Indiana's '10-In-10' Weight Loss Challenge Sounds So Very Familiar To Me

Gov. Daniels and Smith want Indiana to lose 10-In-10

As I was browsing around the Internet this week when I came across a brand new weight loss initiative in the state of Indiana similar to the "Shrinkdown" campaign that is happening in my home state of South Carolina. But imagine my surprise when I saw what they were calling it:

The 10-In-10 Challenge

Hmmm, I wonder where they could have gotten the idea for this? LOL! While I suppose the Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, "The Biggest Loser" Indiana representative Pam Smith, and former Indiana Pacer George McGinnis could have come up with the "10-In-10" Challenge on their own, it sure sounds a whole heckuva lot like my "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge.

Even if they did get the idea from me, I think it's awesome what they are doing encouraging the people of Indiana to do something about their weight. Losing 10 pounds in ten weeks is most certainly attainable as I have shown with my "30-In-30" Challenge--TIMES THREE! Perhaps these participants will keep going with their pound-a-week goal. I hope they do.

Sponsored by the government-sponsored INShape Indiana, the 10 week challenge to lose 10 pounds is set to begin on January 15, 2007. Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe is excited about this challenge.

"This is the time of the year that many people devote to making healthy changes in their lives," she noted. "The 10 in 10 Challenge is a great way to help those who have resolved to change their eating habits and exercise more, plus stop smoking along the way."

Smith, 25, appeared on NBC's hit reality weight loss television show "The Biggest Loser" as the Indiana representative in their special Season Three twist featuring people from all 50 states. She lost 40 pounds on the show and another 28 since coming back home. Now this "Biggest Loser" wants to help her fellow Hoosiers do the same for themselves.

"Losing weight was hard, and I still struggle with it, but I decided to take charge of my life and set the example for my children," Smith exclaimed. "I've not only lost 68 pounds, but I've gained inner peace and self confidence for the first time ever. That is the most priceless gift a mother can ever give her kids. I remember that every time I want to skip a workout and go get fast food!"

GOOD FOR YOU, PAM SMITH! I'm so glad to see she is using her experience on "The Biggest Loser" to impact her fellow citizens in the state of Indiana. Even those of us who have lost over 100 pounds STILL struggle with the weight loss thing, Pam, so don't feel bad. It's a neverending battle, I always tell people.

Right now, they are registering people in Indiana to begin the challenge starting next week when the participants will receive an e-mail outlining ways they can prepare themselves for the challenge like keeping a food diary, taking inventory of the food they should purchase, and other weight loss tips. Weekly advice from a professional trainer and nutritionist about how to lose that one pound will be sent to their e-mail as well.

At the end of the ten weeks (around the beginning of April), the participants will report back their weight loss. Isn't this just GREAT?!

Well, I have mixed emotions about it. While it is indeed admirable that the governor has put this thing together to help the people of his state lose weight, what are they going to recommend to these people to start living a healthier lifestyle? Let's take a look.

On the Nutrition page, you see the government-indoctrinated Food Pyramid is HIGHLY touted as the healthy way to eat for a "well rounded diet" which means the same old nutritional advice to cut your fat, cut your calories and reduce your portions. Sigh. Can't we have just ONE of these programs tell people about the healthy low-carb alternative to this dietary lie? It's a question I asked in my own state.

Best wishes to everyone in Indiana who begins the "10-In-10" Challenge. But I encourage you to come join us at "30-In-30" when you start to feel the pain of being on a weight loss plan you REALLY don't see yourself doing for the rest of your life. That is a key concept in being the success you so desperately want to be.