I know eight weeks is a long time, but I have seen a huge drop in points the last two weeks. Please do yourselves a favor and push hard this week right up to the end. Last week we dropped to only 30 participants getting 95% of their weekly points. The team results from last week look like this:
1st Place - GREEN
2nd Place - PURPLE
3rd Place - RED
4th Place - BLUE
5th Place - ORANGE
Don't get discouraged with the lack of weight loss. Getting to your healthy weight (and maintaining that weight) is a marathon, not a sprint. Nobody lost 4 pounds last week. The only 3 pound loser was SHAUNA MARTIN! And our two pound losers last week were Anita Slaugh, Ben Heiner, Mary Ann Lyons, Stacy Chandler, Tiffany Hamilton, and Trenna Howell. I am proud of all of you for making the changes necessary to participate in this challenge. When these eight weeks are done, stay focused on your health. Use moderation in your food choices and portion sizes. Exercise regularly and with intensity. Don't allow yourself to lose all control just because you don't have to account to your team anymore. Stick with the sensible lifestyle habits you've established over the last two months, and you will eventually see the results you desire.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Week #8 Bonus Challenge
PERFECT POINTS = BONUS POINTS
Well, here we are at the end of our Sensible Lifestyle Challenge. This is the last bonus challenge you will face before these eight weeks of healthy living come to an end. I really want everyone to keep working hard right up to the very last day. So this week, it's simple: Each day that you get perfect points, you get 5 bonus points for 35 possible bonus challenge points this week. Obviously, you don't lose your bonus points on the two days you don't exercise, but if you only exercise four days next week, you will lose your bonus points at least one day for not getting your full exercise points on the day you should have exercised. You still get your free sweet, and weight points don't affect whether or not you get your bonus points. I hope it seems as simple and clear as it really is.
This part doesn't get you any additional points, but I want you to go back to thinking about the week #1 bonus challenge. Account to yourself regarding the goals you set. Did you reach any short- or long-term goals? If so, have you properly rewarded yourself? If not, what's it going to take to reach them? More time, more effort? How about that "before" picture? Is it time to take an "after" picture and do a little comparison? Where do you want to go from here? Are you going to revert to the life you were living before you started on this journey with me? Or, are you going to try to maintain some or all of these habits long-term, perhaps for a lifetime? Are you going to join me on November 15 for another 8-week Sensible Lifestyle Challenge to get through the holidays? What are you going to do to keep yourself on track and not gain back the weight you've lost? Think about your plans for the future and where you see your health in 3 months, 1 year, or even 5 years. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Make a plan and stick with it. Life is full of pain. Will yours be the pain of discipline or the pain of regret?
Quotes of the Week:
"Defeat is simply a signal to press onward." --Helen Keller
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hand on." --Franklin D. Roosevelt
Well, here we are at the end of our Sensible Lifestyle Challenge. This is the last bonus challenge you will face before these eight weeks of healthy living come to an end. I really want everyone to keep working hard right up to the very last day. So this week, it's simple: Each day that you get perfect points, you get 5 bonus points for 35 possible bonus challenge points this week. Obviously, you don't lose your bonus points on the two days you don't exercise, but if you only exercise four days next week, you will lose your bonus points at least one day for not getting your full exercise points on the day you should have exercised. You still get your free sweet, and weight points don't affect whether or not you get your bonus points. I hope it seems as simple and clear as it really is.
This part doesn't get you any additional points, but I want you to go back to thinking about the week #1 bonus challenge. Account to yourself regarding the goals you set. Did you reach any short- or long-term goals? If so, have you properly rewarded yourself? If not, what's it going to take to reach them? More time, more effort? How about that "before" picture? Is it time to take an "after" picture and do a little comparison? Where do you want to go from here? Are you going to revert to the life you were living before you started on this journey with me? Or, are you going to try to maintain some or all of these habits long-term, perhaps for a lifetime? Are you going to join me on November 15 for another 8-week Sensible Lifestyle Challenge to get through the holidays? What are you going to do to keep yourself on track and not gain back the weight you've lost? Think about your plans for the future and where you see your health in 3 months, 1 year, or even 5 years. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Make a plan and stick with it. Life is full of pain. Will yours be the pain of discipline or the pain of regret?
