Biggest Loser--Fall 2011 Challenge for Losers & Maintainers!!

[Loves2Read]

QOTD Tuesday, September 13, 2011: What exercise excuse do you use most often?
* I don't have time
* I'm too tired
* It's too difficult for me
* It's boring
* I don't want people to see me
* I don't know what I'm doing
* I don't make any of these excuses
* I have my another excuse

I've used almost all of these excuses at one time or another, though my most common one has to be I'm too tired. It takes just as much time for me to get to the gym as it does to get home but some days I swear it is so hard to get on the bus going to the gym.

The one thing I've found that helps to not give in to the excuses is to make a schedule and have a workout partner. I know that on M-T-W-F at 4:30 I have to be at the gym because there is someone there waiting for me, who is going to call me on it if I don't show up. When there is someone else counting on you to follow through it becomes so much harder to make excuses.

 

[dvccruiser76]

Hi everyone,
Just jumping in quick.

I'm almost done with updating weights. The first entries are the hardest, so it should be much faster here on out.

A couple of things:

1) If you have a weight loss goal and would like me to track your percentage completion to goal, please pm me.

2) You actually have until 8:00 Monday night to pm me your weights for the previous week, so not to worry if you don't send it Friday. (I hope it's okay for me to pick this time Janis?)

Okay time for bed, I'm pooped. September 15th can't come soon enough

I don't know if I will be on anymore today as it is our wedding anniversary -- number 18 -- and I will be spending time with DH and DS today.

Happy Anniversary

The ones I had (peppermint patties and Reese's) were just shaped like pumpkins and the peppermint inside was died orange.

Okay now I'm not as tempted, but today I was on the internet and apparently Jamba juice makes a pumpkin smash smoothie during the fall and they just opened up one at the NS Mall near me

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Okay now I'm not as tempted, but today I was on the internet and apparently Jamba juice makes a pumpkin smash smoothie during the fall and they just opened up one at the NS Mall near me

Like I need another excuse to go to that Mall...we need to do more back to school shopping next weekend. Hopefully I will forget by then

Maria

 

[bellebookworm9]

(Note that I was about to type "with an ice cream cone from beaches and cream" but changed that, since this is the Biggest Loser thread, and I really don't NEED the ice cream cone - even in my fantasy )

Good for you!

There are a lot of great recipes on that site - aren't there? Today's recipe of Hot Artichoke & Spinach Dip looks delicious. I'll have to give that a try soon.

Wish me luck - I have a job interview tomorrow. I've been out of work for almost two years and interviews have been far and few between. This job would not be in my desired field and would be a huge pay cut from my last job - but at this point, I'll take almost anything. An added perk? It is about 1 1/2 miles from my home.

- Laura

Oooh that does look yummy. Definitely going in my recipe bookmark folder. There's a recipe for pumpkin oatmeal cookies right underneath the dip too!

Congrats on the job interview and good luck!

When I was a freshman in college a really drunk fraternity guy said I was too fat and ugly to live, that I was polluting the earth. You can imagine how devastating that was.

Wow, that's harsh. When I was in high school, we were taking some sort of exam, and all the classes were mixed into a seminar room. No assigned seating, so I took an empty seat. The idiot next to me got mad because I wouldn't move so his friend could sit there (or something stupid like that) and said, "Great, I have to sit next to the fat girl". I'll admit, that stung a bit, especially because I really wasn't "fat"-not skinny, but certainly not fat!

And since I think you didn't get in on the last QOTD from the summer challenge: I admire Cam so much. Despite four heart surgeries and a serious knee injury, she has managed to overcome all of that, lose weight, and participate in a ton of races! I'm also totally in awe of the pictures from her vow renewal-just beautiful!

QOTD Tuesday, September 13, 2011: What exercise excuse do you use most often?
* I don't have time
* I'm too tired
* It's too difficult for me
* It's boring
* I don't want people to see me
* I don't know what I'm doing
* I don't make any of these excuses
* I have my another excuse

Definitely "I don't have time" or "I'm too tired". I'm working on it though!

