Subscribe via RSS Feed

Shrink For Good

[ 90 ] 08/30/2009 |

Shrink for Good with the Sisterhood!

Our new challenge starts TODAY! I cannot even TELL you how excited I am for this challenge. Not only will we be improving our own health, we are going to giving back to our communities while we do it! It’s a win-win, right?

Lose For Good launches today and will run through October 17, 2009. Last year was the debut of the campaign and it produced AMAZING results. Members lost over 4 MILLION pounds, Weight Watchers donated $1 million to charities focused on fighting hunger, and 1,500,000 pounds of food to local food banks! The funds contributed by Weight Watchers represent the difference between life and death for up to 6,000 children! This year, they are hoping to make it even bigger and better.

This is where we come in. We are having our own spin-off of the Lose For Good campaign called Shrink For Good. The challenge starts TODAY and will run 7 weeks until October 17, 2009. So go, GO step on your scale. Look at the number. Come back here and leave a comment with your starting weight (we need this for tracking our total #s lost!), if you don’t feel comfortable putting the number out there, shoot me an email (melissa@shrinkingjeans.net) with it. I promise I will keep it a secret and it will be for my eyes only.

The details: After today, we will weigh-in on Wednesdays, as usual. We like to keep it simple. Each week, after you weigh-in, we encourage you to go out and BUY NON-PERISHABLE FOOD products (think canned goods, etc… preferably HEALTHY!) in an amount equaling the amount of weight you lost.

1 pound = 16 ounces

So if you lost two-and-a-half pounds, you would need 40 oz. of food items. Simple, no?

A lot of times during our weigh-ins, we hear “only down 1 pound” or something to that effect. What some people may not realize, is that those “little losses” add up. Let’s think about it this way… a stick of butter weighs 4 oz. Every POUND you lose is FOUR STICKS OF BUTTER, people! If you lose 4 pounds total the next 7 weeks, that is equal to SIXTEEN sticks of butter! Four pounds may not seem like a significant amount of weight, but when you imagine carrying those sixteen sticks of butter EVERY DAY, ALL DAY, that helps put it in perspective. We want you to actually “feel” the amount of weight that you are losing.

Each week, you will be adding to your food collection as you weigh-in. At the end of 7 weeks, you will hopefully have a nice stack of non-perishable food items! Are you still with me? Here’s the AWESOME part: You are going to donate these food items that you are going to WORK SO HARD for to your local food bank! You will be turning yourself into a healthier version of you AND helping out those in need in your own community. If you are a WW member and attend meetings, talk to your leader about dropping your food off there! (You do not have to be a WW member to participate in our Shrink For Good challenge.)

Ideas for food items:

Fruit and Vegetables Group: Canned or dry fruits and vegetables in an array of colors will help ensure consumption of many vitamins and minerals.

  • Canned vegetables
  • Vegetable juice
  • Canned tomatoes (juice and sauce)
  • Canned fruit and fruit cups (in its own juice)
  • Fruit juice
  • Dried fruit

Grain Group: Whole grains provide maximum nutrition value and long-lasting energy.

  • Oatmeal Whole grain crackers
  • Low sugar/high fiber cereals
  • All pasta types
  • Whole grain rice

Protein Group: Lean meats and canned or dry beans provide the necessary fuel for muscles.

  • Canned tuna, salmon or chicken
  • Bean soups
  • Baked beans
  • Dried and canned beans and peas.
  • Chili Beef stew
  • Peanut butter Nuts

This is a lot of new info to digest, I know. Let’s recap:

YOU = Focus on healthy eating, exercise, and well-being.

LOG your starting weight today. (or when you jump into this challenge if you are reading this later!)

WEIGH-IN on Wednesdays with us.

COLLECT non-perishable items in the amount of weight lost for the next 7 weeks. Photos encouraged, but not mandatory. ;o)

ENCOURAGE your fellow Sisters and Brothers.

GRAB one of our new buttons created by our own amazing Christy.

DONATE your food collection at the end of this challenge.

