Book Club Girl is Getting Her Game On!

What, you may ask, does that mean? Well, today is day one of the Game On! Diet challenge that I've embarked upon with some of my coworkers. Now, I couldn't decide whether or not this was something I should post here since it's not technically book club related, but it is book related, and it is about me (the "girl" in Book Club Girl), so hope you'll indulge me. These posts won't take over the blog but this is a big deal for me, and it would seem really odd for me to be posting every day and not mention it occasionally.

The Game On! Diet is the brainchild of Krista Vernoff, head writer and executive producer of tv's Grey's Anatomy and Az Ferguson, winner of the Body-for-Life Challenge. When Krista returned to work after having her baby, she called on Az to help her lose the baby weight. He made her a workout regimen and eating plan that she, well, didn't follow at all. So Az went back to the drawing board. Knowing that Krista had a VERY competitive nature, he decided to present her with a healthy lifestyle plan in the form of a game, that she could play with a team, and that she could play to win. This appealed to her very much. Rather than the focus being on losing weight, the focus is on winning points, a far more tantalizing prospect. So how do you earn points? You can earn a maximum of 100 points a day for doing the following:

1) Eating 5 balanced meals a day, every 2-4 hours -- 6 points per meal
2) Exercising for at least 20 minutes a day -- 20 points
3) Sleeping for a minimum of 7 hours per night -- 15 points
4) Drinking 3 liters of water a day -- 10 points
5) Adopting a healthy new habit that you practice every day -- 10 points
6) Dropping one unhealthy habit -- 10 points
7) Communicating with your team members every day -- 5 points

You earn penalties (points lost!) for:
1) stepping on the scale more than once a day
2) unsanctioned snacking (you can have as much celery and cucumber as you want throughout the day, plus 100 free calories of whatever once a day, no other snacking)
3) Colluding with the opposing team to get them to break a rule
4) Drinking alcohol (see exception below)
5) changing the healthy or unhealthy habit during the course of the game (you have to pick those and stick to them).

It's not about total deprivation as you get:
1) One day off a week, when you don't have to follow any of the rules
2) One meal off a week when you can eat what you want and have one unit of alcohol
3) each day you can have 100 calories of anything as a bonus treat

If you don't lose at least 1% of your weight each week, you lose your alcohol privilege for the duration of the game. The game runs for 4 weeks. Because the book is written by a tv writer, it's funny and extremely approachable, not all diet scary. (no clues as to the fate of George and Izzie on Grey's however ;()

Our points are handed in once a week and tallied with our teammates. The winning team will get to do something to the losing team that we have yet to determine. I am so excited to play this, and having teammates who I'm beholden to will help to keep me honest.

As for my new habits (and they made habits a part of the game because studies have shown that true weight loss happens when there is a lifestyle change, rather than just a diet and exercise change). The unhealthy habit that I'm going to break is being on my blackberry or the computer in the evening hours from the time I get home until the kids are in bed. So from about 6:30-9:30 every night, my husband (who's also playing the game) and I are going to be focused on our family and not distracted by work (it's a tad embarassing that this is something we're not already doing). The healthy habit I'm adopting: three times a day I pump milk at work for my baby. Usually I do this while emailing, talking on the phone, working like a maniac. My healthy habit is going to be that during one of those times I will not be on email or the phone, and will sit at my desk and read, probably starting with short stories, for that 15-minute time period, making it a relaxing and enriching time, rather than a hectic, multitasking time. It's interesting that both of my habits involve turning off technology. I guess there will be a little less tweeting and blogging!

So how am I doing so far? Well, this morning I stepped on the scale and recorded my starting weight. I also measured my waist as even more than losing weight, I want to regain my pre-baby shape. I had a great breakfast of egg whites, spinach, onions and feta cheese with wheat toast and my next meal of the day will be two cheese sticks, 6 almonds, a plum and an apple. For lunch I brought a huge salad with grilled chicken. Check out the picture of all the food I brought to work, it seems like A LOT! You can learn more about the food portion of the game here, and basically, it's all about portions and balancing your protein with your carbs, and including healthy fat in each meal. I plan to do this Twenty & Plenty 20-minute workout in my office around midday. I've already talked with my teammate this am, after she power walked to work so I've earned my communication points for the day!

The days off and meals off make me feel like I really can do this -- I've already planned out a couple of the days off (my daughter's christening next week, the other's graduation the following week). And the meal off gives us even more flexibility if we end up out at a restaurant or just need a break (or, ahem, a drink). To prepare for the food part of the game, I planned out my menus for the week, shopped for it all on Friday at Costco, and made a lot of things yesterday so I don't get tripped up by preparations during the week.

