40 sometihng SPRING AHEAD! Easter challenge!
 

:bunny2::bunny2:Okay, time for another challenge! For those that don't celebrate Easter I apologize, but please join us anyway.....Let's set goals for ourselves and go into Spring feeling and looking fine!! Come here and share tips, what you ate, your workouts....ANYTHING you want to talk about!!!!:egg:

I loved the St. Patty's day challenge and I think this is just what I need to keep me on track and accountable. My starting weight is 199 and I hope to be 10lbs lighter by March 18th. This month, I'm going to spend more time exercising and then I can see where I went wrong previously.

Thanks Zumbachica for starting this new challenge.

ZUMBA! you read my mind!

I'm in!!!

Starting today at 243- aiming for 8 lbs down to 235 :)

Ooooh - a new challenge! Thanks, Zumbachica! I'm in!!!

I don't want to aim for more than 1 lb a week down - which isn't really very challenging - but it works for me!

So aiming for a 5 lb loss by 18th April (my weigh in day is Monday - keeps me on the straight and narrow over the weekend).

Cool BEANS everybody!!! (or should I say COOL JELLY BEANS)......now that the days are longer and a bit warmer I feel like I have a second wind. This winter stunk both emotionally and physically for me. Lack of sun, personal junk...it all took its toll...I managed not to gain weight but I didn't lose any either.....
My Zumba career is taking on a whole new direction an d I feel like I really need to walk the walk and look my best in order to motivate my students....more motivation right there.
My goals for this challenge are to drink more water, eat more veggies and add some different types of workouts to my week...hopefully something more resistance training...or something as simple as some push up and planks at night while watching t.v......If we really want to we can find ways to add more movement to our days...I for one spend way too much time on the computer....
OK chicks, lets do this!

THANK YOU Zumba ...

I'm in... Not Sure what I weigh Now (Post workout) or what my goal should be. I'll weigh tomorrow morning and post then.

Originally Posted by Zumbachica:
:bunny2::bunny2:Okay, time for another challenge! For those that don't celebrate Easter I apologize, but please join us anyway.....Let's set goals for ourselves and go into Spring feeling and looking fine!! Come here and share tips, what you ate, your workouts....ANYTHING you want to talk about!!!!:egg:

New to the boards and dieting but up for the challenge! I will plan losing 5 lbs... that will give me 1 lb a week and it will put me at my 1st goal ....so I'm in! :D:goodvibes

YEAH

I'm in! No idea what my weight is today and not getting on the scale until next Friday. Finally getting over this cold but I' still not up to running or spin. Haven't worked out in a week and a half. Going to do some elliptical today and just had a great grilled chicken salad for lunch. I'll set my goal on Friday. So far I'm failing miserably at these challenges though!

Good to see everyone.

Natamars,

Don't worry Chica, we're going to get it straight. You just focus on feeling better....maybe this challenge will be the one that we ace!

Good Morning Chickadees! I am in for this one too. Shooting for ONEderland on this one. Starting at 206lbs and wanna see 199lbs by April 24th.

Good luck ladies!!!:egg:

hi ladies - what's shaking today?

Kind of a stressful weekend. DH is away at his mum's (she had a stroke recently) and has been calling to tell me how worried he is about her; DD (student) called in tears as flatmate has fallen out with her and not speaking to her; and DS (12) took it upon himself to change the password on his computer - and then forgot what he had changed it to! Managed to get that last one sorted out, at least!

Aaargh! Too stressed to eat - but there are better ways to lose weight!

Hello ladies...just a little Sunday update...

Clytemnestra: So sorry to hear about your MIL. How bad was her stroke? I unfortunately know all too well about strokes, my dad died from one. I hope she has a good recovery.

Bama..you are GOING to get into onederland!!!!!

I have been feeling abnormally tired the past three days...not just tired...exhausted. Not sure what is going on but I'm getting a bit concerned...this is totally not like me. Hoping I feel better soon because I have a really busy week coming up.

Last night I ate pizza at a friends house...just one slice...but it totally threw off my low carb eating efforts....

I feel bloated and gross and I'm so disgusted. Maybe I needed to hit rock bottom like this in order to get back on my feet.