Okay now I'm not as tempted, but today I was on the internet and apparently Jamba juice makes a pumpkin smash smoothie during the fall and they just opened up one at the NS Mall near me

Guess it's good we don't have an JJs around here! That does sound really good.

*********************
Breakfast and lunch were super on plan, despite our microwave going on the fritz. It's pretty much a "pro" microwave, and it keeps blowing fuses. So I had my yogurt and banana at home and then took my oatmeal packet to work and made it there. Then after class, I just started craving carbs for no good reason. So that's pretty much what I've been eating all night. I will write it all down in my W.I.S.H. journal, but probably won't track the points.

I have no focus right now, which is no good because I have a test tomorrow! I did read several chapters of the book but I can't focus on reading the notes. I literally read a whole Janet Evanovich book (Hard Eight) and am simultaneously listening to random songs from my iTunes library and playing Solitaire. (A funny thing in the Janet Evanovich books-whenever something bad happens, the characters are all like, "We should go to Disney World. Everyone's happy there. No murders happen." Too bad they don't actually go!)

I need to plan tomorrow's meals (not that it helped me today). New plan: Mentally recite that list I posted to myself before eating things that I shouldn't. I'm definitely going to the gym tomorrow though. I wish Zumba would start already.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

QOTD Tuesday, September 13, 2011: What exercise excuse do you use most often?
* I don't have time
* I'm too tired
* It's too difficult for me
* It's boring
* I don't want people to see me
* I don't know what I'm doing
* I don't make any of these excuses
* I have my another excuse

I've made all of them at some point in time but my "go to" excuses are I don't have enough time and I don't want people to see me.
I've heard the snickers when I attempt to run. I've seen the looks from "real runners", what ever. I say screw them! At least I'm out there doing something!!!
And I can't say time is an issue, especially since I've said I'll do it when DD is in school all day every day. Well Tuesday she started school so I can't use the excuse anymore. And from my Quote of the day from the 10th, Mother Teresa and Helen Keller got the same amount of time I get every day, so there really is no excuse.

QOTD Friday, September 9, 2011: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your goals for this challenge.

Sorry I am so behind on my posts! Hi! My name is Kristina. I live in Hawaii - which can be difficult when you are surrounded by size 4 people! I'm 43 years old and have a DD who is 13 and I have been married to my DH for 18 years. This is my first time taking the Biggest Loser Challenge and I am hoping to lose 10 - 15 pounds in this round!

Aloha!!!

I used to live in Hawaii! Loved it there, wish I could go back!

 

[DopeyDame]

I was out of town with limited internet access on 9/9, so I missed the first few QOTD. The important one is to introduce myself, I think, so I'll catch up with that:
For most of my life, weight wasn't really a problem - I was prety active just naturally and ate reasonably well, although I never participated in any organized sports . After I got married, DH and I enjoyed a LOT of going out to dinner, going to movies, etc., and I gained more weight than I would have liked and have struggled to take it off. (Plus, lets face it, I'm approaching 40 so my body works differently now than it did 15 years ago!) So, now I'm trying to get my weight back under control - eating at home more often and getting a meaningful and purposeful exercise plan started. I'm really excited to share this journey with other Disney fans!
I'll probably get off to a slow start as we leave for a week in the World on Thursday.

QOTD 9/13:
My "favorite" excuse is that I'm too busy (toddler, two jobs, and community organizations). That's a crap excuse, though, because we're ALL busy, and my most busy friends are my healthiest and skiniest friends.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

OK so to connect with the QOTD for 9/13 here is the QuOTD, a little food for thought when you stand on the other side of the excuse.

change your thoughts, and you can change your world

 

[kollerbear]

What a GREAT idea, to have one "off the record" meal per week! I LOVE that idea!

Thanks! You know, it might sound really silly to say it, but I kind of feel like I'm treating myself like a teenager, letting myself have the car keys for a night out... I definitely don't envision myself writing down my food the rest of my life, so at some point I have to trust myself to make good food choices without writing it all down... So once a week I let myself "practice", being present with other people and eating naturally without trying to keep track of what I ate. It feels great, because so far I've made really responsible choices!

