The Daily Gain

Expectations

Posted by lifeofbon on May 17, 2012

Two weeks ago, my favorite basketball team, the Utah Jazz, were eliminated from the NBA
playoffs.

Did I say eliminated? Yah, that's much too soft. Let's go with destroyed. Humiliated. Obliterated.

The fact that the Jazz even made the playoffs was a miracle. They battled all through March and April for the eighth seed, barelydefeating Phoenix and Houston for a spot in. No one expected the Jazz to do much this year, no one expected them to go post season. But they did. And oh, were we proud.

Then came the playoffs. The Jazz were swept in a seven game series, losing four games in a row to the number one team in the league, San Antonio Spurs. Not one game was close. In fact, game 2 was lost by more than 35 points- one of the biggest playoff defeats in Jazz history.

Let's just say it was painful.

I know what you're thinking right now. What in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks does this have to do with weightlosswars? And the answer is I don't know. I just wanted to talk to sports.

Kidding! You better believe it all ties in and you'll be happy you listened to this rambling about a basketball team you've never watched in your life, trust me.

After all was said and done, my husband and I were left to lick our wounds. I tried to remain optimistic, and thought brightly of next season and how much better those young bucks would be with another year under their belts. The majority of Jazz players are between the ages of 19-25. Most of them experienced their first trip to the playoffs this year. And so, I hoped for the years to come and recognized this as just the first step on a long road to the championship.

My husband, Greg, however, was crushed.

He moped, he cried, he grieved. "Bonnie! How can you feel okay about this? They got
completely destroyed in the playoffs! It was embarrassing! I'm done! I can't be a Jazz fan anymore. I'm giving up!"

I certainly understood Greg's frustrations. I myself have nearly quit on the Jazz a million times. I knew Greg didn't mean it that he was breaking up with our favorite sports team, knew that he was just experiencing a lot of frustration.

All of this led me to a little thinking. How could it be that the exact same event had affected me and Greg so differently? I am certainly every bit the Jazz fan as he is, and yet I wasn't
depressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed by the loss. In fact, I was pleased with what the Jazz had accomplished during the season, immensely proud of them for even making the playoffs. I didn't want to give up on these guys, I wanted to keep rooting for them, come back next season even the more faithful fan.

And then I realized what it was. Expectations. Greg's expectations had been dangerously high for the young team. Last season, midyear, our head coach, Jerry Sloan, of 20+ years resigned unexpectedly in the middle of the season. Weeks later our star player, Deron Williams, was traded. It was a season of turmoil and we ended with a sub 500 record and no playoff hopes whatsoever. (I promise we're getting to the point of all this. Or maybe we're not. You tell me.)

This year, the team is in a recovery and rebuilding mode. Early on, I had accepted the fact that the Jazz would not win a championship in 2012. I had hoped and yearned for the playoffs for
them, but had not gone to unrealistic proportions with my hope. I mixed hope and ambition with a bit of realism.

Poor Greg, on the other hand. His expectations were so high. Dangerously high. Higher than a
bunch of 20 year old ball players could ever live up to. He wanted a championship, he wanted them to destroy the lethal Spurs in the first round. Because his expectations were too high- too impossibly high- he was later crushed and demolished, with no desire to continue being a Jazz fan at all. His hopes were so high that he about dang near gave up all together.

I couldn't help but see how this relates to other areas of our lives. Are we too unrealistic in our work goals? How about our expectations for the people in our lives? Do we experience disappointment and frustration because we expect things that simply cannot be given? How about in relation to our fitness goals? How high are our expectations? Are they achievable?
Are they realistic? Do they push and inspire us or are they so ridiculously high that we get overwhelmed and depressed just thinking about it?

I am a firm believer that goals that are too high can be every bit as dangerous as goals that are too low. Don't be so hard on yourself. You are doing great. Just the fact that you are on this site and working toward improving your fitness is a commendable act. Set little goals and achieve those first, then bigger goals, and then even bigger. Obviously, you should always have your end goal in mind, but when you don't reach that at the unbelievable rate that you had hoped, keep on trucking. Weight loss was never supposed to be an instant thing. It takes so much discipline, so much control, and so much patience. Remember when the going gets rough that the you WILL get to your end goal- with time, work, and dedication. That's why this site is so important. With a support group and a friendly competitive environment, you will have the power and motivation to keep powering through. You can lose together, or you can gain alone.

