I started the program because I, like many other gamers, suffered from weight issues due to sitting on my fanny all day playing cards, and video games, and not having the motivation to eat non fast food meals. The catalyst for change for me, was that my wife and I are planning on having children soon, and I don't want to be an unfit dad. I want to be able keep up with my kids. So far, I've lost 40 lbs by sticking with this program.

I've designed it myself, it's simple, and it's based off of some pretty basic stuff. It's important to note, that this is not a diet. This is a lifestyle change. There is also a gradual curve, starting at extremely easy, and ending with slightly challenging. The best thing about it is, almost everyone notices enough of a difference in their weight, energy levels, and such, that it motivates them enough to continue with the more difficult stuff.

I am happy to say that this has been a hit at my store, and we are continuing it for a third year now.

How does it work? Well, you either post here that you want to participate, or if you'd like to remain anonymous, you PM me. If you don't want to do either, you can just participate by following the monthly tasks, and no one has to be the wiser. Once per month (that's right, you heard it, only once), I am going to post a task here. Your goal, is to adhere to that task for the month. Each consecutive month gives you another task to add to what you are already doing. It takes 20+ days of repetition to form a habit. Once positive activities become habit, you're on the right road. Lots of exercise / diet regimes fail, because they try to completely change your lifestyle in a very short period of time. Lifestyle changes take time. Regardless of whether it takes you 3 months, or 6 months, if the end result is a consistently healthy you, then you've succeeded.

One thing that I would like to ask of the community is to keep this thread a safe place to post. I know that there are people who are very sarcastic, and such, but attacking someone because of their health / weight generally results in them failing at these kinds of activities.

November's Task:

You may only drink water, skim milk, or juice you make yourself (with real fruit and a blender, not mixing powder in water silly)

A tip from me: I have found this transition easier, if you keep bottles of extremely cold water in your fridge for whenever you start getting thirsty.

Why does this matter?

I am going to use calories to help explain this (normally I don't count calories at all, as it is a huge chore that is unnecessary if you're being healthy). I used to drink an average of 3 cans of soda a day. That is 450+ calories from drinks alone. An average male of my height, weight, and activity level needs to eat around 1600 calories a day to lose weight on a weekly basis. With soda, I needed to consume less than 1200 calories per day. That is really, really, difficult. Over a quarter of my daily food allowance was taken up by sugar drinks. Once I switched to drinking water instead, that 1600 calorie limit was just for food. I didn't feel hungry all day, or that I was starving myself. I felt like I was eating a healthy amount of food, and I was losing weight. That is how much difference what you drink can make.

November's Homework:

As you eat out, make a list. Put the restaurants you eat at into 2 categories: healthier, unhealthy. December's tasks will have something to do with this. Keep in mind, most fast food restaurants would be considered unhealthy, even subway depending on what you order. This isn't intended to change your eating habits yet, just to make you more aware of them for future tasks.

December's Tasks:

1 - You hopefully made a list of healthier places to eat out, and unhealthy ones. For December, the goal is to not eat from any place on your unhealthy list. That generally means no fast food, etc dunkin donuts, or anything like that.

2 - There is no such thing as seconds. People should, and do, eat because they are hungry. People generally go back for seconds because the food tastes good, or they are bored. Our goal is to limit ourselves to one portion. Once you're done your first serving, then the meal is over.

Why does this matter?

The three most common causes of obesity (dietary related) are lack of exercise, what you eat, and how much you eat. When you eat a decent meal, your stomach is designed to stretch. After a while, you start receiving the signal that you are "full". For lots of people, that sensation can take a little while, and during this period, many people feel "hungry" and go back for more food. By not eating unhealthy convenient food, and only eating 1 portion at home, we are attempting to get in the habit of addressing two common causes for gaining weight.

Optional Homework for December:

Thanks,
Jazaray

__________________
A Plastered Dragon Original Limerick:
There was a nice lassie named Jaz
Many wished to have what she has,
A delicate face,
A soft warm embrace,
And a whole lot of bedroom pizzazz.

WeedIan: Jazaray is like MOTL's Mom.

quote:

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Originally posted by stu55:
To go off what Wayne said, maybe do a Diet and a "Physical" change each week...

Do the only drink water/juice/milk bit and add in run a total of 5 miles in a week perhaps? Just something to get the people use to physical activity more.

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The exercise part comes later, don't worry. Lots of people have issues with actively doing things, where the first few steps are easier because you don't have to go out and do anything, just choose not to do something.

