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"Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Time to crack down!

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#346

redballoon , 08-24-2009 07:57 AM

calling it clear.....
Well, I'm hungry, but again refusing to put any food in my mouth! I was not the best today but I am calling it clear. Last food was a bit late but still OK (she says)
I got to the gym and though after doing weights, I could have run, I decided to take a break from that. I'll probably not be able to get to the gym for the next couple of days but at least I forced myself to go today!
Sugar limitation
Day 2 completed --
No eating after 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
Day 7 completed
No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
Day 15 completed 0 pauses taken
No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
Day 14 completed 0 pauses taken
Caffeine Cut (Round 4, 2 pauses on round 3) --
Day 1 completed 0 pauses taken

.....is it really only five weeks off booze? Well, I have lost SEVEN pounds since then...

**************

diyana -- Thank you! The weight loss really felt good. I at last felt like something was actually working. I was really starting to feel that things were crazy. My body is pretty messed up. I have water retention when it seemingly has nothing to do with pms, though this time may have been. I'm glad to hear that I'm not that only one that is having problems with this. Yes, I read in many places that cucumbers are a diuretic. Here's a link that is perhaps too good to be true, but if you're into cukes, according to this, I would indulge!
http://www.viruz.com/cucumber-and-weight-loss/
Good going on your challenges! Yes, no sense doing exercise as one now, not until you're 100 percent better!

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#347

diyana , 08-24-2009 08:37 AM

Red - I'm so proud of you for getting to the gym again! I so wish I could go too. I'll be back at it soon (she says hopefully). Congrats on losing the 7 lbs in the last 5 weeks! See, girlfriend, these challenges are helping you achieve your goals! With your healthy lifestyle changes, your body is starting to right itself. It won't be "messed up" for much longer. Water retention is a problem for me because I don't enjoy cooking and eat lots of frozen foods and canned soups, all of which are through the roof in terms of sodium content. Thanks for the get well wishes, my friend!

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#348

redballoon , 08-24-2009 04:35 PM

no joy...

Morning here. Forcing myself up and out.
My weight-loss happiness was very short-lived as my weight is up THREE pounds this morning. It's so depressing. It makes the low weight seem like something false, something taunting me and saying I can never be thin. Too much sugar? Too much salt? Was the low number just dehydration? I really just want to cry when I see the same old, same old numbers again and again. It's as if my body is absolutely set in this spot and refuses to budge.
On top of that, I tried on some pants yesterday in the hopes of getting out of the rags I wear and I couldn't even get them over my butt. WTF??!? I mean, they were in my usual, just-too-tight, but still-wearable size. It seems the world is out to just not let me feel good for long.
I did NOT eat that much yesterday. True, I didn't kill myself at the gym, but I walked a lot and did do weights. Yes, yes, all the reasons....but THREE pounds!! Come on....

**************

diyana -- You see, things just don't want to go my way. I am so tired of everything being so hard for me. What can I say? I guess there's nothing to do but just try to accept the fact that fat loss for me is incredibly hard.

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#349

Shad , 08-24-2009 11:07 PM

1300 daily calorie limit - 1 pauses Day 18
Exercise - 30 per day - 2 pauses Day 19
Water - 1 litre of the pure stuff per day - 2 pauses Day 19

No loss for me this morning either despite all the sweating through yesterdays hottest August day in history and a Hot August Night (with apologies to Neil Diamond)

Red - I am not sure what to suggest apart from patience. It's not going to work overnight - didn't get there overnight did it?? Up three pounds, maybe your body is a bit like Melbournes weather. Don't like what you have now - wait 5minutes, it'll get worse.
Maybe it is time to get off the scales and put them away for a month - no there is a challenge for you. Forget about the beast and just do the best you can. Maybe you could also try publishing a menu and let us all have a pick at what you are eating and how. We promise not to be too nasty - or in my case nice.

Time for getting into my wardrobe and chucking some bits out of it.

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#350

redballoon , 08-25-2009 01:41 AM

where, why, when, HOW?????
Shad -- It DID get there overnight. I swear it did! One morning I realized that I couldn't get any of my clothes on and I grabbed the fat around my waist with both hands and I went, "Oh, my God!!! Where did this come from?!?!?" It was totally Kafkaesque.

