Marathon Season Independence Weight Loss Challenge -- NOW CLOSED

I have finally come to terms with my weight gain. I have steadily been gaining back weight I already had worked super hard to lose since June. A total of 19 pounds back. Ouch! That is not definitely not the direction I want to be heading. I have faced my fears, changed the side bar pounds dropped to reflect the reality and in full damage control mode. I am back hardcore on WeWa today counting and journaling everything that I put in my piehole. When I set my mind to something I stay really focused, so challenge or no challenge it is game on for me!

The challenge is now officially closed to new participants. I like to sound so official by saying officially often throughout the challenge. Thank you to everyone for joining. Remember, weekly weigh ins are due on Sunday to my official e-mail address. If you have a special circumstance such as a race or something just email me. I am officially flexible. The participants are listed below. If you sent me an e-mail and do not see your name listed, you are not officially in the challenge. Send me an e-mail me again so I can search my inbox for your original e-mail.

Participants
al
alice
amy
angie
anna
audrey
carly
chris
christy
d
danielle
delane
elysia
erin
greg
jana
java
jennifer
jenny
jess
jill
jodie
john
kevin
kim
kristen
leana
liz
margo
mary
meg
mel
meli
nanc
nat
nic
nicole a.
nicole c.
pat
phyllis
sandy
sarah
shane
shanna
slb
stacy
steph
tammy
toni-ann
turi
viv
xenia

Here are answers for some questions addressed thus far:

1- Is it too late to join the challenge?
Yes, it is. I'm sorry.

2- When do we e-mail you our next weigh in?
To be kept in the running for challenge prizes your weigh ins are due on
Sunday October 19; October 26; November 2
I will cut off all weigh ins on the following Mondays at 11AM(CST)
No weight, no challenge for you
I can't chase you down for your weight I have things to do as a SAHM like watching Maury, yelling at my kid all day, and most importantly going to Wal-Mart barefoot to stock up Marlboro's. Catch my drift, I am busy sometimes.

3-Will you post my weight on your blog?
I will never ever post your weight for the World Wide Web to see. It's our secret and the challenge is based on percentage of your body weight lost.

4- When does the challenge end?
The challenge will end Sunday November 9 I MUST have your final weight by Monday November 10 at 11AM CST to keep you in the running for the prizes

5- How do you know we are being honest with our weight loss?
I trust that we all are adults here and would not jeopardize someones chance at a prize who has worked very hard. You only have to deal with your conscious plus the extra pounds you said you lost. If you are loosing an unhealthy amount of weight every week consecutively like over 3% I may ask for a pic of you on the scale. Don't be offended it just keeps the playing field level for all participants.

6- Can you add my sisters husbands cousin best friends dog to the challenge?
I really started these challenges for running bloggers and their readers who are into running and endurance sports. The prizes are geared toward these people who would enjoy them. I don't mean to be rude but most the poeple that join are people who have followed each others blogs. It keeps it fair and honest.

7- Can you change my name on the challenge so my first name is not out on the World Wide Web?
This is a popular one. Please e-mail me and tell me your www name, and how I have you listed in addition to how you would like to be addressed. The trick is always sign your weight e-mail with your web name. For example, if your name is Vladamir Smirnoff, and you like to go by "Racing Russian", when you e-mail me and your from name on the e-mail is Vladamir Smirnoff please sign the e-mail: With Love, "Racing Russian".

8- What if I notice an error in my weight loss percentage?
Please e-mail me. I am human and get busy. When putting your weight in the spreadsheet I could enter your weight inadvertently incorrect.

9- What is the best way to contact you?
You might notice the subtle hint of e-mail me throughout this post....yep, e-mail me is the answer. You can also post any questions on the Runners Lounge forum. Click here for the Marathon Season Independence Weight Loss Challenge lounge at the Runners Lounge This works better than just posting your questions in the comments section of the post. At times, if I reply to the comment, it is a no reply e-mail address.

Again, thanks to all of you for joining the challenge!

