Wagon Jumpers - September 7 - 13th, 2008 (Closed Group, Waiting List Available)
Welcome
(Sorry we are currently closed to new members until our numbers are under 30, please read below if you are interested in our waiting list)
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.
Each member on this thread (listed below) has agreed to check into the thread at least once per week. If any member does not check in by the end of the week, we ask all members to politely and positively PM that member and encourage them to make a post and stay on track (or get back on track).
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).
Why is the participation capped?
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.
Over the first few weeks we experimented with an "open to all" concept and found that the thread became too long and confusing and as a result no one got to know each other and it became too much work for many members.
With a mid sized group (30) I am hoping to maintain the community and supportive goals of the original thread, and have enough people that if we are not all daily posters (as the only requirement is a weekly post) that the thread is still motivational and has new content day to day.
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.
Still interested? Send Supersized a PM.
Wagon Jumpers Participants
Week 18 Riders:
Supersized (myself)
Karenie - Traveling to September 16th, 2008
Week 17 Riders:
Week 15 Riders:
Week 14 Riders:
Week 13 Riders:
Week 12 Riders - Congratulations on 3 Months!:
Week 11 Riders:
Week 9 Riders:
Week 8 Riders - Congratulations on 2 Months!:
Week 3 Riders:
Week 2 Riders:
Week 1 Riders:
New:
Missing In Action
Missing In Action - 1 Week:
Missing In Action - 2 Weeks:
Current Membership: 30
Current Waiting List: 1
Outstanding Wait List Invites: 1
12 WEEK CONSISTENCY GOALS
(as set w/o July 27th, 2008)
By October 19th, I will be...
2/3 of the way through phase II of my plan. That is have 4 weeks left until I can say that I have been eating at 1500 cal & exercising 4x/week at 2hrs/day for 12 consecutive weeks.
Drinking 100oz fluid daily, at least 3 trips a week to the gym and 2 trips will include strength training!
Running 3 times a week consistently. I will also be drinking 4 500ml bottles of water every day in 12 weeks.
Doing 30+ minutes of cardio 3-4x a week and weights 2-3x and not hating it or ending up sore every single day. I'm also going to try to be drinking 64-100oz of water or crystal light daily. Last but not least, I'm going to save up for a new pair of workout shoes and some new comfy exercise socks, which I will hopefully be using by then.
20 weeks pregnant, so hopefully I'll be feeling a lot better. My goals by then are to be eating the whole 2300 I need per day, and taking a 30 minute walk at least 3 times a week.
Or be on course to meet each of my monthly biking goals (August 240 miles, September 350 miles, and October 280 miles), and I will have done the 60 mile course of the NYC MS Bike Tour on 10/5/08, despite the nasty 2 mile hill that's right in the middle of the course!
Going to the gym for 1 1/2 hours 5x per week. Cardio for 45 min and strength training for 45 min.
I plan to have made going to the gym 3 times a week a habit.
Sticking with this thread, maintain a regular 3-4 times/week workout schedule, and eat at least one serving of raw veggies with my dinner every night.
I will be working out 3 evenings a week.
Working out 5 days a week.
Journaling my food intake daily and drinking a quart of water a day.
I will update my logs accurately and consistently, and exercise regularly; cardio 3x/week and strength training 3x/week
Working out 5x week. These exercise will include biking, running, dance lessons, weights, etc. I will be eating 24 grams of fiber consistent 1500-2000.
Previous Threads:
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
For members who set 12-week goals on July 27th, 2008 we are half way towards those goals.
Are You On Track To Meet Your 12-Week Goal Set July 27th, 2008?
For members who did not set 12-week goals on July 27th, what are you long term goals and how are you doing on them?
Weekly Check-In
Despite my good start to last week I did not manage to pull things together to make it a better week than the one before. I still did spectacularly badly at achieving any of my goals including my health goals.
At this point I need to accept that my motivation is not going to come flooding back. I am struggling with time commitments and it is only going to get harder as work is now picking up and an election has just been called.
Instead of waiting for my motivation to return and for me to "want" to follow the plan I need to take the plan back to basics. I'm setting basic daily goals, scheduling time at the gym, planning ahead when I will and will not be able to go.
