GAME ON :: A RETURN

For those newbies, and people who might be returning after a hiatus, here is a summary of the Game On! diet:

First up the really quick details that are pretty important, so will be repeated again at the end: 
The length of the game?  Four weeks.  Doable. Right?
Buy-in?  $40.  Take that times the # of players we have and that will be the winning prize, which is split between: 
--the winning team
--the winner individual player (that isn't part of the winning team)

NOW--the low down on the rules, etc....

The first part of the plan is the points scored, which include:

#1. Meals/Food (a person can get up to 30 points/day in this category):
In the book, they detail a listing of "flabby" foods {to not be eaten} and FYT {Flatten your tummy} foods.  But they also say on their web-site {http://thegameondiet.com/} that you can follow Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or any other diet as well.  So, friends, that is up to you. 

#2. Exercise (20 points/day): 
Pretty simple.  You exercise at least 20 minutes a day {breaking a sweat}, you get 20 points.  You don't exercise?  You don't get the points.  You exercise 10 minutes a day? You don't get the points. It's 20 minutes people.  We CAN do this.

TIME OUT:  Stick through to the end.  I have good news for you.  Really good news.

#3. Sleep (15 points/day):
Participants must sleep at least seven hours each night.  You do that, you get 15 points.  Easy, right?   {Please note that this is that you INTEND to get seven hours. If you have a baby, puppy, spouse, etc. that wakes you up in the middle of the night?  We get that.  Really. We do.}

#4. Water (10 points/day): 
Go find that water jug.  Go.  I'll wait here.

Alright.  You need to drink 3 liters per day.  That is 101 ounces.  12 cups.  This part might take some getting used to, but your body will adapt quickly. 

#5. New Habit (10 points/day): 
Pick a good, healthy habit to start doing.  And do it.  Ideas: Yoga, journaling, meditation, organizing.

#6. Old Habit (10 points/day): 
Pick an old, bad habit {not like nuns wear} and STOP doing it.  Something like checking Facebook every single hour of the day? Or playing Angry Birds like its your job?  Yup, one of those might just be mine.  

#7. Communication (5 points): 
In order to get these dandy 5 points, you need to be in communication with at least one of your teammates and one of your opponents once a day. 

THE GOOD NEWS?  You get a day off!!!  More about that at the end...the very end. 

Hehe.  See how I did that?

Alright, so here are the penalties.  It's a game people.  There have to be penalties {I guess}.
#1.  Scale Penalty (Deduct 1 point per penalty):  If you weigh yourself more than once a day?  Take off a point for each time. 
#2.  Snacking Penalty (Deduct 10 points per penalty): You get five meals.  Don't eat at other times of the day.  Like when you are sitting in front of the t.v. at night watching The Bachelor {oh, that's just me...when I am in the States?}, don't be chomping on potato chips. 
#3. Collusion Penalty (Deduct 20 points per penalty): Be honest.  Don't try to convince a teammate or opponent to cheat with you.   Just don't do it.  It isn't fair.  Nope, not a bit.  If you do it?  Take off 20 points.
#4. Alcohol Penalty (Deduct 25 points per penalty): Other than your day off or your meal off, if you have alcohol?  25 points deducted.  Each time you imbibe. 
#5. Change your Habit:  See #s 6 and 7 above?  Change them?  Deduct 50 points.  So make sure they are good ones.  :-)


You get bonus points for: 
~Reaching your fitness/weight loss goal (1% of your starting weight that week):  20% of total points earned
~Reporting your score to your team scorekeeper on time (10 points)

DAY OFF!  Yup, you get one.  Do what you want with the day.  Want a glass of wine {or two}?  Drink it.  Tired of exercising?  Take a break.  Even the habits...this is your day off, enjoy it.  Plus, you also get a MEAL OFF.  So if you are following the book's diet, you can indulge in your favorite carbs, etc.  and not worry about the points.  Got it?  

The length of the game?  Four weeks.  Doable, right?
Buy-in?  $40.  Take that times the # of players we have and that will be the winning prize, which is split between: 
--the winning team
--the winner individual player (that isn't part of the winning team)

inspiration :: plus weekly weigh in

Two things we need to talk about here today.

#1: Weigh in.  Lets just get it out of the weigh way.  I'm down five pounds after a week of eating healthy and exercising regularly.  Not bad.  Not bad at all. I know that will slow down after a bit, but of course I'm hoping not for a few weeks at least....

Have you ever noticed how much more work it takes to lose weight than it does to gain weight? Annoying.  Maybe at some point "that'll teach me".

#2: Inspiration.

These three are my inspiration for this weight loss.

I've got heart issues I've written about before, and getting healthy is only going to help that situation. It won't solve it--but it will definitely make a positive difference.  Better heart = longer life = more time with those three people in the photos above.

That and the fact that I want to be a good example for my daughter.  She lives and breathes fruits and vegetables. So I'm taking her lead and making sure there is someone in the house doing the same thing. Hopefully that means she won't decide to change her mind about her love for all things healthy.  {fingers crossed}

So how about you...what is your inspiration?  I've got these peeps as my screen saver on my phone, to remind me many times a day of my motivation.

unexpected friendship

If you asked me to define a person  who would make a 'good' expatriate (if there is such a thing) my words would probably sound something like:  "the opposite of my husband and me".

While we are are both open to change and not adverse to taking risks, we both tend towards the introverted and reserved side of the spectrum.  Our thoughts lean more towards the quality of our friendships rather than the quantity of our friendships.  Not exactly the traits of people that will have an easy time of 'putting themselves out there' in foreign countries and making the first move to develop a friendship.  

Knowing that, I fully expected to move back to the United States with the same friends that we had had when we left Minnesota.  And perhaps we'd add to the list in the Netherlands (the only place we thought we'd live) because it would have clearly been hard to go three years just talking to each other.  Plus, now in Scotland, just about seven months before we leave this country, I find myself growing closer to women who come October will likely never share a continent with me again. 

Sigh.  But that's not the point of my writing today.

What I didn't expect to happen over the last three years was to create and foster friendships with people who are there.

In the United States.

While I'm over here in another part of the world.

.....

We sat around a table at Caribou Coffee on a Sunday morning last November.  Some of us had been communicating daily for a large part of the last ten months and this was the first time we would meet face to face.  We were missing a few essential parts of our group, but they were there in spirit. It was a day for the my record books.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be part of a group that has now stuck together for over a year on a tight knit, private group on Facebook. We offer each other support, advice and a few barbs (for competition's sake) here and there.

Its thanks to this group that I gained the love for exercise that I have in the last year.

And its thanks to a few of these ladies {perhaps a few that aren't even playing anymore} that I truly feel understood and cared for as I continue to try and figure out how to live a healthy lifestyle on an ongoing basis.

It was out of the blue that I found people that I can now call friends {and will be friends in person after I move} when I am thousands of miles away.

Seriously, a few of these people could have quite literally been sitting at a table across the aisle from me three years ago, and I would have never known.  And now, instead of being across the aisle, they'll be at my table.

I'm one lucky girl.

.....

Joining Kristen at Chasing Blue Skies for Out of the Blue again this week.  Take a quick second and find your way over there; it iss clear to me that you never know who you could find via the internet.  

Day 65. {perspective}

Last week was last week.  It's over and done with {thankfully}.

This week is a new beginning and begins with good news.


Weight check-in:
Starting weight (this week): 198.4
Goal weight for week (1%): 196.4
End weight:  194.4
Total weight loss (since start):  20.4 pounds 


Four pounds!  20 total?  Happy girl right here.  

It's amazing what a new perspective can do.  When I look at the weight loss as a whole, instead of focusing so much on the tiny weekly number?  It gives me a renewed sense of purpose.  

I started this journey wanting to lose 85 pounds total.  And I am about a fourth of the way there.  

That gives me a boatload of motivation.  

* * * 


What are you thinking about that could use a "new perspective" this week?

What is this "game on" all about?

We have made it thru TWO rounds of Game On.

Fifteen people have found a way to navigate thru the game, lose weight and change their lives all at the same time.  They've been in the Netherlands, Minnesota, Miami and Scotland {that's me.  hehe}.

And I just wanted to remind ya'll what is involved.  In case you are interested in joining us. Because I want you to!

If you have ever wanted to get SERIOUS about losing weight and living healthier?  This is the way to do it.  Being part of a team, and having someone else depend on your success?  Great incentive to keep on the right track.

Even if you don't have weight to lose {lucky ducks}, you can STILL play.  I'll tell you how in a bit.

* * *

Just a BIT of a warning.  This is going to be a LONG post.  But you will want to stick around and check it ALL out.    

Trust me, you do.


* * * 
This whole game is based on THIS BOOK.

But, we {my friend Sonja and I...who baked up this idea back in the day} have wanted to make sure that people could succeed, and the diet they suggest in the book?  Tough stuff.  Similar to South Beach, which can be a drastic change for folks.

And so we decided to be nice {honestly, the niceness comes pretty naturally for us}, and adjusted the rules a bit. And after two rounds of people taking part in the game with our adapted rules? We have had success.

* * *

SO here is the low down, starting first with the points that you can GAIN each week:

#1. Meals/Food (a person can get up to 30 points/day in this category):
In the book, they detail a listing of "flabby" foods {to not be eaten} and FYT {Flatten your tummy} foods.  But they also say on their web-site {http://thegameondiet.com/} that you can follow Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or any other diet as well.  So, friends, that is up to you.

Now that we have been doing this, people have used Weight Watchers, sparkpeople.com, Vitashakes, the Game On diet, and more.   And I believe everyone has lost weight.  So there.  

#2. Exercise (20 points/day): 
Pretty simple.  You exercise at least 20 minutes a day {breaking a sweat}, you get 20 points. You don't exercise? You don't get the points. You exercise 10 minutes a day? You don't get the points. It's 20 minutes people. We CAN do this.

TIME OUT:  Stick through to the end.  I have good news for you.  Really good news.

#3. Sleep (15 points/day):
Participants must sleep at least seven hours each night.  You do that, you get 15 points.  Easy, right?
And for all the mommas out there saying "but my baby won't let me sleep for seven straight hours!", this rule means you INTEND to sleep seven hours.  So, if you know the sweet joy {a.k.a. your baby} is going to wak up at 6 a.m.?  Go to sleep by 11 p.m.  If she {or he} wakes up during the night interrupting your sleep?  That's alright, you still get the points. 

#4. Water (10 points/day): 
Go find that water jug.  Go.  I'll wait here.

Alright.  You need to drink 3 liters per day.  That is 101 ounces.  12 cups.  This WILL take some getting used to {it is often the hardest part of the game for folks}, but you WILL get used to it and your body will adapt.

#5. New Habit (10 points/day):
Pick a good, healthy habit to start doing.  And do it.  Ideas include organizing, journaling, reading devotions, spending more one on one and focused time with your kids.

My next good habit is may have something to do with writing.  Like committing myself to write for 30 minutes per day.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I have lists of good & old (bad) habits to choose from. 

#6. Old Habit (10 points/day): 

Pick an old, bad habit {not like nuns wear} and STOP doing it.  Something like checking Facebook every single hour of the day? Or playing Angry Birds like its your job?  Yup, one of those might just be mine.  

#7. Communication (5 points): 
In order to get these dandy 5 points, you need to be in communication with at least one of your teammates and one of your opponents once a day. We make this pretty darn easy.  This last round we have a completely private Facebook group, where you can easily communicate with opponents and your teammate alike.

It is supposed to involve trash talking.  But we aren't so good at the trash talking.  So, it ends up being a huge spot for encouragement and accountability.

THE GOOD NEWS?  You get a day off!!!  More about that at the end...the very end.

Hehe.  See how I did that? I even snuck a pic of my boy in here.  Looks like he is lounging, taking some time off, right? 

Alright, so here are the penalties.

It's a game people.  There have to be penalties {I guess}.


#1.  Scale Penalty (Deduct 1 point per penalty):  If you weigh yourself more than once a day?  Take off a point for each time.


#2.  Snacking Penalty (Deduct 10 points per penalty): You get five meals.  Don't eat at other times of the day.  Like when you are sitting in front of the t.v. at night watching The Bachelor {oh, that's just me...when I am in the States?}, don't be chomping on potato chips.  If you end up doing Weight Watchers, consider a 1-4 point overage a snacking penalty.


