Winter to Spring Challenge
 

Inspired by boopchick's challenge last Summer, I now bring you the Winter to Spring Challenge, which runs from today, December 21st until March 20th

Whether you are looking to lose weight or maintain, all are welcome. Feel free to join in at any time.

Post your starting and goal weights and your weekly progress on your day of choice.

I think the winter is going to be my roughest time of year so far to try to lose weight, so I can use all the motivation and support I can get and the fabulous group of ladies here on 3FC always are fabulous to support one another. So let's get through the cold cold winter (at least for those of us in the northern Hemisphere) together.

WINTER to SPRING Challenge

I'd really like to be down to 187.4, or 80 pounds down by the end of this season, since my 1 year mark is just 2 days before the season ends. But with the slowdown in weight loss, and the fact that winter seems to be difficult for me, I just don't see that happening. So I'm going to set my goal at 192.4, which is 15 pounds down for me. Given how slowly the fall went, that might still be a stretch, but that's what I'm going to aim for. As the days get longer, I hope to get more exercise in (the cold doesn't bother me as much as the dark - if I can see the ice, I can avoid it or be careful). I'm also going to try for more protein over the winter, to compensate for having not as many winter veggies I enjoy.

Honestly though, my goal for 2019 is just 40 pounds total, so even if I just lose 10 pounds a season, that'll be great. But I'm figuring it will likely slow down even more as I get closer to goal, so I need to keep up 1+ pounds a week as long as possible.

Love this thread, thanks for starting it Lacerta. Winter is tough for me also. The dark, ice, snow, cold, etc. This thread will be a place to get through it all.

Your goals seem totally realistic and achievable. There is no doubt you'll be in ondederland by spring.

I hope to lose 15 pounds by spring.

SW 179.4
GW 164

I play little games with myself to get through winter. Like see how long I can get away with wearing my leather jacket with a warm lining ... before I have to break out the big gun winter coat.

I have all next week off so my plan is to do some intermittent fasting by only having 2 meals per day from Dec 22 to Jan 1st. Late brunch, early supper and stay low-carb. Xmas dinner at my sister's will be the 'tempt' night so to speak. I will have turkey and vegetables. It's funny that I'm on duty to bring pumpkin pie and whipping cream. Because I won't be having any of that.

I train my brain to think differently ... I "can" eat that stuff if I want to but I "choose" not to because the short-term sacrifice will reward me with long-term results. I visualize myself slim ... often. I visualize myself fitting into a pair of pants, a dress or whatever. I remind myself that walking instead of waddling is super cool. :cool: And I tell myself that focusing on others instead of me and my bottomless pit of need is the person I want to be. Trust me, I literally do have these conversations in my head .. it's the only way I can think of staying mindful. It continues to fascinate me that some people who are not over-eaters like me, don't even have to be vigilant. They simply don't desire to eat beyond satiety.

All the best to all of us as we navigate this winter !!

SW: 266
GW: 252

This is probably very optimistic given last season's results but it would be another stone, which would be nice.

Usually I like walking in the dark (it's pretty safe around here - lots of houses and only the odd dog walker out) but we've had a lot of rain and high winds in the past couple of months. I don't really have much space to exercise inside, although I could lift dumbbells if I hadn't injured my forearm - hopefully that'll improve soon. I love dancing too and for the last couple of years my friend has done 'A Dance a Day,' which is exactly what it says, and I joined in for a while. One dance usually leads to six and suddenly I've done 20 minutes of cardio. I need to start doing it again because I'd much rather dance than do any other cardio. My friend always used to post the songs she'd danced to but I wasn't too good at sticking to that (there seemed to be some song snobbery!).

So the aim is: more (deliberate) steps, definitely more cardio, hopefully some weights and, once Christmas is over, much less chocolate and snacks in general. My overall eating is good, but for the past six weeks (and especially the last two) the bad stuff has been creeping back in and my calories have been 5-600 calories/day higher than they were, all from snacks!

Good luck to everyone taking part!

