Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

[TitianWasp]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Hey all,

I have been reading through the "Stepping Back" thread in the OWL section, and I think a lot of it applies to us slow losers here. I myself am probably going to pop back to Induction long enough to redirect my brain (which is off in 20 different directions right now).

Things I have read recently that may affect us directly:

Emotional eaters tend to lose more slowly and have a harder time keeping weight off than those who eat due to large appetites or other non-emotional reasons. Doh!

As we age or get thinner, it becomes harder to lose weight, and we require more exercise and fewer calories. This is an unwelcome truth. We have to work harder and harder at this.

We've been posting about the things that have been derailing us a lot - which are all valid, and difficult. But now I want everyone to tell this challenge what has worked. Has anything? What are you going to try to do differently?
I have been slowly upping my exercise and experiment with cutting out splenda (or at least down to the three servings per day). I have seen other people down as low as I still make it to their goal. If they can do it, I am determined that I can. Hurdles be da*ned!

C'mon, cheer up everyone. Let's see this as a new week. Drink your water. Post your successes and new ideas. Take a peek at the Stepping Back thread. I think we need some happy news here.

Hugs All,
Titian

[Purple Rain]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

MONDAY STATS CHECK

My pledges are:
1. I will only eat 3 oz of cheese a day. 7/7
2. I will use Fitday everyday. 5/7 I was too busy to use it this weekend.
3. I will finish the C25K challenge, running 3x/week. 2/3 I was planning to run on Saturday or Sunday, but my knee was hurting me too bad.
4. I will start gradually adding decaf to my regular coffee until I'm only drinking decaf. 7/7 I've been drinking half/half this week.

5, I will drink 100+ oz of water every day. 7/7 Joining the November water challenge has helped me get my water in.
6. I will take a multi-vitamin and a calcium supplement every day. 6/7 I've started taking these in the mornings instead of waiting for afternoon.
7. I will not cheat and that includes sugar free candy. 7/7
8. I will post at least twice a week in Journal Stats. 1/2 I thought I posted twice, but didn't.


Signed: Purple Rain

[LooseShoes]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Monday check in:
Goals:
1. Diary my food every day!4/7no
2. No chocolate at all this week. Can't seem to stop if I have any.6/7no
3. Exercise in addition to walking at least 3 times this week3/7--yes!
4. Keep net veggie carbs at 20 per day or more 5/7no

In addition, I want to
5. Try a new recipe no
6. Post to my challenges 4 times this week yes
7. drink 100 oz a day of water to flush out steroids--this week no, but close

I was out of town a couple of days and that made it hard to post and get in my veggies. I did succumb to a chocolate treat, but I am doing better and am gaining some control. I weighed this morning and I have lost another pound, so I'm down 3 so far since we started. I'm not counting it yet until Saturday, that's my official weigh day. I'm not feeling great because I'm running a little fever today, but I think I'm going to try and exercise anyway, maybe I'll sweat out whatever's trying to make me sick.

[LooseShoes]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

What has worked with this challenge? I think focusing on getting more of my carbs from veggies has been good. I think trying to re-up my exercise is good, I'm not where I want to be yet, but I haven't given up and I'm going the right way. I think realizing that chocolate is an addiction to me and something I really need to stay away from is something I needed to face, even though I really don't want to.

I have lost 3 pounds since I started this challenge, and that's success. I've been feeling down because I haven't made progress in a while, but I know this plan works if I stick with it. This is a new week and I want to see if I can do everything I can to stay with my plan and make more progress. I'm re-reading the book and that is exciting to remember how and why this WOE works. It's great to be on a "diet" where you can eat a good steak, veggies cooked in butter and olive oil, food that is natural, not man-made. I feel better, I look better and I'm going to make my goal!!!

[TitianWasp]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

You know, I hadn't planned on the "What worked for you" as the extra credit topic, but perhaps it is valid as such.

I think I would add to it, what has derailed you in the past and how did you overcome it?

