Let the Climb Begin!

How perfect that snow fell over our counties yesterday as we climbed out of our tents at base camp and started the climb to the summit! We missed a few of our climbers because of the snow, but most were able to attend! We weighed in 87 teams yesterday that are ready to go BEYOND THE LIMITS!

With before pictures taken, teams announced and our first challenge given, the teams of the winter BEYOND THE LIMITS Team Challenge are ready to go! It was fun to hear the names of our teams and see some of the creative "outfits" that represented them! I can already tell that this is going to be an epic group of climbers!!!

With enthusiasm levels high and hope even higher we have set out to go beyond the limits. Beyond what we've done before, both collectively and individually. I challenged our climbers to consider what going "Beyond The Limits" would mean to them in this next ten weeks. We all have set limits on ourselves for years. Some limits consciously and others subconsciously. Going beyond the limits is going to be about looking at what you've always done and deciding if you've got what it takes to push beyond that!

For some of our clients that will mean finishing what they've started, for others it will mean making a commitment to the nutritional plan that they've never made before. Others will be pressing into new numbers they haven't seen in years... and along with that comes a new lifestyle that hasn't been lived in years! Going beyond the limits might look like adding regular exercise to a sedentary life, or possibly engaging fully in all The Heathy Weigh has to offer in the next 10 weeks including the challenges and homework, really "working" the program.

For each individual in the room yesterday, going beyond the limits will be their own personal climb! To reach the summit, to do what hasn't been done before, we will ALL need to push beyond our limits!

YOUR CHALLENGE/GOAL FOR THE WEEK:
Ask yourself the question: "What does going beyond the limits look like for me?" Write down the answer to that question and bring it back into The Healthy Weigh next tuesday for a ticket in the drawing!

The journey up this mountain has begun. Lean on each other and believe in yourself and you will go BEYOND THE LIMITS!

Always encouraging you,
Letha

FINAL STANDINGS!

18.7 Happy Feat!
18.5 Thunder & Lightning
15.5 This Is How It’s “Dunne”
15.0 Let’s Go Make It Low
14.9 Barely Waisted
14.3 Side By Side
14.3 Drop It Like It’s Hot
14.0 Funkie Chunkies
13.5 The Team Formerly Known As Amazing Grace
13.4 Thin It To Win It
12.8 Do It Or Die
12.6 Fighting Temptations
12.4 The A-Team
12.1 Thighs The Limit
12.0 Excess Baggage
11.9 Thin & Trim
11.6 Ultimate Eliminators
11.6 No Sugar…Just Spice!
11.2 Travelin’ Lite
11.1 Girls Next Door
10.7 Too Unfit To Quit
10.5 Losing It
10.4 Trim Fast
10.3 Trophy Wife Wannabe’s
10.1 Now You See It Now You Don’t
10.1 Hot Mama’s
9.7 Dynamic Duo
9.1 Bodacious Babes
8.5 Mr & Mrs Piggins
8.2 Better Than Sprinkles
7.5 Peaches and Skim Milk
7.4 The Better Weigh
7.2 Badunkadunk Busters
7.1 New Dimensions
6.9 Downsizing Divas
6.8 No If, Ands Or Butts
6.5 Barracudas
6.4 Lean Cousines
6.1 Moms On A Mission
5.9 Thin To Win
5.9 “Chicken…It’s What’s For Dinner”
5.8 Unstuffin’ The Muffin’
5.8 The Slimenators
5.8 Changes In Attitude
5.7 Livin On A Prayer!
5.4 Defying Gravity
4.8 Amazing Waists
4.8 Amazing Grace
4.7 Booty Busters
3.8 Perfect Harmony
3.8 La La Paloozers
3.6 Team Freedom
3.5 Bob/Kat Productions
3.2 Final Redemption
2.9 Less Is More
2.9 In It To Thin It
2.7 Hi-Weigh To Health
2.4 Weight No More
2.4 I Know What You Weighed Last Summer
2.0 Made For More
1.8 Cruisin’ For Losin’
1.6 Balance +
.7 Weigh To Liberation
-1.3 Hot Squad

The Amazing Race Ends with a Sprint to the Finish!

