Our Sponsor: CrossFit

At CrossFit, there is no messing around.

You wanna lose weight? There is no question about whether or not you will here.

CrossFit's principal is based on change. The way CrossFit puts it, "Routine is the enemy." If you do the workouts of the day (WOD) you'll gain lean muscle mass and build strength and stamina. You will.

In 100 words, this is CrossFit's vision of World Class Fitness:

"Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports."

And if you think you can't do it, look at who CrossFit is good for: Everyone from athletes and police academies to...the elderly.

Each day there is a workout listed as their daily workout and when you're finished you leave a comment telling everyone how you did.

Here are some of the sample workouts:

Complete as many rounds as you can in thirty minutes of:

Five pull-ups-Five ring dips-15 Sit-ups

Another day will be:

1000 meter row, 45 pound Thruster, 50 reps, 30 pull-ups

Average number of commenters? Oh, about 700. And if you have not the faintest idea how to do some of the exercises, there are instructional videos available to help a girl out. CrossFit's program also allows for rest days and recommends that you have outside activity other than CrossFit exercises. And of course, nutrition is very important. As it is with everything.

Wanna know more? Check out the CrossFit FAQ.

I'll be adding some of these workouts into my Tri-training and I'll be posting them in my Workout Log (if there are any cares about it.) Try it! Seriously. And thanks CrossFit for sponsoring!

Our Sponsor: CrossFit

https://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2009/03/our-sponsor-crossfit.html

A Word About our Sponsor

Runner's Lounge is being pretty generous to our challenge -- they're donating not one, or two, but three prizes! Two of them we're giving away this week, a Runner's Lounge tee and an autographed running book.

I like them.

I found them when I was bloghopping one day when I just started getting into running and I have been a member ever since. There are a million things you can do on there-- like store your runs, chat with other runners --or with other people who are losing weight and not just running. You can find information about anything from running to buying a treadmill to finding good running songs. There are stories of inspiration and motivation which I can always use, and tips on nutrition.

It's pretty much the Mecca of running/slash/weight loss. Personally, I like the "Map My Run" feature, because I can go on there and plug in my start and finish points and know how far I'm running without driving it and zeroing out my odometer which is my usual way. And tedious.

If you get a chance, head on over and take a look around. They have giveaways too, which I always enter because I love free stuff. :) Also I set up a forum for us to chitchat if you wanna head there too for that, just click on "Connect with Runners" and plug in "HFH" as the forum you're looking for! Good luck on the drawing!!

A Word About our Sponsor

https://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2008/10/word-about-our-sponsor.html

Summer of Me Series Finale

Well, this is it. The last official weigh-in of the Summer of Me!

Trying not to get all sentimental now. But how can't I? I've met so many wonderful bloggers -- and not just plain ol' bloggers, the must-have-on-my-daily-read-list kind. ALL OF YOU! And to boot, I've also met a lot of great people behind some really great companies, like Dirty Red and One More Mile and Doodlebug Designs.

Thank you for that. Everyone. Tear!

Anyway, now on to the nitty gritty.

Weight loss: 1.5 pounds

Grand Finale Total: 5 pounds.

Not too shabby! I wanted 10, but hey. A couple a tacos, an occasional Blizzard, maybe a slice or two of pizza... and well, 10 pounds wasn't to be. But the good news is, I am down a total of 23 pounds from the Spring Into Summer and Summer of Me combo platter! Jubilation! Joy jabs! Squealing!

I can't wait to see everyone's results this week! I'm busting!

And in true Christie fashion, I not only planned the Summer of Me Finale for today, I am getting ready for our big vacation, and my sister's baby shower (which I am also planning) is tomorrow! Picking up my sister first thing Friday morning YAYYYYYY!!! Oh it's CRAZZZZZY AROUND HERE!

So in between all of it, I promise to log in when I can and stop by. Thankfully I get e-mail on my phone and it buzzes every time I get a comment (hehe, drives my husband mad) so you can know that I am at least reading your results pretty much right away.

