Eve 2 Easter Challenge: The Ridiculously Long, Eye-Strainingly Detailed, Photo-Filled Initial Post (Triple Gold Stars for Those Who Miraculously Manage to Read it ALL!)

Okay, here we are on the eve of a new year and eve of a new challenge. Hooray!

Bad news: I regained weight since Christmas.

The Really Bad News: It doesn't take much to regain for me. I mean, no cakes, pies, trigger foods, binges. Just a couple more fruits this day, some extra eggs that day, too much olive oil on the veggies a few nights, some sugar-free chocolate here and there, and overall sticking to 1700/1800 calories. And yes, that is regain caloric level for me.

The SuperDuper, UberBad News: this and this. Only a couple of the dire things we obese/formerly obese folks have to deal with/learn about. Work around.

The Light in the Dark:  If I did it once, I can do it again. The power is in me.

The Reality Spark: Read this. It may not be the BEST news, but it is still good news.

Okay, setbacks are part of the journey. STAYING SET BACK should never be part of it, though. So, none of us ought to wallow. Up and onward. That's it! Just armor back on and shoes tied up tightly and the march resumes.

So, since I set up the particulars of this challenge, it behooves me to get on with them, and they are:

        1. Initial update with challenge dress/outfit before pic, weight, waist measure.

        2. Main weekly update by Sunday with linky; midweek 2nd update.

        3. Post my guiding quote/verse in challenge updates

        4. Reveal and post about the books I will be using

        5. Support my assigned challenge buddy consistently

        6. State measurable goals in assorted areas and track them weekly.

        7. Commit to support at least 3 challengers weekly.

        8. Vow not to quit the challenge .

       9. Final update with after pic in outfit, final measures.

Here are the goals and how I will measure them, what tools I will use, etc:

~~~A.  To LOSE 10 lbs in 14 weeks.
^^^Tools:  Tanita-San, my Scale, My Menu Planner, and my SparkPeople nutrition Tracker
****might seem low to you, but for me, hurdle. I'm pretty sure 180 or so was my setpoint, as I had to fight to get to it and couldn't hang on much below it. So, I have to encourage my body--using whatever tools I have--to heal up, reset, burn fat, and let me get closer to my end goal of 160 lbs.  Trust me, even a 1/2 pound loss a week is a fight for me these days. I plan to track calories and keep myself at 1400-1500 calories. That might produce a snail's pace level of loss, but I won't go lower. It will be what it will be at THAT level. I bought a calendar for the kitchen that has a menu planner, so I can better organize meals. Might save moolah doing that, which helps!

~~~B. FIT into my Nine West size 14 dress. (See pic of zipper not zipping, lower down in this post)
^^^Tool: the dress, natch. And the camera to document. Dress is to be tried on in regular intervals: every 4 weeks, final update.
***Fits great below. Fits NOT at all above. Combo of back fat and big boobs. Can the fat selectively burn off my upper back? Well, no. BUT..that's what I'm gonna ask my body to do. Just burn that upper back hump o' lard and let me fit into this scrumptious little black number. I keep the faith.

~~~C. Get my WAIST NUMBER in a healthier range i.e, under 35 inches.
^^^Tool: tape measure--my Myotape and weekly measures to be updated on blog.
***My waist is really resistant. And when I regain, guess where it goes? Yep, seems like all 5.5 lbs went to my middle. I'm up an inch there to 36 today. I had been 35. Dr. Oz and pals say women should be UNDER 35 for less risk of obesity related diseases.
Ya know, I lose more easily off legs/thighs/butt, even hips,  (not that I had much butt, though). The belly and abdomen finally caved after a while, but as an appley gal, it's a struggle to get the torso fat off. I think the years on steroids made me prone to upper body fat (hence the FAT BACK, and buffalo humpiness--much improved, thank God). I am back on steroids to get through December (bad month for me, asthmatically, which is good so far, no infections). 40+ years of oral/inhaled/injected/topical steroids probably will mean that upper back fat will be resistant. I will insist it do something. I'm gonna talk to the body and see what the body does. Ditto the WAIST.

~~~D. Resume my more energetic EXERCISE mojo in the benevolent winter in Miami
^^^Tools: Exercise journal, exercise videos, exercise equipment, sneakers, trainer.
***I slacked off in the last couple months, once for necessity's sake (I sprained my ankle) and the next time from holiday lollygagging. Time to get back to what was working for me, which was 4x to 5x a week of 30 or more minutes of walking or dancing (ie, energetic, heart-pumping movement) and 2x a week minimum of strength/flexibility training (with Pilates trainer and/or a video). If trainer, 1 hour. If video, however long that is, from 20 mins on. I also want to incorporate eccentric strength training, and need to figure that baby out. That would not be a long bit of exercise, but it will be a HARD bit of exercise. I bought an exercise journal, and I aim to update it.

~~~E. Remain thoroughly HYDRATED
^^^Tool: Tallying 8 oz increments for a total of 10 cups a day worth.
***Basically, I count in my head as I drink and keep a running tally. I might just use the calendar in the kitchen and notch out the water tally. Other tools: filtering water pitcher and lots of fresh decaf green tea & coffee and coconut water. More sweat, more water.