Stay tuned for even more fun things happening with Lose For Good in the coming weeks! If you have ANY questions AT ALL, whether it’s finding a food bank in your area or help with all this math, we are here. Just ask. For realz, yo. And pssst… our EA Sports Active challenge is starting tomorrow, it’s not too late to jump in!

Let’s get this party started… It’s time to SHRINK FOR GOOD!


Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Category: The Sisterhood

About Lissa: Melissa is the Co-Founder of Shrinking Kitchen and the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans She has been married for a dozen years and is mother to four children (15,12, 8 and 8), with more soon coming her way through the foster care system. Melissa has a love/hate relationship with food (okay, mostly candy) and cooking. This isn't improved by the fact that her husband, the true family chef, works in another city half the year, leaving Melissa to figure out how to feed her growing family something other than Pop-Tarts. Melissa loves her camera, enjoys traveling, kickboxing, creating beautiful things she finds on Pinterest, and planning her dream home that will be built… someday. melissa@shrinkingjeans.net :: @lissajoy :: whereverimaywander.com :: pinning here View author profile.

  • bwJen

    This is a fabulous challenge!! I think the food bank is such a great public service and teaching at-risk high school kids I know just how valuable a food bank can be!! My starting weight is 199.2 and I am looking forward to shrinking with all your wonderful ladies!! I have been a lurker for a while and I ecstatic that I can join in!

  • mitakay

    I can't wait to not only lose weight but to also do something great for someone else! My starting weight today is 164.0… WOOT WOOT!

    http://flipflopsandfreckles.com/chunky-monkey/

  • Christy_TheSisterhood

    Here's my post!! http://christy.shrinkingjeans.net/2009/08/i-am-

    Check out my personal challenge for myself!!!

  • http://www.byebyefatpants.com Crystal

    My start weight is 217.8 lbs I'll be making a post on my blog about this challenge in the next day or two — http://www.byebyefatpants.com

  • http://www.biz319.wordpress.com/ Biz

    Love this challenge! I am in.

    Starting weight: 167.6 – uugghh! :D

  • christieo

    I'm in of course! Woot! I am so super-excited for this challenge! I love that it is also for a great cause, October and November and the holiday season are always a time of need for families, let's fill up those shelves!!!
    I'm starting at 140.5. Hope to shrink it, baby!
    My post is up:
    http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2009/08/shrin

  • http://www.alberts-family.blogspot.com/ danielle

    I am in!!! What an exciting challenge!!! I was in desperate need of some motivation!!! I gained 6lbs over the summer due to lack of motivation and I need to get the pounds off!!!! My starting weight is 166.

  • http://www.alberts-family.blogspot.com/ danielle

    My post is up!!!

  • anng

    I am happy to report that my starting weight for this challenge is (drum roll, please!!))

    199.9 whoooottt!! I can't believe I don't have to have a 2 at the beginning of my weight!!

    I can't to get out of the 190's now!!

  • Pingback: Heather » Blog Archive » Shrinking. For Good.

  • http://www.whooosthatgirl.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

    My starting weight is 219.4, which is like up 2.4 lbs from Wednesday, but I had a little fun last night. ;o)

  • http://thesassymama.blogspot.com Heather

    I'm at 175 today…
    Here's my post: http://heather.shrinkingjeans.net/2009/08/30/sh

  • AmyElk

    After a big FAIL during the 21 days challenge (due to a case of strep throat and a more serious case of laziness), I am excited to start a new challenge! I am starting at 250.2 lbs and am excited to LOSE FOR GOOD!

  • http://oppositelife.blogspot.com/ Pubsgal

    Great idea for a challenge! I'm in! Definitely need a bit of extra motivation lately.

    My starting weight is 188.8. (Christy O: told you that number last Tuesday was a fluke. No way I gained 6 pounds in less than a week.) I'd like to finally get into the 170s during this challenge.

