Posts Tagged ‘Challenge’

What is the measure of your worth?

23 Jan

Tags: Challenge, chance, change, Good, hope, measuring success, Moments, motivation, personal challenge, Planning, Research, work, worth
Posted in Fat Loss | 10 Comments »

I couldn’t tell you what I am worth. My value is not something that I have ever tried to measure. If it was based off of the luck of people you have known in your life, then my worth is priceless.

I got a card the other day from a challenge player I worked with during the OBM. It was full of heartfelt sentiments, humor, and a lot of glitter. In fact, I think there may still be glitter embedded in my skin. The card was simple. They thanked me for what I have done.

That day I was questioning my path a little. Not my job so much, I love my job. I was questioning my approach. It isn’t easy being the person who so often runs against the crowd. It isn’t easy knowing you have burned bridges, not based on your work, or your personality. That you burned those bridged based on the research and being able to say the word “depends.” The behind the scenes of this game can be a tough one, and one that sometimes I ask the question “is it worth it?”

Then I get a card like this in the mail, and I realize yes, yes it is. So what if this isn’t an easy path? Easy paths are boring and lead to mediocrity. Rough paths could lead to a disaster, but at least you braved the journey and took a chance on fate. I have to take that chance, I was born for it. Were you?

It is time for you to take a measure of your worth.

How many choices do you make in a day that better yourself?
How often in a day are you working towards your greater good?
Are you just drifting along in a sea of mundane?
Are you letting the lack of the “right moment” halt any moments?
How are you grading your worth?

I am not so overly simplistic as to say that you can just snap your fingers and life will change. On the contrary, it takes planning. It takes years of effort, frustration, patience, and hope. It takes moments over and over again of saying to yourself that you aren’t crazy, that you do matter, and that you can make this life great.

The measure of your worth is not what you have.

The measure of your worth is what your life asks of you everyday, and what you give it in return.

What are you worth today?

Winners of the “Body Fat Solution Essay” contest are…

10 Jan

Tags: Answer, body, body fat solution, Challenge, climb, comment, confidence, CONTEST, dedication, enthusiasm, everything, form, Good, person, problem, progress, question, REST, snapshot, solution, Summit, theory, Tom Venuto, week, weight, Winner, work, writing, wrong
Posted in Fat Loss | 6 Comments »

First off, thank you everyone for writing to me and expressing how you feel. The people who won weren’t necessarily picked because they had the “best” essay. Just as those who didn’t win lost because theirs weren’t good enough. I picked based on who, at this time, I feel would benefit most from Tom’s book and the way The Body Fat Solution was written. With that said, the winners are…

Marcia

and

Sean

I left out your emails/last names to protect your identity, but please feel free to post comments here if you desire. You should get an email in a few minutes asking for your address. If you did not get one then PLEASE contact me through the contact form with your home or work address to receive your book.

I hope the book inspires you, and helps you make things click in way that might have not before.

Here are the winning essays.

Marcia’s Essay

In thinking about what the future means to me, I realize that it becomes a two
part question.  What has the future meant to me and what do I want the future to
mean to me?

I have spent most of my life being profoundly dissatisfied with myself.  I have
never been pretty “enough”, smart “enough”, thin “enough” or strong
“enough”.  Therefore, the future has always been the place I lump my
desires.  The present was when nothing was ever “enough” and so the future
was the time when everything would be “enough”.  The future was defined by
“after”: “after” I lose (more) weight, “after” I get my children
raised, “after” I learn to lift weights.  There was hope there and the
expectation that things would be better then.  All things would be better,
obviously, and they would be the way I imagined it.  All the things wrong with
“now” would be fixed and righted.  I thought this was the way to live—to
set goals and to improve yourself constantly.  I thought this was a good thing,
that trying to better yourself and strive for more, more, more was the answer to
leading a productive life.

However, as the years passed the future became more undefined, more gray, and
more murky.  And ironically, the future got closer.  It was no longer
“after” the children are raised;  it became “after” the holidays are
finally over, “after” the next birthday, “after” this busy week.  The
problem was that “after” was always followed closely by another “after”.
 I was struggling through event after event with the only goal being to get
things over with.  I was wasting my life in dissatisfaction waiting everything
to be over so I could make myself into who I wanted to be.  And while I made
progress towards who I wanted to be, it really was still never “enough”.

So what do I want the future to mean?  I want to consider the future
irrelevant.  I want to live in the present and learn to enjoy that, with all its
stresses and chores.  I want to be satisfied with who I am and how I am.    I do
not want to give up on goals or trying to better myself.  But I want to do it in
a way that is full of happiness and hope.  In a way marked with enthusiasm and
pride.  I want to be proud of not just where I am going, but of where I am and
of how I am getting there, and even of where I’ve been.  Most of all, I want
to better myself not because I hate where I am.  I want to better myself simply
because I can.  With that mindset, the future becomes simply a series of events.
Because my life would no longer be defined by the events, my life would be
defined by who I am.  And that would finally be “enough”.

Sean’s Essay

Future is an interesting word.  Interesting in the sense that it represents
merely a snapshot of what we hope to be, as people, given our current
circumstances.

Now (this point in time) is not the future we have predicted in days, months or
years previous.  It is not the static moment in time we usually envision it to
be.  It\'s an idea, a theory; a reflection of our true self.

Everyone wants to be better off.  That\'s a given.  However, there are plenty
of people who think the \"future\" is bleak.  Especially considering the current
economic situation or whatever it is that could be considered the \"doom and
gloom\" subject of the time.  These people view the future as a foregone
conclusion; fate.  A static moment in time.  A moment in time that fastly
approaches as each dreadful moment passes.

We all have people like this in our lives.  The subject matter of \"future\" is
subjective; it does not need to be of large scale.  

The husband who dreads returning home to his nagging wife.  The employee whom
only looks forward to that last second of work.  Only, when it arrives they
shift focus and look forward to that last moment of their commute.  When that
arrives, they look forward to the moment they can finally lay their head down.
The money-centrist who lives and dies, on a daily basis, with the swings of the
stock market.  Starting each day with an expectation.  Ending each day with
jubilation or dispair.

All of these people view the \"future\" as a static moment in time.  A moment
that one must only endure time itself to reach.  A moment that culminates and
passes.  This thoughts process speaks volumes about the individual.  It speaks
volumes about how they feel about themselves, their ambitions and others around
them.

I, however, chose to view \"future\" as an idea; a theory.  A simple
understanding that tomorrow I will be better then I am today.  Not by luck or by
fate, but by choice.  I will be better tomorrow because of the conscious
decisions I am making \"now\"; the present.  There will be challenges, obstacles
and set backs; that is a given.  But I have the utmost confidence in my ability
to grow, persevere and get \"better\".  Again, not by luck or by fate, but by
choice, because I have willed it so.

Most people view the \"future\" as simply the process of ascending the mountain
of life.  Markers along the trail.  Spots that one must reach and pass through
in order to attain the ultimate summit.  We don\'t get there \"one step at a
time\".  No.  We get there \"one correct step at a time\".  Those correct steps
must then be made with the utmost precision and dedication.  Everyday one must
make the right decisions in order to summit their own mountain.

Everyone has a different mountain to climb.  Different heights, inclines and
weather conditions.  It, however, is not a race.  Everyone summits their
personal mountain eventually.  However those who make the correct choices in the
present, instead of starring at the peak that we call \"future\", will get to
enjoy the view much longer then others.

Don’t be boring or get fat this Turkey Day

21 Nov

Tags: calories, carbohydrate, Challenge, cranberry, dieter, difference, eating, Fitness, flavor, food, low carb, majority, Nutrition, pumpkin, tablespoon, temptation, thanksgiving, Training, turkey
Posted in thanksgiving, weight loss holiday | 13 Comments »

Thanksgiving has arrived and so has the decision you have to make every year.

You are trying to either A) lose fat over the holidays or B) at least not gain it.

It’s funny because Thanksgiving and Christmas are just two days. Their destruction of eats however haunts and temps us for weeks! What do we do? How do we best navigate through this sea of gravy temptation? I am going to cover all these things and more for you right now but broken down into two categories.

The visitors and the home team!

The Visitors Team

Every year you will find yourself either being the visitor or the host. This is what to do if you visit.

Bring your food with you.

My mama always said “bring a gift.” No, I am not talking about being preachy and handing over the low carb/low fat/ dry organic free range stuffing. I said bring a gift! There are some foods that on their own are healthy and taste quite good. Bring safe items with you that you can fill up own so that you won’t have as much room for the bad and that also goes nicely with the spread. If you can’t cook or don’t care too then these ideas work for that as well.

• Veggie or Fruit Plates-Fill up on fruit and veg, lower calories.
• Hummus for dipping-Most is only 30-50 calories a serving. Goes great with those veggies too.
• Tea Biscuits and Coffee (you can find these in most grocery store in the kosher/specialty section. 2 yummy biscuits for 32 calories!)

Don’t be a boring lump.

The majority of thanksgiving visitors sit like a lump waiting for instructions on how to best stuff their face. CHANGE IT UP! Since you don’t have to prepare the food do a favor by helping entertain. Spend time with your family, it is why you are there.

Have another plate.

I know right, I am nuts! Here are the rules though, the first plate I want to be all the good stuff, (lean meat, veggies, fruit,) basically low calories. Next grab another plate, but this time load up on the items you have been salivating over since you have arrived. The catch is because you already filled up on the good stuff you will be more moderate with the bad. This will limit the actual amount of the bad you can take in and save you some calories right there alone, PLUS you don’t look the “dieter.” Dieters don’t have another plate.

Help clean up.

Not only does it help out the stressed out mom/dad, you burn a few extra calories. Remember the majority of your daily calories are burned in small activities, not large training.

The Home Team

Cook!

Look you have the home field advantage; you get to do the cooking!! That doesn’t mean to serve tasteless guck either, just make smart choices. Get a bigger turkey and serve the white meat only. Where you find the space try and substitute some items with lower calories. For example, you can use skim milk and light butter in your potatoes. This makes very little difference in taste but saves loads on calories.

Pick Your Battles.

Look you can’t make a low calorie pecan pie, it is what it is. You can however make a healthy and low calorie pumpkin pie or better yet, a pumpkin cheesecake that is to die for.

If you have to go to town on the calories then at least make them more nutritious calories. For example, instead of a “canned cranberry sauce” you could whip up cranberry nut bread.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the cranberries and walnuts, and stir to coat with flour. Mix together the egg, oil, orange juice, and orange zest. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture, and stir until just blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack, and cool completely.

Nutrition Facts Calories 163 Fat 3g Carbohydrate 31g Protein 3g

Want deviled eggs? Great but stuff them with something different like some roasted garlic hummus and turkey meat. Have all the flavor you want, just choose good things to make your flavor form. Remember healthy items are apart of some of the best tasting foods.

Have activities.

Don’t just make the visit to your house all about the food, be a good example. Have sack races for the kids, or spoon races. Play sports, or even have a Turkey Bootcamp (see below). I assure you the less awkward the visit, the more fun that is being had just hanging out, the less food becomes the star! Don’t let the TV rule the house anymore of Turkey Day.

Cook for only those you need to.

Don’t get carried away. This isn’t the last meal and this isn’t the send off to fight the British War. You don’t need 2 turkeys, 1 chicken, 3 pies, and 10 sides. Less is more. Pick solid dishes and let their flavors be the star. This will also lower the stress and you will be less likely to eat more because of being upset.

Now that you have those few tips down it is time to take your holiday to the next level with…

Turkey BootCamp!

Want a fun fitness game to play with the young ones? Welcome to the Ultimate Turkey BootCamp.

Objective: Complete all challenges in teams of two. Whoever wins gets the ultimate prize of “Turkey Bootcamp Champion” and prize of your choice (trophy, jersey, make it fun, even for friends).

Items Need: Good Attitude, stuff to use as course markers, lemons, bean bag/ball (something small you can toss) and stopwatch or clock.

Rules: Best of 5-No cheating-Keep it fun, and keep it clean.

Challenge 1- Wheel Barrow Race

Challenge 2-Plank Wars

The two of you try to hold a plank for as long as you can. Whichever team has the longest time wins!

Challenge 3-Wall Sits

The two of you try to hold wall sits for as long as you can. Whichever team has the longest time wins!

Challenge 4-Lemon Roll Relay

Each team has to relay from one marker to the other pushing the lemon only using their nose. First team done wins!

Challenge 5-Bulls Eye

Setup a target with points, stand 2-3 yards away depending on the challenge you want and toss into the target area. Best team points win!

Last but not least let me leave you with one of my favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes.

INGREDIENTS

1 Pound turkey breast, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 Medium red bell pepper, seeded & cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 Medium yellow bell pepper, seeded & cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 Pound Swiss chard, stalks removed & coarsely chopped
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 Tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, toss turkey strips with salt and pepper.
2. Heat 2-teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Sauté turkey in hot oil for 4 to 5 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink in the center. Do not over cook. Remove turkey from the pan and set aside.
3. Add remaining 1-teaspoon oil to pan and sauté peppers for 2 minutes. Gently fold in Swiss chard.
4. In a small bowl, combine vinegar and sugar; stir into vegetable mixture. Reduce heat to medium and stir-fry mixture 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
5. Return turkey to pan and heat well. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts Calories 220 Fat 4g Total Carbohydrate 15g Protein 31g

Good luck this holiday! No matter what the goal is remember that this is a time to celebrate love and give thanks no matter who and how many you are with.

The Challenge Results and Winners: The Readers

17 Nov

Tags: 30 day fat loss challenge update, 30 days of fat loss, Anninator, before and after pictures, Big, Challenge, community, experience, fat loss before and after, journey, Meal, Notables, one big meal challenge, online, pound, results, support, victory, Warasa, weight loss before and after pictures, weight loss challenge update
Posted in Fat Loss, weight loss, weight loss challenge before and after | 29 Comments »

Alright so this is officially the last Challenge related post. I could not be prouder of everyone and really wanted to show that so I took the time to put together this post about it. Sorry for the delay, if you did not make it into this post then it means you missed the deadline for the check in. If that is the case still be very proud of your accomplishments. Even if it was 1lb lost this whole time that is a victory all on its own right there.

Here is a reminder of the challenge winners for my crew and there before and after pictures.

Without further ado, I give you the readers challenge players.

Shari-down 7 pounds

Big Meal Lasagna Champion Winner

Matt down 10.1 pounds

Lori down 7.2 pounds down 11 inches

Joy down 3.2 pounds down 3.1 inches went from 20 to 30 pushups

Anna down 6.4 pounds

Cynthia Down 5 pounds down 10 inches

Diane down 5.8 pounds down 13.5 inches

Etana down 9 pounds down 16.5 inches (not including arm)

Hayzel down 4 pounds down 5.5 inches

Read winner is….

JOSH!

Josh down 11 pounds down 6.75 inches

Josh make sure you get in contact with me with your email about claiming your prize and time.

Non-Picture Notables

Warasa down 3.5 pounds

Rachel Down 6.2 pounds

Ann (or Anninator) down 7 pounds

Matt (email) down 10 pounds

Final Thoughts:

Overall this experience to me has been such an amazing journey. Before this challenge I didn’t know who some of your were at all. To me that has been one of the coolest things of this whole challenge. The community that got built from it, our tribe that got created out of virtual thin air.

At the end of the day we all came together in support of one another and decreased some fat and carried away a lot more pride. Now this is nothing against some other online challenges but you don’t see these kinds of results anywhere in 30 days. Usually the 12 weeks challenges can’t even compare to what we have seen here. It is inspiring. I have the best readers in the world and i could not be prouder.

Overall it has been 151 pounds lost. That is 151 dollars that goes to St Jude Hospital! If you would like to make a donation yourself please go here to do so.

https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/express-donation.do?fnl=don_sin

Thank you, everyone.

Big Meal Challenge: The Results and The Winner

16 Nov

Tags: 30 days of fat loss, 30 days of weight loss, Big, big meal challenge, body, Challenge, dedication, fat, fat los big meal challenge, fat loss challenge, Loss, results, weight, weight loss, Winner
Posted in 30 day fat loss, Big Meal Fat loss, Fat Loss, weight loss challenge | 63 Comments »

I can’t believe it is over already! Man how time does fly when you are having fun and really this was a great time for me because I got to torture them.

First for those of you new to the game let me remind you how it started. You can find the first challenge post here.

http://avidityfitness.net/2008/10/17/action-assignments-for-new-life-and-body-the-challenge/

Caught up? Great!

I have a video coming up but wanted to get the Midnight results in. I had to wait on a last min check in so the video is coming and should be up by morning. Without further ado here are the final results of the challenge and my crew!

Holy Crap you are not going to believe these results.

…….

…..

….

Nope, you can’t handle it yet….

…..

Okay okay fine….

Aleks

Was 233 Now 222.4

Total Weight Loss- 11.4
Bf% Lost-4.1%

Pauline Stats

Was 108.5 Now 104.5

Total Weight Loss-4 pounds
Total Inches Lost-5 inches
Bf% lost-1.5-2.0%
Push up Increase-From 3 to 16

Mike

Was 224 Now 220

Total Weight Loss-4 pounds
Total Inches Lost-9 inches
BF% Lost-4.5%

Karen

Was 129 Now 124.8

Total Weight Loss-4.2 pounds
Total Inches Lost-7 inches
Bf% lost-2.0%

Annelle

Was 151 Now 139.8

Total Weight lost-11.2
Total Inches Lost-8
BF% Lost-3.8%

AND THE WINNER WITH 22 POUNDS LOST IN 30 DAYS?!!

JIM!

Jim Stats

Was 241 Now 219

Total Weight Loss-22 pounds
Total Inches Lost-16 inches
BF% lost-5.5% body fat
I can’t believe it, more to come!

Edit: Here is the You Tube dedication Video!

PS-Still more to come, I am off to bed!

The Home Stretch-Challenge Update

08 Nov

Tags: big meal challenge update, Challenge, enthusiasm, family, Fat Loss, friendship, homestretch, program, Re-feed, update
Posted in Fat Loss | 51 Comments »

Well here we are, in the home stretch.

This has been a CRAZY couple of weeks. This is officially the start of the last 8 days of the challenge! Our next check in will be the final check in on Sunday (though technically my crew will be on Saturday so I can get their pictures up).

You know I have to admit, I thought my crew was going to freak out a little with the re-feed. I was nervous that the slight increase in weight was going to scare them. Not only did it not scare them, they drove right through it and used it to make it out of this week. The numbers are still dropping, the pictures are still shocking, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Like a true tease this week I am going to leave you to wonder just how good they are doing, but will still provide mouth watering food porn. I threw in a little of my own at the end.

“Dear Leigh, I have lost the will, please forgive me.”

I got this email on Tuesday. Do you know what I got on Friday?

“Dear Leigh, I am down 2 pounds lower that the start of the week and back on track. Thanks!”

“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”

Enthusiasm is key for holding on. Keeping yourself and those around you inspired amd positive is a big drive in all of this. Take Jim for example, he has inspired a leauge of friends and co-workers to change their lives for the better. Enthusiasm should be infectious, it should invade every part of your lives right now. You have decided to change and for the better, that is amazing! Who cares if you slipped up, you can still come through for the homestretch. You don’t have to give way to lost enthusiasm.

For those of you that have it and them some, thank you for sharing it with the others. This whole challenge has shown very clearly that it isn’t about some crazy program, it is about the family that helps you get through it.

This weeks assisgnment is to be the voice of enthsiasm to someone who needs it. Be it fat loss, work, or friendship. Go that extra mile and give a extra congratulations to encourage them on their road.

So guys, this is the last one, how you hanging in there?