Winter Challenge Outline and Rules

[Rob]

Based on a thread by a new member, Vince from Arizona and some discussions with Jeremy ,I thought I would pose a winter weight loss and fitness challenge. The idea was to challenge each of us, keeping us on track and supporting one another through the winter months while getting in shape and dropping a few more pounds.

The title says "rules", but they're more like guidelines rather than rules.

Here's the idea:

1. It will be for 3 months - Dec 1, 2007 through Feb 29, 2008 (most good programs are 12 weeks long)

2. You choose your program that you want to follow: Burn the Fat, Body For Life, Vegetarianism, Sunrider, etc

3. Weigh in at the beginning and take measurements. You can disclose them, or keep them private, they're for you, not for anyone else.

4. At the beginning of each month you will state your goal for each month.

5. At the beginning of each week, you will state your goal for each week and the steps you will take action on for that goal during the week. By focusing on your goal for each week, you will meet or exceed your months goal. Stick to what you can focus on right now, this day, and make it the best day possible.

6. You will track your results and all the details above inside your own personal thread inside this subforum. Click on "new topic" inside "Winter Weight Loss and Fitness Challenge" - using your name or some other identifier

7. Check In: Each Sunday or Monday you will check in with your results over the past week, and journal how you've done. What your success' were and what you need to work on for the next week.

8. IMPORTANT: Join the Winter Weight Loss Challenge Usergroup. Go to your User Control Panel, click on Usergroups and then join so that I can communicate with the members via email about "goings on" and to show new members that you're involved in the challenge.

During the challenge, I may come up with some new things including a monthly conference call so that we can all touch base personally and support one another via the phone.

Now, regarding point number 4 and 5 above. Setting a goal and writing it down is quite powerful. However, this must be in your own handwriting for the full benefits. I suggest you keep a paper journal with your goals for the week and month, then just transcribe them into the forum. This is about YOU getting results

The reporting area that you keep inside the sub forum is for check ins and stating your goals for the upcoming weeks. I encourage you to still keep journaling inside your own weight loss story area, possibly linking to your check ins if you like. This encourages others to get involved as well.

What I would like to recommend is to follow your own chosen program. If you've done the research on it and have guidance, or are working with a personal trainer, keep doing that. You should always stick with a program for at least 3 months (or to the end) to completely evaluate the results.

I would like to recommend a couple of things during the course of this challenge though and that will come either in the form of blog posts or here in this forum.

Tip #1: Eliminate dairy products from your diet.

Tip #2: Increase the amounts of whole foods in your diet. Darlene posts one new whole food recipe each Saturday morning on the blog. These are recipes that we make for ourselves week in, week out. I've been asked if we've "tried" the recipe yet. The answer is YES. The picture of the recipe is one that Darlene took of it after we made it, so yes, we make and eat these foods. Your body is a machine that is fueled by live foods. Life creates life. By incorporating whole foods into your diet DAILY, you improve your quality of life. Whole foods contain more fiber which supports colon health among other benefits. I encourage you to begin cooking a few of the recipes each week.

Request: I would like to promote this challenge on my blogs, along with pictures of the participants and anything I happen to see as success' during the course of the challenge. I will ask your permission before using the information. If you'd like to remain anonymous, just let me know. However, that said, simply by being involved in the challenge and checking in and posting, there is certainly very little anonymity to begin with. By my posting your success', your learns, your ah-ha's etc on the blog, you 'd just get more exposure is all.

[onesmartcookie]

It's 230 Am and I should be asleep right now. However, last night I ate bento box and the sodium has zapped me. I have eaten poorly this week so I am committed to reading the challenge and I will officially join on Monday. I know its a few days behind everyone else but this is a great time to start and I truly cannot commit until then. I will dedicate some time to myself on Monday to read all guidelines and get myself started. For now I will drink my water and go to bed. As you say, things happen for a reason. I was meant to read your post and my copy of the Pleasure Trap arrived in my mailbox late on Friday, finally. I'm rounding the bend off a wicked flu.

OSC

[onesmartcookie]

My plan of attack will be a number of things:

Starting Monday I will be getting on track with Sunrider. I find it valuable in closing in on nutritional gaps that happen within my lifestyle of choice.



I have also joined an online community. http://www.thebestlife.com



There is a food log, journal and community. As well, recipe base, suggested menu according to special needs and choice. Ie, vegetarian, etc. If you don't like the suggested meal, you can swap or create your own. This includes all stats including calories and the like. There are Phases. I'm in Phase One. Simple principles really. Drink water. No alchol and no smoking. Stop eating two hours before bedtime. Log your food. Write in your journal. Move your body and log any exercise taken. Each day you comply, you will see how it is logged in green. If you forget to log, when you log in you are reminded. Omega oils, calcium and multivitamens are suggested. One thing I do not like is the brand of THE BEST LIFE. Its the brand and its everywhere in the online endorsements. It reminds me of Southbeach which has left a sour taste in my mouth and a dent in my pocketbook. I anticipate Rob and/or Darlene asking me about the plan because it is something relatively new and I will be test subject.

