Wagon Jumpers - November 23 - 29th, 2008 (Closed, Waiting List Available)
Welcome
(We are currently at 30 members. If you are interested in being on the waiting list please read below and e-mail 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 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 29 Riders:
Supersized (myself)
Week 27 riders:
Week 26 Riders:
Week 25 Riders:
Week 22 Riders:
Wenchie58 - recovery to December 6th, 2008
Week 21 Riders:
Week 20 Riders - Congratulations on 5 Months!:
Week 16 Riders:
Week 14 Riders:
Week 13 Riders:
Week 12 Riders - Congratulations on 3 Months!:
Week 11 Riders:
Week 10 Riders:
Week 9 Riders:
Nannygabber - Away to December 1st, 2008
Week 8 Riders - Congratulations on 2 Months!:
Week 6 Riders:
Week 5 Riders:
Week 4 Riders - Congratulations on 1 Month!:
Week 3 Riders:
Week 2 Riders:
Week 1 Riders:
New:
Carryonandon - Vacation Dec 15 - Jan 8
Missing In Action:
Missing In Action - 1 Week:
Missing In Action - 2 Weeks:
Current Membership: 30
Current Waiting List: 2
Outstanding Wait List Invites: 0
12 Week CONSISTENCY GOALS
(as set w/o October 19th, 2008)
By January 11th, I will be...
At least 8 weeks successful on my 12-week consistency plan. That is 8 weeks at an average of 1500 cal/day (weekly avg) and gym 4x/week 2 hrs/session.
Working out 5x week. I will be eating 1500-2000 calories a day dependng on exercise.
Sticking with the NROL nutrition (40%-30%-30%) and working out 3x/week. This should have me almost complete with stage 4 of the program.
Consistently drinking 4 500 ml bottles of water per day and working out 3 times a week, this can include running, weights, etc...
Maintaining walking 10,000 - 12,000 steps a day and adding both Wii Fit exercise 2-3 times per week, while achieving a calorie deficit of 500 cal/day.
Exercising 5 days/week (cardio + strength) and eating 1500 calories on exercise days and 1200 on rest days.
Be eating 1450 cal/day, except on non-exercise days (1300) and exercising 6 days/week on a stationary bike, increasing the distance each week by 1/2 mile with a goal to reach 10 miles/session by the end of 12 weeks.
Journaling my food on CC everyday, and getting 30 min of exercise 2-3 times per week.
Adding interval training - Fartleks - to my running to reach a goal of running a 5K at 6 min/km. While maintaining a 600 cal/day deficit.
Eating 5-6 fruits and vegetables a day, and working out 5 days a week.
Eating at an average deficit of 500 cal/day 6-7 days/week, and exercising 5 times/week for at least 20 min/session.
Eat an average of 1700 cal/day and exercise 4x per week, according to my plan
Eating at 1600 cal/day and walking for 1 hour 3 days/week.
Drinking 2 mugs and 1 glass of water per day and logging my food everyday.
Exercising two times a week for 60 minutes at the gym or at home, and logging all of my food.
Exercising 2 times a week.
Maintaining a complete food log on the CC website daily to remain on track. Exercising 2x a week for minimum of 45 minutes.
Going to the gym 4 times per week (maintenance). Drinking ATLEAST 2 litres of water per day.
Exercising at least 30 min every day. Logging my calories on CC every day.
Previous Threads:
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
Wagon Jumpers - October 19 - 25th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - October 12 - 18th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - October 5 - 11th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - September 28 - October 4th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers - September 21 - 27th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers September 14-20th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers September 7-13th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers August 31 - September 6th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers August 24 - 30th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers August 17 - 23rd, 2008
Wagon Jumpers August 10 - 16th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers August 2 - 9th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers July 27 - August 2nd, 2008
Wagon Jumpers July 20 - 26th, 2008
Wagon Jumpers July 6 - July 21st, 2008 (another, two week special!)
Wagon Jumpers June 22 - July 5th, 2008 (two week special!)
Wagon Jumpers June 15-21, 2008
Wagon Jumpers May 25 - 31, 2008
Wagon Jumpers May 18 - 24, 2008
Wagon Jumpers Week 1 (May 4 - 10)
Wagon Jumpers - Anyone Need a Lift? (initial thread)
As always all members are encouraged to tag this thread so that it is easy to find.
