For the most part, we had a difficult weight loss week. But many of you were just as determined as ever to get those points. Here are the Week 6 team results:
1st Place - ORANGE
2nd Place - BLUE
3rd Place - GREEN
4th Place -RED
The following amazing people lost at least 2 pounds last week: Holli Westwood, Lindsay Gardner, Lindsay Wilson, Stacy Chandler, and Stephanie Probst. I am very impressed with your efforts. Unfortunately, we dropped to just 65% of us getting at least 95% of our weekly points, but I'm sure we will all do better next week! Only two weeks to go. Let's make these our best weeks yet!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Week #7 Bonus Challenge
INCREASE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES!
Now that the presents are unwrapped and lunch has been devoured, I can sit down and focus on getting next week's bonus challenge posted for you. Sorry I am late getting this on the blog.
I recently spent some time looking over the US dietary guidelines found at mypyramid.gov. If you click on the MyPyramid Plan link in the left column of this website, I think most of you will find that five fruits/vegetables per day is a good start, but not as much as is recommended. This week, your bonus points are going to be earned by consuming additional servings of fruits or vegetables. After you eat your five fruits/veggies each day, you will earn 1 point for the 6th fruit or vegetable, and 2 points each for the 7th and the 8th servings of fruits or vegetables you eat up to 5 possible bonus points per day. Bonus challenge points are available every day this week for 35 possible points.
I have received requests to grant leniency to the 9 p.m. rule on New Year's Eve. I know that extenuating circumstances arise in real life, and we need to be able to make adjustments to compensate for them. Here is my final decision: I will allow you to have your 9 p.m. points on New Year's Eve even if you eat late. However, to get those points, you must exercise on both Friday and Saturday for a full hour or more each day. You don't get any extra exercise points, but you may have your 9 p.m. points if you fulfill these requirements. Have a safe and happy New Year!
Now that the presents are unwrapped and lunch has been devoured, I can sit down and focus on getting next week's bonus challenge posted for you. Sorry I am late getting this on the blog.
I recently spent some time looking over the US dietary guidelines found at mypyramid.gov. If you click on the MyPyramid Plan link in the left column of this website, I think most of you will find that five fruits/vegetables per day is a good start, but not as much as is recommended. This week, your bonus points are going to be earned by consuming additional servings of fruits or vegetables. After you eat your five fruits/veggies each day, you will earn 1 point for the 6th fruit or vegetable, and 2 points each for the 7th and the 8th servings of fruits or vegetables you eat up to 5 possible bonus points per day. Bonus challenge points are available every day this week for 35 possible points.
I have received requests to grant leniency to the 9 p.m. rule on New Year's Eve. I know that extenuating circumstances arise in real life, and we need to be able to make adjustments to compensate for them. Here is my final decision: I will allow you to have your 9 p.m. points on New Year's Eve even if you eat late. However, to get those points, you must exercise on both Friday and Saturday for a full hour or more each day. You don't get any extra exercise points, but you may have your 9 p.m. points if you fulfill these requirements. Have a safe and happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Week #5 Results
Everyone is really hitting it hard, with 85% of you getting at least 95% of your points. I love seeing all the effort and determination going into living the daily habits of this sensible lifestyle. Last week, the team point totals brought these results:
1st Place - BLUE
2nd Place - GREEN
3rd Place - ORANGE
4th Place - RED
Congratulations to the following people who lost at least 2 pounds last week: Adrianne Wilson, Cheryl Hoskinson, J. Clark Gardner, Larry Wilson, Lindsay Gardner, Lynette Wilson, Marci Waite, Natalie Williamsen, Stacy Chandler, Traci Taylor, and Wendy Gardner.
I hope all of you have a very safe, healthy, and merry Christmas this week. Don't lose sight of your long-term goals just because of the holiday.
