15 pounds, 15 weeks

[thyme4change]

Frugalnurse and I just made a pact to lose 15 pounds in 15 weeks. Today is Jan 21st. 15 weeks from now is May 6th - the beginning of swimsuit season.

If anyone is with us - let's track ourselves here.

[chiver78]

I'm game. I'm planning to post numbers on Sunday, I'll start tracking then. I'm really trying to stay away from the scale on the in-between days.

[thyme4change]

So, here is my plan. I am using a calorie tracker that is on my phone. My plan is to keep my caloric intake to around 1600 calories. I am also going to do the workout DVD Insanity - which is 8 weeks long. If I don't see a slight improvement in 5 weeks (5 lbs) I will adjust my calories down.

[Abby Normal]

I'm game. I'd like to lose it a little faster than that, but I have to be realistic. 15 weeks is about when I have to do my half marathon, so the timing is really good for me.

[thyme4change]

Oh - and also, I'm such a loser, I don't own a scale. So, I won't be tracking weekly. I will be going with how my pants fit. I'm not a to-the-penny kind of person for this type of thing, so I can always jump on the scale at a friend's house, or my parents, or the gym. So, I guess I should say "about" 15 pounds.

[Abby Normal]

I had to put mine away because I was becoming so addicted to checking. I've been really good this week about eating and exercising. I'm dying to check the scale, but I can't do it until Sunday.

Literally, can't check it. I made DH hide it.

[Malarky]

I'm in.

I got a cortisone shot in my shoulder today and my elbow is a wreck. I have at least 6 weeks of physical therapy in my future.
I cannot sit on my ass and watch it grow.
I can watch what I eat and work out the lower (fatter) portion of my body.

[thyme4change]

I just ate a piece of cake. Not a good start.

[cael]

I'm in! Although I'd like to do it a little faster than that if I can. Wedding dress alterations will need to be done before that (wedding in early July) and I'd like to be 10lbs down by the time I take it in to get altered! I need a scale, but once I get one I'll put numbers up & start keeping track. 15 down by beginning of May would be great.

[Frugal Nurse]

My Plan: 1500 calories/day, LOTS of fresh fruits instead of sweets (I have a major sweet tooth!), not fried stuff, bring my lunch to work everyday. Workouts: I plans to do at least four 30 min cardio workouts per week and 3 strength workout per week., for the first two week. After that, I'd like to increase my time/ins tensity/frequency. I love the way I feel when I'm working out regularly, I just have to make myself do it!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I'm in ... but my weigh-ins are on the 1st and the 15th of every month. I'm going to go by my January 1 starting weight, I think.

[Tiny]

Does anyone else see this as ironic or sarcastic? It's a healthy living forum and you all are talking about very unhealthy calorie restricts (less than 1800 a day). Not to mention doesn't lower your caloric intake that much mess with the almighty Metabolism?

1 pound a week is pretty reasonable - that's a deficit of 3500 calories a week or 500 a day. You could just track your eating, remove 250 calories of food and then add in some excercize and you are on your way.

I'll join you guys I need to get Back in the Saddle with weight watchers - I want to loose another 10 pounds (the going for the "gold" would be 15 and the weight I've never been would be 20 pounds less) by the end of the current session which is 10 weeks away. I will do this by eating the recommended points per day (which for me is the lowest points - I think it approximates 1800 calories a day), taking my vitamin every day, and maybe attempting some excersize in the form of walking at lunch or doing extra housework in addition to my regularly scheduled life "excercise". I keep thinking I should do yoga or jump rope but I'm still in the mentally visualizing myself doing it mode. I'll let you know if I do something other than walk or more chores.
My last weigh in was 1/20 and I'm 5'3" and I tipped the scale at 138.4 (down from 171 back in April of 2010). I'm just riding that boarder between "normal weight" and "overweight" and I'm tired of it.
Go Me! Go Bears! woot!! woot!! woot!! Go me!

[The J]

I'm hoping to lose faster than that, but I'm in. I was 214.5 this morning (I tend to weigh myself daily, but I don't expect daily progress).

