RCI Biggest (Healthiest) Loser

Cozy Beehive: The Anatomy Of A Cancellara Attack

2010-06-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Cozy Beehive: The Anatomy Of A Cancellara Attack

HAPPY HOLIDAYS and MERRY NEW YEAR!!

2009-12-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

Most of the ProMotion staff: Front - George, Wendy and Nicole. Middle - Sarah and Vanessa. Rear - Tom, John and Chris. Laura was off, devising devilish new strategies for No Knees Knockout!

Some key info to take you into the New Year as STRONG as you can be!!

1. Remember ALL those tips and tricks and tactics we reviewed and reviewed and REVIEWED for the Thanksgiving Holiday - they ALL APPLY to this long, extended, two-week festival of friends, family, and over-indulgence. To put it simply: DON"T!

2. Starting right off on January 4th, the complete slate of BHL group exercise classes will be held, in the time slots that you know them. All classes EXCEPT yoga will be in the Fitness Center - Yoga classes will be held in the new "Rec Room".

3. (Yes, there are some classes this week - leading into Christmas - and next week - leading into New Year's).

4. Look for some improvements to the exercise class schedule going forward. For instance - we MAY be adding another 7:30 am "SweatFest" on Tuesdays.

5. The very BEST WAY to make sure your favorite class keeps its place in the schedule is to SHOW UP regularly and bring friends! Attendance counts!

6. Regular circuit classes (with John) on the 21st and 23rd. No circuit classes on the 28th and 29th.

7. Was the BHL Celebration Party fun or WHAT!?!?!?

8. Hard copies of your photos are available from John in the Fitness Center. Also, official "BHL" certificates of completion are available too - we've handed a lot of them out, but still have several. Placed on your desk at work, they might serve as a reminder of your hard work and encourage you not to BLOW IT!

9. The Mini Marathon is full and registration for the 13.1 mile race is closed (the 5k is still open). HOWEVER - if you want to run the long one, LET US KNOW! Wendy and I have always been able to get anyone who wanted it a registration! We also have some exciting training programs to make available to you if you are interested. They are a little unorthodox, but effective!

10. We're looking for special fitness and wellness stories from the Holidays to share with the ProMotion Fitness community. Pass them along to Wendy or John, and you just might find yourself published on the World Wide Web (or at least this little blog). Remember, fitness and wellness doesn't always involve sweat, but it DOES always involve breath.....

namaste,

John and Wendy

2624 POUNDS (the devil is in the details)

2009-12-13T14:26:00.000-08:00

In case anyone is wondering, that poundage above represents an average of 5.06% weight loss during the 12-weeks of the program at RCI.

We've already shared that the Overall Winner was Matt Mays, and he was followed by Keith Miller, Christy Mathis and Mary Worden. Rounding out the Top Ten overall were:

James Lewis (work-mate and buddy of Matt "Yellow Team winner, Lisa Adomatis)
Mary Benson (who gave Keith and Christy a real run for the "Red Team" win)
Jacob Roach (who with his wife, Cindy, won the "Buddies" competition!)
Tanya Fields (she returned as a circuit class regular during the program)
Kelly Jones (who discovered she could work SO HARD!)
Danny Dunn (able to stay in the top ten the entire contest!)

In addition to the "Buddies Team" mentioned above, we had "Red", "Orange", "Yellow", "Green" and "Field" teams. Lastly, there was also a chance for one of the participants eliminated along the way to keep after it and win, too!

Field Team Winner: LuAnne Moore

Green Team Winner: Heidi Jungbauer

Eliminated Team Winner: Jeff Thomas

Red Team Top Ten:
Keith Miller
Christy Mathis
Mary Benson
Jacob Roach
Danny Dunn
Tia Kersey
Gregg Humerickhouse
Ileana Gonzalez
Chad Kestner
Linda Watson

Orange Team Top Ten:
Mary Worden
James Lewis
Tanya Fields
Kelly Jones
Hassen Hammoud
David Olson
Lori White
Doug Charles
Sam Hutchings
Michael Downs

Yellow Team Top Ten
Lisa Adomatis
Linda Rice
Corey Pritt
Kristy Robbins
Julie Wolfe
Mary Ellen Diemer
Sue Goodwin
Tammy Brown
Stacey Clore
Craig Spaid

In the "Team Competition", the Yellow Team won, with an average of 5.45% weight loss. Orange was 2nd at 5.13%, Field third with 4.46% and the Red Team finished with an average of 4.4%.

And lastly, we had the "Doug Charles Challenge" - everyone who beat Doug in % weight loss earned "lunch on Doug"! In addition to the top ten overall, Doug will be buying lunch for:
Hassen Hammoud
David Olson
Lisa Adomatis
Lori White
Linda Rice
Corey Pritt
Kristy Robbins

2624 POUNDS!!

2009-12-13T14:09:00.000-08:00

That's right - two thousand, six hundred and twenty-four pounds lost in 12 weeks of RCI/ProMotion Fitness' "Biggest/Healthiest Loser"!! So much to share - so many inspiring stories - where to start....

We'll start at the end (alpha/omega, as it were) - below is Coach Nicole and Overall Winner, Matt Mays! Matt lost an incredible 21.47% during the 12 weeks of the contest, 61 pounds. At the very first weigh in, in a moment to ourselves, Matt quietly and confidently confided that he was going to win this contest. He didn't disappoint - and he put in all the hard work and discipline that it took. He used all of the coaches, attended every meeting, and followed the plan to the letter. The plan WORKS. And "work works!" and "big work works BIG"!

Here is Keith Miller - second place finisher and winner of the "Red Team". Keith withstood a lot of questions and disgruntlement along the way, with several proclaiming that he was "too fit" to participate in the contest. Well - his results show us that even those that are maybe more fit than others can STILL have a ways to go to optimizing their health and well-being. Keith lost 19.51% of his body weight.

Next, we have Christy Mathis, third place overall and first female! Christy was also a "Red Team" member and put in plenty of hard work, too! Let her tell you about how many dress sizes she dropped, and her upcoming bikini shopping outing.

Christy is also standing in front of the 2624 POUNDS of food that RCI collected and donated to Gleanor's Food Bank - one pound of food for every pound lost by the participants in the "Biggest/Healthiest Loser" program. Christy, as well as several others (Matt, Mary Worden, Linda Rice, Mary Ellen Diemer and many more) brought in her own "weight-loss-in-food" to add to the pile of nourishment and nutrition going to Gleanor's.

Next, we have Mary Worden, winner of the "Orange Team" and fourth place overall. Mary really took advantage of the added slate of group exercise classes.

Next up, we have a shot of the entire ProMotion Fitness coaching staff. You just won't find a better group than this one, to do what was done in the BHL program. Heart and soul, passion and energy: They brought it every day.

Out front is ProMotion's "heart and soul" (and co-owner), Coach Wendy. Behind her, left to right, are Coach Vanessa, Coach laura, Coach Tom, Coach Chris, George (who is now qualified to make a living guessing weights at the State Fair), and Coach Nicole.

In the photo below, we have Matt receiving his winner's check from the inspiration and master-mind behind RCI's effort to make a BIG DIFFERENCE in the health and well-being of the workforce at RCI - Mark Koning.

And we'll leave you for now with this final shot - Matt and his wife at the awards party. The "Biggest/Healthiest Loser" program changes lives - it's not just a weight loss contest. With this one - we make a difference...

