Welcome to the monthly challenge. October is here and so is Fall. This challenge is a fun way to keep track of your monthly weight loss while gaining and giving support to other bandsters.

Copy and post the template below and fill in the information that you are comfortable sharing on October 1st then come back every Tuesday on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and the LAST DAY OF THE MONTH --Thursday October 31st and post your updated weight. I will keep track of the weights to get a table listing everyone's results on the following weekend.

Good luck to everyone and remember this isn't a contest it's a challenge and you are a winner no matter how much you lose. The first three items are required all others are recommended, but the last one is the most fun. If you are new to our monthly challenge please leave a short introduction.

Name, real or screen~

Goal weight for October 31st~

Weight on October 1st~

Age~

City/State~

Dietary goal for October~

Exercise goal for October~

Personal goal for October~

Date banded~

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ Favorite Halloween Activity~

Name, real or screen~ Lisa Holland

Goal weight for October 31st~ 186

Weight on October 1st~ 190.6

Age~ 39

City/State~ Romeoville IL

Dietary goal for October~ Bring lunch to work

Exercise goal for October~ Train for hot chocolate 5k

Personal goal for October~ Get bills under control

Date banded~ 4-17-12

Weight loss since banded ~ 46 lbs

Favorite Halloween Activity~ Trick or treating with my kids

Name, real or screen~ Missy

Goal weight for October 31st~ 189

Weight on October 1st~ 193

Age~ 40

City/State~ Michigan

Dietary goal for October~ Eat more veggies

Exercise goal for October~ Walk more

Personal goal for October~ start Christmas shopping

Date banded~ January 2012

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 228 pounds

Favorite Halloween Activity~ avoiding it, I don't like Halloween

Name, real or screen~ Carrie

Goal weight for October 31st~ 250

Weight on October 1st~ 267

Age~ 27

City/State~ Wyoming

Dietary goal for October~ Get all my water Exercise goal for October~ Only a few day post op so just walk everyday

Goal for October~ learn how to use my band

Date banded~ September 27,2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 9.5 Favorite Halloween Activity~ Decorating my house for fall

Name, real or screen~ Sarah

Goal weight for October 31st~ 154

Weight on October 1st~ 169

Age~ 32

City/State~ denver co

Dietary goal for October~ drink more water and met my protein goal

Exercise goal for October~ 45 minutes each day

Personal goal for October~ Smaller bites

Date banded~ 9/12

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~18 Favorite Halloween Activity, trick or treating with my kids

Name, real or screen~ jdewv

Goal weight for October 31st~ 260

Weight on October 1st~ 270

Age~ 38

City/State~ WV

Dietary goal for October~ eat correct amounts when on puréed

Exercise goal for October~ walk 30 min a day

Personal goal for October~ remember it's about getting healthy, not what I can't eat

Date banded~ 09/25/13

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 12

Favorite Halloween Activity~ seeing the leaves change colors

Name, real or screen~ Sarah

Goal weight for October 31st~ 365

Weight on October 1st~ 379

Age~ 31

City/State~ Illinois

Dietary goal for October~ Meet my protein requirements

Exercise goal for October~ Walk 1 mile at least 4 times per week

Personal goal for October~ Start cooking more

Date banded~ 9/24/13

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 26 pounds

Favorite Halloween Activity~ Taking my kids to the pumpkin patch/Trick or Treating!

Name, real or screen~ kah1213

Goal weight for October 31st~ 135

Weight on October 1st~ 139

City/State~ NY, NY

Dietary goal for October~ more Water

Exercise goal for October~ tough mudder event!

Date banded~ 5/29/12

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~86 lbs

Favorite Halloween Activity~Decorating the house

My first challenge:

Name: Jami

Goal weight for Oct 31: 212 pounds

Weight on Oct 1: 222 pounds

Age: 44

City/State: Miami, Florida

Dietary goal for Oct: Get Protein & Vitamins in

Exercise goal for Oct: Take walk breaks at work

Date banded: 9/13/13 (Friday 13th lol)

Total weight loss since banding: 18 pounds

Favorite Halloween activity:

decorating my house for Fall, my b-day & taking my kids trick-or-treating

Name, real or screen~ City

Goal weight for October 31st~ 252

Weight on October 1st~ 264lbs

Age~ 29

City/State~ WA

Dietary goal for October~ Not pushing my newly banded limits!

Exercise goal for October~ Walking, Walking, Walking! Easing back into

Zumba.

Personal goal for October~ Not over doing / stressing.

Date banded~ Sept 25th 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 6lbs

Favorite Halloween Activity~ Decorating! I'm a Halloween Fiend!

Name, real or screen~ Stephanie

Goal weight for October 31st~ 186

Weight on October 1st~ 190

Age~ 44

City/State~ Cincinnati, OH

Dietary goal for October~ Increase protein to 90g daily

Exercise goal for October~ 5k and HIIT

Personal goal for October~ Find a new place to live

Date banded~ Jan. 11, 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 44 lbs.

Name, real or screen~ Lauren

Goal weight for October 31st~ 245

Weight on October 1st~ 267.6 (I only weigh Mondays so I'm gonna go with my Sept 30th weight)

Age~ 24

City/State~ Sacramento,CA

Dietary goal for October~ 70-80 grams of a protein a day

Exercise goal for October~ Walk 30 min at least 4x/week

Personal goal for October~ Stay positive if weight loss slows down

Date banded~ 9/17/13

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 19lbs since banding. (No pre-op diet)

Favorite Halloween Activity~ Handing out candy to the adorable kids!

Name, real or screen~ Gwen

Goal weight for October 31st~ 165

Weight on October 1st~ 172

City/State~ Housto, Texas

Dietary goal for October~ Drink more water, get more protein in

Exercise goal for October~ Completing the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on October 5th - 1 day before my birthday.

Personal goal for October~ Don't let stalls discourage me

Date banded~ June 19, 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 47

Favorite Halloween Activity~ Dressing up and taking my daughter, her friends and my dogs trick-or-treating.

Name, real or screen ~ LessLee - just call me Lee if you want

Goal weight for October 31st ~ 205

Weight on October 1st ~ 211.6 (I weigh Fridays)

Age ~ 37

City/Province ~ Ottawa/Ontario, Canada

Dietary goal for October ~ Get in 8+ cups of water on weekends & stay focused/track more on weekends.

Exercise goal for October ~ Add Strength Training (arms) 2x/week (started today), continue Yoga practice at home to improve in class, finish C25K week 4&5

Personal goal for October ~ Finances and budget for xmas shopping.

Date banded ~ June 21st, 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 32 lbs

Favorite Halloween Activity ~ I used to like dressing up, think I will this year when I take my daughter out!

Name, real or screen~ David Pelletier

Goal weight for October 31st~ 220

Weight on October 1st~ 229.6

Age~ 34

City/State~ Flemington, NJ

Dietary goal for October~ Keep at it.

Exercise goal for October~ 5 times a week

Personal goal for October~ Spend some times with my son before the twins arrive.

Date banded~ 8/6/13

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ pre-op:31, post-op:35

Name, real or screen~ Michelle

Goal weight for October 31st~ 187

Weight on October 1st~196

Age~ 39

City/State~Alberta Canada

Dietary goal for October~ Exercise goal for October~8500 steps or more daily

Personal goal for October~ be more positive

Date banded~ July 19

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 38 pounds

Favourite Halloween activity~ Everything! Halloween is my Favourite!