I spent today pretty depressed about my weight. DH made beef wellington....nothing like puffed pastry to make me feel grosser..oh well, he meant well.

Hi All

Sorry to hear you're feeling so tired and down Chica - Maybe once you get into your busy week you will get carried along by it. MIL 's stroke was not a very serious one, but comes on top of a lot of other health problems. DH feels bad that we live too far away to offer much support. There is support in place that his sister has arranged (carers going in to do housework, make meals etc).

Anyway - no loss for me this week.
03/14 150
03/21 150
03/28
04/04
04/11
04/18

Keep going - and hope to do better next week! Good luck everyone!

Clyte - so sorry about your family :/ :hug:
Zumba - I'm sorry you're feeling down in the dumps... can one of these help? :belly: :coffee2: :) :high:
Bama - onederland is calling your name girl!

Hello Ladies
Lets hope this week is filled with positive rewards, by the looks of it we all need to put last week behind us.

As for me I'm just feeling Crooked, tried to work out the phone kept ringing with this problem and that, My husband seems to have turned into an idiot over night and can't seem to do anything for himself. :devil:

I've made my goal for this challenge and although it may be seem agressive, I will try.

Okay Chicks...I feel back in the saddle today.....Kept the carbs on the low...have some of my energy back....getting "refocused".....

A friend of mine today was tellin gme how she is starting the HCG diet...sounds complicated..and the thought of messing with hormones makes me nervous....I think I 'll stick to the low carb thing for now....

Good morning chicas. This congestion is still hanging on but I'm in there trying - made it to the gym Saturday and Sunday for 30-45 minutes on the elliptical each day and did an hour of body sculpting last night. Sleep's veen a little better the last few nights. I bought some melatonin in case I start having problems again - has anyone used it?

Food has been OK..better than I was doing before. Have to start tracking more carefully. I made enough spinach egg white cups, rice, beans, and salad to get through the week - working on adding more fruit.

Some non-scale goals for this challenge, as I still haven't weighed in(and now TOM is starting - ugh!):

1) Take vitamins and supplements every day
2) Wear pedometer every day and walk at least 6000 steps, even if I have to just walk around the house at night to get there!

zumba, good to see you!

hi, izza!

clyte, sorry to hear about your mil - sounds very stressful.

bama, I really think you will be in onederland by Easter!!!

I am in :)

Weight 151.5 this morning, which is my new low :)

Goal is to be at 145 :eek:

Hi everybody!!

Dcap the bellydancer emoticon made me smile!!

I've lost some bloat and feel better. I have decided to give myself a break when it comes to the low carb thing. I'm giving myself atleast 20 - 30 net carbs to work with a day instead of trying to stick to fifteen......I think I was being too strict which was setting me up for failure.

I'm also cutting out the late night eating...when I get home from class I"m going to try and have something "light" instead of eating anything that isn't nailed down. That is hard to do because sometimes after a workout I am famished.

Let's hang in there everybody.....We actually had SNOW today..bleh...it didn't stick but enough is enough. I need the warm weather before I'll take my bicycle out.

Oh, My..
 

I've been doing these Turbo Fire DVD workouts for nearly a month and today was the first day I felt like I knew what I was doing..

Well, temptation seems to be flinging itself into my path at every turn. I seem to have some sort of meeting almost every evening this week. At all of these meetings (don't ask me why) cake is served. On Tuesday, it was my turn to make the cake and I did a tray bake that always goes down well. I did not eat a single piece before going to the meeting I did not eat a single piece at the meeting. There were not as many people at the meeting as there should have been, so I ended up taking a lot of it home. No problem, I thought, I will take it to work tomorrow. Next day, DS was sick and I ended up staying home with him. And eating cake. Aaaaarg!

Today is another day!

Clyte: I would have eaten the cake also. I bought jelly beans and put them in a candy dish in the living room for my sons since I always do that for Easter....and ate some last night bc I wanted something sweet. I don't even LIKE jelly beans! I think if temptation is there it is easy to cave if we are having a bad day/stressed/bored etc.

Surprisingly enough, I managed to stay on plan and actually lose weight. I had a horrible week and I ended up getting into a huge argument with my brother. I had been feeling really defeated but I when I weighed in this morning, I was down 3 lbs. Yay me! :carrot:

Start: 199
3/24: 196

Zumba - glad to hear it :)

CLyte - Uh, did someone say CAKE? :drool:

Izza - way to stick with it!

