New and Improved: MEN: July Fourth Challenge! Check in Here!

Check out the July Fourth Challenge or J4C for Men Only. Members will post ideas...info on how to get back into shape, but mostly, we will motivate each other on how to burn FAT.

The July Fourth Challenge is on the honor system. It is your responsibility to accurately track your weight each day/each Wednesday.

Post your weight every Wednesday morning. Also, post any tips you may have or articles as well as interact with other J4C'ers.

If you miss 3 consecutive weigh-ins you forfeit the benefits of this challenge.

Results: http://www.editgrid.com/user/afc_challenge/AF C_Challenge_Tracker

NOTES:

 The J4C is a continuation of the AFC and is open to current and other worthy participants. It is a great bunch of men dedicated to burning FAT. In fact, collectively AFC'ers burned 277.5 pounds of FAT or BURNED 971,250 Calories. Please join us, we're getting it done!

Want an easy way to determine your BMR? check out Phord's BMR page

 

10 ha ve checked in so far. And the FAT just keeps on burning. Looking forward to the tabulation. Also, Not heard much on the 1000 calories burned challenge. I got close on a few days, but only have 2 days over 1000. Mostly 864. The 1000 is only planned exercise, not counting washing the car, climbing stairs at work etc.

For the next challenge, total number of push ups in a week?

1/9/2008-

AFC Start: 249

Last :(12/19): 243

Last: (12/26): 242 

Last: (1/2): 240 

Current (1/9) = 239

Week Loss 1 lbs

AFC Total = 10lbs

This morning weighed in at 209 -- no change from last week. 

Pinksalmon, thanks for the encouragement (read kick in the pants) regarding exercise.  I believe next week will see a move off the pleteau and more effective burning of the fat.

To all:  Keep the posts and PM's coming.  I will be posting a link to our total progress tonight.  The numbers are looking good for the whole group. 

Wili: Hope it all helps get us to the goal...10C Johnson&Murphy penny loafer, I have another one too...I write most all this stuff for my own benefit, keeps me motivated. Thanks for your help with the stats. What the heck happened to Mike from Belfast? There will be fall out, the real men will be left standing on April Fools Day...much thinner too. I predict 6 will stay with it out of 28. Please prove me wrong about this...we'll see.

New Rule: If you miss 3 consecutive Wednesday weigh-ins you are no longer eligible for the grand prize, what ever that is, pirate treasures, maybe. You are welcome to complete the challenge, however you forfeit any title that the challenge may offer you because of your efforts. But if you miss 3, you probably are in prison, found the love of your life or have won a lottery. OR, you have chosen to remain FAT and lumpy.

Awesome week.  I would not have done as well without this site (w/ a special thanks to pink).  I'd been averaging 7 lbs per month weight loss.  Now I did 4 lbs in 9 days!!!!  Today I ran (walked) 8.2 mi. in 90 min. (10.98 mph).  That's 1,400+ calories burned.  Getting ready for my half marathon on 3.2.08.  Tired but feelin' good.  It's great and I'm more impressed with my physical development than my weight loss.

10.27.08--262 lbs.

1.1.08-----248 lbs.

1.9.08-----244 lbs.

SRQ

Roll Call -- These are the men who have indicated that they are a part of the AFC Challenge:

abner, akviking, alpman, campman, cfehir, devbana, duke3522, ez-wider, fitandready, gmule, hajduk, jeremy6201, jesselynchshaw, jharris32, jmm54, michaelinbelfast, mnstorm99, phord, pinksalmon, rk1rokamortis, sarasota, scottpatton, slampe, stevie_d, stinky1, strikez, tgaskel, theactionman, and wiliwigi

If I missed your name and you signed up prior to the January 4 deadline I apologize for overlooking your post.  Please PM me and I will be happy to add you to the list.  By my count 30 men have indicated they want to play but only 19 have followed up as yet. 

In the interest of accountability and continued motivation you can check your progress and track our results at the link provided.  I will update this link every Wednesday evening following the weigh-in.  It will be helpful if everyone posts their weekly weight on Wednesday on the thread or sends me a PM no later than 5 pm est.  Your feed back is welcome regarding the sheet:

http://www.editgrid.com/user/afc_challenge/AF C_Challenge_Tracker

strikez:  WTG -- you are the leader in FAT lost since the first weighin.

cfehir:  Kudos to you - 10 pound in 4 weeks is significant 

pinksalmon and rk1: Congratulations on a significant milestone -- I am right behind you

No losses are insignificant.  Get Fit, Have Fun, Stay Healthy!

To those of you who have not posted, you are in danger of getting cut.  Post your results ASAP.  Even if you have had a holiday gain jump back in there is still time to make serious progress toward your goals.

wiliwigi

W2: Great job on the stats! Had no idea losing could look so good! Looks really great! And I've got the same count too. It seems most of us have put in alot of effort to date, and I see the committment in the numbers. Thank you for all your positive comments. As I said earlier, most of the comments I make are for my benefit, they motivate me, keep me focused, and I'm real glad what I write helps others.

Congrats to Strike. It seems he is losing crazy amounts of FAT quickly, but, he is not. He has a 20 day head start, so do not despair AFC'ers.

