Currently browsing all entries in the Challenges category
Start! Challenge
Not much notice on this one, sorry folks, just got in in my email yesterday evening.
Apply now to participate in the American Heart Association’s 2008 Start! Challenge!We’re selecting four to seven men and women over age 30 from across the country who will be profiled on our Web site and in the media. Finalists will follow a healthy eating and exercise plan then record their experiences through an online blog.
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive an all-expense trip to Washington, D.C. for Lobby Day, media recognition and more! We hope that by following our challenges, Americans will be inspired to Start! a healthy lifestyle of their own.
Find more information and apply to be a Start! Challenge Finalist. All applications and photos are due by Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007.
Choose To Move
Some of us find it hard to be self motivated. For those who fall into that category, there are a wealth of FREE challenges out there. When I find them, I'll let you all know.
This one sounds pretty good, Choose To Move.
The 12-week program takes you step-by-step through simple exercises and offers great tips for increasing your physical activity and reaching your goals. Once you register, you will receive a weekly email for each of the 12 weeks and get reminders with tips to stay motivated!
An overview of the 12 week program below:
Week 1: Choosing to move
Week 2: Creating a plan of action
Week 3: Strengthening your resolve
Week 4: Accentuating the positive
Week 5: Avoiding traps and trip-ups
Week 6: Reaching for more
Week 7: De-stressing the stressed out
Week 8: Finding community resources
Week 9: Lapsing and snapping back
Week 10: Staying motivated
Week 11: Planning for the future
Week 12: Keep moving, keep choosing
What I like best is week 9, lapsing and snapping back. Most challenges ignore the fact that people get bored and derailed.
When you join up, you also get
- A personal handbook
- Access to nutrition tips and new recipes
- Bi-monthly e-mails with physical activity tips
- E-mail reminders to keep you motivated
- Relevant facts on heart disease and stroke
So if counting calories already has you ripping out your hair or the last thing you want to do on a cold morning is go workout, think about your heart and just Choose To Move okay? 
National Body Challenge Is Coming Back!
Get Ready, National Body Challenge Will Be Back Soon!
Discovery Health's National Body Challenge is a FREE, eight-week, comprehensive fitness and weight-loss challenge that provides the tools and inspiration, online and on television, to get in shape, shed extra pounds and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Open to individuals, groups and families, the National Body Challenge offers the flexibility for participants to make the right choices to meet their personal nutrition and fitness goals.
Included in this online Challenge are:
- 8-week membership to Bally Total Fitness®
- Customized online meal plan with over 1,000 great recipes < li>Expert weight loss, fitness and healthy lifestyle information
- And more!
Come back Dec. 29, 2006 to register for the National Body Challenge.
W5 Check In & Weigh In
One month done, onward to month #2!
Use this post to brag or kvetch about your day. If you are doing burn calorie burn, let us know how much cals you are burning off. As for the Walking challenge, we are now in week 2, adding 775 steps to last weeks daily goal, aiming for
Those without pedometers doing something like biking or jogging. Still track miles and can convert what you did into steps. Fell short one day? Remember it's a 7 day time frame, if your weekly average is 1550 per day, you did good!
W4 Check In & Weigh In
Welcome to October!
We are just hitting the one month stride. To keep things streamlined so there aren't multiple check in posts (one for burning 250-500 calories per day, one for logging daily pedometer steps and one for tracking progress on the walking program) going forward, the main check in post will focus on, as it encompasses the others, the daily pedometer challenge. Still use the post to brag or kvetch about your day, but now that I created this snazzy graphic…
...use it to check off your daily steps. Each week I'll tally up the walking leaders. Those without pedometers, biking, jogging, can track miles and I'll convert what you did into steps.
Step To It
Gentle reminder to dust off your pedometer this weekend, for a steppin' we shall go. While you can strap yours on today, I will, most people don't visit the site over the weekend, so just this week, Monday will be the official start day. The goal is 775 steps per day. You can check in daily if you meet your goal. Even if you fall short, remember, we'll tall up all steps from Mon thru Sat, and aim for a daily average of 775.
Now step to it 
The Walking Program Docs
Here are the downloadable documents for The Walking Program. Each level contains a weekly guide and checklist in either Word or PDF format.
