Weight-Loss Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread

[Omega]

maybe a couple of black olives too.

I love olives - but have to have them too rarely for my own liking. I had a tiny amount of tapenade which is an olive paste at the weekend as one of my few treats and am still paying the price with my weight...

I actually have bottles of olives here. Many of my Greek friends have olive trees. They know that I love olives too. Every time that I see them they give me tons of them. I bring home 2 litre plastic pop bottles full of them - and of course I have hardly eaten any since my visit to Greece last summer.

The problem is that I am very sodium sensitive - and the bitterness is taken out of olives by letting them sit in salt for a long time.

It sounds truly yummy - but I am afraid that I will have to give this aspect of the recipe a miss.

 

[Omega]

Well, then the other thing I'll do too, and being a protein focus this week it works for me, is a half cup or thereabouts of fat free cottage cheese on top of th salad too. That way you cover a lot of ground, veggies - check, legumes - check, dairy for calcium and protein - check Round it all out with a small amount of fat from good sources like the avocado, maybe a couple of black olives too.

That's a winning combo to me!

The secret for healthy nutrition is when we come up with recipes that tick all our nutritional boxes and are yummy too. It turns our food plan from being "a diet" that we cannot wait to abandon into something that we dont want to stop doing and will not only get us where we want to be but help keep us there too.

 

[Omega]

Yes, avocado is great in salads or on toast. You can also dice it up with tomato and make a kind of salsa out of it ot put on chicken breast or pork or beef. Would probably even be good on salmon. We had grilled salmon the other night. It was delicious!!

I love getting all these ideas for new ways to eat things. You know how much I love my salmon. Monday night tends to always be salmon night for me. I have it the night before any important weighing - so will be having it on Monday in the vain hope of bringing my weight back into range on Tuesday.

Margaret--LOL@your creative email to your SW leader..lol

You would have been proud of my creativity.

If my weight does not come back into line by Tuesday morning I will be writing another one in a few days time... As it stands I can miss as many weeks as I like and not have to pay. If I weigh in at my current weight I have to pay every time that I go and pay every time that I miss going until I weigh back in range.

I can see the point of going for people who need to go to get the motivation to work on their project. I enjoy going and there is support there - but I cannot say that I believe that I need it to lose weight. My project is on track. It is just that my weight is a little higher than I would like. I know why and I am doing exactly what needs to be done...

 

[Cord the Seeker]

Hi everyone, I'm back.

Have actually been home since Wednesday afternoon, but haven't been in the mood to post yet.

Had a great time in Vancouver, but did very very poorly regarding the challenge. The only thing I stayed on top of was the water (had to, it was sooooo hot - BC is in the grip of a record-breaking heat wave). I probably ate more french fries than I did vegetables.

Gained 2 pounds as well. I did it with a clear head, if that counts for anything. I knew what I was eating, and what it would do to me. But sometimes you just have to enjoy yourself.

So, I'll score almost no points this week. Sorry.

 

[bikinibound]

Cord--I've seen on the news that the NW has been having the hottest temps on record atm. Ugh...

Well maybe your lack of pts this week will allow me to move ahead of you in the challenge..lol.

I love your ticker btw. Has that been there for awhile and I was being unobservant, or is it new?

Margaret--I think you will like the salsa I mentioned. Try this one:
Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa - All Recipes

Have you had a mango yet? If not, that would be 2 new fruit/veg this week. Cilantro, btw, is coriander. I believe cilantro is the spanish word for it. One of the users who made it said they added a can of black beans. That would be yummy and give you some bean pts..lol

Karl--I only say that to the boys when it is true.

 

[Omega]

Have you had a mango yet? If not, that would be 2 new fruit/veg this week. Cilantro, btw, is coriander. I believe cilantro is the spanish word for it. One of the users who made it said they added a can of black beans. That would be yummy and give you some bean pts..lol

Thanks for the recipe. Also for the explanation of cilantro. I have seen a few references to it - but never got round to discovering what it was. I just assumed that it was something exotic that I had never tried - a bit like physalis was for me.

