December 2012 Weight Loss Adventure with a Prize!!!!
 

On December 1st weigh yourself and write it down. Do NOT send it to me. On December 31st weigh yourself again and PM me with your loss. This is weight lost not % lost. I will announce the winner January 3rd.

PM me for address. FQ’s need to be received no later than the 15th of month.

You cannot win 2 months in a row.

Chit chat is allowed, as well as WAYWO, (what are we working on). Please stay positive and uplifting as that is what keeps us on track. Come to this thread for tips, recipes, encouragement and {{{{HUGS}}}}}}

The prize is a themed FQ. At the end of the month, I will mail all the FQ’s received to the winner by the 5th of the month. I will contact the winner and announce the winner with the number of FQ’s they will receive.

December has most of us in full swing of the upcoming holidays and for some ready for it to be over, as we prepare for the new year. So we are looking for love…so Red is our color of the month. Please send quality what you would want to receive. As always if you cannot send the theme fabric please send what you have. If you don't have a FQ, send a linear 1/4 yard. If you have signed up to be in the competition, please send the FQ to hostess by the 10th of the month. The winner has worked hard for this reward.

Eat healthy, exercise, try and lose weight but most of all have fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Sign up deadline to be included in the Prize Adventure is December 4th at 9 p.m. CST, with your FQ received by the 15th of month. You can always contribute to the thread, but it is only fair to have a cutoff for those trying to win.

TO PARTICIPATE, JUST SIGN IN HERE ON THIS THREAD BEFORE DECEMBER 4TH. THERE IS NO NEED TO PM FOR PARTICIPATION, JUST YOUR ENDING WEIGHT LOSS FOR THE MONTH.

You must sign into the thread at least weekly to be eligible for the winning "skinny quarters" or to be declared "best loser for the month."

I'm in. December is a tough month. My first party is tomorrow, 2 next week and 2 the following week. That's before any family get togethers. We'll have at least 3 of those.

I'm in for December. Now to stay away from the Christmas cookies!!!!

I'm in for December. Hopefully this will keep me in line.

I'm in for December - and, yes, hopefully, this will keep me in line with Meanmom!!

i'm in for dec. off to buy brown thread. every color but that.

and i am going to stock up on salad stuff.

I'm in again!! I've been off the radar for a little bit. Thanksgiving, feeling like crap, and working, time slipped away. Only a 1lb loss in November, but I'll take everything I can!!!!!

Let's see how December works for me. 10 days and counting till the gallbladder comes out. Whenever I feel bad I think "I should have had it done last month". Hoping to make it till the 12th, no emergency surgery!!!!

Taking Mom on a bus trip this Saturday, back to a little town we love to visit. A little site seeing, and christmas shopping. Should be a wonderful day and I'll get a lot of walking in for sure.

Decorating the house this week too. I love when everything is up and lite and warm and cozy!!!! Hate to take it down come January, makes the house feel empty and cold. Oh well...........time to celebrate the reason for the season!!!!

I was thinking of sitting this one out as my weight is stalled and I'm not happy, but you got me with the red. Coral is my favorite color, but I like reds and pinks a lot and I have enough weight to lose that I could win.

I've had a tiring weekend. Thursday night was an away game for my GS. Friday I went to pick my friend up from dialysis and she couldn't leave because she was bleeding. Our local hospital shipped her to Traverse City for surgery. I went with her both places as no one should come out of surgery alone. I couldn't drive her - nor would I want to, but it another 100 miles on my old body. That put me making potato salad for the funeral in the wee hours of the morning. Saturday I worked the luncheon so I was up by 7:30. I had told the organizer I could only do 2 hours on concrete floors, but the person in charge wasn't up to serving 224 people, so I had to stay through the serving. I hate taking over but it needed to be done, so whatever. It went well and that's what's important. I did apologize to her and it was accepted as she's a very nice person. Then I goofed. After I laid down a bit, I went Christmas shopping. I came home with nothing except a stiff body. Okay, enough whining.

It's dreary outside - all our snow is being washed away but Lily and Moira don't care so we're out of here soon. I will remember to do interval walking and speed up periodically. If I'm going to win, I need to raise my metabolism, lol.

I'm going to clean the living room so I can decorate. I taught my multiple children that Santa doesn't come to a dirty house - we even washed windows and such because my house was so clean their wasn't anything else to do. My youngest daughter is cleaning house now because she can't decorate without doing so. Ah, well. I could have done more damage than that.

