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Real Estate’s Biggest Loser

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Big buttsNo, this is not a rant about some real estate loser.

This is about a weight loss challenge. Yep, right smack in the middle of the holiday season. (What better time?)

Steve Belt’s been hassling me for weeks on Twitter to get back on my bicycle. Those that have seen my 242 pound frame in person might be surprised to know that I used to bike 100+ miles a week.

But that was several years and 60 or 70 pounds ago.

When I was a kid, I used to try to gain weight. Something happened at about the 40 year mark, and over the last couple of years, my waistline has ballooned. Call it “Bloggers Butt”, Francy’s great cooking, getting old, whatever. Fact is, I’m way too big for my britches ”“ literally.

The basics of weight loss are pretty simple ”” burn more calories than you take in. My problem? Too much caloric intake, and not enough exercise (as in none).

How many calories do I take in?

I have no idea. A lot. I love to eat, and eat mass quantities. Starting out most days drinking a Starbucks venti eggnog latte, with whipped cream, doesn’t help. I looked it up last night and found that oh-so-tasty beverage has 680 calories. Yikes! (Incidentally, that eggnog latte costs $31.04 per gallon). Add in the 1,050 calories from 6 or 7 non-diet Cokes per day that I drink and it’s a wonder I’m not the size of Oprah a NFL defensive end. And that doesn’t even include the more than occasional Double-Double from In-n-Out (with fries and chocolate shake ”“ 1,760 calories).

Yesterday in the Twitterverse, the dang bike riding thing came back up, and Dean “Tempe Real Estate” Ouellette fired back with a great idea”¦

A little weight loss challenge. Perfect, just the added motivation that I need!

Here’s how it works:

Weigh in on Friday, December 5.
On February 1, 2009 whoever has the largest percentage weight loss wins.

What do they win? Each participant has to donate $50 to the winner’s charity of choice.

Smack talk is encouraged! If you’re on Twitter, tweet it up. You don’t have to post about it (though personally, I find posting about it motivating). No one needs to know your starting or ending weight, just the percentage loss.

Honor system rules and anyone is welcome to join (no, you don’t have to be in real estate).

It’s really that simple.

This is truly a lose/win situation. Participants lose pounds, and a charity wins.

I’ll be playing for the American Cancer Society. Dean’s in for the American Diabetes Association.

My plan? Eat less, eat well, exercise, and study about how to do this right. For a great start to studying, check out Muata Kamdibe’s fabulous blog ”“ Mr. Low Body Fat. Muata dropped over 130 pounds and even more remarkably went from 44% body fat to 7%. SEVEN FREAKING PERCENT! I love this guys attitude and writing (hat tip to @Doug_Quance!).

What’s YOUR plan?

Drop a comment if you want to participate. Do it. Do it for charity, do it for yourself”¦

So far I’ve heard these folks are in!

Me (@PhoenixREGuy)
Dean Ouellette (@DeanOuellette)
Steve Heidemann (@Steve_Heidemann)
Craig Barrett (@Craig42K)
Jim Sparrow (@CalgaryRealtor)

UPDATE: OK, *BUNCHES* of people are joining! If you are in, go to the wiki HERE and sign up! It’s not too late!

About Jay Thompson

I'm a former real estate broker in Phoenix, Arizona, currently work for Zillow Group and am the founder of the Phoenix Real Estate Guy blog. I tend to drive too fast and scream at the University of Texas and Denver Broncos football teams. My two kids are smarter than most adults I know and my wife is simply amazing.

Comments

  2. Property Qwest Blog says

    Hi Jay,

    I almost choked on my donut when I came to the the point in your post regarding the caloric intake of your "Starbucks venti eggnog latte, with whipped cream".

    Don't we lose some of the calories we take in by walking to the counter, purchasing our goodies, and then repeatedly doing bicep curls to make them disappear as quickly as they appeared?

    In looking in the mirror, I think I've answered my question.

    Anyhow, count me in. Compelling article, compelling reason!

    **Property Qwest Blog´s last blog post..Loan Modifications Failing to Reduce Foreclosures?</abbr></abbr>

  3. Scott Hack says

    Jay,

    Love your post. Love the idea. I started back to the gym one week ago actually. Then I got a cold/flu, so this week hasn't been that great. I think you have the time period too short though to be effective. If someone has a bad holiday month, they are going to get discouraged and drop out. If you extend it until March 1st, you give them a chance to get back in the game and redeem themselves. Just an idea!

