Is it really over?

So it has been a crazy six months of busting ass to lose as much weight as possible all while changing bad eating habits and choices. But in the end it was/will all be worth it, because it isn't really over yet. I just don't have to blog about it at least once a week for the rest of my life (not that that was a bad thing). Congrats to all those that accomplished anything, no matter how big or small it may have been. It's better to have small victories then to give up. Good luck to all those still trying to change their lives. Don't give up, just take it one small step at a time. Cause you can do it! (Sorry Adam Sandler movie reference). I've never really thought of myself as a Loser (maybe a dork), but now I guess (at least for the time being) I am the 'Biggest Loser' (all rights reserved). Good night everyone!

Here we go....

So its the last few days left in this competition, and I have to kick it in high gear. Just got back from a 4 day trip to Cali, that was not as kind on my body as I would have hoped. But not to worry, with just a few days to go I know I can keep the losses I've already achieved for the month (if not more). Besides I think that most of it is water weight from sitting for 12 straight hours in a car. If you haven't noticed, I did not update any of my trackers for this last week. Mainly because I think the trip has skewed my numbers. I know it is going to be a very interesting last couple days trying to accomplish everything from family to baseball to exercise. So hopefully it will all work out. Anyway, good luck to all this week and I'll see you at the finish line.

Time to Buckle Up!

So here we are with just a little over a week left in this competition. I haven't reached all of my goals yet, but I am really close. The most pre-dominant one is to surpass the 50 lb loss mark (which is very close, only 1 pound to go). I know that this whole thing has not been about who could lose the most weight each month. It is about changing your habits and lifestyle so that you can feel good about yourself and stay healthy, but fifty pounds is a huge deal. That is almost a fourth of what I started at. Thats just crazy. Anyway, I've got a long week+ ahead of me. We are going to California for the holiday this weekend. So I have to put in extra time until then and as soon as I get back to make sure I can continue to progress. We'll see how it goes.

Two weeks to go and not such a good week

I didn't have the greatest week this week as far as losing weight goes, but not gaining is better then actually gaining. Some of my eating choices were not the best; however I did not completely crumble under the pressure and give it to crap. I just ate a little more of this or that. I'll get it together. I have too, looking at the percentages, it looks like I need to step it up to stay ahead of the crowd. Second place isn't all that far behind (and who knows it may be closer than that, those numbers are from the beginning of the month). So here's to my last two REALLY GREAT weeks of this comp. Going to have to do a lot of schedule juggling to stay on my game, but it'll be worth it. Good luck all. See you next week.

Three weeks and counting

We're down to the home stretch. Only three weeks left and still 15+ pounds to lose. It's gonna be tough, but it always is. Had kind of an interesting week. Received a phone call from my former boss asking how things were going b/c he is about to be swamped with work for the next month or two and wanted to know if I would be interested. So being that my current work week has been only 2-4 days of actually working, we talked out the details and I will be working from week to week (depending on when my current job's work becomes hectic). So far it has been good. Working long days and having the chance to pick up OT at the end of the week. This will hopefully help us get caught up from the extremely long slow season we have endured. We'll see how it goes. Anyway, I had a decent loss this week (any loss is considered decent at worst), and a good start to next week. Until next week, good luck and don't eat too many sweets.

The Home Stretch Eve

So not the greatest week I've ever had, but still a little productive. And besides I still have today to add to it before the weigh in tomorrow. So we'll see what happens. Don't really have a lot of time right now (I have to leave for school soon), so this will be short. Maybe I'll write more tomorrow after the results are in. Good luck all.

One last push!!

This is it, only 8 days left this month. Still pushing for a double digit loss with less then 3 pounds to go. I'm also almost out of the overweight category on the BMI index ( I know, I know, it is only a guide line). 25.4 and counting down to next week. It's been kind of a different week though. Lots of things going on. Work was pretty steady minus a couple of hours. My car decided to spring a leak on one of the brake cylinders and instead of putting more money into it (cause it is a piece of junk and shouldn't have lasted as long as it has), I bought my brothers car that he was selling. And aside from a few things it needs to pass inspection, is a much better car (it gets around 30+ mpg instead of the 20 that my junker gets and it is a manual transmission). Anyway, I'm kind of feeling all alone, like no one else is even competing in this any more. My main competition (Justin) is too close to his goal weight to put up a fight. And it seems like everyone else has basically given up, aside from anyone that has been bitten by the injury bug. (Sorry Amanda, I know how it is to get hurt and want to be able to do things, but are unable too. Get well soon.) Now I'm sure that this is not the case for everyone and I know that there are definitely people still working hard, this is just my perspective from reading other's blogs. Prove me wrong, put up a fight in the last 5 weeks we have left. Who knows, it might just do you some good. There is a saying in sports that says " You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!" Basically, if you don't try you will never succeed. Good luck to everyone trying to get back on the wagon and to everyone that is still on it.

Another week in the books.

With only 2 weeks left for this month, I am half-way to my monthly goal and less then 20 lbs away from my total. And I can now officially say that I weigh less than 170 lbs. It's not much less (169.6), but it still counts. Don't really have much else this week. Work has started to pick up and it looks like it will stay that way for a while (hopefully, keep your fingers crossed). So until next week, good luck and stay focused.

Milestones

After 14 weeks of this competition, I have surpassed a huge milestone today. (Not to say that I haven't already hit a few during that time). Today I weigh 40 (yes Forty) pounds less then I did when I started. (It is such a great feeling to be able to see your toes without sucking in your stomach. Now if only I could touch them too! Ha ha just kidding I can touch my toes.) And very soon I will hit some even bigger milestones, the first will be reaching the 160's, which to the best of my knowledge, I have not been in since at least Jr. high. Next will come the 50 pound loss mark and then a weight in the 150's. Which would mean that I am really close to the goal that I set at the beginning of losing 61 pounds. It's now within reach, even though it is still probably two months away. Oh yeah, another milestone I almost forgot about. This last week I finally got sick of wearing a belt that I can wrap one and a half times around my waist, so I bought a new pair of pants. I used to wear a 36, I can now fit into a 32. I believe the last time I could do that I was in the eighth grade. That was a long time ago, like 16 years. Man I feel old now. Anyway, also joined the local rec center this week. Now I can do more then just run to help lose this weight. My ankle is feeling much better, still a little sore here and there, but overall it is much better. So look out 160, here I come!

A new month starts now!

This last week wasn't the greatest, I basically just maintained from the week before. Maybe the Easter candy was partially to blame, its so easy not to eat it when you don't have it, but as soon as it is in the house you have to increase your willpower 10 fold. No excuses though, I just didn't do what I needed to this week. Aside from still recovering from my sprained ankle. It's starting to feel much better, in fact, I was even able to jog on it, for the first time in two weeks, on Monday. So after a sub par month (at least in my opinion), I'm ready to get back to a double digit loss for April. My goal isn't too high, but I intend to surpass it by a few pounds, leaving me with less than half of what I have left right now for the final month. Yes, there is only two months left. Are you ready for it? I am. Good luck this month and I'll see you at the finish line.

One week left!

So as you probably already know from my last entry, I sprained my ankle last week and have not been able to do my usual exercises. A full week later, it is starting to feel much better, but running/jogging is still out of the question. However I have been lightly walking and lifting weights (aside from everything I have to do at work) and along with my diet I have actually lost more this last week than in the previous two weeks (not combined). It is actually hard to just lay around the house when you know you should, because you know that you can't really go and do anything. I still don't think I will hit my goal for the month, but there is still a chance at a double digit loss with only a week left and just two and a half pounds to go. Maybe even another top 4 finish (third consecutive), but we'll see about that later. For now I am still just trying to get my mobility/balance back before I worry too much about anything else (except that I will be taking test number two for my A+ certification in the next day or two, so I have to worry a little about that). It just goes to show you that it is possible to continue losing pounds, even with an injury. You just have to limit yourself to what your injury will allow and maintain good eating habits. (Don't worry I've been careful so far, I wear a walking boot to work and only lightly walk on the treadmill. Otherwise I have an icepack/brace on it while sitting on my butt.) Good luck this week.

Injury update

So this last week, while playing basketball I decided to take the ball in to the middle of the floor with three defenders around me and try to shoot it. Bad idea. I came down on someones foot and rolled my good ankle. This is what it looks like now compared to my other foot.
Yeah its kind of gross I know. So basically no running, or basketball, or stair climbing, etc. Until the stupid thing heals which keeps me from getting even close to my goal for the month. The last couple of days I've been barely maintaining what I have lost already this month, with no hope for much more. Anyway enough complaining, I was just really pissed off and had to vent. Thanks for humoring me with this. Hey Mindy, how are these updated pics? ;) Probably not what you wanted to see. Maybe I'll post one later.

Two Weeks!

Just 2 weeks left until the next official weigh in. How are you doing? Good? Bad? Horribly under achieving? I'm not doing as well as I had hoped, but I am definitely not in bad shape. With less than two weeks, I think I still have a very good chance to do some amazing things. I don't think I can hit the 12 lb goal that I set for this month, but I would do think that I can make it to 10. That would be three straight months with double digit losses and I only have 5 lbs to go to get there. Although, 7 lbs is not that much more, and is completely possible in the given time frame. So we'll see what happens. On a side note, I passed one of two exams for my A+ certification, with the second one only a week or two away. I know that the timing is great because of the added stress of passing it, but I'm not stressed about it. It's going to be a Cake walk (mmmm.....Cake). Ha ha, just kidding. I'm not really a huge cake fan, I was just trying to make Justin hungry!

Does it really feel like we are half way through this?

10 weeks! Really? It's been 10 whole weeks which means we are basically half way through this competition. Ten weeks ago I weighed 32 pounds more than I do today, but I didn't feel as good then as I do now and 10 weeks from now I am sure I will feel better then I do today. With that said not only are we half way through this, but I am half way to my weight loss goal. I would like to be there before May so I can use the last month to refine my new lifestyle, but if not I'm not worried about it. Just as long as I can continue to push forward and not take any steps backwards, I know that I will accomplish it by the end. So this week has kind of been up and down, mostly with work though. Working only a few hours for a few days during the week can really throw off your routine. I am just glad that we our contractor finally started on some new houses today. Three new holes dug in Heber. Even though that means we won't start on them for a week or two, it's very promising. Things should really start to pick up here soon, and then we will be swamped with work. Anyway, I'm losing on average about 3 lbs a week and should continue to do so (if not more) for the rest of this comp. It's definitely not easy to stay on top of, since I am only eating about 900-1100 calories a day, and working out for at least an hour every day. (Yes Justin, EVERY DAY!) There is temptation every where, you just have to say "No!". And sometimes more than once. Just ask Justin about his twizzlers on Super Bowl Sunday. (Jerk! :}) Until next week, my your food be healthy and delicious, and your exercise plentiful and ass kicking!

Lets get it on!

So after a great month, I had a little lapse and have only maintained the last couple of days. But that's OK, cause its hard to be perfect all of the time. Now it's time to get back going again. I've got 12.2 lbs to lose and only 4 weeks to do it. I can do it, besides I have to beat all of the refreshed competitors that are trying to beat out Karilynn. One thing that concerns me is that I did something to my leg. Pulled a muscle or something. All I know is that it does not feel very good when I run or walk up stairs. Hopefully it's just a strain and it heals quickly. It's not going to stop me from being competitive, so stop thinking it!

Its almost that time again!

Well, we're only 3 days away from that dreaded day......the weigh in! Dun dun dun! I'm not to worried about it though, but it looks like I will fall just a little short of my goal for this month. However 10+ pounds is still really good and I'm sure that I will only miss it by a 2-3 pounds. Just more to add to next month's goals, which will not be as high as Feb., but will be close. I can't set that until Friday though, gotta take it one day at a time and go from there. Anyway things are going good this week. Work has resumed (hopefully for the rest of the year) and I keep adding to the loss from last time. That's all I have for this week, so until then don't eat too much junk (especially on Saturday after the weigh in, cause you will just have to lose it all before the next one in April).

Breaking through!

So last week I mentioned that I might have hit a wall. As it turns out I did...I hit it so hard I smashed it to pieces with a 4+ lb loss. I didn't really do anything different, except that I was able to play basketball twice this week for more than an hour both times. I just wish I could do that 4 times a week instead, but oh well I guess I will just have to stick to the treadmill and weights for the rest of my workouts. It's not looking like I am going to make my 15.2 lb loss for the month, being that there are only 10 days left, but I know that at least I will be close to it by the end. And who knows, maybe I will have another big week this week with just a few days left to get to the rest of it.

Work finally starts back up next week, but who knows how long that will last until they decide to start the big projects that are supposedly lined up. So we'll see where that goes. Hopefully we keep working until at least next winter or longer. Well that's all I have for this week. Good luck and were all counting on you.

Month 2: Hit the wall?

I think I might have hit a wall as far as not losing as much weight as I feel like I've lost. It feels like I've been busting my ass trying to stay ahead of my calorie intake, but I keep fluctuating on the scale. One day I'll be down like 2-3 lbs, and the next I'll be up one. I have still seen a loss in the last week and a half, I just feel like it should be more. I've been exercising twice a day, running between 2-3 miles each time, lifting weights, doing crunches and so on. It just seems like it is taking longer to lose the pounds. I almost feel like I need to workout after every meal just to stay ahead. Fortunately though I think I may have finally broken through in the last couple of days, but I won't know for sure for the next few days. I'm still shooting for the 15 lb loss for the next official weigh in. Although it is only two and a half weeks away, gotta push harder! Maybe I'll re-start actually counting my calories till then, instead of just estimating. We'll see how that goes. As for the challenge, that is hard to keep a conscious effort into standing up straight. It is such a natural position (slouching over) now that it is hard to remember that you are doing it. Anyway, good luck all. Hey Justin, if your not going to use your P90X, why don't you send it my way. I'm sure I can put it to good use.

One month down, 46 lbs left.

First of all I would like to thank all of the little peo.....oh wait this isn't an acceptance speech. And besides I didn't win it all, so umm, lets skip that. Wow! I was humbled a little this month. Up until the last day, I was so sure that I had the biggest loss of anyone in this competition, but come to find out I barely squeaked into the top 4 (thanks Jess for whatever you did to not lose that extra half a pound, actually it was probably Justin's fault anyway. So we'll just blame it on him). So it looks like I will need to step it up even more this month with all of you, as strong competitors, going for the top 4 spots. Actually though the money is just an added bonus (originally it was the money with a bonus of losing weight, that has changed in the last two weeks however) along with any bragging rights that go with losing more lbs. So this month I am going to set my loss goal higher than the normal expectation for the second month of such a competition. I think that 15.2 lbs should suffice. I know not to be disappointed if I do not reach it, but the thought of dropping almost 32 lbs in two months will keep me going along with other things in my life. So here's to another outstanding month of weight loss. Good luck everyone, and remember a loss is a loss no matter how much it is.

p.s. So J, how many pounds did you put on from all of that food that you ate at the Superbowl party? You know, the Doritos with sour cream and guacamole, the Twizzlers, and any other little snack food you could get your hands on. Just curious is all.

The week that was

This week, to say the least, was like a rollercoaster. It had it's ups and downs and even a few flat spots. One of the definite ups was the 4.6 lb loss for the week. I think that is a good number for week 4. I stopped snacking all day, made sure I didn't over do my portions, and kept my water consumption steady with various other things going on around me. I almost hit my goal that I set last week, stupid 0.4 lbs. Oh well, close enough right? On the other hand, no sugar for a week. Wow, everything has sugar in it. I'm going to have to live on bread and water for the week (not really, but that is not far off). So we'll see what happens there. Hey Justin, I was wondering what dust tastes like. Cause right now, your eating mine. Be careful though, don't eat too much of it or you'll put on some exta pounds before Friday. I'll see you at the finish line in three days. Anyway, got to go, things to do today. Good luck this week to everyone ( I guess Justin too). And Vicki, thank you for the support. I love you!

Oi! What a week

So not the greatest week, but still somewhat successful. Pounds lost are still lost, even if it was a measly 1.6 lbs. Had a hard time with snacking this week, and topped off with a scrawny 30 minutes of ball on Saturday equalled the low weekly numbers. However, water consumption is up probably between 64-80 oz (I lost track chasing the 3 yr old around) a day. Portions are a pain until you get used to them. So we'll see what happens. Did well for dinner tonight, stayed within portion limit (still hungry, but I stayed within the limit). I also ran for almost a complete mile without a break and finished at 2 miles in 31 min. I've done better, but not in awhile. Well anyway, normally I would take a jab at Justin right now, but I'm not myself today. So I'll just say thanks for the support and good luck next week everyone. (I'm going to shoot for a 5 lb loss this week! I have plenty to spare.)

Another week in the books!

Have you ever noticed when you are bored and have nothing to do(IE. work is slow and so you sit at home all day), that you tend to want to eat more? I've found that out over the last few days, but in my defense have found that as long as I can keep my mind occupied and stay away from the kitchen that it is not a big deal. So in response to Justin, it's treating me just fine, thanks for asking. I started the water challenge yesterday and after 8 hours had only drank about 4 oz. Yep that's it. Didn't drink anything else, so no excessive harm done. Ended up with around 40 or so ounces, but some of that was while exercising. My thing is that I usually only drink when I'm thirsty, which varies from day to day. Also I can't stand drinking warm water, if it isn't cold I won't drink it. So leaving it on the counter doesn't help. I will push myself to consciously think about it more during the day to get my intake up. Anyway, until next week. Good luck and we're all counting on you!

The Week in Review

So I've noticed that it is really hard to quit your not so good habits if you have access to things that contribute to them. Take eating for example, if you have junk food and food that is good for you, nine times out of ten you are going to eat the junk. Snacking (or not to snack) is especially difficult when you have things that you are used to eating going up against things that you would not normally eat. Fortunately, (although I did give in and eat some high calorie/low quantity items (ex. Doritos are 150 calories for only 12 chips)), I maintained enough control and restraint to stay on track with my WL goals. Now if not for the treadmill in my basement, I might not be able to say that. Especially since I slacked this last Saturday and didn't make it out to play ball. No seconds on meals is probably going to be the most difficult thing to stop or limit, because that is a very old habit. Been doing that since high school (or was it junior high?). Not sure there.

Everything else is going OK. Work is a little slow, so there is limited activity throughout the day. I'm really hoping that everything that is supposed to happen does so soon, otherwise stress might become my biggest enemy against my war on weight. School is going good, but still a few weeks away from my first A+ exam. Anyway, till next time, good luck in the weeks to come. Oh and Justin don't eat too many of those Deluxe Chili Cheese Fries from Del Taco, cause we all know how much you love them. Ha ha ha. :}

Getting Started!?!

Hi Everybody! My name is Brandon. I am a father of 4, from 10 (11 on the 12th) to 3 years. I am a thirty year old video game junkie that attempts to play a few hours of basketball twice a week. Karilynn and Jessica B are my Sis-in-laws, Justin B is my Bro-in-law and I have known Mindy since the 7th grade. I decided to join this competition b/c over the last year I have seen myself go from 220 lbs to 185 lbs and then back to 211 lbs. Last year at this time I was watching what I ate, playing basketball 2-3 times a week for 2-3 hours and walking my 6 year old to Kindergarten. Then in June I caught a nasty virus (you all know what I'm talking about, so I'm not going to say it). After eight miserable weeks, an on set of bronchitis, and moving the family in to town from Eagle Mountain, my physical activity all but diminished (aside from working 8 hrs day in the oh so hot summer weather as an electrician). I slowly started putting the weight back on. Recently work has been light, mainly b/c I spend 2-3 hours of my work day in a vehicle driving to the work site. And that doesn't include the hour and a half drive home. So anyway, that's me for now. Good luck to everyone.