For Helena

Hi Helena, I was going to write back to you but then couldn't find the message you sent with your results so I guess I'll hopefully get you on this.

You asked me what my "secret" was and I guess the only thing I can say is Weight Watchers.  I am a die-hard fan.  I've tried a multitude of diets, all of which worked but I gained the weight right back.  I LOVE this diet because it doesn't seem like a diet that much because you don't have to deprive yourself.  If you want to use some of your points on a cookie then you can, and I have.  The point system is great and they give you a range you can have.  For my weight it is an 18-25 point range (most fruits are 2 points and a LOT of vegies are 0 points and the higher the fiber content the less points which means a w.w. type slice of bread is only 1 point whereas a white piece is 2 so it definitely pays to eat healthy on this diet) so on the days I'm hungrier I eat closer to the maximum and on other days I just use the low end.  I've also exercised for years and years so have continued that plus have added a bit during the contest.  I never lose a ton of weight each week but it's pretty steady which is nice.  You are doing awesome though, I think everybody is and we should all be proud of ourselves, I know I am.

Redundancy rules!

O.K., I'm just going to make a cohesive list and put them all together in one column for our week #7 weigh-in.

Jason-9.8%

Julie M.-9.6%

Greg-9.1%

Angela-8.6%

Helena-8%

Matt-7.4%

Julie R.-7%

Justin-6.4%

Adam-5.4%

Dave-5%

Doug-4%

Sara-3.2%

Lianna-3.1%

Wayne-2.6%

There, that is just easier to follow I think.  I'm glad I checked my "Trash" file as that's where I found Helena and Dave's results!  Good job everybody!!!!

Three more

O.K., I got three more results in so only now need Dave and Helena.  So, here are the three others.

Jason (who was mean and beat me)-9.8%

Julie R.-7%

Adam-5.4%

Oops!

I just noticed that I put "Julie J." rather than "Julie R.",  sorry Julie, there are still times I think Julie Jones even though you've been a Reynolds for a few years now.  

Results to me please

Hey, this is for Julie J., Jason, Dave, Helena and Adam.  Sara and Greg's internet is down and has been for a couple of days so she hasn't been able to get on her computer so not only can't post but can't get the results that people sent to her.  So, would those of you that I mentioned please send your results to me and then I'll add them to the list below that I'll post for the time being.  My e-mail address is "Justussix@charter.net".

So here are the standings minus the 5 of you.

Julie Montgomery-9.6%

Greg-9.1%

Angela-8.6%

Matt-7.4%

Justin-6.4%

Doug-4%

Lianna-3.1%

Sara-3.2%

Wayne-2.6%

I'll send and amended one as soon as I get all the numbers in.

Gung-ho... (a little motivation for you)

So I've completely scrapped the South Beach Diet. Not that it wasn't working, but the phase 2 average of 1 lbs a week of weight loss just was not going to cut it for this competition.

Did I mention I am competitive? Really...reallly...really competitive...and I fully intend to win.

It is time for drastic measures. Call it the "final lap." 3 weeks left, and my lofty goal is to drop 3lbs every week. I have gone with an over-the-top work-out regiment, very light high-energy meals and lots of water.

I've drastically pulled back my portions to the point where I literally can barely finish a bowl of cereal.

I'm running 3 miles of hills (on the treadmill if I have the little guy with me) every morning, followed by strength training (alternating days between arms and legs, light weight reps of 30) followed by a gruelling ab workout.

2 days a week I will also play an hour and a half of basketball or I will do an hour of tae-bo if I don't play. Julie has a "wedding day workout" dvd which has neat little 11 minute workouts (arms/legs/abs/cardio) so sometimes I will also do those as well.

Gone are the days of the Dance Dance Revolution or the 3-egg omelets with 3 strips of bacon for breakfast. It's a 3 mile run, a banana and a cup of coffee now.

You may beat me, but you're gonna have to work hard for it. :)

Good luck. That is all.

You just can't win.

So, I was so proud and smug last week because without doing ONE thing different I lost about 3 lbs. and had my best week ever.  Naturally I then assumed I was going to be able to coast the next 4 weeks if my weight was just basically going to melt away.  Harumph.  Again I have done nothing different but as of today, Saturday, I have not even lost half a pound!  What gives with that, I'm so insulted.  I told Wayne I was going to enjoy my place in the sun for a week as I knew it wouldn't last and I predicted right.  I can actually feel Angela and Jason breathing down my neck.  Wow, we now only have about 3 weeks to go.

Week Six Results

The results are in. I would just like to say that my mother sabotaged us this weekend. We ATE AND ATE AND ATE SOME MORE, all while she snuck around, flexed that will power gene, and got skinnier by the minute. We were duped!

Julie Montgomery-8.6%
Angela-8.1%
Jason-7.9%
Julie Reynolds-7.0%
Helena-7.0%
Adam-6.6%
Greg-6.2%
Matt-6.0%
Justin-5.5%
Doug-5.4%
Dave-4.0%
Sara-3.1%
Lianna-1.5%
Wayne-1.0%

I'm sure others can count

But obviously I cannot.  These are week FIVE results.  You know, halfway to 10.  One more than four and one less than six.  

Week Four Results AND The Winner is...

Congrats everyone, we are halfway there!  I am hoping at the end of this to do a cumulative number of pounds lost.  I wonder where we are right now?

The first thing I'd like to announce is our winner for the greatest percentage lost this week.  It is (drum roll), Justin Baerlocher!  He is now the proud owner of a $10 Starbucks gift card.  He lost 1.5%, going from a loss of 4.0% to 5.5%.  However, there were a number of people who lost 1% or more this week and I think they are all to be recognized.  They include Julie Montgomery, Wayne, Doug, Jason, Adam, and Matt.  I think at this stage in the game that is very impressive.  Good job!

Results

Greg-8.0%

Jason-7.0%

Julie Montgomery-6.7%

Angela-6.4%

Doug-6.4%

Helena-6.3%

Julie Reynolds-6.3%

Matt-6.0%

Justin-5.5%

Adam-5.2%

Lianna-4.0%

Sara-4.0%

Wayne-2.0%

Dave-2.0%

p.s.  Keep working because you never know when a special weekly bonus might show up again!

Half-way there!

In some respects I can't believe that 5 weeks have elapsed since we started this but then other times it seems like it has gone on forever.  I will be the first to admit I'll be glad when the next 5 weeks are behind us too.  

Now I'm already looking ahead to next year when I'm assuming we'll do this again (I like the idea myself, it really helped me take off my holiday weight and then some).   I personally think 6-8 weeks would be long enough, what do the rest of you think?  Especially 8 weeks, that would be long enough, I think, for a few to have lost all the weight they need to and will have given the others who may still want to drop a pound or two a really good start.  Comments?

Crock pot site and recipe

I have been using so many recipes off a slow cooker blog. I thought I would include the link if anyone is interested. The salmon recipe below is off of her site and we LOVED it. REALLY LOVED IT. My notes are that I obviously doubled the recipe for my family, two hours on high was perfect in my slow cooker, and those who like heat (as in Greg) can up the amount of red pepper flakes.

www.crockpot365.blogspot.com

Sweet and Spicy Salmon

--2 largish pieces of salmon
--2 T brown sugar
--1 t paprika
--1 t cumin
--1/2 t crushed garlic
--1/2 t oregano
--1/2 t kosher salt
--1/2 t red pepper
--aluminum foil


The Directions.

--in a medium-sized dish or small pan ( I used a glass pie plate), combine all of your spices with the brown sugar
--spread out a length of foil on the counter for each piece of fish
--put each piece of fish in the center of it's own foil
--rub the top of the salmon with your spice and sugar mixture (it's okay to mound up the spice a bit, and it is fine to only rub the top)



--fold the foil over and crimp up the sides to make a contained packet



--put the foil packets into a dry crockpot

--cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 3-5.




--serve with rice or quinoa and some steamed or roasted vegetables.

Week Four Results

So, I think this week was hard for a lot of people. I'm not going off numbers, more the annecdotal evidence and a weigh in the day after the Superbowl. In order to provide a bit more motivation Greg and I are donating a small but fun surprise to the person who loses the greatest percentage THIS WEEK. Not cummulative, but between now and Monday. Go get them tiger!

Greg-7.5%
Julie Reynolds-6.3%
Angela-6.0%
Helena-6.0%
Julie Montgomery-5.7%
Jason-5.7%
Doug-5.4%
Dave-5.0%
Matt-5.0%
Lianna-4.0%
Justin-4.0%
Adam-3.8%
Sara-3.4%
Wayne-0.9%