Week 0: Initial Weigh-in | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |  Week 4

Week 5 |  Week 6 |  Week 7 | Week 8 |  Week 9 |  Week 10

What is it?

The BigRigg Challenge is a way for anyone who wants to try and lose a little weight to do it with others around the world.  It is actually quite simple.  Here’s what you do:

• Set a goal as to how much weight you want to lose (10% of your body weight is a good start)
• Weigh yourself to get an initial weigh-in number
• Every week, weight yourself at the same time on the same day of the week.  For me, I weigh myself every Friday morning before I eat anything or shower.
• If you have a way to take video, record yourself weighing in.  I know that might be a little tough for some people, but it is worth it (trust me)
• Blog/tweet your results every week so the rest of us can see how you are doing
• On my site, add a link to your Youtube/blog post/tweet using the Mr. Linky thing that will be at the bottom of every post

That’s it!  If you are confused, take a look here for what this looked like the last time I did it.

The reason that you should post your weekly weigh-in results is that since you know we will all see how you did, you will be more likely to behave yourself during the week.  That being said, you will have god weeks, and you will have bad weeks.  But, we will all be here for each other to show support regardless.  So far, it has been pretty incredible.

Tips and Tricks

I wanted to create a page here where we can have a discussion about any tips and tricks we have discovered in helping us lose weight and become healthier people during the BigRigg Challenge, or really any time in life.  I will start with some things I have learned along the way….

• As for eating, I try as hard as I can to eat healthy foods Sunday through Thursday.  Friday and Saturday are my days to reward myself for eating healthy all week.  I know you should only do ONE reward day, and I’m getting there, but 2 works for me right now.

• Use online tools to help you in eating healthy.  I have a FREE iPhone app called Lose It (iTunes link) that tracks your caloric intake and exercise, and it tells me how many calories I should be eating.  Also, Livestrong has a great online resource called The Daily Plate that will essentially do the same thing.  The point is, find something that helps you monitor what you are eating.  It might seem tedious, but it is one of the BIGGEST things you can do to get healthy.

• Exercise-wise, I try and walk/jog 3 times a week for 45 minutes at a time.  Does this always happen?  Nope.  But, when starting out, just walk for 30 minutes or so, and eventually you will be able to add jogging to it.  I used to only walk, and just 2 days ago I ran my 3rd 5k =)

• When it comes to weighing yourself every week, be consistent.  What I mean by that is that pick a day, and weigh yourself every week on that same day.  Also, do it in the morning when you have an empty stomach (and bladder).  But make sure you always do it under those circumstances.  If you weigh yourself on an empty stomach one week, then do it before bed the next week, your results will not be accurate.  So, be consistent.

• Finally, if you have a blog, use it, and if you don’t have one, go to Wordpress and get one.  It’s free, easy, and takes MAYBE a minute to sign up.  The point of the blog is sop that you can put your weekly weigh-in results out there of all of us to see.  You don’t have to do a video, just get it out there in some form.  Once you do that, you can link to it from the link box I will have on every post.  We will all click on it and see how you are doing in your journey!  The accountability will become a HUGE motivating factor.  With millions of people seeing your results, you might decide to trade in the 30 hot wings for something a little healthier.

What are some other tips and tricks you know of to help us all achieve our goal of becoming healthier people?