Weight-Loss Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread

[bikinibound]

Heather I checked out your pics. Keep up the great work!

Well, I managed to get in a 40 minute walk in between rain showers today. And even more impressive I managed (so far) not to eat any junk food. Well, there really isn't any in the house (I ate it all) iggy: so that makes it a lot easier.

LOL - Now - if it had been you or me we would have been straight on the scales the minute that we were cleaned up - to see if we were down a pound or two.

Probably!!

 

[Omega]

Well, I managed to get in a 40 minute walk in between rain showers today.

Well done for getting in the walk. The weather can get in the way of walking...

Since we came home early I have managed to get my walk done Thursday, Friday and Saturday in dry pleasant weather. Thursday afternoon we did nothing after the journey the day before - and the sun shone. On Friday afternoon we decided that since Rod was still off work we would go to a National Trust place. Within a minute of getting through the gate (flashing membership cards so thankfully not paying extra for the visit) it started to rain. Not just a little bit - but torrential rain. We were drenched before we reached the house. After the house we came straight home. No walking with Rod! Saturday afternoon we did nothing after the rain and because we were going out on the evening - and the sun shone again...

And even more impressive I managed (so far) not to eat any junk food. Well, there really isn't any in the house (I ate it all) iggy: so that makes it a lot easier.

Well done with the junk food. It is a lot easier if we do not have it in the house. Unfortunately Rod likes some things that would definitely be classed as junk food (and he does the shopping and makes last minute additions to the shopping list) so there is often some in the house.

Going out is always a bit tricky for me. We got out of the danger zone last night by not staying out too long. Luckily it did not involve a meal which is always the biggest temptation. I just had diet coke and no crisps... I know that diet coke is not the healthiest thing in the world - but luckily I am not classing it as junk...

 

[Cord the Seeker]

Well, no surprises, I go back to work again and my eating is almost perfectly on track.

Hit all of my challenge targets, kept within my caloric budget even. Felt good, although I am hungry right now. I think I have become used to taking in more calories over the past couple of weeks.

This is helping to make up for yesterday, where I binged a bit (okay, a lot). Bought a bag of chips (crisps) and ate half of them. Ate two chocolate doughnuts. Had a scone with cream, and half a slice of chocolate cake. Decadence abounded.
Now, they were the healthiest chips I could find, without going to baked chips which I dislike. These were vegan, had relatively low fat (less than half your average chip) and calories - pretty good actually. And even made locally right here in BC.
But still - c'mon, they're chips.
These were the first chips I had eaten in 5 months. I think I had to get it out of my system and eat some.

 

[San2]

I know I'm late with this, but I just went and checked the pictures and woha....there is certainly a difference! Good job, keep going! And get a new bathing suit, because after all the hard work, you want to show that you lost the weight and not hide it in a baggy swimsuit. I would keep the suit though, so one day you can look at it and think 'I REALLY used to wear that?'

I've done that with a pair of pants just recently. I used to wear a size 32+ (UK size), and those pants would be tight. Now I am wearing 18/20....I still don't see a difference in the mirror, but I certainly saw the difference when I tried the 32 pants this morning! *lol*

Anyway, I haven't updated my scoresheet yet, but will do so in a minute. Not that there is much to update, I did exceptionally bad last week. For the challenge, that is. I lost q bit of weight and finally managed to drop my BMI under 35, but not in the healthiest of ways, that's for sure.

I'm back to eating somewhat normal though now, not sure what was up with that last week....*shrug*

Anyway, hope everybody is still going strong and losing it.... Or, well, maintaining it for that matter. I always forget that not everybody is as dead set on losing weight as I am...sorry!!

 

[Omega]

Well, no surprises, I go back to work again and my eating is almost perfectly on track.

Hit all of my challenge targets, kept within my caloric budget even. Felt good, although I am hungry right now. I think I have become used to taking in more calories over the past couple of weeks.

This is helping to make up for yesterday, where I binged a bit (okay, a lot). Bought a bag of chips (crisps) and ate half of them. Ate two chocolate doughnuts. Had a scone with cream, and half a slice of chocolate cake. Decadence abounded.
Now, they were the healthiest chips I could find, without going to baked chips which I dislike. These were vegan, had relatively low fat (less than half your average chip) and calories - pretty good actually. And even made locally right here in BC.
But still - c'mon, they're chips.
These were the first chips I had eaten in 5 months. I think I had to get it out of my system and eat some.

Well done for getting back on track. We all have these moments when we are our own worst enemy. I have no idea why I do it - so doubt that anyone does. All we can do is try to make it a rare event - forgive ourselves for not being perfect (reminding ourself that no-one is) and get back on track ASAP.

Remind yourself that you certainly didnt get to be big by having a bag of crisps every 5 months - or for that matter doughnuts and the rest... The calorie surplus over the time frame is very little - just you did it all at once.

Fortunately we tend to do very little long term damage by such incidents. We tend to get a temporary gain - but that quickly disappears.

You did brilliantly in keeping within your calories the next day. Be proud of this accomplishment.

 

[Omega]

I've done that with a pair of pants just recently. I used to wear a size 32+ (UK size), and those pants would be tight. Now I am wearing 18/20....I still don't see a difference in the mirror, but I certainly saw the difference when I tried the 32 pants this morning! *lol*

I used to wear size 32 too. LOL - The old us could have shared clothes... Evans' loss is our health's gain. (Evans has almost a monopoly on clothes that size in England - it is a joy to be able to buy clothes elsewhere).

Anyway, I haven't updated my scoresheet yet, but will do so in a minute.

I havent got round to doing the sums yet....

I lost q bit of weight and finally managed to drop my BMI under 35, but not in the healthiest of ways, that's for sure.

That is worth celebrating - however it came about. That takes you down into a different BMI category and that is how the medical fraternity judge our state of health. No-one would have suggested that you did it to lose weight - but since you were ill and it happened to you - you may as well get the bonus out of the situation.

I'm back to eating somewhat normal though now, not sure what was up with that last week....*shrug*

I am so pleased to hear that you are eating more normally again. Our bodies appreciate the rocket fuel style food that we give it. It allows us to exercise at a level that really help us to permanently lose weight.

Anyway, hope everybody is still going strong and losing it.... Or, well, maintaining it for that matter. I always forget that not everybody is as dead set on losing weight as I am...sorry!!

Dont apologise.... I could certainly do with losing a few pounds. After a difficult July and August my weight is hovering in the most upper part of my zone. I am certainly pounds heavier than I was on DAY ONE of this challenge. Based on today's weighing I am outside my SW zone.

 

[Cord the Seeker]

Well, it appears that every good day has to be followed by a bad day.

Yesterday sucked beyond the telling of it. I ate so poorly I was embarrassed to admit to it. But, I gotta man up.

My daughter's friend had a birthday party, and there was a barbecue. I ate a hot dog, 1.5 hamburgers, a large quantity of snack mix, and 2 slices of ice cream cake.

Now, my policy is that, while I will strive to eat well most of the time, on special occasions (like parties, holidays, weddings etc) I am going to enjoy myself and not fret about my food (although still attempt to control myself and not go crazy binging). I don't want to be one of those people who go to a party or are a dinner guest and say "oh, no, I can't eat those, they have X in them". I want to be able to smile, say "thank you" and have a small but reasonable portion of whatever.
But yesterday went way beyond that. I felt ill afterwards.

Compensated by eating nothing but salad and grapes for the rest of the evening, but damage was done.

To compound matters, my body has been telling me I need a break, so I didn't do any serious workout, just a few sets of pushups and some squats and crunches.

Today is a new day, but I wish I could have more than one good day in a row without immediately blowing it. Is it self-sabotage?

 

[Omega]

Well, it appears that every good day has to be followed by a bad day.

Yesterday sucked beyond the telling of it. I ate so poorly I was embarrassed to admit to it. But, I gotta man up.

My daughter's friend had a birthday party, and there was a barbecue. I ate a hot dog, 1.5 hamburgers, a large quantity of snack mix, and 2 slices of ice cream cake.