THIS WEEK'S TOPIC
This week's topic is a cooperative exercise and should teach us all something about food logging. In the past few weeks most of us have mentioned times when we do not log, or foods that we do not log. These pop up for various reasons: hiding the food from ourselves, if we don't log it it has no calories, feeling it's too complicated to log... etc...
So...
Post a food item that you tend not to log. Here's the cooperative part:
Look at the post above yours and see what their food item is (or keep going till you find one that has not yet been answered): - Find it on cc and provide a link, or; - Enter it into cc and provide a link, or; - Look it up online, enter it into cc and provide a link, or;
- Find the closest approximation that you think is appropriate for that item and provide a link that the person can use for that item as a substitution.
NEXT WEEK'S THREAD WILL BE STARTED LATE SUNDAY NIGHT OR EARLY MONDAY MORNING
Weekly Check-In
All in all I had a pretty good week. I met my calorie and exercise goals. Despite my procrastination, which I must not give into this week as I'm away for the weekend.
I actually noticed something pretty big this week. This may be TMI, but I think you're all used to that from me by now. One of the things that really kicked me into gear on the whole "this time I'm doing it for real" health and fitness this is one day I looked in the mirror, naked, and I was looking at my back.
I've always (or for a long time) had the roll or crevice, or well not sure what to call it, but there is a distinct line that cuts into and up my back from just below my rib-cage. This was my first 'fat roll' as I call it and it's been there for a long time. Well, when I was looking in the mirror many months ago I noticed it had a friend that had joined it. It was located at the base of the shoulder blade roughly where the bra strap would go. And no, it didn't go away when It took the bra off.
I don't know why the second fat roll bothered me so much more than the first. But it did.
Anyways I was looking in the mirror yesterday, naked again, mirror, bathroom, shower, you do the math. Anyways I have a love hate relationship with my body as I'm going through these changes. On one hand I was liking the new definition in my shoulders, and how much slimmer my arms have become. On the other hand I was still hating how flabby my arms are, saggy my belly is and then I looked at my back....
I was in the process of being disappointed by my fat roll below my back ribcage, when I suddenly notice that it's friend (by the bra strap) has departed. It's gone 100% gone! I can stretch and twist any which way I want, but it is gone!
It's little successes like these that suddenly dawn on me, and seem to come out of the blue that give me hope that I can see my goals through.
Sara.
My week was fair as well....trying to get back on an even emotional keel here ..and slowly making it.
I smiled when I read your post Sara, for 2 reasons..1 I have done pretty much the same, taking stock after showering...the real truth is then. 2. It was the roll just under my bra strap that had gotten so big I could actually feel it from beneath it on another part of my back, and it is 90% gone! and what is left sags a bit but doesn't rub or touch it's neighbor...that was when it felt like...yeah this is what all the sweating and effort is for...don't get me wrong the newer clothes, compliments are wonderful..helpful but when I fell like the light bulb has just gone off for me that is where it's at. What I would love to have finally happen is for my thighs not to touch...have that space at the groin....but I was so heavy for so long...not sure that will ever tighten up without surgery.
now for the weekly question/homework...
I don't want to sound like a goody goody but the only thing I do not log and it is a conscience choice because I am not going to give it up for anything...is my coffee creamer..I love coffee with Coffee-mate French Vanilla powder or liquid doesn't really matter to me, love the stuff..and other flavors too..I tried to log when I 1st started on CC+ but it quickly became apparent that I should knock out using it..but I don't drink ( never acquired the taste) and no recreational drugs...so food was and is my vice/comfort/obsession...I have made sure I come in most days under around 100 calories to help compensate for the creamer. I don't mind logging candy, pizza, and bread...I just can't give up my coffee creamer. silly but there it is.
It is a beautiful day here in Ohio, sunny and cold..the beast and I were out earlier this morning for his walk and there were still squirrels out rustling up acorns..I would have thought they would have called it quits and snuggled up somewhere until spring.
Happy healthgain to all..
robin
I'll join, I need this!! Weekends kill me!
