Bea Amaya

The sheet is posted in a shared location of mine on the cloud. I don't think you have to have an account as I think the link takes you right to it. It's already posted, so you can try the link and let me know. I really hate putting things in a place you have to subscribe to in order to see so I hope you'll give me feedback if that's the case. Welcome to the challenge! P.S. I do all the updating of the sheet so you guys don't have to mess with it. You'll know if your data has been added because your update will have a "like" by me. Hope this explains it.

Today was the last weigh-in for this one, but I've added you to the next one. Official weigh-in on Monday (although we're pretty darn lax about it...you can certainly pick a different day if you want). Check out the updates at http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/296972-st-patricks-day-challenge/ and we'll see you there!

Grrr...growl! A GAIN when you're working so hard is just so darn annoying. Thank goodness there's another challenge starting Monday! Goal: 199.8 Today: 206.2 [sigh]

Me too, MS! I had high hopes to see it for this challenge, but things haven't gone my way. So...I'm planning on onderland by St. Patty's Day!

Oh no? Problem?

Ditto to that "overly ambitious VDay challenge goal"! Like you, I was more hoping than expecting to hit onederland before Valentine's Day. I'm close, really close (<5 lbs), but won't quite make it by the day. Thank goodness there's another holiday, and challenge, in the works. My next goal will be something like 194, a number I NEVER thought I'd see again! We can do this! (P.S. Congrats on your AWESOME progress so far!)

I try to set these challenges up so that the END on the holiday. So, the Valentine's Challenge will end on February 14 and there will be no more reporting after that. The St. Patrick's Day Challenge runs from February 17 to March 17 (St. Patrick's Day). Thanks for asking...I'm guessing some others were wondering too. :-)

That's pretty much all there is to it, Miss Mac. It's just that some of us have discovered that, personally, there might be just a bit more. It seems that in the challenges we develop a group dynamic (100 people or so) that lasts for a few weeks, which is really a perfect length of time. For that period of time we cheer each other on, commiserate when there are stalls, ask questions, share opinions, and perhaps work just a little harder to show a loss on weigh-in day. People come and go, so it's not always the same people moving from challenge to challenge. That's also kind of a neat aspect...knowing that you can drop out for one without a problem and jump back in on the next one if you think it might be fun again. But for me I think the biggest things are that it keeps me engaged and upbeat, even when I have bad week; it keeps me informed about the challenges others are facing from week to week and what they are doing to address them; and it keeps me accountable, knowing that I'll be reporting in to the group every week and working just a little bit harder to make, or get close to, my goal. So...we hope you decide to join us, but it's really up to you. Good luck in your journey!

I just posted the next challenge details...St. Patrick's Day Challenge. You can start following that thread at: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/296972-st-patricks-day-challenge/

I guess it's time to get ready for the next challenge... St. Patrick's Day Challenge! Here we go with the rules and instructions: 1. Be sure and log in here on Monday, February 17, 2014 to post your start weight and your goal weight for the challenge. 2. When setting your goal, keep in mind that this challenge is only 4 weeks long (5 weigh-ins). 3. Weigh in every Monday and post your updates here. 4. Watch the data at St. Patrick's Day Challenge to see our progress as individuals and as a team. GOOD LUCK! Old challenges - Valentine's - Christmas/New Year's - Thanksgiving - Halloween

Here are the Valentine’s Challenge results from Week 5: Number of people reporting in (31-JAN): 95 Total losses for the group: 141.0 lbs Average losses for the week: 1.5 lbs Total challenge losses: 822.8 lbs Border Crossings: Fallenangel2904 and Kiap82 moved into the 270s 4MEL21 moved into the 250s Jdub moved into the 240s dreamscometrue and Stacy_wls moved into the 230s Sherry73 moved into the 220s ktlass moved into the 200s onsummit and Yoga-lady moved into the 180s Wags and Sweet_Mia moved into the 150s Valentine’s Goal Achievers: back2barb78 <3 bearman99 <3 college_chick <3 EarthyGoalie <3 Fallenangel2904 <3 Healthier2day1227 <3 Kltklass <3 Mama Spike <3 Mkak <3 therockmorton <3 BIG successes all around. While a few of us won’t actually make our goal this time, the progresses are still so very AWESOME. What a really great challenge this one is turning out to be!

Here's the long version of the link, Ree: https://skydrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=C39B86143819E4E1!1004&ithint=file%2c.xlsx&app=Excel&wdo=2&authkey=!AN-F3qei-t4olnM Maybe it will work for you. Good luck!

With St. Paddy's day falling on March 17 and Easter falling in April 20 this year, I think those would be REALLY good ideas (good windows of time) for the next two challenges. Great idea!

I always try to put the links to the challenge data on the very FIRST post in the thread. Like you, I've had trouble keeping up with them when they get lost in the mix, so figured out that by putting them in the first post, they would always be easy to navigate to. Good luck, and let me know if you still have trouble!

Back home now and working on catching up with things that went on while I was gone. Thought I'd go ahead and post an overview of last week's challenge results as we get ready to sign in and update our measures tomorrow. Number of people reporting in (24-JAN): 102 Total losses for the group: 190.3 lbs Average losses for the week: 1.9 lbs Border Crossings: Sleeveless n Seattle moved into the 310s Bigbeaz moved into the 290s (Woo Hoo! Big crossing point!) MCM13 (Him) moved into the 280s kyleebean moved into the 250s back2barb78 moved into the 240s ataloss1383837833 moved into the 230s Chelenka moved into the 220s gourmetone and Mama Spike moved into the 210s Bea Amaya, GatorGirl72, and Comfy_Blue moved into the 200s livvsmum moved into ONEDERLAND! (Woo Hoo! Big crossing point!) SleevedMominNH and longtimecoming7 moved into the 180s tddonnell67 moved into the 160s Edm852 moved into the 150s Oceana moved into the 130s Big Congrats all around! As a group we are still making some AWESOME progress (which statistically means that there are some real movers in the individual ranks carrying us through, LOL). Thanks to all!!!

According to the flight map, I'm somewhere over the friendly skies of Bucarest (the German spelling) a couple of hours out of Frankfurt, Germany and a little less than 4 hours until I'm in Doha, Qatar. Funny how I can update our statistics from here (gotta love technology). This is my first time traveling since losing more than 80 lbs of weight and the differences are just amazing. When I lived overseas (2009-20012) I traveled internationally once every 4-6 weeks. It was always uncomfortable, but it was just what I had to do. Here are some of the differences I've noticed on this trip: when I buckle my seat belt and pull it snug, there is this flap of belting hanging out the end of the buckle when I walk down the aisles, I can walk straight on instead of having to turn and go sideways when I sit next to someone on the plane, I don't spill over into their space my bum is sore from hours of traveling (not enough padding anymore) I can take the stairs and not be winded people don't give me the oh-I-hope-that-fat-lady-isn't-sitting-next-to-me look I have no desire to finish off the tray of food served on the plane...can't wait to get some healthy protein down when I land Although I am still "obese", for another 8 lbs anyway, and have nearly 50 lbs left to lose, I am feeling so good about myself...healthy and comfortable in my own skin. This has been a full day of travel and I honestly feel like a "normal" (i.e. not worried about embarrassing situations with my body) person. What an awesome journey this has been...and it's still not over!

Awesome! Congrats on reaching a HUGE milestone!

Post your stats here, your current weight and your goal weight for February 14, and I'll add you.

There are still 4 weigh-ins to go, so you are definitely welcome. Just post your weight, and your goal weight, and we'll get you added to the charts. Welcome!

Heads up about the next two weeks... I am preparing to leave the country on Friday (24th) for just a few days. I'm headed from Houston, TX (USA) to Doha, Qatar (next to Saudi Arabia) to present at a conference there. I am so very excited but still have a lot to do to prepare. I tell you this to let you know that I may be slow to respond for the next weigh-in, but will easily be able to catch up when I return the next week. Just thought I'd let you know to be patient with the postings/responses over this period. We're making some incredible progress and I have no intention of jumping ship. I really don't think I would be working so hard without this challenge to motivate me, hold me accountable, and help me stay on track. Thanks to all for this crazy, fun group and our journey together! Bea

Interesting week in the Valentine's Day Challenge! As a group, we have lost a total of 486 lbs in the two weeks of the challenge. Wow! That's a LOT! With 96 people reporting in so far, our average loss for the week is 1.9 lbs Out of those 96, 29 people (30%) reported a loss this week of 3 lbs or more Out of the 96, 6 people reported a loss this week of 5 lbs or more This week's border crossings: bearman99 moved into the 280s Nurse B moved into the 250s Coachdk, Eyedbrown, and Ree moved into the 230s Cathysleever, gomekast, Jen GA Peach, and VSG AJH moved into the 210s Healthier2day1227, tami j, Beach Lover, LisaDM, and SarahB928 moved into the 200s Mkak moved into ONEDERLAND! HumorMe00 moved into the 190s Lorie77 moved into the 160s Chellemetime moved into the 140s So sorry if you crossed a border and I missed you, but a HUGE congrats to these folks and their progress!

Awesome progress! Nicely done!

Not too late, Iris. I've added you to the list, but you need to tell us your goal weight for Valentine's Day so we can track your progress. Welcome to the challenge!

You are definitely welcome to jump in on this one if you want...there are still 5 weigh-ins left. Just post your current weight as well as your Valentine's goal weight, and I'll be happy to add you to the list.

No, not too late. Just post today's weight and your Valentine's goal weight and I'll add you to the list. Welcome aboard! Re: Hi !Bea I'm new here is it too late to sign up for the Valentines Day Challenge