Weight Loss Support Thread

[Sergeant_Crunch 7959]

33 minutes ago, Dai-Mongar said:

Well, final weigh in was on Wednesday and I officially lost 15.65 kilos in ten weeks.

Unfortunately it wasn't enough to secure the top spot, but I came second and won $300 - which bought me two new pairs of jeans and a copy of Shadespire, as well as contributed to a nice celebratory dinner at the smokehouse - but most importantly I'm fitter and healthier, which is the real prize as far as I'm concerned.

Excellent!

[Arc 724 18318]

We are in a "biggest Loser" challenge here at work and there is about 8 people doing it but only 3 of us actually working at it. I'm last in that group of three. Each week I'm re-calibrating to get better. This week is a push to re structure my food intake. Geesh-n-crackers this is hard. Everyday has been a struggle. 

 

I've finally become accustom to going to the gym. It really helps having a Pod cast to listen (Hello From the Magic Tavern). Now it's just a matter of food intake. It doesn't seem like it should be this much of a tax on my mind but it is. Learning to ways to adapt has been difficult to say the least. 

 

Anyway, thought I would share. 

[Cyradis 52423]

*cheers for @Arc 724* You can do it!! 

[Gadgetman! 20024]

In the county where I live here in Norway we have a little campaign going right now 'Stikk Ut!' (Go Out or Get Out, take your pick for translation. Google translates it to 'Strike Out!).

As you know,we Norwegians like to go hiking everywhere, and we also like to let others know we've been somewhere...  

So on a lot of destinations there's a mailbox or other sturdy box with a logbook inside. 

(If you're ever in Norway and hike somewhere, please sign this book instead of building a stupid 'mini cairn')  

 

Now, what the campaign creators have done is to put everything into system, by writing tour descriptions and a website with STATISTICS, and added apps(Android, iPhone, not Winphone) so that people can register visits online.   

The campaign started May 1, and so far there's over 16000 people registered with a total of over 111K registrations. 

 

So far, I have 21 registrations to a total of 20 different routes, which puts me at a shared 667th place in the statistics. 

(The current leader has 117 different routes so far)

I've set myself the ambitious goal of being in the top 500 at the end of the season this year.  

Last year with 33 different routes brought me to a place around 1300, but there were only about 10K participating then)

 

There's no reward for getting first place, just bragging rights. 

(If you manage 7 or more you get the right to order and buy a cup... )

 

Also, there's 381 different routes to pick from...

Here's a link to the translated website. click on the 3 lines at the top right to get the menu, and then on 'Find Trip Destinations' for a map with trips marked in. (and to find descriptions and a couple of photos) The routes are even colour coded with Green, Blue, Red, and Black. And on a map they sent to every household in the county they marked every stroller/wheelchair accessible route in with a separate colour in the list.  

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=no&ie=UTF-8&u=stikkut.no&edit-text=&act=url

 

So far I haven't noticed a difference in my weight, but hopefully...

(I'm weighing in at 118.5Kg right now)

 

[Paradoxical Mouse 12574]

2 minutes ago, Gadgetman! said:

As you know,we Norwegians like to go hiking everywhere, and we also like to let others know we've been somewhere...  

So on a lot of destinations there's a mailbox or other sturdy box with a logbook inside. 

(If you're ever in Norway and hike somewhere, please sign this book instead of building a stupid 'mini cairn')  

Those are always awesome! In the US, we had something similar going for a while, called "Geo-caching". Don't know if people are still doing it though...

 

Anyway...Mr. Mouse and I need to lose a bit of weight. I don't have to lose much (only in overweight territory, BMI wise) but Mr. Mouse's weight is in scary Obese range. So, trying to come up with ways for both of us to lose some weight and work out. We eat relatively healthy, so it's a lot more portion control and working out we need to do...

 

I think I'll poke in and join in here, though...see if it helps me to motivate myself to keep moving. I'm at 140lbs (63.5Kg); my healthy weight is estimated to be between 125-130lbs (56.7- 58.9Kg). So, I'm making my goal weight no greater than 130lbs.

[pcktlnt 36179]

10 minutes ago, Paradoxical Mouse said:

Those are always awesome! In the US, we had something similar going for a while, called "Geo-caching". Don't know if people are still doing it though...

