No One Loses Weight Like Gaston - November 2015 W.I.S.H Challenge

[pjlla]

(stole this from @meghammy, thanks)
My goal for November is to lose 4 pounds. In October I managed 3.5 with tons of food obstacles at least one a week.. so I've got this

• I will continue to drink more water, it's hard for me to drink cold beverages in the cooler months but I will do at least 40 oz at work and 20oz at home (plus I drink 2 coffees a day so I will get my all my liquids in) Yesterday I put 3 16oz waters on my counter to make sure I got in all I needed.
• I will stick to my WW plan and stay within my allotted points for the week .. @pjlla can I count my WW points weekly vs. daily? so say I have 26x7+49 = 231 for the 7 days??

My challenges are:

• My Hubs still isn't on board with all the WW changes, so still eating out some (Applebee's on Friday night before weigh in Sat am case in point - however I did get the cedar grilled chicken with apple salsa and wild rice and quinoa melody. it was delish) so finding the right choices will be helpful for me when we do this..
• My DD and Hubs both have birthday's this month (18th & 23rd) then it's Thanksgiving (26th) and it's my 7 Yr Anniversary (30th) so while the beginning of the month looks pretty good it's the end half that I'll struggle with.. I will do my best to make healthy choices, plan accordingly and hope that is enough.

Here is what I am going to say about your WW PPV.....I'm going to nix the idea of using/tracking your PPV on a weekly basis. The idea of having a daily target is that you are supposed to HIT that target DAILY. And your 49 weekly PPV are for "extra"..... to use a few daily or to save them and use them all at once is your choice.

Otherwise folks might eat extremely lightly for several days (like living on fruit and coffee and saving nearly every PPV) and then have a HUGE blowout on on the weekend.... and while you may be able to get away with this once.... in the long run it will wreak havoc with your metabolism! You need to eat a minimum number of calories every day to keep your "fire burning" so to speak. You should not be "banking" your daily PPV and using them later in the week. Sorry.

Don't forget.... DH doesn't have to be on board with the WW changes (although I'll admit it would make life easier!). I did this "WW thing" without anyone else in the house doing any kind of "diet" or "healthy eating plan" for YEARS. DH would eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and there was no restraint..... popcorn with butter every night? SURE! Ice cream in the freezer ALL THE TIME? Why not? Oreos, Fig Newtons, pizza, chips.... YOU NAME IT, I had to resist it. Why NOT get _______________________ (fill in the blank with some sort of indulgent take-out food and/or dessert and/or cocktail) to celebrate ______________________ (fill in the blank with any excuse you can think of!)? I had to find ways to DEAL WITH THIS...... sometimes I ate what they ate, but just a smaller portion. Sometimes I had to just say NO altogether and make/bring my own food along (did you know you can buy a salad at Chipotle and bring it into Five Guys??). You need to do it for YOU and find ways to deal with all of the obstacles..... and in the end it will make you STRONGER and more able to make the healthy choices!!

Hi Everyone, I am Michelle and all in again for November.. I am 45 I have type 2 diabetes and am on a host of meds that I’d like to get rid of (or mostly get rid of) I am a Yo-Yoer, on 10/1 I signed up with WW at work (but I attending meetings at my local center so I can go with DD) last month I was successful in losing 3.5 lbs.. I have a Hubs who is a chef and an awesome guy and I have a DD who is almost 22 and DS who is 19 both are in college and are working hard towards their degrees. We have a 4 legged fur baby (cat) Hunny who is a 5yr old orange striped love bug.. Our goal is to get a new mobile home hopefully in the spring but this summer we worked hard on our 1972 12x60 mobile inside and out to last a year or two more if needed.. Oh enough about me.. onto to my weight/health goals

So I am going to say I will make a 4 lb loss this month as my goal again this month .. I do have a bunch of stuff towards the end of the month so that means I'll need to get right to losing at the beginning then hopefully maintain for the home stretch!

wishing everyone a GREAT month of weight loss!!! Michelle

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary! Hope things are going well at WW!

Sending best wishes and good luck to all of you who are participating this month. I will continue to be MIA but I do lurk. On 10/3 I was in a hit and run accident with a cyclist and have not one, but two, broken arms, in addition to numerous other injuries. No driving for 6 weeks. I did manage to lose 7 pounds last month but my priority is healing right now.

I love the theme and WISH you all well! Keep up the good work!

OH, NO NO NO NO!! OH my friend! I am SO SORRY to hear all of that!! My, my!! Prayers going out immediately for healing!

Thanks for that, pjlla -- I wouldn't have thought to notify my WW leader of my weekly plan. That idea provides another layer of accountability.

I stated my goal earlier -- the goal I will track this month is weekly attendance at WW, tracking my daily 26 points. The challenge -- tis the season of eating! In the past, I've bought the left over Halloween candy for 75% off -- who can resist a bargain?! Then there's the colder weather, so less outdoor activity, less water intake, and more comfort foods. Then I stop attending my WW meetings because "I don't have time", "want to put the money towards Christmas gifts", etc. Of course, the real reason I skip is so that I'm not accountable for my poor choices.

This year -- not even looking at the reduced candy aisle. I have some exercise DVDs for when the weather is cold. I have half my daily water intake as herbal tea. And I have this thread to help me be accountable!

How about signing up for a Monthly pass at WW? That way the money is already spent..... so one less excuse to skip the meeting!

Hello all!

I started the October challenge late last month, but I'm ready to do a complete month for November! I have been on and off again about loosing weight, but it wasn't until I saw pictures of myself at my best friend's wedding as the bridesmaid that looked as big as the other 3 combined (and one of them was 8 months pregnant!) that I knew I had to get it together. Plus, DH made me a deal-- if I can get down to the weight I was when we got married (160-ish), we will stay a weekend at the Grand Floridian!!! This is my dream and since I haven't been able to get myself on track just for the sake of loosing weight and getting healthy, then THIS is going to get me really focused!