#3. Collusion Penalty (Deduct 20 points per penalty): Be honest.  Don't try to convince a teammate or opponent to cheat with you.   Just don't do it.  It isn't fair.  Nope, not a bit.  If you do it?  Take off 20 points.

#4. Alcohol Penalty (Deduct 25 points per penalty): Other than your day off or your meal off, if you have alcohol?  25 points deducted.  Each time you imbibe.


#5. Change your Habit:  See #s 6 and 7 above?  Change them?  Deduct 50 points.  So make sure they are good ones.  :-)

You get bonus points for: 

**Reaching your fitness/weight loss goal (1% of your starting weight that week):  20% of total points earned.   This is where those lucky ducks that DON'T need to lose weight come in.  You can set a fitness goal {something like running 25 miles in a week...wowza}, and if you reach that goal you get the 20% bonus as well. 
**Reporting your score to your team scorekeeper on time (10 points).  Easy peasy.

ALRIGHT, so this is the good news you have been waiting for....

DAY OFF!  Yup, you get one.  Do what you want with the day.  Want a glass of wine {or two}?  Drink it.  Tired of exercising?  Take a break.  Even the habits...this is your day off, enjoy it.  Plus, you also get a MEAL OFF.  So if you are following the book's diet, you can indulge in your favorite carbs, etc.  and not worry about the points. And you get to indulge in a serving of alcohol.  Got it?  



The length of the game?  Four weeks.  Doable, right? {starting Monday, March 26}
The cost?  $40 USD {payable on paypal}

Oh...the prize.  Cash.  Cold, hard cash{well, via the internet}. Upwards of $100 or more, depending on the # of people playing.


So, now that I am done with the LONGEST post ever.
Are you in?
Did I scare you away?  
Any questions?  


Let me know in the comment section. 


Now?  I'm off to take a nap.  Ha. Haha.

Day 51. {& a new pledge}

First of all, good news...I am no longer stalled.  Well, at least on my weigh-in day I wasn't stalled {more on that when I get to my pledge}.   


Weight check-in:
Starting weight (this week): 201.4
Goal weight for week (1%): 199.3
End weight:  199
Total weight loss (since start):  15.8 pounds 


Let's get right to that "pledge". 


I, Jenny, will NOT weigh myself between weigh-in days {which from here on out will be Fridays}.  


That scale is pure evil.  I would almost not use it if it weren't for the fact that weight loss is a big part of our "Game On" lifestyle/diet game.  I hit this weight on Friday, and then I've been yo-yoing ever since. Hmph.  When you know you are doing the right things from exercising to eating to all the rest?  The scale can be your worst enemy.  

Because, be assured, I am not being a SLUG right now. 


So, you are my witnesses.  And this is going to be TOUGH. I seem to be addicted to weighing myself every morning.  I literally wake up, lay there, think about how I need to get up to exercise, and then think "oh, yeah!  I need to weigh myself!"  And then, of course, half the time it isn't what I am expecting, and that makes me crabby.  


Not a good way {or weigh} to start the day.  

I see this uprooted tree each time as I go on a walk/run and it reminds me of how I am uprooting all of my bad habits and making a substantial, beneficial change.  

And yes, I finally got back outside to start running! I am restarting the Couch to 5k program, since I haven't been hitting the pavement since Thanksgiving.  Hopefully that, mixed in with shredding it, some Biggest Loser action and my Wii Fit should be a good mix.  

Speaking of the Wii Fit?  I turned it on for the first time in about two years today.   I've lost 20 lbs. since the last time I used it.  

Just sayin'. 

And this?  Pure evil.  On both entrances to the park I run in "Burger King" has been spray-painted on the signs.

Like I need a reminder of WHY I am running through the park.

* * *

Day 44. {Stalled}

"Say wha??"

Yes, J#4.  Momma's weight loss has stalled.

I'm gonna blame....  ah....

Well, I don't really have anyone to blame but myself.  And letting myself take more than one day off last weekend.

Weight check-in:
Starting weight (this week): 201.2
Goal weight for week (1%): 199.2
End weight:  201.4
Total weight loss (since start):  13.6 pounds 


Luckily, my weigh in for ME is on the weekend, and the weigh in for our game is on Monday {after said day offs, so my weight was up...grr}, so I made my 1% weight loss for the game.  


