“Your Weight Loss Journey: Taking Meaningful Steps Forward”

The ladies are right in the middle of their weight loss journey and making great progress, both mentally and physically, with some serious pounds lost this week. It’s exciting to watch!

We recently welcomed a new teammate, Fitness Buddy 3. She’s fit, energetic, and a mom of three who works full-time. Even with her busy schedule, she manages to stay active for 45 minutes each day and enjoys adding a 15-minute strength session to firm up.

We’re halfway through the challenge, and we’re really getting into a groove. Exercising has become a regular part of our routine, which feels amazing. I’ve got way more energy now than I did before.

Last night, after work, I went for a walk and then cleaned the house. That’s totally out of character for me! I’m back to making healthy food choices, but it’s frustrating to think that the couple of pounds I was on track to lose have crept back on. One pound equals about 3,500 calories, and I know I’ve indulged too much, especially with dessert this weekend. Even though coach Josh advises us to leave the past behind and start fresh each day, I’m still mad at myself. Today, Pam and I have a workout class in addition to our daily fitness routine, so hopefully, that helps me shed some of those extra dessert calories.

My teammates are sticking to the plan and getting their workouts in, alongside 45 minutes of activity most days. I was having a tough time with desserts, and when I told Fitness Buddy 2 that I had two and craved another, she texted me to say, “Do NOT eat that last piece of pie!” I ate it anyway. I need to move on and not let a little slip-up derail me.

Starting fresh won’t be easy since I’m headed to Las Vegas tomorrow for a trip! I’ve never been, so I’m excited, but it’s going to be tough to stick to healthy eating. I saw Pam last night during a workout, and I can tell she’s losing inches and looking great. I hope telling her that will motivate her further, regardless of what the scale says.

Fitness Buddy 2 and I share the frustration with the scale, but Fitness Buddy 1 is thriving, proving the program works as long as you fully commit. We’ve also added another team member to our group – this journey is catching on! Fitness Buddies 3 and 4 are just starting, so I’m not pushing them to share their numbers yet.

Vegas is both exhilarating and overwhelming. Walking the Strip, I ran into Olaf, my favorite Disney character, and it reminded me that we share a pear-shaped figure. Over three days, I walked over 50,000 steps and managed to hit the hotel’s fitness center, thankfully taking a rest day on Saturday. Yesterday was hectic; I overslept and missed my morning fitness routine but plan to double up tomorrow.

Day 19 was weigh-in day, but I skipped it since I didn’t have a morning scale. According to my rules, it’s not a problem to pass on a weigh-in sometimes. However, I did notice my weight was up 0.4 pounds on Thursday. Darn those sweet treats!

Pam was the biggest loser this week, dropping 2.2 pounds! Fitness Buddy 1 lost 1.8 pounds, bringing her total to 4.8 pounds, just shy of the 5-pound goal. Fitness Buddy 2 gained 2 pounds, but she’s not giving up. The effort she’s put into this challenge has her feeling better than ever.

Don’t believe “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”; the weight I gained came back with me. Despite eating healthy and getting lots of exercise, holiday-mode had me slacking on tracking my food. I’m now up 2 pounds, leaving me with 4.6 pounds to lose in just 8 days. Realizing drinks were my downfall—with pineapple juice, coconut rum, and some champagne adding over 3,600 calories—I know weekends are my weak spot.

It’s crunch time for this last part of the challenge. I’m amping up my cardio to prove to myself that I can lose weight! Reading that in all caps is my way to affirm belief in myself.

On a brighter note, my body fat percentage has dropped by 2.8%, moving in the right direction. It’s time to stay positive and committed. Just eight more days to go and 4.6 pounds to lose—no problem!

Josh shared a tip: while people often focus on scale numbers when thinking about fitness, it’s important not to let it mess with your mind. The mirror might actually show your progress better than the scale, as it might not capture your full journey visually.