Posted: Jul 16, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Group Updates | No Comments »
Today is the last day to throw your hat in the ring for Season 2 of the Biggest Little City Losers!
If you’ve got 50 pounds or more to lose and you want to connect with a great group of like-minded, motivated people facing similar challenges, join us! As a group we lost more than 400 pounds last season, with many members shedding more than 30 pounds (while gaining lots of new strength and energy) and going on to do things like rock climbing and mountaineering and kayaking and biking…things they never thought they’d do again.
Here’s what contestants from Season 1 had to say:
“For the first time I enjoyed, not dreaded, going to the gym because I saw friendly faces there. Members became friends! Group events and meetings kept us motivated and energized. We experimented with different classes and activities outside of the gym. We became educated and what we learned, we shared with the others on our group network. The support was amazing! Now, I feel like I am capable of doing things I’ve never imagined because my weight was holding me back”
- Shannon
“I started out very tired and unable to finish an entire class without being completely winded. Now, I can run several laps around the track and I can finish an entire class plus still have energy left for some racquetball with friends. This group has put me in contact with some truly amazing people that I would have otherwise never had the privilege of meeting. Many of these new friendships have carried over outside the gym, helping me to keep up my healthy habits and get together for fun activities. This has turned out to be the best decision for me!”
- Angela
“Losing 30 pounds over the last six months, after having little to no success at it for about 20 years, is testament to the power of this group. The people are amazing, the gym has been so welcoming and friendly, and I’m constantly amazed at all the new stuff I and other members have been able to do and enjoy now. I’m definitely on board for Season 2!”
- Tee
If you’re ready to make some big, long-lasting changes to your life, email us at biggestlittlecitylosers@gmail.com and we’ll get you all set up. But we gotta hear from you today!
Posted: Jun 27, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Group Updates, Results | No Comments »
Tee! With 31 pounds and 12.4% body weight gone since January 1st. Followed closely by Kelley, Shannon and Bryan, who all lost more than 10% body weight during the competition. Congratulations to everyone who participated, and many thanks to everyone who stuck it out for the whole six months! That’s an achievement itself, and one worth rewarding.
Stay tuned for the next season of Biggest Little City Losers!
Posted: Jun 23, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Group Updates | No Comments »
Want to be part of the group that lost more than 400 pounds during the first half of 2010? Want to meet, support and work out with other people who have at least 50 pounds to lose? Want to have fun with fitness challenges geared toward your fitness level, learn from nutrition and fitness experts, win prizes for your progress, and enjoy a state-of-the-art gym facility with great trainers where you can feel comfortable getting in shape?
It’s yours for just $30/month! ($25 for gym membership, $5 contest dues)
Come join us for the second season of Biggest Little City Losers, and have a great time getting in shape with new friends. Many of our members from last season went on to do things they haven’t done in 10, 20 years or more (or ever!) – like long bike rides, hikes, marathons, finally shopping in the juniors section, kayaking/canoeing, even summitting mountain peaks. It’s been amazing!
Alumni members will be involved, too, to help shed light on how they did it (it’s not as complicated as the weight loss industry wants you to believe), what they learned and how their lives have changed.
We’ve loved the results, and we’d love to have you on board for the next round! The only rules are:
1) you must be at least 18 years of age
2) no artificial/chemical/supplemental weight loss products allowed, all efforts must be related only to healthy exercise and eating habits
3) you agree to do your part to promote a healthy, supportive environment for our members
4) you must attend at least one official BLCL meet-up a month
That’s it!
Interested? Send an email to biggestlittlecitylosers@gmail.com and we’ll send over more info on signing up. Hurry, we’re getting started the first week of July, and new sign-ups will close when we reach 50 members.
Posted: Jun 1, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Group Updates, Results | No Comments »
Folks, we are down to 12 core members competing for the grand prize. We’ve seen some incredible progress, including five members who have lost more than 25 pounds in less than six months, and several more who have hit the 20 lb mark this month. As we begin the home stretch of our last 30 days of the competition, those of us who remain are working hard to finish strong. Final weigh-in will be held on Saturday, June 26, at South Reno Athletic Club…and the tension is high. Stay tuned for results!