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Sorry about not posting my stats yesterday, just rushing off to the gym now and will post as I get back

[TitianWasp]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

MONDAY STATS CHECK 11/12

Wow - it's mid November already. Thanksgiving is next week, and honestly, I don't feel the least bit worried. Turkey, veggies, MUP - what's not to love?

I think I have mentioned that I have been reading the Stepping Back thread (slow day at work yesterday, read the whole thing). Came to the conclusion that my calories were too high and my exercise too low - similar conclusion to what I had been suspecting on my own, but everyone there posts their menus and I could see departures that might make a difference with my own.

I am reinducting starting today - maybe not a full two weeks, but just long enough to get solidly into Ketosis again. I will then work my way up the rungs until I am around 60 carbs per day and about 1300 calories. At the age of 37 and with the sedentary job that I do, that seems to be about max before losses tend to slow down to the point of frustration. My primary diet will consist of veggies, with compliments of meat, fat, fruit and whole grains. Easy on the dairy, nuts and fruit. Probably easy on the artificial sweeteners. It seems that once the majority of the weight is gone, you really need to tighten your belt, and I hate to say it, but you have to diet a little. Not going crazy, living on celery sticks and diet coke, but truthfully, the free and easy days of early Induction, losing 20 pounds in a month just don't happen when you only have 20 pounds to go - you have to get hardcore. Look at Mitzimarie as a prime example. Review some of her menus. At 47 and 5'3", she has to make some deep alterations to her phase of Atkins to keep seeing results, but she is doing it. If she can, we can too.

This being said, I am reevaluating my weekly goals, at least some of them. They will be:

Exercise 4 days weekly: 4/4 10pts
1300 calories daily, Induction menu: N/A 0pts
No more than 3 servings splenda daily: N/A 0pts
Post daily to keep focus: 7/7 10 pts

Extra Credit: what has worked well for me? More walking, less eating. When I exercise more, and eat just a little less, my weight goes down. It seems like a no brainer, just one that I was too lax about following. When I get lazy, just being low carb is not enough. That derailed me and I am doing something about it.

Two, maybe three interviews this week guys - wish me luck. Sunny, I hope that you are feeling better every day.

Cheers,
Muffy

[ValidRouge]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Before you go back to induction....why don't you try going to rung 1 and shoot for 35-40 NET carbs where your carbs come solely from eggs and veggies?

This allows for a LOT of vegetables. I'm talking a whole 1 pound bag of frozen cauliflower as a "serving" at a meal. I'm talking a whole 1 pound bag of greens at another meal and a big, whopping salad, or a full cup of pumpkin. Think of your plate, fill 3/4 of that plate with vegetables. 1/4 can be a protein source and then fat is your condiment (butter, mayonnaise, olive oils, nut oils, etc.).

I don't know a soul who got fat eating vegetables. Your body may thank you for giving it the additional fiber and nutrients available in the vegetables.

[TitianWasp]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

That's actually a preferable idea. I don't love salad, but there are a lot of Rung 1 veggies that I am happy with. Thanks for the tip.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Just wanted to give you great people an update on my brother's brain surgery. The good news is that my brother came through the surgery with flying colors. They were able to remove ALL of the tumor, instead of only part of it. He was awake, talking and able to move all extremities and correctly identify objects by 9:00 p.m. last night! He's still in ICU, but doing well. Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts! They were greatly appreciated by my family.

It was an extremely stressful day, but I was able to stay on track by packing lots of legal stuff. I didn't even eat it all. I was in so much pain and so stressed by the time I left at 11:00 p.m. for the long drive home, that I almost gave myself permission to cheat when I got home. I was thinking of all things I would love to eat and planned to stop at the store, but somewhere on the long drive, I started thinking how proud my brother and other family members are with my weight loss and didn't even want to eat when I got home.

Thanks again for being here for me!

Sunny!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Extra Credit: What has worked well for me?

