Time To Bring Back "The Bloggest Loser"?

Visited the doctor for my annual physical this morning -- and the verdict's in. I've been told I gotta lose at least ten pounds.

Yup, I knew it was coming. My pants are tighter, my face a tad chubbier. All those Rate-A-Restaurants -- and all of that non-exercise -- are having an impact.

I told the doc that I'd make an effort to start exercising more -- but he told me that didn't matter as much as changing my eating habits. Portion control, he said.

I guess it's time to revisit my New Year's resolution. More exercise, fewer carbs. Can I do it? Any of you currently back on a diet? What do you recommend?

The Bloggest Loser Loses

Well, I'm sad to report that the Bloggest Loser has gone the way of most New Years resolutions. It started out strong, but by February started to fizzle out. We held on for a few more weeks beyond that... but now that just about everyone has dropped out, it's time to call it a day.

No one reached their goals, but some folks lost a nice amount of weight. The Bloggest Losers:

Ashley lost 7 pounds, going from 155 to 148.
Bob lost 9 pounds, going from 226 to 217.
Don at one point lost 8 pounds, but put a few back on; last I heard, he was at 228.
Will lost 9 pounds, from 225 to 216.
I lost 7 pounds, from 180 to 173.

The goal, of course, is to not put that weight back on; and ideally, I'd like to keep losing. But I think it's time to shut the door on this year's Bloggest Loser. Until next time, America.

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Nine

A lot of you still aren't back, but I am! Finally made it to the gym on Monday, and I'm happy to report that despite all the back sliding I've done with the food, I'm still down half a pound. (That may have changed after last night's taco binge, but I have a few days to work it off.) The latest:

Ashley: XXX (from 148, minus XXX pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Bob: XXX (from 217.2, minus XXX pounds) START: 226.4, GOAL: 190
Don: 228 (from 223.5, plus 4.5 pounds) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 133 (from 132.5, plus 0.5 pounds) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: XXX (from 154.4, minus XXX pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 343, minus XX pounds) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: XXX (from 232, minus XX pounds) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: XXX (from 252.4, minus XXX pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 173 (from 173.5, minus 0.5 pounds) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 216 (from 218, minus 2 pounds) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Eight

We're definitely losing steam here at the Bloggest Loser. Only four respondants this week -- and for the second week in a row, I dropped the ball. Ugh. How's everyone doing?

Ashley: 148 (from 149, minus 1 pound) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Bob: XXX (from 217.2, minus XXX pounds) START: 226.4, GOAL: 190
Don: XXX (from 223.5, minus XXX pounds) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 132.5 (from 132.5, same) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: XXX (from 154.4, minus XXX pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 343, minus XX pounds) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: XXX (from 232, minus XX pounds) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: 252.4 (from 253, minus .6 pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): XXX (from 173.5, minus XX pound) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 218 (from 220, minus 2 pounds) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Seven

I was delinquent with my own game this week, having missed the gym -- and my ability to weigh myself. I know it won't be pretty anyway; with my parents in town over the weekend, we hit some out our fave spots -- Casa Bianca, Foster's Freeze, etc. It ain't gonna be pretty.

Meanwhile, we've had some drop outs -- so the contestant panel is thinning. The latest:

Ashley: XXX (from 149, same) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Bob: 217.2 (from 218.6, minus 1.4 pounds) START: 226.4, GOAL: 190
Don: XXX (from 223.5, minus XXX pounds) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 132.5 (from 131.5, plus 1 pound) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: XXX (from 154.4, minus XXX pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 343, minus XX pounds) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: XXX (from 232, minus XX pounds) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: XXX (from 253, minus XX pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): XXX (from 173.5, minus XX pound) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 220 (from 220, same) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Six

Yay! I'm at least back to my Week Four weight, having gained a pound last week -- which I then re-lost. Looks like our players -- well, at least the ones who sent in their weights -- are having similar luck, with many back in the "minus" category. But where is everyone this week? Did we have a mass exodus from the game? Here's how everyone else fared:

Anna: XXX (from 224, minus XX pounds) START: 227, GOAL: 160, by end of 2008
Ashley: 149 (from 149, same) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Bob: 218.6 (from 222.6, minus 3.8 pounds) START: 226.4, GOAL: 190
Don: XXX (from 223.5, minus XXX pounds) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 131.5 (from 133, minus 1.5 pounds) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: XXX (from 154.4, minus XXX pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 343, minus XX pounds) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: XXX (from 232, minus XX pounds) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: XXX (from 253, minus XX pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 173.5 (from 174.5, minus 1 pound) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 220 (from 222, minus 2 pounds) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Five

Sigh. My first setback. I gained back a pound. Curse you, delicious food. Some of our participants had a better week, while others have stalled:

