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:
- tincongnito lost 2.5 pounds this week!!! Great Work!!!
- bagga lost 2 pounds and that certainly deserves honorable mention.
Inches-Lost Winners:
- bagga lost 1-inch from her bust & hips!
- sheltonmath lost 1-inch from her hips and that also deserves honorable mention.
CONGRATULATIONS Y'ALL! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Original Post by lulufit:
Ok, hope this works!
Excellent, I was just going to look for a soup recipe (I have hubbard squash to use).
I also have a Hubbard squash to use....This might be a good opportunity to cut it up! Does anyone know if I can freeze it raw or do I have to cook it first?
I cook mine before freezing, usually though it turns into that night's soup before it gets to that freezer.
OMG, moodster! I can't beleive you actually remembered to put the empty egg carton into the newly lined trashcan! YAY!
I have all your stats neatly entered into an Excel document, that's an .xls doc for all you nerds, and realize there is no way for me to put it in the thread. Oh well. I'll just record all your GW (Goal Weight)/CW (Current Weight) and CM (current Measurements) each week at the top of the thread. I should get them all in by Friday for the preceding Wednesday's reports. I'll be keeping track of all the reports in my nifty .xls doc. So if you need 'em and don't feel like scrolling forever just PM me and I'll get 'em to ya.
Oh, and as a not, thanks to you guys for getting the recipes into the cc.com database. I know its cumbersome at first but I really like the system and its been really helpful to me. Thanks for all the new recipes! We should all have lots of new stuff to try now.
I'm so excited about this thread! Its doing an excellent job of keeping me distracted, just as I planned!
*rubs hands together like an evil geniun*
Original Post by leanne21071:
I also have a Hubbard squash to use....This might be a good opportunity to cut it up! Does anyone know if I can freeze it raw or do I have to cook it first?
I'd cook it first. Scary things happen to uncooked vegetable cellulose cell-walls when frozen. YUK! Translation: It could turn slimy. Yea, I'd cook it first. I've done it and its fine.
Oh, yea, leanne, you can take the lazy route and just bake it in the oven until cooked-though and then refrigerate until the next day to make into soup. That's my usual method. Its just the two of us, so I often use leftovers like that as soup-fodder. But my experience is that winter squash has a pretty long shelf life, if uncut. Once cut though, ya gotta cook it. I imagine a night in the fridge would be ok though.
Y'alls bad foods are funny! My favorite so far is the 3 tootsie pops lbalthazor had! I used ot LOVE those when I was kid. Been a long time. Will be a long time. My concern is more for the $10K+-worth of dental work I have in my mouth and have still managed to lose a molar. Me + Sugar = Payday for my Dentist!
I'm excited too....see
Huh?
Original Post by mspw:
Y'alls bad foods are funny! My favorite so far is the 3 tootsie pops lbalthazor had! I used ot LOVE those when I was kid. Been a long time. Will be a long time. My concern is more for the $10K+-worth of dental work I have in my mouth and have still managed to lose a molar. Me + Sugar = Payday for my Dentist!
Oh yeah! My roommate bought a big bag of them, so I've been stealing them out of her cupboard. I love them so much.
If I had a roomie that brought home bags of my favorite candy I would be in deep ****.
Original Post by mspw:
Huh?
Now that was a great picture!!!
And I have a b/f that brings home those yummie cookies from McDonalds last night. I went back and forth so many times. Saying "you have enough calories to eat one but then that'll be it" I ended up not eating it somehow...and ate a darn apple instead.
Name: Gwennie
CW: 162 lbs
GW: 153.5 lbs (by Jan 1st)
Bust: 41.5 "
Waist: 37.5 "
Hips: 41.5 "
Worst Food Choice: Mayonnaise 
Best Food Choice: Salad greens w/ Litehouse Honey Mustard Lite Dressing
Recipe To Share: Spring Omelet Primavera
**Hrm ... my weight went down ... and my measurements went up since I signed up for this challenge a few days ago ... perhaps I measured wrong? LOL
Have a great week all! I know I will be enjoying the wonderful recipes you all shared (if I can manage to shop and then cook ... haha).
CW: 162 lbs (-/+ 0)
GW: 153.5 lbs (by Jan 1st)
Bust: 41.5 " (-/+ 0) 
Waist: 36.25" (-1.25)
Hips: 41" (-.5)
Worst Food Choice: Cheddar Cheese
Best Food Choice: Egg beaters, bell pepper
Recipe To Share: Steak Scramble Recipe
I am EXTREMELY frustrated this week. Still no loss. I don't understand why that is! I have been eating fairly well ... all A nutrition grades overall (except the cheddar cheese which was a C+) but I have NOT gone over my calories and I have been exercising like a fanatic! All week I have maintained a 710 calorie deficit (except Sunday ... my exercise rest day which was 510 calorie deficit). I did FINALLY see some movement on my inches ... but I am about ready to scream ... and I am losing my motivation for this REAL fast. I hate the scale ... I really do! I was on it on Saturday and weighed 158.5 ... next day I weighed 160.5 and then next day ... 162 again ... and holding! GRRRRRRR.
