I think we found out after day one of Summit West that having a Fit Club organized activity event in Vegas is totally unnecessary on the grounds that we all end up walking 5 miles a day around our hotel anyway.

I know that after choosing to walk from the Rio back to the Monte Carlo after dinner with the ABW crowd on Friday night, I was pretty shot, then to follo0w it with another 2 miles or so 9 hours later had me pretty tired before I even had to walk the hotel.

Maybe things will be different in Boston. In any case, I know there are more cool historic things to see in Boston that could make a walk really interesting.

Positive from Summit - I am down 5 pounds... the negative - I got there by having the flu and being half useless and missing all the parties and dining opportunities.

The Fit Club is going to have a design overhaul here soon and we'll be aiming to change from a competition into a community with some awesome resources to help us all shape up. Stick around.

- Wade

I got chance to get out and walk with a great group of folks this morning. Shawn Collins and Missy Ward from Affiliate Summit joined Lisa Picarelle, Sam Harrelson, Joel and Karen Garcia from Affiliate Fit Club/GTO Management and me for about a 2.5 mile walk.

It definitely got the heart started and once again I was shocked at how little is happening in Vegas before about.... uh... noon or so. Rarely did we have to wait for a walk signal.

We'll be out again tomorrow before the Gospel Brunch. Meet us at 7:00 am at the front door if you are up for it.

Here's a little video.

Wow... I feel like I am about 3 months late doing something... but can't quite put my finger on it.

Here is my video blog entry #1. Like most of the rest of the Fit Club folks except for Shawn and Jim, I totally slacked on getting started. I finally have my Flip Cam and now there is no excuse. It's 30 days til Summit and I am finally getting my butt in gear and watching what I eat and getting to the gym.

I am going to drop 10 pounds from my current 315 pounds by Summit and will be keeping active by taking brisk morning walks with Shawn Collins and anyone else who wants to join us.

We'll talk more about that in the next post.

Take care,

Wade

For the second time in my life, I just about let my machismo get the best of me (and drown my ass)

I was going in to swim this morning at 5:30 - saw the water aerobics class ready to start and thought to myself. Man, if old folks and women can do it... it must be easy....

I of course, decide to go to the deep end and give myself a "real workout" and 15 minutes later, I am flailing around to keep my head above water. It seems that I forgot how sedentary I have been lately.

I've decided for the next couple of weeks I am going to work out mostly in the pool to let my back continue to heal up. If you get the chance to work out in the pool at all, give it a try. It's low impact on your joints, but it can really kick your butt, and you can vary your workout by moving around the pool if the shallow end it too deep for you.

Take care (and keep your head above water)

Wade

On a quick trip to northern California and just made a major error... letting myself anywhere near In-N-Out Burger (drive thru or inside)

One Double Double later - and I can safely say, my butt had better be in a gym this weekend if I want to be down.

On a positive note, I ran into Tobias from Revenue Magazine and I think Tobias is going to join the competition.

Had a great dinner last night with Cresta from Hackersafe- wchich probably didn't help the over all effort either... but that Filet Mignon was good.

Unlike my Blue Team teammate Jim, however, I was able to pass on dessert.

My back is back to normal, so I look forward to hitting the gym hard from hear on out.

I'm a little undecided - I'm a fan of Weight Watchers as I have lost over 50 lbs with them before (and kept most of it off) I really like their approach because it's lifestyle modification, not dieting and I think that's important.

We're not going to go all our lives eating powdered and frozen meals are we?

I'll have to give it some thought though. The goal is to lose as much weight as possible by healthy methods meaning reduced calorie intake and increased.

Food:
To get started, I'll be following the Weight Watchers program.

Activity:
Working out 4-5 times a week at the gym - will focus on cardio, swimming, and weights for strength building, not bulk.

My main challenge:
I love food.... I love to cook. I'm going to have to channel my creativity to creating healthier meals for me and my family.

I'll share some recipes that "work" from time to time.

Ugh.... I think one of the frustrating parts about deciding to lose weight is in establishing the baseline and seeing just how far you have let yourself go.

My wife and I had started Weight Watchers for the third time in May, then flaked off in June when she got her new job. I was a little bummed because we both were down over 15 pounds and doing well.

We're signed up on their monthly debit plan, so I figured I might as well start back there and get weighed in and catch a meeting. To give some back story, I go to church with my WW leader, so she's more than just a leader for me.

I walked in the door and saw her in conversation with another attendee and as I walked by, she slapped me upside the head with a magazine and said "it's about time."

"Nice to see you too," I replied

Then I jumped on the scale and got the bad news - 313.2 pounds

Better than I thought - but still a long way from my goal and 10 pounds in the wrong direction from June.

This week has been a challenge - getting back to eating well - watching portions, getting active - but now the game is on.

Garcia and the Red Team, you're going down at Summit Vegas.

Wow... official launch is finally here. We have our teams set, all of our "before" pics and profiles are up, and the first video blogging assignment is coming soon.

I'm so excited to see this go well and for all the contestants to meet their goals and get healthier. We all have great reasons for doing what we are doing and I wish my competitors all the success in world as we play season 1 of Affiliate Fit Club.

God Bless,

Wade

I'm so stoked to see this project so close to launching. It seems like it's been forever since Karen and Joel and I hatched this plot at the Missy Ward Roast at Summit East.

The contestants are now chosen, the teams are selected and we're just about ready to rock.

(wow... what are the odds of having 2 Wade's in a contest?)

With any luck, we'll have user profiles and "before" photos from all the contestants very soon and you'll be able to see where we are all starting from.

With hard work, support from our teams and families and your prayers and good wishes, you'll be seeing a lot less of us in Las Vegas for Summit West 2008.

Take care,

Wade Tonkin