Veggies are fun!!

This is Jason:
Christine said you guys wanted to know about how I ate 30 servings of veggies a day.

Here is a basic rundown:

I ate fruit for breakfast and then after my exercise. (fructose does not spike your insulin levels the same as sugar)
Eating fruit just before exercise in the morning gives you quick energy for your workout. Also, the 30 minute window immediately following exercise is critical for muscle recovery. If you consume glucose (preferably fructose) during that 30 mins after you exercise, your muscles will recover quicker and will not be as fatigued. As an added bonus, the calories consumed (within reason) during this 30 minute window after exercise are used instantly by the body to rebuild muscle so they won't go to fat.

So, breakfast was usually a banana, strawberries, and almonds (unsalted, these provide protein and mono unsaturated fats or mufas, these fats are proven to be healthy and actually help with weight loss! Mufa's are found in nuts, avocados, olive oil, and some dark chocolate)

After exercise I had 2 oranges (for muscle recovery and they quench my thirst better than water or Gatorade). Then a sliced apple with all natural peanut butter (more protein and mufa fats).

I usually had one more serving of fruit in the morning, either peach, apricots, watermelon, or grapes.

So I averaged 6 servings of fresh fruits.
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Then I would get out the baggies and prepare for the day. I put 4 servings of baby carrots in a bag, 4 servings of cucumbers, 4 servings of bean sprouts, 4 servings of celery sticks (usually with a thin layer of natural peanut butter for protein and mufas fats), then a bag with 2 servings of organic grape tomatoes and 2 servings of fresh sweet pea pods.

This gave me 20 servings of snacks that I carried with me everywhere in a bag. Watching TV, at my desk, driving in the car; I always had it with me and slowly munched the day away.

I had no idea how much water is in fruits and vegetables, I drank very little water all week and had to go potty all the time!

For lunch I had a wrap, one of these three:
1. Whole grain wheat tortilla, sometimes I would put on Dijon mustard, turkey, avocado slices(healthy mufa fat), grape tomatoes (halved), fresh spinach. This can be good with some Swiss cheese or red peppers for variety. Roll it up, yum!

2. Whole grain wheat tortilla, one can drained tuna (put the tuna down the middle of the tortilla, drizzle on one cap full of lemon juice and sprinkle with pepper if desired). Cut a dozen grape or cherry tomatoes in half and put them on, sprinkle with low fat mozzarella cheese, Nuke it for 35 seconds, roll up, super yum!! I like it even better with diced celery also, but I am to lazy to cut it up sometimes.

3. No carb option: Thick slice of turkey, lay on: thin slices of avocado (healthy mufas fat), tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Roll it up, yum!
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Dinner: One night we had grilled chicken breast and corn on the cob, one night was a salad, sometimes I skipped dinner and just finished off all my veggie baggies. Several times I had a big bowl (4 cups) of steamed broccoli and cauliflower sprinkled with low fat mozzarella cheese.
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When I started getting bored of veggies, I would add some green olives to the mix, this gave me some zesty flavor between bites as well as some more mufa fats.

I found that I really like fresh bean sprouts! They are fun to munch on and help satisfy my craving to munch on something late at night when watching TV. They are super healthy and almost zero calories!

Anyway, I had fun with this diet for a week. Eating so many veggies got me over the "its too much work to chop up veggies" attitude. Now it is second nature and I am eating them more than normal this week, not crazy, just a healthy 8-10 servings a day.

That is the cool thing about these weekly challenges, each one has really helped me shape new healthy habits. After the challenge was over, I didn't keep up the same volume, but I increased from what I was doing before.

The water challenge got me in the mode of drinking water all the time, now I drink more every day then I have in the past.

The TV challenge reminded me that there is life without TV, I have been reading more since then and I am really taking the time to turn off the TV early so I can read my scriptures for a full 30 mins.

The steps challenge got me up and moving, it helped me realize that each step counts. Parking at the far end of the parking lot, walking to the bathroom on the far side of the house, pacing my office while thinking; every little bit helps. I am still trying to move more, even if it is just something stupid like standing up while watching TV. Be active.