I wish us all luck this holiday season - take a little of whatever high calorie yummy that calls your name with the emphasis on little. If you deprive yourself, you'll just overeat when you do start. Have three small bites, savoring each one, then wait a few minutes before you finish it. You may be able to not finish it.

Have a good evening, y'all.

Congratulations SewNSo!!!!! That's awesome!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!! And enjoy all those FQ's you'll be getting. I know I would rather have FQ's than the fat I'm hauling around...LOL.

To all the ladies, thanks for keeping this board interesting and giving great encouragement and advice. I love coming here and just reading sometimes.

And to Cindy, thanks for running this board. You do a wonderful job!!!!!

Wel I am off to a good start for the month. I was planning on running in to the mall on the way home from work to return something at Victorias Secret and buy a couple of things. THen I was coming home to jump on the elliptical. I ended up running in to some co-workers and going to Applebee's for a drink. Had a drink and an appetizer. 3 Hours later I finally made it home. No exercise for me tonight.
Congrats SewNSo. Keep up the good work.

thx you all. i still can't believe that i'm losing wt. slow and steady i just keep telling myself. do the best you can. even eating out. love the encouragement we get on this thread. lets all kick butt as best we can this month. and stay away from the goodies as much as possible. we were at a hyatt for breakfast this morning, and was sooo please. they had oatmeal and skm milk. a little fresh fruit and coffee was just fine with me. and had taken apples along for the car rides, and so i wouldn't get famished at any time.

Okay, here is our Taboo Tuesday - except it's a change Tuesday. Many of us eat some sort of cereal either for breakfast or during the day for a snack. Even "healthy' brands often sneak in extra calories and sugar. Words like "maltodextrin" "BHT" or other mystery nouns mean you're filling up on chemicals. "Crunch" or "Clusters" is code for extra sucrose. Nix any brand that lists sugar as the number one ingredient. "Bran" "multigrain" "100% Wheat" "Cracked Wheat" all indicate refined products which have fewer nutrients. The one word you want listed in front of any grain: "Whole".
Try this DIY blend.
*Lay a foundation - start out with plain unsweetened 100 percent puffed whole grains like wheat, rice, oats, corn or barley. The fiber and complex carbs will keep you full and energized until lunchtime (60 calories for 1 cup)
* Pour it on - ramp up the protein and calcium with skim or soy milk or a dollop of plain nonfat yogurt (40-70 calories for 1/2 cup)
* Go nutty - to torch belly fat and reduce inflammation - while adding crunch - toss in a handful of heart healthy almonds or walnuts (65-80 calories for 2 tablespoons
* Spice it up - For some near-zero-cal zing, sprinkle on a teaspoon of cinnamon (which contains as many antioxidants as half a cup of blueberries) or experiment with ground ginger, nutmeg or cloves (6 calories for 1 teaspoon)
Breakfast anyone.
Source: Shape April 2012 Contributing editor Cynthia Sass, M.P.H., R.D.

I'd like to join in on this; I need some accountability to continue on my journey.

Man I've been really bad at keeping up with this hehe. Months fly right on past me. I just recently re-joined a gym since I just got a new job and I got a free health assessment to go with it. So today I went to the gymit. Basically.. just fat. haha healthy but fat. Still waiting to meet with the nutritionist. All my other things are within the healthy range but with my family history of heart and diabetes problems there are things I could improve on now before it gets too the worrisome stage. They said my goal weight of 140 is perfect for me and my frame. Once I meet with the nutritionist then I will be able to do better. Problem is, being broke, makes it hard to eat healthy. The bigger thing I want to take a look at for myself, is thyroid levels. There's indicators that I might have some thyroid issues and I'm sure everyone knows that you'll have weight issues with thyroid issues. Whether up or down. So that's next on the list of things to check out but I am thinking of looking into some experimental changes and supplements to see if they help.

not very many people getting on the band wagon with us. 8? wow. maybe those of us that have won the FQ's a couple times, ought to 'disqualify' ourselves, so some of those other ladies will jump on board. but, geesh, 5 lbs a month is not much to be losing. and that's about all i can manage now a days, if i am REALLY good. what do you all think? anyone else really interested, but don't think they could ever win the FQ's?

OHHHH, i get it. this is december..... right?