Here's the prize list once again:

-Grand prize: A Wii Fit and a $100 AmEx gift card

-Runner up: A $100 AmEx gift card

-Set of three body lotions from Bath and Body Works, Energy, Sleep, Stress Relief

-Tee-shirt from One More Mile

-CD of my workout playlist and necklace from my Etsy shop, Don't Sweat It

-Anyone who meets their goal gets a sticker or magnet from One More Mile

**By the way, if you have won a shirt from One More Mile and you feel like sending me a photo of yourself in it, please feel free! Same with Dirty Red! (I'd love to share it)**

Here are the rules again, just in case you need to re-read them. I don't want anyone to miss out on one of the prizes because they missed something in the rules!! So let's get this thing started! Weigh in, leave me a comment with weight loss and final tally and let's git er done! Good luck!!

Summer of Me Series Finale

https://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2008/07/summer-of-me-series-finale.html

Summer of Me: The Season Finale

Sigh. I feel like it's graduation and I'm listening to that one graduation song, you know that one, I can't remember the name. Isn't by someone called Vitamin C or something?

(Why yes, it is! I just looked it up! So I'm not so out of touch with my oldness. I'll have to play that on Friday.)

Well, this is it. I hope everyone works hard this week for that Wii! Until then, I'm playing my hardcore workout music on this blog in honor of our last chance workouts.

On to the best part. My brain actually hurts from all the prize offerings this week! (In a good way!) So if you don't win the big Wii or the Runner Up prize, there is still a little somethin' something' for ya to try for! That's the benefit of getting too many sponsors!! Who'd have thunk?

Real quick: fine print is as follows:

Please make sure you read all the rules carefully (there aren't too many) but you must abide by them in order to have a shot at the prizes -- especially the rules for the Grand Prize drawing because out of fairness, the winning contenders have to follow all the rules to the "T". There's also that honesty factor that I really don't want to mention again, so I'll put it in italics because then it's not like I'm saying it, it's more like I'm whispering and nudging nicely.


There. OK. Now to the good stuff.

GRAND PRIZE

Need I say more? I don't even have one of these and I'm giving it away! How crazy is that??!! But that's ok, because if not for our friends at Market Leverage, we wouldn't have such a cool prize. This prize includes a $100 American Express gift card.

RUNNER UP:

A $100 American Express Gift Card! Thank you Market Leverage!

There are four prizes left. Would you believe that? FOUR! They are:

A set of three body lotions from Bath and Body Works: "Energy" which is Mandarin Lime, "Stress Relief" which is Tranquil Mint, and "Sleep" which is Lavender Vanilla. My favorite thing about these is that not only do they smell like my favorite things in the world, they are in glass bottles. Like in the olden days. It's so "apothecary". I love that.

Then there's our tee-shirt from our friends at One More Mile, who have been just so extremely wonderfully generous throughout this contest, I can't even believe it.
The third prize is: A burned CD of the workout songs on my playlist and a workout necklace from my Etsy store, "Don't Sweat It".

Finally, and this is for anyone! The fourth prize goes to anyone/everyone who actually met their goal and that's all you have had to do was meet your goal. One More Mile has offered a magnet or a sticker with any slogan you wish for reaching your goal. Awesome.

So, got it straight? Hahaha! I've got birds flying around my head like in the cartoons.

Here are the rules: For the grand prize and runner up prize:

-On the Final Fat Ticker Friday, you must leave your weightloss for the week along with your total for the challenge in the comments.
-Post a final wrap-up post on your blog and link to here.
-Also, your ticker must be updated with the final results of your weightloss for the challenge.
-Comments close at 8pm et Friday, July 25. The winner will be announced Saturday morning, July 26th.

*If there is a tie for first prize, the grand prize winner will be drawn between the tying participants. I wish there were a more scientific way to do it, but since we're spread across the globe and we're not doing it NBC-style with fat percentages, that's the only way to go. The runner up will get the runner up prize (fitting!).

As for the rest of the prizes: I will select three winners at random from the comments section. The first winner drawn will have their choice of the three prizes. The second winner will choose between the two prizes left, and the third winner drawn will get the remaining prize.

And of course, anyone who meets their goal gets the magnet/sticker from One More Mile.

