Diet Challenge Thingie Something
I am at a lost of what to call this collective effort of my peeps wanting to lose weight. Thus, the title for this post.
My friend Brent at InWorship throws down this challenge:
“Starting this Friday, I will begin a new journey of eating well and exercising. Over the next couple of days, I will be working with my wife to figure out an eating plan and a daily routine to whip me into shape.”
… whereas my Twitter pal, Travis, throws down this challenge:
- 30 mins of exercise every day
- drink 64 oz. of water each day
- No soda
- No fried food
I am wrapping up a fast food fast in order to cut out both bad foods and convenience and a coffee fast (as a courtesy to my friend who fasted coffee for a month). I have been adding sports (basketball, soccer, football) to my everyday routine and I have gotten soda consumption down to once/twice per week all the while taking in a gallon of water per day.
I definitely don’t want to go back to fast food at all. So I figure I pick up these challenges, I can keep with that change in lifestyle and keep losing weight.
Most of all, I want to support and encourage those who want to lose weight and get healthy.
Over the last two years, I have lost 80 lbs. I was 10lbs away from my goal but now I want to lower that goal from 240 to 220lbs.. With that new goal, that would put me 20lbs. away.
I have a goal to aim for and I will be alongside others who want to lose weight as well. Woohoo!
Note: I don’t know why I didn’t think about this before. But I have to give thanks to God for taking care of my temple. When I started dieting, I would fail. Then I thought, “If I depend on Him for everything, why can’t that include a healthy lifestyle?”. So I leaned into Him to show me, help me and teach me for what is best for me.
Our God alone is good. - Ed.
22 Comments, Comment or Ping
Heidi
Count me in. Seriously…..
I just signed up for 400 minutes in 28 days walking program. I’m amped and ready to go. I need to start Monday though. I got a luau with a special date tonight. My 7 yr old!!
May 9th, 2008
tam
Awesome!!!
we’ll be BBQ’ing a lot here with lots of fruit and veggies when you get here. Of course there’s the park practically in our backyard with Tennis and B-Ball courts…and our pool. So we should all be able to stay on track together! Yay!!!
May 9th, 2008
Joe Louthan
One thing that I was absolutely remiss in doing: giving thanks to God.
(editing post)
May 9th, 2008
Danny
I’m in! I lost a bunch and then my wife got pregnant. I guess I had the cravings she didn’t. Regardless, I’m fat and need to drop a bunch. I’ll be onboard Monday!
May 9th, 2008
Joe Louthan
Heidi: AWESOME! I am going to find a way to journal my progress here.
Tam: Triple Yay!!! I eat anything. You wanna go vegan, I know tons of recipes. But I don’t think we have to be that desperate
Danny: Right on!
May 9th, 2008
inWorship
Right on Joe, it will be fun to see where we are at in a month when you come out. we will have to have some celebration beer
May 9th, 2008
klampert
AWESOME!…thanks for joining in on my wacky challenge…I love your blog by the way. cya monday
May 9th, 2008
Travis Spencer
Things are going good for DAY 1.
Thanks for giving me a shout out!
May 10th, 2008
tam
I’m so proud of you boys!
really!
Awesome!
May 11th, 2008
Jessie Louthan
That’s great that all of y’all are doing the right thing (eating right and staying active).
I hate using the word “exercise”, because most people treat it like a four-letter word. But staying active in an activity that pushes every major muscle group to its limits and beyond will get you in the best shape possible, and keep you there.
Now, I do realise that my method (pushing carts) isn’t practical for everyone, but the whole point is that it works for me…so find what works for you. Hey, you could do what I did at one of my last gigs…hauling around 60 yd. rolls of automotive interior fabric!
Joe, kudos to you weaning yourself off of fast food. Me, I eat all the time, but try to make it as healthy as possible (although my twice-weekly visits to Billy Miner’s say otherwise). Whatever I eat, I try to load as much veggies on as possible.
Another easy way to switch to all things low-fat is this…look at every label. If it is less than 10% total fat, then it’s ok to eat (the exception would be any type of nuts, because they contain your mono and polyunsaturated fats, both of which you need in moderation). Anything over 10%, eating sparingly (the only exception for me would be Wolf Brand Chili, which to date I’ve eaten over 6,000 cans).
It’s not a “diet”, it’s a total lifestyle/attitude. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you can go back to doing that.
May 11th, 2008
Joe Louthan
Jessie:
You wrote:
It’s not a “diet”, it’s a total lifestyle/attitude.
True dats.
I went into certain fasts wanting a change more so than a temporary fix. I don’t want to eat fast food. I gave it for for 3 weeks so far with one week to go.
I don’t miss it. Even if I go and get my kid something, I never order for myself. It is hard not because it is tempting of the food but rather the convenience.
I will double what Jessie said as well, “Read the labels”.
I check for double digit precentages for stuff you need in moderation (carbs, fat, sodium, etc.).
I also read the ingredients. Usually I will reject it if I can’t pronounce it or it contains refined sugars (High Fructose Corn Syrups) or processed oils.
May 12th, 2008
Kim Heinecke
Okay, that banner at the top of this post made me laugh…
May 12th, 2008
Joe Louthan
It makes me laugh too. I can’t tell if it is boobs or butt. Hence, I giggle.
May 12th, 2008
Anna
That’s great!!
May 12th, 2008
Jessie Louthan
Oh, and one more thing…don’t overdo it on the exercise. It’s more important that your body heals from the exercising (tearing down your muscles).
May 12th, 2008
Jessie Louthan
Dood, do you realise that, if you get down to your target weight, that I’ll be bigger/weigh more than you?
Left is right, up is down, black is white…LOL
May 12th, 2008
Heidi
Joe… first day 1/2 mile walk, 1/2 gallon of water, and no sweets.
Can we have amen in the house?
May 12th, 2008
Joe Louthan
Heidi: That is what I am talking about!!!
I did an hour of sports activity with the kiddo tonight. I will post up and soon.
May 12th, 2008
ric booth
80 pounds! Go Joe!
You all remind me of my Weight Watcher’s meetings. Sort of an iWeightWatchers club thingy.
Very proud of all the NMFAPIMWLC participants!
May 14th, 2008
Joe Louthan
I don’t actually own a scale.
I will get one and update. Hopefully tomorrow.
May 15th, 2008
whittakerwoman
why is it so hard! UHH! H
May 15th, 2008
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