HFTHC Week 2 Weigh-in

Hey all!  It's the beginning of week 3 so you know what that means...

Week 2 weigh-ins!!

I just have to say how very proud I am of these participants!!  These people are taking control of their health - some are succeeding and some are struggling, but you know what?  They are still TRYING and they are still reporting each week.  I have so much respect for each and every one of you!!

And the results for week 2...

Chris [311 starting] current: 306.2 for a loss of .91%  

Cracker [175 starting] current: 168.6 for a loss of 1.06% 

Dawn [181.4 starting] current: 177 for a loss of 0% 

Deena [171.8 starting] current: 169.5 for a loss of .76% 

Emily [195 starting] current: 191 for a loss of .52% 

Heather [205 starting] current: 196 for a loss of 2% 

Jani [286.8 starting] current: 287.4 for a gain of .21%

Mylee [149 starting] current: 144 for a loss of 1.03% 

Pinky [184 starting] current: 178.6 for a loss of 1.54% 

Stephanie [226 starting] current: 220.6 for a loss of 1.52% 

Wendi [170 starting] current: 166 for a loss of 1.19% 

Mary [246 starting] current: 242.8 for a loss of 1.3%

Guys, our total loss this week is: 23.8 lbs!!  For two weeks we have lost a total of: 55.5 lbs!!  That is awesome!  We are doing great things [get this] during the MOST difficult time of year!  I am seriously SO impressed with all of you!

Congrats to Pinky - our biggest loser this week!!  

Here's to another great week - we can all improve on what we're doing now!

I think I'll leave you with this quote ('cause it's super appropriate):

"At the end of each day, you should play back the tapes of your performance.  The results should either applaud you or prod you." 

- Jim Rohn

I applaud you all!  Now, let's prod ourselves to achieve great things!

I'm thinking of each of you (and those who haven't sent in their info yet - you can do this)!

Call/text/email ANY time!  For reals.

541-999-2313

Love,

Stephanie

Health for the Holidays Weigh-in WEEK 1

I'd like for you to meet our 2011 Health for the Holidays (HFTH) Challengers!  Please be sure to check back each week and congratulate them on their hard work and progress!  I'm so proud of these peeps!  

I am pleased to announce that we had 16 participants join in our HFTHC!  Today I had 11 people send me their first weeks' weigh-in.  As of our very first week, we had a combined weight loss of....drum roll please....

31.7 lbs THIS WEEK!

That's phenomenal!!!  WAY TO GO GUYS!!!!

Here is everyone's stats so far:

Chris [311 starting] current: 309 for a loss of .64%  YEA!!

Cracker [175 starting] current: 170 for a loss of 2.86% SWEET!

Dawn [181.4 starting] current: 177 for a loss of 2.43% HOORAY!

Deena [171.8 starting] current: 170.8 for a loss of .58% SUPER!

Emily [195 starting] current: 192 for a loss of 1.54% YOU ROCK!

Heather [205 starting] current: 200 for a loss of 2.44% FANTASTIC!

Jani [don't have current information] total lost this week was .8 lbs (great job, Jani - you had a rough week!)

Mylee [149 starting] current: 145.5 for a loss of 2.35% FABULOUS!

Pinky [184 starting] current: 181.4 for a loss of 1.41% YOU GO GIRL!

Stephanie [226 starting] current: 224 for a loss of .88% OH YEAH!

Wendi [170 starting] current: 168 for a loss of 1.18% AMAZING!

Congratulations Cracker!  You were our biggest loser this week!

I'm so proud of each one of you!  We all have busy/stressful lives, but you're taking a little time to better yourself and it will not only benefit you, but your loved ones as well!  

We're going to sail through this holiday season!

Keep up the good work all!  If you want to add your information to these totals, just let me know!  We've got 8 more weeks!!  Make 'em count!

In Health,

~Stephanie

Monday weigh-in and Challenge KICK OFF!

I know, I know...Monday was yesterday!  I was so busy, I chose sleep over blogging!!  

I'm SUPER excited for all of the participants in the Health for the Holidays Challenge!!  We are officially underway (as of yesterday).

I will be posting this week about our participants and tell a little bit about them, as well as their starting information.  I hope they will be commenting so you can get to know them and help support them as well!

*If you still want to join - I'm all for it!  It may mean you'll have to work a little harder (depending on how soon you do so), but it can only make you a stronger (and healthier) person!!

Ok, now I'll answer the questions that I asked all of my participants to answer:

*You can call me: Stephanie, Steph, "Hey you" or "the incredible shrinking woman" (hehe)

*My official starting weight is: 226 lbs

*My goal is to lose 25 lbs in 9 weeks

*My motivation level is a 10 BAY-BEE!

*If I won the $50 I would use it to buy a new pair of running shoes!

There you have it...I'm officially in! hehe

Wanna join us?  Shoot me an email!  Make this the first of many healthy holidays!

Client Brag

If I told you this lovely lady was my sister, you'd probably believe me.  We get asked that question more often than anything else!  I only hope my girls get asked that question when they're my age! 

My mom...what to say about her - I've said it before and I'll say it again, "To know her, is to love her".  It's really that simple.

So obviously my first client brag is about my mom!  She is down nearly 100 lbs!  Let me say that again, SHE IS DOWN NEARLY 100 LBS!!!! 

Shout for joy - I sure did!!  What a phenomenal accomplishment!

She has committed to joining my Health for the Holidays Challenge which starts Monday, Oct 17th!  I'm sure that by Christmas she will be right at (or very close to) her goal weight. 

I went through some older photos of mine to try and find a good example of just how far my mom has come on her weight loss journey - I think this one adequately shows that:

This was a horrible cell phone pic that someone took of mom and I when we met Jane Clayson Johnson at Time Out For Women in the Spring of 2007.

You rock, mom!  Thanks for being an inspiration to so many!  Love you!

Duncan Island

Last Friday I was able to accompany Christopher’s class on a field trip to Duncan Island.  I was amazed that having grown up in this small town, I had never been to (nor heard of) Duncan Island.  It was quite a drive…on a bus…with fifty 5^th graders...and a very colorful bus driver!  Interesting to say the least.

It was a drizzly, cool day, but by the time we stepped off the bus, the crisp air was a welcomed change.  

Christopher has the coolest teacher this year - he has been such a blessing!  And, he's a BEAVER fan!  We are kinda hard to come by in this little town of Ducks!

 The day was filled with interesting facts about nature and gorgeous scenery.  I think the kids had a really good time - such a nice change to sitting in a classroom all day!  I loved being outdoors (yes, even in the rain!) and getting to hike all over the expansive property.  It really got me to thinking - I don't think I could have gone on this trip 5 months ago.  Although the weather would have been considerably better, I couldn't have walked around and been up and down from the ground snapping pictures at a full 90 lbs heavier!  I can walk (and run) and still have energy to burn - I feel amazing!

One of my 5th grade teachers asked if he could take a picture of Christopher and I - I'm so glad he did!

These caterpillars were everywhere!  I just had to get a shot of the black and orange caterpillar against Christopher's OSU sweatshirt.

It was a great day.  There were some funny moments…and some not-so-funny moments (that you may have read about on Facebook), but overall, my son and I were able to make memories and preserve them through photos.  And I wouldn't have missed that for the world.

Who's up for a challenge??

I was looking at my calendar and do you know what?  There are only 10 weeks left before Christmas!!  I can't even handle it.  

It's my favorite time of year - a beautiful, warm, exciting season filled with yummy smells, lovely colors and good will toward men.  It. is. magical.

So it got me to thinking...it's a magical time of year, but many times food becomes the central focus - family parties, work parties, church parties, stockings, goodie plates, gift baskets, etc.  It can be (I would venture to say, usually is) a very difficult time for people to maintain some semblance of health.  

So here's the deal.  I'm taking back my health for the holidays.  That's right, I've been working on getting healthy for 5 months now, but this will be my first holiday season (ever) where I refuse to be ruled by food.

I intend to enjoy the holidays to the fullest - and guess what?  I DON'T NEED FOOD TO DO THAT!!  Crazy, right?  Want to know another thing?  YOU DON'T NEED FOOD TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS either!

Here's where this gets interesting...

Who doesn't love a good, healthy competition?  I know I do!

I am challenging you (yes, YOU!!) to take back your health for the holidays!  Let's do this together, shall we?

I want to create a place where people can support each other (regardless of how you choose to loose)!  

The challenge starts this Monday, October 17th (you know how I love Mondays!).  That puts our last official weigh-in on Monday, December 19th.  

Here's how it will work:

You do your healthy thing throughout the week (if you're looking for a tried and true plan, boy have I got one for ya!), then on Monday morning, we all do our weigh-ins and you email/message/text/FB (you get the idea) your results for the week.  It will be based on percentage lost (so it's fair for everyone).  

Then on Monday afternoon/evening I will post that week's results.  It will look something like this:

Stephanie - weight lost: 3 lbs  percentage lost: 0.98%

Jean -         weight lost: 5 lbs  percentage lost: 1.02%

Susie -        weight lost: 1 lb  percentage lost:   .78%

You get the idea!

**I will leave it up to you if you want to use your real name or remain anonymous on the blog.  I would definitely encourage you to use your real information - and if you blog (or update Facebook), SHARE it there!  YOU will be helping to motivate others as well as keeping yourself accountable!

At the end, I will total up each person's percentage lost and the winner will get a prize.  I had intended to give a $50 gift certificate, which I'll still do, but I also want to see if I can find some wonderful sponsors to donate to the gift pool as well.  I'll keep you updated - but you will get at least $50 (right before Christmas)!

So, whadya say?  Wanna join me?

Send an email to: fitandfabforlife@gmail.com and tell me you want in!  Let me know how you want people to identify you (first name only), what your current weight is (I will not share this with anyone), how much you want to lose and your motivation level.  Also, I would love to know what you plan to do with the $50 if you win it.

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Example:

Hi Stephanie!  I'm so excited to participate in this challenge! I'm tired of gaining more weight over the holidays and never losing it!  I want to use my name (Jasmine) and I'm ok with you posting it on your blog.  My starting weight is 185 lbs.  I need to lose 35 lbs and I'm pretty motivated (8 on a scale of 10).  If I win, I will use the money to buy a cute outfit for my new body!

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Ok, I'm so excited about this!  Email me now and let me know that you want in and I'll start compiling the list!!

Monday Weigh-in

I love Mondays - really!  I love stepping on the scale each week and seeing those numbers go down (and recalculating my water requirements and how many more lbs to lose before reaching my goal...I could go on)!


So imagine my disappointment (shock, really) when I weighed-in last Monday (10/3) and found that I was only down 1 lb!  *One. stinkin'. pound.  Well, I wallowed and whined and wondered what I was doing wrong (in a very mature manner, I assure you).  I called my coach and talked to her about what could be wrong.  And really, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was all my fault!  I hate when it's my fault - when I have to admit wrong doing.  Does that sound like pride to you?  YOU BET IT IS!  I was being so prideful (and whiny).  I let doubt slip into my head for the first time in 5 months.  At that point I was down 83 lbs and I was complaining?!  Seriously, I needed to be slapped!  But, it brought me to a humbling place.  A place where I had been not so long ago...so vulnerable...so scared...so unsure.  And it gave me a greater appreciation of what my newest clients are going through right now.  The further I get down this road of learning and growing, the more I am able to help others and forget myself, but I don't want to EVER forget who I was (or what I was reduced to) at my lowest place - or where I've come from.


My coach gave me some really good suggestions to speed things up again.  I was definitely incorporating too much peanut butter (it's my favorite) into my daily foods.  It's funny how you indulge just a little bit, but then it makes you want more.  So I decided for the following week to cut out peanut butter all together - I love it, but it's just food and totally not worth it to me right now.
I was also not drinking enough water.  I know how important water is to our system, but I was just not doing it!
Another downfall was not getting all of my meals in (big no-no).  Again, I was just letting life get in the way and choosing not to take care of myself.


So, as you can see, making changes in your life isn't always easy.  I'm not always pleasant to be around when I've missed a meal or when the scale doesn't move the way I'd hoped it would.


But I can promise you this...it won't always be easy, but it will always be worth it.


I'm happy to report that after making those changes and getting back to basics last week, when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was down 4 lbs!  HALLELUJAH!


My stats so far:
current weight: 228 lbs
total loss: 87 lbs BAY-BEEEE!


*Let me just say that I know I shouldn't have been disappointed over a 1 lb loss.  It's still a loss, and that one pound could have been a 1 lb gain and then, well...you know how things snowball from there.  So, a loss is a loss...as long as it's not a gain (sounds like something Yogi Berra would say, no?)!


Here's to making healthy choices, pushing through the hard stuff and kissing pride goodbye...because it's TOTALLY worth it!


xoxo,
~Steph