Quotes of the Week:
"Defeat is simply a signal to press onward." --Helen Keller
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hand on." --Franklin D. Roosevelt
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Week #6 Results
Some people are pushing really hard to reach their goals here at the end. Others have obviously given up. This week 33 participants still got 95% or more of their weekly points. I'm glad some of you are giving your health all you've got. Before I post the team standings, I want to say that I'm shocked Purple Team didn't get first place after I saw that everyone on that team got at least 95% of her points this week. Unfortunately, Purple Team also had a really slow week for weight loss, so Red and Green eeked it out over them. But, WOW!, it was a close one!
1st Place - GREEN
2nd Place - RED
3rd Place - PURPLE
4th Place - BLUE
5th Place - ORANGE
I am so happy to announce that LYNETTE WILSON was the only person to lose at least 4 pounds last week! A big WAHOO for Lynette! Three pound losers were Natalie Heiner and Stacy Chandler! How do they keep losing that kind of weight? I know they're putting in some significant effort to get those kind of results! I want to congratulate everyone on sticking with this. I know it's getting harder as we get close to the end. Push yourself for these last two weeks. You're almost there!
So, on to another note, a few people have hinted at wondering whether I will organize another challenge when this one ends. In fact, I will start my next 8-week challenge on November 15. I know you might be so anxious to be done with this one that starting another challenge is probably the last thing you want to do. But after a few weeks off, you may change your tune and want to join me to get through the holidays. I need money to me by November 1 if you want to participate. As always, anyone is welcome, even those who haven't participated before. Also, I will be making two adjustments to the rules: 1) You may track your weight to the tenth of a pound and get partial points for partial pounds lost, and 2) You may have one sweets DAY per week instead of one sweet per week (So, if you want to eat that whole pan of brownies AND that half gallon of ice cream, go right ahead as long as it's all on one day and you don't eat any sweets the rest of the week). Think it over. I'll be posting more information a little later on. Have a great, RESTFUL week!
1st Place - GREEN
2nd Place - RED
3rd Place - PURPLE
4th Place - BLUE
5th Place - ORANGE
I am so happy to announce that LYNETTE WILSON was the only person to lose at least 4 pounds last week! A big WAHOO for Lynette! Three pound losers were Natalie Heiner and Stacy Chandler! How do they keep losing that kind of weight? I know they're putting in some significant effort to get those kind of results! I want to congratulate everyone on sticking with this. I know it's getting harder as we get close to the end. Push yourself for these last two weeks. You're almost there!
So, on to another note, a few people have hinted at wondering whether I will organize another challenge when this one ends. In fact, I will start my next 8-week challenge on November 15. I know you might be so anxious to be done with this one that starting another challenge is probably the last thing you want to do. But after a few weeks off, you may change your tune and want to join me to get through the holidays. I need money to me by November 1 if you want to participate. As always, anyone is welcome, even those who haven't participated before. Also, I will be making two adjustments to the rules: 1) You may track your weight to the tenth of a pound and get partial points for partial pounds lost, and 2) You may have one sweets DAY per week instead of one sweet per week (So, if you want to eat that whole pan of brownies AND that half gallon of ice cream, go right ahead as long as it's all on one day and you don't eat any sweets the rest of the week). Think it over. I'll be posting more information a little later on. Have a great, RESTFUL week!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Week #7 Bonus Challenge
ADEQUATE SLEEP!
