Sometimes, it's all about the Food!

We started out our gatherings viewing the BEAUTIUL photos from the hike that some of our team mates went on last week! It was great to see the beauty of our Northwest in those photos, but more exciting to see the faces of our hikers! They had an amazing time!

Hiking is one way to embrace our northwest winter, but snow shoeing is another.  Wendy shared snow shoeing tips at each gathering to get us ready for our snow adventure next weekend. Thanks Wendy for taking the time to educate us and prepare us for a fun outing! I can't wait!

We surprised two lucky adventurers with gifts from our indoor/outdoor activity drawings! Congratulations to Sally (5:30 ) and Becky (7:00) for winning this week!

Although, It's not my favorite thing to do,  I thought it would be important this week to look at some food facts!  We did that Thursday at The Healthy Weigh. We tackled restaurant eating, the healthy weigh :-), looked at some of the miracle foods of this century and learned some new concepts that will help us lose the weight and keep it off for life!

Restaurant eating can be difficult when you're trying to eat healthy. It seems that the menus at our favorite places don't cater to our low fat, low calorie lifestyles. The mantra to remember when eating out is this..."The food you need, is in the kitchen" (of the restaurant that is) You might not see your program foods on the menu, but the food is in the kitchen.  Our job is to get that food on our plate. It will be great to hear the feedback from our adventurers this week as one of their challenges for the week is to go out and eat!

We focused on some of the miracle foods,
 that if abused, can make us fat.  Even though these foods are "good for us" we've got to eat them responsibly. From avocado, to olive oil, the miracle foods will be added back into our diets when we meet our goal weight. And even then, we'll be eating them sparingly.

I shared some fun concepts that I hope will help my healthy weigh friends for life. "Sometimes foods," "Three to One" and the "Calorie Bank" ...had to be there :-)  These concepts have helped me over the years...and I know they'll help my Healthy Weigh friends as well.

Our winners for the week made us proud once again!
Noon: Team "Secret Ninja's" Kellie and Jennifer won for the week with a 2.19% of weight loss!
5:30 : Team "Two Aleutians Resolution" Max and Allison losing 2.02 % for the week!
7:00 : Team "Sisu Sisters" Cindy and Elaine won with 2.06% of weight loss!

Great job you guys! Proud of you!

Our Challenges of the week wont be too difficult!

• Go out and eat...stay on program and bring in your receipt next week.
• Keep your program journal all week and bring it back next week.
• Do 5 indoor/outdoor activities

There's still great things ahead for this Northwest adventure including hearing from Glenda this upcoming week.  Here's to staying the course and following through to the end...that's how Northwesterners do things!!!

Always encouraging you,
Letha

Week 6 Team Standings

Team Name	%
The M & M Boys	14.44%
Waist No More	13.09%
Baby Got Fat!	12.96%
Tiny Hiny's	12.69%
Changing Our Weighs	12.05%
Sisu Sisters	11.64%
Repeat Offenders Taking It Off Our Rearenders	11.10%
Secret Ninjas	10.89%
The Weigh We Were	9.91%
The No-No Yo-Yo's	9.65%
Big Hinnies Revenge	9.50%
Cauliflower Crunchers	9.45%
The Amazing Racers	9.43%
Pound It	9.27%
Double Chubble	9.23%
Fit Happens	9.16%
Two Aleutians Resolution	8.71%
Portion Control Patrol	8.68%
The Lean Queens	8.63%
Dwindling Duo	8.61%
Mission Slimpossible	8.52%
Team Redinger	8.50%
Slim Sissies	8.33%
Living La Vida Skinnier	8.32%
Size Matters	8.28%
Mom & Me Double Chin Free	8.28%
Procrastinators	8.21%
Supervision Required	7.89%
Run Like the Winded	7.87%
Meltdown Mammas	7.83%
Shrinking Violets	7.81%
Jiggy 2	7.77%
Hibernate No More	7.75%
Lido Shuffle	7.63%
What Goes Up Must Come Down	7.62%
Fat & Fatter	7.50%
Good Genes are Hard to Find	7.49%
Waist Removal Team	7.33%
Eagles Rising	7.24%
No Necks	7.19%
Losing In The Rain	7.04%
A State of Mind	7.01%
Thinner Winners	6.97%
Winner, Winner We B Thinner	6.88%
The Kill-a-Ton	6.84%
Pair a Thighs Lost	6.73%
Mini Sizers	6.57%
The Weight Loss Warriors	6.54%
Walapaloosers	6.52%
We're a Lot Like You	6.49%
Vanishing Kysar Rolls	6.35%
Ladies Getting Lean and Loving It	6.27%
Shirley We Can Do It	6.03%
Get 'Er Done	6.00%
Literary Losers	5.74%
Team BFB	5.74%
Cuttin Curries	5.68%
Belly Brothers	5.64%
Duo of Diminishing Returns	5.58%
Border Control, Eh?	5.57%
Cowboy Up	5.38%
The Winter Wonder Women	5.38%
Weigh Down	5.34%
Loosen The Weight	5.32%
Thicker Than Thin	5.31%
Downsizing Divas	5.29%
Wannabe Mini-Me's	5.21%
Rinse and Repeat	5.18%
Team Transformation	4.94%
Sisters Slim	4.91%
Agents of Change	4.70%
The Crazy Cousins	4.65%
Transformers, The Next Generation	4.56%
Slim Slammers	4.45%
Healthy Changes	4.41%
Big Sis & Little Bro	4.41%
These Boots Are Made For Walking	4.38%
Team Fifteen	4.25%
A 2 G Adventurers 2 Goal	4.21%
27	4.10%
Snowsuits to Swimsuits	4.05%
Gals Getting to Goal	4.04%
Déjà vu	3.90%
Fit 4 Life	3.90%
2 Tiny Hiny	3.90%
The Investors	3.88%
The Tall & The Short of it is, We are here to lose	3.70%
Special Ops: Weapons of Less Consumption	3.68%
Down River	3.65%
WILMAS	3.59%
Puddle Jumpers	3.55%
Disappearing Act	3.53%
This Is It	3.41%
Drop It Like Its Hot	3.28%
No Pain No Gains	3.17%
Slim to Win	2.80%
Dedicated Duo	2.76%
Alumni Bound	2.72%
Muscle Power & Cauliflower	2.67%
Big "Fat Losers"	2.63%
3rd Time is a Charm	2.56%
Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead	2.42%
Just Lose Its!!	2.35%
Weather Or Not	2.26%
Slim Fasties	2.20%
The Original Hipsters	2.20%
We Were Naughty at Christmas That's Why We're Here	2.17%
Babies Got Back Outside	2.17%
The Tubby Terminators	1.81%
Females That Finish	1.42%
Fitso	1.28%
Flight To Freedom	1.12%
Goal Girls	-0.43%
The Losers	-0.68%

"Do Something"

Just two little words...so simple...so powerful! I promised our northwest adventurers this week that the message would be easy to remember. "Do Something!" There it is, the message! When we're faced with the decision to do nothing, or do something, choosing to DO SOMETHING will make all the difference! It's the little things, that add up over and over again, that bring about change!

I shared the great story of Joshua Chamberlain, Gettysburg, 1863. His choice to "DO SOMETHING" when it seemed there was not a choice at all, not only made a difference that day as they won the battle, but still makes a difference in the world today! One man's choice to take action, changed world history!  What would happen if we decided. to "do something" when we were faced with a choice? Actions will define you, they are defining you!

We celebrated with three teams today that took first place for the first time!
Noon: Team "Size Matters", Ginny Ann and Marie, took the win with a 1.77% of weight loss
5:30:  Team "Shrinking Violets", Patti and Louise won with a 2.29% for the week.
7:00:  Team "The Way We Were", Mo and Chuck won with 1.54% of weight loss for the week.

Congratulations to all of you. With 5 weeks to go, you are going strong and it's showing!!

We continue to talk about the "Miracle Drug" each week. This Saturday our Northwest Adventures have the opportunity to hike together and experience the "miracle" of the Columbia River Gorge! The Eagle Creek hike to Punch Bowl Falls is awaiting this fun group of adventurers!  Can't wait to see the pictures!

Your Challenge for the week:

• In honor of Glenda's 50th birthday on Tuesday, I am challenging all of our Healthy Weigh friends to perform a random act of kindness this week.  Spread the Love for Glenda...what a great gift!
• Get in your 5 indoor/outdoor activities
• DO SOMETHING!

With 5 weeks to go in this Winter Team Challenge, I couldn't be more excited!  No matter where you are today, there's time to accomplish GREAT things in the next 5 weeks! Choosing to be a person of action this week and beyond will make a huge difference! Let those two simple words motivate you this week and bring about action that defines you!

