The Show
I could tell that TV show “The Biggest Loser” is quite popular. Just after 1 week after the series started last February, suddenly I was dragged by a lady colleague to her office.
“Get on to the scale !” she commanded me. (Yes, she has that big digital industrial scale in her office)
“What is this ?” I protested.
“You must join this” and she start writing my weight on the spreadsheet….
The Money
Apparently, a bunch of health-conscious people (or should I say ‘gymcoholic’) have organized our own “Biggest Loser” competition. Anyone who is on the spreadsheet (I was not a few moment before that…) should get rid 5% of their excess fat in 6 weeks. Or pay $10 per kilogram for whatever outstanding on the final weigh in.
I started with 110kg and suddenly I have my beautiful $55 (yes, it’s Aussie dollar) on the line there….
Well, 110kg seems a lot, but it’s not…. I am one of those people that go ‘heavy bone’. Or should I say ‘have higher mass density’ to be technically correct. I have 2 other colleagues who have similar size of body but only weigh in around 85kgs. (I will try to get a photo side by side with them to make you believe.. hmm I need to pull a trick, here…). I always trick a newly met doctor or nurse who ask me my weight to guess… They always miss in average of 15kg lower….
The thing is, since I was in the high school, I have never been below 90kg. And I have been above 100kg for the last 10 years perhaps… Bugger ! I have to save my $55 !
Of course, having growing up with concept of BMI (Body Mass Index) that categorized me as “Obese”, I have tried on and off to lose some weight, but never really meant it… But now I have to !!
The Savior
Well, then it’s time for Google to pay back its debt! (background: when Google’s share (GOOG) had a price correction from $720 to $630… I bought some. And now trading at $433. You know…)
So, with Google help, I sorted a bunch program offered online for losing weight. Something very cheap that can be executed in less than 6 week. It took me a few hours to filter those over-abundance of information (a.k.a too much hype and sales pitch). You cannot believe my sacrifice: it was Desperate Housewife, Dirty Sexy Money and Boston Legal in a row….
I bought an eating plan from Fat Loss Eating website for US$39. The promise is to lose 9lbs in 11 days… These are the magnet for me:
- I have to eat 4 times a day instead of 3 times
- I should eat until feel satisfied (who doesn’t want to?) i.e: there is no limit on the portion
- No exercise needed
- I can choose which food I want to eat for the next 11 days. (Then the website will generate when to it it accordingly)
- It has compulsory ‘over-eating days’ (my fave)
Well , if you want more detail better just go to the website, instead of me copy and paste everything here and make this blog post like spammy posting. Click here for: eating to lose weight plan
The Result
I cannot believe myself (even my wife!): the first 5 days I lost 3.5kg. Then another 2 kg the week after. Go up a bit after the overeating day. Then I repeat the cycle… Tomorrow is the final weigh-in and just 15 minutes ago I check with my bathroom scale, I have lost 7kg in 6 weeks. I definitely save my $55, but not sure if I can win the challenge as others could be doing well as well.
The Show Off
Actually, I have to thank Bernie who dragged me to the competition. The last 6 weeks have been wonderful, not only I can shed some weight -or- receiving those compliments about how slim I am (hence: how I fat I were), but also because I was enjoying the process of losing weight….
You see, I am one of those lucky few who work for the company that give the employee all-you-can-eat lunch (including those cake, muffin, hot cross bun, juice, cookies, potato chip, etc for coffee break morning and afternoon). And for the past 6 weeks, I can see some people in the competition skip lunch for gym; skip lunch at all; no biscuits on break, etc, etc while I am still having all of those ‘normal’ eating and at the same time : losing weight.
I let you know the result tomorrow. Not sure if I can win it as ‘amputation is still a valid strategy’.
Happy Easter !
UPDATE:
I ended up on fourth place with 9.2kg loss (8.3%), the first place is 9kg loss or 10.63%. So, talking about absolute loss (no of kg shed), I am on top, although of course percentage is more representative.
Some stats from 25 participants:
- 19 men, initial weight average 88.5kg, average loss 4.79kg (5.41%)
- 6 women, initial weight average 61.9, average loss 1.8kg (2.98%)
- Total mass disappears 101.9 kg – Gee, like vanishing 1 big person out of nowhere…