My goal for November is to lose 5 pounds. I lost 4.6 last month and that included indulging my sweet tooth regularly so I have a feeling I can do 5 if I make better choices for dessert options and incorporate more exercise. My plan is to continue tracking my food on the app I am using and continually look for better alternatives for some of the things I love to eat that I know are awful or over processed, etc. Tracking alone has helped me immensely get a real sense of portion sizes!

Challenges this month are definitely going to be Thanksgiving at the end of the month, but also WDW and Food and Wine festival this weekend. Granted I will be doing the 5K on Saturday morning, but I know that's not enough to cancel out the indulgence at F&W! That's why I want to incorporate more exercise this month than last month so that I can enjoy F&W and Thanksgiving without totally going off the rails.

What a great goal!

thank you! and thanks for the heads up on the WATP facebook challenge, I'm going to look into that! have you heard of Poshmark? it's a consignment store app. I've been selling off some things and buying some things too! the prices look a little hefty but most sellers will take a lower offer, especially if you want to bundle a few of their items together in one sale

I'll have to look into it!!

I need to intro too, I'm molli. I've been on the WISH boards about since it started and a member of the original WDW half-marathon group since then I had a down spiral in my health which lasted about 4 years, and now I'm struggling to get off the weight that being ill packed on. for the newer friends here who don't know me, I've been MIA in Sept/Oct with two fabulous vaca; an DCL Alaskan cruise and 4 days in Seattle; and now just returned from 5 days in Las Vegas with my bestie and her hubs. couples trip that fell over our 20th anniversary, we honeymooned in Vegas! anyhow, I'm sure I've put 10 lbs back on my goal is to get back onto food journaling and no wine/mixed drinks except for occasionally on the weekend. I feel into a bad routine of daily drinks and since I no longer have my adrenal glands, drinking really is bad for me. I know how to balance it with electrolyte drinks now so it's not dangerous, but it's not wise. Anyhow, the lovely gift of being immune suppressed has me with a wicked sinus cold (infection?) brewing and so I did not make it to the gym today. but I hope to get out on some walks with my dog, three short walks to get all my steps in. I will get real and step on the scale on Friday. I had been back in the decade, one up from my goal, and I'm really afraid I'm back two away now. so I'm giving myself this week to cleanse and get rid of the alcohol puff and see where I'm at

ONDERLAND here she comes!!! you can do it!

I sped read through the posts over the past couple days....trying to catch up and keep everyone straight!!! so glad we have a great active group this month!

So glad you are back with us "full time"!! Sorry you are sick so early in the season!!

@courtneybeth your challenge is already off to an amazing start!!! I am so excited to be here for another month with everyone!! We are slowly easing back into reality from our Disneymoon. DH doesn't go back to work until tomorrow (Tuesday), so we are considering ourselves still on honeymoon until then! Which means I will do my weigh-in tomorrow and see how bad the Disneymoon wrecked my losses. But my goal for this month is going to be to lose 3lbs from whatever my weigh-in tomorrow is. Hopefully a small goal will help me ease back into this... The wedding may be over, but my journey is not! We are already talking about going back to WDW in October 2017 with my family, and I don't want to be doing any last minute frantic weight loss attempts before that trip. Imagine where I could be in two years if I start now!!

So excited to get to know everyone here - loving all the new faces!! Off to try to edit and download my Photopass pictures. I will post a link to all our trip photos as soon as I get everything from Photopass, my phone, and my Nikon in one location!

WOOHOO! The new "Mrs." is back!! Congrats again! Can't wait to see a few pictures!! So PROUD of you for getting RIGHT BACK ON TRACK post-festivities!!

There are so many things with this weight loss and lifestyle change that have me terrified. I've made excellent strides in changing my eating habits and outlook towards food - but I don't know what will happen when I go into maintenance mode on WW and when it's time to finally pull the plug on the program and just go off into the world without my 'little friend'. And then I think about my final weight loss goal and if that's really the final weight I should be at. Is 150 pounds appropriate for someone who is 5'2" and a larger build? Should I go for 140? 130? Who has the final say in my weight -- do other's opinions really matter about what I weigh and what I am doing?

My end-goal is to be happy and comfortable in my own skin. I seek to not only look and feel good on the outside, but also on the inside. I think I'm going to let me be the only one who can really speak for me. Family and friends' opinions don't matter and in the end, I have to be happy with what I accomplish. I plan to tune out the noise and focus on my own thoughts and follow my instincts. I haven't disappointed myself too much yet

If I do end up getting dragged to a family dinner I will bring my own meal to eat. I can control what I eat without falling victim into bad habits

(PS: Answering my own question is weird).

Honestly..... you will probably NEVER give up the "little friend" if you want to maintain your weight loss. I still track/journal and weigh/measure my foods DAILY.... and I know that is one of the keys to my ongoing maintenance success (give or take a few pounds here and there throughout the year).

I would say, for now, don't worry about your FINAL goal. Get to the 150 and see how it feels..... live at it and in it for a while.... then decided.

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

Hey friends! Good day at school today, but now it is time to get in a few miles before it gets any darker! Yikes! I forgot how quickly it gets dark this time of year!................P

 

[charlene130]

Welcome Charlene! You will be arriving at Disney, the day I am leaving. Do you plan on putting any of the weight back on during your vacation? This is the biggest challenge for me. I will put on some, but do not want to overdo.

