Countdown to Summer Challenge Thread
 

Hey gals, summer is about 7 weeks away (June 21st officially) and today is the last day for the May Day Challenge, so I thought I'd start a new challenge thread. We've got about 50 days til summer shorts, tank tops and bathing suits - any takers?

My goals are:
- Eating small, well-rounded meals every 3 hours
- Keeping my water bottle full and with me all the time (not to mention drinking from it occassionally...) :)
- Hitting the gym for an hour 5 days a week
- Doing my full-body strength routine twice a week
- Journalling everyday
- Weighing in weekly and owning the number on the scale

Well I am up for it! My exercise consists of walking around the block in the morning and evening and doing 200+ crunches I do eat three small meals a day and cut all the junk food out including pop regular and diet.

SW-300lbs
CW-255
GW-150

I'm in...this is my first post on the 20-somethings board but I have been lurking on the South Beach Diet board for a little while...
my goals to get ready for summer-
1. Work out for an hour at least three times a week
2. Continue drinking 4qts of water a day
3. Fit into my old summer clothes from last summer and maybe even the summer before
4. Fit into the bathing suit I ordered last summer and never bothered to send it back (guess it's too late for that...so I might as well wear it...)
5. No more All-Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Binges at work (I am a baker/cake decorator)

Thats it...five do-able goals to accomplish for summer...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Nicki

How about, I will, I will, I will? :)

Great idea!! I will:
1. Work out 5-6 days a week....Either an hour of cardio or 1/2 hour cardio and weights.
2. TRY to drink my water (I'm REALLY bad about it but I'm getting better).
3. Keep my calories between 1400-1600.
4. Visit 3FC every day and keep my motivation!!
5. Eating healthier foods and not just less calories...more fruits, veggies and dairy (I just read an article that 3 servings of dairy a day will help you lose more weight than if you don't eat dairy...low fat of course).

So June 21st is approx. 7 weeks away so I'll have a goal of losing inches and maybe....10 pounds?? We're start off with that...I'll be happy with 7 but I would love 10.

Good luck ladies!
AmberM

Count me in! My goals:

1) Stop eating snacks (I've been doing the "look, I lost weight! That means I get to eat cookies!" thing, never good!)
2) Feel totally comfortable in my swimsuit (tankini) by the time I have to wear it (which will probably be before June 21!)
3) Drink all my water every day
4) Get enough calcium!!
5) Get in shape enough for . . . a 5k??? (This goal is a big maybe!)

Weight wise . . . I think I'll try for 5 lbs. 7 weeks for 5 pounds should be doable, even for my slow weight loss. Of course, now that I said that, I'll only lose two! :rofl:

Count me in too-
I will:
1- keep journaling, this is my 3 straight week and it helps,
2- work out 4 days a week
3- take my vitamins
4- don't let my self stress eat
all these things will add up to being able to fit into my old summer clothes and feeling better about my self. Hopefuly I will lose 7 pounds. that is a pound a week.

paperclippy, I keep posting right after you today. we much be on the same schedule, I just got to work and am doing my internet catch up!!hee hee.

I'm in for the challenge, too!

My goals:
(1). Cardio for 40-60 minutes at least five days/week.
(2). Strength training at least two days/week.
(3). Continue jogging program -- adding more minutes/week.
(4). Stay strictly OP!
(5). Lose 10 pounds.

I'm definitly ready for another challenge. I'm really looking forward to this summer because already I weigh less and look better than last year! A little challenge to help keep me going is just the thing. My goals are:

1) Lose 11 lbs to bring me to 150.0
2) Cardio 2/week and strength training 2/week (I haven't been doing anything lately so hopefully this will help me get back in the habit without being too hard)
3) Continue working out while on vacation in Cancun (First week of June)
4) Fit into skinny jeans by end of 7 weeks!

SJ

Sounds like a great idea!

My goals:
1. NO french fries (I know my weaknesses, and that is the greatest)
2. Size 12 by June
3. Keep up with journaling
4. Work out 5 days a week, aiming for every day

http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tra...5/130/167/.png

I'm in also!
My goals are to:
Try to eat more vegetables
Workout 6 days a week
Go for more walks
Drink more water
Lose atleast 15 pounds before summer

My first two days were really, really hard and definately not perfect, but I managed to get through them okay. Is everyone else starting strong?

My diet is going OK, but the weather is so lousy that I haven't been able to get out and walk. And upstairs apartments aren't the best place for exercise videos. Phooey!

