I had suggested a challenge to run until July 4th?

"Independence from pounds" or some such (come on, I'm sure one of you can come up with something clever!) ...

That's cute Sarah. A slogan would be fun. Independent from pounds is certainly what we want to be!
That's great you found a bathing suit(s) Lulu. I dont think I will ever wear one again lol. I haven't in years!
Ok Lizzy the good thing is your ready for the next challenge. Great job avoiding the extra weight that would have come with a candy stash
Sue that is awesome! You are doing great. Those 230's are a thing of the past. ( Ahhh you are soooo close. I'm getting EXCITED!)
Pixicat that water weight sucks! Hang in there!
Way to go noshoes!
We can ALL be proud of our accomplishments whether it was losing, maintaining, excersing, or just eating healthier!

SW: 240.2
CW: 218.6
GW: 219.0

Don't we have weird bodies? I ate more than I "should have" last night and even had a couple of Hershey's kisses -- then this morning I was back down to 182. Not counting on it too much just yet -- but it IS encouraging!
Yep, I'm ready for the next challenge, so count me in!

I DID IT!!!!

I made this goal this morning. All day yesterday I was thinking I should fast or do something drastic to lose the pound and a bit that has been hanging around all week, but I had a really busy out-of-the-house day and feared that going hungry would set me up for disaster so I managed to talk myself out of the crazy by saying "it's not such a big deal" "so what if you're a couple of ounces over on the 20th," and "look how far you've come, almost 10 pounds in a couple of months, seriously it's not worth stressing over". And that worked, I had an on-plan, in-control and normal food day, and voilą, the scale moved anyway! To exactly where I needed it, too.

So I'm very pleased & proud of myself. I've really enjoyed this challenge a lot, and am looking forward to the next one (which I'll start tomorrow if everyone is ok with that). I will be dropping the food journal requirement - it's been very helpful but has been a mental struggle the past 10 days or so and I'm thinking I need to use the next challenge period to trust myself more and settle into how I hope to eat longer-term and not be so obsessive... It's always a delicate balance for me!

-----

My major commitments :

- weigh in daily (I already do this)
- keep a daily food log (I've seriously resisted this and it is hard for me to commit to, but frankly I think it's what I will need to do to move through this weight decade that has stalled me for years in the past)

196.8 Feb 15 (leave on vacation)
198.2 Feb 16 (travel scale 196.2)
196.4 Feb 17 (travel scale 194.4)
197.4 Feb 18 (travel scale 195.4)
DNW Feb 19
197.4 Feb 20 (travel scale 195.4)
198.4 Feb 21 (travel scale 196.4)
197.8 Feb 22 (travel scale 195.8)
198.6 Feb 23 (travel scale 196.6)
196.4 Feb 24 (travel scale 194.4)
199.4 Feb 25 (travel scale 197.4)
198.8 Feb 26 (travel scale 196.8)
DNW Feb 27 (return from vacation)
198.6 Feb 28
196.6 Mar 1 --> begin AutoImmune Protocol (no dairy, eggs, nightshades, etc)
195.0 Mar 2
194.6 Mar 3 (40 pounds!)
193.4 Mar 4
193.4 Mar 5
192.4 Mar 6
193.2 Mar 7
192.4 Mar 8
194.4 Mar 9
195.0 Mar 10
193.6 Mar 11
194.2 Mar 12
193.2 Mar 13
193.8 Mar 14
193.6 Mar 15 -- SIX MONTHs of actively managing my weight!!!
193.4 Mar 16
193.8 Mar 17
192.8 Mar 18
192.4 Mar 19
192.6 Mar 20
193.0 Mar 21
192.2 Mar 22
191.6 Mar 23
192.2 Mar 24
193.4 Mar 25
191.4 Mar 26
193.8 Mar 27
192.0 Mar 28
190.6 Mar 29
193.0 Mar 30
191.4 Mar 31 (Final day of AutoImmune Paleo elimination diet protocol!)
191.0 Apr 1 - beginAIP reintroductions! And transition to Wahls Paleo Plus
190.4 Apr 2
191.4 Apr 3
190.6 Apr 4
189.6 Apr 5
189.0 Apr 6
189.6 Apr 7
190.0 Apr 8
188.6 Apr 9
188.4 Apr 10
188.4 Apr 11
188.4 Apr 12
187.2 Apr 13
188.8 Apr 14
189.2 Apr 15
188.8 Apr 16
188.8 Apr 16
188.6 Apr 17
188.0 Apr 18
188.2 Apr 19
187.6 Apr 20 -- GOAL ACHIEVED !!!

(uh, not so much, look at the next post!)

