When I started my weight loss journey (for the last time) back in Feb. 2015 it was ho-hum. Then I was introduced to Dietbet.com and started my first Challenge Mar 10, 2015. What an inspiring and motivating program with which to get involved. Besides the Challenges, the social support of fellow dieters is amazing. As I progressed I found it so motivating that I was winning all my Challenges. Someone on the Message Boards mentioned The Blue Dot Club, and I adopted the saying. I use it to help encourage everyone to be a Member at whatever win percent level they have recorded. (Blue Dot Membership % = Blue Dots/Total Challenges and Rounds completed.) However I was always a 100% Member of the Blue Dot Club. Then it finally happened. I fell off the Wagon in my weight loss. Ever been there? It isn’t any fun. If you allow yourself to stay there you lose hope and getting back on the wagon gets tougher, day by day.
I fell off the wagon by losing my challenge ending 10/26/15. It was my first Blue Circle in my profile and I cried big tears. Well not really, but it was a bit disappointing to not make the challenge. Until then I was a 100% Member of the Blue Dot Club. Okay, so I’m human. So now what? To make matters worse I sort of didn’t care anymore. And I was way behind on meeting Jillian Michaels Challenge ending 11/9/15. I was even to the point of saying that I wouldn’t enter the next challenge like I had determined by being in Kickstarts till I met my Life Goal Weight, because it was getting TOO hard.
Had it not been for Dietbet and the future weigh outs I had committed to going all the way until March 26, 2016, I probably would have given in and said the heck with it. And oh the excuses to quit are way too many: it’s getting closer to winter, it’s getting cold in the garage where I spin cycle, I’m tired of what the chlorine is doing to my hair at the indoor pool where I swim, I really want that double no triple bacon cheeseburger deluxe with all the fries and drink and add a huge desert no 2 deserts because I deserve it, how will I enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the list goes on and on. BUT NO! I had signed up with Dietbet for a reason. I was tired of carrying this excess weight and I WANT IT GONE FOREVER!
So I kicked into High Gear this last week and dropped the weight to beat my Jillian Michaels Challenge by 11:59 pm 11/11/15 PST. Even to the point of Spin Cycling a Century on 11/11/15. Thank goodness for Netflix. It took me 4 sessions over 6:50:36 and I sweated through 4 sets of workout clothes, but it was worth it. With this weigh out I signed up for another challenge like I always have Get Lean by 2016. After weighing out I promptly got something to eat and drink, showered and went to bed, so my body would be ready for the next day and progressing down the path of weight loss toward my Life Goal Weight.
By my calculations I now need to lose 1.67 lbs. per day through 11/17/15 to meet my next Kickstart Challenge. That is very doable for me as I can lose 2 lbs. per day when needed with the amount of exercise that I am doing. I will say this, there is no way I could have ridden that Century back in March 2015. Neither the legs nor the butt would have survived. I’ve ridden a Century outdoors before on a Bike Tour, but that was many moons ago. It takes time to build up the endurance and strength, so don’t let it discourage you if you are not at my level of exercise.
After I meet my next challenge I should be at an easy pace of 1/3 lb. loss per day to get to my life goal weight by December 18, 2015. As of now I have lost 99.6 lbs. and I am a 97.3% Member of the Blue Dot Club and very excited to be getting more fit day by day. Hey, are those muscles in my legs and abs that I’m feeling? How cool is that?
Lifetime Member of Dietbet, Thomas A.