"M&M Boys" Take the Win!

We celebrated the close of our Winter Team Challenge  "Northwest Adventure" last night and it was a evening to remember! We passed out cash to our three top teams but that was just part of the fun! So many individuals accomplished what they set out to do during this challenge and it was a thrill to celebrate with  all of them!

Our teams lost HUGE amounts of weight in the last ten weeks, but they also went on hikes, walks, and played in the snow. Our Northwest adventure was all about re-claiming the cold dark winter in the northwest and getting in the proper dose of the "miracle drug" (exercise)! We did just that!

At the end of each 10 week challenge we present individuals with certificates denoting their weight loss.  20, 30, 40, 50, 60 pound weight loss "clubs." This challenge, our 19th, had more people reaching those goals than ever! It was really exciting to see!

We had teams winners but some individuals stood out as well:

Male with the greatest weight loss  Mike L. 62.1 pounds
Female with the greatest weight loss   Jennifer L. 42.2 pounds

Male with the greatest % of weight loss  Mike L. 24.45% of weight loss
Female with the great % of weight loss Diana S. 19.69% of weight loss

Our Winning Teams:
3rd place: team "Tiny Hinys"  Janie and Becky with 19.00% of weight loss (winners of $300)
2nd place: team "Waist No More"  Arlyn and Diana with 20.93% of weight loss (winners of $500)
1st place: team "M&M Boys"  Mike and Matt with a 22.23% of weight loss (winners of $1000)

Congratulations to these and so many others who had such great progress both inside and out, in these last ten weeks!

The group came together and donated enough money to give out 3 full ride scholarships to  attend our Spring Team challenge! Thank you for that amazing support that will enable three people to continue on and meet their goals.

It's always a little difficult saying farewell to a challenge group.  This Northwest Adventure has been anything but cold and dark. This group of people have warmed my heart and brought a lot of light to me, and to each other. I'm thankful to have spent the last 10 weeks with these very cool (warm) people!

Im believing that the lessons we learned together in the last ten weeks will stay with us forever. Next year when winter rolls around...we'll be ready to step into it with great adventure thanks to the winter team challenge of  2014!

