Week 1 Results and Next Weeks Challenge

What an incredible week! As a group we lost a total of 95 Pounds!! That is awesome!
Several of you lost a lot of weight putting you into our weight-loss clubs. Those who lost more that 5 pounds are listed in the 5+ Club. Those of you who lost anywhere between 2 and 5 lbs are in the 2+ Club.

5+ Club: Yvonne Tracy, Nora Kelly, Michelle Cannon, Elizabeth Putnam, Matt Cain, Tami Perez

2+ Club: Heidi McDermott, Andy Bartholomew, Natalie Lemmon, Ginger Brea, Katie Kennedy, Lindsay Hamilton, Tiffany Hamilton, Cindy Ellsworth, Janna Worwood, Katy Carter, Melanie Johnson, Elaine Carter, Larae Flamm, Amanda Jones, Ann Dubois, Beverly Cannon, Janice Franckum, Jennifer Stephens, Jessica Dubois, Ami Bartholomew, Melinda Urbanawiz, Ryan Putnam, Jared Hawes, Tracie Spencer

Team Results:

1st Place: Hedgehogs
2nd Place: Cheetahs
3rd Place: Rhinos
4th Place: Gazelles
5th Place: Zebras
6th Place: Lions
7th Place: Giraffes
8th Place: Tigers
9th Place: Hyenas
10th Place: Gorillas


Congratulations everyone!!

Now for next weeks challenge. This too, was inspired by listening to my students talk. I teach the foods classes at a local Jr.High here in town. I always make my students set the table when they eat. (Even if it's just for cookies) They always complain about it and I always tell them it is good practice for when they set the table for dinner....and many of them tell me they NEVER eat dinner at the table. It saddens me every year. There are so many beneficial reasons to set the table and eat together as a family. Time magazine published an article stating that family meals help keep our families together. And although that is extremely important, that's not the reason for this weeks challenge. Harvard University did a study about family meals and found that "families eating meals together "every day" or "almost every day" generally consumed higher amounts of important nutrients such as calcium, fiber, iron, vitamins B6 and B12, C and E, and consumed less overall fat, compared to families who "never" or "only sometimes" eat meals together."
"According to a survey conducted by the University of Minnesota that appears in the August 2004 issue of The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, frequent family meals are related to better nutritional intake, and a decreased risk for unhealthy weight control practices and substance abuse."
"Another University of Minnesota study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that children who ate family meals consumed more fruits, vegetables and fewer snack foods than children who ate separately from their families."
...and the last quote:

"When you cook and serve meals at home, you have more control over the quality and quantity of your family’s food choices. Kids tend to mimic their parents’ attitudes about foods.

Children won’t perceive healthy eating as important if it is not something that they see you doing. Eat and serve sensible portion sizes. Be open to trying new foods and new ways of cooking foods.

Family meals should be dynamic – an exchange of ideas, conversation and feelings. Turn off the television, the video games and the computer. Mealtime is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family ties and pass on family cultural traditions. Encourage your kids to help prepare meals, set the table and help with dishes."

So not only does eating meals together not only strengthens your family emotionally, but physically as well. Research shows that when you eat together you tend to eat healthier. As you can probably tell, this weeks challenge is going to be to turn off the TV, and (brace yourselves) your phones, and and any other distractions so that you can sit down and eat meals as a family....at least 5 days next week. Now for those of you, like me, who don't have anyone else living with you, our challenge will be to set the table and eat at the table without distractions....and maybe even invite a guest over. (Inviting a guest isn't part of the requirements, but it might be fun). For those of you with family, I understand that sometimes it's really hard to get everyone together at the same time but try to get as many as possible at the dinner table.

Each day your family is sitting together at the table you earn 7 points. 7 points X 5 days = 35 points

A couple of great articles:

Family Meals: More Than Just Eating at Home
The Family that Eats Together, Stays Healthy Together
A+ Wellness