Weight Watchers - Labor Day Challenge

This thread is for those of us who would like to focus on certain goals until Labor Day. These goals may be related to particular aspects of the program or any other healthy goal.

My nemesis is always consistent journalling and tracking. So this will be my primary goal. I plan to keep journals for the next 12 weeks.

During the last challenge, I averaged 4.8 exercise sessions/week. This challenge I plan to improve this ratio even if it's just a little.

My final challenge is to start thinking of myself as a lean, mean fighting machine (instead of awkward, clumsy and out of shape).

My Labor Day Challenge will be to continue journalling and attending the meetings. Tomorrow is week 12 for me so I bought another book of coupons. I have never finished a full 12 weeks on WW - so for that I am already proud of myself... now 12 more weeks!

I also want to add strength training to my weekly routine 3X a week... and maybe more in the future. I will begin next week and see how I do.

Thanks for starting us looking ahead Swan.... my Thanksgiving goal is to be pregnant - so if by then my eating routine is habit - it'll be 1000% easier on me.

Kim
1/2001 258
3/2001 WW 239/223/140

Swan - let me repeat my thanks to you that I expressed in the Summer Challenge Wrap-Up thread. I appreciate your keeping the flame lit, setting up and maintaining challenge threads.

Kim - Good luck on your goals, both Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

My goals for this challenge are, again, related to exercise. I want to run 1 mile continuously at 5mph (currently, 4.2 mph is the fastest I can maintain for 1 mile). Also, I want to find a way to exercise more frequently during the week ... I find myself becoming a "weekend warrior" in the exercise department. I need to spend time on the treadmill during the week as well.

I have essentially cast off any weight loss goals I used to harbor (secretly and otherwise) because I have not lost any significant amount of weight since October of last year. It's just too frustrating to focus on something that ain't moving downward.

Judy in MA

Judy - I am the weekend warrior as well . I fell I make it all up on the weekends. Just out of curiosity - do you run on your treadmill or outside? I want to get a treadmill for the winter months and I need some recommendations. I feel I am too big for some of them and I don't want to break the thing. My parents have a beautiful one... maybe I can steal it from them... but I think it was thousands of dollars ....I don't have that kind of $$$ to spend. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.
Thanks, Kim

I am new here and I just started WW this past week. I know it is still early for me, but maybe this will help me stick to the program.

1. I still want to be attending my WW meetings.
2. I want to be following a regular exercise routine.
3. I want to still be motivated and losing weight.
4. I want to have lost 25 pounds.

I don't think these are too unrealistic, but I haven't succeeded in any of these yet, so maybe this is the time.


:) Melissa

Welcome Melissa.. your goals sound great!
Where are you in NJ? I'm down by Point Pleasant.... I attend WI in Ocean Twp. with the best leader in all of NJ (in my opinion :D )
Hope to get to know you better...
Kim
1/2001 258
3/2001 WW 239/222/140

My goals:

Continue journaling
Up my exercise routine
Stay OP
Eat at the mid range of my points
Maintain while on Vacation early August


I joined WW online last Monday and have five days OP with journaling. Had a hard time doing that in the past. These boards have helped alot since I don't attend meetings.

Gini

Hi Gini - Welcome to you too!
I think if you purposely get yourself into the habit of the water and the journalling... you will have it made. I think most people fall off when they don't pu the effort into these 2 areas. Even if you eat over your points - write it down! That way you will always be concious of what is going into your mouth... if you stop journalling - your mind will suddenly stop calculating pts as you go. Great goals - I'm going on vacation in July & August too! Seeya on the boards...
Kim
1/2001 258
3/2001 WW 239/222/140

Kim - I saw your question about treadmill or outside exercise. Even though we've finally started to get warmer weather here, I still use my treadmill. I prefer it for 2 key reasons: using it is never impacted by the conditions outside (rain, mugginess, air quality, etc.) and I get constant, accurate feedback about speed and distance traveled (I find this kind of information very motivating - I often end up going farther than I originally intended just to hit a particular milestone).

I bought a power treadmill earlier this year. It cost about $800-$900 with shipping. I bought it online from, I believe, iconfitness.com, the brand name of their treadmills are Proform. From the research I did prior to buying, it seemed that Proform had the best quality low-priced power treadmills. The one I bought was a closeout item so I was able to get a significant price savings from the list. There's a good site which can give you a lot of info about what to look for in a treadmill. I think if you start at treadmill.com (or something like that), you can really find out lots before you buy.

If you think you'll stick with using a treadmill and you buy it instead of, say, a gym membership, it's worthwhile.

Judy in MA

A special welcome to the new people!

So how has the challenge been going? So far, I have kept a journal every day and eaten within point range. For me, this is a major accomplishment. I hope everyone is having similar success.

Good luck this week!

235.2/189.5/135

Well, I've been mulling over a challenge idea for myself and have come to the conclusion that the most effective one I could choose would be journaling. Since I'm struggling to even get back with the program, and I know I can't handle a multi-handled challenge at this point, I think that journaling would represent the single most helpful thing I could do right now.

