On April Fool’s Day, I began a month-long weight-loss fundraiser called “Jody’s Changing For Good Challenge.” I’d already decided to start a new weight-loss/health program, so I figured it would be fun to try to earn some money to help my wife and two oldest kids for their upcoming humanitarian trip to Kenya, Africa.
I love the multifaceted changing-for-good concept.
I’ve been obese my entire adult life. It’s time to change that for good.
If I can do some good and assist a worthy cause while improving my health and shedding pounds, how awesome is that?
Another bonus: I love that others have been sparked to make positive changes in their eating and exercising habits because I’ve been living my life out loud.
This has been a special month for me.
To everybody who participated along with me — by trying to lose weight/gain health, by donating and/or pledging to donate to my family’s service trip or simply by cheering me on — I’m tremendously touched.
Although this challenge has wrapped up, I’m more motivated than ever to continue to keep changing for good. I have so much more energy, self-control and hope than I did a month ago. My mindset has improved. My mobility is much greater.
I can’t wait to see what kind of changes lay in store for me in a month, in six months, in a year. I can’t remember the last time I was so proud and at peace with where I’m at and optimistic about where I’m going.
I only wish I would’ve done this weight-loss program — the most simple and effective diet (OK, OK … lifestyle change!) I’ve been on — and worked on my mindset like this a long time ago.
Now on to the part you’ve been waiting for — the results.
On April 1, I weighed in at 358 pounds (down from 373.7 a few weeks earlier).
One month later, I weigh 333.2 pounds.
Since this is my challenge, I’m going to round up and claim that I lost 25 pounds in April. (By the way, I’ve now dropped 40.5 pounds since early March.)
For the record, I didn’t starve myself. In fact, I ate 6-7 times a day. As I wrote about the other day, I also became an aguaholic, aiming to drink around 100 ounces a day (some days were wetter than others).
I didn’t do anything drastic. I simply followed the healthy guidelines of a program that I was very skeptical about for various reasons but am now completely sold on.
If you generously agreed to donate a certain amount of money per pound I lose, I guess I should apologize for losing so much weight while expressing my deep gratitude for the donation.
To make your donation, you can do it through my PayPal or to the YouCaring page I set up for my family.
I thank you all from the bottom of my healthier heart for participating and supporting me.
I’m still working out the details for my walk-a-thon and raffle (probably Saturday, May 8), but each of you who participated and/or donated will be entered for some of the fun prizes. We’ll also be selling raffle tickets for a small donation, so stay tuned for more details shortly!
For those of you who don’t follow me on Twitter — I’d say “shame on you,” but it might be wise considering the volume of tweets I make — here are the daily updates I made last month:
Diet update (Day 1): I just licked the wrapper of my @Medifast Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Bar.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 2, 2016
Diet update (Day 2): Took short hike with my kids at my wife’s grandparents’ cabin. Didn’t eat marshmallows. Focused on eating s-l-o-w-l-y.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 3, 2016
Diet update (Day 3): My resolve was fortified after this happened at 4:30 am at the cabin of my wife’s grandparents. pic.twitter.com/hIAe53rhm5
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 4, 2016
Diet update (Day 4): I sat in a Walmart parking lot between meals and ate two kosher dill pickles like they were greatest food on earth.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 5, 2016
Diet update (Day 5): I’m eating far fewer calories than I normally do, but I haven’t even felt tempted to binge at Chuck-A-Rama’s buffet.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 6, 2016
Diet update (Day 6): Took family to Mcdonald’s after a project but wasn’t tempted to go off plan. Only had water. Didn’t steal kids’ fries.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 7, 2016
Diet update (Day 7): Packed food to take to work so I wouldn’t be hungry or tempted to make bad choices. Licked another wrapper.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 8, 2016
Diet update (Day 8): Got my exercise in with a weigh-in bathroom dance after learning I lost 10.5 pounds my first week. Total loss: 27.2 lbs
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 9, 2016
Diet update (Day 9): Made a good but healthy breakfast for my wife and kids.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 10, 2016
Diet update (Day 10): Went on a family walk at a park. Also made a new dish: Cheesy cauliflower bread sticks. Tasty! pic.twitter.com/qyALCz5kDK
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 11, 2016
Diet update (Day 11): Stressful day (many reasons) but stayed on plan. Made healthy choices at dinner (thanks Jazz). pic.twitter.com/iDo5Cc5sbw
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 12, 2016
Diet update (Day 12): Packed healthy food for road trip. Asked waiter to have chef make meal as light as possible. pic.twitter.com/pEcWcpZepO
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 13, 2016
Diet update (Day 13): Turned down dinner buffet and opted for a turkey salad. Resisted getting drunk after dealing with crazies on Twitter.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 14, 2016
Diet update (Day 14): Didn’t let very long day of travel and work (with lots of yummy free food) derail me from my program. Walking easier.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 15, 2016
Diet update (Day 15): Keeping a positive attitude despite not having as good of a weigh-in as I hoped for. My blog: https://t.co/Z9PZ4vJQBu
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 16, 2016
Diet update (Day 16): Bad news? I binged. Good? It was on pickles. No, I’m not pregnant. Made a healthy taco bake. pic.twitter.com/is777nNsG3
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 17, 2016
Diet update (Day 17): Made homemade low-carb buns and sugar-free ketchup for healthy BBQ turkey burgers. Bonus: The wife and kids loved ’em.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 18, 2016
Diet update (Day 18): Noticing by the day how much easier it is to simply move around. My energy level is also up. Huge non-scale victories!
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 19, 2016
Diet update (Day 19): More healthy cooking experimenting. Made spaghetti squash with an incredible homemade sauce. pic.twitter.com/k72HbHK9dG
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 20, 2016
Diet update (Day 20): Good feeling to put on clothes that are getting looser by the day instead of stuff that’s ready to burst at the seams.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 21, 2016
Diet update (Day 21): Day 21!? Don’t they say something becomes a habit after three weeks? Being healthy seems easy now. *crosses fingers*
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 22, 2016
Diet update (Day 22): A saucy story and an exciting tale from the scale! This week’s blog: https://t.co/mZfADWMLqh pic.twitter.com/Xg6hE6Tx0Y
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 23, 2016
Diet update (Day 23): Fun to see and feel how much weight I’ve dropped since April 1. Down two 10-pound sugar bags! pic.twitter.com/Nt2hjtt8ba
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 24, 2016
Diet update (Day 24): Who said I can’t have pizza!? Made this bad boy with a cauliflower crust and turkey pepperoni. pic.twitter.com/rFXat5rtsz
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 25, 2016
Diet update (Day 25): When I make poor eating choices, I gain 2.33 pounds/week. If I hadn’t changed in March, I’d weigh 390 instead of 338.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 26, 2016
Diet update (Day 26): Delighted to hear from guys who are getting healthier in part because I’m trying out loud. pic.twitter.com/hbJWJ7caTD
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 27, 2016
Diet update (Day 27): Celery was among the items I purposely purchased today at Costco. Also bought a new water cooler. Daily goal: 100 oz.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 28, 2016
Diet update (Day 28): Had a couple of upsetting moments today, but feel empowered that I didn’t seek comfort through food as I used to do.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 29, 2016
Diet update (Day 29): https://t.co/KDKU4UH1Qp
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 30, 2016
Diet update (Day 30): The final day of my Changing For Good Health Challenge. I’m proud of myself. I’ve made some awesome, healthy progress.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) May 1, 2016
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