An Inspiration!

2009-11-27T12:12:00.000-08:00

Please check out the following story from an RCI field participant in the "Biggest/Healthiest Loser" - Some of you may know her:

Thank you for supporting my participation in the Breast Cancer 3-Day. I did it! I gave my heart, soul, sweat and tears for three days. I suffered a shin splint but I kept on walking. Why? ...I walked because my son will never know my Tante Voute. I walked for my Tante Janine. I walked because my friend Jacky always makes me smile. I walked for all who bravely fight this disease. I walked because I could and everyone deserves a lifetime.

It was an incredible 60-mile journey and I have so many wonderful memories. If any of you are familiar with San Diego County here is how it started:

Opening Ceremonies were at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. ....and yes it was COLD!!! ...but we were off and walking to downtown Del Mar, followed by the picturesque La Jolla Shores boardwalk, an Elvis sighting before lunch, SDFD Station #13, balloon bouquets in Bird Rock and homemade treats from Bird Rock Elementary School and a local Brownie troop. After a long day of walking we were greeted at Crown Point Shores where "tent angels" helped us pitch our tents. I heard there was a band playing but I was too tired so I took a hot shower....yes we had mobile showers and towel service available. After that I ate dinner and went to bed. Wow...Friday night and in bed by 8:30 p.m.!!!!

I was up at 5:15 am "ish" on Saturday morning ready to hit the trail again. We walked through Point Loma and saw a Pair Tree (a tree decorated with pairs of breast), passed some beautiful homes and sailboats along Sunset Cliffs. All along the route we were escorted by the San Jose and San Diego Police Departments who rode their bicycles beside us. Plus the many people who cheered us on like:

Smile Guy and his daughter Little Grin, the Dancing Ballerinas sang:

"1, 2, 3 Shake your boobies
3, 2, 1 Keep walking till you're done
1, 2, 3 Shake your boobies
3, 2, 1 We're dancing till you're done."

South Beach Restaurant handed out sodas and Kleenex, "Hugs 4 Jugs" passed out water, the Hookers for Hooters walked the streets, the Titi Tavern passed out special treats, dogs dressed up to support the cure at Dog Beach, cheerleaders welcomed us to the lunch stop and Team Tami showered us with pink Gerber daisies on the way out. Bonita Fire Department showed their support and we got a glimpse of reality stardom at a pit stop with Gillian Larson from "Survivor" and other reality shows. Pit stop 4 featured a free hug fairy, and the San Diego Police helicopter cheered us from the air.

Our final day of walking featured the Madcaps mother/daughter group along the SD Channel Bike Path, Surf Cities National Charity League in Heritage Park, a pink Mission Hills Nursery, Roosevelt Middle School cheerleaders, cheering by SD Enforcer's Football League and a serenade from Francis Parker School students. Our incredible journey ended with a celebratory Closing Ceremony at Petco Park.

Because of your generosity and support The 3 day raised over $9 million to help end breast cancer. For more information about the 3-Day and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, visit www.The3Day.org.

A special thanks to my friends Laura White, Lynne Titcomb, and Felecia Walker who were there to help me with my son Max and encourage me along the way. To my "office husband...LOL", Phil Kasavage who was very supportive of me. To Pick-Up Stix Restaurants (Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Hillcrest locations), Jill @ Encinitas Facelogic, and Annette w/The Pampered Chef, who helped me with my fundraisings. Thanks also to my teammates Suzi and Stephanie...we did it ladies!!!

Thank you all for making this possible. Maybe next year, you can join me!

You are Simply the BREAST!!

Love,

Jianie Bernard

Now, here's something you might not know either - we had our OWN, Indy office participant in a three-day, 60 mile breast cancer walk fund-raising challenge: CHARLENE CHEATHAM!

Hope you're all having a great holiday weekend, and see you all Monday!

Getting Set for a HEALTHY THANKSGIVING!!

2009-11-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hope you're all committing to your soul the strategies for not only surviving but conquering the Thanksgiving holiday, some of which are:
1. Apportion your plate in quarters - one quarter for meat, one quarter for a hearty whole grain, and the remaining half for veggies.
2. Bring your own healthy options - create a new tradition!
3. Be sure to eat breakfast - making yourself overly hungry can really backfire.
4. Add some workout time for days leading up to and days following the "big day".
5. Throttle down the carb intake some for the days leading up to and following.
6. Let your friends and family know your intentions and be specific in how they can help.
7. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate.
8. Control portions
9. Go for that special homemade specialty (in moderation) and skip the store-bought posers.

A couple thoughts from John's high school track coach (Marshall Sellers - Elkhart Central) -
a. Work works - doesn't get much more simple nor direct than that.
b. Big work works big - duh!

Don't Forget! Biggest Loser Bill Germanakos will be on the NBC morning show tomorrow!! And he will be in a segment on Wednesday evening's "Biggest Loser" where-are-they-now special.

Some Highlights and Key Points from this evening's NBC "BIGGEST LOSER" episode:
1. Amazing progress seen in the gym as the contestants lifted weights and ran at speeds that put them over the edge at the start, but which they handle EASILY now - I bet many of you have your own similar story?
2. The product plugs on the show are not very classy. All I should say about that.
3. So, did the challenge on the football field remind you of the group discussions we had two weeks ago - pretty amazing, don't you think? I mean, do you think we consulted the producers or something? Maybe ProMotion Fitness is consulting with NBC on the side?
4. It was said that one in three kids in the US are obese. Man - we need to DO SOMETHING! Take what you've learned in the BHL and from your coaches and share it with ALL your loved ones! And take those kids out for a long, fast walk.
5. Y'all heard Danny's song, right? Well, did you know he played bass for Donny Osmond once upon a time? That's right - former profesional musician.
6. OKAY - the suspense is over. Wendy and John had dinner with Allen last Wednesday - and now we know he will not be the WINNER of this season - but I gotta tell you, the guy is flat out AWESOME! BTW, he's not only a fireman, but also the Bartholomew County coroner. A political office.....

okay, that's all I got - signing off....you'll have to tell me about Allen on Leno tomorrow.....

PHOTOS from EARN THE BIRD!!

2009-11-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

WOW! What a GREAT day in the park! The weather was perfect, the trail pristine, and the company grand as about 40 people joined Coaches Wendy, Brian (Wendy's husband), John, Laura, George and Vanessa. We had children young and not-so-young. We had dogs, we had strollers, we had it ALL! Following are a BUNCH of pictures, and some commentary.

(Warning - commentary on photos may be 100% factual and accurate, or it just as well might be completely farcical and facetious - readers beware!)

Keith Miller, raring to go - 4th place overall and he's out here EARNING his BIRD!

Coach Brian tried to run hard enough so that Keith couldn't ask too many questions...

Coach Laura was there, smilin' and hikin' and runnin' with her crew!

David Olson was pretty happy, at least before we started! He's another one in the Top Ten who is walking the walk!

Mary Ellen Diemer, "So you see, I went up this ramp this way, and sort of had to dodge John, who was coming down at me the other way....."

Folks, this is Matt Mays - he's been sorta like Biggest Loser Bill, leading overall in the contest the whole way. He showed up, 'cause he knows what's good for him. (Coach Nicole would have throttled him had he not been there!)

This is the Roachs, Cindy and Jacob - leaders of the TEAM competition. Noticing the pattern yet? Let me give you a hint - those who are doing well with the whole PROCESS are willing to step outside their comfort zone, sacrifice from what they would "normally" do, and create some heat and sweat.

Linda Rice was pretty happy to see George, I think.

Tanya Fields, graduate of prestigious Fields University, had some weird devices hanging about her neck and later sticking out of her ears - looked painful. Hope she didn't miss too much of the wonderful natural sounds happening all around her!

The Dormanns - Amy the Cute One, Tom the scruffy one.

That's Wendy's daughter, Jessica Ann in the pink. And her across-the-street buddy, Mallory. They start them out young in Coach Cooper's neighborhood!

Sam Hutchings and her husband. Ask Wendy or John who won the day's "WARRIOR AWARD" and why!

Esther Grisham (is she related to John?) She was the ONLY ONE to wear their BHL tee shirt, and MAN, she looked good in it!

Mazda Salour, who eked his way onto the "Eliminated Team", had the motivation to not only show up, but complete a long and arduous hike while experiencing bad calf cramps almost from the start. Without reveling who was the overall Warrior of the Day, I will say that Mazda was a very close second!

Angela Green and her beautiful daughter (that's a Pike highschool Powder Puff football jersey she's wearing!)

Kerry and Dan Patterson. BHL Kerry left big strong hubby in the dust! As Coach John passed Dan on a long uphill gnarly part of the trail, Dan remarked to John, "Man, you must have good lungs". Dan - you have no idea....

Know what these are? Nope, not socks - those are SHOES!

Wanna guess whose feet they were on?

Before we headed out, Coach Wendy led some stretches. Immediately behind Cindy's left elbow one can spy Molly, Coach John's bike. Nope, he did not make it back home before dark.

Molly Walkup and her son. She came with her husband, a stroller and another little one!

Michelle Churchwell and Coach Vanessa having a great time out on the trail. Behind them is Sam and her husband, and behind them is Kerri Brinson Morris!

Christine Price, Linda Rice and Melissa Helmick kept up a really strong pace throughout.

Coach Wendy, Sam and her husband making their way up a rise. Up ahead on the trail, barely visible, is Mallory and Wendy's daughter, Jessica.

Jacob Roach and Coach George Gill enjoying themselves back at the finish line.

George, who rode his bike to the park, had to leave in a hurry because he was also cantoring at mass in the evening - that's a FULL day!

Tia Kersey at the finish. She had just finished sprinting George at the finish. Earlier, she and Keith got slightly misplaced. But made up for it and caught back up to the lead group. HEY! She has some of those goofy funny things on her head, too! Almost missed them - weird!!

UPDATE! PASS THE WORD! EARN THE BIRD!!

2009-11-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

Hey, all you RCI Biggest/Healthiest Losers (BHL'ers in ProMotion-speak)!
Y'all having FUN!?!?
Has the pot been stirred with this week's announcement and posting of "ELIMINATIONS"?

Well, the fun just never stops - always one foot in front of the other - always ever upward and onward - moving because we CAN!

Did you get yourself in some of the nifty video shooting going on this week in Vacation Plaza? Sure hope so - great publicity for all that YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED in the past several weeks - and just a preview of what and where we'll be, when and why else....

So - tomorrow, THURSDAY, November 19th, Bill Germanakos, "Biggest Loser Bill" and Mark Koning's very best buddy visits RCI for another dose of inspiration and encouragement, good times and good lessons!

And finally - and this is BIG - tell your loved ones, bring your kids and your dog - to the first annual "RCI/ProMotion Fitness Earn-the-Bird Outing"!!

Where: Eagle Creek Park

(that's a big place, so a little more detail please - okay, parking lot just inside the 56th Street entrance)

Date: Sunday, November 22nd (that's THIS SUNDAY)

Time: 2pm (sharp, not "Wendy-Time"), ready to MOVE

Who: ALL of our BHL'ers, ALL of our RCI buddies, ALL of their families, and even their doggies.

What: An "earn-the-bird" adventure through the woods and on the trails - walking, hiking, jogging, running. Hopping, leaping, pushing and pulling. The whole idea is to BURN SOME EXTRA CALORIES ahead of our ritualistic, annual feasting and giving of thanks with family and football.

There will be an appropriate pace for everyone - no one will be left behind (and if we get lost, well, we'll have company!)

The weather forecast is a 100% chance of "fun", so let's pass the word and all get out there and have some FUN!!

over and out,

the BHL Helm.

A long article, but worth the read...

2009-11-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Biggest/Healthiest Losers!

Right back at you with another interesting post. We've talked a lot about MUCH of the stuff in the following article. If you haven't been listening to Coach Wendy or Coach Chris or the other ProMotion Coaches, maybe you'll heed this report from Johns Hopkins Research Hospital (and you've ALL heard of them!)

Date: Sunday, October 11, 2009, 10:41 PM

John Hopkins Update - Good article

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY ('TRY',
BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY
STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY...

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not
show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few
billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer
cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable
to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable
size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's
lifetime.

3 When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be
destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple
nutritional deficiencies.. These could be due to genetic, environmental,
food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and
including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and
also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow,
gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver,
kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages
healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce
tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not
result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and
radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the
person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and
become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer
cells to spread to other sites..

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by
not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply..

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one
important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like
NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is
harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses,
but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make
it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-int
estinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and
substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is
acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef
or pork... Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and
parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds,
nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.
About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices
provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular
levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.
To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh
vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat som e
raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures
of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea
is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to
drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals
in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12.. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive
enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied
and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from
or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of
cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer
cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,
Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the
bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells.. Other supplements like
vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the
body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded
cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit.. A proactive and
positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger,
un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic
environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax
and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising
daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular
level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters.. This
information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as
well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins
are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your
plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the
plastic. Recently, Dr... Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at
Cast le Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He
talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should
not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This
especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the
combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food
and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using
glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food
You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV
dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc.., should be removed from the
container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't
know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning
Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food
restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin
problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as
dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the
food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out
of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel
instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

See you soon, in the Fitness Center, on the trail, in the pool, with sweat and possibilities....

WEEK EIGHT !!!

2009-11-12T17:10:00.001-08:00

Hey, Biggest HEALTHIEST Loser Gang - here we are, the end of Week Eight!

Pretty cool - four to go - and that's not LONG! Time to start thinking about the "home stretch run" and how to fine tune, step up, and put forth your very best effort.

Here is a great recipe from Corky Aiken - not playing BHL but still a supporter and watching all the great progress all of you are making along the way.

Scrambled Egg and Black Bean Burrito Filling Makes enough for 4 medium sized burritos
I am not sharing my sourdough tortilla recipe today, but it’s similar in a lot of ways to this recipe. As I was sharing this with my three year old, I made it quite mild. But you could easily add a bit more spice to this filling by adding just a bit of something like red pepper or cayenne pepper. Even better, you could serve this with a salsa, sour cream, or hot sauce. Oh, and the black beans discolors the eggs. If that bothers you, cook the eggs separate.
2 teaspoons ghee, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil1/4 cup of chopped onion1/4 red pepper, chopped1 small clove of garlic1/4-1/2 teaspoon cumin1 1/2 cups of cooked black beans3 eggs, lightly whisked
1-In a small saucepan, heat the ghee until. Add the onion and red pepper and lightly salt. Cook until the onion and red pepper are very soft and sweet. If they start to brown, turn down the heat. You want to mostly soften, not brown. Add the garlic and cumin and cook for another minute.
2-Add the black beans (you can add a bit more ghee or oil if needed), and cook until heated through. Then add the eggs. Scramble the eggs with the rest of the ingredients. I like to use a fork for this task. Salt to taste, and it’s done!

