Challenge Week Two

Our team had its first weigh in this week, and combined we lost 20 pounds. Not too bad! James and I both have been working hard and making the challenge a priority. I am very pleased with my progress, and if I keep it up, I feel that by the time the contest is over at the end of April, I might even reach my long-denied goal of getting under 200 pounds. I haven't been there since we got married, and it's been the carrot dangling just out of reach all this time.

It got warm here fast and early- after a mild winter we have jumped straight to the 80's with everything blooming. With the time change, James and I have been able to enjoy more outdoor activities on weeknights- including walks at the park and in our neighborhood, and playing basketball. I am hoping that if I drop another few pounds I will be able to tackle hiking again soon, something I used to love to do when I lived in the Carolinas. I've only been once or twice since living in Georgia, I just don't have the stamina at my weight. A nice hike is a goal for this summer.

For the upcoming week I plan to continue with walking and cutting back on how much I eat. We've both been eating a lot more vegetables now, and we've been having salad night for dinner at least 3 times a week. We don't get to see the weigh in results for our competition, but I think 20 pounds for week one is pretty darn good!

SANDY

Challenge Week One

Tomorrow is the start of the big weight loss challenge at work. I'm the only woman on a team of five, with my husband as our captain. We have our first weigh-in tomorrow, which is the part I dread the most. I know how much I weigh, and so does James, but the ladies in our HR department are the ones weighing us, and I am not thrilled to have "outsiders" know my weight. The rest of my team does not have to know my weight, only my captain/husband.

There are about a dozen plus teams just at our division in the competition, but we have 60+ divisions across the company/country- all with teams. And at the end, there will be one team who wins it all. I really don't even know if we win anything, just bragging rights. James wants to at the very least, win at our division. I know he and I are very motivated, but we are both the heaviest team members as well.

James had us set personal goals, that only he knows. I set 20 pounds for myself, and I think his is 25. I've seen James lose over 30 pounds in just a few weeks, to get ready for vacation. So I know he can do it. He's giving up alcohol, sweets, and fried foods. For me, 20 pounds in 8 weeks is probably not realistic, but I wanted to aim high. Heck, I've seen the people on The Biggest Loser do it. But my challenge is working at a desk for 60 hours a week, and still trying to eat right and get moving.

I've spent the weekend with all of my Weight Watchers materials and a few weight loss magazines scattered all over my dining room table, along with a notebook. I've been plotting out my plan for the challenge. I'm not sure James and I can work on this together as a team, because our approach is going to be different. He's not going to want a Lean Cuisine for dinner at night. His exercise routine is not going to be the same as mine, although we plan on long walks/runs on the weekends together.

But, we'll support each other and hopefully motivate/push each other. I probably need his support more than he will mine, but I can support him by not bringing in tempting foods into the house, or suggesting we go out to eat. I can get off the couch in the evenings and play basketball with him (his favorite activity). And, for myself, I can start going back to my WW meetings, because I haven't been since the last week of January. They keep sending me "please come back" postcards. So I intend to.

During the challenge, we will have to weigh in every week, but our team captain will be in charge of that. Our HR department will only do it for the first and last weigh in. James said he is thinking about having a "side bet" with our team- Waist Removal- for who can lose the most. The challenge is by percentage, not pounds, thank goodness!

Looking forward to getting started bright and early Monday morning! Will report back soon!

SANDY