Lose A Pound a Week till New Years: 2010

Ready ...Set ...GOOOOOOOO

If you've found yourself in the same boat as many of us, having looked in the mirror one day, face to face with the reality that your butt just ain't the same as it once was, then welcome to our group effort to lose one pound a week till New Year's Day.

In all seriousness, as we add excess weight to our frames, we increase the odds of coming down with all kinds of illnesses. And we just don't feel good about ourselves. Our bodies don't perform the way they were meant to, so we suffer. Our friends and family suffer. And our ministries suffer.

This blog is a meeting place for everyone who wants to lose one pound a week until New Year's Day. We're keeping it do-able at just 1 pound so that nobody gets discouraged and gives up.

Since one pound of body weight comprises 3,500 calories, then to lose one pound of weight a week, we must have a deficit of 3,500 calories per week by either reducing our calories by 3,500 calories per week, by eating 3,500 fewer calories per week, or doing a combination of the two. And if we break that down daily, it is just 500 calories (3,500/7) per day that we must worry about.

To see a deficit of 500 calories a day, we can eat 250 fewer calories than we normally eat, and we can do some sort of cardio exercise that will burn 250 calories. That's not really all that hard!

I hope that all of you will share your achievements with us here every week, as well as your road blocks. And let us know when you've lost or if you've gained. Share with us what works for you and what doesn't. Tell us about your good foods that are low in calories or about some little mind game that gets you through your exercise routine!

So here we go!

Monday, October 4, 2010

I rowed 21 minutes this morning, and then walked 6.5 miles on and around the Jax downtown bridges tonight. Burned a lot of calories!

pl.

Remember, to lose one pound a week, you must show a calorie deficit of 500 per day. A 160-pound person can burn 311 calories by walking for just one hour.

Want to know how many calories you're burning with whatever activity you do? Go to Health Status Calories Burned Calculator.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

So, I think I'm close to my target. I've lost 3 pounds since starting. I haven't had to do much in the way of cutting calories. I've just really increased the exercise. I bought a rowing machine and start almost every day off with 20 minutes on the rower. Then I walk between 4 and 6 miles a day in the evenings. My arms feel like they're tightening up a bit, which is nice. Just gonna keep it up daily and see what happens!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Here we go, folks!

We are in week two. If you are just now joining us, Welcome; it's not too late!

I must admit I haven't cut my calories that much yet, but I have been walking far enough to burn the 500 calories that is required in our daily deficit. I've walked between 6 and 7 miles each day at about a 4 mph pace. In fact, I have to go now because I am meeting the bff and going to Jax beach to walk our 5-mile route. Cheers!

Jeanie