As mentioned, coming off a wicked flu. Folks, I'll be honest. Rice has been my main food in five days because it is one of the few foods I can stomach. Almost there and feeling better but not where I wanted to be right now.

OSC

[photogirl67]

Christina

Rob and I are sitting here and just looked at the Best Life site. These are the things we noticed:

- we both like that it takes people gradually from phase 1-3 into better eating habits

- Rob likes that the supper meal has no starchy carbs just protein and veggies

- we like there is a community but we have one here already

- we couldn't find anything else positive about it

what we question is:

- they recommend dairy foods even in phase 3

- there is a lot of sugar in the recipes and one that we viewed didn't even list the amount of sugar in the nutritional profile - that's a bit misleading. the list protein, fat, carbs, sodium, etc - but have not even listed sugar where it is clearly in the ingredients 2 Tbsp of sugar added. The body will use that sugar as fuel rather than fat as fuel.

- there are only 3 meals a day listed, what happens in the evening when you're hungry? Going from noon (meal 2) to supper (meal 3) could be 6 hours. The body needs fuel every 3 hours. They don't seem to have a plan for that that we could see.

- they recommend a lot of processed commercial foods.

- there is a lot of bread, every day had lots of bread - with wheat in it - we believe the bread (especially with wheat) is pretty much like glue in your system, creates muccus, gets turned to sugar very quickly and does not support weight loss or health goals

- some of the meals were very small (one had a sandwich with nut butter, a sliced pear, honey, and some carrot sticks) and we don't feel that if you are getting excercise that will not be enough to fuel your body and you may end up being prone to snacking (similar to what Michelle had going on cause her lunch was too small) and make bad choices

- they recommend cheerios and milk for breakfast???? how can that be part of a health plan, it is highly processed and loaded with sugar.

we made these comments based on the sample meals on the home page, we did not register

[onesmartcookie]

Christina

Rob and I are sitting here and just looked at the Best Life site. These are the things we noticed:

- we both like that it takes people gradually from phase 1-3 into better eating habits

- Rob likes that the supper meal has no starchy carbs just protein and veggies

- we like there is a community but we have one here already

- we couldn't find anything else positive about it

what we question is:

- they recommend dairy foods even in phase 3

I have chosen to go dairy free after reading many articles on this subject.

- there is a lot of sugar in the recipes and one that we viewed didn't even list the amount of sugar in the nutritional profile - that's a bit misleading. the list protein, fat, carbs, sodium, etc - but have not even listed sugar where it is clearly in the ingredients 2 Tbsp of sugar added. The body will use that sugar as fuel rather than fat as fuel.

I am limiting my sugar intake. The recipes provided are samples only and you do not have to use the recipes. As mentiond, you can add your own food during the day if you opt for the suggested options listed each day for you.

- there are only 3 meals a day listed, what happens in the evening when you're hungry? Going from noon (meal 2) to supper (meal 3) could be 6 hours. The body needs fuel every 3 hours. They don't seem to have a plan for that that we could see.

Three meals. Two snacks. That isn't clear on the introductory page. However, I found it when I went into the food journal section.

- they recommend a lot of processed commercial foods.

As mentioned, that did bother me. Apparently the creator is also hawking (as I call it) his products. Similar to what happened with South Beach and Atkins. Remember those branded food products? Processed.

- there is a lot of bread, every day had lots of bread - with wheat in it - we believe the bread (especially with wheat) is pretty much like glue in your system, creates muccus, gets turned to sugar very quickly and does not support weight loss or health goals

Again, I'm not a big bread eater anymore. I realize what you have posted.

- some of the meals were very small (one had a sandwich with nut butter, a sliced pear, honey, and some carrot sticks) and we don't feel that if you are getting excercise that will not be enough to fuel your body and you may end up being prone to snacking (similar to what Michelle had going on cause her lunch was too small) and make bad choices

Yes, I agree.

- they recommend cheerios and milk for breakfast???? how can that be part of a health plan, it is highly processed and loaded with sugar.

Yep, I agree. I'm not a boxed cereal person at all.

we made these comments based on the sample meals on the home page, we did not register

Yes, I respect and understand your comments and choices.

[Michele]

How will a winner be decided? Body fat loss?

Will it be weekly? Or monthly? Or at the end of the challenge?

[JeremyJ]

Hey Hey

Can anyone give me a idea of exactly what areas I should be measuring for this challenge? I've always just gone by the scale lol

Thanks!

Jeremy

[photogirl67]

Jeremy:

you can measure any body parts but these are the usual ones:

- upper thigh at the fleshiest part
- waist
- hips (again fleshiest part of the buttocks)
- upper arm
- chest
- neck
- calf

[Rob]

and upper thigh as well, 1/2 way between the knee and the hip

[Rob]

How will a winner be decided? Body fat loss?

Will it be weekly? Or monthly? Or at the end of the challenge?

Good question. I think that by simply participating we're all winners.

I'd say we can start a poll and take a vote. Based on say, goal setting, realizing limitations / roadblocks and creating solutions for them, sticking to the goals, weight loss, cheerleading

we could put together a few points like that and then vote on them for each person maybe?

as far as I'm concerned, if we're all involved, taking action and getting results, we're all winners.

thoughts?