Halfway Point - Let's Talk About What's Working!

[Paula]

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to start a special thread today marking the halfway point in our Holiday Challenge.
This is meant to be an encouragement to those that might be struggling and an incentive to anyone
that may want to join up with us for the last two weeks!

My results so far:
*This challenge is REALLY helping me! Accountability with you all is making me stick to my goals! Thank YOU!
*Since right after Thanksgiving, I'm actually down 7 lbs! (This also affirms that not all of the holiday weight gain was probably actual weight as I wouldn't expect to lose that fast)
*I attribute this to the accountability and the 2 things that I've change:
1. I've been sticking to my calorie goal each day (1500-1600)
2. I have NOT been eating past 9PM (this has been the struggle for me)

I know that I wasn't losing before this because I was eating too much at night, these munchies were causing me to go over my calories daily!

So, I'm definitely thinking about maintaining the no eating past 9pm rule for myself.

I'm so proud of all of you and want to take this time once again to thank you for joining me and for your dedication. I appreciate you all SO much!

I'd love it if you all would give some feedback of what the challenge has meant to you these past 2 weeks!
It will help to spur us on to the finish line!
Go Team!

[Sheila]

Hi Paula,

Thanks again for providing this avenue of support for us.

The daily check-ins and accountability are helping me stay on track. I’ve lost two pounds! I believe achieving my goal of not eating or snacking after 9 p.m. 90% of the time is making a huge difference. I haven’t been successfully with this goal in the past. Having a group of supporters has been very nice.

Like I said in my introduction, I’m usually a lurker when it comes to things like this. I’ve made a conscious effort to come out of my shell and participate. I’m glad I’m doing so. There are days I find myself wanting to retreat but I stick it out and post my goals. It has been reassuring to know there are people going through some of the same challenges as myself. There are times my journey gets lonely and my friends don’t relate to what I’m going through. Recently one of my friends told me I was crazy for going to the gym at 6 a.m. Yet, I can share this accomplishment in this forum and feel encouraged.

Thanks everyone!

[WWloser84]

Hi Paula...

Like you and Shelia have both said the ACCOUNTABILITY has been the key for me! I've been telling people I use Weight Watchers to hold me accountable with eating and I use this forum and everyone here to hold me accountable with my activity!

Now, I kind of started the "challenge" a week before it officially started because that's when I started Weight Watchers...I was just too anxious to start making changes this time around I couldn't wait for the actual challenge to start...So, after 3 weeks of doing Shred and doing Weight Watchers...I've lost 6.4 lbs so far! As I mentioned in my weekly progress journal, I maintained this week...but the way I'm trying to look at it is like this: that is an AVERAGE of 2lbs per week...so, I can't really complain about that! I just can't wait to take my measurements on the last day of this challenge! I always used to go only by the scale which we all know is not always a friend to us...but this time I decided to take pictures and my measurements once a month!

I'm also the type of person, that doesn't like to mess up a "perfect" track record... so, now that I've been in this for 3 weeks and doing so great, I'm determined not to mess up now! Everytime I say no to a temptation I know it makes me just that much stronger to say no the next time! I'm also telling myself if I fall off the weight loss wagon now...all my hard work up to this point would've been for nothing!

This forum and everyone here has been such an invaluable tool...I will be forever grateful to you Paula, for starting this forum...so many people today are only looking out for themselves and how to make money...so, for you to be offering a place for everyone to go to for support without expecting anything but encouragment back is remarkable! You're amazing!

Thanks Again! XOXO

[AlisonFoster]

Hi Paula and co,

Even though I haven't been able to make it to the boards daily (due to my own crazy holiday work schedule), I find this 30 Day Challenge to be more challenging!

I like to have rules to follow, so making my own plan has really been the hard part.

That said, what's working for me is that the goal-making is making me more mindful every day. Every morning I think, "What is my goal for today?" and with it set in my mind I go forward and know that I must accomplish that goal.

I haven't been making multiple goals in the day because I want to accomplish the goals. I do keep a "to-do" list for other tasks that I would like to accomplish in the day but might not be able to get to.

Anyways- glad to have the accountability and mindful thinking during the holidays!

Ali

[Kim]

Serious Business?

I have failed miserably. I just haven't been focused. I think about my goal, I make my goal, I forget my goal all withing a few minutes. I feel horrible because not only have I failed you guys but I have failed myself. I do apologize.

[AlisonFoster]

No failing Kim. You are loved NO MATTER WHAT!

Love,
Ali