I Will Seek Wisdom

Thursday we looked at our second DECISION..."I will Seek Wisdom."  Our second DECISION on our journey through The Travelers Gift and through our 10 week Team Challenge. We folded up our first DECISION, "The Buck Stops Here" and placed it in our pocket for safe keeping and journeyed on.

This week we found ourselves in the temple of King Solomon.  We learned a lot about wisdom this week in Vancouver Washington! Most people mistake wisdom for education. Seeking wisdom is not the same as gaining knowledge, however it is a precursor to wisdom. 

Knowledge is the awareness and understand of facts, truth or information. Wisdom, is the ability to apply knowledge to your life.

King Solomon shared three things that we must do to seek wisdom.

1. Read

2. Choose your companions wisely

3. Serve others

We unpacked all three of those important precursors to wisdom Thursday and we are ready to press in to the second decision this week.

We celebrated some GREAT weight loss too! So many of our travelers are having wonderful weight losses...they are going to be excited when they look back at the end of this ten weeks to see how far they've come!

Congratulations to our winning teams for the week.  They got to take home the prize and the buck knives to decorate!

Noon "Figuratively Shrinking"  Ron and Dennis, with a 2.55% of weight loss for the week.

6:00 "Downsizing"  Rosie and Brenda, with a 2.58% of weight loss for the week.

Our DECISION for the week starts out by saying "Knowing that wisdom waits to be gathered, I will actively seek her out. My past can never be changed, but I can change the future by changing my actions TODAY!"  My hope as we travel through this important 10 weeks, is that everyone will see this challenge as an opportunity to not only lose weight...but change FOREVER!

Your Challenge For The Week:

Read your second DECISION "I will Seek Wisdom" every day

Answer the questions on the bottom of your hand out,  using your own journal or note book, and bring back in next week.

For those who have not heard the CD series or for those who choose to press in to a little extra homework to seek more wisdom :

Download off the web site and listen to "Understanding Your Beliefs, The Key to Permanent Weight Loss" and do the homework provided.

Decision 1: The Buck Stops Here.

Decision 2: I will Seek Wisdom.

Read, choose your companions well, and serve others until I see you again!

Always encouraging you,

Letha

The Traveler's Gift - Week 3 Team Standings

Team Name	%
Morbidly Monitarily Motivated	6.55%
Coworking Cows	6.04%
Shinky Dinks	5.63%
Foley Loaded	5.38%
Downsizing	5.23%
Done & Dunner	5.18%
Figuratively Shrinking	5.17%
Team MADA	5.13%
Kickin' As-Phalt All The Way to Skinny	5.06%
Traveling Lite	5.03%
Off and Running	4.98%
Finally Full	4.97%
Dual Duettes	4.86%
Devine Intervention	4.80%
Rollin' Back Time	4.66%
Two Too Much	4.66%
Kalorie Killing Kangas'	4.36%
Flight to Freedom	4.34%
Skinny In-Laws	4.32%
The Red Hot Mammas	4.20%
Been There, Done That	4.19%
Excess Baggage	4.17%
Try Hard Ninjas	4.12%
Letha's Minions	4.06%
The Souvenirs	4.00%
Paris Bound	3.98%
Droppin Baggage	3.98%
Nimble Hogs	3.96%
Devoted Duo	3.95%
The In-Law Weigh	3.87%
Weigh 2 Sweet	3.87%
It's a Shore Thing	3.79%
Hi-Weigh to Health	3.61%
Kim Possible Squared	3.56%
The Chub Stops Here	3.53%
Dig Deeper	3.48%
Baggage Lost	3.42%
Dump Your Rump	3.38%
Chew Less	3.34%
Getting Directions on the Weigh	3.08%
Wonder Women	3.07%
Decided Travelers … No More Detours	3.06%
Peaceful Travelers	3.04%
Lean Queens	3.04%
Tour de Fat	3.02%
Alumni Bound	3.02%
The 2 J's	2.96%
E-Lemon-ators	2.96%
Traveling Down the Weight Line	2.93%
Flab-u-less	2.92%
Crazy Cousins 2	2.92%
Meltdown Mammas	2.83%
Small & Mighty Losers	2.80%
Tapa-No-Knees	2.78%
The Dynamic Duo	2.73%
3 B's	2.70%
Cruise Control	2.61%
Adipose Destroyer	2.58%
Choosers and Loosers	2.57%
But Wait, There's Less!	2.55%
Dye Hards	2.44%
Spinning to Thinning	2.41%
Weight of Glory	2.37%
Livin' The Dream	2.36%
Getter Done	2.26%
NO NAME #1	2.10%
Let's Do This Mother!	2.09%
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow	2.08%
Champion Chunkers	2.04%
Enlighten Up	1.98%
Dwindling Divas	1.82%
Waist Management	1.76%
Fabulous By Fall	1.70%
NO NAME #2	1.66%
Choose to Lose	1.65%
Lost, But Finding Our Way	1.47%
NO NAME #3	1.47%
The Persistant	1.43%
Baggage Claim	1.42%
NO NAME #4	1.27%
Download	1.27%
Healthy Weigh 101	1.17%
The Double Shots Girls	1.14%
Belly Busters	0.97%
Fit For Flight	0.15%
One Way Only	-0.27%