This Week's Topic
I am not on course to achieve my 12-week goal. I missed too many weeks to be 2/3 of the way through my phase II by October 19th. That doesn't mean I get a free pass for the next six weeks though. If I can get half way through my phase II by October 19th, then my next 12-week goal will be to be finished phase II.
I have been on vacatioon for the past week, so its been hard for me to eat less than maintenance calories. However when it comes to my 12 week goal, i am doing very well with my gym trips. I'm managing at least 4-5 trips to the gym with at least 2 being strength days.
100oz of fluid on the other hand is tricky. I'm up to about 88oz most days, so I know i can do it... I definately didn't drink enough this week, so I really need to work on that next week.
Original Post by supersized:
THIS WEEK's TOPIC
For members who set 12-week goals on July 27th, 2008 we are half way towards those goals.
Are You On Track To Meet Your 12-Week Goal Set July 27th, 2008?
For members who did not set 12-week goals on July 27th, what are you long term goals and how are you doing on them?
well, i have several smeller goals and signed up to several chellenges here, but do not take them as something that must be obeyed-instead, i focus on long term, ie my final goal weight, and adjust things as needed, ie taking some more vitamin supplements, trying to walk more, etc.
i did struggle this summer, and am just "recovering" from a period when i kept losing the same 5 lbs over and over again, gaining them bask several times. it was in the middle of my journey, so i thought it was some sort of interim period and that maybe it was a good time for ma body to adjust to a smaller weight, so i did not worry too much. also i have received numerous compliments recently-and the positivity of the situation hrlprd me to feel better, and also to go on losing.
i am now past the half-way mark. i know the progress is going to be slower now, and i will need more willpower and more exercise to keep losing.
my claorie deficit is smaller as i progress, and the progress is slower, but it is evened out by the fact that i am feeling like i actually can do it, and i am more optimistic because i am healthier and better looking.
Original Post by supersized:
THIS WEEK's TOPIC
For members who set 12-week goals on July 27th, 2008 we are half way towards those goals.
Are You On Track To Meet Your 12-Week Goal Set July 27th, 2008?
For members who did not set 12-week goals on July 27th, what are you long term goals and how are you doing on them?
well, i have several smeller goals and signed up to several chellenges here, but do not take them as something that must be obeyed-instead, i focus on long term, ie my final goal weight, and adjust things as needed, ie taking some more vitamin supplements, trying to walk more, etc.
i did struggle this summer, and am just "recovering" from a period when i kept losing the same 5 lbs over and over again, gaining them bask several times. it was in the middle of my journey, so i thought it was some sort of interim period and that maybe it was a good time for ma body to adjust to a smaller weight, so i did not worry too much. also i have received numerous compliments recently-and the positivity of the situation hrlprd me to feel better, and also to go on losing.
i am now past the half-way mark. i know the progress is going to be slower now, and i will need more willpower and more exercise to keep losing.
my claorie deficit is smaller as i progress, and the progress is slower, but it is evened out by the fact that i am feeling like i actually can do it, and i am more optimistic because i am healthier and better looking.
Hi,
I am interested in joining wagon jumpers. My plan is to do 30 min of cardio 5 days a week and strength training 3-4 days a week, drink at least 7 cups of water per day, and eat 1300 calories/day.
Hi I am interested in joining wagon jumpers. I'm now at my heaviest weight that I have ever been at and finding very difficult to get that number to go down! I have just started using calorie count and hopefully will give me some guidance. Would love to have the support of other people to talk to to help me make realistic goals instead of unrealistic ones that would be out of reach. Let me know if you have room for one more!
Thanks
Closed to new members, again
Just a quick note to let everyone know I've closed the group to new members again. I invited the last person on our waiting this this morning, and we had two spots open which four people expressed interest in. I have already added Sarah to the group and may hear back from another 4 people (including Yalekat who I've sent the outline of the group to). If we do we'll be back to 32 members and the group will go back to a waiting list until we are under 30 people again.
Sara.
hello there.
my name is kathleen. i'm new to the wagon jumpers group, but certainly not a new wagon jumper.
let me know what details you would like & i'll post again soon.
looking forward...
kathleen
hi all!
i'm christine and i'm new to group! i look forward to getting to know all of you.