Until the spring...always encouraging you,
Letha
 

Northwest Adventure - FINAL Team Standings

Team Name	%
The M & M Boys	22.24%
Waist No More	20.94%
Tiny Hiny's	19.01%
Changing Our Weighs	18.38%
Secret Ninjas	16.95%
Sisu Sisters	16.67%
Baby Got Fat!	15.67%
The No-No Yo-Yo's	15.42%
The Weigh We Were	14.93%
Repeat Offenders Taking It Off Our Rearenders	14.80%
Shrinking Violets	13.59%
Portion Control Patrol	13.25%
The Lean Queens	12.77%
Slim Sissies	12.24%
Living La Vida Skinnier	11.97%
The Amazing Racers	11.80%
Fit Happens	11.78%
Pound It	11.70%
Lido Shuffle	11.67%
Double Chubble	11.49%
Two Aleutians Resolution	11.48%
Size Matters	10.99%
Mom & Me Double Chin Free	10.99%
Supervision Required	10.96%
Procrastinators	10.92%
Meltdown Mammas	10.72%
Eagles Rising	10.68%
Mini Sizers	10.54%
A State of Mind	10.21%
Team Redinger	10.11%
Cauliflower Crunchers	10.11%
Run Like the Winded	9.75%
Hibernate No More	9.51%
Big Hinnies Revenge	9.50%
Losing In The Rain	8.73%
The Weight Loss Warriors	8.68%
Dwindling Duo	8.61%
What Goes Up Must Come Down	8.13%
Good Genes are Hard to Find	8.11%
Rinse and Repeat	8.08%
Border Control, Eh?	7.89%
We're a Lot Like You	7.82%
Mission Slimpossible	7.81%
Jiggy 2	7.77%
Fat & Fatter	7.72%
Thinner Winners	7.64%
Walapaloosers	7.64%
Winner, Winner We B Thinner	7.62%
Downsizing Divas	7.47%
The Kill-a-Ton	7.42%
Vanishing Kysar Rolls	7.35%
Waist Removal Team	7.33%
Literary Losers	7.33%
No Necks	7.19%
Team Transformation	7.06%
Pair a Thighs Lost	7.01%
Get 'Er Done	6.96%
Weigh Down	6.89%
The Winter Wonder Women	6.73%
Shirley We Can Do It	6.53%
These Boots Are Made For Walking	6.34%
Belly Brothers	6.29%
Ladies Getting Lean and Loving It	6.24%
Healthy Changes	6.22%
Cowboy Up	6.21%
Team BFB	6.11%
Snowsuits to Swimsuits	6.08%
Agents of Change	5.95%
Gals Getting to Goal	5.94%
Wannabe Mini-Me's	5.91%
Team Fifteen	5.80%
Transformers, The Next Generation	5.76%
Thicker Than Thin	5.60%
2 Tiny Hiny	5.51%
Big Sis & Little Bro	5.46%
The Original Hipsters	5.36%
WILMAS	5.30%
The Crazy Cousins	5.19%
Weather Or Not	5.17%
Duo of Diminishing Returns	5.14%
27	5.07%
Loosen The Weight	4.99%
Cuttin Curries	4.92%
The Tall & The Short of it is, We are here to lose	4.72%
Puddle Jumpers	4.48%
Slim Slammers	4.39%
A 2 G Adventurers 2 Goal	4.23%
Sisters Slim	4.17%
Down River	4.13%
Drop It Like Its Hot	4.12%
The Investors	4.04%
Dedicated Duo	4.03%
Fit 4 Life	4.02%
Déjà vu	3.90%
Slim Fasties	3.75%
We Were Naughty at Christmas That's Why We're Here	3.53%
Disappearing Act	3.53%
3rd Time is a Charm	3.39%
No Pain No Gains	2.88%
Big "Fat Losers"	2.75%
Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead	2.72%
Muscle Power & Cauliflower	2.67%
Special Ops: Weapons of Less Consumption	2.42%
Just Lose Its!!	2.35%
Females That Finish	2.18%
Alumni Bound	2.17%
This Is It	2.15%
The Tubby Terminators	2.05%
Babies Got Back Outside	1.82%
Flight To Freedom	1.60%
The Losers	1.36%
Fitso	1.28%
Slim to Win	0.57%
Goal Girls	-1.19%

Love Letters Straight From the Heart

We made it through our Northwest Winter!  Thursday was the first day of Spring and we celebrated at The Healthy Weigh! We re-claimed winter of 2014, that's for sure. With our hikes, walks and even snow follies, we were outside more this winter than in year's past. With one week to go of this Team Challenge, it wasn't too soon to start celebrating our accomplishments!

Ten weeks ago, I encouraged our adventurers to write a letter to themselves to be opened March 20th.  A letter spelling our their goals and desires for the ten weeks ahead.  Yesterday, we opened them. We read our letters together and had mixed emotions.  Some said, " I did it!" and "Spot on!" while others, including me, didn't hit the mark on all we set out to do. As we evaluated our letters together,r it came down to these important thoughts:

Never regret! If it is good, it's wonderful. If it is bad, it is experience. Don't look back in regret. Move forward with hope.
 
Sometimes the best way to measure distance is not to look back and see how far we've come, but to look ahead and see how close we are.

I'm not what I should be, and I'm not what I could be...but I'm not what I used to be!

To summarize the evaluation of our letters...it looked like this.

Look back and learn.
Leave regrets behind.
Reward yourself for all you've accomplished.
Look ahead with hope!

In looking ahead with hope, I announced the theme and the exciting information regarding the Spring Team Challenge.  I committed to something I've been thinking about for a long time...writing a workbook.  This Spring, I'll be writing a workbook as we move through the Team Challenge. The group that enrolls in the Challenge will be my "test group" as they receive the workbook one week at a time.  Glenda also agreed to facilitate a group after the hour to review the homework and information in the workbook.

With a workbook, instructors, test groups and tutors, I couldn't help but choose the theme "HEALTHY WEIGH UNIVERSITY for our Spring Team Challenge! We're going to school this spring.  I'll be delivering my workshop series written 6 years ago with new insight, new passion and new understanding. I'm excited!

