May 14, 2009

Post from “HungryGirl”

In this last blog post, I want to start by thanking all the platoon leaders. They were not only helpful to members of their own groups, but they willingly helped anyone who asked. I also want to congratulate the winners. It was hard work, and they deserve all that they won.

I would also like to share some of my thoughts about the program and look forward to what comes next: We did this program for 12 weeks. Some people were so glad when it was over. I just did not understand that attitude. Yes, it has been hard work, but it is a change of lifestyle, not a 12-week-program. At least, that was my mindset going into it. So as the 12 weeks were drawing to a close, I started to worry that without the weekly weigh-ins and the team spirit and group dynamic, I would go back to my “old” ways.

So I started another “challenge.” (more…)

April 10, 2009

Post from “HungryGirl”

I have another strategy I wanted share with you before we end our Biggest Loser experience. I have been asked several times over these weeks….

You and your husband like to eat out a great deal. Has this experience changed your routine so that you at stay home more? Do you eat out at all? If you do, how do you handle all the temptations on the menu?

Well, first, we now eat out a lot less. I do not know if it is due to the economy or because of the Biggest Loser event, but we cook at home more these days. It gives me more control over what goes into the pan, and we spend less.

However, when we do go out, I use a few strategies I would like to share:

First, before we head out, I try to make sure we have at least an idea of our destination. This allows me to go online and review the menu. This way, I can figure out what I can and cannot have before I even leave the house. This prevents “impulse ordering.” You know the feeling. You enter a restaurant, and you see the meal on the next table and you start to salivate. (more…)

April 2, 2009

Post from “HungryGirl”

As we are getting close to the end of our Biggest Loser experience, I wanted to bring everyone up to date. I have learned many things in these past nine weeks, and I thought I would share some of them each week for the remaining weeks.

I received a question addressed to me in the blog that I want to answer here:

How do you deal with temptation of snacks that are conveniently waiting to be eaten around the house, the lab, the office etc? Do you have any specific strategies to curb your intake in these cases? (more…)

March 4, 2009

I may have to change my name. When I started this program, “diet” was a four-letter word. I just did not want to give up my favorite foods. I wanted to be like my husband, who can eat anything he wants and never gain a pound. But during the past weeks, I have found that I don’t have to give up on favorites, I just need to adjust my choices.

Let me explain: I love chips and salsa. It is my all-time favorite snack. So now, when I really feel I “need” salsa and chips, I open the bag and take out seven. Not grab the whole bag and sit down with it, but I remove seven chips (one serving), and I place them on a plate with the salsa (salsa is fat free). I then have my “favorite” without eating my weight in chips. (more…)

February 25, 2009

Post by “HungryGirl”

I had a bad week. I was busy and made excuses. Do you know how many times I have been told that one bad day doesn’t mean you quit? Lots. Do you know how many times I just said oh, well… and fell, or jumped, right off that wagon? Lots more. But this time I thought that maybe I could just get back on that wagon. It was not like I had to start over. Maybe I could just do it. (more…)

February 20, 2009

Post by “HungryGirl”

I don’t know about other platoon members, but this week, the advantage of being on a Biggest Loser platoon became apparent to me.

I really did not want to work out this week. I wanted to eat whatever I wanted. I felt I “deserved” to slack off. But knowing I had to weigh in and meet our leader’s eyes when my weight was beaming from the scale, was the determining factor. (more…)

Feb. 10, 2009

Post from “HungryGirl”

Well, I weighed in, and I am jazzed. I lost some more, and I FEEL better. The walk to the gym is now easier, and I am not out of breath before I begin my exercise.

My team is really supportive. We have a team name, and one of our members made a logo. We plan to have tee-shirts printed. It is fun to have everyone so determined to make this lifestyle change. We all understand that this is hard, but we work with each other to help keep our spirits up. (more…)

February 2, 2009

Week One (Post from “HungryGirl”)

Well, I have completed my first week as one of the Lab’s Biggest Losers. Our group is very enthusiastic. But I knew this was going to be hard. I have some very bad habits to change, and that’s not going to be easy. I am a fast-food junkie. And before this, the closest I got to the gym was a meeting in the Group 33 offices upstairs.

(more…)