AND THE WINNER IS......

.....Amber with a 6.72% weight loss in 8 weeks.  CONGRATS, Amber!!  Your hard work paid off!!

Here are the total results:
Amber = 6.72% loss
Alisha = 4.22% loss
Linda = 3.6% loss
Heather = 2.46% loss

In total you all lost 30.1 pounds.  I'm very proud of these results.  Just look at what you can accomplish in 8 short weeks.  I hope you all keep up the good work!!

End of the Competition

The end is near......You still have a few days to work your ass off (literally!!).  I hope everyone is doing well and that the end of the competition is fulfilling.

Week 7 Weigh In

The competition is winding down.  Who will the lucky winner be? 

Week 6 Weigh In Results

Week 6 results are in. 

So to recap....Alisha lost 1.3%.  Linda lost 1%.  Amber lost 0.6%.  Heather lost 0.3%. 

Great job girls!!!  Keep up the good work and kick butt next week!

P.S.  I don't know if this helps or not...but I thought I would put some things in to perspective.  It's not about what your numbers are one week.  It's about what your numbers are in combination with other weeks.  A "bad" week shouldn't be a set back.  It should be more reason to press on and try harder the next week.

Facts:
I have been trying to lose weight for 44 weeks.  I have lost a total of 43.6 pounds.  That averages about a pound a week.  Some weeks I even gained, but not many.  Some weeks I lost more than a pound.  Some weeks I lost less.  So, just keep in mind......that if you just keep focused, time is truly your friend.  Don't expect it to happen today, because if it did, it would come back.  It's a lifestyle change.  In total, so far, I have lost 25% of my body fat.  I hadn't totalled that up until today.  I was pleasantly surprised.

Keep up the great work and know that you are helping yourself even if the numbers are not as big as you want.  They are never as big as I want.  haha  But, I have sure learned patience in the last 44 weeks!  I know each and every one of you can meet your health/fitness goals. 

Week 5 Weigh In Results

Week 5 results are in. 

So to recap....Amber lost 0.4%.  Linda lost 0.1%.  Alisha stayed the same.  Heather gained 0.5%. 

It can be anyone's game at this point.  Let's all crack down the last 3 weeks and have some good numbers!

Saw this on Yahoo's homepage today

This is good stuff.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/summerliving/what-you-re-doing-wrong-at-the-gym-2492181/

Nutrition Guidelines: Getting Started

Today at the gym, in between sets, I started browsing their board.  They had posted this article.  It really has some great things in it.  It came from http://www.everydayhealth.com/.  This is an AWESOME site:

Diet pills, fad diets, foods to boycott, foods to eat exclusively. With all the crazy diet advice out there, do you even remember the basics of healthy eating? Get rid of the clutter when it comes to diets, and use basic good nutrition guidelines and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Pyramid as your framework for healthy eating.

Food Groups and Healthy Nutrition: Today’s Food Pyramid
So how do we know what healthy meals should look like? The USDA is responsible for publishing nutritional guidelines for healthy eating based on ongoing research. While most of the general recommendations haven't changed over the years, there have been a few adjustments.
One change is a slight increase in the recommended number of fruits and vegetables. Women need at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day, while men need at least nine. "We just know there's so much good stuff in fruits and vegetables," including essential nutrients and fiber, says Sandra Meyerowitz, MPH, RD, a nutritionist and owner of Nutrition Works in Louisville, Ky. Carbohydrates are also an important part of a healthy diet, contrary to many popular fad diets being touted today.

Food Groups and Healthy Nutrition: USDA Recommendations
Here are details about the USDA's recommended nutritional guidelines to follow for a healthy eating plan:

• Focus on fruits and vegetables: Get seven to nine fruits and vegetables each day.
• Go for low-fat dairy: Consume at least three cups of low-fat or fat-free milk each day or the equivalent in cheese, yogurt, or other calcium-rich foods.
• Choose whole grains: Get at least six to eight servings of whole grains each day.
• Steer clear of trans and saturated fats, sodium (salt), sugars, and cholesterol: Limit fat to only about 20 to 35 percent of total calorie intake and avoid trans and saturated fats.
• Choose lean proteins: Get about 15 percent of your calories from chicken without the skin, fish, beans, and legumes.

Food Groups and Healthy Nutrition: Guidelines to Get You Going
Here are some other tips to help you develop a healthy eating plan. If you keep these general nutrition rules in mind, you'll be on the right track toward healthy eating for life:

• Pay attention to portion control; quantities depend on whether you’re trying to lose or maintain weight. In most restaurants, an appetizer serving is often closer to an appropriate serving size than an entrée.
• Always drink plenty of water.
• Vary your food choices to make sure you get a wide variety of vitamins and other nutrients and to avoid boredom.
• Know the recommended daily calorie intake for your age, weight, height, activity level, and gender.
• Don't deprive yourself of foods you love; just enjoy them in moderation.

