Thanks for playing

Well, with the Mayors' Challenge over it looks like this will be my last post, unless there's a huge public outcry for me to keep posting to the blog.

Thanks for all your comments, questions and support. They were very much appreciated and it was nice to know there were others out there who could relate.

I'll monitor the blog for commments and see if we get any conversations going in the next couple of weeks.

After that, you can hopefully find me at the salad bar or at the gym! Or you can send e-mail here: adominello@news-record.com

Thanks!

~ Amy

I Demand a Recount!

Like I said last week, I've got a healthier attitude these days.

And that seems to have taken root. I just weighed myself and I've lost eight pounds.

But I still can't believe the mayors did better than me!

Final Mayors' Challenge Update

From the organizers:

Congratulations to the Guilford County Mayors who lost a total of 100.2 pounds! Of the 751 on-line participants, 151 reported a total weight loss of 1454.8 pounds! If you forgot to report your total pounds lost, you can still do so. Send an email to mayorschallenge@ymcagreensboro.org and report your weight lost.

More About the Mayors
Every one of our mayors met the challenge and lost at least 10 pounds. Every mayor was a big winner!

Here are the final results:
Mayor Keith Holliday, Greensboro - LOST 10.25 pounds

Mayor Billy Ragsdale, Jamestown - LOST 10.4 pounds

Mayor Howard Morgan, Sedalia - LOST 10.6 pounds

Mayor Pro Tem John Faircloth - LOST 12.4 pounds

Mayor Mark Brown, Summerfield - LOST 13.4 pounds

Mayor Rick Wallace, Pleasant Garden - LOST 14.3 pounds

Mayor Bert Stone, Archdale - LOST 14.4 pounds

Mayor Lenny Williams, Gibsonville - LOST 14.45 pounds

TOTAL WEIGHT LOST: 100.2 pounds

This is an average of 12.5 pounds per mayor!

Mayors' weight loss story

Sorry, guys. The story on the mayors never made it to the News & Record site on Saturday.

But here are the mayors in all their svelte glory.

How the Mayors Did

They did better then me!

All eight that participated lost 10 pounds or more.

Check out tomorrow's paper for all the details on how your mayor did.

How did you do?

Well yesterday was the official end of the 10-week Guilford County Mayors' Challenge.

As you can see from the article below, I lost six pounds. Not ten pounds.

But you know what? I even worked out this morning. A full day after the end of the challenge. Now that's an accomplishment.

Any other participants in the Mayors' Challenge want to share their stories?

Final story

Here's the final installment of the weight-loss chronicles:

Lost 6 pounds, gained healthy habits for life

Amy Dominello
Staff Writer

When I woke up early on my birthday to go to the gym, I knew a transformation had taken place.

In the past, I would have never worked out on my birthday. Ever.

But during the past 10 weeks I've been participating in the Guilford County Mayors' Challenge to lose 10 pounds. I did it to get a little healthier — and because I could easily spare 10 pounds.

I lost 6 pounds, not 10.

I thought it would be easier than it was. I slacked off at times. My diet wasn't always great.

But I gained a lot. I learned how to eat better. I became reacquainted with working out.

Most importantly, my mind-set has changed. Although the 10-week challenge is over, I still plan to keep it up.

Even on birthdays and holidays. At least most of them.


Best comment: "I thought you'd be fatter."

Newly discovered favorite form of torture: The elliptical machine

An epiphany: Getting up early to work out is not that difficult. I'm just lazy.

The bunny was looking at me funny: An after-Easter tangle with a chocolate bunny was my weakest moment.

Full list of snarky comments and story here.

Don't forget

If you're looking for a little exercise, don't forget the walk this weekend:

GREENSBORO — The Guilford County Department of Public Health is hosting “Get Healthy Guilford,” a walking event Saturday at Festival Park.
Registration and a short program will begin at 1 p.m., followed by a community walk at 2 p.m. The event is free and will be held rain or shine. Walkers may register on site at Festival Park or by logging in here before the event.
The first 100 walkers to arrive and sign in will receive a free pedometer. For information, call 641-7777 or go to www.guilfordhealth.org.

Rough week

I've lost some momentum this week.

A trip to New York for Easter really started me on a downward spiral. Couple that with a busy week and it hasn't been pretty.

I started off with good intentions. Really, I did. But between traveling, Mom's cooking, Easter candy and pizza, temptation was hard to resist. (On the plus side, I did work out two of the three days I was in New York, even running along the beautiful Hudson River.)

But the downward spiral of eating poorly seems to have continued this week. And I haven't been to the gym that much this week. It feels like once I let myself eat bad food it's really hard to get back to being healthy.

Protein bars

This question comes from a reader who is looking for the names of some good, high protein bars.

"I need help from you. I, too, need to lose 10 pounds. Please share you honest tips, and particularly the name of the higher protein bars. Every time I look at them sugar is high and so is the fat."

Clearly, I'm no expert. I'm reluctant to name the brands that I've been eating because I'm probably wrong.

Anyone want to offer their advice?

Advice from Jeannie Sykes

Here is more advice from my interview with Jeannie Sykes, a clinical nutritionist from Moses Cone Family Practice. (Related to today's story on willpower and diet.)

On cultural norms:
"I think that plays a big part of what we're drawn to and avoid. Taste preferences are mostly learned. What you like is what you're exposed to."

Facing the buffet:
"Did you really get more of your money's worth when you eat more than you want and ruin your weight loss effort?"

On overeating:
Listen to whether or not you're hungry and get joy from your food.
"When we live in the area of all or none that's when we're in a dangerous place."

Eating at events:
Eat something before you go.
"While you're at home you have control. Take the control you have while you have it."

Peer pressure:
We've all been there when someone tries to push another serving or dessert on your plate. You don't want to look like a jerk.
Try asking for a piece to go, recommends Sykes. And usually people want you to eat more to justify their own desire for that extra serving or piece of cake.
Or you can take just one bite of dessert and that usually gets a food pusher to leave you alone. But Sykes added, if you know that one bite will lead to a downward spiral, avoid it at all costs.

Changing others:
You can set a good example and help reshape cultural norms, Sykes said.

Today's article

UPDATE: And I wonder where I get it from! My family spent about 30 minutes over the weekend dissecting what makes a good sandwich and where to get the best in the New York area.

Mind over mouthful

Amy Dominello
Staff Writer

Editor's note: Buff — or buffet. That's staffer Amy Dominello's dilemma. She likes food too much to ever starve herself. But she's been trying to lose some weight and get healthy as part of the Guilford County Mayor's Challenge, which ends Sunday.

I had a moment the other night.

Eating dinner at a friend's house, I took my first bite of homemade lemon chess pie. I actually closed my eyes and made a noise that sounded close to what Homer Simpson does when he looks at a doughnut.

I didn't even realize I did it until he called me out on it.

Relationships are complicated. As I try to watch my weight, I'm finding my relationship with food is a little twisted, even obsessive.

I love food.

I like talking about it.

I like planning and thinking about it: New York-style pizza. Girl Scout cookies. Wine. Bagels. Those little pieces of chocolate that sit out on everyone's desk. The twisted chicken burrito at Fishbones.

Buffets and potlucks are like winning the lottery.

And like every junkie, I don't go very long without a fix.

Full article here.

Check out Gibsonville's mayor

Also from the folks at the Mayors' Challenge:

Gibsonville Mayor Lenny Williams and his daughter and grandson were on WFMY's Good Morning Show today at 6:45 a.m.

Click here for their inspirational story. All three generations will motivate you and your family!

Their story will also air tonight at 5 p.m.

Things that make sense

I know these thoughts I'm about to put down aren't exactly rocket science.

But I had a really bad workout today. I didn't eat so great yesterday. I went to bed late and didn't sleep that well.

And I think that really messed me up today. It's just further proof that you've got to take good care of yourself to really function well.

Today's story - Carb Queen

Today's story on my addiction to carbs:

When I decided to track what I eat for a week with a food diary, it was only natural for my good friend Andrea Mitola to look at it and offer suggestions.

Not only have we known each other since our days as college roommates, but she's also completing her doctorate in nutrition at Johns Hopkins University.

She knows what she's talking about. More important, she held me accountable:

I have decided you are the carb queen! Carbs are not all bad, so this is not a complete diss, BUT you do need to discriminate.

Full story here.