Week 6 Results

Congrats again to Amy Bowe for winning the weekly challenge drawing. 

She has won a $5 gift card to Subway!

Here are this week's best losers:

Kylee Gyger	2.21%
Jennifer Bidwell	1.94%
Heather Bowe	1.66%
Josh Bowe	1.21%
Linda Bowe	1.01%
Amy Bowe	0.27%
John Bowe	0.20%
Bob Worley	0.10%

The total loss for the group was 7.2 lbs.

Exercise is an important – you might even say vital – part of any effective weight loss plan. Regular exercise burns calories that would otherwise be stored as fat. It also raises your metabolic rate, which means you’ll burn calories faster even when you’re resting. It can lower your insulin level and raise your sense of well-being. This week’s challenge focuses on exercise. If you’ve been sedentary, you may wish to start gradually with a brisk walk around the block or a few laps in the pool. If you’ve already been working on an exercise plan, crank it up a notch. The Mayo clinic recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (like swimming or walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (like running) each week. Accomplish either this week, and you can put your name in Saturday’s drawing.

Week 5 Results

Congrats to Amy Bowe for winning this week's challenge. Her prize is a brand new pillow.

Here are this week's losers.

Heather McCoy	2.10%
Matthew Bowe	1.31%
John Bowe	1.02%
Bob Worley	0.83%
Linda Bowe	0.50%
Amy Bowe	0.37%
Melissa Singleton	0.08%

Collectively, the group lost 4 lbs this week. Certainly a better show than last week. Keep it up!


A recent study http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/92/2/13-120287-ab/en/index.html suggests EACH time you eat fast food, your BMI (body mass index) is bumped up by 0.03. While I’m not convinced this warrants more government intervention to keep us from making poor dietary choices, it may be a good reason to make better choices on an individual basis. This week, instead of heading for Wendy’s, Burger King, McDonald’s or even Chick-fil-A for lunch, try brown-bagging it. Drive past the Crown Burger, Taco Bell, KFC and Sonic on your way to a home-cooked dinner. Plan ahead so you won’t have to choose between shopping for ingredients and ordering pizza delivery. Yes, I know it’s inconvenient, but it’s worth it. If you avoid fast food this entire week, your wallet and your waistline will thank you. And you can enter our drawing next Saturday.

Week 4 Results

Here are our top losers for the past week:

Kylee Gyger                  1.60%

Jacob Cantwell              1.47%

Jennifer Bidwell              1.15%

Amy Bowe                    1.10%

Heather Bowe               0.99%

John Bowe                    0.41%

Our cumulative total for the week was 0.2%. Okay, so last week wasn’t so great. Setbacks are inevitable. The important thing to remember here is that you can’t let little hiccups get in the way of achieving your goal. Now is the perfect time to recommit and tighten your resolve.

This week’s challenge involves sleep. What does sleep have to do with weight loss? Several things, actually. If you’re tired your body is more likely to respond by asking for food than by asking for a nap. Exhaustion can lead to poor choices, like bingeing. But more importantly, sleep is when our bodies perform the “housekeeping” tasks that are difficult while we’re awake. If you’re sleep-deprived, your metabolism can’t function the way it was meant to. If you get at least seven hours of sleep per 24-hour period, you’ll feel better. Do it each day this week and you can put your name in the drawing next Saturday.

Week 3 Results

Jacob Cantwell	6.70%
Stephanie Thomson	3.22%
John Bowe	1.97%
Sheila McFarland	1.89%
Jennifer Bidwell	1.68%
Matthew Bowe	1.57%
Kylee Gyger	1.23%
Linda Bowe	0.76%
Josh Bowe	0.56%
Heather Bowe	0.44%

Together we lost a total of 43.10 pounds! Impressive, but we can do even better!

Congratulations to Jake Cantwell for winning last week's challenge drawing.

When we were in Europe we hardly ever saw anyone remarkably overweight. Most of our European friends have much healthier habits:

They drive only when they absolutely must and walk or cycle whenever they can.

They eat three daily meals instead of snacking all day.

Their plates are much smaller, and they don’t load them with food.

Their biggest meal tends to happen in the middle of the day. They’re essentially done eating by six p.m.

They don’t drink as many calories as we do. With meals, it’s usually still or sparkling water.

There isn’t a lot of sugar in their diet. Sweetened cereal, pancakes, waffles, and muffins at breakfast are practically unheard of. Dessert is a special treat, not a matter of course.

They don’t eat while driving, shopping, working, reading, watching TV, etc. 

This week’s challenge is really easy. Choose at least one of these healthy habits and make it your own for one week.

Week 2 Results

Congratulations to Heather McCoy for winning the challenge drawing this week!!

Here are this week's biggest losers:

____________________________

Bob Worley	1.97%
Jennifer Bidwell	1.94%
Amy Bowe	1.65%
Melissa Singleton	1.48%
Heather McCoy	1.26%

The group lost a combined total of 21.0 lbs.

Water is so important, especially while you’re dieting.

Initial weight loss is largely due to water loss, so you need to drink more to avoid dehydration.

Burning calories requires an adequate supply of water; dehydration slows down the fat-burning process.

Dehydration can cause headaches. It can also make you feel tired or hungry.

Water helps to maintain muscle tone and to lubricate joints.

A healthy diet includes fiber, but fiber without adequate fluids it can cause constipation.

Drinking water before meals can make you feel full sooner.

Most people should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, so that's our challenge for this week.

Keep up the good work!

Week 1 Results

We're off and running! As a group we lost a total of 34.9 pounds this week. Here are our biggest losers so far:

____________________________

Matthew Bowe     3.48%

Amy Bowe     2.84%

John Bowe     2.18%

Sheila McFarland     2.18%

Bob Worley     1.71%

Kylee Gyger     1.10%
Stephanie Thomson     1.04%
Linda Bowe     1.01%
Melissa Singleton     0.25%

 I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” It’s true, of course, but delayed gratification can be difficult. This week our challenge is to make a note of the things we’re craving. (I’d give you a few examples, but I’m afraid that would be counterproductive.) Instead of eating the treat that’s been tempting you, make a note of it. No, not just a mental note. Actually get a pencil and paper and write it down. By the end of the week you should have a nice list of things you would have eaten if not for your own will power. Chose one item on your list that still sounds yummy and reward yourself with it. Instead of feeling deprived, you’ll start the week with a new sense of accomplishment. And you can enter our drawing for next week's prize.