31 Jan
Hurry and Join That Weight Loss Challenge!
Tomorrow is the first official day of the challenge, have you sent me your pictures yet? I’m excited to say that the DailyBurn challenge site has 65 people signed up so far! I know some of you are hesitant to join because sending in a picture of the scale, and pictures from each angle is a scary thought, but there are so many other people doing it that you can think of yourself as just another fish in the sea. THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS NEVER START! It’s the truth, and I’ll preach it until I’m blue in the face.
I may have 65 people signed up on Dailyburn, but I’m missing almost 30 sets of pictures. I’ve tried to send a reply to every person confirming I have their picture, so if you didn’t receive a reply from me, it probably means your pictures didn’t go through. For those who haven’t sent them in yet, what are you waiting for?!?!? I know at least one person has said that they don’t have someone to take their pictures for them, and my suggestion was to prop the camera up somewhere, put it on timer, and just take them in landscape mode. If you decide t have your before pictures shown in September I can always crop them for you! I’m not sure how DailyBurn works exactly (it might allow people to enter the contest even after February 1st), but I’m going to be really firm about not accepting new entries for the prize if they don’t come in by February 1st. SO, if you send me your picture on February 2nd I’m going to file it away, but if you win you won’t get a free session. If the winner on DailyBurn isn’t eligible for the free session+disc because they entered late, I’ll give it to the second person (because major weight loss like that should be celebrated with pictures! The only way I won’t give out a free session is if I win. 
)
A few people have said that they want to participate in the challenge, but they don’t have enough weight to lose to win. That’s okay, you can still participate if you want, and I think you should. I’m not only trying to lose weight, I’m also training for a 5K and I tweet about it regularly with the #TWLC hashtag attached. After I finish that, I’m considering tackling a half-marathon with one of my best friends from college. You can use this challenge to lose just a little bit with the focus on getting into better shape. (Who knew I could actually like running? I’ll post about C25K soon, I’m in love with the program.)
If you have friends who you think might like to join in (maybe they are always talking about losing weight but not having the motivation?) please forward them this post, and the one that introduced the challenge!
One other thing, tomorrow is the day that we enter our weights on DailyBurn. Those who sent in their pictures right away like good little girls (I don’t have any boys participating yet, but if there are men reading you are certainly free to do so!) can enter their starting weight as the weight on the scale in the picture they sent me. I know Kari has been killing it when it comes to working out, and if she started losing already I don’t want her to feel penalized for that! If you’re the winner though, the number you have in your scale picture at the beginning and the number you have on your scale picture at the end need to match up, so don’t be overestimating on Tuesday to give yourself a higher percentage of weight loss throughout the coming months. See how those scale pictures stop temptation in its tracks?
I decided that since I’m really, really going to do this I need to do a swimsuit before and after picture. When I reach my goal weight, I’m going to look a whole lot different and I want to have a Biggest Loser “Jeans Dropping” big reveal. After I looked at these pictures, I realized that my sexy black dress is VERY deceptive. I bought this blue tankini before I had T1, and it still has the tags on it. Later in the summer I want to put it on and feel fabulous. I’ve shown you a whole lot of me before, but this is pretty nasty, and so I’m going to wait until I’m on the other side of my weight loss to show you the non-blurry before pictures. As I am a believer in taking the worst possible before pictures so you look better in the end, I went with no makeup, wet hair, and a slight scowl. To pretty things up a bit I unleashed my graphic design skill (ha!) and prettied things up a bit with my motto and a heart.
A short synopsis in case you glossed over this post:
1. Join the challenge. You’ll always be overweight if you never start losing weight.
2. Send in your pictures friends! I open the email, check to make sure all your pictures are there (very quickly, I don’t spend any time gazing at them and making fun of you, I swear), and reply with an email to say you’re good to go.
3. Join even if you don’t have a lot of weight to lose.
4. Tell your friends!
5. You are free to put the number on your scale picture in the DailyBurn site, even if it’s more than you weigh now. You CANNOT put a number in DailyBurn that is higher than what your scale picture says or I will review it in September and think maybe you cheated. 
6. I’m going to show you my before+after swimsuit pictures in September and it’s going to blow your mind.
Bonus Tidbit: Tonight in the car That Husband looked over at me and told me I’m looking really good and that he can see a difference. I’m down 5 lbs since I started the Healthy Train and it feels wonderful to hear him say he thinks I’m looking better already!
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Okay, okay, you convinced me.
I do need to do this, because I made a chocolate cake yesterday for work, and hated myself all day for eating a piece (and some batter.) I need the motivation! Will get my pictures in tonight for sure. Maybe I’ll actually get into some shape and we’ll end up at the same 5k.
1You might want to post a disclaimer that Daily Burn sends a TON of junk email. It’s pretty terrible. I’ve tried to opt out of everything I can and unsubscribe to the stuff that comes through and I’m still getting emails. Annoying!
