A Healthy Challenge
Okay gals and guys, over the weekend I came across this article
Study shows health risks of obese womenA 5-foot, 5-inch tall white woman who weighs more than 240 pounds is 86 percent more likely to die within seven years than her normal-weight peer, according to a new study.
Extremely obese white or black women are more likely to die of any cause, or to develop heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, said researcher Dr. Kathleen McTigue, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
"The health risks of extreme obesity have really been poorly understood because the condition used to be so rare," she said. [source]
I know most of us visit here or blog or lurk because we hate being fat, but. I've always believed whatever you resist, persists. You resist being overweight, you stay being overweight. You approach a negative situation with more negativity, the negativity continues.
Maybe we should look at it another way.
How about we love being fit & healthy? We do things that are not solely to track how much lbs we lose in a given week. Why not do things that make the heart pump and muscles grow and body fat (not scale weight!) go down?
To support this new outlook, for the rest of summer, perfect for those going back to school or Moms getting kids ready for going back to school, I'm going to launch the Forget About The lbs challenge, aka the big F.A.T. challenge.
Each week I'll devote one day to defining health related terms the media tends to avoid. The next day, I'll post a calculator. Your homework will be to figure out your standing, I'll bite the bullet and post my own stats and numbers. If you are brave enough, you can post your too. In 4 weeks we'll do a mid challenge check in and in 8 weeks, mid September, we'll have a final check in to see how healthy we all got during the summer of '06.
Wednesdays will be a book giveaway day, Thursdays topic will vary, and Friday is guest blogging day. If there is no guest blogger, I'll post healthy menus, recipes, food plans to get you thru the weekend. Actually, even if there is, I'll still post those things.
I do this challenge in conjunction with all I already do to get fit. There is no plan to follow, if you do WW or SBD, continue on. By no means am I a doctor, so please get all the necessary check ups before you attempt this. The challenge is just a way to keep people on track while educating and hopefully changing lives for the healthier.
There is no group goal to lose xxlbs or walk xx miles. Instead, let's try to reduce our other bodily stats by a point or two in the next 2 months. It may not seem like much but dropping an inch or two in the waist can reduce the risk of developing heart disease…and how many of us whip out the tape measure on a weekly basis vs. getting on a scale getting pissed at a 1 or 2 lb fluctuation that could be nothing more than water weight?
Things will kick off next Monday. I hope you'll join in 
Next entry: The Big F.A.T. Challenge
Trackback Pings
TrackBack this entry: http://www.fatfighterblogs.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/288
36 Comments
07.10.06 | angie commented: sounds like a great idea i'll join in. I am however going on holidays on the 21 of july and gone until the 6 of august. So I 'll post my states on next monday but then won't be able to post anything until I get back. this is a great idea exspecially with me trying to get to my second goal. you always come up with such good ideas.
your the best renee.
angie 
07.10.06 | Cilla commented: Yay. I'm in. I always wanted a buddy...or just someone who is on the same track as me. I'm trying for 10 pounds by 9/1/06. I know I shouldn't set a number, but it helps me. Good luck everyone!!
07.10.06 | big.momma commented: Count me in! Especially after a day like I had today! Thanks for all of your hard work keeping this site up and running!
07.10.06 | Debbi commented: Sounds like fun, Renée ... and a wonderfully refreshing change of attitude, which would do us all good.
07.10.06 | Hannah commented: Hi Renee. Count me in on this one too. I really need to get myself into gear, and every little bit helps
07.11.06 | chrissie commented: I'm in! I'm in! I'm in!
I keep trying to tell myself - this isn't only about the weight. This is about the health. My health has to be more important than a number on a scale.
I'm in!
07.12.06 | renee commented: Good to see you ladies
I'll contact you offline to give you info on what I'm working on to keep peeps engaged on a daily basis...hopefully since the focus isn't solely on lbs lost, the other things we will be tracking will be enough to keep everyone motivated and optimistic in some areas for the next 8 weeks...more later!
07.12.06 | Schembonia commented: I am so in!!!
I mean, okay, you diet, you lose weight, you get to your weight goal, then what? You shoot right back up again? No good!! I need to learn to make eating healthy a lifestyle change, not just a means by which to lose weight.
Do I just sign back on to fatfighterblogs.com to keep track of this challenge? Or is there a specific blog that I should visit to keep up? Newbie in the realm of blogging... 
07.12.06 | Heather commented: I love a challenge! Count me in
07.12.06 | Jodie commented: I'm in, in, IN!! What do i do?
07.13.06 | chrissie commented: Renee,
I don't know if you'll use it, but I made an image for the F.A.T. Challenge tonight when I should have been sleeping.
I've got it up at my blog now. Feel free to use it if you'd like.
I'm really really excited about the challenge!
07.13.06 | 
07.13.06 | 
07.13.06 | 
07.13.06 | 
07.13.06 | Mel Green commented: Just joined this site... & count me in. I've found this kind of group participatory challenge has been a great motivator.
07.13.06 | Shevvi commented: I'm in. I've lost all the gins I made in strength, endurance, weight loss that I made during the last challenge you hosted. I need another kick inthe pants. thank you for doing this again.
07.14.06 | Carrie commented: This seems like just the right time for me to get involved in something like this. I'd really like to participate.
07.15.06 | Lauren C commented: Horray! I'm new to fatfighter - I just requested to be on the directory. I'm excited for this challenge, and for the opportunity to read other's blogs for insperation and support!
07.15.06 | Anisa C commented: I am in for 10 by September first also. I need a number to get to also but it is a not so far off tactic to keep me on track. I need all of the support I can get size 10 here I come 
07.16.06 | 
07.16.06 | 
07.17.06 | angie commented: how do we link the image that chrissie made I'll put it on my siteto advertise about the site and challenge
angie renee sent you message with new e mail address. it was prob mine that got bounced back
07.17.06 | michelle commented: oh please let me join. this sounds just like the push that ive been waiting for.
07.17.06 | Connie commented: I'm joining the party. Sign me up!
07.17.06 | 
07.17.06 | Cindy194 commented: I'm in, just let me know what I need to do!
07.17.06 | Nicole commented: I'm in! It sounds like this challenge will work well with what I'm already doing, plus add some extra thought and support.
07.18.06 | Jen commented: I posted about this on
the angryfatgirlz blog and it looks like several of us are going to participate. Really looking forward to it!
07.18.06 | 07.18.06 | renee commented: Wow!! More peeps!!
Ok, I'll get send you all the link to the forum later today, think of this first week as the mixer, just posting who you are and what you one healthy goal is.
Thanks for the shout out Jen *hugs*
07.19.06 | Elisabeth Jane commented: This is my first visit to "The Fatfighters." I would love to join the Healthy Challenge. Please let me know what I need to do. Thanks.
07.27.06 | Note: Comments are closed. Please use this form to leave a message.
I am always open and willing for your challenges...and a health related kick is really something I could use. As you did, I just recently moved and need something to cement a new, healthy routine.