No eating after 7 really helped me break my habit of late night snacking. We all know that eating after 7pm, almost all the calories are stored as fat. Except for sprouts, I have been very diligent at not eating at night. If you are going to cheat and eat something bad, do it in the morning or just after you exercise and it won't do as much damage, Eating at night = weight gain.

The no chocolate was easy for me as I have been dieting for almost 1.5 years now and I am in healthy mode.

I haven't been able to lose weight for the last 6 months, I even tried Atkins phase 1, I didn't lose a pound. It is frustrating. I am gaining muscle mass as I lift weights, but I can't seem to get my body fat to decrease even 1 more %. Oh well, for now I am just trying to get stronger and healthier.

I won't win the most exercising minutes challenge, that's for sure. I just got the Epstein Barr Virus and that is kicking my rear, it is terrible. The only exercise I have been able to do for 2 weeks is slow walking and that takes every ounce of energy and motivation to do. I am really having a hard time dealing with this right now. Life happens, we just keep going.

Anyway, I knew going into this contest I wouldn't win, I just had no idea that I would get so much out of it! Thanks again everyone for putting it together and participating!! You guys (girls) are a great family and I love you all.

Jason

Bike Miles

If you are hauling little people behind you that will be worth 1 mile for every 2 that you bike. If you are on a stationery machine it is still 1 for 3.
From Da Judge.

Petition to the Powers that Be

So, I was wondering if instead of me counting a mile for every 3 miles of bike riding, could I could a mile for every 2? Because whenever I ride my bike, I am also hauling 50 pounds of little girl behind me. Not that I would have a chance of winning either way but I was just wondering what ya'll thought. Let me know. Thank you.
Nettie

Groveling

Uh...I want back in.

So, what do you guys think? Please vote. My feelings won't be hurt if you say "No Way Jose!"

But if it gives you any consolation, I promise not to get all Psycho-Mer on you again.

Please note that this was a very hard thing for me to ask to do. I feel quite embarrassed even thinking I could ask to be let back in.

Week 8 Points

Some important notes:

1. Dad is not participating in the miles challenge! This means we all have a chance!

2. If you're doing biking (stationary or real) 3 miles biking=1 mile for the challenge.

On to the points!

exercise&challenge+weight loss=total


Christine- 402+198=600

Mom- 315+270=585

Jason- 363+0=363

Dad- 186+0=186

Jana- 149.5+0=149.5

Annette- 44+6=50

And the winner of this week's challenge is . . . . . . . . . . . JASON!

Week 8 Weigh-In!!!

This past week's challenge was who could eat the most servings of fruits & veggies. Post that in BLUE.


Christine - 187.2 2.6 lb loss, total 6.6 lb loss 500 minutes of exercise 57 servings (I have a new appreciation for fruits and vegetables! I was nearly as creative as mer though. Don't be impressed with my total till you see Jason's. He was completely CRAZY.)

Annette - 121.2 1.0 lb loss, Total .2 lb LOSS. Woohoo! I'm below my original weight! 30 Min excersize. I wasnt very good about keeping track of servings but I sure know I didn't win! Holy cow Mer, you go girl.

Jana-128.5 1.5 lb gain. Um....about 20 servings fruit & veggies...not a good week...whatever...

Dad - 154 and 410 minutes exercise (that's 25 miles of running plus walking). No counting on the servings.

Mom - 177 lbs 1.5 loss About 30 servings BUT WHO CARES????? hee hee. And 595 minutes exercise. I do my own thing and then Dad and I walk too sometimes.

Jason - 190.2 2 lb gain 430 minutes of exercise 232 servings (I used this week to go on an all-vegetable diet to finally lose some weight. PFFFBBT. Obviously I'm stuck at this weight for the rest of my life . . . . )

From the Judge
About the Juices...
I took a good look at the labels on Naked smoothie juices. The ones that are thick have about 35 carbs and 20 something grams of sugar. And maybe 1 gram of fiber. V8 has 12 sugars and 15 carbs and 3 fiber. So, let's SCRATCH THE JUICES completely. No points for them. Make yourself a fresh smoothie and it will be more healthy and get you points. If you have already counted Naked or V8 as servings that is fine but from Thursday on they do not count.
The Judge has spoken. Thank you for listening. We Love you!!!