All of this being said, my journey is not quite over yet. I will still hold a Fat Ticker Friday on Fridays because I will continue to weigh in, if you want to join me you are more than welcome to. I am running a 5k in Atlanta with my best friend in September, and I am still training for that 10k Thanksgiving Day. And if you are interested in continuing this weightloss journey with me, let me know. I feel a "Hot for the Holidays" contest brewing in my head, because, you see, I have been so wanting to wear this one dress at my husband's company's Christmas party. And I so don't want to be the "fat wife" at his Christmas party this year. I want to wear this dress. It's been sitting lonely in my closet for two years. It is a "little black dress" and it's hot. I am just salivating over it. And some hot strappy sandals, Ooh La La. Anyway, won't that be a nice wrap up to a nice year? A nice little present to myself.

Good luck to everyone this week!!

Summer of Me: The Season Finale

https://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2008/07/summer-of-me-season-finale.html

Summer of Me Sponsor: Dirty Red Gear

OK remember when I said that when I was trying to find sponsors for our contest, I was kind of being a little picky? Not that a beggar can be a chooser, but well, why not? I really wanted to pick sponsors who reflected what this contest was about. Which to me, was deeper than just a contest. It was about finishing something I started, perseverance, motivation, taking back my life and being the person I want to be. I hope it was (is) the same for you.

That was why I chose to write to Dirty Red and why I was so ecstatic that Nicol said yes. I found her company on a running web site, checked her out and was sold. I about did flips when I got her e-mail on my phone one day out in public somewhere.

Nicol is part athlete-part fashion designer-all mom. She was a competitive runner in college and had to put running on hold after having her second child and battling post-partum depression. But she laced up again, and surprisingly (to herself) placed 6th in a 10k and essentially got back on that horse! That's true inspiration. She wrote a little about it on her blog:

"I know that you hear a lot of people say "if I can do it, you can do it too!". You realize that there is some truth to that silly little saying! But, what you need to realize, everyone begins at different levels. Some of us have just started putting one foot in front of the other while others have completed their first tri-athlon. Either way, you have started something! "

Sometimes I need to remember that.

Oh yes, she also stars in her own ads and why wouldn't you when you look like this!

Hello, Hottie McSixPack!

(Am I allowed to say that?) I can't help it. If this mother of two can look like this, then like she says on her blog, I can too! (If I get there and my six pack starts peeking through, it will be plastered up here on this blog, centered as the LARGE picture, faster than you can say "sixpack".)

So if you get a chance, please, go check out this amazing woman's company, Dirty Red, (http://www.dirtyredgear.com) because it was her dream and she made it a reality. She truly is amazing and inspiring. And so is her line of sportswear. Thanks, Nicol for sponsoring our contest! You're an inspiration to all of us!

Summer of Me Sponsor: Dirty Red Gear

https://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2008/07/summer-of-me-sponsor-dirty-red-gear.html

One More Mile

I mentioned that I love One More Mile, have I? They're one of the sponsors of this challenge and they've been so kind and generous by offering a tee-shirt each week and a sticker/magnet to everyone who reaches their goal at the end of the challenge.

I was very picky (well, as picky as I could be) about who I contacted to be prize sponsors. Mostly because I really wanted prizes that reflected what this challenge was about and who we are as a group.

This company I found by accident. But it was love at first sight and I was elated when they said yes. What I really loved about them was their philosophy. The company's founders are self-proclaimed "midpackers" (runners and walkers who find themselves in the middle of the pack). But they don't scoff at the back-of-the-packers (me) and frankly I find some of the running-wear companies out there just a little on the intimidating side. Not this one. They recognize the recreation runners and understand that we're not all marathon winners or racers and I like that.

They also happen make their shirts the kind of material that keep the sweat off of you, and they're comfy and cute at the same time. And I have the philosophy that if you're going to exercise, you just gotta look cute doing it. I am not ashamed to be the girl at the gym wearing lipgloss. No judging.

It also helps that I love their slogans. I just voted in their latest slogan contest (some of them are pretty funny). You can head on over there to vote for one of them too if you want. But definitely check them out no matter what. They've got a lot of cool stuff, from shirts to running skirts which are the new craze, and stickers and magnets.

So thank you, One More Mile! It's pretty rare for me to find products that I believe in, but when I do, I truly want everyone to know about them. Thanks for sponsoring us!

One More Mile

https://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2008/06/one-more-mile.html