November Weight Loss Challenge

[TJDIV]

I'll try to fill this out, although I started this spring, haven't done one (form) in years.
Volleyball and Basketball leagues just started, I just turned 30 and last year I was 20 pounds heavier than I should've been for the impact sports: So all summer long I slowly built up fast twitch training and actually cut some weight. (So I added a "current weight" number )

Starting weight: 226
Current weight: 203

Goal for the Month: 195

Overall goal: 195

Weight loss to date: 23lbs

Biggest Challenge, Fitness: 22 years of sports = bad joints / ankles / knees /back

Biggest Challenge, Diet: Sailor Jerry and his Rum

Plan of Attack: Basketball ended in March 08 (6 month season, 2x / wk + Volleyball 2x / wk), I kept training with strength shoes, pushups (and all other cals), sprints / intervals. (you do NOT need to pay a gym)

Day of Weigh In: this a.m. 202lbs. If I get to 195 this 30yr old will be dunking again

[DarinM]

Darin! How's it going?

Anyway, she found out that the insurance would pay for a medically directed weight-loss program. Have you checked into that?

Your knee problems certainly put a damper on exercise. Could you do water aerobics or swimming?

Keep us posted with your progress.

What part of town do you live in?

My carrier (Humana) will pay for alot of things. My employer did not purchase those options for our coverage. What I was told during multiple discussions with Humana is that I do not have coverage for ANY sort of obesity-related treatment. Diets, exercise programs, dietician, ANYTHING. Also, now that I am on their records as being obese, I will also be denied coverage for any treatment I need that could be related to obesity. They didn't actually say it quite that way, but did point out in the statement of coverage that obesity related illnesses weren't covered. I can not say more and keep this family friendly. We need a "burning house" smiley...

I'm very, very sensitive to chlorine so most public pools are poison for me. Bad things, man. Nose bleeds, gums start to bleed, eyes try to leap out of my head. I have found that it doesn't take a whole lot of weight loss to make a world of difference to my knees though, and I can be out walking with really no problems. So once I get started I should be good to go. I just need help with that first big step, and that's why I'm looking at surgery - hopefully the band will be all I need for the least-invasive approach.

I live by Seton Northwest - Balcones Woods (Braker/183 area). I know you're familiar with that area.

[R_Lefebvre]

Not sure if I should join this thread because I guess my goals are meagre. But, what the hell.

Starting weight: 178

Goal for the Month: 173

Overall goal: 170

Weight loss to date: -5

Biggest Challenge, Fitness: I have ADD, and have real hard time doing anything as boring as running or biking for any length of time. The only thing I've ever been able to do with any dedication is something exciting like hiking, kayaking, climbing, etc. Hard to do now with a young family.

Biggest Challenge, Diet: Diet is actually not too bad, which is why I am not much over my target weight. I don't really plan on changing it much. Actually, I'd like to be able to feel I can eat more safely.

I also have a lot of trouble with high intensity workouts. Not sure if I have mild asthma or what. I have done multiple 6000 calorie days of long duration lower impact activity like paddling, but I've never been able to run around the block.

Plan of Attack: Will be joining the local YMCA. Will also be encouraging my wife to join as she's always had low cardiovascular fitness which holds me back when we do things outside together. Probably something like 30 minutes of cardio per day, and then weight training. I don't really have a plan yet. My leg muscles are always in good shape, and will get toned up with the cardio stuff. I'm mainly interested in gaining upper body strength, but I guess I can't hit it hard every day so...?

A lot of this for me comes out of family history I guess. My dad is 60, and in reasonable health. He's always been strong, but packed on 10-20 lbs of extra fat on an a frame my size. Despite not being in bad shape, he had a heart attack last month. Up to 90% blockage in 3 arteries. Last year my older brother suffered from high blood pressure despite being in decent shape. He joined a gym and has that under control now and is in great shape. My sister is a fitness superstar and her boyfriend is in incredible shape and pretty inspiring.

Basically I think we have a family history of heart health issues, and I want to be able to prevent a heart attack, instead of having to respond to it later.

My story is that I usually gain a few pounds over the winter, and lose it in the summer. I didn't lose it this summer because the weather was so bad I didn't get out much, and my wife was pregnant so we didn't do much. So I'm heading into the winter already being 5 lbs over my normal weight. Furthermore, I'm 33 now and feeling my body slowing down. I used to have great blood pressure, but it's starting to get a little high. My resting heart rate used to be in the 50's, but now it's in the 70's. I'm not fat, but I feel in horrible shape. I'm feeling the effects in having difficulty sleeping, and stress.

I'm not even sure if my goals mean I'll lose weight, or if I'll just be trading fat for muscle which is fine. I'm more interested in being in fit, than a weight target. I want to be able to start next year's enduro season in good shape, instead of working up to it through the year. I'll also need to be able to go hiking again with a 30lb child on my back.

Day of Weigh In: Today I guess.

[Nadir_E]

...Biggest Challenge, Fitness: I have ADD, and have real hard time doing anything as boring as running or biking for any length of time...

Does the weather allow you to work-out outside? Even if just a run, it's FAR easier to wile away the miles if they're changing in appearance as you go by, rather than seeing the same wall/mirror/whatever in front of your treadmill at the gym.

