Biggest Loser "No Excuses" 2012 Team Challenge for Losers and Maintainers!!!

[pjlla]

Sweet!! I will be on the lookout.
Let me know if you need hostesses!

I hope everyone headed to WDW this week has a safe and wonderful trip!
I wish we were joining you!!!


******************************

I've had a rough 2 days food wise, but I did log everything. I was a having a bit of a pity party, this is what I wrote on MFP last night:

"Slipping into old food habits. Getting tired of having to stay on top of every single thing I eat. And tired of feeling deprived of everything tasty. I need to remind myself that it will all be worth it someday, but someday is just not today. Anyone else feel that way?
Oh and note to self: you felt like dirt the last 2 days because of your food choices. Remember this feeling!"

but then I woke up to this on my twitter feed this morning:

Quote from the Dalai Lama:
"The quality of everything we do: our physical actions, our verbal actions, even our mental actions, depends on our motivation."


You can look at motivation in 2 ways:
• the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way : escape can be a strong motivation for travel.
• the general desire or willingness of someone to do something : keep staff up to date and maintain interest and motivation.

I'm thinking he was going for meaning #2. But it was an interesting quote. I love the Dalai Lama.

Buffy.....I can totally feel your pain regarding watching every bite. There are days when I feel like I can't go through another day weighing and measuring and counting everything! I wanna eat a handful of chips without a major case of guilt! It helps when I give myself the occasional "day off". Every once in a while I take a day and really relax my eating. I have things like regular ice cream and/or some cookie dough, or a big bowl of pasta or a few pancakes....a real splurge or two (or three). I still try to track what I've eaten, but not worry about points/calories. And I don't go nuts....usually one real food splurge and one sweet splurge.... And sometimes a glass of wine or beer. But the very next day I am back on plan with eating, tracking and exercise. But it definitely helps when I am craving something. I can remind myself that I can have it on my next splurge day! Sometimes I still want it...but sometimes by then I've forgotten about it. And I try to make my splurges worth it....no fast food burgers and fries. If I'm gonna splurge I want real handcut fries!

You CAN do this....and it WILL get easier, I promise!

Flowers sound magnificent...good to have a quiet week...

Well, Triumph is thriving and is very much wanting to be held by us as opposed to being put in his box lol. I'm checking craigs list now for future companions for him-- I don't want to raise another single kitten. There are too many aggression issues. and they are just much happier with someone to play with and cuddle 24/7. My Mom is really stepping up in regards to my daughter. It is a difficult thing for her to deal with but her former nurse is coming out to take charge. She is already in therapy, and doing well.

Finally had a day off so I went to the gym when my husband got home from work after a good feeding (kitten lol) and worked out for the first time in over a week-- spent a little more time than I wanted to because it just felt so good. Was a litttle late for my steward meeting (which was great-- they went over weingarten rights, there's some new laws as of recent.) Got back just as the lil guy was falling asleep after feeding and of course at the sound of my voice he popped right back up lol.

QUOTD Wed. What is your favorite non-food reward?

I see a lot of success here-- you had better all be rewarding yourself and treating yourselves right....

Glad the kitty is doing well.

I don't regularly reward myself for weight loss or anything, but I splurge on scrapping supplies pretty regularly.



**************

Evening all! Sent DS to get a throat culture this afternoon and he officially has strep throat. he has to stay home at least one more day, as he didn't get the antibiotic started until about 6pm. He is going to have a boatload of work to catch up on.

Didn't get much scrapping done today...just a ribbon page and a pocket page...but every bit helps!

TTYL............gotta go enjoy the thunder storm that popped up a few minutes ago!.......P

 

[tigger813]

Hello all!

Slight setback on the toe. The appointment on Monday was great, and I'm officially free of the shoe cast, but I went without it on Tuesday, and it was actually pretty painful. So I'm wearing it again. I figure if I did four weeks on it, I can do two more, right? Alas. It's more comfortable in my athletic shoes, at least, so I've been wearing those more, but I can't get away with them all the time.

I'm trying to keep up on activity, though, and I'm proud to report that I got on my bike and did 16.3km in 30 minutes tonight despite having had a really long day of work (university board meetings). I really didn't want to, but I knew I'd be glad I did - and I am! Now I'm chilling with some work (I know...), TV, and berries with Truvia.

I can't believe the challenge is almost over - and I'm SO glad I signed on for it. I needed a kick-start, and you guys gave it to me! Can't wait for the summer one.

XO
Liz

Liz, We'll have to get together to walk or meet in the gym on the cruise! I can't believe how fast it is coming! We're doing the FE and I am so behind on that! Hoping to accomplish all of that next weekend. We still have to make our FE as well!

 

[myweegirls]

Liz, We'll have to get together to walk or meet in the gym on the cruise! I can't believe how fast it is coming! We're doing the FE and I am so behind on that! Hoping to accomplish all of that next weekend. We still have to make our FE as well!

Tracey, I'd love that!! I'm definitely planning on hitting the gym. I'm so glad I didn't sign up for FE - I had a feeling I wouldn't have time to put it all together, and I was right...between work and the end of the school year, it's bananas! I'm counting the days, though - this is going to be an awesome vacation!

XO
Liz

 

[tigger813]

Pam- That's one nasty line of storms on the radar! We have a warning up until 10 and it's not even raining here! Stay safe!

 

[donac]

Good Thursday morning everyone.

I hope everyone in the northeast is safe. I heard about the thunderstorms last night.

Dh and are so stressed out. Between our vacation, ds2's new apartment and him about not being sure how he will be able to afford it (he feels he can handle the money but is not sure how much taxes will be taken out so we offered to help him out) and now ds1 told that his first grad school course tuition is due. We offered to help him with this but I am so upset with him. He never plans for anything. He knew this was coming and he just keeps going out with his friends. I was upset for him last night but as dh said when we were 27 we were married, had just bought our first house and were going to grad school with no help from our parents.

I wouldn't be so stressed out but we still have not gotten our taxes back since ds2 missed a box on his tax return and we had to amend his and file an extension on ours. It will work out.

Have a happy and healthy day.

 

[MelindaRuns]

Good morning everyone! So glad to hear of everyone's successes and steadfastness! I cannot believe the end of the challege is this week. It has really flown by! I have really appreciated each and every one of you sharing your journey with me.

Lisah0711 I saw your post about MFP. I downloaded the app and saw that I already had an account. I have requested my password and will be up and running on there shortly. I will let you know when that happens. Thanks for the invite!

Headed to Fargo, ND tomorrow for the Fargo Half Marathon on Saturday. I was able to get my son a bib as well, so he will be running it with me. Well, not "with me" as he will finish over an hour before me, lol.

Take care everyone and have a fabulous day!

Melinda

 

[lisah0711]

Good morning all!

I am happy that I completed this one, stayed the whole time, but next time I hope to post a little more. I always enjoy reading everyone's posts, I kinda feel like I know you guys! haha!

Still lots of time to yack on this challenge thread, too!

Hi Bicki! Nice to see you!

Hi Michelle! Nice to see you, too! Congrats on the 12 pounds lost!

Kayla, good luck on your interview today! And congrats on being HH winner!

Susan, glad that your daughter is doing okay. And Triumph. Nice job getting to the gym!

CC, sorry about the stress eating. One thing you do know now is that eating all that stuff didn't make you feel better. So you need to work on what will make you feel better!

Tracey, it won't be long before you are sitting on the beach.

You, too, Liz!

Pamela, hope those antibiotics kick in today for DS! It's hard to be sick and concentrate on getting better when all you can think about is the work that you are missing.

Melinda, good luck on your half in Fargo this week-end! Hope the IT band is healed and that you have a wonderful race!

My next half is next week-end in right here in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It will be the one year anniversary of finishing my first half.

I'm finishing the challenge down from where I started but not as far down as I had hoped. I'm putting together my plan for the summer challenge.

Have a great day all!

 

[pjlla]

Pam- That's one nasty line of storms on the radar! We have a warning up until 10 and it's not even raining here! Stay safe!

It was quite a natural fireworks show around here last night. And true to form, my DD was nervous and slept in our room.... and DS was excited and requested to sleep with the curtains open so he could watch the storm until he fell asleep. We only had one really good solid CRASH about 10pm.... the rest was lots of lightening and rumbles and roars around us. We live on a mountain in a hilly area and the thunder tends to echo and reverberate all around us. So it makes the storms seem to go on forever sometimes!

The nerve-wracking part, the high winds, never really materialized and the satellite reception never went out, so all was good!

Good Thursday morning everyone.

I hope everyone in the northeast is safe. I heard about the thunderstorms last night.

Thanks for thinking of us!

Dh and are so stressed out. Between our vacation, ds2's new apartment and him about not being sure how he will be able to afford it (he feels he can handle the money but is not sure how much taxes will be taken out so we offered to help him out) and now ds1 told that his first grad school course tuition is due. We offered to help him with this but I am so upset with him. He never plans for anything. He knew this was coming and he just keeps going out with his friends. I was upset for him last night but as dh said when we were 27 we were married, had just bought our first house and were going to grad school with no help from our parents.