Gak! I just looked back at the first page and saw that my goal was ACTUALLY 186.6 not the 187.6 I had in my head, so in fact

I did not make my goal.

But I did lose 9 pounds and frankly I consider this a big success...

Happy Easter and congratulations to everyone on either reaching goals or moving loser to goals!

Me, not so much. I tried adding in one safe starches ala Perfect Health Diet (Paleo). I weigh a bit more than when we started so basically just a bit less than in January. I've maintained tracking my food daily, exercising a minimum of 7 hours a week and eating 1000-1400 calories a day. So those are all victories but not ones that brought my weight down. So I'm back to lowering carbs again.

Will you all take me back for the next challenge? Please?

Sarah, what is the plan that you recently started to follow. If I remember correctly, it was Paleo with a twist?

Ok Lizzie we never know whats gonna happen!
We would love to have you back Calee! You have been missed!
Sarah I think if you met the goal in your head...then you met your goal! Congrats on your weight loss!

SW: 240.2
CW: 218.4
GW: 219.0

Yesterday (Easter Sunday) I was annoyed to see 84kg. But it is that time of the month so I have to expect that.
Interesting though that I was down to 83.5kg today. I will take that, to goal even a day late.

Calee, I've seen a lot of mention of safe starches around but haven't tried it myself - while it seems reasonable for a very active, healthy-weight person I'm much more circumspect for a sedentary middle-aged woman like myself... Its on my list of things to consider if I get bored or stalled though. Jaminet is smart, but I've heard him interviewed a bunch of times and he comes across as too "I know better than you do what's best for you" - I much prefer the voice of Chris Kresser : 'adapt to yourself'...

I've done two crazy paleo experiments recently. Both are well beyond regular paleo. I've always been more focused on the low-carb side of things which is why I'm on forums like this one, but I actually have been primarily Primal in my eating since 2009 (I do all whole foods, nothing processed/pre-packaged). Until recently I did still eat dairy though.

The first is full AutoImmune Protocol as laid out by Sarah Ballantyne (thepaleomom.com) in her new book, The Paleo Approach (considered the bible of AIP now).

And on April 1st I transitioned from AIP to Wahls Paleo Plus (WPP), the ketogenic-level of Terry Wahls new book The Wahls Protocol, which is quite similar to AIP, but more structured, and the Paleo Plus level is low carb. I had done AIP on the lower carb side too. I'm now what 3 weeks into WPP and starting to think about dropping veg down just a little and better compliance with the coconut oil (& equivalent) recommendation - I'm usually one or two servings short for the day, and sometimes one or two servings over on veg, so I'd like to try to do better at both of those. I also have a fancy new ketosis measure (the Ketonix breath one) and playing with that should help. Plus I've reintroduced coffee from AIP and am hoping that a bulletproof coffee in the morning should help me go much longer with the overnight fasting.

If you decide to embark on Wahls let me know - I have plenty of tips to share.

Congratulations Newme! goal for you and Sarah.. I am thinking you were so close to goal I would call it in your favor!

Me... nope.. I have not weighed myself since Thursday as it has been a tough week for me and my little (got bigger somehow) voice in my head won out these last few days... So back on Induction. I need to get my butt kicked and need to get in gear!

Thanks Sue! Sorry you have had a bad patch of days. I understand the voice in your head...mine wants me to finish off the oreo pie the rest of the family had for Easter! (I had a bite. Im going to feed it to the 13 year old when he wakes up lol! Doing induction should help you get back on track quickly. Don't stay away...let us help you get back on track and stay there!

I'm sorry you've hit a rough patch Sue. Doing induction should get you back on track pretty quickly. I understand the voice in your head...mine wants me to finish off the oreo pie the rest of the family had for Easter. My plan is to feed it to the 13 year old when he wakes up lol! Don't stay away...let us help you get back on track and stay there!

Thanks for the great write up Sarah. I did a Whole 75 that started last May 1. I followed pretty much AIP. I did W30 sans nightshades, beef, eggs, citrus as I am sensitive to all of those. I think that I migh have had a few seed spices like cumin so not totally AIP. I would have to look back at my food tracker to see how much carbs I ate. I didn't eat fruit but did have a small bit of sweet potato occasionally on 90 minute exercise days. I dropped 5 pounds from 150-145 which took me back to my consistent weight in 2012. I was unemployed in 2012 an hiking in the redwoods up and down big hills 4-5 days. Week getting in at least 40 miles a week. It really kept my weight stable. Then desk job and BAM, 5 pounds.

I will look into Wahls. You are being very successful! Any info appreciated. For me this is about learning maintenance. I have been up and down the same 5 since 2011 so I'm delighted but still reaching for the golden ring. I'm never good about getting in the higher fat percentages.