THE feeling of dread filled Natalie Mellor's stomach as she imagined walking down the aisle in a size 20 wedding dress.

The customer service advisor, 29, had ballooned to a staggering 15 stone after gorging on full bags of cheese for dinner every night.

15

And the prospect of hundreds of wedding guests seeing how big she'd become on her special day made her feel sick to the stomach.

Determined to do something about her weight, Natalie, from Brough, East Yorkshire, ditched the cheese and overhauled her diet and has since lost an incredible six stone.

She managed to tie the knot to her partner Gavin, 34, in a size eight wedding gown - and feels more confident than ever, weighing just nine stone.

Natalie said: "I am more confident in myself and have a positive outlook. I feel like a new person and have left the old me behind."

15

15

Natalie had always been larger than her friends when she was younger, but as the years went by she gradually became even bigger.

In particular, Natalie piled on the pounds during her first pregnancy with her now husband Gavin in 2015.

"Ive always struggled with my weight from a young age, but I seemed to gradually get bigger and bigger compared to my friends," said Natalie.

"It was when I fell pregnant with my first child, Henry, that it was made apparent that I was morbidly obese and was putting us both at risk."

15

During the pregnancy, Gavin got down on one knee and asked Natalie to marry him.

But, as thrilled as she was about her future nuptials, it quickly dawned on Natalie that she didnt want to be a bride in a size 20 dress.

However, she continued to gorge on fatty foods including sausage sandwiches, chocolate and bags of crisps - even after little Henry, now 4, was born.

Natalie added: "My husband asked me to marry him, which of course I was happy about, but it also filled me with dread because of the size I was.

15

15

"I am an emotional eater; I surpass every emotion with food, like a celebratory takeaway or a condolence tub of ice cream.

"Breakfast was a sausage or bacon sandwich on the go.

"For lunch Id usually have an unhealthy fast food thing that was a grab and dash.

"Dinner was a pasta bake with a full bag of grated cheese, so it was extra gooey, with garlic bread and a sticky toffee pudding to finish.

"Snacks were crisps, biscuits and chocolate. I also never factored in my alcohol intake, so Id drink a lot of wine."

I am an emotional eater; I surpass every emotion with food, like a celebratory takeaway or a condolence tub of ice cream

As Natalie's waistline continued to expand, her mood plummeted - and she felt more and more miserable about her appearance.

And before she knew it she had reached 15st 7lb, and she felt ashamed of her large frame.

"I was embarrassed, ashamed and humiliated that I had let myself get so overweight," Natalie said.

"It held me back from many things, such as wearing clothes that I wanted to wear, going for promotions at work, and being sociable in more high-end establishments.

"Being pregnant made me look back and reflect on when Id spent time with my nephew and wasnt able to squeeze myself into childrens play areas or be in a water park.

"It made me not want to feel that uncomfortable with my own children."

15

15

After a holiday to Turkey in September 2014, Natalie deleted all of the images of herself because she was deeply unhappy with how she looked, blaming the angles that the photos were taken from.

Natalie said: "I no longer wanted to feel down and ashamed of myself.

"I went on holiday with my fianc at the time, and on the flight home I realised I had deleted every image of myself because I didnt like the angles.

"But then I had a pause and realised it might not be the angles."

15

15

In 2016, Natalie joined Slimming World to lose weight and there was no better target than her wedding in June 2017.

She cut down her calorie intake and swapped bags of cheese for steamed vegetables and new potatoes.

She said: "I started attending Slimming World and educating myself on healthier food choices and calorie intake.

"My wedding was a target, but also wanting to be a healthy mum for my child. I also wanted to do it for my own mental health.

"I cook my meals most nights now, adding a lot of the right things.

15

"I eat more fish and cut back on red meat, with the occasional vegetarian meal. I can still have treats, but now its in moderation and I consistently keep on plan during the week.

"For breakfast I have Greek yoghurt with honey or Weetabix and fruit.

"Lunch is a freshly prepared salad, then dinner is salmon with steamed vegetables and new potatoes usually.