Beginner Program
Beginner Program
Intermediate Program
Intermediate Program
Advanced Program
Advanced Program
Use the program to get your steps in for the Walk Baby Walk challenge. We are starting small with a goal of 775 steps per day next week. Keep in mind, while there is a daily goal, we are going to tally it weekly and find your daily average. This way, if you are stuck in a meeting or studying all day, you didn't "fail", so long as by the end of the week, you averaged 775 steps per day, you did good.
Walk Baby Walk
Ok, my fellow calorie burners, I'm sensing a bit of slacking in the focus department, and with an overall goal of creating a daily deficit being a bit vague (that's on purpose by the way, I needed to tend to some offline stuff, now that I'm more settled, I can be more focused myself) let's hone in on what we need to do shall we?
We shall create a challenge within a challenge. Without knowing everyone's fitness abilities, the one thing we all have in common is that we can walk. This weekend, dust off your pedometer or buy a new one. Starting Monday we will log our daily steps. Our year end goal is to walk 10,000 steps day which would move most of us from the "sedentary lifestyle index" and shove us right into the "active lifestyle index".
But how to we go from zero to 10,000 in 13 weeks?
If you know me and/or my site, you know I do things in baby steps. First we will aim to walk 775 steps per day. Each week we'll add another 775 steps. Tally it up and you'll see in 13 weeks, we'll just about hit the 10,000 steps per day mark.
If you do more per day early on, huzzah to you, but I think week 1, each one of us can do 775 steps.
Make it fun, walk in place while watching The Biggest Loser. Need 50 more steps? Do a lap around your subdivision. Take the stairs. While you are nuking your food, walk around the break room. Use the rest room on the floor below you and walk back to your desk. Catch the bus at the next bus stop. Get off the subway one stop early and walk the rest of the way home. Dare each other, post-coitus 
run around the bedroom, yea your partner will think you are nuts, but the next day we'll crack up at how you got your extra 10 steps in for the day. Make sure you wear your pedometer while on the treadmill, 30 mins ='s a whole lotta steps. Do the walking program I'll post later this week, by the end of 13 weeks not only will it get you active 30 mins a day 4 days a week, you won't have to worry about making your steps. And my personal favorite, park in the furthest space from Target and walk to the entrance.
So are you game? Do you think you can handle 775 steps per day next week? Feeling lucky are ya? Well join in by getting your pedometer & feet ready. Each week I'll highlight those who made their steps and at the end of the year I'll spotlight the top walkers.
But remember just because happy feet Shelley crammed in 10,000 steps on day 1 doesn't mean you need to give up because you barely got in 500 steps. Put blinders on, aim for the weekly goal and pretty soon you'll be hoofing it with Shelley!
Oh and you won't need to post in two different spots, I'll consolidate the daily check ins so you can both gab about your day and log your step count.
Your assignment, due Monday October 2: Get yourself a pedometer, stat!
W3 Check In & Weigh In
Welcome to week 3 challenge peeps! This is the magical week that turns all efforts into habits. How have you been holding up? Are you sticking to your game plan? Do you reread your personal mission statement to keep yourself on track? Or do you feel yourself slipping and thinking of giving up?
If you fall into the latter vs. the former, hang tight, I'll share some calorie burning tips to get you through the week and hang onto your forks, looks like Tacita has cooked up another veggie eat!
W2 Check In & Weigh In
After one solid week of burning calories, how'd you do? Did you slip, miss a workout, eat too much? That's okay. Consider it a lesson learned as you enter week 2 and come up with a plan to overcome that pitfall should it arise again this week. You don't have to be perfect, just consistent. Don't give up if week 1 didn't go exactly to plan, there are 15 weeks left in the year, 15-30lbs to safely burn off
Use this post to check in for week 2 and if you are into weighing yourself and feel like bragging, you can do that here too
Round Robin
Good job ladies! I'm so happy to see folks checking in, working to keep on track this week. To answer Angie's questions, since this is the first full week of checking in, the weekly weigh in post, which is optional some folks don't weigh in weekly, will be posted sometime next week. Then, whatever day you weigh-in, just check in on that post.
One last thing, in the next few days I'll be in the final throes of moving. I won't have much time to reply to each and every comment with a pat on the back or high 5, so as a group can you all do me a favor? You don't have to take it upon yourself to reply to all comments, but can you throw some verbal support to the commenter right above you? This way no one drops through the cracks, get to know each other, looks like we'll be "burning calories" for the rest of the year 
How you doin'?
