Weight Loss Challenge Archives - Back At Square Zero

Challenge Update: 9 days In

May 5, 2015 by abby 32 Comments

Here is a little recap for you all. A challenge update if you will.
One week down, here is where I stand 9 days in.

I am currently participating in Spring Reset 21 Day Challenge where my biggest goal is to make it 21 days with no artificial sweeteners/sugar (fruit is okay). For a woman who lives for dessert 3 weeks without it – well it could be torture, or it could be life changes.

In addition to that I also joined the Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge at my gym which is an 8 week challenge involving before and after measurements, photos, and of course recording your weight. However, what I am most excited about is that everyone is assigned to a team and each team is paired with a trainer/coach and an assistant. The trainer I was assigned to seems really enthusiastic and motivating, which I need. I am pretty sure I have gotten about 7 separate emails from him about everything from nutrition tips, to grocery lists, to team fitness events he wants to schedule. I am actually pretty excited about the team stuff he is putting together because it could be a great way to meet more people at my Orange Theory studio.

After 9 days how goes it?
– Last week was state testing week. Monday – Wednesday the teachers lounge was filled with mini candy bars to encourage the teachers. I usually,accidently, graze all day and I didn’t touch a single one. Woohoo!
– Thursday and Friday I was offered free lunch from delicious, but really unhealthy carry out restaurants. I said no thanks both days and stuck to the boring sandwich, veggies, and apple I packed instead.
– This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and there is junk everywhere and I have yet to touch any of it. I am feeling strong and motivated.
– I am listening to my body and really trying to push myself during my workouts in order to improve as much as possible.
– I have added in a 3rd Orange Theory Fitness class every week and boy I love it. It really pushes me to work hard and forces me to add in strength training, plus you cannot beat that calorie burn. (That was from the class tonight.)

Overall:
– I have yet to touch a piece of dessert, huge victory.
– I find I am making much smarter, healthier, food choices.
– I stepped on the scale tonight and I am down 2.4 pounds in just 9 days.
– I am feeling much better about myself and the decisions I am making.

I am feeling really motivated and proud of myself. I want to continue really focusing on eating right for the next 6 weeks and 5 days of the challenge and hopefully by the end I will have built some healthier new habits.

*I actually kicked my bottom into gear about 2 weeks before the challenge, after I posted Time to Be Honest with Myself. I did well and lost 3 pounds in the 2 weeks before I joined these two challenges. So grand total I am down 3 + 2.4 = 5.4 pounds in about 3 and a half weeks. This is huge for me. Usually I only lose about a half pound a week. It is amazing to see the changes I get when I really focus on healthy eating. My pants are close to fitting again!

If I hit my weight loss goal for this OTF challenge I want to get myself a small reward as motivation/congratulations.
Nothing too expensive (teacher budget) and not food related as I am trying to get away from always rewarding myself with food.
You all have any awesome ideas? Please share!

Challenge Update: 9 days In

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Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge

April 29, 2015 by abby 21 Comments

In addition to the Spring Reset 21 Day Challenge, that I mentioned yesterday, I have also joined the Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge at my gym. Just like the Spring Reset 21 Day Challenge the Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge also started on Monday. I figured it would be a great thing to participate in since I already love going to Orange Theory, and I am trying to lose the weight I gained over the past few months (can’t wait until my pants fit again).

Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge:
– 8 weeks long
– weight taken every week (accountability)
– body measurements taken before, halfway point, and after
– before and after photos taken
– motivation from coaches/trainers and staff
– put on a team to help cheer each other on
– lots of prizes available

