Dr.Phil's Valentine's Day Challenge

[e.mccoy]

Hello Everyone out there in dr phil land. Iwas just wondering if anyone was up to challenging themselves. I thought It would be fun to initiate a valentines day challenge.


My Personal Challenge

1.Lose 10 pounds by 2/14/2005

[teresamoton]

Hi,
I think it's a good idea to get a challenge going for Valentine's Day. I'm in!
It seems like I'm stuck in a rut, and this challenge is just the jumpstart I need!
My challenge is to lose 12 lbs. by VD. I hope to be at least 249
lbs. by then. Good luck to all!!!

[Jacque]

My Mini Challange to myself is to lose my first 15 pounds by Valentines day and be down to 215 :D!

[Redskirt1]

Hey, I am new here, but I am in! I love a challenge, and this is just the thing to get my butt in gear!

[MistySeptember]

Hello all! It's good to be back!

I missed my Christmas goal by about 4 pounds. I ended up in the ER a couple times and had sort of emergency gallbladder surgery on the 27th. Since then I have been pretty miserable, but hey I've lost 6 pounds lol. I am now two pounds below what my Christmas goal was. I am hoping that despite the rapid and unhealthy loss I've had I will be able to keep it off and continue to lose. My next mid term goal is to be down to 180 by my birthdya on March 21. I am chosing a farily small goal b/c I need a confidence boost and don't want to miss like I did at Christmas.

To help keep me on track I would LOVE to join your valentines day challenge. I am going to aim to lose just 8 pounds. That's about half way time and weight wise to my mid term goal of 180 by the 21st of March.

We can do this, I look forward to the challenge!

[Jen]

I am in for this challenge. As of today (Jan 5) it is 40 days til VD. So how much do I think I could lose in that time?? I really, really want to get under 200 lbs. It is probably really unrealistic to think I can lose 29 lbs in 40 days but I'm going to shoot for losing as much weight as I can. If I lose 5 lbs I'll be happy and not think that I've failed. I've been sick a lot in the past few month, had pneumonia twice and that has not helped as I've not been able to get to the gym and I've had pity parties for myself because I don't feel well and eaten too much. So I'm really back to cracking back on my diet and I'm getting back to the gym tomorrow!!!

[overweightlady]

:) Hello!! I would love to join in on the VD challenge.
I really need some support. I lost 20 lbs in the fall of 2004 and have gained 13 back. I went on vacation and X-mas and just ate and ate. :moo:
Can anyone give me the daily support I need?
I am 34 yrs old and a sahm of 3 girls.
Amy

Starting weight 213.00 8/03
current weight 185.00
goal 130.00

[MistySeptember]

hey there Jen! I'm glad you are feeling better! Being sick is such a drag! Especially something as persistent and awful as pneumonia. I know that now that you are feeling better you will get right back on track. I read your other post in the chapter discussions. Lunch has always been a hard one for me as well. I find that if I plan ahead and know what I am having I can sort of control the binging. I really enjoy frozen low fat meals. They are high in sodium, but I still enjoy them. I stock up when they go on sale. Michelina's (spelling?) had lean gourmet on sale for 99 cents recently. I often add frozen veggies to beef up the volume of food. I leave room in my plan for 1 cup of fat free or low fat icecream in the evening if I want it and 1 bag of 94% FF popcorn, the entire bag is 2 points and I can never finish it all.

Welcome Amy! How old are your girls? I am a SAHM of dd who is 20 months and ds who is 4 months. I found alot of support here on this forum during the CHirstmas Challenge and the chapter "revisited" discussions. I can see by the 20 pounds you lost before you know how to get it done :) Plus look on the bright side most people who lose weight and gain it back usually drag along a coule extra pounds in addition to those we lost, you kept your gain to only 13! I am sure we can support each other through this challenge and beyond.

