Fatty Five Challenge is over. How did we do?
The goal was for five fatties to lose 8% of their body weight in 3 months. The good news is 4 out of 5 of us were able to cross the line.
Stu “I have never been more hungry” Burguiere
Final weigh in:
Total Weight Loss = 22.2 pounds (10.78%), 5.7 pounds under goal weight
My last week was filled with near starvation and a full hour of exercise (not quite a full hour.) I had crossed the line a couple of weeks ago and was able to avoid screwing it up somehow. Now that it’s over, I can put all the weight back on and feel great about it. In reality—this thing was a huge success. Even the one member who didn’t quite make it, still lost significant weight. Together, we lost over 86 pounds combined in three months. We also lost the respect of our co-workers who were forced to overhear our constant heiress-like obsessions with our weight—but it was worth it. With the launch of GBTV coming, I go back to what Glenn said when he first went on television. There is no better diet than to realize you’re about to be on camera every day. Throw in peer pressure, competition, possible financial loss—and you have a formula for success. Not that any of us actually look good, but we look less bad. Which is nice.
Keith “I Made It” Ferry
Final weigh in: Total weight loss = 18 pounds (9.21%), 2.5 pounds under goal weight
As I put the finishing touches on my plans for a weekend of gluttony to celebrate making my target weight, I can’t help but reflect on some of the wild swings we all went through during this 3 month long journey that I never thought I would survive. Here are some of my favorite highlights: (1) all 5 of us losing 19.6 pounds total in the first week, resulting in us all agreeing that we probably set the target percentage too low, (2) all 5 of us losing a total of 2.1 pounds over the next 3 weeks (TOTAL…for 5 overweight guys…unbelievable), resulting in us all agreeing that we definitely set the bar way too high, (3) one week feeling like I’m literally starving myself and the next week feeling like I am eating enough food to sustain an entire village, (4) seeing Stu evaporate before my eyes…the man is downright skinny now, (5) chewing a piece of gum last night after eating little to nothing all day and thinking it was possibly the best piece of gum ever made and (6) planning out weigh in day emergency scenarios that included no food or water for 10 hours, extreme exercising (this coming from a guy who’s definition of exercise is walking three blocks to grab lunch) and donating blood (apparently you lose 1 pound each time you donate). My weight loss plan may not be as effective as “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” or tape worm… but it got me across the finish line…barely. Now back to my bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.
Kevin “RedCross.com” Balfe
Final weigh in:
Total Weight Loss = 17 pounds (7.93%), right at goal weight – (*due to predetermined rounding formula, still hits goal)
Coming into the final week I had 3 pounds still to lose, and only 5 days to do it. I had only lost more than that 1 time in the whole competition. I knew it would be grueling, and there’s only one place to turn for a challenge that tough: Dr. Atkins. I suffered through 5 days of lettuce wraps and omelets while ogling co-workers bread and chips. But it paid off and I came in right at my weight goal. I should mention that I was prepared to find a blood donation center today if it came to that. My research revealed that a pint of blood is roughly worth a pound. I’m happy I didn’t have to stoop that low, but I’m pretty sure it says something about me that I was willing to.
Doug “Still need to lose more” Curren
Starting Weight = 219
Goal Weight = 201.5
Final Weigh In = 200
Final Weight Loss % = 8.68%
Well I did it. Not too shabby considering I did next to nothing for the first two months of a three month competition. I’ve learned a few things about myself in these last three months but unfortunately not all of them are positive.
For one, I continue to hate exercise. It’s no fun, and whoever says that exercise is addictive has clearly never tried anything that’s really addictive, like Spider Solitaire, pepperoni pizza, nicotine or heroin for that matter. These people simply don’t live.
I learned that cutting out drinking really does help weight loss. I skipped a few weekend nights and when there isn’t a late night diner involved, which always comes with a good night out, pounds just seem to drop off.
Related to the above though, if you have to drink I have learned that it’s ok to skip eating in order to have a fun time drinking. On more than one occasion rather than having self restraint and moderation with beer I chose to keep up the pace and just eliminate eating for extended periods of time. Note that this doesn’t result in weight loss per se, but it does help to prevent weight gain.
Also related to the above I realized that choosing not to drink and having no friends really does go hand in hand. Not that my friends did not support my goals it’s just that it’s amazing how little the phone rings on a Friday or Saturday night when I’ve stated I won’t be drinking. You could say that I could still go out, be social and just not drink but that goes against my religion.
Lastly I have learned that while 19 pounds is a good amount of weight I am still really fat and could stand to lose another 19 easily. I thought that this might just be a distorted self image of myself but I was quickly reminded that this was not true earlier this week. My wife complemented me on Monday and said she was proud of me and that I looked great. Chin up and chest out I proudly told her that I was just one pound away from the weight I was at our wedding three years ago. “Really,” she said, “I thought you were ‘heavy’ when we got married.” Amazing what a matter of perspective is.