Written by Dan Ekblad, IAWP CWC

One of the biggest problems we face today is the “I want it now” mentality and wanting to take the easiest and quickest way to get there. “Let's take things to the extreme so it happens fast, because I want it right now!”
 
With TV shows like ABC's Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition and NBC’s The Biggest Loser, people think they can easily drop a lot of weight in a short amount of time.

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.

Know that you have resources. Know that there are people you can reach out to and places you can go to seek help. These resources include organizations like OA (Overeaters Anonymous), your doctor, a registered dietician, and perhaps a licensed therapist or behavioral specialist—someone to help you identify the root cause of your over eating and deal with the issues at hand.

Is there anything I can do to fight my addiction?

I always feel FAT!

Why is it that I always feel like the fat kid, even though I have lost weight and I am in great physical shape? 

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel like I'm overweight. When I look in the mirror, I don’t see the guy who has lost over a hundred pounds. I see a person who could lose another 30, 40, maybe 50 pounds. Once you've been in competition shape—having your body fat around 3%—and put yourself on stage, you will always want to be that person, especially if you have had body image issues in the past. Unfortunately, maintaining those goals is incredibly difficult. A very small percentage of people look like that year round.

We tend to associate the body image issue with young woman who develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Overeating is also an eating disorder.

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?

Tips, tricks and benefits of being healthy and in shape in your fifties

I recently attended a get together of former classmates. We’ve been getting together prior to the holidays for the last few years. A former classmate of mine and I were talking and wondering, “who are these old people?” Quite honestly I think we were both looking round at the crowd noticing just how many of our former classmates looked so much older they are. Most all of us graduated between 1980 and 1983, so we are all in our early 50s. What’s really disturbing is the frightening number of classmates (class of 1981) who have died since our graduation, many due to health related issues.

Why is this? 

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.

Are you getting ready for the new year? Start planning now!

The New Year is approaching quickly and many of you are thinking about your New Year's resolution to start losing weight, get in shape and change your life. With the New Year just around the corner, that can mean only one thing--it's Challenge time!

Chippewa Valley Challenge starts January 6 and now is the best time for you to plan your eating and figure out how you're going to start exercising. If you wait until after the first of the year you may already be too late.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! How many of us tend to eat so much on Thanksgiving that we are miserable? We know that we do! And how many of us tell ourselves, "It's just once a year," or "It's Thanksgiving; this is what we do on Thanksgiving!" So instead of feeling miserable this Thanksgiving, let's help each other to avoid over eating.

Here are some tips and tricks from me and Dan that may help you avoid overeating this year.