Well DH is home today...incredible long story but I may feel the need to vent about it later...so I guess I should stop punishing him and go take the kids. Have a wonderful day :)
~Misty

[krissyp77]

Hello Ladies,

I'm up for a challenge as well. I have challenged myself to 6lb lost by the end of January, so i figured ill shoot for a 9lb lost for Valentine's.
Right now i'm trying to count calories...thinking about what i eat before i eat it...

[overweightlady]

:) Hello! I did read your Christmas Challenge and I thought you all could help me also. My daughters are 6 (7 on mar 21), 5 and 16 months. We have had snow days the last 2 days and they are driving me nuts.
I was doing so good yesterday until supper. I just ate and ate.
Then I even had about 8 twix miniatures later. :devil: :devil:
Today so far so good.
My dh got me a Dr. Phil calender that your rip off each day
here is his quote for today
"In order for you to overcome your weight challenges, you have to first know exactly where you are starting"
When I do walk on the treadmill, I listen to his book on Cd.
That does inspire me but....I just need to make more time to do that.
Back in the fall I would get up at 5AM and walk, before my kids got up for school.
I can't seem to do that anymore. I am so exhausted, I know it is because I put some weight back on (excuses, excuses)
I just need to tell myself to just do it, I guess?
I am going to set my Vd challenge as 6 lbs. There I did it!!
I usually weigh in on Tuesday mornings, When do you all weigh in?
Talk to you all later!!
Amy

[cindyjg]

Hi have not been on in along time. Yes i am up to the challenge by V-DAY. I love all the icons on the messages, were do you get them all. I really need to get all this weight of, if I dont I wont be here next year. Hope you all can help me on my journey. :moo: :moo: :coach:

[jgirl1029]

hi i am a newbie but the challenge sounds like a great idea. I currently and am overweight and have kept myself in seclusion due to my weight gain. I just joined the gym last sunday and have made it their almost every day. A challenge is just what i need to keep me going :tread:

BW 181
CW 179
Valentines Weight 170
GW 135

:cb:

[overweightlady]

:) Hi all!! I have had an ok weekend so far!! I seem to be having trouble getting my water in though!! That is the most important thing!!
I am going to go on the treadmill as soon as I get off, that is a start!!
Does anyone have Dr. Phil's cookbook? I am trying to decide if I want to buy it or not!!
Chat with you all tomorrow!!
Amy

[MistySeptember]

Good morning ladies!!!

After have my gall bladder out on the 27th I was really sick. I could barley eat for almost two weeks. I was finally able to eat and boy did I!!!! SO after a weekend of binging I weighed in at a half pound gain since my last weigh in on Monday. (I try to weigh in as soon as I get up on Mondays). But really I am ok with that b/c my body is going to need a bit of time to balance out. I am back on track today and feeling good.

Krissy- Welcome! Do you like counting calories? I have been doing WW for so long and it seems to be working, but it's a lot of calculating and stuff I have been wondering if just counting calories would be easier.

Amy- Your daughter and I share a birthday :) I have been trying for months to get up at 5 am to hit the treadmill, so I'm having trouble with that also. My plan right now is to aim for 6:30, then after i get that down I'll try 6 and so on until I can do it at 5. In college I was up at dawn everyday, not your typical college student lol. Sounds like your are working hard though, your weekend sounds liek it went well and your were on your way to exercise and you are right that is a sart. A GREAT start in my opinion.

Cindy- It's great you came back! Welcome!

Jgirl- Welcome! Coming here is a first step to opening yourself up to others. Soon you won't let your weight hold you back from life. It's great you are here!!!

Well ladies have a great day! I am trying to get back into my normal routine despite the fatc the DH is home until the 20th,s o hopefully I will be able to check in more often. I like to come here when I feel the urge to binge. It's great, lots of motivating ideas!!! Maybe I should have done that this weekend LOL!!

~Misty

[krissyp77]

Good Morning all,

Misty- i don't mind counting cals. It's really motivating to have the whole week on paper right in front of you.(if your doing good, that is). I usually slack a bit on the weekends. I don't binge or anything, but i let the cals slide up a bit. I figure it give my body a bit of a break as well. Im pretty strick on the weekdays. Nothing fried or greasy. I usually just cook chicken breast or fish. In the oven, or on the george foreman grill. So i need to look for some alternatives before i get sick of chicken....Any body know of any good sites with healthy receipes??

