Although it's still a little early, I wanted to go ahead and get things set up for a new challenge...the

Christmas - New Year Challenge!



1. Be sure and log in here on Wednesday, November 27, post your start weight and your goal weight for the challenge.
2. When setting your goal, keep in mind that challenge is 5 weeks long.
3. Weigh in every Wednesday and post your updates here.
4. Watch the data at http://sdrv.ms/1cGHwsS to see our progress as individuals and as a team.

GOOD LUCK!

Old challenges - Halloween: http://sdrv.ms/19Qmc3j

Old challenges - Thanksgiving: http://sdrv.ms/1c1AT8J

208 this week

I was out if town and didn't get to post Wednesday. Weight was 176.4!! Wahoo!

Thinking this might be a busy couple of weeks, I went ahead and set up the "Valentine's Challenge" at http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/291848-valentines-challenge/.

I've added a couple of names already of people who indicated they want to be included. Feel free to let me know if you want to be in on this one as well. I'll try to send out a reminder using the forum's "messenger" feature, but I'm not sure how well that will work since I haven't tried it before. If I figure it out, I'll send the reminder to everyone in this topic in case you want to join us again.

On a personal note, I've moved back home until after New Year's. You see, I work in the city and live in a corporate apartment there while my retired hubby holds down the fort at home, a nice spot in the country about a 2.5 hour drive away. I come home about every other weekend and hubby comes my way on the weekends in between. Now that I'm home for 2 weeks, my problem is not so much sticking to my plan foods--tested yesterday when I baked 6 dozen cookies without tasting a single one--but I seem to be back into some old habits here of ALWAYS wanting something to eat (head hunger) and have been overdoing (grazing) every day! It's more annoying than distressing, but I really think I should get a handle on it soon as I don't really want the situation to control me...I want to be in control of the situation. (Otherwise, I'll be at the mercy of where I live and who I'm around for my success!)

Anyway, this may be the first week that I've GAINED since my surgery on July 30, 2013. I'm not the kind to get depressed or go into failure mode over it, but it does make me a bit angry at myself to feel so out of control. So...wish me luck over the next two weeks! And THANKS SO MUCH for letting me "vent" here to you all!!!

Bea enjoy being home and closer to your family. You are In control and you help so many of us take control.

Also count me in for Valentine challenge, thanks

Also count me in for Valentine challenge, thanks

Me too!

I definitely want to be in the Valentine Challenge so feel free to add me.

Bea,

The best thing is you are recognizing what is going on and your making a conscience effort to change your old habit. If you happen to gain a pound or two don't beat yourself up. The goal is behavior modification and in the process you will lose that weight. Hang in there and I hope you and your husband have a great holiday with your family!

Still 194 but it's ok! I stalled once before!

Hi Bea, please count me in for Valentines Day Challenge. Also, on a personal note. I too gained this week. 4 pounds. My eating was not too bad, but I did partake in 3 nights of drinking! I cant wait for Christmas to be over and family to go home so I can get back to exercising. I just hope this is water, bkoat and not an actual 5 pounds of fat! My weighin on Christmas day isnt looking so good.

I find that gaining now (with the sleeve) gets me way more depressed than gaining before the sleeve. :-/

Gw for challenge onderland. Current weight 201. So close!!!

Merry Christmas everyone. So glad this is a New Year's challenge because right now I am short of goal by one pound. Checking in at an even 200.

Hi Bea, please count me in for Valentines Day Challenge. Also, on a personal note. I too gained this week. 4 pounds. My eating was not too bad, but I did partake in 3 nights of drinking! I cant wait for Christmas to be over and family to go home so I can get back to exercising. I just hope this is water, bkoat and not an actual 5 pounds of fat! My weighin on Christmas day isnt looking so good.

Got it...you're in on the Valentine's Day Challenge. Today, I broke my big stall/gain by ending up with a 1 lbs loss for the week. I know the whole next week is going to be a struggle (TONS of sweets on hand everywhere), but I'm going to do the best I can and not stress when I slip a bit. My biggest confidence, however, is that a "slip" these days is not nearly the awful thing it was in years past. This year I feel confident that I can "cheat" with a cookie or a piece of chocolate without it being the start of a long, slow descent into the land of "comfort foods".

What makes me so confident this year? Why, it's because I have this group to come to for help if I should falter and for accountability week by week!

Gw for challenge onderland. Current weight 201. So close!!!

Awesome! So very close! You can do this!!!

Merry Christmas everyone. So glad this is a New Year's challenge because right now I am short of goal by one pound. Checking in at an even 200.

Another one bordering on ONEDERLAND! Wow! SEVERAL of you look like you're going to start off the new year in a GREAT place! Congrats on your progress!