Now, my policy is that, while I will strive to eat well most of the time, on special occasions (like parties, holidays, weddings etc) I am going to enjoy myself and not fret about my food (although still attempt to control myself and not go crazy binging). I don't want to be one of those people who go to a party or are a dinner guest and say "oh, no, I can't eat those, they have X in them". I want to be able to smile, say "thank you" and have a small but reasonable portion of whatever.
But yesterday went way beyond that. I felt ill afterwards.

Compensated by eating nothing but salad and grapes for the rest of the evening, but damage was done.

To compound matters, my body has been telling me I need a break, so I didn't do any serious workout, just a few sets of pushups and some squats and crunches.

Today is a new day, but I wish I could have more than one good day in a row without immediately blowing it. Is it self-sabotage?

I think that you are right to go to parties and have some of the food on offer - whatever the weight implications. None of us want to lose our friends because we have turned into a party-pooper. Anyway - we will have to deal with celebrations when we get to goal (unless we plan on opting out of anything fun involving food for the rest of our lives). We might as well learn how to deal with those situations on the way down - we are in a eating and general lifestyle learning process after all.

We all aspire to that reasonable portion accepted angelically and enjoyed without going mad - but doing it can be really hard. At least you have a party and yummy food temptation as an excuse....

As to whether it is self-sabotage - it may well be. But only in the human way that we all act. None of us are perfect and we do eat badly at times. My weight is up and I have been overeating on fruit for the last couple of days. We bought some boxes of fruit before we travelled back from Newcastle at the wholesalers. They are such bargains that no-one could resist them. Well I have been digging in and eating extra fruit - because it was there and looking at me!!!! It seems such a waste to let it go rotten - and it is all healthy stuff - full of vitamins and nutrients. But the bottom line is that it is all extra calories and eating extra calories makes my weight go up...

 

[thecabbie]

Well, after my week of hell last week, I kind of let my hair down over the weekend.

BBQ on Saturday, not a lot of healthy choices, including, shockingly enough, cheesecake - Margaret must have put a hex on me with that one... There were three liquor based versions that the plant manager made. Baileys, and Godiva white and dark chocolate liquors.

Sunday night we went to the hotel & Casino, yeah, buffet dinner. Never a good choice with my lack of self control.

Monday I finally started to pull out of my spiral, with a family bbq at the summer house. Still probably ate too much, the only saving grace was that the choices were much better quality choices.

Today I'm finally turned all around and back on track. My points have been updated from last week and the beginning of this week. I'm short on exercise time because of my weekend of debauchery also. I appear to have gained a few lbs as well, but we'll see if that settles out once the week rolls along.

 

[Omega]

BBQ on Saturday, not a lot of healthy choices, including, shockingly enough, cheesecake - Margaret must have put a hex on me with that one... There were three liquor based versions that the plant manager made. Baileys, and Godiva white and dark chocolate liquors.

Oh my God!!!!! What a wonderful host! Not helpful for weight loss - but - frankly - who could resist that!!!!!!

Did you know that there has been research that says that people eat more if there is more variety - they want to try each thing on offer... It was basically geared towards why people hit extra dangers with things like buffets. With THREE wonderful sounding cheesecakes - I think that you all know which person would have been wanting three big bits of cheesecake.... There are times when I am NOT a good example!!!!!

 

[thecabbie]

The plant manager was a food service manager at one time, and had actually gone to school for culinary arts. He got burned out on the food industry so he made a switch. Cooking is still a hobby though and sometimes he cooks for the supervisors and engineers as a holiday thank you. He is very very good at it.

I agree, and did in fact have a sliver of all three varieties of cheesecake. Along with some other things that were absolutely terrible for me. And all washed down with too much Belgian white ale...

Sigh... Back on track. I did a 27.5 mile bike ride, hit the gym for a killer weight session, and did some meal replacement with greek yogurt yesterday and today. I'm hoping for some water weight to go away also from the weekend as well. I'll know soon enough how much damage I did.

