Valentines Day Challenge
 

So Valentines Day is 5 and a half weeks away - trying to think of a different way to do a challenge for it. So how about we set up individual challenges this time - show it in your signature to track how you are doing ... Some options to think about but not limited to would be

Weight loss (set an amount you think you can meet - I'm thinking 8 lbs for me that would be 1.5 lbs a week average which would make me work but is doable)

Or

Days totally on plan (I can make myself be perfect for one day - then another day doing it one day at a time - rather than thinking of the whole time) I don't think there are trackers for this but you could put smilies in your signature for days completed and devils for days you didn't make it or something..

Or

I did exercise today (I got a fitbit last month and am really enjoying setting little goals to meet daily step wise)

That way we could all be doing a challenge that is specific to our needs but doing it at the same time and having a single thread to motivate us and to check into daily.


Happy New Year - a fresh start! We will do it!!

I am going to join in. I will set my goal for 10 lbs. :dizzy: in 5 weeks. That may be a little much but worth a try.

Originally Posted by odirish:
I am going to join in. I will set my goal for 10 lbs. :dizzy: in 5 weeks. That may be a little much but worth a try.

Welcome! Up above here are some stickies - Jersygryl has a great one about induction and it has some super links in it - she knows what she is talking about with hints and tips look at her stats :D

Off to heat up our chicken soup New Years Dinner - exciting huh lol. Oh well we will celebrate with exciting food when we both feel better. The soup turned out great and it was all I could manage yesterday ... Think I might throw some spinach in mine tonight ..

Since I do not have a scale to weigh myself, I am going to do this........



"Days totally on plan (I can make myself be perfect for one day - then another day doing it one day at a time - rather than thinking of the whole time) I don't think there are trackers for this but you could put smilies in your signature for days completed and devils for days you didn't make it or something.."

I am starting Atkins tomorrow...January 1, 2012. :)

Originally Posted by canadianwoman:
Since I do not have a scale to weigh myself, I am going to do this........



"Days totally on plan (I can make myself be perfect for one day - then another day doing it one day at a time - rather than thinking of the whole time) I don't think there are trackers for this but you could put smilies in your signature for days completed and devils for days you didn't make it or something.."

I am starting Atkins tomorrow...January 1, 2012. :)

Welcome! I think this will be a fun challenge since everyone can pick a personal challenge that will work for them.

Count me in . . . after a long and dreadful hiatus, I have returned to Beloved Atkins!:D

Hi All and special Hello's to you, my darling dancing carrott!:carrot:

Gotta revamp my banner - not sure how I'll be tracking yet . . . :dizzy:

Originally Posted by rho1640:
Welcome! I think this will be a fun challenge since everyone can pick a personal challenge that will work for them.

Yes, that is why this challenge appealed to me. :)

I'll aim for 5 low yes but I'm too stressed out with grad school (graduating may '12)
I'll go slow lol

Exercise 3-4 x weekly with school n 2 internships....I need my sanity!

Originally Posted by desiresdestiny:
I'll aim for 5 low yes but I'm too stressed out with grad school (graduating may '12)
I'll go slow lol

Sounds like a great plan - you have a full plate and making it doable is the key!

This is awesome!

I'm setting my goal for 15 pounds! I know I can lose that much in 5 weeks. Since I'm restarting induction. I also love the idea of putting smiley faces on good days and devils on bad days. What a great idea! I think that will keep me more accountable. I'll be here daily!

Now, off to set a v-day ticker :)

I've never been much cyber good at the tickers etc, but thinking my goal got on there? I'm inducting today violet and hoping for that whooosh . . . secretly shooting for 20 but went with 19 to play it safe lol. I've got some major stress on the way too DD - taking office again at work and then will be switching my body over to 2nd shift/upside down after almost 3 years of day shift.

So far my plan is to stay OP lol . . . and walk my way through the fog. I'll be checking in daily as well . . . feeling psyched and ready to just. do. this!

Originally Posted by rho1640:
....
Or

Days totally on plan (I can make myself be perfect for one day - then another day doing it one day at a time - rather than thinking of the whole time) I don't think there are trackers for this but you could put smilies in your signature for days completed and devils for days you didn't make it or something....

Happy New Year - a fresh start! We will do it!!

Happy New Year and thanks for setting up this challenge rho . . . I'm gonna go with a Dancing Carrot (got kind of a borderline creepy thing for that Lil Dancer) and Devil combo - love this idea and can't wait to see 5 1/2 weeks of daily Carrot Rockette action in my sig!

IMPOSTER STILL HERE I SEE>:broc:<:bomb:

Forgot to mention that the part of my plan of "walking my way through the fog"? I finally figured out how to use my mp3 (thanks 2 DD 14) and have 3 books from audible.com for Christmas that I can't wait to start listening to. We live near a walking trail on the MO river - headed there now. 1st book: THE BROKEN TEAGLASS by Emily Arsenault:carrot:

So glad to see everyone joining in - this is going to be FUN!

Enjoyed my walk and the book (starts out with a guy getting a job at a place like Websters Dictionary!) It's been forever since I was down on the trail and remembered the last time I was there I had to sit on 5 different benches . . . this time only sat down twice . . . progress.

Not sure where I saw the recipe, but if it was on here somewhere Shout Out to whoever posted the Jalapeno Poppers! DH (skinny chubby lover who has a saboteur streak when it comes to my LC Lifestyle) loved these also . . . fun to munch watching football. I used Serrano (?sp?) peppers instead of Jalapeno.

Really working on water intake . . . got a tiny slice of lemon and a tiny chunk o' lime going on, seems to help me glug. Finally made the connection that Crystal Light was triggering me to binge eat around 2am - have always had a prob getting enough plain water so far the slight citrus has helped.

Up at 4am tomorrow . . . by the end of the week will be going to bed around 4am lol . . . should be fun!

Off to add my Day 1 OP Rockin' Carrot . . . nite all!

That dancing broccoli is cute and much more on plan than a carrot. :broc:

Aud - I don't do shift work but it is 3:33 am and I'm still up... Ugh. Insomnia sucks..

WHOO HOO on the walk - that is better for sure..

I found a low carb forum on the internet, so I think I am going to hang out over there. Good luck everyone. I will pop in now and then.

I'm in, I'll track days with carbs on plan (re-starting induction beginning today, may move up in OWL levels over the coming weeks though, so it won't always be the the same target number).

I also will try for a specific weight loss, but I want to see how much of the holiday pounds are carb bloat (I was in ketosis before x-mas, and some of the pounds are sure to be water weight that I'll lose this week - next Monday's weight will be the one I consider "real" weight gain, not water).

Originally Posted by canadianwoman:
I found a low carb forum on the internet, so I think I am going to hang out over there. Good luck everyone. I will pop in now and then.

We will be here if you want double duty support :D I hit a few sites but this is my main group it seems. I need all the support I can find heheheh

Originally Posted by sarahinparis:
I'm in, I'll track days with carbs on plan (re-starting induction beginning today, may move up in OWL levels over the coming weeks though, so it won't always be the the same target number).

I also will try for a specific weight loss, but I want to see how much of the holiday pounds are carb bloat (I was in ketosis before x-mas, and some of the pounds are sure to be water weight that I'll lose this week - next Monday's weight will be the one I consider "real" weight gain, not water).

Sounds like a great plan - :D

I made a new decade if numbers today! Isn't that the best feeling...

Had to cancel my doctors appointment for Wed - haven't been able to get the blood work done - and still too sick to do it today. So it is for the 13th now - maybe I can be down a few more pounds by then :p - and yes I'm planning on wearing my Lycra workout pants under my jeans to strip down to for weigh in lol. No way I will wear 3 lbs of jeans when I weigh in. Better try them on again though they might need to be taken in so they don't fall off heheheh

Falling off jeans is a great feeling though, Rho!

I'm glad it's summer for me so I can wear a light gauzy skirt to the docs on Friday - I'll get weighed then too.

My goal is to get out of the 170s. Considering I'm at 181 this morning (up from the new year's challenge!) it seems a big challenge but I think it's doable because I'm hoping for a whoosh now I'm back on track again. I didn't eat a tonne of calories when I was away, just a tonne of carbs (from fruit, mostly, I ate nectarines like they were going extinct. And I had rice or rice noodles when my mum/sister did).

