Guac, chocolate yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I also get those cravings right before TOM. And salty food too.

Although I will admit I haven't had too many cravings. But I've also been watching my calories enough to have a bowl of ice cream every 3-4 nights. It's actually not that bad if you only have the 1/2 cup the portion is supposed to be. And it keeps that sweet tooth at bay. But it may be the reason my weight loss isn't going as quickly as I would like it. Sigh!

It was another beautiful weekend in Michigan. I bought a new workout dvd & did it yesterday & then went for a 10 mile bike ride. My hamstrings are pretty sore today, but I'm not sure if it's from the video or the ride. I'm just trying to keep moving since it seems to only bother me when I get up from sitting down.

Have a good OP day. Kim

Kim - sounds like you are doing great! I am plodding along - I went over my calories yesterday because I decided to make homemade - guacamole! Yes it's the good kind of fat, but it still pushed me over calorie and fat allowances for the day. I seem to be stalled and I have an inkling that my carb intake has been too high...it's just been hard for me to give up more carbs than I already have. Also, I have been indulging in treats too often as well - sometimes they are low-cal treats that work into my calorie count for the day, but they still stall my progress. Ahhh...the hard work I must do to lose...

To update my stats:

Starting Weight: 184.4
Goal Weight: 175

Weigh ins, the week of:
February 20: 184.0
February 27: 183.4
March 5: 183.0
March 12: 182.6
March 19: 181.2
March 26: 180.4
April 2:
April 8/Final:

Baby steps. But since I'm supposed to start in two days, I'm satisfied with my .8, well not really, but that's what I'm telling myself. lol

I hear you Guac, I swear I work way to hard to see such small losses on the scale. But what's the choice? Stop working & gain more weight. Unacceptable! So I'll keep plugging away slowly & take this as a lesson never to pack on the pounds like this again. I hope.

Have a wonderful day.
Kim

Kim - I agree with your attitude that all we can do is keep working, because if we don't, we will gain. Every day that I maintain my current weight is a victory. Every day that I lose something is a major win! I weighed in at 159 today, and have been at that weight for 2 or 3 weeks. My goal was to get to 158 by the end of this challenge and I'm not sure if I will make it, but I have lost a few pounds since the beginning of the month, so I need to keep that in mind.

We still have a few days to go until March 31st, so let's make them count!

Have a great day!

Good morning Guac.

I was reading a thread the other day about mini-goals & if you set them the other day. There were a lot of people saying that they don't set them because if they don't make their goals they get discouraged & go off plan.

Personally I like to set goals & join these challenges. I haven't made a goal yet during these challenges, but it's kept me motivated & gives me something to work for. I don't get disappointed in myself to even consider giving up. I know I've worked hard to lose the weight that I have lost.

However, I have learned a little more about myself & my body over this time. I started off losing about 2 pounds the first 3 weeks. Then my body panicked and seemed to start fighting to keep the weight on. It is coming off still, but a lot slower than it did in the begining.

The first few challenges I did I think I set my goal for 2 pounds a week. Didn't make it. The next few I set my goal for 1.5 per week. Yeah doesn't seem like I'm going to make it. lol So, for my next challenge I'm going to set my goal for a pound a week. That's close to what I'm doing now, so I think I can make that. And if I don't, I know I will have tried my best.

So even if you don't make your goal in the time frame you set, you will get there eventually. Last week I finally hit my first goal of 10 lbs. lost. Don't give up!

Sorry if I rambled too much, just thoughts I had.
Kim

Kim - Congratulations on the 10lb milestone! That is a huge deal!

The thing I like about challenges like this one, is that the goals are not just about weight loss - it's about eating within your calorie range, getting enough water, exercising, logging calories, NSVs, posting here on a daily basis, etc. Basically, being accountable in all the areas that will help us lose weight. So, even if I don't get to my scale goal, I can still see victories in the other goals I set for myself. It's funny how we started out with so many participants, and now it just seems to be the two of us who are posting on a regular basis. It's possible that the general 40s chat thread and this one are redundant - so maybe they should just be merged into one thread in April?

In terms of scale mini-goals, I used to put an extra ticker in my profile for mini-goals that only reflected pounds - like - lose 5 lbs by such and such a date. I never made my goals in the set time frame, and it was discouraging, so I stopped doing it.

I stepped on the scale this morning and was again 159lbs. I was so sure that I would have lost something, because I was so good with my food yesterday. However, I went for a long bike ride, so maybe my muscles are holding on to water? Who knows, but the important things are that I ate well and I exercised. So, that's got to be good enough for today!

Hey ladies....

I had the worst PMS ever! I have been a b1tch on wheels. Hehe....I have been so annoyed with everyone and everything. My poor husband, I think he thinks I hate him

Weight is just under 150, o great surprise there...hehe...I wish fat just flew off my body. I have walked over 100 miles this month and I am a fast walker....I think being 40 sucks. If I even eat close to maintenance calories and walk, I stay the same.... I feel I should get rewarded for eating 1700 calories and 600 calorie walk. Hehe!

Sum - PMS is the worst! Hope you are feeling better.

I am still at 159 going into the weekend. Lots of company and lots of stress these next few days - I hope I don't demolish all of my efforts!

Good luck, everyone!

Just doing a final check-in! Hope everyone is doing well and met their goals in this challenge.

Here's to a great April!

OMG! It IS April, isn't it?! Well I got the exercise thing well under control so that's exciting

Morning all. I weighed in on 4/1 & did not hit my goal. Big surprise there lol. I do tend to set my goals a little to over ambitious, but it gives me something to aim for lol.

I just realized that what I posted at my last weigh in was copied from another challenge & my goal weight & weigh ins are a little different for this challenge.

Starting Weight: 184.4
Goal Weight: 176

Weigh ins, the week of:
February 20: 184.0
February 27: 183.4
March 5: 183.0
March 12: 182.6
March 19: 181.2
March 26: 180.4
April 1: 180.00

So I FINALLY hit my February goal. A month later than I wanted to, but I got there. Yay!

Have a great day.
Kim

Well, I'm up two lbs this week but I'm feeling really bloated so I think that has a lot to do with it. I'm starting to lose steam. I can feel it.

Ok so reviewing:

Stuck to nutritionist's plan pretty well, including the addition of 'cheat' meals that didn't set me back.

Now doing 6 days of yoga a week

Get my water in most days because of yoga lol!

All in all, a success!

Not sure what I weigh but I've probably dropped about 10 lbs. I *think* I'm 165. Won't know for a few more weeks.

Recapping...

I made it to 224 so I think that made it pretty successful. My BF% was 25.3% -- almost got there. Soon.

I still need to drink more water. I'm doing pretty well with the calorie control so that's a plus.