 

[Omega]

I have just posted the week 8 scores in the scoresheet thread. I suspect that Cerella has missed of a couple of things though - and there is no posting from CharllieEmma so I suspect that it will be subject to some changes....

challenge to date (weeks 1 to 7)
....................................prev...wk7...t ot
Omega...........................425 + 110 = 535
Bikinibound..................... 357 + 078 = 435
San.............................. 283 + 084 = 367
Cord the seeker.............. 335 + 080 = 415
Charlieemma................... 379 + 080 = 459
Momma4alex................... 222 + 068 = 290
Reluctantcabbie.............. 408 + 100 = 508
Kyoropaladin................... 010 + 000 = 010
Othie............................. 040 + 000 = 040
Swankychap................... 056 + 000 = 056
Solty............................. 307 + 055 = 362
Cinderelly........................209.5 + 045 = 254.5
Lisajacobs.......................022 + 000 = 022


Totals for week 8 only - only showing those reported

Omega........................... 40 + 14 + 10 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 6 + 7 + 3 + 7 + 10 = 118
Bikinibound..................... 06 + 14 + 06 + 1 + 5 + 7 + 4 + 7 + 7 + 3 + 02 = 062
San.............................. 07 + 14 + 12 + 7 + 2 + 4 + 3 + 7 + 7 + 4 + 06 = 073
Cord the seeker.............. 31 + 08 + 00 + 1 + 4 + 0 + 0 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 00 = 053
Momma4alex................... 40 + 12 + 10 + 0 + 2 + 7 + 0 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 00 = 092
Reluctantcabbie.............. 38 + 12 + 14 + 6 + 7 + 7 + 6 + 6 + 7 + 7 + 06 = 116
Solty............................. 22 + 10 + 10 + 1 + 6 + 4 + 3 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 02 = 074
Cinderelly....................... 18 + 00 + 00 + 0 + 5 + 5 + 0 + 0 + 5 + 5 + 06 = 044

challenge to date (weeks 1 to 8)
....................................prev...wk8...t ot
Omega...........................535 + 118 = 653
Bikinibound..................... 435 + 062 = 497
San.............................. 367 + 073 = 440
Cord the seeker.............. 415 + 053 = 468
Charlieemma................... 459 + 000 = 459
Momma4alex................... 290 + 092 = 382
Reluctantcabbie.............. 508 + 116 = 624
Kyoropaladin................... 010 + 000 = 010
Othie............................. 040 + 000 = 040
Swankychap................... 056 + 000 = 056
Solty............................. 362 + 074 = 436
Cinderelly........................254.5 + 044 = 298.5
Lisajacobs.......................022 + 000 = 022


Let me know if you spot any of my mistakes.

 

[Cord the Seeker]

Wow - I'm doing so bad these days, really falling apart.

At least the exercise is continuing to go well, so that mitigates the damage a little.

I wish I knew why I'm doing this - it is like I don't remember how to eat well anymore. What the hell happened?
My next weigh-in is going to be either delayed or really wonky, due to work. Either I have to defer it to next week sometime, or I have to go after work, when I am going to weigh pretty high, since I usually weigh-in before eating.

Great that other folks have been doing so well. It helps me keep on trying.

 

[Omega]

Karl - I kind of got diverted by the cheesecake in your first post – it meant that I ignored the rest…. I think that you should be congratulating yourself on having three slivers – as I said – I would have gone for three big bits…

We all deserve to let our hair down at times. This is a project that lasts for life – not one of those diets that last x weeks (or until you abandon it because you let your hair down).

Sunday night we went to the hotel & Casino, yeah, buffet dinner. Never a good choice with my lack of self control.

We all show a little lack of self control on trips away. The main thing was that you deserved a break – you worked extra hard to make it happen – and that you enjoyed it. It is not so much what you do on the short trip away that counts – compared to what happens when you are at home…

Monday I finally started to pull out of my spiral, with a family bbq at the summer house. Still probably ate too much, the only saving grace was that the choices were much better quality choices.

Getting back on track and making much better quality choices is a good and positive move. A move to be proud of.

Today I'm finally turned all around and back on track. My points have been updated from last week and the beginning of this week. I'm short on exercise time because of my weekend of debauchery also. I appear to have gained a few lbs as well, but we'll see if that settles out once the week rolls along.

Sigh... Back on track. I did a 27.5 mile bike ride, hit the gym for a killer weight session, and did some meal replacement with greek yogurt yesterday and today. I'm hoping for some water weight to go away also from the weekend as well. I'll know soon enough how much damage I did.

