Challenge: Lose 10% body weight by New Years.
 

Having put the Thanksgiving Challenge to bed early, I now present the Lose 10% of your body weight by New Year's Challenge.

Post your starting weight and your progress. I weigh-in on Saturday mornings, but to each his (or her) own.

I'll start:

10/2/10 337.0 pounds. So 34 pounds to lose for New Years 2010! (actually, I'm shooting for -38 so I can start 2011 at under 300.

Count me in!
 

Congrats one meeting the Thanksgiving challenge early! I had to opt out of that challenge because over a five-week span that included my wedding and honeymoon, I put 14 pounds back on. 10% by New Years sounds like a great new goal to adopt, now that the wedding is behind me.

Dave, glad to have you on board. I'm also glad to see you're not beating yourself up about 14 measly pounds! In the past I've enganged in "all or nothing" thinking and I know now that minor setbacks are no reason to throw in the towel and give up--just get right back on the wagon instead.

Michael

Not off to a stunning start--only 1.5 lbs down this week. Need to pump up the volume a bit next week to keep my average loss on track.

337.0 - 1.5 = 335.5 lbs today.

Michael, I have also fallen prey to the "all or nothing" mentality before. I think the difference this time is that I have committed to a lifetime change in eating habits. I know that my weight will fluctuate through the years, and the more important goal for me is to get healthy and keep myself off of pills (I am currently on pills for high blood pressure and pre-diabetes). While I didn't expect to put on as much as 14 pounds over the course of my wedding and honeymoon, I did plan on breaking my eating plan during that period. I wasn't about to deprive myself of the plethora of foods and drinks available on the cruise! I don't regret it at all, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Now it's time to get back on track.

So, I didn't have a chance to weigh in yesterday, but I did so today. To my surprise, I already lost 3 pounds in my first week! I expected minimal loss or even a slight gain until my body re-enters ketosis, so this was a wonderful surprise.

Well guys I'm happy to be on Board.

First weighed myself on monday this week so starting 11 October weighing at 208 lbs. Meaning I need to shed 21 lbs by Jan 1st getting my weight down to 187 lbs. My original goal was 190 lbs by 19 December so this target is right in line with what I want to achieve.

I'll weigh in on Monday and let you know where I am. I've been really good monday tuesday, quite good wednesday thursday, got to be good today and sunday as going to footy (Soccer) this saturday and will be having a few beers and curry. Nothing to bad though, well I hope. We'll see come monday.

Good luck guys, but I want to be No.1!!! :D

Michael---count me in.----I'm still working on the Thanksgiving Challenge,but the weight is coming off very slowly.---It's was a lot easier to gain 80 pounds then to lose it.
My current weight is 228,therefore by New Years I will shoot for 205 lbs
Good luck to everyone in this challenge.

Bob

I'm In
 

hey guys. I am actually shooting to get down to 200 by new years from my current weight of 229. So that is almost 13% but I would be pretty happy hitting 10% I started this challenge at about 245 so so far doing pretty well. I will post my stats here once a week to keep me honest. I weighed in last weekend at 229 so I will use that as my starting weight. So come saturday I will weigh in again. I have been doing great this week at both eating clean and working out. So I am expecting big results. I feel great.

Starting weight: 229

Diesel
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Starting weight 9/12/2010: 245lbs
current weight 10/11/2010: 229lbs

ok I'm in too
 

i was targetting 200 by 1/1/11, probably too aggressive a gaol. If I get to 10% from my start weight 239 or 24 lbs. I'll be pleased. i weighed in this morning at 229 so 10 lbs in nearly 3 weeks works for me. 3 lbs in the past week.

joe

Glad to have you all aboard! We've got some challenges coming up--Halloween, Turkey Day (ummm--turkey!) and Christmas.

For some reason, I've been sort of on a plateau--only 3.5 lbs in the last three weeks--very dissapointing as I had been averaging 3 lbs a week.

Still, the scale says 335 even this morning, so I'll take the half pound this week and be happy.

That leaves 36 lbs to go by 12/31.

Have a great week everyone!

Michael

Lost 2 lbs this week which is my first week.

I ate really smartly Monday - Thursday and exercised Daily. Friday, Saturday I had a few beers and didn't stick to my diet, and Sunday I played golf but Ate WAY to much.

I'm concerned that the aftermath of this weekend may affect next weeks weight but nothing I can do about it now other than eat well ALL week and exercise like a trooper.

There will be NO more alcohol for the short term.

A loss is a loss but as my teachers always said, I must do better!

Week 3 check in
 

I have been following my plan of keeping carbs low around net 60, and calories at 1800 to 2000. I find when I keep carbs low i dont have much of an appetite. No alcohol for 3 weeks either. Weight oddly bounced up today. i dont know why. I worked hard in the yard all weekend, walked three miles briskly each night, drink only water, kept caloires low. I 'll blame it on the scale. it's kind of wonky. I still claim the 229 I averaged all weekend .

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, but I did get some good news from the scale! I lost another four pounds. I had gained back 14 pounds over the five weeks that encompassed my wedding and honeymoon, and in the last two weeks I have already dropped half of that! Very exciting.