I just told Rod what you all call coriander and he wouldnt have guessed either....

I had a mango a couple of weeks ago but I dont mind having things again.

I love beans and have them quite often. I tend to look out for opportunities to have them...

Although I will get my 5 new things in by the end of today - I have not been having as many new things this week. That is because I went to the fruit and veg wholesalers on Monday before we left Newcastle.

I love that place - the bargains are unbelievable.

I got a box of about 70 pears for £3, a box with 5 galia melons for £1.50 and a box with literally over a hundred kiwi fruit for £1.20.

When you add in the fact that last week I bought a box of about 70 apples for £6 and a box of peaches for £3.20 (some apples are left but all the peaches are gone) you will see why I have been eating a lot of these fruit items most days.

In comparison I pay a fortune at Tescos for my normal shopping.

 

[bikinibound]

Wow! Those are unbelievable prices! How on earth do you manage to eat all that fruit before it goes bad? I'd be donating to needy families, as there's no way I could eat that much fruit before it spoiled..lol.

 

[thecabbie]

Hey all! I've decided that I can live through this winter with indoor exercise if I have to. I've just recently become acquainted with what a really good quality spinning bike can be like and I'll be alright if I have to fall back on them for the winter months. Used it today, they are made by LeMond (as in the former Tor DeFrance champion), and are really well built. Plus at the school, they are in a room by themselves where nobody else seems to be all that interested uness there is a spinning class. I can put the fan right on me and be good. I did just over an hou ron one this afternoon, that is a new record for me with regard to stationary cardio (I'd usually rather have a root canal...)

Oh yeah, and for the record, I'd love to see a bonus challenge in which I can count al of my exercise time for the week instead of just 5 hours worth. I'm at more than twice that this week. Yes, I'm being selfish...

 

[Omega]

Oh yeah, and for the record, I'd love to see a bonus challenge in which I can count al of my exercise time for the week instead of just 5 hours worth. I'm at more than twice that this week. Yes, I'm being selfish...

I suspect that Kimberly is falling off a chair at the very notion of me being asked this.....

You are speaking my kind of language. If people want this kind of thing I could easily be persuaded to put one in. The fact is that this is the kind of thing that I have begged for - and never been given by anyone that knew me... I would have felt like I was cheating to put one in already.

Even on my reduced level of daily exercise - I complete my 5 hours every Monday...

On current weight situation it looks like I will be getting no weight loss points for the entire challenge - so maybe I could really do with the points though...

The only times in the past where unlimited exercise has been an option were the long term Valentines day challenge last year where everyone but Phoebe abandoned it (including originator) - and 3 months until Summer last year week 1 when almost everyone including the originator abandoned it and I felt so guilty I took over and set weekly bonuses from then on (scrapping the week 1 points straight away) - and then resigned just before the end anyway.

 

[Omega]

Wow! Those are unbelievable prices! How on earth do you manage to eat all that fruit before it goes bad? I'd be donating to needy families, as there's no way I could eat that much fruit before it spoiled..lol.

We do eat a lot of fruit so very little will actually spoil. I have my fridge more than full with it too. Rod and I both have big appetites so we normally spend a fortune on fruit at Tescos - so we have spent much less than usual this week. We normally go through £1.50 of apples alone every day.

Our fruit requirements for next week will almost all come out of these boxes too.

This is just as well as there isnt actually a local program for donating food in that way. People might hand a little surplus over to a friend - but they will probably be not particularly needy.

 

[Omega]

Hey all! I've decided that I can live through this winter with indoor exercise if I have to. I've just recently become acquainted with what a really good quality spinning bike can be like and I'll be alright if I have to fall back on them for the winter months. Used it today, they are made by LeMond (as in the former Tor DeFrance champion), and are really well built. Plus at the school, they are in a room by themselves where nobody else seems to be all that interested uness there is a spinning class. I can put the fan right on me and be good. I did just over an hou ron one this afternoon, that is a new record for me with regard to stationary cardio (I'd usually rather have a root canal...)

It is great that you have found an exercise for those winter days when exercise outdoors is not a good option. I know that walking on a treadmill beats walking on ice any day.

We can force ourselves to do anything when we have focus and want our project to stay on track - but there are times when outdoor exercise is far from pleasant.

 

[San2]

Okay, I am finally back. Sorry for disappearing for so long. I just needed a few days to recover from my so-called holiday.

Anyway....to get straight to the point...I completely, utterly and totally blew it in the last 10 days or so. I ate every junk in the book, I had tons of chocolate, and I went back to drinking 3 litres of coffee a day. I put some weight on - of course I did, there was no way I couldn't.

I weighed myself this morning. I didn't like the number on the scales at all, whatsoever. My husband showed up, had a look and said something like 'You'll be rid of that in no time again, it's just water because of all the coffee anyway'.

The thing is, I'm not upset. I KNEW that I would put weight on. I knew with every bite of chocolate, cake or whatever else I was eating, that I would pay dearly for it. I knew with every cup of coffee that I wasn't doing myself any favours. Yet I am sitting here, right now, with a fresh cup of coffee next to me.

Did I enjoy the last ten days? Yepp, certainly did. I didn't waste a thought on weight loss, or how many calories stuff had.

Do I like the fact that I put on weight? Certainly not.

Am I bothered? No! I put it on, I know why, I know what to do to make it go away again. So, where's the harm? I indulged for 10 days, it'll probably take me about a month to get rid of the extra pounds, so what?

It's funny, I thought it would bother me, or make me angry or disappointed, but no. I guess if I had been eating right and exercising my butt off, and had put weight back on, I would have been upset and frustrated. But since I didn't, and I knew exactly what I'm doing wrong, it doesn't matter.

Tomorrow, I will go back to what I have been doing before. I'll cut out the coffee (because really, it's starting to make me feel miserable anyway), and I'll get my backside back onto the cross-trainer. And the pounds are going to disappear. That's the beauty of it!

I didn't update my score sheet, because honestly, I don't think there is much that I can put in anyway. And I think I am too late now. If you want me to update for the last week anyway, please let me know and I will do so, otherwise, just put me down for 0 points for last week, and see me kicking everybody's backside next week!

Seriously, it's good to be back. Just letting go for a while is nice, but I am starting to enjoy the healthy way over just stuffing my face with whatever comes along. Who'd have thought?

Hope everybody else is doing well! I missed you guys!

 

[Omega]

Okay, I am finally back. Sorry for disappearing for so long. I just needed a few days to recover from my so-called holiday.

Anyway....to get straight to the point...I completely, utterly and totally blew it in the last 10 days or so. I ate every junk in the book, I had tons of chocolate, and I went back to drinking 3 litres of coffee a day. I put some weight on - of course I did, there was no way I couldn't.

I weighed myself this morning. I didn't like the number on the scales at all, whatsoever. My husband showed up, had a look and said something like 'You'll be rid of that in no time again, it's just water because of all the coffee anyway'.

The thing is, I'm not upset. I KNEW that I would put weight on. I knew with every bite of chocolate, cake or whatever else I was eating, that I would pay dearly for it. I knew with every cup of coffee that I wasn't doing myself any favours. Yet I am sitting here, right now, with a fresh cup of coffee next to me.

Did I enjoy the last ten days? Yepp, certainly did. I didn't waste a thought on weight loss, or how many calories stuff had.

Do I like the fact that I put on weight? Certainly not.

Am I bothered? No! I put it on, I know why, I know what to do to make it go away again. So, where's the harm? I indulged for 10 days, it'll probably take me about a month to get rid of the extra pounds, so what?

It's funny, I thought it would bother me, or make me angry or disappointed, but no. I guess if I had been eating right and exercising my butt off, and had put weight back on, I would have been upset and frustrated. But since I didn't, and I knew exactly what I'm doing wrong, it doesn't matter.

Tomorrow, I will go back to what I have been doing before. I'll cut out the coffee (because really, it's starting to make me feel miserable anyway), and I'll get my backside back onto the cross-trainer. And the pounds are going to disappear. That's the beauty of it!

I didn't update my score sheet, because honestly, I don't think there is much that I can put in anyway. And I think I am too late now. If you want me to update for the last week anyway, please let me know and I will do so, otherwise, just put me down for 0 points for last week, and see me kicking everybody's backside next week!

Seriously, it's good to be back. Just letting go for a while is nice, but I am starting to enjoy the healthy way over just stuffing my face with whatever comes along. Who'd have thought?

Hope everybody else is doing well! I missed you guys!

You are in luck - I havent got round to doing the sums yet - so if you update your scoresheet you might as well have any points that are due to you.

It is great that you had a good holiday - it is great that you are focused and back on track now. OK - not so good about the weight gain - but we are only human. Lifelong skinny people put on a few pounds on holiday - but they probably dont hop on the scales the day that they get back and realise it. They probably have it mostly worked off by the time they hop back on the scales.

The Christmas before last I told loads of people about the temporary nature of "splurge pounds". Sure enough about a week later they had almost all disappeared. I remember someone (maybe Alliephoe) whipping me in a challenge that started just after New Year because she had a weightloss of something like 8 pounds that first week.... It will be just the same for you with those holiday pounds.

BTW - we all know that the Germans know a trick or two with yummy cake and the like - so I reckon that every last one of us would have indulged had we been over there.

 

[Omega]

I have just posted this in the scoresheets thread. I will update it when San and Cerella let me know that they have updated their scoresheets.

challenge to date (weeks 1 to 4)
....................................prev...wk4...t ot
Omega...........................167 + 72 = 239
Bikinibound..................... 133 + 68 = 201
San.............................. 147 + 52.5 = 199.5
Cord the seeker.............. 157 + 68 = 225
Charlieemma................... 151 + 69 = 220
Momma4alex................... 084 + 47 = 131
Reluctantcabbie.............. 154 + 71 = 225
Kyoropaladin................... 010 + 0 = 010
Othie............................. 040 + 0 = 040
Swankychap................... 038 + 10 = 048
Solty............................. 139 + 44 = 183
Cinderelly........................074.5 + 40 = 114.5
Lisajacobs.......................022 + 00 = 022

Totals for week 5 only - only showing those reported

Omega........................... 20 + 21 + 6 + 7 + 6 + 7 + 10 = 77
Bikinibound..................... 19 + 18 + 3 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 10 = 68
San.............................. 04 + 00 + 2 + 2 + 1.5 + 2 + 06 = 17.5
Cord the seeker.............. 20 + 03 + 1 + 4 + 7 + 2 + 10 = 47
Charlieemma................... 20 + 21 + 6 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 10 = 78
Momma4alex................... 10 + 06 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 0 + 00 = 23
Reluctantcabbie.............. 20 + 21 + 6 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 06 = 74
Swankychap................... 06 = 06
Solty............................. 20 + 21 + 2 + 7 + 7 + 4 + 06 = 67
Cinderelly........................ 10 + 3 + 6 + 5 + 5 = 29 - only posted up until Wednesday

challenge to date (weeks 1 to 5)
....................................prev...wk5...t ot
Omega...........................239 + 77 = 316
Bikinibound..................... 201 + 68 = 269
San.............................. 199.5 + 17.5 = 217
Cord the seeker.............. 225 + 47 = 272
Charlieemma................... 220 + 78 = 298
Momma4alex................... 131 + 23 = 154
Reluctantcabbie.............. 225 + 74 = 299
Kyoropaladin................... 010 + 0 = 010
Othie............................. 040 + 0 = 040
Swankychap................... 048 + 6 = 054
Solty............................. 183 + 67 = 250
Cinderelly........................114.5 + 29 = 143.5
Lisajacobs.......................022 + 0 = 022


Let me know if you spot any of my mistakes.

 

[Omega]

Oh yeah, and for the record, I'd love to see a bonus challenge in which I can count al of my exercise time for the week instead of just 5 hours worth. I'm at more than twice that this week. Yes, I'm being selfish...

STOP PRESS

I have been giving a lot of thought to Karl's request. Right at the very start I made the point that I firmly believe that both exercise and nutrition are required for a successful project. Also my belief that we should be rewarded for most if not all the work that we do - and the fact that some people are stronger at exercise whilst some others are stronger at the nutritional side of things. The accumulative nature of the challenge means that on week 5 there were a lot more points available to the nutritional side of things. When I take into consideration the fact that the majority of people still playing got 19 out of 20 exercise points or above - it appears that the exercise points are not rewarding a lot of people for a lot of work which is probably being done.

I have therefore decided to increase the maximum amount of hours of exercise which are rewarded each week by points from 5 hours to 10 hours (giving a maximum of 40 points available from exercise)... I will however continue to set nutritional bonuses each week...

This takes immediate effect so continue logging your exercise after you hit 5 hours.

 

[San2]

Just updated my scoresheet, thanks for waiting for me!

And yeah, those pounds should come off quickly, at least I'm hoping so. I know I will put some weight on over times like Christmas and stuff, unless I totally restrict myself, which is something that I don't want to do. So....yeah, maybe we should make a Christmas challenge as well. See who manages to get rid of the pounds they put on over Christmas first.....*lol*

 

[Omega]

Just updated my scoresheet, thanks for waiting for me!

And yeah, those pounds should come off quickly, at least I'm hoping so. I know I will put some weight on over times like Christmas and stuff, unless I totally restrict myself, which is something that I don't want to do. So....yeah, maybe we should make a Christmas challenge as well. See who manages to get rid of the pounds they put on over Christmas first.....*lol*

I have updated the results with your score now.

I strongly suspect that everyone goes up over Christmas too - it is just the people that are trying to lose weight that stress over it. Kimberly ran a brilliant challenge just after Christmas 1.5 years ago. She used to be renowned for her challenges such that only the first 40 or so people that entered were allowed to take part and she used to set a minimum number of postings before you were allowed to enter. She was thus able to ensure that she had next to no drop-outs and we could be all divided into teams that would not collapse.

If it makes you feel any better - my weight is up too.... I just havent wanted to update my ticker... When you add in the fact that we are heading away on another holiday in just over a week's time - I really am not likely to get any weight management points in this challenge at all.

 

[San2]

Ups...just realised that I didn't update my ticker. I'll give myself until the end of next week...if the weight hasn't gone down by then, I'll update it.

I think we can all allow ourselves the odd slip-up....nobody's perfect. But at least we know what we're doing wrong, and can do better again afterwards....

 

[thecabbie]

Yanno? It figures... The week that I started with a major slide on the weekend because f a BBQ, I get my wish. Guess I'll have to kick it the rest of the week.

Oh and incidentally, had a really good dip based on refried beans, so part of my beans are squared away now

And since alcohol doesn't count...

 

[bikinibound]

I suspect that Kimberly is falling off a chair at the very notion of me being asked this.....

Luckily I wasn't in a chair that was easy to fall out of. Good Lord, you're killing me, Margaret! 10hrs!! I can barely manage to get 3-4hrs...lol. Between taking care of May, laundry, cooking, cleaning, errands, a bit of real estate, etc there is just no way. How about I get a point for every diaper I change? What about making it 1pt for every 30min of exercise beyond 5 hrs? pretty please?

San--I know I would've enjoyed myself had i been in your shoes. I always eat pretty much what I want when I'm on vacation. Last year when dh and I went to the UK the only time I ate healthy was when I was with Margaret and she forced me to--kicking and screaming.. I gained about 8lbs that trip, but within a week or so it was all gone. So, yes, there is hope!

Margaret you have to stop complimenting me on those old challenges. My head is swelling like crazy.