Good Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend.
I didn't post 12 week goals on July 27 as I wasn't a member but I was a "lurker" and thought about it and wrote them down for myself....
- Create workout bags to "pick up" on way out of door so can't use "no workout clothes" as an excuse to not workout. - DONE
- Plan weekly menus 2 weeks in advance - DONE
- Water - 64 oz daily - DONE
- Cardio - 4x Week - DONE
- Weight Training - 3X week ---- only averaging 1 or 2, so IN PROGRESS
So now I have to reset and improve my goals....
- Water is going to 100 oz.
- Cardio - 5x week
- Weight Training - 3x week
- Running - 5k by 9/17; 8k by 11/8; 10k by 11/27 -- (all races entered) just want to be able to jog the whole way
MsMeg Good job on incorporating the strength training into your gym routine. Water is a very difficult one for me. You are really close, 6 weeks to get those last 12 oz.
Ka2007 Congratulations on making it past your half way mark. I agree that having a smaller deficit will make it slower, but also this will hopefully make it longer lasting. While I do try to keep my eye on the overall goal, sometimes it seems so far away, and I also find that focusing on a distant number or size can get frustrating if I'm not making progress. This is why I tend to set 12-week consistency goals. I know that if I'm not being consistent in my efforts (like I'm not doing right now) then I can't expect to make consistent progress. It also helps me to think in terms of smaller chunks of manageable time, and achievable goals rather than a long term want and wondering why I'm not getting there.
Sarah1090 Welcome to the Group! Thanks for e-mailing me in advance. I've added you to the list. How far along are you with your exercise, water and food plan? One thing we discussed when we originally set goals was setting achievable goals.
For example, everyone in this group generally knows how to loose the weight. That is exercise, eat a caloric deficit of healthy foods and drink lots of water. The common problem we all have is maintaining that over a long period of time. My suggestion has always been if you have trouble in all three areas work on one area first until you can easily maintain it across 12 weeks, then add another and another and then refine as needed.
My second question would be is 1300 calories enough. I don't know what your starting weight is or your age, but 1300 calories is pretty close to that 1200 calorie "low-as-you-should-go" point. As wagon jumpers one of the patterns we often fall into is dropping our calories really low for a short period of time (few weeks - 3 months) and then failing because we feel too deprived or too tired. Eating more calories will generally produce a slightly slower although longer lasting and easier to maintain weight loss. All of this of course depends on your age, weight, height, physical fitness etc...
Yalekat I didn't get an original e-mail from you, so I have sent you an outline of what the group involves to see if you are still interested. If you are I hope to see you post here again.
Talkdoc Hello Kathleen, Welcome to the Group! There are no posting guidelines, just that you post at least once per week Sunday - Friday. Feel free to post more often, but there is no obligation. You can answer the weekly topic, or answer the posts from the other members, ask questions, share your experiences, frustrations and successes. Be as involved as you want to be to keep yourself motivated.
Christined24 Hello Christined24, welcome to the Group!
Sjenn23231 Great idea on the workout bag, I know I need to pack mine the night before so that I don't use the same excuse. One of the things we discussed on the 12-week goals is that it wasn't just about achieving them, it's about keeping them consistent. For example if you had asked me 3 weeks ago I was doing excellent at going to gym, eating 1500 cal. The last two weeks I've had a lot of trouble. On that note, you are working on the "trifecta" as I put it of the weight loss plan. That is water, exercise and food. If you are still in a 12-week cycle (that is, these goals have been achieved in the past 12 weeks but not maintained for 12-weeks) my challenge to you is to see if you can keep them consistent for 12-weeks before you pile more on.
The number one pattern in wagon jumping seems to be an "all or nothing" mentality. We are plan makers, we love to make the next latest and greatest plan, and then when we've piled too much on, and can't get one thing, then we don't do anything. We are often frustrated by having to work on consistency as we're about the next, next, next, faster, faster, faster and when we don't get there we get frustrated, bored and give up. Think about the consistency and if you feel you have achieved that, then step it up.
