Way to go, Cattails and me! Did I miss anyone?

ange82much: maintain between 112-117lbs
boatingmommy: 6 lbs
Cattails: 3 lbs
Chunkahlunkah: 2.5 lbs
darius: 11 lbs
flower1: 4.6 lbs
Fungirl28: 8 lbs
gardenerjoy: 1 kgs
Jeanex: 5 lbs
JenyReddy: 4 lbs
kfunk6113: 9 lbs
Lacerta: 5.6 lbs Bonus goal: 2.6 more lbs
momtopands: 8 lbs
nicoley73: 4 lbs
opheliaphoenix: 6.8 lbs
Raining: 5 lbs
Riestrella: 3 lbs
Sunshine318: 6 lbs
unwanted37lbs: 5 lbs
wantochange: 5 lbs

gardenerjoy: CONGRATS on making that goal, and on staying sub 100.

Cattails and Raining, sometimes the scale REALLY doesn't want to show us the next decade and will just stubbornly hang on to that 0. I find when that happens, I usually progress past 9 into 8 very quickly once it finally does move. Stick with it, you'll get there.

Riestrella: I can't remember, have you tried peanut butter toast instead of a sandwich? The toasted bread has less calories than untoasted and because it is open faced, you have 1 less slice. Might be a way to transition away from sandwiches and break the habit. I'm a peanut butter addict, and used to always have 2 whole sandwiches for lunch often. But I've only had maybe 1 PB sandwich in the last 2 months, as I have open faced PB toast instead.

darius: I'm so sorry to hear about Jack. I've had my 2 cats (Wacko and Dot) for 15 years now, so they are getting older. I only have to worry about cars and neighbor's dogs around here, but I keep them indoors anyway, which works ok, as they don't really seem to like going outside. They'll go into the yard with me if I'm doing yardwork, but they stay close to the door. I hope Jack comes back ok.

kfunk: Have fun at the fair and looking forward to holding you accountable again in September.


Week Four
22: 225.8
23: 226.4
24: 225.4
25: 226.0
26: 226.0
27: 224.8
28: 225.4
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four: 0.6

Bonus days
29: 223.8
30:
31:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Bonus days:

I'm bouncing all over the place. Yesterday was back up, which was weird, because I ate really well, but must have been retaining water, so I didn't end up losing much last week. But today I had another whoosh, down a full pound from my prior low. I'm now only 0.4 off from moving down to Class 1 obese. So close. Even if I don't make it by the end of the month, though, I'm really happy with how this month has gone.

Here's next month's thread, if you're thinking ahead: https://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/chi...challenge.html

And, don't forget Riestrella's Haunting for Halloween challenge for a longer-term goal: https://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/chi...-2018%2A~.html

I had a much better day yesterday, I'm glad to report! I didn't have any bread . Mainly because we don't have any in However, I'm proud of the fact that I worked out after missing it the day before, usually I would put it off another day to get "back on schedule", I'm also proud that I didn't snack in the evening too. I'm down a little to 183.9 lbs this morning, so heading in the right direction again.

I'm also really excited to start running again, even though the first month is going to be a sweatathon since it's still hot and humid here and will be until October. I think my body loves cardio, but I'm still going to do an Insanity video once a week to cross train and keep my muscles guessing. I'm also almost done with month 1 of Insanity, which means harder workouts for month 2! Either way, even though my weight loss progress has been significantly slower this month, I think next month will be different once I add running to my routine. I might stall for a little, but if my past records indicate anything it's that I start losing about a pound a week with a consistent running routine. Gotta earn that Halloween 5K medal!

In other news, I started my new painting by numbers! I was going to wait until I finished a few more colors before posting a picture, but it's nice having something to do in the evenings again. I also just got a call from a client who has essentially handed the reins over to me for a project we've been working on. Hopefully she approves of my rate and then I can finally get started on it, it's been about a year in limbo and I'm ready to get it done and put it in my portfolio!

Still no news about the boyfriend's potential new job. He really wants it, but they're taking a long time to get back to him. He sent a sampling of his work last Saturday, then a follow up email to see if they received it Monday and since then it's been radio silent. Keep your fingers and toes crossed that he hears back soon. Any tips on when he should get in contact for a third time? If at all? He just wants to know if he got the job either way so he can move on with his life!

