My Cheatin' Heart

As a five-month participant overall in Biggest Loser or Loserville, I consider myself an expert on the art of weight-loss (or at least an expert who is able to read and try what true experts suggest I guess...)

One big principle of "The Abs Diet," which my team is devoted to, is the "cheat meal." Yes, for one meal a week, we are allowed to eat anything we want, as much as we want. It can be breakfast, lunch, dinner, you name it -- just like old times.

The idea is that if you are allowed to indulge yourself every once in a while, you are able to focus more often on doing things right. It's kind of like rewarding your kids with pizza for doing work around the house (yes, I read your blog, CDJ!). You know at the end of the day there's going to be something you enjoy.

I try to reserve my cheat meals for Monday at lunch, specifically Chinese food. It's only a couple of hours after the weigh-in, and I get almost a full week of Abs Diet and workouts. It's also a reward for losing whatever small amount of poundage that might show up on the scale.

The funny thing now is that since we started this thing way back Jan. 2 I've found that I can't eat as much as I used to. I get physically ill when I stuff myself. It's like lap-band surgery without the lap-band. So even though I get my Chinese food or Tex-Mex occasionally, or even a big burger off the grill this past Monday, I don't gorge myself. My body won't allow it.

But the food is still good and I have no guilt eating it, no guilt at all, once a week.

Don't make it a cheat day, now. It's a cheat meal. One time. And if you are good the rest of the week with your choices and your physical activity, I guarantee you will continue to lose weight and feel good about yourself. And you won't have all those cravings all the time.

The cheat meal is actually what is keeping me sane through this process. Just thought I'd share it with everyone.

Adding Rice

No, this is not a carbolicious main dish recipe....

A glitch with my email prevented me from receiving Celina's timely report on Monday morning. She and David teamed up to lose 0.8% this week, giving them an overall loss of 3.59%. Team Rice ranked #6 for the week and bumped ahead (of the Johnsons) into the #11 spot overall. Way to Go, RICES!

Results Show #8

I trust every one had a memorable Memorial Day weekend. You guys are rockin' ain't ya?
Look at the Connie, the Fosburgs and the Weavers trompin' all up into the top five for this week! By crossing the 10% benchmark, The Washington Walkers reign overall. But remember: There's less than 5 percentage points spanning the top 5. It's still anybody's game. Keep rollin' and we'll check in with ya later in the week. (If you don't report one week, make sure you come one back the next week. Let me know if you have questions about the math. We just want you to be encouraged) We've lost over 200 lbs as a group.
Super job everybody!

This Week

1. WA Mitch Stuart 1.68%
2. WA Jack & Eleanor Fosburg 1.53%
3. WA Tim & Rebecca Walker 1.30%
4. WA Connie Scott 1.15%
5. TX David & Jeannie Weaver 0.83%
6. TX Kim Dean 0.72%
7. WA John & Dalene Pollman 0.48%
8. TX Jason Soles 0.25%
8. TX Philip & Cari Johnson 0.25%
10. WA Steve & Wanda Lindley 0.05%
11. TX Stu Musick 0.00%
11. WA Arla Bowers 0.00%
12. WA Beth Gill (+)
Jan Evans nr
Donnis Henderson nr
Melissa McCollum nr
David & Celina Rice nr
John & Rebecca Thompson nr

Over All

1. WA Tim & Rebecca Walker 10.82%
2. WA Mitch Stuart 9.83%
3. TX Stu Musick 8.37%
4. TX Jason Soles 8.04%
5. WA Steve & Wanda Lindley 6.17%
6. WA Arla Bowers 5.84%
7. TX Kim Dean 5.68%
8. TX David & Jeannie Weaver 4.49%
9. WA Jack & Eleanor Fosburg 4.26%
10. WA John & Dalene Pollman 3.85%
11. TX Philip & Cari Johnson 3.08%
12. WA Connie Scott 2.27%
13. WA Jan Evans 0.87%
14. WA Beth Gill 0.81%
Donnis Henderson nr
Melissa McCollum nr
David & Celina Rice nr
John & Rebecca Thompson nr

Results Show # whatever...I'm losing track

Here it is, y'all! Jason Soles saved the stinkin' day for Texas. (Shut-outs are not pleasant, I've heard) Melissa McCollum stepped up to help Jason represent the Lone Star State in the overall top 5. Other than that, it was all Washington, all day long. The Walkers are consistantly securing a spot near the top, with Mitch Stuart leading for the week. Congratulations to Arla and Beth who did an outstanding job this week!