As our lives get busier, the first thing to go is a good night's sleep. Adding daily exercise to your schedule has perhaps cut into that rest even more. But adequate sleep has a direct correlation with weight loss, and insufficient rest has been shown to cause weight gain. Who can dispute that sleep deprivation messes with our moods and cravings in a negative way? Were you aware that it also negatively affects hormones, appetite, and metabolism? If you're still not convinced, you can read some of the following articles to understand a little more of the research behind these assertions:
The Importance of Sleep for Weight Loss
Sleep Deprivation Tied to Weight Gain
Sleep May Be Factor in Weight Control
The Link Between Sleep and Weight Loss
Is Your Diet Being Sabotaged By Your Sleeping Habits?
Will Better Sleep Help You Avoid Extra Pounds?
Want to Lose Weight? Get Some Sleep
Video: Q&A with Dr. Manny--How Many Hours of Sleep Do We Need?
You may not agree with the claims, but if you want your bonus points this week, you have to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Each night that you get at least 7 hours of sleep, you get 5 bonus points for 35 possible bonus challenge points this week. I know I'm going to get all sorts of questions about what counts and what exceptions there are. I'll try to be brief but thorough:
1. Your sleep time must be at least 7 consecutive hours devoted entirely to sleeping.
2. Naps in the daytime do not make up for time missed sleeping at night.
3. If you have to get up to tend to a child, use the restroom, etc. in the night, you do not have to deduct that time from your sleeping time.
4. If you can't fall asleep or wake up before it's been seven hours, you don't have to deduct that time from your sleeping time as long as you are not doing "anything else" (see next sentence) to prevent you from sleeping. You may not read a book, turn on the television or the light, write in your journal, or do ANYTHING other than rest in your bed with the light off if you want it to count toward your sleep time.
5. I don't care if Sunday night or Monday night is the night that counts for Monday's bonus points, but make a choice and be consistent all week about which night you're using for each day's bonus points.
Hopefully I have covered any questions you have about what fits within the guidelines of the bonus challenge. I know some of you get by just fine on 5 or 6 hours. But I am going with the research here, and the studies say that 7 to 9 hours are best for most adults. This is going to require some serious planning for some people (like me). Give it a shot and see if getting enough sleep makes a difference for you.
Quotes of the Week:
"I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them." --John Stuart Mill
"Success is getting and achieving what you want. Happiness is wanting and being content with what you get." --Bernard Meltzer
As our lives get busier, the first thing to go is a good night's sleep. Adding daily exercise to your schedule has perhaps cut into that rest even more. But adequate sleep has a direct correlation with weight loss, and insufficient rest has been shown to cause weight gain. Who can dispute that sleep deprivation messes with our moods and cravings in a negative way? Were you aware that it also negatively affects hormones, appetite, and metabolism? If you're still not convinced, you can read some of the following articles to understand a little more of the research behind these assertions:
The Importance of Sleep for Weight Loss
Sleep Deprivation Tied to Weight Gain
Sleep May Be Factor in Weight Control
The Link Between Sleep and Weight Loss
Is Your Diet Being Sabotaged By Your Sleeping Habits?
Will Better Sleep Help You Avoid Extra Pounds?
Want to Lose Weight? Get Some Sleep
Video: Q&A with Dr. Manny--How Many Hours of Sleep Do We Need?
You may not agree with the claims, but if you want your bonus points this week, you have to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Each night that you get at least 7 hours of sleep, you get 5 bonus points for 35 possible bonus challenge points this week. I know I'm going to get all sorts of questions about what counts and what exceptions there are. I'll try to be brief but thorough:
1. Your sleep time must be at least 7 consecutive hours devoted entirely to sleeping.
2. Naps in the daytime do not make up for time missed sleeping at night.
3. If you have to get up to tend to a child, use the restroom, etc. in the night, you do not have to deduct that time from your sleeping time.
4. If you can't fall asleep or wake up before it's been seven hours, you don't have to deduct that time from your sleeping time as long as you are not doing "anything else" (see next sentence) to prevent you from sleeping. You may not read a book, turn on the television or the light, write in your journal, or do ANYTHING other than rest in your bed with the light off if you want it to count toward your sleep time.
5. I don't care if Sunday night or Monday night is the night that counts for Monday's bonus points, but make a choice and be consistent all week about which night you're using for each day's bonus points.
