Competitive weight-loss challenge?
You bet!
A few weeks ago, I joined the Healthy Games. It is a Meltdown Challenge. What you do is, you first pay $20. That is the ante for joining the challenge. Right now, there are 15110 people in the challenge, and the total pool of $$$ is $302200. Once you join, you decide to lose 6% of your weight (or more) or you can maintain your weight within 1%. For six weeks, you log into the site each day and earn points. You get points for reading the different things that are posted, commenting on your team page, replying to a comment on the main board, completing exercise and food journals, and watching videos. Today was day 16, and I have already learned so much!
Once the 6 weeks are up, you "win" if you meet your goal (maintained within 1% or lost at least 6%) and earned 1000 points. There are also competitions each week. Last week was a wacky workout picture. This week is wacky ways to get in exercise! There are lots of different ways to earn some of the money from the pool.
So far, I have been doing well! I have earned all my points each day, and I have already won all the new info I have learned by watching the videos and doing the readings. When I joined this challenge, I went in it for a few different reasons.
My first reason was....lets be honest.....to win money. Who does not want to win money!
My second reason was to be accountable. I am in this for the long haul....I want to make changes for life....not just to lose weight. Which brings be to my next reason....
I want to lose weight. I want to get rid of this extra weight, and make healthy habits for life. Being able to log in, read helpful information, being accountable, is only going to help to keep me motivated and on track.
Ho do you sign up for this challenge? Unfortunately, the last day to sign up was Sunday....but never fear! I am sure there will be another challenge in the future!!!
So for now, I am going to take things one day at a time. I will keep you posted on the competition! Have a great week!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
I Am Stuck!
What happens when your weight doesn't move, or......it........goes........up?
That's where I am now. My weight was on the down slope, but then last week, it seemed to stop. No movement. Nothing going down, nothing going up. And to top it all off, I am STARVING!!!!
Today I got on the scale, and guess what? Up .5. No, that is not a lot. But have I been on plan? Yes? Have I been drinking all my water? Yup.
So, if I am on plan, why is my weight going in the wrong direction?
When that happens, it is really easy to get discouraged. I used to say, "Well, it's up anyway, I might as well have _________. It will go back down." Or I would even say, "It doesn't matter what I do, I might as well have that ____________." Or I would just give up. It isn't working no matter what I do,
Today I could have thrown in the towel and stopped at McDonalds for a sausage, egg, and cheese McMuffin, or something else that is totally not on plan. Instead, I really looked at what I ate over the weekend.
Friday I ordered pizza for the kids...I had a chef salad. The salad had turkey and ham on it. Ding, ding, ding!!!! Sodium!!!!!
Saturday, we went out to dinner. I had a grilled chicken salad....again, sodium and who knows what was on the grilled chicken. I am not sure how much chicken was on the salad, but I am pretty sure it wasn't the full amount I was supposed to have. I also had a diet coke with dinner. I haven't had a diet soda in a few weeks, so that could have added to the gain.
Last night, I was in bed....asleep...and I woke up. I only ate 4 of my MF meals yesterday! Not eating all of your MF meals, and/or not enough protein of veggies with your Lean and Green can put your body in starvation mode. That is not good.
Now that I look back, I wasn't really on plan. I may have had too much sodium, not enough meals, and the diet soda probably didn't help.
So, what am I going to do now? I am going to DRINK MY WATER, and then some! I am going to make sure I get all 5 MF meals and my full Lean and Green, and watching the sodium content of things. I am laying off the diet soda for a while. I know there are going to be some ups and downs, some things I can control, and others I can not. But I am sure of one thing. I am not giving up!
That's where I am now. My weight was on the down slope, but then last week, it seemed to stop. No movement. Nothing going down, nothing going up. And to top it all off, I am STARVING!!!!
Today I got on the scale, and guess what? Up .5. No, that is not a lot. But have I been on plan? Yes? Have I been drinking all my water? Yup.
So, if I am on plan, why is my weight going in the wrong direction?
When that happens, it is really easy to get discouraged. I used to say, "Well, it's up anyway, I might as well have _________. It will go back down." Or I would even say, "It doesn't matter what I do, I might as well have that ____________." Or I would just give up. It isn't working no matter what I do,
Today I could have thrown in the towel and stopped at McDonalds for a sausage, egg, and cheese McMuffin, or something else that is totally not on plan. Instead, I really looked at what I ate over the weekend.
Friday I ordered pizza for the kids...I had a chef salad. The salad had turkey and ham on it. Ding, ding, ding!!!! Sodium!!!!!
