The Biggest Loser Competition

For the last 22 1/2 weeks I have been in a biggest loser competition with some of my closest friends from college... just a healthy competition to see who could loose the biggest percentage of weight loss... and lets be honest... i needed to do something FAST because I had let my weight get out of hand!

So I started off with just working on what I was eating, and then introduced working out [work out dvd's and running] into my routine, and I am soooo excited to say with loosing 14.25% weight loss- it paid off....

because I am the biggest loser!

I have put together a quick collage of the faces that I have gone through during the competition - unfortunately - i am not as technologically advanced as some of my friends [aka aly] so you just get to see my pretty little face and how it has changed over the course of the last 6 months...

I am so thankful to have a great group of friends who have given me a healthy competition - and it has been so much fun to compete and to see each week who won the weekly bragging rights!

I am hoping to keep up the healthy eating habits as well as running because I do not plan on letting myself get out of control, like the downward spiral I was on - its not worth it! I just continued to remind myself as I was eating healthy, working out and making positive decisions of my motto of the year:

"there is no better time than now!"

It seemed to help me get through my long runs, get through the fact that I am over ordering chicken fingers and fries, and actually enjoying eating salads.... I am not getting any younger, so I might as well keep up with it... because if not today - then when!

I encourage you all to strive to reach your goal weight... and I know that having the support system that I did - helped tremendously and trust me, when you have accomplished something that you have wanted for so long, it feels even better! So whether you choose to do so on your own, in a competition or with a friend - its totally worth it!!

Happy Tuesday Blog World! I hope its a fabulous one for you!

Thank you for all the kind words thus far, you all are too sweet, and it means so much to me to have so much encouragement from the blog world!

I have been asked by a few of you what I did to loose the weight so I thought I let you in on a few things that we did:

FOOD

• initially cut back on the carbs, until I started working out [and then quickly realized that i needed the carbs for energy but I slowly re-introduced them back into my diet {only healthy whole wheat ones!}]

• realizing its okay to eat more if its healthy [srrsly - i was eating 2 turkey burgers to JMs 1, but i was needing the extra calories because i was burning so many]
• making healthy choices turkey meat over red meat, cottage cheese over french fries, string cheese as a snack over chips
• balancing out meals - if I ate a sandwich for lunch, making sure I had a piece of grilled meat and fresh veggies for dinner or a salad
• Unfortunately I'm not good with counting.... especially counting my calories - its just too much work [i know - what an excuse - right?!] but i just use my best judgment when i cook or order food at a restaurant [i always dip my fork into the dressing, rather than pour it on:: i never get cheese or croutons on my salads:: i will ask if they have whole wheat bread or pasta]
• every week I plan a menu based off of what I currently have at the house, whats on sale, and what i have a coupon for - but i stick to the menu, and my menu consists of all healthy choices. i think this helps because i am not scrambling every night to figure out what to have for dinner and its a healthy option, rather than swinging through fast food on the way home for something for dinner - a lot of my favorite meals are under Make Me a Meal Monday
  
• we rarely eat fast food anymore [don't worry - i do not include my fountain diet cokes fast food]
• I drink a TON of water

EXERCISING

• I trained for the 1/2 marathon [if you want this schedule, please let me know and I will be more than happy to send it to you]
  
• I did the biggest loser work out videos and the Wii Fit on my off days from my running schedule

I hope this helps a little more - I would be more than happy to answer any other questions that you may have about the weight loss - keep them coming!!