Hi! My name is Kelly and I am a newbie here and would love to join in on this challenge. 25 lbs by Christmas will put me right at my goal weight, and that would be the best present I could get. I've lost 20 lbs so far and need something like this to kick me in the butt!

Last night I went to a chili cookout and i really pigged out. Im not even going to tell you what i ate but it wasn't pretty. I hope i don't pay for it today when i get on the scale. I have a baby shower to go to today. I think i need to take it easy today. I will probably just raid the veggie tray. I had a very busy day yesterday. I was up at 6 a.m. to attend a women's wellness walk. I learned o lot of things that i should do to become healthy. I also got my blood pressure checked, my blood sugar and my BMI. My blood pressure was normal as usual 110/80, my sugar was 92, but my bmi was 36% (that is terrible) Then i attended the chili cookout at about 6 pm and ate up a storm. I am really going to work hard at the gym this week. My goal is to go 5 days this week. 45 min of cardio and 30 min of strength training. This will be my punishment for pigging out. I know that i have got to work hard if I want that 25 pounds to be gone for christmas.

e.mccoy - don't beat yourself up too much about that. It happens to all of us. Please don't consider going to the gym as a "punishment" because that will make you not want to do it. Instead, think about how good you will feel when you get done at the gym.
Just get back on!!

Hi, my name is Wanda and I'm a newbie here but I would love to join in this challenge! I will try to lose 20lbs by Christmas which would put me at 185lbs. A huge improvement from where I am now. I've only lost 6 lbs since I've started thinking about weight loss and I really need a push to hit the finish.

I really have no regular exercise routine right now. I do Pilates off and on (I actually love doing it so I don't know why I don't do it more often!) as well I lift weighs off and on and go on regular walks. I just need to find a routine. I'm thinking of going to a circuit training place (like Curves) that is available where I am located. Anyone have any luck with these centers?

I keep a food diary faithfully with Fitday and it's been really helpful so I don't feel lacking in that area. Just an exercise program. I just feel so nervous starting anything out. How did you overcome your fears? I am letting them stand in my way and I hate it.

Wanda

Wanda - welcome to our challenge...20 lbs seems reasonable, you can do it!!
I also know how it is to be letting your fears stand in your way. Recently my husband got me a gym membership. I was TERRIFIED to go. I just KNEW that I was going to go in there, and there would be a bunch of skinny people (you know, the people that you don't even know why they go - because they certainly don't need to lose weight) I was worried that they would all be whispering about me, staring at me...etc....I was scared to death. And then, my first day I went, right as I pulled into the parking lot, I saw this HOTTIE guy walking into the gym, and I damn near turned around and went home. But I thought, you know what? I am not doing this for HIM. I am doing this for me. So I went in. Nobody stared. People were just in there minding their own business, working out at their own level, etc. It was such a relief. If I can do it (I am one of the most insecure people you will ever meet) than I KNOW you can do it. BUT, if you don't feel comfortable, maybe look for a gym that is not co-ed. Here in Amarillo they have a gym called Ladies Spa, and it is only for women. I used to go there. It was much less intimidating. The problem with them is they didn't have as many machines as the larger gyms do.

COUNT ME IN ON THE CHALLANGE IF ITS NOT TO LATE TO GET STARTED. I'm aiming for a 15 pound loss.

Present Weight: 175
Goal Weight: 160
Height: 5'4"
Age: 51

I so so need this ... My cardiologist will be so pleased!

Thanks for the help!

I recently started back at the gym after not going in a few years but I have found that most people are willing to give a great deal of encouragement and support when they see that you are putting forth the effort to lose weight. Yes I see a ton of fit and healthy people at the gym who kind of put me off because I feel like the only fat and unhealthy person there sometimes! but they are paying me no attention, they are more into focusing on their own workout which is as it should be.

Ms. Macca,

Welcome to our challenge. It's never too late to join us. We are glad to have you. I have lost track of how many weeks are left until christmas but I know that everyone can do it. Even if we don't lose what we intetionally wanted to lose, I think we will feel good about losing something. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your success.

Thanks to everyone that has chosen to take on this christmas challenge. Well as you may know, we have about thirteen more weeks until the big day.That's about 91 days. So where are you with your challenge goals. Have you quit or are you still going strong? Do you need a pick me up? Are you going backwards, gaining instead of losing? Let us know maybe we can help. Good luck to all of you, I hope everyone succeeds.

Hi,
I'm new also and would love to join your Christmas Challenge!! I'm 176 right now and would like to loose at least 25 pounds by Christmas. That would put me at 151. My goal weight is around 130-135. I'm 5' 5" so I think that is okay. I'll read and post everyday! This will be great!
Good luck everyone!
CarolLynn

No update for me yet, I will weigh myself in the morning, completly naked, no glasses, earings, nothing...and definitely after I pee!! I don't know how well I did this week, so we will just have to wait and see!

Hi all. The weekend is over-thank goodness. That is when my husband is off and we always end up going out to eat. But now I am getting back on track. Today I went to the gym. I didn't work out for very long 24 Min. but at least I went. And I had 1240 cals today and 27 fat grams. That was before I went to get that iced latte I have been craving for a week. So I guess I didn't do that great as far as my cal. intake. But I got a med. instead of a large.
So how is everyone doing? 12 1/2 more wks. I don't have a scale so I don't know exactly how much I weigh somewhere b/w 150-155. But I took my measurements today. I am so far from where I want to be. I should post them but I don't know about that.
Good luck everyone.
LIFE IS NOT ABOUT FINDING YOURSELF
LIFE IS ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF

Thanks for the warm welcome ladies! I recently took a job to help out a family member and its taken over all my free time! What I do have left for me, I'm left exhausted. The workout I'm getting working there has helped on the scale already. I'm down to 203lbs this morning already. But it flucuates so much. I'm going to make a concentrated effort to include some workout time in my schedule this week. I know that it is the way to my goal, it's just the scheduling.

The gym that is available here is a women's only circuit training place and not busy at all. I think I'm more afraid of the fact that there is No One there than too many people there. Know what I mean? Plus I know the owner and I have a great deal of bad history with her. So it makes it hard to walk into her door and do business with her. But it is the only alternative. I may have time to fit it in tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to pack a workout bag with me to work and my gym shoes and make it that much more easy to go without excuses. I'll let you know if I make it...

Wanda

My weigh in was this morning and I am down to 262...how about everyone else??

Ug* I've been sick all week! Trying to at least eat clean because I can't get any cardio in because it makes me feel like I'm gonna cough up a lung! If I remain the same, then I'll be happpy. I just don't want to gain!!!