Thank you Joshua Chamberlain for changing the course of history by choosing to "do something." Let our choices make that much of a difference!  Why not us???

Always encouraging you,
Letha

Week 5 Team Standings

Team Name	%
The M & M Boys	12.36%
Tiny Hiny's	11.83%
Waist No More	11.80%
Baby Got Fat!	11.59%
Changing Our Weighs	11.37%
Sisu Sisters	9.76%
Repeat Offenders Taking It Off Our Rearenders	8.96%
Secret Ninjas	8.89%
Big Hinnies Revenge	8.87%
Supervision Required	8.71%
Dwindling Duo	8.61%
Pound It	8.58%
The Weigh We Were	8.49%
The No-No Yo-Yo's	8.45%
Slim Sissies	8.42%
Cauliflower Crunchers	8.27%
Portion Control Patrol	8.24%
Good Genes are Hard to Find	8.22%
Mom & Me Double Chin Free	8.22%
Fit Happens	8.21%
Size Matters	8.11%
The Amazing Racers	7.93%
Mission Slimpossible	7.93%
Team Redinger	7.87%
Double Chubble	7.77%
Jiggy 2	7.77%
The Lean Queens	7.73%
Pair a Thighs Lost	7.50%
Fat & Fatter	7.48%
Shrinking Violets	7.46%
What Goes Up Must Come Down	7.46%
Waist Removal Team	7.33%
Living La Vida Skinnier	7.10%
Meltdown Mammas	7.07%
No Necks	6.94%
A State of Mind	6.93%
Two Aleutians Resolution	6.83%
Hibernate No More	6.79%
Lido Shuffle	6.65%
Vanishing Kysar Rolls	6.52%
Procrastinators	6.52%
Run Like the Winded	6.23%
We're a Lot Like You	6.19%
Thicker Than Thin	6.16%
Thinner Winners	6.14%
Team BFB	6.06%
Winner, Winner We B Thinner	6.01%
Get 'Er Done	6.00%
Border Control, Eh?	5.90%
Eagles Rising	5.89%
The Kill-a-Ton	5.81%
Ladies Getting Lean and Loving It	5.73%
Walapaloosers	5.68%
Belly Brothers	5.66%
Losing In The Rain	5.65%
2 Tiny Hiny	5.44%
Literary Losers	5.41%
Shirley We Can Do It	5.14%
Cowboy Up	5.11%
Mini Sizers	5.05%
Wannabe Mini-Me's	5.05%
Downsizing Divas	4.95%
The Weight Loss Warriors	4.92%
Weigh Down	4.91%
Rinse and Repeat	4.84%
Snowsuits to Swimsuits	4.74%
The Winter Wonder Women	4.72%
The Crazy Cousins	4.65%
Duo of Diminishing Returns	4.57%
27	4.55%
Déjà vu	4.40%
This Is It	4.35%
These Boots Are Made For Walking	4.28%
Transformers, The Next Generation	4.16%
Team Fifteen	4.14%
Sisters Slim	3.97%
Cuttin Curries	3.92%
Big Sis & Little Bro	3.92%
Team Transformation	3.81%
Loosen The Weight	3.80%
Agents of Change	3.77%
Fit 4 Life	3.74%
WILMAS	3.69%
Special Ops: Weapons of Less Consumption	3.68%
A 2 G Adventurers 2 Goal	3.66%
Down River	3.65%
Disappearing Act	3.47%
Healthy Changes	3.26%
Gals Getting to Goal	3.21%
No Pain No Gains	3.17%
The Tall & The Short of it is, We are here to lose	2.88%
The Investors	2.86%
Slim to Win	2.86%
3rd Time is a Charm	2.86%
Big "Fat Losers"	2.80%
Slim Slammers	2.76%
Dedicated Duo	2.71%
Muscle Power & Cauliflower	2.67%
Drop It Like Its Hot	2.61%
Babies Got Back Outside	2.49%
Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead	2.42%
Slim Fasties	2.37%
Just Lose Its!!	2.35%
The Original Hipsters	2.09%
Puddle Jumpers	2.04%
Alumni Bound	1.63%
Females That Finish	1.47%
Weather Or Not	1.46%
We Were Naughty at Christmas That's Why We're Here	1.30%
The Tubby Terminators	1.07%
Fitso	0.79%
Flight To Freedom	0.53%
Goal Girls	-0.43%
The Losers	-0.68%