Oh-- and the Jazz WILL win a championship.

(See! Toldya it'd all make sense!)

Because Losing Weight Should be Fun

Posted by lifeofbon on May 10, 2012

A couple of laughs to get you through the hard work outs, or to pick you up when you're feeling defeated.

I told my friend the other day that I wanted to be healthier and go to the gym five times a week. She said she needed the same and we could partner up, you know exercise buddies. "Perfect! And we can help and support each other! Like when I'm about to give in to temptation and go get a burger and fries, you'll be the first one I call."

Her reply? "Perfect! I'll ride with you."

Ellen Degeneres said, "My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is."

An overweight blonde desperately wanted to lose weight. Her doctor put her on a strict weight loss schedule, saying "You need to eat like normal for two days, and then skip a day. Eat normal two days, skip a day. If you do this for at least three weeks I can guarantee you that you will lose at least five pounds." Excited, the blonde went home to try out the new diet. When she returned two weeks later, the blonde had lost 20 pounds. "Wow! I'm so proud of you! Did you follow everything I said?" "Yah, but I'll tell you, I thought I was just going to die on that third day." "From the hunger?" "No, from all that skipping!"

My best friend and her husband started a weight loss program together. Part of the requirement of the diet was to eat specific food and follow specific recipes each day. Both my friend and my husband were pleased with the food and with the portions, stating that they hardly felt like they were dieting at all because the food was so ample. When they started gaining weight, however, my friend got nervous. She looked over the recipes carefully to make sure she hadn't missed anything. There, at the bottom, in fine print were the words "Serves 6."

How to deal with set backs

Posted by lifeofbon on May 03, 2012

When I’m not writing riveting articles about weight loss, I spend my time trying to teach seventeen year old hoodlums the difference between your and you’re and how to write a kick butt thesis statement. It’s not an easy job, folks, but some brave soul has got to do it.

I’m no big, imposing man, rather I’m a buck 20 and barely 5’4” with a soft face. Let’s just say my appearance doesn’t usually strike fear in to the hearts of these students. However, I do try my best to demand students’ respect and as soon as I see someone is off task, I correct the behavior. It wasn’t too long ago that I, myself, was 17 so I know all the tricks, and now I can quickly correct those mischief-causing young ones.

One rule that I enforce strictly is the “absolutely no cell phone” rule. If a student gets his or her cell phone out in my class, it is immediately confiscated. As you might imagine these constantly-tuned-in-always-logged-on- young bucks detest the rule. They sneak out those iphones and try to stealthily text from under the desk or behind the textbook. And when I say “You! Give me your phone”, the student invariably raises a big fuss, “But I was looking at the clock!” “But my grandma is in the hospital!” “But it fell out of my pocket!”
I believe none of it.

Last week, Adam, a junior, refused to get on task. He arrived late to class, didn’t have his notebook, and then tried to sleep on the desk. When I made him put his head up, he gave me a sassy attitude. When I told him that wasn’t appropriate in class, he muttered something incoherent under his breath. My frustration was rising, but I decided to just let it slide. Today was obviously not his day. Nor mine for that matter.

A minute later I looked over at Adam to see if him blatantly texting on his phone. I held out my hand, “Adam. Give me your phone.”

He rolled his eyes. “Are you being serious?”

“Of course I’m being serious.”

“You know you’re the only teacher who does this. It’s so lame.”

“Adam. You give me the phone or you go down and talk to the vice principal about it. Those are your two options.”

And that’s when, handing over the cell phone, Adam lost control. “F@#& You,” he muttered under his breath so I couldn’t hear it.

But I heard it.

And then I lost it.