Last night we celebrated our 10th Team Challenge finale! With a total of 2360 pounds lost in the last 10 weeks, we broke the record for the most pounds lost of any Team Challenge so far! This truly WAS an Amazing Race!

Along with celebrating our top three teams, we inducted more clients into the 20, 30, 40, and 50 pound club than ever before! It was a powerful example of what happens when people come together to support and encourage each other and make personal decisions to change their lives!

Here's a look at some of our big winners!

Most pounds lost by a female: Kimberli Zonker 51.8 pounds!
Most pounds lost by a male: Frank Stillwell 46.3 pounds!
Highest % of weight loss for a female: Peggy Schwartz 20.1%
Highest % of weight loss for a male: Jerry Hatcher 20.5%

And now...our Top Three Teams!

The THIRD team to arrive: "This is How It's Dunne," Karen and Rebecca, with a 15.53% of weight loss! Congratulations to you sweet sisters! Winners of $300

The SECOND team to arrive: "Thunder and Lightning," Peggy and Debbie, with a 18.52% of weight loss! I'm so proud of you two! Winners of $500

The FIRST team to arrive, "Happy Feat," Sue and Jerry, with a 18.78% of weight loss! Congratulations you two. You inspired us all! So great to see a husband and wife work together to change their lives! Great job!! Winners of $1000

As we close out another Team Challenge, there is always a little sadness. By the 10th week of this challenge this group has bonded and it's hard to let go! We traveled through holidays, encouraged each other when the going got tough, enjoyed each others company on the Fast Forward events and supported each other on Face Book! It was an amazing ten weeks!

We said our goodbyes last night to the Amazing Race, but we look forward to our next challenge "BEYOND THE LIMITS" in January.
We have a great 4 weeks ahead of motivating and inspiring events to keep our clients focused and on the right path.

Tuesday,December 20th noon and 6pm. Glenda and I will be team teaching a VISION class.
Tuesday, December 27th noon and 6pm. I'll be sharing one of my yearly traditions, choosing a word for the year!
Tuesday, January 3rd, noon and 6pm. We'll be getting closer to our climb and I'll be taking you to the base of Mt. Everest to get you ready for the adventure!
Tuesday, January 10th, noon and 6pm. I'll be presenting the program introduction class for the upcoming Team Challenge. Everyone who is enrolled in the winter Team Challenge should attend this very important class explaining the nutritional plan in detail!

I threw out a little contest last night for the next 4 weeks as well...here's how it works. For EVERYONE who loses 4 pounds between December 13th and January 17th, they will be entered into a drawing for $100! I thought it would be a fun way to stay focused during these holiday weeks!


Congratulations to ALL of you who participated in The Amazing Race and completed the race! You have a lot to be proud of. I hope that you continue to live out the lessons you learned and that the changes you made will be for life! That will be truly amazing!

Always encouraging you,
Letha

There's NO QUIT IN US...even after breaking ALL records!

Oh, what a day at The Healthy Weigh! The 9th leg of this Amazing Race turned out to be a record breaking, goal meeting, over the top kind of a leg! We celebrate with friends who reached "one"derland, saw weights they haven't seen in 30 years and had just plain old great weeks! It was a blast!

We did something on this 9th week of the Team Challenge that we've never done before this early in the challenge...we broke the weight loss record of ALL previous Team Challenges! We went over the top and still have one more week to kick the record up another notch! Congratulations to this group of outstanding people...they started the race out strong and are finishing even stronger!

As we close in our our 10th week of this challenge, I reminded our participants that winners, champions don't quit! When things get tough, when they don't feel like they can go on, they reach down inside of themselves and say, "There's No Quit In Me." That's where champions are made, that place where a decision must be made. Will I give up now or will I rise up and say, there's no quit in me?!!!

We celebrated with teams who decided and have put action to their decision. Team 'No Sugar, Just Spice' won at noon with a 2.19 % of weight loss! Lynelle and Karadee were the first team to arrive with a 2.19% of weight loss for the week and they were excited about it!
At Six, 'Trophy Wife Wannabe's' took the win with a 2.83% of weight loss! Marna and Marianne ran a victory lap before they landed on the check-in mat! They had a lot to celebrate this week and it showed!!

