I'm the Biggest Loser!

A bunch of us here at the Chadwicks offices started a 'Biggest Loser' competition today! As I went to do my first official weigh-in, I looked around at some of the other women, and I realized, no matter what we look like, women are ALWAYS unhappy with our bodies! I'd like to be one of those people who can say, be proud of what we're given, but I'm not! It's always my legs are too short, my arms are too big...something is always wrong! How many of us take pictures and then do a "fat check" to make sure we look good before any of those pictures are posted online for everyone to see (and critique!) I know I do!

The competition will be good though, we can lose weight AND get some money to buy some new clothes! I might be ruining my chances to walk away with the grand prize, but here are some tips for healthy (and easy) weight loss! Good luck to my fellow contestants!

- Don't skip breakfast! I'm sure everyone has heard this one before, but getting a little food in your stomach in the morning can keep you full and alert, and you're less likely to gorge during lunch.

- Eat 6-8 SMALL meals a day: Eating several small meals throughout the day helps to keep your calorie intake and your blood sugar balanced. Fruits, vegetables and nuts are good to keep on hand for that afternoon snack!

- Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day: Packed with all sorts of vitamins, fiber and antioxidants, they help to fill up your stomach so you feel fuller and they're low in calories!

- Swap those sugary drinks: Sometimes you don't even realize how much sugar is in some drinks until you look - swap that carbonated beverage for a fruit flavored seltzer water or some tea instead of that coffee with cream. And then there's always the almighty 8 glasses of water - water is great to hydrate yourself, good for your skin and hair (and those frequent trips to the restroom can count toward some exercise!)

- Don't restrict yourself too much! Eating right is hard, so don't stress about the occasional slip. A small snack-size candy bar or bag of chips is okay, as long as you don't eat a whole bag of snack-size candy bars or a 12-pack of chips! Remember, everything in moderation!

- And the all important - EXERCISE! (I personally think this is where I am definitely lacking) Doctors recommend 30-60 minutes of physical activity a day, with at least 2 times a week of weight training to help burn calories and develop lean muscle.