Corporate Downsizing

[annissamazing]

Yesterday, my company kicked off the 2004 corporate downsizing competition.

From April 12th to September 30th (the end of the fiscal year) participants will try to see who can lose the most weight and win cash prizes. Each participant provides a $50.00 entry fee and in the end the pot is divided in two and given to the individual who loses the most total pounds and the individual who loses the highest percentage of weight.

We're also supposed to get sponsorships for per-pound weight loss. All money raised will be donated to a local food bank.

Yesterday we had our final "fat feed" right before the official weigh-in. The company privided tons of pizza and even those who aren't participating got to eat it. It was a lot of fun. I got Kevin and Joe to each eat a whole large pizza.

Here are the rules:
All participants will be asked to sign a waiver prior to acceptance of entry fee.
No pregnant or nursing women
No surgical weight loss methods
Weigh-ins will be weekly, Mondays after lunch (I guess I'm eating lunch late on Mondays for a while)

During the time period of the competition, health and fitness seminars will be held from time to time to compliment the competition.

There will also be a division available to those that wish to compete, but do not wish to pay the entry fee. The winner of this class will receive a trophy to mark their accomplishment, and can still help raise money for the food bank. Participants who do not pay the entry fee are not eligible for cash prizes.

This really was a great idea. There's only three women including myself who are competing and the men are *really* heavy. But little do they know that I have just as much weight to lose as they do. Here's hoping I can get this extra 60 pounds off my frame.

Comments

My two cents

[raven789.livejournal.com]

Don't try to loose weight try to get healthier. It's some mental trick that way if you don't loose as much weight as you wanted your not as hard on yourself because your mainly concerned with health. And try to eat something healthy like ½ to ¼ of a meal every 2 hours it will help raise your metabolism.

Ask if you have any questions I've gotten into fitness sence joining the Millitary.

Klo

Re: My two cents

[annissamazing]

I'm actually pretty healthy, but I'm not very fit. I've gained a lot of weight in the past 5 years.

My strategy is to stop eating processed foods, eat less meat, more veggies, and exercise more. Today I had a boiled egg for breakfast, carrots for my mid-morning snack, spaghetti squash with marinara sauce for lunch, a boiled egg for a mid-afternoon snack and I don't know what yet for dinner. I'm going through olive oil like a madwoman. I've started making my own salad dressings and I'm trying to eat large salads with every meal. I need to go get more from the store today. While I'm there I'm going to go through the produce section to see if I can find any unusual vegetables I can eat raw.

If you have any suggestions, I'm willing to hear them. :) Three of my main competitors have already broken their diets and it's only Day 1! One gave in to Pop-Tarts, one to cheese, and one to bacon.

Cheat days

[raven789.livejournal.com]

Have a cheat day once a week. Eat what you want for a day a week. It will keep your body guessing on how many calories it gets. So it will try to burn the energy rather than store it. Try to eat food that don't spike your insulin levels ( Low on the Glycemic index (dairy, nuts)) They will help you feel fuller longer so you wont want to break the diet as much. Drink water when your hungry. It will do one of two things. Stop your hunger because you were just thirsty not hungry. Make you a bit fuller before you eat so you eat less. Try not eat too much "Hifruitose cornsyrip" or Trans Fat "Hydrogenated vegetable oil" hifruitose cornsyrip is a cheap sugar that has ZERO nutritional value. It's what's in soda. Hydrogenated vegetable oil is like crisco. Oil that has been made to congeal at room temperature so it doesn't leave the food. Like potato chips. You can dab a bit of oil off of them but the majority is stuck to the chip. Thats the major ones that I can think of off the top of my head. I'll send you some more when it's not 11pm and bed time.

Re: Cheat days

[annissamazing]

Oh, I think I can be pursuaded to eat a toffee cheesequake blizzard once a week.

The tips you're giving me sound exactly like the diet plan I'm following. It's commonly known in these parts as The South Beach Diet. I've got the food guide that shows which foods are good to eat (that is, foods with a low glycemic index). I took a co-worker with me to the grocery store to show him how to shop for the right foods. He did pretty good choosing leafy greens, red onion, and snow peas for a salad, but instead of making his own vinaigrette, he opted for the atkins-style ranch dressing. I'm not sure I buy into corporate interprations of the Atkins diet. I'd much rather make what I eat from scratch so I know exactly what's going into it. He did find some turkey pepperoni that was just awesome. I stuck with my spaghetti squash.

I've given up pop entirely. That wasn't too hard because I actually gave it up a few months ago. Drinking enough water is going to be tough for me. I'm nowhere near the drinking fountain and it doesn't normally occur to me to get up and get a drink. I should get a gallon-sized container and keep water back here with me so I remember to drink it. That worked really well when I thought I had a kidney infection and was drinking a gallon of cranberry juice every day. I've never been so hydrated in my life!

Water

[raven789.livejournal.com]

Try getting a camelback™. I drink about 8L of water/tea a day when I wear mine. I sip on it when I'm thinking or troubleshooting or stressed. But I'm also incharge and can take all the bathroom breaks I want.

I also drink Tea. I have a 2.5L bottle that I make tea in and drink it as well. Sweetend but not too much. I don't have that much room for sugar.

Klo

Good Luck! Do Well!

[sprgtime.livejournal.com]

About the water: I've got an "Extreme Gulp" super large red insulated cup with spill-proof sippy thing on top (like an extra large coffee mug) that I keep at work. In the morning, I put ice and water in it. It keeps very cold water ready and available at my desk at work. The cup holds 52oz, and I refill it at lunch.

I don't know if you read newsgroups at all, but there is a very good support group that deals with south beach (and Atkins, and protein power, and sugar busters, and the other varieties of low-carb).
It's called alt.support.diet.low-carb

Reading positive progress of other people can be inspiring when you're ready to give up. Plus, they post healthy recipes for home made things that they tried and turned out good - to give you more ideas when you start feeling bored with your routine.

I started low-carb in January this year, and I've lost 40 lbs. :) For me, the first week or two were the hardest, and the first month was harder than the second... and now it's just very easy and I love seeing progress on my scale.

Okay, I know this is a super long comment, but one more thing: Take measurements! You'll be glad you did later. Some weeks, you won't lose any pounds, but you could lose several inches off your measurements. It's good mentally to know that you're making progress even if it doesn't always show up on the scale (of course, when you lose inches, it means you will lose more lbs. within the next week or two that will show up on the scale).

Good luck. :)