The 50 Million Pound Blog

The Challenge is about each one you being part of a community of change that is striving to live longer, healthier lives. The comments following each of the Featured Challengers' stories are proof that each of us spread hope and help motivate others in the fight when we share what we are experiencing.

Did you know that your stories are also grabbing the attention of the media? Dr. Ian and the Challenge team receive multiple requests from local and national media outlets who want to know about you. Are you willing to share?

Whether it's on our blog or in a magazine, we want your stories! Click this link and follow the instructions on the form to submit your story.

Dr. Ian's words have proven true... our influence IS greater than what we imagine. Please take a moment to share your story and commitment to The Challenge... you never know who's life you can help change, or even save.

Thank you for your commitment.

Go to the grocery store with a shopping list. This will help you be better organized to purchase only those foods that you need to stick with your eating plan. A prepared list will also help prevent you from impulsively throwing extra foods in your cart that are not on the list and full of unnecessary calories.  

Do some research and find tasty recipes that complement your plan. Pick out your favorite healthy snacks and recipes before hitting the store and then buy ingredients that you need to get you through the week. A little time and discipline will go a long way as you work towards your goal.  

Best ~ Dr. Ian

POST YOUR COMMENTS HERE! 

I joined the 50 Million Pound Challenge on July 9, the same day that my sister, my brother-in-law, and I started Dr. Ian Smith's Fat Smash Diet.  We all wanted to lose weight and had my upcoming wedding as an even greater motivation.  We've had some ups and downs along the way (thank God the program is so forgiving), but we've stuck with it.  When I originally tried on a wedding dress back in May, I was barely able to squeeze into a size 12.  I went back for my dress fitting on September 16 and easily fit into a size 8 dress.  My results have been phenomenal and I haven't even completed the full 90-day program.  I started at 160 lbs and am now down to 138 lbs.  I've lost over 20 lbs and several inches, dropping two clothes sizes.  My sister has also had amazing results.  When she ordered her dress at the beginning of July, she couldn't finish zipping it.  Now, she can put the dress on without unzipping it.  I am especially excited for her because she has struggled with her weight for her whole life. 

I thank God for Dr. Ian Smith and the message he is spreading in our community through the 50 Million Pound Challenge.  Never before have we seen anything like this, and my prayer is that it will continue to grow and that as a community we will not only meet this Challenge, but surpass it!  My life and the lives of people around me have drastically changed.  I hope that all the other Challengers will decide, like I have, to never go back to the way you were.  Let's make this a lifetime commitment to be the healthiest people we can be!

Christie Thomas, Durham, NC

Mark your calendars for a Challenge party, celebrating losing our first one million pounds, on November 15th. Pay close attention because there are many ways for you to participate, and you could WIN some GREAT prizes! 

Dr. Ian will be in New York City telling our story and celebrating on the 15th. We’re planning a party and lighting a candle to celebrate, show our commitment and rally to continue striving towards are ultimate goal.  Dr. Ian will light a candle that morning… and we’re asking you to do the same at any point throughout the day.

We’re also going to post the party on our site, so you can watch how it all went in NYC.

Here is your celebration checklist:

• Update your weight-loss tracker account for daily chances to win an iPhone, or win a $1,000 Visa gift card on November 15th (see details below)!
• Spread the word – tell everyone to update their profiles and help us hit the one million mark.
• Plan a party on November 15th (see more details below).
• Light a candle.
• Visit 50millionpounds.com for updated information about our party.

This party is just the beginning of the many milestones we’ll reach—each one signifying the millions of lives changed or saved across the nation as a result of your commitment to The Challenge.

Hope you will join us on the 15th!

Update your profile for chances to win an iPhone or $1,000 gift card!

Remember to update your profile with your current weight to help us reach the one million mark. Do so between November 8 and November 14, and you’ll be entered to win either an iPhone or $1,000 gift card!

We will give away one iPhone, each day, for seven straight days! Then, on November 15, from all the entries, we’ll draw the name of a participant who’ll win a $1,000 gift card!

You automatically are entered into these sweepstakes by updating your profile between November 8 and November 14. 

So, set a reminder, and visit the site each day!

Here are some ideas for you to be part of the celebration on November 15:

• Host a party at your home, dorm room, church, etc. 
• Invite your friends, family and Challenge teammates to join you in celebrating our remarkable accomplishment. You can even download and use our flyers to help you spread the word!
• Light a candle at any time that day, to celebrate and renew our commitment to the greater goal of becoming a healthier community.
• And, send us the story of your celebration with a picture of yourself, your party and your lighted candle so we can post it on our Flickr photo album!

Dr. Ian and The Challenge team are ready to party in NYC on Thursday... are you ready?

We want you to be part of this memorable moment in our community's history. So please think of all the ways you can join us in the celebration. And, share your celebration story with us on the blog by commenting or send us your story and photos!