Saturday, we went out to dinner. I had a grilled chicken salad....again, sodium and who knows what was on the grilled chicken. I am not sure how much chicken was on the salad, but I am pretty sure it wasn't the full amount I was supposed to have. I also had a diet coke with dinner. I haven't had a diet soda in a few weeks, so that could have added to the gain.
Last night, I was in bed....asleep...and I woke up. I only ate 4 of my MF meals yesterday! Not eating all of your MF meals, and/or not enough protein of veggies with your Lean and Green can put your body in starvation mode. That is not good.
Now that I look back, I wasn't really on plan. I may have had too much sodium, not enough meals, and the diet soda probably didn't help.
So, what am I going to do now? I am going to DRINK MY WATER, and then some! I am going to make sure I get all 5 MF meals and my full Lean and Green, and watching the sodium content of things. I am laying off the diet soda for a while. I know there are going to be some ups and downs, some things I can control, and others I can not. But I am sure of one thing. I am not giving up!
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Are You A Prepper?
People have lots of different organizational skills or styles. Are you a prepper or a "fly by the seat of your pants" kid of person? Now when I say prepper, I don't mean the people who hoard canned goods and beans in basement for the end of the world, or zombie apocalypse (whichever comes first), but someone who plans out the meals for the week, makes a detailed grocery list, buy what is on the list, then spend a day prepping meals for the week?
I can honestly say that I have all good intentions to be the best healthy food prepper. I want to be one of those people who have each week night meal planned out, ready to go, a fully stocked fridge with fruits and veggies, pantry filled with healthy snacks for the kids....
I really want to be like that.
But, I sometimes fall short. I have some ideas for dinners for the week, but then something comes up, and we have something else....or we eat out....or I have a really long day at work and don't have the energy to make a healthy meal after fighting with my kids to do their homework.
Life happens sometimes.
But my good intentions are still there. So, I have my own sense of prepping style.
First, Medifast has been a lifesaver. I pull out some packets for the day, fill my water bottle, and I am good to go. I don't have to spend hours making snack bags for snacks, containers with salad and protein, and a healthy breakfast on the go. When life gets in the way, I would just skip getting my stuff together and buy my lunch....which is not a good thing. Or I would get too hungry and eat something I shouldn't have. With Medifast, I know I am getting all of my nutrition and I am not going to be starving and giving into the vending machine! It also makes it easier that my husband gets the kids lunches ready in the morning and puts them on the bus!
So that leaves dinner and a last MF meal. I do have ideas for healthy meals, and I make sure I have the ingredients ready for the week. Usually on Sundays, I spend some time getting some things ready for my meals. I find that having some things in the freezer help for those days where life gets in the way, and I don't want to cook. I will make a batch of cauliflower pizza crusts, wrap them really well, and put in the freezer. Those are really easy to put together and delicious! I will also make a large batch of a meal, portion it in freezer bags, then throw in the freezer. I had made a ground beef, tomato, ricotta cheese, spaghetti squash lean and green meal a few weeks ago, and since I didn't want to eat it for every dinner that week, and no one else would have eaten it, I threw it in the freezer. I think I have one left....need to add those ingredients to my shopping list for my next prep day!
Prepping is not always easy, but if I don't have something on hand, I know I am setting myself up for failure. Sometimes spending one day a week, or even every other week cooking will make a huge difference in your success.
The next few weeks are going to be absolutely crazy for my and my family. I know it is going to be stressful and busy, so I am going to take a day to make some things for the freezer! I want to set myself up for success!
So, to all you preppers out there....whether it be to be prepared for your healthy lifestyle or the zombie apocalypse, keep calm, and plan on!!
I can honestly say that I have all good intentions to be the best healthy food prepper. I want to be one of those people who have each week night meal planned out, ready to go, a fully stocked fridge with fruits and veggies, pantry filled with healthy snacks for the kids....
I really want to be like that.
But, I sometimes fall short. I have some ideas for dinners for the week, but then something comes up, and we have something else....or we eat out....or I have a really long day at work and don't have the energy to make a healthy meal after fighting with my kids to do their homework.
Life happens sometimes.
But my good intentions are still there. So, I have my own sense of prepping style.
First, Medifast has been a lifesaver. I pull out some packets for the day, fill my water bottle, and I am good to go. I don't have to spend hours making snack bags for snacks, containers with salad and protein, and a healthy breakfast on the go. When life gets in the way, I would just skip getting my stuff together and buy my lunch....which is not a good thing. Or I would get too hungry and eat something I shouldn't have. With Medifast, I know I am getting all of my nutrition and I am not going to be starving and giving into the vending machine! It also makes it easier that my husband gets the kids lunches ready in the morning and puts them on the bus!