  • LisaCrazyAdventuresinParenting

    Can we do this and the EAS Active challenge? I want to do both, I adore this weight loss idea!! Will weigh myself tomorrow morning to get started (only weigh myself in the mornings on an empty stomach)! Woohoo!

  • LisaCrazyAdventuresinParenting

    Fast weight gain like that happened to me once, turned out it was an inability to use the “facilities” which was the culprit ;)

  • LisaCrazyAdventuresinParenting

    Congrats!!!!! Way to go!! :)

  • http://swanvalleytammi.blogspot.com ValleyGirl

    This is a fabulous way not only to see our progress even when it feels small, but to reach out to our community. I'm SO on board with this!!! My starting weight is 160.8. My goal is to lose 10 pounds this challenge.

  • Christy_TheSisterhood

    WOOT!!!! I'm so proud of you, Ann! WAY TO GO!

  • Christy_TheSisterhood

    Of course you can do both! We WANT you to do both :)

  • Christy_TheSisterhood

    My goal is 10 pounds, too!! We can do it, Tammi :)

  • http://thesassymama.blogspot.com Heather

    I am SO proud of you! Go Ann!

  • Pingback: Thea » Blog Archive » I’m Shrinkin’ or I’m Stinkin’

  • http://www.thinnerin08.blogspot.com/ Pam

    Awesome awesome challenge!

    I weighed Friday – I was 293.8, so please use this as my starting weight.

    My post will be forthcoming on: http://www.thinnerin08.blogspot.com

  • http://www.thinnerin08.blogspot.com/ Randall

    I'm in with Pam – I am at 254.0 on my weigh in on Friday. She'll blog about it on our blog:

    htto://www.thinnerin08.blogspot.com

  • http://www.thinnerin08.blogspot.com/ Pam
  • Mariakins

    I love this! Okay…. my starting weight is 175.0lbs! Lets see what we can do for our communities!

    I will be writting in my personal blog about this unil the challenge ends!

    http://mariadelgado32302.blogspot.com/

    *Maria Delgado*

  • http://www.thekrumwiedesix.blogspot.com Kristin @ OneCrazyMamaof4

    I forgot that today was the start of this challenge … so I just now weighed in so it was 245.6 which I know is not the right weight but I'll take it to start with :)

    Here is to everyone!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

  • http://www.littleladybugthatcould.blogspot.com ladybugs714

    So excited for this challenge! Helping others while helping ourselves…what a win-win!

    I'm starting today at 146.6 today. Hope to make it into the 130's by the end of the challenge! And I should be finished with my C25K training by then too!

    Good luck everyone!

  • lisainme

    I'm in. My starting weight is 205.5. My goal is 10 pounds. I like the idea of donating food equal to the weight loss. I'm excited to start!

  • Pingback: April » Blog Archive » Shrinking for GOOD!

  • SJs_April
  • http://www.shrinkingandgrowing.blogspot.com/ Tera

    I'm in! I'm down to my last 5 pound to lose, and I would love to take part in another challenge to help them come off! :)

    I weighed in at 123 today.

  • SJs_April

    You ROCK!

  • christieo

    yay ann, yay!! work those decades girl! sweet!

  • http://thresholdofgreatness.wordpress.com/ Laura

    Love this!

  • http://thresholdofgreatness.wordpress.com/ Laura

    ooops… and I am 204 today.

  • prairiemama

    I am IN! This is a great idea. My weight today is 182.

  • http://www.youravon.com/mdickey Margie D.

    Here I go – my starting weight is 167. This is a great motivator to lose the weight and help others. WTG sisters!!

  • Crystal

    My current weight is 242. I am ready to SHRINK FOR GOOD!!!

  • http://noweighivedoneitagain.blogspot.com/ 2Bmeagain

    I would love to do this as I participated last year in the Lose for Good campaign at Weight Watchers. It was a lot of fun then, and I'm sure it will be this year.

    I weighed on Saturday morning, so that will be my starting weight. It is 290.6

  • http://divineinoh9.blogspot.com/ Michelle

    So glad I cheked out the site today, been waiting for a new challenge to start :)
    Starting weight is 203 lbs.