  5. Jay - The Phoenix Re says

    @Spanish Teacher – Oh, there will be free days, trust me. I don't have that kind of will power.

    @PQ blog – "I almost choked on my donut…"

    Now THAT was funny! Thanks for joining!

    @ScottHack – love that idea. Will float it by others… So, if we go March 1 are you in?

    @ousooner44 – "Texas" is always capitalized missy. In fact, there needs to be a law that it's always spelled TEXAS! Thanks for joining! We should work together. With moral support if nothing else.

  8. Steve [email protected] A says

    I may not be considered one of the most influential real estate bloggers in the country, but if my influence results in this type of action, I'm 100% pleased.

    Now, is there any way I could possibly lose any weight. Realistically, and as a percentage of my total…maybe 1%. But what the heck, I'm in.

    My plan: #1 Ride even more. I'm setting up my trainer for mid-week rides. #2 Non-fat, no-whip at Starbucks (I'm already decaf). #3 No french fries (if you saw SuperSize Me, you know french fries are the true bane of our existence).

    **Steve Belt´s last blog post..2008 ASU vs U of A Rivalry Game</abbr></abbr>

  12. Tommy Clapp says

    Great to see this challenge. I too believe it works much better when you have others going through the same hell as you. I've been on a program since August 15, 2008. I call it the LAW diet. To me LAW stands for L ettuce A ir & W ater.

    I've given up booze, soda, candy, bread and I'm pissed! But hey it beats the alternative you know. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

    My charity of choice is St. Judes Childrens Hospital.

    Good luck all you skinny bitches! 😉

    T

  17. Dean Ouellette says

    I think this is the list as of right now

    @deanouellete

    @PhoenixREGuy

    @Steve_Heidemann

    @Craig42K

    @CalgaryRealtor

    @ousooner44

    @stevebelt

    @DenaDavis

    @propertyqwest

    @jamiegeiger

    @chumley21

    @aflyonthewall

    @denadavis

    @scotthack

    @aflyonethewall

    **Dean Ouellette´s last blog post..Biggest Loser Realtor style</abbr></abbr>

  21. Elaine Reese says

    Well, let's see …

    I can try to lose weight over the holidays.

    I can try to quit smoking over the holidays.

    I can try to sell a home over the holidays.

    Truthfully, I'm not sure which of those three things will be the hardest to do.

    I'll be on the sidelines to cheer you guys on!

  24. Midori Miller says

    Ok, I went to the dentist and she told me my blood pressure was up??? never in my life but it got me nervous. Nervous enough to start a program..to think that I can lose weight…get healthier and my favorite charity benefits..why wouldn't I? I'm in..there is one thing…just so you know…I'll do my best to handle the smack..c'mon guys I'm a woman and weight is a sensitive matter! My charity of choice…The Gift of Education..Mother's Fighting For Others.

  26. Norm Rice says

    Ok count me in. For the first time a year and a half ago, I was part of Team in Training raising money for the Leukemia Society. Besides being part of an incredible team of people, I actually was able to complete my first Century ride of 100 miles. This was not bad for a guy who had seldom been on a bike and was about 75 lbs overweight. Well .. that was then. Now my bike sits in my office – on a trainer – and I have not been starving and my tires have gotten fatter while the bikes have gone flat. So .. okay .. the 5th it will be. I'll be raising money for the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society. @RealtorNormRice

  29. Dean Ouellette says

    Ok everyone here is the ones i know for sure right now, let me know if your charity is missing and I can fill it in… Also anyone else want in sign up…

    Also are we going until Feb 1 or March 1… i know there is interest in both. Would love to hear what everyone thinks

    @deanouellete – American Diabetes Association
    @PhoenixREGuy – American Cancer Society
    @Craig42K – Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
    @chumley21 – St. Judes Childrens Hospital
    @aflyonthewall – Donor’s Choose
    @midorimiller – The Gift of Education..Mother’s Fighting For Others
    @realtornormrice – Luekemia and Lymphoma Society
    @michaeljbarber – AZ Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    @burbtimes – Breast Cancer Research Foundation
    @PreppyDude – Lymphoma Research Foundation
    @BrettTousley
    @lefinley
    @denadavis
    @scotthack
    @jamiegeiger
    @stevebelt
    @Steve_Heidemann
    @CalgaryRealtor
    @ousooner44
    @propertyqwest

    **Dean Ouellette´s last blog post..Biggest Loser Realtor style</abbr></abbr>

  30. Steve [email protected] A says

    For a challenge like this, using our blogs and twitter to track and smack is possible, but not the most effective. With that in mind, and Jay's permission, I created a wiki for all of us to join. You'll need an account, but it's FREE (my favorite price)!