Can I just say..... I certainly DO NOT consider myself "skinny", but I might go as far as "average to slim".... and it feels AMAZING!!!! While I must say, I've never had a red velvet cupcake, I can be QUITE CERTAIN that the feeling I have EVERY MORNING of not DREADING getting dressed (cause when I was heavy nothing fit right, I had no decent clothes cause I refused to buy bigger sizes and thought everything looked terrible on me), that feeling of not DREADING meeting new people and assuming that all they can think about is how FAT I am, that feeling of not EMBARRASSING my kids by being the "fat" mom in the group, that feeling of not walking around with my HEAD DOWN all the time cause I HATED everything about myself..... THAT FEELING IS WAAAAAAYYYY better than the taste of anything I've EVER eaten!!

: Thank you for saying this.

Wish me luck - I have a job interview tomorrow. I've been out of work for almost two years and interviews have been far and few between. This job would not be in my desired field and would be a huge pay cut from my last job - but at this point, I'll take almost anything. An added perk? It is about 1 1/2 miles from my home.
- Laura

Best of luck, Laura. It sounds like you've been going through a rough time and I hope this interview goes great.

 

[akhaloha]

QOTD Monday, September 12, 2011: If you were at Disneyworld or Disneyland right now, what would you be doing?

Since it's night time at Disney World right now we would be watching the fireworks!

 

[kollerbear]

So just wanted to say that I made my "Be Our Guest" meal last night. I tried to do a French theme in honor of Beauty and the Beast. It was great-- I posted recipes and photos on my WISH Journal, because there's no reason food porn can't be home-cooked and healthy, right??

Now to answer the QOTD:

QOTD Monday, September 12, 2011: If you were at Disneyworld or Disneyland right now, what would you be doing?

Oh gosh, reading this question this morning really put my head in a daydream all day!!! I'm coming down with a cold and I really need a day to just relax. So since this day is by definition in my Fantasyland, let's say I'm at the Polynesian (which I could afford only in my Fantasyland), lounging in a hammock with the DBF and an adult beverage that tastes like pinapple, coconut, and maraschino cherries. Later in the day, because we're still in Fantasyland, I would get a massage at the Grand Floridian (which is open, because it's my Fantasyland) and have dinner with the DBF at Victoria and Albert's.

Man, I should never go to Disney World in reality, my Fantasyland Disney World is fabulous! (And so affordable...)

QOTD Tuesday, September 13, 2011: What exercise excuse do you use most often?
* I don't have time
* I'm too tired
* It's too difficult for me
* It's boring
* I don't want people to see me
* I don't know what I'm doing
* I don't make any of these excuses
* I have my another excuse

I don't know how I feel about this. I had such a terrible time last year fighting with myself to run, and ultimately ended up stopping running altogether. Honestly, it felt like the healthier choice. I know that it wasn't the physically healthier choice, but I just know that, at that point (and perhaps even now still), I'm just not ready to run, or have a real workout schedule. I mentally barely have room for the tasks I already keep myself to, and the mental strain of fighting with myself to do something is so terrible... I feel like I need to keep those fights for things that keep my daily life going, and the daily lives of those I'm accountable to.

I'm really curious if anyone else has ever felt like this, and what they did about it? I'm wondering if maybe I just like, put on my workout clothes a couple days a week and went outside and just kind of let myself do whatever? I don't know. I just really don't want exercising to be a fight with myself--there are so many other stressful things in my life, and taking care of myself should be happy and feel natural. I just don't want to have that fight with myself...

 

[buzz5985]

Haven't had the chance to get on here much this weekend..so I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Terrie and I'm from Toledo, OH. I've just finished school..so I'm officially graduated!! But I walk in October!! I've lost 106lbs since January 2010 and I Only have about 50-60lbs more to go!!!

I love to travel..especially to Florida and of course WDW!! I look forward to getting to know some of you thru this board!! Congrats to everyone for joining and we can do this!!! WOOHOO!!!

WOW!!! Great job.

Just a short post to say good morning to everyone. Since I can't go on at school I need to get here in the morining. You never know what the afternoon will bring.

