OFFICIAL WOMEN'S CHALLENGE - Month Two Pictures and Stats

[fengshway]

oh carey, hugs to you. I had to learn the same painful lesson. at 228, I knew I needed to do something, so I joined weight watchers, lost a little weight. discovered walking, and walked the full disney marathon in 2000 weighing 208 pounds. I decided that being fit and fat was just great--I could be healthy AND overweight. and I believed that until the following year when my fit self was diagnosed with hypertension and placed on medications. I knew I was headed down the same hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack stroke path that my parents are on because of their obesity. I finally had to realize that being overweight was just not an option.

I read somewhere that obesity is 10 percent genetic 10 percent exercise and 80 percent food. I don't know if that is true or not, but I certainly spent a lot of time on the exercise thing, and got extremely fit, but the thinner part didn't happen until I paid attention to my nutrition.

a good example from my current life. I am now a marathon runner. when I do my 26 mile practice runs, I burn around 2800-3100 calories for that episode of exercise. do you know how fast I can polish off 2800 cal??? that is one meal at carrabas with wine and dessert. for me to exercise off the calories that I was eating before would take up so much time, that I would have little time for anything else.

but I find that it has been important not to DIET. I love the way I eat now. I just finished my ahi tuna with whole wheat pasta and bruschetta sauce. all clean. all wonderful. no deprivation.

[rem1956]

YOU GALS ARE AWESOME!!!

Excellant progress!

I am speechless!

[campingmom]

Originally Posted by fengshway

oh carey, hugs to you. I had to learn the same painful lesson. at 228, I knew I needed to do something, so I joined weight watchers, lost a little weight. discovered walking, and walked the full disney marathon in 2000 weighing 208 pounds. I decided that being fit and fat was just great--I could be healthy AND overweight. and I believed that until the following year when my fit self was diagnosed with hypertension and placed on medications. I knew I was headed down the same hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack stroke path that my parents are on because of their obesity. I finally had to realize that being overweight was just not an option.

I read somewhere that obesity is 10 percent genetic 10 percent exercise and 80 percent food. I don't know if that is true or not, but I certainly spent a lot of time on the exercise thing, and got extremely fit, but the thinner part didn't happen until I paid attention to my nutrition.

a good example from my current life. I am now a marathon runner. when I do my 26 mile practice runs, I burn around 2800-3100 calories for that episode of exercise. do you know how fast I can polish off 2800 cal??? that is one meal at carrabas with wine and dessert. for me to exercise off the calories that I was eating before would take up so much time, that I would have little time for anything else.

but I find that it has been important not to DIET. I love the way I eat now. I just finished my ahi tuna with whole wheat pasta and bruschetta sauce. all clean. all wonderful. no deprivation.

Thank you so much! I agree with all you said. I have been working on my nutrition for over a year now--I mean seriously working on it. I've never dieted in my life. I was always the "skinny one" until I started having kids. I wouldn't even know where to begin with "dieting." But I have been trying really hard to eat clean for a year now, and until last month, I was really faithful to it. In a year of eating clean and working out faithfully, I never got below 143. And I think last month, I just sort of went, WHATEVER. If I can't lose, why not just eat what I want? I know, not a good attitude. I'm trying really hard to lose the 'tude now.

But I also think something else is going on. In addition to the inability to drop below 143 pounds no matter what I do, I have a whole host of other symptoms ranging from extreme fatigue to low blood pressure to heavy periods and a number of other things that doctors having been telling me are unrelated to one another and I just have to live with. I have an appointment with a holistic doctor tomorrow afternoon, and I'm praying that gives me some insight. Because I don't buy that the symptoms are unrelated, and I don't buy that I have to live with them! Here's hoping my intuition is right! Meanwhile, however, I have no intention of giving up on clean eating or fitness!

[gizmogirl]

Originally Posted by campingmom

Thank you so much! I agree with all you said. I have been working on my nutrition for over a year now--I mean seriously working on it. I've never dieted in my life. I was always the "skinny one" until I started having kids. I wouldn't even know where to begin with "dieting." But I have been trying really hard to eat clean for a year now, and until last month, I was really faithful to it. In a year of eating clean and working out faithfully, I never got below 143. And I think last month, I just sort of went, WHATEVER. If I can't lose, why not just eat what I want? I know, not a good attitude. I'm trying really hard to lose the 'tude now.

But I also think something else is going on. In addition to the inability to drop below 143 pounds no matter what I do, I have a whole host of other symptoms ranging from extreme fatigue to low blood pressure to heavy periods and a number of other things that doctors having been telling me are unrelated to one another and I just have to live with. I have an appointment with a holistic doctor tomorrow afternoon, and I'm praying that gives me some insight. Because I don't buy that the symptoms are unrelated, and I don't buy that I have to live with them! Here's hoping my intuition is right! Meanwhile, however, I have no intention of giving up on clean eating or fitness!