Start thinking about the basics of diet and nutrition again, and make nutritional guidelines part of your everyday life. It won't be a diet, it won't be a fad, and it definitely won't be temporary. It will be your new healthy lifestyle, and when you think, "What's for dinner?" the answer will naturally be a healthy choice

Link to some great tips

Check this link out:

http://chris.pirillo.com/50-weight-loss-tips/

Week 4 Weigh In Results

Week 4 results are in! 

So to recap....Alisha lost 0.6%.  Heather lost 0.5%.  Amber lost 0.3%.  Becky (Heather's Friend) lost 0.1%.  Linda (my Mom) stayed the same for a 0% loss. 

This was week 4, so we are halfway through the contest.  We have one month to become bigger losers.  I know you guys can do it!

Week 3 Weigh In Results!!!!

Week 3 results are in!!  I want to say this is the best week EBBER, just like I predicted.  Everyone had a loss and you were all actually really close this week.  Please stay inspired and keep up with being a loser.  :-)

Let me explain this chart (again)......The person that lost the most percent will be listed first and so on.  The last one shows a minus, but it's really a plus.  For some reason, it won't let me put a plus symbol in. 

So to recap....Amber lost 1% percent.  Linda (my Mom) lost 0.8%.  Heather lost 0.7%.  Alisha lost 0.6%.  Becky (Heather's Friend) lost 0.5%.  I hope that makes sense.  If not, please let me know and I will try to explain it better.

I apologize for not posting more lately.  Last week and this week will be crazy, but I will post what I can.

In total, the 5 of you have lost 22.2 pounds in 3 weeks.  You just can't beat that!!!!  You guys are all doing GREAT.

Article to Read!

This is a good read.  So many true points here.  Check it out.

http://women.webmd.com/guide/weight-loss-tips

Week 2 Weigh In Results

Congratulations for completing Week 2.  I am so proud you are still in the competition.  I know several have had some rough things going on.  Life happens, PMS weeks happen, kids graduating, etc, etc, etc.  It never ends!!  So it is very nice to see in spite of all those things, we were still able to keep on the healthier path. 

Let me explain this chart (again)......The person that lost the most percent will be listed first and so on.  The last one shows a minus, but it's really a plus.  For some reason, it won't let me put a plus symbol in. 

So to recap....Alisha lost 2.2%, Amber lost 1.1% percent.  Linda (my Mom) lost 0.6%.  Becky (Heather's Friend) lost 0.4%.  Heather gained 0.1%.  I hope that makes sense.  If not, please let me know and I will try to explain it better.

I predict that next week will be our best week EBBER!  Keep up the good work!! 

Eating For Life's Fortified French Toast

I tried this recipe this morning.  It was AWESOME!  I highly recommend it.

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp vanilla protein powder (whey or soy)  (If you want to try this recipe, I will give you some powder.)
3 egg whites
1 whole egg
1/4 Tsp ground cinnamon
2 slices whole-wheat bread
1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup

Directions:
1.  Lightly coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and place over medium heat.

2.  Mix eggs with fork.  Place protein powder in a pie plate and slowly pour in egg mixture while stirring with a fork until smooth.  (The batter will be thick.) Sprinkle cinnamon on top of batter.

3.  Dip one piece of bread in the batter and let it soak up the egg mixture for 10 seconds.  Carefully turn the bread over to coat the other side.  Repeat with second piece of bread.

4.  Place batter-soaked bread in the skillet and spoon any remaining batter on top.  Cook 2 or 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.  Then place on a small plate.

5.  While French toast is cooking, microwave maple syrup until warm, about 20 seconds.

6.  Pour warm maple syrup over French toast, serve and enjoy!

This makes 1 serving.  If you are feeding your family up the ingredients as needed.

A Couple Of Sample Days....

Here are a couple of samples days I had when I first started using the My Fitness Pal app.  Check it out:

Motivation for the Week

CONGRATS!!  Together, everyone lost a total of 10.8 pounds last week!!  Let's keep up the good work.  For those that didn't lose much, this is your week!!  A clean slate and time to kick butt!  I heard there would be some chocolate deliveries this week.....haha

Continue to eat well, move as much as you can, and drink LOTS of water (minimum of 64 oz daily)!  That's the motto for the week!

Eating for Life's Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:
4 portions lean ground turkey (about 1 lb)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 can (8oz) no-salt-added tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 tsp chili powder
Dash of hot pepper sauce
4 wheat buns or rolls, split (I used Thin Buns)
4 lettuce leaves

Directions:1. In a large skillet, combine ground turkey , black pepper & onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until turkey is no longer pink.

2. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, bbq sauce, chili powder & hot pepper sauce. Simmer for about 10 minutes over low heat, stiffing occasionally until mixture has thickened.

3. Place a wheat bun on each plate. Top each with a lettuce leaf & portion of turkey mixture.

Number of Servings: 4

Week 1 Weigh In Results

I am so impressed with the first week weigh in!  Let me explain this chart......The person that lost the most percent will be listed first and so on.  The last one shows a minus, but it's really a plus.  For some reason, it won't let me put a plus symbol in. 

