When I and the other nine national contestants in Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down Challenge gathered at WGN TV Studios in Chicago on Jan. 4 for the launch of this weight-loss contest, there were a few common questions everyone wanted answered.
One of the first concerns of both the men and women competitors, a group spanning all ages, was about what we were allowed to drink with each of the three fresh-prepared provided meals we'd be dining on for the next 14 weeks.
The answer?
Lots of water.
In fact, we were each given a sports water bottle emblazoned with the following message: "Seattle Says...Drink 3 of these bottles (66 ounces total) of water daily."
That equals just slightly more than eight glasses of water a day.
In addition to assuring hydration, being water-logged also helps the body feel full and satisfied, helping avoid nervous eating.
Remember, I and the other contestants are restricted to just the 1,200 calories a day courtesy of the Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating meals.
Of that 1,200, a total of 200 calories of each day's allowance comes from two glasses of skim milk that must be consumed.
So here's how I'm doing so far.
This week, my five pound loss ranked as the biggest loss among the contestants, and places me in the lead for total weight loss to date. Right behind me for total weight-loss are Tim, who lost four pounds this week for a total loss to date of 24 pounds and Paul, who lost three pounds, having also now shed a total to date of 24 pounds. Of the women, Denise is in the lead, having lost a total of 21.6 in four weeks, which includes the 4.6 drop this week.
Now, back to Seattle Sutton's answer to beverage options.
The biggest shock for me, especially as a newspaper reporter on constant deadline who puts in long hours, was the Seattle Sutton rule of not drinking coffee or tea on her plan.
"Even when they say it's green tea or decaffeinated tea/coffee, believe me, there's still always a little caffeine left in there," Seattle said.
"If you really feel you must have a little something warm to get you going in the morning, than just a little decaffeinated herbal tea is probably okay."
So why abstain from coffee, tea and caffeine?
Sutton says caffeine stimulates the appetite.
She also emphasizes plenty of restful night-time sleep is important with her plan and caffeine keeps clients restless and awake.
And as for alcoholic beverages, this is one of the few areas where Seattle has changed her original "ruling" during her plan's 25-year history.
"I used to tell clients absolutely NO alcohol while on this plan," she said.
"But then, if I was spotted out at a restaurant by the media or a client, and I was drinking a glass of wine with dinner, it caused questions and confusion."
Since recent studies have acknowledged some alcohol consumption might be even beneficial to the body, helping open up arteries and encouraging blood flow, Sutton now makes an allowance for at least a minimal amount of alcohol to be consumed, at the discretion of the clients.
"If you know you are going out or will be at an event where you might like to have a drink, then I say you can have one glass of wine OR two light beers OR one hard liquor drink, as long as you plan ahead and do not drink your two glasses of skim milk for that day, to equal out the 200 calories you'll be sacrificing with those sips."
For an update of how all of the contestants are doing and their complete biographies, visit seattlesutton.com
Next week, I will answer some reader questions about the Seattle Sutton 2,000 calorie a day plan.
And until then, it's just weight and see...
Phil's Progress
Goal Weight: 178
Starting "weigh-in" weight: 230
Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 204
This week's loss: 5 pounds
Total loss to date in four weeks: 26 pounds
So Who's in the lead for Weight Loss?
1. Philip Potempa, 39, Chicago, Ill. - - Start Weight 230 - - Ideal Weight 178 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 218 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 212 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 209 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 204- - This week's loss: 5 pounds
* Total loss to date: 26 pounds
2. Paul Quaglia, 40, Westmont, Ill. - - Start Weight: 200 - - Ideal Weight: 158 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 192- - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 185 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 179 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 176 - - This week's loss: 3 pounds
* Total loss to date: 24 pounds
2. Tim Gallivan, 51, Aurora, Ill. - - Start Weight: 297 - - Ideal Weight: 185 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 287 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 282 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 277 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 273 - - This week's loss: 4 pounds
* Total loss to date: 24 pounds
3. Denise Akande, 50, Hazel Crest, Ill..- - Start Weight: 201 - - Ideal Weight: 145 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 188.5 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 184.1 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 184.5 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 179.9 - - This week's loss: 4.6
* Total loss to date: 21.6 pounds
4. Michael Koch, 41, Spring Grove, Ill. - - Start Weight: 219 - - Ideal Weight: 180 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 215.5 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 209.5 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 207 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 204- - This week's loss: 3 pounds
* Total loss to date: 15 pounds
5. Heidi Wolfrom, 23, Chicago - - Start Weight: 187- - Ideal Weight: 140 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday
weigh-in: 185 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 180 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 179 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 177.3- - This week's loss: 1.7 pound
* Total loss to date: 9.7 pounds
6. Andrea Lasticly, 46, Flossmoor, Ill. - - Start Weight: 201 - - Ideal Weight: 168 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 197.8 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 196.7 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 194 - - - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 191.8 - - This week's loss: 2.2 pounds
* Total loss to date: 9.2 pounds
7. Linda Russell, 50, Palatine, Ill. - - Start Weight: 155 - - Ideal Weight: 130 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 152 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 151.2 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 148.4 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 147 - - This week's loss: 1.4 pounds
* Total loss to date: 8 pounds
8. Martha Ibarra, 61, Chicago, Ill. - - Start Weight: 215 - - Ideal Weight: 166 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 214 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 210 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 212 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 209 - - This week's loss: 3 pounds
* Total loss to date: 6 pounds
9. Donna Nelson, 64, Bloomingdale, Ill. - - Start Weight: 194 - - Ideal Weight: 135 - - Weight as of 1/11/10 Monday weigh-in: 190.6 - - Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 189.2 - - Weight as of 1/25/10 Monday weigh-in: 188.6 - - Weight as of 2/01/10 Monday weigh-in: 189.2 - - This week's loss: GAIN of .6 of a pound
* Total loss to date: 4.8 pounds
* Check out next week's Update to see how all of the contestants measured up for Week #5 of the Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down Challenge! And remember, the final winners will be determined by total amount of weight lost, based on body weight percentage.