So that leaves dinner and a last MF meal. I do have ideas for healthy meals, and I make sure I have the ingredients ready for the week. Usually on Sundays, I spend some time getting some things ready for my meals. I find that having some things in the freezer help for those days where life gets in the way, and I don't want to cook. I will make a batch of cauliflower pizza crusts, wrap them really well, and put in the freezer. Those are really easy to put together and delicious! I will also make a large batch of a meal, portion it in freezer bags, then throw in the freezer. I had made a ground beef, tomato, ricotta cheese, spaghetti squash lean and green meal a few weeks ago, and since I didn't want to eat it for every dinner that week, and no one else would have eaten it, I threw it in the freezer. I think I have one left....need to add those ingredients to my shopping list for my next prep day!
Prepping is not always easy, but if I don't have something on hand, I know I am setting myself up for failure. Sometimes spending one day a week, or even every other week cooking will make a huge difference in your success.
The next few weeks are going to be absolutely crazy for my and my family. I know it is going to be stressful and busy, so I am going to take a day to make some things for the freezer! I want to set myself up for success!
So, to all you preppers out there....whether it be to be prepared for your healthy lifestyle or the zombie apocalypse, keep calm, and plan on!!
Friday, January 23, 2015
Happy Friday!
Yea! It's Friday!
In my last post, I wrote about what is different about this time. One of the biggest things I notice, is that I am not doing this alone. I have people on board with me, helping me...even if they don't know that they are helping!
My health coach is also the team leader of the challenge I am doing. She has been sending us videos every single day. Yes....every...single...day! Today's video was all about what I have been talking about....getting help and support. No one should have to do this alone, and we are not doing it alone! I love that I have been watching these videos and that I feel so comfortable with he,r that I would not hesitate to call or text her. I am finding that if I am struggling with something, I look on the Healthy Games page and read comments, or some of the readings they offer, or I go on Youtube and watch a video or two that my coach, or others, have put out there. I feel I have a ton of support....even if it is from people I only know on Facebook, or the challenge, I don't feel alone!
When I was driving home from work yesterday, I found myself saying something weird. I was saying, "I am happy." Imagine that, HAPPY! I am feeling better about myself as a woman. I am feeling better about myself as a wife and mom. I am feeling better about myself as a teacher. Is is because Medifast has some magic in their products that are making me feel better, or is it because I am feeling more in control, that things are starting to fall into place? Is it a little of both? Who knows, but one thing that I do know, is that when I am more in charge of what I am eating, I am happier all around. That is a good thing!!
So, happy Friday everyone! Make sure you are using the support that is there....because it is there if you look!
Have a great weekend!
In my last post, I wrote about what is different about this time. One of the biggest things I notice, is that I am not doing this alone. I have people on board with me, helping me...even if they don't know that they are helping!
My health coach is also the team leader of the challenge I am doing. She has been sending us videos every single day. Yes....every...single...day! Today's video was all about what I have been talking about....getting help and support. No one should have to do this alone, and we are not doing it alone! I love that I have been watching these videos and that I feel so comfortable with he,r that I would not hesitate to call or text her. I am finding that if I am struggling with something, I look on the Healthy Games page and read comments, or some of the readings they offer, or I go on Youtube and watch a video or two that my coach, or others, have put out there. I feel I have a ton of support....even if it is from people I only know on Facebook, or the challenge, I don't feel alone!
When I was driving home from work yesterday, I found myself saying something weird. I was saying, "I am happy." Imagine that, HAPPY! I am feeling better about myself as a woman. I am feeling better about myself as a wife and mom. I am feeling better about myself as a teacher. Is is because Medifast has some magic in their products that are making me feel better, or is it because I am feeling more in control, that things are starting to fall into place? Is it a little of both? Who knows, but one thing that I do know, is that when I am more in charge of what I am eating, I am happier all around. That is a good thing!!
So, happy Friday everyone! Make sure you are using the support that is there....because it is there if you look!
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Week 4 - What's different this time?
I am so happy!
This morning when I weighed in, I was down a total of 12 pounds. 12 pounds in 4 weeks! Yea! I have been on plan, and drinking lots of water. I am on track. So why is this different? What is making this time any different from the millions of times I have done this before? The answer is....well, the answer to this question is.....hummmm...what is the answer? Is there an answer?
