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

Hi Everyone!

I'm Kim Miller, Grant's "big" (although currently not "bigger") sister. I just want to let everyone know I'm here. I've had vast experience with weight loss and this time around I've kept it off for over three years (I lost 45 pounds during the months of September 2005 through April 2006). That's always subject to change and seems like every other day or so I decide that I don't really want to be thin anymore, so I have to recommit to keeping the weight off at least twice a week. It's a lifelong challenge and I hope I can provide moral support for the majority of you who have chosen weight loss goals for the challenge.

I'm the participant whose goal is to run a half marathon in November. My 26-year old daughter got me hooked on running a few months ago (she's since decided that running is not all it's cracked up to be, but not before sucking me in...) I ran in a 10K race last month - my finish time wasn't great, but I didn't come in last and I'm going to try it again on July 4th. The half marathon was an idea I was just toying with until this Challenge came along, and since I don't have $100 to spare I guess I'm committed (thanks Grant).

The bottom line is that I don't really know what I'm doing or how to train for something like this, so I'll take any advice, warnings, guidance, etc. And I'll be happy to provide moral support, shoulders to cry on, advice, etc. for the dieters. Feel free to email me directly (kim.miller@cbre.com) or post here.

Good luck everyone!

A Gridiron Perspective

My sister - I'll let you guess who she is among the participants in The Challenge - made a very interesting discovery: there are 291 pounds at stake here. Holy cow!

At the height of his career, Dick Butkus - one of the most feared linebackers in NFL history - only weighed 245. "Mean Joe" Greene - a tackle, who I believe EARNED his moniker honestly - was 270 lbs of anger.

Without taking into account all the miles that will be run and biked simply to train for the marathons and the Century Ride, we have a commitment of 665 miles - that's 1,170,400 yards, which works out to 11,704 lengths of a football field. Assuming the average number of touchdowns scored in a game is, say, 7 (I'm probably up in the night on this one), that's 1,672 games worth of touchdowns. A regular NFL season, not counting pre-season games or playoffs or the Super Bowl, consists of a total of 256 games. In six months, we're going to play 6.5 seasons of football!

We're putting the "iron" in gridiron folks! Also, combined, we're looking to lose an entire defensive powerhouse . . . and maybe a waterboy soaking wet. Cool!

Beware Aquaman!

After I take my younger son and his friend to swim team and then drop off my older son at Scouts, I'm off to the gym to swim some laps. During the network coverage of the '08 Summer Olympics in Beijing, I saw a story on how some swimmers train with a snorkel that runs along the bridge of your nose and up over your head. This helps the swimmer keep her/his head steady without having to lift her/his head up out of the water to breathe so she/he can concentrate on technique and strengthening those swimming muscles. Long story too long, I went out today and purchased one of those snorkels, and I am prepared to have people pointing at me and whispering things under their breath - and I'm extremely confident it will have nothing to do with a striking resemblance to Michael Phelps. It'll be more along the lines of "What's the asthmatic doing trying to swim laps - and why isn't he wearing any type of support bra?"

I thought I would post this for all of you who are trying to lose weight like I am - I figured a mental image of what I just described would be reason enough either to not eat due to loss of appetite or to hurl violently that which you've already had for dinner - low-cal or not.

Just looking out for my peeps!

Hitting the Road

I haven't run even a mile in at least 4 months. It all started with an injury last August, and then the excuses just continued to pile up. So here I am. I don't work tomorrow and have plans to run at least 3 miles. I figure if I post about it tonight, then maybe, just maybe I might be more accountable (or something like that). I'll let you know how it goes...

Letty's Weigh in!

I was hoping for some motivation and I get Grant's email. Do you think someone was trying to tell me something? So here goes, I'm ready for it. My goal is to lose 50 lbs in 6 months! Wish me luck. The hard part.......getting on the scale....oh nooooooo. This morning I weighed in at 242.5 lbs (ugh!). I'm drinking water for a week!

Good luck to everyone! 50 lbs to go and counting.

Okay, here goes! My first ever "Post" and I have to put in writing that I am officially going to do something about my waistline! Way to go Grant, your powers have reached Atlanta Georgia my friend. Monday morning my scale screamed 221.4 lbs. For my health and to keep Ben Franklin in my wallet, I will lose the 30 lbs in 6 months. It will not be easy because I have two teenage boys in my house the can consume anything and everything and my wife keeps buying food that is way too tempting for me. I have a sweet tooth that does not like to take a day off.
I only like a handful of vegetables so that gets alittle boring. Worst off is my schedule. I am on the road most days and Fast food is everywhere.
any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated.
Dave

Nuts

I performed the fitness equivalent of purchasing a used car tonight: I joined a gym. When it came time to "seal the deal", the representative trotted out the "I can't do what you're asking, so I'm gonna go get my manager" line. I told him I wasn't looking for a low, low price on a '92 Hyundai. The manager came over and did this martial-arts bow while holding his right fist to his chest - a very Shaft-meets-Dalai-Lama move, I must say. After a few minutes, we came to an agreement and he gave us the same bow as he excused himself. I felt like I had just been an unwitting memeber of this cat's religious ceremony. Being a salesman myself, I fail to elevate my craft to that level.

At any rate, I am completely IN now because I have the potential of losing 100 clams and paying for it monthly. That's nuts!

The Weigh In

I woke up this morning curious to step on the scales to learn my starting point. Last night, at dinner, my family and I were taking guesses on my starting weight. We were all within ten or twelve pounds of each other, but my wife didn't believe I would be breaking the double-century mark - she was wrong: I weighed in at 202 this morning!

While that's not go-on-Jerry-Springer fat, it's the heaviest I've ever been in my life. Remember, kids: I don't lift weights, so the 202 lbs I'm carrying on my frame are more flab than bulk. My glass-half-full outlook as I stepped off the scales was "this is as heavy as I'll ever be in my life." I hope I didn't just completely jinx myself by saying that!

At any rate, I had a delicious Slim Fast shake for breakfast and another for lunch. Dinner awaits.

Shedding 20

It's time I kicked it back into gear!

As I approach the 40-year-milestone it's only expected, I suppose, that I would consider what areas of my life could use some improvement. Well, for me, the size of pants I have to buy would be a mental marker of how I'm doing in general. Bigger is not better. I've been at the point before where I had to make a change and did it successfully. After 8 years of towing the line with diet and exercise I suppose I've recently gotten a little lazy and gained back a few pounds and appear to be creeping back to my backside.

So, I weighed in at 225. My goal is going to be 205 (pounds, not stones nor kilos). Let's see how it goes.

Perhaps I'll someday seek to reach a more admirable goal such as a higher level or personal enlightenment or service to others or something more laudable. I'm not there yet so this one will be all about me and ditching some fat.

Time Travel

Grant is a brave man! Giving multiple people the opportunity to post could prove to be dangerous.
I have been lucky enough to have friends help me acheive goals in the past, and all I have to add for today is six (6) months sounds like a long time, but it comes up on you fast! In three months I guarantee that some of us will be wishing for the ability to push the rewind button. I know I have been in this position in the past and am writing this post in hopes of not being there again. Do something today that moves you in the direction of the goal because time travel is not an option.

Eve of Consumption

So, I have 17 people, including myself, who have bellied up to the bar of personal achievement. I'm pledging to lose thirty pounds, which means that for the last week and a half since I've been in earnest about getting this thing going I have been eating like a pig. I've seriously reached a saturation point of junk food that I'm actually looking forward to dieting - with my luck, that'll last until about 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

I invite all of you to post your questions/pleas for help concerning your particular goal. I would imagine there's very likely someone who has been in your shoes before. If not, there's certainly someone striving to do almost the very same thing as you are looking to accomplish. Also, if you see that someone has a goal that you had previously pursued and reached, please feel free to post advice.

I've been looking for a good piece of motivation to lose weight for the last few years - I think this should be it.

Good luck, my friends! And thank you!