When I joined this group I lost 6 lbs my first month. The winner of the fq lost 15. In one month! I pretty much gave up after that.

I don't expect to win; I'd be pleased to lose 6 more! Slow and steady wins the race.....and as long as the number is going down we're winning! I've been stuck in one place for 4 months... Feels like starting all over!

I don't expect to win every time either, I'm just happy I'm losing weight period!! I've won a couple times since I've joined, and I'll bow out for a while, if that's what it takes to get the group number higher. Doesn't matter to me. I'm here because I need to lose weight and I need support. I get support from you gals, and it seems to be helping. And I thank you all for that, because I have a long row to hoe.

I really dont want anyone to drop out, I keep track of who wins and since you cant win 2 months in a row there is no worries about that. If you win every other month, good for you. I want every one to try and work your goals.

So keep signing up each month. I will put out sometime over the weekend I will list 3 or 4 months the colors/themes for next year.

not bow out, countryhouse quilter. never. just thinking I might 'forget' to send in my wt loss. :)
i just sat tonite and ate like 4 stalks of celery. when i went to the store today, i got 3 bunches. :) that really helps me in the evening. for a while i was putting P.B. on it. but for right now, i am refraining. but, that does not mean i don't indulge in other things. in fact i had 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with my supper. no marg or butter on it, and NO jelly either. but, i don't feel deprived. i eat good., but healthy. oatmeal for breakfast every morning. had the little grandson this morning, and he was telling his mom tonite, that he had oatmeal for breakfast this morning, 'just like granny'. then i took him to pre school. life is good.

I am off work today! Woo Hoo. I am going to do some cleaning, try to put the tree up, and take 50 paper pieced star quilt to the longarmer. I'm not sure if i can carry the tree up from the basement so that might have to wait until my DS gets home. Then I plan to hide upstairs in my sewing room and get some Christmas sewing done. I am also going to the gym which I haven't done in ages.

vanogay. that's almost identical to my breakfast every morning, but i eat oatmeal, and add cinnamon, but not the nuts. but i did this morning. i'm afraid of the extra calories. I always use skim milk. i know almond milk, soy, etc is less, but I use the skim milk.

I had a litle ice cream tonite. we had a pint in the house, and the little grandson has been working on it for a couple weeks. and i do believe that i really don't care for ice cream any more. just was not that good. YIPPIE!!!!!!

I have been in for months and have never won, but I am still winning because the competition keeps me motivated. I may never actually win the FQ but I am losing weight. I have lost pretty much every month since I have joined. So far I have lost 50 pounds, not all of them since I have joined but it gives me encouragement and keeps me moving. Hope we don't lose too many people.
Pat

way to go pat. i'm a winner also. steadily downward. surprises me that -5 has been the winner for a couple different people at different times. the ladies at WW years ago, would have been crying, if that was all they had lost. but it sure feels good now a days. month by month, doesn't it? hope your job is going better.

My sentiments exactly. I keep joining for the same reasons. If I were to ever win, I would continue to sign up to support others until I could win again. This month I have
createfourpaws
Pam H
Jm's Gem
meanmom
Vanogay
sewNso
CountryHouseQuilter
Irishrose
Shadowirish
and maybe Anastasia so are talking about 2 or 2 1/4 yards of red fabric. Sounds good to me. Speaking of which, my blue from Nov will be in the mail to sewNso before noon tomorrow. I have a app't near the post office - if we aren't snowed in. 4-6 inches isn't much, but freezing rain on top of it changes things. We have that much snow now - walking the dogs was fun. Lily loves snow so much and Moira was her usual bouncy self. I did stay in the wooded area because the wind is blowing hard closer to the lake.

I have been doing better eating - maybe I'm too busy to take the time to eat. There's nothing to eat except chips and candy at basketball games. Tomorrow is 150 mi rt, so I'd better get back to my decorating. The boxes have been in three days and that's long enough.

I am losing weight and becoming healthier.
Judy

Well, finally finished decorating the house yesterday. Now it feels all cozy and warm. I love this time of the year!! But it always seems like as fast as it comes, it's gone. Got a new Christmas tree, going to get it up today!! Can't wait to see what it looks like. Hoping I have enough country/primitive/antique ornaments to decorate the whole thing. We have a huge tree, but we always had to put it up in the basement as it's too big for upstairs. No one really goes down there to see it, so I told DH & DD not to put it up this year. Instead found a tall narrow tree that should fit the bill upstairs nicely. Now just getting it up and decorated.