Another reminder that my Haunting for Halloween 2018 challenge is open, all welcome!

Final Days
27: 183.9 lbs
28: 184.4 lbs
29: 183.9 lbs
30:
31:
----------------------------------
Avg Weight for Week Four: 184.1 lbs
Avg Weight for Final Days: 184 lbs
Total Loss for Final Days:0.1 lbs

kfunk - How come you don't sleep very well? Is it because of the need to pee?! I'm all out of sorts if I don't sleep enough! When you say you have cookies, candy and ice cream - are those items that you have in your house? Is there any way you can stop buying them to avoid the temptation if so? I know if I have any of those in the house I would have a hard time holding back!! Have fun at the fair!

Cattails - Haha, my mum, bless her, isn't a great cook. She's not terrible, but there were some meals that were just bad! She used to make this pasta bake dish using a jar of sauce, it was a weird creamy one, I didn't like it at all. She was convinced that I enjoyed it and kept making it over and over again. That was something that went straight in the trash can or in the dog's stomach! She also has an awful habit of overcooking red meat, I used to hate beef if it wasn't minced because she would cook it to be stringy like your mutton! Even today when I say "I don't like ___" she'll reply "You do like it though!" It's like she thinks I'm crazy and I don't know my own taste buds?! That's hilarious that you stuffed food in your sock though, genius!! You're so close to your goal, keep up the amazing work!

Lacerta - I occasionally have just one slice of bread and fold it over to make a "sandwich", which is something I want to transition to eventually. My plan is to start by having 1 slice of bread instead of 2 every other day for about 30 days. Then shift to having 1 slice every day for 30 days, then 1 slice every other day, then eventually 0 slices! At that point I hope to figure out an alternative lunch plan, but PB sandwiches are just so easy/filling. I'm determined though! Wow, great work this month, I'm so happy for you!!

gardenerjoy - Thank you so much for linking my challenge, I really appreciate it!!

Thank you FunGirl, Riestrella, kFunk, Lacerta, Cattails for the words of support.
Cattails that is an amazing story about your 24 y.o. cat.
We have lost cats that have disappeared forever and never returned. I have never seen one come back after 5 or 6 days in our part of NC but anything is possible.
I hope he does come back.
But I held a little personal memorial service for him last night and recited Dylan Thomas' And Death Shall Have No Dominiion.

My loss rate is slowing down but thankfully it is not going up!

August 2018 Weight Loss Challenge
Goal: 11 lb

Date Weight Loss lb
-----------------------
8/1 314.2 lb START
8/3 314.6 lb
8/6 319.0 lb
8/7 317.0 lb
8/8 317.4 lb
8/9 313.4 lb
8/10 315.4 lb
8/17 308.5 lb
8/19 307.5 lb
8/21 304.8 lb
8/23 303.0 lb -11.2 LB GOAL
8/24 301.8 lb
8/25 299.5 lb TWO-DERLAND!!!
8/26 298.5 lb
8/27 298.5 lb
8/29 297.5 lb

Joe- Hi, I hope you are doing well!!

Cattails- I actually have, back in my early 20's!! I remember it being a good diet, not the type where you go hungry. I can't remember why I deviated from it, but I am sure I started smuggling carbs back into my diet and quit! Is that what you did to lose your weight? I hope that you break into the 120's very soon!!!

Gardenerjoy- YIPEE!!!! Great job!!!

Lacerta- Nice whoosh!!! You are doing SO well, keep up all your hard work!!!

Riestrella- It sounds like you had an amazing day, so many NSVs for you!! That is awesome that you enjoy cardio so much, I have always wanted to become a runner, but lack the follow through. I am a very light sleeper so I wake up when my husband comes to bed even though he is super quiet about it. Having to pee so much probably puts me in a lighter sleep stage around the time he comes in to the room. The cookies are definitely not kept in the house, but the ice cream is. There is a girl I work with who has a Halloween style candy assortment out at all times, quite annoying actually ahhaha... nah, usually I can avoid it, but sometimes I give in and then I can't stop myself!

Darius- You are still crushing it, a pound a day is insane!! What day do you leave to go home?

Jeny- I am glad that you are feeling better, it sounds like you have a great plan!