One thing I know, is that I am not doing this alone. I have a health coach, who is AWESOME! She checks in with me, she makes videos, she has a Facebook page, she is there! I have "worked" with other health coaches....one who was over the top (she felt too much like my mother), and another who was basically there for me to order from. The coach that I am working with now is there as much or as little as I need. She will help out people who are her clients, and those who have other coaches. She inspires me to be a coach! (I do have that in the back of my mind, but for now I just want to focus on me). Having a coach that works and fits your personality is key.
Besides having a health coach, I have told people I am doing the plan. I have some friends who are not always supportive, and when I didn't let it be known that I was doing this, I would sabotage myself. This time I am proud of the changes I am making, and I am proud that I am doing this because I am doing it for me. I want this. I need this. If my friends can't be supportive, then maybe they are not my true friends.
My husband. First, I have to say I am not making calf eyes with hearts flying around my head....no. My husband can actually be someone who encourages me to be off plan. This time, we had a heart to heart talk. I told him that I am not happy with myself, and this is what I am doing to make myself better, healthier and happier. I told him I needed him to support me. Is he totally there yet? No...especially when I have to place an order (How much is this going to be??? I can hear it now...) But I am giving him a chance to be supportive, and letting him know that I appreciate it. He may not be totally onboard now, but he is getting there.
The Healthy Games challenge. Sometimes I join a challenge, and I end up gaining weight! Have you ever done that? Well, this time, I joined an online challenge called the Healthy Games. You lose 6% of your weight (or maintain your weight) and by participating and earning points, you can win money. When I started TSFL again, money is an issue. My husband is not happy about me having to spend a ton of money each month (and believe me....I know that it actually works out to the same or even less than spending before, but my husband doesn't see that). I am doing this challenge with the expectation that whatever I win, I use towards my food. I would love to use it towards something fun, but being able to put it toward my Medifast food will be less stressful for me and my husband.
I have a lot of good things going right now. I am in the groove of things, drinking a ton of water, trying new foods. Things are good. I know that this is not going to be easy. But I am going to keep working on the positive and staying on plan.
Have a great on plan day!!!
This morning when I weighed in, I was down a total of 12 pounds. 12 pounds in 4 weeks! Yea! I have been on plan, and drinking lots of water. I am on track. So why is this different? What is making this time any different from the millions of times I have done this before? The answer is....well, the answer to this question is.....hummmm...what is the answer? Is there an answer?
One thing I know, is that I am not doing this alone. I have a health coach, who is AWESOME! She checks in with me, she makes videos, she has a Facebook page, she is there! I have "worked" with other health coaches....one who was over the top (she felt too much like my mother), and another who was basically there for me to order from. The coach that I am working with now is there as much or as little as I need. She will help out people who are her clients, and those who have other coaches. She inspires me to be a coach! (I do have that in the back of my mind, but for now I just want to focus on me). Having a coach that works and fits your personality is key.
Besides having a health coach, I have told people I am doing the plan. I have some friends who are not always supportive, and when I didn't let it be known that I was doing this, I would sabotage myself. This time I am proud of the changes I am making, and I am proud that I am doing this because I am doing it for me. I want this. I need this. If my friends can't be supportive, then maybe they are not my true friends.
My husband. First, I have to say I am not making calf eyes with hearts flying around my head....no. My husband can actually be someone who encourages me to be off plan. This time, we had a heart to heart talk. I told him that I am not happy with myself, and this is what I am doing to make myself better, healthier and happier. I told him I needed him to support me. Is he totally there yet? No...especially when I have to place an order (How much is this going to be??? I can hear it now...) But I am giving him a chance to be supportive, and letting him know that I appreciate it. He may not be totally onboard now, but he is getting there.
The Healthy Games challenge. Sometimes I join a challenge, and I end up gaining weight! Have you ever done that? Well, this time, I joined an online challenge called the Healthy Games. You lose 6% of your weight (or maintain your weight) and by participating and earning points, you can win money. When I started TSFL again, money is an issue. My husband is not happy about me having to spend a ton of money each month (and believe me....I know that it actually works out to the same or even less than spending before, but my husband doesn't see that). I am doing this challenge with the expectation that whatever I win, I use towards my food. I would love to use it towards something fun, but being able to put it toward my Medifast food will be less stressful for me and my husband.
I have a lot of good things going right now. I am in the groove of things, drinking a ton of water, trying new foods. Things are good. I know that this is not going to be easy. But I am going to keep working on the positive and staying on plan.
Have a great on plan day!!!
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