Jan 25th, 2008
Announcing the Biggest Losers of Angie’s List!
Everyone at Angie’s List is a winner, of course, but here in the office, we’re taking a page from NBC’s Biggest Loser show and trying to get healthier. We welcome virtual Biggest Losers, too, so if you want to join the A.L. Biggest Loser program, let us know!Forty-four Angie’s List staffers have enlisted in Trainer Kelsey Taylor’s program. (The drill sergeant from An Officer and a Gentleman has nothing on her, man.)We started this week and everyone will take part in bi-weekly weigh-ins. Prizes will be given weekly, as well as for the ultimate winner, er, I mean loser…. Participants will be judged according to percentage weight loss per individual.Kelsey has participants on more rigorous work-outs, and she’s also monitoring their eating habits, asking them to eat out less and to prepare healthier meals at home. We’ve created a page to share healthy recipes and Kelsey’s newsletters. Let us know how you’re doing. Just post your comments here.Drill Sgt. Taylor’s Recipe of the Month
Chicken Salad with thyme, walnuts and grapesServes: 1 Serving size: 2 1/4 cups
Prep time: 5 minutesIngredients3 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast, poached, cooled and diced
1/8 tsp. fine sea salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper (3 good cranks of the pepper grinder)
1/4 c. seedless purple grapes, sliced in half (about 10 grapes)
1 tbsp. chopped walnuts
1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves or 1/3 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 tbsp. orange juice
1/8 - 1/4 c. yogurt cheese approx. 2-3 tablespoons plain low-fat or nonfat yogurt
2 c. baby spinachDirectionsMix first eight ingredients and serve over spinach.Alternatives: Substitute the grapes, walnuts and thyme with 2 tbsp. roasted soy nuts, 1/4 c. diced mango, 1/2 c. roughly chopped cilantro and 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice.Substitute 3 oz. of canned, drained, low-sodium tuna in spring water for the chicken.
[…] 31andfat Lots going on today. Have a look: […]
I’ve been sick and haven’t had energy to exercise since it’s all being used to blow my nose a thousand times a day! However, I plan on getting in the gym with Kels today and burning that 250 calories on the treadmill. Hopefully it will also help the snot move out!
At any rate, dieting is hard and I am weak. This proves to be my thorn while trying to lose the fat.
It was a rough weekend and by that I mean Sgt. Kelsey probably wouldn’t be too happy with my food choices - but today’s Monday and a new day, right? Right!
I brought my clothes to work out and even packed a lunch (salad with chicken on top), so I’m off to a good, okay, make that a positive start!
I’d LOVE to shed about 20 pounds…but truth be told, I’d be VERY happy with 10-15…a girl can dream can’t she?
Until next time!
Ang
Take a lesson from me… if you’re planning on working out at any point in the day- make sure you have breakfast. I had my first work out with Kelsey this morning. I was unmotivated to begin with because I was sick last week, so I haven’t worked out yet for the challenge, and havent worked out, in general, for over a year. I made bad food choices this weekend, but stuck to not drinking any pop- which is a difficult task alone. I’m proud of myself for making baby steps… hopefully as time progresses, I’ll begin to inch closer and closer to some of my goals.
I have had a few epiphanies lately:
1. I’m not craving bad food, becuause I remember that it will undo all the good I am doing!
2. I’m not self concious about working out in public. Why? Because I would rather people see me working out and bettering myself than to see me walking out of McDonald’s!
3. I have to MAKE time to work out! Getting up a half hour earlier to get in a cardio is SOOO worth it! It’s over early and you have more energy for the rest of the day!
4. You can still enjoy food whe you’re dieting! Seasons make all the difference! For example: 4% lean ground beef with taco seasoning and fat free refried beans with some salsa make a yummy lunch high in protein! It can be a nice break from the regular meals!
I have quite a few pounds to lose, so hopefully I will follow my own suggestions!
Good luck to everyone, and how awesome are we that we are the ones doing something about our weight???
I’m so proud of myself! I went to a conference where they had several types of dessert, pancakes, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and a cornucopia of other unhealthy, high fat foods. I didn’t eat any of it other than a small spoonful of mac and cheese.
I love NUMBERS. Today I had more people in the Fitness Center than ever before. And so many A.L. employees dropped (give me 20 Private) Major pounds. Some were a little unmotivated until I lit a fire under their butts, then they had their best workouts. And talk about being focused on the dietary part of this whole thing… wow… I haven’t had to pour out any sodas or throw away any junk food. They must know that I lerk in the shadows. I’m sure that tomorrow will prove to be just a good as today and I can’t wait to stick it to ‘em.