Celebration ideas:

• Host a party at your home, dorm room, church, etc.
• Invite your friends, family and Challenge teammates to join you in celebrating our remarkable accomplishment. You can even download and use our flyers to help you spread the word!
• Light a candle, at any time that day, to celebrate and renew our commitment to the greater goal of becoming a healthier community.

And, don't forget that our sweepstakes are in effect through midnight on Wednesday (Nov 14). Keep updating your profile to increase your chances to WIN an iPhone or $1,000 VISA gift card!  

Congratulations Challenge family... we're 1,000,000 pounds lighter!

Take a moment to reflect how far we've come, and commit to where we're going. We're making smart decisions, getting healthier and changing lives together. And, it just feels good to hit our goals!

Thank you for your hard work and commitment. Now let's get ready for the next million!

Celebration day is here!

Dr. Ian and music icon, Patti LaBelle will be on the Today Show this morning at 10:30 Eastern time. Set your DVRs, or watch live if you can. The interview will be a great to launch our celebration!

After the interview, we'll have our party at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Building on 125th & 7th Ave in Harlem. Dr. Ian and The Challenge team will be joined by Patti LaBelle, NFL Hall of Fame NY Giant Harry Carson and an active Challenge participant from NYC, whose story we'll share with you soon!

This whole group will also light a candle to commemorate your hard work, congratulate this community in surpassing a great milestone, and to show our commitment to work for future success. We invite you to join us, wherever you are and however you can! And send us a picture of your party and/or your candle.

 As a reminder, here is your celebration checklist:

• Host a party at your home, dorm room, church, etc.
• Invite your friends, family and Challenge teammates to join you in celebrating our remarkable accomplishment.
• Light a candle, at any time that day, to celebrate and renew our commitment to the greater goal of becoming a healthier community.
• Visit 50millionpounds.com for detailed information about our party.
• Let us know how your party went! Send in the story and a picture of your party with the candle.

This is going to be a great day for The Challenge! Congratulations, and keep up the fight!

November 15, 2007 goes down as an historic day for The Challenge. 

A special 'thank you' to Patti LaBelle, Harry Carson, Hugh Fletcher and to those of you who withstood cold rain and wind as we celebrated our 1,000,000 pound milestone in Harlem this morning.

We'll post some video footage of the day on the site very soon, so everyone has a chance to experience the excitement.   

Because of your hard work and desire for healthier lives, The Challenge is boldly marching toward its next million, and right on until we reach 50. Every pound lost strengthens us, and proves that we can win the battle to take control of our lives.

Congratulations to many of you who have reached your goals. Please work with us to encourage more people to commit to making healthier decisions... we are making an incredible impact together.

Lots of high-calorie temptations await you at parties. Avoid the seduction of those fattening foods by eating a small meal beforehand. When you get to the party, not only will you be less hungry, but if you still have the urge to eat, you can snack on the healthier foods and avoid those that are guaranteed to add inches to your waist. This strategy holds particularly true for those upcoming holiday bashes.

I admit cutting back at parties is a big sacrifice. Making these decisions and creating self-controlled eating habits are the best way for us to lose weight and keep it off. The Challenge requires that we make critical changes to the choices we make. Let’s start making the right decisions, and we will build the control and confidence we need to change our lives.

Best ~ Dr. Ian

POST YOUR COMMENTS HERE! 

I have always had a special relationship with food.  It was always the most exciting part of every experience.  Food had always been a struggle for me, even as a child.  But when I became an adult, all of a sudden weight was also an issue.

I spent most of my adult life pretending that it didn't matter that my weight was spiraling out of control.  I found ways to justify why I was and why I needed to be the size I was.  I kept buying clothes because clothes kept getting smaller.  I threw out my scale because it wasn't telling me anything I wanted to know.  I avoided cameras because they weren't showing me anything I wanted to see.  And I ate out of defiance to show everyone that I didn't care what they thought or what they said.

But then the chest pains started.  And the frequent nosebleeds and I knew that if I didn't do something, I was going to die.  My New Year's resolution for 2007 was to be committed to health and on January 1, 2007, I took my first step toward my goal.

I increase my vegetable intake, cut fried foods out of my life altogether, cut down on carbohydrates and eliminated sodas and juices from my life.  The results were astronomical, but I feared that at any point, I could relapse.  That's when I heard about the 50 Million lb Challenge.  All of a sudden, I wasn't alone in this struggle.  Being apart of this community, I received a lot of healthy tips and was able to make adjustments so that I kept up my momentum until I reached my goal.  Since January 1, I have lost 97 lbs and surpassed my very ambitious goal and everyone's expectations.

My family, friends and colleagues are in disbelief.  People see me and don't recognize me.  This is the best thing I've ever done for myself and I am grateful to Dr. Ian Smith and the 50 Million Lb Challenge for the roll you played in my success.  Having achieved this, now I know that I can achieve other goals that I have set in my life.