Wagon Jumpers - November 1-7, 2009 (Closed)
Welcome
(I keep the waiting list capped at 4 people as it can be a 16 week wait with that length. We currently have 5 people on the waiting and are not taking any more names. Please check back later as spots do open up regularly)
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.
Wagon Jumpers Participants
Year 1 - Week 26 Riders:
Supersized 
(myself)
Year 1 - Week 22 Riders:
Year 1 - Week 21 Riders:
Year 1 - Week 16 Riders - Congratulations on 1 Year & 4 Months!:
Year 1 - Week 15 Riders:
Year 1 - Week 10 Riders:
Year 1 - Week 5 Riders:
Week 50 Riders:
Week 48 Riders:
Week 43 Riders:
Week 22 Riders:
Week 18 Riders:
Week 15 Riders:
Week 13 Riders:
Bleedtoblue - vacation to November 15, 2009
Week 12 Riders - Congratulations on 3 Months!:
Week 11 Riders:
Week 10 Riders:
Week 8 Riders - Congratulations on 2 Months!:
Week 7 Riders:
Week 5 Riders:
Week 4 Riders - Congratulations on 1 Month!:
Week 3 Riders:
Week 2 Riders:
Missing In Action:
Missing In Action - 1 Week:
Missing In Action - 2 Weeks:
Current Membership: 25
Current Waiting List: 5
Outstanding Wait List Invites: 0
12 Week CONSISTENCY GOALS
(as set w/o September 20, 2009)
By December 12th, I will be...
Supersized - NEW: Go to the Gym and or Walk/Bike to work at least 3 days a week for 9 of 12 weeks.
Laura42 - NEW:Stay on nutrition plan 3 out of 4 weekends each month. MAINTENANCE:Lift weights three times a week.
Figurethefat - NEW:Eat 5 serves of fruit or vegetables everyday. MAINTENANCE:1500 exercise minutes a month
Merimeriqcontrary - NEW:Hover around 1200 calories(non-workout days) and around 1400-1500 calories on workout days, 6 days/week. (at least 9 out of 12 weeks). MAINTENANCE:Work out at least 4 times/week for at least 10 out of the 12 weeks.
Carryonandon - NEW:Follow this meal plan: Prepare homemade dinners (or eat leftovers) 5 out of 7 days per week. Have at least one fresh fruit or vegetable daily Mon - Fri. MAINTENANCE:workout 3x per week
Msmeg1984 - MAINTENANCE:Excercise at least 3 days a week for 9 of 12 weeks and average calorie intake of 2,000 cals per week.
White_Sakura - NEW:maintain any deficit for 5/7 days of the week. MAINTENANCE:to burn 2500 calories a week.
Raven21 - NEW: Eat 5 servings of fruit and/or vegetables daily. MAINTENANCE:run 4 days a week minimum, increasing speed and distance over the course of the 12 weeks.
BigBitty - NEW: to log my calories from the day I have the baby. MAINTENANCE: to continue drinking 2.5 litres of water per day.
Ncurlee - NEW:To achieve a 500 caloric deficit (or 500 calories below your burn rate) 5 of 7 days a week.
Cawilder - NEW:80% of the time I will seat sitting down and put down my fork/spoon/food in between bites. MAINTENANCE:Do, 5 hours of cardio / week + 2 weight lifting sessions / week
Bleedtoblue - NEW: to log my calories at least five days a week for the next twelve weeks.
Austiemg - NEW:to work out for at least 30 min (cardio) three (or more) times a week.
The_Vitamin_Dominatrix - NEW:I will record all my calories at least six days every week. MAINTENANCE:I will continue to drink at least 2+ liters of water each day.
Opanci - NEW:By December 12th, I will be accurately logging all my intake 6 of 7 days. MAINTENANCE:Get outside 6 of 7 days.
Kyashiis - NEW:log my calories daily by midnight 6 days a week. MAINTENANCE:run a minimum of 3 kilos 12 times over the 12-week period.
Nannygabber - MAINTENANCE:Exercise: Cardio 3x/wk MAINTENANCE:Eating: 150 grams of protein 5 days per week
Wenchie58 - NEW:With my new pedometer to walk 10,000 steps at least 4 days a week for 10 out of the 12 weeks. MAINTENANCE:To continue to eat between 1400-1500 calories a day.
Dovelette - NEW:NROLFW or NROL minimum of 2x/week for 8 out of 12 weeks.
Vcruicky - NEW: To eat completely vegetarian meals 4 days a week.
Previous Threads:
Wagon Jumpers - October 25 - 31, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - October 18 - 24, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - October 11 - 17, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - October 4 - 10, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - September 27 - October 3, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - September 20 - 26, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - September 13 - 19, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - September 6 - 12, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - August 30 - September 5, 2009
Wagon Jumpers - August 23 - 29, 2009
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
As always all members are encouraged to tag this thread so that it is easy to find.
This Week's Topic: Goal check In - Half Way
We finished 6 weeks of our 12 week goals on October 31, 2009. Time to update the group on your progress! - If you were not with us for 12-week goals, or if you did not set one feel free to update us on your personal goal progress.
Are you on track for achieving your goal?
If so:
How will you ensure that you stay on track?
What is Motivating you?
If not:
Can you get on track?
If so:
What is the plan?
If not:
Why not?
What can you do next time to set achievable goals?
Will you still work towards doing as much of your goal as possible?
Check-In
I'm going strong for 100% on my goal. I'm past the half way mark having made it to the gym for 5 weeks now, so I need to make it 4 more. Motivation? See below.
Update
I've been having difficulty following the nutrition plan laid out by the nutritionist I hired. Had a second meeting with her and figured out that I can have my morning latte, I can include some of the vegetables I was missing (onions, mushrooms, tomatoes) and we picked up some alternatives for snacks.
She is very big on cardio exercise and swears that the best thing for me is to try to walk 5 hours a week (1 hr a day) and if I go to the gym to walk for longer periods of time on a steep incline.
This goes against a lot of the fitness advice that I've read. Not that I don't like cardio - I do! It's just never really produced the results I've wanted. So, I wrote a trainer I follow, asked his advice.
The deal is for me to follow her plan for 4 weeks, and then he will give me a plan, I follow that for 4 weeks see what works better.
I'm starting the first 4 weeks today, and measuring my success at following the nutrition plan and the fitness plan and then hopefully will get second plan in the next few weeks and compare.
Check-in: I'm about 75% for my goal since I'm 100% on exercise but only 50% on eating at home (50%) and eating a fruit or veg a day (0%).
Food: Getting back on track with the fruit or veg a day by having apples, bananas, etc., in sight and in easy reach. Though, I did just make an apple crisp out of my apple supply to take to a party later this afternoon... haha. The plus side to this is that the time spent doing something creative counted towards another goal I have set for myself in a different part of my life.
I mentioned my fruit/veg goal to a friend who gave me some suggestions for making veggies fun by seasoning them and learning to be creative in that aspect. It appeals to me, but I'm having trouble imagining myself cooking veggies for some reason - aside from just boiling/blanching them at least. Watching the Barefoot Contessa, or similar, for inspiration might help - of course, I'd reduce the butter, etc.
What I need to do is get over this idea that cooking is difficult. Everything I've tried so far has come out well, but I've mostly been sticking to baking. My challenge this week will be coming up with something interesting to put on some salmon and with a veggie side dish.
Exercise: On the exercise front, I'm *finally* seeing some results. Some of my clothes are starting to fit better. This is what is keeping me going since I'm definitely at a point where the novelty of going to the gym is starting to wear off.
On the other hand, I feel more comfortable there, too, and am no longer worried about doing crunches, lunges, etc., in front of everyone else. The fact is that no one is really paying attention to me. So far, the only uncomfortable thing was that a girl had a loud argument on her cell phone while riding the stationary bike next to mine... It took all my strength not to laugh when she threw the phone across the room. Luckily I only had 4 minutes left in my routine.
I've extended the Level 1 weightlifting for NROLFW an extra couple of weeks, and I'm a little nervous about moving to Level 2. I'll get over it. :-) I'm just so happy that I'm finally seeing some results from something *and* it's easier to carry the groceries in!
I have been really good, my calorie counting has been 100% and my water, out of the entire time i only mised the mark 3 times or so!
I am motivated by how good i feel and the fact that I am losing very well, and I plan on staying motivated through my husbands support, this group, and by staying positive, should anyhting not go to plan!
thanks guys!
I've done better on my goals this round than any other time. I have stayed in my calorie guidelines and walked so much that I'm acutally thinking I need a new pair of walking shoes.
My motivation has been pure and simple. No one else can do this for me....it's something I have GOT to do myself, for myself.
Here's hoping all the good stuff will continue for all of us! 
I have not been 100% successful. I wanted to stick to my nutritional plan 3 out of 4 weekends, and I have done that only 2 out of 4. While that wasn't stellar, it was an improvement over what I acheived over the summer. So I am going to stay positive and try to build on that limited improvement.
Even my maintenance goal of lifting 3 times a week did not go well. Usually I have no problem with that because I enjoy it. But the kids were sick and I didn't go to the gym. I also missed some gym time several weeks ago when I pulled a muscle in my back. The pulled musle had to heal - there was nothing I could really do about that. But we talked about excuses last week, and I could have worked out at home while the kids were sick. I did not find the motivation to make that happen.
So......
I still think my goals are achievable. I did not unreasonable goals and I should be able to do accomplish them.
I am going to recommit and work hard to be on target for the last half of this goal period. As far as lifting is concerned: the kids are healthy and my back is healed. I should not have impediments to working out. I have incorporated 10 minutes of deep stretching and foam rolling into my lifting routine to avoid more injuries. I have been doing that consistently so it should not be difficult to continue.
I will be traveling to London Nov 6 thru 10. I am giving myself a free pass to enjoy myself. I will also allow a free day for Thanksgiving day. The remainder of the time, I will try to stick to my nutritional plan. I am going to include more maintenance days than deficit days so that should help too.
Well I think I am officially at 0% with my goal this time around. I should have known when setting it that it wouldn't be acheivable because of how much we have had going on recently, and it doesn't look like it will really be slowing down. Not that being busy should be an excuse to not go to the gym, but I have been immobolized for the past two weeks due to an allergic reaction which has made it impossible.
Of course, none of THAT is an excuse for my horrible eating that has continued lol. I'm having a very hard time getting back on the wagon, where in the past it's been much easier. I'm not seeing any upward movement on the scale, which tells me that, while I'm eating a lot of crap at least I'm eating small amounts of it. But I FEEL bad, I FEEL lethargic and icky and I miss how I was feeling before.
Today is another day and another chance to get back on the wagon though, right?
At long last after more than a year of slogging through the trenches and clinging to the wagon sides for fear falling off, I am on target with my Wagon Jumper goals.
I think I aimed just high enough to have a challenge and low enough that the challenge is achievable.
I am on target for logging my foods and running 3Ks despite being down with a cold the last few days. (I really felt terrible for a couple days and couldn't participate in the 5K I was committed to and really looking forward to running. ... oh well. Next time.)
Congradulations to those others who are doing well. And, if you are not doing well... don't give up. Do what you can each day towards your goals - even if it is a tiny thing. Success will come.
I'm happy to report that I am 100% on my goal this go around. I dropped the calorie goal to focus more intently on just one goal this period.
I'm training for a half marathon, so that is what is keeps me on track and motivates at the same time! I'm thrilled with my progress!
Running has really become therapeutic for me. I never realized how much I could love running until now. I'm running a pretty solid 3x a week... My mileage right now is at about 10mi/week. Once I hit January though, I'll start slowly building the mileage up to half marathon lengths.
Good job to everyone. Looks like we are going to be pretty successful this round!
Keep up the good work! For those of us who are not where we want to be on goals, keep working, its still achievable!
Check-in
I am doing well on my one goal of achieving a 500 calorie deficit at least 5 days a week.