 

Anyway...Mr. Mouse and I need to lose a bit of weight. I don't have to lose much (only in overweight territory, BMI wise) but Mr. Mouse's weight is in scary Obese range. So, trying to come up with ways for both of us to lose some weight and work out. We eat relatively healthy, so it's a lot more portion control and working out we need to do...

 

I think I'll poke in and join in here, though...see if it helps me to motivate myself to keep moving. I'm at 140lbs (63.5Kg); my healthy weight is estimated to be between 125-130lbs (56.7- 58.9Kg). So, I'm making my goal weight no greater than 130lbs.

Geocaching is still a thing. Haven't had a chance to partake in some time now,  but my friends still do.

[Paradoxical Mouse 12574]

1 minute ago, pcktlnt said:

Geocaching is still a thing. Haven't had a chance to partake in some time now,  but my friends still do.

Ah. I hadn't heard anything about it since Pokemon Go, so I wasn't sure.

[Gadgetman! 20024]

Geocaching is worldwide, but I'd suggest not attempting it in certain countries because of old minefields, or because it can look suspicious. 

There's been a couple of reports about gangs placing caches in unsavoury areas or just hanging out near well-known caches in order to mug players, also.   

I kind of stopped a few years ago because of all the trashy caches that began appearing. 

Many were placed so that they were almost certain to be discovered by passers-by and removed, or in areas that is off-limits according to the rules. (I've found them at bdridge foundations... and one I know of requires you to enter a working mine. )

It has been banned from some areas because people have left things such as folding knives in them...   

(Rule of thumb is to not leave anything you don't want a 5year old to find)

Or they've been ravaged by animals because someone left bugglegum or candy in them. 

I've seen caches marked as 'unavailable in winter' with clear footprints leading to them, and the snow disturbed. 

(The idea is to keep the game 'secret' from the muggles... making a visible path to caches isn't helping)   

And the admins never seemed to care whenever I reported transgressions. 

 

There's too many plaers not taking the game seriously and spoiling it for everyone else. 

 

 

[Paradoxical Mouse 12574]

9 minutes ago, Gadgetman! said:

Geocaching is worldwide, but I'd suggest not attempting it in certain countries because of old minefields, or because it can look suspicious. 

There's been a couple of reports about gangs placing caches in unsavoury areas or just hanging out near well-known caches in order to mug players, also.   

I kind of stopped a few years ago because of all the trashy caches that began appearing. 

Many were placed so that they were almost certain to be discovered by passers-by and removed, or in areas that is off-limits according to the rules. (I've found them at bdridge foundations... and one I know of requires you to enter a working mine. )

It has been banned from some areas because people have left things such as folding knives in them...   

(Rule of thumb is to not leave anything you don't want a 5year old to find)

Or they've been ravaged by animals because someone left bugglegum or candy in them. 

I've seen caches marked as 'unavailable in winter' with clear footprints leading to them, and the snow disturbed. 

(The idea is to keep the game 'secret' from the muggles... making a visible path to caches isn't helping)   

And the admins never seemed to care whenever I reported transgressions. 

 

There's too many plaers not taking the game seriously and spoiling it for everyone else. 

 

 

Aww. That's sad. I know the ones in the UP were pretty nice. But then again, everywhere in the UP is in the middle of nowhere, so a game like that is fun.

 

The log book idea seems just as fun though! You should take some photos of the places you find the books! 

[Glitterwolf 205062]

80,7 kg again..

I want to lose another 4,7 kg, hope I can manage.

[Dilvish the Deliverer 51041]

I back slid for a bit, but I'm back to hovering around 180.  So time to get more active.  Think I'll tag along when Middle Child and Awesome Wife go do their ruck hikes.  They are gearimg up for a backpackimg trip next summer.

[Gadgetman! 20024]

If you intend to do a 'ruck hike' (I assume that means a longer hike with a big rucksack), then get a GOOD rucksack with solid, wide hip straps, and a good pair of hiking staves.   (This is also posted for anyone else considering a longer trek)

 

DON'T get any wallyworld stuff. 

Go to a professional company and get the rucksack fitted properly. Even ask them to load it up with 25lbs or more so that you can feel how it works. 

The hip strap is crucial because it transfers most of the weight to your hips instead of letting it hang onto your shoulders and load up your spine.  

 

Staves...

The grips are the most important part. Unless they're comfortable they won't be used.

