40 Something Valentines Challenge!
 

Okay Forty something Chicks: That day is coming..all hearts and love and valentines.....Whether you have a sweetie that you plan to spend it with or you'll be alone in front of the t.v. that night like I am, why not look better and feel better by then? I plan on losing a significant amount of weight by then (26 days away as of now). Who is on board? Just post what you plan on doing differently between now and then.....and lets make it happen....:p

For this challenge I plan on doing the following:

take supplements every day
increase water consumption
follow BFC plan

I'm aiming for 139 as being my goal weight for this challenge, but I'd be happy at an even 140.

As far as exercise goes I would like to follow the Brazilian Butt lift DVD plan but I have a problem getting it in every day liket he program requires, I'll plan on doing it as much as I can fit in, as well as get some yoga in a few times a week.

I am with you!!!
I need to jump start my weight loss!

I will drink at least 8 cups of water a day
Watch my carbs..
and Work out 3x 4 x a week!!

I would like to drop 10 lbs by then!

I am in.

I will follow SouthBeach Diet.
Walk 20 miles per week
Drink 64 oz water/white tea per day.

Goal :150 pounds. I was 159 pounds (with bloat :D) this morning.

Awesome!!! Welcome aboard and so glad that I won't be doing this alone!!! Thank you for joining the challenge...I feel really psyched....will be taking before pics tomorrow (gasp)!!!!! That should be a shocker but a much needed slap that I need to do this.....so far so good today.....I love BFC.....

I'm in! I am going to be within calorie range every day, really watch carbs, and walk at least 30 minutes 5x week!

Goal: in the 180s by 2/14!!

Welcome Jennifer!

Zumba!!! It's good to be back!!!! And yet again, you and I are within a few lbs. of each other! I am at 147.2 as of this morning, and my goal is to be under 140 by V-Day, probably too ambitious, but what the he!!

I had gotten within 4 lbs. of goal weight recently, then had some personal difficulties and life got in the way. I'd started to get back in my groove last fall, then Sandy hit(no power for 8 days, no exercise due to no shower, unable to cook or keep fresh food around, extreme stress due to missing work at budget time, nights and weekends spent making up the work, then I got sick twice between T'giving and Xmas, general holiday food, etc). For the last 2 weeks or so I've been journaling my food and keeping my calories down and exercising but haven't dropped an ounce. I've been particularly strict since Monday. Here are my goals for the challenge:

1) Journal all food and drink every day
2) Keep calories 1000-1500(been averaging 1350 or so)
3) Do some type of exercise every day - even if stuck in the house I can climb stairs or do squats or planks
4) Do minimum of 30 min of cardio 4 days a week
5) Do something every day that makes me feel proud!
6) Post here daily

So frustrating that as soon as I'm not super careful the weight piles back on. I think it's the same for a lot of 40-somethings on this board!!!

Zumba, did you come through Sandy OK? We were lucky that we had no damage to the house and everyone was safe..many I know were not so lucky.

ok, I'm in

Rather than a number on the scale, I'm going to shoot for this:
Drinking my 60 or more oz. of water each day
Getting in 20,000 steps as many days as I can
Staying on my program

Hopefully that will relate to a number in the mid 160s

best to all :sunny:

Oh my gosh natamars!!! I have been thinking about you!!,! So good to see you!!!

We had no power for a week....it was crazy......we could only eat what we could cook on the gas stove.....and I waited two hours for gas! What n ordeal....and it threw me off for sure.....a lot of stress and personal problems and bingo tons of weight back on and then some! I haven't weighed this much in ages!!! Years!! I'm desperate!!

So here we are again to support each other girlfriend.....lets do this!!!!

Yayyyyyy Kelij!!!

1/19: 1220 calories, 40 min on elliptical. Made myself proud by not grabbing anything to eat while running errands and cutting myself off food last night even though I had some calories left.

Zumba, I hear you, but we're back now and that's what counts!

kelijpa, 20,000 steps is a fantastic goal! How do you manage to do so much walking?

Going into the city today to take my son to the Nat History Museum..will pack lunch and get some good walking in.

Hi everybody....

I had a swoosh today, so between getting AF and following my BFC diet it made a difference yesterday...I feel so less bloated today! I still have a long ways to go but it is definitely a start.

Going to a friends house tonight to watch the Rangers game, sort of like a "first home game" party. I'm a little nervous because as we all know a lot of junk food is served at events like this (think Super Bowl). I think i'm going to bring a cheese/pepperoni platter so that there will be protein there and I"m sticking with diet coke and not beer. I should be okay...I hope !

Natamars: my kids are in the city today too with their father...not sure where they are going , I just hope they stay warm!

Have a great Sunday everybody. I am going to tidy up this house and then go out to try and find a Rangers jersey to wear.

Keep imagining yourself looking awesome for V'day......

