Week 1

The fitness challenge is off to a...slow start. I created this blog, thinking the participants could use it the way everyone did for the first weight loss challenge I took part in at the start of 2009. Since the beginning of last year, though, Google decided to require everyone who posts to the blog to have a gmail account. Perhaps this was the case in January of 2009 and I didn't realize that all 9 or 10 people in the challenge had gmail accounts, but I don't think that was the case.

Either way, not all the participants in this challenge had gmail accounts nor did they want to creat a whole new email account to join in, which is understandable. Therefore, I created a closed, private facebook group. I think this works well, as everyone and their grandma is on facebook these days, and it lends itself nicely to the simple community support I'm hoping this challenge will foster.

As for my own personal success thus far as the fearless leader (*snicker*), I'm doing okay. One thing that's important for me to realize is that I'm not superhuman and that I can't change everything overnight, no matter how much I want to. I won't drop 100 pounds in a week, nor can I break years of unhealthy attitudes and habits regarding food in a short time. My body won't magically get exercise sitting on the couch or in front of the computer pretending to farm on facebook. If only I could burn as many calories as a real farmer just by clicking around the pretty graphics on farmville!

But I can't. I need to move my damn ass and work out. Stretch. Rehearse more numbers for WEBS. Hike. Stop eating my feelings. Make better choices regularly about portion sizes and diet selection. And all these things need to happen regularly, all the time, not just in spurts.

This is why I'll never saying I'm dieting. I learned a long time ago that I can't diet. Because once I start denying myself things or telling myself I'm "bad" or "cheating" for eating certain things, it sets up a negative feedback loop that ends with me giving up because if I can't manage to be "good" for one day, what's the point of even trying? And that's just fucked up.

I need to be intelligent and understand that my eating habits were skewed a long time ago, but they don't have to continue to be. I'm no longer a lonely, depressed preteen turning to food to cope nor am I on welfare anymore, always wondering where my next meal will come from so binging seems like a great idea when I have the opportunity to eat a lot. I have a strong family support structure; I have a job that allows me to buy groceries regularly and sometimes go out to eat. My health is up to me and I need to make the right choices for my body to function properly and well.

This goes beyond winning money for me (although, don't get me wrong; the money would be quite sweet). What I'm looking for is to surround myself with people with the same goal: good health and the lifestyle that comes along with that.

I'm so glad this challenge is made up of people into sports, into dancing, from different parts of the country and walks of life. I think we'll be a great support to each other and help each other grow and become healthier. And y'know, maybe win some money in the process. Thanks for being on this journey with me.

-Genevieve

Welcome to the 2010 Fitness Challenge!

Here's a quick posting with the rules and mighty fine print. Let me know if you have any questions!

1. The cost per month is $10, which is due no later than the 5th of each month. You may opt in/out at the beginning of each month, but once the money is in, you are in for that month. If it's not in by the 5th (or I have not been notified that it's being processed or is on its way) you are out for that month. I will hold the pool of money until the winner for that month is determined, at which point, the collected pool from all participants will be given (either via paypal or in person) to the winner.

2. After the last weigh-in of that particular month, the winner will be the person who has lost the largest percentage of body weight. I will be calculating percentage of body weight lost with this calculator: http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/calculate-weight-loss-percentage.html. Your starting weight on January 5th will always be the "start weight" and your current weight at the end of each month will be the "current weight".

3. Weigh-ins are every Monday and must be posted by midnight each Monday.

4. Each week, there will be small, health-related challenges posted. While these do not directly affect who wins at the end of each month, they might come with their own prizes and they'll also help keep you focused on different ways to be healthier and more fit.

5. This blog is only open to people who've opted in to the Fitness Challenge.

-Genevieve