We gave away 3 full ride scholarships yesterday to the top weight losers at each gathering!

Noon: Mya M with 2.76%  weight loss for the week.
5:30: Arlyn L with 3.81 % weight loss for the week.
7:00 : Matt D. with 3.24% weight loss for the week.

Congratulations to you all...what a week!

Our winning teams got to take those umbrellas home one more time...
Noon: Team "Secret Ninja's" Kellie and Jennifer, with a 1.81% of weight loss
5:30: Team "Waist No More" Arlyn and Diana with 3.07% of weight loss
7:00: Team "M&M Boys" Matt and Mike with 2.68% of weight loss

What a week...now it's down to the end...who's going to take it all??? Good luck to you all this week!!!

Your challenge for the week:

• Do 5 indoor/outdoor activities for the week
• Sign up for the Spring Team Challenge
• Lose 2.5 pounds for the week and be entered into a drawing for a full ride scholarship for the Spring Team Challenge

I'm looking forward to our finale next week...celebrating all the accomplishments of the past 10 weeks. This has been a fun winter hanging out with a lot of fun people!  I'll miss this group!

Give it all you've got this week...I'm printing your certificates with my motto in my heart...you know "It's better to have been excited and lost, than never to have been excited!" :-)

Here's to an exciting week!

Always encouraging you,
Letha

Week 9 Team Standings

Team Name	%
The M & M Boys	19.56%
Waist No More	18.86%
Tiny Hiny's	17.19%
Changing Our Weighs	15.52%
Secret Ninjas	15.39%
Baby Got Fat!	15.28%
Repeat Offenders Taking It Off Our Rearenders	14.80%
Sisu Sisters	14.73%
The No-No Yo-Yo's	14.23%
The Weigh We Were	13.67%
Portion Control Patrol	13.25%
Pound It	12.02%
Living La Vida Skinnier	11.97%
The Amazing Racers	11.73%
Slim Sissies	11.68%
Shrinking Violets	10.96%
Lido Shuffle	10.95%
Two Aleutians Resolution	10.92%
Mom & Me Double Chin Free	10.49%
Double Chubble	10.39%
The Lean Queens	10.27%
Size Matters	10.26%
Supervision Required	10.17%
Team Redinger	10.11%
Eagles Rising	9.79%
Run Like the Winded	9.75%
Hibernate No More	9.72%
Procrastinators	9.69%
Big Hinnies Revenge	9.50%
A State of Mind	9.09%
Cauliflower Crunchers	9.00%
Fit Happens	8.98%
Meltdown Mammas	8.98%
Dwindling Duo	8.61%
Losing In The Rain	8.44%
The Weight Loss Warriors	8.19%
What Goes Up Must Come Down	8.13%
Good Genes are Hard to Find	8.11%
Weigh Down	8.04%
The Kill-a-Ton	8.00%
We're a Lot Like You	7.82%
Thinner Winners	7.79%
Jiggy 2	7.77%
Fat & Fatter	7.72%
Walapaloosers	7.64%
Mini Sizers	7.56%
Downsizing Divas	7.47%
Mission Slimpossible	7.43%
Vanishing Kysar Rolls	7.35%
Waist Removal Team	7.33%
No Necks	7.19%
Pair a Thighs Lost	7.01%
Literary Losers	6.97%
Get 'Er Done	6.96%
Border Control, Eh?	6.84%
The Winter Wonder Women	6.79%
Agents of Change	6.72%
Shirley We Can Do It	6.53%
Rinse and Repeat	6.50%
Belly Brothers	6.29%
Ladies Getting Lean and Loving It	6.24%
Team Transformation	6.22%
Cowboy Up	6.21%
Team BFB	6.11%
Snowsuits to Swimsuits	6.08%
These Boots Are Made For Walking	6.05%
Gals Getting to Goal	5.94%
Wannabe Mini-Me's	5.91%
Winner, Winner We B Thinner	5.69%
Transformers, The Next Generation	5.66%
Loosen The Weight	5.65%
2 Tiny Hiny	5.51%
Big Sis & Little Bro	5.46%
Healthy Changes	5.36%
Thicker Than Thin	5.15%
Duo of Diminishing Returns	5.14%
Team Fifteen	5.09%
The Crazy Cousins	5.07%
27	5.07%
The Original Hipsters	4.84%
Cuttin Curries	4.57%
Slim Slammers	4.39%
Down River	4.23%
The Tall & The Short of it is, We are here to lose	4.19%
Drop It Like Its Hot	4.08%
The Investors	4.04%
Sisters Slim	4.03%
Fit 4 Life	4.02%
WILMAS	3.96%
Dedicated Duo	3.91%
Déjà vu	3.90%
3rd Time is a Charm	3.57%
We Were Naughty at Christmas That's Why We're Here	3.53%
Disappearing Act	3.53%
Slim Fasties	3.52%
Weather Or Not	3.20%
Puddle Jumpers	2.95%
A 2 G Adventurers 2 Goal	2.95%
No Pain No Gains	2.88%
Big "Fat Losers"	2.75%
Muscle Power & Cauliflower	2.67%
Special Ops: Weapons of Less Consumption	2.42%
Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead	2.42%
Just Lose Its!!	2.35%
Babies Got Back Outside	2.17%
Alumni Bound	2.17%
This Is It	2.15%
Slim to Win	2.05%
The Tubby Terminators	1.65%
The Losers	1.47%
Females That Finish	1.37%
Fitso	1.28%
Flight To Freedom	0.96%
Goal Girls	-1.19%

