In the last post, we mentioned the appeal of the “quick fix,” especially when you are at your wit’s end with weight loss. For a number of years now, pyramid marketing, or as it’s commonly referred to now as multi-level marketing (MLM), has been used with many weight loss products. Companies marketing these products tend to coerce, intimidate and pray upon those who are looking for the “quick fix” to lose weight. To make it even more appealing, some companies offer incentives to sell the product as well. 

We can't tell you how many times over the last 4-5 years we've been approached by “associates” of these different products. We refuse to use our influence to make money off of the same people we are trying to help live a healthy lifestyle.

Recently, we have noticed one company in particular that has become very aggressive in their marketing and recruiting efforts and we feel it needs to be addressed.

We've all been given blessings and gifts in our lives. For many of us it's our children, family and friends, great jobs and hopefully good health.

I truly feel blessed. 

I'm asked all the time, "how do you find the time?"

Here's something you all need to remember—you are never too far gone, never too good and never above asking for or needing help.

Hello Challengers, this is Dan. Please, use your Chippewa Valley Challenge Fitness & Nutrition Journals! There is a reason we want you log your steps, log your exercise and log your meal. It's to teach you the habits that will help you change your lifestyle and lose weight. If you don't know how many calories you're eating or how many calories you're burning each day, then don't complain if you're not losing any weight! People who have been successful at changing their lifestyle use a journal to keep track of planning and progress. We are trying to give you the tools (pedometer, journal, access to personal trainers, a private MyFitnessPal group and incentives) to lose weight and change your life. But tools are only helpful if you actually use them. So take 5 minutes and make sure your pedometers are programmed or if you're using a fitness tracker, make sure to go online and complete your profile. Then take a minute or two a couple of times a day to log your food and exercise. Start good, healthy habits today and take control of your life! The Challenge is here to help guide, inform and encourage you to get healthy, but we won't do the work for you. Losing weight is hard, but learning how to keep it off and stay healthy is even harder. Develop those healthy habits now and learn how to use them going forward. Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to the Challenge and made the choice to change their life one step at a time.

So you've joined the Challenge. What now?

We are almost three months in to 2014...so...how’s that New Year’s Resolution coming along?

For many of us who want to lose weight in the new year, this is the time we start falling off the wagon and lose interest in our goals we set back in December. It’s at this time most health clubs start seeing a decline in people coming to the gyms. This is why many clubs will run another sale in March.

So why do we give up so quickly on something we wanted so badly at one point in time? Why can’t we see past these first few months as being just the beginning of the healthier lifestyle we were trying to get live?

A BIG "thank you" to everyone who attended last week's Health Seminar! We had just over 60 people attend. Our guest speakers were excellent and really hit home their messages. Thank you to our speakers -- Craig Monson (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin, MaryAnne Erickson, Certified Intrinsic® Health and Wellness Coach, Jennifer Joswiak and last but not least Lisa Rambo (The Biggest LoserSeason 14 Contestant and founder of Losing it with Lisa). Also, a shout out to the night's sponsors -- Gordy's County Market, GNC Live Well, Subway, Eau Claire Children's Theater and I AM AN OVER EATER!! Blog.

Click on "Read More" to view notes from the seminar.

If not, what are you doing about it? 

Are you accomplishing your goals? 

Are you keeping up with your kids? Are you carrying around an extra 40, 50 or even 100 pounds of extra weight? 

Once again what are you going to do about it?

It's a new year; it's a new beginning to your life. Why not do something about it. Now the time to take control and start living a healthier lifestyle. Is it easy? Is it something that's going to come naturally? The answer to both is no!

Are you a weekend warrior who works out and eats healthy even throughout the weekend? Or are you that person who works out and eats healthy all week long, falls off the wagon over the weekend and goes back to the gym on Monday feeling like crap.

Here are some suggestions that have worked for us here at "I AM AN OVER EATER!!"