Oh and I post elsewhere too, though mainly here. I like reading posts elsewhere though and then I end up commenting so I feel like I'm all over the place!

I'm in smaller jeans so they aren't completely falling off though they do slip down some -- its the Lycra exercise pants that I'm afraid will fall off lol.

Was talking to a friend in Australia and it was going to be HOT there - hoping it is cooler where you are. We are supposed to have a drop in temps and high wind and possibly snow late tonight and tomorrow - I don't think lots of snow but they are talking single digits wind chill and a North West wind which means my living room windows will sing loudly... Plus it will be cold in here ... Yay for my fleece Snuggie .. It will keep me warm in my chair at least.

Hate hate hate insomnia! When I originally flipped from nights to days, had it quite often . . . which made dragging out of bed all that much worse. It's part of the reason I'm choosing to return to 2nds - I've just never got good rest on this shift.

Ooops changed my weight but forgot my Carrot!:o;)

I agree with anabee rho . . . falling off jeans is a great thing! Been a long time since I've enjoyed that feeling.

Got 2 pretty long indoor walks in today at the plant - we're having crazy weather here - 60 degrees Sunday - in low 20's today with gusty gusty icy winds! Better off inside! Plus the mp3 book is getting more interesting, love how it makes me forget I'm moving lol.

DH and I had some all-system-encompassing bug over the Holiday so didn't get out much . . . we made it out late this afternoon to see Sherlock Holmes, finally and both enjoyed (for a change.) We were big fans of the PBS series a few years back. These are cute but no Jeremy Brett lol.

Proud to report that I made it through the show w/o my usual lg double butter popcorn! I took one baggy of braunschweiger, one of sliced cucumbers and two slices of swiss cut up . . . hard to crave popcorn and candy while stuffing your face with that combination!

It was good too and so filling I'm skipping anything else tonight - 'cept having a hot lemon water as I babble here . . . gotta run, got a hot date with that orange dancin' hunk;)

Have a great OP day and cya tomorrow!

G'night Aud (& carrot) sounds like a good day!

Hee, you're doing great rho if you're at risk of losing lycra pants!!!

It's not so hot where I am (though getting warmer tomorrow I think) but if your friend is in or near Melbourne I think they had a stinky hot night. I don't mind a hot day so much if it cools down so you can sleep (having central air/heat at home is pretty unusual, since our weather doesn't usually reach extremes either high or low. But fans don't cut it if it's really hot and humid over night)

I am dropping out of the challenge. I am going to go back to calorie counting. Good luck to everyone. :)

Originally Posted by canadianwoman:
I am dropping out of the challenge. I am going to go back to calorie counting. Good luck to everyone. :)

Sorry to see you go but good luck and lotsof success in your journey

Good luck with calorie counting cw!

The creeping crud DH and I have had since the Holidays continue . . . deep deep cough now.:( Thera-Flu had been helping but when I went on Induction I remembered that they are full of sugar - I'm taking Hubs "cold and cough pills for people who have high blood pressure" cuz that's the only type med in the house that I know has no carbs.

They're really not helping lol

Went down a little bit more this morning and into "new numbers" w00t!:carrot:
Switched to tuna today, been overdoing the eggs and red meat I think. I stocked up on protein shake mix (the kind with 3gram total carb) cuz with the changing hours, my body won't know when breakfast etc is and a lot of times I'll just need a swig of the shake for energy.

I love that when I "do Atkins" I can really start listening to my body and actually have a clue to when I'm actually HUNGRY or when I'm FULL. I know it sounds ludicrous, but on any other "diet" I'm either mindlessly stuffing myself or starving, ya know? I have noticed over the years that when on this high protein/fat, I actually have a tendency to not eat at all so think the shake will come in handy at those 4 hour intervals. Tonight we had some seasoned sliced chicken seared in a lil butter and olive oil with some similarly seared turnip slices with about a half cup of spinach. I could only take a few bites of each item and have packed the rest for whatever time I think lunch is tomorrow nite . . . starting at noon and won't get off til 11pm. The "real nite shift starts Monday, when we'll start at 5:30pm.