Personal Responsibility...the key to a brilliant future!

With two more weigh-in's left to complete the winter Team Challenge we've got people as committed as ever! Our slogan for this Northwest Adventure is "Healthy summer bodies are earned in the winter."That's for sure. We've got people that have already lost 20, 30, 40, 50 pounds and there's nothing stopping them now! Summer is going to feel really good because of the work they've done this winter!

Glenda's presentation was so powerful last week, so I wanted to use her inspiration as a spring board for this week.  So many of us identified with Glenda last week and made new DECISIONS to live our life to the fullest. I pressed into that a bit more by focusing this week on personal responsibility.  It's one thing to DECIDE...it's another thing to follow through with that DECISION.  How do we keep taking care of ourselves in spite of the circumstances?  How do we keep making the right choices for ourselves in spite of other people?... by taking complete responsibility for ourselves.

We talked about the difference between justifying and blaming. Justifying is holding circumstances responsible for your failure. Blaming is holding another person responsible for your failure.  When you let go of  justifying and blaming, responsibility kicks in! Accepting responsibility for where you are today is the beginning of having the life your truly desire.

Our winning teams of the week took home some cash and those pretty umbrellas! 

Noon: Team "Secret Ninjas" Kellie and Jennifer won with a 2.17% of weight loss for the week.

5:30: Team "Waist No More" Diana and Arlyn won with 1.67% of weight loss.

7:00: Team "The M&M Boys" Matt and Mike won with 2.30% of weight loss!

Congratulations to all three teams!  You all are repeat winners! Great job!!

Your challenge for the week:

• Listen to week #3 "What's in Your Back Pack ~ Controlling What You Can" and do the homework provided.
• Do 5 indoor/outdoor activities! 

A third challenge was announced for all who weighed in this week!  The individual at each gathering next week with the greatest % of weight loss for the week will earn the Spring Team Challenge FREE! Good luck to all of you!!!

I announced the date of the Spring Team Challenge with details to follow next week:

• Thursday April 10th and Noon and 6 PM ~ 30 minute Informercial explaining the details of the Spring Team Challenge.
• Thursday April 17th and Noon and 6 PM ~ 1 hour program program introduction class, explaining the nutritional plan for all those enrolled in the spring Team Challenge
• Thursday, April 24th at Noon and 6 PM ~ first weigh in and official start of the Spring Team Challenge!

This week as you continue to make choices for your future, ask yourself..."Am I justifying my behavior by using circumstances as my excuse or am I blaming other people and using them for my excuse to fail? " OR..."Am I taking COMPLETE responsibility for my actions?" I hope is the latter. :-)

Here's to a fantastic week as we get closer to celebrating the amazing weight loss at the finale of  this Northwest Adventure.

