sleep better)--will try to catch up later!
Original Post by cawilder:
Sara,
On stretching - it is recommended you do it after and not before. I think there are articles but they have found that alot of people injure themselves by stretching before exercising. Just thought I would throw that out there...
-Carol
I totally agree to Carol; in NROLFW though he outlines some "warmup" stretches that aren't static stretching but mimic some of the moves you'll do in the workout. Those are what I was referring to when I said stretching before the workous. Sorry I wasn't more clear!
On stretching I usually do a 10-15 min cardio warm up to make sure that I'm not going to stretch cold muscles, however doing some stretching, especially the legs, before I work out has, I think, made a big difference, from 'can't move' to a little sore, but I think the little bit of soreness and stiffness is typical. Thanks all!
Another theory on ways to reduce soreness and recovery more quickly is to eat a protein snack (200 cal or less) within 30 minutes after exercising. It has helped me definitely on longer runs.
I do think the whole NROLFW focus on calories, protein, diet makes sense. I guess where I get lost is how to put it all together on that basis.
I have lately read about the Abs Diet, Jillian Michaels 30-day Make the Cut Diet, weight watchers, NROLFW diet guidelines and none of them really fit - either they are so flexible that it is hard for me to grab on initially or they are so restrictive I would "rebel".
Still searching. Meanwhile I am working my way through the Beck Diet Solution Cognitive program it is good but I don't see to be able to master the sitting and eating thing... Improvemetns to be made!
Weekly check in: All is well, been keeping up with exercise as planned, and will continue to increase, with swimming (now that pool is running), and returning to Aquafitness with two friends.
Just truly need to compliment this effort with logging my food calories next round.
Have a great week everyone!
Lee-Anne
Made it to the gym today after my half day of training. Things are becoming slowly easier. Although after reading NROLFW I don't let them get too easy. Once I can do an exercise 2x without failing the reps or seriously struggling (I use a journal and rate how hard from 1 - 10) I up the weights.
I'm slightly more on the winning end of keepin the calories to 2,000 but today is an exception. I had pre-planned everything, but it went out of control. I had my first coffee break at work today (haven't had one in 5 years) and didn't know what to do with myself besides go to Starbucks (240 cal chai latte) then there was a party for the lady I am replacing on mat leave (213 cal cake, 120 cal finger sandwitches), I skipped the lunch I had planned (-323 cal) and substituted in some tuna salad (no bread) when I got home (160 cal) but even so today is going to be over and I feel like I have not eaten much.
I'm really starting to be a beliver in the low carb thing. I've been concentrating on getting my proteins up. Eggs or cottage cheese for breakfast, protein like seitan or fish for lunch and usually fish, seitan or beans for dinner. Generally I've felt reasonably full for the last week. I've had the protein today but maybe the influx of carbs (chai latte, cake, icing, sandwitches) is giving me the munchies. Odd, interesting.
Sara.
Hi Sara,
I think it is sensible carbs. I just don't agree with the Atkins Diet and I know most people feel like crap while they are on it. I liked the South Beach Diet and think it made alot of sense. I don't know if I am willing to go back to it though. I tried again a year ago and I just did not lose any weight at all... I think my body knew how to outsmart it... weird, I know...
I actually like the Whey powder with non-fat milk and have been upping that way. But I know that Whey powder is not not vegan. I used to use soy power and it was good but apparently does not have as much protein.
congrats on the exercising...
-Carol
Original Post by cawilder:
Hi Sara,
I think it is sensible carbs. I just don't agree with the Atkins Diet and I know most people feel like crap while they are on it. I liked the South Beach Diet and think it made alot of sense. I don't know if I am willing to go back to it though. I tried again a year ago and I just did not lose any weight at all... I think my body knew how to outsmart it... weird, I know...
I actually like the Whey powder with non-fat milk and have been upping that way. But I know that Whey powder is not not vegan. I used to use soy power and it was good but apparently does not have as much protein.
congrats on the exercising...
-Carol
Hi Carol,
I actually agree with you about Atkins, with a caveat. I think people feel like crap on it (which a lot of people do, though LOTS of people, including me, feel amazing, energetic and clear headed) because they stay on Induction level carbs too long. It's really hard for ANYONE to just eat limited veggies, meat, eggs and cheese for more than a couple weeks!
But for me I'm on the "beans" rung, so yesterday I had a onion, peppers and tomato fritata topped with cheese for breakfast, 1/4c of peanuts for snack, tuna salad (full fat mayo lol) in green bell peppers for lunch, another green bell pepper with homemade pesto yogurt cheese for another snack, then ANOTHER snack of homemade yogurt (LOVE the "fresh cheese and dairy rung! plus we eat dinner late) and a GIANT taco salad made with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, ground pork and black beans, topped with plain yogurt (since we dont' have sour cream here).
At this point in the game I'm able to eat 4oz of cheese a day, eggs, meat, oils, butter, 2oz cream, as many non startchy veggies as I want, nuts, berries, melon, wine, and now beans and legumes. The trick is to 1) stay under my carb count, and 2) don't gorge myself! I end up eating 30 carbs a day (that's where I'm sticking myself right now, and that above menu includes that!) and usually around 1400 to 1600 calories. And I'm never hungry. And if I am, I have some cheese, a hard boiled egg, some tuna, some veggies and greek yogurt etc.
I personally don't like South Beach for me - I actually find it much more limiting that Atkins because it limits both carbs AND fats and when I was on it I found myself hungrier. Everyone will need to find what is right for them...and while Atkins says "you don't need to count calories" on Atkins, Calories DO count! Its just you end up eating less naturally because you're not so hungry.
I love whey powder as well, I've been making pancakes with it! 1 egg, 1oz cream cheese, 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, vanilla and cinnamon. Fry it up in a pan with butter, flip it when it's firm, DELICIOUS!
I hope I'm not being preachy at all, I really do feel that so many people took low carb dieting to be "eat all the meat and fat that you want!" without ever reading the book that it got such a bad rep.
THIS THREAD IS NOW CLOSED, PLEASE POST ON OUR NEW WEEKLY THREAD:
Want to be a leader?Start your own group!