I'm tracking my calories again today. Last week was the first week that I fell off the wagon on calorie tracking. That is me totally off the wagon. It's one thing for me to stop the gym and eating right, but as soon as I stop tracking calories that's when I know I'm completely off track.
On the positive side in the last two weeks I've been on and off the wagon every few days. While this is not a 'good' patterns it is a 'better' pattern. I know that in the past had I missed an entire week at the gym I would have waited till next month or another milestone before I went back, similarly with stopping the tracking calories I usually let it drag on a month or more before I'm back at it. So while I have fallen off the wagon, I'm getting back on quicker.
I'm not sure how much to pile on this week, I know with the election starting I'm going to be super busy. I'm thinking of getting the exercise online first this week then the food next week.
The reason I'm thinking exercise first is that I know I feel all around better when I'm exercising. I have more energy and feel more positive. I also crave healthier food when I'm exercising regularly. So I'm thinking exercise and healthy eating will follow more easily.
Sorry I was MIA last week. I had so much going on that it wasn't easy to borrow anyone's computer, and that was compounded by the router problems we had last week.
I'm not where I want to be in my 12 week goals. I haven't been using CC regularly enough since my laptop shuffled loose the mortal coil, and I'm not exercising like I should be, in fact it's been over a week since I saw the inside of a gym. I've taken a few long walks and tried to do some calisthenics at home, but what I really need is to kick myself into gear and get back into the good habits I worked so hard at establishing.
Hi, all, and welcome to the new members!
These past few weeks haven't been very good for me. I didn't track calories, I ate too much, drank too much alcohol, and I've fallen behind on my biking goal (its been nearly 2 weeks since I've been on the bike! The scale this morning had me 10 pounds heavier than what I was a month ago, although my smaller sized clothes still fit very nicely, so I think the weight gain is a combination of water and muscle gain (I've been lifting heavier weights with my trainer).
Nonetheless, I'm behind on my weekly biking goal. I could try to push to get 120 miles in this week (as a makeup), so I'm going to do a 50 mile ride tomorrow morning. Yay, but also, ugh!
Wednesday is going to be challenging calorie wise. I'm going to a business lunch (at the Waldorf Astoria--hello to butter in everything!), then meeting with a former co-worker for a drink (I'll get unsweetened iced tea??), then a networking event where alcohol and snacks will be served. I have to be very good for the other days. Today is good so far. One meal at a time!
Sara, I'm with you re: getting back into a "better" pattern more quickly. I've tracked today's calories so far and I'm hopeful that I'll be able to meet my biking goal of 120 miles this week. One day/week at a time!
I am doing well with my water and calorie goals. My water goal started with 4 cups a day and I am now up to 7. Over the summer, I had been doing cardio and strength training 6 days a week but since school has started, it's been hard for me to find time with homework and such (I have kind of fallen off the wagon there..). That is my main focus right now I guess. And I am pretty sedentary, but maybe I will up my calories a little bit and give myself an excuse why I need to exercise (and burn those extra cals off!)
Hello All
I forgot to post my 12 week goals...
I had them in my head but this will be the 1st time putting them in print. Written in stone sort of..but accountabiltiy is what I need so here goes.
My ultilmate goal is to get my Triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the normal range and not stroke level.
Other long term goals: 
1. To weigh 150lbs. that was the weight I was at when met my husband...I was exercising daily and felt great and was into a size 10.
2. To be into the said size 10 dress I fell in love with and wore about twice..
3. To be able to look forward to exercising.
4. to be able to jog 1 mile without stopping or hospitalization needed.
short term goals by years end.....
1. to have reduced my cholesterol levels
2. to be under 200lbs ( only 11lbs to go! )
3. to be able to stay on my stationary bike for more than 30 minutes on a regular basis. (that thing is a killer!!) as it is now I can only do 30 min barely once a week...rest of the time it is 20tops!
4. add weight lifting to my regimen
Thank you to everyone that explained more thoroughly the "starvation mode" It made lots of sense and it seems like a light bulb finally went off...I cannot be thinking that once my goals are met I can go back to eating 1/2 a gallon of ice cream a week!! This has to be a true lifestyle change. Behaviours that will become second nature to me in time.