"I try not to snack throughout the day, but if I do, I have fruit and I only have wine on a weekend.

"I can go in any shop now and I dont hesitate about wearing a bikini in crowded places."

Natalie's diet before and after

BEFORE

Breakfast: Sausage or bacon sandwich

Lunch: Grab and dash fast food

Dinner: Pasta bake with a full bag of grated cheese, garlic bread, sticky toffee pudding and wine

Snacks:Crisps, biscuits and chocolate

AFTER

Breakfast: Greek yoghurt with honey or Weetabix and fruit

Lunch: Freshly prepared salad

Dinner: Salmon with steamed vegetables and new potatoes

Snacks: Fruit

15

Through her incredible diet overhaul, Natalie managed to shed six stone in just 11 months.

And she feltincredible as she walked down the aisle in her size eight wedding gown, weighing just 9st 7lb.

Natalie said: "I have only happy memories of feeling like a princess in my wedding dress with all eyes on me for the right reasons, for a change.

"I didnt delete any pictures, I kept them as happy memories.

"People think its fantastic and amazing, they have nothing but praise.

"When I went back to work after losing all my weight during maternity leave, people said I was unrecognisable."

15

Natalie is now encouraging others to follow in her footsteps and says the key thing is to remember it's all about "balance".

She said: "Everyone always asks how I have done it and for advice on what they can do.

"What I say is to make a food diary because when you write things down its easier to put into perspective and see what changes you need to make.

"Drink more water, move more and educate yourself on the right foods.

15

15

AISLE SAY! I lost 6st after wearing a size 22 wedding dress & being asked if I was pregnant

CHUNK TO HUNK XXXL man dubbed 'The Barrel' sheds 8st after yrs of gorging 8,000 daily kcals

DAD BOD TO BUFF Dad looks 10 years younger after shedding 5st on keto diet

SELF 'ATE I cried at my reflection before losing 10st - now I'm a fitness influencer

SKIN FULL I lost 11st but wish I was still fat because I despise looking at my saggy skin

TRAGIC LOSS I lost 6st after eating my way through grief of losing my unborn baby

NO WEIGH! I lost 17st after eating myself into oblivion and now friends don't recognise me

TRIM LIKE TOM Tom Watson weight loss how to lose weight and reverse type 2 diabetes

SIZE MATTERS I ate my way to 30st thinking 'big is beautiful' - but it nearly killed me

"Its all about balance and if you eat right and stick to your plan, it will happen.

"Take measurements, sometimes youll lose inches but not pounds."

You can follow Natalie's weight loss journey here.

Read more:
Weight loss: Mum sheds 6st to fit into size 8 wedding dress after gorging on bag of cheese every night - The Sun

Taylor Register After learning she had high blood pressure, Taylor Register knew she needed to make a change. She joined WW Freestyle and has lost over 100 pounds.My name is Taylor Register. Im 23, born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Im a hairstylist and makeup artist, and joining a WW program helped me lose over 100 pounds.

My entire life Ive struggled with my weight. Even as a child, I was the largest kid in all of my classes at school. My mom took me to see doctors and nutritionists at a young age because she was concerned about my weight, but no health care providers were able to pinpoint a particular reason for my weight issues growing up.

I would sneak snacks into my room and hide the packaging behind my bed. I would stuff wrappers into couch cushions. I started developing the habit of constantly overeating.

When I entered high school, I joined the marching band. It helped me keep my weight down, but when the season ended, I was no longer active and gained nearly a pant size before the start of the next season. This happened each year in high schooland I went up at least (if not more) four pant sizes.

After I graduated HS, I lost all motivation to be physically active in any way and relied on fast food for quick, easy meals. I became a closet eater, as I describe it; I would stop by any fast-food chain on my way home and order copious amounts of food, eat in my car, and proceed to eat another meal when I got home. These habits went on from 2014 through late 2017 and caused me to gain huge amounts of weight.

I remember feeling so anxious at the doctor that day, but my mother was concerned and I knew the appointment was well-intentioned. I weighed 320 pounds, which was more than Id ever weighed. I cried when my blood pressure was being taken because of how high it was.