How are my busy little cb's (calorie burners 
) today? As with most challenges, the first week or two I figure out the kinks before there is a set routine. I was going to post a daily check-in, but with less than 10 peeps playing along, I'll do it weekly and leave the post pinned at the top.
Remember your gameplan from last week, you have your goals, a personal mission statement and you picked your poison. All that's left to do is: burn calorie burn. Check in later tonight or tomorrow with your daily deficit, in 7 days we'll total it all up.
16 weeks left in 06'...do I hear 16-32lbs gone by New Years Day?
Pick your Poison
Okay challenge participants, now's the time to choose how you plan to burn your calories.
- Burn 250 by cutting back on your daily eats
- Burn 500 calories via exercise
- Burn 500 calories with a combo of exercise and cutting back on eats (250 + 250)
You know yourself best. Do you loathe exercising? Perhaps you should focus on cutting back on eats. I say 250 to be reasonable, you can cut 500 calories, but if it puts you under 1200 or at an extremely low number, it's pretty safe to say you'll feel deprived and will end up rebelling. A daily deficit of 250 calories will net you a .5lb loss each week. Doesn't sound like much, but if it keeps you consistent, it'll add up and you can still end the year almost 10lbs lighter!
500 calories via exercise. That's tailored to folks like me who detest counting calories, yet love getting sweaty. Most cardio machines provide a readout of the approximate caloric burn, but you can always use this trusty activity calculator. Plug in your stats, and it'll tell you the caloric burn of various activities. Choose one that you can see yourself doing each week, or make it a combo and do one activity in the AM (vigorous housecleaning) + a PM activity (gardening).
Burn 500 calories the combo way. This is probably the best method, as it combines the two. Moderately eat + moderately workout and 7 days later…wham! 1lb gone *theoretically* I will almost bet you may lose even more than 1lb with this method as you consistently workout. But of all 3 it gives the most flexibility. One day you may *only* have a 100 calorie deficit going due to that pesky donut, but the next day an hour on the elliptical burns 600 calories and you are back on schedule.
Please keep in mind, none of this is set in stone. The goal is to consistently work at burning calories and track how much you are approximately burning. The whole point of this challenge is to demystify losing weight and armed with basic education, put control back in your hands.
Have you been trying to lose weight by food alone? And 7 days later the scale barely budges, total up your caloric deficit and see if you were truly on track to shed a lb in 7 days. Even if you weren't, it may mean keep doing what you are doing, 4-5 days later, you'll hit the 3500 mark.
So pick your poison, Daily Check In's start Monday and there'll be some icons under the smileys for you to post how many calories you burned that day. All 2 homework assignments, do require some thought and planning. If you didn't get a chance to answer it when it was posted, there is no rush. Take a few days to figure out your own personal game plan.
What's your mission?
Think of yourself as a business, most all companies have a mission statement. Today's homework assignment is to come up with a personal mission statement. Unlike goals, your mission statement defines you, it sort of combines all your ongoing goals and sums up who you are or are trying to be.
While your goal is something you want to achieve, in my case, lose 7lbs by Halloween. My mission is who I want to become: Renee is a physically fit and active person.
What's your personal mission statement? You don't have to post it here, as the key word is personal, but write it down, print it out and read it every morning. It may be the defining point on when those moments of frustration and feelings of giving up arise, trust me they will, you can read it out loud and make a better choice.
Get SMART
Welcome to the first week of the Burn Calorie Burn challenge. As it is a short week, US holiday yesterday, and to give folks a chance to come up with a personal game plan, before we dive right into burning calories, we'll use this week to do 3 things.
1) Determine SMART Fitness Goals
2) Come up with a personal Mission Statement
3) Choose how we are going to burn our calories and put it in writing.
Pretty simple right?
Running more than my fair share of personal and public challenges, once the initial frenzy of week 1 dies down, people peter out. This challenge is going to take a slow and consistent approach to weight loss. Not sexy or glamorous, but deep down, I believe it'll work.
Today's homework, 1) Determine SMART Fitness Goals
What do I mean by SMART?
S = Specific - When setting your goals, don't be too general. Decide exactly what you want to achieve. That will be the starting point of your goals.
M = Measurable - Choose goals that can be monitored so you can watch your progress.