I haven't been eating a lot. Don't want the gallbladder acting up. Wednesday I get my gift to me....bye bye gallbladder. Praying that all goes well. DD is worried. Told her not to be, I'll be fine. She is such a tomboy, but such a softie at times. Love her so much!! DH doesn't say much, but I know he worries too. My Mom is going to go with him so he won't be alone waiting. That might be trouble. Those 2 get into all sorts of things when I'm not around to supervise!!

Well, probably won't be on here for a few days. Lots to do between now and Wednesday morning. Ladies, watch what goes in your mouth....drink lots of water!!!! And get in plenty of fruits and veggies!!!!

country..are they going to do laser surgery? hope so. will be thinking of you.

Country good luck. Hopefully they can do it with laporoscopy. (cant spel it) The recovery is so much faster. If they can do it that way you should be able to do some things after a couple of days. I will be saying a prayer for you. You will feel so much better with it gone.
Pat

Wow, don't know what happened. Realized I hadn't seen any postings from this thread in about 3-4 days, went to check and for some reason, wasn't subscribed anymore. Fixed that little problem and caught up on the postings. First off, I think 5 # is a great loss, yeah, with WW probably more, but the way we live our lives today, any loss is good - as long as it stays a loss. Yo-yoing IS NOT GOOD for anyone. When we take it off, we need to keep it off. I don't want to lose anyone from our numbers. Even if there are only 8 of us, we're working with each other for our/and the others good. Our moderator is keeping track of who loses the most - if you send her a PM with your number, anyway. I think we're doing great - a close knit group. Secondly, CHQ, take care and see you when you return from surgery.

Okay, on to Taboo Tuesday. This week, as we get closer to the holiday meals, we are to cut our bread intake. I'd love to say cut out bread entirely, but I know I'd never be able to do it (I love my bread) and maybe not someone else as well, SO, cut the intake - say in half. If you eat toast for breakfast, eat just half of your normal serving, ditto for the other meals; 1/2 sandwich, etc. Go for the NO at dinner, no rolls, no tortillas (that's what I put on my table at night), nada. After a week of that, perhaps like SewnSo said, it won't taste as good (but, hers was ice cream)

Hoping to do it Laproscopically....Doctor seemed optomistic about it. But he did tell me that once they get started if there is an issue they could have to do it the other way. Love the Surgeon, he's very nice, well spoken, talks plan so you can understand everything and spent a lot of time with me making sure he'd answered all my questions.

My only worry now is my DH's brother. His neighbor called last night to let us know they took him to the hospital. He's been having heart problems, same thing as my DH - hearts in AFib. He's in the hospital now, back in AFib. DH went and picked up his SIL so she could go home and get some sleep. We don't like the Docs around here and want him to see DH's doctor, who has managed to keep him alive for about 20 yrs. Heart issues run in their family. DH has had angioplasti done, 4 way bypass, cardioverted, and now is on meds to keep his heart on an even keel....if that's possible. But he's still alive and active!!!! I thank God every day!!!! Want DBIL to be around for a long time too.

Anyway, enough of that. I was stupid last night and cooked a nice dinner, and ate. Was in misery 2 hours later. Oh well, live and learn. Hopefully tomorrow will fix all that. I will be back as soon as I'm up to it!!!! Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers!! Means the world to me!!!! You are a wonderful group of ladies, glad I found you all!!

Best wishes on your surgery, CHQ. You will feel like a new woman in a couple of days.
I have been doing better with migraines lately but must have eaten some msg at a Christmas party last night. Time for some excedrin; maybe with a pepsi chaser.
Is anyone else excited about Le Miserables?

CHQ, you are probably in surgery now, so I am praying for you. We want a successful surgery with an uneventful recovery. AFif is scary. I went through years of it, but no more problems - at least for now. You don't pump much blood at 240 beats a minute. I hope your BIL recovers nicely.

Vanogay, I've had one slice of bread in the last week and none for weeks before that so you're not making me sweat on this one. I am not only gluten free, but yeast free so my choices are limited. Once in a while a grilled cheese calls my name. I was making one for my GF GS and had to make a half for me. Tell me no pumpkin dump cake, then I'd pout. My DD, DGS and I shared one last night. Yum!

sewNso, your package went out yesterday. A FQ with a bonus, both laundered and ready to go. Enjoy.

