10% Challenge ~ August

[smartmuse2]

This thread is a meeting place for the 10% Challenge participants. We are a group of 4 teams (3 members each) who are working to learn about health while breaking our weight loss goals into smaller, more manageable steps.

To keep motivated, we have agreed to participate in a friendly competition between teams. We earn points based on the progress toward our weight loss goals. We can earn additional points by completing the mini-challenges that encourage healthy behaviors that support these goals. We provide positive support for our members and recognition of the small achievements that tend to get overlooked.

Although we are no longer seeking additional membership to this challenge, please feel free to read the information we post as well as follow our progress!

[smartmuse2]

Mini-Challenge for August 1-15:

Write down / journal everything you consume for at least 5 CONSECUTIVE days.

This shall include: meals, snacks, taste tests, chewing gum, breath mints, and beverages (including water). We've been working to drink more water - please don't let that slide!

You may choose any 5 consecutive days within the time frame. You may journal any way you wish, but to get credit for the task you must post your menu either on your team thread or on this main thread. Use as much detail as you think reasonable. You may post your menu daily or you may post once with all 5 days listed but you won't get credit until all 5 CONSECUTIVE days have been done.

Plese use what you learn as a talking point with your team members. Please look at the menus of those people who seem to be losing consistently.

Possible topic ideas:
Who seems to be consistently losing?
What are they doing?
Do you notice any patterns in your own eating?
Are your portion sizes as they should be?
Did you tweak something and notice a difference in your weight loss efforts (change salad dressing, eliminate a specific food, eliminate soda, etc.)?
Did keeping a journal change anything about your food choices?

Leaders, please forward results to me with the updated Aug. 15 weigh-ins. (5 points for doing it all 5 days - 0 points for anything else).

Dvanbeus ... please complete 10 days to earn your weight loss credit.

[smartmuse2]

I found this article and thought it might be useful if you've never kept a food journal before:

Keep a Food Diary-Tracking what you eat may help you shed pounds
(HealthDay News) --

A food diary may be helpful in the battle to lose weight. It can help you track what you eat for a week or even a day, and help you realize how much every little snack matters when counting calories.

Here are suggestions on what to record, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Write down the portion size of every food you eat. Record the dimensions, weight, volume or count.
List exactly which foods you ate, including any sauces or condiments used.
Record what time you ate, where you ate, and if you ate with company. Recording these things can help monitor trends in your eating habits.
Include what you were doing while you were eating -- watching TV, reading, etc. -- and how you felt while you were eating.

[1Life2Live]

Good Idea for the Challenge Muse!

[smartmuse2]

JULY CHALLENGE RESULTS

Here are the first month's challenge results! I apologize for having such a long post, but I wanted to be sure you could see all the parts for yourselves.

If there is an oversight, please let me know so I can correct it. Individual results are posted as well as team totals. This is done so you can support those members of your team that seem to be struggling, as well as recognize those that made progress! Thanks to everyone for participating!

To calculate weight loss points, I figured the percentage of the first goal you lost. For example, if your first goal is 15 lbs and you lost 3, I would do: 3/15 = .2 or 20% of the first goal and awarded 2 points. If it didn't come out evenly, I rounded to the nearest percent so I didn't have to deal with decimals.



Shape Shifters total points: 58

SJN02 total points: 17
Weight loss points: 0
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 10
On time points: 4

rchelle total points: 15
Weight loss points: 1.1 ≈ 1
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 7
On time points: 4

dvanbeus total points: 26
Weight loss points: 4 (alternative point system - expectant mother)
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 15
On time points: 4

Beach Bound Babes total points: 69

Bama4life total points: 24
Weight loss points: 2.4 ≈ 2
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 15
On time points: 4

1Life2Live total points: 22
Weight loss points: 1.7 ≈ 2
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 15
On time points: 2

luvslipstick total points: 23
Weight loss points: 1.0 ≈ 1
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 15
On time points: 4


Cruisin' Cuties total points: 70

Joyful48 total points: 25
Weight loss points: 5.9 ≈ 6
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 12
On time points: 4


NeveraGain total points: 21
Weight loss points: 3.9 ≈ 4
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 0 + 13
On time points: 4


Smartmuse2 total points: 24
Weight loss points: 2.4 ≈ 2
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 15
On time points: 4

Cosmic Treadmill total points: 81

Jennifer total points: 26
Weight loss points: 3.9 ≈ 4
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 15
On time points: 4


lowcarbcowgirl total points: 28
Weight loss points: 7.5 ≈ 8
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 13
On time points: 4

emeraldskye total points: 27
Weight loss points: 4.6 ≈ 5
Challenge points (total from mini-challenges): 3 + 15
On time points: 4

[1Life2Live]

Are my on time points 2 because I was late last weigh in?

[smartmuse2]

One more thing ....

Now that we are getting into our second month, some of you will make your first goal of 10%. When that happens, you will need to set the next 10% goal based on your new low weight. If you want me to calculate it for you, just send me a pm or ask your team leader.

[smartmuse2]

Yes, but you were on time this weigh in so you got them. Every little bit helps! Don't focus on what you didn't do ... focus on what you improved and pat yourself on the back!

Ladies ... weight loss is hard, but not impossible. We CAN do it! Know that the little things we do, the small shifts in our thinking and behavior can have a profound impact in the long run. Our behaviors need to be lifestyle changes to be effective. We don't need to do everything at once.

We'll still get there doing it a little bit at a time.

[smartmuse2]

Come on ... there are more voices in this challenge besides mine and 1Life2Live! If you've peeked in here, leave a message! How else will we know for sure you've seen it?

I would like to say a BIG congratulations to everyone for sticking with it for the whole month. Whether or not you lost, you're still here!

Outstanding efforts to:

WEIGHT LOSS ALL STARS
lowcarbcowgirl - lost 75% of her first goal
emeraldskye - lost 46% of her first goal!

Jennifer - no slouch in the weight loss department either lost 49% of her first goal AND led her team to the first TOP OF THE ROSTER point success! Woohoo!

Dvanbeus - got every possible point she could get!

SJN02, rchelle - always right on time with their results

1Life2Live - positive attitude and learning to give herself credit for all the steps that lead to the goal (they are important too)

Bama4Life and luvslipstick - got every possible mini-challenge point

And ... last but not least ... my own team

We moved from being in last place to 2nd ... well done partners! Cosmic Treadmill better watch out. We're coming for ya!

NeveraGain: - showing an amazing loss despite all the craziness, stress, excitement and hassle of being in a wedding, moving into her first home, and starting a challenge all in the same month!

Joyful48 - showing an amazing loss, being a great team leader, and still having time to look for me online despite all other responsibilities! You are awesome!

[1Life2Live]

MUSE! Thank you! You are such a wonderful person!!!

[lowcarbcowgirl]

Good Job Everyone!

[emeraldskye]

Hi! Is everyone up for the mini-challange? Yikes in a way I am scared to see how much coffee cream I consume on a daily basis. This will keep me in check at least.

Hope everyone is having fun with this.

Good luck everybody!!!!

Three cheers for all of us!!

[1Life2Live]

I have been posting my menu. Not posting exact amounts like oz or tsp. But I am watching what I am eatting that is what matters to me.

[smartmuse2]

Thanks guys for poking in here and leaving a message. I think we're doing pretty good!

Lowcarbcowgirl ... nice to see ya! Is that a new avatar?

1Life2Live ... there are no rules about how to journal "correctly." You need to do what's meaningful to you, and what provides enough feedback so you can identify strengths and weaknesses in your program.

For me, portion size is an issue so I will spend my 5 days measuring amounts. I think it will allow me to estimate my portions better in the future (and see if what I think is a portion is the same as what my plan thinks is a portion).

If I thought emotional eating was my issue, I might focus more on how I felt or what time of the day I eat, rather than portions. If I thought diet soda might be causing a plateau, I might give it up and see if it made a difference. Some might focus on condiments, or dairy, or even sodium content. I look forward to seeing the different ways each person approaches the task and what we learn from the experience.

[emeraldskye]

Originally Posted by 1Life2Live

I have been posting my menu. Not posting exact amounts like oz or tsp. But I am watching what I am eatting that is what matters to me.

Oh, I wasn't implying that we had to measure quantities. I'm doing that more for me to see where my weaknesses are.

I just want to be more cognizant of what exactly is going into my big mouth.

Good luck!

[1Life2Live]

Muse, are you watching that we get all 5 in or is our leader to do that and let you know on the 15th who did it? Just so ya know, I did mine.

[smartmuse2]

1Life2Live,

For the official count, the team leaders will look at the posts and let me know which team members have earned their 5 points. On a personal note, I am looking to see who is choosing to participate and what kinds of conversations might be happening around what you've learned.

Since you've done yours, did you learn anything you weren't aware of before? I haven't done mine yet ... I'll start it Thursday to motivate me over the weekend.