A = Attainable - Set goals you think you will be able to achieve in a reasonable amount of time. Then plan the specific steps you'll use to establish your goals.
R = Realistic - Goals are realistic if they are ones you truly believe you can achieve. Set goals for yourself, and not for anyone else. Choosing goals that are unrealistic for you and that are based on someone else’s wishes, you will just be setting yourself up for failure.
T = Timely - To be more focused, choose dates or occasions as target times for achieving your goals. Saying you want to lose all the weight you’ve put on since you broke up with your boyfriend is not very specific, measurable, realistic, or time-centered.
A better way to state your goal is to say that you want to lose 10 pounds by Halloween.
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I'll use me as an example and you can either follow along on your blog & post a link back so we can check out what you posted, leave a comment here if you don't have a blog, or do it in your head if you lurk
Renee's SMART Goals:
S = Specific
By the end of 2006, I will lose 20lbs and run, non-stop, 45 mins.
M = Measurable
To lose 20lbs, each week I will attempt to lose .8lbs.
To run 45 mins, each week I'll add 2.5 minutes to my running time.
A = Attainable
By aiming to lose .8lbs, it's means I need to burn 2800 calories a week, or 400 calories a day. Running 2.5 minutes more isn't hard to do.
R = Realistic
My goals are realistic for me because it takes a lot of effort to lose 1lb each week, my body tends to shed weight very slowly.
T = Timely
My first milestone will be to lose 7lbs by Halloween.
****
It's a bit crude, but you get the idea. Tomorrow, coming up with a personal mission statement.
The Stats
The one thing doing phase 1 of south beach and working out like a demon taught me was, "Shit, you mean I'm not going to lose weight by just saying I want to lose weight?!?!?"
Why this challenge? I've always felt a disconnect between what it takes to lose weight and actually losing weight. There is so much misinformation out there, I thought if I could break weight loss down to the simplest essence, burn calories, a collective fog will lift and things we do or don't do will make sense.
For instance, you go down to 1500 calories of daily eats, opt out of exercising and 7 days later only lost ½ a lb. Well, if you BMR says you need to eat 1800 calories to stay you same weight, and you've essentially cut 300, 300x7=2100 not quite a full lb burned.
Now you can slap yourself on the head and say, Ahhh, ok, I can either eat less, or can dust off the jump rope and try to burn some more calories.
Not sexy, not glamorous, but this is weight loss.
Remember I said this is bare bones, there are tons of other factors that you may actually lose more, but for the sake of the challenge and dealing with a varied group, I'm going to keep it really simple: burn 250 – 500 calories every day.
Does that make sense?
I'm thinking by making burning calories a conscious and deliberate effort, you are taking a direct approach in your weight loss efforts. If counting calories ain't your thing, see how long it'll take you to burn 500 calories via exercise, do that and bam, your done.
Or, if you already do NutriSystem, Weight Watchers, South Beach Diet, or any other preset eating program, eat on program for the entire day, and log in that you got your calories burned.
Get creative, make a game out of it. Anything that keeps you engaged and motivated, will also make you successful. You may not burn 250 calories today, but maybe tomorrow you'll burn 500. You know it takes 3500 calories burned to lose a 1lb, you have 7 days to make it happen, mix and match how you'll burn it and even if you fall short a lb lost, remember this is guestimating, your true loss may show up the following weigh in.
In this challenge it doesn't matter how much you currently weigh, or even how much you want to lose, each week the goal is to lose at least 1lb, some may lose more, some may lose less, but that's the group goal. You can fantasize about losing 5lbs the first week and I'll throw a bit of cold water on you to say, ok, 5x3500=17,500 calories burned…go for it…
Makes that 3500 seem a lot more doable don't it
By the end of next week, the Pick Your Poison post will go up, where after a week of letting this challenge marinate in your head, you pick how you plan to burn your calories and what day is your official weigh in day. The following week, the daily check ins will begin and the weekly weigh in will start the week after.
Depending on how many people participate, if it's under 10, I can handle being head cheerleader, but if it's more, I'll set up a round robin way of support, where each person will either buddy up with another loser, or each commenter will cheer on the person who commented before them. I'll know more when I see how many are gonna play.
