Get Fit Challenge

[Jess]

One of my best friends convinced me to sign up for the Get Fit Topeka Challenge, which is basically our town's version of biggest loser. I'm a little on the heavy side and have been trying to lose some weight and just become more healthy overall. What I didn't realize is that, by all clinical standards, at 5-4 and 178 pounds I was considered obese. YUK! Today was the first weigh-in since the challenge began, and I have lost 6 pounds this week. I couldn't be happier! Changing my diet is a huge challenge, but it has to happen. Heart disease runs in my family and I don't want to put myself at an even greater risk by being overweight.

It's a 9-week challenge....I'm really excited to see if I can meet my goal of getting down to 150 by March 8th. Will have to post the after photos for sure (not the before LOL!)

1-18-08: Today was the second weigh-in of the challenge. I lost more than anticipated last week which turned out to be a good thing. I neither gained nor lost a single ounce over this past week. It's difficult but I know how it works: the body will do what the body will do. It doesn't always cooperate with our goals for the damn scale. I was never a scale watcher before, I was more concerned with inches. In the end that's really what matters. So, another week begins now! I'm still motivated as ever and am continuing to increase both the intensity and duration of my daily gym routine. And am continuing to shove substantially less calories through my pie hole each day!

1-25-08: Weigh in today, definitely better than last week! Lost 2.5 pounds, for a total of 8.5 pounds in 3 weeks. Not bad, still a long way to go BUT I have felt so much better this past week, it's an amazing change and I love it. :)

2-2-08: We attended the halfway rally today. My BMI is officially out of the "obese" category although I am still considered high risk for the bad health stuff. BUT I lost another 2 pounds this week for a total of 10.5 pounds. Dawn, my teammate, has lost 8 pounds, and as a team we are ranked 18th out of 84 in the "total percent weight lost" at 4.08% between the two of us. Damn good if I do say! LOL I'd like to finish top 10 in the competition, but it's really no big deal. We'll continue on this path from now until eternity, as it really is the new way of life and not just because of some game/challenge. Have a great week all! :)

2-15-08: Well I failed to update this last week, simply because I spaced it. Last week (PMS week) I managed to lose .4 pounds, which doesn't sound like much but typically that week of the month I would gain a bunch. So I was pleased. Then last Saturday I got the flu and a super bad head cold, neither of which quite want to let go even now. So I used the new and improved Flu Diet and lost 3.2 pounds this week haha! Since the start of the challenge on January 5th I've lost a total of 14.1 pounds!!

[Mary]

Hey so I just saw this wanted to say good luck with everything. I'm doing my own mini challenge since there are 3 weeks to spring and thats when I start doing races again. Hate running in the cold =). Out of curiosity what kind of workouts do you like?

[Scott]

Way to go, Jessica. Congrats on your success. I'm trying to lose a few L-Bs myself. Smaller portions, more frequent meals and more exercise. I'm finding it's harder at age 40. And I guess since I work for a health organization, I've got to try and at least walk the talk. It doesn't help both my younger brothers work for Gold's Gym. They keep me honest. Look forward to hearing more great news on your continued success path. Best wishes to you.

[Jess]

Thanks again for all of your support. It really does make me more accountable, knowing everyone knows what my goals are and stuff. OMG I found pics this weekend of when I was at my heaviest, end of 2005 I was about 195. Disgusting, I tell ya! I will post those on here only when I have the "after" photo to go next to it LOL!

Just one more positive note: measured again over the weekend and in 3 weeks I've shaved 2.5 inches off my waist, 3 from my hips, 1 around my bust and 1 inch in each thigh. Woo hoo! I hate working out, as I have a strong aversion to sweat, but I'll keep sweating it out for results like that! Only 10 more inches to go....LOL!

[Erin]

Also wanted to say good luck and congratulations to Jessica!

[Erin]

I too have been working at losing weight. I hope to lose at least 30 lbs by May. I have a better time changing my diet, than I do exercising though. Especially when it is cold, I love to do things like rollerblading, walking, hiking, and things like that but when it is cold and snowy I just don't do it. I need to find something else to do at those times.

[Erin]

I too have been working at losing weight. I hope to lose at least 30 lbs by May. I have a better time changing my diet, than I do exercising though. Especially when it is cold, I love to do things like rollerblading, walking, hiking, and things like that but when it is cold and snowy I just don't do it. I need to find something else to do at those times.

[Pyrrhus Darwin Castello]

Dude!! Your NORMAL in that pic!! Your freaking jaw is like STEEL! :D

[Pyrrhus Darwin Castello]

Way to go! I used to weigh over 330pounds now its like 248 :P Gettin thinner all the time. And I too used (and still too) food as a drug. But now it feels really good when you eat normally and have a candy like 1time a week. And you should do that too. Some people do it 1 a month, some 4 times. Its based on how your body works.

You first eat healthy and little less than you used to and then you start to lose weigh (oh, really ;) ) then when you have a day where you get little extra your body thinks that

"Wow! Im getting a lot of food again" and starts to "run faster" then when you again go to back normal where you eat less, the body still thinks that its on the "wow" part and you will loose more :)

This actually works and MANY athlethes (prop and non pro) do it :)

[Jennifer]

Pie Hole! Man, I miss "Pushing Daisies."
Don't under-do the calories either. If you're going to be increasing your gym acitivity, then you're going to want more energy. Pick the right ones, and you should be ok. Don't deprive yourself. It will only make you mad.

[Jess]

I think you hit the nail on the head with also adding WHY we eat. I use food like a drug, totally. I know that I abuse it. So this last week and a half have been a challenge, but I just keep the end goal in mind. For some reason I couldn't or just wouldn't do that before. I truly think the word "obese" in relation to myself made that final difference. Thanks everyone for the support, I'll keep this updated!