Speechless!

As I write the final blog of the winter Team Challenge I am at a loss for words! Normally, I have some catchy title to represent the theme of the week...this week, I struggle to come up with the title. I had a client email me this morning and say that last night must have been a highlight in the history of the Weight Loss Clinic/Healthy Weigh...I agree.

So where do I begin. Let's start at noon. We have had so much fun at noon this Team Challenge. We have a group of people who are serious about losing weight and changing their lives...all while, they were energetic and hilarious!

We weighed in and announced the winner of our last noon weigh in. Team 'Boys to Thin' took home the jackets one last time with a weekly weight loss % of 2.67. Joe and Bill get to wear those jackets one more week! We had an opportunity to hear from the teams for a few minutes before we had a group hug and said farewell until we met again at the 6PM finale. Their words were powerful and uplifting...both to me and to all who were there. I'm going to miss that group!

The 6PM grand finale turned out to be just that...GRAND!
As everyone arrived for their after photos, there were hugs and words of encouragement and praise. It's awesome to watch a group of people care and support each other in that way.
With our weigh in we had a familiar group win at six too. Team 'Kick Butt and lose Gut' did it again! Congratulations to Shonda and Alyssa for their 2.48 % of weight loss this week. You two have shown us that CHICK TEAMS ROCK at the Team Challenge!!
For their third time, they are going to need to decorate the ever so important jackets! This evening group cared for each other in bigs ways. What an outstanding group of people!

Before we heard from Glenda and got some final numbers, we had a time of team testimonies! It was great to hear from our 6 PM group and feel the support from them as well. We have had laughter and tears almost every week of the Team Challenge, there was no lack of either last night.

It was time for the awards...we gave out some fun ones and some serious ones. Shonda from team 'Kick Butt and Lose Gut' was our over all greatest winner of weight loss %. She lost 18.92 % in 10 weeks and 39.4 pounds! Our Male winner lost 18.13 %...Joe from team 'Boys to thin' however, Scott from team 'Bad Jeans' took the award for the most pounds lost by any male. 42.6! Wow...congratulations to all of you!

A special award was offered this Team Challenge that had not been offered before. The returning Team Challenge participant with the greatest % of weight loss would win $250.00. That prize was awarded to Scott Higgins of team 'Bad Jeans.' He lost 15.87% his second Team Challenge! That makes 78 pounds for him between the two challenges! When he came up to receive his prize money, he surprised us all. He announced that as the winner of our Fall Team Challenge, he has 'taken' enough from The Healthy Weigh, and felt it was his time to give back. He offered up $200 of his prize money(giving $50 of it to his sister/partner for our maintenance class)to the client who brings in the most new recruits to the next Team Challenge! Scott wanted this money to be used as seed to grow the Team Challenge and to help other people succeed like he has. Scott, I can't thank you enough. What a generous gesture. I think we'll name this award "The Higgy."

Then it was time for the medal ceremony. In keeping with our Olympic theme, we gave out bronze, sliver and gold medals to our Teams this time.

Our Bronze Medal winner with a weight loss % of 13.98 was team 'BAD JEANS' Congratulations Mandy and Scott.
Our Silver Medal winner with a weight loss % of 15.93 was team 'KICK BUTT AND LOSE GUT'
Shonda and Alyssa, we couldn't be more proud!
And our Gold Medal winners of these Vancouver Winter games with a weight loss % of 17.68 was team 'BOYS TO THIN' Joe and Bill, you did it! Congratulations!

The biggest surprise of the night followed...when it was time to present the $1000 prize to Joe and Bill, Bill announced that they didn't want the money...that they too wanted to put the money back into the Team Challenge. At first I thought he was kidding, but soon realized that they were very serious. Joe and Bill have received so much from the Team challenge and they just want to help others receive it too. It was a powerful moment and they expressed their gratitude and then their desire to see others successful. After standing speechless for a few minutes, not really able to take it all in, I knew that the last order of business was to have Joe and Bill snuff out the Olympic torch! Joe challenged all of us, that this challenge wasn't over and that we had to keep thinking of ourselves and taking care of ourselves. He had it right! Bill and Joe, your gift was over the top! I pray that the outcome it brings will be over the top for others too!
So, as the Olympic theme music played one last time, Bill and Joe snuffed out(unplugged)the Olympic torch of these Vancouver Winter Team Challenge Games.

It has been an amazing 10 weeks...it ended last night, but as Joe said, let's not blow out the torch. Keep going, keep taking care of your self, make these winter Olympic games the beginning of your new, healthy, abundant life.

I love you all. I care beyond words.
Letha

It's a Math Problem!

My goal this week at the Team Challenge was to educate! I hoped that our teams would leave the building this week saying "I did not know that."
We had a good time talking about the fact that weight loss and weight gain, is a math problem. I'm sure our teams were inspired to not only reach their ideal goal weight, but maintain it as well.
We chipped away at the Olympic record this week with 39.6 pounds lost. That leaves 88pounds to lose the last week of this challenge. We need EVERYONE'S help to make this happen! Will the winter Team Challenge of 2010 be the group that does it? I think so!

Some familiar teams walked away with the jackets this week! Team 'Bad Jeans' at noon and team 'Kick Butt and Lose Gut' at 6. Congratulations to you all...there seems to be no quit in you! Shonda and Alyssa of team 'Kick Butt and Lose Gut, took home the cash prize of $100 this week, so generously donated by another one of our Teams. It's a thrill to watch the teams support and encourage each other.

As we wind down and head in to week #10 of this Team Challenge, I'm excited to witness the great amount of change in weight loss and the great amount of change in thinking. Ten weeks has proved to be a successful amount of time to begin a journey of healthy eating and healthy thinking.

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK:
Lose 88 pounds! Break the Olympic record! :-)

We look forward to our grand finale at 6 PM next week. The noon teams will show up at their regular time for a brief weigh in and a group hug, then return at 6PM for the closing ceremonies. I look forward to it. You won't want to miss it!

Here's a look at the top 10!
1. Boys to Thin 15.4
2. Kick Butt & Lose Gut 13.8
3. Bad Jeans 13.4
4. Finish Line 12.2
5. 3 Mile Wide Island 11.6
6. Sexy 60's 11.4
7. Blacks 2B 11.3
8. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 11.3
9. Power over Pounds 10.2
10. Cherno Bologna's 9.8
10. Skinny Minnies 9.8

Here's to a record breaking week! Feel my love and support this week as you journey on!
Letha

NO QUIT IN US!

As the Canadian Anthem played, we celebrated the completion of the Vancouver, BC Olympics with our very own Canadian, Glenda. It was thrilling to watch her carry a real Olympic torch, and what an inspiration it was to hold it , pass it around and feel the excitement of what it stands for. Thanks to Beth Ann, a new friend of The Healthy Weigh, who allowed us to borrow her torch. It was truly an inspiration!

We celebrate a lot this Tuesday. Many of our clients became members of the 18 pound club! They are the ones who have already lost 18 or more pounds during this Team Challenge! They were initiated into the club by picking up an 18 pound bag of dog food and doing a little dance! Congratulations to all of you...that means you are averaging a little over 2.5 pounds per week! PERFECT!

Thanks to team 'Boys to Thin' and team 'Finish Line', Alyssa and Shonda from team 'Kick Butt and Lose Gutt' won $100.00 this week for being the girl team with the greatest % of weight loss. While they were at it...they decided to win for the day as well. With a weight loss % of 1.89, they also received the over night stay at Hotel Monaco. Craig Thompson, general manager of the hotel has been a true supporter of our Team Challenges. Thanks Craig!

At Noon team 'Bad Jeans' walked in with the jackets...and walked out with them again,winners two weeks in a row! Mandy and Scott had a weight loss % of 1.28 to take the win at noon! With both the day and evening groups hard at work...92.8 pounds were lost this week. We've only got 127 pounds to go to beat our own Olympic record!

As we looked back at what we learned watching the Olympics in the last couple of weeks, we were inspired by the adversity, the struggles and the overcoming spirit of the worlds athletes. The difference between winners and quitters is a fine line. No matter where we are on this journey... We were challenged to stand up and say "There's no quit in me!" As we face the last two weeks of the winter Team Challenge, it's time for our teams to make some decisions. The Spring Team Challenge starts April 13th...and we're already excited about the possibilities of great success for our clients!

Our Teams were given some choices about continuing on the program. The key is to keep at it...keep going until you've reached your goal! We're looking forward to another great Team Challenge and believing that we'll have 40 or more teams sign up again!

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK:
Make a decision about your future at The Healthy Weigh and your commitment to finishing the race!

I couldn't be more excited about the progress our teams are making! Permanent change and great success is happening at The Healthy Weigh, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it!

Keep at it these next few weeks...we're coming down to the wire and first place is open for the taking!
Here's a look at the top ten!

1.Boys to Thin 14.3
2.Kick Butt and Lose Gutt 12.3
3.Bad Jeans 12.0
4.Finish Line 11.7
5.3 Mile Wide Island 10.6
6.Blacks 2B 10.5
7.Sexy 60's 10.1
8.Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac 9.9
9.Downsizing Divas 9.7
10.W.I.T. 9.7

Have a blast this week, living life and taking great care of yourselves!
Repeat after me..."There's no quit in me!"

Letha