WEEK THREE: KANSAS CITY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE

KANSAS CITY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE by KC Fit Magazine.

Click here to view my week three interview!

WEEK THREE RESULTS: 4th place

WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN: -1.4 lbs

TOTAL: -14.0 lbs

Saying goodbye to week 3 and heading on towards week FOUR!!!  So far all contestants survived the "Week Two Blues" Ya know, the week that is commonly dreaded by most after BIG week one losses which typically are countered by a "frozen scale," GAIN or itty bitty drop.  I think most handled week 2 with grace and blew those misconceptions out of the water!  Week 3 held some new challenges - mainly SUMMER HOLIDAY!  4th of July fell smack dab in the middle of our weigh in week and for most it presented many familar temptations that needed to be overcome.  BBQ's, family recipes, summertime desserts, alcohol, appetizers and all the works.  Needless to say, it was a C-H-A-L-L-E-N-G-E!

BIG CONGRATS to Sandy Hill who took over 2nd place with 5.4 lbs lost this week.  Chris Wilson is still holding strong with a good 2% lead holding down his 1st place.  For such a hard week, I'm proud of everyone's positive results.  This challenge is not only motivating us as individuals but its a public example of how hard work and diligence pay off with GREAT results!

As for my week - I'm thankful for my 1 lb loss, however, I really wanted to pull more.  "A loss is a loss," and by no means are you going to hear me grumble about 14 lbs lost in 3 weeks.  Sometimes you HAVE to step back and see the bigger picture in order to keep yourself from being disappointed.  For me, the greatest enemy against me was a good ol' friend who we'll call "Aunt Flo" to be socially correct. :)  She usually shows up right on time accompanied by water weight gain, swelling, irritability and fatigure.  Oh yea, what a wonderful "house guest" to have the week you were hoping to catch up a bit.  From Aunt Flo's arrival on Monday until the official weigh in on Wednesday - she helped store nearly 3 extra pounds in this body of mine.  Gotta love her. :)

OH well, it is what it is and Jillian Michaels showed up right on time as usual with the Jillian Michaels newsletter I receive - it was titled "Five Tips for Taming PMS."  GUESS WHAT?  #1 was EXERCISE.  Yep, you got it!  Last week I hit hardcore two-a-days and refused to weigh myself again until our next weigh in...I hope something gives.

ENJOY!

FROM JILLIAN MICHAELS NEWSLETTER:

The good news is that there are ways to tame PMS naturally. Try these five tips:

Exercise! You may not want to, but get in your workout anyway. The endorphin rush will help relieve cramps and raise your levels of serotonin, a mood-lifting neurotransmitter.

Get some R&R. Adequate sleep and less stress will put you in a better hormonal position to handle the physiological imbalance that PMS brings.

Cut out most alcohol, caffeine, and salt. Alcohol can exacerbate feelings of depression, so steer clear. Reducing caffeine may minimize breast tenderness and irritability, and cutting salt can reduce bloat.

Minimize simple sugars. Ideally, you're doing this all the time, but it's especially important before your period. Simple sugars may increase inflammation, making cramps feel worse. Eating regular meals and snacks with fiber and protein will help keep your blood sugar stable, which is a lot better for those raw nerves than blood-sugar swings.

Consider supplements. Calcium may reduce symptoms of PMS, so shoot for at least 1,200 mg a day. Magnesium is also helpful, as are B complex vitamins. To reduce the inflammation of cramps and breast tenderness, try a primrose-oil supplement; it's a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory that may work in ways similar to ibuprofen.

Verse of the Day:
 
“Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”- Matthew 4:4