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Unfortunately, most people who lose weight regain it. Not this guy! Those of you who followed the progress of the New Hampshire Biggest Loser Competition may remember one of the participants - and the winner - R.G. To refresh your memory, I was following a 12 week weight loss competition in New Hampshire between a group of guys. At week 11, GenX’r was leading the group with a 24.4 pound weight loss - closely followed by R.G. with a 22 pound weight loss. R.G. obviously did something drastic the last week of the competition as he dropped another 16.3 pounds in one week to lose a total of 38 pounds!!!! Therefore, R.G won the competition.

 One might wonder if R.G was able to keep the weight off.  Often times, weight tends to creep back on. But not with R.G. My brother Dustin (who is an amazing athlete and participant in the 750 mile bike race - check out my previous post) updated me on R.G’s progress. R.G. ran in the Groton Road Race in Massachusetts and placed 252 out of 751! He ran the 5k in 26.38 minutes  - 8:35 minutes miles. This was his fastest over the past 3 years. 

Pic is of my stepmother Hilkka (on the right), followed by my stepbrother Dustin, then the trim and lean R.G (yes- he really was a competitor in the race - his number was under his shirt) , and Sean, my brother-in-law (yes - Sean, you look lean and trim too!)

Keep up the great work R.G!!   I’ll do a follow-up post on the progress of the other guys who were in the weight loss competition in the next few weeks.

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My apologies to all the participants in the contest for not posting the full results … I guess I was in shock after seeing R.G’s 16 lb weight loss in the final week.

 Congrats to all the guys and here are the full results:

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What an end to an amazing contest! Last week (week 11 of the 12 week competition), GenX’r was leading the group with a 24.4 pound weight loss - closely followed by R.G. with a 22 pound weight loss. R.G. obviously did something drastic this week as he dropped another 16.3 pounds in one week!!!!! (Martha’s disclaimer…I don’t recommend anyone try to lose 16 pounds in one week!)  I am quite puzzled as to how this could have physiologically happened? I realize in the first few weeks of starting a diet, weight can drop rapidly due to loss of water. However, it is highly unusual for this to happen in the 12th week.  I am shocked by the ending of this competition. No offense R.G. - but I thought GenX’r had it in the bag.
 

My interview with R.G. the “biggest loser” and the “runner up” GenX’r:

1. Martha: So the end is here. R.G: How did you do it? I have never heard of anyone losing so much weight 12 weeks into a diet.  What were your tactics? How did you handle the bball game parties?

R.G: I was consistently losing throughout the contest  but during the last week, I switched to no carbs, only eating salad and veggies, while still trying to increase the running. I think I ran over 25 miles. I also cut down on the water intake and stayed in all weekend just watching basketball no parties. I wouldn’t want to do it again. I felt really weak this morning before the weigh-in but I got the win. Thanks to some strong coaching.

2. Martha: Gen X’r, you did really well!   Were you surprised by RG’s surprise attack? 

GenX’r: Yeah…you could say that!  If I didn’t see him myself on Monday morning - I would have thought he cheated.  From Friday the the 28th to Monday the 31st - RG totally looked much thinner.  He had to work really hard to take the lead & he did it.  He is still paying for it though…  :o)
 
3. Martha: Who did you think was going to win?   Did the outcome surprise you?  

GenX’r: I thought I was going to win and yes - the outcome suprised me.
 R.G: I was surprised. I just wanted to get to 200. I didn’t think I would get close to 190.

4. Martha: Do you feel you’ll be able to keep the weight off? Unfortunately, you know the odds … most people regain the weight. Do you think you’ll beat the odds?

GenX’r: Yes , I actually have a new goal of 165 lbs.  so I still have a to keep working it…     I will work to that end…  

R.G: I think I can do. I want to make sure I stay under 200.  

5. Martha: How do you think you’ll keep the weight off?  (Pic on the right is the “before” pic of GenX’r)

GenX’r:   Just keep doing what I’ve been doing

R.G: I’m going to continue to workout, running, lifting, etc. Cut down on the meal portion sizes and no late night snacking.

6. Martha: Do you feel this weight loss has changed your life in any ways?   (Pic on the right is the “after” pic of GenX’r!)

GenX’r: Changed my life - no… made me aware of how much I eat - yes

R.G: I feel great. A lot more energy.

I would like to thank all the guys of the New Hampshire Biggest Loser Competition for letting me follow their contest. You guys made great progress … and it was entertaining to follow. Stay tuned to citygirlbites to learn more nutrition tips to keep the weight off!
 