Hi, and thanks for the welcome! I am allowing myself a couple of pounds to gain at Disney, after all it is Disney, lol.
However, I will be making mostly good choices, but I know it will be difficult. My goal is now only 20 lbs away so I don't want to undo any of the hard work I have already done. I do know though that my Disney vacation will by far be my toughest challenge since I started this journey, but I will try my best, lol.

 

[LindseyJo22]

Hello all!

I have family coming into town for the next few days and I was wondering if any of you have good restaurant tips for me! We will probably be eating dinner out tonight and lunch out tomorrow at the very least. I need to actually take initiative to stay on track instead of just eating whatever I want

 

[JacknSally]

Hello all!

I have family coming into town for the next few days and I was wondering if any of you have good restaurant tips for me! We will probably be eating dinner out tonight and lunch out tomorrow at the very least. I need to actually take initiative to stay on track instead of just eating whatever I want

Do you have any idea what restaurants you'll be likely to go to? See if you can find the menus and nutrition info online ahead of time and find items that work within your plan, or come up with ways to adjust your plan during other meals to allow for the items you'll be likely to eat when you go out. Also, some restaurants will do half portions of the full size entrees. You might be able to do something like that?

 

[meghammy]

Question of the Day - November 2
​

Are there things about your weight loss program that make you nervous? Are you fearful about the holidays and possible weight gain? What is your plan to move past this apprehension?

.

I am definitely fearful of the holidays! And all the holiday treats! And all the holiday drinks! Oh my!
I tend to be of the "I see it, I want it, I'm going to eat it" mindset, which is clearly not good around the holidays, when we have a giant meal, everyone bakes delicious goodies, and there are all kinds of warm, sweet beverages being passed around. This carries over through the whole month, and the next few months to come. Another issue with the winter months is DBf and I go to A LOT of movies this time of year (we're big movie buffs ) and the popcorn, soda, and candy tends to call my name more when it's cold outside.

My plan is to be very conscious of what I'm eating and drinking. I will walk away from the food instead of grabbing the second or third plate. I have been very good about avoiding the coffee shops with the delicious drinks, but I will continue to do my best to stay away. For movies, I plan on getting to the movies with no time to go to the concession stand, thus avoiding the beck and call of the sweets.

 

[ThistleMae]

There are so many things with this weight loss and lifestyle change that have me terrified. I've made excellent strides in changing my eating habits and outlook towards food - but I don't know what will happen when I go into maintenance mode on WW and when it's time to finally pull the plug on the program and just go off into the world without my 'little friend'. And then I think about my final weight loss goal and if that's really the final weight I should be at. Is 150 pounds appropriate for someone who is 5'2" and a larger build? Should I go for 140? 130? Who has the final say in my weight -- do other's opinions really matter about what I weigh and what I am doing?

My end-goal is to be happy and comfortable in my own skin. I seek to not only look and feel good on the outside, but also on the inside. I think I'm going to let me be the only one who can really speak for me. Family and friends' opinions don't matter and in the end, I have to be happy with what I accomplish. I plan to tune out the noise and focus on my own thoughts and follow my instincts. I haven't disappointed myself too much yet

If I do end up getting dragged to a family dinner I will bring my own meal to eat. I can control what I eat without falling victim into bad habits

(PS: Answering my own question is weird).

You're too funny! I love how you answered your own question and how you said it was weird! I have the same fear about maintenance. How much should I weigh? Will I ever think I look good enough? I think maintaining is going to be really hard. It's a whole other plan unto itself. I know I'm going to drive myself crazy with "up a pound, down .3, up .2" Ugh! But...I'm learning. You are right when you say...you will determine where you want to be. I'm with you!

 

[ThistleMae]

Good question! I am scared that I will always have to be worried about everything I eat. I truly hope to get to a place where I can eat what I want but automatically stop myself before I am stuffed. Or to only indulge in a few bites of the cakes, cookies, and pies, etc.... but I am soooo not there yet. And yes, I am definitely nervous about the upcoming holidays-- I know that if I gain back the few pounds that I've lost so far, I will feel very discouraged. However, I am planning on not letting this get me too down since I am giving myself until December 2016 to reach my "Grand Goal" (hehehe!) in order to stay at the GF when it's decorated for Christmas... So even if I do have a set back this holiday season, I have plenty of time to right the ship before my deadline!

Losing slow is the best any way. That way you have time to practice and build in strategies for those difficult times. It is a whole mind shift to "not eat everything you want" and still feel good during that special time. It tends to feel "less good" and more stressful. I'm still working on these feelings.

 

[LindseyJo22]

Do you have any idea what restaurants you'll be likely to go to? See if you can find the menus and nutrition info online ahead of time and find items that work within your plan, or come up with ways to adjust your plan during other meals to allow for the items you'll be likely to eat when you go out. Also, some restaurants will do half portions of the full size entrees. You might be able to do something like that?

I have a couple of places that are options - Texas Roadhouse and Cracker Barrel are possibilities, as well as Chili's. I know I can get something decent at most of those places, but the challenge is always actually sticking to my plan when I get there

But I think I will head to the menus and see if I can find good nutrition info to plan some specifics for each possible spot

When we moved here I was a little sad that there weren't as many nice local places to eat - but it sure is easier to track my food when we eat at large chains with published nutrition info

 

[CruisingKate]

Are there things about your weight loss program that make you nervous? Are you fearful about the holidays and possible weight gain? What is your plan to move past this apprehension?