I really should be in bed right now but I had to respond to this. I don't have my links handy, but this totally sounds like me... and based on my internet research, I'm convinced I'm somewhat hypothyroid... the kind that shows normal TSH and requires the individual hormone tests to figure it out. You might try researching hypothyroid symptoms aswell, and see if it sounds like you. I'm still working on convincing the doc to order me the tests (so ins. will cover it).

[orangechic]

I am very tardy in posting but will do so tomorrow- I was travelling for work for the last week and a half.

[Kirjava]

I just want to say that everyone on this thread is doing amazingly. You're all very inspiring! Thank you for posting your pics.

Now, as someone who is not a part of the official challenge proper (I started about two weeks later! ) I would love to still start in and post my progress pics when you guys do. If I could post in this thread--that would be awesome. If TPTB aren't cool with that, I'll start an "unofficial women's progress pics" thread....but wanted to check in here first!

[Littlemermaidklb]

I'm not in the challenege either.. started one week later so I'm 1 wk behind them, but I'd completely be game for posting in an "unofficial" thread. I post them in my log already, but I'd post them here too if you start one!

[GinnyLou]

I'm not a head honcho, by any means, but I don't know why you guys couldn't post in the "official" thread, with maybe a "I'm not in the official challenge" disclaimer?!? I'd love to see everyone's progress and I don't know why we would have to segregate the 2 groups, you know?

Just my opinion. Hopefully, some others will post.

Came back to add: they actually have an official list somewhere, so I don't even think a disclaimer would be necessary.

[missjane]

It might get a bit confusing trying to figure out who's in and who's not. I've leave that to Julie to decide. But, I figured up the Month 1 people, compared to the original list and then again for Month 2 for Julie, and I still had trouble keeping it all straight. But, two threads doesn't seem ideal, either.

Maybe we should start another challenge on July 7, when this one ends, for anyone else who wants to jump in?

[Littlemermaidklb]

Originally Posted by missjane

Maybe we should start another challenge on July 7, when this one ends, for anyone else who wants to jump in?

That would be great... but it still doesn't help out those of us who missed the challenge by only a week or so.
Doesn't matter to me either way... I can post in this thread or another one, I'm not picky

[LoriAnne]

Originally Posted by GinnyLou

I'm not a head honcho, by any means, but I don't know why you guys couldn't post in the "official" thread, with maybe a "I'm not in the official challenge" disclaimer?!? I'd love to see everyone's progress and I don't know why we would have to segregate the 2 groups, you know?

Just my opinion. Hopefully, some others will post.

Came back to add: they actually have an official list somewhere, so I don't even think a disclaimer would be necessary.

I think that's a great idea, and I know there are people who missed it by mere days who I consider part of the challenge anyway! Shout out to my girl Kara!!

[Littlemermaidklb]

Originally Posted by LoriAnne

I think that's a great idea, and I know there are people who missed it by mere days who I consider part of the challenge anyway! Shout out to my girl Kara!!

Aww thanks!!!! It's nice to be thought of as part of the group!

[GinnyLou]

Well, they can always start their own thread with their updated pictures, I just think it's silly for it to be a problem that they post their pictures with the rest of the us. And then mentioning a July challenge?
Isn't there a master list of who is participating in the "official" challenge? I thought someone was keeping a tally of this.

I guess I just don't see why this even has to be an issue. There isn't a prize for this challenge and why not encourage others to share there progress? Unless there is some secret prize that I am unaware of.



I don't get it. I would think we would be encouraging other women people who are here, posting with us everyday, sharing their NROL4W experiences, posting their training logs to feel welcome and not like they have to ask to post pictures. It embarrasses me and it really doesn't reflect the welcoming attitude I have gotten from JP's.

[GinnyLou]

Originally Posted by Littlemermaidklb

Aww thanks!!!! It's nice to be thought of as part of the group!

You are part of the group. You missed the "official" challenge by days, which sucks but you are part of the "group".....

[gardengirl447]

While I do like to encourage everyone, the challenge thread is a good way to track the people who committed/started at the same time and compare our results and understand the challenges as we move through the book together.

There is the Fitness Photo Gallery for pictures or post progress reports/pics in your log. Then you could post a link to your results in the challenge so we can all encourage and keep each other motivated- This
way Julie will have an easier time of knowing who started in the challenge and who is keeping up with monthly committment of pictures/stats.

While there is no prize I still like to compare with people who started at the same time as a measuement tool.

Everyone in these threads is doing awesome! Keep up the great work!!

[MuscleMom23]

How about this. End of stage 1 pics thread, end of stage 2 pics thread etc. Then time doesn't matter. I am all off kilter also. I feel left out (