When I met my doctor for the first time, I also remember being impressed with how non-judgmental she was in regards to my weight. Doctors have always shamed me about being overweight, and Id never felt welcome in a doctors office until that day.

She asked about my eating habits and lifestyle and also told me that she had recently lost some weight using WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers). All she said was, think about it! That night I signed up for WW and immediately began the next morning, on November 29, 2017.

The plan allows me to eat the foods that I love while teaching me to eat clean, whole foods. Its all about balanceI love that.

My meals change daily. Im not a meal prepper and become bored if I eat the same things all week long. But I strive to have one fruit or veggie, plus a protein, plus a carb with each meal.

$1.00

Try Today

At first, I wasnt incorporating any exercise and was only making dietary changes, and I lost about 90 pounds. But in March 2019, I hit a plateau with my weight loss.

I ended up quitting WW (but only temporarily) and began counting calories. I did a bunch of research and calculating to land on an appropriate caloric deficit for my gender, height, weight, age, and activity leveland I tried several different deficits. But over a period of about four months, I saw no success with calorie counting.

So in late July of 2019, I rejoined WW. Since then, I've re-evaluated what and how much I'm eating and have found a happy balance of exercise and actively working at forming healthy habits that I can stick to long term. I feel like I'm back on track, and I have lost 109 pounds total thus far.

To start, never restrict yourself from any food. Restricting often leads to bingeing. I eat a balanced diet and Im successful because I make things that I love and enjoy everything in moderate amounts.

If youre not eating what you love, you wont be able to maintain your weight and live your new life as a lifestyle, as opposed to a fad diet. I actively look for ways to create some of my favorite less nutritious meals in healthier ways without compromising the taste. Plus, it keeps things fun and interesting.

I also have to remind myself not to feel guilt if I get off track. We are in charge of our feelings and how we respond to our actions. So now I choose to never feel guilt over food. Why? Because its *just* food, and I am always only one meal away from hitting the reset button. Take your day one meal at a time, and remember that you always have a fresh start tomorrow. One bad meal does not equal one entire bad day.

In a really weird way, at my largest, I never accepted myself for the size I really was. And I mean that in the opposite way you usually hear about. I saw myself in mirrors and posed odd ways so that I wouldnt look so big. I saw those pictures of me, that I had morphed, and BELIEVED I wasnt really that big. When I saw myself in pictures next to my (very healthy sized) family members... and I was double their size... I didnt believe it. I wasnt really that big, right?? The camera adds weight, right? To an extent, but mostly WRONG. Size aside, I couldnt accept how unhealthy I was. I had horrible habits, not much motivation, and I was really rude. Most people think of body dysmorphia as someone thin looking into the mirror and seeing someone overweight but in my case it was the other way around. Some days when I see before pictures of myself they slap me in the face HARD. How did I let myself go? Why didnt I listen to my mom? Why didnt I care about my health? I want you all to know that I didnt just wake up magically motivated one day to better myself. It honestly took the majority of my LIFE to find motivation. My mom tried to help me for years. I didnt want the help. I was fine. But I wasnt. I was crying for help inside. For this to work, you have to have a fire lighted inside of you. I dont know what sparked mine. I dont know why or how I finally found the motivation but I did. Im different now. When I look in the mirror, I see me for who I am. I love every inch of my body. (Except a little FUPA and back fat action but I still dont loathe it because it is a part of this journey.) On the left, I see a strong 320lb body that found motivation and sook help. She was able to put her pride aside and finally realize things had to change. Im really proud of her. SHE created the girl on the right. That girl is even stronger. She is motivated, goal-oriented, happy, loved, and healthy. Whatever youre struggling with and going through in your journey, whether you realize it or not, you are not alone. I never realized I had body dysmorphic thoughts or binge eating tendencies until I bettered myself. #transformationtuesday

A post shared by Taylor Register WW (@chip0ltay) on Oct 15, 2019 at 6:24am PDT

I wish I knew that I wouldnt necessarily lose weight consistently each week. It is a never ending rollercoaster ride, but it's so worthwhile and rewarding.