I hope you are all having a better week than I did!
I am a 33 year old math teacher who weighed over 215lbs last May (way too much for my 5'4" frame. I started watching my weight over the summer and went from an almost 22 to fitting in size 12's and 14's. For the last few weeks the scale hasn't been moving much so I am hoping this challenge will help. My favorite exercises are TaeBo, the New York City Ballet Workout and the Biggest Loser Workout 2. I have 3 children whom I love and I try to dedicate any free time I have to them. I can't wait to try the Sprouted Hummus Recipe and the egg white omlete I already saw posted here.
GW: 160 lbs for this challenge, 130 eventually
CW: 166 lbs
Bust: 42 "
Waist: 36 "
Hips: 43 "
Worst Food-Choice of the Week: Chipotle - Carnitas burrito bowl
Best Food Choice of the Week: Grilled chicken salad with mangos, avocados and lots of fresh veggies.
Recipe to Exchange: I know everyone is "burned out on stuffing" but I couldn't help myself. I know I will be making this dressing for all the holiday parties and it is so much better than all the other options, like stovetop. I am watching my sodium so I really enjoy this recipe; and, at 100 calories for a half-cup serving I don't feel so guilty for eating it. Baked Chestnut and Mushroom Dressing
GW:145 (I'd be happy with 150, at this point.)
CW: 155.5 (ahhh!! screw you double Thanksgivings and donuts the in-laws sent back... D:)
Measurements: Sorry, I haven't done this. I don't know how. =/
Worst Food: Does just 'monday' count? I had an ENTIRE calzone just for LUNCH and an entire bag of gummy bears. Plus donuts for breakfast. Three. Two of them were small cider donuts but one was a freakin' Krispy Kreme. It was a badddd day...
Best Food: I'm not sure I had one.... At least, I don't remember it. Finals are killin' me....
Recipe: THIS IS DELICIOUS. I want to make it this week. Chicken and Spaghetti. It's a recipe by my step-dads mother (who was Italian.) I luuuurve it. I just can't go overboard on the cheese....
I really need to do better this week. Urgh. It's difficult but now I should have some more time to work out and actually cook.
I'm stoked about Bagga's roasted veggie soup, though! I've been craving soups this week.
And the stuff I missed last time... I'm 22 and recently moved into an apartment with my fiance. It's hard because he's such a picky eater. Through college we just ate out for almost every meal and if we didn't I made mac n' cheese or something equally awful for you. Needless to say I gained a lot of weight. Like 30 pounds. It's especially disappointing because entering college I weighed less than I ever have in my life (145!) Trying to lose it by graduation. I've lost at least 15 lbs so far so I've only got 10 left. (Started at the end of the summer.) But I don't have much time to work out so it's a struggle.
Anyway, I bought size 8 pants for the first time in a long time the other day! So at least that was pleasurable....
I'm werkin' on the stats for the week.
In the meantime.... I have a new recipe for breakfast bagel spread. Its not a submission for the challenge. I just thought I'd share it. My husband loves this stuff.
So far, here's what I need...
measurements from:
- moodymomma
- leane21071
- lulufit
- tincognito
- journeyfit
- ridleysw
- moonikins
If you don't want to enter your measurements, that's np. You will still qualify for the weight-loss challenge.
The only one I need GW & CW from is moonikins. Will someone please wake her up? I think she is drowning in a pool of her own saliva.
Since we haven't actually been in this for the first week yet, the Worst & Best food choices aren't technically necessary, but its fun anyway. There will be no challenge for this, so no taunting either. Its just for fun. And, if you wanna be part of the Recipe of the Week challenge, I need your recipes in cc.com database linked to the thread tonight. I will be on it in the morning Friday, so try to get it in before sunrise, EST Friday. Thanks!
If I have made any mistakes or left anyone out, please just let me know and I'll fix it.
Original Post by mspw:
So far, here's what I need...
measurements from:
- moodymomma
- leane21071
- lulufit
- tincognito
- journeyfit
- ridleysw
- moonikins
If you don't want to enter your measurements, that's np. You will still qualify for the weight-loss challenge.
The only one I need GW & CW from is moonikins. Will someone please wake her up? I think she is drowning in a pool of her own saliva.
Since we haven't actually been in this for the first week yet, the Worst & Best food choices aren't technically necessary, but its fun anyway. There will be no challenge for this, so no taunting either. Its just for fun. And, if you wanna be part of the Recipe of the Week challenge, I need your recipes in cc.com database linked to the thread tonight. I will be on it in the morning Friday, so try to get it in before sunrise, EST Friday. Thanks!
If I have made any mistakes or left anyone out, please just let me know and I'll fix it.
*notes that mspw has been getting too much stuff done and should be sanctioned for not procrastinating*
Our fearless leader is quite the busy beaver
Original Post by bagga:
Our fearless leader is quite the busy beaver
*makes mspw an "Honorary Canadian"*