I wouldn't be so stressed out but we still have not gotten our taxes back since ds2 missed a box on his tax return and we had to amend his and file an extension on ours. It will work out.

Have a happy and healthy day.

Do your children EVER stop making you worry? No matter how old they are, they are still our kids, right?? Is there any way in the future that he could be on some sort of monthly payment plan for upcoming tuition. Or even perhaps some sort of direct withdrawal/deposit from his pay for the next bill? Sometimes that is easier than trying to put the money aside once it is in your hands.

Pamela, hope those antibiotics kick in today for DS! It's hard to be sick and concentrate on getting better when all you can think about is the work that you are missing.

Ummm... perhaps you have him confused with someone who actually CARES about his schoolwork?! He is THOROUGHLY enjoying these "days off" and has not even requested his missing work yet! I see a loooong busy weekend ahead for him. Good thing he doesn't have any reservations to play at the Paintball park!

I'm finishing the challenge down from where I started but not as far down as I had hoped. I'm putting together my plan for the summer challenge.

Have a great day all!

Down is good. I'm not even sure that I will be able to claim a maintain this challenge. I'll need to check my paperwork, but depending on tomorrow's weigh-in, I may be ending this challenge up a bit.


***************

Happy Thursday everyone! Today is my 20th wedding anniversary. And today dawned bright and warm and sunny and breezy, just like my wedding day.

Well, DD is out the door, stopped and made a bank deposit, two loads of laundry are on the clothesline plus one more is ready to go out. Beds are made, breakfast is made and cleaned up (made DH an extra special breakfast for our anniversary.... NO, not THAT kind of extra special.... get your minds out of the gutter! ). Dishwasher and dish drainer are emptied, counters wiped, emails read and responded to.... .so it must be time to hit the TM or head outside for a walk/run, and then time for some scrapping!

Marinated pork tenderloin was on the schedule for tonight, but DD has been dissecting a fetal pig in Anatomy class and says she just can't eat it tonight..... so it may be burgers instead.... beef for the men and veggie for the ladies. Be nice to have a slice of tomato to top the burgers, but it is still too early in the season for that.... oh well. Maybe I'll grill some sliced Vidalia onions too.

Not sure exactly WHEN we will be eating dinner because DD's high school Senior Expo is tonight. DD has to be there because the Costa Rica group does a display as part of the Expo. But I'm kind of excited to go and see all of the senior projects. Gives me some ideas of how DD will be presenting next year. And give me some long term ideas to talk with DS about.

I can hear that laundry calling my name, so I will be off for now. TTYL...............P

 

[50sjayne]

Buffy.....I can totally feel your pain regarding watching every bite. There are days when I feel like I can't go through another day weighing and measuring and counting everything! I wanna eat a handful of chips without a major case of guilt! It helps when I give myself the occasional "day off". Every once in a while I take a day and really relax my eating. I have things like regular ice cream and/or some cookie dough, or a big bowl of pasta or a few pancakes....a real splurge or two (or three). I still try to track what I've eaten, but not worry about points/calories. And I don't go nuts....usually one real food splurge and one sweet splurge.... And sometimes a glass of wine or beer. But the very next day I am back on plan with eating, tracking and exercise. But it definitely helps when I am craving something. I can remind myself that I can have it on my next splurge day! Sometimes I still want it...but sometimes by then I've forgotten about it. And I try to make my splurges worth it....no fast food burgers and fries. If I'm gonna splurge I want real handcut fries!

You CAN do this....and it WILL get easier, I promise!




Glad the kitty is doing well.

I don't regularly reward myself for weight loss or anything, but I splurge on scrapping supplies pretty regularly.



**************

Evening all! Sent DS to get a throat culture this afternoon and he officially has strep throat. he has to stay home at least one more day, as he didn't get the antibiotic started until about 6pm. He is going to have a boatload of work to catch up on.

Didn't get much scrapping done today...just a ribbon page and a pocket page...but every bit helps!

TTYL............gotta go enjoy the thunder storm that popped up a few minutes ago!.......P

Yeah-- we're all there with the eating I think. Can't believe you have another sickie already.... jealous of your storm.