I haven't been great about avoiding snacks (I had some cookies Monday and a PB&J sandwich Tuesday!), but my workouts are going pretty well. I think I'm in the minority here because I only work out three times a week (though I try to walk home from school or go for a walk outside on the off-days). Also, according to fitday, even though I feel like I've been eating a lot of junk, I guess my total calorie intake has been staying pretty steady. So if I eat three cookies at 4pm, I'm too full to eat a lot at dinner at 7! Actually, I was surprised a couple days ago that even though I thought I ate a lot, it barely came out to 1200 calories. I guess I shouldn't think so hard about every little snack, because I've got plenty of wiggle room at this rate!

I've been doing OK, I've worked out 3 days and taken my vitamins, but....I have been sneaking snacks at night. It weird I stay on track all day because I am so busy I hardly have time to eat, then at night I can't seem to keep at it. I am going to try really hard to not over do it tonight. I'm not eating that many points but just not healthy stuff so I feel bloated and gross. I'm gonna add that to my goal, not eat to much at night, I need to spread my points out more I think.
Hope eveyone is doing well.
Jennie

Jennie-I am in the same boat. I keep slipping up at dinner on stuff that is not that healthy. I am trying to tell myself to remember how I feel after eating the food (gross, bloated, guilty...) and maybe next time I won't want it as much. Just remember your pedicure. With the weather getting warm its a good goal.

Fortunately the couple slips haven't affected my weight yet. But the point is to move forward not sit still so I should get back on track.

Things are going well here. I've been exercising and have gotten in one strength-training session in so far this week. Eating has even been going well. Now, I've just got to keep this up!

I've found it helpful to reserve 7-8 points for late in the evening. Then I can satisfy my munchies without going over my point limit. I've even been able to bank a point or two.

really good idea!

my goals

1)work out 3-4 times a week
2)keep my calories in check 1400-1800
3)journal my food everyday
4)drink my 8 glasses of water a day!
5)keep striving for that size 12!!

My Update:

The walking is doing wonders. I've lost 3.5 lbs in the last week! I am adding another goal.

5. Get enough fruits and vegetables.

Since I started journaling again, I've noticed I'm not getting enough.

COUNT ME IN!
what should i do??? lets see
1. FINISH MY BIG JUG OF WATER (72 oz) AT LEAST ONCE EVERYDAY
2. Go to the Gym 4 days a week
3. Loose 12 lbs.
4. Healthier choices when eating on the run (NO FRIES, NO MAYO!)

Oh man, my weekend was a failure. Some friends of mine invited us to a party, where I ate chips, cheese, crackers, salami, three kinds of pies, and a hamburger. We had made two of the pies, so we polished them off yesterday. I didn't binge as badly as my bf (he had 2 hamburgers, 2 hot dogs, and a chicken sandwich, and more pie than me!!), but I still ate enough that this morning I'm up a pound from Friday. :( At least all my cravings have been taken care of. I can't believe I used to eat like that every day. My bf said that the next day he felt like he used to back when we were in college after a binge drinking incident, except with food instead of alcohol. (For the record, we almost never drink now that we're not in college anymore, we have maybe a glass of wine once every three months.)

To make up for it, I ran about 3.7 miles this morning in under 43 minutes, beating my previous time! If my timer and mapquest's distance estimates are right, that means I'm finally running miles in under 12 minutes!!

Now that I'm almost done with my finals (this is my last week), I'm planning to try to work out every weekday -- the plan is running MWF and weights TTh, or if they are offering summer classes I'd take a TTh yoga or pilates class. I'm hoping that will get me toned up and in shape and I'll be able to continue losing into the summer. I would LOVE to reach my goal weight by my birthday in September, but since I don't think that's going to happen I'd really like to get down to 140 or less by then.

Sorry for the rant, how are you all doing?

My goals
1) Lose 11 lbs to bring me to 150.0
2) Cardio 2/week and strength training 2/week
3) Continue working out while on vacation in Cancun (First week of June)
4) Fit into skinny jeans by end of 7 weeks!

Week 2 of the countdown challenge.

Week 1 went badly for me as far as weight. I got all my excercise in, but the food wasn't great. The scale was up 2lb this morning. I still want to get to 150.0 by the end of the challenge. I am really going to concentrate on eating right this week and hopefully I can lose those 2lbs + some more. Got to go drink some water...

How did everyone else do their first week and anything specific planned for week 2?
SJ

I'm in! I have been in a rut for a while. I thought about giving up- actually I did and now it's in God's hands.