Tonight is dinner out with my oldest daughter. I think I need a steak. I tend to eat a lot of chicken and soups here alone, so I'd like a nice steak cooked by someone else. I read that beef helps with underactive thyroid so that's my excuse.

I am off to take three bags of goodies to SA - some Christmas, so I need to get it there. Have a healthy eating day.

I am losing weight and becoming healthier.

Edit: I am excited about Les Miserables in an apprehensive way. I don't like to see people in pain and unhappy situations, but do want to see this one badly, so I will get someone to go with me and brave it.

Edit #2: On the way to an out of town game last week an insurance company had posted this out front: "Bad decisions make good stories." Funny, but sometimes true.

To late to sign in
Im doing medifast. Yuck!!!!!!
Good luch all

I tried medifast several years ago. I couldn't stand the food. It was awful. I tried adding spices and gave it up. Good luck to you.

veg's for supper last nite, and tonite. made a roaster full of carrots, summer squash, winter squash, potatoes and celery. cooked them in chicken broth. i ate everything but the potatoes, let hubby work on the potatoes.
Irish, got your FQ today. it is beautiful. thx for the 'starry' piece also. it is really pretty.
country, is prob out of surgery by now. and she was in our thoughts all day today. my youngest daughter is having lasic surery on both her eyes tomorrow. she has really bad site in one eye, and the other is not so bad. lazy eye, i think from yrs ago. hope everything goes well. i'm a little concerned cause she is the last one in the day. if i had my way, i'ld like for her to have had it earlier. hope the surgeon is still steady at 3:30.

I had a sinus infection last week. I have been on antibiotics for a week. I am breaking out in an itchy rash. I called the doctor she said to take Benedryl. That is like taking a sleeping pill to me.
I have been eating pretty well this week. The no bread has been hard since while I read the post I had a loaf of homemade rye bread in the oven. I did have to eat a couple of slices. I know that bread is my enemy since when I cut it back I loose weight better. The next day I put the rest of the bread out for the birds. :-(
Has anyone heard how CHQ is doing since surgery. I hope things are going well.
Pat

When I broke out last year, my doctor pulled the sulfa and wanted me to get a Med alert bracelet. I haven't purchased one yet - I thought a rash wasn't serious, but he felt otherwise.

I have been off my eating schedule today. I think the best thing I can do is go to bed and have a lean day tomorrow. We served peppermint stick ice cream in Oreo crusts with my homemade chocolate sauce at a meeting today. I skipped the crust, but it seems ice cream and choc sauce is not a good breakfast because I've been eating ever since. It makes the roasted veggies sound good.

So much to do for Christmas yet. My sewing machine is feeling lonely. When I was in the family room tonight, the poor little homely thing looked pitiful. I'm glad I'm not doing any sewing for Christmas, but I haven't gone a few weeks without a quilt in the works since I started two years ago.

Have a clean eating 24 hours. One day at a time will get us through the holidays.

Ice cream with chocolate sauce sounds like a wonderful breakfast to me. I am making a few table runners for Christmas gifts. I finally started them last night. Hopefully they will go pretty fast. They ave snowmen on them.
It has been a really bad week at school. So upset even chocolate didn't sound good. I am going to the principal next week.

I'm back!! Came home yesterday. I have 4 holes in my belly and no more gallbladder!!!! Doc said the surgery went better than he expected, and he expected it to go well. Said my gallbladder was inflamed and full of stones, but no other organs were comprimised with the removal. He also got to look around and said my stomach, pancrease and liver looked good too. I'm pretty sore right now, and only able to sleep in our recliner. Going to give the couch a try in a couple days, just afraid I won't be able to get off of it right now, with out a lot of pain or hurting something. No bed, as we have a waterbed and I'm really scared I won't get out of it. Doc said I can walk, stairs (limited amount), eat anything, no lifting over 5lbs. I haven't really eaten anything other than soup, eggs and toast. Not in the mood I guess. Tomorrow I'm going to do some sewing, keep myself occupied. For now, I'm back to the chair for a nap. Nite ladies!!!!

CHQ glad to hear things went well. YOu will feel so much better with your gallbladder gone. I found that after a couple of days I could sleep on the couch kinda laying half on my side and half on my back. I leaned against the back of the couch. Good luck. Hopefully at least you can sew.