The Buck Stops Here

What a day at The Healthy Weigh! We saw HUGE weight loss from our travelers, celebrated 2 teams winning for the week with awesome weight loss %'s and unpacked our very first DECISION..."The Buck Stops Here."

Congratulations to our winning teams! They took home gift cards from Macy's and the buck knife they'll need to "cut off any other possibility!"  I can't wait to see how they decorate the knives representing their teams!  They had great weight loss for the week but so did so many others!  It was an outstanding week!

Here are our winning teams for the week:

Noon: Team "Co-Working Cows" with a 4.98% of weight loss.  Pam and Marissa

6:00:  Team " Morbidly, Monetarily, Motivated" with a 4.86% of weight loss. David and Frank

Congratulations to you all! WOW...what a RADICAL first week!

Unpacking this first DECISION, (The Responsibility Decision,) was serious but oh so powerful! The Buck Stops Here...meaning responsibility is not passed on beyond this point!

Passing the buck...our lesson from Harry Truman, looks something like this... trying to control things outside of ourselves, then blaming those same things, the things outside of our control...things, people, the President, circumstances, the weather, our parents, even life's greatest tragedies for our lack of success. For our lack of freedom!

Accepting responsibility looks like this...accepting responsibility for my past. Understanding that the beginning of wisdom is to accept the responsibility for my own problems and that by accepting responsibility for my past, I free my self to move into a bigger, brighter future of my choosing.

With great passion, I did my best to convince our travelers, that holding on to the past and blaming the problems of their past, is only robbing them of their future! Glenda taught some great tools at the "after class" that will help us all for the weeks to come! Thanks Glenda

I provided each traveler with the first DECISION written out so they can read it each day for the next 7 days.

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK:

Read the Responsibility Decision "The Buck Stops Here" each day this week and answer the questions on the bottom of the page in a note book or journal.  Bring those questions in answered next week for a ticket in the drawing!

Friends, I will be reading this first decision out loud each day this week too.  I'll be looking areas of my life that I need to take greater responsibility for...and I'll be thinking of you. Hoping and believing that the person in your mirror this week will be able to say with great confidence..."The Buck Stops Here."

Always encouraging you.

Letha

The Traveler's Gift - Week 2 Team Standings

Team Name	%
Coworking Cows	4.99%
Morbidly Monitarily Motivated	4.87%
Team MADA	4.40%
Excess Baggage	4.38%
Kickin' As-Phalt All The Way to Skinny	4.22%
Kalorie Killing Kangas'	3.74%
Off and Running	3.64%
Shinky Dinks	3.63%
Foley Loaded	3.62%
Cruise Control	3.61%
Been There, Done That	3.55%
Traveling Lite	3.52%
Rollin' Back Time	3.44%
Done & Doner	3.39%
Two Too Much	3.23%
Nimble Hogs	3.15%
The Red Hot Mammas	3.09%
The Souvenirs	3.08%
Try Hard Ninjas	3.07%
Skinny In-Laws	3.02%
Dual Duettes	2.99%
Droppin Baggage	2.98%
Baggage Lost	2.97%
Dig Deeper	2.90%
Dump Your Rump	2.84%
3 B's	2.81%
Devoted Duo	2.79%
The In-Law Weigh	2.75%
It's a Shore Thing	2.73%
Traveling Down the Weight Line	2.71%
Figuratively Shrinking	2.68%
Downsizing	2.66%
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun	2.64%
Peaceful Travelers	2.62%
Flab-u-less	2.57%
Spinning to Thinning	2.41%
NO NAME #1	2.41%
The 2 J's	2.41%
Hi-Weigh to Health	2.34%
Decided Travelers … No More Detours	2.25%
The Dynamic Duo	2.20%
Tour de Fat	2.19%
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow	2.19%
Meltdown Mammas	2.17%
Choosers and Loosers	2.15%
Wonder Women	2.11%
The Chub Stops Here	2.11%
But Wait, There's Less!	2.07%
Flight to Freedom	2.07%
Champion Chunkers	2.04%
Adipose Destroyer	2.02%
Paris Bound	1.91%
Getter Done	1.81%
Kim Possible Squared	1.80%
Weigh 2 Sweet	1.79%
Alumni Bound	1.78%
Let's Do This Mother!	1.72%
E-Lemon-ators	1.70%
Enlighten Up	1.54%
Lost, But Finding Our Way	1.47%
Waist Management	1.45%
Dye Hards	1.41%
NO NAME #2	1.36%
Getting Directions on the Weigh	1.22%
Weight of Glory	1.17%
Fabulous By Fall	1.13%
Livin' The Dream	1.13%
Letha's Minons	1.05%
Light & Fit	1.03%
The Double Shots Girls	1.02%
Belly Busters	0.92%
Dwindling Divas	0.86%
Crazy Cousins 2	0.82%
Fit For Flight	0.74%
Tapa-No-Knees	0.66%
Lean Queens	0.65%
NO NAME #3	0.64%
Baggage Claim	0.43%
Choose to Lose	0.21%
NO NAME #4	0.00%
Finally Full	0.00%
Healthy Weigh 101	0.00%
Small & Mighty Losers	0.00%
The Persistant	0.00%
One Way Only	-0.27%

Get off The Fence!

Team Challenge # 21 has officially begun! We met our teams, heard their great team names and took  "before" pictures! Now it's time to travel together as we journey through "The Travelers Gift," our theme for this Summer Team Challenge of 2014! 

We've got seven DECISIONS to look at in the next 10 weeks, so I thought we should start with looking at what it means to make a true DECISION!  Making a decision means committing to achieving a result, then cutting yourself off from any other possibility!  We sometimes think that having the power to change our thinking brings relief or comfort, but the truth is, making a decision (and cutting yourself off from any other possibility) brings tremendous relief because we know that we WILL accomplish our goal! When we learn to make a true decision, it feels so good, because we've gotten off the fence!  This team challenge is all about DECISIONS and there's no room for fence sitting in this summer challenge! The time is now!

Our teams signed partnership agreements, were introduced to our "Ask Alumni" support  system and sized up the competition! We've got two great groups of radical people and we are in for fun, powerful and educational weeks ahead! We start next week by hearing from our 33rd President, Harry S. Truman! I can't wait!

To all of you who have invested your time and finances into these next ten weeks...press in and press on! No fence sitting allowed!! Surrender to the program and all it has for you! DECIDE that this ten weeks is just the beginning of a life changing journey. Choose life...

Until next week.

Always encouraging you.

Letha

Low Mtx. Takes the Win!!

Congratulations to our winning Team of the Summer Team Challenge! "Low Mxt."Angela and Chris, co-workers, took the win losing 108 pounds together!!!

We had commencement Thursday at the end of this successful University! With Pride the lion helping us celebrate, we had a great time awarding the perseverance and commitment  of our University students!

As I gave my commencement speech, I reminded the Alumni, faculty, students and honored guests that graduation wasn't the end of something, it was the beginning!  Commencement is just that...the beginning!  So I inspired our graduates to go forth with all they've learned and how they've grown and change the world!!  I'm convinced that they WILL change the world, not only because of the changes they've made, but because of the future generations being changed by the choices they are making today!  Exciting stuff!

Many individuals were singled out at our graduation ceremony, but EVERYONE in attendance and even some who weren't, made this 10 weeks a success. Our University students lost a total of 2676 pounds in the last 10 weeks!  That's amazing!!

We gave out 4 full ride scholarships thanks to donations and people "paying it forward." Cheri O. and Heather R. were excited to be awarded the summer challenge for FREE.  Michael H. and Ruthie M. earned their scholarships by having the top % of weight loss for the week of all the participants!!  Congratulations to all of you!

Some individual winners:
Male with the greatest weight loss: Chris H. 66.3 pounds
Female with the greatest weight loss: Angela M AND Ruthie M 39.0 pounds EACH!!

Male with the greatest weight loss %: Chris H. 17.75%
Female with the greatest weight loss % Ruthie M. 17.74% (wow...that was close)

Our Top Three Teams!
1. "Low Mtx" Chris an Angela 16.15%  of weight loss (winners of $1000)
2." Hefty Hogs" Karly and Anna 15.50% of weight loss (winners of $500)
3. "17 Minutes" Michael and Olivia 14.74% of weight loss (winners of $300)

Congratulations to you all! You've all transformed in the last 10 weeks!