It is good to hear that you are back on track. You might have missed some exercise over the weekend – but it certainly sounds like you are making up for it now.

Greek yoghurt is really yummy with fruit. When I was in Greece I used to eat it with local honey… I haven’t had that in ages – but maybe I will be able to start phasing stuff like that back in as an occasional treat. I really like the Total 0% - but don’t have it too often as I am absolutely hooked on freezing Shape yoghurts at the minute. I am still having four every day.

I would say that there is a good chance of the water weight going down soon for you. You are drinking your water and that always helps. I don’t think that you will have done any damage worth talking about regarding the big picture. We all get day to day fluctuations and they are always more pronounced if we let our hair down. Getting straight back on track means that no real damage is ever done.

 

[Omega]

Wow - I'm doing so bad these days, really falling apart.

At least the exercise is continuing to go well, so that mitigates the damage a little.

I wish I knew why I'm doing this - it is like I don't remember how to eat well anymore. What the hell happened?
My next weigh-in is going to be either delayed or really wonky, due to work. Either I have to defer it to next week sometime, or I have to go after work, when I am going to weigh pretty high, since I usually weigh-in before eating.

Great that other folks have been doing so well. It helps me keep on trying.

I have always said that whatever happens with my food - I am having a good day on project if I have done my long walk - i.e. if my exercise is going well. If my food is good then I am having a great day on project... Try not to think of things as really falling apart - more a case of a short run of good days in among a whole load of great days. The results back up this concept.

It is not days like you are having (that you classed as bad days / falling apart) that gave you the weight problem that you are addressing. You have to remember that even on your worst day - you are being positively angelic compared to your former self.

I know that you do know how to eat well. Scoresheets show that you have had days very recently when you have hit all your nutritional targets. Most people even on this forum with all the information at their fingertips do not even attempt to hit half of them. They come nowhere close to it and are not even aware that they are off track. In the outside world - the vast majority of people are even further off track. We aim for some sort of "nutritional perfection". That doesnt mean that things are too bad if we are a little off here and there. We should just feel good about the areas that are on track. Maybe aim to do a little better the next day or the next week. I didnt beat myself up about the four days running that I didnt have my water last week - I just accepted that I was letting it slip...

When are you able to get a reasonably fair and valid weighing? I am not great at getting the admin side of things done and am happy to hold off totting up the final scores (which involve a weight element) until people feel that they are ready. Before reading your posting I was pretty much ready to say that I would be happy for people to post their weight from Friday, Saturday or Sunday and for them to select the best weight that they could. I know how we all experience day to day fluctuations which can vary a fair bit. Let me know so I can issue a formal announcement of when the final scoresheets and weights have to be logged. That goes for anyone with a similar weighing problem.

I will not be getting a final weight that shows me in any sort of a good light. My weight is pounds heavier than I weighed at the start of the challenge. Between celebrations and the holiday season - my weight is not good but I suppose that it could be worse.

 

[bikinibound]

OMG that cheesecake sounds yummy! I know i would've sampled all three as well.

I know all too well the issues of not eating well. For some reason I can't seem to get the discipline I used to have. Not even dh shaving his beard off has motivated me. I think he's going to be buried sporting it the rate i'm going.

I used to be able to eat somewhat naughtily and still maintain as long as I kept up with the exercise. But I am 8lbs heavier than when this challenge started.

Today I had a day-long con ed class that had trays and trays of danishes, cakes and muffins. I had 2 danishes, 2 muffins and 2 slices of cake over the course of the morning afternoon--that doesn't include the boxed lunch provided which had a brownie as well. serious carb overload today. iggy:

At least I have eaten fairly well this evening, but will be missing my veg requirement today. Did eat an apple and a banana.

On a positive note, I took a 3 mile walk tonight. I left May at my parent's house and went by myself for the first time since she was born. I wanted to see what my pace was without pushing a stroller (which really slows me down). I was pleased that I did the 3 miles in 48min, which puts it at a 16min mile--pretty much the same pace I usually did pre-preg. So that made me happy. I even jogged for about a 1/4 mile before I had to stop--not bc I was out of breath, but bc the nursing tank I was wearing doesn't give me enough support for that kind of vigorous exercise..lol. Bouncing boobs can be painful! Anyway, I was happy that I could jog like that and might have to do more of it when I have better boob support.