I just bought a new pair of sneakers yesterday. I went to the local New Balance store. I bought a pair at Sport Auth last month but they didn't have any walking shoes so maybe I should have skipped it. I hate them already. The NB store was like an old fashioned shoe store. They measured both my feet and didn't just hand me the box to try on but put them on me like the good old day. I did spend a lot of money for a pair of sneakers but I decided that I am worth it.

You can never go wrong with a pair of New Balance. Love them.

Hi all,

Off to a good start this morning...did 2 mile WATP with weights and then Bob Harper's 20 minute strength workout. And I'm almost done with my first bottle of water.

TTFN

How do you like the Bob Harper DVD?? Would you recommend it?? I'm looking to expand my selections of work out DVDs.

Good morning all!

I thought a Magical Monday was needed -- especially with the full moon!

QOTD Monday, September 12, 2011: If you were at Disneyworld or Disneyland right now, what would you be doing?

I'll be back in a bit with replies.

Just got home from work - so it's 12:50 am. So if I were in WDW right now, we would be back at the room enjoying some adult cocktails, after a wonderful evening at DTD.

No better place to be for me that MK rope drop, then walk down Main Street and take in all the excitement, before people (mostly parents) start getting grumpy.
I wanted to share a bit: I've bee trying to loose weight for years and years and here's something I learned for all the newcomers.
Don't measure your success only in the pounds you've lost, I know, I know, we all want to get those pounds off, but don't let this be your only goal. For example, I weighted myself on Friday to start the challenge, after 4 trips to the scale they all showed 184.8lbs. Today after a weekend of excersice, good, healthy eating and tons of activities, the scale shows 187.4lbs. And my question is how could I have gained +2lbs during the weekends when I did everything right? In the past I would've been so depressed that would make me just give up. But now I know not to solely rely on the scale. Do I feel great? YES. Are the jeans fitting better? YES, do I have more energy to keep working out? YES, have people noticed that I'm loosing weight? YES. So in the words of my favorite Warthog: HAKUNA MATATA, Have a great week everyone

Thanks for the reminder. It is funny how we focus so much on that number!!!

QOTD Tuesday, September 13, 2011: What exercise excuse do you use most often?
* I don't have time
* I'm too tired
* It's too difficult for me
* It's boring
* I don't want people to see me
* I don't know what I'm doing
* I don't make any of these excuses
* I have my another excuse

Have a great evening all!

I dont have time and I'm too tired.

Hi everyone,
Just jumping in quick.

I'm almost done with updating weights. The first entries are the hardest, so it should be much faster here on out.

A couple of things:

1) If you have a weight loss goal and would like me to track your percentage completion to goal, please pm me.

2) You actually have until 8:00 Monday night to pm me your weights for the previous week, so not to worry if you don't send it Friday. (I hope it's okay for me to pick this time Janis?)

Okay now I'm not as tempted, but today I was on the internet and apparently Jamba juice makes a pumpkin smash smoothie during the fall and they just opened up one at the NS Mall near me

Whatever works for you is fine with me.

Janis

 

[mvlimmex]

If I were at Disneyland (since that is one of our favorite parks) I would probably be walking around in Fantasyland with my family and watching the little ones eyes light up as they ride Small World and all the other Fantasyland Rides. Since it is night time too--we'd probably be looking at the castle all lit up which is pretty at night.

I also have a question for you guys. Does anyone have any good stomach toning exercises. I have been losing a few pounds here and there, but my belly (since pregnancy) is refusing to go away and I have been asked several times within the last several months if I am expecting again. I was hoping to try to tone/strengthhen my stomach muscles and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions besides sit ups that might help.

Thanks so much,
Vicki

 

[buzz5985]

Just another reminder:

If anyone will be celebrating their birthday during this challenge and would like to share it with us - PM the date so we can celebrate with you!!!

Janis

 

[RedRosePrincess]

If I were at Disneyland (since that is one of our favorite parks) I would probably be walking around in Fantasyland with my family and watching the little ones eyes light up as they ride Small World and all the other Fantasyland Rides. Since it is night time too--we'd probably be looking at the castle all lit up which is pretty at night.