Triumph is fine but is behind on the poopy lol. I put a little laxatone in his bottle and have been trying the thermometer but--no go. Someone at work told me their wife has been feeding a stray who gave birth to some kittens a week ago and he said I could have one. Maybe for thanks I'll set up the mom to be spayed. I'll wait another 3 weeks until he/she is getting weaned and then Triumph won't be a single kitty. He really is giving us trouble going back in the box lol-- he has to be pretty exhausted. Will try to get some pics today. I rode my bike to work yesterday, been doing that off and on, but since I can't be away from the lil one very long I think I'll try and bike regularly for the next few weeks. It takes me about 15 minutes to drive and 30-or so to bike so it's not that much difference in time really and I really enjoy it.

Quotd: Thu: Just a springy question--What's your favorite flower? Mines probably tulips.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Having a much better day today!! Feeling spunky and feisty which is helping me with my overall attitude.

I need to plan for dinner though, any ideas. I'm in a food funk dinner wise.

 

[::Snow_White::]

Woohoo, HH winner!

Thanks for the well wishes for my interview, I leave pretty soon for it. I'm not nervous, I'm pretty good at interviews, I just really want ths job!

Tomorrow I have to go pick up my half-marathon packet. Only one more day. I am beyond terrified, but doesn't that mean you're living? I mean, what's the point of living if you don't do amazing things? Hehe. I'm trying to be all philosophical here to mask my terror! I just really want a finishers medal to say I did it, and you don't get it if you don't....finish.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day, I'll have to come read all the posts tomorrow.

 

[cclovesdis]

Thanks for the support Lisa! I finally figured out what is making me so stressed. I'm frustrated that this thing that happened years ago around this time still upsets me, but glad that I figured out what was causing the stress. I know some strategies to combat this and will put them to work. I just finished some yoga/stretching, which I do count as exercise. I am building my endurance so I feel it counts. The guided CD (it's audio) is over 40 min. long and I today I made it to 18 minutes. I feel it in child's pose if that says anything about my physical health. I really want to restart C25K, but I can't even last 5 minutes on the treadmill or on pavement. I don't know how I walk so much in WDW. Maybe some Disney music will help.

Today was more OP than the last few days, but still terrible. I ate 3 single serve bags of potato chips, a lemon bar, some type of GF/oat-free crumble bar, and a GF brownie. Breakfast and lunch were OP, although lunch was pretty gross. I had tuna fish and I didn't add anything to it, like mayo or relish. I didn't feel satisfied and I think it was because it tasted so bad. It wasn't bland, it was truly bad.

In all my eating, everything was GF. It wasn't all lactose-free. I spend so much time worrying about gluten that I forget about lactose. I've been reading labels for milk for years and I've suddenly forgotten. It isn't that difficult. I'm already reading the label. It shouldn't be that difficult to look for sources of gluten and sources of lactose. The chef who made my lunches when I was at training last week suggested I write up an index card listing everything I can't eat. I should probably do that for myself.

This is a bit of a vent, but it's also related to what I can't eat. There is something about taking the pill I take for hypothyroidism and eating too much soy. No one can tell me what is too much. I've also heard that only soy formula matters. I'm beginning to think any soy is too much for me. I suppose it doesn't help that when I originally got the results of my allergy testing, I was told I'm allergic to soy. They then changed their mind. So, anyway, today I told my father not to use vegetable oil anymore because of the soy and he is 100% on board with that. Not 30 seconds later, he asks if he can add GF soy sauce to this really strange meal he cooked tonight. I don't get it. I really don't understand it.

I'm going to be honest, I really can't remember everything I'm not supposed to eat. I better do some research because I'm pretty sure I keep forgetting a source of gluten.

I hope everyone has a great, OP day tomorrow! for your final weigh-in!

CC

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

good luck to everyone with weigh in today
I lost 1lb so I'm pleased with that
Hope to see you all on the next challenge.
Thanks to Janis for organising it all and to everyone here for HH, Weight logs and all who coached and offered support when it was needed

 

[myweegirls]

Happy last day of the challenge, everyone! I can't wait for the next one.

I'm still maintaining, having made my goal during this challenge. I never could have done it without the support here, especially as I hit points when I normally would have gotten discouraged and given up (hello, broken toe). I love my WW meeting, but there's nothing like a shared love of Disney to kick things up a notch!

Speaking of which, we leave five weeks from today! Aaahhhh! It's not crazy that I might have already started packing a bit, right? This is our first-ever two-week vacation, and I have so much to get done at work between now and then that I will definitely leave feeling like I've earned this one!

Happy Friday, and happy last spring challenge day! You are all an inspiration to me.

XO
Liz

 

[lisah0711]

Woo hoo! We made to the last day of the Biggest Loser Spring Challenge!

Congratulations to everyone for hanging in there and sticking with this until the very end!

Susan, thank you so much for coaching during this busy week at home!