As for the next 16 weeks, the posting will look something like this:
Daily check in, weekly weigh in, calorie burning tips, success tips, recipes, food reviews, walking/running routine. And two topics just for fun, a weekly advice column, where I post questions I tend to get asked, and put it out for the group to answer, think of it as group Ann Landers and of course, any books or DVDs or fitness related swag I come across, I'll do a monthly give away.
Today is September 1st, let's get a 4 month head start on January 1st and resolve to lose some weight!
Tools To Use
During the Burn Calorie Burn Challenge, you'll track your calories burned on a daily basis. If you chose to cut back on food, figure out your BMR, subtract 250, and that's your caloric allotment for the day. Keep in mind it'll take about 2 weeks to lose a 1lb via that method, especially if you do nothing else. You can subtract 500 but if your calories are so low you'll end up rebelling, stick with 250 and lose weight at a nice and slow pace.
For those doing the calorie burn via exercise, most cardio machines spit out an estimate of how many calories you burned during your session. If they one you use doesn't do that, or you'll do other activities, like weight lifting or roller blading or rope jumping, this is a really good site to see how many calories you burn through various activities.
The challenge officially kicks off next week, though for the holiday weekend and the fact that I'm moving, means it really launches on Tuesday. Next week will be dedicated to coming up with a plan on how you want to lose weight and committing to one of the methods of burning calories. This challenge is meant to go along with what you are already doing, it's not going to tell everyone to eat a certain way or do this particular workout, for the most part people have their own routines. The challenge will just be a hub where you can log your daily doing and check out what other people are doing.
For the duration, as I come across tips to burn more calories, whether it's something to eat or not eat, or a new twist on a workout routine, I'll share that too.
And lastly, if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, not sure what routine to do I have a few basic walking routines I'll share on a weekly basis, and you can use that as a guideline to getting physical.
Tomorrow, how stats will be tracked and what to expect in the next 16 weeks.
Burn Calorie Burn Pt 2
As mentioned yesterday, the Burn Calorie Burn Challenge, starts next week and lasts till the end of the year. The goal is to aim to burn 250-500 calories per day through diet, exercise or a combination of both.
You can pick how you plan to burn your calories, cut 250 from how you eat. Or, burn 500 during 3-4 workouts each week. It'll all be guestimating, but one thing I hope it'll do is take away the mystery of losing weight. If you cut 250 calories and by the end of the week, feeling like you did awesome on your diet, but the scale doesn't budge, adding it all up 250x7=1750 or 1/2 a lb.
Seeing it in black and white, may give you the oomph to keep up the good work during the next week and all things being perfect, at or around day 14 your 3500th calorie is burned.
Sounds long and tedious, but how many times have you started a week on a weight loss mission only to be disappointed by the lack of or slow movement on the scale? Rather than let emotions cloud your progress, let logic and numbers work for you.
Next week will be all about organization and planning. There'll be new buttons added below the smileys that you can click to log your calorie burn for the day. At the end of the week, add up all your clicks and see if it matches what the scale says.
Now a few things to keep in mind, especially for those like me that will do the calorie burn counting for exercise. I personally don't count calories, but do keep my eating reasonable. If your eating is out of hand, it'll wipe away any deficit you are holding onto. Just because you burned 700 calories on the elliptical, making your daily goal, doesn't mean you can go hog-wild at the buffet.
For the duration of the challenge, I'll post articles and ideas for eating sensible and realistic workout routines.
If you are already doing a preset eating plan, like Weight Watchers, NutriSystem or South Beach, your calorie counting already has been done and at least 250 calories less. You can do the 250-500 calorie burn via exercise. Your results will be even more amazing.
The nature of the challenge is ongoing, you can jump in or out whenever. Reading it today, you may feel it's not for you, but a post Halloween candy binge may send you running to the computer looking for motivation, the challenge will be here and it's never too late to get started
Reach Your Goal
Just got this in my email:
Self's all-new REACH YOUR GOAL program is your Total Body Makeover solution.This program gives you four fab better-body blueprints to choose from to get results in just ONE month!
It's totally FREE and FULL OF PRIZES!
Register now and you could win 1 of 70 DAILY PRIZES and be automatically entered to win a GRAND PRIZE trip for two to Ireland. Plus sign up now and get a free membership to Gold's Gym!And we even helped to get your workout rockin' with a cardio playlist from Jive Records!
Choose Your Goal!
