The Biggest Loser Challenge

A couple of friends at church mentioned their families doing a Biggest Loser Challenge.  What got me interested was its focus on eating healthy and it sounded like fun.  I was able to recruit some of Glen's family to join in the fun and we're feeling great.  It is a 6 week challenge and you get a point each day for the following things:

1. No carbonation
2. 7 hours of sleep
3. No eating after 7:30pm (or within 3 hours of bed)
4. Drinking 64 oz. of water
5. 30 min workout
6. Five total servings of fruit and/or veggies
7. Daily vitamin
8. No sweets (candy, desserts, etc.)

There is a free workout point on Sunday so there is a possible 56 points per person/per week. You also get 3 bonus or cheat points per week. That keeps it realistic so you can eat a sweet or miss a workout and still get 56 points. At the end of the competition you report your weight loss and add 3 points per pound lost.

I've missed my sweets, but once I started going without, I was amazed that I don't miss them so much, especially when I add  in a fruit smoothie for the day (throw in a carrot or some cabbage and there's another serving).  The hardest thing by far is getting those 5 servings of fruits and veggies in.  The first week was hard trying not to overeat but I felt so full trying to make sure to get that point everyday.  Now we've figured it out and are excited at how much our kids are following our example and surprised that the youngest 2 enjoy plain celery.  I've discovered Yoga on Netflix and have decided that's my favorite workout of choice.  I haven't seen much disappear on the scale, but being down 2 belt holes in 3 1/2 weeks is pretty exciting to me.  There needs to be a point for not eating out because after yesterday, I'm not sure if those 2 belt holes will still be there.=)  I have found that the purpose of this program is not about getting a perfect score, (although Glen getting the extra $10 added to his allowance the past 2 weeks has made me a little jealous.=)  It's noticing what healthy habits are already in place and what can be focused on.  There are days when I find that if these rules weren't in place, I'd be fixing that bowl of cold cereal right before bed or have that handful of chocolate chips while making dinner just because I want a little something to eat.  Sure I can still do those things now, but losing a point and realizing if it's not done in moderation, it's going to affect me in the long run.  We only have 2 1/2 more weeks to go, but I think we've started some habits for life.