FatBloggers.net A little push to lose the tush.

…Thanksgiving will be here five weeks from this Thursday. I haven’t paid much attention to my weight, but I do notice I’m feeling a little bulkier than I’d like around the middle. Maybe it’s time to get on the stick and set some goals for myself until then.

Gobble gobble.

Technorati Tags: weight loss, dieting, Thanksgiving, maintenance

Note: As promised earlier, we have an exclusive interview with Marty Wolff, a contestant in season 3 of The Biggest Loser. This is actually a promotional event from Wrigley’s gum, who is a sponsor of the show. Hopefully I haven’t sold our independent soul too much for this, but it’s been fun putting it together. If you had a question featured here, and you’d like some free stuff from Wrigley’s, send me your email address so I can forward it on to the Wrigley’s people. Also, if you’re a regular contributor on here, I’d like to include you in that as well. We have like 10 exercise kits that they’re making available to us, so let me know. So without further ado, here is the FatBloggers interview:

1. Marty, are there any tools you found on the Internet that were helpful in maintaining your weight-loss?

I have used the internet for calorie information and to look up calories of various foods. I do know of many web sites that aid in maintenance and aim to reward people for positive lifestyle changes. My web site, realitywellnessinc.com, has a password protected area that allows an online community to communicate with me through messaging and an online food journal. Gumisgood.com is a site developed by Wrigley Co. and it aims to reward people for making two small changes to their daily routine; taking more steps and cutting calories. The project is called Wrigley’s Walk and Chew Gum Challenge and is collectively challenging Americans to cut 10 million calories and walk 100,000 miles. It is really easy to be apart of the challenge! All you do is log on to gumisgood.com and sign up for the challenge. You will receive a starter package in the mail complete with a pedometer, water bottle and some Extra gum samples. You then use the site to log the miles you walk and the calories you save from chewing Extra gum instead of a high calorie snack like a brownie. This challenge is a terrific maintenance tool to use on the internet and is a reminder that small changes can go a long way!

2. What kind of medical exams did all participants go through? How often?

We went through extensive medical exams before the show and for the first 6 weeks they drew blood every week to make sure our levels were healthy and to see any signs of improvement in our health. The medical side of the show is relatively hidden, but The Biggest Loser has some of the best doctors in the world watching our progress on the show and even after the show. In fact, all contestants on the show are a part of a larger obesity study with the doctors on the show and the results that are sent out every 6 months are really fascinating. We were watched closely on the show, and I am grateful to the medical team on the show takes their role so seriously.

3. Marty, congratulations on your engagement. What kind of things do you and your fiance do to encourage and support each other to keep in shape and keep the weight off?

We are each others accountability partners! I know what Amy is capable of and she does me. I have seen her at her worst and best and she has me. We understand each other and know how hard it was to lose the weight. Once in a while one of us will want some popcorn at the movies when we shouldn’t have it, and it is nice to have someone remind me of my goals and recommend something simple like chewing a stick of Extra sugar-free gum instead of the popcorn. This accountability system is great!

4. How much time passed from the time you left the show to the time you went back for the Season Finale? During that time were your health and progress monitored by the show or were you on your own

I spent a little more than 5 months on my own after I was eliminated from the show. The medical staff did keep an eye on us and was a great resource for us to ask questions of any kind at any point. To this day the medical staff is interested in us and our weight loss journey!

5. Marty, after you lost the weight, you received a lot of positive feedback from friends and family. It is encouraging to know that people will be impressed with your perseverance. What was the most poignant comment or reaction made by one of your loved ones that sticks out the most in your mind?

The best feedback I have been given didn’t come in the form of words, but action. It was from my brother who supported me when I came home from the show and he put his money where his mouth is and lost 80 lbs along with me. It is terriffic to have others complement, but when they are willing to change who they are to make you better; that is positive feedback to me!

Technorati Tags: weight loss, dieting, fitness, exercise, The Biggest Loser, Marty Wolff, fatblogging

227.2! That’s what it said on the scale this morning. A loss of 1.4. And week three of the new “Streak”!

I had a dyslexic moment this morning thus the messed up t-shirt.

Sorry for the delay on the weigh-in. I was out of town and took a three day break from my weight worries. Unfortunately, that break turned into a 2 pound gain from Friday to Monday. Hopefully with some hard work this week I can reverse the damage.

Tony
10/12: 227.2 lbs.
Goal: 220 lbs.
7.2 lbs. to go

Out of nowhere I, as they say on The Biggest Loser, put up a big number this week - my biggest to date.  5 pounds lost!  Here is the tale of the tape, check out the update on my weight loss blog for all the details:

• Diet starting weight: 295
• Week starting weight: 278
• Today’s weight: 273
• Week weight lost: 5 lb
• Total weight lost: 22 lbs

Overall I had a good, but not a great week.  I did more cardio than usual, but less strength training.  I had a few slip-ups with my diet.  I did well on my hydration, except for Saturday.

To what do I attribute the loss then?  This week I decided to cut out bread from my diet.  Almost every day I find myself at Bruegger’s Bagels either for breakfast or for lunch.  I have done a great job since I started my weight loss program in cutting back in what I regularly order, going from two bagels with cream cheese to one.  Overall from a caloric standpoint while even one is pretty high (400) it does fit well into my diet.  But that’s still a lot of bread.

So I made the decision to cut that this week and see how it went.  So instead of going to Bruegger’s for lunch I went to Chipotle, and had a Burrito Bol with no rice, which means it’s pretty much just a salad - but still with great flavor.  I had eggs and cheese for breakfast.  I know it sort of sounds Atkinish but that wasn’t my intention completely - I still had plenty of carbs in other areas.

Obviouslly the results were good.  I’m going to try it again this week, with the intention of introducing some back into my diet at some point because I love bread!  But I will be going with moderation. 

– 
John C

Join me on my Journey From Fat to Fit
SITE - http://www.johnisfit.com
FEED - http://www.johnisfit.com/feed

“How does one become a BUTTERFLY?

You must want to FLY so much that you are willing to give up
being a WORM”

Anton… A drum roll if you please…

Starting Weight (Dec. 22, 2006): 392 lbs.
Starting BMI: 51.7
Weight Today (Oct. 11, 2007): 320.6 lbs.
Current BMI: 42.3

 Weight Change This Week: -2.0 lbs.
Total Weight Lost: -71.4 lbs.
NEXT GOAL: the 75 lb. magnet (3.6 lbs. to go)

WeightWatchers Challenge: 302 lbs. by Thanksgiving

Here is a quick list of some of the healthier alternative or “diet foods” that I have been enjoying lately.

I know that not all these foods would be considered healthy… but trust me the foods I would be eating instead are way worse than anything on this list. Best of all, most of the things on this list taste as good or better than the things they are replacing.

1. Klondike Slim a Bear 100 Calorie Bar
Like many of the things on this list, my lovely wife deserves all the credit for discovering these yummy little treats!

2. Weight Watchers GIANT Chocolate Cookies & Cream Bar:
These babies taste just as good as any Ice Cream bar you’ll find. And they are filling and oh so satisfying. These and the Slim a Bear have easily replaced the giant cereal bowl full of ice cream that I would eat nearly every night before bed.

3. Weight Watchers Snack Cakes
I was amazed at how moist and full of flavor these little snack cakes are.They are small, but they are a great way to curb a chocolate craving.

4. Flat Out Bread:
This has become a staple at our house.Flat Out Pizzas, Flat Out Buffalo Chicken Wraps, Flat Out Quesadillas.You name it, it can be made from Flat Out!

5. Natural Cheeto’s:
These aren’t really a low calorie alternative, but they are lighter than the full fat potato chips and they have a great flavor that I have come to love.

6. Edy’s Loaded Frozen Dairy Dessert:
I have not tried this yet and I have no clue how it can be considered a low calorie substitute but I can’t wait to find out. According to Hungry Girl it deserves to be on this list.

7. Goldfish Crackers:
These are my go to snack. When I have a craving that fruit or gum just won’t kill,I grab a handful of cheesy goodness and put my tummy at ease. 52 Fish to a serving means I feel like I am getting a substantial snack.

What are your favorite “diet foods”. Leave a comment and let me know. I’m always looking for new things to substitute.

Tony
10/10: 228.6 lbs.
Goal: 220 lbs.
8.6 lbs. to go

I’ve had a little dip in the motivation and self esteem the last couple days. It started before I found out that I had gained 1.8 lbs at Thursday’s weigh-in but that didn’t help. I spent Thursday and Friday in a funk. I felt lethargic and FAT, self-medicating with my drug of choice (confession) Reese’s products. I can’t imagine how hard it would be for a drug addict to kick the habit when they put pumpkin shaped meth right there on the checkstand. Imagine the same for me, with pumpkin shaped Reese’s . I feel that I am starting to come out of it, I actually wanted to go to the gym after work. Since I worked 14 hours today starting at 3am, I just couldn’t do it. The good news is that my fancy bodyfat% reading digital scale that I ‘rewarded’ myself with when I busted 320 lbs said that I was maintaining.

On the happy side… In an effort to bust out of the doldrums, I went shopping! For the first time in over 10 years I bought pants at a ‘normal’ persons store! Granted they were at the maximum size allowed, but I bought my first size 50’s since 1997. Even better, the pants were on sale ! Not being one to pass up a bargain, I bought a pair of 48’s as well. The coolest part, when I got home I tried on the 50’s first, nice fit and an even nicer cut. Then for kicks and giggles, I tried on the 48’s…. AND I COULD BUTTON THEM! They were tight… but not uncomfortably so. All I can say is… WOW!

So part of busting out of the blues, I wore the 50’s to work today… they were nice. I bought pants at NORMAL PERSONS STORE! How cool is that!?

228.6! That’s what it said on the scale this morning. A loss of 2.8 pounds! And week two of the new “Streak”.

This one was probably the most unexpected loss so far. I did not get a lot of running in this week and I ate out or had a catered lunch nearly every other day. Guess this lends even more credence to the idea that my body has adjusted to my new diet .

Here are the things I am excited about:

I only have 8.6 pounds left to get to my first goal!

I am only .8 pounds away from losing 6o pounds!

I passed another “ten” milestone this week.

Being under 230 pounds for the first time since being a sophomore in college!

Here’s proof that I do indeed wear things other than white t-shirts and jeans. This is one of my new Steve and Barry’s outfits. Pretty stylin’ huh?

Have a great weekend everybody.

Tony
10/5: 228.6 lbs.
Goal: 220 lbs.
8.6 lbs. to go

Let’s get this over with…

Starting Weight (Dec. 22, 2006): 392 lbs.
Starting BMI: 51.7
Weight Today (Oct. 4, 2007): 322.6 lbs.
Current BMI: 42.6

Weight Change This Week: +1.8 lbs.
Total Weight Lost: -69.4 lbs.
NEXT GOAL: the 75 lb. magnet (5.6 lbs. to go)
WeightWatchers Challenge: 302 lbs. by Thanksgiving

We’ve been asked to participate in a promotional event.  We will be doing an interview with Marty Wolff, who was a recent participant in the show The Biggest Loser.  Dude lost a boat load of weight a couple of years ago, and it looks like he’s been able to keep it off since then.  I was recently contacted by the PR firm that is doing a fitness tie-in with Wrigley’s Walk and Chew Gum program, so I thought I’d see what we can do with it.

All of you are certainly better at coming up with questions for this kind of thing than I am, so here’s the catch:  In the comment box below, just ask a question that you would like to see answered in an interview with him.  I’ll pick the best ones and organize them in a Q&A format to be posted here in a couple of weeks.  There’s free stuff involved (YOU get the free stuff), so post away. If you’re looking for some question ideas, here’s an interview that was already done.