Anna: XXX (from 224, minus XX pounds) START: 227, GOAL: 160, by end of 2008
Ashley: 149 (from 150, minus 1 pound) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Bob: 222.6 (from 224, minus 1.4 pounds) START: 226.4, GOAL: 190
Don: 223.5 (from 226, minus 2.5 pounds) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 133 (from 132.5, plus .5 pounds) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: 154.4 (from 155, minus .5 pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 343, minus XX pounds) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: XXX (from 232, minus XX pounds) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: 253 (from 253, no change) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 174.5 (from 173.5, plus 1 pound) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 222 (from 221, plus 1 pound) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Four

I know, I know, damn Super Bowl parties. Oh seven-layer dip, why so tasty, yet so fattening? Here's the latest from our contestants (but we're still missing a bunch, I'll plug 'em in as they send 'em in):

Anna: 224 (from 222, plus 2 pounds) START: 227, GOAL: 160, by end of 2008
Ashley: XXX (from 150, minus XX pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Bob: 224 (from 226.4, minus 2.4 pounds) START: 226.4, GOAL: 190
Don: 226 (from 227, minus 1 pound) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 132.5 (from 134, minus 1.5 pounds) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: XXX (from 155, minus XX pounds) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 343, minus XX pounds) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: XXX (from 232 minus XX pounda) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: XXX (from 253, minus XXX pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 173.5 (from 175, minus 1.5 pounds) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 221 (from 222, minus 1 pound) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Three

Ugh, a weekend of consuming party food and cake on Saturday at a 3-year-old's birthday, and rich food and wine at the SAG Awards on Sunday. It looks like I'm still on course, but that's deceiving: I had actually bumped all the way down to 173, but have climbed slightly back up to 175. OK, back to diet!

Meanwhile, it looks like our contestants are hitting some bumps as well. Several weight gains this week, I'm sad to report:

Anna: 222 (from 223, minus 1 pound!) START: 227, GOAL: 160, by end of 2008
Ashley: 150 (from 150.8, plus .4 pounds.) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Don: 227 (from 226.5, plus .5 pounds.) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 134 (from 133.5, plus .5 pounds.) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: 155 (from 155, same) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: 343(from 340, plus 3 pounds.) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: 232 (from 233, minus 1 pound!) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: XXX (from 252, minus XXX pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 175 (from 178, minus 3 pounds!) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 222 (from 223, minus 1 pound!) START: 225, GOAL: 195

... and welcome newcomer Bob to the mix!
Bob: START: 226.4, GOAL: 190

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week Three

Hey everyone, still waiting for this week's weigh-in numbers. If you haven't yet, send 'em in! We'll publish week three results tomorrow.

Preparing for the Apocalypse

Nina, the writer/blogger also known as the Slackmistress, has taken a whole new approach to the usual New Years' resolution: She's not just looking to exercise more or eat better. She's looking to survive the coming apocalypse.

So what's the The Post-Apocalyptic Workout? She explains:

So I woke up one day and realized that I'd be utterly useless in case of natural disaster, nuclear fallout, terrorist attack or a zombie revolution. I came up with The Post-Apocalyptic Workout as a way to document my attempt to not be a total and complete dumbass in the event of a Nightmare Scenario.

The whole philosophy behind TP-AWO is that I learn to carry my own weight and be responsible for myself (and my dog. Oh, and my husband!)

Kinda puts our Bloggest Loser campaign to shame!

The Bloggest Loser: Week Two

I spent most of the week eating healthy... until the weekend came, and I fell off the diet a bit. Someone sent us frozen Chicago pizzas as a gift... and yes, I had a few slices. Last night, we went to The Grove/Farmer's Market... and how could I not have a few Loteria Grill tacos? Right? This morning, I took Evan to breakfast... and was bad again. Nonetheless, the working out and better diet (for the most part) has been rewarded: I'm down several pounds!

OK, diet back on. I'm gonna try to hit the gym a few more times this week too.

Now, here's how our contestants fared. If you haven't yet, send your weigh-in stats in!

Anna: 223 (from 224, minus 1 pound!) START: 227, GOAL: 160, by end of 2008
Ashley: 149.6 (from 150.8, minus 1.2 pounds!) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Don: 226.5 (from 228.5, minus 2 pounds!) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 133.5 (from 135, minus 1.5 pounds!) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: XXX (from 155, XXX) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 340, XXX) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: 233 (from 236, minus 3 pounds!) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: 252 (from 254.2, minus 2.2 pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 178 (from 180, minus 3 pounds) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 223 (from 225, minus 2 pounds!) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Week One

Well, some of us are off to a slow start. I was pretty good early in the week, but as the week went on... well, I went to a Fox party for "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles," and ate a bit too much there (but stayed off the sweets!), and on Saturday had some delicious tacos at Maria's Seafood at the Grand Central Market. Plus, I didn't hit the gym as often as I should have.

