Team Donald – Biggest Loser “No Excuses” 2012 Challenge

[frndshpcptn]

QOTD - January 2, 2012 - Thinking back on your Action Plan for the Challenge - which will be your most difficult to accomplish??

I think more exercise. I work long hours and rush home at night to see my puppy (who I feel guilty for leaving all day while at the office). I tried the morning work out, but I'm really, really not a morning person. I'd love to do a mid-day workout, but sneaking out of the office for 1.5 hours a day would be a HUGE issue.

Urgh, I keep throwing up obstacles. But I need to commit myself to this.

I tried two new vegetables over the weekend (yellow and orange bell peppers).

I'm intrigued by the suggestion of trying baby spinach in a salad. I've never had it, so can't say if I like it or not - but that could be my goal for the week - to try it!!

What does it taste like? Is it sweet? Flavorful? Crispy?

 

[mom2maggie]

I think more exercise. I work long hours and rush home at night to see my puppy (who I feel guilty for leaving all day while at the office). I tried the morning work out, but I'm really, really not a morning person. I'd love to do a mid-day workout, but sneaking out of the office for 1.5 hours a day would be a HUGE issue.

Urgh, I keep throwing up obstacles. But I need to commit myself to this.

I tried two new vegetables over the weekend (yellow and orange bell peppers).

I'm intrigued by the suggestion of trying baby spinach in a salad. I've never had it, so can't say if I like it or not - but that could be my goal for the week - to try it!!

What does it taste like? Is it sweet? Flavorful? Crispy?

Have you ever done home exercise dvds? I get that you dont' want to leave your baby after being gone all day, so maybe something at home would work. When I lost weight the first time, I lost 110lbs at home without ever going to the gym, simply by using home exercise dvds.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Have you ever done home exercise dvds? I get that you dont' want to leave your baby after being gone all day, so maybe something at home would work. When I lost weight the first time, I lost 110lbs at home without ever going to the gym, simply by using home exercise dvds.

Hi-

That's amazing!

No, I've actually never done them - but very willing to give it a try! I just got a Playstation 3 as a holiday gift and was also considering maybe a Playstation Move fitness game. I really like the idea of being able to workout in my apartment.

Do you have any DVD reccomendations?

 

[mom2maggie]

I had a lot of success in the beginning using Leslie Sansone "Walk Away the Pounds" dvds. I was very overweight, and completely out of shape, and it was a great way to ease into exercise. When it became easier, I added hand weights, and then when THAT became easier, I increased the weight. You wouldn't think it would make that much of a difference, but it really did!

 

[ilovefh]

I haven't read the whole thread but wanted to pop in and introduce myself. This is my first challenge.

My name is Elena and I am a middle school math teacher. We moved here to FL a year and a half ago and we're always toying with the idea of moving back to NH.

The highest weight I have been was 251 three years ago. When I got pregnant in August 2010 I was 235 and thankfully when I delivered in May 2011 I was 235! I'm now down to 215, but in a perfect world I would be around 130! During this challenge my goal is to lose 10% of my weight and be down around 194.

I had my gallbladder out a week and a half ago and I'm trying to eat low fat. DH is also overweight as well. He has decided to pursue the lap band surgery. He is currently starting the insurance required 6 month Doctor supervised diet plan so this is a good time for us to do this together. The tough part is that we have opposite schedules. I see him Sunday mornings and some weeks I don't see him awake again until Thursday night.

The toughest part for me is going to be exercise. I would really like to go to the gym after work but time wise it is tough. I had a free month at the gym at Celebration Hospital (free with a $30,000 c-section ) I don't leave school until 5 (we get out at 4, later on Tuesday and Thursday because I tutor). By the time I picked up DS from daycare, got to the gym, got him settled in child care, got my workout done, got him and arrived home it was 8pm and time for him to go to bed. I had officially seen him awake for a total of 20 minutes that day. I thought about going to the gym before school and I'm still toying with that idea. At the very least I can take him for a walk when we get home.

I look forward to getting to know everyone!

ETA: One of my other goals is to run the Expedition Everest Challenge. I'm thinking of buying a cheap used jogging stroller off craigslist. Also, any recommendations for any exercise DVD's or Kinect games? I could definitely do those after DS goes to bed...especially since we are getting rid of cable on Thursday!

 

[frndshpcptn]

I had a lot of success in the beginning using Leslie Sansone "Walk Away the Pounds" dvds. I was very overweight, and completely out of shape, and it was a great way to ease into exercise. When it became easier, I added hand weights, and then when THAT became easier, I increased the weight. You wouldn't think it would make that much of a difference, but it really did!