Week 4 Team Standings

Team Name	%
Baby Got Fat!	10.86%
The M & M Boys	10.39%
Tiny Hiny's	10.35%
Waist No More	9.79%
Changing Our Weighs	9.27%
Repeat Offenders Taking It Off Our Rearenders	8.96%
Sisu Sisters	8.95%
Big Hinnies Revenge	8.87%
Mission Slimpossible	8.32%
Portion Control Patrol	8.03%
Secret Ninjas	8.01%
Good Genes are Hard to Find	7.88%
The Amazing Racers	7.81%
Jiggy 2	7.77%
Mom & Me Double Chin Free	7.75%
Two Aleutians Resolution	7.54%
Pair a Thighs Lost	7.50%
Pound It	7.42%
Dwindling Duo	7.30%
The No-No Yo-Yo's	7.27%
Fat & Fatter	7.23%
Double Chubble	7.16%
Fit Happens	7.09%
Slim Sissies	7.06%
The Weigh We Were	7.05%
What Goes Up Must Come Down	7.02%
The Lean Queens	6.99%
Supervision Required	6.91%
Vanishing Kysar Rolls	6.80%
Living La Vida Skinnier	6.76%
Team Redinger	6.69%
Waist Removal Team	6.53%
Size Matters	6.45%
A State of Mind	6.19%
Hibernate No More	6.19%
Thinner Winners	6.15%
Eagles Rising	5.94%
The Kill-a-Ton	5.81%
Lido Shuffle	5.78%
Meltdown Mammas	5.72%
Winner, Winner We B Thinner	5.58%
We're a Lot Like You	5.52%
Thicker Than Thin	5.50%
2 Tiny Hiny	5.44%
Duo of Diminishing Returns	5.38%
Ladies Getting Lean and Loving It	5.30%
Shrinking Violets	5.29%
27	5.22%
No Necks	5.19%
The Crazy Cousins	5.18%
Wannabe Mini-Me's	5.13%
Cauliflower Crunchers	5.05%
Shirley We Can Do It	5.05%
Losing In The Rain	4.84%
Literary Losers	4.81%
Team BFB	4.77%
Get 'Er Done	4.72%
Run Like the Winded	4.70%
Procrastinators	4.64%
Walapaloosers	4.57%
Mini Sizers	4.51%
Rinse and Repeat	4.46%
Weigh Down	4.42%
Déjà vu	4.40%
Border Control, Eh?	4.40%
This Is It	4.35%
The Weight Loss Warriors	4.24%
Transformers, The Next Generation	4.17%
The Winter Wonder Women	3.95%
Belly Brothers	3.94%
Cuttin Curries	3.92%
Sisters Slim	3.91%
Cowboy Up	3.89%
Team Transformation	3.81%
Loosen The Weight	3.80%
Disappearing Act	3.80%
Snowsuits to Swimsuits	3.74%
Special Ops: Weapons of Less Consumption	3.68%
Slim Slammers	3.48%
These Boots Are Made For Walking	3.43%
Agents of Change	3.29%
Gals Getting to Goal	3.21%
Fit 4 Life	3.21%
Just Lose Its!!	3.16%
Females That Finish	3.04%
Big Sis & Little Bro	3.01%
Down River	2.97%
Downsizing Divas	2.79%
WILMAS	2.72%
A 2 G Adventurers 2 Goal	2.71%
Muscle Power & Cauliflower	2.67%
The Tubby Terminators	2.63%
Dedicated Duo	2.61%
The Investors	2.58%
Babies Got Back Outside	2.49%
The Original Hipsters	2.44%
The Tall & The Short of it is, We are here to lose	2.42%
Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead	2.42%
Drop It Like Its Hot	2.40%
No Pain No Gains	2.40%
Team Fifteen	2.23%
We Were Naughty at Christmas That's Why We're Here	2.18%
Puddle Jumpers	2.13%
Healthy Changes	2.13%
Slim to Win	2.05%
Big "Fat Losers"	1.82%
3rd Time is a Charm	1.68%
Slim Fasties	1.47%
Weather Or Not	1.44%
Alumni Bound	1.44%
Fitso	0.79%
Flight To Freedom	0.49%
The Losers	0.00%
Goal Girls	-0.43%