I also have a question for you guys. Does anyone have any good stomach toning exercises. I have been losing a few pounds here and there, but my belly (since pregnancy) is refusing to go away and I have been asked several times within the last several months if I am expecting again. I was hoping to try to tone/strengthhen my stomach muscles and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions besides sit ups that might help.

Thanks so much,
Vicki

I love IASW and Fantasyland at nighttime. It is all just so pretty!

Have you ever tried pilates? It will definitely work your stomach muscles even if you just do some of the more basic moves.

 

[my3princes]

Good morning all!

I thought a Magical Monday was needed -- especially with the full moon!

QOTD Monday, September 12, 2011: If you were at Disneyworld or Disneyland right now, what would you be doing?

I'll be back in a bit with replies.

I'm 3 pages behind, but I wanted to answer yesterday's QOTD before work. At 5 AM I would hope that I was sleeping. Heck at 5 AM everyday I wish I were sleeping, but it's just not in the cards

 

[donac]

Good morning everyone.

It has been fun listending to where people will be if they were at DW or DL.

kollerbear I have been having the same problem with exercise for the last two year. I had foot surgery and I lost my motivation and last year when I was getting back into it I hurt my knee. While it has gotten somewhat better it will never be 100 again and it bothers me some days more than others. I still get up at the time I used to when I worked out but it is a struggle to get something done. It is something I am working on this challenge.


Off to work

Have a happy and healthy day.

 

[pershing]

I would like to join the Fall challenge. Is it too late? I just started South Beach yesterday.

 

[bellebookworm9]

I just went onto WW to log my food and thought "Hey, I would know that castle and fireworks anywhere!" Sure, enough, it was an article for Disney. I don't have time to read the whole thing, but here's a link (I hope you guys can read it!).

Destination Guide: Walt Disney World

 

[jimmduck]

Originally Posted by lisah0711
QOTD Tuesday, September 13, 2011: What exercise excuse do you use most often?
* I don't have time
* I'm too tired
* It's too difficult for me
* It's boring
* I don't want people to see me
* I don't know what I'm doing
* I don't make any of these excuses
* I have my another excuse

I have used pretty much all of them - but numbers one and two are the biggest ones.

Time is a real issue - especially when I get into "trial mode". This time around, however, I am determined to be consistent and my goals are more long range - basically a 70 week plan (now in week 69 counting backwards) and do not "race" again until next May.

But I have some trials coming up next month, and that is where the challenge will lie. Hope that I will be in a pattern by then.

So far, so good. Am "slaying the lion" day by day, and got my first "new workout" of the physiotherapist prescribed training plan in last night.

So feeling good and hopeful

Take care guys, and have a magical day.

Linda

 

[yulilin3]

Still enjoying those replies! But man, can I tell it is a full moon tonight -- it has been crazy here today! So I will post the QOTD for tomorrow and be back tomorrow for replies.

We talked about the eating part of this healthy lifestyle we are determined to follow so now it's time to talk about the ACTIVITY part of the equation.

Here is a little excerpt from a sparkpeople.com article written by a personal trainer called "Arm Yourself Against Exercise Excuses:"

We all know how important exercise is to our health. We all know we should be doing it, but we allow ourselves “outs” with what we consider justifiable excuses. You can excuse yourself out of anything if you keep listening to yourself long enough. You can let those rationalizations make sense if you try. But I have come to a personal conclusion, a motto of sorts: I will do what I need to do, in order to do what I want to do.

Here is the link to the entire article if you are interested. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=1021

Which leads me to the question of the day:

QOTD Tuesday, September 13, 2011: What exercise excuse do you use most often?
* I don't have time
* I'm too tired
* It's too difficult for me
* It's boring
* I don't want people to see me
* I don't know what I'm doing
* I don't make any of these excuses
* I have my another excuse

Have a great evening all!

This is a tricky one, because I'm a stay at home mom and most of the day I'm alone and have no one to really push me. I think the most often excuse I use is that I'm too tired and the other one is I'll skip today and do it harder tomorrow. What I do is remind myself that exercise actually makes me feel great! Yesterday I took a rest day and today I feel drained of energy, I know I have to exercise today because if I don't I'll feel worse.