Let's....um.....(how shall I phrase this?)....it's loin-girding time, people! My stinky brother just might win this rig. Isn't there anything anyone can do? I've got to hear about this for the REST of my life....please....anyone? His resolve is causing a bit of a rebellion in my heart and I am prone to act upon such rebellious thoughts with ice cream and fritos. Help!

Funny story: Celina called today to say that she and David were having "technical difficulties". She said that she didn't have a report because their scale must be on the fritz because by all accounts they've lost over 10 pounds this week. She would have been thrilled to report those numbers....the only catch is that next week - with new batteries - the scale would reveal a painful reality. So this week they are "not reporting", but we'll be watching for some real, impressive numbers next week!

Thanks to everyone for being an encouragement along this journey toward health!

Teams Weekly
1. WA Mitch Stuart 2.06%
2. WA Tim & Rebecca Walker 1.37%
3. WA Arla Bowers 1.36%
4. WA Beth Gill 0.92%
5. TX Jason Soles 0.71%
6. WA John & Dalene Pollman 0.60%
7. TX Donnis Henderson 0.31%
8. TX Melissa McCollum 0.14%
9. TX David & Jeannie Weaver 0.05%
10.TX Kim Dean 0.00%
11.TX Philip & Cari Johnson 0.00%
12.WA Jack & Eleanor Fosburg (+)
13.WA Connie Scott (+)
Jan Evans nr
Steve & Wanda Lindley nr
David & Celina Rice nr
Stu Musick nr
John & Rebecca Thompson nr


Teams Over All
1. WA Tim & Rebecca Walker 9.64%
2. WA Mitch Stuart 8.29%
3. TX Jason Soles 7.81%
4. WA Arla Bowers 5.84%
5. TX Melissa McCollum 5.01%
6. TX Kim Dean 5.00%
7. TX David & Jeannie Weaver 3.70%
8. WA John & Dalene Pollman 3.38%
9. TX Philip & Cari Johnson 2.88%
10.WA Jack & Eleanor Fosburg 2.77%
11.WA Beth Gill 1.52%
12.WA Connie Scott 1.14%
13.TX Donnis Henderson 1.08%
Steve & Wanda Lindley nr
Jan Evans nr
David & Celina Rice nr
Stu Musick nr
John & Rebecca Thompson nr

Dog Gone It

Y'all, I ate a hot dog tonight. Gross! What was I thinking? We were at a swim party. The grill smelled so good. They only had hot dogs. Tell me that a couple green apples and a ton of water over the next 36 hours will...uhm....remedy the situation. I am totally disgusted. Do you think my belly ache is psychosomatic?

Results Show #6

The Walkers have dethroned the Musick Man! (but only by two hundredths of a percentage point, so we'll have to see how things pan out next week...) Congratulations Tim & Rebecca! Washingtonians seat the majority in both the weekly and overall top five. Way to go! Texans, we are smart enough and good enough and doggonit, people like us! Let's rev up those engines and get a running start for next Monday. (A little less cheesecake woudn't hurt, eh?)

As a combined group of bubs and sissies we have lost over 180 pounds! That's an entire person! You guys totally rock, and I'm so please to be a part of such a committed group!

Blog notice: The blog will be updated Wednesday so that any of our friends/family can read it.

ONLY SIX MORE WEEKS!