* In order to be eligible to participate I have to attend my Orange Theory three times a week. I usually only go on Tuesday and Thursday and sometimes will squeeze in a 3^rd visit here or there. However, I do LOVE Orange Theory and the motivation I get from classes there, so I really wanted to give the Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge a try. Because of that, my running coach and I are switching my schedule up to include 3 days of Orange Theory (High Intensity Interval Training), 1 tempo run, 1 long run, and 1 easy run day. My no impact spin day is off the schedule for a bit as I push my way through this challenge. It will be tough, but worth it, and I feel like my body is ready for this push.
I weighed in at 165.8 to start the challenge, which I am really happy with because I had a wakeup call, buckled down, and lost 3 pounds over the past 2 weeks. I would LOVE to lose around 8 pounds during the next 8 weeks. That won’t be enough to win any prizes, but I usually lose weight pretty slowly and that would be AMAZING progress for me. Plus, as long as I am going down and not up this challenge will be worth it. Also, I have never had measurements taken, so I am super curious to see how/if those change over 8 weeks.

Between the Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge and the Spring Reset 21 Day Challenge I have lots of reasons to stay focused and on track. Time to stay strong and dedicated.

Have you ever had measurements taken before?
Do you enjoy participating in different types of groups/challenges?

Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge: What can I do in 8 weeks?

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Starting My DietBet

January 25, 2015 by abby 22 Comments

As you all know I have been doing WW online since April and actually committed to attending weekly meetings in July. I have been doing well overall, but I do have my ups and downs. I don’t want to lose a crazy amount of weight or anything, about 15-20 pounds from where I was when I started WW (7-12 pounds from where I am now), but I do want to learn about how to make better food decisions. See, I have been an over-eater my whole life and am slowly working on recovering from a binge eating disorder. There were nights where my dinner would be a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream followed by a huge bag of Starburst Jelly Beans and then movie theater sized boxes of Reese’s Pieces, Peanut M&M’s, and Lemon Heads. (I wish I was joking. I was able to eat that all in one night and still want more.)

I have been doing better with Weight Watchers – I think more about what I eat and allow myself little treats here and there instead of huge binges, but I do still have my ups and downs. The holidays were particularly hard for me. I gained almost 7 pounds back and I just cannot seem to get back on track. Here it is almost February, and I am still eating like it was Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I love Weight Watchers, tracking my points, and attending my meetings, but I need a kick start.
That is where DietBet comes in!
In a DietBet contestants bet that they can lose 4% of their weight in 4 weeks.
You enter $30 in the pot and then at the end of the 28 days if you have lost your 4% (which is 6.6 pounds in my case) you not only get your $30 back, but win EXTRA MONEY.
What a great way to get kick started and back on track!
Focus really hard for 28 days/4 weeks, and at the end of the DietBet you have not only lost weight, you have won money!

If you are at all interested please join me in my DietBet. It starts on Monday, January 26th.
However, you can join up 14 days into the game.
The sooner you join the better though!
Also, You have nothing to lose, because it is totally risk free – if you aren’t pleased with DietBet after trying it out for a week they’ll give you your money back.
What a deal! Why not try?

Plus, my DietBet had tons of great prizes from companies like: BAMRBands, Mizuno Running, Metal Marvels, ProCompression, and Zevia so you can win extra goodies while you lose.
Have you ever done a DietBet?
Do you know anyone who would be interested?
Pass it along. dietbetter.com/BackatSquare0

Starting My @DietBet: Join in to LOSE WEIGHT & WIN MONEY & PRIZES!!!

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Lose Weight & Win Money – Join My DietBet

January 18, 2015 by abby 16 Comments

I will admit that my eating was horrible over the holidays and I put on a few (read 5-6) pounds. However, I was sure once the holidays were over I would get right back on track. The problem is we are now over two weeks into January and I am still eating JUNK! I have got to cut this out – I feel gross and my pants feel as though they are going to explode. However, I need MOTIVATION! db1

I did a DietBet a while ago and was really successful. It got me to focus in on eating right and making better decisions and helped me to get back on track. I thought why not go for it again. However, this time I decided to start my own DietBet. I am so excited to not only get back on track and lose the holiday weight myself, but to encourage others to do the same, and to have them encourage me. My goal is to create a DietBet that has a really positive, motivating, community feel.

db6

Resolve to Lose in 2015 (w/Abby BackatSquare0) starts in just a little over a week on January 26th. That means that people have over a week to join and get ready to go. It costs $30 to join, but is totally risk free! You can cancel up to 14 days into your game and get your bet money back. So what do you have to lose? Try it and see how you like it, if it doesn’t work for you then get your money back.

