A Good Start

Week 1 of the weight loss challenge is in the books. This morning we had our second weigh-in and I think it's safe to say that I had a pretty good first week, as far as results go.

2nd Weigh-in:  210.6 lbs

That's 5 lbs less than my initial weigh-in. This is more weight than I expected to lose and it was certainly a pleasant surprise. It is one-third of my initial weight loss goal, which I may have to alter, but I will wait a few more weeks before making that decision.

This week I will continue to walk during my lunch break and make healthy food choices while hoping for similar results next week at the scale. I'm headed out to Selwyn Pub shortly to watch some football and enjoy a few tasty adult beverages with the MNF crew. Which reminds me, both of my fantasy football teams are approaching 3-0, so between that and losing 5 lbs...win-win, right?

Week One Comes to a Close

It's the last day of Week 1 of the weight loss challenge, so how have I fared so far? Well, I walked during my lunch break every day during the work week as well as Monday evening after work. I also played soccer on Thursday night at Revolution Park and I have another game tonight at Strikers Soccer Center, weather permitting.

I have made mostly healthy food choices all week. We went out to Chili's on Friday night with our friends and I had the avocado burger w/fries and a Sam Adams Octoberfest. We actually tried going to Olive Garden, but the wait was too long. Before heading over to Chili's, we met Brian Shaw, winner of the 2011 World's Strongest Man Competition which was held at Wingate University earlier this week, while he was waiting for a table. Brian Shaw is a BIG man, 6'8" 460 lbs to be exact, but he was very polite and friendly. Anyone who thinks those guys are just oversized lumberjacks are sadly mistaken. They train extremely hard for those competitions and it definitely motivates you when you hear them talk about their workout regimen. It was a neat experience.

Saturday was a lazy day. Jen and I had planned to play tennis in the morning and then take care of some yard work for most of the afternoon. Mother Nature had other plans. It poured on and off all day long and we had to cancel any plans of going outside to do anything. I feel a little guilty about not doing anything active yesterday, but it's fine, it's just one day. Today is Sunday, NFL football starts in about an hour and Jen and I are going to a bar down the road to watch the Eagles take on the Giants and then I have a soccer game tonight, where I'm sure to burn off some calories before our second weigh-in tomorrow morning.

If I am adhering to my initial statement of losing 15 lbs over a 12 week period, I will be happy if I weigh-in around 213 tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you know. For now, enjoy your Sunday!

MNF and Beer

Yesterday was Day 1 of the Weight Loss Challenge. It was also a Monday, which means Monday Night Football. I go out with a group of friends nearly every Monday to watch MNF and last night was no exception.

Our MNF crew went out to Whiskey Warehouse last night and, aside from trying one of my buddies' sweet potato fries, I didn't eat any of their delicious food which includes burgers, sandwiches and wings. My wife, Jen, made us roasted broccoli & garlic with brown rice and beans for dinner before I went out. What I did have, however, were a few beers. And I'm not talking about light beers. I enjoy real beers. Porters, stouts, red ales, white ales, wheat ales, hefeweizens, Belgians, any beer by Dogfish Head, you get the idea. I have my father to thank for my beer passion (thanks Dad).

Many of these beers are full-bodied, full-flavored beverages that pack many more calories than your average light beer. This will pose a problem for me during the challenge, but I will not be switching over to light beers. I intend to carry over the healthier eating habits and more frequent exercise routines established during these 12 weeks and integrate them into my daily life after the challenge ends. With that said, I don't want to treat this time period like a diet where I give up certain food/drinks completely and then go back to them afterwards.

I want to complete this challenge without giving up a few things in my life, and drinking real beer is one of them...because a future without real beer is no future at all.

Beer and MNF go hand-in-hand.

The Initial Weigh-in

Our receptionist has been tasked with recording the individual weekly weigh-ins and, besides the person being weighed, she is the only person who is supposed to see the results. This will not be the case for me. I have decided to post my weigh-ins here to provide accountability and extra motivation.

My initial weigh-in was completed this morning and the result was shockingly (to me) the highest recorded weight of my life...

Initial Weigh-in:  215.6 lbs

That is 5.6 lbs over my previous high of 210, recorded at the end my freshman year of college in 2002 and again earlier this year in 2011 (I contend that it was mostly muscle weight in college, but the same cannot be said in 2011). I was a fit 190 lbs when I got married in June 2009, so I have packed on over 25 lbs in approximately 27 months time.

I've read that losing 1 lb per week is a healthy approach to weight loss, which would mean losing 12 lbs and finishing the challenge at 203 lbs. I would like to finish this challenge at an even 200 lbs, which means losing about 15 lbs over a 12 week period. I believe this is not too far of a stretch from the 1 lb per week approach. I'm open to any feedback, so please feel free to provide your opinion in the comment section below.

Challenge Accepted

A few co-workers have decided to create a Biggest Loser Challenge at my work, a 12 week challenge designed to help motivate employees to lose weight and promote a healthier lifestyle. I have created this blog to chronicle my experiences during the 12 week period and, hopefully, create some public accountability for myself during the challenge. Here are the challenge details:

• The challenge will begin on September 19th and end on December 12 (which happens to fall 2 days after my 29th birthday - a good motivator to lose weight)
• Participating employees will pay $10 to join the challenge
• The first weigh-in will be on September 19th and participants will be divided up into groups of 3 based on weight
• Confidential weigh-ins will occur weekly and the total % of weight lost, based on original starting weights, will be recorded together as a team number
• At the end of 12 weeks, the team that loses the highest % of weight will win the entree fee money
• There is no stipulation about paying money back if you regain weight after the challenge ends

With the opportunity to lose some excess weight, eat healthier, exercise more often, feel better about myself and possibly earn some cash, how could I resist?

In the words of the venerable Barney Stinson...Challenge accepted.

"Challenge Accepted." - Barney Stinson