Just logged in to say that I have journalled for the last 7 days. I ate 9.5 points over what I was supposed to for the week, but I earned 35 exercise points (6 days exercise) so I'm not too upset. And 5 days, I drank 9 glasses of water. The other 2 days, I only drank 6. So week one of the challenge went well for me. I think I am probably down in weight, but I haven't decided whether to weigh myself. I have received some compliments though.

I'm hoping for a good week 2.

How is everyone doing?

I'm 8 days OP and have journaled online every day and have exercised most days. I don't have a problem with the water because that's almost all I drink. I did have a few suprises because I don't plan my meals in advance. Somehow I manage to squeek in under my point limits. That needs to be another goal for me. Today was my first offical weigh in and I"m down 4#.

Looking forward to a good second week. I want to fit in that airplane seat more comfortably in August!

Gini

I weighed in at 189 this morning. The last time I weighed, only a few days ago, I was at 189.5. Since I didn't weigh in at the beginning of the last week, I don't know how much I lost. Still, I am happy to be where I am. It's a step in the right direction.

Congratulations Polarbear on your loss!

I would like to slightly amend my goals for Labor Day. I am not going to change anything, I am just going to add something. My goals were more general and this is much more specific. I have noticed, while browsing the boards, that many people have problems journaling and so far I have been good. I think I would like to add that I will continue journaling everyday like I have during this first week. I see the successes people have and I too want to be successful. So there it is, just a little something to add to my goals.

Good luck to everyone else with theirs!

:) Melissa

I'm about to start week 3 and I can report that I have consistently journalled this time. I am excited because journalling is always my achilles heel. Now if I could just eat within point range too. :lol: Oh well. One step at a time. But, knowing that I have to write everything down and calculate points has curbed my binges some.

Have a good week all!

Also 15 days of journaling. Did more reps on my workout last night and can feel it in my shoulders. Down 2# at Monday weigh in.

Good job on the journalling Swan! I do it online and it really helps me so see the days marked off as complete. You're right that you do need to eat within your range. I think mostly because as you loose the range goes down and you need to be able to make the adjustment.

Have a good week!

Gini

Just found this thread.

I have two goals for this challenge:

1. Track every day and write it down (I really fell off the wagon on this recently, and I've got the weight gain to show for it)
2. Exercise a minimum of 4 times a week.

--Lauren

Hi peeps!!!!!!!
okay i also just found this thread!!!!! eeek!!!!!! :eek: okay lets see labor day goals, hhhhmmmmm.............................

1~~~~~~~water and lots of it.............does anyone remember from last year i think it was, what was the suggested amount of water to drink...............i think it had something to do with how much you weight or how much you needed to lose, i cant remember :(

2~~~~~~~exercise.....................lets see, i want to commit to something concrete, i am in the pool alot already, so that is exercise, i think i am going to commit to using my glider thing, that way like judy i dont have to worry about the outside conditions. So i will commit to using it uh 3 times a week, 1/2 hour minimum each time :)

3~~~~~~~weight loss................i would like to hit that "one"derful number by labor day............199!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

okay thats it for me, don't want to commit to more than i feel comfortable with.

Its a lonely place here today, where is everyone????? Nobody has been posting for days, me included!!!!!! I am back and should have a little more time to post now that the kids are out of school.
I wanted to mention that i edited and made a change to my labor day goal................how is everyone doing with their goals????
I have drank the water, atleast the amount suggested by weight watchers, i still havent remembered the amount that i dont even remember how it came about, but was discussed at weight watchers also.
I havent got on my strider, but life was so crazy this past week, as it was the last day of school. But lets see i started my challenge on wednesday, and promised to use the strider 3 times a week, so if i use it today(sat),mon, and wednesday i will hit my exercise goal.
And then i lost weight this week, no matter how much of a loss it is it will bring me closer to that "one"derful number!!!!!!

Hi All!

I just found this thread myself. I don't normally have much time to go through and read the posts but today my toddler is napping so I decided to treat myself by relaxing in front of my PC and reading some threads for encouragement.

We went to McDonald's for lunch today - BIG MISTAKE! I won't be doing that again for a very long time!!!!

My goals for labour day are to STICK WITH IT and establish a regular, consistent exercise regime. I now know, from many prior attempts at weight loss, that I can't do it unless I start to exercise regularly and consistently. My local gym has AquaFitness classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I think I'm going to start there. The classes are in the evening so the kids have had their baths and are ready for bed by then - so hubby shouldn't have too much trouble putting them down while I'm out. I can't wait to give this a try. I've never done it before but it sounds like fun.

I sure hoe this thread picks up some. I think it's important to set small, accessible goals. They make the whole process more manageable - and not so discouraging. Hope to see more of you here soon!

Happy Canada Day / Independence Day everyone! :D

SW 328/CW 293/GW 150

I just wanted to give an update on my progress towards my labor day goals. I have been journaling for17 days now and have attended my meetings. I haven't developed a regular exercise routine yet, but I am walking a few days a week, which was more than I was before. I have also lost 10 punds. I hope everyone else is trying to reachtheir goals. Good Luck!