Fruits and Veggies We Love You

How is everyone doing with lots of fruits and veggies? I have discovered it is not as easy as I thought it would be to eat lots and lots of them. I did get to 7 one day but the other days were 4 and 5 servings. Not too great. BUT I am excited to do better and make them take the place of other foods and not just ADD them. This way it will be a real weight loss booster! And I need this if I am going to drop another 8 by cherise's wedding!! Good Luck Everyone!
From MoM

Week 7 Points

exercise&challenge+weight loss=total

Mom- 255.5+225=480.5

Christine- 352+120=472

Jason- 310+0= 310

Jana- 130+30=160

Dad- 145+0=145

Annette- 41+0=41


The parental judges have conferred and decided they're sure Mer made the 75,000.

Therefore, the winner of this week's challenge is . . . . . . .

E V E R Y B O D Y ! ! !

YAY US!

A hearty CONGRATULATIONS to everyone! We never thought all of us would accompish that one! WE ROCK!!!

Gift cards will be sent out soon.

Thanks!

Jason here . . . I just want to thank everybody for this great contest!

I have been exercising constantly and eating like Ghandi, and I haven't lost a single pound since November!

Even though I have no chance whatsoever of winning the competition, it has given me more motivation to continue trying to be healthy. Whoever came up with the idea of the weekly challenges -- THANKS! Having something different to focus on each week has really made it fun, and breaks up the monotony of dieting. I've just had so much fun.

Thank you so much to everybody who's participating, it makes it so much more fun to have more people involved. It's nice to see everybody trying to get healthy together.

I'm totally going to lose the contest, but I'm gonna lose with style!

This Week's Challenge

This week we are seeing who can have the most fruit and vegetable servings. So just so we're all on the same page, 1 serving = 1/2 cup or a "fist sized" portion.

Christine here, I need a bit of clarification. Juice doesn't count, right? And what did we decided about canned fruit?

Let's start a list, shall we?

1 serving=

1 banana

4 large strawberries

1 apple

1 orange

1/2 cup blueberries

10 baby carrots

1 stalk celery

2 kiwis

2 plums

1 tomato (2 roma, 6 cherry)

1 c. lettuce (firmly packed)

1/2 c. spinach

15 grapes

1/3 c. craisins **corrected** it this says on the bag

1/2 cucumber

feel free to add on . . . .
1/2 cup salsa

The Judge is here. It has been decided that the juices V8 and Naked will NOT be counted. Canned fruit only in fruit juice, not syrup.

(corrected)

Week 7 Weigh-In!!!

This past week's challenge was getting to 75,000 steps. Post that in BLUE. Remember, we all could have won this challenge!!!!

Christine - 189.8 2.2 lb loss, total 4 lb loss 600 minutes of exercise More than 75,000 steps (there were 2 days I didn't have numbers for, because my pedometer reset itself. so I was going to average my days and add that BUT it turned out that with just 5 days I still had 75,000! I know, I rock.) Oh, And! Not only am I at my pre-cruise weight today but I am also officially NOT obese!! Woohoo! Only 25 lbs to go till I'm not overweight.

Annette - 122.2 .9 lb loss, Total 1.1 lb gain. 40 Min Excercise. 75,000 steps. I said a whole thing the first time I tried to puplish like 5 hours ago, but apparently it didn't think I was worthy of publishing, so nevermind.

Jana-126 1 lb loss. Total 1 lb loss. 205 min. exercise. 75,000 steps.

Dad - 153. 82,000 steps 320 minutes exercise

Mom - 178.5 down 1 lb, 7.5lb total loss 76.000 steps 580 min exercise

Jason - 188.2 1.2 lb loss, total 8.2 lb gain 660 minutes of exercise 75,000 steps Meredith- I don't see how you can win this one if you didn't even wear a pedometer every day. It was a major pain for us too, but that was the whole point of the challenge.

Week 6 Points

exercise&challenge+weight loss=total

Mom- 187.5+195=382.5

Christine- 282+54=336

Jason- 234+0=234

Dad- 103+0=103

Jana- 99.5+0=99.5

Annette- 27+0=27

Jen- has officially dropped out. And by "officially" I mean one of the other sisters told me that she told them that she really didn't know why she joined in the first place. ;)

And this week's challenge winners are . . . . . . . . . JASON and CHRISTINE!

