Word's of Encouragement from our CFO

Chelsey,

I wish my last month had been as good as my first! I find that if I cheat on my diet or exercise I tend to think, “Ok – I might as well cheat the rest of the day and start again tomorrow.” The biggest battle is in our own minds. Making a firm decision to just do it is the key.

I started my weight loss before HRI started “the biggest loser” contest so I lost about 25 pounds the 2 months before my official weigh the first of July. I have worked at a desk for long days for 30 years and formed the bad habits of drinking lots of pop and eating fast food in my car during a hurried lunch. To motivate myself to take better charge of this aspect of my life I used some long range, mid-range, and short-range motivations.

For long range goal visualization I put a picture of my three beautiful grandkids on the wall of my office. If I drink a pop they see me! My vision is to be able to dance at their weddings in a couple of decades. (And to have them not be embarrassed by a really fat grandpa)

For my mid-range motivation I recruited my kids to form a team to do the 206 mile Logan to Jackson Wyoming bike race as a relay team. We made that ride in grand style in September. My relay leg was only 35 flat miles but with that goal in mind I rode my bike at 10-15 miles 4-5 times a week. Having our team do occasional rides together and more importantly knowing they were planning on me and rooting for me - helped keep me motivated. We made family T-Shirts and had fun working toward that goal and accomplishing it. With my skinny kids doing the mountain passes we placed 21rst out of 94 teams. I didn’t tell the real men at Chem-Dry who each rode the entire race themselves that I also had a goal that our team would do the race faster than Craig, Darren, or Dale could make the whole ride themselves. My kids did the hard riding and I got my kicks out of “beating” these consistent marathoners and tri-atheletes. (My kids are all skinny, much younger, and in good shape)

Another helpful thing was the friendly competition and regular weigh-ins for the biggest loser. I weigh in every day and chart my bike rides. I mentally reward myself with a pat on the back every time I log my daily ride and weight. With the bike relay completed I recruited several HRI managers to ride daily during lunch hours. Having others involved helps me keep going.

An older brother, older sister and I all have used the medifast diet. I eat 5 shakes, bars, or other meals a day and then one “green meal” with a little meat and a vegetable. The nutrients needed are in the diet and I don’t have to read labels, count calories, or other things like that I don’t have the patience for. I highly recommend that plan. The three of us have similar builds and metabolism and similar years of steady weight gain. Since March by older brother has lost over 100 pounds, my sister 50 pounds and me 60. I am still a long way from my personal goal to lose 100 pounds but am thrilled to be more than half way there!

Brent