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » The Scoop On L.A. (psst… Jenny McCarthy and giveaway!)

  • http://laurakay428.blogspot.com mommyp

    What a terrific challenge! I am in.

    Starting weight is 255.6

    I'm ready to get started and I will blog about this new challenge a little later today.

  • LisaCrazyAdventuresinParenting

    Woofrickenhoo! I'm totally down! ;)

    Starting weight as of 9am 8/31 – 145.9 – I started the summer challenge at 153 or 154 I think ;) I know this challenge is to donate what we lose from now til the end, but I'm gonna tack on what I lost for the summer challenge, too. Just because I lurve you guys, and it's for charity, and that's awesome!

  • LisaCrazyAdventuresinParenting

    Where do I find out more about this C25K thing I see people talking about. I've started running w/ my workouts, and would love to know more!

  • http://www.whooosthatgirl.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

    AMAZING!!!

  • http://www.whooosthatgirl.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

    AWESOME!! THank you!

  • lucidb

    I'm in in in!!!

    Today's weight 173.6

    http://lucid-gettingmeback.blogspot.com/2009/08

  • christieo

    it is seriously amazing, here's the link:
    http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

    i did this and on the running “off” days, i did weights. i dropped 17 pounds by the end of it, AWESOME!!!! good luck! it gets a little tough sometimes, but a lot of people here are doing it and many of us have been there, so make sure you come back if you're having trouble and need motivation or anything like that, we're here for you!

  • BrookeF

    okay good news/bad news

    i'm down to 126.8, 1 pound from last week. i couldn't exercise for 4 days and i didn't change my calories accordingly. so i'm really not sure how that happened. oh well.

    the bad news is that it means i'm starting low, only 1.8 pounds from my goal, so i won't have much to donate this challenge. i'll go ahead and donate for the pound i lost this week.

  • http://www.littleladybugthatcould.blogspot.com ladybugs714

    I am starting week 4 tonight and am trying to get up the nerve to start 30 Day Shred on the non-running days to help tone me up. I feel so proud for trying it and am glad I did! Good luck! If you are running already, sounds like this will be perfect!

  • BrookeF

    welcome to the sisterhood! we're glad that you're out and about amongst the posters now :)

  • BrookeF

    no ughs on the first weigh in day :P if its higher than you'd like just consider it a great potential to help feed they hungry as you shed the pounds!

  • BrookeF

    kick @$$!!! :) that's awesome! :)

  • BrookeF

    its so hard to stay focused when you're sick and just focusing on getting up the energy to shower ever couple days…um…i mean every day.

    now that you're all healed up you can do this. :D

  • BrookeF

    nothing like getting into that next weight decade to boost your confidence. it'll also be great motivation for you to get there during this challenge! :)

  • BrookeF

    that's awesome!! :) and great idea about your donation. i might have to steal it. :)

  • BrookeF

    won't it feel great to be in the next weight decade next week? cause i know you can totally lose at least 0.9 pounds in a week.

  • BrookeF

    just look at any inflation in the number (due to not weighing in at the same time as usual) as extra food you get to donate! :)

  • BrookeF

    i'm sure you'll meet both of your goals :) have you signed up for a race yet?

  • BrookeF

    looks like they've given you the info, just wanted to add my $0.02.

    i love, love, love this program. i wasn't a runner and now i'm addicted. (and have lost over 10 pounds)

  • BrookeF

    awesome! :)

  • BrookeF

    i didn't realize this was a yearly thing. very cool :)

  • kct76

    I'd like to join please!!
    I'm at 168.8!! eek….lets see what happens in 7 weeks!
    Kerry

  • http://haven4dragon.blogspot.com/ Mary

    Weighing in at 280 lbs today!

    Love this idea, especially since the church I work for runs a food pantry!

  • http://violazuppa.wordpress.com ViolaZuppa

    I'm in. I didn't weigh in today but I'll do so tomorrow morning. I'm probably up from last Wednesday's weigh in, but it's for charity right?

