Biggest Loser 9 Spring Challenge -- thread closing -- see new thread Part 2!

[my3princes]

I worked both jobs today to the tune of 12 hours. Needless to say there was no time for exercise.

I am still very motivated to reach my goal before July, unfortunately I'm not motivated enough to put in all of the work yet. I have actually lost a little, but not nearly as much as I had hoped at this point.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

monday qotd- How are you feeling about your progress? Not just the number on the scale, but the other healthy changes you've made. Are you still as motivated as you were a month or two months ago? As we continue into a new season, what can you do to keep motivated?

I'm feeling very good about my overall progress. Number-wise, I feel great. I'm moving in the direction I want to go. Am I still as motivated as I was at the beginning? Yes, no, and yes. I'm still highly motivated to lose weight and the life-style change/journaling/excercise routine is still my current "hobby" (meaning reading WISH board and anything weight loss related is what I do with any available down time). No, in that I'm really having to keep myself focused on a daily basis to not blow my calorie levels. Yes, in that despite it being more difficult, I'm sticking to my calorie limits on most days and I'm continuing to progress on my C25K program.

The little incentives I've set up for myself in my weight loss journey are starting to come into play and are helping to keep me motivated. Knowing I can actually run for 25+ minutes at a time and can now actually envision myself running the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September is keeping me motivated!

On days when I find myself craving something like Starbucks or Girl Scout cookies, I plug the goody into my journal along with everything else I'm planning on eating for the day to see how well it fits. I had plugged all of today's foods into my journal at 10:45 this morning even though I still haven't eaten it all. It helps keep me honest with what I can eat. I hate going into the red!!!

 

[carmiedog]

monday qotd- How are you feeling about your progress? Not just the number on the scale, but the other healthy changes you've made. Are you still as motivated as you were a month or two months ago? As we continue into a new season, what can you do to keep motivated?

I'm eating well and rarely have a craving or temptation. I'm very proud of my progress of being control of my food. And exercise is becoming less of a drudgery. I'm very lucky because the pounds are falling off with little effort. But I think looking in the mirror makes me wonder if it's worth it, because I still see the same person that was there two months ago. I think I need to treat myself to a haircut and waxing and start wearing contacts instead of glasses. Maybe even go wild with a touch of makeup. I need to make myself feel good so that I feel motivated to keep working to look and FEEL my best.

I'm also a creature of habit and use the treadmill exclusively. I get frustrated though because sometimes I just want to take off sprinting, but I'm limited to walking with short jog bursts due to a heart issue. I can walk LONGER (but really, with MY schedule?), I can increase incline, but I can't go faster. I need to find other exercise before I burn out. I plan on spending some of our tax return on a nice bike (haven't had a bike since high school!) and biking with the kids this summer.

 

[princessbride6205]

I am excited as well and actually even opened the window today after work for about 15 minutes. DH and I ran outside Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we chose our regular industrial parking lot that has been plowed well and allowed us to run outside even on the bad days. Yesterday we chose a sidewalk route close to home and I have to say I had some really interesting little leaping actions going on to get around the ice and puddles. At one point I about slipped an fell when there was a big glazed sheet going up a hill! I have decided that only the truly crazy people (like us) run outside in Minnesota during winter!

Funny you should say that, as I was running outside yesterday, I felt like a REAL runner. You know, one of those people I used to say, "They're crazy" while passing them in my car.

Im feeling great about my progress. Esp this week. I am also doing the C25K program. I am really loving it. I never in a million years thought I could run. I was always jealous of those people running by me. Well this week I have come to realize I am becoming that runner I always wanted to be. I can now run 2 miles without stopping after only 7 weeks on the program. Today was the best run I have ever had. I had to run tonight after work. The weather was perfect 62 crisp clear with a huge full moon on the horizon. It was just a perfect workout. I didnt even glance at my watch until I was 24 minutes into my run. I am feeling amazing and becoming addicted to running. I think I am more motivated now than when I started and I am almost 20 pounds lighter than when I started so I am really happy. At 41 weight loss does not come as easy as it has in the past but I am doing it. Ok that was long winded enough. I hope everyone has a fantastic day/evening!!