THANK YOU to the generous sponsors

The wonderful Meridith from Brooks Running comes through again and will be sponsoring a complete outfit of one of the winners choice. That's right a top and a mathcy matchy bottom! Brooks® Sports, Inc. is a leading running company that designs and markets a line of high-performance men's and women's running shoes, apparel and accessories in more than 40 countries. Run Happy!

Robert, has been very generous again by sponsoring some wonderful products (see below) from his store. If you have never visited RunJunk.com head over there. They have everything us runners/triathletes need. I have purchased from them before, and he always throws in some great samples of other products. Robert, has also been so supportive by giving a 5% discount to all participants through the end of the year by using this promo link in addition to a free hat or visor on purchases over $100.

One male or female MIO strapless heart rate watch and calorie counter for those who want long-term results. Our stylish, easy to use, ECG accurate strapless heart rate monitor - our Classic model. Classic Select is ideal for individuals who have lifestyle goals - those who are looking for a weight management tool that will give them personalized feedback. With MIO Classic Select you take control and decide what you want to do - lose weight, gain weight, or simply maintain your shape. You then enter your personal information - age, gender, weight and resting heart rate and MIO will do the rest. You can get your own MIO right now from RunJunk.com at a discounted price.

The AquaJoe Portable Hydration System is designed to hold your powdered drink mixes without mess. No more plastic bags! It is portable, reusable and compatible with all beverage powders. The AquaJoe carries any powdered drink mix and allows you to mix on the go in any sports bottle, water bottle or hydration pack. It includes 2 dispensers and a belt clip (belts sold separately). Dishwasher safe and environmentally friendly. You can get your own AquaJoe Portable Hydration System right now at a dicounted price at RunJunk.com.

This small 8 spindle model has a compact 17” length. The Stick Runner's Massage Tool is a revolutionary device used to segmentally compress and stretch muscle. It is highly effective in the treatment of muscle pain and trigger points. You can get your own travel Stick from RunJunk.com at a discounted price.

Ms. Betsy Delcour from Fuel Belt has sponsored two Fuel Belts up for the challenge. To you runners & triathletes you know Fuel Belt is synonymous with hydration belt. Indispensable, a key piece of gear that every athlete must have. Our revolutionary Endurance 4-bottle belt pioneered a market that simply didn't exist until the Fuel Belt was introduced in 1998. The Fuel Belt collection stands head and shoulders above anything we've ever designed before and has become a must-have piece of gear for endurance athletes of all shapes and sizes. Try one on and you'll know exactly what we're talking about.

Mr. Cramm over at LadiesOnlySports.com has generously donated a wonderful Enell sports bra in the size and color choice of the winner. If you come to my blog often you know this is the lock down of sports bras. When it is time to replenish my Enell I trun to LadiesOnlySports.com for not only their super rock bottom price but even faster reasonable shipping. At LadiesOnlySports.com they carry many different brands of sports bras and attire for women for different sports. Mr. Cramm will also provide a 5% discount on their already low prices for the duration of the challenge. The promotion code is Fit2Run.

The sweet Ms. Kim Overton, at Overton Fitness will be sponsoring a SPIbelt which is a sleek, expandable, secure and does not bounce. It can hold an iPod™, BlackBerry™, cell, keys, up to five GU™ packs, and other small personal items. The SPIbelt does not bounce, ride or shift while running or doing other activities. Racers SPIbelt doubles as a race number belt. Just add the hooks to your order on the checkout page.

Mr. Yates has been awesome and is donating some othe the cool SWIGZ bottles. The sport tops and chambers are color coded, and the cap attachment ensures proper alignment. Each SWIGZ bottle is made up of two 12oz chambers giving you a massive 24oz of workout fluids.Each chamber carries any liquid payload you wish. Water and isotonic, your own secret two-step carbo-burst, just water in both chambers, or any other combination. It's your workout, we'll carry what you want.

Brianna Grant, author of the bilingual book "We Are Girls Who Love to Run/Somos Chicas y A Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr", has so kindly offered one autographed copy of her book. "We Are Girls Who Love to Run/ Somos Chicas y A Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr", encourages finding joy in life through exercise, and impresses the value of self-confidence rather than allowing oneself to become obsessed with unrealistic Hollywood ideals of beauty.