[Gitterdone]

Hello, I'm joining the bandwagon of a Valentines goal. I want to lose 8 lbs by 2/14/04. I am going to be going off the rapid start plan in one week, so I know the weight isn't going to keep comming off this quickly. I cheated yesturday too, so this little challenge could really do me good.

[mgreen95]

Hi everyone.
I was wondering if it is to late to join the challenge. I started the rapid start plan last week and have lost 5 pounds. ;) I would like to lose another 5-10 pounds by Valentines day and would love to be included in the challenge.
Mary

[e.mccoy]

Welcome To all the newcomers,

We are glad to have you all. Well I did well today despite trying to get out of it :devil: I execised for 45 minutes today. I just had to kick myself in the butt and say Just do it. I feel really good though. My workout consisted of 2 miles on the elliptical (done in 30 minutes :D ) :tread: 15 minutes of strength training and 100 crunches :cheer: I am so proud of myself.

I really need to hit this VD goal because I didn't come anywhere near my christmas goal. And that was totally embarassing. But today is a new day. So I hope that everyone is having a great day.

[overweightlady]

:) Hello everyone!!
I weighed in this morning and lost 4 lbs. :dancer:
I think I actually have this in my head now what to do.
I feel so much better after time on the treadmill.
I don't think I could do 100 crunches, but hey it is a start.
That is great on your exercises!!!! :dance:
I love having more people join, it just tells me there are others out there in the same boat as me!! Welcome!!!
My kids had a snow day AGAIN, THEY ARE DRIVING ME NUTS!!!
Chat with you all later!!
Amy

[heatherb]

Yes!
I would love to join the V-day challenge.
I'm hoping to loose my first 10 lbs by v-day.
I've laready lost 5..so I'm half-way to my first goal! :)

[MistySeptember]

Good morning all!!

It's been a rough couple days for me. I'm still not on track with my eating, last night I ate a bunch of tuna casserole and the whole time was thinking "I don't even like this!"

I was all set to get back on track after my surgery. But a ton of stuff has happened with DH's job. SO he's been home, my schedule is off and I was so stressed out. We can't afford for him to be off work. Luckily Dh has a new job starting tomarrow. In the meantime my eating has been crazy. I haven't exercised and all this from a girl who didn't consider herself am emotional eater! LOL.

Krissy- I wish I could help with the recipe thing but I too am searching for new ideas. My problem is DH who won't eat anything new, he's worse than a picky child LOL.

I am thinking of switching to straight up calorie counting. I do WW on my own. I journal everything I eat. But sometimes trying to calculate the points gets annoying. I get 24 points per day and 35 flex points to use as I choose. I usually try to save them for the weekend in case we go out or something. I went to the website for the 24 ounces of milk in 24 hours campaign. They have lots of information and stuff and they calculated my caloirc needs in order to lose 1 pounds per week to be about 1600 per day. The Points plan puts me in the right range. But it's ALOT of calculating, but then again I have been doing it so long that I know the points of many foods I eat. I'd have to learn the calories and such for things that aren't labeled ie) meats and fresh fruits and veggies. I like points b/c I can eat whatever my family is eating I just eat a Points appropriate portion. So I guess in the end I am really counting caloried b/c that is one parameter of points, but I am looking for something new something I can maybe remotivate myself with. But not some kind of crazy fad or crash diet.

My biggest dilema with points I guess is this: I have read the research and I would like to try getting in 24 ouces of milk perday. Growing up my crazy parents would not allow me to drink milk. They said it was too expensive and any milk in the house was strictly for thier morning tea and cooking. So I am afraid of the consequences of years of inaddequate calcium. But 3 cups of skim milk is 6 points exactly 1/4 of my daily points. Would you find that by including 3 cups of skim milk into your normal day that it would take up 25% of your alloted calories? DH told me to drink the milk b/c I need it and just not count it towards my points, but I don't think that is a good idea b/c then I am increasing my intake by 25%. Perhaps I am just having trouble adjusting to the lower points range and I have to face the fact that I can't eat that much.

