Bea Amaya

Another one in Onderland! Congrats!

Cool! Welcome to ONEDERLAND!

Thinking of you today. I wish I had some solid advice to share with you, but I think you are doing all the right things. My longest stall was a little over 4 weeks when I saw a huge (and annoying) see-saw of weights, and ended up losing just over 1 lbs in a month. It was a little disheartening, but due to what I've read in these forums, it was no surprise. I can't wait to get a report from you here letting us know the stall is broken and you're off and running again. Hang in there and know that we all know how you feel and are thinking of you!

Absolutely! Welcome to the Challenge!

I'm just finishing up 2 weeks of a research/writing retreat at my university (Texas Tech) in pursuit of my PhD (hopefully done by Christmas). While the get-away was just what I needed to make substantial progress, it also had its downside. When I am in my apartment back in Houston I feel in full control of my health, exercise, and eating habits. Here, with a different focus to distract my journey, I have had 2 weeks of old habits (primarily, that of "grazing") rear its ugly head. My weight is up again, although thankfully less than 2 lbs, but it's the other thing, the ignoring of all those things I've learned about my body and what it needs from me over the past 10 months of my journey, that has me a little worried. I'll be headed for home on Sunday and hope this will be a huge lesson learned for me. My surgery has given me a new lease on life but it's no magic cure. I have to keep working, keep paying attention, keep listening to my mind and body both. As I prepare to move overseas in less than 90 days (moving to Qatar, next to Saudi Arabia in the Middle East) I need to begin thinking about how to maintain control of my eating habits when I'm not in my little safe cocoon. I have lots of work to do to prepare for this move so I really need this challenge to help me get ready. Weighing in at 182.2 today (up from a low of 180.8) here's hoping that ALL of us have a successful 4th of July Challenge!

Time for the next challenge... Memorial Day Challenge! Here we go with the rules and instructions: 1. Be sure and log in here on Monday, April 21, 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 Memorial Day Challenge (click to be taken to an online spreadsheet) to see our progress as individuals and as a team. GOOD LUCK!

Memorial Day Challenge Wrap-up Wow! What a GREAT Challenge! We ended up losing a total of 653.3 lbs together! That is almost unbelievable! There were a number of Border Crossings in this last week that we want to recognize: Memorial Challenge Week 4 Border Crossings 280s to 270s :: BrantS1976, elfnow 270s to 260s :: Gina1010 260s to 250s :: katesuccess 240s to 230s :: hmk715 230s to 220s :: mcginn0425, kyleebean 200s to 190s ONEDERLAND!!! :: tarabara 190s to 180s :: Stacy_wls As always, my apologies if I missed anyone! We also want to toss out a BIG HAPPY CHALLENGE to the large number of folks that made, or exceeded, their goal: Memorial Challenge Challenge Goal Met 2013sleevegirl BeaAmaya Beach Lover Bianca J BlondeBanshee Bombs covatila84 crowsnestmama danaevett Danni-doinit4me Deezjeanz dreamscometrue elfnow Evolving getnhealthyintx Healther2day1227 hmk715 katesuccess KatieJo4 KimberlyBranco7 kj44 kyleebean livvsmum Lorie77 Lynnc121 mcginn0425 Mocha2871 moveandgroove mrslb5 No More Shelly Belly Ree right for me? Seela septappt Sherry73 snochick2005 StaceyVSG Stacy_wls tarabara WOO HOO!

Although my losses have slowed to a crawl (and I'm still not in the "Normal" BMI range yet) I'm pleased to report that I DID make my goal. Woo Hoo! Moving on to the July 4 Challenge now!

Yes...according to my records you surpassed your goal (220). Nicely done! Congrats!

Here are a couple of reminders for the regular Challenge participants as well as any new folks that want to join us: Although the weigh-ins are scheduled to occur on Fridays, as the challenge ends on Friday, July 4, you are welcome to adjust this to whatever works for you. We're definitely flexible here. You'll know that I've updated the spreadsheet with your data when you see a "Like" from me (BeaAmaya) on your weigh-in post. EVERYONE who is working toward a goal is welcome to join us in this. We've had some very successful pre-surgery participants before, participants that are at goal, in "maintenance" mode, and simply wanting to maintain their weight, and a whole bunch of us that fall somewhere in the middle. All are welcome here! When a question is asked or a comment made that seems to be directed at me, FEEL FREE TO RESPOND. I'm merely the volunteer that keeps the stats for the group...it's really the group itself that keeps the group going, and individual participation in cheering on, consoling, providing input, etc. is really what makes the challenges work for us all. So yes, please, be an active participant when you can! The spreadsheet may look a little funny now, with a lot of people showing a start weight of 200 and goal weight of 199. :-) These figures are merely placeholders until the challenge gets rolling. I'll change the text color from gray to black when "real" data gets entered. I try to post a kind of wrap-up from the previous week just before a new round of weigh-ins are recorded. In this post I try to list everyone who has crossed a "border" of some kind. For example, I was THRILLED to list my own name in crossing over from the 200s to the 190s (ONEDERLAND) during the St. Patrick's Day challenge. I'm currently chasing another move from the 180s into the 170s for this challenge and will proudly list my name along with all the others who make a "border crossing" when this happens. Hope this helps! Bea

NEW CHALLENGE: I've started the new topic for the next challenge, the 4th of July Challenge. Hope you'll all join in the fun when this one is finished. You can find the thread at: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/308570-4th-of-july-challenge/. Be sure to post your intention to join in on the fun when you can. Looking forward to another fun challenge!

Memorial Challenge Week 4 Border Crossings 260s to 250s :: right for me? 250s to 240s :: alice4914, mrslb5 240s to 230s :: StaceyVSG 230s to 220s :: Mocha2871 220s to 210s :: getnhealthyintx 200s to 190s ONEDERLAND!!! :: dreamscometrue 190s to 180s :: piperdog07, KatieJo4, Beach Lover, NewNana 180s to 170s :: KimberlyBranco7 170s to 160s :: Scarpediem, Seela 160s to 150s :: livvsmum 150s to 140s :: 2013sleevegirl, Oceana As always, my apologies if I missed anyone!

180.8 for me today. I made goal! Yippee!

Sure...a 4th of July goal challenge sounds like an excellent idea. I'll set the sheet up later today and start the topic off.

Memorial Challenge Week 2 Border Crossings 270s to 280s :: elfnow, Sleeve Siren 260s to 250s :: Amy P 250s to 240s :: hmk715 240s to 230s :: mcginn0425, Susan-031314 230s to 220s :: kphillips, BlondeBanshee, getnhealthyintx 220s to 210s :: Hunter 210s to 200s :: Sherry73, SleeveK 200s to 190s ONEDERLAND!!! :: Ree 190s to 180s :: septappt 180s to 170s :: snochick2005, hatters 150s to 140s :: tddonnell67 140s to 130s :: cbwalker79 As always, my apologies if I missed anyone!

After 9 months and >100 lbs lost, I really thought my weight loss had pretty much come to an end. I lost a total of 1.8 lbs for month 9, for heaven's sake. However, I am pleased to report that I must still have a bit of weight to go as I am down a whole 5.4 lbs already for this month. Here's the thing, though. If this was all that I could lose, I would STILL be happy, still be pleased at how much healthier I am and how much more active I feel, and I will still continue to work at keeping the losses I have achieved. On the other hand, I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel yet. I am still 18 lbs away from "normal" and although it may take me another 4-5 months, I think I can get there. I'm going for it! For those ahead of me in this journey you should be pleased to know that I finally understand where you are coming from and now know the joys and frustrations of VERY SLOW PROGRESS after months of occasionally impressive losses. For those of you behind me in the journey, enjoy it as it comes and understand that stalls and slowdowns are just part of the natural progression. Don't let them get you down. I'm pleased to report in at 184.6 this month, now within 5 lbs of the lowest I can ever remember weighing in as an adult. And yes, I am going to repeat the goofy mantra that gets so overused on this site because, well, I just can't help it. I LOVE MY SLEEVE!

Memorial Challenge Week 1 Border Crossings (Sorry for the late posting...I usually try to get this out on the weened before the next week's weigh-in starts. This weekend I just missed it. ) 270s to 260s :: right for me? 260s to 250s :: hmk715 250s to 240s :: StaceyVSG 230s to 220s :: yaly88, Nurse_B 210s to 200s :: mytime2shine 190s to 180s :: KimberlyBranco7, gomekast 180s to 170s :: Jhealan, Evolving As always, my apologies if I missed anyone!

Join anytime!! Welcome! @@Evolving is right on the money, @HardWork13. All we need are your stats. Where are you today? Where do you want to be by May 26? That will do it.

Random Comments from Week 1 “Very small move, but it was a tough week” (Stacy_wls) “I can do this” (ribearty) “This is the first time I've done this. I'm excited!” (kphillips) “OMG...the scale moved!” (No More Shelly Belly) “Going slooooowwwwly” (Scarpediem) “Same…UGH” (septappt) “Not amazing, but not terrible…” (livvsmum) “I'm a happy camper!” (covatila84) “Yahoo” (getnhealthyintx) “…it's better than a gain” (Casie83) “The weather is getting better for outside walking:-)” (spiritedcowgirl63) “Great job everyone!!” (Evolving) “down…baby! finally out of that stall!” (right for me?) “Sunday dinner got me again!” (Hunter) “Lowest I've been in years and feeling great and motivated!” (piperdog07) “Too long in the same neighborhood” (onsummit) “Finally, Onderland is in sight!” (whodatgirl) “.6 is .6 I suppose” (crowsnestmama) “slow but sure! ” (Beach Lover) “Stall of all stalls” (Bombs) “Please add me to every challenge lol” (gourmetone)

Time for the next challenge... Easter Challenge! Here we go with the rules and instructions: 1. Be sure and log in here on Sunday, March 23, 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 Sunday and post your updates here. 4. Watch the data at Easter Challenge to see our progress as individuals and as a team. GOOD LUCK! Old challenges - St. Patrick's Day - Valentine's - Christmas/New Year's - Thanksgiving - Halloween

Yes there is still time to join, and yes, just post your starting weight as well as the goal you would like to reach by Memorial Day. Welcome to the challenge!

Looking... Okay...while @@gomekast's explanation was right on the money on the first weigh-in information, EarthyGoalie is absolutely correct. I DID miss a week! YIKES! Corrections have now been made. But April 21 is definitely the baseline measure and when we weigh-in on the 28th next Monday, we'll have our Week 1 measures. Week 2 will be May 5, Week 3 will be May 12, Week 4 will be May 19, and we will end up on Week 5 measurements being entered on Memorial Day (observed), Monday May 26. So sorry for the omission, confusion, etc. Some of you may want to adjust your goal weights based on this adjustment. Again, my apologies and THANKS for stepping in and helping me make the corrections!

To add a bit to the conversation about the "spreadsheet"... The sheet is set up for "read-only" as it is posted in a space on the Internet that "belongs" to me in order to make it accessible by anyone with the link. While there won't be much to see in the first couple of weeks, the sheet should be set up to allow you to interact just a bit with it. For example...A click on the "Overview" tab will let you see at a glance how the group is doing as a whole. Want to know who will be getting some recognition for crossing a decade border during the current week? Look at column "U" on the "Stats" tab. Want to see what your progress looks like over the life of the challenge? Click on your name in the selection box on the "Losses Graph" and/or "Weights" tab. Want to play a bit of "what if" with your own, or someone else's stats? Go ahead and type in your own values. It won't hurt a thing as you won't be able to save the document. I've automated as much as I can on the sheet to make it easy for me to track, and I've tried to spice it up just a bit to make it fun for, and useful to, the group as a whole. It's pretty basic stuff, but I really do enjoy watching other individuals, and the team, progress each week; it drives me to keep working hard and gives me confidence when I'm struggling. Seeing others struggle, and ultimately win, are some of the best confidence boosting actions in my week...and I, for one, love it! Happy losing!!!

Wow! Good question! When I Googled it, I got the Monday that it is observed on rather than the actual date, so that's what I set it up for. As always, people can adjust as needed, but for this challenge the bulk of us will be weighing in tomorrow and each Monday afterward. Thanks for asking this and helping clarify the situation!

AWESOME to have you join in on this one! THRILLED to have you here! (Love, love, love this girl!!!)