Now, when I make this one, I substitute egg whites for the eggs (I'd use 5-6 whites in place of the 3 whole eggs in the recipe).

A bit of a surprise that we didn't crest that mystical ONE TON (as in Singleton) mark last week - perhaps THIS WEEK? We do know many have gotten over the hump and are losing nicely again.

And for goodness sakes, we do hope and pray that you've all been out enjoying this fine weather we've been blessed with - one truly should take advantage of every day like today with outside fun and games and sweat and effort.

yours in health and possibilities,

The ProMotion BHL Staff (Wendy, John, Chris, Laura, Nicole, Tom, Vanessa, Sarah and George)

"ROACH SOUP" and Inspiration

2009-11-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

Roach Soup:

Here’s a fabulous, flexible, and nutritious vegetarian soup recipe:

Start with the dried beans from 1 bag of 15-bean soup. (Throw the seasoning away…WAY too much sodium!)
Soak the beans overnight, OR cover the beans with water, bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and let sit at least an hour. Pour off the water, add more fresh water and simmer. (You can also use low-sodium vegetable broth.)

While the beans are simmering add your choice of veggies. Some of our favorites:

Fresh Roma tomatoes
Canned cubed tomatoes (you can get the low-sodium version)
Diced: Celery, green pepper, carrots, onions
Mushrooms
Spinnach (fresh or frozen)

Season to taste. We like these: Garlic, Mrs. Dash, curry powder, pepper blend

Try to avoid these veggies as they are very high in carbs:
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Corn

Simmer until the beans and veggies are tender.

We used a big pot and a serving-size of 2 cups. Our pot made 11 servings at about 230 calories per serving. The protein and fiber make it very filling so you don’t get hungry very quickly.

And the following missive is from Coach Nicole, Orange Team: Great inspiration for all of us!

Last week I started telling you about What to Eat by Luise Light, .S., Ed.D. I summarized the first 5 guidelines, which are in line with what Jodi Smith (our nutritionist) told us during the past two weeks and are as follows:

1)      Eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
2)      Eat whole-grain pasta, rice, breads, and cereals.
3)      Eat certified organic foods.
4)      Eat natural fats/avoid synthetic fats (trans fats)
5)      Avoid refined starch and sugars.

The following is the next five guidelines as listed in Luise’s book:

     6) Eat wild fish and meat and eggs from range-fed, antibiotic-and hormone-free animals.   – Luise states that eating more protein and fewer carbohydrates may help you lose weight more efficiently. Toxins are stored in the fatty skin and tissues of animals (as they are in our bodies) so you will consume fewer toxins and fewer calories when you choose leaner protein foods. Wild fish from the sea are preferable to farm raised fish because they are less likely to contain heavy metals and pesticide residues.

     7) Eat several good sources of calcium. – She states that good sources of calcium are milk or cheese, canned fish with soft bones, leafy greens such as kale, mustard greens, turnip tops, and bok choy, tofu (if made with calcium sulfate) and tortillas made with lime-processed corn. Read each ingredient and nutrition label to ensure that the foods provide at least 150mg of calcium per serving.

     8) Avoid too much salt and salty foods. – Americans consume twice as much salt daily as is recommended by leading health experts. In Britain, American food manufacturers (Heinz, Kraft, McDonald’s) have reduced the sodium content of their foods in response to a government campaign to reduce sodium consumption by one-third. Why isn’t our government doing the same?

     9) Avoid processed and additive-rich foods. – AVOID when possible Artificial food colors, Nitrates, Sulfites, MSG, Food preservatives, Synthetic flavors, food waxes, plastic packaging, heat-processed soy, and Genetically modified foods. The reasons are too numerous to list here, so read the book for more info.

   10) Drink plenty of clean, filtered water. – Water is the most abundant essential substance your body needs. 70% of our bodies are made up of water, and all the chemical reactions continuously underway in our tissues and cells must take place in a watery environment. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty because that is a late signal of your body’s need for water replacement.

Other Health Promoting Habits Luise recommends:

Eat Moderate Portion Sizes
Exercise Daily
Get Enough Sleep
Use Fresh Herbs and Spices Often and Natural Supplements as Needed

Let’s keep our energy high for week 7…keep striving toward the goal!

namaste,

Wendy, John, Chris, Nicole, Laura, Tom, Vanessa, Sarah and George

Here's what's comin' at you...

2009-11-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

Here we are in Week Seven. We are having our First Elimination Week! A list of nominees will be sent out shortly, and the deal is you vote for two (2) of the nominees on your color team. Votes must be in by the end of working hours on Friday. There will be another Elimination Week during Week Ten.

(It is almost eerie how some of those on the nomination list FINALLY made contact with their coach this week, almost as if they sensed what might be coming up!)

As a reminder - those who are "eliminated" can still participate with their coach, get weighed in, etc. They all go onto the "Eliminated" Team. And the Biggest/Healthiest Loser from that team also wins!

Also, this week we have our health psychologist, Dr. Ari Gleckman, speaking at each of the group sessions - you will NOT want to miss him!

We are taking tee-shirt sizes: If you haven't given your tee-shirt size to George during your weigh in, make sure you get it to us quickly so we can attempt to get you the proper size.

Lastly, if you have had thoughts on "so what comes next?", we hope you've shared those during "Idea Week". It would be helpful to send to John and Wendy as well.

Yours in health,

your BHL Coaches (Wendy, Chris, Laura, Nicole, Sarah, Vanessa, Tom, George and John)

"Benches aren't just for sitting!"

2009-11-01T14:26:00.001-08:00

That quote above is from Coach Chris, and here is Coach Chris demonstrating! He lead some of his Yellow Team members in a jog/hike/exercise session through Eagle Creek Park this morning that was flat-out glorious!

This is what the park looked like this morning - cool, sure, but sunny and full of fall colors and smells and feelings.

Christian, Coach Chris' offspring, joined us, conspiring, perspiring and inspiring all along the way.

Here is the crew at the start, receiving some instructions and "what have I gotten myself into today" from The Coach.

After a little warm-up jaunt, we all paused for some light stretching. The "real" fun was just up the trail!

Making our way along the trail to the next station - we walked, we jogged, we hopped and skipped. We sweat, we swore, and we rejoiced.

Oh yes, Christian had FUN. He liked to be in the lead (imagine that!)

Our smiling, happy, warm, accomplished crew at the finish! Thanks to Coach Chris for organizing and leading our fun, and thanks to the YELLOW TEAM for coming out for a little adventure. (And thanks to Christian for constant, beautiful reminders of why one should strive to remain young at heart).

Don't get TRICKED, Avoid the TREATS!

2009-10-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

Dear BHL'ers - we're at the halfway point, and that is a HUGE milestone. A moment to reflect
on your accomplishments to now is warranted - but don't dwell on the past!

If you've made progress, learned some things about staying healthier, and maybe about yourself, then be proud in that, and carry on!

