And They're Off! Week One of Kirkwood's "Biggest Loser" Weigh-Ins

Webster Groves employees better watch out! Kirkwood employees are out of the gate and running fast and hard!! A full 1/6 of our workforce is participating in the Kirkwood/Webster Biggest Loser Contest. On Thursday (Jan. 19), Webster Mayor Gerry Welsh "gifted" Kirkwood employees with three dozen donuts, but at the end of the day, they had largely gone untouched. Such is the drive, spirit, and motivation of our team. Go Kirkwood!

RESULTS:  Our combined Kirkwood teams - as of Friday at 5pm - had lost a total of 186 pounds (a few had not yet weighed in). As soon as we hear from Webster, I'll post an update here in the comments section.

Personally, I lost 3.7 pounds. I hit the gym three times and walked about six miles over the course of the week, which is not terrible considering how cold it was, but my goal was to walk two miles every day, so I didn't make that. I did, however, meet my daily calorie count goal six days out of seven (1300 calories a day), using the Calorie-Count Website (free, but you have to join), which also offers a free phone app for iPhone and Android.

This week, I'm starting a 6-Week "Outsmart your Belly Fat" regimen I found in More Magazine, consisting of 1500-calorie days (they increase the calories because you work out so much) and a six-day-per-week exercise plan: Three cardio workouts, three core routines (mostly sit-ups), two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions, and two rest days. I also do a weight workout for my upper back, so I'll include that two days a week as well. It's a lot, right? I'll let you know in a week how I'm doing and which muscles I'm about to have surgically removed from my body.

THE HARDEST PART: The hardest part for me this week has not been restricting calories or getting more exercise. It's been staying organized. I leave the house in the morning with my regular work bag, which has my lunch and healthy snacks in it, and a workout bag. On good days, I pack these the night before, but if I'm tired, I may leave it for the morning, which causes its own problems. Today, for example, I got everything packed (including a bottle of coffee for the afternoon, which is my worst time of day, in terms of wanting to munch, and I HATE spending $4 on a cup of coffee if I can make it at home), but I forgot to pack fruit.  That means that I may get hungry in the afternoon, which could affect my success today. Today's solution: I will buy an apple on my lunch hour. Long-term solution: Get better about packing the night before, OR have a LIST of what not to forget, and refer to it each morning.

How are you all doing with your own wellness initiatives?? What's YOUR "hardest part" and how do you solve it? Post a comment here!