“Adam! I’m done!” And I WAS done. The frustrations and stresses of a long day had built up, and Adam’s profanity had put me over the edge. I could feel my voice rising, my hand trembling, my blood rushing as it turned my face a deep shade of red. I was mad. Piping mad. Every vestige of self control was long gone at this point. My mouth was uncensored and bad thoughts about students came flying out of my mouth at 80 mph. “You are lazy and you are rude! I seriously cannot stand students that act like this! You make it so hard for the rest of the class to learn! Learn some respect and don’t you ever say that to a teacher again! Now get out of my class!”

The class was dead silent.

Adam got up and walked out of the room.

The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The class had never seen me freak out like that, and I knew they were scared. Almost immediately, I was disgusted and ashamed of myself. I had completely lost all self control and embarrassed a student in front of forty of his peers. I had called him out for every wrong thing he had ever done.
I felt like a piece of crap.
Luckily, my husband talked some sense into me later that night. When I told him what a failure of a teacher I was, he replied “That’s ridiculous. You’re a great teacher. That was one small moment of frustration in the middle of a sea of great teaching experiences. You can’t let that one event define you as a teacher. You know that’s not what you are.”

Pretty smart guy I got, huh?
The next day, I apologized to both Adam and the class. I told them I had lost my cool and promised to try my hardest not to let it happen again.
The freak out almost made me want to just quit trying altogether. But I guess that’s why we have new days. To get back on the horse. To reclaim some pride. It doesn’t matter what the setback is or what happened in that moment of lost self control, as long as we keep trying. There will always be frustrations and there will always be days where we feel like failures in our goals. Like we weren’t good enough.

With a goal as personal and emotional as weight loss, it is too easy to get derailed and want to throw in the towel for good. In moments of weakness, we must not let one little failure distract us from how many big accomplishments we’ve had.

Don’t let your weight loss frustrations get the best of you. A set back doesn’t mean defeat, it just means strength in adversity. And don’t forget that here at weightlosswars.com you’ve got a whole team to support you through both your triumphs and your trials. That’s the purpose of the site. To build each other up.

Remember, you can gain alone or you can lose together.

And I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna go with the lose together one.

Check out these losers!

Posted by lifeofbon on April 26, 2012

If you’re not a member of weightlosswars.com right now, you should be.

If you’re a member of weightloss wars, but not involved in a weight loss competition, you should be.

If you’re involved in a weight loss competition, but you’re not losing any weight, you should be.

Losing hope, losing inspiration, losing motivation?

Take a look at this competition: http://weightlosswars.com/compete/view/1964?page=2#comments

Out of 42 participants:

40 participants have more than 2% of their body weight.

21 participants have lost more than 10% of their body weight.

6 participants have lost more than 20% of their body weight.

2 participants have lost 25% or more of their total body weight.

DigDug has lost 29.06% of his entire weight, averaging over five pounds a week. Nearly 30% of his body just doesn’t exist anymore!

I think a little congratulations is in order, don’t you?

Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!

And do you know what the best part is? Each participant paid $40 to enter the competition, making the grand prize for the first place loser a whopping $1,680.

Talk about some motivation!

A couple of thought-provoking comments from their discussion:

“I just took a picture of myself tonight. During the half way shots we took, I thought I looked good. I hadn't really noticed myself changing as much between march and now, but when I compare the pics, it is almost as dramatic as from the beginning to half way. I have learned that if you just kill it for a short period of time, you will change your body. I know that at the end of this I will enjoy the changes that I have made.”

“I'm trying to eat a well-balanced diet. Daily I eat oatmeal with raisins, bananas, peanuts, salad, chicken, occasionally shrimp, tuna, salmon, cottage cheese. I also take daily multi vitamin, vitamin c, zinc, fish oil, protein shake(s) and/or plain amino acids (without all the "fillers"). I'm listening to my body and eating only when I need to and to fuel my workouts. I'm rarely hungry, and I feel like a million bucks, so I've just keep with it. I do plan to switch things up soon, adding more protein and hitting the weights.”

“This competition has helped change my life and it's direction. THANK YOU! I will add more about this later... stress! Emotions! All are HUGE factors with regards to weight loss! Not only what we stuff our face with, but what is actually going on inside. Thanks to all for the encouragement through this thing. Less than 5 weeks left peeps! Keep ROCKIN IT! Best regards and huge THANKS!”

This competition started with the New Year and ends on May 5. These people have been working their butts off (literally!) for the past four months. Weightlosswars is so proud of all the weight the competitors have lost. They are an inspiration to all of us! If you aren’t involved in a weight loss competition yet, get involved in one RIGHT NOW. What a better way to spend your summer than trimming down and feeling great? Remember, you can lose together or gain alone!

How to Invite your Friends to Lose Weight with You

Posted by lifeofbon on April 19, 2012

So you want to invite a friend to lose weight with you? But you don’t know how to do it without offending/being awkward/ looking like anidiot?

Don’t worry, you are not alone! One of the most difficult parts about losing weight in a group is inviting people to lose weight with you. Weight can be such a touchy issue and you always want to deal with it sensitively.

Of course, you could always just email them one of the invitations on the site that starts with this:

Porker,

I can tell just by looking at those funky shoes you've been wearing that you haven't seen your feet in a while. Tell me, when you get on the scale in the morning does it say, "to be continued?" Well, quit yer whining, you're not the only one. I've got more rolls than a bakery, and I'm ready for a change.

Yes. Yes, that IS the pre-written invitation that you can send out to your friends online when you invite them to join weightlosswars.com Now, I’m not ripping on whoever wrote that invite… wait… yes I am. It ain’t no good.

Don’t send that invite. Unless you hate the person. Or have a very comfortable/ slightly meanrelationship with them. But trust me on this one, you don’t want to send that bad boy to your boss.

So how DO you invite someone to do a weight loss competition with you without implying that they are fat?

Here’s a few suggestions that might help:

· Always mention that you are doing it first. People will feel less judged if you tell them from the get-go, “I’m involved in aweight loss competition” instead of just saying “I think YOU should getinvolved in a weight loss competition.”

· Tell people that you need support in your goals, and that when they join, not only are they helping themselves, but they are supporting YOU. Interestingly enough, people sometimes respond better to helping others than to helping themselves.

· You might mention that the goal is to live a healthy lifestyle. That’s something that everyone, no matter their weight, should be striving for, so it won’t sound too offensive. Try “I have been feeling so much better since I joined this weight loss competition. I’ve been eating healthier and exercising too and I just feel so healthy! Would you be interested in doing it with me?”

· Mention the incentives. Most people on weightlosswars.com compete for money. One of the first rules of economics is that people respond to incentives. Sometimes just losing the weight isn’t enough motivation for people, but once you add an incentive- a little bit of cash and a little healthy competition, people will quickly spring to action.

· Always be careful to read a situation. If the person seems interested or mentions that their weight is a problem, you can speak a little more openly. However, if someone seems to draw away or become very shy, it’s best to not push the issue. Instead, just continue in your competition and show them through example how much healthier you feel and how much weight you’re losing. Chances are they’ll be chomping at the bit to join your next competition!

Show them the site! Especially the testimonials! Anyone will be convinced after they see how well it has worked for thousands of people across the country.

What ideas do you have for successfully inviting friends to start a weight loss competition?

Now, go on, what are you waiting for? Start inviting everyone you know, set up your competition, and begin shedding those pounds! Remember, you can lose together or you can gain alone!

Four most effective ways to lose weight- It may surprise you

Posted by lifeofbon on April 11, 2012

Well, well, well.

Look what the cat dragged in. A little bit of interesting information about the best ways to lose weight? Don’t mind if I do!

Yesterday, Kristina Fiore of MedPageToday wrote an article in which she listed the four most effective ways to lose weight.

Can you guess what they are? Go ahead. Try and guess all four and see if you are right, you little smartie pants.

Done guessing?
Here’s your answers:

1. Eating less fat. (Well, we didn't need no doctors to have to tell us that, did we?)
2. Exercising. (Again, no rocket science around here.)
3. Using prescription weight loss drugs.
and…
4. Joining a commercial weight loss program.

(The least effective way to lose weight? According to the article, “Liquid diets, fad diets, and using herbs and over-the-counter dietary products, on the other hand, weren't linked with weight loss.”)

Initially I was surprised by the results of the study, and then I was not surprised at all. Doesn’t make any sense? Let me explain.

