MinimizeYou.com

Step competition decided!

Johan Groundstroem — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:12:38 +0000

The competition bug really bit, and everyone has been swearing at their pedometers – apparently the count wasn’t all that accurate. But it has brought home an important message – if you have a stationary job or you’re studying, you just don’t move enough each day. Those with more mobile jobs move enough to achieve the exercise they need as part of their work. You need to exercise at least 3-4 times a week, and take a walk, run, cycle, visit the gym and maybe go for a swim. Many of you have made a real effort and adopted a tough exercise regime for a week. But the most important thing is to be consistent and not to just adopt a tough exercise regime every other month.

It’s up to you to decide how you do it, but if you want to feel great, you must stay on the move – it really is that simple.

Micke 214,000 steps
Tina 189,000 steps
Mats 117,000 steps
The Coach 111,000 steps
Sonja 95 700 steps
Krister 44,817 steps

Congratulations Micke! I’ll be back with a picture of the prize! You should be proud of yourself – I’ve never heard of a one-week step competition where the winner recorded 214,000 steps! An average of 30,500 steps per day must surely be a record!

// The Coach

// Coach

Check out the participants homepages have also been updated used google translate to translate them so don’t nag at me too hard. Video is also in Swedish but please check out the participants!

Krister Enstjärna – “MinimizeYouKrister”
Mats Helgesson – “MinimizeYouMats”
Michael Ignberg – “MinimizeYouMichael”
Sonja Meksa – “MinimizeYouSonja”
Tina Maria Toft – “MinimizeYouTina”

Result – The third week of MinimizeYou 2009

Johan Groundstroem — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:08:02 +0000

Half-time and things are picking up. The total weight loss stands at an amazing 33.7 kg! I’ve encouraged you, you’ve encouraged each other and, in addition, your nearest and dearest have backed you to the hilt. Well, almost everyone – but not Sara who tried to persuade Sonja to eat a bit extra – bad girl!:) At the 3-week mark, we have already exceeded the amount of weight I’d expected you to lose in 6 weeks! An outstanding result, but the best thing is that you haven’t tired of either hamburgers or exercise. You’re like the most energetic of Duracell rabbits! An incredible achievement – there just aren’t enough words to describe it!!! You really don’t need much encouragement, but as promised, I’ve organised a step competition. I spoke to Maluwa today, and she’s providing a small prize for the winner! You’re a star, Maluwa!

TIME FOR A MINI-COMPETITION!

How many steps to you actually take per day? If you take at least 10,000 steps per day, you will continue to feel great in the future as well. Take me, for example: if I take the underground to and from work, walk to and from Max during the lunch break and use the stairs, I usually clock up 5,000 steps. That’s only half of what it ought to be. Obviously, if you have a job which involves staying on your feet and moving around, or if you are involved in some other form of exercise, you don’t need to worry about the impact of the pedometer reading on your future. But if you are not in this position, you must keep on the move to stay healthy.

The aim of the competition is to find out who takes the most steps between the morning of Monday 9 November and the following Sunday evening – the competition started yesterday, in other words. The daily number of steps and the total to be reported on the blog…. Honour and a small prize are at stake, and I will take part as well!

PS: Can anyone clock up 9,000 steps in an hour? That’s what my son did during a football training session. Maybe the ever-competitive Tina is crazy enough to try, but I don’t believe it’s possible.

/ Coach Johan

Result – The second week of MinimizeYou 2009

Johan Groundstroem — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:05:28 +0000

Everyone’s made a great effort to keep the momentum going. In total, you have lost an astonishing 27.4 kg! I’m so impressed by your attitude and your commitment to the task in hand. This is the key to your success. It’s so nice to see that you are encouraging each other – it is so much easier than going it alone. Has anyone in your family caught the bug yet? Are your better halves adopting a healthy approach, too? My girlfriend may not eat more hamburgers than the average person, but she certainly eats more healthily now that she has the chance. No more cosy nights, since it probably isn’t as much fun to stuff yourself alone.

// Johan

Result – The first week of MinimizeYou 2009

Johan Groundstroem — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:01:44 +0000

The result for the first week is a joint weight loss of 18.3 kg! A fantastic result – equal to 18 litres of milk!!! Wow. Every one you has contributed to this success, and you really have given it 110% effort. It’s all about mind over matter, and you really have already demonstrated true commitment. I am so proud of your achievement, and you can all hold your heads up high – well done!

Pedometers!

The pages for the individual participants have also been updated with the results from the first week. Go on, have a look!

The pedometers have now arrived! Start keeping a record of the number of paces each day. We’ll turn it into a mini-competition. Great idea, or what?

// Johan

Check out the participants homepages have also been updated check them out!

/Johan

First five days… Now it’s easy!

Johan Groundstroem — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:27:35 +0000

I am really proud of all of you, my chosen few! In five days, you have come through the worst ordeal. From my own experience of 90 days’ dieting, I can vouch for the fact that the first three days are the hardest. The last 87 were like a day at the funfair – enjoyable and exciting. I would like your weights and measurements on Monday, when I will be opening a new page Now the weekend and all its temptations are upon us. Maybe you think that going to a party or relaxing in front of the television won’t be as much fun. There may be plenty of temptations around. But if you find yourself at a party, I can promise you that you will have the most interesting stories to tell. Open another bottle of mineral water and enjoy wakening up the next morning without a hangover! You’re doing a great job! // Johan – your Coach

Congratulations!

