Hey there! Thought I would jump in here, though I'm a bit behind some of you! I'll be a junior here in Ohio; I'm a pre-law student studying philosophy, Spanish, and French. I go back around the end of August (might go back early, so maybe mid-August?), and it's a stretch, but I'd love to weigh 140.

Woohoo!!!! Down 2!!!!

has anyone tried the weight loss target calculator at fitwatch? you put in your current weight, activity level, start date, and weight you want to lose and it helpfully shows you what dates you should expect to hit goal based on how many calories you eat.

I'm sure it's approximate, but it gave me a boost to see that I could very much hit my short-term goal weight of 140 (9lbs down) by the first week in Sept, when school starts! Yay!

lisa130 - that sounds like a really good motivator. I use something similar on FitDay... it creates a graph of you weight loss goal so you can see where you should be and by what date. It's really idealistic though because it's totally linear, as if I'll be losing the same amount of weight every week until goal, which I definitely haven't been!

I'm at home for the weekend visting my fam, and I hopped on my mum's scale - 167! But just yesterday I was 170 (STILL) on my scale so I think it's just a difference in the scales. I really need to go to the doctor and get weighed or at least use the fancy scale at the gym. I'm not sure what I'll do if the doctor's scale says my scale is off... Get a new one I suppose.

I really don't know how I'm going to get down 15 lbs in 6 weeks. I think it's become unattainable since I hit this plateau at 170. I have to get serious about fitness to make up for slips in food (drinking, dessert).

xxkaleidoscopic - are you finding it a lot harder to lose as you get closer to goal?

How is everyone on their goal? I will admit that I went off plan and was unfocused. So no progress. Gained a little in what I am assuming is water weight from increased crud in my diet, because I lost it all in a day :P So glad to not have true weight gain, but still have not lost any... Yesterday was a good day on track with an extra long workout and it continued today, so hopefully its a sign that I am done with my little rebellion.

I am a little late with this I will be leaving to go to the UMFK on the 25 of August as a Freshmen/Sophmore in Nursing. I hope to be 170, which is 9.5 pounds from were I am now. Heres hoping that I can get to it by then .

AshleighAO - I hear you on going off plan lately. I haven't been overdoing it too badly in calories and haven't seen a gain, but I'm not losing either. Things just keep popping up that are getting in the way of my efforts! I have no AC at my school house (where I'm staying this summer) and it has been so. friggen. hot. Today was 41 C or so with humidity (105 for the yanks) so running outdoors - my usual workout - has not really been an option. My gym membership expired when school ended so that isn't really an option. I like skipping in the basement where it's a bit cooler but lately my roommates have been down there to beat the heat and I don't really wanna be skipping next to them haha.

Anyone have any tips for beating the heat while working out? It's been in the low 30s even at night or else I'd run in the evening. Am I just a wimp?

Welcome Abigail Good luck with your loss!

oh goodness ahyessohie. I would not be able to step outside at all if I were you and sadly I have no tips. I have a gym membership and also, I live in a state where our summer seems to be missing. We are struggling to get out of the 60's here (not sure what C that is). The only thing I can think of is workout videos if your basement may have a dvd player and tv. I know my library even carries them (Jullian Michaels and a whole bunch more) so it's free. If your housemates are enthusiastic and willing, you could get a zumba or dance party one and all do it together!

Up 4.2?!? I don't like this. I've been watching my calories and am supposedly far enough below my limit to lose 1-1.5 a week, yet I'm 186.4? This is so frustrating. I've gained six pounds since summer began and its super annoying. I know giving up won't help but its almost like why try if I'm just going to gain weight even when doing the right things? Gah, end rant. This is silliness.

GRRR.. I set myself a mini-goal of a nice haircut once I've lost 20 pounds, and after my weigh-in this week, I've lost 19.5. Soooo close! and TOM is next week, too, so I won't be weighed myself then.. so I'll have to wait 2 more weeks, wah. /endrant

but great job on your losses so far, ladies! Keep persevering through those plateaus/little gains.. they will soon pass

redliss7 - that is really frustrating. If you've been consistently eating an amount that should end up in a loss then there should be no reason you should be gaining. Perhaps its water retention from increased sodium? Just a thought.

pinksparkles - thanks for the encouragement on the plateaus, I sure need it!

I weighed myself on two other scales (not mine) and my weight is coming out to be 5 lbs lower than my bathroom scale. One was a fancy hydro-whatever scale that is likely more trustworthy than my cheapo scale, but I'm not sure what to do. I suppose I could go to the doctor and get a proper weigh-in but that's a lot of trouble. 5 lbs lighter would be great and put me a lot closer to my B2S goal!

what is everyones plans to lose weighT!

I went off plan too for a bit and I am struggling to get back on plan!!! It's so hard to get going again. I am pretty much at the exact spot that I started at for this challenge....and kind of feeling like I wasted a chunk of time. I am ready to get back on plan and start losing again!

losingdaybyday - I'm kind of all over the place... trying to not count calories too much, trying to eat a nutrient-rich diet, and portion control. Basically the food pyramid with a flexible caloric limit. Things are going very slowly so I might have to switch it up! How about you?

Chele615 - It can be so hard to get back on when you've slipped up, but you've come so far! Your goal is close and you'll be there in no time. Obviously your plan is working so when you get back on you'll see the numbers drop