Congrats on your progress with the weight loss and the C25k - you're doing great! Like you said, you're a runner now.

I didn't get in my workout today - it was a day off from running, but I was planning on getting in some walking or XT. Well, tomorrow is another day! At least I was within my cals for the day on food.

 

[donac]

Many of us never see the good in the world until it is too late.

Take a few minutes today and list 5 good things in your life.

 

[mikamah]

okay okay the qotd my progress: very appropriate for my mood today...I feel like I have "stalled" and for whatever reason my inner brat is out in full force today. My dfil is coming in a few hours and my inner brat has gone on strike - I haven't even vacuumed yet. Our house is clean, just needs the basic run-around before company - pick up odds and ends and run the vacuum. I did wash the sheets but haven't made his bed yet. What is going on with me???!!! "She" needs a time-out! I want to eat whatever I can grab, have managed not to do that so that's a plus. I have been thinking a lot about my mom and "last year at this time..." which was when my mom was sick and my dad was having his stomach cancer surgery and I was running back and forth between Indy and Orlando...maybe that's why my brat is running around, I don't want to deal with anything right now.

Jenn, I know just how you feel, and know that you are not alone. These weeks ahead will be tough for you, and I hope you are able to take some time to yourself and take care of yourself. I'm always here for you if you need anything.

It took me a good 18 months to care about much after I lost my mom, and here I am.

Thanks for sharing your story Maria. I'm sorry about your mom. The impact losing a parent has is just overwhelming.

Checking in for Tuesday morning! Don't normally post before work but found that despite eating perfectly, exercising and drinking plenty of water yesterday, I put on 1.1 pounds overnight for no apparent reason. Way to get my day off on a bad foot! Trying not to let it ruin my day before my day's even begun.

I"m sure it's fluid retention, and try not to let it derail you. You've been doing so great, and we all have those daily fluctuations.

March is a very hard month for us! Both of DH's parents died during this month several years ago and a few years apart. Both of my grandparents died during this month as well. The year that DMil dies DH also lost his job. Fortunately he got another one in about a month and it's right in our town which has been amazing. We always hold a collective breath until the month is over. DH commented on it being March and let out a big sigh. We are thinking positively though. We have a weekend trip planned towards the end of the month that we are looking forward to and DD1 will be receiving her first communion or as our church calls it special communion. A range of ages can take the class. We couldn't do it last year so she is doing it this year and loving it! I'm also hoping that work will pick up this month as I need to start buying new clothes that fit me.

hugs to you Tracey on your tough month. Hope you are able to take some time to yourself too, and I know you are the exercise queen, and that is always so helpful for our emotions.

I just wanted to pop on and send out some hugs. I don't have time to reply to everyone right now, but I'm loving being the coach this week. To read such positive answers to yesterday's question is so motivating. I need to get my son up, and off to school and then I'm going to the park to do c25k. It will be my third time, but it's been over 3 weeks, so I'll still be week one for a while. I'll be back in a while. Have a good morning.

 

[jenanderson]

Many of us never see the good in the world until it is too late.

Take a few minutes today and list 5 good things in your life.

This is a great one! It is so often that we are thinking about all the challenges that we miss out on appreciating what we do have. I know my list could be long but I thought I would post some of it here...

1. My family. I have 2 incredible kids and a supportive DH.
2. My running things. Yep, they are good things. All of it has me running on a regular basis and the running has helped me lose the 21 pounds. Losing the 21 pounds means that I am so much healthier. Being healthier means that my diabetes is under control. It is a good thing.
3. My job. I do not like my job a whole lot in many ways but it is a really good thing that I have a teaching job this year after being cut last year because of budget cuts in the district. I know that the economy is bad and so having this job is good.
4. My cabin. I know it is about 2-3 months until cabin season but I love cabin season. It is so nice to get out of town with my family and enjoy the great outdoors.
5. My friends. You know, I feel really lucky because I think that I have some really great and supportive friends. I have my girlfriend who goes to WW meetings with me and helps me laugh though this journey of weight loss. I have a group of friends who I get together with a couple of times a month. We support each other through everything. I have my friend Jude (jbm02) who is on this journey of weight loss and training for the Princess with me. I have all of you who inspire, motivate, encourage and keep me grounded ....