 

[Omega]

OMG that cheesecake sounds yummy!

It does too...

Not even dh shaving his beard off has motivated me. I think he's going to be buried sporting it the rate i'm going.

LOL - You will get that motivation back. There is no way that you want him wearing that for ever...

I am 8lbs heavier than when this challenge started.

I am just hoping that I get some sort of reduction over the next few days. My weight is embarrassingly high too! Yet again I couldnt go to Slimming World this week because I didnt want to have to start paying again.

Today I had a day-long con ed class that had trays and trays of danishes, cakes and muffins. I had 2 danishes, 2 muffins and 2 slices of cake over the course of the morning afternoon--that doesn't include the boxed lunch provided which had a brownie as well. serious carb overload today. iggy:

At least I have eaten fairly well this evening, but will be missing my veg requirement today. Did eat an apple and a banana.

Carbs are such a danger area for so many people... The Slimming World Extra Easy plan limits people to two slices of bread like nimble which is designed for weight control or 28g of a healthy cereal or one cereal bar per day - or two weetabix. I used to have to get my third weetabix and any honey shreddies out of my syns allowance which is designed for sauces and treats. Even the carbs that feel less junky need to be watched...

Well done for turning it around and getting back to eating healthier in the evening. We have been good friends for a very long time now and I know that you know every bit as much about nutrition as I do - and that like me you normally try to apply as many of the rules as possible. It is hard when we watch ourselves doing something which we know is detrimental to our weight loss and general nutrition.

On a positive note, I took a 3 mile walk tonight. I left May at my parent's house and went by myself for the first time since she was born. I wanted to see what my pace was without pushing a stroller (which really slows me down). I was pleased that I did the 3 miles in 48min, which puts it at a 16min mile--pretty much the same pace I usually did pre-preg. So that made me happy. I even jogged for about a 1/4 mile before I had to stop--not bc I was out of breath, but bc the nursing tank I was wearing doesn't give me enough support for that kind of vigorous exercise..lol. Bouncing boobs can be painful! Anyway, I was happy that I could jog like that and might have to do more of it when I have better boob support.

Well done for getting the exercise in. Whilst I know that you adore having May with you so much - it would be great to exercise solo for a change. That is a great speed that you hit - I always slow down if I havent done my top speed for a while (when the treadmill is out of action for a while - I have to run it a bit slower when I get back to it).

I hear you regarding the bouncing boobs. I swear that I sometimes have thought myself in danger of knocking myself out in some aerobics classes - and that is with the most supportive bra available on the market in this damned enormous size (30HH). I still havent dared to jog yet (LOL - not out of the mindset that it could kill me) - the bouncing boobs notion sounds another good excuse for me to not give it a go yet...

Speaking of which - I have my hospital appointment for next Friday to go and show them my boobs!!!!! I hope that it all goes smoothly. I fully anticipate another stressful day - which based on my track record means a less than angelic food day...

 

[thecabbie]

Bouncing boobs can be painful! Anyway, I was happy that I could jog like that and might have to do more of it when I have better boob support.

I hear you regarding the bouncing boobs. I swear that I sometimes have thought myself in danger of knocking myself out in some aerobics classes - and that is with the most supportive bra available on the market in this damned enormous size (30HH). I still havent dared to jog yet (LOL - not out of the mindset that it could kill me) - the bouncing boobs notion sounds another good excuse for me to not give it a go yet...

I have decided, for purely altruistic reasons of course, that I would be happy to assist. I shall just run along with you two and help support you in whatever way you may need. Why let large breasts get in the way of your health after all?

Nope, no need to thank me... That's just the kind of helpful guy I am...

 

[Omega]

I have decided, for purely altruistic reasons of course, that I would be happy to assist. I shall just run along with you two and help support you in whatever way you may need. Why let large breasts get in the way of your health after all?

Nope, no need to thank me... That's just the kind of helpful guy I am...

LOL What a perfect gentleman you are! How could any large breasted lady refuse such a kind offer!

 

[bikinibound]

LOL Karl!! That just goes to show that chivalry is not dead!