The fair was a lot of fun yesterday! I ate way too much before and after the fair, but didn't eat very much when we were there. Nothing sounded great, so I just kind of mooched off of my husband and shared a few things with the kids. Over the weekend I found out I am pregnant, so wont be participating in any of the weight loss challenges from here on out. We have a BMI scale that is not safe for pregnant women so I can't even finish out this one! I will still be hanging around for the next couple days though.

Jenyreddy: Good luck going into September. New month, new chances.

darius: Your weight loss has been amazing. What is that, like 16 pounds already? In once month? Who does that? Now you just have to remember not to get discouraged when you go home and lose a "normal" amount for next month.

Riestrella: Fingers crossed for your boyfriend. And good job on getting your workout in. I'm thinking about starting to integrate a bit of running myself. I told myself months ago that I wasn't even going to try it until I got under 220, because that was just too much stress on my knees. Well, guess what? I'm almost under 220. Plus, going into fall, the weather will be cooler, so be much easier to run without heat exhaustion. I'll probably start throwing some short, slow runs into my walks this next month, couch to 5k style. I may decide it is still too much stress on my knees and decide to wait until spring, when I'm much lighter, but until I give it a try, I won't know whether I'm ready.

Edited to add: kfunk: I think I remember you saying in another post earlier this year that you really were trying to get pregnant this year. So, HUGE congrats. That's far more important than losing the weight for now. That's one of the reasons to lose the weight in the first place.

Bonus days
29: 223.8
30: 224.2
31:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Bonus days:

Continuing my trend of bouncing all over the place. Absolutely no reason for me to be up today, and yet... meh, whatever, the trend is still going in the right direction, and I did lose more than my 7 pounds I need to average to hit Onederland by New Year's, so it's all good. Also, a couple of NSVs: I noticed today that when I'm standing and look down, I can't see my belly past my boobs anymore. It used to stick out farther, but no more. Woohoo! I also met my clothing goal (BARELY!). I can fasten my size 14s, but I had to lay down on the bed to do it. Still counts. I'm still wearing my 18s, as there is still a little more muffin top than I like on the 16s. Probably switch to them sometime in September, though.

I'm happy to see 183.6 lbs this morning after being good yesterday!

Today has started a little shaky, after swearing to myself I wasn't going to make egg sandwiches for breakfast I ended up doing just that this morning. I hope I can be strong the rest of the day and not cave in to more bread. I'm also going to work out today, the last workout of month 1 of Insanity Max 30! I'm kinda scared for the next phase since I know it's going to get harder I hope I can stay in the 183's tomorrow to end this month with my average in the 183's! I'm not going to psyche myself up too much, but I am going to try

Final Days
27: 183.9 lbs
28: 184.4 lbs
29: 183.9 lbs
30: 183.6 lbs
31:
----------------------------------
Avg Weight for Week Four: 184.1 lbs
Avg Weight for Final Days: 183.9 lbs
Total Loss for Final Days:0.2 lbs

Lacerta - Couch to 5K is a great program, I think you'll do great if you take it slowly! Huge congrats on those NSV's, that's awesome!!

kfunk - I'm sorry you're such a light sleeper, that must be so annoying yet I imagine you're used to it? I have a friend who's the same way, she naps constantly! It's kind of like having a child sometimes, because she'll need to take naps if we hang out for more than 5 hours! Maybe you can slowly phase out buying ice cream for the house so it's not there to succumb to? And as for your co-workers candy, maybe talk to her about it and tell her to limit how much you can take! I think having people on board to slap your wrist so to speak might be good? Oh wow...I just read your update at the end of your post...congratulations on your pregnancy!! I'm going to be sad to not have you around in the upcoming challenges, but I wish you all the best!

Congrats on your pregnancy, kfunk!!

August 31st: 112.6

Goal achieved for me. It looks like i'm on the lower range of my target, but that's because ITS FRIDAY!!!!! Hurray.

kfunk - massive congratulations on your pregnancy!! How exciting for you. Well just you look after yourself (even better, now), and take it easy (and pop in and see us every now again Or (so we don't lose you!) how about doing some sort of health-challenge thing, that's not weight related but helps keep your healthy new habits tuned up!

KFunk congratulations on your pregnancy!
I leave the fitness spa Saturday Sept 1 to drive back home to NC.