Life is good!

 

[lovedvc]

Good Morning All!

I would like to ask those of you who have done the WW Core Plan a question. I successfully lost 50 lbs in 7 months on the Core Plan a few years ago and would like to go back to the program again. I was just wandering what you all eat for breakfast I can't remember what I used to eat. Sad to say I think I actually was at the point then that I wasn't eating breakfast. I do now and I'm at a loss. I really don't want to take the points for a carb. Just looking for some ideas.

 

[Carys]

Well I still stayed on track today despite a late night hankering for pizza. Given I held off a KFC craving for four days on my first week though, an hour of pizza fixation is nothing! Did the exercise, drank the water, ate right - so hopefully scales tomorrow will be kinder. The scented candles really help - I burn them in the evening and the scent reminds me I'm doing a good thing.

Jenanderson, I love your list of five, thanks for sharing!

 

[mikamah]

This is a great one! It is so often that we are thinking about all the challenges that we miss out on appreciating what we do have. I know my list could be long but I thought I would post some of it here...

1. My family. I have 2 incredible kids and a supportive DH.
2. My running things. Yep, they are good things. All of it has me running on a regular basis and the running has helped me lose the 21 pounds. Losing the 21 pounds means that I am so much healthier. Being healthier means that my diabetes is under control. It is a good thing.
3. My job. I do not like my job a whole lot in many ways but it is a really good thing that I have a teaching job this year after being cut last year because of budget cuts in the district. I know that the economy is bad and so having this job is good.
4. My cabin. I know it is about 2-3 months until cabin season but I love cabin season. It is so nice to get out of town with my family and enjoy the great outdoors.
5. My friends. You know, I feel really lucky because I think that I have some really great and supportive friends. I have my girlfriend who goes to WW meetings with me and helps me laugh though this journey of weight loss. I have a group of friends who I get together with a couple of times a month. We support each other through everything. I have my friend Jude (jbm02) who is on this journey of weight loss and training for the Princess with me. I have all of you who inspire, motivate, encourage and keep me grounded ....

Life is good!

Thanks for sharing your list. It is so true that we overlook so much good in our lives when we are caught up with the problems we are dealing with. Since I enjoyed reading your list so much, I think I'll steal dona's cow challenge for todays qotd. Hope you don't mind dona.

tuesday qotd-List 5 good things in your life that you are grateful for.

 

[pjlla]

Morning folks! It would appear that the power outage has negatively impacted our cable modem for the internet and we STILL don't have internet access at home. I am hopping on here at work, but I really don't have a lot of time.

I took a quick cruise through the posts for the past 24 hours and I didn't see today's QOTD, but maybe I just missed it.

DD's swim practice for yesterday was cancelled because the Y still had no power, so I didn't get there for a good workout. I did a WATP video at home, but I only got in 30 minutes, which is less than usual.

I tried some YUMMMY new herb crusted salmon patties the other night. I can't remember the brand name right now, but I'll check the package at home and let you know. They were 4 points each and well worth it. They also sell a plain salmon patty that are 3 points each, but the herb crusted was much better. They are a bit pricey (about $5.99 for 4 patties), but a good, healthy, quick meal.... they are wild caught too, which is a bonus.

Well.... I feel like I have so much more to say, but work is calling! I'll try to hop on again at lunch time!........P

 

[jennz]

give yourself a time out and relax for a few minutes, and then hopefully you will feel like getting ready for your company. They probably won't notice if you don't vacuum.

Took your advice and didn't vacuum - no one said a thing! That helped.

Sweetie!!!! If you need to vent, my PM box is clean.

thanks!!

jennz-- I have days like that, and you put how I feel into words perfectly. Hope things improve.

