Back on December 5, several real estate types across the country entered into a weight loss challenge. Final weigh-in day is today, Feb 1.
Here are what the scales looked like for me on December 5:
And here is what I saw today:
That’s a loss of 13.5 pounds (or 5.63% of my initial weight– the contest winner is determined by whoever has the largest percentage weight loss, not total pounds). Not too shabby. The weight loss has slowed in the last couple of weeks, but the inches are still coming off. Apparently this old body is losing fat and gaining muscle mass. That’s a cool combination!
All of the participants have to donate $50 to the winners charity of choice. While I won’t win the contest, I’ve won something far more important.
I’ve won a lifestyle change. My intent isn’t to stop here and start eating and lounging my way back to 240 and beyond. I eat in a far healthier manner than I used to and I joined a gym and exercise regularly. I feel better and have more energy than I’ve had in a long, long time. I’m in this thing for the long haul and my goal is to get to, and maintain, a weight of 185.
Regular exercise works folks. When I first started going to the gym, I was lucky to get five minutes in on the elliptical or stationary bike. Today I regularly do 40 minutes. I’m also getting stronger as I can lift heavier weights with more reps than when I started.
The Real Estate’s Biggest Loser Challenge has been terrific. I appreciate the encouragement of everyone and the occasional smack talk. It’s very motivating.
If you’ve been participating, please go to the wiki loss tracking page and enter your final weight or percentage weight loss. We need to declare a winner and gets those checks out to charity.
And I hope you’ll join me in continuing our journey.
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{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
great JOB!!
Jay,
Congrats on the weight loss success you are having so far. The best advice I can give is to just be consistent. Even on the days you want to skip just do something…even if it’s half as much as you planned on doing. Everyone has bad days and if you can turn your bad days into semi productive ones then all those good and bad days will really start to stack up and you will see the weight fly off.
Jay,
Thanks again for organizing the REBiggestLoser contest. It was great motivation over the holidays not to pack on the normal 5-10 lbs and then struggle to get it back off after the holidays/bowl games.
I started at 169 lbs and finished at 158 lbs (total 11 lbs or 6.5%). I’ve had a long term goal to get to 160 lbs and am extremely happy/proud that I’ve accomplished that goal. Last year, I was in a similar biggest loser contest with the family and dropped from 187 lb to 164 lb from Jan 1 to July 4). So the biggest loser competition is very motivating.
I’ve always worked out, but still struggled to get to my ideal weight. Mostly due to poor diet. Now, I’m really focused on my diet. I am eating more fruits and raw vegetables and have cut back on meat. I’ve also eliminated most processed foods from my diet (bread, ceral, rice, pasta, frozen dinners, chips, snack foods, diet cokes, etc.) I try to “eat raw till dinner” and have an occasional raw dinner as well. Dinner is more likely to be chicken or fish with a salad and vegetable.
The cool thing about eating fruits and raw vegetables is that you don’t get hungry. I’ve started juicing vegetables (”green lemonade” is my favorite) and making fruit smoothies. I’m following the “Raw Food Detox Diet” by Natalia Rose. As a result, I feel great and have more energy.
I’m not done yet, my next goal is 6 pack abs by summer.
**Wade Munday´s last blog post..HML rehab loans
Congratulations! are defiantly due. You started this weight loss challenge during the holidays and did a fantastic job. I can’t wait to see the new you!
**Irene Hammond´s last blog post..The Fruit trees are Full
Congrats on the weight loss, that’s pretty amazing!
Sharon
Not bad Jay! I am particularly impressed that your sox have no holes.
Great job! Your feet are looking smaller too.
Aloha,
Keahi
**Keahi Pelayo´s last blog post..Newspapers Irrelevant To Real Estate Sales!
Congrats on the wait loss. Keep it up.
Congrats Jay. Changing your lifestyle is probably one of the hardest things to do on your own.
Congratulations on the achievement its great that you have developed a healthier life style over the past few weeks. Not many people seem to keep up the routine after dieting but its good that you have started at a gym and are actually enjoying it and what’s more seeing an improvement. First time on the blog today, but will be following your progress.
Huge congrats on the lifestyle change!
Do you think the pressure of everything being public has helped keep you on track?
Thanks everyone for the supportive comments! (and congrats to you Wade!)
I think “peer pressure” (or public pressure) helped in the beginning, but I was pretty motivated from the start. Seeing tangible results is the motivation now!
Nice… I was just curious what gets you going. As with most things, results really matter!
I think the most motivating factor is looking in the mirror while naked and thinking, “Holy crap, I’m fat.”
Gimme 12 months and that’ll change to, “Holy crap those are impressive abs!”
Nice! Fitness is an underrated necessity today. It’s tough to maintain a regime but well worth it. The hardest part for me was not the food, in fact I eat very healthy. Damn booze!
**Scott Allan´s last blog post..Bloomfield NJ Real Estate
One of the better things I ever did to get in shape was when I trained for the ride around Lake Tahoe with TNT a few years back. My wife is pushing me to do the ride again this year because it definitely got me in good shape, while also raising money for a good cause (Leukemia research). Not sure if you’re interested in that kind of thing, but if so, the experience really was a blast.
**Dustin´s last blog post..Move Brings in a New CEO
Wow… You weigh a lot. You have a lot of work to do. Your a real estate agent? That is great. You probably make some good money. Anyhow, your taxes are going to go up. You know, I’m a democrat. Steal money from the rich, and give it to the poor. Like Robin Hood, isn’t that great?! Share the wealth!
I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this message.
Nice work and good for you. You are a better man than I, as I have probably gained 5%. My wife is pregnant and somehow that is an excuse for me to gain weight too.
you did a excellent job. i am not consistent but now i got motivation from you and i will try my best.
Jay, It’s been very cool to watch your journey – Congrats!
I do have to tell you that I found your contest to be motivational. Even without actively participating, I’m 5 lbs. lighter. Definitely happy about that.
Thanks for the inspiration.
**Dru Bloomfield´s last blog post..Scottsdale Market Update: Condos vs. Single Family Homes
Nice job Jay. Now let’s keep it off! My husband and I tend to be on the healthier side, but with 5 kids eating healthy has been a challenge (I’m thinking as I’m writing this about the 30 high schoolers we had over this weekend and all the pizza we ate).
We’ve purchased a domain (healthy-agent.com) this past week and will be trying to put together a blog dedicated to living healthy and directing our efforts towards real estate agents.
**Colleen´s last blog post..Great Story Of Hope
Jay this is truly awesome! Thanks for sharing your triumph with the world. It is amazing what happends when breads and sugars are cut out of your diet. Keep up the good work!
Jay-
That’s awesome! It’s not easy losing weight even for men as we get older. Congratulations! You know, that’s not all that far from the 200 mark.
Dave Lorti
**Chandler Real Estate´s last blog post..A Chandler Home with Great Curb Appeal
Congrats Jay! I agree that the first month was the most motivational and weight was coming off quite quickly. It seems to me that the less you weight the more harder it gets to drop more weight. I’m happy thought that in only 2 months I went down from 184lb to 173lb and my belt is 2 holes tighter
My goal is to make visits to gym a weekly routine, just like coffee in the morning, and thanks to this challenge the foundation has been set! Thanks to all the participants!
**Max – the PhoenixHomes.com guy
´s last blog post..West Valley Market Conditions, January 2009
Congrats on the weight loss, that is pretty amazing. Sorry about the super bowl, I totally thought Arizona had it at the end there. Close game for sure.
Ryan Philipenko – Edmonton Real Estate Blog
So am I the only one on the Interweb who doesn’t know who won???
**Jeremy Hart´s last blog post..I’m Taking Real Estate On The Road
Man, congrats on the weight loss and new work out program. I am trying to do the same. It feels great to get into better shape.
Nice work Jay! I hate to one-up you, but I lost 25lbs in an office Biggest Loser contest at the end of last year. I went from 213 down to 188. Then I joined a second contest at the beginning of the year. I was able to beef back up to 201 and I am currently back down to 193. It’s probably unhealthy, but I just love to win!
**Ryan Martin´s last blog post..Real Estate Bellingham Washington
Congrats on the weight loss. Keep up the great work.
**James Boyer´s last blog post..Morristown NJ Condo For Sale / Morristown NJ Real Estate / MLS#: 2642026
Good for you! Diets don’t work, but lifestyle changes do. With the increased energy you have, does that mean we will get to have even more PREG to enjoy?
I’m looking forward to your vlogging adventures!
**Meg Zoller-Houston Realtor´s last blog post..Houston Real Estate Reaps Benefits of Statewide Population Growth
Congrats Jay! I’m wondering if I’m going to recognize you next time I see you IRL
Hope it is sometime sooner than later. Great job.
**Stacey Harmon´s last blog post..Marc Davison Got Me Thinking…Does Size Really Matter?
Fabulous work! Congrats on the great results!
**Linda Craft-Raleigh Real Estate´s last blog post..Staging Your House to Sell
Congrats! How very exciting to make the change of taking care of yourself; I’m sure you are enjoying the extra energy too!
**MaryAnn Knell-Peoria Real Estate´s last blog post..10 Steps to Achieving the American Dream of Home Ownership!
Congrats! Keep up the good work!
Jay – I not only lost this contest but lost track of it enitrely and never paid up. Do you have the link for the info on the winner and where to send the check?