Welcome to all newcomers!! This forum has helped me and I am a newbie myself!
The Vitamin Dominatrix you and me both with needing the kick into gear. I've got an idea I'm posting below, but I believe it needs a computer. I'm such a tech geek.
Defrog3 Okay, if I don't make it to the gym tomorrow can you bike over here, and force me to bike back with you? That should do us both in for the missed exercise.
Sarah1090 Especially if you are exercising 5 days a week you can likely up your calories and burn them off. You don't need to up them too far, but if you deprive yourself too much one of two things will happen depending on your willpower. Either your willpower and energy will crash. Or you will persevere and you will start getting some quick yet unsustainable weight loss. I say unsustainable because when you loose quickly your body goes into a position where it is recognizing a shortage and therefore using it's energy supplies but it's expecting a period of food again, so when you go back to maintenance it will pack it back on.
Under-eating, not overeating is the key trigger to yo-yo dieting and increasing weight gain.
Rpete I think you have great overall health and fitness goals. I don't want to sound like I'm raining on your parade; the rest of us got the benefit of a week long discussion on the difference between long term health and fitness benefit goals and motivation and achievable goals.
When I say motivation and achievable goals this doesn't mean that your long term health and fitness goals are not motivational or achievable, just that they are not tangible goals in and of themselves.
For example, I want to weight 10 lbs less could be a reason for me to eat better, exercise and drink more water in the hopes that I will loose 10 lbs, but there is no exact thing that I can do in a specific period of time to guarantee my loss of 10 lbs. That loss will depend on other actions that I need to take over a period of time and that I need to achieve consistently.
So, I always ask that when we are setting goals we talk about what we can control. If the goal is to have better health (lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol) and loose weight then what can you control to do that?
I think you're short term 4th goal is the most tangible in that regard "add weight lifting to my regiment".
Instead of "be able to stay on my stationary bike for more than 30 min on a regular basis" lets try: I am going to start using my stationary bike ____ times per week. I know I can use my stationary bike for 20 min. per use. I will start by using my stationary bike for 20 min. ____ times per week. Then I will increase that by 2 min. each week until I can use the bike for 30 min per use ____ times per week.
This gives your goal a concrete measurement that you can control. You know your end goal is 30 min. You have said on a regular basis, but tell yourself what a regular basis means, is that 3, 4, 5, or 7 times a week? Then make a plan to work from your current comfort zone in a achievable way up to your goal.
You can use a similar method for the jogging.
For the cholesterol I imagine the exercise will help somewhat, but maybe incorporating I will make _____ meals that are low in _____ per week. May help keep a focus on that as well.
Sorry I haven't posted. I've had this stomach virus or something going on. :( It comes and goes and it's awful!
My 12 wk goal of walking is going great! I've been making time atleast everyother day to walk at least 2 miles. Most of the time I go 3-4 miles.
I bought a HRM and found that I'm not eating near enough on exercise days. That's why I've been in the 170's forever! So increasing my calories a whole lot on walking days. We'll see if this works now. :)
Welcome to the newbies!!! You'll love it here!
I have to thank one of my favourite health bloggers Health Habits. Yet again he's posted a great idea that I think will help me get back on track with this whole motivation thing.
Okay, it does look like a lot of work, and a bit of a pain in the ass, but I need a bit of drastic intervention now. With the election ramping up I know that if I keep falling then I will let it slide until after October 14th, and for anyone whose ever eaten on the election trail.... well... the food.... not good.
So, here goes. I'm going to be a camera idiot for at least the next week, ideally until after the election is open. I have a proper digital camera which is easy to upload to my computer and I'll take most photo's with that. But, if I think "I forgot my camera" is an excuse... well I'm never more than 3 feet away from my blackberry (terrible isn't it) and it's got a camera and I can e-mail myself some pictures.
So here it goes, Sara's awful Photo Diet experience.
Wish me luck folks.
For those who are interested I write a blog here:
http://supersized.wordpress.com/
Sara.
Figure out what type of eater you are and you might just find the answer to permanent weight loss.
Take the Diet Profile Test and learn to avoid the pitfalls and self-sabotage that often come with your personal profile.