But I am, of course, disappointed.  I know, though, that this is bound to happen along this long and twisted journey of getting healthy and fit, right? 

"So, Momma, this is what you have to do..."

No, no, J#3.  I got this.  

Just like last year, I am giving up sweets for Lent.  AND my plan is to give up alcohol {my main day off issue, I'm guessing} for 40 days, which will take me right up until Easter.  

Plus, I've downloaded a new exercise video off iTunes.   "The Biggest Loser: The Workout." 

Yes, I've been doing Jillian Michael's "Shred It".  And yes, I don't stray far. 

I'm excited though.  There is a "30-day Jump Start"  broken into 10 minute sections, so you can do what you can when you need to.  The 2nd part of the set is a "Last Chance Workout".  Looks like it is 60 minutes straight-thru, with Jillian Michaels as your guide.  

Source: amazon.com via Jenny on Pinterest

That's hardcore friends.  I'll be working myself up to that one.  Click here if you want to get that "Last Chance Workout".  

I dare you. 

    

But cutting out those calorie culprits and ratcheting up my fitness?  Ought to kick this weight loss back into high gear.  

And help me avoid any future lectures from my two-year-old.  

* * * 

Linking up with: 

                                 

Day 37. {And the Legend of Baggy Pants}

Do you remember the movie "The Legend of Bagger Vance"?

Source: imdb.com via Jenny on Pinterest

It holds a special place in my heart.  J#1 and I went on a cruise for our honeymoon.  And since there were a few too many days at sea, we did turn on the television a few times.  And every time we turned it on?  "The Legend of Bagger Vance" was playing.

Every. single. time.

J#1 nicknamed it "the legend of baggy pants".  Now, I can't really get that out of my head.

What does this have to do with my weight loss?

My pants are baggy.

But I have a conundrum  {I love that word.  And the wine.  Just sayin'}.

I have pants that are too baggy, and they don't really look all that great.  And then I have jeans that are on the smaller side, that on certain days are TOO small.  Until I lose the next 10 or so pounds.  Know what I mean?

So the baggy pants remain.  Sigh.  And that my friends, is "the legend of baggy pants".

Alright, now on to the numbers.
Weight check-in:
Starting weight (this week): 202.2
Goal weight for week (1%): 200.2
End weight:  201
Total weight loss (since start):  13.8 pounds 

So.  Maybe that's why I told the pointless story?  So I could avoid the fact that I didn't hit my goal weight for the week?  Chalk it up to being the week "off" between games.  And even though I was going to continue to play against myself, well...I did.  But then I gave myself a bit too much leeway.  My starting weight for this round of the game will be higher than that ending weight up there.  Yup.  Amazing what one day can do.  Or two.  {hanging head}

But today is a new day.  And a new game.  After two months of playing the game against other folks, I am sure that I will be able to play hard against myself.

Source: Uploaded by user via Jenny on Pinterest

*  *  * 

Day 30. (with a tiny suprise)

I have a surprise for ya'll.  Remember this post, when I said there weren't going to be any photos until I was 12 weeks (or 84 days) in?

Well, I decided to post one before that...you just need to wait a couple of minutes.

Here's the deats.  A good week {most likely thanks to a certain friend that was visiting me during the last weigh-in...sometimes being a woman is NOT fun}:

Weight check-in:
Starting weight (this week): 206.6
Goal weight for week (1%): 204.5
End weight:  202.2
Total weight loss (since start):  12.6 pounds 


Can I get a "WhoopWhoop!"?  Ha.  Kidding.  


But seriously.  I don't expect these kinds of results every month.  But, I am on my way.  

Source: eisymorgan.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

And with that, the first session of "Game On" is complete.  We ARE doing another round of the game, so if you are feeling the urge to join in?  Shoot me a comment below.  We will start a week from today.  For all of the details and "rules" click here to see the original post I wrote about it or visit the Game On website. 


I am going to play against myself now too.  I have a "bank" that I will being working for.  Essentially the % of points I get each week will equal a certain amount of $s.  But I can tell you about that some other time.  I DID give myself an extra day off (and will at the end of each "session" or four week period).  