Thanks! My inner brat is a little tired today and being squashed down by the adult me. She's still talking though! DH and DFIL are going to a movie and I'm skipping it to spend some time alone and exercising - that should help me straighten my head out.

Jenn, I know just how you feel, and know that you are not alone. These weeks ahead will be tough for you, and I hope you are able to take some time to yourself and take care of yourself. I'm always here for you if you need anything.

tuesday qotd-List 5 good things in your life that you are grateful for.

Thanks Kathy. This is has been up and down for me emotionally and came out of the blue, or so it seems. I'm glad I was able to identify the reason. I am not expecting "smooth sailing" and the next 6 weeks will be tough ( my mom passed away last April, so...) but it has to be faced and dealt with.

5 things I'm grateful for:

1. My faith (it has been tested this past year!)
2. My husband and best friend.
3. My daughter.
4. My health.
5. The beauty and wonders of the world (sounds corny but true )

 

[pjlla]

todays qotd. Hope you don't mind dona.

tuesday qotd-List 5 good things in your life that you are grateful for.

Okay... now I see it.

I am GRATEFUL for....

1. My healthy (mentally, physically, and spiritually), loving, intact family (DH, DD, DS, Dparents)

2. MY health. I'm almost 46 ( ) with NO health problems.

3. The option to be a SAHM when I need/want to be.

4. My faith (I can't say much more for fear of breaking the "no religion" rule).

5. My DIS/WISH friends !! (TRULY!!)
............................P

 

[lisah0711]

I'd be happy to do it again! 4/2-4/8 I'll pm you now.

Thank you!

okay okay the qotd my progress: very appropriate for my mood today...I feel like I have "stalled" and for whatever reason my inner brat is out in full force today. My dfil is coming in a few hours and my inner brat has gone on strike - I haven't even vacuumed yet. Our house is clean, just needs the basic run-around before company - pick up odds and ends and run the vacuum. I did wash the sheets but haven't made his bed yet. What is going on with me???!!! "She" needs a time-out! I want to eat whatever I can grab, have managed not to do that so that's a plus. I have been thinking a lot about my mom and "last year at this time..." which was when my mom was sick and my dad was having his stomach cancer surgery and I was running back and forth between Indy and Orlando...maybe that's why my brat is running around, I don't want to deal with anything right now.

Hope you have a better day today, jenn! I agree with Shannon your FIL probably wouldn't know whether the house was vacuumed or not.

Checking in for Tuesday morning! Don't normally post before work but found that despite eating perfectly, exercising and drinking plenty of water yesterday, I put on 1.1 pounds overnight for no apparent reason. Way to get my day off on a bad foot! Trying not to let it ruin my day before my day's even begun.

Sunday QOTD: The shows in the parks - fireworks and stage shows.

Monday QOTD: Well it's only been two weeks for me so far. Was feeling good until this morning lol! So call me motivated but temporarily perplexed.

Water weight will cause fluctuations -- keep your eyes on the overall trend. You're doing great!

I definitely need more sleep tonight! DD had a gymnastics meet 5 hours away yesterday afternoon, we didn't get in until close to 1am. By the time I took care of my dog, unpacked the essentials, it was around 2 when I went to sleep. Got up at 5 to start the day.... I am BEAT!

Hope you did the COW yesterday and got a good night's sleep!

QOTD: Overall, I'm very happy about my progress. Right now, I'm mainly concerned about figuring out how low can I go in terms of weight (what's reasonable and sustainable for me to maintain). I'm not there yet, but I'm closing in on it. I know from previous experience that maintenance is also hard.

I think that we are going to have a great group of maintainers as this challenge wraps up in a few weeks!

Hi everyone. I had my first day at the new job. Everyone down here is just so nice. It is kinda shocking compared to that Philly attitude I am used to.

Glad that you are enjoying your new job!

Thanks for sharing your list. It is so true that we overlook so much good in our lives when we are caught up with the problems we are dealing with. Since I enjoyed reading your list so much, I think I'll steal dona's cow challenge for todays qotd. Hope you don't mind dona.

tuesday qotd-List 5 good things in your life that you are grateful for.