This week was ok. School consumes me as always but my calorie counting has been pretty good. I'm drinking the amount of water I need, but I'm still not seeing any results. I definitely know it's because of my lack of gym time. I have vacation this week and I only have a few finals and I'll be back on track!!! Next semester I chose to only take 12 credits so I have more time for me and more time for my son. I think it's a good choice. I'll be able to budget my time more efficiently and meet my goals. Good job on seeing some results sara!! I always read yours and you meet your goals and now it pays off. I'm motivated to get on track with my exercising so I can list some results too.
Anyway....on to the homework.
I often don't log bite size amounts of food that I have. Whether it's a bite size amount of pie, or what really kills me is bite size chocolates, leftover from Halloween....!!!!!!!!!!?!@#$! I love my son but yikes on the candy! Other than that I try to be as honest as I can. Robin...I totally hear you on the coffee mate thing! I love coffee with it and it's not quite the same without it....but I log it. I use the individual single serve boxes of creamer that are each only 40 calories instead of dumping a whole boatload of creamer in from the refrigerator bottle. It helps me to keep track of how many creamers I use and helps keep the exact measurement without actually having to measure.
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-coffee -mate-french-vanilla-i84830
Each package is exactly one serving. I love it.
Robin Funny how we have the same motivator there. I have no idea why the back fat bothers me so much more than the tummy fat, it just does, so I'm happy to see it go. Don't worry, this exercise isn't so much about making you give up your coffee creamer, it's more about putting the information out there, just so you have it if you want it.
Katie I've sent you a personal message. I generally ask people who are interested in the thread to send me a PM so that I can provide them with an overview of the goals and objectives of the group as well as the time commitments. I do have three people who have asked about the group by PM already, if they all reply I may need to ask you if you are interested in the waiting list. In any case, please review the private message, and send me back any questions you have.
Jen It always take a little time once I am back to meeting my goals to see results, but they do come, suddenly and in big ways. Either that or I'm terribly unobservant. Doesn't matter I'm happy just the same.
Okay I don't have kids at home, so I've been away from the Hallowe'en candy for awhile. I guess we'll see how off I am on what is given out for Hallowe'en.
Dairy Milk Bar is 22 cal/block and I believe they came in 2 blocks back in my day = 44 cal
Mini Eggs are 190 cal/12 pieces or 16 cal/piece
Aero Mini's are 57 cal/bar
After Eight Mints - uh, not because they're a Hallowe'en thing, but because they'll be my own demise over the holidays are 33 cal/piece
Cheers,
Sara.
Unless I get to the gym on Sunday I don't seem to get there on Monday, this is becoming a rule of thumb. I still can make it 4 days this week, although not likely today. Not today because I have an evening meeting.... which it has just dawned on me will conflict with the boxing class I wanted to begin, which will need to be postponed for another week.... and as much as I want to make time during the day I realistically know that I wont.
My bag is packed and I'm ready to go tomorrow through Friday.
I've got a conference this weekend. Friday - Sunday. It's in the middle of nowhere.... Ontario... seriously find Ontario, point to the bit with nothing around it, and that's where I'm going. Now, I like the middle of nowhere in the summer, but not in the winter. I'm also dependent on the convention feeding me, which always terrorizes me for two reaons:
1. I have a sever anaphylaxis allergy to pork, and convention breakfasts = pork and I'm not always confident that they do proper separation in convention kitchens.
2. I also have intollerances to eggs and dairy, which generally make up vegetarian options at these functions. While I don't mind eating them at home, I don't like the idea of dealing with the bathroom troubles in a public toilet.
I want to bring my own food, but I always feel like a total prig when I do, and it never works out well. It has to be all pre-packaged dry foods because the convention staff NEVER let me use the microwave without me needing to be a total bitch... on the other hand if I don't bring the food then I just get these weird sympathetic looks from everyone as I binge on apples and stashed granola bars all weekend.... "oh, when you said you were vegetarian and were allergic to milk & eggs, we didn't really hear the second part..." okay they don't really say that they usually tell me they never figured a vegetarian is allergic to milk and eggs and then try to explain to me how impossible vegetarian cooking is without milk and eggs and that it will simply taste like nothing if I don't eat them.... then I just want to hurt them because I'm hungry and they're ignorant, especially for a professional that is supposed to know about food. What do you think the chances are that they will hire and asian catering company? Oh, yeah, middle of nowhere Ontario... not looking good!
End of rant.
Sara.
The Group Size Question... Again
I ask this question every so often of you, the wagon jumpers members. Generally I am happy with the size of the group. I think it allows for an active and interesting thread that always has a couple of new posts each day, without overtaxing many members to need to post everyday.