The pot usually starts off pretty small, but as it gets closer to the start date of the bet (Monday, January 26th in this case) the pot really grows and grows and grows. You can sign up for Resolve to Lose in 2015 (w/Abby BackatSquare0) online at DietBetter.com or you can download the free DietBet app for your phone and search for the game by typing in a word from the name (like Square0)

Once you are signed up you are all ready to go. db2

This is the part where it gets fun.
Check in either using the DietBet app on your phone or online through the group page, Resolve to Lose in 2015 (w/Abby BackatSquare0), in order to encourage others and post your progress. I know that personally when I check in and see how well everyone else is doing it really motivates me to want to get up and exercise or make smarter food decisions. Plus, I want to win that money! db3

I track my weight weekly during the DietBet to see how I am doing. Plus, I enter it online every week so that I am accountable for my progress and so other members can see how I am doing too. However, the big weigh in is at the end of the 4 weeks db4

Last time it was AMAZING! Not only did I lose almost 8 pounds, I won money.
Losing weight + winning money = double happiness
I actually put the $30 I started with back in the bank, but then took my winnings and bought something fun. I will admit knowing all along that I was going to let myself spend any winnings on a fun treat (clothes, jewelry, etc.) really motivated me.

db5

On top of the chance to lose weight and win money, you know I have got to up the ante a bit. So, luckily ProCompression (use code BLG14 for 40% off) and BAMR Bands are tossing in some awesome prizes. These prizes will be given away to the top MVPs. Well how do you become an MVP? By inviting others – friends, family, people from work, the gym, etc. to join the game as well. It has been proven that people are more likely to lose weight when they are supported and motivated by others, so we want a big, supportive, motivating group. Therefore, those who invite others to try and grow the group will be labeled as MVPs and rewarded with prizes,

Will you join in and not only help me get back on track, but also lose weight and win money yourself?
Remember, It costs $30 to join, but is totally risk free!
You can cancel up to 14 days into your game and get your bet money back. What do you have to lose? Resolve to Lose in 2015 (w/Abby BackatSquare0)
*Games are also available on the DietBet app for your phone.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Will you be joining in?

Lose Weight & Win Money – Join My DietBet: With Prizes from @ProCompression & @BAMRBands

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Casting Call

September 23, 2013 by abby 24 Comments

I don’t watch much TV, but if I happen to turn on a weight loss show I instantly get sucked in. There is something about cheering for people trying to achieve their goals. Just recently I was channel flipping and ended up watching two hours on a cop who went from being morbidly obese to being able to ride the final section of the Tour de France course. Seeing him change his lifestyle was inspiring.

Along those lines an awesome opportunity has come up:I have to admit that I think it’d be awesome to be able to cheer someone on in this. If you or anyone you know is interested (feel free to pass the word along) email officechallengecasting@gmail.com and then let me know if you get picked so I can cheer for you.

Do you ever watch any of the weight loss challenge shows?

*This is a sponsored post – I was compensated for it, but all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Weekly Weigh In – Week 5

July 17, 2013 by abby 43 Comments

I started these posts five weeks ago when I began my second Diet Bet. I did a very honest post explaining how I had used injury, time off running, and a whole string of excuses to let myself go way off track. My clothes stopped fitting, I wasn’t happy with how I looked, and more importantly I wasn’t happy with how I felt. I admitted that I am not perfect, not even close and that I still slip up sometimes and fall back into my old ways. However, I am really working hard on getting back on track, learning from my slip-ups, and making them less frequent.