I'll report back in about a week as to my progress. If you're interested in finding out more, you can listen to the great call we had with the authors last Thursday night here. About 30 of my husband's boot campers (he runs an exercise boot camp) are participating in our town, so we all spoke to the authors to get our various questions answered.

That is all, thanks for reading, wish me luck, and game on!

Comments

[Julie E.]

No offense, but I do NOT come here for diet tips. I have loved reading this blog, as I think some of my past comments have indicated, but if this "diet" stuff will be a regular feature, I'll be moving on. American women obsess WAY too much about their weight as it is. I'm trying to get away from all that obesssion myself and am avoiding things that encourage it. Sorry!

[Book Club Girl]

Julie,
I'm so sorry to have made this seem as though it will a regular feature -- not at all. This is just something that I may mention occasionally (probably more on twitter than on here) because it's a big deal in my life as I really want to live a healthier lifestyle. Yes I want to lose weight, but more than that I want to be more healthy overall: get more sleep, connect with my kids, read more and feel better.

I really did agonize over whether or not to post it at all, and I felt, perhaps incorrectly, that I had built up enough of a connection with my readers that I could share something like this with all of you.

I also wanted to share with everyone the short stories I plan to read during my healthy habit time, as that is certainly germane to the blog.

I'll continue to post about books 99.99999% of the time, but if I mentioned this, I wanted those who might be interested to know what I'm talking about. I don't plan to share diet tips. But I'll leave it up to you to decide how much is too much. I hope you won't leave because I've so enjoyed your comments on the site.

[M Denise C]

Jen, What a great concept and I am excited to see how you do. Maybe even enough to try it out. It sounds very healthy and appealing to competetive types (or those that need more than the normal motivation). Thanks for all the links.

[Kathy]

Good luck to you!

[Amy]

I'm excited to see how this turns out. I have a few habits I'd like to break myself - and a good habit to start related to books (read for 30 minutes before bed each night)! Good luck!

[Darby Lohrding]

Jen,
YOu go girl! This "diet" or take on "dieting" sounds like it makes a lot of sense! I know you have been after that baby weight and I doubt that it is as bad as you tend to think.
Hugs to you!
Darby

[Ti]

In my opinion this post IS book related. I mean, what better way to promote a book than to actually live it?

Good luck with it!

[Kate]

Good luck Jen. I plan to keep reading.

[Lisa]

I am on Jen's team at work and struggling with teh 20 pounds I have gained since my mom passed away last year... emotional eating, food filling a void. This idea, this book is THE way to do it. At last, support, fun, teamwork, competition and all in the name of HEALTH! Go team Jen and Lisa

[Julie P.]

Wow! What an awesome concept (and post!) I think I could really benefit from doing something like this! I will be anxious to hear about your progress! Good luck!

[Book Escape]

This sounds great. I really need to lose weight, but I can't get motivated. My husband & I can competitive w/each other. Maybe I should get this book and try it out!

Good Luck!

[Melanie]

Sounds like fun. Good luck with it. And thanks for sharing, I'm going to find a copy of the book. I tend to be a little competitive myself. Wonder if I can get my SIL's to do this with me - I'd love to kick thier behinds :)

[Dawn - She Is Too Fond Of Books]

You go, girl - game on!

When I read the outline of the plan I wondered what your healthy habit to adopt and unhealthy habit to lose would be. I'm glad you shared those goals with us. I'm constantly struggling to stay away from the laptop when the kids are up!

Sounds like a fantastic "whole lifestyle" approach, and the support of the team (including your husband) working the game with you should help keep everyone on track.

Good luck to all the players!

[swati]

i would love to keep a track of your progress here. Do you know of any such challenges that are going on online. I would totally love to take part in one. Being healthy is more important than losing weight. I am glad you took such a healthy approach to losing weight!

[Debbie]

I am in desperate need of some advice on Game On. I don't want to use your forum here but you sound like you understand it. Would you contact me directly?
Thank you

[Quincey]

Thank you so much for posting this! I've started a team and am waiting for our books to arrive. In the mean time I've been searching Game on! Diet, and this time I thankfully came up with your blog. My biggest struggle has been thinking about what I'll eat, so I really appreciate the picture you posted as well as all of the tips!
I've book marked your site and will be back here often to read about the books you're reading!

[Denver plastic surgery]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed. Really a nice post here!