We started out 10 weeks ago with an empty workbook and dreams for a successful semester! I wrote, you did homework, we all learned. That's what Universities are all about! But now, it's going out, taking everything you've learned, which is everything you need, and doing great things.  Thinking rightly and acting on those thoughts will give you the life you want!

I hope Healthy Weigh University was the first step to a healthy, happier life!

Until we meet again...
Always encouraging you,
Letha

Healthy Weigh University - Final Team Standings

Team Name	%
Low Mtx	16.15%
Hefty Hogs	15.50%
17 Minutes	14.74%
Mini Mamas	13.56%
Alumni Bound	11.92%
Just Lose	11.76%
Run Track Minds	11.73%
Thick and Tired of It	11.59%
Shrinkies	11.50%
School Weighs	11.44%
T&C Taking Control	11.30%
The Return of the Graduates	10.72%
Island Hoppers	10.66%
Commander Carrot Stick and her Trusty Side Kick Broccoli Bit	10.56%
Honor Roll	10.50%
Melt-a-weighs	10.16%
Student Body	9.89%
Slimming Sassy Sorority Sisters	9.88%
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow	9.57%
Best Team Ever	9.49%
Double Trouble	9.42%
Clark Ave	9.39%
Losers	9.26%
17 & Counting	9.09%
Law	8.86%
MIL & DIL Goes to School	8.56%
Dwindling Duo	8.32%
Grading on the Curves	8.09%
Nimble Neighbors	8.05%
Fit Fitz	7.98%
Cafeteria Girls	7.98%
Summa cumlaude	7.82%
Lido Shuffle	7.72%
AfterShock	7.64%
The Valedictorians	7.40%
Slim Chance	7.27%
Team 4.0	7.26%
Fabulous Finishers	7.12%
Lifetime Honeymooners	7.04%
Pound It Again	7.03%
Fabulous for the 4th	6.88%
Yoakam U	6.84%
H squared	6.80%
Studs from Amboy	6.66%
Vamos a la playa	6.54%
Freshman Fourty	6.17%
Together We Shine	6.11%
Chambers Champs	6.06%
Shrinking Violets	6.04%
No Foolin Time for Schoolin	6.01%
Slow Learners	5.95%
Weigh Down	5.89%
Team Caterpillar	5.87%
The Skinny Scholars	5.82%
Porkelson's No More	5.55%
Cutting Back	5.51%
The Weigh We Were	5.31%
Meltdown Mammas	5.31%
Sore Losers	5.19%
The Doodles	5.19%
Healthy Weigh 101	5.15%
Waist Removal	5.10%
Freshman 15	5.09%
Diasappearing Duo	5.01%
Students of Decision	4.83%
Team Spirit	4.65%
Fat Guys Gone Wild	4.54%
Striving for an "A"	4.41%
Mind Over Matter	4.32%
Epsilon Pi Sorority	4.28%
Battle of the Bulge	4.24%
Slender Science 101	4.16%
The Graduates	4.13%
Little Hip Chicks	4.11%
Thinner by Thursdays	4.09%
Letting it Go	3.99%
Chicken Claw	3.79%
AOC	3.43%
Mighty Lions Hear Us Roar	3.34%
Our Butts and Guts Drive Us Nuts	2.93%
Literary Losers	2.91%
What a Weigh To Go	2.83%
We Can Do Anything for 7 Weeks	2.82%
Sassy by Summer	2.73%
Melt A Weighs	2.69%
More Grins As We Lose The Chins	2.67%
Supervision Required	2.63%
The Amazing E-Racers	2.51%
Learning to Lose	2.47%
June 27th	2.22%
Big Fat Losers	2.21%
SK - Guinea Pigs 101	2.10%
Skinny Chicks Again	2.09%
For A Closer Forever Embrace	2.07%
Die Lards	2.06%
Slim Down Sisters	1.89%
Blubber Busters	1.77%
Tight Lips, Hot Hips	1.62%
The Tall and the Short of it is … We are here to graduate	1.61%
Thicker Than Thin Back Again	1.50%
Eagles Rising	1.22%
Alpha Beta Gonna Lose A Lot of Weighta	1.07%
Svelta Delta Delta	1.03%
Disaster Sisters	1.01%
Teeny Tiny Tummies	0.87%
Teachers Pets	0.85%
Lettuce Begin Again	0.67%
U Can Do	0.62%
My Cuz En and Me	0.46%
Repeat Offenders	0.12%
Lion Pride 601	0.00%
Rebels With a Cause	-0.05%
Lionhearted Loosers	-0.30%