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There are 3 weeks left to this 3 month weight loss competition. Two of the guys are battling neck in neck for 1st place - GenX’r and R.G. These two guys have averaged a 22 pound weight loss in the past 9 weeks! Impressive. Some of the other guys are also doing quite well … and then others seem to be struggling a bit.

Interview with some of the participants:

Martha: Ok - so 3 weeks left to the competition. Do you guys still feel like you are dieting or is it becoming more of a “way of life”?

John I: Though my weight has ballooned out of control, I blame this entirely on not being able to do any cardio due to a hip injury. I have maintained my weight training routine throughout the contest, but this has not been enough to help me loose weight
R.G: Still feels like a diet. I’m dying for Pizza right now. Martha: so what would happen if you allowed yourself a slice of pizza? Not so terrible at 500 calories a slice. Would one slice turn into 4 slices?
GenX’r: Absolutely, a way of life

Martha: Are there some changes that you have made in the past 8 weeks that you think MAY remain permanent?

John I: I am very aware of the number of calories I take in each day, and feel counting calories will be /is  key for me to manage my weight.
R.G: Cutting out the late night snacking, smaller meal portions, and increased exercise. 
Gen’Xr: Yes,  my portion contol was tough initially, but now - I eat a lot less during the day & look for health snack food or I just pound a glass of water to kill the desire to eat.  Water is great!!!!  Martha: You are right about the water. A lot of times, we think we are hungry, but we are really thirsty. It can help quell the urge to eat. (And no - the pic is not of GenX’r … I am still patiently waiting for their pics!)
 

Martha: Have any of you informally dropped out of the race?

John I: I have been under Dr.’s orders not to do any running, cycling or hiking, or any exercise at all on my lower body, so this has prevented me from really “competing”, but I have not dropped out. Martha: so sorry to hear about your injury John. Bad timing too. I hope you are on the route to healing. I personally know it can take a long time. I had hip/hamstring/shoulder injuries for almost a year and could barely work out. Very depressing.
R.G:  Not yet but Gen’Xer is running away with it.
GenX’r: Stick a fork in the other guys - except for maybe one - they will not catch me!  So no, I have not informally dropped out, I can not say that about the other guys though.  :o)

Martha: Are you as motivated as you were when you started?

John I: I am more motivated now than before, given that I am heavier now that before and am determined to loose the weight and get down to around 200lbs.
R.G: Yes
Gen’Xr: I’m still motivated to win - but not as motivated as I was at the beginning. I’m motivated to stay “steady Eddie” - if you know what I mean. Martha: yes - slow and steady “wins the race”!

Martha: What tactics have you taken to keep the weight loss coming off (ie. eating less the day after splurging, less snacking, more exercise, less starch and more vegetables, etc.)?

John I:  Have tried to count calories but this alone ( dieting alone ) is not enough. I need to do regular (daily ) cardio in order to loose weight. 
 R.G: Less snacking, more exercise with increased weight training to go with the cardio
GenX’r: I limit myself to one “big meal/day” mainly on the weekends- healthy snacking throughout the week- staying active (3x/week)- a lot less starch (basically, cut it out of my diet) - I take in approx. 1400 calories/day.  I have breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and dinner  (maybe some popcorn at night if I’m watching a movie with my family). I can honestly say this has been fun & eye opening for me.  I never realized just how much food we take in, when we really don’t need to - it just becomes a habit to eat large meals - plus when you go out they feed you sooo much - it’s no wonder the USA has quite a large “overweight” population.   No wonder you are soo busy!  :o)   Your postings have been very informative and helpful through out this process.
Martha: Thanks GenX’r! Yes, I do have a busy job considering 66% of the population is overweight!!! I agree that the portion sizes in restaurants are out of control. For example, a portion of spaghetti and meatballs at Romano’s Macaroni Grill is 2400 calories!

Results for Week 8 & 9

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The guys have entered into the second half of the competition and some of them are going strong …while other appear to be struggling. 4 of the guys have lost between 10-20 pounds in the past  7 weeks. Excellent progress! Unfortunately several of the guys have gained a little weight since the beginning of the competition. Losing weight is not easy!

 Tomorrow, I will post some tips on how to break a weight loss plateau.

Results for week 6  

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Question from Lyn: I work with the guys in the N.H. Biggest Loser Competition. Many of them dropped weight so quickly. I was wondering why guys seem to lose weight quicker than women?