I am totally imaging seeing an 8 on the scale where a 9 is now! It's still way more than I want to weigh, but I keep telling myself it's a big step in the right direction!
I have a favorite pair of jeans that are too tight now, but will fit if I meet the Valentines Day goal, so I hung them on the back of a chair in my bedroom. I'm going to keep putting them on as an added incentive!

OMG... All that water and tea I am drinking...it is not coming out :mad: Scale went up another 2 pounds :cry: I know it is just bloat and once I start to go...it will come right back down.

Weight 161
Food plan
Bfast
Grapefruit
plain yogurt
coffee with cream
Lunch
Grilled shrimp
salad
Dinner
Grilled chicken
Steamed broccoli

Exercise
30 min elliptical

Ok, I'm in. I really *really* want to be below 160 by Valentines Day. I've been putzing around in the mid-160s for a few MONTHS now.

So, what am I going to commit to? Same old, same old. When I stick to what has traditionally worked, it still works. It's the "sticking to" part.

So... healthy food, portion control, exercise. I need to stop taking a breath of relief and loosening up my guard every time I hit a new number. I just need to keep stitching together small losses and I'll get there. I know it. I just need to do it.

And I will.

Okay, so starting today -- I was at 166.2. I've had my normal breakfast (whole milk cappuccino; steel-cut oatmeal with mashed banana, cinnamon, ginger; 2 cups green tea).

I'm planning to do some cooking in a bit, to have things on hand for the week: roasted brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes & turnips, curried squash soup.

Right now I'm adding some more CDs to my i-devices -- it's great to have new music show up in the shuffle when I'm exercising.

Jennifer, this is how I see it, too. I just look for any change down in the number. My scale measures to the 1/10th, so even if I'm down just 1/10th of a pound, I convince myself to be delighted. :)

well today i started off good. a big omlete.. then ran late for lunch. ended up eating too much chinese lol
tomorrow back to work more scheduled eating plan!
Drink 8 glasses of water.
and did my work out..

Hope everyone had a GREAT weekend!

This sounds like a great idea. Down to 25 days now I guess. I'm trying to exercise daily or near daily and stay on my eating plan. Just got off the elliptical. I'm not sure I'll make another 10 pounds by V-day but at the end of Feb. DH and I are going to Vegas for a few days so I'm going to plan on 10+ by February 27th. :)

We can all do this!!

Good Morning Ladies
Well back to work today for me...Todays really my first offical day.
I ate too much crap over the weekend.. scale has me up 4 lbs. but i know its just water weight. So im not counting it..
So Today
I had 4 eggs yes with yolk. Next week will cut out yolk.. with a little tobasco sauce on it..
Lunch i have a protein shake..
and some carrots.
Equals about 600 calories todayl Breakast and lunch

Dinner planning on a big salad.. with tuna..
and water water water..I actually need to just go back to full
NO CARb. but didnt have the money this week to do it...
Its expensive to be healthy.. So i cut back best i could..
Lunch time is super busy in my office. So the energy drink is best for me..
just hope i keep my wil power at dinner tonight..

Hope everyone has a GREAT day!

Newbie here..would love to join the challenge!

I plan to:

Follow WW, tracking every bite
Minimum 30 minutes of exercise at least 6 days per week

I'd like to be down 5 pounds by then, a small goal but baby steps here..

:)

Sunday: 1380 calories, 10 min sculpting exercises, lots of walking
What made me proud: Did not buy any food out while walking around the city

Ugh..feel like I am trying SO hard and the scale is not moving..I lie in bed at night with my stomach growling, picturing the scale being down in the morning then..nothing. Back up to 147 this morning..was so happy to finally get below it yesterday. I thought I'd see a few lbs. come off quickly at the beginning. We have these mini check-ups at work and if you have a healthy BMI you get $100 in your health spending account and if not, you can sign up for weight loss coaching. No way am I going to get to a healthy BMI by my appt..so depressing.

vegan, welcome! how are you liking ww?

grace, the 4 lbs will come off quickly. Hope you have a great week!

luv, good luck with your goals!

newleaf, your food sounds yummy!

sum, hope you saw some movement yesterday.

Jennifer, I like your jeans idea. I have a dress I think i'll try that with. it was on clearance and way too small, but I couldn't resist.

zumba, hope the party went well. we were watching the Pats game(husband is a fan) - it was pretty ugly. but I didn't eat.

Hope everyone has a great day. We have an ice skating party tonight, so will be burning some calories there.

Natamars, thank you for the welcome! I've done WW many times in the past..blush..so I know the program. Like anything else, it works if you work it! :) It's one of the few programs that is vegan-friendly which I love.

I bet you'll see the scale move tomorrow; all of that walking and healthy eating will show up, sometimes it just takes a couple of days. At least, that's been my experience.

Have a wonderful day!

vegan, glad you're finding WW works for you! I've thought about going vegan myself at points - I go long stretches without eating meat - but I do rely on things like egg whites and Greek yogurt for protein. What types of foods do you eat for protein?