What has worked so well for me this time is going almost completely with whole foods, keeping a daily food and drink journal, reading and signing my personal goal contract daily, eating three balanced meals a day and drinking my gallon of water each and every day. The most important, though, is my participation in this forum (and other low carb sites) and my commitment to the challenges. Even though I am a very disciplined person, if I commit to others, I seldom go back on my word. Having like-minded people to join in this journey to health is priceless. When I give advice to newbies or to someone who has slipped, I am reinforcing all the basics to myself, as well. I am not one to preach one thing to others, but do something different myself. I try my best to practice what I preach.

Sunny!

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Sorry this is late, Sunny and Titian! Work deadlines have been crazy.



MONDAY CHECK-IN (11/12/07)
#1: I will not eat after dinner, and where possible, dinner should be before 7pm. (4/7) (0pts)

#2: I will record ALL food eaten each day, keeping cals under 1500 and carbs under net40g per day (6/7) (0pts) (One slice of Opera is like a lifetime of carbs)
#3: I will do cardio five to six times per week, 30 min sessions or more. (7/7) (10pts)
- Pilates Bum and Legs workout once times per week. (Not Done)
- Billy Blanks Bootcamp twice per week. (No)
- Abs, hips and bum weights at gym three times per week. (3/3) (0pts)

#4: I will not eat more than one serving of nuts per day; one serving of hard cheese per day; and one serving of soft cheese per day. (7/7) (10pts)
#5: I will take measurements and weigh in on Mon and Fri but won't get despondent and ruin an entire day after a bad weigh-in. (Done.)


What helped/derailed me?
This group and these boards have been a huge motivator, without this I definitely would not be trying as hard as I am, recording my food, being conscious of keeping to goals.
I was derailed by baking the cake last week and then breaking down and having some. It really set off a bad chain where things I'd never thought aout eating suddenly didn't seem that illegal and were very tempting. But it also motivated me to exercise more, and the workout front has been good. I think thanks to that I still managed to lose 2lb this week even after the cheat. That was the best 2lb in the world to me!


Sunny, glad your brother is safely through the surgery. You did so well by not cheating. Your family must all be proud of you for your strength in all fields.
Do you have any before and after pics? You've lost so much weight you must almost be a different person now! Keep fighting, we're rootin' for ya!!!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Sorry this is late, Sunny and Titian! Work deadlines have been crazy.




Sunny, glad your brother is safely through the surgery. You did so well by not cheating. Your family must all be proud of you for your strength in all fields.
Do you have any before and after pics? You've lost so much weight you must almost be a different person now! Keep fighting, we're rootin' for ya!!!

You're not late yet! You have until Wednesday each week. We all have crazy stuff going on, so we do the best we can. Congrats on the 2 pounds lost--forever!

Here's a link to my before and during pictures. I'm a long way from after pictures. http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...295#post569295

Sunny!

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Sunny, wow! is all I can say! You've shrunk and as everyone said, lost size, years, the whole bang-shoot! You look absolutely beautiful! I know you may have tough times ahead of you but with so much progress under your belt (and so little girth) I know you won't give in. Thanks for the inspiration!
BTW, I don't know why I mistakenly posted 2lb when I thought I'd posted .2! So even though it was only a small victory in light of my fall off the wagon, I was thrilled with the .2lb. Love this challenge!

[Alexa]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Hi everyone,

Sunny I'm glad you brother is ok - I wish him a speedy recovery.

Sorry I've been absent - I havce been working through some angst and trying to work hard at uni for various deadlines. Anyhoo, my report:

- do proper induction - I did this on 5/6 days - ate at mysisters and she'd made me Atkins friendly soup but I hadn't told her I was bakc to induction so I ate some beans, which seemed fine.
- exercise everyday - total failure! As I said my focus has been elsewhere and actually I am stepping back from exercising so frequently because I think sheer time spent on it has been problematic in my studies. Did 0/6

This week's goals:
- Eat 20g carbs per day - already 3/7
- Exercise 4 times - already 1/4

Some good news though - I am back to my lowest weight ever of 170lbs This challenge has been great for getting me back on track so thanks for all your support!