Great - thanks!!

 

[jenanderson]

Morning Everyone! I will go back and respond to a lot of the posts today but it will be in weird chunks because I have so many things to get done today. Tomorrow I have to go back to work and so my list of things to do today is longer then will be humanly possible to complete! I knew this would happen and yet I let it all go. So today I will have to focus and getting on this thread will be my reward.

Yesterday I did not do well with what I ate (I knew I really wouldn't). Today's plans are not all that great either but I am starting with the water and am getting ready to fill my glass for the 3rd time (32 oz down...many more to go!). I did get my exercise done with the race yesterday. Today I have not decided when I will exercise or what I will do but I will get something in later.

QOTD: To be honest...It is all going to be hard for me. I always find it so hard to get going again. Once I make it successfully through the first 10 days or so, it will all start settling into a routine. It is not that I will be perfect but it does get easier. I actually want to go back and re-write my goals though because I don't think I really gave it enough thought yesterday after I review them today.

Alright, I must now go back to grading for 30 minutes. Report cards have to be submitting tomorrow and I have a long ways to go.

 

[jillbur]

Hi Everyone,

I have read everything (I think ) and I'm glad to be on your team. There are a lot of motivated people on this thread and it is making me motivated too!

Please bear with me ... I have read the posts and I'm trying to organize all the information. Go team Donald!

QOTD - January 1, 2012 - What action plan do you have in place to help you to achieve your goals for this challenge??

1. Post on My Fitness Pal (Thank you for this suggestion! It is a great site!)
2. Drink 64oz of water a day.
3. Exercise daily! Even if it is only 20 minutes. I have been running off and on for about a year and have grown to like it.
4. Post on the board.
5. Pack salads for lunch.

... and a Happy New Year everyone. I have a feeling 2012 is going to be great!

Oh no! I quoted you and I hope you are the one that lives near Pittsburgh? Where do you live? We are about an hour away from Pittsbugh on the Ohio border near Youngstown, OH. We are also about an hour and 15 minutes from Cleveland, but hardly ever go there. We head to Pittsburgh a lot for shopping, musicals, museums, zoo, etc. My college roommate was from near Pittsburgh, too. She's from North Huntington.

QOTD - January 2, 2012 - Thinking back on your Action Plan for the Challenge - which will be your most difficult to accomplish??

I actually think the hardest thing for me will be following HH in general. I haven't participated in HH before, so I have to get focused and have to keep track of my water intake. I hope Team Donald can kick some HH butt!!


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I am a pretty competitive person and not happy about being behind Team Mickey for posts lol. I also feel bad because in the last challenge I really felt like I got to know some of their team members. I may check in on their thread once in awhile, but will also promise not to post over there!

I am off to an ok start today. I did the eliptical for 25 minutes and am cleaning today. Me and my boys go back to school tomorrow. I have to remember to iron their dress code (not a complete uniform) clothes so they're not a wrinkled mess tomorrow. It's going to be hard getting back into the groove after 12 days off.

I am planning on going to the gym later for a circuit training class, unless the snow we are supposed to get actually shows up. We are under a winter weather advisory for 6-10 inches But, it all just depends since it's all lake effect off Lake Erie. We are on the border of the lake effect area, so sometimes we get less and other times we get more. So I am preparing for no snow or up to 12 inches. I am really hoping for NONE!! It's in the 20s and very cold today. My kids are hoping for 12 inches so schools will be delayed tomorrow lol. I am just hoping to get to the gym!

Well, I am off to do some more laundry, iron, put the rest of the Christmas decoration away, and help DS5 build his Lego Hogwarts Castle. Why did Santa and family buy so many Legos? Oh yeah, DSs love them! Luckily Dinner is in the crock pot~French Dip Sandwiches, so I don't have to cook later...just clean up.

I think some runners on here have inspired me to look for a race to sign up for, too. If I register, I'll get back out there and run. Although, I may not sign up for one until April when the chances of snow diminish

Have a great day everyone! Stay focused!

Jill

 

[linnell]

I have a DS5 as well and my house is covered in legos. There is not a room I can go into without finding some. And now we're off to the LEGO store because we have a coupon for some free ones.

My hardest challenge will be giving up soda, but I'm down to one a day and am finding I don''t like the taste anymore.

