[InsManKV]

Is anyone interested in doing a weight loss challenge? If we started one week from today on October 29th and reported weights on Wednesdays, we could go 8 weeks till Xmas Eve, 9 weeks til New Year's Eve, or 10 weeks to get us entirely through the holiday season (last weigh in would be on Jan 7). I would be willing to do the "paperwork" for this... I would just need someone else to do it for two weeks when I'm gone in December. I've participated in these on another weight loss board... and it's very motivating.

Basically, it works like this:

1. The challenge is a personal challenge, not a competition between members.
2. The information needed is your challenge start weight, your challenge goal weight (what you want to weigh at the end of the challenge), and current weight.
3. Report your weight every Wednesday.
4. You can join a challenge at any time... since it's only a competition with yourself.

Biggest Loser of the week will be announced by Friday morning.

This is a simple challenge... but it keeps you engaged in your weight loss and it's motivating because you know you have to "weigh in" on Wednesday mornings. The accountability is valuable as well.

Anyone want to do this? It would start one week from today.. and if we took it through the holiday season it would last 10 weeks. If the response is positive, I'll post a new thread in this forum to "sign up".

Feedback?

Tril

[zenihan]

I'm down!

Nik

[xanaxist]

count me in.

Matt

[rfceicizgm]

Bagadonitz would also participate in this.

[kictainiSot]

Ya, you betcha!

[InsManKV]

Looks like we'll have a good group for this first challenge!

For anyone "on the fence" and thinking about joining us... why not try it? If you find it's too much pressure or not helpful, just let me know and I'll take you off. Remember, YOU set your goal for the 10 weeks, not me. Maybe you want your goal to be to maintain through the holidays... it's entirely up to you. This is only intended to be something that keeps your weight, your progress, your journey front and center. It's very easy to let the holidays and extra food challenges that come with them get out of hand... and say you'll "get back to it" after the New Year. This year, you don't have to do that. This year, you could actually LOSE over the holidays.

The first weigh in will be Wednesday morning. That will be your challenge start weight. For those participating, don't forget to post your current weight (on Wed) and your goal for the challenge (lose 10#, lose 5#, maintain, etc). I'll make up the list and post it ASAP once I have everyone's "stuff".

Tril

[inofindy]

I've been looking for something like this for awhile!
I'm definitely in!

[alias]

I am new to Akins and not sure how I would set a challenge as I'm not really sure how I lose yet - but I would definitely like to join. It will keep me "honest" during the holidays.

[oemcheapdownload]

I would love to join but I don't have a scale. I didn't want to get one bc I have a past of eating disorder but how can I really be good at weight loss without a scale? Maybe I will give in and get one

[SzefciuCba]

I am on the fence. I would like to join, however, my plan of attack around the holidays is to remain faithful to the diet as long as I can, but still enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I typically lose all the way up to each of those holidays, then spend 2 weeks getting back down to my pre-Thanksgiving weight and at Christmas, I do not diet between Christmas and New Years. This is the only way I can keep to a diet I can live with. And if you can't live with it, chances are you won't stick to the commitment.

Besides, I host both of these events this year and I wo't prepare a feast for everyone only to not eat it. Certain things I will not give up around the holdiays are pies, cookies, mashed potatos and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatos, sorry, I could go on. But you get the idea, these are 'illegal' on this diet (and most, actually).

[InsManKV]

Bluelady... just pick a reasonable goal for the ten weeks. You can always adjust it. There are no hard and fast rules here.

Maryanne... if you don't want to go down that path of using a scale again, pick another type of goal and then just let me know if you met it or not. Like... to wear a certain pair of jeans, or eat on program, or drink enough water. It doesn't have to be a weight loss goal if you don't want one of those.

LeAnn... for you, how about a goal of sticking to the plan on the days you want to? If you set a goal and meet it, that's a success for you. I'll have a different goal, but that's okay.

The purpose of this challenge is simply to keep our goals (whatever they might be) in mind. It's so easy to let things go with all of the other "stuff" that goes on over the holidays. This is just one way to keep ourselves a priority and continue to work toward our goals during this crazy time of year.

Tril

[gariharlj]

I'm definately interested in this. I'm not too worried about the holiday period (Christmas day will be bad as my family does the full spread, with lots of potato and pasta salads.. YIKES!) But my major setback will be when I go to Melbourne with my bf for 4 or 5 days late November. Not that I will WANT to eat bad food, but it's pretty hard when you can't cook yourself - and you don't know the city!

I'm really keen to be on the challenge though. Bring on the 10 week haul!

** not sure how my Wednesday weigh would work though, being that I'm in Aus, and a day ahead of most places, heh.

[career-builder]

I'm up for it too Tril. I'll set myself 18lbs for the next 10 weeks!

[TZids16I]

im in! i need the motivation and this sounds like fun

[Beatris]

I'll join in too! I'll have to give my goal some thought...

I like the idea of competing against yourself.

[InsManKV]

Okay... I've started the spreadsheet for this holiday challenge. Right now I have 11 "for sures". Maryanne and LeAnn, are you in???

So... anyone else want in?

From those who are... I need to know what your 10 week goal will be. It can be anything from "maintain my current weight" to "lose X# of pounds". You decide. Remember, goals should be reasonable, specific enough to measure (not something like "I'll try..."), and have a time limit. We have the time thing built in by making it a 10 week challenge. Think about it and let me know by tomorrow night (Tuesday) if you can. I will post the chart of participants on Tuesday night before I go to bed (EST). Weigh in on Wednesday morning (or Tuesday if you're in another time zone, LOL) and post your weight so I can add it to the chart. I'm going out of town (no computer) early Wednesday to late Thursday. I will post the updated chart with start weights Thurs night when I get home.

Helen, I have your goal (to lose 18#). I'll just need your challenge start wt.

Each week, post your Tues/Wed weight and I will update the chart. Good luck on reaching your goals this holiday season!!! At the very least, won't it be nice to wake up on New Year's Day and not feel like you've wasted the previous year and you're starting yet another diet??? We'll be a few of the lucky ones with good habits already established.

Tril

[kictainiSot]

Okay, (gulp!) here's goal for the 10 weeks. Lose 10 lbs from whatever my weight says on Wednesday). Frankly, if I can stay on program enough through the holiday season to lose a pound a week, I think I'll have been a big winner. And yes, I would love to look back on New Year's Eve and have an accomplishment to be proud of instead of more resolutions I'm afraid I can't keep.

Thanks, Tril!

[InsManKV]

"And yes, I would love to look back on New Year's Eve and have an accomplishment to be proud of instead of more resolutions I'm afraid I can't keep. "

This is IT in a nutshell. Let's all reach the end of the year happy that we spent the holidays in a healthy way, without any regrets from the previous 10 weeks.

Got your goal noted, LL!

Tril

[inofindy]

Loserlady, you hit the nail on the head! I was so tird of making crap resolutions LOL

Tril- my goal will be to lose 12 lbs by the first of the year! [65 days if I counted correctly..]
I'll post my starting weight on Wednesday
did I mention I looove you for doing this?

[alias]

Okay - I'm going for a 10lb weight loss. I'm just starting OWL so that will give me a little wiggle room if I have to go back a step trying to find where I should settle.