I'm at a strong place "today", so don't have any fears about weight gain over the holidays -- I'm committed to following the plan. But I know I really need support in this; as I've said earlier, I've never attempted to lose weight in any November through Feb months of my life!! I need the support and accountability that WW provides. I'm committed to weekly meetings.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Question of the Day - November 2

​

Losing weight does not happen over night. It is a journey - one that will take many steps to accomplish. You'll have good days and bad days. There will be pounds lost and pounds gained. You'll feel frustration from making emotional food decisions. You'll be happy when you reach a mini goal. And you'll sometimes be too afraid to enjoy yourself because of the number on your scale.

To move forward we must push back against the fear and rise to the challenge. We are our worst critic and our biggest cheerleader.

Let's be our own cheerleaders this month.

Are there things about your weight loss program that make you nervous? Are you fearful about the holidays and possible weight gain? What is your plan to move past this apprehension?

.

My fear is simply that I'll never reach my goal weight. I don't think it's an unrealistic number. I've discussed it with my doctor. I have a family history of weight related diseases. So she thinks it important I shoot to stay in the middle of the range of healthy for my height. I'm 5'4" so healthy is 110-145. I am medium framed. The middle of the range would be 127. I figure 122 would be 5 pounds of wiggle room for life's ups and downs. So that is my long term goal. But Ive never gotten that close. I've lost 40+ pounds since starting my weight loss journey. But in the 6 years since I started I've never hit my goal of 122. I'm starting to think I never will. I've made it to 127 a number of times, but I don't stay long.

My plan is to focus on getting to the weight I've maintained happily before, 130, then revisit my determination to get to 127 or 122. I'm very active, my labs, health measurements etc are all good, so I may just need to reevaluate things and stop being hard on myself.

I am not fearful of the holidays. I usually up my exercise to compensate for any over indulging. Training for the Glass Slipper Challenge makes that sort of automatic

 

[flvy]

Question of the Day - November 1
​

What is your goal? How will you get there? Are there challenges to meeting this goal? If so, how will you over-come them?

.

My goal is to lose 10 pounds. Honestly I have a lot of road blocks in my way this month. I leave for DW on the 4th and come back the 11th. While the W&D half marathon is on the menu it is still a vacation. My birthday is in that block as well. Then there is always thanksgiving which is HUGE for my family and we missed out on it last year. I really just plan to put my head down and get the work done. I'll be as good as possible at Disney. I'm still going to allow for smaller snacks to avoid the big binge. Like I'll eat a cinnamon roll but I'll eat it over a few days. Moderation not gluttony is the key for me I think.

Question of the Day - November 2

​

Are there things about your weight loss program that make you nervous? Are you fearful about the holidays and possible weight gain? What is your plan to move past this apprehension?

.

I'm not afraid I am ready! November will not be getting the best of me!!

 

[DisPup75]

Busy busy group this month! I'm so happy to see all of the new and old smiling faces!!!

Two days in and two days of being on plan down (with the help of some weekly points). In spite of 13,274 steps today, I'm already a bit behind my 11,000/day average goal because I went to bed so early last night that I skipped the bedtime walk. I'm patting myself on the back though because I didn't eat a single piece of candy all day. Yay me!

This will definitely be the last week you see the number 2 beginning a scale read. I'll make sure you're with me at the Overweight Club all month... you can definitely lose 8 pounds this month!

Thank you! I'm absolutely NOT giving up that card again!

Hi everyone good luck this week.
My goal is to lose 10 pounds this week. I need to lose 80 pounds total. The challenges I am going to have is the cold weather, I hate the cold. Also there is a lot of stress right now and stress makes me eat late at night. I plan to hit the sauna every day to stay warm and get up earlier and exercise first thing in the morning. I stepped on the scale this morning and I weigh more then I have ever weighed.

Welcome! The good news is that you never have to weigh more than you weigh today again. .

@DisPup75 I had no idea that you were a fellow lawyer!! If we can get @lisah0711 to rejoin our threads, then we will be three lawyers around! Good luck with studying for the bar exam. I cannot imagine having to sit another law exam again today. That is a scary thought!

I haven't done much lawyering in the past few years beyond justifying to myself why it is OK to eat Cheetos for breakfast but I am indeed a lawyer! Looking forward to returning to active practice in January. Always good to have multiple lawyers around so we can argue with each other. .

And you are a lawyer in Germany! I have always been so impressed with their civil justice system. I'm jealous.

Yes, another bar exam. Terrifying thought. I've been paging through the giant pile of bar review books on my desk in horror. In some ways, I suppose it isn't any worse than if you asked me to do an exam about all of the things I learned in the 5th grade but at the moment I'm just astounded by all of the things I used to know and have conveniently shoved out of active memory.

Good Monday morning all! Dressed and ready to head out to work. Probably will NOT have any computer access today, so don't be surprised if I don't pop on to chat. I'll try to find time after school to check out the QOTD though!

DS's senior photos were done here yesterday and despite my trepidations (he doesn't photograph well, he doesn't like to smile).... the pictures are truly HIM (long hair and all!). There are several EXCELLENT ones to choose from, so I am delighted!

Off to eat breakfast before I dash! TTYL.............P

Senior pictures! Exciting!! Happy to hear they turned out well!

@DisPup75 good luck with the bar exam! You did it once, you can do it again, even while working. I've passed three that way and say kudos to you because I never want to do it again! All the things that you are doing for your healthy lifestyle will help with the stress, too. Good luck!



It IS isn't it?

WISHing you an early Happy Birthday, Magdalene!

Sending best wishes and good luck to all of you who are participating this month. I will continue to be MIA but I do lurk. On 10/3 I was in a hit and run accident with a cyclist and have not one, but two, broken arms, in addition to numerous other injuries. No driving for 6 weeks. I did manage to lose 7 pounds last month but my priority is healing right now.

I love the theme and WISH you all well! Keep up the good work!