TheMe - congrats on the loss :)

me - just hanging in there- it's been a surprisingly busy week. i need to workout tonight...

I set an ambitious goal for this challenge. ****, my modest goals haven't worked, so why not? Feling better about things today. Started a new notebook and am tracking my calories, exercise, steps, supplements, and water. 1215 calories yesterday. An hour of Zumba last night. Another important part of my goal for this challenge is setting up all the doctor's appointments I've been putting off - mammo, gyn, etc.

me, 3 lbs. is awesome!!

clyte, hope things are going better. I can't deal with temptation lately either - did better yesterday, but it's been such a struggle lately!

zumba, I think you and I are stuck at the same weight again. I was actually relieved this morning - my scale was even higher the other morning, but TOM is leaving and I'm back to that 137.2 again..I'm also trying to focus on keeping carbs low but not so low that I rebel. Still congested but started my regular routine at the gym last night. Promised DS I'd take him to family swim tonight, which is better than sitting in front of the TV with pizza and wine.

Happy Friday!!!

Nat: we are dieting sistahs from another motha...LOL....keeping a notebook is a smart move..track it all...I need to start doing that also....sometimes we don't realize how much we ingest until we see it written down....or we forget..."OH yeah, I had those jelly beans yesterday...."...LOL...I also have to make all my appts....get them over with, I am the queen of procrastination lately.

Going to a PTA dinner tonight....hope I can make some good choices..not sure what will be on the menu or if it is a buffet....buffets really set me back some..unlimited food? PILE IT ON HIGH!!!

I'm doing my zumba as usual but plan on staying after class tomorrow and starting to mess around with the weight machines...don't really know where to start but so meone suggested I just start with ONE machine/set of muscles and do that for a while to get comfortable on the "floor" and then add on to it until I have a program established. I know that I need to lift around 12 reps and feel muscle fatigue at the end of the 12. We shall see how it goes.

I've reached My St Patty's Goal
 

Just a Tad late....

It has been a fabulous week... I've been doing double workouts one in the Early AM and the other a quick cardio late in the afternoon.

I've been great with my diet, Higher Protien is helping my workout performance and how I feel overall.

I also try to cut carbs out after 3 in the afternoon.

Seems to be working ... I've never had a 4 lb week, but i'm still cautiously optomistic SP!!!

Friday: 1485 calories. Steps: 4054. Sad, isn't it? And that's with taking some stair-climbing breaks at work. Went to the Y w/ DS last night and made an effort to move in the pool as much as possible.

Got moving too late for the 8:30 spin class, but will get to the gym after grocery-shopping. DREADING sitting in the freezing cold watching DS's soccer game today!

Saturday: 1395 calories. Steps: about 12000(forgot to wear pedometer until noon). Exercise: 50 minutes treadmille. Ran 5K @ 4.8mph

Feels SOOOO good to be back on plan and writing everything down. Already down a pound.

How is everyone's weekend going?

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek....had a donut today. In a very "I don't care anymore" kind of mood....looking into the 17 day diet....reading the book and think this is my next diet..hate to say it but I need to follow a structured program, just not getting this on my own.

nat - wtg! I always had such a hard time recording everything - glad to see it work for you!

zumba - is it carbs that don't work for you? Meaning, when you eat them you gain, or you just feel better without them?

i'm close to the 230's - so i'm hoping to be there next week. i need to totally be on plan this week - easter's coming soon!

Sunday: 1245 calories. 10025 steps. 36 minutes elliptical.

Wearing the pedometer is really helping. When I took my ds to the playground yesterday, I kept walking around the perimeter and climbing the equipment instead of just sitting.

zumba, let me know what you find out about the 17-day diet. I know exactly what you mean. I keep going off and on. The last few days I've been great, motivated, tracking everything, but a few days from now - who knows? I've got my 25th HS reunion in 3 weeks, so that's motivating me at the moment. But I know exactly what you mean about needing something more structured.

dcap, we can do this!!!!27 more days!!!

Well, If you can't have spring them enjoy winter???
 