Posted: Apr 2, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Member Spotlights, Results | Tags: members, weight loss | No Comments »
Hello, everyone. I’m Bryan Wayne and am one of the few males in our BLCL group. Recently relocated from Boston to Reno, I have had a bunch of “life-changing” events in the recent past, namely cross country move and pending nuptials, that have served as a launching point to live a healthier lifestyle. I had tried (and failed) many times in the past but always seemed to be lacking that accountability that a monthly weigh-in and group of people waiting for you at the gym can provide.
This group has served a few purposes for me: it has allowed me to meet some amazing people in my new hometown, as well as being a jump-start to a “new” healthy Bryan. I have always had difficulties controlling my eating habits and finding motivation to exercise, and have found this group to be extremely supportive in addressing these two common downfalls.
I work from home for a company based out of Boston, and as a result have to travel (domestically and abroad) for work quite often. This generally does not promote healthy eating habits and easily disrupts any exercise regiment. I have used this as an excuse for too long and am finally starting to find some success in losing both inches and pounds.
I am the winner for the month of March, with a total weight loss of 23 lbs since January 1st (as a member of BLCL) and a total weight loss of almost 55 lbs since my move to Reno in late August 2009. In addition to the lost inches and pounds, I have seen vast improvements with my asthma, increased energy level and mood. It’s amazing what a few changes can do.
While I still have a lot of work to do, I have to credit my success thus far to the support provided by my old friends and family back east, my new friends in Reno, and of course my beautiful fiancé Meghan. I look forward to the second half of the competition and hope to be posting more success stories in the future.
Posted: Apr 1, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Group Updates, Results | Tags: progress, weight loss | No Comments »
March was a bumpy month for a lot of the group, in large part because of the natural ebbs and tides of a six-month long commitment. We saw two members removed for non-participation (putting us at 26 active members), smaller losses this month than in January and February, and even some gains. Oops!
But there seems to be serious solidarity among members in the kicking of April’s butt, and we’re getting ready to huddle to bang out April’s playbook and get everyone back on track.
Many thanks to Whole Foods Market in Reno for sponsoring March’s prize, a $100 gift card that went to Bryan W. for the largest percentage of body weight lost this month. Congratulations, Bryan!
Can the rest of us bring it in April? Stay tuned!
Posted: Mar 1, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Member Spotlights | Tags: members, progress | No Comments »
Hi, I’m Sara, and I’m February’s winner with 12 lbs lost last month (23 total since January 1)!
I joined this group in January with very little hesitation. I know where I am physically; my mirror and scale don’t lie. I am extremely blessed to have a man in my life that loves my body the way it is… but I don’t. And I haven’t in a long time.
I have joined “loser” competitions before, on a smaller scale, and for shorter time frames. They worked, but I always gained the weight back. I think the reason for that was the short time periods: crash diets and crazy exercise doesn’t work long term.
But I keep joining because I crave competition. It is one of the only things that drives me… even to the point where I have been accused of being “too competitive.” But it’s what I need, and I know it! Thank goodness I have good friends that are willing to be friendly competitors with me!
I have struggled with my weight on and off all of my life, from being bulimic as a teenager, to just giving up the “purging” part as an adult (an unfortunate side effect of bulimia). Binging has always been my downfall. I have also always had a problem with boredom eating and obsessing over food. I still do. But now I’m trying to keep things like frozen grapes and plain popcorn around, so when I do eat out of boredom, I’m not adding an extra 1000 calories a night.
Every single day is a struggle. Getting up in the morning early to go to the gym is easier when I know that people are waiting for me and will be upset if I’m not there, but I won’t lie, there are days when it’s easier to sleep in. I’m just praying that I have more days that I want to get up and go.
Winning is great, but that isn’t my ultimate goal. My ultimate goal is permanent weight loss, and looking good in a wedding dress in September. Better than good! With 23 pounds lost so far I’m off to a good start…45 to go.
Posted: Feb 2, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Member Spotlights | Tags: goals, members, progress | No Comments »
My name is Shannon Kimbrel. I am 36 years young and a full-time working, single mom of three. I am new to the Reno area, having transplanted here from Tahoe City in May of 2009.
People describe me as a “thick” girl. I would like to know when “thick” became the politically correct way of saying someone is fat? I have lived, complacently, as a fat girl for most of my life. Not really happy, not really unhappy.
When my marriage ended, I spiraled downward into depression for the first time in my life. Food was my medication. I realized I was an unhappy person with no passion for life. I was EXISTING.
I was home with a sick kiddo on New Year’s Eve when I stumbled upon the listing for The Biggest Little City Losers on Craigslist. I had been considering joining Weight Watchers (again) and thought that this would be a great alternative. I signed up and almost immediately, had a response and welcome email. The following day, I found myself in the South Reno Athletic Club with 30+ strangers. It felt right from the start. It was a diverse group with a common goal.
January was a great month! For the first time I enjoyed, not dreaded, going to the gym because I saw friendly faces there. Members became friends! Group events and meetings kept us motivated and energized. We experimented with different classes and had a bowling night. Plans for February include roller skating, rock wall climbing and a cooking challenge! We are learning and what we learn, we share with the others on our own website. The support is amazing!
On January 30th, after a long month of eating right and working out, 30 of our members attended our first weigh in. I am very proud to say that I was the biggest loser for the month of January! I lost 18 lbs and 9% of my body weight. I am pleased with my accomplishments but what excited me were the achievements of all my new friends. For me, it was a group victory!
People ask me daily, “What is your goal?” I don’t have a definitive goal. It’s not a number on the scale. I do not want to run a marathon or fit into a bikini by summer. I will say this, though: I want to find my passion in life. Being “thick” has held me back from trying new things. I want to climb a mountain and repel down. I want to go white water rafting. Most of all, I want to learn to scuba dive. For the first time in my life, I feel like these things are within my reach.
Three things that are keeping me on track:
Support – We, the Biggest Little City Losers, want each and every member to succeed in their goals. They are there to push me harder when I want to quit, teach me things I have yet to learn, and lend a shoulder if I need to vent.
Accountability – Yes, my new friends and team will hold me accountable. However, I refuse to disappoint these people, therefore I hold MYSELF accountable for what I am putting into this process.
Motivation – I want it for the right reasons. I want it for me! I refuse to waste anymore of my life just “existing” and I WILL find my passion!!
February is going to be great! I can see it, I can feel it! The energy and enthusiasm is infectious!
I’ll be back with more on February 28th!
Posted: Jan 30, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Results | Tags: group, reno, weigh-in, weight loss | 1 Comment »
Thirty of the Biggest Little City Losers’ remaining 33 members met this morning at the South Reno Athletic Club to step on the scale and find out how successful we had been – individually and collectively – during our first month of the challenge. With as many dedicated, motivated members as we have, we knew we’d be inspired — but we weren’t prepared to be this inspired.
With a total group weight loss of 224 pounds, the Biggest Little City Losers shed the equivalent of one average contestant between January 1 and January 30. That’s an average weight loss of 7.5 lbs and 3% body weight shed per contestant in 30 days. Wow!
January’s winner for the highest percentage of body weight lost was Shannon Kimbrel, with an 18 lb + 9% loss. Go Shannon! She worked extra hard at the gym all month and it shows. Shannon won a delish collection of healthy cookbooks from Grassroots Books, along with an extra $10 gift certificate for a few more books of her choice from the store.
Contestant Maria Jones also won a gift certificate for a free breakfast or lunch off the Healthy Obsession menu at Squeeze-In Restaurant for meeting a personal goal: losing enough weight to be able to use her Wii Fit. She was 8 lbs over the limit when she started, and lost an impressive 16 lbs in January!
Congratulations to everyone for being a part of the group and pushing to do your very best to motivate not just yourselves but everyone else in the challenge. I continue to be inspired by all of you. And thanks to our great sponsors for pitching in fun prizes to help motivate everyone to push to the top!
Posted: Jan 25, 2010 | By: Tee | Category: Group Updates | Tags: group, meeting, progress | No Comments »
The Biggest Little City Losers January mid-month meeting was held tonight at South Reno Athletic Club, where we discussed changes we’re experiencing (from confidence boosts to energy levels to newfound interests in exercise), upcoming challenges, and made a decision to vote out a member of the group who hadn’t participated since we began – leaving us with a solid 34.
We’re just five days away from weigh-in. The winner this month will receive a great prize package from discount indie bookstore, Grassroots Books. Stay tuned!