There I was just going through the everyday routine without a care in the world and all of a sudden I realized this Mac truck tire of lard had attached itself to my midsection. And my butt, my God, my butt hadn't been this BIG before, no way? No, it was always pretty nice, muscular with a nice shape. I always got compliments on it. But this wasn't my butt anymore. And, jeez, there was fat under my arms where I also had muscles. How did that get there? Call in Poirot! I mean, this isn't something I can figure out on my own. All I wanted to do was scream, call an ambulance, call in sick to work until it would go away. Where did all this come from??!?! HOW did it get there? I have NO idea.

I mean, look, I felt fine, really, really fine all along. I was enjoying myself, eating when I felt like it, listening to my inner child and giving her what she wanted when she asked for it. I was going easy on myself, being NICE to myself, not beating myself up, thinking of ME first. When I was tired, I rested. No beating myself up at the gym. No, come on, you have to give yourself the REST you need. And, I was going out with friends, a lot. We were socializing and talking about work. Sure, we were thirsty, but it was a healthy thirst. The hot weather makes you so tired. You just HAVE to knock down those beers, by the pint, and quickly because no one likes to be with someone who can't drink properly. Boy, did they ever taste and feel great. And I ate a lot of food, whatever sounded good. I was having fun and being generous and in general magnanimous to myself. You gotta live it up, right? You only go around once, right? I mean, nothing wrong with that, right? So, what happened. WHO did this to me? I am baffled.

I mean it, by golly, I'm a GOOD person. I don't deserve this. I was doing NOTHING wrong and all this just hit me, all at once! SMACK! BANG! OUT OF THE BLUE!!

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#351

Shad , 08-25-2009 03:47 AM

Ummm I don't think I am allowed to say it here!!!

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#352

diyana , 08-25-2009 07:41 AM

Hello ladies -

I had a great day yesterday...got lots of errands done after work, and still had time to sit outside and play frisbee/ball with my doggies! I still have crud in my lungs that sent me into a coughing fit/asthma attack yesterday at work which scared my co-workers. A couple puffs on the rescue inhaler and I was doing a little better. Stupid lung crud.

Red - This is why I only weigh myself once a week...because daily fluctuations happen. Now stop all the negative talk! Of course you can be thin and you will be thin! You are doing ALL the right things! The extra weight is probably just water retention of your muscles holding on the fluids to help them heal after weight training. You said yourself, you did a lot of weights. Weights will, of course, help you tone and sculpt your muscular (by your own words) physique...but the muscles do take time and water to heal. Again, you can expect to see a weight gain right after weight training....that's why my weigh in 2 weeks ago was UP even though I did everything right...it was because of weight training. You said you're feeling better now that you're eating right and exercising. Let that be your reward! While I love to see the scale go down, my goals aren't so much number related (though I would like to be under 200 by Xmas), they are related to strength, stamina and energy...how I feel...and being healthier in general (i.e., being able to fight off nasty colds. As for your pants...are they pants that had previously fit? Are they the same brand as the still wearable clothes you typically wear? I know from my own experience, as well as working for a clothing retailer that ALL brands have different specs when it comes to sizes. What one brand calls a 14, another calls a 16. It depends on cut and the "give" of the material. I like the pants that have a little "give" in the waist. STICK WITH IT, GIRLFRIEND! You can do this and you are doing this. Don't let a stupid piece of electronic equipment have that much power over your moods (I know, I know...I did have my own scale melt-down 2 weeks ago), but I recognized how ridiculous it was to give the scale that much power. I agree with Shad - put the scale away for a month. Hang in there and keep up the GREAT work! And eat more cukes!! I hope to be as strong and thin as you some day. What I wouldn't give to be in the 150s or even 160s. BTW, great story about how the weight mysteriously appeared. Agatha Christie, eat your heart out!

Shad - You're doing SO great on your challenges! Good on ya'! I hope today is cooler so you can enjoy the gardening or loo tiling or whatever is on the agenda for today.