For breakfast I had two eggs on sprouted grain English Muffin. But now we're going out to lunch (after the lego store). It is also my husband's last day of vacation, so tomorrow is when my routine gets back to normal. In the morning I will send DS3 off to preschool and then go to the YMCA for a workout.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I'm intrigued by the suggestion of trying baby spinach in a salad. I've never had it, so can't say if I like it or not - but that could be my goal for the week - to try it!!

What does it taste like? Is it sweet? Flavorful? Crispy?

I love spinach salads, can't stand lettuce. (Leftover aversion from pregnancy ) My fave is in the summer, when all the berries are in season, to grill up some chicken, and have chicken, spinach, and fruit salad. So yummy. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, dried cranberries, and mandarin oranges are my faves. It doesn't need dressing at all, IMO.

Anyway, it's not sweet. I might even describe it as just a little bitter. It's def. much more flavorful that lettuce, IMO. It's not crispy.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Well, I am off to do some more laundry, iron, put the rest of the Christmas decoration away, and help DS5 build his Lego Hogwarts Castle. Why did Santa and family buy so many Legos? Oh yeah, DSs love them!

Good luck with the Legos! Of all the sets I've helped build so far, Hogwarts was one of the worst.

We also have Legos all over the house. With an 8 yr old boy and a practically 7 yr old girl, we've got lots of big sets now. Plus all the blasted Lego games. DS is obsessed with them, and we have a billion. They have even smaller pieces.

 

[SettinSail]

Hello Donald Friends! Today is our last day before back to work/school tomorrow. I can not believe I did no organizing like I planned to in the 10 days I was off from work.
I am taping the Rose Bowl Parade so I can watch it faster later on
I've done 45 mins on the elliptical and I HAVE to get out and get groceries SOON!

QOTD - January 2, 2012 - Thinking back on your Action Plan for the Challenge - which will be your most difficult to accomplish??

Consistent healthy eating is always my downfall. I need to do a better job of planning and keep working on my resolve. My son loves junk food and fast food and it is an ongoing battle to keep him away from it and keep myself away too!

OK in an effort to help you with that competitive nature of yours lol
Someone (I'm sorry I tried to find you but cant) asked me earlier if we normally weigh ourselves here in lbs? No-normally I use stones and lbs-so I weigh 11st 13lb which is 167lbs in your language
Just let it be noted this is before any eyebrow plucking/nail trimming or haircutting

That was me, thanks for answering. We visited Dublin Nov of 2010 and loved it. We also went on a bus tour from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher. Would love to see more of Ireland someday and at a time of year when it is warmer

Just wondering if everyones goals are weight orientated? I'd love to hear what goals you guys have or what motivates you to lose weight?

I am more motivated by health than anything. I am close to menopausal age and I have heard that women are protected from heart disease and maybe other diseases while they are still menstruating but after menopause, women are more susceptable to heart disease. I feel like I have just a few years left to get in good shape

Kathy, thanks for admitting your eating was not so great yesterday. I was in the same boat. I was only up .2 today so not too much damage, whew. After I get some groceries in the house, I'll feel more in control.

Lindsay, enjoy your day organizing!

Jen, AWESOME job on the 5K, 31 mins, WOW.

Kristi, you have lost ALOT of weight. Very motivating! Thanks for sharing your story. I am also trying to lose some pounds I put back on right now so I know (a little) how you feel.

Janis, thanks for sharing the cute poem. It is wonderful that your guys are there offering their support. (I know what you mean by not counting on it)

Hello to everyone else - make it a great day !!!

 

[GoofyPredsFan]

Just wondering if everyones goals are weight orientated? I mean I know we all want to lose but 1 of the reasons I want to lose is that I'd love to wear a t-shirt this summer and feel good in it Its been sooooooooo long since I felt good in summer clothes so that's 1 of my main reasons for wanting to lose weight
To help motivate me I'm going to put £2 in a jar for every 1lb I lose. That way I will be able to buy some t-shirts when I get to my goal (notice all that positive thinking lol).
I'd love to hear what goals you guys have or what motivates you to lose weight?

And if this helps us catch up on Team Mickey (and therefore help Janis feed that competitive spirit of hers) then so be it

Hi there LuvPooh! Honestly, no my goals are not just weight orientated. Don't get me wrong, I want that scale to go DOWN!! But I really want to feel better too. I'm tired of feeling lazy and tired all the time, I need more energy. I think getting in shape and eating better is going to help with that. Plus, my clothes size seems to stay in the same size range even if I lose weight
Good Luck!!!