When I asked you all if I should continue with the Diet Bet there was an overwhelming, “Yes!” You all said that if I felt motivated by having to check in every week I should go for it. So, that is what I am doing. I am continuing my weekly check-ins for another 4 weeks, 8 weeks total, in the hope that I can make these smarter decisions a habit.

I will admit that I am not considering this a diet – I am thinking of this as a way to get back on track with a healthier lifestyle. I want to live healthy for the rest of my life, not just a few weeks while I “diet”, and because of that I am working on a plan that is manageable for me. I am working out 6 days a week as usual (part of my marathon training), tracking my calories using MyFitnessPal, and trying to make smarter food decisions. However, I do still believe that it is important to have cheat meals, in my case that is usually dinner out with family and friends, and occasional treats. I want to make this something I can stick to and I know I could not live with out my little indulgences, so I am working on learning how to included them in a healthier lifestyle without going of the deep end and binging.

In truth this means I probably won’t lose the weight fast. After all my calculations last week I really only should have lost about half a pound. However, I am fine with this. A half a pound a week is still two pounds a month, but more importantly – I hope to learn how to make better eating and smarter food choices part of a healthier lifestyle, and I hope it is a change that will stick with me.
If I said I should have lost a pound then why is the scale up +0.8?
Well my ladies will understand me, sorry guys, when I say this is the one week a month where I am super bloated and weigh a bit extra no matter what. I wasn’t perfect this week – I enjoyed food at a ball game with my parents, sushi with my best friend, and then dinner at a Bunco night with the girls. However, through all that I worked hard with exercise and other healthy meals to balance things out and I am proud of that. I hope that next week, the half pound or so I should have lost this week will be reflected.

It was so hard to restrain at the ballpark.
What is your favorite baseball game food?
I split nachos with my mom, because she was craving them, and they were delicious.

Diet Bet Round 2 – Final Weigh In

July 10, 2013 by abby 40 Comments

And the final weigh in says… I LOST!
I did not win the Diet Bet. However, the truth is I am okay with being a loser.
This loser dropped 6.4 pounds in 4 weeks and is almost able to fit into her favorite pair of pink shorts. (Which is good because it is hot as heck here!)

While I was a bit sad I ended up only 0.4 pounds away from the win, which would mean getting my money back plus about $25 extra (which I was going to spend on something fun as a reward), I am still proud of the progress I made. Before my clothes wouldn’t fit and were so tight they hurt. Now, they are almost back to normal – not quite, but close.

However, my biggest accomplishment was that I made it an entire 4 weeks without having any crazy binges. I allowed myself little treats here and there and one fun/cheat meal a week, but I never totally fell off the wagon and gave into a big binge. I am nowhere near perfect, and I never will be, but I am slowly getting better about making smart food decisions. I was so proud of myself because I actually met, and did not exceed, my calorie goal on the 4th of July. It was so hard not to indulge all day, but I just kept reminding myself that I already had my weekly cheat planned for dinner out on Saturday night and that got me through. Baby steps toward better eating which will help improve my overall health.

After asking you all about it after last week’s weigh in:
I decided that the weekly check-ins have really been motivating me and keeping me honest. I want to be able to show you all that I am making progress and not have to confess a week of bad eating – now that is motivation. So I am going to keep it up and try again for another 4 weeks. At the end I will be 8 weeks in and hopefully have a better control on that nasty, old, binge eating habit.

I currently weigh in at 164.0.
To lose the Diet Bet required 4% in 4 weeks I need to drop 6.6 pounds.
That means I’d have to finish at 157.4.
That would be close to the weight I ended my very first Diet Bet at (minus the flu and food poisoning) and a bit below my normal 160. I would be super happy with that because I am trying to cut some weight and be a bit leaner. However, I know anytime I try to drop below 160 it gets much harder and I really have to fight to get the weight off. Here goes nothing! I will fit back into all my clothes soon…. and that is a good feeling!

How do you motivate yourself to lose weight?
Do you feel it is harder to lose those last few pounds than the others?

Diet Bet Round 2 – Week 3

July 4, 2013 by abby 32 Comments

After working very hard during week 1 and being disappointed with next to no change I was beyond ecstatic when week 2 made up for both weeks – WOW! However, I knew I had a hard job ahead of me during week 3. Pouring rain (seriously it’s been torrential here for 2 weeks now, uggghhhh….), a few meals out, and a road trip all put me a bit off track. I still made some better decisions: no road trip candy, no bad gas station food, and ordering breakfast off the light menu; however, I also indulged with a funnel cake at the 4th of July celebration and cupcakes at the baby shower.

After such a hard week I was just hoping my number would stay the same and not go up, so I was shocked when I saw this:
Another pound lost. WOOHOO! I am slowly making it closer to my normal, clothes fitting, 160ish. Plus only one more pound to go to win the bet. I will have to work really hard this week, because the number on the scale was actually lower than I expected and I’ll need to bust my bottom to get it even lower than that. I know I won’t hit a 10 pound loss like I did in the last bet, but winning this would be a big accomplishment and a great way to prove to myself I can do it.
Here goes nothing – well actually here goes me calorie counting and working out!

This also means I have no time for excuses with weigh in on Monday. So last night, despite the pouring rain and humidity, I ran. My body felt 100% better afterward; however, my hair was not quite as happy about the soaking rain and ridiculous Southern humidity. (And yes, I really do turn that red when I run. The perks of having translucent pale skin. HA!)

If I make this Diet Bet should I sign up for a another one to help me get back to the 156.6 I ended the last one at?
-or-
Should I focus on dropping the weight without the motivation and weekly check-ins of the Diet Bet?

Diet Bet Round 2 – Week 2

June 26, 2013 by abby 35 Comments

After a super hard Diet Bet Round 2 – Week 1 where I busted my butt and saw almost no change at all in my weight, I was very happy to see the scale move a bit extra this week.

I think the scale moved for both weeks one and two together all at once. I am so happy with the almost 5 pound weight loss. Plus now I am much closer to my normal 160 and am slowly getting back to where I was when my first Diet Bet ended.

This week is really hard. I have lots of fabulous things going on right now that are keeping me so busy. I am working very hard to eat well and exercise; however, nights out, road trips, tornado warnings and pouring rain, etc. are cramping my goals a bit. I will be so happy if I can stay on track and drop even half a pound after this super-hectic week I am having.

When you go out to eat with friends do you treat yourself? Stick to healthy foods? Or find a happy medium?

Diet Bet Round Two – Week 1

June 17, 2013 by abby 38 Comments

After a pretty emotional and embarrassing post admitting how I had failed and missed my goals – not perfect, not even close – I was proud of myself for getting back on track this week. I actually had hoped for a bigger weight loss (maybe a pound or two), so I must admit I was a little let down to see such sad numbers (only minus 0.6), but at least I am moving in the right direction. Plus this is also the week I am always a bit bloated (stupid female time approaching), so my fingers are crossed that is the culprit and the weight is actually disappearing. Hoping to see a better result next week.

I guess I will just hope that it goes well enough to win (and more importantly well enough that I can button my pants again). My last DietBet was amazing, but without being able to run my crazy distances yet it will be hard to duplicate that. However, even though I do only need to get to 163 to win this time, which is higher than last, I want to keep working to make it back to 160 which is where my clothes fit, my normal weight. Then once there I want to continue working hard to get back to that 156 I was when the first DietBet ended because I felt a lot better, my clothes fit great, and I looked a bit leaner and less squishy.

How do you keep focused when you think you did awesome and then see such small progress?

Challenge Update: 9 days In

Orange Theory Weight Loss Challenge

Starting My DietBet

Lose Weight & Win Money – Join My DietBet

Casting Call

Weekly Weigh In – Week 5

Diet Bet Round 2 – Final Weigh In

Diet Bet Round 2 – Week 3

Diet Bet Round 2 – Week 2

Diet Bet Round Two – Week 1

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