I want other women to know that a number on a scale wont make you love yourself or make you happy. You have to discover happiness in your own skin, at all parts of your journey. You cant just expect to arrive at some goal weight and love yourself now that youre smaller.

Always respect your body. Find ways to show love to even the parts of your body that are not your favorite- it will help your confidence soar. Start by wearing a cute outfit or fixing your hair/makeup. Do anything that will help you feel comfortable in your own skin. Confidence doesnt come from weight loss. Confidence starts in your heart and mind. I worked diligently to love and respect myself at all parts of my journey, and it has paid off! Im happier in my own skin than I couldve ever imagined.

Gallery: Deceptive 'healthy' snacks that are actually sugar and calorie bombs

See original here:
'I Used To Eat Fast Food In My Car And Hide The WrappersNow I'm Down 109 Lbs. And I Cook All My Meals' - msnNOW

The fruit found in winter is a treasure of health. This fruit is sweet and very tasty which can be eaten raw, boiled or roasted. It contains phosphorus, carbohydrates, fiber, citric acid and iodine in plenty besides vitamins A, C. Yes, this winter fruit is very beneficial for your health.

Fish can take your life, leave eating today

During the fast, this fruit is eaten a lot, especially during the Navratri fast. It also helps you to lose weight, get energy and increase beauty. Singhara is very beneficial for the health of women. Let us know what benefits women can get from eating water chestnut.

Rich in Antioxidants and Minerals: Since this fruit does not contain cholesterol at all and is rich in essential nutrients and vitamins, its flour is also full of antioxidants and minerals. Its flour contains high amounts of vitamin B6, potassium (350 to 360 mg per half cup), iodine, copper, riboflavin and manganese. Therefore, if you do not want to eat water chestnut, you can use flour.

Cardamom intake is a panacea for these diseases

Gluten Free: Do you know that Singhara Flour is Gluten Free? Which means that it keeps celiac disease away from you. Yes, this disease is a lifelong disease in which your immune system reacts to proteins found in gluten such as wheat, barley and rye. The only way to avoid this is to take a gluten free diet for a lifetime and water chestnut flour does not contain gluten.

Water retention in the body: Singhara is rich in potassium but it is very low in sodium, so it is a great source of help in combating water retention in the body.

Excessive intake of eggs increases the risk of heart attack

Rich in energy: Water chestnut contains good carbohydrates and also helps in increasing energy. This is because it contains nutrients such as zinc, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. During the fast, people use this flour to make anything. Yes, during the fast, the energy level decreases, but by eating this flour you remain full of energy.

Weight loss : This fruit helps in weight loss due to its rich in fiber. Yes, fiber takes some time to digest. So eating it makes you feel full and you avoid eating again and again. This means you do not take unhealthy snacks which is not good for you. Although it is a little difficult to lose weight in winter, but by incorporating this fruit in your diet, you can reduce your weight fast.

Are you also making the mistake of eating these things with medicines? Know here

See original here:
Definitely use this fruit in winter, you will get benefit - News Track English

A Dublin woman has lost more than half her body weight after being inspired by her daughter, who feared she would eat herself to death.

Mother-of-one Wendy Deacon, 49, from Lucan, Co. Dublin, has been named Slimming Worlds Woman of the Year 2019, after shedding an enormous 12st 4.5lbs (79kg).

She said: I always came across as jolly and smiley, but inside I felt anything but. It was getting to the point where I felt uneasy whenever I left the house.

I remember once a small boy pointed at me in the street and said look at that fat lady to his mother.

She tried to hush him, but the damage was done. Id never felt so embarrassed, I just wanted the ground to swallow me up. But the real turning point came when she discovered that her daughter, Amy, had confided in her grandmother that she was worried Wendy would eat herself to death.

Hearing that broke my heart and I knew I needed to change, she said.

The thought of my daughter being so worried about my health really spurred me into action.