1. My wonderful DH and DS and the rest of our family.
2. That we are all healthy and happy.
3. That DH and I are gainfully employed and have a lot of freedom, even when our income might not be what it once was -- we have jobs and are happy.
4. Our DVC which lets us take family vacations on a regular basis to the happiest place on earth from coast to coast!
5. My wonderful friends on the WISH boards who have helped me to finally make some progress on my weight loss after years and years of trying and failing!

Have a great day all!

 

[mikamah]

Well I still stayed on track today despite a late night hankering for pizza. Given I held off a KFC craving for four days on my first week though, an hour of pizza fixation is nothing! Did the exercise, drank the water, ate right - so hopefully scales tomorrow will be kinder. The scented candles really help - I burn them in the evening and the scent reminds me I'm doing a good thing.

Nice job not giving in to the pizza craving, or eating everything else instead. Those late night cravings can be so hard to beat, if I want something that I don't have in the house, I eat a bunch of other junk that doesn't even satisfy the craving.

I would like to ask those of you who have done the WW Core Plan a question. I successfully lost 50 lbs in 7 months on the Core Plan a few years ago and would like to go back to the program again. I was just wandering what you all eat for breakfast I can't remember what I used to eat. Sad to say I think I actually was at the point then that I wasn't eating breakfast. I do now and I'm at a loss. I really don't want to take the points for a carb. Just looking for some ideas.

I only tried core a few times, but even now, I like to have egg beaters for breakfast, usually with salsa and cheese, and I think the fat free cheese is on core, so that would be totally core. Yogurt with fruit and some hard boiled eggs were another. I found the higher protein bkfst, the better I am through the morning.

I plan on spending some of our tax return on a nice bike (haven't had a bike since high school!) and biking with the kids this summer.

I pulled my bike out a couple years ago and had it tuned up, and it is so much fun. My son learned to ride last year and I'm hoping when the weather is better we'll start riding again. Have fun picking out a bike. Be sure to splurge on a nice cushy seat.

[The little incentives I've set up for myself in my weight loss journey are starting to come into play and are helping to keep me motivated. Knowing I can actually run for 25+ minutes at a time and can now actually envision myself running the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in September is keeping me motivated!

On days when I find myself craving something like Starbucks or Girl Scout cookies, I plug the goody into my journal along with everything else I'm planning on eating for the day to see how well it fits. I had plugged all of today's foods into my journal at 10:45 this morning even though I still haven't eaten it all. It helps keep me honest with what I can eat. I hate going into the red!!!

congrats on the running, and it's such a good idea to plug your food in before you eat it. I need to get back into the journalling again. It does make all the difference.

I am still very motivated to reach my goal before July, unfortunately I'm not motivated enough to put in all of the work yet.

This statement just hits home. We all want to get there, and we know the hard work is worth it, but it is so hard to put our all into this some days.

Will watch Big Bang Theory (one of the funniest shows on TV) and then go to bed!

that show is hilarious.

I'm feeling pretty good about my progress. As of today I've lost 11 pounds. Except for last week I've been doing really well with the exercise, and even that wasn't a bad week, just not as good as I had been doing. I am most happy about the fact that I have started taking a group stength class a couple of times a week. I do not usually do well with classes--can't really do arm and leg stuff at the same time, but I can manage this and I am starting to see muscles! I am extremely motivated to keep exercising. The food I need to work on a bit. We are back in a getting take-out slump, which I need to break. Wednesday starts my off week (I job-share), so I'm hoping, no I'm going to get some meal plans going. I can see from the excel workbook I'm keeping that I drop more weight when we eat at home. (Probably not really surprising to anyone.)

11 pounds is great in 2 months. I definitely do better when I've planned and eaten at home. It's hard to do that with our busy lives, and it's nice there are a lot more healthy choices when we go out. We are only doing mcd's once a month and if we go out we are going to panera, and I will usually get soup.