It wasn’t the first two that surprised me. Obviously the eating less fat and exercising is the best way to lose weight, everybody and their grandma’s dog knows that. Nor was I surprised by the prescription weight loss… it all seemed very logical to me. What surprised me was that joining a weight loss program proved to be one of the four most effective ways to lose weight and keep weight off.

Then, I thought about it a little. And then it didn’t surprise me at all. Of course a weight loss program would provide the structure and the organization needed to stick to and achieve a goal. Of course a weight loss program would provide the motivation and inspiration needed when the road gets rough, when the battle is uphill. Of course a weight loss program would provide both the physical and emotional support needed when we are frustrated and losing hope and on the verge of giving up.

Yes, it all made so much sense to me.

Interestingly enough, the study discovered that although associated with good results, weight loss programs are used only by a small proportion of Americans. That many people fail to take advantage of this option as an effective tool for losing weight. That too many people try to lose weight alone- without the structure, the motivation, the support that a weight loss program provides.

So I guess what I’ve been trying to say amidst a lot of ramblings and wonderings is this:
Congratulations. You are already involved in a weight loss program, you are already employing one of your greatest tools to lose weight, and you’re already ahead of most Americans in finding an effective way to improve your health- just because you joined Weightlosswars.

You’re a smart bunch aren’t you?
But, of course, we already knew that.

(For the full article, check out http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/32122.)

Stronger than you think you are

Posted by lifeofbon on April 05, 2012

When I was twenty years old, my boyfriend, Shane, asked me “What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever gone through ?”

Shane was a recovering drug addict and was going through one of the most difficult stages in his life. I wanted so badly to relate to him. To show him that I understood what he was going through. To show him that I could be strong, just like him.

I racked my brain. Nothing was coming. The hardest thing I’d ever overcome... “Probably when I broke up with my last boyfriend...” I concluded weakly.

Shane gave a half-hearted laugh and then said, “Well, that’s not much, so I know you don’t understand exactly what I’m going through right now. But you’ll be surprised when you do go through some hard stuff. We’re a lot stronger than we think we are.”

The following year I spent 18 months in Argentina, learning a new language, dealing with a completely new culture, and sweating my brains out as I tried to help people make better choices in their lives.

And do you know what I discovered in that time? I was stronger than I thought I was. I could go days without speaking English. I could go months without seeing family or friends. I could be strong. I could help others. I had strength within me that had always been there, I just hadn’t had to use it yet.

When I came home I knew I had an answer for old Shane, who by that time was long gone from my life. “I’ve done something hard! I’m strong! I lived in Argentina for 18 months and lived to tell the tale! Take that, Shane!”

Then, when I was 23, I learned a whole new definition of “hard”. My dad died suddenly and unexpectedly. When the funeral was over and the casket was buried, I was left reeling from the shock and the grief. My dad was my hero and one of my closest friends. I completely adored him, and I was
certain that I didn’t have the strength to accept his death. I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t overcome the bitterness and the sorrow and the anger that I felt.

I struggled immensely, believing in my heart that I didn't have the strength to survive this. I convinced myself that I would never recover from my dad’s death and that living a happy, normal life, was an unobtainable goal for me. I cried every day straight for a month. Sure, I’d conquered Argentina, but, hey, learning Spanish isn’t exactly on the same level of difficulty as losing a dad.

Sometime during those months of darkness and grief I heard an old boyfriend’s voice. “You’ll be surprised when you do go through some hard stuff. We’re a lot stronger than we think we are.” And although I didn't really believe Shane, I lied to myself and told myself that I did. I had tried everything else, after all. This was my last hope.

Day in and day out I repeated my new mantra “I’m stronger than I think I am.” Tears filled my eyes when I’d see a dad and his daughter, “I’m stronger than I think I am.” My dad was noticeably absent at our family dinners, “I’m stronger than I think I am”. I saw old family clips of me as a little girl, laughing with my dad, “I’m stronger than I think I am.”

Now, two years after his death, I still grieve and I still miss. Every day. But now I don’t think I’m strong, I know I’m strong. And when people say to me, “Wow, I can’t believe you went through that. I could never survive that,” I just smile and say, “Yes you could.”