Update
I am being more conscious on the weekends when it seems easier to stray and I am doing aerobic activities 3-4 days a week, which also help alot. I seem to be consistently losing at least a pound a week which also reinforces that I am achieving the calorie deficit and I am happy with that rate of loss. What I am doing right now is very "doable" for me and does not seem too difficult, nor do I feel too much like I am denying myself. And the results more than make up for it.
Well I'm not at 100% of my goal, more like 75%. I think running 4x week was a little too ambitious, 3 would have been a better choice. Veggies/fruits are going pretty good although this weekend if I had been able to count wine as a fruit I would have been in like flynn, otherwise not so much.
So after reading the posts from this weeks thread, particularly Meg's, I am recommitting to my running since I also want to run a 1/2 marathon this coming summer. I can log about 15K or 9miles a week but I'm finding it hard to push past that, I need to push myself outside my comfort level a bit more. I did start last week but increasing my speed a bit and it worked out well.
So what am I going to do to meet my goals for the remaining 6 weeks?
Re-commit and focus on the 2 goals I made for myself and not worry about the shiny new goals I see and think about when I'm discouraged.
Great job everyone and keep up the good work!
Carrie
I myself, am picking up those goals I let go of awhile ago, and am happy to report that I am have maintained my Aquafitness class on Monday's, and this week, will be stepping it up a notch by stepping on the treadmill.
Also starting to log my food intake religiously, and as a result am down a pound. Hey, I will take what I can get.
Will check in again before end of week.
Have a good one.
Lee-Anne
Well I sort of took a break this past week on my goal of doing under maintenance 5/7 days since the week before that was a disaster in which I went over my calories every day. It kind of worked, since I think I was below maintenance 2/7 days, so just working my way back up to 5 days. Also, I think at this point I have to establish better eating habits and working my way back into regular meals. I noticed that when I decide to be lazy and not have my grains for dinner, I think that I can "spend" it on something else - which leads to a lot of after-dinner snacks of over 1000 calories...I'm also going to really make it my point to sleep early.
Otherwise, maintenance is coming along beautifully.
I also want to thank everyone in the past thread who has given me great advice. It's really nice to get input from another perspective.
Carry I find the setting a meal plan one of the hardest to keep since it involves much more discipline than a numeric goal. Watch for me to give that a go next round (maybe). For the cooking veggies try roasting them. First off it's easy for a baker, they also taste great that way, and even if you burn them they taste really good with a light char, in fact it's pretty hard to screw up roast veggies. I road red peppers, zucchini, red onion, mushrooms and garlic (that's my standard mix) and then toss them with a Tbsp of olive oil and one of cider vinegar.
BigBitty Good job new mummy! Hopefully the breast feeding is helping as well.
Vicky Great job on the walking. And I'm with you on the motivation.
Laura The good thing about goals is that you learn from them no matter what. The other good thing is that you can always do better. Make this second half a real success, and if you do, consider if you can put some of the successful weeks in the second half towards the first half.
One thing to consider with fitness goals is the 'what if' ____. In your case it was injury. I try to set goals like 'go to gym' because at least if that is the goal, even if I can't lift I can still likely walk. Might be something to think about in future goals.
Dove Yes, the busy times kill us. Today is another chance to get back on the wagon and see if you can bring that 0% up to 4 weeks = 50% for the last half.
Kathy Good job! Keep it going! Get your smiley face!
MsMeg I can see a group of marathon runners in our future ;) Great to hear you have another physical activity you love. Keep us up to date on your progress.
Neva Good job! I think weekends and holidays - or anytime that we aren't in our structured environments are hardest for us to control. I'm struggling with that a lot myself. Planning helps, but I still need to learn how to make good choices on the fly.
Carrie Wine has grapes in it, just like beer has that nice whole grain barley in it :) Keep going on that running!
Lee-Anne A pound (in a week) is a great. I keep reminding myself that 2lbs/week is a fast loss, 0.5lbs/week is an average loss so at 1lb you are at a good start to a healthy rate.