August 2018 Weight Loss Challenge
Goal: 11 lb

Date Weight Loss lb
-----------------------
8/1 314.2 lb START
8/3 314.6 lb
8/6 319.0 lb
8/7 317.0 lb
8/8 317.4 lb
8/9 313.4 lb
8/10 315.4 lb
8/17 308.5 lb
8/19 307.5 lb
8/21 304.8 lb
8/23 303.0 lb -11.2 LB GOAL GOAL GOAL GOAL GOAL
8/24 301.8 lb
8/25 299.5 lb TWO-DERLAND!!!
8/26 298.5 lb
8/27 298.5 lb
8/29 297.5 lb
8/30 296.2 lb

Bonus days
29: 223.8
30: 224.2
31: 223.2
----------------------------
Total Loss for Bonus days: 2.2
Total Loss for Month: 8.4

Whoosh to end the month means that I made my stretch goal and am now Category 1 Obese.

Lacerta- Thank you!! I really love how you take the daily fluctuations on the scale in stride, I think that positive attitude is going to help set you up for long term success! Congratulations on your NSVs, they are my favorite part!!! Congrats on your last day whoosh!!!!

Riestrella- Sending your boyfriend positive job vibes, I hope that he hears back soon. Waiting like that is so hard and it seems like most companies are not in a hurry/ too busy to complete the hiring process. You are killing it with your insanity DVDs!! How did the rest of your day go, did you avoid bread like you had hoped? Egg sandwiches are so good!! Yes, I am pretty much used to it. I think I sleep longer than most to make up for the interruptions. That is so funny you mention it.. I have talked to different coworkers (that sit close to the candy) and I tell them that if they see me grab some they need to slap it out of my hand! I am officially done with the candy today, mark my words!! Thank you!!

Lunkah- Thank you!! Its nice to see you!

Ange- Thank you!! Did you ever weigh yourself after your 4 day trip? I would be curious to see how much of a bump up you had from eating a bit more. You are doing SO well in maintenance, I love reading about your success!!!

Darius-Thank you! How are you feeling about heading home? Do you feel ready?

I found a basic scale on clearance at Walmart and was able to weigh in this morning to finish the challenge. Leave it to me to gain 12 lbs. in 5 days... dang! I am going to migrate over to the September thread with you guys to help keep me accountable. I have definitely not started this pregnancy the way I envisioned, but its super early and plenty of time to turn that around. Congrats to everyone who made their goal this month!!!


SW: 170.9
GW: 161.9

8/8 - 170.9
8/20- 168.5
8/21- 167.2
8/22- 166.7
8/23- 165.9
8/24: 165.7
8/25: 164.3
8/26: 165.4
8/31: 177

Final Days
27: 183.9 lbs
28: 184.4 lbs
29: 183.9 lbs
30: 183.6 lbs
31: 183.6 lbs
----------------------------------
Avg Weight for Week Four: 184.1 lbs
Avg Weight for Final Days: 183.8 lbs
Total Loss for Final Days:0.3 lbs

August Starting Weight: 185.3 lbs
August Final Weight: 183.8 lbs
Total August Loss: 1.5 lbs

I didn't quite reach my lofty 3 lbs goal, but halfway there is still progress! Today I weighed 183.6 lbs, which was nice since I thought for sure I would've gained. I ended up slacking on my workout, having a soda that's stockpiled for the boyfriend sneakily and a handful of chips in the evening. Not HUGE mistakes, but I thought it would be enough little ones to make a difference on the scale. I'm glad it didn't so I could end the month in the 183's like I had hoped!!

This will be the last time I rant about it, but please feel free to sign up for my Haunting for Halloween challenge! I'll probably be camped over there for the next couple of months, so I hope you'll join me. If it's not your kinda thing, then I wish you all the best for the next coming months! Thank you, gardenerjoy, for starting these threads and providing a platform for me to kick start my weight loss again.

Lacerta - Yeeessss, so happy to hear you've made a milestone, congrats!!

kfunk - He's going to ask for an update today since it's a long weekend, thanks for your well wishes! Fingers crossed we'll be celebrating this weekend or at least put on hold a little while longer. I know he's terribly nervous about getting rejected. Make sure your new scale is legit! Put a weight on it if you have them and see if it's accurate. Seems like too much of a leap for 5 days!! Good luck for September!!