Well rho, hope you got some rest after your bad night?:hug: And that the weather straightened out for you anabee.:cool:

I hear you on being able to listen to your body, aud. It's amazing to feel in control like that. High carbs (aka 'eating healthy') make me feel like I'm a ragdog being thrown around by some crazy child.

Hope you feel better soon, aud. Sorry the pills aren't working :-(

Rag dog, hee. I meant a rag doll :-)

Feel better aud! I remember someone posting about a LC soup that is very comforting when you're sick. Hamburger meat, Rotel, cream cheese and seasonings. I'm going to make some soon and then freeze some so I'm prepared for when I'm under the weather. I seem to always want to turn to soups when I feel bad and I need to be prepared.

AnaBee, ragdog describes it good too ;)

we're having ribs tonight. One of my favorites. I need more fat in my diet so I'm going to eat bacon for breakfast :)

Ana yes my friend is in Melbourne....Right now It is 10 F out my kitchen window - and I am sitting in my chair with fleecy socks, long pants, Long sleeve shirt and fleecy cardigan AND a blanket over me right now - and my cup of coffee that is cooling off quickly ...my furnace is running and can't get it above 62 -- and I swear that I lost my bodies insulation because I can't get warm lately :dizzy: I will put up with that and layer more and more clothes though

Aud we are finally starting to feel better or at least almost human - I got NyQuil and DayQuil in capsule form - to keep in the house for me. Hubs was the barking one i was more sniffly, achy, headachy feel like a truck hit me this time. With some stomach issues the last few days ..

I need to feel good enough to go pick out a new washer (and dryer so they are both energy efficient - my dryer is over 20 yrs old like the broken washer). My laundry basket has turned into a laundry mountain since it broke and we haven't felt good enough to worry about it .. But hubs is going to Las Vegas for a business show in a week and a half and will need more than what I can wash out quickly in the sink heheheh Getting front loaders so I can move it upstairs when I organize enough to figure a spot for it (hubs thinks he is winning this battle and that I gave up the idea -Ummm no just adjusting it for future with everything in place already lol) I break to easily to be carting laundry up and down stairs now and hubs is 8 years older than me so I'm planning for future ease....all I will need is the bracket to stack it when I'm ready to move it (could take awhile but the plan is there at least)

Today was weigh in day for me and I am down 3 from last week that means a few weeks coming up with teeny tiny losses - I would love a decent loss for next week though since my dr appointment got moved up to next Friday. ;) but I think that this loss was from only eating chicken soup and whatever was quick and easy and not caring at all about eating..

also next week I start in with my actual walking at the Rec. Center on the track - that will get my steps up - I'm shooting to get back to 10,000 steps a day minimum - with my ultimate goal being 10,000 steps there along with whatever I add during the day ... I was doing it years ago .. And I considered that my time I would listen to music or a book while I walked and would take water with me and sit down once and drink a bottle of water before continuing ... It will take me awhile to build up to it but I will get there.

Dang I wrote a book didn't I?

We are leading parallel lives rho lol . . . my washer and dryer are downstairs (hate) and 8 years older DH also thinks I've given up on the moving upstairs idea (I haven't!:devil:)

It's been very sunny here the last two but also brutally cold . . . they're calling for a warm up to 50 degrees then 60 degrees before freezing again over the weekend. Weather roller coaster has a lot sick around here!

I'm a bit better on the hackin' today :carrot: thanks violet and that soup sounds yum! Hadn't even thought of soup during the worst of it - packing some bouillion (sp???) thanks to your idea, cuz just not sure what I'll be hungry for tonight.

I actually was "laughing out loud" reading your post anabee - and din't even notice it said "ragdog" . . . then when you corrected, I giggled all over again!:D I vote for contacting 3fc and asking they give us a "ragdog being thrown around by a crazy child" emoticon at once!!!:carrot:<But never replace my friend! And yes it IS a feeling of control, I hadn't looked at recognizing the feelings of fullness/hunger that way but that's exactly what it is . . . and I love it!