Next is the tips which should be Tungsten Carbide. Nothing weaker than that is acceptable. 

Quick tip when using is to NOTuse the straps on them when going downhill. If you accidentally step over it or something you'll end up pushing it down with your foot, and the strap will pull you down with it. Not fun. 

 

@Dilvish the Deliverer may be in good enough shape, but for everyone else I would suggest taking shorter test trips first.

 

Actaully, test all the gear before heading out. Not only will you know that everything works and that you aren't missing anything, but one of the saddest things to see is 'hikers' arriving at a campsite in slightly bad weather and running around like headless chickens while trying to set up their tents. (and only managing to get everything soaking wet.)

Camping in the back yard may look silly, but yeah, great for testing stuff.

 

That brings us to tents... 

Mine is a Fjellräven Akka Shape RS2(not sold any more). 

The bottom is waterproof up to 10.000mm 'watercolumn' and the outer cover is 4.000.

It weighs in at 2.2Kg, can be set up even during storm situations, the air vents can be opened and closed from inside, and it even has a clothesline under the roof. The material can melt but will not burn easily, so it's possible to use a small cooker in the 'outer' area on bad weather days. No, it wasn't cheap. 

'watercolumn' is a standard test for water permeability of fabrics. imagine that you take a piece of fabric, strap it securely around the bottom end of a long, vertical pipe, then start filling the pipe with water. If you measure how deep you fill it before water starts seeping out through the fabric you get this measurement...   

Cheap tents often rate below 1000mm... A stiff breeze can force the rain through... 

 

Some tents are advetised as having 'taped seams'. This is supposedly to improve the watertightness of the seams. But those tapes are glued on, and will often fail even during the first season of use. 

My tent, though, was sewn with thin needles(makes it more expensive because of breakage) with threads that swells up slightly the first time it rains. 

Tunnel tents(such as mine) are usually easier to set up, but cupola(igloo) tents give more headspace. 

Single layer tents are lighter but will often have issues with condensation. I've tried 2 and both ended in the bin because I did NOT enjoy the wakeup shower...   

 

Hammocks can be an alternative some places...   

 

Stoves. While it may be romantic to sit around the campfire in the evening, it may not always be safe, or even legal. (not legal here in Norway during the summer)  

A MSR Pocket Rocket or similar 'micro' gas stove is a good solution. 

For long daytrips or an overnight hike with plans for a hot brew or something minor in the evening, an ESbit burner may be the solution.

(Mine is stored in a Trangia 212 Mess Tin together with matches, teabags, and sugar packets. )

 

A final tip;

If you hike through woods, and happen to have a rolled up camping mattress(foam) strap it to the backpack vertically. Otherwise it will be the widest part of the pack and much more likely to hook on trees. 

[Morihalda 34888]

What! I can't believe it's been 2 years since I posted in this thread! My husband and I were able to afford Keto again, so we did that for about 4 months. We collectively lost over 50 pounds. I'm super proud of us!  My husband did the bulk of that - he's amazing.

 

I'm 10 pounds from my goal weight.  Since I'm not able to add much exercise to my weight loss program, my calorie intake is super important. I've actually been about 10 pounds away for about 2 months now, but man if I eat one potato I gain 3 pounds LOL. The last month I've been very laid back with it and decided that this summer will just be an exercise in maintaining my current weight while I work on strengthening my back.

 

We finally bought a Vive the other day and we plan on using it for exercise, not just gaming - he'll have a lot more fun exercising in video games. Some of the games can be really good workouts even while sitting down (helps his feet and my back)!

[Silvervane 11871]

I'm doing the yo-yo exercise thing.  I start to exercise for a bout 2-3 weeks, then life hits me with something and bam I stop.  I actually quite annoying.  Glad to here of all the positive and sort of posiitve progress.  I'm plan to start again tonight.

[Boaz 1785]

Last time I lost weight I used a simple trick ... don't eat the last 3 bites of anything ... get some fast food ? Don't take the last 3 bits off that burger, don't have the last 3 sips off the soda, don't have the last 3 fries ...

 

 Basically don't eat till your full, eat till you not hungry! Don't stretch your stomach out with each meal let it shrink with each meal ... as well as get used to stopping food intake before your full ... this is hugely underrated,  I lost 6" off my belt line in 2 months just not over eating ... it might not work for everyone but it can't hurt.