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Jan 21, 2011 22:11:04 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Does anyone else see this as ironic or sarcastic? It's a healthy living forum and you all are talking about very unhealthy calorie restricts (less than 1800 a day). Not to mention doesn't lower your caloric intake that much mess with the almighty Metabolism?

Actually, atsiaru, I am eating 1800 calories a day on my healthy eating plan ~ that's the one I've been following for the past year and on which I've lost 115 pound so far.

And, yes, I know that my metabolism is shot from years of yo-yo dieting not to mention my ongoing thyroid issues we're trying to get properly medicated. And some weeks, even when I bike my butt off and eat 1800 calories a day, I still don't lose any weight.

Which is why I said that I'm in ~ but my body may not cooperate. Over ths past year I've learned that I can control what I eat, and I can control how much I bike ~ but I simply cannot control my metabolism, my body's amazing capacity to retain water like a superhuman cranky sponge, and I cannot control the scale.

But I'm in because I appreciate the support and encouragement that comes from hanging out with other people who are working on weight loss... even if some people are planning a more aggressive approach than I am. (I've been there, done that, and regained all the weight back. I've learned that slow-and-steady is definitely a better option for me.)

So ... I'm committing to this: EATING HEALTHY FOR 15 WEEKS. And EXCERCISING FOR 15 WEEKS. And I'll leave the results to be seen.

But thanks for the reminder that there's something to be said for aiming for a reasonable calorie deficit of 500 per day (after factoring in exercise) for a long-term sustainable weight loss. After all, nutrition counts. And, for me, the only way I can actually get in 70g of fiber as well as 8-10 daily servings of fresh veggies, plus sufficient lean protein and complex carbs, is to eat about 1800 calories a day. If I was eating less, I'd be missing out on vitamins, nutrients, fiber, etc.

[Frappuccino]

So ... I'm committing to this: EATING HEALTHY FOR 15 WEEKS. And EXCERCISING FOR 15 WEEKS. And I'll leave the results to be seen.

I am on this bandwagon too!! I'll be happy with a 5 lb weightloss or at least a lot less flab because I am going to the gym tomorrow!!! I'm going to try to stick to working out 3 days per week until I get into the swing of things and then modify.

[vl]

Not butting in ladies, but a reminder that NO WHITES will produce delights instead of a flat out calorie count and muscle-building exercises ADD to body mass. The WHITES you eliminate are starches (sugar) that doesn't go away with exercise, the burn has to come from within as fuel. A best practice is eating those fruits and nuts all day in hourly snacks. Two weeks of routine exercise, one week no-routine more brisk walking.
You'll look cute in a suit and be fit to boot!

[ummboutthat]

257 RIGHT NOW! I would like to loose fast but at least it's a start

[Opti]

Having problems copying just part of a post.
If I ate 1800 calories a day I won't lose any weight. I'm no longer in my 20s, don't have money for a gym and know that about 1400 a day is
where I need to be. Everyone is different. Do you really think those tiny women in their 80s eat 1800 cals a day?

I'll plan to follow along. My scale is erratic and with the snow and ice walking outside regularly is not happening either.

I'd love to lose 15lbs or more in 15 weeks.

[Tiny]

Actually, atsiaru, I am eating 1800 calories a day on my healthy eating plan ~ that's the one I've been following for the past year and on which I've lost 115 pound so far.

I'm not argueing/disputing the 1800 calories a day for weight loss. WW doesn't really count calories but I strongly suspect that my daily calorie intake on the weeks I loose weight are close to 1800 and the weeks I don't loose weight more like 2000 or 2100. I'm a "Bad Girl" and don't actively excerise (put on special clothes and then do something excercisey for a set period of time). I think that 1800 calories a day is even recommended by the Mayo clinic.

I was being "Devilish" about the 1600 and 1500 calories a day plans... My family members often talk like that - with stuff added in about eating only Cabbage and Vodka for the next 10 days to loose weight... or only drinking some sort of concoction for a week... it doesn't really seem to help them loose weight - and I've seen my SIL devour the remaining 1/2 of half sheet pan b-day cake when she thought no one was looking... . They also get cranky and they aren't very fun to be around (and they turn into the Food Police). Needless to say I've been "trained" to poke fun at them or be "devilish" to them. I was just being devilish but it fell kinda flat. I gotta stop doing that... doesn't work so well on-line....

I'm wishing everyone Courage (to say no when the munchies happen), Compassion (to forgive themselves and start over when they've said yes to the munchies), Strength (to stick with their individual plan even when they don't want to), and Enjoyment (from the things they are eating and the excercise they are doing!)
Go Us!! Woot Woot Woot!! Go us!!!

[Waffle]

I'm in. I was already working on my weight anyway. My doctor is expecting weight loss at my next appointment (Mid-March).

[vl]

257... it isn't about the calorie count, it's about changing your metabolism to begin burning up more fuel than you take in. An 80 year old shouldn't be walking in the ice and snow, so what's wrong with putting some beat music on and walking around your living room while swinging your arms and humming, singing, whistling or just talking along with the song? The idea is that during winter we tend to hibernate and yet it's the perfect time to perk up the metabolism in preparation for nicer weather.
Lots of folks make New Year resolutions and buy expensive equipment. Hand weights-- big can of fruit. Is there a difference? Tie a belt around your ankles and loop another around that one with the buckle end toward you. Get in sit-up position and pull on the buckle-end if you get winded too soon to prevent straining. A simple Pilate's rubber hose kit used routinely will burn a heck of a lot of calories quite quickly. Learn- the lawnmower pull. All it takes is effort- ANYONE CAN DO IT. Please keep trying until you succeed.

[thyme4change]

you all are talking about very unhealthy calorie restricts (less than 1800 a day).

I don't know where you are getting your information, but 1800 is actually pretty generous for my size and activity level. My doctor said that 1600 would probably be healthy for me. Given that 2000 calories is considered average, half the population can be under 2k - right?

[Frugal Nurse]

1800 calories a day would make me gain weight exponentially! I'm a 5'1 female with hypothyroidism! Everyone's caloric needs will vary depending on age/gender/activity level/ health/build, etc..

[Malarky]

Weekly Weigh-in: 154.2#

I'm actually starting about 5# lower than I thought I would be.


Edited because I transposed the last two numbers. Wishful thinking.

[Empire the P.A.]

I'm in! I was so bummed about the weight gain over the holidays, so now I'm trying to be more active. I started doing the OnDemand exercise vids on tv. I'm starting easy with the Leslie Sansone walking, it's only about 20 minutes long. The yoga ones look interesting too, I'm going to wait for next week to start on those. Slow and steady for me. Lost 3 pounds from last week but thats more likely only water loss (I'll take anything I can get).
As ATSiaRu says: Go Us!! Woot Woot Woot!! Go us!!!

[Frugal Nurse]

So far I'm off to a good start. I have stuck to my healthy eating plan yesterday and today. I did my workout today, and will do another this evening. I can't believe how weak my arms are! (I'd always thought lifting paitents all day would keep my arms buff-NOT!) I can't wait for the end of week 2 to get here (I doubt I'll see any significant change this first week). How is everyone else doing this weekend?

[vl]

Just a quick dedication to: Jack Lalanne here... died of pneumonia at age 96 yesterday. Jack had a fitness show on television started in the 1950s. As recently as a couple of years ago he guest-appeared on talking head shows and lifted his shirt to show off an abdomen most 30-somethings would kill for. Jack did a home-grown version of Pilate's and exercises anyone could do without fancy equipment.

[Abby Normal]

Holy carp!! I got on my scale today (made DH give it back to me because I couldn't stand it any longer). I dropped 3.5# in 10 days. I've never done that much before-ever. All I did was cut out sweets and mindless snacking and started walking again.


Agilemom burning more calories doing her happy dance. ;D

[thyme4change]

I'm not arguing/disputing the 1800 calories a day for weight loss.

I still don't think you know what you are talking about. 1800 can be used for routine or maintenance for many people who are small and/or inactive.

I tend to take advice from people who are healthy and a healthy weight. Given that you are doing weight watchers, etc, I'm guessing you aren't a doctor or a nutritionist.

[daisylu]

I want in! The last few weeks I have only been able to get to the gym 1x a week, but that changes this week! I will only hit it 2xs this week, but hope to get to 3xs next week.