Here's where I'm at:

Journal and Stay Within Points, 3 pauses - Day 4 completed
Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 3 pauses - Day 4 completed

Hugs,

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#353

Shad , 08-25-2009 08:15 PM

1300 daily calorie limit - 1 pauses Day 19
Exercise - 30 per day - 2 pauses Day 20
Water - 1 litre of the pure stuff per day - 2 pauses Day 20

Been to the doc this morning to pick up a repeat of the fluid prescription. He did the blood pressure thingy and tells me that my blood pressure is up - right arm more than left. What's with that. I asked but didn't get a good response. I guess that has something to do with overhead painting as I am predominantly right armed but can use the left reasonably well to do everything as well. Cholestrol is up too and although I can't do anything about that - genetics have a lot to answer for - it would certainly help if I lost another 4 - 5kgs. Is that all. Right away doc. No problem Now I should do a grande dame whine here like Red. How am I going to lose 4 or 5kg? Well I guess it is going to be a head down and bum up scenario. Up the exercise and cut the food. Whatever I am doing now seems to be working slowly. So to work out a plan.

Michelle - welcome back to the land of the living. You'll be back on track in no time.

Red - shove those scales under the futon and take yourself off for a walk in the park and smell the flowers. You can not exercise every day of the week as ferociously as you do and not get some pain, swelling and disappointment. Take a day off and go to the Imperial Gardens and smell the clean air and freshness.

I'm off to finish the wardrobe.

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#354

redballoon , 08-26-2009 03:17 AM

Just got in from an overnighter. I DO hope you all knew I was kidding with my fake rant there.... I at first put in some laughing smilies and then thought, nah, they'll HAVE to get it. But, from the messages I just glanced at it, I'm not so sure....
Please tell me you knew I was joking.

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#355

Shad , 08-26-2009 03:26 AM

I thought about it for at least 2 sentences and then said that the lady was bullsh*tting us.

Of course it goes on overnight. We go from being reed thin to redwood trees in a matter of minutes. But that is only because we are getting old and time goes faster when you age. Everyone knows that.

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#356

naughtylittlemonkey , 08-26-2009 04:32 AM

Red, how the **** do you manage to not eat until after 4.30? I'm clawing my way back from 11pm as it is!

And to answer your question, the UAE is still quite traditional when it comes to Ramadan; supermarkets and restaurants are open, but there is little or no music in night clubs and no alcohol anywhere. Dubai is much more open than Abu Dhabi (I shuttle back and forth), but still restrictive.

Shad, how are your goals? Diyana?

Me = Day 4 No Eating After 9, 0 pauses
Day 4, Gym Activity is OK, but needs to be ramped up!

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#357

redballoon , 08-26-2009 06:31 AM

my continuing saga...
I was up at the training center for racehorses. Had taken the bus up in the evening, stayed over and then hung out there for the morning today. Back home now and thinking I have to rethink my relationship with sugar and what I want from a challenge, if anything. I do not feel right with any sugar now and yet, when I allow it, I eat way too much. I don't feel right cutting it out totally either, as I really love eating it. I am afraid I am a true addict, which means I probably can't deal with it ever and am best getting rid of it. Alcoholics feel happy about drinking too.

Sugar limitation -- Let me rethink this one again...

No eating after (around) 6 p.m. (exceptions for dinner dates, but no late eating)
Day 8 completed, 1 pause taken
No alcohol (round 2, 1 pause on round 1) --
Day 17 completed 0 pauses taken
No smoking (round 2, 3 pauses on round 1) --
Day 16 completed 0 pauses taken
Caffeine Cut (Round 4, 2 pauses on round 3) --
Day 3 completed 0 pauses taken

Other than that, I was good, although being at the training center and realizing just how fat I'd gotten was extremely disheartening. I am very glad that I believe I have lost some weight in the past few weeks. If I hadn't I probably would have thrown myself in front of a galloping horse.

And, there's no way I can stash the scale. That's what I've done everytime I then went about gaining 5 kg!
No, unfortunately, I'm just going to have to learn to deal with the stubbornness of my fat. At least, if I'm b:tching about things, I don't have quite as much time to stick stuff in my mouth.

**************

monkey -- How do I manage to "not eat until after 4:30?!" I think you got it wrong or it was a typo. I eat UNTIL 4:30 p.m. and then stop till when I get up in the morning, which is around 4 a.m. I eat around 5:30 but have coffee in me shortly after 4:30 a.m. So, in those cases, it's 12 hours, much of them spent sleeping. It's not hard now because I can go to bed when I want. When I was working (and hating it) it would have been incredibly difficult if not impossible.
Night clubs with "little or no music" and "no alcohol!?" How can they call that a night club? That's like the racing there. No betting. What do they do in the night clubs then?