Thank you for the well wishes! Hopefully this will be the last one I ever take!

But oh my goodness. That hit and run is awful. I'm so sorry you are having to go through all that. NOT a good way to lose weight. Best wishes on a speedy recovery!


Good November goal, particularly with that long trip right in the middle. I predict that you will achieve it with style!

I've got to give myself a whoohoo for Halloween! Did not eat any candy! Went out trick or treating with my grandkids. Even when you stand back away from the door, people call u over to give you candy. One man chased us down with a handful of candy because we missed his house, lol! And my eyes did open wide when the peanut butter cups and snickers came my way....I think I drooled a little! Then View attachment 132570 I dropped it in my grandson's bucket! Just had to share this triumph!

Excellent makeup!! I think I would cry if someone gave me peanut butter cups right now. They are the one thing that are absolutely banned from my house.

@courtneybeth your challenge is already off to an amazing start!!! I am so excited to be here for another month with everyone!! We are slowly easing back into reality from our Disneymoon. DH doesn't go back to work until tomorrow (Tuesday), so we are considering ourselves still on honeymoon until then! Which means I will do my weigh-in tomorrow and see how bad the Disneymoon wrecked my losses. But my goal for this month is going to be to lose 3lbs from whatever my weigh-in tomorrow is. Hopefully a small goal will help me ease back into this... The wedding may be over, but my journey is not! We are already talking about going back to WDW in October 2017 with my family, and I don't want to be doing any last minute frantic weight loss attempts before that trip. Imagine where I could be in two years if I start now!!

So excited to get to know everyone here - loving all the new faces!! Off to try to edit and download my Photopass pictures. I will post a link to all our trip photos as soon as I get everything from Photopass, my phone, and my Nikon in one location!

Welcome back!!! A small goal is a great way to ease back in. Can't wait to see the pictures!

 

[DisPup75]

Question of the Day - November 2

​

Losing weight does not happen over night. It is a journey - one that will take many steps to accomplish. You'll have good days and bad days. There will be pounds lost and pounds gained. You'll feel frustration from making emotional food decisions. You'll be happy when you reach a mini goal. And you'll sometimes be too afraid to enjoy yourself because of the number on your scale.

To move forward we must push back against the fear and rise to the challenge. We are our worst critic and our biggest cheerleader.

Let's be our own cheerleaders this month.

Are there things about your weight loss program that make you nervous? Are you fearful about the holidays and possible weight gain? What is your plan to move past this apprehension?

.

Great question!! I think fear of failure has always been my greatest obstacle in the past. I've been slowly gaining weight for 15 years and have started WW, South Beach, juicing, you-name-the-diet any number of times. But I would never be considered a yo-yo dieter. Prior to this attempt, I've never managed to lose more than 7 pounds because I always got so freaked out that I would blow it and never reach my end goal that I would do something to sabotage myself, fall totally off he wagon, and not even consider what I was doing to myself for months.

This time around, I'm actively avoiding perfection and trying to figure out a plan that works for my life. I have a dream goal in mind but I don't feel a lot of pressure to achieve it. I need to be a lot lighter for the sake of my skeleton (and my health in general) but I'm hoping that eventually I'll reach a number that I'm comfortable at and that I can maintain without too much sacrifice. I continue to believe that my body will tell me when I'm there.

But then I've got a whole bunch more fears once I get there. What if I gain it all back? What if my skin is so loose it is dragging on the ground? What if people don't recognize me? What if people comment on how much weight I've lost (thus in my head telling me 'Wow! You used to be really fat!'). What if people start to police my diet? What if I'm so hungry I starve to death? What if I can never eat bread and cheese for dinner again?

My biggest challenge and fear is actually my workplace. I work in a culture that feeds us constantly to keep us happy, but it really doesn't make losing weight easy. There are bagel/donut Fridays, lunch meetings and team outings to throw me off-track at any time.

The holidays don't worry me too much because that's just one day. It's those things that are constantly in front of me that really make me nervous. I will say, though, that we are going to WDW on November 28th, so if I'm hoping to keep off the 5 lbs by the end of the month, I need to build in a buffer by losing about 8-10 so my weigh in on December 1st doesn't show the bad stuff that happens on those last few days.

I know that travel of any sort makes me gain several extra pounds of water weight that are gone within a few days of being home. Would it be easier for you to have your final November weigh in before your trip and then start fresh in December?

welcome back from your honeymoon!!! jacknsally -- can't wait to see your pics!

thistlemae -- love you pic!! I was able to avoid candy on Halloween too!! I was sick in bed all day, DH passed it out for us and we ran out! that hasn't happened in several years, I guess we got hit harder than the previous years. He even passed out his packs of Welch's fruit gummies, bless his heart

my biggest challenges lately have been traveling!! I love to travel, and I tend to not workout or eat good and drink booze. which usually is ok b/c we would vaca once a year, but now that we are empty nesters we are able to do more and I've got to be able to get myself back OP the very next Monday when I get home (Monday, hehehe) so today I'm determined to make this week OP!! and get back on track before the holidays! my jeans are snug! thanksgiving isn't hard for me, I don't love the foods a whole lot (mashed potatoes, pie, meh) but Christmas is hard b/c we have family here for a few days so there are more snacks and booze....gotta save those two food groups for special occasions!!

A fellow mashed potatoes and pie hater! Yay! OK, hate is a strong word but I can so easily live without basically every food on the Thanksgiving table and no one understands me.

Love passing out the fruit gummies! Very sweet! I hope you see feeling much better!!

well I just am fearful at once I get where I think I should be i'll self sabotage like before and gain it all right back! I do not know how to move past it.. I give myself a pass on the on the holiday to eat what I want but NOT STUFF MYSELF - but I find when I am losing weight I can't eat as much anyway so I tend to have a plate with a bunch of nibbles

That is a good holiday plan! I think we are all working on figuring out how to avoid the self sabotage. It shouldn't be so hard.

