The 50 Million Pound Blog

Omarion, Dr. Ian, and Kurtis Blow

Omarion

POST YOUR COMMENTS HERE!

“I first heard about The Challenge on the Steve Harvey Morning Show. My mother and I drive more than 60 miles each day to work. We are used to being among the few people sitting in traffic who are smiling because of what we’re listening to on the radio. But on the morning of March 29th 2007 we weren’t smiling when Dr. Ian came on and began talking about The Challenge.  Here was someone not only explaining the importance of being healthy and losing weight, but also letting us know how he was going to help us get there— for free.     
 
“We talked about how great it was and when I got to work I went online and signed up.  A few weeks went by and I went back to my old habits. I spoke to my mother again and reminded her of the day she called me upset because the clothes she wore last summer didn’t fit.  We talked and both agreed we didn’t want to be fat anymore. Okay, that's fine and good, but what were we going to do about it?
 
That’s when we came up with the idea of paying people to lose weight. We started making calls, a lot of calls, to friends, family and co-workers.  We came up with a dozen people willing to push themselves and the ones they love to lose weight and we’d pay each other for success.  We decided to each pitch in $5 each week, or $20 a month. The person who lost the most weight and checked in at least 4 times a week with a breakdown of what they ate and how much they exercised would have the chance to win $240 at the end of each month!  “I don't even have to tell you that once it became a contest everyone’s weight went down.  Now we e-mail each other daily just to keep each other on track. I even kicked it up a notch by walking with my friend 3 miles
on the beach 5 days a week!   I also started listening to a cardio salsa DVD 5 times a week that helps you really work up a sweat.  Even though it’s a competition, it's fun and really helpful to know that we’re looking out for each other.  Almost everyone who is doing The Challenge with us is going to Disney World in July of 2008. And the majority of us being on our way to reaching our weight-loss goals by then made this even more exciting! 
 
 “I’ve lost 13 pounds so far and have about 70 to go.  And for the first time I know I can get there. I’m one of those people who can't lose weight without support.  But I found out I’m not the only one trying to achieve the same thing.  Why not do it together.  Long story short, I just wanted to say thanks because not only am I losing
weight but I am gaining friends! 
 
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK EVERYONE!!

Hear Dr. Ian's Challenge update on the Steve Harvey morning show, Thursday, July 5 at 9:30 E.

Momentum keeps building!  We topped the 300,000 pounds lost milestone July 5.  And, it has only been three weeks since we passed the 200,000 pounds milestone!

Keep up the fight and keep inviting people to join us on our journey to 50 million pounds.  And also, don't forget to log back in and register your own weight loss... every pound counts! 

Today on the Tom Joyner Show, Dr. Ian asked Challenge participants to send him an email about their experience with The Challenge.

CLICK HERE and send him your story.

Breaking news from the Steve Harvey show this morning. Dr. Ian is offering a promotion—the first 300 people to join The Challenge (for the first time) will receive a $10 gift certificate (they can choose from hundreds of participating retailers).  Join the Challenge now… and spread the word!
 

The Challenge is hitting on all cylinders and cruising to the Motor City.

Radio personality Steve Harvey, R&B singer Brian McKnight, Grammy-winning gospel singer Yolanda Adams, singing sensation 112, Detroit Lions running back Tatum Bell and DJ Biz Markie will join Dr. Ian to rev up an afternoon of live music, fitness and fun.

The free event at Hart Plaza will run from noon to 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment, get free health screenings, learn more about the initiative and sign up, and join Dr. Ian and celebrity guests on a short Challenge walk to mark their first steps to a healthier lifestyle.

We topped the 350,000 pounds lost milestone today!  

Keep up the fight and keep inviting people to join us on our journey to 50 million pounds.  And also, don't forget to log back in and register your own weight loss... every pound counts! 

We packed Detroit's Hart Plaza amphitheater Saturday!  Read more about this event here.

Yolanda Adams and Dr. Ian 

DJ Biz Markie performs in Detroit 

Dr. Ian

Our Atlanta Challenge event is going to be hot -- definitely living up to the city's common nickname, "Hotlanta." The free event on the Park's North Lawn will run from noon to 4 p.m.

Read about the event here - hope you can join us!

Give up the pounds, not the fight!

Plan ahead for a busy day. This is critical if you want to be successful on the diet. If you're going to be busy at work and you know it might be difficult consuming all your meals at the right times, bring some healthy snacks that you can keep at your desk or in your locker. Try a small box of raisins, a small fruit cup, a couple of whole wheat crackers, a hard-boiled egg, or instant vegetable soup. Planning ahead will prevent you from giving in to the temptation of visiting the sugar-filled vending machine. This will save a lot of unnecessary calories!

Despite what you might believe or have heard, skipping meals will not help you lose weight faster; it actually shuts down your metabolism and your energy drops. Try eating small meals or healthy snacks every three hours to increase your metabolism. Portion-controlled meals will help you keep your energy up and assist you in losing weight.

Set yourself up to make healthy decisions-develop eating and exercising habits that complement your busy schedule. Take the time to plan ahead! Best ~ Dr. Ian

We’ve lost more than 377,000 pounds, and it was only 4 days ago that we hit the 350,000 milestone! Also, yesterday marked a record day—13,600 pounds recorded… keep this momentum moving!

One way the site can help...
We’ve heard your requests for a support system and we are testing a new feature on the site—Challenge Teams. Feel free to check it out and start your own team. Once you're on the Challenge Teams page, choose 'Start a Team' from the side menu and follow the instructions it provides. Then, invite a group of family members or friends who are participating in The Challenge to join your team. Some of you are already teaming up, this addition gives you a convenient way to organize, encourage and communicate with your team through the site. We're excited about what this tool can do as we grow and stick with the fight...together. Hope you enjoy it!

Continue inviting people to join us and help reach our goal of 50 million pounds. And, don't forget to log in to register your own weight loss... every pound counts! 

POST YOUR COMMENTS HERE!
 
"I am a 26-year military service officer stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia with the Defense Logistics Agency. I actually began this program on April 16, 2007 after seeing the results for two friends in Texas who lost 50 and 55 pounds respectively.

"I bought the "Fat Smash Diet" book and started the program at the beginning with the Detox. Since that time, I have lost 27 lbs. I am currently at a plateau of 206-208 lbs. My energy level has gone up and the fitness center where I work out has gotten the bug due to my success.

"I am a 49-year old male, I run/jog 4.5 to 8.0 miles three times a week and I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is serious about losing weight and developing a healthy lifestyle for living.  I am approaching my goal of 195lbs. and look forward to reporting my progress and sending a picture of my success."

SAMMIE L. DAVIS, JR.
LTC, QM
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Army Reserve Element (ARE)
Operations Officer/Deputy Commander
Fort Belvoir, VA 

A huge crowd—well over 15,000 people—joined us at the event last Saturday in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. Check out our photos of the event below.

ATL… keep sharing the excitement and the message of The Challenge with the rest of us. We know you won’t let us down, and thanks again for coming out!

 
Atlanta!
 

Jagged Edge performing

Steve Harvey and Dr. Ian

Who’ll “wear the crown” and boast in turning out the largest Challenge event crowd?  

Right now, Atlanta is the town to beat. This is what a crowd of well over 15,000 people looks like from the air: