BIGGEST LOSER II

Contest duration: 13 weeks (almost) beginning Tuesday, April 1 and ending Saturday, June 28th (because of reunion week when access to original weigh-in scale won’t be available.)

Entry Fee: $25.00

Grand Prize: $225 (approximately. Total will be the sum of all the entry fees plus $100)


Grand Prize Winner: Most total points accumulated through the duration of the contest


Point System

30 points for every pound lost
One point for every ten minutes of exercise
250 bonus points for the highest percentage of weight lost at end of contest
Gift Certificate for the best homemade exercise video (Don and Karen are the judges. The decision of the judges in final. Videos should be 3 to 5 minutes long)
10 points for winning or accomplishing the Weekly Challenge

Weekly Challenges
The weekly winner will receive a $10 gift certificate

Week 1: Most miles walked/run
Week 2: Most time spent exercising
Week 3: Least hours spent watching television/movies
Week 4: Most gallons of water consumed
Week 5: No chocolate (everyone who meets the goal wins)
Week 6: No eating after 7 p.m. (everyone who meets the goal wins)
Week 7: 75,000 steps (based on pedometer reading, everyone who meets the goal wins)
Week 8: Most servings of fruits and veggies (1/2 C or fist sized)
Week 9: Most miles walked/run
Week 10: Most time spent exercising
Week 11: Least hours spent watching television/movies
Week 12: Most gallons of water consumed
Week 13: No chocolate (everyone who meets the goal wins)

Disclaimer: Organizers not responsible for strained muscles, headaches from chocolate withdrawal, bunions, strained marriages or whistles from construction workers. Prizes not given where prohibited by local laws. Not valid in Canada. Judges reserve the right to award themselves all prizes.

After Pictures

So, here are our after pictures! Feel free to add your own.

Cameron is wearing his old pants, which he now refers to as his "fat guy pants".

Cash Rewards!

We will present Cameron with his winning Biggest Loser check for $240.00 at ceremonies this weekend in Salt Lake City. Jana and Mom's checks for $20 for losing 10% of their body weights will be mailed presently. This is a great way to spend money!

The Results Show

In honor of the final weigh-in of round 1, I have posted special results. The regular groups graphs are there, but I made a little individual chart for everyone showing every weigh-in as well as total weight lost. I must say that I am VERY impressed that EVERYONE has lost weight! My family is quite jealous that Annette and I got involved with this and have actually made significant progress. I want to offer a hearty THANK YOU to everyone for starting this and making it happen with regular support and contact. I know I wouldn't have done it without you, thanks.

Results can be found here.

The FINAL Weigh-In

Dad -152 final weight. 10 lb loss total.

Mom - 186 Final weight . Total 23 lb loss. Wahoo!!!

Christine- 193.8 .2 loss, Total 12.8 Loss

Jana- 127 1 lb loss. Total 18.5 lb Loss.

Cameron - 195.0 1.0 lb loss. Total 29.2 Lb weight Loss.

Kimi - 114 lbs, 2lb loss, total loss 11 lbs?

Bryce- 198

Jason- 180.8 .2 loss, Total 2.2 loss

Meredith - 171.2 0.8lb gain; 17.2 lb total loss This will also be my starting weight for Round two! And check out my new hideous starting photo. Yuck. I'm disgusting.

Annette - 121.4 2.8 lb loss. Total 7.8 Lb weight loss.

I may be small...but I'm scrappy!

So, last night Cameron and I WERE going to do Dance Dance Revolution but instead, we ended up Wrestling! It was so fun. And what a work out. I think Cameron was quite surprised by my amazing speed and agility. I like to think that I won half the rounds, but I suppose it was more like...I got the upper hand as some point during half the rounds, and ALMOST pinned him a couple times. I can thank Eric for my knowledge of how to squirm out of a tough spot because of all the 3 on 1 rounds that us sisters would have with Eric when we lived in St. Louis. good times. So anywho, if you want to do a different sort of excercise and really get your competitive spirit up, I highly recommend a wrestling match! Brew HAHA!

Lack of results update

So...did anyone notice that Cameron DIDN"T update the bar chart after the last weigh in. Yeah....sorry about that. promise he'll be on time for the final weigh in!

Official Proposal for the Next Round

Okay, this is how I'd like to do the next round, everyone feel free to suggest changes or do your very own proposal.

We can do it April 1 -- July 1

Everyone contributes $25, and Dad has offered an extra $100 again, so we'll have a pretty good prize even if there's just a few of us.

Every 10 minutes of exercise = 1 point

Every percentage point of weight loss = 25 points

Person with the most points wins.

This makes it so that a week's worth of exercise is worth about the same as a week's worth of weight loss. (very approximate of course.) If you do one or the other (exercise or lose), you still get points. If you do both, you get even more points.

Rules on the definition of exercise:
1. You have to do at LEAST 10 minutes together for it to count.

2. It has to be real exercise. Warming up and cooling down for a few minutes each count, but stretching doesn't. If you're doing something in your everyday life that gets your heartrate up, that's great, but it doesn't count, unless it's truly exercisy. Like taking your kids for a real walk counts, as long as you're not going at toddler pace. Cleaning the house fast doesn't count. If you're not sure if something you do regularly should count, tell everyone what it is and we can all vote on it.

3. Everyone needs to be very honest and vigilant about keeping track of your time. No guessing. When in doubt, round down.



A couple more things:

I kinda want to make the blog un-private. If we set it so that it's not searchable, I don't think anyone would stumble on it. I don't care to have anyone else reading it, but I really don't like signing in every time, and not having it on my bloglines.

I'd be happy to calculate points for everyone, so you can just enter your weight and exercise time each week.

So I know we have me, mom and mer for sure, anyone else? Let's hurry and figure this out so we can get started!

Show Off

So I don't know about anyone else, but I was really fat over Christmas, and now I look a lot better. I am a little embarassed about the fact that so many people got those Christmas cards and got to see for themselves my wondrous post-volunteer state..... SO I was thinking that what MUST be done to rectify this, is the next time we are all together, like for Cherise's wedding or family reunion or whatever, we need to do a RETAKE and send out the sepsy picture of all of us and our new fabulous bodies to everyone who got the one at Christmas, and announce our total collective weight loss as a family. We need to publicize our sweet success, and I think its okay for us to "be a braagger" maybe just this one time. Anyone agree with me? Cuz I know everyone will be super hot and healthy by this summer!!

Next Round

Alright! Since there is some interest in a Round 2, when are we going to start it? April 1 to July 1...another 3 months?

What new rules or suggestions will we have?

I'm definitely ready! So let's figure this out!

Week 12 Weigh-In

Dad -152 3 lb weight loss

Mom - 190.5. a little up from the big trip and holiday but just wait till next week!!

Christine- 194 .8 gain

Jana- 128 .5 loss

Cameron - 196 .8 lb Weight loss Total 28.2 Lb weight Loss.

Kimi - 114 lbs, 2lb loss, total loss 11 lbs? haha I lost track.

Bryce- 198

Jason- 181 0 loss/gain

Meredith -170.4 0.4lb gain, 18lb total loss

Annette - 124.2 1.8 lb gain. Total 5 Lb weight loss.

Thanks

Hey everyone,
Thanks for your love this week. It's been really nice to know everyone has been thinking about me and praying for me. I've definitely felt it. Today was a pretty good day, so I know that every day won't be hard. I guess it's a good thing I was only 7 weeks, because I think the earlier it is the easier it is. Though it's still extra hard when, like tonight, Emma prays for a brother or sister and tells me she really wants one. Ah, so do I, Emma! But I CAN get pregnant! And I WILL again! After I win the Biggest Loser contest! It's back to running next week....
And Cameron thought he had it made....
Love you all!
Jana
(Obviously posted on here b/c it's private)

Next Round!

So who's thinking of coming back for another round? I am for sure!

Any ideas for making it more interesting next time? What about doing points for a couple other things along with weight loss, like maybe exercise time and resting heartrate decrease.

Also, when do we want to start the next round? Could we maybe wait till I get back from vacation? :)
Christine

***************
From MoM
I am IN for sure! I really love having all of your exuberant winning losing spirits to help me out. It's been great to lose 20lbs and get "Stwong" as Dad says, at the gym. I really enjoy the machines I work on there and it makes me feel great.After talking to Christine and then to Dad, Jeff and Jana, we've come up with a few more ideas to make the next round fun (and profitable) and it can involve non-losers too with some challenges that will be helpful for everyone. We will post our ideas presently. so we can be ready to plunge in soon.
March 23, 2008 7:37 PM

Week 11 Weigh In

Dad -155 up 4. What can I say? Airport food? Too much sitting? Faulty scales? Gluttony?

Mom - 190 this is on Meredith's scale and it's 1.5 up. I think Dad and I have been very munchie on this little vacation! And NO exercising! Next week will be better!

Christine- 193.2 - .4 loss, total 13.4

Eric - I'm out. I give up. There's no use at this point. Maybe next round.

Jana - 128.5 1 lb weight loss

Cameron - 196.8 1.8 lb Weight loss Total 27.4 Lb weight Loss.

Kimi - 116 lbs, 3 lb gain. total loss 9 lbs

Bryce- 198

Jason- 181- 1.4 loss

Meredith -170 0.8lb gain; 18.4lb total loss

Annette - 122.4 0.0 loss/gain. Total 6.8 Lb weight loss.

Week 10 Weigh-In

Dad - 151

Mom - 189.5 What can I say? I'm wasting away to nothing. 10%? That's 20.5 lbs so 1/2 lb more and I get my moolah back!! Yea for Jana and Jeff and Emma! A new family begins!

Christine - 193.6 Yesterday's weight since I'm at Mom's castle.

Eric - Out of town until Thursday evening. But you can count his weight from last week, because it hasn't changed at all...I promise. (last week: 225.0 1 lb gain; 2.6lb total loss)

Jana - 129.5--1.5 lb weight loss, total 16 lbs weight loss--Hey, 10% (actually, just barely under 11%)!! And I reached my original goal of 130! But now that I've achieved my ULTIMATE GOAL OF ALL TIME (at least the last 5 years), I shall turn around and gain it all back!!! MWAHAHAHA! Do I still get my $20 for losing 10% if I gain it back? :) HOLY CRAP I AM SO EXCITED!!

Cameron - 198.6 1 lb Weight loss Total 25.6 Lb weight Loss.

Kimi - 113 1 lb loss, total loss 12 lbs

Bryce- 198

Jason - 182.4 1 lb loss, total .8 loss

Meredith - 169.2 1.6 lb loss; 19.2 lb total loss I think I might be at 10%! Woohoo. (But yes, I know a lot of that was related to pregnancy)

Annette - 122.4 1 Lb weight loss. Total 6.8 Lb weight loss Hey, there are only 20 more days of the competition, Jana, I'll bet you'll do just fine weight wise. And if not, I certainly vote to give you your prize for the 10%. Way To GO! I'm so excited for you!

The Toddler Diet

So I decided to try something new. Yesterday I decided that I think my main problem is portion control, and while I was doing weight watchers, that is one of the main things you learn to control while on the program.

Anyway, yesterday while getting the boys their lunch, I decided to try a new "diet". What I'm going to do is basically eat exactly what the boys eat. The same foods at the same portions. I figured that I don't feed them as much as I feed myself, so that's gotta be some portion control for ya! So I started with their lunch, having 4 fish sticks with 1 Tbsp ketchup, 1/2 cup applesauce, and 1/2 cup mac-n-cheese. I tell you what, I was actually FULL after that!

So call me crazy, but we'll see where this goes! I'm thinking it might actually work. I think it's a little like weight watchers because I'll be eating smaller portions, I'll still get to eat what I want, and I'll be getting more fruits and veggies (because I always give the boys those, and rarely do I eat them myself!) But I won't have to get hung up on counting POINTS.

Yesssss.

I have had 3 different people tell me this week how great I'm looking! Wow!
Also, I'm more than halfway to my ultimate goal! I've lost 35 lbs, only 29 to go!


A couple quotes for everybody:

*Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.*
- Winston Churchill

*Never eat anything you can't lift.*
-Miss Piggy

I'll get my own now!
HEY! It's so generous of you to share your real secret! I need to catch up with you. That will be so awesome for me!! So I will now get my own Button Gear and add it to my Round Toit which I have been waiting for years to use. I could really use both! Hmmm, this will take a lot of cognitive thinking to use them together......
MoM

Results for this week

The results have been posted!

Click Here to see them now.

CL

Round Toit

So, I must admit that I am quite proud that i have now reached my goal weight! The sad part is, I now see that I can still do better. Since I know everyone is wondering, I thought I'd share my success story.

With diet and exercise you always hear them talked about together. I've never really done either one and when this challenge came about, I didn't even know where to start with either one. I had always thought that I'd just pull out my "round toit" sometime and the diet and exercise would just come naturally. Well, up until January 1, it never really worked. I was losing faith in my "round toit." Most people I talk to are in the same boat, they get excited and they decide to get a "round toit", but it just doesn't work out in the end.

Well, for the competition this year I sold my "round toit" on craigslist, and I upgraded to a "button gear" and that has made ALL THE DIFFERENCE! Now when it comes time to make a choice, I look down at my "button gear" and I remember why I'm doing this and what it's all about. I remember that I'm in this for the money, and my wife really wants a vacation to the beach - I kill two birds with one challenge doing this! Not only can we afford to go, but I'll look good doing it... I put my "button gear" on at just the right time.

Since I've had so much luck with it, and I've reached my goal, I now feel it's time to share my "button gear" with you! There is still one month to go, and this thing is far from over - so if you're relying on your "round toit" to get you to your goal, maybe it's time for an upgrade.

It worked for me!

CL

Week 9 Weigh-In

Dad - 151 I'm wasting away.

Mom - 190.5 3 lb weight loss. Total 19 lb weight loss. I am shocked! One more and it will be 20. Cameron, here I come!

Christine - 194.4 2.8 loss, total 12.2

Eric - 225.0 1 lb gain; 2.6lb total loss

Jana - 131 1.5 lb weight loss; total 14.5 lb weight loss Next week I'll probably hit 10% and my original goal weight of 130!!!

Cameron - 199.6 4 lb Weight loss Total 24.6 Lb weight Loss. Goal weight has been met! I had to work my tail off this week since Jana was threatening to overtake me.

Kimi - 113 1 lb loss, total loss 12 lbs

Bryce- 200 O loss this week

Jason - 182.4 1 lb loss, total .8 loss

Meredith - 170.8 0.4 lb gain; 17.6 lb total loss

Annette - 123.4 1.4 Lb weight loss. Total 5.8 Lb weight loss

My big news

Guess what??!! I am Down a true whole size! Maybe even more. Yesterday I put on my blue dress from Jana's wedding and my yellow one from Annette's and Eric's and they fit wonderfully! Even loose around the tummy! THAT'S the amazing part! Jen, I'm sure I can wear the dark red one from your wedding too! I even wore the blue one to church. Dad was visiting the ward so he was on the stand and smiled happily when he saw me come in. AAaaahhh, sweet weight loss! OH, AND on Saturday I had to pull out my smaller pants I had put out in the garage because my current ones were practically falling off. They fit very nicely and even a little loose so maybe a smaller size is quickly on it's way! Woohoo! I attribute the smaller leg and buttness to the machines I am doing at the gym. 11 of them! It's fun! Makes me feel buff. Good luck to everyone on the weigh-in tomorrow! Oh, and Dad brought me 2 dozen red roses because I have been working so hard. Isn't that so sweet?

Mix it up!

A lot of us are kinda stuck right now! Don't forget that it's totally normal for your weight loss to slow down after a while. The key is to not give up, and remember that just keeping the weight off is an accomplishment in itself.

My exercise tip of the day: Mix it up! The best way to keep your body in burning mode is to not continue doing the same exerise all the time. 3 weeks is the longest you want to keep doing the same thing. Doing slightly different things every day is a good idea too. Like, if you go for walks, go up a really steep hill one day, walk extra fast the next. Then after a couple weeks quit walking and start biking or something.

Also, make sure you're exercising at the optimum time of day. Different people have different opinions as to what time of day is best in general, but in my opinion the best time is the time that you can do the most. For me, for instance, even though I'm really tired from my day, I can get a much better workout in the evenings than the morning. Jason found that the best time for him was mid-morning, so he actually works his work schedule around that. So try out different times of day and see what works for you!

What's everyone doing for exercise right now anyway?

Results are in

Cameron posted the results if anyone wants to check them.

Venting About My Parents

Warning: I'm sorry I'm posting this on this blog, but I can't really post it on my own, because it's not private like this one is.

I just have to say that I really am so very upset with my parents. They have completely saddened, embarassed, and disappointed me.

For all of you who don't know what's going on in that area of my life right now.... I've basically removed me (and Eric and the boys) from that toxic relationship that we had with my parents. Nothing has changed, they are not making an effort to change and I feel as unhappy as I ever have with them. I basically told my mom that in an e-mail, also telling her not to call or e-mail me back. Yet she keeps commenting, like nothing is the matter, on my blog (which I figured she would continue to check anyway) putting my sister in the middle to send me messages, and expects to see me and the boys next month when she comes out this way for Monica's lasik surgery. She continues to either ignore or not understand what I'm telling her.

And today....my dad basically called and left a message on my answering machine threatening legal action if we didn't let them see the boys. C'mon! What kind of parents/grandparents would do that!? Why can't they just understand what I'm feeling and respect my wishes??? Why can't they see that I'm so much happier when I don't have to deal with them? I'm miserable when it comes to them. I hate answering the phone when she calls...I hate opening e-mails from her...because I never know what rude, selfish, and manipulative thing she's going to say next. (Seriously, I scream at the phone when she calls, especially if it's more than one time a day.)

I'm so sad that it had to come to this. Every one of you guys know how many chances we've given them, how many times we've forgiven them, and how many times we've tried to let things go and move on with them. I just can't deal with it anymore. It's affecting my emotional well-being too much, and I don't want the venom of my mother's bite to ever reach my children; it's already affected way too much of my life that I don't want it affecting theirs.

I suppose on the plus side, though, all of the stress that this is causing me is making me forget and/or not want to eat, just like when I was in high-school (when I may have been slightly anorexic due to control issues...caused by my parents). So I suppose that's some strategy talk for ya!

I apologize if you didn't want to read this. Like I said, I've been wanting to get this out for a while, but feel like I can't put it on my own blog.

Dad's offer

Dad told me about this a couple weeks ago, but I don't think it got posted about. Dad has offered to refund the entry fee to anyone who loses 10% of their start weight. So that's a good goal even if you don't think you can win!

GO MOM!!!

Mom, I am so proud of you!!! 17 pounds?? You are doing so awesome!! I'm way impressed. You are TOTALLY going to meet your goal!! Echale ganas, mama!!! wish woo!! I can't wait to see you all sepsy!! :)

Yeah, Mom, I do believe that you are now officially the only one who has lost weight every single week! Since Cameron didn't lose any this week, I think it's just down to you! Way to be consistent and keep losing. GoooooOOOOOO MOM!
-Nettie

Week 8 Weigh In

Dad - 154. Lifting weights!

Mom - 193.5 1/2 lb loss! Total 17 lost. Gotta figure out how to make this work well again! What am I doing wrong???

Christine - 197.2 1 lb loss, total 9.4 loss (slow going, but I think I'm finally past my plateau.)

Eric - 224.0 0.8lb gain; 3.6lb total loss

Jana - 132.5 1.5 lb weight loss; total 13 lb weight loss

Cameron - 203.6 0.0 Weight loss/gain Total 20.6 Lb weight Loss

Kimi - 113 (but this is getting iffy because my scale just has that wiggly little needle so this is almost a guess...) 1 lb loss, total loss 12 lbs

Bryce- 200 O loss this week

Jason - 183.4 .2 gain, total .4 gain

Meredith - 170.4 3lb loss; 18lb total loss

Annette - 124.8 .4 Lb weight gain. Total 4.4 Lb weight loss In the words of whiney Stong Sad, "I don't like FOOD anymore."

This says:
Ahem:
Who's gonna win, gonna win, gonna win?
Jana's gonna win, gonna win, gonna win!
Who's gonna win?
Jana's win!
GoooooOOOOOO
JANA!
Thank you

Jana sent this to me at the beginning of the competition. Just thought you all might like to know what your up against! Let's beat her!!!!!!!!
Love, MoM

The Twilight Zone
A little help from Weight Watchers
I don't think any of us are using this program but this still can apply. I actually do this on Tuesday evenings! (And last night when Dad and I shared a lucious cookie at the mall). So maye the idea can still help out.
**********************
"The first time I became aware of the phenomenon known as "the twilight zone," I was a young, inexperienced Leader. One of my members approached me after a meeting, frustrated by her rate of weight loss. I asked her if there was anything she could pinpoint as a challenge or roadblock. She sheepishly admitted that immediately following the meeting each week, she indulged in a "free period" where, until the next morning, she would eat anything she wanted; she believed her POINTS® values didn't "reset" until then.
Her argument was that her week ended when she weighed in. The time between stepping on the scale and the next morning didn't really "count." Plus, she had all week to make up for the indulgence, she rationalized. I soon realized that she was not alone; many members were doing the same thing.
The truth is that the week doesn't end at your weekly weigh-in. As the program is written, you follow the program—and consume your allotted POINTS values—the full seven days of the week, not six and a half. The Number One reason for plateaus is relaxed adherence to the program. So if you're experiencing a plateau or are unhappy with your rate of weight loss, investigate how often you find yourself in the twilight zone.
The twilight zone is a time during which a member chooses not to count their POINTS values or eat Core foods, and instead indulges with reckless abandon in foods that they otherwise might carefully portion control. Sometimes the vacation from counting POINTS values is not just between weigh-in and the next morning, but extends to certain holidays, holy days, and full-moon nights.
On certain "magical" days in my meetings, I will hear rumblings of it. No one really wants to speak of it out loud because admitting it might mean having to give it up. While there seems to be a payoff in indulging, it can stall or even undermine getting to your loss-goal weight .
So, why jeopardize your success? According to Maria Walls, Senior Manager Program Development, the twilight zone may originate from too much restriction and deprivation. "Having been 'good' all week could possibly make you feel like you need to reward yourself before you gear back up again for the remainder of the week."
I must confess that I've experienced my fair share of twilight-zone moments. But five years into the program, my main goal is to incorporate everything I love into my plan, so that I never feel the need to "check out." There's not an overnight cure, but attending meetings, watching my emotional responses and focusing on my true goals have made them happen less and less frequently. I try to remind myself: "If I always do what I always did, I will always get what I always got."
Tips to avoid the twilight zone
Write down your Winning Outcome so that you are in touch with your goals and reasons for following the program.
Slowly incorporate foods that you deem as "bad" into your daily routine by carefully planning for and counting them.
Take a baby step. This week record everything that you ate during the twilight zone without assigning POINTS values to the indulgence. This small step can evolve into full awareness in just a couple of weeks. After a week or two, assign the POINTS values, and eventually try to portion control and track.
When you feel the urge to "check out," rely on an anchor (a strongly connected object, like a piece of clothing that you would like to fit into) that will remind you of your true goals."
******************
I hope this will help a little!

WE NEED HELP!

OK everyone, I can see that we need some encouragement and new ideas. It seems we are at a mid-contest slump. So let's look around at ideas or recipes or something to help us get back on track. Let's see some super-helper posts! We need Jillian from The Biggest Loser to come and help us out!
Love you all! YOU CAN DO IT!!

Week 7 Weigh-In

OK, I put last weeks information in PURPLE, that way, you can see what your previous weight and weight losses have been, so hopefully it's simpler when doing your calculations. I usually end up going back and forth trying to get the info, so I think this may be easier. Remember to use the red, blue and green for gains and losses and such. I think that has been very helpful.

Dad - 156 Since I ran 12 miles Saturday I have eaten like a maniac. But surely some of this is my new muscle weight!

Mom - 194 Did you see that? 1/2 lb, gone like the wind!

Christine - 198.2 1 lb gain total 8.4 loss (Eric, I know how you feel! I've been stuck at this weight for so long, and it doesn't seem to make any difference how much I exercise or eat.)

Eric - (Mer here) Eric doesn't want to weigh. He's frustrated and even said that he wants out of the competition. I don't know what to say or do to help him. 223.2

Jana - 134 .5 weight loss; total 11.5 lb weight loss

Cameron - 203.6 .4 lb weight loss. Total 20.6 lb weight loss.

Kimi - 114, 1 lb loss. Total loss 11 lbs

Bryce -200 0.0 weight gain/loss. Total 18 lb weight loss

Jason - 183.2 1 lb gain, total .2 lb gain

Meredith - 173.4 4lb loss; 15lb total loss. Yahoo! I hope I keep losing at this rate! :)

Annette - 124.4 .4 lb weight gain Total 4.8 lb weight loss

My Contribution

The other day I labeled all the posts on here. It may have been a waste of time, but maybe that was what I was trying to do, ok? Anyway, if you scroll down to "labels" on the side, you'll see all the categories I put on each one, including who contributed to each post. So if you want to see all the posts you've started or added to (not counting comments), you can see click on your name. Or you can click on strategy to see what we've said on that topic, etc. I think the most helpful one will be the weigh-ins, cuz if you click on that you'll see only the weigh-ins. Just so y'all know.

Results for this week

Thanks again to everyone for getting your weights completed and posted in time. The results have been posted, and though Jana thought the last graph was perfect, I decided to change it again. Props to Jenn for the suggestion - we're counting total % lost now instead of total % of starting weight. This means that higher numbers mean you've lost more weight. There is no more baseline (0 is the baseline), so we show the previous 3 weigh-ins on this graph. Leave your comments if you love it or hate it. If you don't care, I don't either :)

Keep up the good work!

CL

Week 6 Weigh-In

Dad - 154 1 more lost. Stop it already!

Mom - 194.5 2 lb loss total 15 lost WAHOO!!! That nasty
tummy of mine sticks out like that no more!

Christine - 197.2 1 lb loss, total 9.4 lb loss

Eric - 223.2

Jana - 134.5 .5 weight gain; total 11 lb weight loss

Cameron - 204 1.8 lb weight loss. Total 20.2 lb weight loss.

Kimi - 115 0 lb weight loss. total 15 lb weight loss. This is the hill...the really hard part!! Getting from 115 to 110. Gotta up the exercisage.

Bryce -200 0.0 weight gain/loss. Total 18 lb weight loss



Jason - 182.2 2.8 lb gain (that's ALL muscle, baby!) total .8 lb loss

Meredith - 177.4 12.8lb loss from last week; 11lb total loss. Yay! I'm in the green now! Too bad I didn't lose more than that, though...

Annette - 124 1.6 lb weight gain *indecipherablemumblingandgrumling* Total 5.2 lb weight loss

A Little Sabotage...

A Little Sabotage...

Think of this as the liquid version

of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

3 cups whole milk

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 (!) cup cocoa powder

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Mini marshmallows, or peanut butter cup to garnish.

In a blender, combine the milk, peanut butter, sugar and cocoa powder. Puree until very smooth, then transfer to a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Add chocolate chips and stir constantly until the chips have melted and the mixture is smooth, about 4 to 5 minutes. Ladle into mugs and garnish with marshmallows or peanut butter cup.

**********************

This came from the newspaper and the picture looks positively sumptuous. Someday I will try it. But, I don't know if I will use 1/2 cup cocoa because that is at least twice my normal amount. I think I would use 1/4 c to start and see how it is. So when Valentines Day rolls around YOU might just indulge! Of course, I would never.....

Jana here: Too bad mom is so evil. Here is a legal way to get that chocolatey peanut buttery goodness. Put a no-sugar-added fudgsicle in the microwave for 5 seconds, then scrape it off into a bowl. Add about a tablespoon of peanut butter and a tablespoon of lite cool whip. Stir it up and it's like chocolate peanut butter icecream! YUM! Hardly any sugar, only good fat, and protein!

Christine: As long as we're sharing recipes, I had a really yummy smoothie this morning. 1 c. milk (I'm a 1% girl) 4 frozen strawberries, 1/4 c. frozen blueberries, 1/4 c. orange juice concentrate, 1/2 scoop vanilla whey (protein) powder.

Beloved Mommy here again: DONT listen to them! I AM the Mom and I know YOU will love the peanutbutterychocolatey goodness of this hot chocolate concoction! Go for the gutso! Oops, I mean gusto! Give your sweet tounge what it really really wants. You will love it AND after all, it's almost Valentine's Day! YOU deserve it. REALLY. You do. Do you know that green makes you hungrier? It's true!
Mommy, you are so very wicked to temp us with such sumptuousness. That's looks so stinkin good! I was wicked the other day and let Cameron convince me to make brownies, but I only made a 1/4 batch. It was like...4 brownies. So that worked out well actually. We're postponing V-day again this year. With his b-day and then mine and now sophies, we're all partied out. PLUS, Cameron is going to St. Louis to supervise the movers who are moving his mom on the 14-16.

REAL Current Standings

Cam, I like the graph the way you fixed it. Perfecto.
Here are the actual current standings according to that website. Christine, I think you didn't have Kimi's or Bryce's original weight adjustments in yours? Clearly the main reason I did this is that it bumps me up a place...brew haha...and I have plans to surpass Kimi soon, who can't keep losing because she doesn't have much to lose! Yesssssss...

1. Cam--91.8%
2. Kimi--92%
3. Jana--92.1%
4. Bryce--93.5%
5. Mom--93.8%
6. Dad--95.7%
7. Christine--96%
8. Eric--97.4%

Results are on TIME!

Congrats to everyone for weighing in on time, and a big pat on the back to everyone for the success thus far. As a group we have lost just over 96 pounds! Way to go!!!

I have posted the current stats - including adjusting the starting weight for Bryce and Kimi, per their request.

Is this graphic format better?

CL

Current Standings

Here we are in order of who's winning!

Name -- current percentage of start weight

1.Kimi -- 89.1%
2.Bryce -- 91.74%
3.Cam -- 91.79
4.Jana -- 92%
5.Mom -- 93.7%
6.Dad -- 95.6%
7.Chris -- 95.9%
8.Eric -- 97.3%


Disclaimer-- I didn't double check these numbers, I don't promise they're right!


Annette Here: Reese told me that with the scale discrepancies, they decided that Bryce's starting weight should be about 4 pounds lighter, so we need to recalculate that.

Week 5 Weigh-in

Woo, today is Mer's last FATTY weigh-in! She'll rock the house next week! -Jana
Mer, good job hardly gaining any the last few weeks! I always gain tons at the end! -christine

Dad - 155 2.5 lb weight loss. Come on dad, let's see some muscle weight!!

Mom - 196.5 2.5 lb loss. Total 13 lb weight loss. still on track!

Christine - 198.2 .2 lb gain 8.4 total loss Dang! Yesterday AND the day before I was 197!

Eric - 221.6 2.4 lb weight loss (since 2 weeks ago) 7lb total weight loss And rugby starts tonight!

Jana - 134 2 lb weight loss, total 11.5 lb weight loss.

Kimi - 115 1 lb loss, 10 lb total weight loss

Cameron - 205.8 1.8 lb weight loss. Total 18.4 lb weight loss.

Bryce - 200 2 lb weight loss. Total 18 lb weight loss i (cherise) MADE him weigh himself when he came home on his lunch break. ha!

Jason - 179.4 .8 lb loss, total 3.6 lb loss Jason's back has finally healed enough that he can exercise!

Meredith - 190.2 0.2lb loss from last week, 1.8lb total gain Heck yeah it's my last fatty weigh-in! Although, I'm sure I won't lose as much as you think by next week.... I'll still have a bunch of fluids to pee off.

Annette - 122.4 3.2 lb weight loss. Total 6.8 lb weight loss. Back on track, baby!

Sneakrets

So, I had to borrow some of Jen's old jeans back when I was a fatty. But the other day, I noticed the smallest pair I had borrowed from her, which fit me pretty snugly at first, were quite roomy. SO I tried on some of my size 3 jeans. :) Yes, thats right. They FIT. *sigh* its such a beauteous thing to feel cute again. :) Of course, I still want to lose a bit more, so they don't fit me quite as snug on the thighs, but hey hey its still a victory!!
My exercising has been mostly all the walking I do to all of my classes. It seriously is a workout. Especially the stairs up to Old Main. I don't know how many there are, but I know there are a lot. SO, if you guys don't get to the gym, try parking your car as far away from the store as you can and fast walk into the store. Take the stairs more often. As for eating, it helps me to have healthy snacks around that I actually like. For me, thats cucumbers, grapes, baby spinach for yummy salads, baby carrots, etc... So anytime I get the munchies, I just eat those! :)
OH, and a really good ab workout: Lay on your back, and put a rolled up towel like right under your hips, underneath you, and bend your knees. then, lift up your feet, and alternate touching your toes to the ground, kinda fast. Just barely touch your toe to the ground, and then lift it back up to the bent position as you bring your other big toe down to the ground. Do it fast, keeping your core muscles tight and using your lower abs to do the work. Good stuff!! If this explanation doesn't make sense, call me and I will explain it better. :)

Brag time

I bought size 6 jeans tonight. Because they fit me, and not the 'i can barely squeeze in' kind of fit, but the actual, they fit me and look good kind of fit. Ahh...I am happy.

Absolute Silence

I'm surprised at the lack of chatter on the blog this week. Everyone doing okay? Or perhaps everyone is upset that someone new every week ruins the weigh-in by not posting. Maybe we do need a one strike policy.

Anyway, I updated the results page to show the results so far!

Have a wonderful weekend!

CL

Week 4 Weigh-in

Dad - 157.5 0.0 weight loss. I'm getting boring.

Mom - 199 2 lb weight loss: total 10.5 loss. I thought I would lose more this week. Is this color required?

Christine - 198 3.4 lb weight loss; total 8.6 lb loss

Eric - out of town, will weigh first thing tomorrow morning. SORRY!

Jana - 136 1.5 lb weight loss; total 9.5 lb loss

Kimi - 116 2 lb weight loss; total 9 lb loss
I am thinking my starting weight should have been 125, not 129. Sorry for the scale issues.

Cameron - 207.6 1.2 Lb Weight loss. Total 16.4 lb weight loss

Bryce - 202 4 lb weight loss (since 2 weeks ago) Total: 16 lb Weight loss

Jason - 180.2 .7 lb weight gain; total 2.5 lb loss

Meredith - 190.4 2.4lb gain from last week; 2lb total gain Well I knew last week had to be a freak accident that I lost. But at least I'm only hovering around this number and not going up and up and up; thank heavens for that. I suppose I only have one more weigh-in like this, and then all of the baby, amniotic fluid, extra blood volume, placenta, etc. weight will be gone! MWhahahaha. Well, then I gotta struggle with the actual fat I put on over the last three kids....

Annette - 125.6 0.0 weight loss/gain. Total 3.6 lb weight loss

Now Here's What I Call Bragging

Week 3 Results

So, I waited a few extra days for Bryce, and I understand Annette made several reminder calls, but i still haven't heard - so I updated the site anyway and hopefully we'll hear something from him soon.

Personally, I think he's disappointed because he gained weight, so he doesn't want to post! What do you think?

CL

Click Here for the results page

Care for a Brag, anyone?

Time to share some successes!

I thought we could share some joys of our weight loss. Who wants to go first? me? Oh, ok, if you insist.

Jana:I bought size 9 jeans the other day...a size smaller than I have fit into for a long time!!! Also, I think I need a smaller bra, HOORAY! And today I was looking in the mirror and I thought, hmm, my arms look a little smaller! Those are my joys.

I don't want to be BRAGGER, but...

Annette's Joys: My size 8 jeans that I bought in december are looking a little roomie could it be possible that I could fit into a size 6?? I'm certainly going to try!

And Cameron's pants are practically falling off of him, I want to get him new ones, but I'm hoping that he'll keep doing well and get even smaller, so I'm holding off at least until he REALLY needs new ones.

Mer: All I really have to brag about is the fact that I found a REALLY awesome cinnamon rolls recipe. (Meredith! how could you ???)They're so yummy.... I really need to have this baby so I can kick these cravings in the butt.

Christine: I'm fitting into all the cute shirts that I've had hanging in my closet for inspriation! AND I need smaller garments! I'm 199 now, which means I'm lower than I've been in over 5 years, and that I've lost 30 pounds all together!

CHEERS!!! for everyone! Isn't this fabulous? We will all be so much healthier! I am also thrilled to have broken the 200 barrier! yea me! So I am down 10 lbs, but If I count the extra 5 I had lost by Christmas, It's actually 15. I have found some awesome exercise machines for me at my new gym and they are really helping. It feels so great to have more control over my eating, and to Want to eat less! Hey, I am so impressed with Cam! How are you doing it? Eating less? Exercising?

OK, People, let's work on being a little more prompt with our weigh-ins, shall we?

Weigh-In for Week 3!

OK, here goes.....

Dad - 157.5 Enough loss, now it's Bulk-Up time!

Mom - 201 3 Lb Weight Loss; Total 8.5 Lb Weight Loss. Wahoo!!! Next week will be ONE-derland for me too!!!

Christine - 201.4

Eric - 224 0lb gain/loss; 3.6lb total loss

Jana - 137.5 .5 weight loss; total 8 lb weight loss

Kimi -

Cameron - 208.8 2.4 Lb Weigh Loss; Total 15.2 Lb Weigh Loss

Bryce -

Jason - 179.5

Meredith - 188.0 2lb loss from last week; 0.4lb total loss (WHAT THE HECK!? I knew I haven't been very hungry lately, but woah!!!! And that was before I peed, because I normally weigh after I pee.)

Annette - 125.6 .4 lb weight loss; Total 3.6 Lb weight loss

Cool Site...

I just took this Fabulous health quiz. It's awesome. It asks tons of questions about your family, health, friends, eating habits, excercise and lots of stuff. It then tells you your body's age in comparison with your Calendar age. It takes an hour or two after you take it for your results to come in but this lady that told me about it said that after taking it, it would send her an e-mail a day saying what things she could eat or do to improve her overall health. The site it http://www.realage.com/
Make sure you have fifteen to twenty mins to take it.

Jana & Mer: Their true desire

Here are Jana and Meredith in their

skinny glory. I'm pretty sure this is how

they want to look again!

Results are in... FINALLY

UPDATE: Sorry for the confusion of the poll. The current method will show every week, so we will have a complete history of every week of the program. This means that every week the graph will get bigger and bigger, it'll be hard to compare everyone at a glance since you will have to scroll through it all. As an alternative, I can limit the graph to just show the first weigh-in (100%) and the previous two weigh-ins. On week 8, you'll see your latest weigh-in (week 8) and the previous one to compare how you did last week (week 7), and the first one (week one) to see how you've done overall. This can be done as a group or individually.

Or I can set it to have a full history of every weigh - in combined as a group (as it is now) or individually - everyone would have their own graph and it would be more of an individual event - though you could scroll through and compare each individual. Is this a little more clear?

Also, I'm doing most of this by hand, so it's fully customizable - if you'd like to see everything (or anything) posted in a different way, please make the suggestion and I'll look for a reason to say no.

Thanks!

--------------

Thanks to the slight, uh hum, delay, the results chart was delayed 24 hours out of necessity. Don't worry though, it's been updated and it's posted. Click on the link on the top right of this page to go take a look!

Also, let me know if there's any other info you want to see. I recognize that as we continue to lose so much weight, this chart is going to grow wginormous. I have posted a new poll to the right investigating your interest in the data. Take a minute to let me know what you think!

Dance Y'alls

CL

Cap'n Geach and the Shrimp Shack Shooters

Hey, I'm excited to see the results on the chart! Where are they? I can't wait...

I, too, am very happy that we're all doing it together, becaue we all have each other to answer to.

Yesterday I went to Bally's and had a tour and did a workout. Today I got a free session with a personal trainer, which was cool. It's nice to have someone tell you what to do. She's all, "I want you to think about getting a personal trainer, ok?" Ok, sure, Let me think, NO! I don't have enough to actually join the gym, let alone pay $59 a session with a personal trainer. She measured my body fat and said I'm at 25% which isn't too bad, but not in the healthy range. If I had $25 a month I think I would actually join a gym because I really like going.

I just wanted to share that I did that and it was fun and I felt brave going and claiming my free 8 weeks at the gym. She also told me I need new shoes which I probably should have known already because I've had my shoes over a year and put a lot of miles on them.

Well, maybe this was more like an email but since it pertains to this competition I'll put it on here!

Great Job Losers!!

I offer a hearty CONGRATULATIONS! to all you losers! We are the Best! I am SO glad we are doing this contest. I need to loose weight very much and you are all such a great inspiration! And I really need that. Sorry to say that even previous weddings didn't inspire me enough to do a good weight loss - and I really thought that would do the trick! But having so many of my loved ones working together on this in such a fun spirit truly is inspirational to me. Thank you Jana for the idea and to everyone for adding to the .blogfun. I love reading the big ideas and plans. I bought a set of weights yesterday and Dad and I love them. And I will either join a fitness club or buy my own treadmill. It is about 17° with the wind chill (or windshield for one girl...)factor here today. I will not be taking a walk outside thankyou.
So bless you all in your efforts! And be not discouraged for long at a time because there is always another day to do better. And You Will! I love you all!!!

Weigh-In for Week 2!

Dad - 159 1 lb weight loss, Total 3 lb weight loss Better one than none!

Mom - 204 1.5 lb weight loss, Total 5.5 lb weight loss But I'm still on track for my goal of 30!

Christine - 201.6 3.4lb loss, 5lb total loss (maybe next week I'll be in ONEderland!)

Eric - 224 0.2lb gain; total 3.6lb loss.

Jana - 138.0-2 lb weight loss; total 7.5 lb weight loss (My scale gave me about 3 different weights all within a half hour, so I took one in the middle. The first time it said I'd only lost a pound...so I went back to bed. Then I got up and it was a little less, and then 10 minutes later it said I'd lost 2 1/2. So we'll take the the one that says I lost 2. Waah.)

Kimi - 117.5 .5 lb weight loss

Cameron - 211.2 2 lb weight loss, Total 12.8 lb weight loss

Bryce - 206 4 lb weight loss, Total 12 lb weight loss

Jason - 181 0.8lb loss, 2lb total loss (pretty good considering he's been bed-ridden for most of the week.)

Meredith - 190.0 0.8lb weight gain from last week, total 1.6lb weight gain (Hey, at least I'm consistent! You just wait 'til this kid is out of me....)

Annette - 126 1.8 lb weight gain, Total 3.2 lb weight loss (Hm, I knew my dipping below 125 couldn't last. What a let down)

Weighing In

Everybody: Be sure you weigh yourself at the same time of day and wearing the same thing as the first weigh-in. If you weighed yourself at night the first time and want to switch to mornings, you need to figure out how much more you weigh at night and adjust your starting weight. Or else you always need to weigh at night, especially for the final weigh-in. We need to be STRICT because there is MONEY at steak! OOPS, stake. Even so it is. Amen.

Amen to the Steak is what I say!

One Day Left

Alrighty ya'll, just one more day for us to bust our butts to get that weight off. So, do your best and eat your best and don't give in to temptation! Gooooooo US!

Flax seed

Jen: I shared this with Mom and Jana already...but I though maybe the rest of you would like it too! I love flax seed...milled flax seed. It's really easy to use- I sprinkle it or mix it into at least one meal a day. Just 2 teaspoons has as much fiber (4g) as 2 1/2 cups of oatmeal. And it is one of the best forms of Omega 3 fatty acids, (walnuts have about 10% Omega acids, whereas flax contains 50%) it's very powerful antioxidant and is fabulous for cholesterol. You can also use flax seed oil bet it looses a lot of nutritional value. Plus the milled is really so easy to use. I sprinkle it on the kids cereal and they never know! Or mix it into dinner. I got it at a local grocery store and it was under $10.00.

p.s. if you click on the flax seed (here or above) that is a great website!!!

Accuracy

Okay now wait.

Annette and Kimi both said their weights aren't accurate. What about everyone else? We were all supposed to weigh ourselves at the same time of day, wearing the same thing, on the same scale. Did everyone do that?

Net Here: Since I'm not official, I'm not terribly worried about my inaccuracy, but I'll have Cameron change mine anyway, cause I believe my start weight should be about 2 lbs lighter. And I told Kimi to have Jorge weigh himself on her scale, then on his as soon as he got home to see if there was a big difference so we could see how accurate her weights were. But I don't know if she remembered. Kimi? Did you?

Jen: I would just like to say CONGRATS to all of you!!! Holy shamoly, you all lost...and some lost A LOT! Good job!!

Strategy

OK, so everybody did so awesome this week that I want to hear everybody's strategies. I'll start.

Jana: I'm on the South Beach Diet, and the first 2 weeks are very strict, meant to reverse insulin resistance (reteach your body to process sugars properly) and get rid of your sugar and carb cravings. And guess what, it's working! Last night I made spaghetti for Jeff and Emma, and I had chicken and veggies, and I wasn't jealous of their pasta at all.

Typical day:

Breakfast: Vegetable omelet (when I say veggies, keep in mind I don't eat potatoes or carrots b/c they are not acceptable as far as blood sugar goes..and sugar makes you fat.)

Snack: nuts
Lunch: Tuna salad and sugar-free jell-o
Snack: celery stuffed with laughing cow light cheese
Dinner: Balsamic chicken and cooked veggies (red peppers, onions, garlic, zucchini, mushrooms cooked w/olive oil, salt, and pepper)
Dessert: Ricotta creme (part-skim ricotta cheese w/cocoa, vanilla, and sugar substitute. Yummyish, kind of strange texture)
I have been doing 1/2 hour aerobic exercise every morning as well.
So that's me--I haven't had any sugar since New Years day--the most I've had is in light yogurt, which I realized I can't actually have until after my strict 2-week phase. Then I'll be able to have one or two fruits and one serving of whole-grain carbs a day. I do miss the fruit, and cereal. But I don't miss pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes like I thought I would, since that's what I lived on before. On Sunday I made cookies because I love to bake on Sundays, and it was hard to resist the cookie dough, but not so much the cookies themselves. We gave most of them away, and I'm not all that tempted by the ones left here.

What is everybody else doing?

Christine: My eating strategy is totally up in the air right now, because my weight loss has leveled out and I need to step it up again! So I'll be checking out everyone else's strategies to decide what to do, so everybody do this post!

For exercise I've been doing an hour on the treadmill, but now I'll be adding my new turbo jam videos! Did the first one last night, it's pretty sweet.

UPDATE!! I've decided to do south beach! I started on the 10th and I like it! Also I highly recommend turbo jam, it's tons of fun, lots of hard work but not too hard to follow. Plus there are lots of different work-outs so you don't get bored.

Net here - Ooh, I've seen commercials for the turbo jam videos, they seem pretty dang awesome. We no longer have snackies in the house. We can snack on fruit or yogurt, but mostly I just don't snack anymore, unless it's a little handfull of dark chocolate. I knew I couldn't give up chocolate, so only dark for me, and only a little bit. We're eating more veggies and less red meat and fat and smaller portions. We use our Wii to do dance dance revolution, put it on workout mode and set it for the number of calories we want to burn. We did 160 last time, but will probably do 200 next time. We bought body balls and sit and those if we watch tv at night. That's the gist of what I'm doin.

Mer here...

I have no strategy. I'm eating less, but still eating stuff that I probably shouldn't be (like freakin' Girl Scout cookies....they couldn't have come at a worse time!) But I expected to continue to gain until this baby is born. I mean, it's kind of inevitable. But I am shooting for just a half a pound a week gain, which is just enough.

Eric, I have noticed, is mainly eating less. I don't see him snacking nearly as much, and he has cut way back on the soda. Rugby will be starting soon, and that is when he really plans on kicking some butt.

We did get some pilates videos, but haven't had a chance to do them yet.

My Turn! It's MoM. I am using the Body For Life book. When I am being a good girl, I choose a protien and a carb and veggies from the chart in the book of acceptable foods and eat them in the right doses. I mean serving sizes. (and Lean Cuisine lunches at school) . And I try to eat what they call 6 meals a day but actually it just being sure to snack properly so you don't get really hungry. The excercises are Weight Training so right now I am just using 10 lb dumbells to get started and doing the excercises in the book. It's nice because there are pictures and descriptions of the lifts to do. I am learning so I have a ways to go to figure out how to do it right. I do that every other day and the other days I will go to curves or I might start at a real gym I will be touring tomorrow.