1st Place - BLUE
2nd Place - GREEN
3rd Place - ORANGE
4th Place - RED
Congratulations to the following people who lost at least 2 pounds last week: Adrianne Wilson, Cheryl Hoskinson, J. Clark Gardner, Larry Wilson, Lindsay Gardner, Lynette Wilson, Marci Waite, Natalie Williamsen, Stacy Chandler, Traci Taylor, and Wendy Gardner.
I hope all of you have a very safe, healthy, and merry Christmas this week. Don't lose sight of your long-term goals just because of the holiday.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Week #6 Bonus Challenge
REDUCE STRESS!
As we face Christmas at the end of the week, the list of things to do seems to get longer and longer. We can easily get overwhelmed and stressed out trying to finish up everything we want to accomplish. When we are stressed, our hormones do funny things and sometimes we turn to food to console ourselves. The result is that we often gain weight when we are under stress. This week your bonus challenge is to take a break and spend 15 minutes each day doing something to reduce stress. Here are some suggestions from health experts: deep breathing, yoga, muscle relaxation, writing in a journal, making and prioritizing a to-do list, participating in a relaxing hobby, meditation, prayer, aromatherapy, soft music, positive self-talk, practicing gratitude, taking a hot bath, laughing really hard, reading scriptures, volunteering. I know that sleeping and exercise are both great stress-relievers, but for purposes of this bonus challenge, neither or those will count. Each day that you spend at least 15 minutes reducing stress, you get 5 points for 35 possible bonus challenge points this week.
Congratulations to Valerie Hendricks and Justin Hendricks on the birth of their 6 lb. 14 oz. baby girl on Wednesday.
As we face Christmas at the end of the week, the list of things to do seems to get longer and longer. We can easily get overwhelmed and stressed out trying to finish up everything we want to accomplish. When we are stressed, our hormones do funny things and sometimes we turn to food to console ourselves. The result is that we often gain weight when we are under stress. This week your bonus challenge is to take a break and spend 15 minutes each day doing something to reduce stress. Here are some suggestions from health experts: deep breathing, yoga, muscle relaxation, writing in a journal, making and prioritizing a to-do list, participating in a relaxing hobby, meditation, prayer, aromatherapy, soft music, positive self-talk, practicing gratitude, taking a hot bath, laughing really hard, reading scriptures, volunteering. I know that sleeping and exercise are both great stress-relievers, but for purposes of this bonus challenge, neither or those will count. Each day that you spend at least 15 minutes reducing stress, you get 5 points for 35 possible bonus challenge points this week.
Congratulations to Valerie Hendricks and Justin Hendricks on the birth of their 6 lb. 14 oz. baby girl on Wednesday.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Week #4 Results
We had another close week, with only 80 points between first and last place and 77% of you getting at least 95% of your weekly points. We had quite a shake-up in scores. Without further ado, here are this week's team standings:
1st Place - ORANGE
2nd Place -BLUE
3rd Place - RED
4th Place - GREEN
Lots of inches were shed in the first half of the competition. The following people lost at least 4 total inches from their waist and hips: Amanda Billman, Barbara Gaston, J Clark Gardner, Jeff Spencer, Kandace Lewis, Katie Kennedy, Kevin Hathaway, Larry Wilson, Stacy Chandler, Tiffany Hamilton, Tony Potts, and Tracie Spencer.
We can't forget about all the people who lost at least 2 pounds this week: Barbara Gaston, Christine Foley, Larry Wilson, Lisa Armstrong, Lynette Wilson, Nicole Potts, Stacy Chandler, Tony Potts, and Tracie Spencer. We are half way through the competition and a few of you are obviously reducing your commitment level. Don't give up now. The biggest temptations of the season are coming up with Christmas and New Year's upon us. Resisting the urge to indulge in all the tasty treats will result in a great feeling of personal accomplishment.
1st Place - ORANGE
2nd Place -BLUE
3rd Place - RED
4th Place - GREEN
Lots of inches were shed in the first half of the competition. The following people lost at least 4 total inches from their waist and hips: Amanda Billman, Barbara Gaston, J Clark Gardner, Jeff Spencer, Kandace Lewis, Katie Kennedy, Kevin Hathaway, Larry Wilson, Stacy Chandler, Tiffany Hamilton, Tony Potts, and Tracie Spencer.
We can't forget about all the people who lost at least 2 pounds this week: Barbara Gaston, Christine Foley, Larry Wilson, Lisa Armstrong, Lynette Wilson, Nicole Potts, Stacy Chandler, Tony Potts, and Tracie Spencer. We are half way through the competition and a few of you are obviously reducing your commitment level. Don't give up now. The biggest temptations of the season are coming up with Christmas and New Year's upon us. Resisting the urge to indulge in all the tasty treats will result in a great feeling of personal accomplishment.
Monday, December 13, 2010
POINT REPORT REMINDER
When reporting your points today, please report inches points in addition to the weekly, bonus, and weight points that you've been reporting. You get 10 points per inch or 5 points per half inch lost from your waist and hips since your starting measurements at the beginning of the competition. Please continue to leave the weight loss % field blank until the final point report after week 8.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Week #5 Bonus Challenge
ELIMINATE YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE!
After a few weeks on this sensible lifestyle challenge, we have all figured out how to eat around the rules. You know what I mean. We aren't being totally healthy, but we aren't losing any points, either. So this week, you get to decide what your favorite little indulgence is, and you get to live without it for one week. I couldn't name all of the possibilities, but I will list a few options I've thought of. Maybe you have a particular bad habit such as eating second helpings when you aren't hungry, finishing off your kids' meals, munching while distracted, or eating on the run. Maybe you snack too much between meals or after dinner. Maybe eating out is sabotaging your healthy lifestyle. Perhaps your body would be better off without a particular food because you can't seem to resist it: soda pop, margarine/butter, nuts, mayonnaise, granola bars, french fries, caffeine, cheese, chips/crackers, salad dressings, bread, sugar cereals. Or maybe entire groups of foods are your nemesis such as those containing white flour or sugar/corn syrup. I don't know what's preventing you from being really healthy, but you know yourself best to decide what it is. When choosing what you'll eliminate, don't be too easy on yourself, but also don't make it impossible. And remember that you only have to live without it for one week. This week you get 7 points for telling a team member what you're eliminating and 4 points per day that you successfully live without your favorite indulgence for a total of 35 possible bonus points.
After a few weeks on this sensible lifestyle challenge, we have all figured out how to eat around the rules. You know what I mean. We aren't being totally healthy, but we aren't losing any points, either. So this week, you get to decide what your favorite little indulgence is, and you get to live without it for one week. I couldn't name all of the possibilities, but I will list a few options I've thought of. Maybe you have a particular bad habit such as eating second helpings when you aren't hungry, finishing off your kids' meals, munching while distracted, or eating on the run. Maybe you snack too much between meals or after dinner. Maybe eating out is sabotaging your healthy lifestyle. Perhaps your body would be better off without a particular food because you can't seem to resist it: soda pop, margarine/butter, nuts, mayonnaise, granola bars, french fries, caffeine, cheese, chips/crackers, salad dressings, bread, sugar cereals. Or maybe entire groups of foods are your nemesis such as those containing white flour or sugar/corn syrup. I don't know what's preventing you from being really healthy, but you know yourself best to decide what it is. When choosing what you'll eliminate, don't be too easy on yourself, but also don't make it impossible. And remember that you only have to live without it for one week. This week you get 7 points for telling a team member what you're eliminating and 4 points per day that you successfully live without your favorite indulgence for a total of 35 possible bonus points.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Week #3 Results
I don't even know how to describe how intense this competition is becoming. Every week the results get tighter, and this week there was only a 60 point spread between 1st and 4th place. I know that sounds like a lot of points, but when teams are scoring around 2400 points in a week, do you realize how quickly 60 points can be made? That's less than 5 points per team member separating the last place team from coming in first. That's only one day's bonus points, or a half pound of weight loss, or one day of fruits/veggies. Every single point counts for every player every day of every week. Don't think that your points don't matter, because I can attest that they do. And the overall point totals are just as close. So here are the results for week 3:
1st place - BLUE
2nd place - GREEN
3rd place - ORANGE
4th place - RED
43 participants, or 83% of you, got at least 95% of your weekly points. Almost everyone is giving 100% to this health challenge. Don't be the person to let your team down. And don't let yourself down, either. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from people who are enjoying being in control when faced with temptation. Isn't that a wonderful feeling to know that food doesn't rule your life? I am so proud of all of you. And I send my congratulations to the big weight losers this week: Mary Ann Lyons and Julie Jacobson both lost at least 3 pounds. An additional 12 competitors lost at least 2 pounds this week. Way to go, everyone! After seeing your high weekly scores and weight loss points, I am once again inspired to give my all and keep up with your efforts. Keep at it!