I haven't seen a whole lot posted, so I'm not sure how many people are doing it on their own and then will post it at the end (and who's procrastinating). I want to be sure that the challenges I post are meaningful.

Muse

[joyful48]

Hi ladies. Congrats to the Cosmic Treadmill Team , for placing first place. Well I do hope our team gets to take the position of first place next month.

[1Life2Live]

Ya know Muse, I am just eatting so good right now that I am not having a hard time. I did learn just how hard weekends are, but that I can still have fun and make smart choices. I also learned that when I go out to the bar, I like to eat!!!! I think next time I will remember GUM! Then I will have something to munch on!

[1Life2Live]

Originally Posted by gonna-B-lean

The harsh reality of any weightloss program is....

If you don't have your head in the game you have taken your first step toward failure. All of the pats on the back, all of the good jobs, All of the try again and all of the support, advice, friendship found on this or any other board or support group means absolutely squat unless your head is in the game.

Have you ever watched a sporting event on television, in person or ever participated in one? How many times have you ever seen a baseball player walk up and smile at the catcher or the pitcher just before he takes his turn at bat? What do you think a professional boxer thinks about before he enters the ring?

The ball player is totally focused on knocking the cover off of that ball. He is determined that the pitcher is not going to throw a good ball past him. He is focused on succeeding before he ever gets to the plate.

The boxer is totally focused on the task at hand. You can see it in his eyes, his plan is to knock the ears off of the person he is about to face.

Neither of them is hoping to succeed. How far do you think these people would get if they approached their careers as many of us approach our weightloss journey? This WOL is just that, a way of life. I see so many here that take on all sorts of projects, fight all kinds of battles and face assorted challenges with the same determination as the athletes yet when it comes to something as simple as what we put in our mouth we cave like a house a cards.

The world is full of excuses, legitimate reasons not to succeed. I was stressed, I was traveling, I had a hangnail, I had a busy day. Bla bla bla. How many of these reasons would you have used if you had had to take your kid to the doctor? How many excuses would you have if it meant not getting a paycheck at the end of the week?

Everyone has stresses and turmoil in their lives, we all face challenges and at times we all seem to take on more than we can handle. I wont go into a lot of detail but out of the 25 months I have followed this WOL I have lived in a camper for 23 of those months and traveled approximately 85,000 miles. Cant stay on plan and travel? Damn wish someone would have told me that 140lbs ago.

Hmmm, stress, lets see, wondering where your next check is coming from, divorce and leaving basically everything behind to start over at 43 after 23 years of a tough marriage, too stressed to lose? Hmm wish someone would have told me that earlier.

I use myself as an example ONLY because although I know of several stories of individuals from this board it wouldnt be right to relay them without permission.

Like I said, the harsh reality is you MUST have your head right or you are doomed for a long trip in this journey.

Is your success, at attaining your weightloss goal, gaining back your health, your confidence and being more active than you have in lord knows how long the least important thing on your to do list?

This is a post that I keep on hand. I really feel that GBL put is so I personally can understand. I feel like he was talking to just me. When I am having one of those moments I read it. I just wanted to share it with you all.

[smartmuse2]

Wow ... that's certainly powerful. Gets right down to business, doesn't it?

Thank you so much for sharing. I think I might need to print a copy of that myself.

[joyful48]

Thanks , Tammy for the post, yes it did cut to heart of the matter.I guess we all need to hear this from time to time. Especially the excuses part.

[joyful48]

I am so glad that all the teams are hanging in there , its so easy to start and stop , start and stop etc. The 10% challenge is definitely helping me stay on track.

[1Life2Live]

Just so you know, this really was not written just for me. I just feel like the words were meant just for me is all.

Yes it does get right to the niddy griddy of it doesn't it. I guess that is why I love it so!

[lowcarbcowgirl]

Thanks for posting that Tammy. Tonight it hit me right between the eye.

[smartmuse2]

Well ... here it is again ... time for checkin. Be sure you forward your current weight to your team leaders so they can post it to me by 12 midnight Wednesday, Aug. 15.

If you have posted your 5 day meal plan (either here on the main thread or on your individual team threads), your team leader will let me know when they turn in your stats.

Here is the format:

Member X: -2lbs, 5 pts for challenge
Member Y: -1 lb, 0 pts for challenge
Member Z: -3 lbs, 5 pts for challenge

Remember ... each team earns 2 points for every member that has their stats turned in on time!

[smartmuse2]

Hi All!

I think my previous post needs to be a little more clear. When you send in your results, please let me know how much you lost for AUGUST ONLY!

Is anyone interested in seeing the total losses for everyone in the challenge?