I was down a bit more this "morning" but won't add Carrott Hotness (:carrot:) until I get in late tonight as I won't know if I stayed OP til then.

Have a good one All and cya in the Wee Hours!:hug:

PS: Good idea on the Day/Ny Quil rho . . . it's one thing to stock up the pantry for LC Lifestyle, but totally forgot the medicine cabinet!

i've been back on since monday. back to pre-christmas weight!!

I'll join in. I will b on totally on plan 38 days minimum. Would do the exercise thing, but I'm about to add a part time job into my busy schedule, so staying on plan might b enuf of a challenge.

welcome back Kel!

I did great yesterday and kept carbs below 20. A friend of mine is doing this with me. she said years ago she saw a nutritionist who recommended LC to her with one cheat hour a week. First of all, I've never heard of doing that. I think that would be a slippery slope for me as I would get off track and go carb crazy. Second, I'm really surprised a nutritionist suggested this WOE. So many are against it. It sounds like that nutritionist in on track a little anyway.

I would be scared the one hour a week would put me out of ketosis and I would have to start all over, so I'm not going to do that. What do you guys think?

On another note, I asked to have my work schedule changed and it was approved! :carrot: I work at home, but still have a schedule and wasn't sure if they would do it, but they did! I now work 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., so there is a little window of time to get some walking in before it gets dark in the evenings. It's going to be nice to have that time in the evenings !

I hope you all have a good day! :)

Well we got off early YAAAY, which led to a celebration at a nearby restaurant/bar YAAAY, which led to me going totally off plan: BOOOO! Up 2 lbs for my effort . . . but right back at it today! Rumored to get off early again tonight . . . think I've learned my lesson?

I think so.:^:

Off to adjust my numbers and add my devil.;)

Hiya ArkyKel . . . long time no see.:hug:

I'd be scared of the 1 hour thing too Violet . . . I've got the tendency to let 1 slip up lead to days/weeks/months of "to **** with it" type thinking.

:ink:Hi everyone!!

Glad I made you laugh :-)

Violet, I'd be scared of the one hour thing too. I tried to set rules like that over christmas and i just didn't work for me. I need to be all or nothing. I'd like to change that mind set, but the cravings aren't worth it. I'm not sure about going out of ketosis, I've never really been sure I was in it.

I've been pretty badly off track for awhile, but I saw my doctor this morning and she was so positive. She's into alternative treatments and thinks that it might be allergies that's causing my fatigue or possibly candida again (I was being treated by her for that, but we tapered off the medication I was taking) and we're doing some other tests. I had gained a little since I last saw her but she's always so positive about what I have achieved so far and determined to make me feel well, and it really inspired me. I'd run out of the supplement she gives me that contains chromium and that stuff is great for keeping away the cravings so that might've contributed to being off track. Anyway, I feel like something has clicked again in my head, and that's what I needed. Also, she's cut my dose of the metformin in half and while stopping that altogether makes me anxious (I didn't lose any weight until I started taking it, even if it's still hard) but I have felt that it also makes it hard to eat low carb without feeling like crap. I'm feeling positive about that too. So, onwards and downwards!

Aud, the devil keeping the carrots in line just totally cracks me up.

My new goal - to be on plan every day, whatever weight loss that brings me.

edited to add - I'm going to count in mice :-)

Mice, and :ink:

Morning everyone - still not feeling great ... But a little better at least ... Sitting here feeling annoyed with hubby because he has been asleep for 11 hours (in fact he just got up and said he thinks he is going to sleep his life away) and I can't get more than 5 1/2 hours with a sleeping pill! What I wouldn't give to get 8 hours .... It's been at least a decade since I got a good full nights sleep...

Mice vs piggy icons lol. Made me giggle .. I love that idea too..

Bodies are weird things aren't they - I weigh in on Wed. And that is my official day but I weigh every morning - I don't change what I eat but after Wed. I have a few days of gaining weight (not a lot but it shows on the scale damn) then by next Wed it drops again for a loss lol. Weird.....

Glad to see everyone back on yay

Crawling back into my sick hidey hole for a bit more ..... But I'm managing to walk in place to meet my daily small step goal... So that is something at least. :p