I guess I just need to suck it up and eat alot less. DH eats stuff like mac and cheese and hamburger helper. 1 cup of Kraft mac and cheese is 9 points, that to me is not WORTH it. It's certainly not a food that Dr. Phil would apporve. (I get high and low response and yeild all mixed up, I nee dto reread that chapter, so I'm not sure which mac and cheese is). I think of foods in terms of being worth the points, just like if a peice of clothing or a car is worth the money.

Oh well. I'll get it figured out LOL. Thanks for letting me vent I am feeling super overwhelmed. But also scared, I am under 200 for the first time in I think 8 or 9 years and I am so afraid I will see 200 again.

Have a good day all!!!
~Misty

[Jen]

Misty, there is a Mac and Cheese recipe in Dr. Phil's cookbook. 1 serving counts as a low fat dairy product, 1 starchy carbohydrate and 1 non starchy vegetable. If you want the recipe I will gladly type it out for you. Basically it is fat free milk and cheese, whole wheat macaroni, spices and artichoke hearts. Now I've never had an artichoke heart in my life so I'm not too sure about that one, obviously he is trying to get some kind of veggie into it, I'd be more inclined to throw in some broccoli as I think that would go better with the cheese. But it might be worth it to try an artichoke heart. Has anyone had them before? What I like about his plan is that you aren't counting anything really all you have to worry about is portion sizes. I went mental trying to count calories and even counting points could be a right pain. Also what I didn't like about counting anything is that it doesn't really take into account what you are actually eating. Like you could be eating the most unhealthy food and stay within your points or calories but you aren't doing your body any good. At least with dr. phil if you are having a starchy carb it has to be something that is whole grained so at least you know you are getting something with a little fiber and hopefully better for you than anything made with white flour. Well that's my whole take on it anyway. Just save me from having to count anything!

[overweightlady]

:) Misty, You can only take it one day at a time.
I have read Dr. Phil's book 2 times, plus have listened to it in Cd 2x.
I am still a impulse eater. I just can't get that chapter right.
But, all I do is watch what I eat and exercise, and it does seem to come off a little at a time. I don't count points or calories either.
I don't journal either, it gets me too stressed out. My family has to eat what I cook, so I don't make Mac & Cheese anymore, they all seem to be getting along fine. Maybe some gripes or two but I say, Oh well.
I have for my kids, bought those microwave Mac and cheese, that way I am not tempted to eat the rest out of the pan. It might be a little more expensive but, it helps me alot. Our Sam's Club has a big box that really doesn't cost too much.
I know what you mean abot those darn holidays, they through me off whack.
Once you get going and just get it, you will see the results.
I have never had an artichoke heart either!! I will let you all be the guinea pigs for me?? :lol:
Hope that help you a little!!
Good luck to all!!
Amy

[krissyp77]

Hi Ladies...For me counting calories is the only way to go.... Before i started counting calories, i never kept track of what i was eating at all. I could have been eating 2500 cals and not known it.
But like Jen said, you also have to be aware of how the cals are adding up. I could eat a chocolate bar for lunch, and it will add up to 200 cals. Or i could have a salad w/ dressing and it will equal the same.
I have just started to be able to control my eating...and i guess its the counting thats helping me. Those favorite foods that i used to eat all the time have such a high calorie count, and are greasy as well, that i dont want to include them in my day of eating or else i will go over in cals.
Misty- I don't drink very much milk. When i do, it's skim as well. But i myself would only drink about a cup a day because of the calorie counting. But some people need more dairy than others.
OK, anyway...lol. Can someone please tell me how to change my weight slider thingy???
Thanks

[MistySeptember]

Welcome to all of you!! Thanks for the advise and the support. Yesterday was another horrible eating day b/c we went out of town for the day and ate out twice. The problem is I had a really hard time even caring I was eating crap. Usually I at least acknowledge that I am doing it.

But today is a new day. DH is back to work, and I am up early this morning. I am going to do no less than 30 minutes!!!! Start out slowly. If I cheat I will come here and tell you LOL. Honesty will keep me on track, this place creates the accountability I have never had before.

I have had artichoke hearts!!! Excellent!!!! But I usually have them burried in hot spinach artichoke dip which is a cream cheese based dip loaded with cheeses like, mozerella, parmesean and romano. So very good! But while making it I've tried just the hearts, they aren't really a strong flavor a bit salty, I can't really compare them to another veggie. They have a soft texture b/c they are canned. I have never had whole artichokes or fresh artichokes, just the canned hearts. But I must say I was pleasantly surprised that I liked them. I never though of tossing them in a dish like mac and cheese, but I bet it would be good.

Jen that recipe would be wonderful if you have the time at some point :)

I should get the companion books to the UWS. Perhaps for my birthday in March that's what I will ask for from DH. I have The Formula, my friend recomennded it. I am not able to just live on thier meals, the plan indicates that you pick a breakfast, lunch and and dinner. The dinners are a no go with DH, but the breakfasts and lunches are loaded with lots of veggies and fruits and lean meats. Many of them are so very yummy, my 20 month old daughter is a veggie junky and she LOVED when we were eating the lunches. I forgot I had the book until this morning and I dug it out. I might try some of the recipes again. Perhaps those recipes would be something you are intersted in Jen, some are more time consuming than others, but some of the salads were so large I was able to streatch them to two meals, I couldn't eat all that food!!!

Well all I am going to hit that treadmill!! Have a Good Day ALL!!!

[krissyp77]

Im down 2 pounds...woohoo. Finally! Just a quick check in. Hope your all doing well.Just had to share my excitment with everyone.

[Abstract927]

I'm new to this site and would love to join the challenge. My goal is to lose at least 6 lbs in the next 4 weeks and 2 days!

Sherrie

[Jen]

Krissy, I believe to change your weight tracker you need to delete the one you've got and make up a new one altogether. I don't think there is anyway to just update the one you've already got.

I'm kind of depressed today. I had a bad day yesterday and today on the scale I was up 4 lbs. I don't believe that it is weight, probably just water but you know how depressing it is to see those numbers. Today I am quite resolved though to eat better and tomorrow I will head back to the gym. I haven't been in a couple of weeks because I've had pneumonia but I'm feeling now that I could start back. I've been missing not going a lot.

So how is everyone doing on the challenge? Less than a month to go!

[Ottoette]

You can update the tracker by changing the code. At the end of mine it has 0/80/0, when I lost 4 lbs I changed it to 0/80/4 and it works fine. If you're displaying your weight, I believe it's SW/GW/CW. I got tired of going through the steps!
I can't ever seem to find the Newbie Weight loss challenge thread so I hope you don't mind if I join you here. I'm wondering if I should shoot for 12 lbs instead of 10, but we'll see what this week's WI brings.
Kim

[redchinamarker]

i agree that it's not enough to just count points or calories-- you need to be watching your protein, carb, and fat intake. i recommend trying out the calorie king software (available either on-line or on your computer), which has the nutritional information for tons of fresh food, packaged food, andr restaurant food. i think it's about $20 to use after two weeks, but certainly give it a try-- you'll be able to set your desired amount of calories and grams of fat, protein, carbs, and fiber, and the graphs will show you how you're doing nutritionally. good luck

[walkergirl]

Hi I'm new. I just joined the site today.
Can I join the valentine's day challenge.

My V-day goal is to loose 10lbs by Feb 14th.

[teresamoton]

Hi, Ladies!
Glad to see the losses! I only lost half a pound at last weigh-in and feel kinda disappointed. But I guess any loss is better than no loss or even worse - a gain. I haven't been drinking my water like I should. Hopefully next week's weigh in will be a little better. It has to be if I'm going to meet my goal. Anyway, I hope everyone has great success at next weigh-ins. Let's keep the pounds coming off!!

[e.mccoy]

Congrats,

To all you ladies, weight loss is not that easy. Welcome to all the newcomers. Well when i stepped on the scale this morning i was down another pound. At least it's something. I really need to push it into high gear. I really enjoy these challenges they give me that kick in the butt that i need. After this one is over we need to begin another. I have decided to go to california for my DD birthday in late may of this year on vacation. We have family down there and we also are going to go to disneyland. But the main point is that i want to lose a lot of weight before i get there. I know that California can be very hot sometimes and i don't mind the heat. I just don't want to be fat and hot. So wish me luck.

[Jen]

I'm not even close to my goal. It has not been a good couple of months because I was sick a lot with pneumonia twice and then in between just not feeling up to exercising because my breathing was still crappy. My diet has not been great but I think it has been better lately overall. I was up actually about 4 lbs but then started back down. I think some of it was water from TOM so I'm not weighing in again until afterwards.

[e.mccoy]

Wow,

pneumonia twice that's very dangerous. I had pneumonia once and it put me in the hospital. You stop worrying about the challenge and focus on your health. Pnuemonia is nothing to play with and I understand what you mean about the shortness of breath. Just take it easy and we will see you later.

[Jen]

Thanks E! but they were not really serious cases of pneumonia but still not something you want to play around with and aggravate. More like it was one long case because the first round of antibiotics didn't get rid of it completely just sort of knocked it into remission for a few weeks and then it came back. Still even though I couldn't exercise I can still control what I put in my mouth and on that score I have failed terribly lately. Last night I worked a 12 hour night shift and I am so dead today but I want to keep eating because I guess I think it will keep my going. Anyway has been a really bad day and I'm too wiped to even think about going to the gym.

[shellbelle73]

My Valentine's Day challange was to loose my first 10 pounds. Well I have beat that day by about 3 weeks. I am so excited. I have set another goal of loosing another 15 pounds by March 10 with a total of 25 pounds lost. This is when we are going on our family vacation on the Disney Cruise and to Disneyworld. It is wonderful that there are so many looses already. Everyone lets us all keep it going.

[ceejay52]

I'm starting Dr Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss and thought this would be a good way to encourage myself.

My goal is to be down 3 pounds by February 14th. I will officially weigh in tomorrow morning.
CeeJay
goal weight 135 lbs

[Ottoette]

Glad to have you CeeJay! I am re-reading the book too. Keep looking at the 14-day rapid weight loss start plan but have just been doing WW points along with some of Dr Phil's keys. His food plan is a little hardcore for me right now after eating anything and everything I wanted for 2 years!
I have 2 more to lose to win my personal V-day challenge and I'm EXCITED about it!! Did intentional exercise today, more work on a no-fail environment and always working on building my support online here.

[aliceshellique]

Hi everyone! I want to join as well! I know that I am a little late, but I still want to jump on the bandwagon. I want to lose nine pounds by V-Day! We can do it! We can do it! ;)

[Ottoette]

I did it! WoooooHoooo! I'm so excited! Thanks all! :goodscale: :spin:

[bellydance77]

:) Hello everyone!!
I weighed in this morning and lost 4 lbs. :dancer:
I think I actually have this in my head now what to do.
I feel so much better after time on the treadmill.
I don't think I could do 100 crunches, but hey it is a start.
That is great on your exercises!!!! :dance:
I love having more people join, it just tells me there are others out there in the same boat as me!! Welcome!!!
My kids had a snow day AGAIN, THEY ARE DRIVING ME NUTS!!!
Chat with you all later!!
Amy
hey,ive lost 5 pounds the last 2 weeks,what are you doing to loose weight im doing what lille i know with weight watchers,but i like it.I love carma electra dvd ,it gives you a good workout!I need to reach my goal 132,im 164 now.by