Cardio, Thanks a lot for all the work you've done on this challenge over the past 1/2 year! The spreadsheets have been wonderful and you've done a great job of keeping the challenge going. I just wanted to say how much I've appreciated it and look forward to the results. I hope you'll post a link to a final spreadsheet. I've really enjoyed looking at those to see the patterns and ups and downs of the time. Many blessings, William

Tammie, what an awesome weight loss! That's huge!

On vacation this week but found a scale...



LW: 239.5

TW: 239



Loss -.5 lbs



Slow and steady she goes... It's our 20th anniversary trip and today's the actual anniversary. Twenty years ago we were walking down the aisle! It's amazing how time goes so quickly, all the changes in life since then, and how much we have ahead of us. If anyone's interested in my fitness blog where I have a couple of shots from the resort this week, it's at hayneshealth.blogspot.com . It's been great weighing in with you all! Keep up the great work and dropping those pounds until you're exactly where you want to be!



Many blessings - William

Laura, thanks for the kudos. It's been quite a ride and I'm finding this last weight takes a LOT of focus to get off.



Is this the last week of the weigh-ins? Could we get a final spreadsheet of the overall progress throughout the time?



You all rock! It's been great weighing in with you and connecting.



Many blessings - William

LW: 241.5

TW: 239.5



Loss 2 lbs



Finally in the 230's! Just barely, but I'm excited about it. This morning was the first time I've seen them. I've gone back to some harder workouts and pushed to begin losing this last 20 or 25 lbs to go. 119.5 lbs lost so far, since I started in Sept 2007.



Good luck to everyone on your weigh in!

With the packing going on my schedule is all messed up. I'm getting a little less exercise and cooking less at home. Hopefully I'll be dropping some weight next week.



LW: 241

TW: 241.5



Gain: .5 lbs



Two more weeks! That's amazing... I'd love to see a spreadsheet at the end

Tim, r u thinkin' at this point that you have any more weight to lose, or are you already at your long term healthy weight? - William

We're packing up to move back to the states and things have been crazy here. I have been good with the workouts and eating well, so I'm pleased to report...



LW: 243.5

TW: 241



Loss: 2.5 lbs



Pretty sweet! I think my long-term weight is going to be between 215 and 225, we we're down to the last 20 lbs or so. Sorry I've not been on more to cheer everyone else on... You guys rock!

Tammie, 2.4 is sweet! Nice loss!!!

The Shred is incredibly well designed. It's a series of three workouts. Each one is the same length (28 minutes) and consists of the same elements. There's a warm up, then three circuits that consist of 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs, at the end of the third circuit there's cool down. The total minutes is 27-28 minutes, even though Jillian is telling you the entire time that it's a "20 minute workout".



The concept is to do the level 1 workout for days 1-10, then move to level 2 for days 11-20, then level 3 for days 21-30. I had worked into a good routine and was working out daily for an hour a day before I started using the video. I decided to use the video to get my weight loss going again and hopefully start working on some definition.



I was amazed that after the first day of Shred, I was majorly sore. That continued for the first 5 days or so and by day 8,9,10 I was recovered and feeling really strong... Then level 2 started and I was really sore again... then by day 8,9,10 I was starting to think I can do this... Then today, I started level 3 ... As I'm writing this I'm sore again and in new places. My upper back is sore, parts of my abs are sore, my hamstrings are sore.



I think it's a really well designed workout and highly effective. It will be something I will return to and have in my toolbox, even after the 30 days are over (we're actually doing it for 45 days, as the end of that 45 days culminates in our 20th wedding anniversary and we're heading to the beach. )



Here's a blog entry I wrote after the first day or two of Shred. http://hayneshealth.blogspot.com/2008/05/sore-agai n-naturally.html



My workouts vary a lot, but the most common are biking and running. If the weather is bad I do elliptical or Tae Bo. I've tried to add Shred on top of what I was already doing, but I am allowing myself a little lighter other workout. Today I ran 30 minutes and walked 15 instead of running 45 and walking 15, for example and then did the Shred level 3



I work out 6 days a week and then take a rest day. I try to stay focused on these four things: water, healthy foods, exercise, and rest. I figure if I'm keeping those four in line my body will respond and it will be a long term change rather than a short term fix.