In any case, when members leave us, most members will take responsibility that they have had a change in their lives and can no longer meet the time commitment to the group, or they have moved onto other things. Every once in a while, as we wagon jumpers are prone to do... and I'm as guilt as everyone else on this.... we blame, or make excuses why it is not our fault.... with this group leaving members sometimes imply, sometimes directly blame me/the group for being "too large" and taking "too much time to read" and imply that they may have stayed if the group were smaller.
So I'm putting this out there again. This is a group that does involve a time commitment. I do try to be up front about that in the introduction, and in the introductory e-mails that people receive.
What I would like to know from you, our regular members, are you comfortable with the size of the group? Would you like a smaller / larger group?
Cheers,
Sara.
Hi,
My week - well, in a word it sucked! I was in Israel and my food and eating times were at the behest of my Israeli colleagues. We would not eat until 1 or 2PM in the afternoon so that we did not get tied up with the rush at the cafeteria. Then I got food poisoning on the day I was leaving to go home. Then the travel back home was 27 hours since I missed my flight in Frankfurt.
I loaded up on salad which was good but then they had no dressing that was healthy (Thousand island, etc. , YUK)
I did run 3X 60 minutes which was good.
So, Sara, I hear ya gal on the conference food. It is like someone else has control over how you are gonna feel for the days you are there.
Very happy to get home on Friday night. Still a bit jet lagged. Watched Judgement @ Nuremburg on TV @ 12:00AM - So you get the idea...
My Homework -
Things I don't report -
1. I don't always report my milk in my coffee
2. I don't report coffee (but it's small)
3. I don't report food that I test for my daughter - like her oatmeal
4. OK, so sometimes I will buy a muffin, eat one bite, and throw it away. I don't report that.
My goals (Sara, you can publish under my name):
Stay between 1200 - 1600 calories (more only with significant exercise. Run 4X week for at least one hour and Do New Rules for Lifting for women 3X week.
To all the USA'ers, Happy Thanksgiving! Watch your bites...
Hi everyone,
Thank you to Sara for the One Month message! I can't believe it has been a month already. Seems I just started this. In your message you asked me to say something about what has worked for me this past month, so here goes.
I have lost over 15 lbs since I started logging things on CC, (21 lbs since starting to keep track) which is great, and I have 4 - 7 more to go depending on how I measure (naked in the morning or fully dressed at my Weight Watcher's meeting.
But I don't know if I am a good example for anyone else, because I have been doing it a bit all or nothing (still) so I mostly get by through sheer force of will. I keep my goal present in my mind at each turn, and I have given myself a deadline (get to the goal weight before my pre-paid weight-Watcher's package is used up), so I can't even say, "oh what the hell, I'll catch up tomorrow or next week....'
The challenge for me is not losing the weight... the hard part for me will start the day I get to my goal weight, and continue for the next 50 years....
HOMEWORK:
Funny you should ask what I don't log, because I am starting to find my logging a bit pathological! I find I can't eat until I have logged the food and know there are no big surprises in my food choices. I will eventually have to wean myself off logging everything, but for now, I log just about everything.
I sometimes skip stuff like vinegar, or lemon juice, or other flavorings since they are usually so tiny and add up to so little.
I also sometimes don't log bites of other peoples foods if they are to complicated to calculate.
I have found having a family around, eating fun stuff great, because I can have a polite bite (not a piggy bite) to taste something and not feel I am missing out completely, yet not feel obliged to order / make a whole piece myself. The kids are much happier now because my "little bites" are actually little now!!
Lalie
Homework: Flavored water-because it has 0 calories I figure it doesn't count as far as I'm concerned. I know if I'm shooting for the analysis that it does however and to that end, for those who I take my hat off to-the link is
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-compli ments-water-carbonated-mineral-lime-i91965
Having said all that-there are many times I don't have a chance to log ANYTHING. Usually weekends and some evenings(working without a computer).
Sara-May I join in waving goodbye to your second roll? It was a roll that got ME here as well-only a tummy one. Have you already done a week on "what brought you here?"lol.