1st place - BLUE
2nd place - GREEN
3rd place - ORANGE
4th place - RED
43 participants, or 83% of you, got at least 95% of your weekly points. Almost everyone is giving 100% to this health challenge. Don't be the person to let your team down. And don't let yourself down, either. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from people who are enjoying being in control when faced with temptation. Isn't that a wonderful feeling to know that food doesn't rule your life? I am so proud of all of you. And I send my congratulations to the big weight losers this week: Mary Ann Lyons and Julie Jacobson both lost at least 3 pounds. An additional 12 competitors lost at least 2 pounds this week. Way to go, everyone! After seeing your high weekly scores and weight loss points, I am once again inspired to give my all and keep up with your efforts. Keep at it!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Week #4 Bonus Challenge
INCREASE ACTIVITY!
Last week we concentrated on the calories we eat. This week we will focus on the calories we burn. Both calories in and calories out factor into weight loss or gain. So, this week we will try to increase our physical activity each day to burn more calories. Each day that you do 15 extra minutes of physical activity, you get 5 points for 35 possible bonus points this week.
You could do 15 more minutes of exercise to get your points, but that's not really the idea I'm going for. I would like you to find opportunities to be more active in your everyday life. Think of toning exercises while waiting for dinner to cook, taking the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator, parking at the far corner of the parking lot, wrestling with the kids, doing some vigorous housework, shoveling the walks, dancing to the music that's playing, etc. The options are truly endless. There are no rules to what counts and what doesn't, so I don't need daily emails from you asking if a particular activity counts or not. Just be reasonable: if you are getting your heart rate up or strengthening your muscles, it probably works. The 15 minutes DO NOT need to be consecutive, just cumulative throughout the day. And the bonus points are available EVERY day this week, not just on the 5 days you exercise. Now go out there and get active!
Last week we concentrated on the calories we eat. This week we will focus on the calories we burn. Both calories in and calories out factor into weight loss or gain. So, this week we will try to increase our physical activity each day to burn more calories. Each day that you do 15 extra minutes of physical activity, you get 5 points for 35 possible bonus points this week.
You could do 15 more minutes of exercise to get your points, but that's not really the idea I'm going for. I would like you to find opportunities to be more active in your everyday life. Think of toning exercises while waiting for dinner to cook, taking the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator, parking at the far corner of the parking lot, wrestling with the kids, doing some vigorous housework, shoveling the walks, dancing to the music that's playing, etc. The options are truly endless. There are no rules to what counts and what doesn't, so I don't need daily emails from you asking if a particular activity counts or not. Just be reasonable: if you are getting your heart rate up or strengthening your muscles, it probably works. The 15 minutes DO NOT need to be consecutive, just cumulative throughout the day. And the bonus points are available EVERY day this week, not just on the 5 days you exercise. Now go out there and get active!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)