Weight Loss Blog
The Weight Loss Blog offers news and information about nutrition and fitness as well as actual weight loss success stories as told by students at Wellspring Academies, formerly Academy of the Sierras, the first boarding school for overweight teens. WSA is part of Wellspring, which also runs Wellspring weight loss camps.
The Blog started with entries by 15-year-old Jahcobie who graduated from WSA after losing 176 pounds in seven months. Then Brooke, a 17-year-old from Prescott, Arizona, took over. Our latest student blogger was Melissa, a 17-year-old from Orange County, California. Melissa recently graduated and we wish her success and she continues down her path as a "long-term weight controller."
Andy D. a 17-year-old student at Wellspring Academy spent a few months sharing his adventures in weight loss, healthy eating, and fitness fun with us before he graduated the program in June.
Now we'll continue to update you with news and information about weight lose, healthy living, and childhood obesity. We'll have a new WSA student share their stories with us beginning in the Fall.
Wellspring programs are the most effective weight loss solutions for teens available today. But don't let us tell you. Let Andy, Melissa, Brooke, and Jahcobie tell you. Read about their journeys toward successful weight management in their own words.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Why do I eat?
That is the question that many weight controllers, myself included, are constantly asking themselves. This question has been in the forefront of my mind for the last several days. This past Tuesday I went home for an "Off Campus Challenge." In addition to seeing my family, going home provided me the opportunity to take a look at my current relationship with food. I had felt on top of my weight control efforts here on campus. But when I left the comforts of Reedley, California, I found it exponentially more difficult for me to control my food intake. When I asked myself why this was the case, I realized that I was eating only because the food was there. Here at AOS, we stick to a diet of healthy, wholesome foods. When I was off campus, and saw the high-fat, high-sugar foods that I used to love, I let the sight overwhelm me, and did not use what I had learned.
I did learn a valuable lesson, however. Next time I am in a situation where I am face to face with a cookie, I know how important it is never to underestimate the power of how strong just seeing some thing can make you want to eat it.
Labels: healthy_eating, relationships, weight_controllers
Monday, March 26, 2007
My Future's so Bright...
In early April, about the 1st or 2nd of the month, a great thing happens in our country. In cities across America, fans of our nation's pastime get ready to celebrate the beginning to another wonderful season of major league baseball with Opening Day. Fans of every team celebrate the opportunity of a new beginning. Each opening day, all 30 teams in the Major Leagues have a fresh start. There is new hope for all, even fans of franchises such as the Chicago Cubs.
With the spirit of fresh starts and second chances in mind, I felt it would be appropriate to discuss the many chances I have received in my life. This is actually my second stint here at Academy of the Sierras. During my first stay here, I was very successful. While my eating habits were wildly out of control before I ever set foot on campus, I was soon able to control my food intake. Before I knew it, I had lost 100 pounds, and was headed home. However, after a couple of really good months, it became apparent to me that my departure from the Academy was premature. I realized that my journey to long term weight control might take longer than some of my peers, and that I needed to go back to AOS to refine my skills. So, in late January of this year, I found myself back in Reedley, ready for a second chance to permanently get myself back on the path to weight controlling success. As I write this today, I am happy to say that I am have better self control than I've had in quite a while, and I am confident that my future will be bright.
Labels: fresh_start, hope, second_chance
Friday, March 23, 2007
Basketball and Team
As the great ex-UCLA Bruin basketball coach John Wooden once said, "The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team." Although the concept of teamwork may be pushed into the minds and hearts of children with the likes of posters telling us that, "There is no I in TEAM," the importance of this concept can never be understated.
I would like to look at this quote as it relates to weight controllers. As an overweight person starts his journey, several things influence his success. They include support, determination, and knowledge, amongst others. But one aspect of successful weight control that can sometimes be overlooked is what sort of people a weight controller chooses to surround himself with. A weight controller's supporting cast can help influence what sort of decisions he makes. The "rest of the team" can help the weight controller stay focused on his weight loss program. A friend or acquaintance who is also working on losing weight can be a huge support if the weight controller has hit a roadblock in his program. Having somebody to lean on that understands what the weight controller is going through is invaluable.
Personally, I am working on developing my supporting cast of fellow weight controllers. Although it is a process, I know that finding people that can help me through my struggles is vital to my success.
Labels: support, teamwork, weight_controllers
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
You Can be Hot and Cool at the Same Time
When you live in one of the hotter places in America, where temperatures reach 115 in the summer, it is natural for some to fear the rising of the thermometer. However, with the right tips, even the most hardcore cold weather fans can learn how to deal with the heat. These tips are especially important for weight controllers, as we have to learn how to be active in all conditions.
Tip one: Go inside. To an air conditioned room. If possible, when trying to stay away from the heat, the obvious choice would be to avoid good old Mr. Sunshine. While the people of the raisin industry may benefit from the 100+ degree temperatures that we may see later this year, the normal person's body does not respond as well to temperatures that are better suited to frying eggs on the sidewalk than living in.
Tip two: Drink water. As I like to say "hydration is cool." And, to a greater extent, if it is really hot out, and you don't stay hydrated, you might die. Your body is mostly made up of water, and when you are out in the hot weather, physically exerting yourself, it is vital to replace the lost water.
Tip three: Know your limits. While it is important to be active, it is also important to only push your body as hard is it can take it. In very warm weather, maybe it would be more appropriate to power walk for a short amount of time, as opposed to doing sprints for a long time that could potentially cause overheating.
In essence, as summer rolls along, I hope that everyone heightens their awareness of the dangers of overheating while exercising, and that people take the steps necessary to keep their bodies happy healthy and safe.
Labels: exercising, summer, tips
Friday, March 16, 2007
Sports and Weight Control
With the NCAA tournament starting today, I figured that it would be an appropriate time to bring up just how great sports are.
It is well known that playing sports is a form of exercise, which is quite beneficial to the health. However, most people don't take time to look beneath the surface, and examine how many parallels there are between sports and health. Weight control is a multi-faceted effort. Not only does it involve exercise, but also goals, peer support, proper education about what foods are healthy, and above all, the will to succeed. Sports share many of these same attributes.
Take a team playing in the national football league for example. As the players enter training camp in late July and early August they have several objectives. One is to get into game shape. They go through series upon series of grueling drills to ensure that when September comes around, their bodies will be ready to handle the impact of a 60 minute game. Another is to learn the play book, and get themselves mentally ready for the upcoming season. Many teams also state clear goals going into training camp. Some shoot for a divisional title, while others have a "super bowl or bust" attitude.
Once the season starts, and the players have done all they can to prepare themselves, there are two main elements that can be viewed as the make or break points for a certain team. One is the coaching. Players can be extremely talented at what they do, however if they are not put in a position to win, then they will not have success. The other element is the desire of the athletes. These multi-millionaires, who live a privileged life have to ask themselves how hard they are willing to work, and if they are willing to put their bodies on the line to succeed.
As farfetched as this analogy may seem to be, organized sports, and weight control have many similarities. It is easier to view health as a challenge, something that you can work towards, similar to sports, than an insurmountable problem.
18 days until opening day.
Go Giants
Labels: determination, sports, weight_control
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Frustration and Motivation
I would like to say hello to my massive reading audience out there. I hope everybody is doing well. Lately, I have been having some issues finding motivation to control my weight. I have found from my experiences that motivation really is one of the key components to having success in weight control. You can be educated about what to eat or how to exercise, but if you don't have the drive to use what you learned, it is very difficult to be successful. I have been thinking of what I can do to gain back the motivation that I once had. I remember what it feels like to get up every morning and want to exercise, and be motivated to take the steps necessary to control my weight. For me, and a lot of other weight controllers, it is a struggle to control our weight when we don't have clear objectives and goals. If I don't know what I am working for, it is very hard stay committed. So, with this in mind, I decided to search for something to keep that would help keep me motivated. For some people this symbol is a picture of them at their heaviest, something that they never want to look like again. Others have a goal in mind that they keep in the forefront of their brains. Whether it be fitting in a pair of size 34 pants, or slipping into a dress that didn't used to fit, short term goals are very important.
As I write this, I am in the process of trying to find a short term goal that will help put me over the edge in my weight control. And, I encourage anyone who is having an issue with their own weight to find something, whether it be a goal, or an image to help them in their efforts to be healthy.
Opening day for the San Francisco Giants = 26 days away
Labels: frustration, goals, motivation
