Week 2 on the 1-2-3 Slim-Fast Diet - 4 Pounds Lost

Last week, I started a healthy challenge with my six members of my family.  We are using Facebook to check in and encourage one another.  My oldest and I have been using the Slim-Fast line of products to accomplish our goals.  Since last Monday, I have lost four pounds.  I'm still waiting for her weigh in but was very pleased to see the loss.  My other family members are losing too and with this mornings check in for three of us, combined, we have lost 12 pounds in a week.  We are not starving and we are eating.  For myself, the 1-2-3 Slim-Fast new shakes are now available with lids so it makes it easy to take with you.  They are very, very good ..did I say VERY good?  That is just one part of the diet as it's a complete meal plan.

The online Slim-Fast site allows you to enter your profile, how much you weight and how much you want to lose.  It provides a guide in getting to your goal in a safe manner.  Here is a summary of what your average day is like:

• A meal bar or shake for breakfast and lunch (approximately 190 calories)
• Three 100 calorie snacks throughout the day with helpful suggestions on smart choices like almonds or apples or convenient snacks such as their snack bars which are really good.
• One 500 calories sensible meal which they provide great tasting recipes to help you make the journey easier.

The shakes are my favorite.  They are rich and you cannot tell they are a diet type product since they don't have that old fiber taste of other brands and they don't leave a horrible after taste.  They are amazingly good.  With the new lids, it makes it easier to take on the go too.  The 500 calorie meals for the 3-2-1 plan include filling your plate 1/2 full of vegetables, 1/4 starch and 1/4 lean protein.  This is a sensible approach in losing and maintaining weight.  The plan allows you to track your progress and encourages water intake and exercise.  It's a smart plan to use in losing weight in a better way as it's slow and it helps to incorporate a lifestyle or behavioral change.

Updated:  I forgot to mention that I have been exercising nearly every day for almost an hour on my recumbent bike.  My daughter has lost two pounds!

So this past week, I lost four pounds.  Stay tuned as I share mine and my family's journey in getting healthy!

To read my first post, please click on the Slim-Fast post here.


*Disclaimer:  I did receive complimentary product but the posts are my opinions and I was not obligated to post.

Subway & Biggest Loser: Great Deals & Inspiration

I posted what is below earlier in the week and wanted to update it as with my latest weight loss challenge, I'm fully committed after reading a few books, continuing my addiction to Biggest Loser and just wanting to have more energy and feel good.

Yesterday for lunch, my daughter told me about the 280 calorie turkey 6" sub.  Given that I'm counting calories and wanting something with a multi-grain or whole wheat bread, this was the perfect choice for me.  What's great about the 6" subs is you can cut them in half and graze on them for a few hours.  Grazing is the name of the game from what I'm reading in several books.

What I found while reviewing the Subway site is that they actually do compliment their products with the advice of a dietitian and a nutrition specialist.  There is a page dedicated to nutrition, advice and videos: http://www.subway.com/subwayroot/MenuNutrition/index.aspx.

I was insprired by Jared but never really jumped on the bandwagon as I'm a yo-yo Atkins girl which would leave Subway out most of the time but I am a carb craver so having the 9 grain bread is excellent for my tastes.

If you are like me, you need inspiration and motivation.  I prefer getting my motivation from watching the Biggest Loser who is always touting the benefits of Subway.  This diet, I'm giving Subway a chance.

My biggest TV vice is The Biggest Loser and I'm addicted!  If you watch the show, you know that they team up with Subway for their meals at times.  Subway has a deal right now where you can download a free Biggest Loser workout mix.

You can even join the Pound for Pound Challenge and raise money for charity by going here: http://www.pfpchallenge.com/

Last season's winner, Shay, is the big challenger with Subway to lose the rest of her weight.  Shay had a sad story growing up with an addicted mother who later died prematurely.  Shay turned to food and was the largest woman in Biggest Loser history. For every pound Shay loses, Subway will give her $1,000!

As part of Subway's path to helping more lose weight, their site is full of inspirational zones to get you off to the right start:  http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/biggestloser/shay_press_release.asp

Become a fan of Subway on Facebook and enter their sweepstakes to win a $50 gift card.

Biggest Loser Almost Wrapping Up Another Season & Colts Won Again!

My vice is The Biggest Loser so it's the only thing I tune into on a regular basis other than watching the Indianapolis Colts play (Go Peyton!).  Our TV usually blares episodes of Sponge Bob, Kai Lan, Wuzby and whoever else it is that I can't recall.  I love the coaches and love how they play good cop/bad cop with the contestants.  Jillian needs to be my coach to help me lose weight!  She's a lean, mean, fighting machine!

This past week's Biggest Loser was make over week so it was a little boring but great to see these contestants go from being overly obese to WOW!  Last season, my favorate was Tara and I'm favoring Alan since my favorite, Abby was eliminated.  If you ever need a good cry or need to feel blessed for what you have, go to the Biggest Loser page and look up Abby's story.

My own fitness challenge has three people but these two ladies that joined me are amazing!  They have already lost weight since we started and are my inspiration!  Way to go ladies!

If you missed The Biggest Loser and need a kick start motivator, check out the make over pics here.

Forgot to mention, my Colts won!  Go Peyton!!!  I'll always be a Hoosier at heart!

10-0

Virtual Step Up and Get Fit Challenge Update

The challenge is on and after only

ONE WEEK,

MaryAnn has lost 5.4 pounds!

Great job, MaryAnn! 

Colleen lost 1.5 pounds!!! 

Great job, Colleen!

Carrie lost 2.8 pounds!!!

Great Job, Carrie!

I've lost ..... 0!!!! Shame on me!  I was wrong!  I lost 2 pounds!

11.7 Pounds in ONE week total!

Give some support and look at the participant's blog:

http://momsjournel.blogspot.com/ <-- MaryAnn
http://miiandmywiifamily.blogspot.com/ <-- Colleen
The princess and the monkey <-- Colleen


Keep up the great work and you have a lot of time to be the ultimate winner!

Next week is prize day!  Submit your weigh in on Monday and the biggest loser wins!

Other participants have a blog?  Send it to me!

Didn't sign up and still want to, it's not too late!  Join us!

The 48-Hour Weight-Loss Jump Start Tips

FitnessMagazine.com has a terrific article on how to jump start your diet plan.

Can You Really Lose Weight in 48 Hours?


The short answer to what you really want to know: no, it's unlikely you'll lose any real weight in 48 hours. "Experts recommend a safe level of losing two pounds per week," says FITNESS magazine's Fitness Director, Mary Christ Anderson. "One pound equals 3,500 calories, so to lose a pound in two days, you'd need to eat 2,500 fewer calories" -- a crash diet that, really, no one should ever attempt.

However, it is possible to start developing healthy exercise and eating habits in just two days, which will set you up to drop the weight that you want -- five pounds, 10 pounds, or more.

Go here to read the entire article and plan.

It's a sensible plan and really the smartest way to gear to join us in the Step Up to Slim Down Challenge and win giveaways and LOSE weight! 

What better reason do you need than that?