If you're less than pleased with the first six weeks - well, there are six more - BUCKLE DOWN! Coach Wendy recently shared the secrets of success for those at the top of the contest - there aren't any secrets - it's your choice.

Which brings me to last night's episode of NBC's "Biggest Loser" - it was interesting and entertaining, if not as poignant or insightful as some - until the end. I loved Amanda's little speeches on "CHOICES" and how the results for success all lie within us - what we get is directly the result of the choices WE make. Choose for YOU!

Here's an example: Halloween is Saturday! Lots of ghouls and goblins, and lots of SUGAR! For Halloween, over $2 BILLION of candy is bought. One-fourth of the entire annual candy sales. Does Halloween mean you HAVE to eat candy, or even hand it out to kids at the door? Nope - it's a CHOICE. It is possible to choose other things, to simply not partake, and to share the good habits that you've learned.(Some healthier ideas for treats: small little packages of raisins or sunflower seeds are available - carrots, too! Maybe you have one you'd like to share?)

Remember: DON'T GET TRICKED, AVOID THE TREATS!

Here's something else to consider, another choice to make - This Sunday, we change our clocks BACK an hour (spring forward, fall back, right?). So, you go to bed when your body thinks it's 11 (or whatever), and you set the clock back to 10 - you still need to be at work at 8 (or whenever) so you get up at seven, right? Well, that's a choice. Another choice would be to get up when your body THINKS it's 7, which would be 6 on the clock, and use that hour to - you guessed it - EXERCISE!! For all you people out there (and you know who you are) that are perpetually saying "I just don't have time to exercise"! Well, the State of Indiana and the conventional wisdom has presented you with a CHOICE that you COULD have time to exercise, and your body would hardly even notice! (At least for a day or two, and then you'd have to start going to bed at 10, I guess).

Half-Way: This is big - are you still committed!?!?!?!

And we have a WINNER!!

2009-10-23T15:46:00.001-07:00

No, not in the weight loss contest, but in one of the challenges we threw out last week: A little quiz (which can be found in an earlier post from about 10 days ago).

JULIE WOLFE - our only respondent with 100% correct answers!!

Julie wins a "Wonder Foods" cook book, which she can collect from Coach Wendy next week.

Stay tuned to this channel for another quiz coming at you in a few days!! Who knows, you might win a PRIVATE workout, or something just as cool.....

Goin' Home...

2009-10-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

So, I always think of Alvin Lee and Ten Year's After when I hear that phrase - especially the incredibly scorching live version from Woodstock (no, Coach Coop - I was not there!).....

Anyway, NBC's "The Biggest Loser" episode tonight (10/20) had a little glimpse into the question, "So, what happens at the end of twelve weeks? What do we do when the contest is over and we need to carry on 'solo' "?

What do we order when we're eating out?
How do we handle the family celebration, or picnic?
To what level are the reactions of our friends re-affirming or damaging to our progress, and what do we do about it?

Each of you are living with this on a daily basis - unlike the non-reality of the reality TV show, you're not sequestered away in a private training facility where you can workout just as long and just as hard as you want (hey - I misspoke, each of you CAN work out as hard as you want, maybe not as long, though).

But there will be a time when you won't see your ProMotion Fitness coach as frequently as you are now - you won't have the luxury of checking in every week with a log sheet and receive prompt and useful commentary that helps on your healthy journey.

So, what happens?
Where do you go?
What do you do?
How do you handle it?

We're a third of the way through the program, and your ProMotion Fitness coaches and the RCI leadership team is already putting their heads together to see where it might land....

Namaste,

WEEK FOUR UPDATE!!

2009-10-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

And the beat goes on.....

So, at the end of week four, the tally in the RCI, ProMotion Fitness "Biggest/Healthiest Loser" program continues to grow and grow - are you ready? ARE YOU READY?

One thousand, three hundred and thirty-six pounds!!

(1336 lbs.)

That is 2.44% of the weight we started with!!

And for you "competitive types" - and you know who you are - here are the NEW and REVISED top ten list. There have been some notable changes, so take note:

1. Keith Miller = 9.00%
2. Matt Mays = 8.91
3. James Lewis = 8.44
4. Danny Dunn = 8.30
5. Suzanne Goodwin = 7.53
6. Mary Benson = 7.50
7. David Olson = 7.09
8. Christy Mathis = 6.47
9. Tonya Lamer = 6.17
10. Michelle Burke = 6.04

In addition to the top ten listed above, the following people are also winning so far in the "Charles Challenge":
Hassan Hammoud
Mary Worden
Terri Cecil
Kenneth Mayfield
Craig Spaid
Corey Pritt
Paul Wheeler
Sam Schuppert
Katheryn McEntire

In closing, some VERY WISE words from Coach Chris - read carefully, it's always worth it when Coach Chris is being quoted:

"You may hear stories of others losing a lot of weight or being the current "biggest loser", and if so, let it fuel you to dig deeper and push forward rather than defeating you. What I can tell you is that many of those who saw instant results and big numbers will soon see things slow down and progress at a more gradual pace. What this means is that for those who have been consistent, or those just getting things dialed in have an excellent shot at being the overall Biggest (Healthiest) Loser."

Make it a Healthy Day, and EAT LESS, MOVE MORE!

LOCKER ROOM TALK - MINDFULNESS

2009-10-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

According to yogic practice, our outer environments are a direct reflection of our inner environment. Outer environments also effect our inner environment on many levels. Thus, working to improve our physical and emotional health will be improved by seemingly simple things like planning, organization and removing clutter from our outer environments. Being mindful of others, courteous and kind clears the mind and makes way for more healthy decisions. Crazy-Wisdom, don't you think?

As we continue our Healthy-Losing Journey together, may we all remember to be courteous, kind and un-cluttered in our:

1) Thoughts toward ourselves and others.
2) Choice of Words when speaking to one another, and (if we must) about one another.
3) Choices in the Way we Honor our Space in the Fitness Center and Locker Rooms.

With regards to #3 specifically:

A) Wipe Down your mats after each use.
B) Wipe Sweat off machines after use.
C) Place Towels in the bins provided.
D) Place Trash (uh-hmmm....) in the trash cans.

Beside being courteous, such action helps us all in preventing the spread of germs.

Namaste,

This is a TEST! This is a TEST! For the next sixty seconds.....

2009-10-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, RCI Biggest/Healthiest Losers! ProMotion Fitness is sharing with you a special little QUIZ! Everyone who submits 100% correct responses will win fame, glory, their name on the board and the un-ending envy of their fellow contestants. The FIRST 100% correct response wins a very special "WonderFoods" cookbook! This is a special treat, and just might be crucial in helping the winner of the cookbook onto VICTORY!

Here it is:

RCI/BHL QUIZ

1.    How many calories in a pound?
2.    For weight loss purposes, why is it important to eat breakfast?
3.    What is the address of the RCI/BHL blog?
4.    In which week did we top 1000 pounds of weight loss?
5.    Which NBC “The Biggest Loser” season was Bill Germanakos champion?
6.    How many RCI/BHL ProMotion Fitness coaches are there?
7.    Name three of the RCI/BHL ProMotion Fitness coaches.
8.    Who said, “Nothing like a good beating to snap you back into reality”?
9.    How many different BHL class formats (yoga, boot camp, cardio core, SweatFest, No Knees) have you tried?
10.    Which is more important to weight loss: Consistent exercise, or controlling your diet?

Over and out from the helm...