She added that one of the most difficult lifestyle changes with the Slimming World plan was learning how to cook from scratch, but that everyone in her group was kind and supportive.

Wendy soon got to grips with the eating plan, which encourages slimmers to fill up on foods like lean meat, vegetables, rice, potatoes, pasta and eggs without weighing, counting or measuring.

She said: Straight away I embraced the eating plan. Ive never called it a diet because the plan is so flexible. I fell in love with proper food and discovered so many different new dishes. Its a world away from the takeaways and fast food I used to eat.

Now that shes dropped from a size 32 to a size 10/12, Wendy said she now has the confidence to plan a wedding with her long-term fianc, Dave.

Dave and I have been engaged for a long time, but I never really felt confident enough to actually get married.

Finally having the confidence to go wedding dress shopping was a huge moment for me. Before I would have just chosen whatever would fit me, but now Im asking for size 10 and 12 outfits, its just an incredible feeling. I havent been able to do that for 25 years! She said the weight loss and recognition have boosted her confidence and she is now looking forward to her 50th birthday in January.

By far the best thing about losing weight though is seeing the pride in my familys faces, especially Amys. Ive finally started to feel proud of myself too Ive got my whole life back, she added.

Original post:
Daughters fear spurred Dublin mum to lose half her body weight - Extra.ie

For the first time, a personal assessment matches members with a customized plan that fits them best myWW program offers three science-backed options that make losing weight easier

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2019 /CNW/ - Today WW (NASDAQ: WW) - Weight Watchers Reimagined - launches myWW, a new program that is its most customized weight-loss program ever. Driven by science and behavioural insights, and offering more flexibility and freedom than ever before, myWW makes losing weight easier. myWW leverages details about food preferences and lifestyle to match each member to one of three comprehensive ways to follow the program, leading to clinically significant weight loss and reductions in hunger and cravings.1

WW understands that when it comes to losing weight everyone's needs and eating patterns are different and what works for one person may not work as well for another. New members take an evidence-based personal assessmentthat matches them to a plan that works best for them.

"As the world's leading weight-loss program and partner in wellness, we inspire healthy habits for real lifeand everyone is different," said Mindy Grossman, President and CEO, WW. "We are constantly listening to our community, and we know they want a more customized approach to weight loss. With our new myWW program,we help you find the weight-loss approach that fits your life."

The new myWW programis comprised of three options, all of which are rooted in WW's award-winning and scientifically proven approach to weight loss and nutrition, grounded in the SmartPoints system and ZeroPoint foods.2 As always, no foods are off-limits on myWW.

Each plan also provides customized recipes and content, activity recommendations, and mindset skills that are science-based, actionable, and practical.

"It is scientifically proven that customized approaches lead to greater engagement and more behaviour change than generic approaches," said Gary Foster, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, WW. "The new myWW program enables people to live their lives and still lose weight. We will match you to the right plan, the one that is the most freeing and flexible for you and gives you the confidence to succeed."

In Canada,WW is marking the launch by bringing the myWW program to one community in a big way. A community event, myWW Community Kickstart, is planned for this Sunday, November 17 in Brantford, Ontario. Event attendees will be offered free three-month myWW memberships[3]to inspire their wellness journey and they will be treated to an afternoon of health and wellness and new program education from WW Coaches. The event will also feature local VIPs and giveaways and experiences from partners including MOVATI Athletic, Swiss Chalet, truLOCAL, Hill Street Beverage Company and Freshii. Special guest Greta Podleski, best-selling cookbook author of LooneySpoons and Yum & Yummer, will be on-site with free copies of her latest cookbook for the first 500 guests. The initiative also includes a financial donation to the Brantford Food Bank, and a wellness challenge among key members of Brantford City Council. Residents who join the myWW Community Kickstart program will have access to ongoing support and resources throughout the three-month membership trial.

