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Living Well Program 2008 holiday challenge

Learn about | Testimonials | Exercise demonstrations | Band exercises | The benefits of vitamin D | Holiday challenge
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2008 holiday challenge - journaling works!

Read about eleven participants who took the holiday challenge from Dec. 4, 2008 through Jan. 8, 2009. The rules were:

• Journal eating episodes each day
• Journal exercise each day (had to reach 2.5 hours of exercise a week)

Two prizes consisting of a 60-minute massage from the Aurora Women's Pavilion and a personal training certificate from the Wisconsin Athletic Club (West Allis location) were given. Names were placed in a drawing for those who journaled each day of the challenge. Out of eleven participants, six participants journaled each day. Two prizes were awarded on January 8, 2009!

• I have been journaling 6-7 days a week! My eating is most definitely different from the journaling. I am aware of what I am eating and how much... it's not that I didn't have all the fabulous stuff I was just aware how much I was sticking in my mouth... and how many "BLTs (bites, licks, tastes) I was consuming and trying to be careful not to over due it! My main goal was to "maintain" because I know very well that without this I would have eaten and drank my way through the holidays and not thought another thing about it (plus most likely would have added another 8 -10 pounds!)
  Participant number 1; nine-month program participant
  
  
• I pre-planned my eating for Sunday so I could send my log to you today. I will send my last log to you on Thursday January 8, 2009. This was a good idea to keep us on track over the holidays. I didn't lose as much as I wanted to but I didn't gain any weight either. I am looking forward to seeing you on January 9, 2009.
  Participant number 2; nine-month program participant (lost 3.2 lbs.)
  
  
• I thought this was a great idea. I don't know if I would have lost weight during the holidays without it, and I didn't feel I missed out on anything because I wasn't eating what a usually ate. I definitely made better choices both at home and when going out.

  I actually kept a journal the entire time!!! Even though it's not my favorite thing. But I am very motivated to do well! Have a great week!
  Participant number 4; nine-month program participant (lost 6.2 lbs.)

• Things have been going great as far as exercise. I have been able to do something almost everyday. I got snowshoes for Christmas and a yoga DVD and have been enjoying them all during the winter break. As far as food journals, not good. The first week, I was like a single parent. My husband snowplows and was gone almost 14-16 hours each day and I had to hold down the family fort. I just couldn't do it. Once I wasn't able to do it the first week, I just gave up trying because I knew I was already out of the drawing. Bummer! Maybe an idea for next time - put your name in the drawing multiple times - once per week. Then people who aren't able to do it one week, feel they still have a chance. Just a suggestion. Participant number 6; ten-month program participant (lost .6 lbs.)
  
  
• I liked the holiday challenge as it showed me that if I am ever having a hard time with my weight and staying with the program, all I have to is start journaling. This was a real leaning experience and now I know that it will work even though I do not like to do it.
  Participant number 7; ten-month program participant (lost 2.8 lbs.)
  
  
• You asked that I respond to my feelings about the holiday challenge. I think that the challenge gave us an extra incentive to lose weight besides trying to reach our goal. I was surprised to find that I lost weight because it was very difficult given the food distractions that we all faced. I found that I had to up my exercise to offset the additional calories.
  Participant number 9; ten-month program participant (lost 1.2 lbs.)
  
  
• I think it motivated me to keep on track for the holidays. I would encourage you to continue this since it helps one to keep in touch with what they are eating and how much exercising they are doing. It was also helpful when the reminders from Jeanne and Kerry sent out. It may also be helpful if they would call us during the challenge to see how we are doing. Another idea is to have someone that you can send your food to or commit your food to on a daily basis since that would help you to focus on working the program. Great Idea!
  Participant number 10; ten-month program participant (lost 8 lbs.)
  
  
• Thanks for the challenge and the prize, which I'll gladly use in the near future! The challenge helped me get through what is traditionally a very difficult time. The contest was certainly part of the incentive to maintain my food and exercise logs over the holidays. It's clear to me that I need to journal in order to hold myself accountable. Over the holiday period I modified behavior and usual patterns. I didn't allow myself to "let go/what the heck" which I would have done in the past on certain days, especially for Christmas dinner and New Year's. I moderated the amounts and chose healthier foods (with the exception of two or three cookies – total, really!).
  Participant number 11; ten-month program participant (lost .2 lbs.)
  
  
• This is a great program and I hope it continues. I received a great deal of information on healthy living and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. I especially liked Katie's sessions (not just because she brought us food!) because she gave us better options for food and taught us what to look for on nutrition labels besides how many calories are in the food. I now pay more attention to serving sizes, fiber, and protein when looking at labels.
  Participant number 3: year-long program graduate (lost 1.4 lbs.)
  
  
• The Holiday Challenge was a good idea and facilitated positive "Living Well" results because… (a few ideas):
  • It "re-grounded" participants to make wise food choices, and to enact food portion control over the very challenging holiday period.
  • It offered friendly accountability for us, as we knew that we were going to have to report back at our next session.
  • It reinforced the effectiveness of food journaling (even though some of us don't like it so much).
  • It also assisted to keep me on track with my fitness routine.
  
  Participant number 5; year-long program graduate (lost .8 lbs.)
  
  
• I can't believe a whole year has gone by since we started. I know I gained a couple of pounds over Christmas, but I also know it could have been a lot worse. I plan to continue to use the living well program and keep exercising. This program has brought me a new way of thinking and I actually enjoy the exercise. It also helped me to get the help I needed for my diabetes and I can't thank you enough for that. Thanks for all your help.
  Participant number 8; year-long program graduate

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