Next Tuesday will be our 10th Team Challenge Grand Finale and they just keep getting better! We will be weighing in some of our teams at noon but everyone will becoming back for the Finale and celebration at 6! It is going to be Grand!

Your task for the week:
Lose 2 pounds! (you will want to be in this drawing for an over night stay at a World Mark Resort AND a Winter Team Challenge paid in full!)

I can't wait to celebrate with you all next week! Here's to another over the top kind of Amazing Race week!

Always encouraging you,
Letha

Team Challenge Standings

16.1 Happy Feat!
14.6 Thunder & Lightning
13.5 This Is How It’s “Dunne”
13.5 Funkie Chunkies
13.4 Let’s Go Make It Low
12.9 Barely Waisted
12.3 Thin It To Win It
12.3 Side By Side
12.2 Drop It Like It’s Hot
11.9 Fighting Temptations
11.6 The Team Formerly Known As Amazing Grace
11.6 Do It Or Die
11.5 The A-Team
10.9 No Sugar…Just Spice!
10.8 Thin & Trim
10.7 Trophy Wife Wannabe’s
10.6 Too Unfit To Quit
10.4 Excess Baggage
10.3 Thighs The Limit
10.2 Ultimate Eliminators
10.2 Travelin’ Lite
9.8 Losing It
9.8 Girls Next Door
9.7 Now You See It Now You Don’t
9.5 Hot Mama’s
8.5 Trim Fast
8.5 Dynamic Duo
8.5 Bodacious Babes
7.9 Mr & Mrs Piggins
7.7 Peaches and Skim Milk
7.6 Better Than Sprinkles
7.5 The Better Weigh
7.2 Badunkadunk Busters
7.1 New Dimensions
6.6 Downsizing Divas
6.5 Barracudas
6.4 Lean Cousines
6.3 The Slimenators
6.0 No Belly Weigh
5.9 “Chicken…It’s What’s For Dinner”
5.8 Unstuffin’ The Muffin’
5.8 Changes In Attitude
5.7 No If, Ands Or Butts
5.5 Livin On A Prayer!
5.2 Thin To Win
4.8 Amazing Waists
4.8 Amazing Grace
4.7 La La Paloozers
4.5 Defying Gravity
4.4 Perfect Harmony
4.3 Booty Busters
4.2 Moms On A Mission
3.8 Bob/Kat Productions
3.6 Team Freedom
3.0 Weight No More
2.9 Less Is More
2.9 In It To Thin It
2.4 I Know What You Weighed Last Summer
2.0 Made For More
2.0 Final Redemption
1.8 Cruisin’ For Losin’
1.6 Balance +
.9 Hi-Weigh To Health
.7 Weigh To Liberation
-1.3 Hot Squad

Team Challenge Standings

14.3 Happy Feat!
13.3 Thunder & Lightning
12.5 Funkie Chunkies
12.1 This Is How It’s “Dunne”
12.1 Let’s Go Make It Low
11.9 Barely Waisted
11.3 Side By Side
11.0 Do It Or Die
10.9 Drop It Like It’s Hot
10.8 Thin & Trim
10.8 The Team Formerly Known As Amazing Grace
10.7 The A-Team
10.6 Thin It To Win It
10.6 Fighting Temptations
10.3 Thighs The Limit
9.6 Ultimate Eliminators
9.6 Excess Baggage
9.5 Losing It
9.4 Girls Next Door
9.3 Too Unfit To Quit
9.1 Now You See It Now You Don’t
8.9 No Sugar…Just Spice!
8.7 Dynamic Duo
8.5 Hot Mama’s
8.3 Travelin’ Lite
8.1 Trophy Wife Wannabe’s
7.9 Trim Fast
7.9 Mr & Mrs Piggins
7.7 Bodacious Babes
7.2 Badunkadunk Busters
7.1 Peaches and Skim Milk
7.1 New Dimensions
6.6 The Better Weigh
6.5 Unstuffin’ The Muffin’
6.4 Lean Cousines
6.3 The Slimenators
6.1 Downsizing Divas
6.0 No Belly Weigh
6.0 Barracudas
5.9 Better Than Sprinkles
5.7 Thin To Win
5.3 No If, Ands Or Butts
5.0 Livin On A Prayer!
5.0 “Chicken…It’s What’s For Dinner”
4.8 Amazing Waists
4.5 Changes In Attitude
4.4 Team Freedom
4.4 Perfect Harmony
4.2 Moms On A Mission
4.2 Defying Gravity
4.0 La La Paloozers
3.9 Amazing Grace
3.6 Bob/Kat Productions
3.4 Weight No More
3.4 Booty Busters
2.9 Less Is More
2.9 In It To Thin It
2.2 Cruisin’ For Losin’
2.2 Balance +
2.1 I Know What You Weighed Last Summer
2.0 Made For More
2.0 Final Redemption
1.3 Hi-Weigh To Health
.5 Weigh To Liberation
-1.3 Hot Squad