But I need to say this: Losing crazy amounts of weight too quickly is dangerous and can have adverse effects on your health. I know this is a competition, but losing FAT and getting into shape is best done slowly. This site emphasizes this point constantly. And I echo Sarasota's sentiment, physical development, along with FAT lose is much better than FAT lose alone.

Hey guys,

Sorry its a day late I know, but here it is...2 pounds this week.

I've been busier  than a 1 legged man in an ass kicking contest.

 

AFC Start: 338

Last :(1/2/08): 334

Current (1/10/08): 332

Week Loss 2 lbs

AFC Total = 6lbs

Why am I losing so much? I have been tracking my program closely and fully on CC.  Early in my program, CC and my weight loss number were very close.  See my journal for the analysis I did on my CC program effectiveness.

Based on the info in this study http://www.medsci.org/v04p0045.htm#headingA2 on December the 12th I added Phase 2 (phaseolamin) to my supplements.  Now my weight loss is exceeding my CC differential.  My average daily CC difference has been around 1,500 calories (my intake averages around 2,000 and I do not vary for activity).  My current weight loss is indicating a difference of about 1700 calories per day. 

I am closely monitoring my program and make adjustments to keep losing fat safely.  I have been following a lot of the advice in the Leptin Diet by Byron Richards to make lasting changes to how I eat to make this a permanent solution for me.  My program steadily cycle from a small week of loss (1-2 pounds) to a big week of loss 4-5 pounds.

sorry all, once again, a day late...

last: 219

current: 218

total AFC: 3 lbs

I threw out my back skiing on Sunday, it's been a rough week, that's for sure.

Strike: I looked at your numbers and it seems you are doing on average 2-3 pounds a week...maybe a little more than the weight loss gods would allow. Do some reading/research on the consequences of quick weight loss, so you know what your future challenges might be. I'm interested in that supplement that you're taking, off line let me know what it is and what it is suppose to do.

Slampe: Take care of yourself dude.

I picked up a good book this week called "Eat This - Not That" it covers a lot of restaraunts and shows you what would be best to order.

rk1: sounds like week 3 of the Couch to 5k is about right for you.  The original program goes by time or distance, but with the podcasts, it's all about timing. It still ramps up the same way, though. 

I like your running to the lake idea.  My problem with running on a treadmill or on a circuit is that it was too easy to quit.  The podcasts helped with that, but only up to 2 miles (3.5k).   So now I run *away* from work 1.5 miles.  Then I have 1.5 miles to run back.  I can still give up, but I still have to walk.  Might as well run.  :-)

220 lbs ???????

a gain of 3 lbs ?????

cal burned

Thursday and Friday days off

Saturday 1,380 cal burned.

Abner, don't freak out.  Remember the tape is your friend, check your body measurements they do not lie.  Consider your diet, did you eat out?  Did your add salt?  Another thought is given your workout routine there could be some muscle development resulting in weight gain. (another reason to trust the tape!)

Fitness is not just about loosing fat.  As you gain muscle you will increase motabilism.  As you gain muscle you will probably loose inches and you may gain weight.  As you loose inches around your mid-section you will decrease your risk for Heart Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension and Impotence.  If you suffer from any of these, a loss may stop or even reverse the disease progression. 

My waist measures 38 in, the spare tire measures 43 in.  Health standards recommend all men measure less than 40 in around the gut.  My real motivation for loosing 30 lbs is that three inches.

As I have picked up on this challenge my goals are not focused only on the scale.  It is all about lifestyle.  Loosing 30 lbs is good, getting healthy is better, increasing the quality and length of life the best.  Slow and steady wins the race.

To quote a friend of mine:

I am not on a diet, I am changing my life style. ~Abner

wiliwigi

wiliwigi, thank you very much you lifted my sprites. I will post my numbers later on tonight. My diet is good, sodium is with in the 2400 mg range. as for the Big "D" diabetes, i am one.

my numbers(glucose) were in the 200 a year agonow it's in the 85 - 130 range. and my Alc3 (blood test showing accumulation of sugar) was in the 8's and as of two weeks ago its 6.2 non diabetics are below 6. My blood pressure was 180/100 and now it 110/79.

You name it, all my good numbers are up and my bad numbers are down.

Thank you again I will survive this. This is only a small bump in the road. I will not let this slow me down. I will not let this bum me out. I will learn from it and i will defeat it. Knowledge is power.

I am not on a diet, I am changing my life style.

 

 

As wiiwigi stated about your weight gain - it is probably water, my guess more inflammation than salt retention.  After a hard workout, you can cause some significant inflammation in your body tissues. 
Often, you will get one of those amazing weight loss days after the inflammation subsides.  It may be a sign that you are pushing things in the gym just a little too hard. 

Interesting strikez, what exactly do you mean by inflammation?

on Saturday I was 217. I work out Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed. I weighed my self Thursday morning and i was 224! Thursday and Friday are my days off and then on Sat it starts all over again, and I was 220.

That inflammation thing is very interesting.

I am not on a diet, I am changing my life style.

When cells are damaged, irritated or stressed they inflame.  It is part of the natural defense and healing process. 
After a vigorous workout, stress proteins will signal the effected cells to go into a protection or repair mode (just like a sprained ankle will swell).  Acute inflammation is not a cause for too much concern, your cells will heal and return to a normal state. 
Chronic inflammation can be a cause for concern and is often associated with obesity.  It can block receptors from appropriate response.  Omega 3 has been found to help regulate inflammation.