A couple days into 2016, I was hanging out with friends and found out that like me, they had put on several pounds over the holidays. So, they were going to do a weight loss challenge to see who could lose the most weight (based on percentage) by the end of the month. The winner would get 20 bucks from all the other participants (for a total of $140). Being a man who enjoys a friendly wager, I was in. I had never done something like this before, but I also had never weighed this much before, so the timing was right. Now, that month is almost up. I am down eight pounds but that probably won't be enough to win. So I need to kick it into high gear. Unfortunately, I am still dealing with these ten side effects.
Your Stomach Makes Sounds Like Whales Humping For A Few Days
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
The first few days into the challenge, about an hour or so after my low-cal breakfast, anyone within a 15-foot radius at my office could hear the grunting and sometimes screaming of my stomach. It's used to about 800 calories per day before lunch, so this was obviously a cry for help.
You Eat Like Gollum When You Are Finally Allowed To
![gollum eating]()
When I got home after the first day of the challenge, my dinner menu included 1/2 of a banana. I literally peeled it while hunched over the garbage can and ate it like a ravenous ape. And I don't even like bananas.
You Are Easily Tempted By Any And Every Food Advertisement You See
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
It doesn't matter if you are home on the couch watching TV or out for a jog, if you see an ad or sign for food, you immediately want to make a beeline for it. This especially rings true for Taco Bell for some reason, and the drive home from work at night is the absolute worst. Keep your eyes on the road and go home to eat your salad, you pathetic hungry idiot! (That is what I yell at myself quite often.)
You Become Crazy Competitive With Yourself
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
After a few days, when the hunger pangs subside and you've learned to avoid tempting foods, you actually start getting excited about how few calories you've been eating. Then, you start trying to beat your own daily records for dieting and calories burned during exercise. It's probably not good for you to go too extreme, but you're not going to win that sweet cash without living on the edge, right?!
You Get Jealous Of The Other Participants
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
One of my buddies who is also doing the weight loss challenge caught the flu the second week of it. He informed me that it was horrible and he lost seven pounds in two days. Instead of being concerned for his well-being, I was super pissed because I had only lost two pounds at that point. I'm an awful friend.
You Become One Of "Those People" Who Talks About Dieting And Eating Healthy
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
I used to think there was nothing worse than listening to health nuts spout off nonsense about superfoods and metabolism boosters, but now I can't help myself to join in. I'm not sure if it's because I really want to win this challenge or because I'm genuinely interested in this stuff now. What is happening to me?
You Feel Like You Are Going To Puke Randomly
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
This might not be common for everyone, but it sure has happened to me. Maybe it's the shock of regular exercise to my body, or the fact that I haven't eaten this much green stuff in my entire life, but sometimes I feel a quick wave of nausea hit me and I have to take a second to compose myself. Then everything's cool. My wife says it could be alcohol withdrawals, but she's crazy.
But You Feel Better Overall
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
I hate to admit it, but a after a few weeks of abstaining from soda, chocolate, deep-fried food and beer, I feel pretty great. I am sleeping better, I have more energy and I'm definitely a lot less gassy. You may be thinking, "Jesus, how gassy were you before?" The answer: incredibly gassy.
You Get Angry About Not Being Able To Drink
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
Despite how good you are feeling, you still have nights where you curse the gods because you just want to relax and watch the game while crushing a six-pack. Instead, you have to replace that beer with a Vitamin Water Zero and that stuff tastes like shit. Unless, of course, it's a cheat day...
You Fucking Cheat
![10 Things That Happen When You Participate In A Weight Loss Challenge]()
And it feels so good when you do. Cheat days take on a whole new meaning when you've been eating kale and rice cakes for snacks all week. You don't even realize how much you miss certain treats -- like a simple cup of vanilla ice cream -- until you almost cream your shorts after having a bite during a weight loss challenge. However, as with all cheating, you feel horrible after you do it and you're going to have to exercise until you almost puke tomorrow.
More: 13 Types Of Weirdos You Encounter At The Gym
Your Stomach Makes Sounds Like Whales Humping For A Few Days
The first few days into the challenge, about an hour or so after my low-cal breakfast, anyone within a 15-foot radius at my office could hear the grunting and sometimes screaming of my stomach. It's used to about 800 calories per day before lunch, so this was obviously a cry for help.
You Eat Like Gollum When You Are Finally Allowed To
When I got home after the first day of the challenge, my dinner menu included 1/2 of a banana. I literally peeled it while hunched over the garbage can and ate it like a ravenous ape. And I don't even like bananas.
You Are Easily Tempted By Any And Every Food Advertisement You See
It doesn't matter if you are home on the couch watching TV or out for a jog, if you see an ad or sign for food, you immediately want to make a beeline for it. This especially rings true for Taco Bell for some reason, and the drive home from work at night is the absolute worst. Keep your eyes on the road and go home to eat your salad, you pathetic hungry idiot! (That is what I yell at myself quite often.)
You Become Crazy Competitive With Yourself
After a few days, when the hunger pangs subside and you've learned to avoid tempting foods, you actually start getting excited about how few calories you've been eating. Then, you start trying to beat your own daily records for dieting and calories burned during exercise. It's probably not good for you to go too extreme, but you're not going to win that sweet cash without living on the edge, right?!
You Get Jealous Of The Other Participants
One of my buddies who is also doing the weight loss challenge caught the flu the second week of it. He informed me that it was horrible and he lost seven pounds in two days. Instead of being concerned for his well-being, I was super pissed because I had only lost two pounds at that point. I'm an awful friend.
You Become One Of "Those People" Who Talks About Dieting And Eating Healthy
I used to think there was nothing worse than listening to health nuts spout off nonsense about superfoods and metabolism boosters, but now I can't help myself to join in. I'm not sure if it's because I really want to win this challenge or because I'm genuinely interested in this stuff now. What is happening to me?
You Feel Like You Are Going To Puke Randomly
This might not be common for everyone, but it sure has happened to me. Maybe it's the shock of regular exercise to my body, or the fact that I haven't eaten this much green stuff in my entire life, but sometimes I feel a quick wave of nausea hit me and I have to take a second to compose myself. Then everything's cool. My wife says it could be alcohol withdrawals, but she's crazy.
But You Feel Better Overall
I hate to admit it, but a after a few weeks of abstaining from soda, chocolate, deep-fried food and beer, I feel pretty great. I am sleeping better, I have more energy and I'm definitely a lot less gassy. You may be thinking, "Jesus, how gassy were you before?" The answer: incredibly gassy.
You Get Angry About Not Being Able To Drink
Despite how good you are feeling, you still have nights where you curse the gods because you just want to relax and watch the game while crushing a six-pack. Instead, you have to replace that beer with a Vitamin Water Zero and that stuff tastes like shit. Unless, of course, it's a cheat day...
You Fucking Cheat
And it feels so good when you do. Cheat days take on a whole new meaning when you've been eating kale and rice cakes for snacks all week. You don't even realize how much you miss certain treats -- like a simple cup of vanilla ice cream -- until you almost cream your shorts after having a bite during a weight loss challenge. However, as with all cheating, you feel horrible after you do it and you're going to have to exercise until you almost puke tomorrow.
More: 13 Types Of Weirdos You Encounter At The Gym