Go for it Jason!

Jason, like I told Angela who also wants to drop another 10 lbs., you should definitely go for it now.  The worst part about dieting is getting motivated and the motivation and drive is there right now.  It'll be easier to drop it now than any other time.

I can't believe how much thinner your face is, that's actually where I notice it most of myself too.  It's a good feeling isn't it, that and the sagging clothes that were too tight at one point.

Honestly I wasn't so sure that Angela wasn't going to beat you, she was a driven woman and worked her tail off, obviously.  I berated myself at one point for having the one bad week in week 9 as I thought it probably cost me 2nd place but Angela would have beaten me anyway.  Good for both of you and good luck in the next few weeks, let us know if you reach the 40 lb. loss.  How incredible that you already have 30+ under your belt, what a phenomenal accomplishment.

And GO JULIE too, I know she dropped a lot of weight as well, good for her!

before & after

Before (October 2008)



After (March 2009)

So here's the difference maker!! I'm sure to have cut at least half a pound of hair off on weigh in day and I won by 8/100th's of a percent! I gotta thank Sara for the idea though, early on in the contest!

0.08% = 0.17lbs = 2.7-ounce margin of victory

Angela, wow you must have worked your TAIL OFF to even make it that close!!

Congrats to us all! Greg and Sara, this was a great idea! I still am hoping to lose another 10-ish pounds or so before all is said and done until I am in the shape I want to be in. (I've given myself 4 weeks to do it so I'm not tempted to slack.)

Julie and I are going to the gym on a regular basis and are making a habit of it (I still got up this morning at 5:30 to hit the gym) so this has been a positive experience all around. I would love to do this again next year (though I hope I don't NEED to do it)

Thank you all for the dedication and motivation!

And the winner is...

...(drum roll please)...

JASON REYNOLDS-14.48%
SO CLOSE IN SECOND-Angela-14.40%
THIRD-Julie Montgomery-12.8%
Justin-11.5%
Julie Reynolds-10.6%
Matt-10.1%
Adam-9.3%
Helena-9.0%
Greg-8.0%
Dave-7.0%
Doug-6.4%
Sara-4.2%
Wayne-4.0%
Lianna-3.8%

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!

Also, the estimate of the total weight loss is 237.2 pounds. That is amazing!!!!!! Basically, we have lost the whole weight of one of our guys. A person's worth of weight, that is something to be proud of.

First item of business. Money is in the mail today. Not that anybody is interested.

Second item of business. It has been suggested, and I agree, that it would be nice to keep this site up. People can continue to post good recipes, any weight struggles or triumphs they'd like to share, and come back here to get reinspired if a pound or two creeps back.

This has been great and thanks to everyone for participating. We plan on making this an annual event for anyone that is interested. Of course, next year we'll need new participants since all of us will still be so slim and sexy!

CONGRATS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!

Dying of suspense!

I know I have to wait a few more hours for our final results but it's nearly killing me.  At this point I'm hoping for third place but don't know if I could have possibly managed that or not.  I worked my tail off this week in an attempt to do so at least and I am thrilled with my outcome so that is mainly what counts.  I'm also so interested in our total loss as a group, I know it's going to be impressive.  I am POSITIVE it'll be at least 200 pounds so just picture 20 ten pound bags of flour laying out on your counter, that is a LOT!!!!!  WE DID GOOD!  Congratulations to everybody, as I've said before, I'm proud of us all.

I'm interested too!

I am really hoping everybody would send in their grand weight loss too as it'll be so fun to see how much the grand total will be.  With Jason having lost 30 pounds and I know of at least 3 who have lost over 20 pounds that right there is pushing 100 pounds!!!!!  WOW ARE WE GOOD!!!!  That leaves 10 more people so I am sure we'll top the 200 lb. mark.  Isn't that gratifying to think about.  Can you believe we're down to the last 4 days, it'll actually almost be hard to figure out what to eat now to maintain our weight and not keep losing for everybody who will then be done.  I'm inspired by those of you who are going to continue on.  Ten weeks was PLENTY for me and I have no intention of dieting one more day after Monday.

Cold hard cash

Just a reminder: It was decided that third place will get $20, second place will get $50, and first will take home $210. In case you forgot. Or were thinking about having a cookie this evening.

Total tonage

Six more days! I was hoping that when everyone sends me their percentages on Monday that they will also send their total weight loss. I won't post individual results but thought it would be fun to total them and show how many pounds we have lost as a group. Greg and I are estimating it to be over 200 pounds!

Angela and I were talking and no matter who wins, we all win because we have all lost weight. How's that for a little bit of motivation in these final days?

GOOD LUCK!