There are so many things with this weight loss and lifestyle change that have me terrified. I've made excellent strides in changing my eating habits and outlook towards food - but I don't know what will happen when I go into maintenance mode on WW and when it's time to finally pull the plug on the program and just go off into the world without my 'little friend'. And then I think about my final weight loss goal and if that's really the final weight I should be at. Is 150 pounds appropriate for someone who is 5'2" and a larger build? Should I go for 140? 130? Who has the final say in my weight -- do other's opinions really matter about what I weigh and what I am doing?

My end-goal is to be happy and comfortable in my own skin. I seek to not only look and feel good on the outside, but also on the inside. I think I'm going to let me be the only one who can really speak for me. Family and friends' opinions don't matter and in the end, I have to be happy with what I accomplish. I plan to tune out the noise and focus on my own thoughts and follow my instincts. I haven't disappointed myself too much yet

If I do end up getting dragged to a family dinner I will bring my own meal to eat. I can control what I eat without falling victim into bad habits

(PS: Answering my own question is weird).

You've got to answer your own question! But yes, it is weird. .

Your end goal is wonderful. Other people's opinions shouldn't matter (although they always do, at least a little bit). Perhaps you can 'try on' 150 for a while, practice maintaining, and see whether you are comfortable. If you are, great! If you want to lose a bit more, that works too!

Frame size matters so much that it seems impossible to just pick a number and say this is the right size for me. I have twig bones and need to be pretty far down the BMI scale for my knees and ankles to be comfortable. By my contrast, my sister is exactly the same height as me but has always been healthier and looked better with a few extra pounds than when she is stick thin.

Bottom line - be happy! I'm looking forward to watching you conquer maintenance!

Good question! I am scared that I will always have to be worried about everything I eat. I truly hope to get to a place where I can eat what I want but automatically stop myself before I am stuffed. Or to only indulge in a few bites of the cakes, cookies, and pies, etc.... but I am soooo not there yet. And yes, I am definitely nervous about the upcoming holidays-- I know that if I gain back the few pounds that I've lost so far, I will feel very discouraged. However, I am planning on not letting this get me too down since I am giving myself until December 2016 to reach my "Grand Goal" (hehehe!) in order to stay at the GF when it's decorated for Christmas... So even if I do have a set back this holiday season, I have plenty of time to right the ship before my deadline!

Such a grand reward!

THIS!!!! I feel ya! Even though we usually do one big vacation a year (like 1-2 weeks) we are at WDW at least one weekend a month and we love our ADRs and its a mess! And then when we do travel elsewhere- especially abroad- I want to eat all the foods (read: cheeses and breads) and drink all the drinks (read: all the wines!).... And it just piles up without you even realizing it!

I want all the gods and drinks too (particularly when defined as cheese, bread, and wine!).

I'm counting calories (or doing my best to) for the first time in a long time. That in general makes me nervous because, though I don't tend to have an obsessive personality, I do worry that I could get too focused on the numbers. In addition, I have to be very conscious of my actual food choices - I tend to snack on unhealthy things when I have "leftover" calories instead of things that I know are better for me.

I'm making decent strides at this, and part of it is having healthy stuff easily accessible - carrots and hummus, fruit, etc.

The other thing that worries me is getting back on track after Thanksgiving. I am generally ok with letting myself enjoy the holidays, but I need to be vigilant so that it doesn't turn into an entire December of not doing anything!

One of the reasons I like coming here so much is that it reminds me to pull it together and get back on plan when I've strayed a bit.

My fear is simply that I'll never reach my goal weight. I don't think it's an unrealistic number. I've discussed it with my doctor. I have a family history of weight related diseases. So she thinks it important I shoot to stay in the middle of the range of healthy for my height. I'm 5'4" so healthy is 110-145. I am medium framed. The middle of the range would be 127. I figure 122 would be 5 pounds of wiggle room for life's ups and downs. So that is my long term goal. But Ive never gotten that close. I've lost 40+ pounds since starting my weight loss journey. But in the 6 years since I started I've never hit my goal of 122. I'm starting to think I never will. I've made it to 127 a number of times, but I don't stay long.

My plan is to focus on getting to the weight I've maintained happily before, 130, then revisit my determination to get to 127 or 122. I'm very active, my labs, health measurements etc are all good, so I may just need to reevaluate things and stop being hard on myself.

I am not fearful of the holidays. I usually up my exercise to compensate for any over indulging. Training for the Glass Slipper Challenge makes that sort of automatic

I think your plan is good. Maybe maintaining happily for a whole is what you need. Being hard on yourself is never fun.

My goal is to lose 10 pounds. Honestly I have a lot of road blocks in my way this month. I leave for DL on the 4th and come back the 11th. While the W&D half marathon is on the menu it is still a vacation. My birthday is in that block as well. Then there is always thanksgiving which is HUGE for my family and we missed out on it last year. I really just plan to put my head down and get the work done. I'll be as good as possible at Disney. I'm still going to allow for smaller snacks to avoid the big binge. Like I'll eat a cinnamon roll but I'll eat it over a few days. Moderation not gluttony is the key for me I think.




I'm not afraid I am ready! November will not be getting the best of me!!

I like your slogan!

 

[summermom2]

Question of the Day - November 2
Are there things about your weight loss program that make you nervous? Are you fearful about the holidays and possible weight gain? What is your plan to move past this apprehension?

