Merry Christmas to Yourself Challenge

20 lbs to go...and November / December is my deathly months.... It starts with Halloween - best friends birthday - Anniversary - BIL's Birthday - My Birthday - Thanksgiving - Christmas parties - Christmas - New Years - SO's Birthday which ends it on January 4th. 

It's like a never ending buffet of cake and candy.

I'm ready to go again.  Not sure the goal except going down and continuing to train.

Actually goal will be based on lowering cholesteral numbers without the medicines

I'm in! I lost 50 lbs over a year ago, and have been trying to get rid of these last 10 lbs. I've been yo-yo-ing for the last few months and always have a hard time not gaining over the holidays, so this should be perfect!

Roni 

I'm in! Ah, I hope I'm not in too many challenges. I have a short term one, one set at my birthday (Thanksgiving) and now this one for Christmas. They're all different, right? I think that for the Monday before Christmas, I would like to weigh175--I am at 195ish right now. Is this too much? I am a 5'11'' woman. My ultimate goal is 150.

 How in the world did you lose 50 pounds???? Your story inspires me.

I would love to be in this too. After an injury, now healed and the depression from that and a few other things. I have mangaged to put back on about 8 lbs. and I was already 10 from where I want to be. So I need to lose approx. 18 lbs. I'll weigh Mon. and post where I need to be by the end of the Challenge.

Chris

Thanks! I lost the first 15 lbs by eating healthier and exercising (aerobics, weights, hiking). Then I plateaued for about a year and started seeing a personal trainer once a month to do body composition testing, weigh in, etc. She helped me realize that if I wanted to lose more weight and get my body fat percentage to a healthy level I would have to be really careful about what I was eating because even though I was exercising alot and eating pretty healthy food, I was eating ALOT of food. I started keeping a food journal and counting calories, which made me more mindful of what I was eating. I also started tri training during this time, but it was really the eating that was key for me. I figured out my basal metabolic rate using an online calculator http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/Calorie_Calculator.asp  and the basal metabolic rate for the weight I wanted to be and kept my calorie intake the amount for what I wanted my weight to be. Once I started doing this it only took me about 4 months to lose the other 35 lbs. Since then I just haven't been as good about sticking with it and have been yo-yo-ing up and down about 5 lbs, which wouldn't be to bad, except that I'm not quite to my goal yet. So, I know how to get there it's just a matter of actually doing it, but that's always the hard part isn't it

I would like to be in this challenge also.  I started the year at 217.  I'm currently 179.  So, I've already lost 38 pounds.  It's hard to believe.  I have given away so many clothes over the past couple months.  There's a lot of room in my closet.  Fortunately, I had saved some clothes from smaller sizes that I recently pulled out of storage.  It was kind of funny looking at some of the stuff I had saved.  I haven't been under 182 pounds for probably 10 years.  The styles were really outdated.  LOL.  Most of the stuff went to the Goodwill dropoff but there were some jeans that I was willing to keep and wear.  

My goal is to lose 20 more pounds by Christmas and end the year just under 160, which will be a 58 pound total loss.  Wow.  That's unbelievable.  I haven't been under 160 since the early 1990's.  But, I WILL DO IT.  I know it!!  I can't wait!!  I'll have to buy all new clothes, because I don't have anything for that size at all.  Bummer!!  I know I'm going to feel so good.  I already feel so much better.  My birthday is mid-January and I'm hoping to be around 155 by then.  I'm not sure whether to ask my husband for personal training sessions for my birthday or a new wardrobe.  We'll see.

I'm very excited that the Biggest Loser started again tonight.  I found it very motivational this spring.  I would go to the gym and imagine Jillian yelling at me "Keep Going", "Don't Stop", "Don't hold onto the Treadmill".  It really helped. 

Good Luck to everyone in the challenge.   

Lisa 

I need this challenge! I have managed to stay the same weight all year, however I would like to loose close to 15 pounds and settle at around 170. I just started my off season and the last thing I need is to gain weight, and that could be disastrous around the holidays! I am considering starting p90x to strengthen muscle imbalances and shed the last bit of bodyfat I've been holding. I have a big year planned racing next year and I want to make huge gains with the help of more strength and less weight. Goal is to make 170-currently 185. After watching Jillian last night I feel scared straight!

I did not catch the challenge rules, are they forthcomming?

Looks like we have a great goop of folks to motivate one another until Christmas.   Be sure to add everyone to your friends list and send lots of inspires.  I don't know about ya'll, but I love getting those things.

Lisa - Go for the personal training sessions for Christmas and then the clothes for your b-day. 

Sparkle - I, too, hate hate hate the cold.  I try to get my workout in while the sun is still shining so I can atleast feel that little bit of warmth...the I reward myself with a hot bath in the jacuzzi tub when I get home.  Ahhhh....

 Soup - stick to light beer and veggies with fat free dips.  You can totally tailgate and stay accountable!

Seems like everyone is right at needing to lose a pound a week until Christmas.  This is the healthiest way to lose...nice and steady

The rules of the game...Your biggest Christmas gift this year is the gift of healt to yourself.  If you don't get that for yourself...you don't get to keep any of your gifts.  You have to donate or re-gift them.  SOOOOOO, how's that for motivations?!?!

I started working out consistently almost three years ago and was at that time weighing  in at 290 pounds. Today I am down to 215 and have been looking to get motivated to kickstart myself back into gear.  If i can get down to 200 by christmas that would be a great way to end this year and start the next. 

I'm just getting started in working out again after two babies and I have TONS to loose. I'm brand spankin' new to this tri thing and am thrilled about my goal of doing my first sprint in the spring. One of my sub goals is to loose 50 lbs, so joining in on this challenge would be nothing but beneficial. I'm in!

Kelly

You are in the right spot!  15 lbs is about the average that we are all looking to lose by Christmas.  Welcome!