Friday and Saturday we got pummelled with nearly a foot of snow so yesterday I enjoyed a 2 hour Snowshoe hike and Loved it !!!! to day was a 45 min cardio class.

Zumbachica You are so close... you can't give up now...just a thought you are teaching classes and now starting weights you will gain a bit at first and you are going to need more calories to do it all are you eating enough calories overall????

natamars you are doing great.... you are almost there "keep it up"!!


dcapulet I'm Sure you will do great this week!!!:dust:


I have learned so much by tracking everything I eat, I use Dailyplate on my Iphone so it is super easy. I thought I was eating such healthy food but found out my carbs were to heavy. I also loved to add thing to my food those additions were adding way more calories than I thought they were. Good luck this week ladies!!!

Hello Easter Bunnies! ;)

Had another weekend of crappy eating...weekends seem to be my downfall and not because I'm out having fun either...I think it is stress....and boredom.

Anyhoo I read the 17 day diet book and have started it today. It is a very healthy plan compared to atkins. The first 17 days are very structured and strict, but I really think if I try hard enough I can do it..I just have to be organized and creative with my dinners...

Natamars it basically is a diet in stages..the first 17 days you eat vegetables, lean protein (fish, turkey or chicken) and eggs. You also eat two probiotics a day, in my case that will be active culture cottage cheese or greek yogurt..also two fruits a day. It is similar to atkins as far as no bread at first..but you aren't eating enormous amounts of cheese, butter and meats.....no sugar allowed either. I don't think I will follow it to the letter this week because of some events I have to attend but will try and stay as close to it as I can. I'm excited because I feel like I have a chance to lose by doing something new. Whatever I was doing wasn't working. I am not going to start lifting weights until next week, I want my body to get used to my new way of eating first. Over training and not getting enough calories just leaves me tired and ravenous.

Monday: 1330 calories. Exercise: 1 hr. body sculpt. 5079 steps.

Zumba, I would like to try that too. All of a sudden I have all these meals out coming up though. I normally eat out once a month, maybe twice, and in the next 3 weeks I now have at least 4 meals out. Also, my birthday is next week. I'm going to reserve a copy of the book at the library and check it out. Lately a meal or two off plan seems to cause me problems - I don't go totally crazy, but it still stalls my weight loss big-time. I don't want to just maintain for this challenge, I want to lose!!!!

izza, your snowshoe hike sounds awesome. I've heard that is great cardio and core exercise!!

Tuesday: 1460 calories. Rest day. 4033 steps.

Yesterday was tough. I started having cravings in the afternoon and really wanted to binge when I got home. Monday night's workout was tough and I was sore, so decided to rest. I thought hard about what would satisfy my cravings without a lot of calories. Turned out to be some crunchy Trader Joe's cereal with soy milk and a glass of wine(245 calories in total). Then I hung out upstairs away from the kitchen for the rest of the night.

My scale is getting very close to 135 now, a plateau number that has plagued me all my adult life. I have no meals out until next Friday the 8th, so I'm going to work very hard to keep my calories as close to 1200 as I can until then.

See you all later!

I'm doing well this week... eating Clean ...Check... Working out.... Check and feel'n GREAT.... Check..Check:D:D

Natamars try and eat more protein in the morning and lunch so you don't have those late afternoon cravings......Protein at every meal is my new mantra....

I was in Manhattan last n ight and my friends wanted to eat at Chipotle...I managed to have s alad with protein...so I stuck to my diet. Tomorrow night i"m going to a fundraiser and I'm going to try and make good choices. It is hard to stay to a structured plan when you have dinners out, but that doesn't mean we should go hog wild...that's the part of eating out that I never understood, or wanted to understand! lol..I have to say that I already feel a bit "debloated" thanks to no bread, rice or pasta. I don't miss red meat either.....I think that this diet may be what I needed.

Izza..great job.

Dcap: you are so motivated!!! It's contagious!!


Clyte: hope your MIL is doing better.

Let's do this folks!!

finally got below my plateau...this 17 day diet really works. I feel pretty good also.

tonight is a fundraiser and I know the food is going to be fantabulous so I'm a bit worried. I could probably make good choices until the desserts come out. I don't want to sabotage my efforts.

Where is Bama? I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!