Tuesday Night "Biggest Loser" Update

2009-10-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

So, last week on NBC's "Biggest Loser", everyone dealt with a particularly difficult challenge: They had to eat out for the entire week - carry out, restaurants, it was TOUGH. One of the primary weight-loss commandments, Controlling Your Environment, had been taken away from them. It's a challenge not unlike those of us at RCI that have to travel all the time, or those who take a week of vacation, or have to go to a wedding, birthday, funeral, etc.....

Well, this week, one contestant, and only one, got precisely the opposite: The ability to completely and totally control their environment by picking and choosing two teams for competing through the week. Conversely, everyone else was emotionally at the mercy of Tracy (the winner of the challenge). Tracy can stack the deck completely in her favor, and completely AGAINST those she doesn't like.

SO, how will they - how will WE - respond when the deck is stacked against? Will we wallow in self-pity? Or will we step up, grit our teeth, and put forth every ounce of effort we can muster?

Some of my favorites from tonight's show:

"Nothing like a good beating to snap you back into reality." (Jillian)

The coach can't do it for you. (The girl who tried and tried to hop onto the platform)

"I'm ready to choose my direction, rather than my direction choosing for me." (Danny)

Sometimes your effort carries the team, sometime in order to succeed you have to let the team carry you. (The challenge where the team had to carry a member through the obstacle course)

Namaste, and see you in the gym tomorrow!!

Words of Wisdom

2009-10-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

("Wisdom" - where knowledge meets personal experience)

The following thoughts come to you from John's high school track coach - yep, he's still in contact with his old coach, and they still share thoughts and ideas on a regular basis. Here are a few that came across recently that apply to all of our Biggest/Healthiest Loser contestants.

Excellence is a constant journey with many temporary finish lines-
Every time we step on the scale for our weekly weigh in, we're at a "temporary finish line". We may be happy, we may be disappointed. But there is next week to work on and prepare for, so we let it go and get to work! In fact, even that final weigh in on December 8th is a "temporary finish line", isn't it?

One achievement promotes another, better one -
Take a look a the top ten "losers" so far - you think staying right where they are is going to get them to the finish near the top? You suppose others, lurking right below them, aren't seeing those names and saying, "I can take that guy"!!

Do the right thing when others are not -
When you travel, when you go to that tailgate on the weekend. When the gals next to you bring in the donuts and the bagels and the cookies. When every little breeze brings what sounds like a legitimate excuse to miss your workout: Do the right thing, even when others are not! Doing MORE of the right thing is what will get you to where you want to be, and doing WAY more than the competition just might get you a victory!!

Yours in Health, EAT LESS/MOVE MORE!!

WEEK TWO - WOW!!

2009-10-12T04:12:00.000-07:00

Check out the scale-graphic at the entry-way this morning at Vacation Plaza/Indy! One thousand, one hundred and eleven pounds! Yee HAAA!!

1111 Pounds!!

That's over half a ton! We're on a ROLL, now, RCI!!

Get to those classes - and note that the weigh-in and group discussions have been relocated to Bahamas A & B for the remaining nine weeks of the contest.

Speaking of contest: Matt Mays and James Lewis are TIED for first place in the overall percent weight lost. But they're still within striking distance, so let's all give them a run for their money!!

Make it a healthy week!

Biggest Loser Bill and Week Two Results!!

2009-10-02T16:31:00.001-07:00

NBC's "Biggest Loser" season four champion, Bill Germanakos, sent us the following message of encouragement to share with all of our the RCI "Biggest/Healthiest Loser" participants:

Hey folks,
Now that you're well under way with your "Biggest Loser" contest, you should keep
a few things in mind:

- Be sure to keep your goals reachable and attainable - That way you don't get dejected if you
can't ever reach your goals. You should write down your goals and keep them posted in a visible
place. Share your goals and aspirations with your loved ones so that they all know what you're
working towards. For instance, do you aspire to run a marathon some day, or to walk your daughters
down the aisle in a few years, just like me.

- If you hit a plateau, you should not let it get you down. This is natural, and occurs because your
body starts getting accustomed to your exercise or diet regimen. You just need to change things up.

- Does this sound familiar: Consider that some times, when we have a bad day ( as far as diet goes), we
resign to doing extra work in the gym the next day... Keep in mind that having a really bad day, while we all
have them, is cause for really buckling down, as it could completely throw off your entire program. If you feel
great and put in an exceptionally good day - meaning you really watch your diet and worked out an extra
90 minutes that night - you might burn an extra 500 - 600 calories. Yet if you have a really bad day, it could mean binging and eating all the wrong foods, which could represent eating THOUSANDS of extra calories.
THAT'S the discrepancy that people fail to consider. Therefore, try your best to avoid those really bad days,
and if you slip and have one of those days, you must make up for it by working extremely hard by having
SEVERAL excellent days. After all, the key to losing weight is simply burning more calories than you eat.

- Finally, the only way to really keep track of how you're doing day-to-day is to keep a food journal. If you
learn to write down every single thing that you eat, you will not only get a better idea of your daily exercise
requirements, but you'll also have second thoughts about binging or snacking on high calorie foods, because of the fact that you'd otherwise have to write it down and deal with the consequences.

For more tips on diet and exercise, visit my web sites at www.weightlosstwins.com and www.TeamDiets.com

Bill Germanakos
The Biggest Loser

And if you haven't seen the scale scoreboard in the entry lobby late this afternoon, then you might not know: After two weeks, RCI has lost 532 POUNDS!! In total, week two was even more successful than week one - let's all keep it up!! We're into the weekend now - chance to buckle down, turn a few more cardio laps, and start off week three in the right direction!

EAT LESS, MOVE MORE!

Update on Omelets in a Baggie, and the Green Fair!!

2009-10-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I posted a nifty little recipe for pre-making omelets in a ziplock baggie, then cooking by boiling in water for 15 minutes. Sounds very BHL-friendly and convenient: controlling our environment, pre-planning and pre-staging our meals, substituting egg-whites only and using a lot of fresh veggies in the bag....

Well, here's the rub: One of our fine coaches thought, "Hmm, I wonder if that would cause the BPA in the plastic of the bag to leach out during boiling?" Great Question!!

So I did some research, actually consulting a PHD chemist that I have known closely on a personal and business level for almost 25 years: The good news is - Plastic Baggies don't have BPA! They are made of polyethylene which does not contain BPA. The bad news, however, is plastic baggies contain plenty of dioctyl phthalates. When cold, or at room temperature, this is no problem - these bad boys stay inert and harmless. But 15 minutes in boiling water will certainly cause them to leach into the food - in this case, our yummy omelet.

So, we've retracted the recipe and have gone back to making our omelets the old-fashioned way!

GREEN FAIR!!!

Today, at RCI, check out the Green Fair! There will be several local producers of wholesome, organic foods on site. You can learn how to obtain such produce, where and when to shop, what to look for, and the brands of locally grown food. With no dioctyl phthalates to worry about!!

EAT LESS/MOVE MORE!!

The Power of THE TEAM!!

2009-09-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

One of the truly special aspects of the RCI "Biggest/Healthiest Loser" approach with ProMotion Fitness, is the power of coaching from the collection of resources assembled to assist each of us on our own individual 12-week journey to fitness and wellness.

The following excerpt is from Coach Chris, and is worthy of sharing with the entire sangha.