Not ever reaching my goal weight and having to continue worrying about weight for the rest of my life. I am not fearful of the holidays because I don not like baked goods that much and I do not eat diary.
My plan to get past my apprehension is just take it day by day and not worry about the past. I also am giving away all my old clothes.

 

[Flossbolna]

Happy Tuesday everyone!! Here it is a brilliant winter (!) morning with sun and frosty temperatures! I rather have that than the usual autumnal grey November with a few degrees more...

The thread is off to a fantastic start! So many people contributing, I love it! I tried to catch some replies (working from the end of the thread), but just can't go all the way back... So, if I am not replying to YOU, it is just that time ran out and not in any way me being unfriendly!

I also need to still answer yesterday's QOTD:

Reading through a lot of replies, I realise that over the last 10 years or so, I learned a lot about weight loss and maintaining. It has been a long journey for me, but actually I have maintained a healthy weight for a lot of time during those 10 years. And I feel that I have tackled a lot of fears in the meantime. But of course, some are still around. Like the one that I will never manage to get to my goal weight. It is not an unrealistic one. But I admit that it is more out of vanity that I want to reach it than any health reasons. Maybe therefore the incentive to get there is less? I feel like I am on a great path at the moment. The last year struggling to lose weight desperately and it not working because of my thyroid issues, really taught me new perserverance. So, I decided to just not bother being concerned about an uncertain future, but instead make every single day count!

On to some replies:

My plan is to be very conscious of what I'm eating and drinking. I will walk away from the food instead of grabbing the second or third plate. I have been very good about avoiding the coffee shops with the delicious drinks, but I will continue to do my best to stay away. For movies, I plan on getting to the movies with no time to go to the concession stand, thus avoiding the beck and call of the sweets.

That sounds like a great approach! And I can tell you that if you try to be more mindful about food and drink, it will become easier. I have huge issues with that as well. And I have lapses, but the number of meals where I take it slow is increasing and it gets easier to stop myself and think about what I am eating and why.

When we moved here I was a little sad that there weren't as many nice local places to eat - but it sure is easier to track my food when we eat at large chains with published nutrition info

I wish we would have more large chains here in Germany purely for that reason!

I'm at a strong place "today", so don't have any fears about weight gain over the holidays -- I'm committed to following the plan. But I know I really need support in this; as I've said earlier, I've never attempted to lose weight in any November through Feb months of my life!! I need the support and accountability that WW provides. I'm committed to weekly meetings.

To me support is really a huge help as well. That is why I love these threads!

My fear is simply that I'll never reach my goal weight. I don't think it's an unrealistic number. I've discussed it with my doctor. I have a family history of weight related diseases. So she thinks it important I shoot to stay in the middle of the range of healthy for my height. I'm 5'4" so healthy is 110-145. I am medium framed. The middle of the range would be 127. I figure 122 would be 5 pounds of wiggle room for life's ups and downs. So that is my long term goal. But Ive never gotten that close. I've lost 40+ pounds since starting my weight loss journey. But in the 6 years since I started I've never hit my goal of 122. I'm starting to think I never will. I've made it to 127 a number of times, but I don't stay long.

My plan is to focus on getting to the weight I've maintained happily before, 130, then revisit my determination to get to 127 or 122. I'm very active, my labs, health measurements etc are all good, so I may just need to reevaluate things and stop being hard on myself.

I can very well relate to your issue! I just did the calculations and figured out that my goal weight is exactly the middle of my healthy range as well. I think as long as your healthy measurements are good, there is no reason for you to try to lose some more pounds if you are happy at 130. I think your approach makes a lot of sense. Instead of being depressed of not getting where you want to be, get to an accieveable goal. Maintain there and then from that stronger position try to get lower, if you still want it.

I'm not afraid I am ready! November will not be getting the best of me!!

Great attitude!!

I'll be as good as possible at Disney. I'm still going to allow for smaller snacks to avoid the big binge. Like I'll eat a cinnamon roll but I'll eat it over a few days. Moderation not gluttony is the key for me I think.

I think this is one of the keys for a sustainable healthy weight: to learn how to enjoy treats without overdoing it.

And you are a lawyer in Germany! I have always been so impressed with their civil justice system. I'm jealous.

Oh, thanks!! I have to admit that I love the "simplicity" of the civil law. I think I would never be able to cram all those different cases into my head...

Yes, another bar exam. Terrifying thought. I've been paging through the giant pile of bar review books on my desk in horror. In some ways, I suppose it isn't any worse than if you asked me to do an exam about all of the things I learned in the 5th grade but at the moment I'm just astounded by all of the things I used to know and have conveniently shoved out of active memory.

This time around, I'm actively avoiding perfection and trying to figure out a plan that works for my life. I have a dream goal in mind but I don't feel a lot of pressure to achieve it. I need to be a lot lighter for the sake of my skeleton (and my health in general) but I'm hoping that eventually I'll reach a number that I'm comfortable at and that I can maintain without too much sacrifice. I continue to believe that my body will tell me when I'm there.

But then I've got a whole bunch more fears once I get there. What if I gain it all back? What if my skin is so loose it is dragging on the ground? What if people don't recognize me? What if people comment on how much weight I've lost (thus in my head telling me 'Wow! You used to be really fat!'). What if people start to police my diet? What if I'm so hungry I starve to death? What if I can never eat bread and cheese for dinner again?

Not trying to pursue perfection is smart - as perfection really does not exist.

And don't worry about what will happen when you are at your goal. Keep in mind that besides all the scary things that can happen, you will have one big positive going for you: you can claim victory over your pounds!

My plan to get past my apprehension is just take it day by day and not worry about the past.

That is a great attitude!