Hopefully I have covered any questions you have about what fits within the guidelines of the bonus challenge. I know some of you get by just fine on 5 or 6 hours. But I am going with the research here, and the studies say that 7 to 9 hours are best for most adults. This is going to require some serious planning for some people (like me). Give it a shot and see if getting enough sleep makes a difference for you.
Quotes of the Week:
"I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them." --John Stuart Mill
"Success is getting and achieving what you want. Happiness is wanting and being content with what you get." --Bernard Meltzer
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Week #5 Results
Last week there was one point reporting error, and I want to congratulate Trenna Howell for losing 4 inches.
This week I saw a lot of people getting fewer points than usual. Still, 35 of you got at least 95% of your weekly points. I know the "NO SUGAR" bonus challenge was a killer. It seems that sugar is added to almost everything! Luckily, we have that one behind us and we can move on this week to our food journals, which are hopefully improving your awareness of what and how much you eat. The scores this week were exceptionally close, just 10 points separating 2nd and 4th place, and the green team certainly didn't run away with it this week, either. This competition is still any team's victory for the taking, so continue to get all your points right up to the end--only three more weeks. Your team and your body will thank you.
1st place - GREEN
2nd place - PURPLE
3rd place - RED
4th place - BLUE
5th place - ORANGE
The only people to lose 4 or more pounds this week were BEN HEINER and JEANETTE JORGENSEN!!! But since I'm into recognizing accomplishments, I'll also list those who lost 3 pounds this week: Briana Livingston, Katie Jennings, Larry Wilson, Lisa Armstrong, Lorraine Hathaway, Megan Rigby, and Traci Taylor. I am thrilled to see you all getting some nice pay-offs for your hard work. Push yourselves all the way to the end, and don't give up. Just three weeks to go!
This week I saw a lot of people getting fewer points than usual. Still, 35 of you got at least 95% of your weekly points. I know the "NO SUGAR" bonus challenge was a killer. It seems that sugar is added to almost everything! Luckily, we have that one behind us and we can move on this week to our food journals, which are hopefully improving your awareness of what and how much you eat. The scores this week were exceptionally close, just 10 points separating 2nd and 4th place, and the green team certainly didn't run away with it this week, either. This competition is still any team's victory for the taking, so continue to get all your points right up to the end--only three more weeks. Your team and your body will thank you.
1st place - GREEN
2nd place - PURPLE
3rd place - RED
4th place - BLUE
5th place - ORANGE
The only people to lose 4 or more pounds this week were BEN HEINER and JEANETTE JORGENSEN!!! But since I'm into recognizing accomplishments, I'll also list those who lost 3 pounds this week: Briana Livingston, Katie Jennings, Larry Wilson, Lisa Armstrong, Lorraine Hathaway, Megan Rigby, and Traci Taylor. I am thrilled to see you all getting some nice pay-offs for your hard work. Push yourselves all the way to the end, and don't give up. Just three weeks to go!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Week #6 Bonus Challenge
FOOD JOURNAL!
I have been trying to talk myself out of doing a third consecutive food-related bonus challenge. However, I feel like this one is needed right now, and the other bonus challenges will have to wait.
I know that some of you are feeling frustrated at the lack of results (weight loss) when you are being perfect at all of the lifestyle habits. I will never forget something a dietitian said a number of years ago on a news report I was watching, "A person can lose weight eating nothing but snickers bars, and someone can gain weight eating nothing but healthy food." Yesterday I was reading an article about a nutrition professor at Kansas State University who is currently eating nothing but junk food (and one serving of vegetables) each day for a month. The interesting part for me is that he has lost 7 pounds since August 25 when he started the experiment. You must realize, however, that he is monitoring his caloric intake and limiting it to 1800 calories per day. I'm not condoning the consumption of junk food. I am merely pointing out that this Sensible Lifestyle Challenge increases your chance at successfully losing weight, but it does not guarantee the results you want. That is achieved by using portion control and keeping your caloric intake to a level that is right for you, no matter whether you're eating healthy food or junk food. Here are two links to websites that can give you an idea of your optimal caloric intake: option 1 (in the bottom right of the webpage) or option 2.
