Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Hey Aya,

They are predicting 6 to 10 inches today. Are you ready?

Muffy

It's crazy - kind of exciting though. My husband's 5am commute tomorrow should be a fun one. Luckily he got home today just before it set in.

Muffy - have they not sent you home from work yet? All my Boston colleagues have even been sent home! That's like, unheard of for my company.

Guys, I had a sad date with the leftover Halloween candy last night, so now the remainder is in the same bag as the clothing I'm taking to the Salvation Army. I just can't be trusted anymore. There was a day when I smirked at candy. New day today tho.

[TitianWasp]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Hey Aya,

I went home at 1. I am here now, feeding my kids hot chocolat (they each eat about 4 big marshmallows to one mug of chocolat). It's 4:25 in the afternoon, and dark as night out there, but sort of a bluish cast because of the snow.

Are you home yet?

Muffy

[Alexa]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Guys, I had a sad date with the leftover Halloween candy last night, so now the remainder is in the same bag as the clothing I'm taking to the Salvation Army. I just can't be trusted anymore. There was a day when I smirked at candy. New day today tho.

I have so been there - smirkign at chocolate (it always was that for me) and then the next thing enslaved to it! But you're right, today is a new day

Hope you're all ok in the snow!

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Muffy (feels weird to call you that after Titian for so long) - I work from home so luckily don't have to stress much. I did choose the break of the storm to do a post office dash though, trust me! At that stage it was still soft, fluffy and cute, unlike it will be now or in the am.
Apparently there was only rain in NY, my boss called from there. Weird.

Alexa, thanks for thinking of us. How's the weather in Hampshire? My family is in Scotland; Aberdeen. Weather at it's best is dreary. But I have to say the upside is the hues are magnificent, I swear it's because the landscapes are hardly touched by sun. Are you still feeling the cold so badly? I bought slippers with microwaveable insets, which are great except for the hassle of microwaving the darn things!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

I have been shopping for hours! I hate shopping! I did get a lot of good baking/cooking supplies at the Amish bulk store. Everything is so cheap. And so good. I got almond flour, pecan flour, organic soy flour and a huge bag (over a pound) of sesame seeds for $1.60. I got over a pound container of Dutch process cocoa for $2.25.

I got a dehydrator and am going to try making various veggie chips tomorrow. I bought chayote squash yesterday; boiled and mashed it with butter and cream and it was a passable mashed potato substitute. I bought another kind of squash called golden nugget--looks like a small pumpkin. I'm going to try it tomorrow.

Where do you buy sesame tahini? I looked at three different stores today. They had sesame everything else.

It has been so warm here, I have had the windows and door open for days. Now, on Saturday, when I have a 3-hour dress rehearsal and then my family Christmas dinner 20 miles away, we are supposed to have snow, sleet and freezing rain. Same thing for Sunday morning when I have to be at church for the musical at 8:00 a.m. This is the worse car I have ever had for driving in any kind of weather. It has a special handling package and ABS brake system. It handles and drives like a dream on dry pavement, but it hydroplanes at the first drop of rain and positively shivers and starts sliding at the sight of the first snow flake. I have never minded driving in snow until this car. My house is at the top of a big hill. I am not looking forward to this stuff.

I exercised way too much yesterday and I'm paying for it today. I think I'll go to bed and prop everything.

Sunny!

[Alexa]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Morning everyone!

Aya - Weather in Hampshire is COLD and it's not just me saying it! I am wearing so many layers I look fat as ever - very annoying! Scotland must be even colder. I'm going ice skating tommorrow outside at a stately home - hopefully the movement will be enough to keep me warm. Those slippers sound lovely - I'll look out for some.

Sunny - I hope your cars behaves on those roads. Veggies chips sound like a very good snacky idea. I hope you are rested after your exercise.

[TitianWasp]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Don't worry, Aya - I answer to either. TitianWasp is my tag name pretty much everywhere and has been for...decades? So you can call me by whichever you like. I am terribly jealous that your family is in Aberdeen. I have had two vacations planned for Scotland over the years, and was supposed to finish my last year of college at St.Andrews, but each time fate seems to step in and muck things up. Dreary, lonely looking landscapes actually are my favorite and I cannot wait to someday see them in person.

Love the snow, this morning by the way. It's gorgeous out there!

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Sunny - sounds like you've found a great place for supplies! I bought Tahini at my local Wild Oats organic market but it's also at my local Stop and Shop if you have any of those in VA. I love it, try putting a spoon in 2ozs of cream cheese with a splenda, tastes like a decadent sesame pudding. But a warning - I like 'em thick and rich!

Alexa, don't you hate winter layers? One feels so blimpy. I have a trick when I feel miserably bundled (don't laugh) - I warm up a room til it's hot so I can wear skipmy summer stuff for a while and remind my inner whatever it is that I'm not suddenly back to where I started and that bad food must not pass my lips.

Muffy - had such fun shoveling yesterday morning but am kind of achy all over today. Hope you get to Aberdeen soon (and with your new oodles-of-money job, you probably will!) St Andews is amazing, I'm a sucker for places like Inverness and Loch Ness(I haven't given up hope of Nessie yet). When I went to see my grandmother last year it was the same time as the annual highland games. Hilarious! Kilted men throwing huge poles are endlessly fascinating to me.

I'm going to attempt low-carb eggnog today. Only prob is my husband hates eggnog so I'll be the only one drinking it which may be dangerous calorie-wise. Portion-control practice!!!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

I finally found the Tahini by accident today at Kroger. I have been looking in the Asian foods, and after searching through hundreds of bottles, cans and containers in the Asian section, I went looking for the Devon Custard that I always buy there in the British food section. They now have Greek food in that spot and I saw the Tahini. I would have never connected it with Greek food. I still didn't buy it because a not very big jar was over $6 and I don't know if I will like it. Sadly, they no longer have the British foods and I use a bunch of cans of Devon Custard every year. I have one can left.

I would love to go to Scotland and England, Wales and Ireland. I love bagpipes. In 1976, I packed up two little kids and drove to Nova Scotia--mostly to hear the pipes.

Sunny!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Looks like I'm here talking to myself again. I've been really ill, so I have barely been able to eat and had to stop exercising again. I had to miss my family's Christmas dinner and the Christmas musical that I have attended so many practices for since November. I also missed the children's program last night. That's my very favorite part of Christmas.

MONDAY CHECK-IN

1. I will eat three well balanced meals per day and one snack, if needed (but not after dinner). I will not eat anything after 7:00 p.m. each night. 7/7 ü
2. I will begin my exercise program once again, starting slowly and increasing as health permits.

• Walk Away the Pounds video 3x per week (warm-up only first week) 0/0
• Lift 3xs per week. (start again with 2-pound weights) 2/3
• Recumbent stepper 3x per week (start w/ 10 min., increase by 5 min. each week) 3/3
• Walk outside; weather permitting, several days per week.4/7

3 I will be cheat free for the duration. 7/7

4. If I have to be away from home, I will have legal food with me at all times, so I don't get too hungry. ü

5. I will not eat nuts out of hand, but can use them in recipes. I will not eat peanut butter.ü

6. I will post on the challenge a minimum of four times a week, reporting my progress. ü

7. I will weigh in on Friday and Monday without fail. ü

8. I will continue to drink 128 ounces of water per day.ü

9. I will fit into my winter white wool suit and awesome red dress by the end of this challenge.



Signed: Sunny Smile

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Oh no, Sunny! That's too bad. Are you feeling any better? So sorry about missing all those fun events.
You know my situation so am not going to post my stats but in terms of my latest goals, I've been okay, trying to adjust and today, had a really successful day of not cheating at all and feeling satisfied without overeating. Day by day.

Since you always have great menu ideas, any good ones for Christmas? My husband said in lieu of a Christmas pressie he wants lobster for lunch! Have never attempted that before.

Tahini is a bit pricey but you should be able to get a pretty big can for $6, perhaps you can get something cheaper online? At Asian stores sesame paste is basically exactly the same as tahini but comes in a small jar -you could try that first to see if you like it.

I think you may be right, Sunny, about Christmas being the end of this challenge. Sigh. Oh well, we'll still all catch up elsewhere on the boards, right?

[LooseShoes]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

How are you feeling now, Sunny? I hope you're better. I'm sorry you missed all the fun events you'd been looking forward to.

Sorry I was MIA--no real excuse, just really busy with Christmas activities and work has been hectic, too. Also a bit of Christmas blues, I guess. Had a bout of emotional stuff and I dove into chocolate for a few days.

It's a new week, though, and I'm not quitting. I'd like to stay on track til Christmas is over, then set a new goal for New Years, Valentines, my birthday, etc. Not giving up 'til I'm at goal.

I am grateful for all of you here, especially you, Sunny. You've had an incredibly tough time of it lately and you're still hanging on. Thanks for having this challenge and encouraging us when you have problems of your own. It's time for good things to start happening for you.

Even though I had a bad few days, it's good to be able to come back and keep going. It's easy to quit and say to heck with it until New Year's, but I'd rather not lose ground even if I'm not exactly losing weight right now. At least I'm not gaining.

Congrats on the new job, Titian!

Hope ya'll are out of the worst of the bad weather for a while.

Sunny, your daughter is lovely and definitely has your smile. Hugs to you especially at this time of year.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Oh no, Sunny! That's too bad. Are you feeling any better? So sorry about missing all those fun events.

Since you always have great menu ideas, any good ones for Christmas? My husband said in lieu of a Christmas pressie he wants lobster for lunch! Have never attempted that before.


I think you may be right, Sunny, about Christmas being the end of this challenge. Sigh. Oh well, we'll still all catch up elsewhere on the boards, right?

I am a lot better today. I remembered how much chamomile tea helps with stomach cramps, and had a couple of cups yesterday, and was almost immediately better. So much so that I had a hard time quitting after a good dinner. Sometimes better is not a good thing!

I am still having very bad side effects from the nerve block that went wrong. It's starting to scare me more than a little.

I have never prepared lobster, mainly because I don't like it. It's too sweet for me. I tried it for the very first time when I was in Nova Scotia, and found it not to my liking. Several years later, I tried it at Red Lobster, and still couldn't eat it, so I have never had it again.

Yes, I won't be extending the SLC into the new year. I PMed Jimmy_48 with that decision last night. This was a very good idea that just fizzled out.

How are you feeling now, Sunny? I hope you're better. I'm sorry you missed all the fun events you'd been looking forward to.

Sorry I was MIA--no real excuse, just really busy with Christmas activities and work has been hectic, too. Also a bit of Christmas blues, I guess. Had a bout of emotional stuff and I dove into chocolate for a few days.

It's a new week, though, and I'm not quitting. I'd like to stay on track til Christmas is over, then set a new goal for New Years, Valentines, my birthday, etc. Not giving up 'til I'm at goal.

I am grateful for all of you here, especially you, Sunny. You've had an incredibly tough time of it lately and you're still hanging on. Thanks for having this challenge and encouraging us when you have problems of your own. It's time for good things to start happening for you.

Even though I had a bad few days, it's good to be able to come back and keep going. It's easy to quit and say to heck with it until New Year's, but I'd rather not lose ground even if I'm not exactly losing weight right now. At least I'm not gaining.


Sunny, your daughter is lovely and definitely has your smile. Hugs to you especially at this time of year.

I'm much better. Thanks for asking.

I think we all are in the same boat, and need to hang on with all our strength. No matter if we do eat _____ however much or however many days, we need to keep jumping back on and keep going forward. We cannot quit! That is not an option. We cannot use other people's not doing what they should do as an excuse for us not doing what we should do.

Thanks for the hugs! Yes, my daughter was beautiful inside and out! I was able to get through her birthday this year in a better frame of mind, by sharing with my friends at ADBB. My own family is still too raw for me to even mention her name.

Sunny!

[LooseShoes]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

I'm glad you're feeling better. My stomach's been acting up some, too. I have some chamomille, I'll try some before I go to bed. I hope the nerve block symptoms clear up soon. I've come to know you well enough to know that if it kept you down this last weekend, it must be really awful. My prayers are with you.

I'm sorry you're dropping the challenge for now. This is a tough time of year for a lot of people. There are so many expectations for Christmas that can never really be fulfilled. Sometimes I think the devil must really be laughing at what we do to ourselves and others at Christmas. I need to concentrate more on the wonderful, everlasting gift that was given to me instead of temporary material things that really don't matter. I work at a credit union and see people go deep into debt just because it's expected, I guess. Sometimes I wonder if we're really helping them by giving them the money. But, it's not my responsibility to make their decisions.

I'm glad the board has helped you thru your daughter's b'day. I lost my dad a year and a half ago and understand the difficulty talking with family. I'd love to hear anything about her you need or want to say. How old is your grandson?

[Alexa]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Hey everyone,

Just checking in one last time before I'm off to my parent's for Christmas, where I will have no internet access (yikes). I'm going early so miss the end of this challenge.

On this challenge I have been on and off the wagon more time than I care to count but I have lost weight. I was fluctuating around 175lbs and now am at 169lb pretty consistently. My goal at this stage to get to goal was absurdly optimistic - as the loss slows so much!

Sunny - thanks for doing this. I really hope you start to feel better soon and have a good Christmas.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!