Answer from Martha:  You are not the first person to ask me that question. I actually see this “sceniero” occuring in my private practice in NYC. For example, I frequently work with both the husband and wife on a weight loss eating plan. The guy often ends up losing weight significantly faster than the woman. It is quite frustrating for the woman as she is trying just as hard (if not harder!) than her husband to follow the eating plan. So why do men frequently lose weight more quickly than women? 

Here are some of the reasons:
1. Guys tend to weigh more than women. The more you weigh, the quicker you can lose.

2. Guys tend to have more muscle mass than women. More muscle means a faster metabolism and a faster metabolism usually means quicker weight loss. For example, if you had a man and a woman who both weighed 180 pounds and ate the same amount of calories and performed the same amount of exercise, it is likely the man would still lose weight more quickly.   

3. Women go through hormonal changes that can make it difficult for them to release stored body fat. Menopause is one of those times. In addition, some women also get significant PMS which can exacerbate cravings for high calorie foods (usually sweets or salty foods). While this is not an “excuse” for eating, it can occur!

4. Since guys tend weigh more than women, they can eat more and still lose weight. For example, a 200 pound guy who is exercising a few time a week can probably eat 2000 calories a day and still lose 1 1/2 - 2 pounds a week, while a 150 pound woman would who was also exercising a few time a week would need to eat only 1400 calories to lose 1 1/2 - 2 pounds a week. 1400 calories is a lot less than 2000!

Bottom line, women should pay special attention to the weight training component of their exercise program (along with cardio). This will help to build muscle mass which will speed your metabolism. And remember, slow and steady wins the race!  Some of the guys  in the New Hampshire Biggest Loser Competition who initially lost a lot of weight have put much of that weight back on. So quicker results don’t necessarily mean permanent results.

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Checking out the results from last weeks weigh-in, I think Superbowl Sunday may have had a negative impact on the guys progress. As I had predicted, the New England guys may have drown their sorrows in food and booze  (as evidenced by some of the weight gain).  In NYC, we were also engaging in some celebratory eating and drinking (check out my Super Bowl Splurge post).  Goes to show, all emotions, whether happy or sad, as well as social situations,  can trigger eating.

Moving on to the progress of the contestants … one of the co-workers of the contestants (pic on the right -identity withheld in fear of retribution) summed it up best, saying “The competition has started to take it’s toll on a few participants.  As you’ll see, there were a few “heavy” gainers this week.  In fact, some people seem to be frighteningly out of control…” 

Results of week 5: 

 Guys, all is not lost, despite the fact that some of you now weigh more than when you started. You still have 7 more weeks left. Just get refocused and buckle down! I will put up a post this week giving tips on staying motivated.

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We all know how difficult it can be to sustain your motivation to stick to a diet. It’s not  that hard in the beginning because it is something new and you are still motivated.  But as the weeks go on it gets more and more difficult. I checked in with the N.H. guys to see how they were doing. One month down … two to go!

 1. Usually people start off “gun ho” with dieting. Do you feel like you are still as motivated?

GenX’r: Still motivated
John Ingemi:Yes, I am still very motivated, but frustrated because I have a nagging hip injury that has put a temporary stop to my lower body cardio efforts  
T.L: No, I don’t feel as motivated

2. What remains the hardest thing for you with regards to your diet?

GenX’r: Staying the course and being disciplined not to cheat
John Ingemi: My danger periods is the period of time from when I arrive home at night until I go to bed, in particular after dinner if I happen to watch some TV. 
T.L:Late night eating.
Martha’s comments: late night eating is a problem for most people. We often eat out of  habit, out of boredom or to relax. As John mentioned below, one of the tricks is not to keep any problem foods in the house. Stock up on healthy portion controlled snacks like fruit, diet ice cream bars (but you can only have one!), mini bags of microwave popcorn, etc.

3. For those of you who had problems with snacking on not so great foods, what strategies are you using to stop yourself from eating bad stuff?

GenX’r: No comment
John Ingemi:I have tried not to buy anything bad once I run out of it. If it’s not in the house, I won’t eat (or drink) it. I have not been to the liquor store in a month… so I now resort to doing shots of mouth wash (kidding)
T.L: Don’t have them in the house

4. Are you trying to stick to your diet plan everyday, or do you allow yourself occasional indulgences?

GenX’r: I relax with my food intake a bit on Saturday and Sunday - not too much though  
John Ingemi:I usually have one cheat period, usually on a weekend night
T.L: Allow for indulgences.
Martha’s comments: I actually think it is a good idea to allow yourself to indulge on occasion - maybe once or twice a week (as long as your indulgences don’t incude a plate of nachos, a burger and fries and 5 beers!)  This gives you something to look forward to.