Always encouraging you,

Letha

Week 8 Team Standings

Team Name	%
The M & M Boys	17.33%
Waist No More	16.29%
Tiny Hiny's	15.87%
Changing Our Weighs	14.79%
Baby Got Fat!	14.57%
Secret Ninjas	13.83%
Sisu Sisters	13.76%
Repeat Offenders Taking It Off Our Rearenders	13.72%
The No-No Yo-Yo's	12.91%
The Weigh We Were	12.80%
Portion Control Patrol	11.95%
Living La Vida Skinnier	11.40%
The Amazing Racers	10.67%
Pound It	10.40%
Two Aleutians Resolution	10.20%
Size Matters	10.00%
Shrinking Violets	9.97%
Cauliflower Crunchers	9.91%
Slim Sissies	9.90%
Mom & Me Double Chin Free	9.90%
Double Chubble	9.79%
Supervision Required	9.59%
Lido Shuffle	9.58%
Fit Happens	9.56%
Big Hinnies Revenge	9.50%
The Lean Queens	9.47%
Procrastinators	9.41%
Team Redinger	9.10%
Eagles Rising	9.09%
Run Like the Winded	9.00%
A State of Mind	8.66%
Hibernate No More	8.65%
Dwindling Duo	8.61%
Meltdown Mammas	8.26%
Mini Sizers	8.17%
What Goes Up Must Come Down	8.13%
Good Genes are Hard to Find	8.11%
We're a Lot Like You	7.82%
Jiggy 2	7.77%
Fat & Fatter	7.72%
Losing In The Rain	7.71%
Walapaloosers	7.64%
Vanishing Kysar Rolls	7.50%
The Weight Loss Warriors	7.45%
Thinner Winners	7.38%
Mission Slimpossible	7.35%
Waist Removal Team	7.33%
No Necks	7.19%
Pair a Thighs Lost	7.09%
Weigh Down	6.99%
Ladies Getting Lean and Loving It	6.98%
Get 'Er Done	6.85%
Shirley We Can Do It	6.83%
The Kill-a-Ton	6.76%
Winner, Winner We B Thinner	6.71%
Team Transformation	6.42%
Belly Brothers	6.29%
Cowboy Up	6.16%
Agents of Change	6.08%
Snowsuits to Swimsuits	6.08%
The Winter Wonder Women	6.02%
Downsizing Divas	5.95%
Transformers, The Next Generation	5.93%
Wannabe Mini-Me's	5.91%
Border Control, Eh?	5.81%
Literary Losers	5.76%
Rinse and Repeat	5.64%
2 Tiny Hiny	5.51%
Gals Getting to Goal	5.40%
Slim Slammers	5.25%
Team BFB	5.24%
Team Fifteen	5.15%
Duo of Diminishing Returns	5.14%
27	5.07%
These Boots Are Made For Walking	4.99%
Cuttin Curries	4.85%
Big Sis & Little Bro	4.74%
Loosen The Weight	4.73%
Healthy Changes	4.56%
Down River	4.44%
The Investors	4.41%
The Original Hipsters	4.17%
The Tall & The Short of it is, We are here to lose	4.15%
Sisters Slim	4.03%
The Crazy Cousins	4.03%
Drop It Like Its Hot	3.99%
Déjà vu	3.90%
Fit 4 Life	3.88%
We Were Naughty at Christmas That's Why We're Here	3.53%
Disappearing Act	3.53%
3rd Time is a Charm	3.49%
WILMAS	3.46%
Thicker Than Thin	3.34%
No Pain No Gains	3.32%
Dedicated Duo	3.07%
A 2 G Adventurers 2 Goal	3.00%
Slim Fasties	2.77%
Weather Or Not	2.74%
Puddle Jumpers	2.72%
Big "Fat Losers"	2.71%
Muscle Power & Cauliflower	2.67%
Special Ops: Weapons of Less Consumption	2.42%
Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead	2.42%
Just Lose Its!!	2.35%
Babies Got Back Outside	2.17%
Alumni Bound	2.17%
This Is It	2.15%
Females That Finish	1.76%
The Losers	1.47%
Fitso	1.28%
Slim to Win	1.02%
Flight To Freedom	0.93%
The Tubby Terminators	0.75%
Goal Girls	-1.19%