August 4th - How's it going?

If things have been as busy for you all as they have been for me I bet you hadn't even noticed that I have missed a couple of daily updates. I hope this little bit of inspiration finds you all doing well on your August goal. Personally I am down a couple of lbs already.

Thought for the day:
Make yourself a priority! When you make your health and fitness a priority you are better able to help others. So help others by helping yourself!

August 1st - Are you ready?

How are you all doing so far on day 1 of August? If for some reason you slipped up this morning for instance on donuts after being up all night and had a long plane flight don't throw in the towel for the day. Start from there and make the rest of the day count. We can do this. Remember this is the month to give it all you've got.
I hope that all of you have taken your pre-weight so you know where you started from. Pictures and measurements for progress don't hurt either. Did you make your goal of how much you would like to lose for the month?  I did! My goal is 8-15 lbs by the end of the month. I would love to hear what your goal is.
Do your best to weigh in on the same day every week. If you want to be held accountable to someone you are more than welcome to email me with your weightloss numbers or your progress if that will help you stay on track. I am going to post my progress on here for all to see.
Remember have a great day! Motivation is like bathing it wears off, so you have to do it daily!

Who wants to join me?

Talking to my family yesterday really helped to inspire me. I need to get my booty in gear. Who is with me for a 30 day challenge? How bout we take the month of August and give it all we have. What you will need to do in the mean time is get your starting weight written down and your measurements. You can track any measurements you want. I track a whole list of them. Do what is best for you. Also take a starting picture Biggest Loser Style in your bra and panties or biker shorts or whatever works for you. A visual aide always helps in seeing how far you have come. Set a goal for the month. Post your goal where you can see it. We will weigh in each week to see how we are doing. I will do my best to post or email you an inspirational message each morning. I can do this...We can do this... So who wants to join me?

Inspiring Words For Today

People doin’t lack strength;  they lack will

The only one who can tell you “you can’t”

is You! And you don’t have to listen.

Take an ordinary life and turn it into an

extraordinary adventure.

Today!

Take a chance.

Take a risk.

Take the initiative.

Make your wishes a reality and make your dreams come true!

Take time today to think about what you want. Make notes on where you want to go, what you want to be and how you are going to get there. 

My Favorite Motivation

This really helps me when I am feeling down or just need a boost. I carry it around with me to read when I need it. I thought I would share.
 Don't Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low,
and the debts are high,
and you want to smile,
but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit...
Rest if you must, but don't you quit!

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit...
It is when things go wrong that you musn't quit.

Hope you all have a great day!

Are You Ready?

Are you all ready for Summer? I know that I am not ready yet. I did such a great job of sticking to my eating plan while I was pregnant but since then not so much. I am planning to use this blog as a motivation and a place to make improvements. I hope you join me in making some changes.


If you would not like to receive these blog post emails please let me know.

June Challenge

Hello again everyone! I hope that you have all enjoyed your rest time. Now back to work. Here is your challenge. You make the challenge for yourself and let me know what it is. I will post each of your challenge/goals on the blog. At the end of each week you will report in on how you did. If you want to change your challenge each week that works too! You can even do multiple challenges at the same time. This is your month to shine so show me what ya got. I will need your Challenges for this week asap so email me or leave a comment on the blog. Look forward to hearing what each of you want to accomplish for the month of June. As I receive your input I will post your goals.

And the Winner of the Spring Challenge is...

I am so proud of us all for completing this Challenge.
The standings for the pack except the winner are here:

Max 3.70%
Dan 2.72 %
Karli 1.83%
Mel 1.54%
Kasey 0.53%
Kristie 0.72%

And drum roll please... for the one who kicked some serious booty in this Challenge. The Winner is Lisa!!!
With a grand total of 6.79%. She did a truly awesome job.

I still need $$$ from all of you so that I can pay Lisa her winnings. Congrats Lisa on a superb job.

Also I have gotten some feedback from some of you on doing another Challenge. Right now I need anyone who is interested to let me know what would motivate/inspire them for the next Challenge. That might be a good name for the next Challenge. I have some ideas but I need all of you to share and give me some ideas for the next event!

Until next time keep up the good work :)

Don't Forget Tomorrow

Please don't forget to give me your final weight for this Challenge tomorrow. I hope you all did well over the past few weeks. Tomorrow when you send me your weight let me know if you would like to do another challenge.