This is NOT easy (but its worth it!).  And I don't want to drive myself crazy.  


So my habits for the next session (this week + our 4 week game)? 
Good habit:  Read a devotional (starting with the Purpose Driven Life) daily. 
Bad habit:     Stop being complacent with oral hygiene (= flossing daily & brushing teeth 2 times/day)


Alright...here is the picture.  I find it amazing how when I feel better about my body, I actually want to put an outfit together.  Oh, and of course, I still need to work on taking photos of myself.  Please tell me it gets better with practice. 

both tanks & sweater: Target, jeans: H&M, necklace: Lia Sophia, 

earrings: Tesco Extra 

So, after 4 weeks in, here is a quick before & after: 

Before Photos: tank & shirt: Target, jeans: Old Navy

*  *  * 

Linkin' up with Real Momma, Real Style and The Pleated Poppy  and the Transatlantic Blonde for What I Wore Wednesdays. 

Day 23.

I made it again this week.  


Just barely.  But barely works, right?  
Weight check-in:
Starting weight (this week): 208.8
Goal weight for week (1%): 206.7
End weight:  206.6
Total weight loss (since start):  8.2 pounds 


This will be our last week of this session of the Game On competition.  But this journey won't be over with that.  I already have habits set and an idea of how to continue doing the Game On  competition against myself...just in case I am on my own {which it looks like I likely won't be}.  


And let me know if you are interested in joining us for the next round.  Not one person in our group yet has said this didn't work.  Each and every person has lost some weight or if they didn't have much to lose, they have muscles they haven't seen (or at least for awhile). 


But for me?  This is a long journey.  And I am taking it slow and steady, so it stays off for good.  But that can be frustrating. 

Source: eisymorgan.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Oh! Guess what I got last week.  I upgraded my weights. 

I went from these... 

{yes, those are beans}

...to these.

Guess its time for some chili, huh? 


And one last thing...
On a blog I found last week, The Misadventures of Mrs. B, Jen {nice name, right?} wrote a letter to her fat.   Loved it.  I wrote one too.  Pretty much agree with everything she says, so I kept mine short and sweet: 

Dear Fat, 

It's not me. It's you. 

Call me...never. 

Signed, 

A woman who's tried to get you to stop stalking me ONE too many times.

Day 16.

Half way done with the "game".  So far, so good.  

Source: flickr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Let's get the business out of the way, shall we?

First thing to note is that I got a perfect score in our game this week.  Mostly because of...
Weight check-in:
Starting weight (this week): 211.2
Goal weight for week (1%): 209.1
End weight:  208.8
Total weight loss (since start):  6 pounds 


Yay!  Right? Again...the scale was my nasty friend.  It would go down, and then up and then {luckily} down again. Right now the batteries are low and I need to replace them, so that is probably a good thing since it will prevent me from jumping on that scale every day.  

Source: operationbeautiful.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Not my feet.  Or my scale.  But a good reminder, none-the-less. 


So, onto some fun.  


Or funny stuff.  


At this point my exercise requirement has been fulfilled by Jillian Michael's "Shred It" video.  I moved up to the 2nd level this past week and it provided a nice change and I actually enjoy the variety more than the first level. 



I would love to be outside running, but the temp has barely been getting above 40*F, and that is my limit for running outside.  I'm allergic to the cold.  Have I told you that before?  I'll share more about that at some point.  I know.  I'm an odd duck. 

Yesterday, though I thought I would try some yoga.  When we were back in Minnesota over the holidays I bought a yoga dvd set.  Come to think of it, I think I had a yoga video back in the day...it collected dust.  

This one?  Not the case. 


And I had helpers.    

 J#4 making sure to stay hydrated.  J#3 helping my yoga become "high impact". 

At this point I was rolling back onto J#4 and she was belly laughing.  Which made me laugh.  Which made for a good work-out all around.


Eventually the kiddos lost interest,  and I finished after about 35 minutes.  Yoga.  It's no joke people.  That is tough stuff.  I definitely enjoyed it and will keep doing it.  But I was back to Jillian today. 


She burns more calories.  

Day 9.