I’m pretty sure Sgt. Taylor was talking about me when she said she lit a fire under people’s butts! Whoo, boy did she ever! I walked (although wanted to crawl) out of the gym with my arms AND legs shaking! It really was the best workout in a LOOOONNNGG time. Who knew that sweating could ever feel so good?!
While I’m feeling the burn - I’m also seeing the devil! Someone has left a shoe box full of candy in the kitchen..and I’m happy to report, that while I’ve been tempted…and almost sniffed the box a time or two, I’ve been able to say “no” to the devil candy!
I’m not part of the Biggest Losers challenge officially, but the good Sgt. Taylor did motivate me to do more than whine about my size. It was hard for me to break away to work out during the workday, so I accepted an offer from a friend to work out on the buddy system at 5 a.m. I’d resisted the idea because I love to sleep, but I just couldn’t fit exercise into my day. Karin and I take turns driving — the better to ensure we actually show up — and we’ve been at it for a few months now.
We get into the YMCA by 5:15 or so and get back to our homes before 7 a.m., which lets us get our kids ready for school and get ourselves to work on time. We complain every time the alarm clock blares, but we’re always happy walking out of the gym, knowing we’ve started the day off right.
For those of you who don’t think you can do the early morning thing, here’s a trick: Sleep in your work out clothes and leave your sneakers and socks by the front door. Roll out of bed when the alarm sounds, brush your teeth, pull back your hair and go.
You’ll be surprised how easy it becomes to get going and how great you feel afterward.
Another key: You have to like your workout partner so much that you’ll feel guilty if you contribute to his/her not working out if you bail.
Karin and I use our drive time to dish and vent. It’s like therapy for the mind, body and soul — all before the sun comes up.
@Cheryl
Not to mention you’ll have a healthy glow all day!
[…] Announcing the Biggest Losers of Angie’s List! […]
Not rain, sleet, or the promise of a heavy snow can keep these competitors from staying on track. We were supposed to get 2-8 inches of snow in Indy and my Biggest Loser crew was on their “A” game. They all had a plan in motion, just in case we were snowed in. Going to the grocery store and making sure that they had a properly stocked kitchen, and using “On Demand” to get workouts in, were on the top of the list. Since the Snow God’s didn’t cancel work or school, we trecked in for a busy Friday of work and workouts. SILLY SNOW TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS.
I measured myself last week, and I am OVERJOYED to announce that I have lost ONE INCH from my stomach in just ONE WEEK! Seeing results like that will keep me motivated! Staying on track with exercise and making good food choices is paying off! AND NO SODA! I am looking forward to our first weigh in on Tuesday!
The day I look forward to a weigh-in is the day they’ve carted my chubby self way under a sheet.
So today was the day….let’s see…the good news is I didn’t gain weight…I didn’t lose as much as expected, but I’m keeping at it. Sgt. Taylor has me on a 1,100 calorie diet, and I’ve been pretty strick with that starting this past weekend. So I’m hoping it will pay off.
My new favorite food (only b/c I can’t have a big bowl of Cherry Cordial ice cream any more) is a Boca Burger! Mmm…tonight I made one and topped it with onions and a little blue cheese! Oh, it was deee-lish! Best part of all, the burger is only 100 calories..so add on a little bit of cheese and we’re probably only talking about 150 calories, tops!
I’m satisfied and feeling good…tomorrow I’m sure will be a different story, as I actually RAN for 10 minutes today PLUS Sgt. Taylor provided her own buns of steel routine for me! Whew..I felt the burn!
Yesterday I had to send out an angry e-mail. Angry because some people have been losing focus. Angry because some people are not making good food choices. Angry because I want results- and I will get my results by any means necessary. I know that I can be heard from outside of the Fitness Center yelling for people to push harder, run faster and punch faster, but I don’t care. They will thank me later.
Check this out! WTHR, the NBC affiliate here in INdianapolis, took note of our Biggest Loser Contest. Led by Anne Marie Tiernan, their anchor, WTHR is hosting on a similar challenge. It’s great to see so many people focused on working out and getting into shape!
Check it out at: http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7610504&nav=menu188_6
The Biggest Loser Contestants have upped their game
And this time the women took over
A.L. Biggest Loser Challenge has awarded its second prize of Salsa Lessons to:
Jackie Browning
Jackie lost a total of 3.5% of her body weight.
“Weigh” to go Jackie!
The next Biggest Loser challenge will be
The Plank Crowning
Biggest Loser contestants can compete
March 3rd – March 7th
For the best plank time.
You can compete as many times as you would like
And the player with the best time by March 7th will win a prize and
Be crowned King or Queen of The Plank
Jeff Schenkman
Is the King of The Plank
With a time of
5 minutes and 45 seconds.
Jeff will be receiving a
$25.00 gift card courtesy of The Running Company.