Week 5 Standings

Things are getting good as we are nearing the finish. Remember we have two weeks left.
Lisa     5.28%
Max    4.07%
Mel     1.54%
Karli    1.47%
Kristie  1.45%
Dan     1.17%
Kasey  0.53%

Keep up the good work everyone!
Sorry I just realized I hadn't posted this yet. I wrote it up and then forgot to hit publish.

Healthier Diet Updates

3-17-10 - Happy St. Patrick's Day! Research shows that moderate drinking can prevent certain diseases, but occasional binge drinking has negative effects. Limit it to 1 drink daily for women and 2 drinks daily for men.

3-18-10 - Get the nutrition facts. The front of a package won't tell you the whole story. Read labels and compare key nutrients calories, serving size, fat, fiber, calcium, and ingredients to make the best choice.

3-19-10 - Look for "green flag" menu words. Healthy restaurant foods are usually described as baked, boiled, broiled, fresh, grilled, light, multigrain, poached, reduced, roasted, seasoned, steamed, or stir-fried.

3-20-10 - Fish for Omega-3's. Two to three servings per week are good for your heart, brain and body. You'll find it in fatty fish (like salmon and albacore tuna), ground flaxseed, soybean oil and walnuts.

3-21-10 - It's spring! Enjoy this season's freshest picks: asparagus, bananas, beets, berries, figs, green beans, kiwi, mangos, peas, peppers, and pineapple.

Week 4 Standings

Here is where we all are after 4 weeks in.
Max          3.70%
Lisa           3.40%
Dan           1.17%
Mel           1.11%
Karli         1.10%
Kristie       0.72%
Kasey       0.53%

There are close races right now for first and second and then 3-5th. Remember there are only 3 weeks left to get that percentage up there. The winner will receive $70 so lets all kick it in these last few weeks.

3-16-10 - Aim for 3-6 servings of grains each day. Rich in energy-boosting carbohydrates, vitamins and fiber, they're important for overall health. One serving is equal to 1/2-cup cooked (rice, pasta, oats) or 1 oz.
(1 slice bread).

Reminder and Tip of the Day

Don't forget to send me your latest weigh in number tomorrow. Hopefully we all had a really great week! Big numbers, Big numbers...No Whammies!

3-15-10 - Eat a snack before bed. It's a myth that eatinglate causes weight gain. As long as you don't overeat, you can enjoy a snack close to bedtime without worry.

Week 3 Standings

The Third week has come to a close and here are the results.


Lisa         2.26%
Max        2.22%
Dan         1.17%
Karli        0.73%
Mel         0.68%
Kristie     0.36%
Kasey   +0.26%

3-9-10 - Start at the perimeter of the grocery store. Fruits, veggies, dairy and grains, which should
make up the bulk of your diet, are located here. Eating these unprocessed foods boosts your nutritional
intake and promotes health.
3-10-10 - Eat 4-6 servings of vegetables daily. High in nutrients and low in calories, veggies can help prevent diabetes, stroke, heart disease and more. One serving is equal to 1/2 cup.
3-11-10 - Chew on schedule. Too much time between meals can drop your energy levels, decrease
your metabolism and result in overeating. Space your meals evenly throughout the day and eat a healthy snack between each meal.

Healthier Diet March 4th-7th

March 4th -
Know your "red flag" menu words. Avoid restaurant items described as: battered, bottomless, breaded, buttery, cheesy, country, creamy, crispy, fried, giant, loaded, smothered and stuffed.
March 5th -
Drink water. It's the only beverage your body really needs and craves. Gradually replace soda, flavored coffees, sugary drinks and other high-cal liquids with water. Aim for 8-12 cups each day.
March 6th -
Too busy to cook healthfully? To save time, use your Crockpot, cook and freeze large batches of food, buy pre-cut or pre-cooked ingredients, and keep an organized grocery list.
March 7th -
Avoid trans fats. They increase your risk of heart disease. Foods with "partially hydrogenated oil" as an
ingredient contain trans fat (even if the label says 0 grams) and should be left on the grocery shelf.

