We’re two weeks into The Game on Diet challenge … if you’re not sure what I’m referring to, you can see my review of the book here, and results from Week One here.
Here’s a quick run-down of how I did with Week Two:
Meals: No problem. I’m in a good routine with my 5 smaller meals a day; discovering new foods and rediscovering old favorites (I eat an orange instead of drinking OJ in the morning – more fiber, less sugar, and so satisfying!). I enjoy my weekly Meal Off (J and I went out to celebrate our anniversary this week), and the Day Off (weekend grilled burgers!)
Exercise: Definitely hitting a great stride with this! I’m committed to the daily exercise, and look forward to it. On Saturday I did an 11-mile training walk for the upcoming Breast Cancer 3-Day – and felt great after!
Sleep: I have to watch the clock to get to bed on time, but I’m definitely benefiting by being more rested during the day.
Water: After my near-drowning last week, I’ve quickly adapted to the daily 3 liter requirement. I bring my water bottle with me everywhere; it’s as attached to me as sunglasses and my iPhone!
New Habit / Old Habit: Ah, here’s where I hit a bit of trouble, which tells me I picked the right habits both to conquer and integrate. I’m so used to popping on the laptop throughout the day that I’ve slipped and read email during my “off” hours of 6-8pm. Jenn at Jenn’s Bookshelf suggested setting an Outlook reminder, which is now keeping me on track. Last week Jenners wrote that she wished she had chosen a relatively straightforward one-step habit as her 30 minutes of decluttering each day can be a drag. I think I would have enjoyed her new habit, as she can see steady progress; if/when I play The Game again I’ll choose something similar. One of those “the grass is always greener …” type of things.
Communication: No worries here. We all, teammates and competition alike, are in daily contact. Helpful hints, morale boosts, and twitpics of donuts – it’s all fair game 
The Weigh-In: Ugh! This part I don’t like, which explains why I didn’t own a scale until I started this challenge. After following all the rules of the game this week, I weigh exactly what I did last Monday, I didn’t lose an ounce! Maybe I should be glad I haven’t gained anything, but I was hoping for that 20% bonus in my score for losing 1% of my starting weight. I know we need the weigh-in for an objective measurement, but I’ll tell you that I can also measure my energy level, skin tone, overall healthy attitude, and comfort in clothes that were a bit snug a few weeks ago … I’ll focus on that.
How are the 3 teams doing? Here are the current standings:
HoHos Week 1 (682) plus Week 2 (645) = running total: 1327
Twinkies Week 1 (775.60) plus Week 2 (734.80) = running total: 1510.40
DingDongs Week 1 (794.60) plus Week 2 (838.80) = running total: 1633.40
Stayed tuned, there are still 2 weeks to go! Clearly I need to send some more cyber-treats to the DingDongs to throw them off! We’re vying for some very cool prizes … but we’re all winners (or happy losers, depending on how you look at it!)
I love that you guys are doing this – I think it is Brilliant!!!!!
Good luck!
What a fun program! Plus it will help you for your 3 day walk! BTW, I’ve recruited some of my friends to write you letters of encouragement on your walk. So if you see a bunch of names you don’t know, don’t panic. They’re not stalkers, they are a great bunch of women that love what you’re doing!
I think you’re so smart to focus on what’s worked for you! Keep it up!
I wasn’t going to post any more songs, but with the GREAT news of our lead I couldn’t resist.
I think it was much easier this week. And although I’ve lost 6 pounds, MY clothes aren’t fitting any better. Dangit.
Your clothes are a much better indicator than the scale anyway!
I also want to be a loser ;(
I came home from my holiday the other day and realized I had put on four pounds! Mainly because one cannot buy proper rye bread abroad so we feel hungry all the time and eat too much cake.
Sounds like you’re doing great, Dawn! Keep it up!
Dawn,
I’m not sure that we need to keep a running total. I was looking at the scorecards and it appears that you only get credit for 1st, 2nd and 3rd — not running totals (much to my dismay.) So the way I understand it is that it doesn’t matter how much we cream you by (get it…cream?), it’s just that we won and we get a set amount for 1st place. What do you think?
Go Dawn!!! You rock!
You are doing an awesome job! Go have a glass of wine to celebrate! It’s fat free.
Sheila – I’m really having fun, even if the Twinkies aren’t in the lead!
Sandy – you’re the best! No stalker worries – what would anyone want with a sweaty tired woman wearing white butterfly wings!??
Kathy – the scale will go in the basement at the end of The Game
softdrink – you are a talent beyond words! awesome job on the songwriting and weight loss (I bet the clothes will fit differently within the week)
stacy – that’s what I’m telling myself; like age, it’s “just a number”
Dorte – vacations are tough! Sounds like you had a good one, though.
Avis – the team aspect is key for keeping me on track.
Julie – listen, sugar (get it, “sugar”), we’ll figure out the scorekeeping … don’t you worry, honey
Amy – rockin’ right back atcha, Amy!
Ti – I’ll toast to you on July 27. Until then, one glass on my Day Off – no penalties here!
I think it’s so cool that you are doing this! It can be really hard to change habits that you have had for years, so kudos to you for that. I wish you a lot of success and heaps of weight loss as this journey continues for you. Keep it up!
Look at it this way, you lost 2 weeks worth (lb. wise) in the first week,
and from all those descriptions sounds like you are making some great “strides”. The less weight you want to lose, the harder it is to lose it !
I’m sure you’ll see a whopping drop after the 3day walk
Goooooooo Twinkies!! We will race ahead in week 3! I’m fine with pretty much everything about this diet except the 5 meals a day. I haven’t yet gotten used to that. But I’m committed for now!
Great summary! Though I found myself wanting to eat a Ding Dong after seeing those photos! (The snack cake … not one of our competitors … that would surely boost our scores!).
I’m with you — I haven’t really seen any weight loss but I feel so much better and energetic. I plan on trying this again (if I can find some other suckers) and I think I’ll spend a significant amount of time planning possible meal and snack ideas before starting the game. We got the books so soon before the game that I felt like I was playing catch-up this entire time. Plus I need to somehow get this more integrated into my entire family — it is hard to pull this off on your own!!!
And if I haven’t said it before, I just want to tell you how impressed I am with you and this 3 Day Walk. I think it is fantastic that you are doing this –and that you can walk 11 miles! (I know I could walk that far but I don’t think I could function after.)
Great wrap up!! And you are right — the best part of this game is that everyone wins even if we lose!
zibilee – the habits are definitely making the challenge very, well, challenging!
Kristine – I’m very happy about where I am, personally … I just wish I had lost weight last week. You know, for the team!
Beth – we’re midway thru Week 3! I’m not yet breaking into my “open in case of emergency” stash of chocolate.
Jenners – yeah, with one less Ding Dong on the team, they’d have to average in a 0 … you may be on to something
Thank you for the positive note about The 3-Day. I feel confident and prepared, all the encouragement from my blogging friends has helped!