December to New Year's Eve Challenge & Recipe Exchange (no monday weigh-ins!)

**THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED TO NEW MEMBERS**

I have been gaining all year.  Since Thanksgiving is over, and I am burned-out on turkey, stuffing & gravy, I thought it would be great to start a mini-challenge to keep me on-track through the rest of the holidays.  Also, since weight is not the only marker of progress, I want to post measurements as well.  AND... since this is about lifestyle and not dieting, cooking really is a very important thing.  So I'd like to exchange recipes for the week so we can all learn some new stuff.  Chat is encouraged too. 

The weigh/measure-ins will begin on December 3rd, Wednesday.  The following are what we are going to report...

• GW
• CW
• Bust-Waist-Hips (in inches, please)
  
• Worst Food-Choice of the Week
• Best Food Choice of the Week
• Recipe to Exchange
  

The recipes exchanged should be in the database here on CC.com.  You can link them in your post.  That way we can all see the nutritional values and I can determine the healthiest ones impartially w/o having to enter them myself.  There will be announcements on Fridays for the following...

• Week's Biggest Weight-Loser
• Week's Biggest Inches-Loser
• Week's Healthiest Recipe(s)
  

The challenge winners will be determined by the largest percentage of loss and the person with the largest number of healthiest recipes. Winners will be announced on Thursday, January 1st, 2009. 

Go ahead and introduce yourself.  Tell us your age, height, beginning weight, how long you have been working at it, your current weight and your goal.  Let us know if you have any other goals and what you do with your time, what kind of exercise you take,....  Lets get to know one-another. 

*edit*

• ms_pw GW:150/CW:154.5 SM:37.5-32.75-38
  
• moodymomma  GW:130/CW:137 SM:___
  
• leanne21071  GW:120/CW:122.6 SM:37.5-27-34.5
  
• bagga  GW:175/CW:180 SM:41-35-40
  
• lulufit  GW:169/CW:174 SM:___
  
• ragingheadache  GW:153.5/CW:162, SM:41.5-37.5-41.5
  
• carlynj21 GW:123/CW:128.2 SM:34-30-37.5
  
• tincognito GW:145/CW:155.5 SM:___
  
• buggyhair GW:120/CW:140.2 SM:36.5-30-38.5
  
• journeyfit  GW:142/CW:150.6 SM: 36.5-29.5-41
  
• lbalthazor GW:160/CW:166.5 SM:36-38-40
  
• ridleysw GW:190/CW:200 SM:___
• sheltonmath: GW:160/CW:166 SM:42-36-43
  

I will have weekly stats posted here by Fridays. 

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

• ms_pw: 154.5 (same), 38-32-38 (+.5 bust, -.75 waist)
• moodymomma: 137 (same)
• leanne21071: 121.6 (-1), 37.5-26.5-34.5 (-.5 waist)
• bagga: 178 (-2), 40-35-39 (-1 bust & hips)
• lulufit: 173 (-1)
• carlynj21: 127.2 (-1), 34-30-37.25 (-.25 hips)
• tincognito: 153 (-2.5)
• buggyhair: 139.8 (-.4), 36-30-38 (-.5 bust & hips)
• lbalthazor: 167 (+.5) 38-24-40
• sheltonmath: 164.4 (-1.6), 42-36-42 (-1 hips)

Recipes of the Week

• ms_pw: Hummus B
• leanne21071: Choppy Salad A  
  
• bagga: Sea Scallops ala Caprese A-
• lulufit: Chipotle Chicken Wraps B+
  
• carlynj21: Sauteed Asparagas A -
  
• tincognito: Hunter's Stew B-
• buggyhair: Pea-Sun Spread B+
• lbalthazor: French Toast (cannot qualify since its not in the cc.com database)
• sheltonmath: Shepherds Pie B+

December 12th Winners...

• MAIN COURSE: bagga: Sea Scallops ala Caprese (A-) 252 Cals & 12 oz
• SALAD: leanne21071: Choppy Salad (A) - 92 Cals & 17.5 oz
• SIDE DISH: carlynj21: Sauteed Asparagas (A) - 88 Cals & 5 os

Weight-Loss Winners:

1. tincongnito lost 2.5 pounds this week!!!  Great Work!!!
2. bagga lost 2 pounds and that certainly deserves honorable mention.
   

Inches-Lost Winners:

1. bagga lost 1-inch from her bust & hips! 
2. sheltonmath lost 1-inch from her hips and that also deserves honorable mention.

CONGRATULATIONS Y'ALL!  KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

I find that shorter challenges are easier to meet so this is just for the month of December.  Also, Monday weigh-ins are the WORST, so we will weigh-in on Wednesdays.  That's also when I feel weakest, after my beginning-of-the-week inspiration.  I start to deviate from my plan about mid-week.

I am not so sure when I began this quest for weight-loss, but I have been steadily gaining for awhile.  About a year or so ago I was about 130-135 and that's where I'd like to eventually go, but its going to take longer than a month to get there.  So I am starting anew now with this challenge. 