You can heal after the loss of loved ones, you can overcome bitter feelings toward those who have hurt us, you can do jobs we never thought we were strong enough for, and yes, you can even have enough self control to lose pound after pound when weight has always always been your arch enemy.

There is strength within you that you don’t know you have. Strength that has been there, just waiting for the time when it is called upon. You can finally shed those pounds, no matter the countless failed diets and years of heartache and misery.

Because you’re stronger than you think you are.

I promise.

How Many of My Top 10 New Year's Resolutions Involve Weightlosswars? Hint it's not all 10!

Posted by petemaughan on December 29, 2011

Let's face it, New Year's reminds us of 2 things...last year and the coming year. It's important to look into the future, coming year. Ponder on things that you need to change and also to commit to following through with your resolutions.

So read on and consider for yourself how many of my Top 10 New Year's Resolutions you think should involve Weightlosswars? Hint it's not all 10!

1. Spend More Quality Time with Family and Friends

Polls and surveys conducted by major polling groups such as Gallup conclude that 50% of people in America vow that their loved ones, but also their friends deserve a larger portion of their time. Family first! Remember that at the end of your life, the relationships with family are some of the only things that transcend the grave. Set up plans to regularly spend quality time with family, get active with friends, and remember that it is simply unheard of for someone to say on their deathbed that they wish they'd spent more time working on that project at the office!

2. Getting in Shape with Fitness

The masses have spoken and have named fitness a reigning silver medalist of New Year's resolutions. Physical exercise brings better health than just about anything besides a healthy diet. Research shows that exercising dramatically lowers the chances for contracting certain cancers, extends your life, gives you an upper hand on resolution #3...wait for it...wait for it..., gets you in a better mood, decreases your blood pressure, improves your chances for arthritis (or improves your arthritis symptoms if you already have it.) Plus it makes you look good, eh! Get started today, get in shape and get yourself ready for a 5K or something fun like that!

3. Yes--Ditch the Belly! (or whatever else part of your body is perniciously clinging to extra fat!)

More than two thirds of Americans are fall into the category of obese or overweight. For that reason, losing weight is commonly a number one resolution for millions. Getting motivating, getting a plan, getting a group, and setting realistic expectations and goals are great factors to sticking to your weight loss regimen. Obviously I'll let you think about the importance of weightlosswars in this new year's weight loss resolution!

4. Stop Smoking
If you've ever had to quick smoking...you'll know that resolving to quit for good and use this year to stamp out smoking, you'll also know that many people say that they felt the same way right before they finally kicked it for good. Tried to stop before and didn't succeed, don't get down on yourself, get down to business. Most smokers try four to five attempts before they ditch smoking for good. Enjoy your life! And look out for the variety of cost-free support programs and services, from hot-lines to smoking cessation courses that are all designed to assist you in kicking smoking for good!

5. Enjoy Life To the Fullest

With stressful lifestyles, it's no surprise that "enjoying life to the fullest" is a popular new year's resolution for many Americans. Consider getting out, trying something new, taking up new hobbies you've always wanted to try. Ever had a pedicure? Give that a shot at a local spa--But for that one you'll probably want to use that as an incentive for one of your other resolutions! ;-) There are recreational opportunities all around so get out and have some fun!

6. Stop Drinking

Okay so we do all know that New Year's is famous for drinking but it's ironic because it's a hugely common New Year's resolution to kick alcohol. Heck, I'm Mormon and as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I don't drink and incidentally haven't ever, but I do realize that it is just not easy to stop! I've helped many people quick drinking but for those hardcore drinkers, it appears that stopping all at once is simply not realistic unless you've got a strong support system and a firm resolution. If you wanna stop, realize that there's support for you. A simple Google search will get you plenty of resources for your area.

7. Ditch the Debt Ball and Chain

Has low finances been your biggest stress over this past year? Join the club. Tens of millions of people in the US have committed in New Year's resolutions to make more money, spend less money, or better yet, do a combination of both. Look, you've just got to know that people can be happy on any income. The most important part about the income is that you spend less of it than you bring in. Do that, and you'll find yourself finally heading in the right direction. Gotta admit I'm a fan of Dave Ramsey, so check out his stuff if you want to really blow your debt away the hard but fulfilling way!