Sakura I can relate to the skipping good food and ending up with bad food. I think at various points as a wagon jumper you will need to figure out your own rhythm for when numbers are helpful and when food-focus is helpful. Sometimes you need to get away from the numbers and concentrate on 'what' you are eating, and sometimes you then need to go back to the number to make sure of 'how much' you are eating.
This is officially week one of my first four-week test between a nutritionists plan and a trainers plan.
Both plans have a fitness and nutrition component (don't want to make is sound like I'm doing one without the other) but one is designed by a nutritionist and the other by a trainer.
I'm off to a good start, I casually started the nutritionists plan last week, although I wasn't tracking my success at sticking with it (which I am now). And, even on my casual effort I lost 2.6 lbs!! Wheee! I'm of course very happy with that, but I need to put in the caveat that I was coming off my cycle and I in now way expect this to be average loss. In any case I'm extra motivated to stick with the plan now since it did produce results casually I'm hoping to continue seeing results week to week.
So I just got back from a 5K run and feeling great! Glad I went. I find the middle is the hardest part so if I can get past the first 2.5K I'm good to go. I also pick up the pace on the last .5mile or so. So tomorrow I might run again or I might cross train but I WILL get in 3 runs this week.
Thanks for the continued support everyone!
Sara - congrats on the success! I'll be interested to see whose plan is the most successful for you.
Hi all,
Are you on track for achieving your goal? Well, um, er, not really. I wish I could be more positive but I am not. I am struggling. I just found out that my daughter will have her 4th surgery on her leg - we had hoped her leg would hold out for 2-3 years and now it has only been 15 months.
If not:
Can you get on track? Yes, I can. I have to start to do more compartmentalization of my life and not let things bother me. I need to focus on the long term goals and not the short term emotional gratifiction.
What is the plan?
I am going to go on a meal plan type diet that prescribes what I can eat so that I don't have any choices or very few. I have not though been able to find out a diet that I feel that I can follow with food that I like.If not:
Why not?
Just alot of distractions personally. I just don't feel like controlling myself right now even though I know that it is the right thing to do.What can you do next time to set achievable goals?
I think they are achievable but my life is just still so stressful.Will you still work towards doing as much of your goal as possible? Yes
I think I can finish up strong. I just gotta get in my compartmentalization mode.
Also, threw away the Halloween candy!!
Carol Sounds like you are barely hanging on there. I think you had very ambitious goals especially considering your extra school workload this time round. I think if when asked "is your goal achievable" and the answer is accompanied with a "but" as in ... yes, but my life is so stressful... then that is a "no". Another person may be able to accomplish those goals easily without your added pressures, you can accomplish those goals easily without the added pressures... so the question becomes not what is achievable for you when your life is "perfect" but what is achievable for you now? What can you realistically expect from yourself now so that you feel good about what you are doing for yourself and not like it is an added stresser?
Speaking of stress I'm really going to need to put myself to the test tomorrow to see how much I can really put my health and fitness at the front. I know I do not have enough time after work tomorrow to do the gym, the walking and feed myself.
So the plan is to get up early do the walking before work, gym and eating after work. Then meeting.
This is in some ways planning for next week Monday as well. Although the better plan for Monday is to make it to the gym on Sunday so that I don't need to do the gym on Monday which will likely bring better results.
Original Post by supersized:
Carol Sounds like you are barely hanging on there. I think you had very ambitious goals especially considering your extra school workload this time round. I think if when asked "is your goal achievable" and the answer is accompanied with a "but" as in ... yes, but my life is so stressful... then that is a "no". Another person may be able to accomplish those goals easily without your added pressures, you can accomplish those goals easily without the added pressures... so the question becomes not what is achievable for you when your life is "perfect" but what is achievable for you now? What can you realistically expect from yourself now so that you feel good about what you are doing for yourself and not like it is an added stresser?
I find in this situation when things are so crazy that if I can make my "food" life and my "exercise" life scheduled and stricter then I find that I can weather it without having my food / exercise to go haywire with everything else. I have thought of going to a nutritionist but unless the person is near my building at work it is probably not gonna happen.
I have been somewhat successful at the mindful eating and honestly, I sat down and at that chocolate bar and savored it...
On the go andin the know.
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