I'm in !!
 

I've hit a wall over the last 3-4 weeks and need some new motivation . . . think this challenge will help.

I started in June and lost my first 10% in September(315 to 280:D). I'm holding steady at 280 right now, but I've been 'off-plan' and out of the gym for the last month.

I'm new to the forums . . . how do y'all show your stats/progress in your signatures? Is that a manual process or am I missing something in profile settings???

Todd

Relying on an average reading might be a better way to go anyway. I have seen my own weight fluctuate as much as four pounds in a day, and that is using the reading from a very reliable industrial scale. I would suggest one of two things: either only weigh yourself once a week and be sure that you weigh in at the same time of day every time that you do so, or take several readings on consecutive days and average them out.

how to create a signature
 

I think under quick links -up above there is a line for signature. you can create your signature in there.

20lbs to go
 

Hey Guys,

I weighed in on saturday and hit 226.5. I had a rough weekend following that though with sports and a wedding anniversary this week. So hopefully this saturday does not set me back. I am on track now and working extra hard to make up for it... starting weight 229. 20 more pounds to go by 12/31!

Checking a little early this week as I'll be away at camp for the weekend. Due to some good suggestions from fellow forumites, the plateau seems to be broken as the scale says 331 this morning so 4 lbs. down for the week :)

32 lbs left for the New Year's Challenge.

Have a great week everyone!

Michael

24.10.10 weigh in
 

Still holding at 279. This after horrible eating at a church function yesterday. I have still not returned to my exercise plan and I practice very little self control when eating on the weekends.....so my 'plateau' is self-inflicted!!!

week 4
 

I had a good week and stayed within 1800 to 2000 calories. no sugar/no simple carb/no alcohol. i briskly walked 2.5/3 miles each day. I needed to travel several days this week. It was a challenge but stayed on track. I lost 1pound, down to 227. I am glad for the loss, but i wish it was more. keep on going.

Second week in and can report 3 lbs lost so total is 5 lbs. Again was very strict Monday-thursday. Only had about 5 pints over friday to sunday. Happy with result but will hammer it this week.

Monday check-in time again. I lost another 2.5 pounds this week. 2-3 pounds a week was what I was averaging before my wedding, so it looks like I am right back on track. If I keep losing at this pace, I should lose between 18 and 27 pounds by the end of this challenge, which will put me ahead of schedule. I am also starting the P90X exercise program this afternoon, and I am anxious to see what the combination of that exercise program with the Atkins eating plan will yield.

Congrats to all the success you guys are having!

I'd like to join this challenge. However, I will have to start at the weight I was at when this thread was started, which was 210 lbs. To start today and lose an additional 10% body weight would be too aggressive. If I go with the weight back on 10/5/10 (210 lbs.) then it's perfectly within my goals.

My current weight is 203 lbs. so I've already lost 7 lbs. since 10/5/10. To meet this challenge I will need to lose 14 more lbs. by New Years Day. That puts my goal weight at 189 lbs., which won't be easy to do with all the holidays coming up. I hope this challenge will help give me the motivation to keep going. Since I started dieting back in June of this year I have lost a total of 37 lbs. so these nest 14 are not going to be easy. I haven't been under 190 in many many years.
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Male, 48 years old, 6'2" tall.
6/1/10 weight: 240
10/5/10 weight: 210
10/25/10 weight: 203

I corrected my post. Instead of 18 to go it's only 14 to go. The 7 plus 14 is 21, or 10% of the 210 lbs. starting weight. Simple math is the hardest...lol.

Welcome aboard Mark! It looks like you are on pace to lose about 20 pounds in the next 9 weeks, so I think you might even beat the clock on this 10% goal. Of course, there are the holidays to contend with...for all of us. Best of luck!

official 4 week
 

Yesterday (Monday) was the official 4 week mark but was travelling so I could not post. dropped another lbs, so now at 227. happy with that result. Mark 999 welcome, you started were about i did. i am encouraged by your results in a few months. hopefully I can do the do the same.

Coming up on a tought week of business travel, then at a company event over weekend. Lots of food, and alcohol. need to keep focussed.

late check-in
 

I am late on this check-in but better than never. I am actually up this week at 227. I was off my routine for almost 2 weeks but now I am back. This weekend will be another tough one because I am going to a concert with friends. Working extra hard this week to prepare for that.

Hey, great job everyone! Mark, welcome to the challenge. Diesel, those couple of pounds will be gone in no time--I've seen 3lbs dissapear over night. I'm glad to see a minor setback hasn't discouraged you.

I'll admit I was a bit worried today--went to camp last weekend and had a lot of beer and some truly awesome food. To my credit, I ate probably a third of the calories that I normally would have at camp and wrote down everything for later entry into FitDay.

So, today's weigh-in shows 329.0--2lbs. down for the week and an even 30lbs. left for my 299 by 1/1/11 goal.

Have a great week my friends!

Michael

PS I've upped my daily lunch-time walk to 7/10ths of a mile and my back and knees are holding up fine. I'll plan on making it a full mile in a week or two.

Gained 1lb this week.