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 9:32 am
Really? I haven’t received anything and I’ve been signed up for two weeks…
ok, I signed up, but as I have no scale at home, no pic. I will be the perfect cheerleader for us all, and hopefully loose some pounds as well!
3I’m in the same situation as busylizzy. No scale at home, I only check my weight at the Dr’s office or when we visit his mom. But ok, I’ll join. Not for the weight loss, but for the motivation. So I’ll update when I can (aka when I have access to a scale). No picture either for the same reason, but then again I’m not entering to win anyway.
I’m starting my training for a 12K today so I guess it fits.
I’m considering a half marathon but maybe not right away, I don’t know but the word marathon, even a half of it seems so intimidating to me. When are you thinking to run one?
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 9:34 am
Oh I have no idea when I will run one! That friend of mine is a personal trainer and so I’m going to have he help me design a program. I’m hoping she will take into account how long it took me to prepare for a 5k and go from there
QUESTION! On the dailyburn site, does it count as putting our weight in in our “locker room” or is there somewhere else we’re supposed to put it in? I plan on putting my beginning weight from my picture on there because I have lost a little bit since I sent those in.
Also, 8 miles of running/walking in one day for this chubby girl is insane. The worst part, though, was the 300 crunches. My abs STILL hate me for that. Oh well, they’ll love me later, right?!?
Good luck everyone!! We can do this!!
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 9:36 am
You are going to put your weight in on my challenge page specifically, and you’ll be able to enter it starting tomorrow. It will be on the right side. I think there is some kind of placeholder there now that says “enter your weight here when the challenge begins” or something like that.
It was so surreal getting your confirmation email yesterday. I couldn’t believe it, Jenna’s real! And she emailed me! And she likes my rug! lol. I’m turning 30 this year so I am very motivated to lose weight, and winning this would be an awesome bonus!
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 9:37 am
It is a VERY cute rug
I’m so excited for your challenge! I also started c25k yesterday… as someone that’s carrying around a LOT of extra poundage, that was one heck of a challenge… but I did it! Wahoo!
7I’ll send my photos tonight! Yay!
8I signed up on Daily Burn and won’t have a problem taking my photos with a self-timer, but I don’t own a scale!
I’m planning to pick one up from Walmart tonight, but I want my first weigh-in to be first thing in the morning before I eat/get dressed etc. (the last time i weighed myself was around new year’s at my parents’ house)
If I send my pictures in tomorrow will I be too late?
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 11:05 am
No, I’ll give you a pass because I like ya
(you deserve it after spending all that time commenting on my Weddingbee posts!)
I’m not planning on formally signing up (if I lost 10% of my weight, I’d be near dead), but hoping to tweet along and enjoy working towards health with everyone.
Am I keeping myself off a TW list-serve by not signing up formally?
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 11:07 am
Nope, you can join the email chain if you’d like! I like that you are using it to commit to healthier living!
LifeOnMulberry Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Not sure what is happening with my TW emails - but I’m no longer getting an email when someone comments after me! I thought it was just on the diet blog but its this one too. Sadface.
Anyone else having this happen? Checked my spam folder and nada.
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I feel like other people have brought this up…
Can you tell me if you get this reply from me? Maybe I need to update the plugin…
I am not going to sign up for the challenge but I just wanted to give you mad props for starting this and for the hilarious blurred swimsuit photo. The “after” photo WILL blow our minds. Also, I hate to sound hyperbolic but Couch to 5K kinda did change my life. I was never an athletic kid (selected last for teams, picked on, the whole nine yards) and Couch to 5K gave me amazing confidence. Every week, you’re going to think “No WAY will I be able to run 10 minutes straight” and then you’ll find out that you can. Mind blowing. (BTW, tip: If you are struggling with running the whole time, slow down. Ain’t no shame. Build up your endurance and speed will follow.) I had to stop running for two months because of an injury but I’m back in the saddle and can’t wait to see what the new year brings — I’m planning to train for a half marathon, too. Best of luck, Jenna!
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 11:38 am
I’m planning to write an extremely hyperbolic post aboutC25K myself! I never, ever, ever thought I could run long distances. It’s the last day of January now and I ran for 5 minutes 3 times today. In the beginning I struggled to run for 90 seconds!!!
Sophia Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 12:20 pm
I’m starting C25K for at least the 3rd or 4th time(maybe 5th, I can’t keep track) after I get back from vacation and I’m hoping my hip doesn’t de-rail me again. Everyone I’ve ever known who has done it has loved it, and I’ve been trying to get it off the ground for two years now. I hope this time sticks and my hip allows me to do it, because all the success everyone is having is making me jealous and excited
phruphru Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Yay for the C25K love! And I hope your hip cooperates, S! My ankle has given me a lot of grief and I’ve been really trying to ease myself back into running. It sucks to have to be so careful when you’re just dying to pound the pavement already. But good things come to those who wait and all that good stuff…
I hated running too! (I blame the stupid Presidential Fitness test in elementary school-humiliating and de-motivating)
I did couch-to-5k 2 years ago and can now run 3 miles easily. I’m training for a half-marathon right now with Run On stores in Dallas (there classes are awesome and there is one in Coppell-keep that in mind). I do run-walk because the calorie-burning is still off the charts and I find it much more accessible. I went around White Rock Lake yesterday (about ~9.7 miles) with a 5 min run/1 min walk interval setup and burned 1500 calories (according to my heart rate monitor). It feels awesome to do something I never thought I could do. Keep it up! I’m even thinking of training for the White Rock Marathon in December.
Marissa C Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 11:30 am
*their classes
I’m so glad you found a form of exercise that is effective and enjoyable for you! When I discovered my love of yoga it was amazing to finally have a form of exercise I looked forward to. It makes all the difference.
13I joined the daily burn challenge page for some motivation to maintain my weight loss. I could use a reminder or two to get off my butt
14Excited that so many ppl are signing up for you challenge, while I’m not signing up, as I have only have 6 more pounds to lose (didn’t have a whole lot to lose to begin with). I will be one of your reader, who will be cheering you guys on from the side lines.
15And major props on your running achievements!! Isn’t it amazing! I was one of those ppl who couldn’t even run a mile with out stopping, but now I’m able to run 5k, 10K & Half marathons.
I have to admit though,I still don’t enjoy running. Actually I have a love/hate relationship with running, just ask my husband. But after all that hard work I put it, I couldn’t justify quitting. So here I am still running. Running for exercise and to live healthy.
I just joined, because I want to be held accountable. I only want to lose 10 pounds, but I’ve been saying that for at least the last 4 years - it’s time to actually do it!
I can’t wait to see everyone’s results in September! Thanks for motivating me, Jenna!
16Just wanted to say good job! I think you’ll find the whole working out/running thing very addicting - especially as you continue to see results. I think the Hal Higdon half marathong training guide is a great one. He has them for people starting out at all different levels - and gives about a 4 month lead up time to your first race.
17I did couch to 5K and loved it. But now my knee is completely messed up and I can’t exercise at all. Running is completely out of the question. I have a CT tomorrow to see if I need surgery. Anyways, I loved couch to 5k and had a whole blog dedicated to it and all the weird things it caused my body to do. My blog is here http://couchtofivekilometers.blogspot.com I haven’t updated it lately because I haven’t been running since December 4th due to the knee problems.
I am considering your weight challenge (not for the contest, but to get to a healthy weight like you said). However, I’m concerned I won’t be able to exercise much because of the knee situation. Will exercise be a huge part of this?
Jenna Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I’m not focusing on exercise as part of the challenge (though I think it is important and I’m working to make it part of my routine!) so you are free to lose however you choose.
I’m sorry you are having problems with your knees! I wanted to compete against TH to see who could finish C25K first but he had to stop because running hurts his knees
Cécy Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 12:36 pm
It’s key to get really good running shoes for that. They’re expensive, yes. But having someone tell you which type of shoes you need can make a difference. If you can find a running store, there are some that have you run on a treadmill and film it for a few seconds, then look at the film and see how the foot falls and which type of shoes you should get.
Also warmups before, stretches after and crosstraining (swimming, biking, yoga, etc) helps to get the muscles where they need to be to avoid injury.
*I’ve been doing a lot of reading on runnersworld.com lately, probably too much*
Can’t WAIT to get started tomorrow!!
19I really want to join because I think it will be nice motivation. But my scale hasn’t been shipped to me yet (yes, I never had a scale because I never wanted to weigh myself). Thus, I’ll just join in spirit.
20I love your challenge! I’m a personal trainer and think its great to see people trying to lose weight in a health way and keep it off! So awesome! if anyone has any health/nutrition/fitness questions, head on over my blog! I love the way you are inspiring people!
21Good luck to all the challengers! Just reading about your challenge motivates me to get out for a run, or more often these days, yoga.
22Hey Jenna,
Can I/would you like me to join just for support and fun? I didn’t sign up already because I had started a weight loss challenge with my group of friends, and I am not aiming at a big loss, but I have lost 8 pounds (which would have been fun to celebrate with you and other TW readers! Darn it!) and I’m counting calories!! I can take my pics tonight and send them, but please don’t consider me for the prize, unless you’re itching to visit So Cal!
Jenna Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 11:59 am
Yes, do that! I know that I’m going to have a high % of people who don’t make it to the end (that’s just the way these things go!) but I think it would be fun to celebrate with a big huge post of before/after shots at the end, no matter how much weight people had to lose. Send them in!