Week 6 Weigh-In!!!

This past week's challenge was not eating after 7pm. Post that in BLUE. Remember, we all could have won this challenge!!!!

Christine - 192 2.4 lb loss, total 1.8 lb loss 415 minutes of exercise NO EATING after 7:00 (as long as it's okay that twice we started dinner before 7 but didn't actually finish till about 7:10)

Annette - 123.1 3.3 lb loss, Total 2 lb gain. 30 Min Excercize. I did eat after 7 a couple times.

Jana-127 3 lb gain. Total 0 lb loss. 30 min. exercise. Ate like a maniac after 7 every day of my life! Ha ha I gained it back. I think I'm done losing and I'm just going to yo-yo these couple pounds all the time. I guess maybe I could actually try.....

Dad - 153 I'm bouncing. 300 exercise. ditto to Karen on eating. Didn't meet the challenge.

Mom - 179.5. bummer. .5 gain 6.5 lb total. 300 exercise . 5 days before 7 or close and 2 days quite late. But last night was late because we were doing a good deed. Don't qualify. boo hoo.

Jen -114 0 lb loss/gain. 180 min. exercise (has 3 strikes)

Jason - 189.4 total 9.4 gain 550 minutes of exercise NO EATING after 7:00 (with the same stipulation as christine)

Oops

Sorry guys I just realized I didn't put up last week's challenge winners!

Ahem:
And the challenge winners for week 5 are . . . . .

MEREDITH
CHRISTINE
JANA
and
JASON!

Week 5 Points

I'm putting the challenge points separately to make things a little more clear.
exercise points+challenge points+weight loss points=total points

Mom- 157.5+0+210=367.5

Chris- 230.5+10+0=230.5

Jana- 86.5+10+90=186.5

Jason- 159+10+0=169

Dad- 73+0+45=118

Jen- 42+0+0=42

Annette- 24+0+0=24

Weird...

Wow, has anybody noticed what Jen has written under her picture? That's kind of weird...






:::snort snort:::::

Week 5 Weigh-In!!!

This past week's challenge was not eating chocolate. Post that in BROWN. Remember, we all could have won this challenge!!!!


Christine - 194.4 0.4 lb gain, total .6 gain 305 minutes of exercise NO CHOCOLATE!

Annette - 126.4

Jana-124 3 lb loss. Total 3 lb loss. 50 min. exercise. Don't ask me how this happened. It doesn't make sense, but I'll take it!! No Chocolate. Except on Sunday I ate a little bit of cookies 'n cream ice cream, not thinking...I didn't even remember till the next day! I had purposely bought strawberry icecream and was eating that, and Jeff had me trade a scoop of mine for a scoop of his. We don't really think of it as chocolate because it doesn't give him migraines. I'll let the officials decide if I lost the challenge because of that.

Dad - 150.5 5 lb loss how can that be??? 300 min exercise Ate Chocolate once.

Mom - 179!!! 2.5 lb loss and 7 total. 505 minutes of exercise! (Dad tricked me into 5.5 miles last night. It was dark when we got home!) Sorry folks, I ate chocolate. Started out accidental and then......

Jen -114 0 lb loss/gain. 180 min. exercise (has 2 strikes)

Jason - 188.8 0.4 gain, total 8 lb gain 230 minutes of exercise NO CHOCOLATE!

****Hey Everybody**** this is chris, I vote that Jana and Dad should still get challenge points since the chocolate they ate was totally on accident and in very small amounts. If you disagree, speak now or forever hold your peace.

**update, it's just Jana that deserves it, Dad ate more chocolate than we thought!**

Best Workout EVER!

Last night I did an exercise video that I used to do all the time, but haven't done in a few months now.
First of all I was awesome doing all of it-- I could totally do the whole thing with gusto, jumping jacks and all, and I even did a couple of push-ups on my toes! Never even attempted that before.
THEN I realized that at the jumping parts THE WHOLE HOUSE DIDN'T SHAKE!
AND my favorite of all: There's one part where you kneel on one knee and put your chest forward onto your leg to do some weights. Always before I've had to like move my tummy over to the side so I can go down like that. Well last night I DIDN'T! It's like I'm a normal person now or something!
It was so freaking awesome.