If you're interested in doing more than just running, incorporate body-weight exercises into the run - e.g. 1/2 mile, 50 push-up's, 1/2 mile, 50 sit-up's, 1/2 mile, 50 bench dips, 1/2 mile, 50 squats, etc. Tie the exercises to convenient places to do them along your route, rather than the specific distance.

'Course if you live in a place that gets a real winter, you might need a mega dose of motivation to head out the door when it's time to run.

signing off from sunny Southern California...

-N

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah, not so much. We get real winter here. Actually, it's kinda worse than more northern areas. At least up north you get decent snow, throw on the skiis or snowshoes and get out. Here... too much snow to bike, not enough snow to ski. The young family really hampers that too. I have a newborn and an almost-4 year old. Tried going skiing once towing the young'un in a sled and that lasted about 5 minutes...

I'll get out, but it won't be enough to get me in shape so I'll have to rely on the gym. I'm counting on being able to watch TV while I'm doing cardio so... that's the only way I can do something repetitive like running or biking in an urban area. I've tried to get into running or biking a number of times, and I just can't keep it up. At the YMCA the cardio machines all have TV's on them.

I've got motivation after what happened to my dad. Just this summer, the old man can still kick my butt arm wrestling. I'm not in as good of shape as he was my age, and he had a heart attack at 60.

[Lynn]

Did my weekly weigh-in this AM. I'm still at 213, but am probably lucky to be.

Late last week I succumbed to the left-over Halloween candy, and also remembered that the in-laws had left a pint of ice cream in the freezer...

Man, my self-control really sucks when there's ice cream in the house.

[biglos454]

Biglos454, I can sympathize. My wife and I are working on this together. She’s a nurse that works 4-12s, Sun., Thurs., and Fri. nights. She’s utilizing some online tracking tools, and it seems that most days she actually doesn’t get enough calories, and her body hoards ‘em in ‘starvation mode.’

At least she has a regular schedule. Bouncing back and forth between days and nights must really screw with your metabolism.

What kind of work do you do, and what town do you live in?

hey Lynn, i live in port lavaca, TX and I'm a chemical process operator for Dow chemical. the kind of shift work i do really kills my metabolism. its actually where i gained most of my weight. 3 yrs ago i weighed 240. and Ive been doing shift for 3 yrs now

this is how my shift falls work 4 nights. off 3. work 3 days. off 1. work 3 nights. off 3. work 4 days. off 7. then repeat.

so basically i only work 14 days a month. but its just such an erratic schedule that its wreaks havoc on my mind and body. lol you would be surprised how hungry a person gets working a 12 hour night shift. i feel for your wife. 12 hr nights are hard.

its going to be difficult to get my metabolism under control but im up for the challenge. my weight has become an issue not just of health but also in my daily life. i love to kayak, hike, mountain bike, rock climb and things of that nature. as heavy as i am now it makes these things very difficult and im really starting to miss out on them. im a big guy by nature (6"6' size 15 boot) but i just need to shed some pounds to get back to being just a stout guy instead of a fat one

thanks for starting up this thread. its some pretty helpful motivation

[Faol]

Was at 280 and stopped eating just fast food while driving around for work, and dropped to 240. I quit smoking back in March, after 26 years, and went back to about 265.

I changed diets in September and started eating a hunter/gatherer diet. I purposely have not started any type of exercise regimen, to see if this would work. I have dropped to 239, as of November 7th. My blood pressure has also gone from 133/95 to average 118/74, with no medication.

Starting weight: 239 (current)

Goal for the Month: 220

Overall goal: 190

Weight loss to date: 41 total

Biggest Challenge, Fitness: Motivation. My daughter is going to join the military and I told her I would exercise with her. I am a disabled vet, so it will be painful, but it is to motivate my daughter, in addition to helping me. The VA just wants me to medicate, which I refuse to do. I told my daughter I would wear my uniform to her graduation ceremony.

Biggest Challenge, Diet: Dropping the grains and legumes, especially legumes, since Soybeans are used as cheap filler in most everything. I am not big on sugar so that was not a big loss.

Plan of Attack: Keep on with the diet, and exercise, especially cardio, with my daughter.

Day of Weigh In: November 7 (every Saturday is a weigh-in)

[Mr. Leary]

Starting Weight: 182

Goal for the Month: 177. I am running a marathon in december, and would like to get back in the shape I used to be in, so I don't embarass myself.

Overall Goal: 175. I would like to get my BMI back down under 6%. I would like to start doing triathlons, but right now I'm not that guy!

Weight Loss to date: -2

Biggest Challenge, Fitness: I work full time and I'm a full time MBA student. I don't have much time to exercise. I usually have to exercise while I am studying.

Biggest Challenge, Diet: I heart cheese. Dairy products in general are a little hard for me to control!

Plan of attack: I plan on getting up an hour earlier and pounding out some miles before I start the day. I will add this to my usual calisthenics workout.

Day of weigh in: I have a scale that glares at me at work... waiting to pounce!

[Mr. Leary]

I already do this type of thing every month, but it is usually based on BMI. I'm glad to see there are others who are interested in this ritual!