What a fantastic start!!!

Week 1: Ending Jan. 14, 2012

I can not believe what a great week we all had. Everyone is off to a fabulous start. Together as a group we lost more than 100 lbs. That is truly amazing. Everyone should be very proud of themselves. If you were one that was not happy with your loss, don't get discouraged early. There is plenty of time left and it usually takes some time for you to figure out what works best for your body. Each week I will post the top 10 losers and then add honorable mentions for everyone else that lost weight. So here goes.

This Weeks Top Ten

1. Wayne D. 4.5%

2. (We had 2 people tie for 2nd place)

Brittany C. 4.1%

Matthew D. 4.1%

3. Colby D. 4.0%

4. Fran S. 3.7%

5. Kim D 3.3%

6. Carole T. 2.8%

7. Kari W. 2.6%

8. Kathy G. 2.3%

9. Lisa S 2.2%

10. Jenn J. 2.0%

Honorable mention

Gail N 1.7%, Shauna W 1.7%, Kelcee T 1.6%, Linda G 1.4%, Julie L 1.3%, Edye W 1.3%, Vickie J 1.2%, Jess S 1.2%, Rachel J 1.2%, Marylee G 1.2%, Angie J 1.1%, Sunnie H 1.1%, Meralee R 1.0%, Laura L 0.8%, Geina Y 0.4%

The winner of this week's challenge to Food Journal was Wayne D.

Now for this week's challenge. It's water, and lots of it. Keep track of your water. And, yes Crystal Light, Walmart brand or other store brands count. Soda, DOES NOT!, not even diet...sorry about that one. Find out what your body's daily intake should be and try to reach or exceed the amount. You need to drink your daily amount at least 3 of the days to be eligible for the prize. 64 oz is the usual number everyone shoots for, but some may need more/less. If you accept and complete the challenge for at least three out of the seven days, you will receive a ticket for the weekly drawing. You'll be playing for a new water bottle.

Water is a fantastic way to fill the gaps between meals. When your mouth wants to be busy, say around 3:00 in the afternoon when dinner is still a few hours away, a cold glass of water can help take your mind off of the snacking habit.

What’s wrong with soda or diet soda?

Scientists and health advocates blame soda for a wide variety of ailments ranging from tooth decay to diabetes, even cancer. The reason is simple: beyond high-fructose corn syrup, which is pure sugar, the remaining ingredients are chemicals. What about diet soda, you may ask; it doesn’t have any sugar. True, instead it has more chemicals and many scientists believe that these chemicals and artificial sweeteners in particular need to be studied more thoroughly. There is a general consensus among those in the medical industry that artificial sweeteners play some role in the epidemic of obesity in the world.

Not happy with water?

1. Many people don’t like to drink plain water. Like many healthy goals, it helps to make small changes. If you drink two cans of soda a day, replace one of your cans of soda with a glass of water and try that for a few weeks. Once you've got the hang of that, you can replace the other can, too. To make your water more palatable, why not add a slice of fresh citrus to it. Or consider drinking the flavored and carbonated water that is now available at most grocery stores. Take care to make sure that the water has no additional sugar or artificial sweeteners. Mineral waters, carbonated or non-carbonated, also offer an appealing alternative.

Coffee and tea without added sugar or milk, also offer a midday alternative to snacking. Be careful to keep caffeine intake in moderation. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and affect your adrenal glands, which can interfere with your hormonal balance and contribute to insulin resistance and weight gain.

Alcohol is primarily a carbohydrate and will contribute to weight gain rather than weight loss. Additionally, it may inhibit your decision making abilities and make that bag of chips and greasy burger look even more tempting.

When it comes right down to it, water really is the best thing for your body. It hydrates your cells, cleanses your body and helps you lose weight, and it helps you stay healthy and feel better.
Have a great week!