So am I asking you to count your calories? Absolutely not. I find calorie counting to be very tedious and annoying. And quantifying whether or not you ate moderate portion sizes is impossible. This week you will report your food intake (and drinks containing calories) each day to at least one member of your team. Every day that you report your food journal to a team member, you get 5 points for a total of 35 possible bonus points this week. You need to report what you ate and how much of it you ate. Here's an example:
Breakfast:
2 pieces whole wheat toast, 1 T. butter and 2 T. strawberry jam
2 hard boiled eggs, no yolk
Snack:
1/2 cup baby carrots dipped in 1 T. ranch dressing
Lunch:
1 cup vegetable soup with 8 saltine crackers
1 cup fresh spinach with 1/4 c. dried cranberries and 2 T. vinaigrette dressing
Snack:
1 medium banana and a 6 oz. Yoplait light yogurt
Dinner
1 medium baked potato with 1 cup canned chili
1 piece of cornbread
1/2 cup grapes
Perhaps if you have to account to someone about what you're eating, you'll think twice about what or how much you eat. If you were wondering, the food listed above totals approximately 2000 calories. Sometimes when I start to lose perspective of how much I should be eating to lose weight, I think about the show The Biggest Loser. When I consider that those people are exercising 8 hours every day, only eating about 1400 calories per day, and seeing an average of 5 pounds of weight loss per week, I am reminded that I shouldn't expect huge results when I'm not putting in that kind of effort. Also, please remember that if your daily caloric intake drops below about 1300 calories, your body will think it is starving and start storing all the energy it can, causing you to gain weight. And lastly, our bodies are not machines or calculators that always give the same result with the same input. Human bodies are unpredictable and require a lot of trial and error to figure out what works. One person's recipe for success may not yield the same results for you.
This week when you are keeping a food journal, you may want to estimate in your head how many calories you think you are eating and then do an actual tally of your calories one or two of the days to see if you are in touch with your true caloric intake. That is not required, but it might give you some insight into why you aren't seeing the results you desire. If you want to know the nutritional information about a particular food you eat that doesn't have a food label, try this website and enter the food into the search box at the top. If you want to know the nutritional information of a recipe you make, try this website and it will do a complete recipe analysis for you. There are tons of great online resources for health, fitness, and nutrition. I've listed the links to a few below. Please be wise with how you pursue weight loss. Slow and steady wins the race!
MyPyramid.gov
SELF Nutrition Data
Calorie King
The Daily Plate
Spark People
Cooking Light
Eating Well
The Couch-to-5K Running Plan
Exercise TV
Workoutz.com
Free Dieting
Weight Loss Institute
MSN Health
WebMD Health
Quotes of the Week:
"Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance." --Samuel Johnson
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have been trying to talk myself out of doing a third consecutive food-related bonus challenge. However, I feel like this one is needed right now, and the other bonus challenges will have to wait.
I know that some of you are feeling frustrated at the lack of results (weight loss) when you are being perfect at all of the lifestyle habits. I will never forget something a dietitian said a number of years ago on a news report I was watching, "A person can lose weight eating nothing but snickers bars, and someone can gain weight eating nothing but healthy food." Yesterday I was reading an article about a nutrition professor at Kansas State University who is currently eating nothing but junk food (and one serving of vegetables) each day for a month. The interesting part for me is that he has lost 7 pounds since August 25 when he started the experiment. You must realize, however, that he is monitoring his caloric intake and limiting it to 1800 calories per day. I'm not condoning the consumption of junk food. I am merely pointing out that this Sensible Lifestyle Challenge increases your chance at successfully losing weight, but it does not guarantee the results you want. That is achieved by using portion control and keeping your caloric intake to a level that is right for you, no matter whether you're eating healthy food or junk food. Here are two links to websites that can give you an idea of your optimal caloric intake: option 1 (in the bottom right of the webpage) or option 2.