I am sorta 'retired' for now.  My husband works, lately away from home, and I do the rest, cooking, cleaning, shopping, paying bills,... So I have a lot of free-reign over what I eat and how I take care of myself.  I've come to find that, without the confines of a work-week schedule, I lack discipline.  I'm hoping that I can acheive my goals in smaller steps with short challenges.  This one is especially important because its the first one I have headed and its going to get me through the remainder of the holidays.  Then I can celebrate on New Year's. 

• Age: 39
• Ht: 5'3"
• CW: 155.5
• GW: 150 (just for this challenge)
  

The rest I will report on Wednesday as my first weigh/measure-in.  Anything reported now is just to get to know one-another.  Entries will not be taken until Wednesday.  My exercise plan is mostly treadmill and yoga in the mornings and an afternoon workout around 4pm of either aerobic-style class (tapes), more yoga or weight-lifting.  The latter I will not begin until this weekend.  I'm really outta shape and have to ease back into it. 

~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~

~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~o0o~~~

YAY!!

I'm in!  This is my last 5 lbs.  I need another weigh in day to keep me straight I've gotten so close I just have to finish.  I'm a stay at home mom to a 2 1/2 year old little girl and a whole lot of pets.

• Age 37
• Height 5'4"
• CW: 125
• GW: 120

I'm looking forward to Wednesday.

WOW!  Leanne, you are truly an inspiration.  110, All that in one year?  I was looking at your profile.  That is amazing.  Glad to have ya.

And of course, great to have you too, moody, as always!  I didn't know you were so short!  You seem taller in text.  LOL!

age: 45

Height: 5' 8

Goal: 5 lbs, less at end of challenge than I am now.

I will weigh and measure.............. 

(I'll be honest but not revealing with numbers, fractions, trigonometry, sociology, or any other gory, allegorious, ology's lurking in the abyss.)

age: 32

Height: 5' 2

Goal: 5 lbs less, or at least not to gain anything from Christmas Cookie consumption

CW: approx. 174, I will need to weigh and measure still

You may need to message me to remind me that I am in this challenge, and what day it is. Also, Christmas Cookies are one of the Ultimate Enemies, like the infamous Brownies, so I can't make ANY guarantees! But I will try, considering that I am the shortest fattest gal in this challenge! Sucks to be the fat one.

Welcome, bagga, great to have ya.  lulu, I will do my best.  

*edit*

I should tell y'all that I, by no means, mandate reports of measurements.  If you are modest, but still wanna join-in, please do.  Tell whatever helps you.  I would, however, LOVE some new recipe ideas. 

Hi All!

My name is Gwennie (Gwen or Gwendolyn).  I'm in ... I need all the help, encouragement and accountability I can get.  Plus, I am looking forward to collecting some recipes.  I tend to stick to the safe things right now ... Slimfast, weight-watchers frozen foods ... veggies, fruits and rice cakes.  I know I eventually have to cook (and think) for myself when I am making food choices ... so recipes are a great idea!  See you all back here for Wednesday check-in!

GW:  154.5 lbs (for this challenge)

CW:  164.5

Bust - Waist - Hips:  41.5 - 37 - 41

Hi! I think this will be a great challenge. I am always looking for healthy recipes. I am 26, 5'4" and I started this journey at 159-160 I think. I quit weighing myself after 150 because I was digusted about the fact that I was gaining weight after the birth of my son and not losing it. My son just turned 2 not too long ago and I am a stay at home mom. I do all the cooking, so I have all the say so in what I eat if not what the whole family eats.

I really buckled down on the weight loss thing the 1st of October and managed to get myself down to 128-129 so far (from 140 at that point). I have been at this since September of 2007 but like I said, just recently started watching what I eat. I exercise no less than 5 days a week and sometimes try to get a second work out in on Mondays and Fridays. I do mostly jogging but just started trying to get strength training in on Tues and Thurs. My b/f has been my inspiration losing over 100 pounds in the last year so he really keeps me going. We try to eat healthy as much as we can although of course we have our slip ups occasionally.

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and will post my measurements and all that good stuff on Wednesday.

Can I join?

I'll do my official weight posts and what not on Wednesday, since I've never measured myself before. (Where do I measure these things?)

I do need something to keep me in line this month though. I've been doing terribly!! Not gaining, but not losing. Finals have just destroyed all my cooking attempts, but new recipes should keep me interesting in cooking. =)

I should easily be able to lose 4 pounds in this month to reach my first goal if I stay on track, and maybe you can help me?

I'm up for this. I'll post my digits on Wednesday.

Do I get a special prize for being the oldest (49) one in the group?

Hey I'd like to join in! =)

Age: 21

Height: 5"3.75'

CW: 150.6

GW (for challenge): 142.0

Well, this is my second attempt at weightloss, and getting a more healthy body. The first time I did it I lost 10 lbs (I think I got to 140) but when I started ignoring what I was doing and not exercising, I ballooned up to an all-time high of 156. Now, I'm back on track, and I might be going on vacation for the first week of January, and I'd like to be at least 142 for that.. which is perfect for this challenge!