Good luck to everyone this challenge! I'm excited for what 2019 has to bring for me. December I will graduate college and finally be a nurse, and if I can maintain my weight loss accordingly I should make it to my goal of 180 this time next year! I just started working as a nurse extern so we'll see how that goes lol I have 2 very exciting "rewards" for myself when I make it to milestones that I can't wait for lol this Summer I would like to go zip lining, and for reaching my overall goal I want to visit a ski resort and learn how to snowboard, it's something I have wanted to do ever since I was a kid. This challenge I am aiming to be at 245

Lacerta: 10 pounds per season is fantastic when we think a season is really only 3 months. I put my goal for 15, but may have to be more realistic on 10 pounds. Looks like a lot of us are aiming high and that's okay!! All the power to us.
Newlyn: dancing is such an awesome way to exercise and I've always wanted to try Zumba ... but I am SO uncoordinated. Sounds like you have a really good plan in place for exercise going forward. I have to do some thinking on my plan.
Ophelia: I know your name is Casey but I love calling you Ophelia ... I looked at your profile picture and you are so pretty and you look like an Ophelia ha ha. I'm super stoked for you goal because it's at least 10 pounds lower than mine so it gives me hope.
Sunny: your post was just delightful. Congratulations on finishing nursing school. :cheer2::cheer3: And I love your goals of zip lining and snowboarding!! So perfect.

I'm a little nervous about my 15 pound goal because Feb 13 - March 5 I'll be in Costa Rica and you know how vacations can wreak havoc on eating plans. I definitely won't be low carb because rice and wraps are big there. But there's also a lot of fish on the menu. My sister and her husband are light eaters so I will do as they do. And I'm not a huge drinker so a beer here and there on the beach but mostly I want to keep up with my water. I've heard water is safe to drink but doesn't taste as good. I'll do my very best.

I'm sorry to be a downer, but that is an unrealistic promise. Losing 1 pound a day is neither sustainable nor healthy. In the short term, while you are dropping the water weight, sure. You could definitely lose 7 pounds the first week. Maybe even the first couple weeks, but beyond that, it is practically impossible and definitely not healthy. Even on shows like the Biggest Loser, after the first few weeks, they only sometimes lose a pound a day, and they do it working with a trainer like 10+ hours a day and starving themselves. And like 99% of them put all the weight back on (plus more) because losing that way KILLS their metabolism.

PLEASE don't try to lose a pound a day. After the whoosh of the first week or two, healthy is considered to be maybe 4-10 pounds a month, but you're talking about triple that. If you DID lose that fast, you'd be losing mostly muscle, not fat, and since muscle burns more calories than fat, that's a BAD thing.

I really hope you decide to lose in a healthy way instead of a crash diet and stay here with us, but either way, I wish you good health.

Follena Thank you! I worded that weird I guess, I won't graduate till December 2019, unfortunately lol it will be here before I know it though!

And I agree with you Lacerta, 1 pound a day is not safe imo. Maybe they meant 1 pound a week though, theres 52 weeks in a year, right? So maybe thats 1 years weight loss plan

I hope that's what they meant.

I figured out a good plan for sticking to my two meals per day during my week off from work. I hung a pretty summer dress on my walk-in closet door so I can see it every day and remind myself ... I want to fit into said dress.

I'm also going to focus as much on NSVs as the weight on the scale. Today's non scale victory: when I walked in Walmart, my pant felt lose.

Good morning everyone,

I'd like to join this challenge, I have a trip to Brazil coming up in July and I'd love to be in the 170s by then. I've had a rough couple weeks and am trying really hard to get back on track. My goal is to be down 20 pounds by March 21. I am on the WW plan which works for me when I follow the plan.

I wish you all much success with this challenge.

GettinFit: welcome! Brazil is a lovely reward ... that's on my bucket list. That's great you found a plan that works for you. You can do this.
bg124: glad you joined - slow weight loss or not, we just string those healthy days together.
Sunny: oh I see you don't graduate until December 2019 ... well what a nice graduation gift to yourself, to be in best shape ever. It's hard to eat healthy and be a student, I remember that well. So all the power to you!!

I just paid $69 at a second hand clothing store for a ton of summer clothes for my Costa Rica trip. I have 7 weeks until the trip to lose some more weight. I'm hoping for 10 pounds ... we'll see.