Robin-you and I will be sooo happy when they make 0 calorie coffee creamer that takes like the real thing. I have to log mine because at one point I realized I was taking in my daily calories ONLY in creamer-coffeemate-i've loved it since I was a kid. I remember eating it by the spoonful (just the powder) until Mom caught me! Not a pretty picture is it? lol. I have a teaspoon in my container of powder and measure for each cup. If I don't, I start adding "just a little more" to each cup until I'm waaay over the top again.
I've had a week of things breaking down around me (car etc.) but have maintained at least and for now I'm ok with that. I'm still down 20 lbs from where I started so that makes me happy.
A big thank you to Julie who facilitated getting me to this group. I'm very new here so my vote carries only a little weight but in answer to your question Sara, my vote would be for the group to be no larger. I seldom have time to read all the posts and I would like to read them all but that's just my crazy job ridden life :)
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the States. And Happy......er....um....end of November to fellow Canadians! ;)
Noni
Hi everyone! Today is my first day as a wagon jumper and I'm happy to be part of the group. Here's a little bit about me...I'm a 5 ft. 4,26 year old,165 lb first grade teacher who easily gives into cravings and laziness after a long day at work. My battle with weight ultimately started at the age of 9 when I was diagnosed with Graves Disease, an auto-immune disease where the body attacks the thyroid. I had 3 rounds of radioactive treatment to shrink my thyroid and then my thyroid became underactive and I gained 50lbs over the course of a summer. Since then I have battled self esteem and weight issues even though my thyroid has long been under control and on a maintance drug. I have trouble saying, "No" to food even though I know its bad and have had a bad habit of starting a diet and then getting off of it, starting a diet...you get the idea. That's why Wagon Jumpers seems great!
Homework: I often do not log regular sodas. I know they are bad and if I dont log them they are easy to forget.
Hey there! Glad to be joining the group! When I read the description, I thought "that's me." :-) Plan, but no follow-through. I'm looking forward to having some accountability to keep coming back to the site every week.
I'm short-medium height at 27-28 BMI, but am confident I can bring it down. Being a student again hasn't helped my diet any - too easy to succumb to eating out. This is the first time I've tried to count calories, but my philosophy is more about trying to eat healthy while still eating some of the things I enjoy. Lucky for me, I like veggies! On the nutritional side, I think the sodium intake is what I really need to curb. This isn't too surprising considering I love salty food and everything these days is packaged with lots of sodium preservatives.
My current tactic is to plan out the next day's menu so I don't have to think too much about it while I'm hungry. I tend to just eat whatever is handy, when I have to think too much about what to eat!
Anyway - I'm looking forward to getting to know people on here.
Hi all,
Welcome to the new members! I hope you will get as much out of this group as I have.
Sara -thank you for the note on reaching 2 months as a wagon jumper. You asked about my progress and I have been pretty consistent. I joined cc in March at 234 and now am bouncing between 185 and 187. I also said a enthusiastic goodbye to my back roll at about the 35 lb mark. Still working on the tummy roll but that may be here to stay since I had the hysterectomy in April everything there is still pretty much the consistency of jello and despite exercise remains that way.
I think the best thing for me with wagon jumping has been the accountability of keeping up with the goals. I like knowing that we set attainable goals and look at them every week. It helps to keep me honest about my goals.
As to the size of the group, Sara, because you are the coordinator your opinion is the most important. I may not be able to read all the posts each thread but I feel that it manageable. That being said I am not the one keeping track of all of us and you would be the better judge.
For our homework -I do log almost everything as I feel that is the only way I can keep myself on track. I don't know if it is a wagon jumper thing but I can not go without my coffee mate french vanilla. I have it in my tea. I do the sugar free kind but I don't always measure it out. I do log the calories for my usual serving even when I don't measure it. Sometimes I don't log in wine as I am usually out at the time and then have a tendency to forget about it when I get home.
Regular soda pop -Coke has 105 for 8 oz and 155/can
http://www.annecollins.com/calories/calories- coca-cola.htm
To all the wagon jumpers Happy Thanksgiving (American and Canadian alike). Make thoughtful choices but above all enjoy the time you have with family and friends. We can all afford to overindulge in love and friendship.
Jen
Homework
Just to clarify, looks like people got a bit off track. The homework is two parts:
1. Look for a post above you where someone has said something they don't often log, and YOU look it up for THEM and YOU post the link for THEM.