I guess I'll post my measurements tomorrow =)

Howdy folks, wow look how many have joined!

For what it's worth if nothing else happens in this challenge I have found it a grand reason to fire back up the food log, dust off the food scale, map out a cohesive exercise plan that doesn't adversely affect my pulled groin...ouch...and instill the no booze policy (even on weekends, for now) that was so effective for me in the beginning.

Also have gone back to a diet that allows me to get a real, no skimp, yet rational dinner as opposed to the food free ranging and guilt driven meager potion at the end of day thing I had started doing, most unsatisfying and detrimental to losing weight, come to find out.

I have become a complete slacker it seems.

Yea, I hear ya, bagga.  Drinking makes it hard ot work-out.  LOL! 

*pictures bagga on a treadmill with a vodka & tonic in-hand watching Olivia Newton-John's vid, Let's Get Physical*

I don't think having a couple of glasses of white wine is a prob but I have to wait until after my workout.  Wine at lunch pretty-much destroys my workout in the afternoons.  It also makes me wanna eat more.  If I wait until I cook dinner, around 6ish, I will drink less and eat at dinner-time, rather than snacking. 

My scale was pretty dust-laden as well.  Its back on the counter.  I am also logging my food too!  Feels good.  I'm trying it keep it at 1600 cals with either a 45 minute treadmill-run or yoga session in the mornings and then an aerobic session in the afternoons.  Next weekend I will start integrating weights back into the routine. 

Great to see so many ppl wanting to stick with it through Christmas.  This is such a hard time of year for people.  I think it might even be harder for those of us who cook because we wind-up eating our own creations.  I'm going to try and find some creative ways around that this year, like using Earth Balance in my baked-goods rather than butter, and maybe whole wheat flour instead of white. 

CW: 167

GW: 160

I have been trying to lose weight for years.  For the last several months, I've held it at 160 and haven't lost any, because I was inconsistent with my weightloss efforts.  But over the last couple of weeks, I've gained 7 pounds!  Some of this, I think, I hope, is just water weight gain from overeating recently.  Since I've heard (and experienced) that new weight comes up fairly quickly (especially if it's just bloating), I'm going for a larger weight loss than normal - 7 pounds! 

My big goal is to get to 140 by my 10-year High School Reunion, which is sometime in May.  If I stay consistent, I think that is doable.

My big concern right now is my birthday party on Saturday, which will consist of lots of eating and drinking.  I'm going to be sure to pick up some lower calorie alcoholic options!

Original Post by lbalthazor:

CW: 167

GW: 160

 

I have been trying to lose weight for years.  For the last several months, I've held it at 160 and haven't lost any, because I was inconsistent with my weightloss efforts.  But over the last couple of weeks, I've gained 7 pounds!  Some of this, I think, I hope, is just water weight gain from overeating recently.  Since I've heard (and experienced) that new weight comes up fairly quickly (especially if it's just bloating), I'm going for a larger weight loss than normal - 7 pounds! 

My big goal is to get to 140 by my 10-year High School Reunion, which is sometime in May.  If I stay consistent, I think that is doable.

My big concern right now is my birthday party on Saturday, which will consist of lots of eating and drinking.  I'm going to be sure to pick up some lower calorie alcoholic options!

 

How 'bout wine-spritzers... white wine with some fizzy water?  It works best with a sweeter wine like a reisling or a moscato. 

That is a good idea.  I tend to drink too fast.  So, that might help to slow me down.  I tend to gravitate towards red wine, though, so I'll have to come up with a good mixer for that.

Alright, tomorrow is the big day!  I'm gearing up and getting my digital scale placed  in the best spot possible.  If anyone wants to change their goal wt tomorrow is the last day to do it.  I will record everyone's results on Wednesdays to a spreadsheet.  On Fridays I'll announce the biggest losers & best recipes as per cc.com's nutritional values. 

Any questions, feel free to ask.  PM me if you prefer to communicate that way.  Sweet Dreams!

Greetings!

I just got a membership to the gym and am ready to seriously focus on my health.

22 years old, 5' 3" and 200 pounds.  I am hoping to lose 10 pounds by January first, and then continue on for a total of 60 pounds lost.  I am a huge fan of the eliptical machine, and I am just starting to venture into the realm of weight-training.  Although I am good at the weight gaining process, I am very new to the losing weight process :)

So I guess I will be the first to report all this good stuff.

• GW-123
• CW-128.2
• Bust-Waist-Hips (in inches, please)-34-30-37.5
  
• Worst Food-Choice of the Week-Pizza
• Best Food Choice of the Week-Salad,Salad,and more Salad
  
• Recipe to Exchange-   http://caloriecount.about.com/stuffed-pepper- casserole-chicken-recipe-r164039

Everyone have an excellent day!