Have a breakdown with diet + excerise but it's only one week of my life, right back on it today, reducing calories and upping exercise this week. Hope to hit 4 lbs loss this week but we'll see.

week 5
 

I was travelling all weekend on business. All meals in restaurants, and lots of cocktails parties with great food. Stayed focussed. Stayed between 1800-2000 calories, no alcohol, lots of exercise, and I gained a pound, 228, sigh. Oh well, onward.

A pretty good week for me. The longer walks every day (went up to a full mile in 20 mins.) are seeming to help as the scale showed 322 this morning, that's an incredible 7lbs. down for the week (checked it three times to be sure!). Our bodies are really strange--had tapered off to 2lbs or so a week from my usual 3-4 and now I get this. It will be interesting to see if there is any loss next week.

So, that leaves 23lbs. to go for the New Years Challange. Keep on keepin' on everyone!

Regards,
Michael

Since everyone seems to have abandoned the lose 10% by Thanksgiving thread, I'll continue by posting here, so there is some accountability. I have been all over the map recently, both figuratively and literally. A couple weekends ago, I went back east to a 10 year reunion. It was a lot of fun but also gained some weight. I worked out a bit in the hotel and got some walks in but not enough. Got back to regular when I got home and the weight started to slowly come down again. Then this week, I got the flu for a couple of days and I lost a few pounds. Not the way I wanted to but at least I lost some. Now the trick will be to keep it off. I haven't gotten back to doing much exercise because of the flu. Keep it up everyone.

Welcome to the challenge, though I didn't mean for folks to abondon the TG Challange thread--just that I met my TG goal way early. Anyway, great job on getting right back on track and keep up the good work!

Michael

week 6
 

I keep plugging along. keeping calories between 1800 to 2000. carbs low, less than 60 net carbs. i am not much of a candy eater so halloween was not much of a problem for me. no alcohol either . I dropped alot this week for me . I lost the pound I gained, plus three more, so I am at 224. down four for the week and 15 total in six weeks.

you guys seem to be doing very well. keep it going

I think some people abandoned it just because they abandoned it! I just mean there seems to be very little activity on that thread.

Have a good week, guys.

Stayed the same this week which was a result. We have charity days at work this week and samosa's were on sale. Had 5 one morning and they ain't small.

I've received yet more comments from colleagues and friends saying, "God mate, you need to loss that belly!!!"

I knew I had gained weight and knew that I'd gained 2 stone but it really hits home when people actually say something about it. Most people would not say anything but it must be bad for people to raise their concern.

Due to pants weather this week I'll struggle to make my lunch time walks but will go out in the evening no matter what the weather.

Need to have a good week but I know I need to put the hours in.

Plateau
 

Down 3 lbs. since joining this challenge almost two weeks ago. I seem to have hit a plateau about a week ago. Been hovering around even 200 lbs. now for more than a week. :confused: I've started doing more exercise recently which includes weights. I can only hope I'm trading fat for muscle. That's a plateau I welcome. :)
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Male, 6' 2", 48 yo
6/1/10 weight: 240 lbs.
Challenge start weight: 210
1/1/11 goal weight: 189
Current weight: 200

Another 7.5 lbs down this week! Hard to believe a few simple changes have made this much difference.

Anyway, the scale says 314.5 this morning, down from 322 last Saturday so that leaves 15.5 lbs left for this challenge. If this crazy pace continues, I'll make this milestone ahead of time. It will be a nice mental boost to be under 300 lbs.

Oh, and another 2.9 points off my BMI and FitDay says I will no longer be in the "Extremely Obese" category--can't wait to be simply "Obese" ;-)

Stick to your plans and be healthy this week guys!

Regards,
Michael

week 7
 

keep plugging away. i checked my stats. looks like I am averaging 1700 cal a day instead of 1800 to 2000 i keep saying. averaging 33% protein, 17% carbs, 50% fat, no alcohol. i walk 3 mile a day. i need to ad weights to my routine, just having a hard time with travel schedule each week.

loss 1 lb this week, or 223 lbs. down 16 lbs in total,

Michael, great job with the 7.5 lb loss. amazing.

i hope eveyone has a good week.

jptfenwick, how do you keep your carbs so low? Can you post a typical day of food for yourself, or can I access your food tracker?

Chris

Chris, i tried to post a link down below but i am not sure its going to work. just in case I'll post a typical days menu. Breakfast, 2 eggs with two slices of deli ham or half a roasted red pepper.

this usally keeps me until after my hour brisk walk at lunch, Lunch is normally 6 oz of chicken/fish with two/three cups of steam vegatables.

mid afternoon: one oz of walnuts/almonds

dinner 6 oz chicken/fish/occasional beef like today and two side veggies, creamed cauliflora/broccoli/brussel sprouts, etc. limited starches like winter squash.

after dinner i was having a no fat yogurt, but switching to berries/canteloup. i am trying to only eat whole foods.

drink a ton water plus coffee.

this normally keeps me full with no cravings (except today when i ate an early lunch and was really hungry for dinner and ate more than i normally do.

i forget how good i feel when I eat low carb, no cravings, usually no hunger,handle stress better and sleep better. i do miss an occasional drink, but I dont want to until i am closer to my goal. Joe