Welcome to the June Challenge! HERE WE GO!!!

What is it about getting points that can motivate me? I don't know for sure, but I know I am ready. I can tell you were ready for this too, because many of you replied to my initial text with, "Yes, yes, yes!"


I just sent a big email with all the details, but the basic scoop is:

• We're starting on Monday June 2nd and ending July 1st.
• Weigh and measure yourself this weekend and write it down.
• Get me some $$ by next Friday.
• Write a post for this here blog.
• Start logging your food.
• Track those exercise minutes because they're good for magical points!
• Have fun! 

 All of you know me, so no big introduction necessary, but I'm going to share some of my goals for the next month.

1. Do a cleanse with my hubby. I am so excited for this! I am dreading this! (Ya' know what I mean?)
2. Log my food and stick within a calorie budget. I did amazingly well at this for a long, long time, but I've let this great habit go . . .which is showing in my summer clothes. :-D
3. Have a positive attitude about this whole venture. I wanted to do this not as an exercise in vanity, but as a way to reboot my love of making good choices and enjoying the results of those choices. And bring some friends along for the ride as well.
4. Maybe sign up to do my first triathlon? Weird goal-I know, to say maybe . . . It's something I have been talking about for years. And my swimming is finally in a good place for it. However, I don't have a bike. So I have to get a bike. I don't know if I want to put the $$ toward the entrance fee. So I need to decide. There is a race I could do with a friend of mine, but it is a tricky time for the family. Do I go ahead and make it work? These questions will be answered and resolved by the end of the month. If I don't do a triathlon this summer, then I AM doing it next summer for sure. And I will plan around it and buy a bike, etc.!

So my friends, one last thing . . . I want to plan an exercise get-together at least one morning a week, somewhere, somehow. Let me know your thoughts on how we could make this happen. It's all well and good to get the exercise in on your time, when works for you, etc. But wouldn't it be fun if we can do something together once a week? 

Let's do it!

Hello Ladies!
My name is Elise Adams. I was able to participate in some previous weight loss and fitness challenges with Heather, and am PUMPED to start a new one! I am excited to get to know you all a little better. A little about me:

• I live in Greeley. We moved here 8 years ago from Utah. ALL our family lives in Utah, so our friends in Greeley have become our 'Greeley Family'. We love it here!
• I have 4 kids ages 8, 7, almost 5, and 2
• I enjoy running. Especially with Heather - or any other friend!
• My husband is in grad school. This has been difficult after working in his field for over 13 years, with 4 kids and a full time job. We are enjoying the summer off school before things get really hard this fall!
• I enjoy reading, singing, playing with my kids, hanging out as a family, working in the yard, gardening, chatting with friends....I am pretty normal! I love life!

My weight loss journey has been great! I lived in ignorant bliss (meaning I was ignorant to how much I weighed or what I ate!) until I was pregnant with my first child. I was weighed in at the dr. office and thought - wow, that seems high! After she was born I started running. I got hooked on running and lost all my baby weight plus 10 more. After my 2nd child was born, same thing. Ran off the pounds plus 10 more. After my 3rd baby I lost it all. Then the 4th, lost it all. I was really good at getting fat, having a baby, then losing weight! Ha! I am done having children and now face the rest of my life learning and re-learning how to maintain. This has been MOST difficult for me!

I stopped weighing myself (for several reasons) a couple months ago. I have no idea what the scale will say on Monday morning. I am scared, but ready to make some changes. I live on the BRINK of healthy eating! I try very hard, but struggle with consistency!

I am grateful for this challenge so I can JUMP start my summer with healthy living! I am excited! Look out ladies, I am in this to WIN it! I don't know how much weight I want to lose - I don't even know what I weigh. BUT, I know I am going to work HARD! I am going for 100% points every week!

If any of you want some help, advice, want someone to chat with....need some encouragement, need someone to talk to so you WON'T eat dessert....are bored...you know...if you need anything at all...give me a call!!! 970-313-3142

I wish you ALL great success!!! We can do this ladies! We are amazing! We are strong! GOOD LUCK!!!

Final Results!

Stephanie - 1078.6 (8.7% weight loss, 10.8% inches lost)
Erin - 1028 (3.8% weight loss, 10% inches lost)
Megan  - 962.7 ((4.7% weight loss, 4.4% inches lost)
Amanda - 888 - (2.6% inches lost)
Sariah - 796 (.7% inches lost)
Keri - 785.9 (6.3% weight loss, 4.3 inches lost)
Heather - 784.5 (.7% inches lost)

And there we go!  Stephanie takes our top prize, with Erin in second and Megan in third!  But I'd like to think that all of us won, with the good habits we hopefully all developed for happier and healthier lives!

Stephanie and Megan, if you could e-mail me your addresses so I can get some checks in the mail to you.  I should have the checks in the mail by the end of the week at the very latest.  Erin, well, I'll see you soon, cash in hand.

Some of you have shown interest in doing the competition again in May!  That is great!  I will be happy to get Stephanie up and running as the new moderator (if you would even need any of my help!)  I'll bet a buck Heather will also answer any questions anyone has.

Keep it up girls.  Don't let all of your hard work these last ten weeks be for nothing.  Keep eating well, keep exercising, and keep on keepin' on (the unofficial catchphrase I noticed last round)

Thank you for letting me be your moderator and allowing a sharp learning curve.  And congrats you top three!

After Photo - Stephanie

We did it!!!  Congratulations to everyone that made healthy habits and positive changes during this challenge.  It was so fun and motivating for me to have all of you ladies doing the challenges along with me.  I'm hoping to keep the momentum going and keep my weight loss happening. 

So here is my after picture.  I am pretty happy to report that these are not maternity jeans...they are even a pair I wore pre-pregnancy!  Woot-woot!

Is anyone not too burned out to do another 10 week challenge over the summer (maybe starting in May sometime)?  I would be happy to be the moderator.  I know that Megan and I know a few people that are interested as well.

Thanks Sariah for being a fabulous moderator this time around! 

I think all of you ladies are awesome!

No matter where you currently are on your fitness journey, I think we should all remember this -

After

I couldn't find the shirt I wore for the last one and Thing One took them instead of Amanda, but here are my finish pictures.  Yay.

Here's my pics!!

Not huge differences...but I can tell a some change in my face and that awesome tire! :)  I'm so glad I was able to participate in this awesome competition! It has motivated me in so many ways!  I know it's going to be a long journey to drop the last 30lbs, but I know it will be worth it.

 

Total from a year ago, I have lost 45lbs!  So...I'll take it!  (Even though most of it was after-baby weight loss.)

Thanks again for everyone's support and hopefully we can have another round and do this again!

Woop! Woop!