So anyway, I basically ended the week with about half a pound shaved off. Sigh.

Here's how our contestants fared. If you haven't yet, send your weigh-in stats in!

Anna: 224 (current weight) / 227 (start weight) / 160 (goal weight, by end of 2008) minus 3 lbs
Ashley: 150.8 (current weight) / 155 (start weight) / 140 (goal weight, by March) minus 4.2 lbs
Don: 228.5 (current weight) / 231 (start weight) / 196 (goal weight) minus 2.5 lbs
Fexy: 135 (current weight) / 135 (start weight) / 125 (goal weight) same>
Jenny: 155 (current weight) /155 (start weight) / 130 (goal weight) same
Jim: 340 (current weight) / 343 (start weight) / 263 (goal weight, by end of 2008) minus 3 lbs
Joe: 236 (current weight) / 238 (start weight) / 198 (goal weight) minus 2 pounds
Kathryn: 254.2 (current weight) / 257.4 (start weight) / 190 (goal weight by May); 140 (goal weight by end of 2008) minus 3.2 lbs
Me (Mike): 180 (current weight) / 180.5 (start weight) / 163 (goal weight) minus .5 lbs
Will: 225 (current weight) / 225 (start weight) / 195 (goal weight) same

Congrats to Ashley, who lost 5 pounds -- the Bloggest Loser of the week!

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: The Contestants

We've had some late entries in The Bloggest Loser... plus, I hit the gym for the first time in years on Monday, and discovered that I'm actually 180.5 pounds, not 185. (A small victory.)

Here's the complete list of contestants, including their starting and goal weights:

Anna: 227 (current weight) / 160 (goal weight, by end of 2008)
Ashley: 155 (current weight) / 140 (goal weight, by March)
Don: 231 (current weight) / 196 (goal weight)
Fexy: 135 (current weight) / 125 (goal weight)
Jenny: 155 (current weight) / 130 (goal weight)
Jim: 343 (current weight) / 263 (goal weight, by end of 2008)
Joe: 238 (current weight) / 198 (goal weight)
Kathryn: 257.4 (current weight) / 190 (goal weight by May); 140 (goal weight by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 180.5 (current weight) / 163 (goal weight)
Will: 225 (current weight) / 195 (goal weight)

Here's the plan: We'll be weighing in every week... email your progress (both positive and negative) to us at some point during the weekend, and we'll post updates here on Monday. It's up to you to devise a diet and exercise plan.
Good luck!

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Weigh-In

And so we begin! We've only got a few participants so far; if you want to join in, simply email us your starting weight and your goal weight. There isn't much to this contest: How you lose the weight is up to you. But hopefully the idea of regularly reporting your weight here will be a motivating factor in hitting the gym and cutting back on that fat-filled diet.

The good news: It's only January. The goal is to get to these points by end of May. Shouldn't be hard, right? Right?

Here are the contestants:

Me (Mike): 185 (current weight) / 165 (goal weight)
Don: 231 (current weight) / 196 (goal weight)
Anna: 227 (current weight) / 160 (goal weight, by end of 2008)
Ashley: 155 (current weight) / 140 (goal weight, by March)
Fexy: wants to lose 15 pounds (waiting to get the firm numbers)

All right, put down that chocolate, toss the ice cream and jump on the treadmill. We start now!

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

The Bloggest Loser: Los Angeles

I jumped on a scale the other day. And quickly jumped off.

It was frightening. I'd reached a weight I'd never seen in my life.

When I moved to L.A. straight outta college in 1996, I was a svelte 155 (that's what it still says on my California drivers license, ha!). A few years later, all those business lunches and industry parties had taken their toll, and I moved into the low 160s range.

And there I remained. Until 2004, when Blogger Toddler was born -- and my gym-going days came to a halt. In more recent times, I've been in the 175 range, and accepting of my growing gut.

But now that I've smashed the 180 barrier (too many desserts, not enough exercise), I finally have the wakeup call I've needed. I finally rejoined the neighborhood Bally's (their latest "come back to us" plea offered $199 for two years, I figured I oughta) and now I'm gonna have to do some serious diet adjustment as well.

Well, that's the plan. Along with thousands of other resolution-minded folk in the New Year.

Will I succeed? Doubtful. But I figured I might at least try harder if I had to report my progress here at Franklin Avenue. Hence "The Bloggest Loser."

Any of you out there in the Blog-LA-Sphere interested in joining me? We'll report everyone's progress every Saturday. And don't worry, no embarrassing "before and after" pics. Email us at franklin_avenue@yahoo.com if you want to join in. Send in your current weight and your desired weight (I'd be happy to get back down to 165). We'll hold our first virtual weigh-in on Saturday, Jan. 12.

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com, which tried its own version in 2006.)