DaD is eating what I fix and eating salads at Buster's Restaraunt at many lunch times. Of course he is still running 3 - 4 times a week and will be starting the weights too this week.

The results are in...

Week one is over and Kimi really showed who's boss.

Check out how everyone is doing here.

Weigh In Day!

Alright, people, let's see how we're doing! Remember to weigh in today. I've been thinkin it's too bad I'm an unofficial contestant, cause maybe I'M GONNA WIN! Mwahahaha! Too bad I can't.
Let's Get This Party Started!

Kimberly: 118 lbs 11 lb weight loss .... BUT i weighed myself of two different scales because i moved and now i have no idea which was right to begin with... :/

Bryce: 210 lbs 8 lb weight loss

Mer: 189.2 (yes, I gained, but that just means Logan is growing...not that I'm fat, OK????) 0.8lb weight gain

Eric: 223.8 3.8lb weight loss

Jana: 140.0 (three words: South Beach, Baby!) 5.5lb weight loss

Christine: 205 (wow, you guys are doing awesome! While I seem to have hit a plateau . . . Wah!) 1.6lb weight loss

Jason: 181.8 1.2lb weight loss


Dad: 160 2lb weight loss


Mom: 205.5 4lb weight loss

Annette: 124.2 5 lb weight loss

Cameron: 213.2 10.8 lb weight loss


christine here -- how are we supposed to submit our weight on the website? When I go to the link it says put in your starting weight.

Net here: Ignore what it says and just submit. it sends an email to cameron so he can put the info into his spreadsheet. And how awesome is my husband for losing 10 pounds?!

HOW DID CAMERON LOSE TEN POUNDS!!???? -Jana

Sexy mamas

I've been looking through many a photos girls...you are all lookin' as hot as a dang quesadilla! p.s I know this doesn't have anything to do with the Biggest Loser....but eating quesadillas does.

Don here.

Just thinking about the book Cherise gave me for Christmas, "The Secret." According to the book, the secret to realizing a dream is to vividly visualize accomplishing the thing you want to accomplish. It says that, if you want to be thinner, you have to think of yourself as thin rather than concentrating on losing weight. I really don't care that much about losing weight, (except that I'd like to keep your money) but I would like to be healthier, lower my blood sugar and cholesterol level and be in generally better shape. So I'm visualizing. I'm visulaizing Turkey Trot 2008, Thanksgiving Day. I pull out ahead the last quarter mile. I have a comfortable lead over both Jeff and Jasper (the double J threat), when suddenly I hear footsteps. Impossible! With only 100 yards left Jeff has closed the gap and he's gaining fast. My heart starts to drop. This is going to be a repeat of Turkey Trot 2006. Rats! But suddenly, I remember that I now weigh 155.5 and I've been averaging 20 miles a week at 8:45 a mile. Meantime, Jeff has cooked and consumed one too many pans of Butterscotch Delight. Just as Jeff is about to overtake me, I kick in the afterburners and win by a good 10 yards. The crowd bursts into spontaneous applause. The Blue Angels do a salute overflight just 200 feet over the deck.

Turkey Trot 2008: Bring it.

AWESOME!!

This is Jen, I would just like to say...you guys look so awesome on your profiles!! I love them! Jana I know it is so hard to know what's actually good for you. Everyone says different things. You could just stick to what you know, that's probably enough. Like you said no sugar etc. But remember you actually NEED carbs...just not the white flour carbs. Last year we switched from white pasta to whole wheat pasta, and I love it! Same with rice and bread. You guys are so fabulously cool!!

Food Pyramid

Just as a guideline, here is the food pyramid (in case you haven't seen it in a while). You'll notice that "they" (whoever they are) changed it from the old one. So check it out! And also, FYI, this is also what diabetics go by. And the best diet is a diabetic one.

Free gym pass

Hey, today I saw in a magazine that you can go to Bally's total fitness and get a free 8-week pass good through March, I think. So I looked it up and saw that it's part of a "National Body Challenge" through Discovery Health. I'm going to sign up. The link is on the link list. And here it is again. http://health.discovery.com/national-body-challenge/national-body-challenge.html

We Can Only Hope

Mer here.....

I thought it would be fun to see what everyone hopes and wishes they could look like again.

For me:
Junior-In-High-School-Cheerleader-Meredith would be so awesome. But definitely not going to happen. Although I still have the uniform in case I do make it down that small. I would be on cloud nine if I could fit into that thing again.



Wedding-Day-Meredith is probably more do-able, and I'd be happy with that. One of my goals, actually, is to fit back into this dress so Eric and I can do "Trash The Dress" together.



So....what about you guys?

Jana Here!

This is what I think a lot of us want to look like:

Net here: Heck yeah, I want to look like me in this pic.

And here's my wedding-day-Jana, which is what I'd like as well. I think I may have actually lost weight after getting married and before getting pregnant, but I'll go for wedding day rather than pre-pregnancy--it's a little more doable.

I also want to report that I finally went to the doctor, because my cough got worse again when we got home, and he says I have a mild case of pneumonia. So I won't be exercising this week, unfortunately.

And while I'm posting, I wanted to share my frustration about my realization that I don't know what I should and shouldn't eat. I'm afraid of carbs, fat, and sugar, so what in the world am I supposed to eat? Everybody says different things, so all I know is that veggies are healthy, though certain kinds are better than others. It's all so confusing!

And, Mer, that trashing the dress website is pretty cool!

Christine now!

Here's me in college. I'd actually like to look a bit better than these pics, but I don't know how possible that is!

Hey Jana, your picture over on the side is awesome, but isn't it way old?? You're way thinner now!

Annette Here:
I want to fit this well into these jeans again:

And looking this good in my wedding dress would be nice.
And Mer, that picture of Eric is Awesome.

Mer again...

Eric's not home right now, but I found this picture and thought maybe he'd want to look like this. Or not. I just thought it would be funny to post! I could definitely stare at this picture all day long.....

Sexy!

I just want to say that there are some truly incredible "before" photos on here. I mean, WOW! I got on and just laughed! I'm glad everybody has as awesome pictures on here as the one I put on!

Web Tracker

Hey everyone,

I wanted to let you all know that there will be an online tracker that posts our results every week in one place to compare how everyone is doing. I have integrated it into a website I whipped up for this contest. If you would like to weigh-in using the link in the upper left that'd be wonderful. If you don't, that's fine too, I'll just scour the blog and enter them myself prior to posting. If you would like to see anything different or have any suggestions, please let me know!

Click here to see the site!

Starting Weigh-In

Official Contestants
Dad: 162 * 160
Mom: 209.5 * 205.5
Christine: 206.6
Eric: 227.6
Jana: 145.5
Cameron: 224.2
Kimi: 129
Bryce: 218


Unofficial Participants
Jason: 183
Meredith: 188.4 (34 weeks prego)
Annette: 129.2