:wave: everyone! Lacerta, thanks for this challenge and count me in. I'm participating in a year long health and wellness course at the university I work at with 10 other women. My weight loss has been reasonable and steady this fall and I want it to continue. My goal is 175-180 pounds by the time the challenge ends.

curvynotlumpy and Gettinfit: Welcome!! Let's all get to Onederland together. Love having you both here at around my same weight so we can all motivate each other.

Follena: I love the goal dress plan. I have one too that I hope to get into soon. I also have a pair of goal shorts I hope to fit into by spring when I can wear them. I also try to do 2 meals a day, but I actually have an easier time on my short days and days off. I struggle most on my 8 hour workdays, as I have trouble working them into my schedule. Way to go on the $69 haul at the thrift store.

bg124: I don't think 5 pounds a month is all that slow once you're within 50 pounds of your goal. A pound a week is basically my goal for this year, and that's less than 5 pounds a month. Keep it up and that becomes 50-60 pounds in a year. Very respectable.

I'm off to a decent start. I've made it past Christmas and am still down over a pound so far. Got a lot of heavy lifting in today at work getting things boxed up for the new year to make room for next year, and had a pretty healthy dinner of grilled chicken, grilled asparagus and about 200 calories worth of fettuccine alfredo. I'd never tried grilled asparagus before, only steamed. I liked it a lot. Going to do that more in the future. It was a good day.

Follena - Thanks for the words of encouragement! I've finally had a 100% OP day.

GettinFit: YAY for 100% OP days. I can't stress enough how important OP days are ... for my and everyone else's weight loss.
bg124: I weigh myself daily only because it helps me stay honest with myself. Even if the weight goes up a bit here and there, I'm fine with it, because we don't lose weight in a linear fashion. But it truly is a personal decision. Other peeps feel weighing once per week is plenty or even once per month. I know that an over-eating binge monster resides somewhere deep within LOL. So daily it is for me.
Lacerta: past Christmas and still down a pound WHOO HOO!! I'd say that is both weight loss and NSV. Mmmm grilled chicken and grilled asparagus. I'd love to know how you make your grilled asparagus. Seems I've only like it with loads of cheese sauce on top. It's so healthy so I want to like it more. With all that heavy lifting, you're going to be our amazon woman. Okay my imagination is just too developed...lol
I hope your cold is improving :getwell:

A beautiful day because I slept well and my son came over yesterday to hang my brand new tv on the wall. Can you believe I haven't owned a tv for years? Gradually the kids bring me into the new century ...
Today I go to the drug store to refill a prescription and for the rest, laying around I'm not ashamed to say HA! I'll have my huge avocado chicken omelet and supper will be my chicken/cheese with salsa meal. I'm really liking the chicken/salsa in the slow cooker and then 15 minutes with cheese in the oven. It's so incredibly tasty. I wish everyone a great OP day.

Lacerta - I don't know how I missed your welcome post yesterday! Thanks so much and I am excited for all of us to reach onederland. I am looking forward to celebrating our accomplishments.

I hope everyone else is having a great day! Mine has been so so today. The weather was yukky here and I was not able to go for my walk nor did I feel like doing a DVD. Tomorrow will be better.

SW: 266
GW: 252

29/12 263

First WI of the new season and it's a good one! Definitely not a typical loss but I'm happy to see it after weeks and weeks of bouncing around 266. Fingers crossed it doesn't rebound...

bg124: You can do whatever works for you. This isn't a competition, so use the chart in whatever way you want. Average weight for the week would be the most accurate, but you could also do lowest weight of the week, or weight on a given day. I record what mine is on Sundays, but I do also track my average, and that is a better indicator of progress, really. Some only weigh in periodically, so don't update the chart every week, and that's ok too. Just consider it a tool to see loss over a longer period of time.

Follena: Honestly, I didn't do anything at all. Washed it, cut the ends off, blotted dry and threw on the George Foreman for 5 minutes. Ate them. That's it. I just really like asparagus. I did pick up some Extra Virgin Olive Oil at the store this morning and going to try tossing them in that with some salt and pepper this week and see how that is. I've never been much for seasoning, I tend to like my foods unseasoned. I grill my chicken and eat it plain as well. Boring, I know, but I like it just fine that way. I actually searched the grocery store aisles this morning for some frozen broccoli that DIDN'T have cheese sauce on it, because I didn't like the one last week with the cheese. Not a fan.

GettinFit: Snowed here yesterday and I didn't do my walk either. I agree, today will be better.

Newlyn: You're on a roll right now. Way to keep your loss today.

For me, this week was a roller coaster. I saw as low as 205.4, and was in the 205s 2 different days, but then bounced back up into the 207s, which I assumed was water weight from DOMS, but it hasn't come back off yet. But this morning's weigh in was 2 hours early, so hopefully I drop back down again the next few days, just in time to get into my busy week at work.

Lacerta: thanks for asparagus method. That's great you like it so much because it's healthy. This week's been a weight roller coaster for me too .. for no explicable reason. I return to work Wednesday and will have to be smart and bring my lunches.

I bought two nice steaks for when I have my friend over for supper New Year's Eve. Which is tomorrow already wow. I bought one potato so I can bake it for her because I know she loves baked potato. Me, it will be steak and veggies. And a nice coffee with cream afterward.

Hi, I'd like to join the challenge! I'm setting my goal as a 10 pound loss. I plan on continuing clean eating, low sodium, and I NEED to find a motivation somewhere to work out. 30 day shred has been good for me in the past so I may start that up daily along with some walks 3x per week.

SW: 157
GW: 147

Hello everyone and :welcome2: EES

I hope everyone is off to a great start. I had a slip up yesterday but I have put that behind me and am working on having a good Monday!

Ooh! I missed this until finishing up the Delicious for December one. I'm in and hoping to hit my first goal weight.

Starting weight: 157.6
Goal: 145

:wave: and Happy New Year's Eve everyone :celebrate:!

Lacerta, I completely overlooked that you had a spreadsheet attached to this challenge :dizzy: so I just entered today's weight as my starting weight. Wishing everyone much success with their personal goals for this challenge and all through 2019!

Oh thanks Curvy, I missed the spreadsheet attached in first post too. All fixed.
Figured out two things I can improve on ... more water and less cheese. I drink way more water when I'm in the office. Have to remind myself more when I'm at home.

Good luck in January everyone!!

I love seeing so many people on the spreadsheet. It makes me excited to see so many people wanting to get healthier in a very visual way. Here's to a healthy 2019 for all of us.

Happy New Year everyone! I wish everyone the best of luck this year! I went over my calories yesterday, not sure by how much exactly but I'm calling it at 300 calories. Since I couldn't drink for NYE me and a friend went to IHOP, but they don't list the calorie info for their syrup so I just had to guess and I prefer to over guesstimate then under, so it might not have been that bad but oh well, I deserved it lol it was delicious btw. I have surgery in a few days so I have no idea whats going to happen with my weight for the next week or so but I'll hope for the best lol

Hello everyone; hoping you're all having a good start to 2019 with OP days!! I'm enjoying my walks to the office and back every day. Can feel my thigh and hip muscles working ... and hardening. Fingers crossed for a bit of a whoosh after stalling at 177/178 for almost 2 weeks. But whatever. The body's gonna do, what the body's gonna do! Even though it's only January, the weather is so mild right now I can smell spring in the air :D

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. So far I've been 100% OP since Jan 1. I want this to be my year for success!

Follena: Great job on the walks to and from work and I hope you see a whoosh for all your hard work.

Have a great day everyone :)

I had a good whoosh on my days off on the 31st and 1st, but then I started a strength training routine on the 1st, so now I'm suffering through DOMS and the water retention that goes with it. But still, I'm down to 204.2, so it's been a good week so far. I've been better than ever on my eating and I've been getting my walks in as well, despite being in the teens and 20s outside. So I'm sore, but happy.

somedaysunny: I always prefer to overestimate as well, especially since I know people are prone to underestimate everything they eat, so by overestimating, I'll likely be in the ballpark. So far, I haven't actually weighed any food on this journey. I've measured some, to get a feel for what 1 cup of whatever food looks like, but I haven't weighed anything. Eventually, when I get closer to goal size, I may have to go that route, but so far, so good without it. Good luck with your surgery.

