The E-LAB Project

Hi all, it's late but it's still Friday.  Checking in on time for the second week in a row!

Friday check-in = 3 points

Weight same = 1 point

Exercise = 6 hours = 12 points 

Daily H2O = 7 points

Extra credit = 1 point – earned a badge for meeting goal weight*

Total = 24

* I can recommend loseit.com to track exercise and nutrition (e.g. cal, fat / sat fat, chol, sodium & sugar).  It really opened my eyes to what I was consuming in a day.  It also encourages movement (you can count chores like vacuuming) by subtracting the calories burned from your daily max (that you set yourself).  They award you virtual badges for posting every day, losing ten lbs, etc.  Last week I earned a badge for meeting my goal weight.  I probably should set a new goal...

Friday Check in =1 points

Weight:230 # =0 points

Water Intake =5 points

Exercise:=2 points

Extra Credit: 1 point for not drinking soda this week

Total = 9 points.

Fitbit went and changed the way Very Active Minutes are calculated AND the battery on my unit needs to be charged every night.Not so happy with this replacement thingy.So I'm changing up my personal approach--reset the steps per day goal to 3500 this last week, going for 4,000 this coming week, giving myself 1 exercise point for each day I reach the steps goal.Got to work on logging the food eaten, and strategize a way to manage the eating during work time that isn't high in salt.Eating a whole box of Cheezits during a day IS NOT a good lunch on the run strategy, no matter how convenient and easy!

Badger--Congrats on reaching goal! I have used MyFitnessPal.com for logging food and exercise, it interacts with FitBit, which is kind of fun. It is amazing when you see the salt and fat and other nutrients graphed out and compared to recommendations.

I also was using loseit.com (need to get back to doing it again) and it too syncs up with fitbit.com but I just haven't had the interest to really figure out how to really get them working properly. Now I can't even find my fitbit. The Omron pedometer also can sync to my computer but is, again, something you have to make do correctly. I'm certain one or the other of them is really easy and I'm the problem but technology is just escaping me from my DOS and card reader days. I want to just plug it in and have it do everything on it's own with no input from me.

Will try to make myself get back to loseit starting Monday.

Great idea NM, I'm in.

And the challenge begins!

OK we're on!  Yesterday, I set a goal to lose 1/2 lb/week and that gives me a daily budget of 1,373 cal. 

So far today, with exercise credit for a 30 min walk, I still have a balance of 300 cal.  That includes BL&D plus a snack and a turtle candy.  Need the calcium & protein so will have a cup of Greek yogurt with fresh strawberries for dessert (instead of ice cream like DH is having).

Good luck to all of us!

Zogo--I've been tracking all week, and I think I may have figured out why my scales aren't moving--I'm eating too much!

I think next week's goal will be to start reducing calories in. (Duh).

Friday Check in =3 points

Weight:229 # 2 points

Water Intake = 6points

Exercise:= 1 points

Extra Credit = 1 point--visited a new organic food store and bought lunch there

Challenge:4 points, logged my intake every day M-Th

Total =17 points.

Well, I am definitely eating way too many calories. My downfall is lunch. Work has been busy so I haven't been stopping for lunch, but grabbing lunch from convenience stores or fast food places and eating as I drive. So I"m looking for easy and quick and not paying attention to nutrition. What I need to do is research the food available at these places and figure out what is nutritionally reasonable as well as easy to eat in the car. There is one upside to the convenience store lunch, and that' s the 69 cent 32 ounce drinks, and they have iced tea and gatorade so I can avoid the sodas still!

Friday = 3

Weight = 1 (no change)

Water = 7

Exercise = 8

Tracking = 4

Total = 23

My goal is also to make better choices. Was doing really well then fell back into bad habits so need to retrain my brain.

Badger--I have tried packing lunches in the past but it hasn't worked out well, mostly because I'm not good at remembering to bring the lunch bag back into the house at the end of the day. I've been thinking about trying it again, though. It would make the most sense, and may work well in the summer. In the winter I'm usually looking for someplace warm to sit for a few minutes while I eat lunch. But that's only half the year. Seems like i have a lot more thinking to do!

I'm a visiting nurse, so I'm always on the road. I get an hour off for lunch but rarely take it, too much to do and still get done at a reasonable time if I do. My employer doesn't buy lunch, except for once in a while ordering pizzas delivered to the office. I do need to do my research, and know what I'm going to get in any particular place. That will help a lot, I think.

I have done that on occasion, usually I have brought the lunch with me for both of us. One way to get someone to eat more!

Friday = 3; Water = 7; Tracking = 6 (forgot Saturday); Weight = 2 (down .4) Exercise = 16 (2 hour and half walks plus at least an hour each day packing/lifting/pushing); Extra = 1 (my new fitbit now counts stairs and I earned a badge for climbing)

Total = 35 - WhhHoo - my all time ELAB high

NM, I've only worn it on my bra so don't know how it would do in a pocket. Will try it sometime but think if you use one spot constantly it will all be relative. I can believe the steps and stairs on mine but seriously doubt the calorie usage it shows.

Friday ~ 3

Water ~ 7

Exercise ~ 3

Wt (164.5) ~ 0

Tracking ~ 4

Total ~ 17