18 Pounds and Two Weeks Left at Health Club in Auburn, WA
Here I was hanging around a bunch of losers at the health club in Auburn, WA at 7:00 pm last Thursday. Because they were losers they are all BIG winners. I am in awe and appreciation of each person who went to the scale in the front of the room to weigh in. Some have amazing weight loss in the first 10 weeks. (One person has lost over 40 pounds.) Others lost not as much but are still moving forward.
The Biggest Loser Competition at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness was something I would walk by and say "not for me". There is so much hype around the TV show where participants cry, suffer, and tantrum. That is TV. I have lost 18 pounds in 10 weeks (as of this moment there are only 16 days to go) and have done so by following a specific meal plan, adding supplements, working out 30 to 40 minutes each day, drinking WATER (in reality I drink green tea) and not giving up.
I used to walk by and see a bunch of overweight people working out through the window. What the heck was wrong with that picture, I would ask. The problem was that I forgot to look at the reflection in the window of ME. That is what was wrong. I was on the wrong side of the glass.
Brad Swartz had said at the beginning: "Mike, we want the weight loss experience at Vision Quest to be fast, easy, and fun.' I can't say honestly that "fun" is on my list but then I am mostly a geek, and the computer, camera, books and people are my "fun". Even with missing about 10% of scheduled workout days, you have to admit my progress is pretty good. (18 pounds won't win a prize though.) During the first 10 weeks I was sore a few days when I tried to push it. When I am on cardio equipment, I count the minutes down one by one. The benefit, of course, is that I can now bend over and pick up a pencil from the floor without needing to find someone or something to lean on.
So we are coming down to the wire. There is NO excuse for not hitting my target (though Easter was very tough as Cherie cooked up an amazing feast). The question will not be if I can lose the remaining 2 pounds to hit my goal. The question is: How much more than the 20 pound target will I lose? Every weigh-in, they post the top 25 participants based on weight loss percentage. I have never been in the top 25 as of yet. Maybe if I add five minutes a day and skim a few calories a day, I might hit a magic number that puts my name in the top 25.
The final question:
Biggest Loser VII is coming up around the bend. Vision Quest has locations in Seattle, Kent, Auburn, Puyallup. Do I go for another 20? Want to do it with me? Have I made a case that it may not be quite as tough as it seems?
OR... maybe you will do it where you are while I do it here. I am looking for a buddy. Crystal was my buddy the Biggest Loser VI. She is amazing with a loss of 14 pounds thus far. Next time? Do you want to be here? Let me know at buddy@biglosermike.com.