Hi everyone. I had my first day at the new job. Everyone down here is just so nice. It is kinda shocking compared to that Philly attitude I am used to.

Im feeling great about my progress. Esp this week. I am also doing the C25K program. I am really loving it. I never in a million years thought I could run. I was always jealous of those people running by me. Well this week I have come to realize I am becoming that runner I always wanted to be. I can now run 2 miles without stopping after only 7 weeks on the program. Today was the best run I have ever had. I had to run tonight after work. The weather was perfect 62 crisp clear with a huge full moon on the horizon. It was just a perfect workout. I didnt even glance at my watch until I was 24 minutes into my run. I am feeling amazing and becoming addicted to running. I think I am more motivated now than when I started and I am almost 20 pounds lighter than when I started so I am really happy. At 41 weight loss does not come as easy as it has in the past but I am doing it. Ok that was long winded enough. I hope everyone has a fantastic day/evening!!

Glad the new job went well. I just did week one and find so much inspiration in the fact that you are running 2 miles now, and 7 weeks ago were where i am. Must feel so great to be a runner!!!

I had an ok day today. I did 2 miles on the treadmill in 31 minutes. I could have done better, but I haven't done the C25K in too long and I was really out of TM shape. I'll try doing Week 2 again on Wednesday, if the weather holds up and I can safely get to the gym. Tomorrow I have my dance class.

good luck on the treadmill. You sound like you're getting in lots of exercise.

QOTD: Overall, I'm very happy about my progress. Right now, I'm mainly concerned about figuring out how low can I go in terms of weight (what's reasonable and sustainable for me to maintain). I'm not there yet, but I'm closing in on it. I know from previous experience that maintenance is also hard.

I've heard it takes some time at different weights when you are so close to goal, to live there, and see where you want to be. Maintenance is hard, but it's a hard that all of us would much rather be dealing with than the losing hard. Congrats on being so close to goal.

 

[mikamah]

I'm off to work now, but will be back. It's funny, because I'm coach this week, I'm spending more time here, and doing it totally guilt free, but normally, if I'm on the dis too long, I feel guilty about neglecting other things, so I think next week, I need to alot myself more time here, guilt free every day. It's so helpful to my head.
Have a great day.

 

[tigger813]

5 miles done, now time to shower and get cleaning! Gonna put a movie on that I know so I'm not focused on it. That's what I have to do when on the elliptical to. Hope to do the elliptical tonight for the first hour of BL.

Have a good day everyone. I'll answer the QOTD later!

 

[lecach]

tuesday qotd-List 5 good things in your life that you are grateful for.

1. My wonderful son, husband and Mom
2. My health (except for the strep throat I have today)
3. My job and boss - best job I have ever had
4. Financial stability and the ability to travel every year
5. An urgent care near our house (part of the Duke system) and a 24 hour Walgreens.

 

[pjlla]

Is anyone else here familiar with the Nutrition Action Newsletter put out by the Center for Science in the Public Interest?? I got it regularly a few years ago, but stopped receiving it. My Mom got me a subscription recently and I am really enjoying it again.

It has some TERRIFIC real life articles that talk about real specific brand names of foods... both very good and very bad. They talk about chain restaurants and fast food restaurants. They talk about sodium, sugar, transfats, exercise, heart disease, diabetes, obesity. It is a skinny little newsletter, but it has no advertising, so there is plenty to read. If you get a chance, I HIGHLY recommend reading it. The January or December issue (I can't remember) had a great article about movie popcorn sodium, fat, calories. It was a HUGE eye opener. Who knew that they could take such a relatively harmless grain and MOLEST it in such a way to make it a health hazard!??

This month's main article talks about all of the recent outbreaks of E:coli and salmonella and what can be done to prevent it.

TTYL.....................P

 

[lovedvc]

1. My 2 boys - they are the light of my life.
2. My loving husband - no matter how down I am he can always say the right thing.
3. My parents - I am grateful that they are young and healthy.
4. Our financial stability - we have been very lucky through the years.
5. Our friends - I know we can count on anyone of them at anytime day or night.