In a six-month clinical trial of the myWW program, conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina's Weight Management Center, results indicate that the participants experienced clinically significant benefits on and off the scale, including on average:

When asked about the myWW program:

With decades of experience in behaviour change, WW inspires millions of people around the world to adopt healthy habits for real life. WW is ranked #1 "Best for Weight Loss" by health experts in the 2019 Best Diets rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The award-winning WW app and the in-person experience at WW Studio locations provide the tools, information, and inspiration to help people achieve their goals. And when people need one-on-one support or guidance, they can chat 24/7 with a WW Coacha real, live human expertright in the WW app.

The myWW program is available now. For more information about myWW, visit WW.com or download the WW app.

About WW

WW - Weight Watchers Reimagined - is a global wellness company and the world's leading commercial weight management program. We inspire millions of people to adopt healthy habits for real life. Through our engaging digital experience and face-to-face group workshops, members follow our livable and sustainable program that encompasses healthy eating, physical activity, and a helpful mindset. With more than five decades of experience in building communities and our deep expertise in behavioural science, we aim to deliver wellness for all. To learn more about the WW approach to healthy living, please visit ww.com. For more information about our global business, visit our corporate website at corporate.ww.com.

1

Six-month pre-post study on 143 participants, conducted by Patrick O'Neil, PhD, and colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina's Weight Management Center. Study funded by WW.

2

WW's SmartPoints system takes complex nutritional data and boils it down to one simple, easy-to-understand number. ZeroPoint foods don't have to be weighed, measured, or tracked, and form the foundation of a healthy eating pattern with a low risk of overeating.

3

To be eligible for the free three-month membership, individuals must be residents of Brantford, Ontario, and sign up for the membership on 11/17/19 at the myWW Community Kickstart and while quantities last. Must be 18 years or older. Membership will automatically deactivate after 3 months. This free membership is not transferable or redeemable for cash, and cannot be combined with other joining offers for new or rejoining members.

SOURCE WW

For further information: Katie Good, APEX PR, 416.540.2195, kgood@apexpr.com

http://www.WW.com

The rest is here:
WW Introduces myWW(TM): groundbreaking new program is most customized and flexible ever - Canada NewsWire

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) tested a four-day workweek over the summer, and workers may be very happy about the results. As part of a program in Japan called "Work-Life Choice Challenge," the technology giant closed its offices in the country every Friday in August, giving all employees an extra day off each week.

That cut the time that staff spent in the office by 20% (hours were not changed on the remaining four workdays). The results were encouraging: Productivity, as measured by sales per employee, increased by nearly 40%, according to a recent press release from the company.

This was a very limited test, and the same results might not be duplicated if done in Microsoft offices where coding, not sales, is the main focus. Still, it does show that when rules are put in place to make an office efficient, less can be more.

Microsoft has tested a four-day workweek at one office. Image source: Microsoft.

Microsoft enacted some rules. Meetings, for example, were suggested to be no longer than 30 minutes, with invitation lists more tightly scrutinized. In addition, physical meetings were largely abandoned for digital ones on the company's own Teams meeting app.

Most employees in the nearly 2,300-person office said the changes affected them (90%). Workers overwhelmingly liked the change, with 92% saying they were happy with the shorter workweek. The company also noted in its press release that the shorter workweek saved it 23% in electricity, and 59% fewer pages were printed.

Workplace changes tend to happen when a major company offers something new. Just a few years ago it was not all that common for people to be able to spend part of their time working from home. Major tech companies led the way in adopting work-from-home policies as a way to retain and attract people in high-demand coding positions.

Microsoft has not made any plans to test a four-day workweek in the U.S. Doing so across the whole company presents special challenges. Some departments -- like customer service -- can't simply close for part of the week. That might mean that departments would have to offer a rolling three-day weekend where some workers get Monday off and others get Friday. There are other logistical concerns to work out as well.

However, it's clear from the Japanese test that employees will work harder and focus more if they get the perk of only working four days a week. This type of test, while not yet common, is part of a growing movement to focus on work-life balance. Part of doing that involves looking more at outcomes and work product than at hours spent at a desk.

Microsoft has shown that a four-day workweek can work. A lot more testing will be needed to see how it might look across the entire company, or how other companies might implement it. What's clear, however, is that once workers know this may be an option, they will almost certainly clamor for it. That could lead to smaller companies offering shorter workweeks as a way to attract employees who otherwise might not be interested.