2. List something that you don't log and the person after you is supposed to look that up.
For clarity this isn't you list & look up for you. It's meant more for those people who have a 'guilty secret' and like to believe if they don't log it, it doesn't exist.... and, I'd be surprised if all of us don't go through that phase at some point in time.
Sara.
Carol Yes, that is sounds like a bad week. I'm not particularly excited about this conference it's on environmental policy, but some yahoo decided that they would make it at the end of November, north of Barrie, in an educational outdoors centre, which doesn't sound horrible until you realize that educational outdoors center = bunkbeds, cabins & bring your own sleeping bag. I'm not hopeful on the food and kitchen situation.
In case you're wondering a Tim Hotons Rasin Bran Muffin is 360 cal, and lets say is 15 bites, so I'll give the bite: 24 cal.
I'll apologize to all our new members on the 12-week goals. I do the 12-week goals literally once every 12-weeks. Usually a week or 2 before we get to the goals I'll open up some discussions around setting achievable and consistency based goals, and then I open up the goal posting for one week and one week only, otherwise I quickly figured out I could fill a part time job editing the goals.
If you were not with us during goal week, please feel free to link back to your own posts when we discuss goals, and keep us up to date on how you're doing as well. The next round of goals will be posted on the week of January 11th, 2009.
Lalie I'm glad you got to the challenge is keeping it off. If there is anything we know as wagon jumpers it's that our willpower can get us through much. However, if you are running on willpower to get you through that means you have not made a change in your lifestyle that you are truly happy with. Maintaining the weight target that you set will mean finding a balance between how you were eating and exercising (or not) before you lost the weight, and the tactics that you used to loose the weight. That balance will need to be something that you enjoy and will eventually fit into your life with little effort or willpower to maintain, that will become part of your life.
If you are in the less than 10 lb range, then my questions to you would start to be around what does that number really mean to you? At 10 lbs no one besides you will really be able to see a significant difference, so the numbers are often very psychological by the time we get close. How is you physical condition doing? Many women do not do weights, have you tried them? Reaching your goal weight is one challenge, one of the best ways to keep it is to build muscle and tone.
For anyone who is wondering: Lemon Juice
Noni Everyone's votes carry the same weight. I'm not really in favour of making the group larger unless I get a volunteer co-host, it was a bit unmanageable when we got up to 50 and then I brought it down to 30. I currently like 30 because I do have regular internet access and I find it gives me a good 2-4 posts to read per day which seems like a good number to me.
We did do a 'what brought you here' thread at one point, may be worth doing it again anther week.
Jessica Welcome to the group! I think it's safe to say that everyone here is familiar with the on-again-off-again merry-go-round. We try to focus the group of looking at our relationships with food and exercise. One of the biggest hurdles for wagon jumpers is what I call the "all or nothing" mentality. We're spectacular planners, and we make big elaborate plans that will definitely for 110% sure work... if we can follow through, then they are so elaborate that we discover they don't fit into our lives, we decide that if we did something bad at lunch then we may as well at dinner, and tomorrow, and what the heck we'll start again next week/month.... and it really must have been the plan's fault that we failed, so we'll write another plan!
Coke 240g = 97 cal (avg can is 355 g)
Pepsi 240g = 100 cal
We have had a couple of members here whose first goal was to get the soda out of their diet. I've watched soda addictions be every bit as hard to kick as smoking.
Carrie Welcome to the Group! Sounds like a good simple plan, and that is really the key. What I like about calorie counting is that it can fit into a more structured diet like weight watchers or south beach, but it can also be used in a non-structured way to simply try to eat healthier and get a measurement of what you are eating and what it contains. I haven't made full use of the nutritional information analyzer but as I get more comfortable with logging I am starting to take a peak at it every now and then.
Jen Great progress, I worry about the tummy too, I had surgery in the abdomen area a few years back and I still find it's the hardest area to tone up. I know I can manage a group of 30 with little difficulty, however I do want to make sure that people here also find it manageable, and don't find it overwhelming or too much. If we cut the group size it doesn't mean that any current members get cut, it simply means as members leave we don't re-fill the spots until the group is smaller.
Red Wine 1 glass (3.5 oz) = 88 cal - Table Wine
White Wine 1 glass (3.5 oz) = 84 cal - Table Wine
I'm doing poorly at getting up in the morning again. 4pm, no excuses, I will be at the gym.
