Jane Out of NICU

Hey Everyone,

For those of you that don't know, our baby, Jane, had to spend a little time in the NICU just to be monitored and to make sure she was stable. Now she is out of the NICU and her and Amy can spend a lot more time together. Thank you for all your support.

So how bout Jane gets in on this competition? She could get a point for every 1/2 pound she gains, every poopy diaper, not to mention the toning involved in all that random kicking. Think it over and let me know. (I'm kidding, but seriously).

If anyone wants to visit the baby, just call me or Mary Ann and we will give you all of the info.

Go Team Simmons!!!!

Richard Richard, he's our man!

We can do it if Richie can!!!!

Goooooo Team Simmmonnnnsssss!

Now, how motivating was THAT!!!!! Keep up the good work, Team Simmons!

Love, Shelley (and Mr. Simmonsss)

Week One Results

Week One Team Results (It's a tight race!)

Max Meltdown: 47.5
Richard Simmons’ Favorite Team: 47
The Williamson Gang: 44.4
Clan MacDuff 43.75
The Biggest Winners: 42.6

Congratulations! It’s a close race and I have to tell you that I am so impressed with the entire family effort for week one. I think we have lost around 60 lbs. and I know we have consumed more water, fruits, and veggies than ever before. Some who haven’t moved in a very long time started a workout routine. Now let’s make this a habit.

Our top five individuals were:

Shar: 68 points
Marsha: 65.5 points
Mike: 53 points
Shelley and Becci: 52 points

Week Two Incentive**

After talking to the other founding mother we have decided to offer a one time 10 point bonus to the individual who made the biggest point improvement from week one to week two. So don’t be discouraged if week one was not what you hoped it would be. We know that we will all have down weeks, but we want you all to stay with us.

** Please make sure that I have your weekly results no later than noon on Monday.

Best News for Week 2 - Amy gets workout points for labor even though she delivered by c-section last night. They had a 5lb 10 oz. 17 in. baby girl, so she also gets all her weight loss points. Way to go Amy and Dave!

What a workout!

I had THE BEST workout tonight. I tell you what, the elliptical machine rocks! I burned more calories in 30 minutes than I do on the treadmill, and my body really feels "worked out." Yes, I will be sore tomorrow, but I feel great! Anyway, if you're getting bored with running, walking, or whatever other cardio in which y'all participate, try an elliptical machine!

waz up?!!!

hey healthy peoples! so how is it going for you well, for clan macduff it's going great! ^ _ ^ it is nice to live healthy... well hope your all doing well! love ya! ^ _ ^ oh and a couple more things... it is clan macDuff that will rule all!!!! we will dominate because we get our pionts everyday! well most....anyway we will dominate! anyway just try your best it's all about getting healthy.


p.s. clan macduff still rules all!!!!
^ _ ^ smile!!

Let's Get it On! (not Marvin Gaye, UFC)

Alright, y'all! Enough of the smack talk! Myself, along with the Williamson Gang, will rule all!!! That is if we can talk Mike into eating fruit. I should mention, the sleep rule is unfair for those about to bear a child, or stay up with a woman about to bear a child, not to mention how much worse it will get once the child is born. But we don't need sleep to dominate in the challenge! Let the results show for themselves.

P.S. Does labor count as toning?

Sleep Clarification

Chad and I have the older print-out, which doesn't mention the after 8-pm eating thing. I also think I remembered hearing that you get full points for at least 7 hours of sleep a night, and that you could count naps. (not that naps are possible for most of us :). So, just to make sure I know the rules, would someone mind filling us in? Chad & Shelley

Week One Totals and Clarifications

Congratulations Everyone! We have completed our first week of the Healthy Lifestyle Team Challenge. It sounds like everyone is making great progress and no matter how many points you earned, you all probably did better than you would have in one way or another without the contest. Pat yourselves on the back and send me your weekly point totals by phone, email, or submit them as a comment to this posting. As soon as I have everyone's numbers I will list the team averages for week one and name the weekly winner.

Also...Remember this contest is based on the honor system and the founding mothers trust you to use your best judgement, but if you really need clarification I guess I am the one to clarify the rules. So here is an attempt:
1) Weight lose counts from the beginning weight on Monday, April 20. (Hopefully no one but Lindsay and Amy for a few weeks will be gaining during this contest, but it could happen.)
2) Sugary treats are cookies, candy, cakes, pies, things considered desserts. A chocolate vitamin from your trainer is definitely legal, as long as they are used as prescribed. A weight watchers treat, anything 2 points and under...let your conscience be your guide.
3) Being hit twice for Coke/Pepsi. My answer is, not really, because you can avoid the second hit for carbonation by not eating after 8 p.m.
4) I do agree that it hardly seems fair that taking a vitamin and exercises 30 min. should have the same point value, but we wanted some easy automatic points for everyone.

Finally, if you have forgotten who the competition is... here are the teams with the names I have received:
Max Meltdown: Marsha, Mike, Allison, Katie, Mary Ann W.
Clan MacDuff: Debbie, Jim, Emily, Sarah
The Williamsons: Dave, Mike, Becci, Amy, and Dave P.
Richard Simmons' Favorite Team: Shelley, Chad, Natalie, Brian
The Biggest Winners: Jake, Jeff, Shar, Lindsay, and Paul

I hope to hear from everyone with those totals asap. (Clan MacDuff are you out there?)

Weight Loss clarification...

When Mom was first proposing this challenge to me I mentioned to her that it should be clarified that weight loss is below your initial starting weight only. Right? I just noticed that you never put that in the "official paperwork." Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Anyway, I finally lost my first pound yesterday! Woohoo! :)

Winners and Loosers

I think I have finally joined the blogging world. I know, an older (senile) person takes a little more time to get new technology, but.... we ought to get points for persistence. Is anyone else sick of salads already?
I think we all ought to fear Shar, she is dropping pounds like crazy, but never fear...I have always been the slow and steady sister and I will win in the end.

Feeling a little like this...

I'm dying without sugary treats!
P.S. Paul got a hole in one today. Does that count for any points?

And Another Thing.....

Lindsay and I need a ruling: What constitutes a "sugary treat"? Would one measley tootsie roll blow our chances of getting a point for that day? What about graham crackers? Daily chocolate is essential for my health.....(mental)......... Also, Chad needs a ruling on Kool-Aid. (Why didn't we give a point for avoiding "kid foods".......you know, hot dogs, mac & cheese, fruit snacks? Then, Chad would really be starving, though, he'd probably be the biggest loser.

Maxwell Update

Sorry we haven't posted until now, but we are all taking the contest seriously and doing our best to win! Some of us are very cranky without our Diet Coke. Seriously, why is this contest so skewed toward not drinking soda? You get as many points for going ONE day without soda as you do for losing a pound of fat! The girls and I have only been able to go without it about 1/2 the time, although Mike doesn't consider it a problem.

Anyway, we all feel better getting a little more sleep and not eating cookies, candy, etc. I went to my trainer today for a weigh-in and I lost 5 pounds this week, so look out! Truthfully, I was retaining water on Monday when we started so I don't think I'll be losing 5 pounds every week.

We would like to change our team name to "Max Meltdown." Can we do that, or is it too late?

No Scale.........

I have never owned a scale. I'm going to have to buy one. My personal assessment of fitness goes something like this: did I just get winded going up the stairs? (Mark yes/no). Do the jeans still fit? (Mark yes/no). If I answer no to both questions, then I start exercising (jogging or walking....both very slowly). I can see clearly, judging from everyone else's success so far that I may be putting my dedicated Richard Simmons' Favorite teammates at a disadvantage!!!! My resolve to win is getting stronger, though, because you are all inspiring me! So don't count out this self-proclaimed couch tater!

Confession...

Two hurtful trends have emerged in my efforts at this healthy living challenge. While I have been exercising the last two weeks or so, I'm actually gaining weight! I've noticed that my appetite has been greatly increased by all the physical exertion, and in my efforts to get one point, I'm losing my shot at two points. Argh!
The other hurtful trend is the fact that suddenly everyone and their friends are offering me free candy/treats! CRAP! How am I supposed to turn down free food? The end.

Fattest Man - Correction

Mike, I enjoyed your thoughts. However, as an expert on all things on TV that have nothing to do with reality and are therefore incorrectly termed, I must point out an error in your previous post. It is actually "one" of the fattest men, not "the" fattest, who formerly was thin, who harbors latent athleticism, and fly fishes that always wins. I've seen you fly fish - good luck.

I lost a pound - and somehow gained it back. I think a heavy item from around my immaculate room must have fallen on the corner of the scale when I wasn't looking and skewed the reading.

Comment for Mary Ann

My mom is having issues posting comments on this blog so she asked me to do it for her. (Shar, please check the blog settings to make sure she is listed as an author on the blog.) She wanted everyone to know that she is the most senior person in the contest and so her lengthy life experience will give her a clear advantage. (That isn't exactly what she said but I like my version better) My thoughts are that just the fact that she thinks that being older will help proves that she has finally become senile and will be easy to defeat. I think the fact that she cant post comments on the blog bears this out. (By the way Mom, please remember that this is all in fun and this should in no way displace me as your favorite child)

And the winner is...

Fattest man? I don't think so. I've lost 2 pounds already, so the game is on! The winner will definitely be a woman!

Lost a pound already

I lost a pound already. You know that is usually the fattest man that wins these things because they have the most to loose. That has to make me the favorite. Also, if your total body weight is less than my left love handle you should be disqualified. I think that should mean that Shelly and Lindsay are out. Really, you guys should be the last people on earth denying yourself "sugary snacks" I would like an official ruling.

Toning

Does lifting a can of diet Dr. Pepper while watching the Jazz count as toning? I could use a point since it will be impossible for me to not partake of caffine. You might as well ask me to not breathe.

Our actual team name...

Per our discussion yesterday, our actual team name is "The Biggest Winners." Love the blog mom. "Now's the time, do it right!" That's the start to a cheer from the late 90's. BTW, can't we leave comments on this blog?

Healthy Lifestyle Teams

Today is the day...the time is now...(I think that is the start of an old cheer from the 70's. I apologize.) We are off and running and here are the teams:

Max Meltdown: Marsha, Mike, Allison, Katie, Mary Ann W.
Clan MacDuff: Debbie, Jim, Emily, Sarah
The Williamsons: Dave, Mike, Becci, Amy, and Dave P.
Richard Simmons' Favorite Team: Shelley, Chad, Natalie, Brian
The Biggest Winners: Jake, Jeff, Shar, Lindsay, and Paul


We are still looking for team names and your $10 commitment. Hopefully my blogging skills will improve since this is a first attempt. To report your point totals you can comment on the weekly posts or send them via email. Good Luck!