Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Thanks everyone for all your advice and for letting me see your Fitdays! So helpful, everyone is so nice here!

#1: Step up the exercise routine -
* Cardio five to six times per week. At least three 60 min sessions. rest no less than 30.
* Pilates Bum and Legs workout twice times per week. Billy Blanks Bootcamp (Don't laugh, it's fab!) twize per week.
* Abs, hips and bum weights at gym three times per week.
30 mins on elliptical, 10 mins treadmill, bum and stomach. I think three 60 min sessions is not going to happen. I have til tomorrow to tweak, right?
#2: Limit nuts to only one serving max per day.
Had 0, hehehe
#3: No snacking after dinner.
Done
#4: No Atkins bars except in dire emergencies. None
#5: Weigh in on Mon and Fri but don't get flustered and ruin an entire day after a bad weigh-in. Keep plodding along! Very nervous about tomorrow's weigh-in
#6: Continue writing down what I eat each day and start recording my measurements ASAP (okay, today, Tues) Wrote down all food and attempted to use Fitday. Takes so long!!

Um, don't mean to be a bad influence but for those smoothies/shake fans have any of you tried this recipe on sfs.com?
Sheila's S.O.S. Chocolate Shake
Approximately 6 total carbs for entire recipe
It's 10 P.M. and you crave chocolate or cookies ... do you know where your sanity is? Whip this decadent shake together & watch even the
fiercest cravings just melt away ... you'll swear you're at Braum's!
I sometimes have one of these before bed if cravings are killing me ...
½ cup Eggbeaters (pasteurized & safe)
1 ounce heavy cream
2 scoops Nature's Best Isopure Zero Carb Cookies & Cream protein powder
1 (3-oz.) cube cream cheese, softened
2 handfuls of ice cubes (Any more will cause it to taste icy rather than ice-creamy)
Large shake straw
Blend together for 30 seconds & enjoy.
Delightfully fills a 28-ounce aluminum tumbler all the way to the brim ... Let me know how you like it!!

It's so yummy, not sure why it's called chocolate though, I suppose it depends on the flavor of protein mix you use. I used vanilla, 1oz of cream cheese and no cream to lower the cals and carbs.

[TitianWasp]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Welcome aboard, Hopejoy!
Aya - that shake sounds awesome. I may have to give that a try this weekend.

FRIDAY STATS CHECK

Ok y'all, it's Friday and time to record our week's stats. I am going to format mine for high visibility so that tracking is pretty easy. Sunny, I think, organizes full scale multi-unit military maneuvers for a hobby. Me, I am lucky to get my shoes tied in the morning, so please be kind to your co-captain and make your Friday Stats Summaries easy to find. Maybe label them, as above?

1) No coffee 5/5 no coffee
2) 4 days of exercise per week 2/4 exercise (stomach flu)
3) No night time grazing.. 3/5 No grazing
4) Max of 1500 calories per day 5/5 days calories < 1500

Weight: 145.6
Bicep: 9.5"
Thigh: 21.5"
Waist: 27
Hips: 35
Bum: 37.5

I think that's it. Happy Friday, All.

[adreliluc]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

OOh Aya that shake sounds delish!! I've never heard of the zero carb cookies & cream powder -where would I get it from??

It sounds like everyone is just doing marvelous! (and that includes me too! hehe)

Welcome Hopejoy - we're very glad to see you here! xo

[dreamof145]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Wow, you guys are doing great. This challenge is going to be a success. Congratulations everyone.

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

OOh Aya that shake sounds delish!! I've never heard of the zero carb cookies & cream powder -where would I get it from??

You should be able to get it from GNC if you have one near you or maybe Vitamin World... GNC makes their own generic brand which also comes in a small bag formula. Otherwise the protein shakes come in these huge barrel things that are just cumbersome!

[adreliluc]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

I think we have on in one of the malls here I'll have to go see! I sosososoo want to try that shake!
Anyone know if protien powder is ok for the kids? That sounds healthier than giving them a bowl of ice cream...

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Aya, Fitday made me absolutely nuts. I use thedailyplate.com--much more user friendly, I think. You might check it out, too. Are you sure you're getting enough protein in your meals? Protein should be around 30% (I think) and even on OWL fat should stay around 50%. If you're not getting enough fat and protein, it makes it harder to not snack.
Since you think nuts are a problem to you, you might try pork rinds to snack on--the sodium is a problem to some, but they are 0 carbs.

Don't know if anything I said will help, just throwing some things out there hoping it will. I'm so glad to have the support and accountability here. Everybody is so kind and helpful!