Shad -- Ok, good, it was because of your censored smilie that I was worried. You seemed mad at me and I thought you had believed me. And you see, you DO know about the redwoods and the time warp of middle/late middle age. Things speed up as IQ levels drop. I am currently nearing the double digits. How's that "pure stuff" you're drinking these days? Every time I see that I think of some sort of moonshine, wood alcohol or something akin to vodka or gin. "Grande dame whine like Red?!?!?" Since when do I ever whine? I think you're confusing me with diyana.

diyana -- (speaking of whom...) After I read your message thoroughly, I figured you were in on my joke. I just wanted to be sure. I thought it was pretty obvious, but then, you never know. You all would be thinking this woman has totally lost it, when I haven't. (only about 74 percent). "Kafkaesque?!" Just call me Gregor....or roach.
Thanks as always for the encouragement. As I wrote above, I just can't put the scales away. I NEED the ritual of daily self-flagellation ... and then some.

The pants I spoke of were just some in the store with a label that said the same size as what I can squeeze into. I guess they weren't stretch. I went back to my clothes check file and see that the pants I own that I couldn't get on, just fit when I was a good 3 lbs less than my recent low. So, yeah, that would do it. As I said, I should just be glad I got this far in the past month. Otherwise, I truly would have been devastated. It was bad enough as it was, with NO one commenting on me looking good, which means I look like ....well, I won't go into it.
Still can't shake that congestion, eh? Be glad you're not here, with the next flu virus spreading panic down in Okinawa.

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#358

diyana , 08-26-2009 07:47 AM

Shad - That is officially weird that your two arms have different BP's. I've never heard of such a thing. How odd! As for cutting the food calories...are you sure that's wise? Can you increase the time and/or intensity of your exercise?

Red - Of course we knew you were joking! Seriously though...I firmly believe that we have to learn to love ourselves in whatever shape we are currently in. We are where we are, and getting smaller. And if you can't ditch the scale, can you change to weekly weigh ins? Same day/time each week? That would ease some of the day to day fluctuations. And you ARE right - you have a lot to be proud of. You've done tremendously well in the last month or so! I definitely want to get better before the flu and the H1N1 flu come around. I should be all good to go soon. I may even get to the gym tomorrow.

Monkey - I'm not sure what all the Ramadan customs/observances are. Guess I need a lesson in other cultures.

As for me, I got lots of unplanned exercise in last night. I went down to the basement to do some laundry and found that one of our windows apparently had a leaky seal and let in a lot of rain water. Parts of the basement were flooded 1" deep...not as bad flooding as many people get...but bad enough. DH and I had to move stuff around and mop up all the water, which took nearly an hour. After that, we let a fan run all night and thankfully it's all dry today. DH will seal the window better so we won't have this leaking problem anymore. Tomorrow is weigh in and with no exercise for 2 weeks, I don't know what to expect, but I'm keeping my fingers

Journal and Stay Within Points, 3 pauses - Day 5 completed
Drink 55 ounces of water a day, 3 pauses - Day 5 completed

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#359

Shad , 08-26-2009 08:42 PM

1300 daily calorie limit - 1 pauses Day 20
Exercise - 30 per day - 2 pauses Day 21
Water - 1 litre of the pure stuff per day - 2 pauses Day 21

Well apart from one thing I have finished the challenge. I'll give it a rest over the weekend and be back on Monday with the new ones.

Weight is up slightly today, but that's okay. I can't lose everyday. It just doesn't happen like that. It'll be gone again tomorrow or the next day.

Right, I am off t have lunch with the niece who turns 21 tomorrow. How time flies.

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#360

diyana , 08-27-2009 02:22 PM

Shad - Congrats on completing the challenges! Good on ya!!

My weight is up today too. At this week's WW weigh in, I was up 1.6 lbs. I expected it...2 weeks without exercising and all. No problemo. I think my lungs are doing a little better, so I'll start easing back into moving with gentle exercise.

I hope everyone else is doing well!

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