I've received news, updates, and questions from several of you and I am very excited by the progress I am seeing and hearing. Congratulations to those who are already putting dents in their weight loss goals and to each of you who are embracing the lifestyle changes and feeling more empowered. While the road is long, and difficult moments will arise, just remember it's about the here and now. Plan for the future, yet focus on the day in front of you, the workout in front of you, the meal in front of you, the choice in front of you and the weight loss will take care of itself. As I like to tell my students and clients, "no drama" - it's way too easy to feel overwhelmed when we look at the long view, it's easy to feel let down or disappointed when we stumble and it's easy to get stressed out over a weigh in. All I can say to that is, don't. Drama is that negative self talk that we've all had before and it's what eventually leads us to throwing in the towel (another easy thing to do). Drama is what makes us feel frustrated, angry, stressed out, or just plain old hopeless. When these moments arise, just recognize them and test them to see if we are adding drama where we don't need to and consider how can we respond in a more appropriate manner.

Yours in Health,

2009-09-30T18:02:00.001-07:00

If this was EASY, everyone would be doing it, and you would have already done it!!

2009-09-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

So, please consider the following:

At 211 degrees, water is hot - very hot, but only hot.

At 212 degrees, water BOILS! Just one more degree...

With boiling water comes STEAM.

With steam, you can power a train, a ship - most ANYTHING!

Just ONE DEGREE MORE makes all the difference to achieve EXPONENTIAL RESULTS!

Let's turn up the heat and MOVE MORE, EAT LESS!!

Let's Avoid the Week Two "Blues"!!

2009-09-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

Many asked toward the end of Week One, "So, what was the average weight loss that people are experiencing?" - The answer I gave was, "Well, we haven't tallied the data yet (Corporate Challenge this weekend has put us a couple days behind), but from the numbers I saw, I'd say it was between 4 and 5 pounds".

If you fall into this average category, good for you, but beware! Week Two is right around the corner, and typically, on average, for many and most, Week Two is HARDER! The weight-loss nemesis of the Week Two "Blues". If you saw the episode of NBC's "Biggest Loser" last Tuesday (9/21), you heard a lot about the curse. If you missed it, check out the recap from Coach Jillian at www.jillianmichaels.com

The Week Two Blues occurs for very precise and complicated physiological reasons, which will not be shared here because they are well beyond the scope of the blog - and besides, if you knew all our secrets, then we'd have to hire you and we'd blow our budget! What's more important is that
a) We can know ahead of time that THE BLUES ARE COMING!!
b) We don't have to fall victim to The Blues.
c) Awareness if the first step, but only the first
d) The way to avoid The Blues is to TAKE MORE STEPS (that is - let's all work a little bit harder!)

We know Week Two is tough - so let's do something about it! Let's all find a way to squeeze in an extra 20-30 minutes of cardio in week two. And/or, maybe we kick up the intensity just a teensy bit for a day or two in our workouts for week two! That will ensure that we all stay on track and keep moving toward RCI's "Biggest/Healthiest Loser"!!

Yours in health,
Wendy and John from the ProMotion helm

Week One Wrapping UP!!

2009-09-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

No cute photos today - just a few key and critical thoughts from Week One of the Biggest (Healthiest) Loser (that's BHL in Promotion Fitness-speak):
- Eat until your satisfied, not until you're full (this has everything to do with the Satiety Scale that was mentioned in our Group Discussions this week, and which you can find in your binder).
- If you're not hungry, guess what? Don't eat!
- Get up and MOVE.
- This is the difference between REALITY and "reality tv".

Last Saturday, our cycling team finished third in the Corporate Challenge. And tonight, our bowling team was getting of to a great start at Woodland Bowl. Tomorrow morning, it's the BIG EVENT downtown - wish us all LUCK!! In our next post, if I find my camera, I hope to have photos of lots of BHL'ers out there MOVING, walking the talk!!

Make it a Healthy Weekend!

Out of the Gates

2009-09-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Here we go, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Biggest/Healthiest Losers one and all!

Weekly group discussions (Paradise) and weigh-ins (Jamaica) start TOMORROW! See some of you there, and the rest of you each of the rest of the days of the week. On page 7 of your manual is the schedule for the week. You need to make it to ONE weigh in and ONE group discussion every week - and yes, we'll be taking attendance!

Here is a sneak preview of our first topic - one that is the most important in my own personal health journey: The Satiety Scale (page 12 of your manual).

Our body works best when we maintain ourselves in the "blue" area - 3 to 7. The danger of getting down in the 0,1, 2 range? Well, it is easy to overcompensate, and eat your way very quickly to an 8,9,or 10. And that just isn't good.

What are steps and strategies for maintaining the "sweet spot" in the hunger (satiety) scale? Come to this weeks group discussion to hear how others do it, the challenges and the tricks. The environment and culture at RCI is set up to succeed with this important tool in weight control and health maximization!

And before we sign off for this week, Wendy and I would like to share with you a bit of a message from Mark Koning. Mark sent the note below to the management team at RCI. It clearly shows how much he, and RCI, want each and every one of you to succeed, and how much support you will have from the entire company:

- Lead by example; wellness studies show that 8-10 people are influenced to start a new wellness initiative for every 1 leader that models wellness. We have over 35 of our leaders in the contest and close to 300 participants – the math works!

- Provide an attractive healthy food option for all team meetings; several employees have already asked for this. It’s an easy way to support this initiative, both now and going forward as we tackle a growing health care crisis.

- Encourage your people who have signed up; I can tell you that this already is a bit tougher than I envisioned. Many participants have expressed their commitment to make a huge change for their wellness and for themselves. But it is going to be tough – let your folks know that you are proud that they’ve taken this step.

Now, get out there, Move More and Eat Less!!

Wendy and John, from the ProMotion Fitness helm....

Are you READY!?!?!?

2009-09-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

A couple posts-ago, we mentioned that Bill Germanakos, season four's winner of NBC's "Biggest Loser", and our own Mark Koning had a VERY competitive game of ping pong during Bill's recent visit to help us launch the "Biggest/Healthiest Loser" contest at RCI. Here are the two of them in action - I gotta tell ya, Bill had a WICKED spin on his serve!
Afterward, both had smiles for the camera, but Mark's was just a little larger, as he was victorious in a tight game. You can bet Bill will be back sometime for a re-match!
Bill signed plenty of autographs while he visited: and he encouraged everyone and anyone to contact him anytime for encouragement, questions, or just to say "hi". If you need to know how to contact Bill, find out at rci@promotionfitness.com
Bill drew an interested crowd wherever he went. He graciously answered every question, signed every autograph, and generally had a great time, whether in the cafeteria, the Oasis, or with management in the Town Hall meeting - Bill covered it all!
Here's Bill on the left, flanked by Wendy Cooper (owner of ProMotion Fitness), and some of the fine "A-Team" coaching staff that has been assembled to help us on our BHL journey: Lindsey Willard, Tom Hanley (you may recognize Tom from the RCI fitness center!) and Chris Roche.

The first step of our Biggest Healthiest Loser adventure begins this week with evaluations and weigh-ins on Wednesday (9/16 - for phone staff) and Thursday (9/17 - for non-phone staff). It should take about a half hour, and at the end you will receive your personal nutrition and exercise plan (after a brief consultation with one of the coaches to determine the best plan for you). The contest "OFFICIALLY" kicks off Monday, Sept. 21st!! Get ready for an exciting and HEALTHY twelve weeks!

No Photos here at RCI-BHL

2009-09-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

ProMotion Fitness central command has "misplaced" the little cord that goes from the camera to the computer for off-loading pictures (pictures that are then posted in places like blogs, FB, etc). And before I'm buried with suggestions to a) check Radio Shack - did that, they suggested I try Cord Camera, b) check Cord Camera - did that, they suggested I try Radio Shack, and c) just take the card out and use a card reader - photos aren't on the card, they are on the internal memory of the camera, and lastly, d) well duh, use the menu button to move the photos from the internal memory to the card - my camera doesn't have that functionality, the guy at the store checked: So, next stop, www.olympus.com
Meanwhile, I know you're all waiting to hear about the ping-pong match between Mark Koning and Biggest Loser Bill - It was a hotly contested event, both of these guys are truly competitive. Mark jumped to an early lead, Bill clawed back to tie it up, and Mark pulled it out in the end, winning by 3. Next time Bill visits, he's getting the best out of three games!
And now, a SPECIAL treat! Below are some of the questions we have received in the last day or two that we thought might be of some value to everyone. Remember - if you have questions, send them with complete confidentiality to rci@promotionfitness.com. Or, you can always add a comment to any of the blog-postings: We'd love to hear what you think about what we're posting, and what you'd like to see that we're not covering. Now, on to the questions....

1. How is your coach picked for you?
Well, they aren't really picked, it will be left more to fate, chance and kismet: It's a matter of who comes up next in the line at the initial weigh-in process on Sept.16th and 17th. Throughout the program you will have an opportunity to interact with all the coaches. In special and rare circumstances, some adjustments may be made with coach/client.

2. Will there be one-on-one workouts, group workouts, or completely on-your-own workouts?
You will receive your initial diet and exercise plan at the initial weigh-in process, and have an opportunity to ask questions and tweek your plan with your coach. There will be group workouts scheduled to teach everyone the exercises initially, and some follow-up group sessions throughout. However - this is a REAL LIFE approach right out of the gates. YOU will be responsible for what you accomplish and what you put into the program. For the 12-weeks of the program, your coach will be there (via e-mail) to comment on your updates via (sent weekly), answer questions (within 48 hours), and be present from time to time in the RCI building to provide some in-person guidance.

3. Is ProMotion expanding its schedule at RCI due to the Biggest (Healthiest) Loser contest? This program is not part of the normal trainer times in the Fitness Center. Those will remain as they have been, with classes on M/W/F at 12:15 and 3:45. You will know when coaches will be in the building and will be able to see them one-on-one at those times. You are welcome to see John and Tom, too, during Trainer-Time, but know that their first priority are to Fitness Center patrons during those times. And every participant in the Biggest (Healthiest) Loser is encouraged to attend their classes.

4. What are the certifications of the coaching staff? The diet plans have been written and designed by a Registered Dietician (Jackie Dikos - contact info available upon request). If the diet/nutrition assistance you need is beyond what a Masters Degreed Exercise Physiologist can provide, you may be referred to Jackie. One of the coaches is also a Registered Dietician and Personal Trainer.
Additionally, your coaches have one or more of the following degrees and/or certifications: Bachelors Exercise Science, Masters Exercise Science, Registered Dietician, American College of Sports Medicine Health Fitness Instructor, American College of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer, American College of Sports Medicine Rehabilitative Exercise Specialist. A few "specialty" certifications also include: USA Cycling Elite Coach, ACE Personal Trainer, Registered Yoga Teacher (500hrs), BASI Pilates, Johnny G Spinning, and MMA Black Belt.

5. How do you determine a personalize eating plan? Everyone starts with the basic plan and it is tweeked with your coach to meet your needs.

6. Is there any medical work-up involved (cholesterol, food allergies, etc)? If you have significant medical challenges that relate to your eating and exercise (and most medical challenges do), we require a note from your physician to allow your safe participation in the program. If we find circumstances that we are not comfortable with, we will also contact your physician for further consult.

So - that's plenty for today - see you all tomorrow!!

Eat less, Move MORE!

John and Wendy

Stay Tuned - Here it COMES!

2009-09-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

If you were at Vacation Plaza today, chances are very good that you ran into, met, and were totally blown away by Bill Germanakos - NBC's Biggest Loser from season four! Coach Coop, myself and the rest of the ProMotion Fitness team had the honor and privilege of spending the entire day with Biggest Loser Bill as he shared his inspiring story - all served up and brought to you as an amazing kick-off event for RCI's own Biggest (Healthiest) Loser contest.

And this guy brought the CHI in a BIG way. Bill inspired, entertained, educated, and even brought a tear to an eye or two. He's experienced something truly special and continues to make each moment of his life special by sharing his story in a way that can help each and every one of us. In the next day or two, we'll share some photos and additional anecdotes from the day (including who won the ping pong game between Bill and Mark Koning!). For now, let me leave you with a little "teaser" - five key words that Bill repeatedly came back to as he told us how we can each have an amazing and wonderful journey of our own:

1. INSPIRATION - everyone has one, sometimes we must dig DEEP to find it
2. MOTIVATION - an "aha" moment that really drives home a message
3. EDUCATION - help is everywhere with your ProMotion Fitness team on hand
4. DEDICATION - stick to it, stay on task, don't lose focus
5. PERSPIRATION - it's not suppose to be easy!

Eat Less, Move More!

John and Wendy

Biggest Loser Bill Visits Vacation Plaza!!

2009-08-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Our biggest/healthiest loser buddy, Bill, will be making a special appearance at Vacation Plaza on Wednesday, Sept.2nd! You won't want to miss this opportunity to shake hands with an awesome guy and learn first hand of his inspiring fitness journey. The schedule for the day will include:

Bill in the RCI cafeteria from 10:30am to 11:30am, sharing his story, signing autographs, posing for pictures with associates and having a good time!

Bill will also be making appearances and visits throughout the day in the
Oasis, around people's desk areas, and of course, the RCI FItness Center!

Check back here often for updates, and if you have any questions, you may share them with the group by commenting on this post, or if you have a private, individual question, contact your ProMotion Fitness coaches and trainers discretely by e-mailing to: rci@promotionfitness.com

yours in health,
Wendy and John

Welcome!

2009-08-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

If you've come to this spot, then you're already on your way - to getting all the latest inside scoop on the RCI Biggest (Healthiest) Loser Contest! Check back here regularly for secret insights, shared wisdom, and just some plain fun.

There is SO MUCH to share, I hardly know where to begin...

How about here! On Sept. 2nd, one of tv's "Biggest Loser" winners, Bill Germanakos, will spend the day at RCI, sharing his story, spreading his unique energy and providing all of us with some inspiration. So, since you're here, and we DO pride ourselves in having the story before it goes to press, below you'll find a sneak-peak of what Bill will have to share with us next week:

This is Bill before the Biggest Loser

This is Bill AFTER winning The Biggest Loser!

Bill at the finale of the fourth season of NBC's
"Biggest Loser"!

Bill has an inspiring journey to share with all of us. Don't miss him when he is here on the 2nd!

The fifth season starts Tuesday, Sept.15th - and RCI's and ProMotion Fitness' own version begins the very same week with our initial weigh in and testing, followed by the first week of our twelve week program beginning on Monday, Sept.21st.

Stay tuned to learn how to register and become a participant!