My personal opinion on group size is that I can easily manage 30 members. I like the size as I'm online all day pretty much every day so it gives me 2-4 posts to read per day which seems to be a good number for me. However, I do want to know that our members can keep up with the thread in a way that is comfortable for each of you. Essentially if each of you cannot keep up with the thread, especially if I am the only one sending out reminders to MIA members because people have not checked through who is MIA, then the purpose of the group is somewhat defeated. To that end I'd be in favour of reducing the size. Reducing the size does not mean anyone gets kicked out, it just means that as members leave us we would not re-fill the spots.
Homework
I had to think a bit about stuff I tend not to log. The occasional bite here and there is true for me as well. But some that I think that I should log and tend to ignore:
5-8 Tostitos - sometimes I just grab a few and don't log them.
Baked Squares - like nanimo bars, sweet maries, I don't have these often but around the holidays all those home made baked goods, date squares etc... I tried to look them up once but quickly gave up.
Cheers,
Sara.
Good Tuesday everyone!
First, for the homework, for an item someone uses but doesn't log: And I probably wouldn't either, HOWEVER, I have gotten anal about logging everything...see next story. Cider vinegar:http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-vinega r-cider-i2048?size=2
Secondarily, I try to log everything. I don't leave it out because I made that mistake with Sugar Free International Delight French Vanilla (liquid) creamer....and I used to drink my creamer with coffee in it (if you know what I mean)..... Come to find out I was basically drinking 1/2 day's worth of calories....NO WONDER I couldn't lose weight. So never again!
HOWEVER, if I find I'm failing to log... its whole day's worth of food...usually Saturday and Sunday because I use my computer at work 99% of the time. BUT...I'm okay with that. Because CC is a tool and quite honestly I want to be able to get to a point where I can decide on my own what, how much, to eat. It should be instinctive. But thats my own opinion.
Sara Thanks for the 3 month Congrats! I feel fabulous and am well on my way in my journey. I was on a plateau (see coffee creamer story) when I joined and have since lost 8 more lb. Doesn't sound like much, but I've lost a total of 18 inches, which is alot. My pants are baggy and shirts fit better. I've even moved down 2 sizes in underwear. And.. I like the group size just as is.
My husband is starting his healthgain journey on January 1st. or at least I hope. He is 6'3", 263, and has a history in his family of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. All 3 of his brothers and him take BP and cholesterol medicine. I can't do this for him but if he chooses to do it just to shut me up, I can't say I'll be upset. . I know that sounds brutal, but it's true. I'd rather have him alive and irritated with me than dead....and that's where he's headed if he doesn't make some lifestyle changes. Thing is, he's one of those who DON'T eat and keep the weight on.... I'm trying to explain to him why that's bad but it hasn't soaked in yet.
Hope everyone has a great and relaxing Thanksgiving! YOU are what I'm thankful for this holiday!
~Susan
Hi Wagon Jumper
This is my first post and I'm excited to be a member of this group. In the 2nd half of 2007 I lost about 25 lbs using cc. I gradually put almost of it back on during this year. A few pounds over the holidays. A few pounds after vacation in March, then a few more lbs, but the worst has been the last 2 months. I work in the financial services industry and the stock markets have really stressed me. Been watching lots of business news and eating junk and garbage.
I'm nearly 52 (next week) and am almost 5'3". Right now I weigh 131. I'm happiest under 115. I haven't logged for some time on a regular basis. Ha, that could be part of the problem. But it got to be an obsession with me. I logged everything! Eventually I had to say, enough is enough, I was counting calories, counting minutes, counting how far I went on my bike, how many calories I burned. One of my friends uses the Food Pyramid, limiting servings to recommended amounts. I'm trying that for now. If I don't see some good results over the next few weeks, I'll consider logging again.
Sara, if you're a vegetarian and you don't eat milk and eggs, to me you sound vegan... The conference/seminars I've been to there's usually a big pile of fresh fruit and green salad too. Unfortunately there's all kinds of other stuff like muffins, danish, roasted potatoes with fat and salt, the list goes on. Hope you find healthy stuff and are able to avoid the temptation.
On the body fat issue, I noticed just Friday evening that I had some horrendous bulges on my hips, stomach and back. Yuk. No wonder the jeans are so tight. That's one thing that triggered me looking for a group to join.
Here's the link for the Tostitos:
Laura
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