We're Climbing a Mountain!!!!!

The big announcement was made yesterday at the Team Challenge. This Amazing Race group was given their next clue...it read something like this:

Take a flight to South Asia, find your way to the Himalayas. There will you continue on to the base of Mt Everest. You will receive more instruction there.

We're climbing Mt. Everest!
We're taking this weight loss journey BEYOND THE LIMITS!

Our theme for the Winter 2012 Team Challenge... "BEYOND THE LIMITS."

Before Sir Edmond Hillary and Tensing Norgay stood on top of Mt. Everest in 1953, climbing to 29,028 feet was thought to be impossible. Now this mountain has come to symbolize human achievement.
Mt. Everest evokes a powerful metaphor. It is one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. For every three people who reach the summit, one dies trying. When the stakes are this high, each team member plays a critical role, not only in the team's success, but its very survival.

Even though you may not experience arctic temperatures, hurricane force winds, or seemingly bottomless crevasses, you do face the challenge of consistently doing the right thing. Making the right choices. Changing your beliefs.


I'm sure most of our clients would agree that losing weight and keeping it off is one of the hardest things they've ever tried to accomplish. Losing weight and keeping it off can be like climbing a mountain. Just like a climbing expedition, you must forge an inspiring vision, overcome obstacles and stay focused, to consistently be your best and reach the top, your goal weight.

Going "Beyond The Limits" is what it's going to take to reach the top...reach goal weight and keep it off for life! I reminded our clients that to accomplish this great task they were going to need:

An Attitude with Altitude
A Courageous Spirit
A Willingness to Change
And a decision to NEVER GIVE UP!

The difference between defeat and giving up is in perspective. Defeat is often only a temporary situation. Defeat is an opportunity to learn, so that we can go back and do things differently. Giving up is what makes defeat permanent. When we give up, we never try again.

I also reminded our alumni that the top is the most vulnerable place to be. Even in mountain climbing, once you've reached the summit, you're only halfway to your goal. You still have to make your way to the bottom of the mountain. Or in the case of our alumni, keep walking the walk, always looking for the new challenges and working the program.

We're excited about our Winter Team Challenge that begins in January...but we're still very focused on the task at hand. The Amazing Race! Who will be the first team to arrive???

Our winning teams for this week were 'Losing It' with a 1.86 % of weight loss. Congratulations Barry and Tony! At six, team 'Happy Feat' took the win again with a 2.33% of weight loss! Sue and Jerry, you had an amazing week!
Our teams came together for another 151 pounds of weight loss this week! Thanksgiving week, I might add! How exciting is that? We finished No Cave November out strong and awarded Annie B. with $100 prize!!! Speaking of 100...we celebrate with Ryan B. last night as he reached his 100 pound mark! It was a great day at The Healthy Weigh!!

We have lots in store in the next few weeks to finish out this Amazing Race breaking all kinds of records and then head into 2012 to go Beyond The Limits!

YOUR TASK FOR THE WEEK:
Lose 1.5 pounds this week! (you'll want to be in this drawing)

Have a great week knowing that I will always be encouraging you,
Letha