August 4, 2008

Yo DaVita, Good Monday Morning to you!

It has been a few days since we last caught up with one another — 362 of us now joining hands and trying to help each other live healthier lives for us and our families.

I did a big trade — I worked this Saturday and Sunday, and last Sunday … and in exchange went camping and mountain biking with 10 other DaVita Execs for four days. We would do two DaVita work sessions a day, one at mid-day and one before dinner. And we biked, a lot. The epic day was Wednesday, where we did 38 miles including 4,100 feet of vertical.

It was pretty special being out there rooting each other on … the youngest DaVitan was 28, the oldest was 60. Not everybody could do every mile, but everyone did as many as they could, got a great workout in the great outdoors, and that burns a lot of calories.

Anyway, the bottom line is yesterday was Day 16 and I weighed in this morning at 195, down two pounds from the start. So I am on track, so far … except the beginning is always the easiest to drop a couple in my experience. Breaking a habit is perhaps hardest in the first few days of doing so, but dropping the first pound or two always seems a little easier than the balance.

I just continued my streak of “good” breakfasts. Non-sugared shredded wheat with a few honey nut cheerios to make it edible, 1% milk (I drink skim milk, but use 1% for my shredded wheat … and I have switched from milk to sparkling water for most of my dinners), and some protein in the form of light sausage.

I still got in a workout yesterday and the day before — nothing awesome, but both days included the same regimen, 26 minutes on the indoor life-cycle, doing the hill program at level 12. Plus some stretching and a few curls.

Well it is 6:30 a.m., time for my first call of the day. Then it is calls and meetings every minute until 6:00 pm, followed by emails and misc, tonight. Hope you have a wonderful day, thanks for your good work!

One for all,

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Jamie McDowell said,

August 6, 2008 @ 4:29 am

When Match the Mayor was announced I was almost 50 pounds overweight (48 to be exact). I wanted to lose 18 of them in the next 90 days. So far I have lost 8. My biggest problem is getting out and moving consistently. Hearing about riding bikes all the time has really inspired me to hop back on one. I started alternating walking and biking every other day. Apparently it is not as easy as when I was a kid. I was only able to do 2.5 miles the first time I went out on a bike (some hills involved). There was this one hill that I struggled to get up, and the first three days out I ended up walking my bike up the hill. On that fourth day I felt such an surge when I finally made it up the hill. Something inside me is growing with each little accomplishment. I can now do 5.5 miles. My goal for the 90 days is 15 miles. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but for me I have never done so much in my life. I am determined to stick with it.

RENEE SCOTT said,

August 6, 2008 @ 5:39 am

What, a wonderful thing for the team , it has inspired me to do the same . I HAVE STARTED TO WALK AT LEAST THREE TIMES PER WEEK
My new motto is WHEN YOU ARE HEALTHY YOU ARE WEALTHY

HAVE A HEALTH WEEK;
RENEE

Kimberly Jantz said,

August 6, 2008 @ 5:58 am

Great job KT! I actually started my “Match the Mayor” goals before “Match the Mayor” started. I joined Weight Watchers on June 30th, 2008 and as of August 4th I have lost 14 lbs. My goal is a large one. I want to shed my body of at least 75lbs. My husband and I are going on a cruise February 1st, 2009. I want to look great for it. My goals for the “Match the Mayor” program are to walk at least a mile a day and to loose as much weight as possible in those 90 days.

One for all, all for one!

Have a great day!

Marianne Moscatel said,

August 6, 2008 @ 6:21 am

It took a few weeks, but finally dropped the first pound. The late night eating after a long and tiring days work is the hardest to resist. My glucoses are responding nicely to the increased exercise and that is most important. No long bike rides for me, just picking up extra 10-20 minutes daily where ever I can.

A few Key to Better Health Members have also joined our challange and happily doing great. It would be fun to extend a challange to every patient/member in the village to make one healthy behavior change as well of thier choice.

The resource page last week was very helpful and not only for myself, but I was able to extend to some members as well. Good Stuff.

This week for me – NO late night eating!!

Angela said,

August 6, 2008 @ 7:45 am

I wasn’t aware of Match the Mayor until this morning; however, I made a commitment to exercise and pay more attention to what I consume the morning of July 28th. After decades of being an athlete and having complete strangers comment on my level of fitness, somehow the years of being in great shape obsured or distorted the view that I saw when I looked in the mirror…that and denial. On the 28th, I allowed myself to really see the sedentary, work-focused, unhealthy adult that I had become. It wasn’t a pretty picture. I always associated the 22lbs that I gained in the last four years to my employment at DaVita. I swear there is a direct correlation. As a Mental Health Professional, I understand the psychosis that is at play. I don’t know who was in my house standing in front of the mirror on the 28th, but she needed help. I promised her that I would do what it takes to make her healthier. I started exercising at least 5 days a week. My goal is to loose 25lbs in 90 days. My 90 days ends on October 27th. Wish me luck…more importantly…pray for me.

Lynette Hardey said,

August 6, 2008 @ 7:57 am

I signed up for “Match the Mayor” the first week even though weight loss is not my goal. My issue is to quit nicotiene. Unfortunately, I cannot report that I have been successful in this BUT, I am down to 7 cigarettes a day and I carry them in a verrrry small cigarette case that only holds 7 cigarettes. This makes me think about how many are left as in smokes vs. hours in the day. Twice, this week, I had one left at the end of the day! Training for Tour DaVita has deffinately impacted my smokeing 🙂

Signing off until next week… All for One and One for All!

Mary Bates said,

August 6, 2008 @ 8:03 am

I am proud of you for your “real” comments on your day to day tracking and jounal. It makes me know you as a real person who has to fight the food munchies as much as I do. I am going to try the challange as soon as I can log in. Keep up the work and good luck..Mary

Carol Jones said,

August 6, 2008 @ 8:42 am

I just started my program this week with streching and 30 minutes walk. Thanks for the encouragement and example. Great job so far, keep it up.
Carol-Team Evergreen (Team Synergy Credits)

Dyan Love & Nikkie Tompkins said,

August 6, 2008 @ 12:04 pm

We are very excited to be taking part of this “challenge”. We have both made personal weight loss goals, and have joined a gym, with the helpful discounts from globalfit-thanks KT!We have committed to working out 3 times a week, and are trying to make healthier choices throughout our days.
So far we are 16 days into our challenge and are happy to report a combined weight-loss of 15.7 lbs!!
Thanks for the inspiration, and support !!

nancy said,

August 8, 2008 @ 6:26 am

I’m signing up late, hope to catch up to my fellow teammates.

Debbie Smith said,

August 12, 2008 @ 8:55 am

I joined Match the Mayor on August 1st and I have lost a little over 4 pounds. My goal is to lose weight and exercise more. I am struggling with the exercise and starting out slow due to arthritis in my knees. (Really slow.) I am enjoying KT’s journal and am really touched at how candid he is about his health reasons for starting the program. Keeping track of exercise is a good way to see how you are doing. I love the burger comments! (I have found the new mini-burgers to be helpful for the cravings but not too overwelming with the calories.) I also enjoy hearing about the things he is working on. Thanks for providing a great example for us to follow!

Priscilla said,

August 12, 2008 @ 2:54 pm

I have struggled with my weight all my life and on June 24, 2008 I had Lap-Band surgery. This procedure has helped me lose 20 pounds, but what I have found is that my struggle is 30% stomach (hunger) and 70% brain (head games). Since having my surgery, I have found that I still try to eat the same amount and that is impossible. I have increased my exercise, I walk around the facility at lunch and I have started dance lessons, Latin dancing, what a blast.

Until next time!