Thanks soo much for your advice, LooseShoes! Thedailyplate works so much better for me, everyone should try it!
You're right about the protein and fat for that day's food, to be honest I'm in the middle of a mental battle because my cholesterol was high last week and its always been great. I'm not much of a meat and fat eater but have been enjoying it since starting this...until last week. SO will just be careful on the sat fats and fatty meat. I figure I'll add some extra carbs for low fat items to get my LDL back down. I know what Dr Atkins said but just for my sanity!

Weekly Check-In (Titian, you inspired me to write my measurements down)
Waist: 28.3, Hips: 34.5, bicep: 10. Weight 10/12/07: 128 flat.
(Actually I was happy because I had a not-great week and last week before the challenge weighed back at 132. Put it down to water cos had been good but it freaked me out)
(Finals tweaks)
#1: Step up the exercise routine -
* Cardio five to six times per week, 30 min sessions or more. yes
* Pilates Bum and Legs workout once times per week. no
* Billy Blanks Bootcamp (Don't laugh, it's fab!) twice per week. oncw (so far)
* Abs, hips and bum weights at gym three times per week. yes
#2: Limit nuts to only one serving max per day. yes
#3: Limit hard cheese to one serving max per day, soft cheese to one max. Today it was three but I only added this rule now
#3: No snacking after dinner. Does scraping the morsels of cheese off the bottom of an empty pizza box from husband's dinner count?
#4: Weigh in on Mon and Fri but don't get flustered and ruin an entire day after a bad weigh-in. Yes
#5: Record daily food. Yes, actually I'm worried because it says I still have 600 cals left and have eaten plenty today...hope I didn't make a mistake

If this were a "who can ramble on for the longest" challenge, I'd be a shoe-in!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Sunny, I think, organizes full scale multi-unit military maneuvers for a hobby. Me, I am lucky to get my shoes tied in the morning, so please be kind to your co-captain and make your Friday Stats Summaries easy to find. Maybe label them, as above?

Happy Friday, All.

Sometimes Sunny is MIA! Been to the hospital for unscheduled nerve blocks--the last ones backfired. Anyway, have a lot of catching up to do. Glad my co-captain can take over without notice.

Let's get this show on the road! Let's ROCK! We're gonna be skinny come Christmas. Maybe Santa will bring me a waist!

Sunny!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Everyone, please review the rules. There will be a test! Shortly, I will post how we will be giving points. TitianWasp and I are making up the rules as we go along. Being co-captains rocks!

Rules:

1. The challenge will begin on Monday, October 8, 2007, and end on December 21, 2007. (22-25 is the long holiday weekend)
2. You must be in OWL, at least rung 1
3. You will be responsible for checking in the minimum of three (3) times per week, posting results to the challenge thread.
4. Each person will post a minimum of four (4) items that you pledge to change or do better to reach goal. You will have them posted by Friday, October 12. (start signing up right away!)
5. At the end of each week and by Wednesday each week, each person will be accountable to report how they fared—good or bad
6. If for a medical reason or unforeseen circumstances beyond your control (no—the holiday parties don’t qualify) you can’t fulfill any of your pledge components, PM the captain or co-captain for an exemption for that portion of the challenge affected.

[bradybunch]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

1. give up all cheese. I mean all !!! That is my staller, I know it, but I love the cheese.cheese free again
2. continue to drink my gallon of water everyday.water is down
3. cheat free for the duration check
4. walk six times a week for at least a mile and a half.walk is completed

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

I am posting this here and will add it to the first post so we can find it later.

Points System:

Since we have each pledged between the minimum four and as many as 10 items, we have decided to give points in a way that is fair to all. After reviewing most of the pledges, what stuck out is that most everyone has about four really difficult and a few easy pledges. We will give points for the four items which are the hardest to stick to, so it will be fair to all.



Rank your pledges with the four (4) most difficult at the top. These four will be the ones for which you will be given points for completing 100% each week (7 for 7).



Example of how to rank your challenges:



I drink 128 ounces of water every day and sometimes more. I’ve been doing this for more than two years, so for me it’s no biggie. It’s on my list and important, but I won’t count it. On the other hand, if you have to choke down water, then for you it is big, and will go to the top four. Got it? Wishy-washy pledges don’t make the top—no way to say if you did or didn’t.



Our aim is to keep this simple, so we will award 10 points for each of the top four pledges for a total of 40 points per week. 100% 7 for 7.



Extra Credit:

Then, for fun, we will have extra credit assignments for an extra 10 points. This is not mandatory, but is a way to catch up if you drop the ball during the week. Nothing difficult and we hope you will find the assignments useful and motivational. We will post the extra credit assignments on Monday and they will be due the following Wednesday with your reports.



Review Period:

Since we all know that sometimes we have good ideas, but in practice they don’t work out for us. Therefore, at the end of four weeks, we will have a chance to review how well our pledges are working out, and if after a good, honest try, something is not working, everyone can substitute a new pledge. This new list will then be in effect for the remainder of the challenge. November 12 will be the review day/week.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

My final tweaking, with first four ranked according to importance:

1. I will eat three well balanced meals a day and nothing in between. I will not eat anything after 7:00 p.m. each night.

2. I will eat no nuts and no peanut butter.
3 I will be cheat free for the duration.
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.


5. I will post on the challenge a minimum of four times a week, reporting my progress. (except during and the week after surgery (Oct. 17)
6. I will weigh in on Friday and Monday without fail.

7. I will continue to drink 128 ounces of water per day.
8. On November 28, or sooner if released by my docs, I will begin my exercise program once again, starting slowly and increasing as health permits.

a. Walk Away the Pounds video 3x per week (warm-up only first week)
b. lift 3x per week. (start again with 2-pound weights)
c. recumbent stepper 3x per week (start w/ 5 min., increase by 5 min. each week)
d. Walk outside, weather permitting, several days per week.

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



Signed: Sunny Smile

[LooseShoes]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

My goals:
1. Post to my challenges (all of them) at least 4 times a week 2/4
2. Exercise a minimum of 5 days a week. I can't do the exercises I have been doing because of my eye problems, but I CAN do something, and I will get back as soon as I can.--abs, squats, walked 9834 steps, lower body weights
3. Diary my food daily--EVERY DAY-did today
4. Reduce chocolate snacks to no more than twice a week and attempt to make it zero. (I'm weak and a raging chocoholic--this will be really hard)a little tonight 1/2
5. (New) Try a new recipe or food at least once a week. I tend to get in a rut pretty easy and need to try new things-not yet

Ok, Organizing as to order of difficulty:
1. Diary my food daily-EVERY DAY
2. Reduce chocolate snacks to no more than twice a week and attempt to make it zero.
3. Post to all my challenges at least 4 times a week
4. Exercise a minimum of 5 days a week
5. Try new recipe at least once a week.

1--yes
2. 2/2
3. yes
4. Yes
5. no-but I just added it.

This is helping me focus and be more accountable--it's been a bad week but this has helped me not go off the rails. Thanks, guys!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Very good, Challengers! We are doing very well, considering how long ago this challenge was dreamed up, put together and implemented. You can tell that we are not newbies!

We are missing Jane 13--don't see where she ever listed her pledges. I sent her a PM last night.

I'm doing well staying on track, considering the obstacles I'm having to overcome this week and how busy I am. I was baking cookies, which is normally not a problem, but when I opened the jar of peanut butter to bake peanut butter cookies, oh my goodness, how badly I wanted to dig in, lick my fingers, lick the measuring cup & spatula!!! I had to quickly plunge the used utensils into the sudsy dish water and hide the jar at the back of a cabinet! Addictions are very hard to break--I'm so glad I never started drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes!

Well, must get busy cleaning house, doing laundry & cooking for the birthday party tomorrow.

Sunny!

[Aya]

Re: Slow Losers Club Christmas Challenge

Final final pledge tweak in order of difficulty:
#1: I will not eat after dinner, and where possible, dinner should be before 7pm.

#2: I will record ALL food eaten each day, keeping cals under 1500 and carbs under net35g per day

#3: I will do cardio five to six times per week, 30 min sessions or more.
- Pilates Bum and Legs workout once times per week.
- Billy Blanks Bootcamp (Don't laugh, it's fab!) twice per week.
- Abs, hips and bum weights at gym three times per week.

#4: I will not eat more than one serving of nuts per day; one serving of hard cheese per day; and one serving of soft cheese per day.

#5: I will take measurements and weigh in on Mon and Fri but won't get despondent and ruin an entire day after a bad weigh-in. Women retain water and have hormones - that's just the way it is

Asides: Making rules for ourselves and sticking to them with a goal in sight is great, but I want to take this time to also try and recognize what triggers me to eat more, what times or what emotions are 'danger areas' and lead me to do this the most, and then figure out ways to help myself avoid these pitfalls I've been falling into my whole life. After dinner every night I have a hard time putting on the brakes. Someone suggested distracting myself with housework but...it's not going to happen. I'm going to try and figure out a solution that works for me, whether it be... well if I knew I wouldn't have to try and figure it out, would I?