8. Pick Up Some New Knowledge

This resolution can come in the form of a career switch, learning a foreign language, or even something fun like how to clean out the drain without calling a plumber! Just kidding, but really I actually was thrilled recently when I figured out how to undo one of those drains in the bath tub! ;-) Whether you're enrolling in a class, just reading a book on something important, reading the Bible for the first time, or whatever, you'll discover that education is one of the best and also one of the easiest New Year's resolutions because it's the kind of thing that if you pick the right thing it will become infectious.

9. Help and Serve Others

Why is this one on the bottom of the list? Not because it's less important. Being selfish should be the top of the list and in fact, I believe it helps you with all your New Year's commitments. Volunteering can come in many forms. You can start with your own family! Then keep expanding your care, love, and concern for others as you expand your circle to things like Big Brother Big Sister where you can mentor kids, or of course the big flashy stuff like building someone a house. And remember that you may be able to use specific talents for nonprofits that specialize in your area of expertise like dentistry. Nonprofit organizations can really use you to help people who are in need of your unique abilities.

10. Get Yourself Organized

It seems like every list of resolutions for the New Year have something about organization in the top ten. But getting organized can really be something that is very attainable. It's something that will make you feel so much more at peace and relaxed in your own home :-). Of course your office will be much easier to work in if you can find the stapler, too, LOL!

Orangutans Research Sheds Light on Human Obesity

Posted by jeffsmith on December 15, 2011

In times of plenty, orangutans found on Borneo (an island in Indonesia) feast on forest fruits, quickly putting on extra weight in advance of future, potentially scantier years, at which times they proceed to live only off as little as leaves, bark and you guessed it—their stored body fat.

The behavior resulting in overeating for a time has been found to be a common occurrence in humans of course, but until now has been rarely found in nonhuman primates such as monkeys, baboons, and chimpanzees. However, it has been highly sought after and the study may offer clues into obesity as well as eating disorders among humans, said U.S. researchers this week.

"Orangutans [are fascinating] models for [researching adult obesity in people in that they appear to be the only nonhuman species of primates such as apes who store fat deposits.]” remarked Erin Vogel, who is an evolutionary anthropologist at Rutgers University, her study was published in the journal entitled Biology Letters.

"It [has never] been [previously documented,]" Vogel told reporters on a phone interview.

Vogel along with colleagues have researched and analyzed urine from orangutans in Borneo over five years.

"Orangutans [who inhabit this barren landscape have been shown to utilize this time of plentiful fruit in which] 80% of [tree fruits are in season,]" she said.

"They [consume and consume and consume] and they [become] fat," Vogel said.

Afterwards the orangutans go on a forced light diet during periods when fruit production is at extremely low levels. These times of famine last as long as 8 years!

The research finds that as food became scarcer, orangutans turned to bark and leaves and utilized fat stores to tide themselves over. The research team noticed during these periods significant differences in the orangutans urine.

1st, ketones showed up, which exhibited signs that orangutan bodies were metabolizing fat storages. "[This shows that the apes] are [utilizing these fat storages bodily processes,]" Vogel stated.

Following that came increased nitrogen isotope levels. This was indication that the body’s muscles were breaking down on the cellular level to extract protein energy.

And it is no surprise said Vogel, because “[the animals must obtain their energy from some source,] so they [begin digesting] body tissue, [similar to situations in which humans find themselves impoverished,] or in [cases of eating disorders like anorexia, in which humans’ bodies are put under stress conditions as well and begin to] digest [muscle tissue.]

Research teams followed orangutans around and essentially shadowed them from dawn till dusk.
"[When the orangutans wake, they urinate as a rule,]" Vogel said.

Research teams waited under tree canopy and collected urine samples with plastic sheets and inverted umbrellas which they hoisted over head. This essentially served as collection device doubling as protection for the researchers from urine showering directly on them!