A four-day workweek might be even more efficient than a five-day workweek. That may seem hard to believe -- but people can be motivated by a prize, and an extra day off each week is certainly a factor that should push people to be more productive when they are at the office.

10 stocks we like better than MicrosoftWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has quadrupled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Microsoft wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 1, 2019

Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Daniel B. Kline owns shares of Microsoft. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Microsoft and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $85 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

See original here:
Microsoft Tried a Four-Day Workweek and Productivity Boomed - Nasdaq

After months of talking about it, making predictions and arguing about how the field would shape up, we are officially in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. The CFP Selection Committee unveiled its latest rankingson Tuesday night. It's fun to debate who's overrated and underrated, but ultimately, there are still plenty of teams with a path to the playoff.

In all, there are a baker's dozen who, in some capacity, have a shot. I'm setting the cutoff line at No. 13 Baylor. Wisconsin, at No. 14, got housed by Ohio State 38-7. No. 15 Michigan, in turn, got handled by the Badgers 35-14. On and on it goes, but basically, you can't get waxed on the scoreboard and be in the discussion. There also aren't Group of Five teams making semi-serious runs, either.

The contenders are grouped into three categories: long shots, contenders and favorites. The tiers are meant to combine like teams, but they are also ordered by their respective chances of making the four-team playoff field. Again, this is not a ranking of which teams are better than others, nor is it a reflection of who I personally feel should get in.

Additionally, there are dozens of scenarios that could play out over the next 3-4 weeks. It would be a mind-bender to play through all of them, so for simplicity's sake, we're going to proceed with some level of chalk. Know they're going to change and the list is going to get cut in half by the end of the year -- perhaps far sooner than that. Let's get to it.

These are the teams with minimal chances of making the playoff -- at best. No team ranked outside the top 10 in Week 12 has made the cut yet since the CFP's inception. The lowest-ranked team to do was No. 9 Michigan State in 2015.

No. 11 Florida (8-2):Only Lloyd Christmas likes Florida's odds, but they are technically non-zero. The Gators, which have two "good" losses to teams currently in the top four, need to beat Missouri this weekend and have Georgia lose its final two SEC games in order to take the SEC East and earn an opportunity at either LSU or Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. In other words, Florida needs to win out -- and it needs help by means of an extra game.Remaining schedule: at Missouri, vs. Florida State

No. 13 Baylor (9-0):The committee doesn't seem sold on the Bears seeing as they're the lowest-ranked unbeaten, behind a two-loss team in the Gators, but there's room to make an impression quickly. Baylor gets Oklahoma and Texas in consecutive weeks, and if it gets through that, it'll probably play the Sooners again in the Big 12 Championship Game. I wouldn't pick 'em to run the table, but the door is indeed cracked open.Remaining schedule: vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, vs. No. 19 Texas, at Kansas

You'll find most of the teams in the playoff hunt here. They can make a run, but they're not necessarily favorites, either.

No. 12 Auburn (7-2):The Tigers are Team Chaos and have the most upside. Though they have two losses, neither are bad. In fact, they played No. 1 LSU tougher than anyone. They can skyrocket up the rankings if they win out since the schedule includes Alabama and Georgia (possibly twice). They would also have -- and this is key -- a head-to-head win over Oregon.Remaining schedule: vs. No. 4 Georgia, vs. Samford, vs. No. 5 Alabama

No. 9 Penn State (8-1):It depends largely on whether the Nittany Lions can beat Ohio State. Winning in Columbus, Ohio, will be a tall order, but it would do wonders for getting them back in the thick of the playoff hunt. Penn State would also like another crack at No. 8 Minnesota in the Big Ten Championship Game for a couple of reasons: revenge and the added weight of recency.Remaining schedule: vs. Indiana, at No. 2 Ohio State, vs. Rutgers