 

[dvcmom14]

I know that travel of any sort makes me gain several extra pounds of water weight that are gone within a few days of being home. Would it be easier for you to have your final November weigh in before your trip and then start fresh in December?

Probably would be easier, but that feels like cheating. I'm going to see if I can do it and just build in that buffer to allow myself from freedom at WDW!

 

[ohMom]

I'm counting calories (or doing my best to) for the first time in a long time...... I am generally ok with letting myself enjoy the holidays, but I need to be vigilant so that it doesn't turn into an entire December of not doing anything!

Yes! Me too I made it through one day of journaling! Woo hoo! Whoop whoop!

And I am with you on the December fear

Don't forget.... DH doesn't have to be on board with the WW changes (although I'll admit it would make life easier!). I did this "WW thing" without anyone else in the house doing any kind of "diet" or "healthy eating plan" for YEARS. DH would eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and there was no restraint..... popcorn with butter every night? SURE! Ice cream in the freezer ALL THE TIME? Why not? Oreos, Fig Newtons, pizza, chips.... YOU NAME IT, I had to resist it. Why NOT get _______________________ (fill in the blank with some sort of indulgent take-out food and/or dessert and/or cocktail) to celebrate ______________________ (fill in the blank with any excuse you can think of!)? I had to find ways to DEAL WITH THIS...... sometimes I ate what they ate, but just a smaller portion. Sometimes I had to just say NO altogether and make/bring my own food along (did you know you can buy a salad at Chipotle and bring it into Five Guys??). You need to do it for YOU and find ways to deal with all of the obstacles..... and in the end it will make you STRONGER and more able to make the healthy choices!!....P

And this is why you rock my friend

I have a couple of places that are options - Texas Roadhouse and Cracker Barrel are possibilities, as well as Chili's. I know I can get something decent at most of those places, but the challenge is always actually sticking to my plan when I get there ....

I have the same issue, getting there and then ordering something completely different than planned. When I do that I revert to my half portion plan and only eat half and push the plate away

..The thread is off to a fantastic start! So many people contributing, I love it! I tried to catch some replies (working from the end of the thread), but just can't go all the way back... So, if I am not replying to YOU, it is just that time ran out and not in any way me being unfriendly!

Yes! That! Me too!

I managed to get my steps in yesterday, my three short walks turned into two medium walks instead. Time just got away from me but the goal was met. I'm still going to forgo a formal workout today, I am feeling better but I don't want to push it and set myself back. I really need to go to the grocery we have no fresh produce or dairy. We shall see

 

[dsnyfn1022]

Question of the Day - November 2

​

Losing weight does not happen over night. It is a journey - one that will take many steps to accomplish. You'll have good days and bad days. There will be pounds lost and pounds gained. You'll feel frustration from making emotional food decisions. You'll be happy when you reach a mini goal. And you'll sometimes be too afraid to enjoy yourself because of the number on your scale.

To move forward we must push back against the fear and rise to the challenge. We are our worst critic and our biggest cheerleader.

Let's be our own cheerleaders this month.

Are there things about your weight loss program that make you nervous? Are you fearful about the holidays and possible weight gain? What is your plan to move past this apprehension?

.

I'm nervous that I'll never hit a goal weight or that I'll set an unrealistic goal weight and eventually give up (like I did the last time around). I'm also nervous that a major life change will keep me from being successful. I'm not fearful for holiday weight gain. I'm sure that it'll happen, at least a little. But I'm motivated to not let it derail my progress or turn into a December binge-fest or anything like that. I don't want to eat like crazy but I don't want to be afraid of food or afraid to enjoy the food and the holiday.

 

[courtneybeth]

Question of the Day - November 3​

Oh, poor Beast. We've all been there... ​

Do you partake in cheat meals? If so, how often? Is it an entire meal or just a treat? How do you find self-control so you don't over-indulge?

Bonus: What is your favorite cheat treat or meal?​

 

[courtneybeth]

my biggest challenges lately have been traveling!!

Such a blessing and a curse! Perhaps just logging everything you're eating and being aware of what is going into your mouth will help.

I give myself a pass on the on the holiday to eat what I want but NOT STUFF MYSELF - but I find when I am losing weight I can't eat as much anyway so I tend to have a plate with a bunch of nibbles

Thanksgiving will definitely be a struggle... I like the idea of listening to your own body and knowing when you're starting to feel "full".

I truly hope to get to a place where I can eat what I want but automatically stop myself before I am stuffed.

Yes! This so much! It's such a hard place to know when to stop and when you can have another bite.

The other thing that worries me is getting back on track after Thanksgiving. I am generally ok with letting myself enjoy the holidays, but I need to be vigilant so that it doesn't turn into an entire December of not doing anything!

You've got both Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up. Starting now and maintaining good habits will get you through the holidays for sure! that's why we're all here - we'll help you stay on the right track

I would say whatever feels comfortable FOR YOU.

Aww... thank you. I've been having some wonky confidence issues recently with the weight loss. I have some family telling me to lose more and others telling me that my goal will be just enough. I just need to listen to the most important voice: my own.

The idea of having a daily target is that you are supposed to HIT that target DAILY. And your 49 weekly PPV are for "extra"..... to use a few daily or to save them and use them all at once is your choice.

This! The WW program seems counter-intuitive at first because you'd think that eating less points would cause you to lose weight faster. It in fact puts you into a starvation mode and you either gain or maintain. I'll usually go over 1-2 points per day to make sure that I hit the daily target. While I trust my ability to punch in the right information, I like to error on the side of caution.

I will walk away from the food instead of grabbing the second or third plate

That can be so hard. I struggle with this too!

______________________________________________________________________________

Wow everyone -- great discussions on the topic from yesterday. This month is off to an excellent and busy start. Keep it up!