"What about snacks?" is one of the questions I've been asked about the most from readers as I compete as one of 10 national contestants in Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down Challenge.
It's a question that has many people naturally curious, since like my nine competitors -- both men and women of all ages, I'm also restricted to just 1,200 calories a day of provided fresh meals from Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating.
And remember, of that 1,200, a total of 200 calories of each day's allowance comes from two glasses of skim milk.
First of all, here's how I'm doing so far.
Following my first week's 12-pound loss, and another six for my second week, by the end of week three, I lost another three pounds.
This week, two other contestants lost more than I did, with Paul losing another six pounds and Tim dropping five pounds. Overall, I'm tied with Paul, sharing the lead for total weight loss, with both of us having lost a total of 21 pounds in three weeks. This amounts to a pound a day, or seven pounds per week!
Now, back to Seattle Sutton's answer to snacking.
On this plan, no one is allowed to eat any other food besides the three meals provided for each day.
So what to do if the urge for snacking starts?
Seattle and her staff tell clients who find themselves in need of a small bit of food in between meals (whether for hunger or psychological reasons) that they should plan for such instances by saving a half of the piece of fruit included with a breakfast or lunch and "rationing it" for a between-meal snack. The same might be done with chips included with a lunch, or a small cup of melon or pudding.
For example, I know while I cover plays and concerts during my evenings, I always have the temptation to nibble on some candy (I LOVE Gummi Bears). To remedy my urge, I plan ahead and save my tiny packets of grapes or carrots included with a lunch or dinner and pack them along to the theater.
For an update of how all of the contestants are doing and their complete biographies, visit seattlesutton.com
Next week, I will explain how the Seattle Sutton plan addresses alcohol and caffeine consumption.
And until then, it's just weight and see...
Phil's Progress
Goal Weight: 178
Starting "weigh-in" weight: 230
Weight as of 1/18/10 Monday weigh-in: 209
Total loss to date in three weeks: 21 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 - -This week's loss: 3 pounds
* Total loss to date: 21 pounds
1. 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 - - This week's loss: 6 pounds
* Total loss to date: 21 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 - - This week's loss: 5 pounds
* Total loss to date: 20 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 - - This week's loss: GAIN of .4 of a pound
* Total loss to date: 16.1 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 - - This week's loss: 2.5 pounds
* Total loss to date: 12 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 - - This week's loss: 1 pound
* Total loss to date: 8 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 - - This week's loss: 2.7 pounds
* Total loss to date: 7 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 - - This week's loss: 2.8 pounds
* Total loss to date: 6.6 pounds
8. 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 - - This week's loss: .6 of a pound* Total loss to date: 5.4 pounds
9. 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 - - This week's loss: GAIN of 2 pounds
* Total loss to date: 3 pounds
Check out next week's Update to see how all of the contestants measured up for Week #4 of the Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down Challenge!