Thanks for the questions. I love to tell people about what's been working for me. This journey is so interesting because a group of friends with similar goals like we have here is SO helpful... and it's such an individual journey at the same time.



Blessings, William

I've been doing the 30 day Shred workout video which I highly recommend. I had kinda hit a plateau and adding that 25 minute workout each day to the exercise I was already doing jolted my body into starting to drop again. It has increased definition but also seems to do an awesome job at just raising overall metabolism during the day.



To answer "The New Me", I started this journey on Sept 1st, 2007 and really got going strong in October 2007, so it's been 9 months or so total. Here's how the loss has broken down:



Weight at beginning of Sept: 359

October 1st: 350 (lost 9 lbs)

Nov 1st: 328 (lost 22 lbs, 31 lbs total)

December 1st: 310 (Lost 18 lbs, 49 lbs total)

January 1st: 293 (lost 17 lbs, 66 lbs total)

February 1st: 275.5 (Lost 17.5 lbs, 83.5 total)

March 1st: 265 (Lost 10.5 lbs, 94 total)

April 1st: 264 (Lost 1 lbs, 95 total)

May 1st: 249.5 (14.5 lbs, Lost 109.5 total )

Today: 243.5 (6 lbs lost in May to date, lost 115.5 lbs total)



You can see that it's slowing down a lot but the loss is continuing. I'm expecting a long-term healthy weight will be between 200 and 220. We'll just have to see. BMI puts my high healthy weight at 215. I figure I'll know when I get there.



I appreciate all the encouragement that every has given here! You all are awesome! I think it's kind of funny now when I see week 21 of the "competition"... Our weigh-ins have gone on longer than BL in the house!

LW: 245.5

TW: 243.5



Loss of 2 pounds!



I'm excited about this loss. After 116 lbs of loss, this last 20 or 25 lbs of loss is showing a lot of subtle changes which are just as fun as the big changes earlier. My abs are starting to gain form. My veins are showing in my arms. I'm just feeling strong... of course finishing a triathlon last week helped that as well. You all are awesome and good luck to everyone weighing this week! Check out my blog at hayneshealth.blogspot.com if you'd like to see the race report.



Forest Dawn, you can do it!

LW: 248.5

TW 245.5



Loss 3 lbs.



That was after a 1.5 lbs weight gain last week. I'm definately developing some muscles and my abs are starting to get a smidgen of definition to them. I've really appreciated doing Jillian's 30 day shred this month, as I think it's going to take some really focused effort to get off these last 25 to 30 lbs.

Hey everybody. I have some sad news to report. After the past three weeks of losing weight, this is the week where I've gained. I really think it's just consolidating the losses of the past weeks. My diet's been quite good. I've actually been "doing doubles" all week, so a full workout (5k run this morning) followed by Jillian's 30 day shred later in the day (level 2 today). I'll keep working hard and expect that I'll be able to post a loss next week. You guys ROCK! Congrats to the losers...



LW: 247

TW: 248.5

lw: 250

tw: 247



I'm adding in the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred to my regular cardio. I think it's helping keep the weightloss going. I was majorly sore for the first 3-4 days of it.



Congrats to all the losers!

LW: 253

TW: 250



I had a really tough weekend and got off course. I've cranked back in this week and had some great workout days. I just finished Jillian Michaels new 30 day Shred and got my b*tt kicked.



Congrats to all that are pushing through! Week 17, wow!

Congrats to everyone on their losses! A special congrats to Tim on a second week straight... That's awesome!



LW: 257

TW: 253



Loss - 4



I'm really psyched about this loss because 259 was the 100 lbs lost mark, and it's great to putting some more distance beyond that. I'm aiming for the 240's next week! I'm wanting to really push during the next 3 months and get down to my long-term goal weight. I'm guessing that's between 210 and 225... We'll have to see when we get there.

Laura! My goodness! Your body is deciding that it's time to get slim!!!



Great job everyone on the losses. Keep it up!

Thanks for the kudos! We hosted a mission team from our church in Chiang Rai, then took a break in Koh Chang to recouperate. It was some really great family time, and you can see we got to spend a LOT of time with the kids doing some fun stuff.



The ropes course was incredible. It took almost 3 hours the first time because it's SO many stations and there's a fruit/water break halfway through. The day before we left, they let my daughter and I do it on our own and we did a speed run... 56 minutes! My muscles were wobbly from the intensity of the effort, but it was REALLY fun.



I've really missed connecting with you all and it's great to be back "home".

I know I've been gone for a few weeks with vacation. There literally was not a scale to be found in Koh Chang, Thailand where we were! You can imagine how happy I was to find when I returned home that I had lost weight.



My workouts consisted of ocean kayaking, walks, swims, and the treetop adventure course.



Week 12: 264

TW: 257



If you'd like to see some pictures of the vacation spot, here's our picasa web albums.



It's great to be back! I missed you all!

Congrat's to everyone who's lost this week.



Vacation has not been kind to my weight loss efforts. I'm finding it very difficult to do well without the ability to cook my own food, exercise with my equipment, etc etc. Not complaining though... the beach has been great and we're having some great family time. I found a scale at the mall in nearby Hua Hin, Thailand today and came up with a 4 lb gain.



LW: 260

TW: 264



Sorry guys!

lw: 260.5

tw: 260



I'm heading out on vacation to some pretty remote parts of Thailand. Internet will be problematic, as will scale access. If I don't check in for a few weeks, you'll know why Hangin' out at the beach...



Say a prayer for me that I keep dropping the weight and working out during the vacation. I'm thinking of open water swims at the beach and runs. I'm sure going to miss my bike though!

Well, this is a "consolidation week" for me.



LW: 259

TW: 260.5



I hate posting a gain, but that's what's up this week. No excuses, just learning to juggle lots in life with workouts and more eating out (friends visiting from the USA) with great nutrition.



Congrats to all the "losers" and those of us working to be...

Thanks everyone for the congrats! It's been great to be able to share it with some others that understand the journey.



Blessings, William

LW: 262.5

TW: 259



Loss this week - 3.5 lbs



Yes it's official! I have lost 100 lbs!!! Wooo Wooo



I am psyched!

Spyke, I'm awed and impressed! Great work!

Hey Laura,



Welcome on board! I joined the competition late too. There's a newcomer weigh in page. You should be able to post there. They need height and beginning weight, I think. Awesome for working toward a slim 30th birthday!



William

I just wanna give a big high five to the ladies that are losing weight w/o their husbands. I know what a motivation it is to have my wife losing weight with me (she's down 30 lbs). I'm sure it would have been tougher without her.



Just want to acknowledge that you're setting a great pace by doing it anyway! I'm sure it will encourage them to join in at some time, but even if they don't you'll be in great shape and showing what's possible!

Great job on another week of exercise and healthy foods! Let's keep pushing through. I've got 3 more pounds until I hit the 100 lbs total lost since last September. Tim and Mike got me doing a blog, so check it out if you get a chance hayneshealth.blogspot.com

LW: 266.5

TW: 262.5



Lost 4 lbs!



Cardio, I think of the weight loss like driving from New York to LA. It's a long trip and you're rarely "exactly" pointed in the right direction. So often we see we're a bit off course and start beating ourselves up, but really it's just part of the journey. Every once in awhile, we stop, drive in circles and re-evaluate whether we're ready to get back on the road. That's alright. It's a journey... it takes awhile and there are the occasional detours.



Congrats to all that are traveling this road together!