No Sugar New Year Challenge (Page 35)

Ok 11:00 PM I weighed in at 260.  down 24 lbs for the contest. 8.45 % weight loss for the period no dings. The funny thing is my friends birthday is tomorrow, and we were talking about the cake she was making which Cake, Ice Cream, More Cake, and Frosting. I think I just went into a diabetic coma an may need some Ben and Jerry's stat just thinking about it.

 No dings for the contest, I am toying with the idea of doing this again. I have turned to vegatarian eating in most of my meals, and toying with the idea of making that a complete lifestyle change to. The biggest thing for me is no more diet sodas, and the junk is completely out of my diet. Chips, Ice Cream, cookies, those were my bag goto comfort foods. And this has lead to making better food choices all around. This 3rd ingredient rule was absolutely key to the contest DC. It made me look closely at labels in the store and find better choices.

With 34 lbs lost since Dec 16th, I am well on my way to being sub 200 by 2010. I owe this website, you guys my support network, and this challenge so much. I don't think it was good enough to win, because if I did my calculation right I think KathyG only needs to drop one lb from where she was at, and with those calorie deficit she was talking about I suspect she is gonna see a big drop.

I will post some before and afters in a bit. I am going to be in the next challenge, but I expect some slip ups honestly. I am really craving an ice cream run at midnight in fact, but wont do it. :-)

Thanks everyone for the support, friendship, and challenge. I owe you all a lot.

Ray

Nope you won congrats!!!!

I'm down 14 pounds or if my math is right 8%...a bit frustrated with pretty big calorie deficit last 3 weeks of most days 600-800 calories but weight didn't drop like I'd expect with only 1 pound drop in 3 weeks. Math doesn't always work with calories in and out. I am not sure doing 3 hours of cardio a day is ideal way to lose weight. I'm back to around 20% body fat for being a 47 year old women is excellent.

What I learned doing this challenge:

• I don't miss diet Pepsi...this was huge for me...water is so much better for me
  
• Weight loss is a journey and patience is important
• Eating food as natural as possible is yummy and better for me
• Doing a challenge with friends is motivating
  
• First 6 weeks inspired me to think yes I can get to my goal body fat of 15% but last 3 weeks made me wonder if that is possible
  
• I don't think long term I can eat black and white, but need to learn to eat gray. Yes not eating sugar and sugar substitutes is a good life choice but learning to eat some in moderation and not have it be a trigger to go off the deep end is important. I have been on this journey since 4/03 and idea of not eating sugar for 6 years is not possible.
  

This is where I started back in '03....

Changed me...

Awesome pics Kathy.  And I agree with each every point you've made. 

UPDATE: Moves and KathyG are sooo close. 

Nothing will be made official till AFTER 6PM tonight

Everyone, GET YOUR WEIGHTS POSTED!!

Ok, just posted it at 8 PM I logged it yesterday on the forum. If you have to DQ me, I understand. Great job Kathy! I am -8.5% if I did my math right. Stating at 284 lbs, I think I had an unfair advantage.

A long journey still to go. Here are my befores and afters. Still not pretty but getting there.

Ok someone tell me how to post them to the forum they are saved in my album.

Okay, I just got home from a 3-hour meeting so I'm beat. 

The Winner of the Challenge will be announced tomorrow around 9 AM ET. 

Sleep tight everyone.  Lots of snowball throwing and sleigh riding up here on Long Island.  As Super-Velo would say, Wa-hooooooooooo!!!

http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=10979&photoid=95876

There is a link to my Before and After. I can't get it to imbed yet.

Think I got it. I wish it looked better actually. I don't see as big of a change as I expected. Here's to hopefully a Picture I can post at 230 in 2 more months.

(beforeafter030109.jpg)

And the Winner is Moves327!!  Congratulations Ray!

Moves took to this challenge with great motivation and desire and lost the largest amount of pure weight and total percentage weight!!  He displayed an immense amount of focus and discipline and it all payed off for him -- big time! 

Fantastic pics Ray, you've undergone an amazing transformation!  I can't wait to read your first Triathlon Race Report!  I know I will be following your blog and I wish you much continued success on your journey to becoming a fit and healthy Triathlete. 

A big shout-out to our runner-up KathyG!  You, too, are a huge inspiration and I'm happy to announce you as the official Runner-Up Winner!

As I've mentioned before, this contest has been life-changing for me.  I've made huge changes in my daily diet and I am determined to continue to carry these new healthy habits throughout my daily life. 

It's ironic that at the same time this contest is ending a new trend is sweeping the food industry.  Major names such as Coca-Cola ( http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/food/side/6276502.html) and Snapple, just to name a few, are removing High Fructose Corn Syrup and replacing it with regular good ol' sugar.  Although, regular sugar is still not good, it's better then HFCS.  One of the main purposes of this Contest was to remove HFCS and to do so, it was just easier to remove all processed sugar. 

Thank You to Everyone who Participated in this Contest.  And I'll see you guys in TryTryTry's new No Sugar Spring Challenge.

Happy and Safe Training, and Safe Eating   This was truly and awesome experience and I am a better person for having created it.  Thank you BT.

x2!!!  wow, amazing job!

I still haven't had a Diet Coke and the only sugar I have had is birthday cake and ice cream on Sunday, which is allowed under the birthday exception.  I only had a very small amount of each and found that it was so-so.

I didn't want to join the next challenge, but my personal challenge is to see how long I can go on this one.  Since I have given myself "permission" to have Diet Coke or small amounts of WW ice cream or whatever, this is really empowering.  I have the choice whether to have these things or not.  I mean, I plan to.  But I am glad that three days into "freedom" and I haven't yet.  

Is anyone still reading this thread?  How has your life been different these last three days?  I guess this is directed to the people who didn't join the new challenge.

Hey leah,

No change I started the new challenge and it's business as usual. I read the thread when it upadates, so keep us in the loop on how you are doing!