So am I asking you to count your calories? Absolutely not. I find calorie counting to be very tedious and annoying. And quantifying whether or not you ate moderate portion sizes is impossible. This week you will report your food intake (and drinks containing calories) each day to at least one member of your team. Every day that you report your food journal to a team member, you get 5 points for a total of 35 possible bonus points this week. You need to report what you ate and how much of it you ate. Here's an example:
Breakfast:
2 pieces whole wheat toast, 1 T. butter and 2 T. strawberry jam
2 hard boiled eggs, no yolk
Snack:
1/2 cup baby carrots dipped in 1 T. ranch dressing
Lunch:
1 cup vegetable soup with 8 saltine crackers
1 cup fresh spinach with 1/4 c. dried cranberries and 2 T. vinaigrette dressing
Snack:
1 medium banana and a 6 oz. Yoplait light yogurt
Dinner
1 medium baked potato with 1 cup canned chili
1 piece of cornbread
1/2 cup grapes
Perhaps if you have to account to someone about what you're eating, you'll think twice about what or how much you eat. If you were wondering, the food listed above totals approximately 2000 calories. Sometimes when I start to lose perspective of how much I should be eating to lose weight, I think about the show The Biggest Loser. When I consider that those people are exercising 8 hours every day, only eating about 1400 calories per day, and seeing an average of 5 pounds of weight loss per week, I am reminded that I shouldn't expect huge results when I'm not putting in that kind of effort. Also, please remember that if your daily caloric intake drops below about 1300 calories, your body will think it is starving and start storing all the energy it can, causing you to gain weight. And lastly, our bodies are not machines or calculators that always give the same result with the same input. Human bodies are unpredictable and require a lot of trial and error to figure out what works. One person's recipe for success may not yield the same results for you.
This week when you are keeping a food journal, you may want to estimate in your head how many calories you think you are eating and then do an actual tally of your calories one or two of the days to see if you are in touch with your true caloric intake. That is not required, but it might give you some insight into why you aren't seeing the results you desire. If you want to know the nutritional information about a particular food you eat that doesn't have a food label, try this website and enter the food into the search box at the top. If you want to know the nutritional information of a recipe you make, try this website and it will do a complete recipe analysis for you. There are tons of great online resources for health, fitness, and nutrition. I've listed the links to a few below. Please be wise with how you pursue weight loss. Slow and steady wins the race!
MyPyramid.gov
SELF Nutrition Data
Calorie King
The Daily Plate
Spark People
Cooking Light
Eating Well
The Couch-to-5K Running Plan
Exercise TV
Workoutz.com
Free Dieting
Weight Loss Institute
MSN Health
WebMD Health
Quotes of the Week:
"Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance." --Samuel Johnson
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Week #4 Results
As the weight loss tapers off more each week, I know how frustrating a healthy lifestyle can be when you are giving your all and not seeing the desired results. 38 of you got 95% of your weekly points. You are all staying very committed, and I am very proud of all of you for giving so much effort. Stay strong!
This weekend I was asked about the weekly results. They are the team weekly totals, not cumulative totals. So the standings this week are for the point reports for week 4. And here they are:
1st place - GREEN
2nd place - PURPLE
3rd place - RED
4th place - BLUE
5th place - ORANGE
Those who lost 4 pounds or more this week were Ben Heiner, Jeremiah Martin, and Stacy Chandler. I was thrilled to see all the inches reports this week. I'm happy to report that even some who haven't lost much weight over the last four weeks have lost significant inches. The following people lost 4 inches or more: Aryssa Taylor, Ben Heiner, J. Clark Gardner, Jeremiah Martin, Katie Jennings, Lindsay Gardner, Lindsay Wilson, Mandie Borg, Mary Brenneman, Stacy Chandler, and Tiffany Hamilton. All I can say is WOW!