Having a much better day today!! Feeling spunky and feisty which is helping me with my overall attitude.

Glad that you are feeling better today!

Tomorrow I have to go pick up my half-marathon packet. Only one more day. I am beyond terrified, but doesn't that mean you're living? I mean, what's the point of living if you don't do amazing things? Hehe. I'm trying to be all philosophical here to mask my terror! I just really want a finishers medal to say I did it, and you don't get it if you don't....finish.

Kayla, hope the interview went well yesterday!

It's so exciting to be doing your first half this week-end! :jumping: You will feel so happy, amazed and accomplished when you are done. Be sure and come back and tell us all about it! Good luck!

CC, I'm glad that you figured out what was going on. Didn't you meet with a nutritionist to help you at one time? It might be time to do refresher meeting and get some help with some planning. You have a lot to remember food wise.

good luck to everyone with weigh in today
I lost 1lb so I'm pleased with that
Hope to see you all on the next challenge.
Thanks to Janis for organising it all and to everyone here for HH, Weight logs and all who coached and offered support when it was needed

Don't run off! We will still be chatting here waiting for the results. The results will be a little later than usual since our lovely weightkeeper, Sue is going on a well deserved vacation.

Big BL thanks to Janis for hostessing, Sue for being our weightkeeper and CC for being our HH coach!


I didn't do as well this challenge as I'd hoped but it was still a great success for me. I lost 16.5 pounds, made it into ONE-derland and finished the Tinker Bell Half! Thanks to all of you who helped me along on this journey!

Our traditional last day of the challenge QOTD is to say something nice about the person last person who posted before you. It can be anything about them.

And I am lucky because the person I get to talk about is Liz who became a maintainer and went to WW lifetime status during this challenge. She is living the dream that we all hope to achieve some day! Thank you, Liz, for inspiring all of us!

 

[::Snow_White::]

Good morning.

I gained a bit this week, but still at my goal for the challenge. I guess that's why you don't go out to eat the night before a weigh-in and get ice cream for dessert.

Thanks for all the PD and prayers for the job. I got a call an hour after my interview that I got the job!! Nothing major or anything but it's a great part-time job perfect for my position as a student right now. It's very quiet and slow-paced so I am excited. They also said it would be no problem that I will be on vacation for the next couple weeks.

Well, I must start getting ready for the half and preparing for Disney!! Hope you all have a great day!

QOTD: Oh, I get to talk about Lisa! Lisa, you are so incredibly kind and you always have positive things to say to everyone here on the BL thread. I wish we were on the same team from the beginning, so I could read your encouraging posts everyday! You have been so successful in this challenge. 16+lbs, Onderland, AND a half?! Way to go girl! I can't wait to chat more with you and everyone here on the BL thread this summer!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Good morning.

I gained a bit this week, but still at my goal for the challenge. I guess that's why you don't go out to eat the night before a weigh-in and get ice cream for dessert.

Thanks for all the PD and prayers for the job. I got a call an hour after my interview that I got the job!! Nothing major or anything but it's a great part-time job perfect for my position as a student right now. It's very quiet and slow-paced so I am excited. They also said it would be no problem that I will be on vacation for the next couple weeks.

Well, I must start getting ready for the half and preparing for Disney!! Hope you all have a great day!

Congratulations

 

[VirataMama4]

I am so looking forward to the next challenge! I have been struggling to get back on the wagon since our move and vacation, and am ready to get back to it. I know my struggles started with not coming here every day, I need to feel the "accountability" from checking in. I am hoping to be able to continue my weight loss journey with the next challenge!

 

[pjlla]

Quick drive-by posting here. I'm teaching 1st grade today and this is my first student-free moment.

I am officially ending this challenge up over my maintain range. Part of me is pretty philosophical about it and part of me is absolutely in panic mode as to how to change things up and get these pounds off. I KNOW that the exercise has definitely been lacking lately.... and I've taken too many weekend "splurge" days. My clothes still fit and most people don't think I look any different, but I feel really bloated and pudgy, especially around my middle. Will be making a plan for the next few weeks.

DS is finally back to school today. I can't wait to see how much make-up work he comes home with. And we just got last minute notice that he has a baseball game tomorrow morning..... and his team STILL hasn't had a practice yet this season!

I'll be back about 2pm to chat. The kids are going to art class then!.......P

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

YES!!! I got Pam!!

I love Pam. She is an awesome mom, and awesome wife and an awesome DIS'er. She really is the team cheerleader and one of the ones who has made it to the other side. We can see her as our success story and we know with her support, some day we will all stand together on the other side.