So to recap....Amber lost 3.15% percent.  Linda (my Mom) lost 1.39%.  Heather lost 1.29%.  Becky (Heather's Friend) lost 0.10%.  Alisha gained 1.3%.  I hope that makes sense.  If not, please let me know and I will try to explain it better.  

I have been really busy this week and unable to post much.  I may snow you guys with postings over the weekend, so check back often.

Transformation - The Base and Summit

I picked up a book at the library this week.  It's called Transformation.  It's by the same guy that wrote the Body for Life challenge that David and I are doing.  I love Bill Phillips.  I wanted to share a couple of passages.

"1) Transformation is going from a lower to a higher state of being.
2) It's the ending of something old and the beginning of something new.
3) There's a degree of permanence, of irreversibility to it.

As we more forward, keep these points in mind as they are important differentiators between this process and conventional diets, workout programs and other self-improvement plans which deal merely with exterior issues.  Whenever we try to change ourselves from the outside in, it never lasts.  We lose weight only to gain it back.  Or we might get motivated for a short period of time but it doesn't last.  We might temporarily change our habits and patterns through self-restraint, but individual willpower is simply not enough to keep us on the right path for any considerable length of time. 

You see, as long as we're still the same inside, at the level of our thoughts, beliefs, patterns, and emotions, we simply haven't undergone true transformation.  It's because inward processes always precede external forms and events.  And so that's where we begin; we turn our attention inward to take a look at where we are now with this first step of self-appraisal."

I hope I didn't make any typos there.  I know it's a lot to read, but pretty profound.  This is a 18 week program and involves dealing with the inside and outside.  I'm on page 59 and can't put the book down.  You can sign up for the program on their website.   I suggest you go to the Transformation website and at least check it out. 

http://www.transformation.com/pages/public/welcome

Starting Weights Needed

I just wanted to remind everyone to get their starting weights to me before Monday.  You can email me if you want.  Then next Friday will be our first official weigh in for the competition.  I know technically the first week will be a short week, but it's a great way to get started.  I'm so curious to see if you are all the "bunch of losers" that I think you are..........  :-)

16 Tips to Tripe Your Workout Effectiveness

Here is a great article on exercise: 

http://zenhabits.net/16-tips-to-triple-your-workout-effectiveness/

Eating for Life's Zesty Italian Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:
2 portions chicken breast (about 1/2 lb)
1/4 cup fat free Italian Dressing
2 portions fettuccine (about 4 oz uncooked)
1 cup pasta sauce
2 cups baby spinach leaves
2 Tbsp reduced-fat Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:
1)  Marinate chicken breasts in Italian dressing for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking.  I pound my chicken breasts thin.  Then I put the Italian dressing in a large Ziploc bag and then put the chicken in too.  Squeeze the dressing into the chicken.  Set bag on a plate and refrigerate.  You can do this around lunch time, in the morning before work or the night before.

2)  Prepare fettuccine according to package directions.

3)  Put a pan on the stove on medium heat with some Pam.  Place marinated chicken in pan and cook for about 6 minutes; turn and grill for about 6 more minutes, until no longer pink in center.  If you have a George Foreman grill you could use it to cook the chicken.

4)  In a small saucepan, warm pasta sauce over medium heat.

5)  Divide spinach leaves between two separate plates.  Layer portions of warm fettuccine and chicken breasts over spinach leaves.

6)  Top with pasta sauce and Parmesan cheese, serve and enjoy!

I double this recipe for our family of four.  My kids LOVE this meal.  I thought they would freak out about the spinach on bottom, but it gives the dish a great punch.  They love it and it's healthy for all of us! 

Approx 455 calories

Springfield Groupon Deal

Today's "hot" deal:

Interesting Story on Yahoo Today

Check this link out:

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/training-day/201104/warm-cardio-then-go-weights-right-wrong

Getting Started with Rules

Here are the rules for our competition.

Competition begins Monday, May 2, 2011 and ends Friday, June 24, 2011.  Just in time for beach weather!

There is a $20 entry fee for our 8 week competition.  Please send to me at:

     Tammy McDermott

     4410 S Eldon

     Springfield, MO 65810

I am the weight manager.  I will not reveal any of the actual weights, only amount lost and percentage. 

Our weekly weigh ins are on Friday.  We can meet somewhere, have it at my house, or you can email me with the amount of weight lost. 

If someone gains a pound, they will need to pay $1 per pound gained.  It has to be 1 pound or more to require payment.  Nothing will be owed on .2, .4, .6, & .8 gains. 

The winner is the person with the highest total percentage of weight loss on June 24th.  We will have some runner up prizes as well.

This will be a fair contest.  Everyone's goals are the same:  gaining health and losing weight.

If you have a problem with any of these, please email me with your concerns, so that I can address them up front.

Disclaimer:  Do not begin any exercise regime or diet without approval from a doctor.