Biggest Loser Part 8 *** RED TEAM ***

***THESILVERSTAR WINNER OF THIS WEEK'S VITA-CHALLENGE!***

thesilverstar has again won the greatest percent weight loss for the red team, as well as coming in second overall!  There seems to be a trend beginning here.

[edit:  added the intergroup vita-challenge & team member names]

WELCOME alle0299, aushdaush, ashleia27, carabo, carm2046, cebam, driventon, gribbish, feds22, half_empty, jennisonamission, jennlett, kjmadill, lynzeh, milwaukeegal, stinsy23, taj340, thesilverstar121, uberjoyful, zenasavvy!

This is a forum to get TOUGH.  Put on your favorite onesie, and let's muscle through this challenge like champs.

First, I want to thank everyone on this team for signing up -- and to strengthen our resolve, I think we should have some inter-group competition ...

To deliciously sweeten our (imminent) success at Biggest Loser, Part 8, I propose the following: (For Red Team Members only)

• Each Week, the Red Team Member with the Most Weight Loss* (InterGroup) -- will be awarded a $25 vitamuffin gift certificate

At the end of each week, I will check on the main site, and announce our Red Team Winner!  Punch, unfortunately, will not be served, but I invite everyone to congratulate our winner with gusto!  Afterward, I will send the gift card to the email address associated with that person.

GO RED TEAM!

VITA-CHALLENGE INTER-GROUP WINNERS

Week 2.   10/10:  thesilverstar121 - 2.37% loss (4.6 pounds)!
Week 3.   10/17:  jennlett - 4.07% loss (5.00 pounds)!
Week 4.   10/24:  jennlett - 4.07% loss (5.00 pounds)!
Week 5.   10/31:  thesilverstar121 - 4.12% (8.00 pounds)!
Week 6.   11/7:
Week 7.   11/14:
Week 8.   11/21:
Week 9.   11/28:
Week 10. 12/5: 
Week 11. 12/12:
Week 12. 12/19:
Week 13. 12/26:
Week 14. 1/2:

(*Weight Loss being calculated by percent loss, since it's going to be more difficult for some 120 pound pup to shed 2 pounds, than, say, me.)

So I've been doing a really good job at sticking to my calories -- counting everything, and trying to get exercise whenever I can.  That being said ... I went a little over board last night.  I ate about 1900 calories last night ... I met up with an old college roommate that I hadn't seen in nearly 2 years and had Shabbat dinner with her family.  It was one of the most amazing meals I have ever had and, needless to say took advantage of the amazing food.  I'm not Jewish and rarely partake in the festivities, so it was a very special meal for me not a weekly ritual.  In college Shabbat dinner was a big Friday night event for us so I partially participated (aka ate) so much because of nostalgia more then wanting to eat.  Either way, I'm a bit concerned about ruining my progress.  I realize that one meal is not going to ruin my success but I wish I could just enjoy a meal without being paranoid.  Does anyone else get this way?  How long does it take for the feeling to go away?

hey eveyone! i just wanted to come and say hello to all of you on the red team. i'm really looking forward to this challenge and am very excited about the intergroup one as well. i have never tried vitamuffins but i have always wanted to.

Well, good luck everybody and let's kick some butt!   

@Taj: Welcome to the group! I hope we all can motivate you, if the free vita muffintops aren't enough, hehe. :D I think we all are a pretty good crew, and hope you feel good joining us!

@julia: I always want to do weight traning after I workout, but I get so lazy! I look at the weight section and am like realllyyy? But then when I do it I feel so much better.  I like to do weighteded squats and lunges.  Then I do some arm moves but other than that that's about it. 

@mil: That sounds really interesting.  I have never even heard of a Shabbat meal (I live in a bubble! LOL filled with literature and chemistry) but I am sure that your meal won't make a difference.  What kind of food was there? I'm kinda curious.  But I know how you feel, I used to be that way the first time I started to loose weight.  When I gained it back, I took it easier.  It may be different for you, how about planning ahead if you know your going to have a dinner like that next time? Or was it spontaneous?

As for me, it's the weekend! This means temptation all around. :P How do you all feel about the weekends?

Checking in myself, hi :)

I guess I'm your token male to the group :P

@mil/jenn: yeah, it's the start of the high holy days for the Jewish religion...  Just passed Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur is this Wednesday night, and they both have big meals... people gathering, making a big dinner...  It's going to look a lot like Thanksgiving, for a reference point...  hopefully I can avoid over-eating without looking rude.

looking forward to losing weight with some help :)

Hey milwaukeegal! I am the same way, especially with nostalgic foods.  (I'm also curious what a Shabbat meal consists of).  This is something I've struggled with for as long as I can remember.  I'm paranoid and barely eat anything or eat a bunch of everything.  We just need to remember that we can enjoy these foods in smaller portions and not have anything to be paranoid about.  With a good exercise routine, its okay to eat enjoyable things on occasion.  I have a hard time not beating myself up about it.  But you are right, one meal is not going to ruin your success.  Push hard this week and get in a routine you are comfortable with.  I have to switch things up a lot or I get bored.  What do you do for workouts? I'm always looking for something new :o)  Have a great week!  Go RED!