Poor Julie

So, I spent a week in Sioux Falls, S. Dakota with my daughter and son-in-law and even though I felt like I did awesome for the most part, I had one REALLY bad day (ingested approximately 20,000 calories at a Brazilian brunch buffet) and never did work out so my weigh-in was dismal.  Plus, since I  was on a foreign scale I wasn't really sure where I would stand so guessed at 10.5% but I don't think it would have been that good after weighing myself here, I think it would have been under 10% so that means both Adam and Matt also beat me.  So after killing myself for 8 weeks I blew it in the 9th.  I'll kick it into high gear again for the last few days but it'll be too little too late.  But what a ride it has been huh, what a great idea this was and no matter what, I went beyond my goal so like Angela keeps telling Sara, no matter what, we have all won.  And on that note, and sorry to the rest of you, GO ANGELA!!!!!!!

Adam's percentage

Adam clocked in at a very impressive 10.7% this week. Go Beede!

Results-Week 9

This is it guys, the last lag of our journey. Greg and I are committed to go out with a bang. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Jason-12.6%
Angela-11.4%
Julie Montgomery-10.5%
Matt-10.0%
Julie Reynolds-9.8%
Justin-9.3%
Helena-9.0%
Greg-8.1%
Dave-7.0%
Doug-5.0%
Sara-3.8%
Wayne-3.1%
Lianna-2.5%

Adam was having technical difficulties so I hope to get his results posted later today.

You can't stop fate...

Last week we went to Spokane to visit family and they did their best to sabotage my lead with delicious foods (Even Marian and she's not even in the contest!!)

Among the weapons used were pizzas, coffee cakes, sausages, italian sausages, doughnuts that were left out all day for me to munch on (even saving the cream filled ones just for me), and just a lot of naughty delicities.

But I held out for most the weekend...

...and then I had half a doughnut.


...an example of the sabotaging last weekend...

I wish I could say I fought the good fight against hunger and cravings, but alas, I caved...among the extra poundage I was sure to gain were 3 slices of pizza, doughnuts, and some extra sausages...

Feeling the strain of the calling of carbs and fats, I immediately ran 4 miles to curb my appetite.

Later, on the way home (weigh in day) the strain was more than I could bear. As soon as I got back I indulged in some very fattening, orange chicken, broccoli beef, fried rice and goodness that is the Panda Express takeout... after feeling a bit guilty over the frivolous carbs and all the baddies that go into 'take-out' I figured I might as well go all out and top it off with the fortune cookie.


...and then I read this and with renewed confidence, went and ran 5 miles.

I lost 4 lbs in 1 run. No joke.

Fate is obviously on my side. You can't stop fate.

Final results

JASON-11.2%
Julie Montgomery-10.7%
Angela-9.4%
Helena-9.0%
Greg-8.9%
Matt-8.8%
Adam-8.0%
Julie Reynolds-7.8%
Dave-7.0%
Justin-6.9%
Doug-5.9%
Sara-4.1%
Wayne-2.6%
Lianna-1.9%

I got Helena and Dave's email late today (internet woes) but am not sure how I missed Adam's results which were right there with Julie and Jason's. If you know me, you will understand that being scatter brained is one of my more endearing traits.

Results-Week 8

I didn't receive results from a few of you so I'll post what I have and we'll just see big numbers from you next week I guess! :-)

JASON-11.2%
Julie Montgomery-10.7%
Angela-9.4%
Greg-8.9%
Matt-8.8%
Julie Reynolds-7.8%
Justin-6.9%
Doug-5.9%
Sara-4.1%
Wayne-2.6%
Lianna-1.9%
Helena-?
Dave-?
Adam-?

Also, in more important news, today is my parent's 30th ANNIVERSARY! Be sure to send them a shout out for being awesome people and amazing examples. I love you Mom and Dad!

I deserve a freaking medal!

I don't care what the results are tomorrow or two weeks from now, you all need to just hand over the money to me because nobody deserves it more and I'm not kidding.  I also want you all to curtsy and bow down to me.  I had a weekend chucked full of chips, pop, nachos, birthday cake, ice cream, homemade fresh cinnamon rolls, mini-quiches, sausage, egg and hash brown casserole, chocolate and raspberry torte, pound cake, etc., etc., etc. and not one morsel passed my lips even though I wanted to plant my face in all of it and start inhaling.  It was all I could do to not wrestle everybody to the floor who partook in the delicacies and lick their fingers.  It was brutal but I reigned triumphant.

I had a birthday party for my daughter Friday night with about 20 people here with all sorts of yummies and the very next morning I had a bridal shower brunch that had my mouth watering just from the smells emanating through the front door while I waited to be let in.

COME ON PEOPLE!  I deserve this!