My goals:
1. Workout (walking, aerobics) at least 3 days a week
2. Do weight training at least 2 times a week.
3. At least 50 crunches every other night (total 3 nights a week)
4. Spend some quiet time with God (at least 15 minutes a day)
5. Hop on the computer, read, journal, or go for a drive if I feel like binging
6. Drink 8-12 cups of water a day.
7. Protion control with each meal and snack eat.
8. Cut back on greasy foods and sweets.
9. Never beat myself up about a slip up... just get back up and keep going. Keep in mind, one who slips up and never gets back up will end up in a deep dark hole.
10. Remember that change can be a slow process but as long as I am doing something about it it is working now and will come to fruition sooner than I think- so never give up. If God be for you nothing (including food) and no one (including naysayers) can be against you!

I hope you all keep posting your results as I will as well.
~Mochahontas

Height: 5'4.5"
CW:235-240
StW: 198
GW: 147-155

Well I'm doing pretty good. I think the plateau has ended! Yay! Did I say that too loud?? I hope the plateau didn't hear me *hehe* I dropped quite a bit of weight this week and hopefully it isn't a fluke. I've been diligent about drinking my water so hopefully all that cruddy water weight is gone. I don't want to jinx things so hopefully my weigh in on Friday will be a good one.
Great job ladies! Keep up the good work. Slow and steady wins the race! Every little bit makes us healthier and stronger!

AmberM

Ok I definitely want to get in on this challenge and suppose it's about time to post my goals.

1) Run 2 miles in under 16:20 (military goal from my brother)
2) Do pilates/yoga DVD twice per week (flexibility)
3) Complete 30 minutes on Stairmaster at level 10 Intervals prog (endurance)
4) Eat soup/salad before each meal (veggies)
5) No eating directly out of jars/bags/boxes; take out proper serving size and put the rest away (temptation control)
6) 148 lbs (loss of 5 lbs)

I had a goal of fitting into a comfortable size 6 but went shopping the other day and found I am already there! I don't think a size 4 is reasonable for me so I will stick with the 6's.

Good luck everyone! I am off to the gym now myself.

Lizzbabe, not to be nosy (well I kinda am *smile*) but how tall are you??? I weighed between 145 and 155 all through high school and never got lower than a 12 and most of the time I was lucky to fit in a 14. I'm pretty short (5'3) so I thought I'd ask.

Good luck on your goals! A 16 minute two mile sounds like a great goal! I don't think I'll EVER be able to run that fast, even at goal weight.

Good for you!
AmberM

Amber, you're not nosy at all. I am 5'8'' so that is pretty tall but I have a long torso and short legs so my body is weird that way. Some pants I have to wear petites and I have a hard time with shirts coming up showing my stomach off. Womens' sizes are weird anyway but when I tried clothes on this past weekend 6's were fitting pretty consistently.

Oh and on a positive note I ran this morning on the treadmill and it SAID I did 2 miles in 15:30 but it wasn't the one I normally use and I think the belt might not be running at the proper speeds. I'll have to do another trial just to confirm.

Food-wise I've been doing ok, I guess, but the weather isn't cooperating with my workouts. I need to start saving up some money for a stability ball and some dumbells, I guess.

Lizbabe-I hear you. I am 5'9" and all my height comes from my torso. They make longer jeans, why not longer shirts? Argh.

I am doing great on my excercise goal, but the scale hasn't budged yet. Hopefully by the end of the 7 weeks the workouts will start to pay off. Hoping to get a couple extra workouts in this week and next to tone up for my trip.

We only have 3 weeks left in the challenge. how is everyone doing on their goals??? I have a little over 3 pounds to lose and hopefully I can make it. Weight loss is slow right now but I'm still trying. Hopefully my very long TOM will leave soon and I can get back in the game. I'm doing really good with my water which I'm proud of too.

How are you ladies doing?

Amber

I've got three pounds to go as well! I'm actually really happy with the progress I've been making over the past month or so, even though it's a little slow. I was plateaued for so long before that losing a pound a week or a pound every two (or even three) weeks is great! Still hoping I can make it to 145 by the end of the challenge -- once I hit 145, I will be "normal" on the BMI chart!!

How's everyone doing? Going to make it to your challenge goals? I am right on the borderline between 146 and 145 right now, so I'm hoping when I weigh in tomorrow morning it will be 145! If so, this will be the first challenge where I've actually met my goal!