Losing weight versus losing fat

I selected for my challenge a particular bugger of a goal. I want to get down to 10% bodyfat...I don't care what my weight is. Since I am questioning whether or not this is actually read, I feel fairly safe in spewing my ignorance, and whining for a moment. If anyone reads this please add your thoughts because I am not sure what I am doing.

I have lost about 5% of my body weight, but I am not sure if I am losing fat or muscle. How does one know, other than paying for the test? Do I need to make more focused changes other than "Working out and eating less"? Doesn't everyone really want more muscle and less fat? It should not be this hard.

Whine is done. Suggestions are welcomed.

Don't Blame the Soda!

I was doing really well on the Challenge up until a few weeks ago. I had lost ten pounds (mostly water, I'm sure) when I weighed in on a Friday. The following Tuesday, I had to fly out to Florida for a business trip, and I knew from experience that such trips weren't the greatest for dieting, so I weighed in that morning. According to that damnable liar known as "the scale", I had gained three pounds between Friday and Tuesday. I ran through the list of possibilities: I had been transformed into a woman overnight and I was bloating, my invisible friend was playing a joke on me and had placed his foot on the scale while I was weighing in, or that whole impacted colon thing I keep seeing infomercials about is taking its toll on me. I immediately ruled out the woman transformation because I remembered that just before stepping on the scale, I had gone to the bathroom and peed standing up. My invisible friend was on vacation in Jamaica - I had just received a post card from him. And last but not least, the impacted colon theory didn’t explain things either because I had it surgically removed after I stepped on a landmine back in Vietnam. So, I went on my less-than-merry little way to Florida and ate like a pig. Five Guys Burgers and Fries gets a big thumbs up from me!

I've gotten back on the wagon, and my net loss is now 9.5 lbs. I'm still on track to lose thirty by the end of November, but I'm a little disheartened by this recent thing happening so early on.

Old Wives and Their Tales

I have to go on record that this giving up soda thing is a load of . . . well, it's a load. Some years back, in a failed attempt to lose weight, I went off soda for four months - I didn't lose a pound.

This time around, I've been much more careful about what I'm eating while slurping down a Coke, and I've lost ten pounds so far. Would I be a better person and be better off nutritionally if I were to give up soda? The former is questionable, but there's no denying that the latter would be true.

However, this is what keeps me motivated to stay on task: soda is my one guilty pleasure. So suck on that all you soda haters!

Weigh in

I am actually pleased to say I have dropped 7 lbs in the 2.5 weeks we have been at this. I didn't think I would be able to this. I have been eating better, didn't take much to do that, and running about 5 days a week. I also gave up soda, cough Grant cough. I even try to mt bike with my brother, who is also in this, but I usually just end up falling and scraping my arms and legs up. If you ask Adam I wasn't moving when I fell, I just fell over randomly.

I feel there should be a reward for all of us making it. I would also like to thank Grant for putting this in the Gridiron perspective. That was pretty funny.

Now for the questions. For those of you that have done the weight loss in the past, did you ever hit a plateau? If so, how did you get over it? Everything seems too easy right now. I know there's going to be a tough time. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jake

Progress Update (Warning! Not for the squeamish!)

If you have to scrub the blood out of your shoes after a run does that make you a "real" runner or just crazy?

My progress report so far is this...ever since I agreed to this challenge I've been fighting the Blisters from Hell on all but three of my ten toes. No sooner do I think one blister is all healed up (which, turns out, it's not) I find two more. Oral antibiotics are keeping the infection at bay, but the newest blister appears to be underneath my left big toe. I've done a little online research and I'm still in denial, but it looks like I am going to have to drill through the toenail in order to alleviate the pressure. I've come across several helpful suggestions for doing this, and I'll spare the real gory details, but most of them involve a red hot paper clip or needle.

On the good news front, I did run over seven miles last night (6.5 on Monday and 5.5 on Tuesday) so while I'm not exactly ready for my half marathon, I'm at least keeping my mileage steady while I fight the Great Blister Apocalypse of 2009.

Do I blame Grant for this? Yes. The first blister made its appearance the day I agreed to be a part of The Challenge. How's it going for everyone else? -Kim

On the Road Again!

Well, I did make it out last week for my run. It was tough, but I made it. I have also made it out every day this week so far. Not too bad! It isn't quite as fun as it used to be. Still working out all of the aches and pains. But I am getting there, slowly. The real training will begin next month. I am excited for that, I do better when there is a schedule to follow.

If I could just keep up with my husband. Since he hasn't posted, I'll let you know he is doing great! Running 6 miles every day right now. Training is when it gets tough for him, making the time for the long runs. We are definitely in this one together!
-Greg & Leslie

Hi all...I'm part of the weight loss gang. 60 lbs in 6 months. The jig is up, gone are the handy excuses (pregnant, nursing, thinking about being pregnant or it's Tuesday) so it's time to get down and dirty and do something for myself. I must say that the thought of having to fork out $100 if I don't reach my goal is more motivating to me than receiving $100 or the possibilities of heart attack, stroke or diabetic coma. It's possible that my motivators are a bit skewed but who cares? So far, I have lost 6 lbs. in the first week-yay, go me. I'll get more excited when I reach the halfway mark. This may sound like such a feat for some of you but for me (I'm just under 6') about the only body part that may register any weight loss are my eyebrows. I'm not one of those "I-lost-15-lbs-and-4-dress-sizes" types. It takes about 30 lbs. to go down ONE size. Has it's pros and cons.
I've known our fearless leader or mad moderator or whatever we're calling him since about age 8 and our parents are best buddies so that makes us practically related. He's seen me pudgy and thin but now I've reached Jabba the Hutt status and wouldn't care to share any specific numbers. I am taking pics of me and measurements along with the numbers from the scale for my own personal use but don't ask me to share those numbers except for how much lost. Would prefer to maintain a small modicum of dignity, although that may not be possible. Would love to chat with anyone about their challenge and get to know you all better. Cheers!
Kendall