~~~F. SUPPORT at least 3 bloggers in the challenge a week.
^^^Tool: Um, my computer? ; )
***I don't expect this one to be tough at all. I blog and check other blogs anyway.

~~~G: Stay MOTIVATED, learn, and apply knowledge
^^^Tools: my challenge books and science/research blogs and articles or blogs by other fatfighting experts.
***I'm a big reader by disposition, so my goal is to read something every day--blogs, articles, chapters in my books. Learn..and apply. Measurable: I will note in updates for the challenge how much reading I'm doing, progress in books, articles read, etc.  I will quote or link up to anything that was especially good, that I apply, or that motivated me most in my reading. I plan to reread THREE BOOKS to more fully absorb the info. All of them are useful and jampacked with stuff.

~~~H. Be a solid CHALLENGE BUDDY to JORDAN
^^^Tool: email, blog comments, maybe phone calls, not sure.
*** Since I have an assigned buddy in the challenge, I aim to be very supportive and watch their back. If I see any sign of flagging or demotivation, I will try to find ways to cheer them up, energize their mojo, whatever. I want to do right by my buddy. So, the measurable portion: leave a comment on all their blog posts!We'll work out whatever else is to be done.

~~~I. Be Affirmed by my GUIDING QUOTE/VERSE
^^^Tool: Posting the quote 2x a week (or more) with my challenge required blog post updates.
*** Yeah, gotta remember to do this one. But I believe in the power of affirmations and of words and verses.

~~~J. A Vow NOT TO QUIT
^^^Tool: verbal/written commitment made in public
*** I believe that when we actually put it in words of oath or vow or promise or commitment, we seem to activate something inside that makes it more likely we will do that thing we vow, promise, commit to do. So, I'm asking myself and the challengers to do just that. Make a vow, promise, commitment to stay in the challenge to the very end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE EVE 2 EASTER CHALLENGE STARTING POINT:

STARTING WEIGHT:  183 pounds. (Sheesh, just SHEESH!)

STARTING WAIST: 36 inches

THE DRESS (basic, but elegant, sleeveless black)...and how it fits in the BEFORE PIC:

Excuse the messy scrunchied hair.
I wanted no obstruction to the back view.
The zipper stops here. I have this with
other dresses--14 below. 16 in boobytown
Dat's my supportive underwire sports bra.

Front view, full shot.
Love how this dress accents the waist.

Side view, and yeah, I coulda ironed it, huh?
The white tag is peeping out from my arm, see?

  Okay, that's dressy BEFORE.

Now, the BOOKS AND TOOLS:

Walking and Pilates
Books:
REFUSE TO REGAIN
THE SMARTER SCIENCE OF SLIM
SWITCH (on Kindle Fire)

SWITCH on Kindle Fire &
FITBIT for motivation to walk MORE

Two measuring tapes...but I'll use the MYOTAPE
for the official weekly updates.

More tools: weights, kettlebell, Pilates toning balls
These are the feet made for walking and Pilates, hah.

MY GUIDING QUOTE and VERSE (yeah, I picked two):

"The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term is the indispensable prerequisite for success."

--Maxwell Maltz

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   

~~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 

My VOW: I vow here and now not quit this challenge, I will NOT QUIT.  And I commit to support fellow E2E challengers (some, if not all, and my "buddy" above all).

To all fellow challengers: WE CAN DO THIS!

If you aren't in the challenge, please encourage and support us. If you're praying folks, pray for us.

Let's do it.

Be good and be well....

If You're a Believer with Spiritual Gifts, How Does It Manifest In Your FatFight?

It's funny, cause it only just occurred to me today that my spiritual gifts manifest on my weight loss journey/blogging. I know, it makes sense that it would, but I hadn't actually really just NOTICED how much it happens.

Since I was sealed with the Spirit in 1975, I've heard over and over, including from ministers and pastor's wives, that my clear and present spiritual gifts were teaching and exhortation. I've used my teaching gifts overtly--I tutored deaf and Title I kids in high school, led tutoring groups in college, led Sunday School classes for teens and for adults. I always got amazing feedback on my teaching, whether secular or spiritual. I had failing students get B's and better, in short order. (If my health had been better, I would have taught high school English, cause, yeah, me likeys the booksies.)

My exhortation gift tended to take more personal forms, in conversations,  but it clearly did come out, and obviously should, in a class or group study situation. I really wasn't just happy teaching. I wanted to excite and move the students to apply. Including myself. I wanted people to shine. And I want to shine, too. About dang time for me, I say!

Maybe this is why blogging is helpful to me. I can teach and exhort MYSELF as I research, experiment, read around, try things out. Learn and apply. Learn and share. Kindly admonish myself and you, too. Cheerlead with faith and optimism that we can do it!

I think I like leading challenges because my gifts--well, that sounds snotty, but that is how we talk about them in the Church, gifts/abilities given by God through the Spirit--can be used. I like to feel useful to my fellow fatfighters. Yes, this blogging things is mostly about ME since its inception--me in my journey overcoming my weaknesses, getting stronger, moving forward. But I so much want to share what I learn that MIGHT be of use and I so want to pump you up to move over your humps, too.  I want us all to move forward together.

And so I wonder, if you are a believer and know you have particular gifts from God, how have you been using them in this forum? I mean, gifts spill over. A teaching gift doesn't evaporate cause the setting is secular or the topic is worldly. A gift of giving doesn't turn into a selfish hoarding trait if it's not a church setting. A gift is a gift.

If you have it, use it. Use it to help yourself and others win the fat war. Makes sense, yes?

I want to keep self-teaching and self-exhorting, and I want to win this fight. And because these are my gifts, yes, I'll still share what I learn and try to find where you have weaknesses you don't even notice, all to help you. I'll keep cheerleading you, cause it makes me happy to see you perk up and move forward.

Please use your gifts...on me! I need them. Use them. We all need help.

And if you aren't a believer, and you have skills/gifts, then use them. Think about what your real gifts are in relation to others--are you a good listener, are you an encourager, are you generous and a giver, are you highly empathetic, are you a tough drill sergeant who won't back away from truthtelling, are you motherly---and put it to use here in bloggy world for the benefit of those fighting the fight.

Don't waste what you have! Use it!

Be well...

One Slot Open for my Eve to Easter Challenge....want in?

Edited to add: Thanks to those who responded. We filled the slot.

I had one bow-out due to medical reasons. I have one slot open. If you're interested, go read the Eve 2 Easter Challenge rules/requirements and see if you fit. Then comment HERE if you want to request that slot.

Initial challenge post will be due by end of Saturday, Eastern time (yes, New Year's Eve!)

A buddy will be assigned. You will need to be faithfully accountable (part of the strategy, natch).

Later, be well...

Holy NaCl, Batman! WTF am I doing???? Oh, and Working on the Challenge....

I'm finishing up my tweaks to the E2E challenge, and still grinning like a silly girl at the so so so sososososososo cool badge Bluezy created for us. (I love you so much, Bluezy, smoochsmooch!)

This is it:

Seriously, how kickbutt cool is this?

I just have to work out the final organizational bits, cause the first challenge linky goes up Friday and the initial update is due Saturday, New Year's Eve. I know, I'm insane to make that the start date, but I wanted "Eve" in the challenge title, and "Eve" in the metaphor and there it is. I'm certifiable. :D

I'm also astounded at my scale. Well, not, I'm not. It said 182.0. OMG. Well, lemme go update the ticker. I believe in transparency and honesty on weight loss blogs, so I have to turn back the 121 pounds lost. Geesh. I'll get it back.

So....why?

I've totally been on a salt binge. Notice, not a food binge. I've not binged since spring of 2010. My last binge was THAT long ago. But once in a while, I just go nuts with the salt tooth I have (salt tongue?). I've been hitting feta with my eggs, feta and olives with Greek salads, salty restaurant chicken veggie soups (cause I've been too lazy to make lower sodium homemade ones). Ham on Christmas Eve and the day after. If it's salty, I wanted to eat it. I was even tempted to just shake salt on my tongue.

Compulsion and addictive behaviors...they transfer. If it's not food as an outlet, some folks shop (I went on a wild spree a couple times during the DDDY challenges when I was eating 1200 cals.)  Or sex. (Um, yeah, hubby's gotten way more in 2011 than anytime after those first 7 newlywed years.) Or drugs, booze (ah, no, I don't go there).

My addictive personality has been downloading Kindle books, playing too much solo Scrabble and going for the salt.

I need to cut that crap out! I'm up 5 lbs from challenge final weigh-in!!!!!!

And that's dangerous. In more than bloaty ways. It reignites the urges to eat, salt can. Hyperpalatable foods (salty counts) can make the body fatten up again, appetite ratchet up again. It affects the brain, and the brain affects EVERYTHING.

I need to get a handle on it. Sigh.

I tend to do fine with some salt. It's when I go sodium mad that the cliff edge gets closer.

I don't want to mess up this close to goal weight.

So, yeah...pre-challenge, my goal is to ease off on the yummy salty overload. God, help me, and let's get this done!

Okay, I need to go have some water, plan out my exercise and errands and finish with some challenge stuff.

I also wanna say I'm glad to see Allan blogging again. He is a kick in the butt for many of us...a motivator. Some hate him, and yeah, I understand that tactful he ain't. And some love him, cause he helps folks get focused and stop making excuses. He'll always have a soft spot in my heart for those DDDY challenges. So, love him or hate him, maybe go read what he has to say and it might (or might not) help. Some need tough love. If that's you, head over. If you are really sensitive and gentle of soul and take criticism badly, stay away. Not everyone's cuppa, as they say.

Be good and be well...