The Second Week In the Books

The Second week has come to a close and here are the results.
Lisa               2.26%
Dan               1.17%
Max              1.11%
Karli              0.73%
Mel               0.68%
Kasey           0.53%
Kristie           DNR

I got a great email the other day 31 Days till a Healthier Diet. I thought I would share each day with you. Here are the days that I have not posted so far. I will try to post a new one each day and the weekend ones on Friday.
3-1-10
Keep a food diary. Before you can improve your diet, you have to know where you stand. Record everything you eat and drink for five days and use these tips to improve your diet a little bit each day.
3-2-10
Eat breakfast. It boosts your energy, metabolism and mental focus. Plus, breakfast eaters consume fewer calories throughout the day than people who skip this meal.
3-3-10
Enjoy 2-4 servings of fruit each day. Fruits are rich in nutrients, fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants, which all help prevent disease. One serving is equal to 1/2 cup.

Standings After the First Week

Here are the current standings for this week:
Dan                   1.95%
Lisa                   1.13%
Karli                  0.73%
Max                   0.37%
Mel                    0.26%
Kasey                0.00%
Kristie                0.00%

I must say that Lisa and Dan are starting off with a BANG! Great job guys. I hope that everyone keeps up the good work.
Heard a quote today that I really liked..."You only get one body, so you better take care of it!" So true.

Weigh In Numero Uno - Tomorrow

Tomorrow starts the next Challenge! Happy Mardi Gras everyone. Grab your friends and neighbors and anyone else you think might be interested in a little friendly motivation for 48 Days. (February 17th to April 6th) Remember if you want to play this round you need to have me your weight by tomorrow afternoon and I need your pledge of $10 each that will go to the biggest loser of this challenge. The more friends and family we get involved the more potential there is for a big chunk of change at the end. Remember your weight is done by percentage and the only one who knows your number is me and you of course. I hope all of you that did the new year new you challenge will sign up for this next installment. If you can help me think of a good name for this challenge I would appreciate it.

Week Off

Since I was out of town and a little out of it from working the night shift we are going to start over on Tuesday with weigh in's.  I have decided since it will be Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras that this next installment will go all the way through till Easter...and if you are saying to yourself but I don't know when Easter is this year (April 4th). So our final weigh in will be on April 6th! Mark your calendars and get geared up cause Tuesday it is on like Donkey Kong!

And the Winner of January is...

Kristie

You win the fabulous prize of an iTunes gift card. Will give it to you next time I see you.

Yahoo! You did an absolutely awesome job. I hope that you keep up the good work. I didn't get final weights from everyone so here are the standings from what I got....
Kristie                               4.58%
Max                                  2.55%
Lisa                                   1.17%
Kasey                               0.54%
Mel                                   0.43%
Karli                                 0.00%
Shyra                             +1.00%

I got some feedback from some of you about continuing to do the Challenge for the month of February. If you are interested please let me know. I am thinking that it might be a good idea to all put in about $10-15 in a kitty and whoever wins the month gets the cash. That is the price of meal these days it seems but if you win the whole amount that is a nice chunk of change and might keep us a little more motivated. Let me know if you are interested and what you think.

This Week's Results

Here are how the numbers shaped up this week. Remember that next week is the last weigh in of this Challenge.
My question to each of you is this...Do you as a group want to award a winner for the month after next week and continue on in the challenge? Do you want to take a break and do some more in another month or two? Do you want to change up the Challenge in any way? Do you want to start over with some other type of Challenge? Please give me your input of what you think.


Kristie                    2.82%
Max                       2.55%
Mel                        0.86%
Lisa                        0.78%
Karli                       0.00%
Kasey                  +1.08%
Shyra                   +1.12%

Remember that this month is still up for grabs. No one is out of it if you really work hard this last week.
Good luck to all!

Weigh in #3

We are reaching the end of the month very quickly. I hope that all of you were able to stick to your guns this week better than me. I must say though I had some really awesome food this week so I wont hold it against the scale.
Since tomorrow basically begins the last week of the competition I wish you all good luck and lots of will power. I know I will need it.

Standings after two full weeks

We had some movement in the standings over the past week. Personally I know this past week I really fell off from where I was the first week. My eating went down hill. I know for me I am going to pick myself up, dust myself off and get right back on the weight loss train.
Kristie                   2.11%
Max                      1.82%
Mel                       0.86%
Karli                      0.00%
Lisa                      +0.78%
Shyra                   +1.12%
Kasey                  +2.16 %

Hope everyone has a great week!

Weigh-in #3

Don't forget to send me those numbers ladies and gent. Hope you all did better then me this week.