 

[SettinSail]

I'm intrigued by the suggestion of trying baby spinach in a salad. I've never had it, so can't say if I like it or not - but that could be my goal for the week - to try it!!

What does it taste like? Is it sweet? Flavorful? Crispy?

Someone else answered this too but thought I'd give my 2 cents worth.....

Baby spinach or regular spinach leaves are not crispy, they are soft.
No sweet taste, just a flavorful "greens" taste. It's a good combo with a crispy lettuce. It just gives another layer of flavor. You should try it!

 

[GoofyPredsFan]

QOTD - January 2, 2012 - Thinking back on your Action Plan for the Challenge - which will be your most difficult to accomplish??

Hmmm...I think my hardest part will be eating a salad every day. I love salads and pretty much all vegies, so that's not the problem, but especially in the winter months, I seem to want warm food! I think I will include a lot of vegie soups and maybe even find a way to add warm ingredients to my salads. That'll help a bit!

 

[SettinSail]

I also second the Leslie Sanstone DVD recommendation

Great for those just getting into fitness and even if you are in shape you are sweating by the end. There are several different levels and she includes some hand weights too.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

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My kids are hoping for 12 inches so schools will be delayed tomorrow lol. I am just hoping to get to the gym!Jill

That is funny. If we got 12 inches of snow here, school would be cancelled for at least 3 days.

We don't get "big" snows here very often..... usually just a few inches at a time.

 

[Rose&Mike]

DH was a little put out tonight with me and the BL. He mentioned that it is turning into a full time job for me. I was trying to explain the challenge and the QOTD and he asked me what my plan was. It really opened up conversation about my goals etc., and he told me whatever I need - he and DS would pick up the slack. I will not hold them to it, but it's nice they offered.

Janis

sounds like you all had a good conversation Janis.

Thank you so much for running the challenge again this spring. The spring/team challenges are a huge amount of work. I honestly did feel like it was a second job for a little while, but it will get better when things settle down a little bit.

The good thing, I really think being "in charge" helped me stay on track during a difficult spring/summer when I often just wanted to throw in the towel. Hopefully you will have a productive, positive challenge!

 

[jillbur]

I have a DS5 as well and my house is covered in legos. There is not a room I can go into without finding some. And now we're off to the LEGO store because we have a coupon for some free ones.

Good luck with the Legos! Of all the sets I've helped build so far, Hogwarts was one of the worst.

We also have Legos all over the house. With an 8 yr old boy and a practically 7 yr old girl, we've got lots of big sets now. Plus all the blasted Lego games. DS is obsessed with them, and we have a billion. They have even smaller pieces.

Yes, between DS8 and DS5 we are overrun with Legos. But, they play with them daily. This was the first year for big sets. They each have bookshelves in their rooms and I don't think any of this new stuff is going to fit! We need a Lego addition lol. I have no clue where the closest Lego store is to us, but I am going to check and see.

I have 2 sets of aunts/uncles who live near Orlando, and my sister and I were just talking about going down for a long weekend. If we did, I think we would hit up Legoland (although nephew13 might not want to go). I need to do some research

That is funny. If we got 12 inches of snow here, school would be cancelled for at least 3 days.

We don't get "big" snows here very often..... usually just a few inches at a time.

I wish we didn't have big snows! Last year was horrible. We started in November and I think by Christmas we had over 40 inches total. It was like 6 months of snow & made a lot of people question why we live here lol. We don't seem to see the sun much either during the winter. That's one of the reasons DH and I are consideing moving...south!!

We have a requirement of 180 days of school. We only have 2 snow make up days built into our school calendar and they are both days with our Easter break. So, the schools try really hard not to cancel, or we'll have no break for Easter. They sometimes do close if there's ice. If we happened to go over our 2 built in days, we have to add days at the end of the year. I think we did have 2 cancellations last year and one was when we were at Disney at the beginning of February. We had bad ice. I was glad to miss it and be in my capris and t-shirt! Right now, we have no snow and all the bands are to our north. I hope it stays this way!!

Jill

 

[frndshpcptn]

Someone else answered this too but thought I'd give my 2 cents worth.....

Baby spinach or regular spinach leaves are not crispy, they are soft.
No sweet taste, just a flavorful "greens" taste. It's a good combo with a crispy lettuce. It just gives another layer of flavor. You should try it!

Thanks! I'm defintiely going to try it this week. We have really good "build your own salad" places near my office, so will pop into one and give it a go!