A Challenge From Your Boss

Now that National Boss Day is over, my favorite November holiday is coming up, Black Friday. More on that another time.

The end of the year is fast approaching. Can you believe it? I always tell my wife that from the 1st of September (which is when I say Summer ends) until Christmas is the fastest time of the year.

This year is no different. I can’t believe it is October 22nd. I am Christmas shopping, and getting ready to weigh in at the gym.

Weigh in?

Every year right before Thanksgiving, the gym where I work out weighs you. They weigh you again the first week of January after the Christmas holiday is over.

The deal is simple. Gain no more than 2 pounds and you get a gift card. Last year I got a Smoothie King gift card and for those who know me well, there isn’t anything better than a free smoothie or two.

Last year, I weighed in at my lowest weight of the year. I tend to fluctuate throughout the year, which I know isn’t really great, but my body mass index is consistently good. So I rationalize.

The pressure was on, I could not fluctuate at all, yet I had Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas cookies and pies to fight my way through. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.

In January, I actually weighed in a pound less after the holidays. So if I can do it, so can you. My metabolism has slowed down and I can gain ten pounds in a week without thinking about it.

The secret is portions and controlling the temptation to eat it because it is there. I watched some of our chocolate chip cookies get moldy last year because we didn’t eat them all. That was a first.

If you don’t work out at my gym, which is just about all of you, pick someone, a friend or spouse and challenge them. Do your own weigh in and cruise into the New Year without any additional weight.

I am going to make sure I am up about 5 pounds this year before my initial weigh-in.