dear women and gribbish,

after being fairly adament about remaining apolitical this election year, I have completely buckled, which is why I haven't posted this entire weekend.  but, I'm back!

milwaukeegirl:  shabbat dinner makes me miss my hometown (though I'm not jewish either).  I cannot believe you stayed under 1900 calories.  it is so much easier to totally abstain from a big meal, than to participate, but keep some level of control.  I think you did wonderfully, and I am jealous of your self-restraint.  do not feel bad for yourself.  take a breath, drink some water, and the feeling will pass.

silverstar:  the vitamuffins are incredible.  I was toasting mine, but now, I eat them frozen, as a snack -- the double chocolate ones taste like ice cream.

jennlett:  on weight training days I only run for ten minutes, to warm up.  I love the weight room in my university's gym.  the men (mostly men in the weight section) are so chatty, compared to the women who do cardio.  I have a list I follow that was made for me by one of the gym instructors.  having things to check off, motivates me, even though that sounds dippy.

gribbish:  all I can say is good luck, boy.

Today 156.2

(10/2) 157 on my mom's scales   --sorry I did not weigh in Mom had a knee replaced and I was out of town for that

Looking forward to getting to know all of you.

I am eager to see if avoiding alcohol really does make a difference in my weight loss.  I will post my goals here later.

I have been avoiding weighing in ... I'm hoping that an extra day will cause my weight to go down a bit. 

Zena - I'm in the same boat as you with the alcohol thing.  I just can't decide which is the best method for me - work my evening glass of wine (sometimes two glasses) into my calories for the day or avoid it completely?  I come from a big Italian family and a glass of wine with dinner has just always been a part of my life.  Part of me thinks that I should learn to work the wine in with my calories because my evening glass is such a big part of my lifestyle and culture (this goes back to the whole nostalgia issue), but another part of me thinks if I'm going for an overall lifestyle change why not make the change to eliminate my nightly glass? 

Anyone else a "glass a day" girl or guy?  How did you handle this situation?

I'm also a glass a day kinda girl.  I typically try to work it in to my calories for the day.  But I'm not doing it everyday at this point.  While we are trying to make lifestyle changes, I thinks its good to recognize things that are traditionally part of our lives.  If its normal for you, then add it into your calories.  Or maybe go a couple of nights a week without it.  Its not realistic for me to cut out all alcohol and I recognize that and know thats its ok in moderation. 

How is everyone else handling the alcohol thing?

Hi Red team!

I am back from my LOVELY holidays! I even lost weight! hahah 

I am pumped for this challenge! See you all around!

--k

help! i cannot find the weigh in page! so i missed this week..... any one have the direct link to it?

http://caloriecount.about.com/biggest-loser-c hallenge-part-closed-group-ft114858-9

this is the site, lynzeh.

so, week 2's weights haven't been posted yet...but when they are, I'll name the winner on our site.

WOW!  "1.  Red Team - 0.80% loss (19.95 pounds)!"

so i have a question. who here has tried the vitamuffins and if you have what do you recomend?

(I liked the corn muffin the best, followed immediately by the chocolate top with coffee chips)

Hello, red team - congratulations!!!

I'm so sorry I was missing in action.. I did lose a bit more than a lb but forgot to weigh in- should set up a reminder for this week.

So what do I do next? Do I weigh in as usual in the coming weigh in or do I weigh in late for the one that I missed ? Sorry, I'm new at this..

you should send alle a message about that...  because if you missed a week in weighing, then added your weight the next week, the weight loss percentage would be over a two week period, giving you the advantage over all the other people who are competing with a over-one-week percentage.

I would weigh in this tuesday; that gives you a week and some change to go for greatness!

So a couple things that I was hoping to get everyones thoughts on today.

I'm taking a Zumba class tonight.  Has anyone ever tried it?  What should I expect?  I'm pretty out of shape ... Will I be embarrassed?

I'm meeting with a nutritionist next week to see if maybe she can help me in this weight loss journey.  Has anyone does this before?  Was it helpful?  I know a lot of people think nutritionists are a waste of time and money and I'm interested in hearing the perspective too.  What can I expect to gain from her?

Finally weighed in!! I too kept putting it off in the hope there will be better numbers to report..

I am always amazed at how easy it is to gain weight and how tough it is for each lb to come off!! Still at 133.5..i.e. no loss since last week for me (though technically I didnt weigh in last week so its more like 1.5 lbs over 2 weeks.. but still!) Horrible..

Am trying a new dressing for salads today : raspberry viniagrette.. maybe that will boost my interest in salads!