BIGGEST LOSER 2008 EMAILS
Initial Email #1:
Hello Biggest Losers!
 
This year’s contest is even more exciting than last year because we can implement the strategies learned from the winners of the past two years. These strategies and more are included in the brain training booklet you have been given as a contest participant titled, “The Most Important Thing I Will Learn at the X Gym”. Read it very carefully and absorb every word. It is vital to understand the human brain within this context and how to redirect thoughts and patterns to achieve the success you want. I have a hidden way of knowing if you have read it thoroughly so make sure you do (and ask for another copy if you misplaced yours).
 
I need everyone to please respond to this e mail for verification (and if there is a better one please tell me). Please reply just to me and not to your “Reply All” option. Your response will also test both of our spam filters so we can make sure messages are sent freely back and forth. You all have been blind Cc’d to protect your e-mail privacy, and rest assured this list and any other information you have given will remain confidential within the X Gym.
 
A few of you have still not reported in for measurements and before pictures. It’s never too late to start, but be sure to contact PJ, Jesse or Sharm ASAP to make your assessment appointment. Every 2 months after this, you will all be retested. These retests must be on or before the test date. Our next test date is March 7th.
Make sure you get your www.fitday.com <http://www.fitday.com/>  account set up and are using it every day. It is somewhat labor intensive in the beginning as you enter your personal information and some foods you eat that aren’t in their database, but it’s worth it (it also shows me who is going to be serious about this)! Once you get a full week entered of all your food, liquid (water, alcohol, coffee, etc.) let me know and include your user name and password. I will then be able to log on and individualize your nutrition goals for you. Remember to enter everything that passes your lips – even gum or breath mints! Many people have found that just the act of logging their food makes them lose weight in the first week so if you compare the time it takes to log it in to the time it would take to exercise that fat off, it’s actually a huge time saver!

Are you battling cravings you can’t resist? These can often worsen if willpower is your only defense. I can show you an acupressure related technique called EFT that works like a charm, so let me teach you this method if you need it.

You might consider a cleanse routine to get you started right. I talked about it on my last radio show and posted it on the website so check there for details. It’s the very bottom link of this page: http://www.xgym.com/Radio.htm.  

Use our website for valuable tools like this page for tips, tricks and food ideas: http://www.xgym.com/biggest_loser_contestant_page.htm, and check this new page for more contest details: http://www.xgym.com/BL%20info%20page.htm

Lastly, watch the video The Secret at http://thesecret.tv/home.html. You can buy it on DVD for $30 or watch it once on high speed internet from their website for $5. I agree with most of what they say and even use some similar techniques so it’s good stuff! If you can get past the metaphysical/universal energy nonsense, most of the remaining content and attitude focus is right on target.

Stay tuned, there’s more to come soon!

 

BL Email # 2:

Hello Biggest Losers!

Here is the second BL e-mail with new tips and tricks! If you didn’t get the first one, please see our website for a copy at the bottom of the contestant page: http://www.xgym.com/biggest_loser_contestant_page.htm . There are also new tips added there often so check it frequently!  

If this is the first you have heard from me please respond with confirmation you got this and include your Fitday.com user name and password. If you did get the first one and haven’t responded please do so I know you are getting these. Remember that you can enter custom foods that are not in the fitday database. Just select “New Custom Food” from the “add custom” menu and enter off the label for that food. Then it is in your “add custom” drop down menu for future use.  

We are 2 weeks into it now and some of you might already be feeling like giving up but that’s normal! It’s just your body’s way of trying to hang on to the fat you’re already losing. Falling off the wagon isn’t failure either. It’s human. Failure only happens when you don’t get back on.  

You have until March 7th to lose as much fat as possible for phase 1 and remember, gaining muscle reduces your fat percentage too. It also raises your metabolism to burn off the fat faster so make sure you are getting your workouts in and making up the ones you miss!  

Remember that winter months with frequent cloudy days can cause “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD) in perfectly healthy people so make sure you get your vitamins (especially vitamin D). It might be a good idea to get a standard daily multivitamin. Another way to fight SAD is through light therapy with full spectrum light doses of at least 10 minutes a day. Costco and many stores have these lamps so if you think you are a sufferer of SAD, look into this because SAD makes everything more difficult – not just a fat loss program. We have had some sunny days lately which definitely help the mood, but we still aren’t able to get vitamin D doses at this latitude during the winter.  

Today’s tips:  

  • Your body will play tricks on you trying to get you to replenish some of the fat you have lost. It will make you physically crave certain foods; your temperature may drop leaving you feeling cold; and mood swings will tempt you into medicating your brain with food. Your body is trying to figure how to balance your brain chemicals without using certain foods as medicine like it’s used to. When it learns how to do this on its own (like it was designed) you will notice a drastic improvement in mood balance, mental clarity, acuity and more.
  • Just remember that when the going gets tough it’s only because you are winning and your body is trying to get the fat back. It is hardest when you are in your highest fat burning stages. Use these tough times as confirmation that it is all working and stick even tighter to the plan.
  • Mood eating in this weather is also a common problem. Let’s face it – this constant rain and gray weather is depressing! When we feel this way cravings are even worse because certain high-carb/high fat foods cause release of the chemicals into our brain that make us emotionally feel better (at the time).
  • You should be beating a path to the bathroom if you are drinking enough water. I know this is a pain but it gets better as your body adapts to being hydrated. It’s used to being dehydrated so it thinks (for now) that it’s getting too much water. It has to learn what the correct amount is and while you are teaching it, the process can be inconvenient.
  • Here is a good audiobook: The Self Hypnosis Diet. Go to iTunes and download it onto your player. It will reinforce what your have read in the booklet and will teach you valuable and permanent techniques to help you get lean and stay lean for life. Don’t worry, it’s not your typical hypnosis mumbo jumbo or religious meditation stuff. It’s just practical methods to train your subconscious to help you reach your goals and understand how your brain works to make this happen.

We already have some great results to report! Sharmon had a great story about BL’s comparing how much fat they have list so far and I just met with someone at Belltown who is down 10 lbs. already! If you are not moving this much, don’t feel bad! Remember that the initial plateau can be 3-5 weeks so hang in there and it will work! Everyone loses at different rates and no one is ever “out” of the competition. Even if you don’t make the cut in one of the rounds, you are still a full competitor in the BLLB group to the end.  

In closing I can tell you with prophetic accuracy who will win this. It will be the person who:

  • Keeps their protein, water and dark greens high.
  • Keeps their alcohol intake little to none.
  • Is consistent with their strength training.
  • Squeezes in the extra cardio.
  • And gets back on the wagon first if they fall off!

Keep up the good work people and don’t be afraid to ask for help or support. That’s what we are here for!