These are just additions to what you do normally in a day. In a month, hopefully you won't even be craving that can of coke, or that blizzard. I haven't had pop in a loooooong time, and when we had some at a wedding (spritzer for a toast), it tasted disgustingly sweet, to the point where I didn't even want any.

If you want to exercise, by all means, do so, it's great for you

There is a gentleman at the store named Steve. He was 280+ lbs. He is now 212 lbs. He said the reason he stuck with it, is because once it started taking some willpower to consistently do, he had already lost over 20lbs which made it that much easier to stick with. You're not jumping into something with both feet that you might fail at, you're incrimentally adding to something you've been a consistent success at.

Cheers

quote:

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Originally posted by yakusoku:
I realize that the emphasis in the first round is to wean people off of drinks loaded with sugar and empty calories (primarily sodas and beer), but I can't imagine that unsweetened hot tea would be worse than milk or juice if your goal is to lose weight.

I do wonder, though, which would be harder for people here to give up - coffee or alcohol?

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I think the most important thing is that each person needs to establish what their own boundaries are. There are LOTS of healthy drinks i think that could be allowed, and by all means, if you drink something healthy, don't stop. You are correct that the intent is to eliminate anything with empty calories, or unecessary chemicals.

Great example: if you blend yourself fruit smoothies.... please, don't stop LOL!

I initially did just not drinking pop, until i read the nutritional content of a 5-alive. Then i went around reading the content for other canned / bottled juices. It's pretty disgusting that some juices have more added sugar than a can of coke.

If you decide to do this though, but in addition you allow yourself to drink tea, that is completely up to you. You're not failing at it, or doing anything wrong, as ultimately, you are responsible for your own health and happiness.

Brewed Coffee = 13.9
Brewed Tea = 5.9
Coke Classic = 2.9

quote:

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Originally posted by Cyno:
there's about 10x as much caffeine in coffee than in diet soda iirc

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quote:

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Originally posted by CrazyBones:
MG's of caffeine per ounce...

Brewed Coffee = 13.9
Brewed Tea = 5.9
Coke Classic = 2.9

Tea and black coffee are both healthy drinks assuming you don't add anything to them.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Malice327:
I think that you have to be careful what kind of tea / coffee you get, as there are lots of chemicals in there. However, if your goal is energy / weight loss, then tea with nothing added would definitely interfere with it I wouldn't think.

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what about caffeine pills? No-doze or something similar.

Thanks,
Jazaray

__________________
A Plastered Dragon Original Limerick:
There was a nice lassie named Jaz
Many wished to have what she has,
A delicate face,
A soft warm embrace,
And a whole lot of bedroom pizzazz.

WeedIan: Jazaray is like MOTL's Mom.

quote:

---

Originally posted by stu55:
You guys are looking for exceptions, and I really think that the best way to do is to keep it simple. Just suck it up and drink coffee with only some cream or milk, and a caffeine jolt can be 5 hour energy or something. You are looking to cut calories here.

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QFT

@ Jaz If the nustevia stuff is not bad for you, then there shouldn't be an issue. The point is to make small consistant changes, not to turn your life upside down (and i know that for some people, no coffee would be worse than an upside down life).

i used to drink that crystal lite stuff. tasted decent, was only 10 calories per bottle. The issue I ran into was that constantly drinking sweet drinks (even if they were low calorie) didn't get me out of the habit of wanting them. I had a hell of a time on a hot summer day at the card shop with a fridge full of ice cold pop.

Once i switched to water, there was no rationalizing whether this would be ok, or that... it was just water and skim milk. I can honestly say that now, I don't even get tempted by soda (pop).

But what about 100% juice you get at like fresh market? It's no sugars and such added and not from concentrate. I tend to get a bottle of pomegranate/grapefruit once a week.

quote:

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Originally posted by JesusChristMD:
I'm down.

But what about 100% juice you get at like fresh market? It's no sugars and such added and not from concentrate. I tend to get a bottle of pomegranate/grapefruit once a week.

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just don't overdo it as even fresh natural juice contains a lot of sugar.

I agree with the concepts you're going for. Just cut a thing or two out there... substitute a couple of things here, and before you know it, you're doing a lot better!

It's all about breaking the bad habits by turning them into good habits!

quote:

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Originally posted by OGB:
I'm actually starting this today. Just water and Skim Milk to start.

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I will as well Good luck!

thank you for the good sentiments from others as well.