Teams Weekly
Mitch Stuart 3.19%
Tim & Rebecca Walker 1.56%
Donnis Henderson 1.22%
Melissa McCollum 0.85%
John & Dalene Pollman 0.83%
Steve & Wanda Lindley 0.50%
Jan Evans 0.44%
Jason Soles 0.25%
Kim Dean 0.24%
Jack & Eleanor Fosburg 0.22%
Philip & Cari Johnson 0.10%
Arla Bowers 0.00% S
tu Musick 0.00%
David & Celina Rice (+)
David & Jeannie Weaver (+)
Connie Scott nr
Beth Gill nr

Teams Over All
1. WA Tim & Rebecca Walker 8.39%
2. TX Stu Musick 8.37%
3. TX Jason Soles 7.15%
4. WA Mitch Stuart 6.36%
5. WA Steve & Wanda Lindley 6.12%
6. TX Kim Dean 5.00%
7. TX Melissa McCollum 4.88%
8. WA Arla Bowers 4.55%
9. TX David & Jeannie Weaver 3.65%
10. WA Jack & Eleanor Fosburg 2.98%
11. TX Philip & Cari Johnson 2.88%
12. WA John & Dalene Pollman 2.80%
13. WA Connie Scott 1.70%
14. WA Jan Evans 0.87%
15. TX Donnis Henderson 0.77%
16. WA Beth Gill 0.61%
17. TX David & Celina Rice nr

Today I Am....

Hungry! Very, very hungry!

Results Show #5

Teams Weekly

Mitch Stuart 3.46%
Stu Musick 1.35%
David & Jeannie Weaver 1.20%
Jason Soles 0.88%
Jack & Eleanor Fosburg 0.87%
-------------------------------
Tim & Rebecca Walker 0.77%
Connie Scott 0.57%
Philip & Cari Johnson 0.20%
David & Celina Rice 0.02
Arla Bowers 0.00%
Steve & Wanda Lindley (+)
Beth Gill (+)
Jan Evans (+)
John & Dalene Pollman (+)

Teams Over All

Stu Musick 8.37%
Tim & Rebecca Walker 6.94%
Jason Soles 6.92%
Steve & Wanda Lindley 5.65%
Arla Bowers 4.55%
------------------------------------
David & Jeannie Weaver 4.20%
David & Celina Rice 3.50%
Mitch Stuart 3.28%
Philip & Cari Johnson 2.79%
Jack & Eleanor Fosburg 2.77%
John & Dalene Pollman 1.98%
Connie Scott 1.70%
Beth Gill 0.61%
Jan Evans 0.43%

Results Show #4

THIS WEEK

1. TX S. Musick 1.33
2. TX P&C Johnson 1.19
3. TX J. Soles 1.15
4. WA T&R Walker 0.94
4. TX K. Dean 0.94
6. TX D&J Weaver 0.86
7. WA B. Gill 0.71
8. WA A. Bowers 0.68
9. WA J&D Pollman 0.48
10. WA J. Evans 0.44
11. TX D&C Rice 0.34
12. WA J&E Fosburg 0.32
13. TX M. McCollum 0.00
13.WA C. Scott 0.00
13. WA M. Stuart 0.00
16. WA S&W Lindley (+)
17. TX D. Henderson (+)
18. TX J&R Thompson NR
19. TX J&K Walker NR


OVERALL
1. TX S. Musick 7.11
2. WA T&R Walker 6.21
3. TX J. Soles 6.10
4. WA S&W Lindley 5.81
5. TX M. McCollum 4.61
6. WA A. Bowers 4.55
7. TX D&C Rice 3.30
8. TX K. Dean 2.95
9. WA J&D Pollman 2.92
10. TX D&J Weaver 2.85
11. TX P&C Johnson 2.59
12. WA J&E Fosburg 1.91
13. WA C. Scott 1.14
14. WA B. Gill 0.91
15. WA J. Evans 0.87
16. TX D. Henderson 0.15
17. WA M. Stuart (+)
18. TX J&R Thompson NR
19. TX J&K Walker NR

Almond DEE-Lite

I found a new treasure! Emerald brand "cocoa roast almonds- dark chocolate flavor". My brother bought them at Sam's in a 38 oz jug. One serving (1 oz) has 6 g of carb, 3g of fiber, 6g of protein, and only 1 g of sugar. They still have the typical 13 g of fat, but I've gotten over my tendency to treat all fats equally. (plus I never eat a whole serving) Thought I'd share...