Queen Tamatra

Thanks Super Destroyer! I checked out your threads it looks like you have been working really hard. Have you had any injuries? I have found that I'm having more problems working out than I used to when I was in my 30's and I keep hurting myself when I try to turn up the intensity.

These challenges are really helping me stay focused. Just writing my goals here is helping me internalize them I think. Thank you nerd fitness! My last challenge "no chips no Cheetos no cheating" was awesome because I went around telling my family and friends I wasn't allowed to have potato chips and pretty soon they were helping me stay away from them. I went on a business trip with a coworker and she was like "Oh yes you can't have the chips I think they have a veggie tray over there" and my sister and Mom left chicken soup off of the Sunday dinner menu because they know I love to dip plain potato chips in my soup so we had chili. This time I decided I will combine my next 2 challenges with a 12 week body for life challenge. I have been trying to complete the body for life challenge sporadically over the past 5 years and have never completed it. This is the third time I have started in 2013. Recent attempts have been foiled by my arthritis flareups so I must keep the weights light and the cardio low impact and listen to my body. If I need to return to physical therapy I will do it BEFORE I can no longer lift my arm or walk on the treadmill. It is going to be awesome and I'm gonna do it!! My main goal continues to be weight loss, I have 50 pounds left to lose out of 68 when I started my first challenge. I will continue this goal following body for life workout plans which include 1. weight lifting three times a week (3STR) 2. Cardio three times a week (3DEX + 3 STA). 3. Body for life eating plan lo fat hi protein 5 to 6 small meals daily (3CON) Life quest: start getting up earlier in the morning to have more quiet time for reflection, working on career goals and self improvement (3CHA)

Cutting out junk food: B. I was successful at eating no cheetos or potato chips. However I did not cut out chocolate or desserts and ate too many of them. So improved quite alot but not perfect. I cut out alcohol entirely except for 2 drinks the whole 6 weeks, and those were in a social situation on a work trip. I think this really helped me stay focused and will continue on the wagon! I generally never drank more than a couple a night but it was definitely derailing my motivation for exercise and appetite control (3.75 CON) Exercise: A+! getting into a great routine and even found ways to exercise when traveling for work and a social trip. SOOO proud of myself(2 STR 2 DEX 2 STA) Life Quest: A Presentation written, delivered, and our building project was approved as a result.(4 WIS)

I am making slow progress but overall happy with my lifestyle changes; I took yesterday off from exercising this week because of feeling rundown but did my cardio tonight and my pants are getting looser. I don't think I will be in a 12 the end of this challenge yet but definitely next time around. I am down 5# since beginning this 6 week cycle, 16# since my first 6 week challenge.

Measurements from last challenge end of August: Measurements today chest 42 41 hips 44 44 waist 37 36 thigh 25 24.5 upper arm13.5 13 So down 3 inches and 2 pounds. PMS has set in so I need to prepare mentally for the scale to move slowly or not at all due to fluid retention the next week. I should try to stay off of it for a week but I'm obsessed.

I am on track, successful with daily exercise plan and am going to try adding more wii just dance this week for some added activity that's fun. I don't dare ramp up level of exercise much because of the knee. Am going to P.T. and added leg/hip strengthening exercises she gave me as well as stretches that are supposed to help my knee/bursitis. Eating going pretty well I have had chocolate a few times but am really glad I specifically made this the NO CHEETOS NO CHIPS challenge because there are many times I have been tempted already and having that specific goal in my head really worked. So yay me!! I have also seen some movement in the scale down 2 pounds this week so yay me again! Got my treadmill in already, need to get ready for church and family time!

Thanks for the suggestion, I might try dark chocolate. Maybe if I went cold turkey for awhile then had it would taste better to me. I don't tend to "binge" on chocolate though where with chips I really kind of lose it. I have consistently exercised 2-4 times a week for the past several years, with occasional weeks off for injury or life out of control. It has just kept me at a low level of fitness and barely out of the plus size shopping section, and I really want to ramp up the exercise and food control to get me to a high level of fitness and single digit jeans.

So far so good. Did 30 minutes treadmill this AM. Ate quite well, had dessert at the picnic but no chips and calories around 1600.

So far, so good. I did 30 min treadmill Monday. Modified BBWW this morning plus new P.T. exercises and stretches for my knee. Walked 40 minutes with DS tonight. I have had no "junk" food since Friday 9/14/13 Tracked my calories since this weekend, I was a little low some days but definitely not overeating. Around 1200-1500 calories per day.

Hello LaQueen I signed up for your group, I am also in my second challenge. I'm not sure of the best way to communicate on this board yet, I am computer literate for my age and chosen field but not in the league of most on these boards. Have not figured out how to set up links to messages etc. although to be honest I have not tried very hard since I've been working alot while trying to keep up the exercise and family. Is it best to just reply to topic like this? Have you done the squad thing before or is this your first experience too?

ditto- a physical is in order if you haven't had one recently, get your thyroid levels checked too

I successfully completed my first challenge and although happy with my 11# loss and going down a pants size, I know that my eating should have been much better. So I am going to focus on my food addiction this 6 weeks while continuing to exercise 5 to 7 days a week. I will do this by Cutting out junk food! I will get no points if I eat cheetos or chips during this 6 week challenge. I considered cutting out chocolate as well but lets not get that crazy just yet. Exercise 5 to 7 times per week. Continue cardio at least every other day alternating with body weight exercises and knee strengthening and stretches from PT. Motivation: to be confident, strong, and healthy Life Quest: Write and deliver my presentation for CON meeting

Excercise goals: A Eating goal: C Life goal: A Weight Loss: A Overall, I would give myself an A-. Lost 11 pounds and 6 inches, a great start.

Final results: lost 11 pounds and 6 inches. I would rate myself an A for excercise with cardio at least 5 times weekly (sometimes twice a day) and BBWC 3x weekly although it needed to be modified for my arthritis. I improved from one time to three times thru the BBWC and increased hand weights from3 to 10 pounds. Eating was a C-. Some days were OK but some were pretty bad. This needs to be a major focus next challenge. Life goal is moving along, A-, I am reading daily and have made some good progress in career focus.

Still doing well with exercise, I am up to 3 times thru BBWC although I have had to substitute leg lifts and another plank for squats lunges and jumping jacks. Knee is doing better with that and I have an ortho appt next week to see if shots would help or if I need a scope. I am also doing treadmill or walking outside 5 or more times weekly for 30-45 minutes. I haven't seen another drop in the scale but am definitely building muscle, my waistbands are loose and more room in the jeans too. Overall I would give myself an A for exercise and a C for eating. Definitely eating better than could be but not ideal.