Vogel remarked that the research shows that orangutans clearly have used their capability for fat storage in order to swell survival chances; however this same capability in most humans amounts essentially to a surplus because humans do not forage for food.

"[Humans essentially have this potentially life-saving capability for fat storage,] and now most of us wish we didn't!" she stated.

Additional research studies are slated by Vogel to look into fluctuations in consumption and hormones related to hunger such as ghrelin & leptin. These hormones are used in time periods in which food is either scarce (ghrelin) or plentiful (leptin.) These are coupled with inflammatory cell chemicals used in signaling called cytokines, which are also believed to take a role in human obesity.

Because orangutans are on the endangered species list, this ability to store and use fat at later times are important self-preservation. 50,000 orangutans are found in Borneo along with 7,300 in Sumatra. These are the only two locations where orangutans are still found out of captivity.

Academic Research for Weight Loss Competitions

Posted by petermaughan on December 09, 2011

Academic Research

Weightlosswars was founded on the principles of weight loss motivation and recent research has continued to confirm the effectiveness of the methods. Recently, University of Pennsylvania as well as Harvard University performed related studies.

University of Pennsylvania professor, Dr. Kevin Volpp concluded that participants who received financial incentives for weight loss were far more successful than those who did not receive these financial incentives.

Over a 16 week period, the participants of the experimental group dropped an 13.1-14 lbs on average as opposed to approximately 4 lbs for participants in the control group.

This conclusion shows the remarkable nature of financial incentive for weight loss. Additional studies on “diet bets," "Biggest Loser Challenges" and "Losing weight for money" have led to some municipalities, states, and corporations and nonprofits to introduce financial incentives to encourage their people to lose weight. This method for weight loss has led to a groundswell movement and has resulted in dramatic increases in the number of members on weightlosswars.com

Harvard Medical School professors, Doctors Nicholas Christakis & James Fowler concluded that participants in a weight loss regimen were more likely to lose weight with buddies as opposed to losing weight alone. They specifically found that gaining weight and obesity spreads in a viral manner throughout one’s friend, family, and entire social network, similar to contagious diseases. Gaining weight appears to affect one's friends’ weight gain as well. The Drs. also concluded that these effects were ran both forward and backwards. Weight loss can be contagious among a social network much like weight gain. They found that although it's not automatic, it’s possible to introduce patterns and epidemics of healthy living in a work environment, friend group, or family. They essentially touched on social network weight loss.

Positive pressure from friends, family, and coworkers has been successfully applied in different areas of health as well. Even such things as electricity and water usage are affected. Reduction of energy consumption in homes, governments, companies and schools. Certain municipalities and state governments have successfully reduced electricity consumption and customer electric bills are increasingly now showing how the customer is conserving relative to neighbors and other citizens. This has effectively turned it into a game to be the efficient house in the col de sac. "People don't realize how strongly the enticement of peer pressure is acting on them," Pete Maughan, a health and wellness professional at University of Texas at Arlington told the Associated Press. "A subtle cue can result in major changes in behavior. And overt cues such as a well-defined weight loss challenge can have strong effects for positive healthy living."

Here at weightlosswars, we have continued to apply and improve our environment of weight loss competitions by applying research by Dr. Kevin Volpp. His conclusions that monetary incentives for weight loss may significantly increase a person's feelings and actions regarding weight loss are being combined with the studies out of Purdue, Harvard, University of Texas at Arlington that that a person's peers affect behavior.

At Weightlosswars, we are thrilled with the amount of weight that our members have lost and find it truly fulfilling that members are dropping weight. We love seeing our members enjoy good company, bond with their family/friends/coworkers, and maintain a lasting post-challenge resolve to keep the weight off and continue healthy habits that were sparked here on weightlosswars.com.

If you participate in a weight loss challenge here on weight loss wars or anywhere else, we welcome your comments about how this has happened for you. We’re continuing to develop case studies that can be used to help others to lose weight in a fun, challenging, supportive peer environment. We welcome any contributions that you feel you could provide to the cause. Contact us with your experiences or research by emailing us below.

Weight Loss Wars LLC
Pete Maughan
Phone: (801) 228-0201
pete@weightlosswars.com
www.weightlosswars.com