- Start an exercise program
- Drop 8 pounds in one month
- Sculpt sexy muscles
- Go from walking to running
And if you CROSS THE FINISH LINE you can enter to win 1 of 4 Finisher's Prizes including resort getaways, jewelry and workout equipment!
Get started NOW!
Sign up here. See you guys @ the finish line
Go forth
Looking for a challenge to tide you over? Go see these two ladies who've got some cool stuff going on: Arindana Angie.
Later this week, details on the fatfighterblogs.com Labor Day to New Years Day Challenge.
Officially Over
Yikes, I really hate being unclear and getting people confused, so for the sake of everyone's sanity, the Big F.A.T. challenge is over. The logo is gone from the top. Despite my best intentions of changing the overall direction of it in order to keep it going, that seems to have done more harm than good. If anyone currently has their own blog challenge or knows of any going on in the blogosphere, share the word and I'll highlight what I've found.
Though it is officially over, I did get inspired by some of the last few posts about BMR, body fat and BMI to think of something that can take people through the holidays.
Yea I know, this recent challenge idea ended up sucking big time, and if you've just found the site, may be skeptical that I know what I'm doing, but I do. Let's just say I was juggling quite a few things and losing the forum, which made the challenge self-sufficient when time was not on my side, was hard.
This challenge will be run on the blog and it'll involve 3 groups of "losers". The duration is from Labor Day to New Years Day. This way, you get a jump start on the resolutioners or at the very least, keep some semblance of control during the holidays.
It's late, I just got back from the gym and have a long weekend and even longer week ahead of me. I'll be Tuesday back to wrap up the last few posts of the so-called "education" challenge, and give you guys the details for the for real for real challenge. Thanks for the patience and understanding.
Have a good weekend.
The Anti Challenge
You may have noticed this challenge requires nothing of you. No tracking lbs lost, no daily weigh ins, no minutes to clock, no calories to restrict. It's almost the anti-challenge challenge. Why?
Welp, I've run quite a few challenges in my day :jams thumbs in belt buckle, leans back into heels: and they have a definite pattern. This go round, rather than lose peeps who feel they aren't making progress, I rather keep the masses engaged with info. I believe knowledge is power and sadly most of us, myself included, are a bit clueless when it comes to losing weight. Not to say the info I provide here is the missing link, but I hope it gives enough of an overview, in practical terms, that you make a connection and do research on areas that interest you.
Well, I guess it can be the education challenge but that sounds too much like school and there will be no final 
In coming weeks, I'll highlight some of the more commonly used terms that are mangled by marketing folks to get your money. We'll look at all aspects of weight loss, from the physical to the nutritional and based on what you read, will see why fad diets or lose-weight-quick, schemes don't work for the long term. And perhaps, like me, you'll see what you've done in the past that makes losing weight today so tedious.
You can participate virtually, in the privacy of your home/office/dorm room, by lurking, you can leave comments, you can post on your blog and follow along that way, or you can track what you are doing in your head. When I ask to share your stats, it's really a rhetorical question, I'll always post mine, but no one else is under any obligation to put their personal business out there.
The end goal is, once the big F.A.T. challenge concludes, and we start the real challenge to take us through the Holiday Eating Season, you'll be armed with enough knowledge to make your weight loss plans doable and realistic. I'll refer back to these posts to refresh your memory and so newcomers won't feel lost.
Lastly, I do this because, I, Renee, want to be a personal trainer. More than wanting to whip my peons into shape, I want my clients to be healthy. This is a trial run of what I'd like to do. You all are my virtual clients. I'll be gentle.
The Big F.A.T. Challenge
First rule of F.A.T. Challenge, no talking about lbs lost during F.A.T. Challenge
The sole focus of this 8 week challenge is to get healthy. While losing weight has numerous health benefits, I think, as a society, we are too tied to the scale. Now it doesn't mean you toss it out, I'm still tracking my weight week to week, it just means during the challenge, please don't make "I want to lose xxlbs in 8 weeks" or whoop it up that you lost 4lbs last week and the following week bum out that you gained 5.
Second rule of F.A.T. Challenge, anyone can join!
The stats we track are health related. Anyone can join in. You don't have to be overweight to participate. If you weigh 50lbs less than me, but I can outlast you on the elliptical machine, you my friend are out of shape. Join Up!