No. 7 Utah (8-1):Part of why Utah was a trendy playoff darkhorse was because the schedule set up nicely to run the table. The flip side of that is it doesn't leave a lot of margin for error. There aren't any great wins on the resume, and Washington has been a disappointment. Beating Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game would be huge, but would it be enough?Remaining schedule: vs. UCLA, at Arizona, vs. Colorado

No. 8 Minnesota (9-0):Great, if the Gophers can keep winning, but I hate their November. Minny is already a road dog at Iowa, and we know how it is playing at Kinnick Stadium as an unbeaten team. Playing at Northwestern is somehow both a hangover and look-ahead game. And getting repeatedly hit with a sledgehammer in freezing temperatures by Wisconsin to top it off isn't exactly fun. If you get past all of that, congrats, you probably get Ohio State on a fast track in Indianapolis.Remaining schedule: at No. 20 Iowa, at Northwestern, vs. No. 14 Wisconsin

No. 10 Oklahoma (8-1):Oklahoma's remaining slate isn't as tricky as Minnesota's since it'll be navigating through it as clear favorites, but it's not a gimme. The Sooners have been vulnerable in their past two games, and upcoming road trips against ranked opponents -- Beldam among them -- are worth monitoring. A Big 12 Championship Game appearance would mean the Sooners then face one of the conference's top two teams again. Running the table would likely bump them up four, maybe five spots. They might need a bit of help to get any higher, though.Remaining schedule: at No. 13 Baylor, vs. TCU, at No. 22 Oklahoma State

No. 5 Alabama (8-1):I don't think you're going to see a lot of movement from Alabama over the next couple of weeks. People have gone full Galaxy Brain trying to rationalize this team's playoff hopes, but the reality is it doesn't have a great win and might have one at most by season's end -- and that would be an Auburn team suffering its third loss. As it stands, the Tide are behind LSU in the SEC West race and would need it to lose two games (while also winning out) to make it to Atlanta. Bama may still get in, it's just not a sure thing.Remaining schedule: at Mississippi State, vs. Western Carolina, at No. 12 Auburn

No. 6 Oregon (8-1):Even though Oregon is ranked behind Alabama, the committee did something interesting. They put the Ducks right behind the Crimson Tide. One could infer that, if chalk holds, Oregon's extra game could be enough to leapfrog Alabama. How the committee weighs each team's performance against Auburn may be a deciding factor as well.Remaining schedule: vs. Arizona, at Arizona State, vs. Oregon State

Win (out) and they're in.

No. 4 Georgia (8-1):The Bulldogs are a borderline team for me. I love the defense, and the wins over Florida and Notre Dame stand out. If they beat Auburn on Saturday and LSU or Alabama in Atlanta, they're in without question. However, that's a tough road, and goodness gracious, God almighty that South Carolina loss is hot, summertime trash.Remaining schedule: at No. 12 Auburn, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Georgia Tech

No. 3 Clemson (10-0):Excellent, but there's no room for an L. Honestly, we've put too much emphasis on Trevor Lawrence's interceptions and not nearly enough on the fact Clemson's been whooping some ass every week since October. The schedule's not great, so I don't see it losing between now and Selection Sunday, but it would be fascinating to see how the Tigers will be viewed if they did.Remaining schedule: vs. Wake Forest, at South Carolina

No. 2 Ohio State (9-0):The Buckeyes have an underappreciated remaining schedule that, if passed, would assure them a playoff spot. While it's a harder road than that of Clemson, Ohio State has been the most dominant and complete team since Week 1. LSU deserves to be No. 1, but Ohio State may still be the best overall team.Remaining schedule: at Rutgers, vs. No. 9 Penn State, at No. 15 Michigan

No. 1 LSU (9-0):The three aforementioned favorites are in the playoff if they win. But LSU feels like the only team, as of today, that can sustain a loss and still love its odds of getting in the four-team field. Another team may join later, but right now the Tigers alone enjoy that privilege. They have the most impressive collection of wins out of any of these teams.Remaining schedule: at Ole Miss, Arkansas, Texas A&M

See the rest here:
Will your team make the College Football Playoff? Ranking the chances of all 13 contenders - CBS Sports