Strongest Finish EVER!

At The Healthy Weigh, we start strong and we finish stronger! Last night was the finale of the ten week Fall Team Challenge. We celebrated with a over flow room of people as we awarded the top three teams of this 18th season of the Team Challenge! It's always hard to close out a challenge and say goodbye, this one was no exception.

This group traveled through Halloween, Thanksgiving and much of December and were persistent about their weight loss goals and their commitment to the program! They "let go" of excuses the very first week of this challenge and it showed last night.

Before I announced the accomplishments of our team mates I challenged them to think rightly about the next 4 weeks until we see each other again in January. Sometimes at the end of a challenge it's easy to think thoughts like "Oh, this is over...now I can eat what ever I want!"and "YIKES, I've 4 weeks until I officially weigh in again...what am I going to do??" It was my job last night to inspire changed thinking...because how you think has EVERYTHING to do with how well you'll do on your program in the next 4 weeks!

I reminded this group that the average person puts on 10 to 12 pounds between Halloween and New Years Day...but this group is anything but average! 10 weeks ago they stepped into a program that required them to think differently! They are people with vision and persistence! That's not going to stop now! 

We let go of a lot in the last ten weeks, and those things are going to take our clients through the healthiest holiday they've ever experienced...

• Because they "divorced"excuses 10 weeks ago, they are not going to justify their behavior just because the calendar turned to December! "No Excuses" not even Christmas!! 
• They let go of limiting beliefs, the lies that told them that you have to gain weight over the holidays! That's the way average people think...and you know what I have to say about that! :-)
• Holiday habits were let go of way back in week 4 of this challenge, so I painted a picture of what a healthy holiday looks like... A fridge completely stocked up with healthy food, prepped and ready to eat... saying "NO THANK YOU" at work when the unhealthy food is being brought in by the truck loads... only eating the food at work that you take in yourself (this should be a life time practice!)... Every opportunity to eat a healthy, low calorie meal...do it!..When making choices at a party, for an "off program" food, make the best one! The best sugar cookie, the yummiest piece of bread, the most beautiful food, then load up on fruits and veggies...and don't eat standing up!...Always take a low calorie healthy food item with you to a party or gathering...drink your water every day!...Weigh every day...set a goal and plan a reward for it...and MOVE. It's going to be a beautiful Christmas week. Get out in it!!  You do these things, you'll come back in on January 16th with a weight loss!!
• We let go of "tomorrows" during this challenge, so we are focusing on TODAY!  I shared a great thought to write at the top of your things to do list everyday. "What will I wish tomorrow, I'd done today." I gleaned this little tool from Author, Donald Miller, and it's been life changing for me!
• Because we're serious about permanent change, we know it's all about our motives. We found our motives and need to be constantly reminded of what we really want! I encouraged my healthy weigh friends to post it somewhere. The bathroom mirror, the fridge, the closet...somewhere! It's easy to lose sight, when it's no where in sight!
• Food is food and love is love! We've got to remember that as we head into a season of dealing with relationships; good ones, bad ones and lost ones. Letting go of your love affair with food will bring about a love affair with life in 2014!
• We exchanged temporary fixes for long term solutions,  so the end of the team challenge did not give anyone permission to go back to the way they were, it's just the marker of a new beginning of many healthy, happy holidays to come!

We've done some serious work in the last ten weeks and it's all going to pay off in the weeks and years to come!

Now to announce the winners of our Fall Team Challenge!

3rd place, winners of $300... with a weight loss % of 15.58 "Team BFB" Donna and Tya! Great job ladies! You worked hard to arrive at that third place spot!

2nd place, winners of $500...with a weight loss % of 15.82 "Team Tiny Hinys" Janie and Marci! Congratulations! You made a great team!

1st place, winners of $1000...with a weight loss % of 24.04 "Team Shrinky Dinks" Spencer and Jamie! You are ROCK STARS! We couldn't be more excited or more proud of you! Thank you for leading the way and inspiring all of us!

Spencer and Jamies' names kept coming up as we announced individual winners!

Male with the greatest weight loss and the greatest weight loss %: 

Spencer S. with 85.6 pounds and a 25.93% of weight loss! Spencer is now the record holder for the most weight loss at a ten week challenge!

Female with the greatest weight loss and the greatest weight loss %:

Jamie S. with 43 pounds and a 22.16% of weight loss!

Spencer and Jamie, that's never been done before!  You swept it all! The greatest team and the top prizes for the individual standings!!  We are so happy for you both!!

We had another one of our clients join the 100 pound loss club this team challenge...Matt L. Congratulations on reaching that great milestone!  We're excited to see you continue on and reach your goal weight!

To all of you who lost weight over these last ten weeks! Congratulations! You persisted and stayed the course and you have a lot to be proud of!

It's been an unbelievable ten weeks! As I head into my Christmas season, I am so thankful for the work God allows me to do. I am inspired and touched by the lives of so many wonderful people. This fall challenge, and the people in it, have brought much joy to my life. As we close out another ten weeks I bid you farewell and wish you the merriest of all Christmases.

Until 2014, 

With love, Letha