If you are at a "healthy" weight, but skip breakfast, eat fast food for lunch and can inhale an entire bag of Doritos while watching TV and consider the pumping action your arm does to cram the chips in your mouth to be your daily workout, you my friend are not very healthy. Join Up!
Challenge Goals
Looking at the challenge a different way, rather than make lofty goals, we are going to make 1. It won't be extreme, it'll be cutting back and replacing. For example, say you smoke 1 pack a day. Your goal will be to cut that in ½ and replace the other time you did smoke with something healthy. Maybe a glass of water instead, maybe a piece of fruit, or just walking up 1 flight of stairs.
If you don't work out, you won't jump in head first to 30 mins/3 times x a week. Instead, try for 10 mins 6 days a week and after a few weeks, add another 5 mins or so till you make it to 30, or more!
See what I'm getting at?
Your first homework assignment is very easy, spend the next few days thinking about your health, your families health, your friends health. If you keep going the way you are going now, what are you putting yourself at risk for?
Then think of 1 thing you can get a handle on and will focus on improving in spite of anything else. Even when the scale fluctuates back up, you will still drink your water because it keeps your skin soft and supple or will still walk 10 mins because your heart is benefiting.
When I get the challenge forum up, you can answer your "homework" assignment and/or list your 1 goal for the next 8 weeks. (Please don’t post them here, they'll get deleted and I'll ask you to repost them in the forum)
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Over the weekend I am going to set up a private forum for the challenge participants. The way the blog is set up, comments automatically close after a certain amount of days, and there are quite a few lurkers, which is really cool, I love that people read, commenting isn't necessary, but people doing the challenge may not feel comfortable listing their goals in public and may rather share their stories with others who are willing to talk about themselves too.
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
America Takes It Off
I'm sure International peeps are welcome to take it off with us yanks too 
America Takes It Off is a promo by aol.com. On the site they provide a wealth of info for losing weight and getting in shape this summer. There is streaming video, podcasts and even a sweepstakes. The best part is that it's all free and you don't have to be an aol member to use any of the features.
Right on the home page they give you 30 ways to get in shape:
1. Retrain Your Brain
2. Walk It Off
3. Food & Fitness Combos
4. Just Breathe
5. Your Workout Personality
6. Metabolism Mistakes
7. Go Slow
8. Put On the Gloves
9. The Gym 101
10. Get a Coach
11. Blast the Belly Fat
12. Know Your Numbers
13. Recess!
14. Clean House
15. Be a Yogi
16. Beat Boredom
17. The AM Advantage
18. Dance It Off
19. Tone With Tai Chi
20. Food Court Survival
21. Forget Lattes, Try Pilates
22. The TV Workout
23. Be the Outdoorsy Type
24. Buddy Up
25. Take a Memo
26. Punch the Plateau
27. Get Tricky
28. Under 100
29. Get Your ZZZs
30. Reward Yourself
As much calories as I would burn linking to all 30, I'm too lazy
FFYFC Round 2 Week 3
Week 2 is done and here comes week 3! Check in or kvetch about it over in challenge central. The link to the forum angie created is posted in challenge central too.
FFYFC Round 2 Week 2
Congrats on making it thru week 1, week 2 is going on and you can check in or kvetch about it over in challenge central.
Challenge Central
As promised the FFYFC is back!
While it won't be pinned at the top or maintained on a weekly basis, there will be a standing post for anyone playing in Round II. It starts today, 4/9 and ends on 6/17. In this post you can find the downloads, logos for your site and links to the FAQs and later this week a link to a forum for the group.
In this round, the challenge is self paced. Following the weekly guide you downloaded, you can use this post to log miles/minutes done each week. Consider this an open thread for all things Round II.
| Program Downloads | |
| Beginner |   |
| Intermediate |
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| Advanced | |
Welcome to Round 2, 4/9 - 6/17 - Use this post to sign up, check in or kvetch
R1 Wrap Up
You made it, congrats to the Round 1 Grads!
Use this post for any final checking in you'd like to do. Consider this week a rest week and if you'll be doing round 2, decide which program you'll follow. Have you been lurking all this time and want in? Print out the program you plan to do and get ready to start walking next week. Round 2 starts on 4/9.
Let's see how you've improved:
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Round 1 peeps, I hope your weight loss went well and your stamina improved. Move up a level if you feel ready or do another round in your current level.