I've done WW a lot myself - I'm a lifetime member and was actually on the verge of becoming a leader when I started a new day job that required lots of extra hours. I've tried a few meetings since we moved to NY but haven't found anything that clicked. I used to love the meetings and the weigh-ins..maybe it's time to look for another group.

Vegan-don't blush, I just looked up when I got my lifetime, 1994...yeeps!

Start 166.2
Current 164.6
Goal <160

All is good here. The curried butternut squash soup came out exceptionally well. I think I put in more onions than usual. I didn't make the asst roasted vegetables, but will try to do that this afternoon.

Good food yesterday. The soup and salad for lunch. Salad and a piece of my son's white pizza for dinner.

Breakfast today: a granola bar (not my ideal choice but I was in a rush) and a banana. Lunch: the curried squash soup and a salad. Oh, and of course, my cappuccino in the AM. That pretty much goes without saying; it's how I start every day.

I hope everyone is doing well. I'm coming up on hitting my ticker number again. I'm going to lean on you to not allow me to let up my focus when that happens...

Hi. Everybody..I caved and had some salty snacks at friends house last night...not a happy girl today...gained over a lb but back on track. Two hours of Zumba today.....back on BFC program.....plan on putting in a good week...

Natamars, actually it's easier than one thinks to find protein in a vegan diet! I eat tons of dark leafy vegetables, legumes, and an occasional bit of seitan or tofu, all full of protein. :) I know what you mean about the meetings; the right leader and group makes all the difference! Hope you find one that fits for you.

kelijpa, the first time I joined WW was in 1990 after the birth of my second child. I lost the weight and promptly got pregnant again, lol! It was a lot easier to lose when I was in my 20's, though..groan...

newleaf, I love curried soups! I have a pumpkin/lentil/curry soup in the crockpot right now, will share the recipe if it turns out good.

Zumbachica, wowie! I've never tried Zumba but have seen it on tv..grin...looks intense but fun! 2 hours, that's quite a workout!

Oooh, definitely. Lentils are one of my new fetishes right now... yum!

Monday, 1500 calories, walked .8 miles, jogged 2.4 miles, ice skated 60 min

Back to work tomorrow..hoping to see a drop on the scale

vegan, I love legumes but need to work on the leafy greens..you've motivated me for my next shopping trip.

zumba, you keep rocking it..we're in this together, scale sister!

newleaf, your soup sounds fantastic.

If you all are interested, I write a vegan blog with lots of lentil recipes! I'm a newbie so I'm not allowed to include links in my posts yet, but if you search Vegan Gypsy @ Blogspot.com you should be able to find it. :)

Start 166.2
Current 165.1
Goal <160

Not sure why I'm up from yesterday. 75 min of light snow shoveling must not have been enough exercise. I thought my food intake was good. Whatever.

Hello Valentine chicas........I'm back down to where I was prior to eating the pizza and other "bad carbs" at a friends house Sunday night....I put in a great day of BFC yesterday and I plan on continuing the jumpstart plan to it which is basically low carb.......I'm starting to think that maybe getting out of the 140's by Valentines day is indeed a possibility. We have plenty of time to accomplish much chicas! What I did NOT do this weekend was take my supplements or get in enough water (boooooooooo) but I'll make changes one step at a time.

Zumba today and maybe a yoga DVD, I'm feeling really sore from yesterday's workouts.....

Have a great day !!!

I will take a look. Thanks!

I will check it out too, vegangypsy!

Still no movement on the scale. I am hopeful as I weighed myself last night and my "nighttime" weight is down from where it was(usually 2 lbs or so above morning weight), so hopefully something's coming.

Very proud that I stuck to my spinach egg white cups and veggie sausage for b'fast even though someone brought in bagels..crusty, doughy bagels..mmmm.....

Slow and steady (even if I'm chomping at the bit for it to have been more) down 1.6.

Great job on turning down bagels Natamars! :)

WTG Zumba! Getting back to your previous spot is the first step!

Maybe you had one of those natural (but extremely annoying) fluctuations going on, newleaf. Those are exactly why I weigh only 1x per week. I'd just get to darn frustrated with daily weighing.

We can do it ladies!! :D

LuvCats, wtg!! I've only been losing about 1/2 a pound per week..groan..but if the scale is moving in the right direction I'm happy! :carrot:

Natamars, that's a big NSV! Bread of any kind is my downfall.

I spent yesterday setting up my treadmill area, purchasing a little tv and DVD player for that space. I don't have cable in that room so I ran by the library and grabbed some some treadmill "entertainment," now I'm ready to go! :)

Everyone seems to be doing pretty well-- WTG! I know we can all do this.

Natamars--spinach egg cups sound delicious, recipe?

Zumbachicka--2 hours of Zumba? I'm impressed!!

New leaf--that soup sounds amazing too. I need to increase the variety in what I eat.

Have a great evening all:)