This weekend I was asked about the weekly results. They are the team weekly totals, not cumulative totals. So the standings this week are for the point reports for week 4. And here they are:
1st place - GREEN
2nd place - PURPLE
3rd place - RED
4th place - BLUE
5th place - ORANGE
Those who lost 4 pounds or more this week were Ben Heiner, Jeremiah Martin, and Stacy Chandler. I was thrilled to see all the inches reports this week. I'm happy to report that even some who haven't lost much weight over the last four weeks have lost significant inches. The following people lost 4 inches or more: Aryssa Taylor, Ben Heiner, J. Clark Gardner, Jeremiah Martin, Katie Jennings, Lindsay Gardner, Lindsay Wilson, Mandie Borg, Mary Brenneman, Stacy Chandler, and Tiffany Hamilton. All I can say is WOW!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Report Your Inches This Week
It is the end of week 4, so you need to do another waist and hip measurement and report "Inches Points" with your point report this week. You get 5 points for each half inch lost from your waist and hips. I know this can be a problem for those who are out of town for the holiday. You may be away from your computer and not have access to your starting measurements, or you may not have your tape measure with you. Whatever the case, I am going to allow point reports to be made through Tuesday (9/7) at noon to hopefully allow everyone a chance to get "Inches Points" correctly reported. Have a wonderful Labor Day!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Week #5 Bonus Challenge
SUGAR ELIMINATION!
This week I was reading an online article about sugar addiction. I concluded that this is a legitimate problem for me. Although we are all doing great to eliminate the sweets and treats, sometimes we don't realize just how much sugar we are still eating in our diets each day. It is found in mayonnaise, peanut butter, soups, salad dressings, sauces, cereal, bread, energy/granola bars, canned/frozen foods, even V8, and the list is endless. So this week, we will try to eliminate sugar from our diets.
Each day that you do not consume any foods containing sugar, brown sugar, or corn syrup as one of its ingredients, you get 5 points for 35 possible bonus points. Read food labels carefully to prevent an accidental loss of your points. You do not lose any bonus points for eating your one free treat.
Perhaps my favorite statement from the above referenced article is this: "Once you have cleared sugar from your system, your taste buds will become more sensitive, and these whole natural foods will taste sweeter and more satisfying." Personally, I have noticed a difference in how good healthy foods, such as simple fruits and vegetables, taste to me now that I'm eating far less sugar. And maybe this statement explains exactly why. Let's give it a shot this week!
Side Notes:
Quotes of the Week:
"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew." --Saint Francis de Sales
"Develop the winning edge; small differences in your performance can lead to large differences in your results." --Brian Tracy
This week I was reading an online article about sugar addiction. I concluded that this is a legitimate problem for me. Although we are all doing great to eliminate the sweets and treats, sometimes we don't realize just how much sugar we are still eating in our diets each day. It is found in mayonnaise, peanut butter, soups, salad dressings, sauces, cereal, bread, energy/granola bars, canned/frozen foods, even V8, and the list is endless. So this week, we will try to eliminate sugar from our diets.
Each day that you do not consume any foods containing sugar, brown sugar, or corn syrup as one of its ingredients, you get 5 points for 35 possible bonus points. Read food labels carefully to prevent an accidental loss of your points. You do not lose any bonus points for eating your one free treat.
Perhaps my favorite statement from the above referenced article is this: "Once you have cleared sugar from your system, your taste buds will become more sensitive, and these whole natural foods will taste sweeter and more satisfying." Personally, I have noticed a difference in how good healthy foods, such as simple fruits and vegetables, taste to me now that I'm eating far less sugar. And maybe this statement explains exactly why. Let's give it a shot this week!
Side Notes:
- We welcome Shauna Thompson to the Orange Team and wish Donna Brunner well as she leaves the competition to deal with a back injury.
- The rules of this competition do not change on Fast Sunday. Plan your meals and water intake accordingly.
Quotes of the Week:
"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew." --Saint Francis de Sales
"Develop the winning edge; small differences in your performance can lead to large differences in your results." --Brian Tracy
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