    The wiki: http://rebiggestloser.pbwiki.com

    Everyone will have full access to change every page on the wiki, if you will each just sign up and request access. On the wiki we can use the comment area to talk smack, provide updates, share our success/failures, etc. Everyone can have their own page if they would like, as well as the main page to "meet together". Of course, I still encourage the use of twitter and I'm thinking the hashtag: #rebiggestloser. A quick tweet after a wiki update makes a lot of sense.

    See you on the wiki…

    **Steve Belt´s last blog post..2008 ASU vs U of A Rivalry Game</abbr></abbr>

  34. Justin McHood says

    And the chubby little loan officer has entered the race.

    I am not sure I can win this one, but may possibly be sponsoring a pie-eating-contest on February 2nd.

    Special thanks to @tmchood for being a reader of this blog and bringing it up… oh, about 25 times since you posted it.

  36. Candace Robinson says

    Jay — I love this idea! I just don't want to post my lbs publicly! So if you can figure out how to work around that, I'm thinking I am taking the challenge on! We all know my "junk in the trunk" has to go! How cool is this to lose weight with others that are wanting to do the same and give to a great cause! So..do I have to post my lbs or what?

    **Candace Robinson´s last blog post..One Benefit To Buying Now – Immediate Equity</abbr></abbr>

  39. Jay - The Phoenix Re says

    @Candace – no, you don't have to post your weight.

    You don’t have to post about it (though personally, I find posting about it motivating). No one needs to know your starting or ending weight, just the percentage loss.

    It's all honor system. Just tell us at the end, "I lost 47.8% of my starting weight." We'll, insert the actual amount which will be WAY less than 47.8%! 😉

    Soooo….. you're in?

    @Duane – all are welcome, fat lobbyist included! Are you in?

  40. Derek Overbey says

    Jay,

    I'm bringing sexy back but I need to be able to tie my shoes to do it. I'm in! I do agree it needs to be a little longer but will do whatever the group does.

    Derek

  43. Jim Miller says

    Jay, I'm in. Been reading you from Spokane for a while. I work within my wife's RE business (lindamiller.com) but am not currently an active licensee.

    Haven't figured out % yet, but I tip the scale a little north of you and need to go for 60-70 lbs. myself. Not a Twitter member at this time, but will look into it.

    I like a challenge. Charity is American Heart Association.

  44. Deanna @ Women' says

    This is perfect! I just agreed on a mutual-exercise-motivation plan with a friend, and this is another motivational item to add to the mix. I'm never going to win the prize, since I only intend to lose a few pounds. But they're a stubborn few pounds that have been around longer than I want. Any trick to help the exercise/diet plan hold over the holidays is a big help! Glad to see you've got Twitter in on this too. Thanks, and best wishes to all of us for success!

    **Deanna´s last blog post..Reflect upon your present blessings</abbr></abbr>

  45. Max says

    I registered at the pbwiki earlier, but haven't gotten my approval yet. Anyway, finishing my last beer and I'm in as well 🙂 I was 145lb when I arrived to this country, and now I'm 185… burning some body fat and smack-talk old fat dudes sounds like fun 😉

    **Max´s last blog post..Sky Harbor is America's Healthiest Airport</abbr></abbr>

  48. Teri Lussier says

    I got my page up, I got my weight up there- Oh god, was that unpleasant. And because I feel sorry for you, I'm going to give you losers a choice in charities – One Laptop per Child. http://laptop.org/en/

  50. Kristal Kraft says

    Jay ~ Brilliant idea! Count me in too. It's a great time of year to be more conscious of what we eat, besides we can get a jump on the New Year Resolutions. A little good natured competition will be good motivation!
    kk
    P.S. Saying goodbye to bloggers butt starting now!

  53. Wade [email protected] says

    Great idea Jay, count me in. Figure I'd like to lose 10 lbs by Feb 1 rather than start the year up 10 lbs, which is what I typically do over the holidays.

    I was able to drop 20 lbs earlier this year (Jan 1 to July 4) in a family biggest loser contest. Didn't quite reach my goal and have since put 5 lbs back on.

    My weigh in weight on 12/5 is 169 lbs and goal is 160 lbs. Guess I'll have to cut back on the micro brews over the holidays. Looking forward to buying some new (smaller) pants in February.

    My charity is the Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta.

    **Wade Munday´s last blog post..HML rehab loans</abbr></abbr>

  59. Brandon says

    I'm game for fronting $50 for someone that will lose the lb's. I weigh a buck 50, so I have better odds of winning the lottery. Anyone?

  60. Tina Merritt says

    OK – I guess the baby weight I've been carrying around for almost 6 years needs to go. This is great motivation to do it!

    My charity will be the American Diabetes Association in memory of my Uncle Russ who just passed away on Nov. 30. He had just had surgery to remove a toe (due to diabetes) and died of a blood clot as a result of that surgery a few days later.

    **Tina Merritt´s last blog post..Thankfulness Needs to Come from the Soul</abbr></abbr>

  61. Connie Wilhelm Zulu says

    no twitter here

    Hello loving your idea. I am doing very well with this hole weight loss idea and so pumped up and motivated. Others on the

    AR blog have commented about this being a wrong time to do this let me tell you I LOVE IT, I have been to two large calorie filled event and so proud of the fact that I did not eat one thing wrong. I am holding my head to high knowing that at this very challenging time of the year you will not throw me off my game. I am working out to TURBO JAM and I am feeling pumped. I would love to loss 50 lbs by the summer and I will be great compation for you guys signed up. My family watches biggest loser all the time. My charity to is Zambian Orpheanges you can read my blog on AR about this cause.

    GAME ON!!!!

  62. Dr. Charles Martin says

    Congratulations! Your commitment to a weight management program can't help but lower your risk of a host of chronic health problems, including diabetes. Elevated blood sugar is by itself a significant health challenge, but its complications can cause or contribute to increased risks for many potentially catastrophic health events. High blood sugar levels make you more susceptible to gum disease, which interacts with diabetes in ways that make both conditions worse and lead to heart attack, stroke, blindness . . . the list is long and grisly. Fortunately, routine dental therapy can reduce blood sugar and even reverse gum disease. I write about this extensively on my blog.

    Glad to see that the ADA is one of your charities! Best of luck.

    – Charles Martin, DDS

    Founder, Dentistry For Diabetics

    **Dr. Charles Martin´s last blog post..The Best Beverage For High Blood Sugar Readings And Teeth</abbr></abbr>

  63. Muata says

    Jay,

    Thanks for the kind words about my blog and my fat loss journey. I applaud all of you who are taking this weight loss challenge, and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. Yes, my blog is geared towards guys, but ladies feel free to email me too since the same fat loss principles applies to everyone. Just remember one thing: The tortoise was right, slow and steady does win the race! Thanks again Jay …

    **Muata´s last blog post..New CNN FitNation Summit 2008 Photo Gallery Uploaded!</abbr></abbr>

  71. Real Estate says

    Thanks for the advice and the amazing challenge. Good luck with your challenge. Any updates you want to share at this point in time? I just saw this post and I’m getting ready to do the challenge myself. Thanks!

  74. Wade Munday says

    Wanted to see how everyone is doing on your diet/lifestyle changes? The RE Biggest Loser was a great motivation for me and helped me to keep the holiday weight last year.

    I've been able to continue the diet/exercise and have dropped a couple of more pounds. Haven't reached my ultimate goal – six pack abs, but I'm getting closer.

    Wanted to suggest a couple of resources for the group: CrossFit (www.CrossFit.com) and The Paleo Diet (www.ThePaleoDiet.com). You want to lose fat and get in the best shape of your life, try CrossFit and the Paleo Diet.

    wade
    .-= Wade Munday´s last blog ..Gallery 5 =-.

Trackbacks

  9. […] Real Estate’s Biggest Loser ”” The Phoenix Real Estate Guy – No, this is not a rant about some real estate loser. This is about a weight loss challenge. Yep, right smack in the middle of the holiday season. (What better time?) Steve Belt’s been hassling me for weeks on Twitter to get back on my … […]

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