Johan Groundstroem — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:05:31 +0000

A decision has finally been made and I’ve e-mailed the five winners. I have suffered endless torment! I received several hundred applications and read every single one. I selected 100 genuine applicants and then drew lots to reduce this to 25. I have now selected the final five, who appear to be totally committed. And I know that I’ve made the right decision! So check your messages. To those who haven’t received an e-mail – sorry. To those who have – congratulations! Please send me a reply to let me know that you’ve got your invitation. I ended up with five people from different parts of Sweden. I could easily have selected 100, but the choice has now been made. My torment and yours has finally come to an end …
But this isn’t the end. I had no idea how much attention this would attract, and I can only hope that the selected few won’t throw in the towel. You have already taken the first step on the road to a new life. But this is only the beginning, not the end. I and the five selected individuals will tell you about our progress on this blog. So stay in touch, and tell us about yours as well!
I will collect all the applications tonight. Please give me a couple of days to make up my mind!
Thanks you for a great response. Isn’t it great that all but 2 are prepared to take part? The only reason why these two have had to abandon this attempt is that they don’t have easy access to a Max restaurant! I’ll have to nag them about building more outlets! Dum dum dum…

Are you one of the chosen 5?

Johan Groundstroem — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:22:53 +0000

I spent last night selecting more than 100 individuals! But that figure has to be brought down to 5. I have received tons of applications, but now it’s time to do a draw for 25, who I will then e-mail. I really have read all the applications, and many have completely bared their souls. There are so many wonderful people out there who just want a push in the right direction.
I have laughed, felt sad, angry and upset. As usually, I have put far too much of my heart and soul into this. Most of the applicants have demonstrated a great sense of humour, and some have really worked hard to make me understand how badly they want to be part of this. Others have left me feeling angry and sad when I read how far their self-respect has been allowed to fall. I have realised that we are programmed by society to accept size zero as the ideal, but not that it was this bad! Not even models live up to this image until they’ve been Photoshopped! Many people have spent their lives struggling to keep their weight down, and have now reached the point where this daily battle has become something of an obsession. Must slim down, can’t eat this or that. Then you fall by the wayside, and eat something to make yourself feel better … Stop being so hard on yourselves – you have shown that you have the will and courage, and this is the first day of the rest of your lives! Stop feeling sorry for yourselves!
I challenge everyone who’s reading this to get a new life! I have set a date – 19 October! This is a great opportunity, and you will have others to chat to and nag. Create your own low-calorie diet, starting from your own personal favourite food. Mine is hamburgers. If you accept this challenge, seek help. Book a doctor’s appointment and find someone to share your journey with. I’ve already acted as something of a “matchmaker”. That’s not my word for it, but what Liz and Allan have told me (actually, they said “pimp”!!!). They found each other through the blog, and their names will be in the draw to find 25 individuals. Please don’t try to argue that you’ve found someone to nag for daily walks in the Park just because you live close together. And if you’re not one of the 5, I urge you to make the most of this push and start your own journey. What I’m saying is, don’t try this on your own. Find a pal, mate, lady, gentleman, boy or girl to share it with. This makes it so much easier. Feel free to get in touch with me if you like – I may be able to find someone close to where you live.
What do I expect of those who are selected? Oh, poor you! Firstly, you must have read this whole entry to get this far. You will be expected to take quite a bit of exercise, and to eat hamburgers! LOL One absolute must is that you are healthy enough to go on a diet. The media – haven’t they laid into me! You will definitely be featured in the media and I would be delighted if you could write a blog of your journey. You will need reasonably easy access to a Max restaurant, but you won’t have to go there every day. You will be able to collect food packages with assembly instructions to make your own burgers. And last but by no means least, you must be keen to change your life right now!
I’m taking the weekend off, to hold a party for the neighbours. It is exactly a year since I moved into my cosy terraced house in Ormkärr. You may receive an e-mail next week!

The final day, this is your chance to grab a place

Johan Groundstroem — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:21:05 +0000

I’ve printed out all the applications so far, and this is now the last day to apply! I spent the weekend reading them. I can’t believe how many I received! A great article in HYPERLINK “http://mitti.se”http://mitti.se (central spread) despite the fact that I was not featured in Mitti Söder om Söder – hmmmm. Received an e-mail from Åsa who wanted a copy of the newspaper which featured me. I was also on radio this morning, on Rix Morronzoo.
Tomorrow is the final day for reading all the applications – come on, we’re in the home straight!

19 October is lift-off day!

Johan Groundstroem — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:05:21 +0000

The issue of a start date has finally been settled – and it’s 19 October! Now all I have to do is select 5 individuals who will join me, and this hasn’t been easy. Naturally, I’d like to take everyone with me on this journey, but that’s impossible.

So I will spend the weekend sifting out the most devoted, ingratiating and those who have made serious attempts at buttering me up, he he. Joking aside, I am trying to find people from all parts of Sweden and all ages. Apply today!

Get your application in today! :)

Johan Groundstroem — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:36:46 +0000

Time flies! The summer is over and it’s back to work again. I wouldn’t change my job for the world, but it sure is tough to pick up the old routines again. I’m probably the only one who neglected my diet over the summer. I managed to stay away from fizzy drinks and fries, but the odd cheeseboard and a couple of glasses of wine got past my defences. And as for exercise – what’s that? I’ve been missing my bicycle and will haul it out for a clean-up over the weekend. It’s time to make a new effort and restart my efforts to keep my weight under control. And this time, I’ll have help. The applications are arriving fast, and I’m reading every single one.

A funny thing happened: Last Thursday, I met the nicest journalist in the world, and was talked into a photo shoot. It didn’t go very well, and I feel sorry for the photographer. I’ve extended the application period by a couple of weeks to give everyone the chance to take part. Imagine what a journey it will be, and free burgers are included!

Something funny happened while I was having my picture taken. An Italian walked up and asked what it was it was like to be a celebrity in Sweden…. Clearly the Swedish celebrity scene leaves a lot to be desired. Well, I might be slightly mad, and I hope you are, too. Apply today!