5. Are you continuing to exercise on a regular basis or are you slacking off a bit?

GenX’r: Still exercising - trying to change it up from week to week to keep it fresh
John Ingemi:I have been fighting a very painful hip injury. I am now on Dr’s orders to not bike ,swim or run for 2 weeks…The lack of cardio will likely be my undoing, but I have not given up just yet.  However, I am lifting weights almost every day, but this might increase my weight if I gain muscle mass
T.L: Exercise has been increasing
Martha’s comments to all: great job with exercise guys! Exercising along with dieting will help to preserve your muscle mass. This will help to keep your metabolism moving along.
Martha’s comments to John - it is unfortunate that you have this hip issue (I had it last year and I can sympathize with you!).  Hopefully it will be improved in the next few weeks. Would you be allowed to swim with pull buoy to keep your legs up? I found that when I was exercising less, my appetite decreased. Have you found this to be the case? Despite the fact that you can’t do cardio, you should still be able to lose a pound or two a week with cutting back in calories. You are right about building muscle mass. As I am sure you are aware, keep the weights light and reps high.

6. Are you getting any comments from friends/family about your weight loss?

GenX’r: My family sees a big difference - no one else yet
John Ingemi:  No, not one comment. Then again it’s not like I have lost that much weight 
T.L: No

Check out the results from the week 4 weigh-in:

 Enjoy the superbowl guys. Be prepared for NY to win … and don’t eat or drink too much.

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While the pace has slowed a bit, most of these guys are still going strong! During the past  3 weeks of the competition, these guys have averaged losing 1-5 pounds a week (ok - so one participant is off to a slower start with a 2.6 pound gain since week 1). But they are only at week 3 … anything can happen with 9 more weeks to go!

 Here are the results to week 3:

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Most of these guys are still going strong. As I had predicted last week, the weight loss did slow. It is impossible and unhealthy to sustain a 6-8 pound weight loss a week.  The average weight loss this week was about 1 1/2 pounds (some guys lost more, some less and some gained!).  As I had also said last week, a good rate of weight loss for these guys now that they experienced their initial water loss that happens the first week of strict dieting, would be a 1-2 pound weight loss a week. This would be an average. Some weeks they might lose nothing at all while other weeks they might lose 3 pounds.

Here are the results from the week 2 weigh in:

I interviewed some of the guys to see how they were doing:

Martha: How is week 2 going? 
GenX’r:  pretty good, lost a few more pounds
R.G:  Week 2 is going OK but I got off to a bad start. I went to the Patriots game on Saturday night and did a little too much tailgating.
John I: Oh, have we started the contest yet ?
 

Martha: Still as motivated? 
GenX’r: Yes…I’m finding it a bit easier to get into a healthier routine & I’m liking the results (so does my wife :o)   Martha: obviously losing weight and getting healthy can have a positive effect on relationships!
R.G: Yes
John I: Uhm…sure

Martha: How are your energy levels?
GenX’r:  more energized (never concerned myself with calories before)
R.G: Still sluggish especially in the morning
John I: cutting calories ??? How many calories are in a hot pastrami sandwich ? Martha: the answer is 700-1000!

Martha: How many times a week are you exercising? 
GenX’r: At least 4 times/week  Cardio  every workout  and  light weights with more reps
R.G: 4 to 5 times a week. Mostly Cardio (treadmill, elliptical, etc)
John I: I snow shoed 35 minutes on Monday - all the way to the liquor store and back…

Martha: What is the hardest thing about sticking to this diet plan?  
GenX’r: Being disciplined enough to know when to say “no”   - my kids would tell ya - I’m good at saying “no”  :o)
R.G: Going out (dinner, football game, or party) but still trying to stick to the diet without getting carried away with all the food and drinks around.
John I: Coming up with a plan I can actually stick to
Martha: Yup - those are 2 major problem areas - staying disciplined when you are faced with temptation and finding a plan that you can stick to long term. The key really is to get back on track ASAP once you have strayed from your healthy eating plan. We are all human and will give into tempting food/beverages from time to time. That one incident will not be a problem…unless it opens the floodgates and you say “I might as well keep eating/drinking because I have already blown it!”

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