FFYFC Week 10
I'm so proud of you all. You made it to week #10. Only one thing left to do, finish. 
Week 10’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 2 miles or 32 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.25 miles or 50 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 4 miles or 60 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 10 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below.
Not too late
The 2006 SELF Challenge is an easy, supereffective three-month exercise and eat-right plan. It's our 10th year and we've added new tools, tips and treats to help you get your best body—FREE! Sign up now to be entered to win today's prize PLUS a grand-prize trip for two to St. Bart's, even before you slip on your sports bra. The Challenge has helped thousands of women lose weight, ban jiggle and go two-piece at the beach. We've made it easier than ever to get the support you need with an unlimited buddy list!
FFYFC Week 9
Two months behind us, many miles walked, the end is near. Don't look now, but you are working out 30 minutes, 3 times a week. 
Week 9’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.75 miles or 30 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: none
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 3 miles or 48 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.75 miles or 56 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +3 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 7 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below.
FFYFC Week 8
Feet don't fail us now, we are walking into month #2. Who knew? 
Week 8’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.75 miles or 30 minutes, four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +5 minutes, +1 more day
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.75 miles or 44 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes, +1 more day
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.5 miles or 53 minutes, five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes, +1 more day
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 8 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Sunday. Current entries appear below.
FFYFC Week 7
Lucky us, here comes week 7. 
Starting this week, the weekly post will include both the goals for the week and stay pinned at the top for checking in.
Week 7’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.5 miles or 25 minutes, three - four days.
Increase from last week: none
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.5 miles or 42 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3.25 miles or 51 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
********
After you've logged your goals, use this post to log your progress throughout Week 7 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below.
Walk On
Hey there fellow fat fighters, I need to tend to some family stuff for the rest off this week so there won’t be any new posts till Sunday. Continue to check in for week 6.
As we near the end of Round I, I’ve been thinking of ways to make Round II better, meaning trying to get and keep participation levels high. I thought of having a financial reward for the “winner” at the end of the challenge.
If you’ve been lurking or fell off track and haven’t bothered to check in, say there were a prize to be had, $100 bucks or so, in return for you checking in for the entire 10 week challenge, regardless the amount of weight lost, since none of us can ever really know, would you stick with it?
W6 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 6 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
Now that the challengers and check-ins are hovering in the single digits, starting next week I'll do a combo post, combining the current weeks check-in with the goals for the week.
FFYFC Week 6
February flew by didn't it? We've crossed the 1/2 way point. Nice job folks.
Week 6’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.5 miles or 25 minutes, two - four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.25 miles or 38 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 3 miles or 51 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 6’s check in post will be up by Monday night.
W5 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 5 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
FFYFC Week 5
Huzzah Huzzah! We've been at this for a month. Way to go! 
Week 5’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.5 miles or 25 minutes, three - four days.
Increase from last week: none
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 2 miles or 36 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.75 miles or 47 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 5’s check in post will be up by Monday night.
W4 Check In
Use this post to log your progress throughout Week 4 or you can wait till the end of the week and do it all in one swoop. It will be stay pinned at the top of the site until next Monday. Current entries appear below. If you'd like to join the challenge, please read the FAQs first.
FFYFC Week 4
Now that we are in the habit zone, let's make this week count.
Week 4’s goals:
Team Beginner:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.25 miles or 25 minutes, three - four days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +5 minutes, optionally add 1 more walk time
Team Intermediate:
This week you'll walk a total of 1.75 miles or 32 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +2 minutes, optionally add 1 more day
Team Advanced:
This week you'll walk a total of 2.5 miles or 43 minutes, four - five days.
Increase from last week: +.25 miles or +4 minutes, optionally add 1 more day
*5 minute warm up & cool down not included in total walk time. Track yourself by either miles walked or minutes done.
Weight loss goal: 1lb
Tell us these five things:
1. What team you are on
2. State your walking commitment
3. Declare that you will lose 1lb this week
4. Total walks you did last week
5. lbs, if any, lost last week
Week 4's check in post will be up by Monday night. For the sake of a fairly large group, all 5 questions are posted for the duration of the challenge.
Please use this post to primarily reply to the 5 Questions, use n/a for anything that doesn't apply. New to the site? Want to join? Check out the FAQs first and if you are still interested, check in here.