Follena: I haven't been able to make myself walk to the office and back yet. It's only 2 miles, so it is totally doable, it is just such a boring walk, plus it is on busy streets, at least some of which have no sidewalk, so not really safe. I used to ride my bike back and forth and when it warms up a bit this spring, I might do that again. Good for you. How far do you walk to work?

GettinFit: Great job staying 100% OP

Lacerta: sorry I answered you in the wrong thread LOL. I park about 5-6 blocks away from work downtown so I can walk up and back before and after work. Then I walk another 5-6 blocks up and back at lunch because I like to go to the shopping mall. I get good legs and butt from walking but need to do sit-ups and weights for my belly and arms.

Good evening and Happy Friday everyone.

Lacerta - Congrats on a successful week. You are doing a wonderful job and you' getting so close to onederland.

All is going good with me. I have 4 OP days under my belt. I'm hoping for a decent W/I on Sunday.

Hi everyone else :wave: Hope you're having a nice evening.

SW: 266
GW: 252

29/12: 263
5/1: 264.5

Well that's not great! It's all water though. My legs felt swollen yesterday but now even my hands and fingers are puffy.

Im not weighing in this week since I had surgery Thursday so I left a - in this weeks spot

Sunny: hoping your surgery went well and that you're recovering nicely.

I had a good day eating On Plan. Met a friend for coffee and tonight watching some tv. I downloaded a yoga App but soon found out it's not free. Then I started researching free yoga on youtube and came across Yoga with Adriene and she looks great! I have a couple yoga mats from when I used to take classes. So I'm going to start the youtube videos Monday January 7th. Tomorrow I'm doing a long walk around our lake. Can't wait to start my yoga!!!

Follena: 5-6 blocks sounds like a perfect distance. Keep it up. I actually have Yoga with Adriene on my subscribe list on Youtube, but haven't actually tried it yet, so I look forward to hearing what you think.

GettinFit: Thanks. Hope you had a good weigh in today

Newlyn: I've been retaining a lot of water as well. Between stress and new workouts, I'm a water balloon. Looking forward to spending a whole day peeing at some point.

Somedaysunny: Focus on healing. We'll still be here when you are all better.

For me, I had a really good few days over New Year's, and then managed to hang on to the loss all week, so I'm 3 pounds down from last Sunday. Yay.

:wave:

I just lost a perfectly good post to the system. It's the equivalent of "the dog ate my homework" :lol:. It's great to see so many folks in this challenge and kicking off 2019 with such enthusiasm :bravo:!! Love it! As for me, I'm down a smidge to 206 and I'm happy to take it. I'm participating in a year-long health and wellness program that began in early October 2018. While this isn't a weight-loss program, one of the goals is to lose 7% of your starting weight over the course of the year. I began at 218 and am 3-4 pounds away from reaching first goal. I'm laser focused on meeting my 7% and then will re-evaluate to see what increment of weight I want to handle next.

Wishing everyone :luck2you: on their goals and congratulations to all who are already seeing their hard work pay off!

Hi everyone
 

This is the first time I've posted on 3FC.

My starting weight: 194
My goal weight by March 20th: 189

I'm taking it slow at hopefully losing 1/2 pound a week. I'm just getting (re)started. I have never been successful at losing weight, except for times when I wasn't trying to lose weight. Hopefully this time is different! Making small changes. (Except for this week I just started trying to follow the American Heart Association's recommendation for added sugar intake. That is a big change for me.)

Singinmama: welcome to this thread. I just noticed we are all relatively close to each other in weight on this thread which is kind of cool. I like your attitude about reducing sugar :)
Curvy: congrats on being 3-4 pounds away from your first goal. Luv your dedication to losing your 7% over a year.
Lacerta: I started Yoga with Adriene tonight and just loved it. Well. Let me be clear. I was breathing like a woman in labor, my poses weren't pretty, and a couple times I felt my stomach get in the way :shrug: But overall, I love the relaxation it brings me afterward. I tend to hold stress in my upper back. I'm doing her 30 Days of Yoga ... all free on youtube and tonight's was just 30 minutes. My cat was so cute while I was doing it. She leisurely passed under me during downward dog :lol: