I'm looking for support on my health and fitness journey. This forum is for PBSers who want the same in return. My premise is simple: each month you post a health and fitness goal. We support each other daily (or as often as you can) by posting our struggles and successes for that day. I'd like this to be a monthly thread as health and fitness really is a journey and not a one-shot deal.

One of the key components of weight loss is sharing your goal with a buddy.

I'll get us started with my goal for January. I would like to lose 5 pounds by the end of January. My plan is to limit my calories to 1200 calories per day, walk at least 7000 steps each day, and drink 60 ounces of water each day. I will weigh myself daily to check my progress.

Go Melissa I am sure you can make this goal.  I am rootting for you.

Rooting for you as well, Melissa! :)

Sounds like a good deal. My goal for January will be to lose at least 4 lbs. I had slowed down on my water intake so I'll be working towards getting in at least 40 Oz. a day. My exercise will be riding my exercise bike for no less than 30 minutes a day.

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I'm starting out 2022 at 230.5 lbs. I've yo-yo'd 5 lbs for the last 4 years with today being the heaviest in that length of time. I know it's fluid build-up so really need to up the water to 60 oz. a day. I'd really love to be under 200 lbs. by this time next year.

I started a Keto diet on 10/18/2021 and had lost 23.1 - Over the holidays I gained 3 lbs. So my goal for January is to lose 10 lbs. The three I gained and 7 more. So at the end of January I will be at 30 lbs lost. 

I am continuing my weight loss journey in 2022.  I have lost, so far, 29 lbs in 2021.  I'd like to lose another 53.  

I need to be more vigilant about working out when stuck at home (as I am this week because of snow/cold snap).  And I need to increase my total fluids.  I am aiming for 64 oz per day.

Great idea, Melissa! I am working on improving my fitness overall. My goals for 2022:

• walk an average of 7,000 steps daily - on the treadmill if I can't face the weather outside
• lose at least 10 lbs
• start a regular practice of doing at least a few minutes of strength-building exercises (various: the NY Times 7-minute workout, strength-building yoga exercises, my ankle PT exercises, whatever I'm in the mood for) at least 2x/week
• start a regular practice ditto of flexibility exercises (various: yoga, stretches, foam rolling) at least 2x/week

I am still trying to adjust to my new life as a widow so my goals are not much.  I will attempt to drink more water and eat less chocolate.  

This is fantastic as I gained last month about 5 pounds!!!!  Too many goodies and too many parties.  So I am in.

My goals, I like the number 10 so I can at least accomplish half of them or more.  Each has it's own specific goal.

1  Lose 4 pounds in January

2  Caloric intake @ 1400-1600 daily (to achieve #1) and log.

3  Water intake 64 ounces daily (I am awful about drinking water but recognize how important it is)

4  5,000 steps daily  (Keep moving)

5  6 minutes core exercises for my back

6  Post my (loss/gain) weekly - for accountability

7  Floor exercises daily for stretching out scar tissue at least 10 minutes

8  Some type of cardio exercise at least 3x per week for 30 minues to be heart healthy

9  Eat less than 45g fat for prediabetes control

10 Take care of myself via positive health practices.  Yoga, massage therapy, possibly physical therapy any type of class that will help me - 1x/week

Sounds like a lot but these are important.  So I need to practice all of them. 

Thanks,  Melissa

Welcome Everyone!

Since December 17th, I've gained 5 pounds. I lost 35 pounds in a year and a half (March 2020 is when I began Noom). I need accountability.

12/28/2021

• 132 pounds
• 40 ounces of water
• 6162 steps

Breakfast: 2 southern style biscuits with butter (500 calories)

Lunch: 1 quarter cup cream cheese, Pick-a-Peppa sauce, cauliflower crackers (350 calories)

Supper: 1 half chicken sandwich, baked fries (400 calories)

Reflection: Eat fruits and vegetables

• 128.6 pounds *I think my higher weight from yesterday was due to the amount of salt I'd eaten; plus, I think I might have been dehydrated when I weighed this morning. All of those things contribute to a big fluctuation in weight.
• 1524 calories
• 64 ounces of water
• 5312 steps

Watching.

Closely.

Will be here but still thinking about my goals for Jan. And waiting until Jan 1st to weigh in. 

I'm here.  January goals:

Stick to the intermittent fasting schedule
Sweets just twice a month (Choose wisely and be sure it's worth it)
Gym or 2-mile walk - minimum of 3 days/week
8,000 steps 6 days/week

Love it - thank you for starting this thread.  During DH cancer treatments ('18-early '20)  I gained almost 40 lbs.  On vacation DH did a lot of research and suggested a lifestyle change and we read several books.  One suggested getting rid of all the carbs (AKA keto) and I was totally against it until I read the science behind it.  I was a grazer and felt you had to eat every few hours to keep your blood sugar stable.  Reluctantly I agreed to try the lifestyle.  We gave up processed food and sugar.  In the two weeks (on vacation) we both lost 10 pounds.  Fast forward, we introduced intermediate fasting only eating between the hours of 7am - 10pm.    We now only eat between 9:30am - 6pm (give or take).  Eat most foods we like.  We've lost 80 lbs combined.  During the holidays we each gained weight (me - 5 lbs - dh - 12 lbs).  

My need to do -

• weight lifting.  I hate it but need to do it (goal 1 - 3x week)
• lose the 5 extra pounds
• Increase water consumption - not consistent
• Take vitamins especially D3

Thankfully I have a health insurance UHC that pays you up to $3 day to do 6 - 300 steps in 5 minutes; 1 - 3000 step in 30 minutes & 1 - 10000 steps per day.  Heck - $90 a month is a good incentive but it is hard when we travel.  DH no longer qualifies but it still motivates him to move.

The Relationship Between Diet, Exercise, and Sleep

• 131 pounds
• 40 ounces of water
• 1525 calories
• 6225 steps

I want to lose 25 pounds before June. So this means 5 pounds a month. Trying to determine the best daily task to accomplish this goal. I don't want them to be too rigid that I set myself up for failure but also need them to be enough to encourage me to stick with them.  I think they will be along the lines of:

- drink more water: at least one glass every two hours (I am not a very good water drinker)

- less carbs, less sugar

- "green" at every meal - so lots of fruits and veggies 

- don't eat after 7 pm

- some form of exercise every day with at least 30 minutes of cardio three times a week.

I walk a lot in the warmer weather, but the cold weather is a challenge for me.  I am also still working remotely for the most part. Remote working and cold weather make it a challenge to get all my steps in.  But I think I need to force myself to bundle up and get out to walk even if it is a shorter distance.

I've got to lay off white flour! I feel so bloated when I eat it.

My 2 cents after following what you all are going after - please tell me to delete

• Eliminate processed foods (100%)
• Eliminate (or reduce all sugar)   -  my substitute is monkfruit which you can get at Costco
• Eliminate soda even sugar free

Give these 3 items 2 weeks and tell me how you feel.  Or just do 1 per week.   

Melissa - what do you use white flour for?  If it is for breads, I can send you a few recipes to try out. 

• 130.2
• 48 ounces of water
• 1435 calories 
• 6225 steps

Overall, I was very mindful of what I ate. 

Ginny, I agree wholeheartedly. The problem is sticking to it everyday.

I gained 38.8 pounds,  Gee lets just call it 39.  From chemo and steroids.   In July I did well and lost  some.  I cant remember how much.  I got Covid and lost a lot like 27 pounds.    I have maintained some of that.   I have about 9 pounds to go to get to the starting weight.  Which is still very fat. 

I stopped needing O2, Dec 18th.    Officially my PCP,  wrote a scrip for the company to come pick up my equipment, Wed the 29th.   She verified that I have a consistent  02 level even when walking fast and even when I have shortness of breath.  (another reason for that)

My goal is to start the zoom exercise class on Mondays and Wednesday.  I have a zoom buddy Brandy.  I used to go over to her house and do crafty stuff when I lived in Phoenix.   

I would also like to set the goal of making my dinner plate 50% vegetables.   Lunch too. 

Wow this is really, really helpful.  I am happy everyone is so helpful and supportive.  I am starting tomorrow.  

Keep up the good work!  You are amazing!

I'm starting tomorrow, too.  

Well, I've been doing this since April 4th of this year but I just meant I'll be working harder at it starting tomorrow.  

I'm getting on the scale tomorrow.  For a variety of reasons, I haven't weighed in 2 weeks and I confess I'm a bit worried.  I typically weigh every Sunday morning.

Since I am waaay overweight, I won't be posting my weight like Melissa does but will give weekly updates on how much lost or gained.