:) Melissa

Hi everyone... I'm still here - just so busy.
Let's see I'm starting week 14 of WW and so far have only missed 2 days of journalling. I usually hit the H2O requirement and I walk for exercise between 4 and 5 days a week. I'm up to 55 minutes or about 3.5 miles.

I still haven't gotten on the strength training band wagon yet... but I will get there. My house is such a mess because I am spending so much effort on this "get healthy thing". I am one of those people who throws herself into something so gung ho - that other things in my life suffer. But as long as it's just housework that's OK with me.

Let's keep on... Labor Day will be upon us soon and let's be able to look back at some major accomplishments!!!!

PS - Judy - thanks for the links on the treadmills... I'll see how I feel as winter approaches.. if I need to take my morning routine indoors.

Kim
1/2001 258
3/2001 WW 239/220.5/140

So far, so good

21 days OP with journaling.

exercise hasn't been so good this week, I have my parents in town looking for a new place to live. very exhausting. Need to get moving with the exercise again.

Down 8 pounds for June.

Gini

Melissa and Gini - Applause, applause for your accomplishments thus far!! You are both inspiring!!

I am doing much, much better with journalling and will finish my 3rd straight week.

Points have been uneven for me. I had a birthday and decided to allot points so that I could have Ben and Jerry's ice cream. A neighbor brought over an ice cream cake. Luckily, it's not a treat that I particularly enjoy so I only had a sliver. But who knows how many points it was worth. I did exercise will power and skipped Ben and Jerry's.

Onward to a week of minding my points. :)

Hi, all. I tracked all of last week and exercised four times, so I'm right on track with my Labor Day goals. I also dropped 5.5 pounds last week, thanks to TOM ending and needing to take off the 9 pounds I recently gained. Woo-hoo.

--Lauren

Lauren - Tracking and exercise is certainly the way to go. Congratulations! You're back on the saddle. :D We each have moments (or weeks :() when we fall off track. The key is to return to our good habits as quickly as possible after those slips. At least this is what I tell myself continuously. :lol:

Have a great 4th everyone!

This challenge sounds great. I just got a reminder card from WW that they miss me.. this made me feel good, althought I wasn;t d\sure if it ws because they cared or missed the money.. :dizzy:

I was doing a wonderful job in Jan. , Feb and that's when a great tradgey struck our family, and the habbit of emotional eating has got to be the hardest to break.. but I'm going to take the challenge and return to WW on Thursday journal every bite of food I put in my mouth and take off this 150#'s by October 2002.. challenge given to me by sister to be her Matron of Honor in her Wedding next October;) I'm going to do my best, and hopefully when I get down I can get some encouragement from all you fine people.:cool:

Hi Mono... Welcome back!!! and YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
I too am an emotional eater. It's such a sickness with me that I need to break this cycle. I just listened to an audio tape by Dr. Pamela Peeke called Fight Fat after 40 - and even though I'm still under 40 it was Me Me Me. I know so many women who lose so much weight when they are emotionally stressed... me? I could eat the entire house - just picking all day everyday.

But in December we got rid of our TV from the living room and that helped me tremendously with the night time binging. Then I began a walking fitness program that I read about on Amazon.com. I'm now on day 85 and loving it! I started out not even being able to walk 1/4 of a mile.... now I average 3 miles a day 5 times a week. It's a complete lifestyle change - but you will love the change in your mind and body. Come to these boards often for encouragement and email people when you need support. This is a great program and a great way of life once you stick with it long enough for it to become a way of life. I purposely started out by buying the 12 weeks worth of coupons for $120... and I promised myself I stick with it that long - now I'm on week 15 and my second batch of coupons. So GOOD LUCK!!! We are all here for you.
Kim
1/2001 258
3/2001 WW 239/220/140

Maintained today - but it will go down. I have a dr, appt. on Wed. and his scale is my real judge. He'll be thrilled to see I've lost what I have. As far as my goal - I've upped my exercise. I either walk for 4 5min to an hour with my DH and the dogs or ride the exercise bike for 20 minutes. Can't wait to see some results.

Gini

Eight more weeks until Labor Day. How are we progressing on our goals? I have consistently journalled, but I have not improved on my exercise ratio yet (due to fatigue). I am having more on program days than before so that is good. Knowing that I have to write everything down helps me be less bad. I've found that the reason I often want to eat more is psychological. I feel deprived by eating such small amounts of food. These last few years, I've really become attached to large quantities of food and I have a hard time remembering how little I used to eat when I maintained a healthy weight (and how little I need in order not to starve). :lol:

Welcome Mono! We are all here struggling with our own issues. I, too, am an emotional eater. I gained 80 pounds after my family suffered multiple tragedies so I can relate to you all too well. Try to take care of yourself. I look forward to your future posts.

I am doing decently on my goals for Labor day. I have journaled every day for the past 4 weeks and I have stayed OP. I was over points for 2 days, but I still wrote it down and watched out. I have been walking a few days a week, and I am currently looking into starting at a gym. I hope everyone else is doing well too.

:) Melissa