First of all, I wanted to thank everyone who provided encouragement last week.  It means SO much to me, and I am so glad that you are all with me on this journey.

Accountability is a HUGE thing for me, and the fact that I know that people are watching and reading here will keep me going.

Source: flickr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Oh...and that prize at the end of this four week Game On game.

But, mostly it's you.

So I am sure you are wondering how the week went, right?

Pretty darn good, if I may say so myself.  First off, I had nearly a perfect score for our game.  I only lost one point.  How did I do that?  Well, I weighed myself on Thursday morning (you are allowed to weigh yourself ONLY once per day), and I was up from the day before.

TIME OUT.  This is why a person should ONLY weigh themselves once a week...or not weigh yourself at all and go by your clothes {but that wouldn't work for this game}.

Anyhow, I was up.  After eating within my points and exercising for four days straight.  Grrr, right?  So, I weighed myself again, thinking the scale must have been wrong.  What happened?  The weight went UP again!  Clearly, my punishment for losing that one darn point and thinking there was something wrong with the scale.

Source: confident-beautiful-motivated.tumblr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Weight check-in:
Starting weight: 214.8
Goal weight for week (1%): 212.6
End weight:  211. 2

No pictures, peeps.

Source: Uploaded by user via Jenny on Pinterest

Which means you can expect pics in about three months.

So, this week my goal will be 209.1.  My other goal?  To ENJOY my meal off and day off, but not INDULGE too much.

Game ON!


Linking up this week:

Day 2.

Happy Monday!   {should those two words EVERY go together?}

"Day 2 of what", you ask?  Well, Game On!, of course.

I know that this isn't a diet/fitness blog.  I am FAR from an expert {well maybe I sort of could be with as many times as I have been on a "weight loss" journey}, so I won't be getting preachy.

But I do want to take you all on the journey with me.  For accountability.  And, because my hope is that once I drop this weight, it won't be so hard for me to get motivated to check things off my bucket list.

I know my weight shouldn't be tied to my confidence and motivation.  But, it is.

So here is the history... August 2009 & July 2010, respectively.

 

July 2010, I WAS pregnant, but VERY early in the pregnancy.  That is a good representation of me at my heaviest.  GULP.  Here I go.  That highest weight?  About 240.  Eek! Its out there.  Whew.  I never thought I would say write that out loud for everyone to see.

Alright, so over the next year, I was pregnant...which oddly enough, has helped me to lose weight (both times!), especially while I am nursing.  So, from July 2010 to July 2011 I went from about 240 to 188 (at my lowest).   Don't worry, the majority of it came off AFTER J#4 was born.

Here I am in June {isn't J#4 so tiny?} and then July, during our visit to Minnesota.  Thanks to that visit, and several more reasons excuses, my weight has gone back up.  First, it was almost 10 pounds by telling myself I had to have all of the foods that I had missed from the U.S.,  and then it was moving, living in hotels for a bit, getting settled, and indulging in all of the convenience foods that I once again had access to in Scotland...and that has been another 16 pounds. 

Do you want to do the math?  

Yay, me neither.

Okay...so, that brings the number to 214.  Sigh.  At least not as high as it once was.  But TOO high. 

Thank God for Game On!   So here is my life for the next four weeks (except my days off): 

• Up at 6 AM on the weekdays to either run/walk or do the Jillian Michaels Shred It program
• Drinking 100 oz of water per day
• My good habit?  Eating AT LEAST five servings of fruits or veggies a day
• Only checking Facebook ONCE per day (that's my bad habit) 
• Weight Watchers.  'Nuff said, right? 
• Cheering on my teammate daily, 
• and trash talking our opponents (clearly, that is going to be tough for me)

I am hoping to lose AT LEAST 10 pounds over the next four weeks.  And then I will be doing this over and over and over and over and over... well, you get the point.  As many times as it takes me to get to 140.  WW says the ideal weight for my height & age is 132.  I would LOVE that, but we'll see. 

With a plan of losing an average of two pounds per week, that puts me at November.  

So there you have it.  I think I'll be updating you here weekly.  Monday seems like as good a day as any.

Let's hope I lose at least 1% of my body weight; because then I get some bonus points!  Wish me luck, would ya?