    Hopefully I'll have a pile of food to donate at the end of this challenge.

    http://violazuppa.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/shri

  • marie_v

    I weight 157.4 today. I can't wait to shed the rest of this baby weight! Such a great cause, too.

  • wdwlovers

    Count me in. 232.5lbs this evening. Found this through Christie and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone shrinking together and helping out our communities!!

    http://awomanwithhobbitfeet.blogspot.com/2009/0

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » What’s Happening Around the Sisterhood?

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » New Members!

  • http://cpamomva.blogspot.com/ Angela

    I started up on Weight Watchers (on my own, cannot afford meetings or online) a week ago at 235, my highest non-pregnant weight ever so that is what I'll use as my starting weight (8/24/09).

    Today (9/1) I weighed in at 234. That's four sticks of butter, right?

  • http://www.whooosthatgirl.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

    Four sticks of butter, ALREADY! Awesome, Angela! ;o)

  • http://kcrules.wordpress.com/ Jennie

    I'm late to respond, but count me in! I weighed in at 153.5 today. I've been pretty bad lately! Time to get back on track. Will try to blog tomorrow for that weigh in!

  • Priscilla

    My starting weight for this challenge is 129lbs. I am lucky to have a job where I do a lot of walking and it is helping me maintain my weight but I do want to lose a few and tone up all areas a little more! I have an amazing supervisor too who gives me little tips and tells me things that keep me in check!

  • bwJen

    Thank you for the welcome!! I have been very busy with back to school prep so I have not had a chance to blog about this challenge but will do so tomorrow with a weigh-in post. This is the first time I have weighed in on a Wednesday…I am usually a Saturday scale girl!

  • http://aturtleslifeforme.blogspot.com/ Natalie

    I'm in! I'm in! I've been meaning to post a comment since Sunday, and the days keep getting away from me. I weighed in on Sunday at 173.3 : ( My highest in a year after my strongest year-long attempt of my life! Bad, bad August! But getting back on track now and loving the idea of this challenge!

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » Weigh-In Wednesday – SFG Week 1!

  • spbray

    I totally forgot to check in here! I started at 182.8 lbs and I plan to lose 7 lbs during this challenge (would love to lose 10, but If I shoot for 1lb a week and then lose more it will be a bonus!)

  • thedailymel

    I missed checking in here with my starting weight. My WW meeting is on Sunday. My starting weight for the SFG challenge is 276.6. I posted my goals on my blog last week, but I'll repost it here as well. My goal is to lose 10 pounds during the challenge and my plan is to donate 2 pounds of food for each pound of weight lost. Even in the event something should happen and I don't meet my 10 pound goal, I will still donate the 20 pounds of food at my local WW meeting.

  • http://char-losingtheweightandkeepingitoff.blogspot.com/ Char

    I joined this earlier this afternoon and forgot to post my “before” weight – it's 173 lbs.

  • Pingback: Around the Blogosphere – Week 100

  • sylv

    I have been lurking around here for a while and feel it is time for me to jump in! I would love to join the challenge. I rejoined WW last Wednesday, 09/02/09, and weighed in at 306.0. My first goal is to get out of the 300's. I am going to donate double the amount of my weight loss for the campaign. Good luck to all!

  • sylv

    I have been lurking around here for a while and feel it is time for me to jump in! I would love to join the challenge. I rejoined WW last Wednesday, 09/02/09, and weighed in at 306.0. My first goal is to get out of the 300's. I am going to donate double the amount of my weight loss for the campaign. Good luck to all!

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » Weigh-In Wednesday SFG Week 2 !

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » Weigh-In Wednesday SFG Week 3

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » Weigh In Wednesday – SFG Week 4

  • Pingback: The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans » Blog Archive » Weigh-in Wednesday SFG Week 5

  • Pingback: Mel » Blog Archive » Hello Sisters (and Brothers)!

  • Pingback: Hunger Action Month | The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC