Ocean's 11 (Team 11) - December

[LFTS]

So this is it. The final month of the challenge. It's hard to believe a year has gone by; but then, it's not hard to believe all the hard work that's gone into this challenge, and the support shown here. So many faces have dropped away over the months, but the five of us are still here, and I trust now, until the end of the year.

Bear down and be strong through the holidays; one of the best gifts we can give ourselves is health!

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December Biggest Loser Challenges

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It's the last month! We're almost through with this Challenge! Hope it has helped you as much as it has helped me.

With the holidays and all, let's keep things really simple for December. So give yourself double exercise points and double water points. Don't forget the Special Holiday Challenge (50 points for not gaining plus 10 points for each pound lost between mid November and the end of December).

And the End of the Year Are You On Track Challenge. Give yourself 100 points if you made your original goal. Give yourself 50 points if you made your revised mid-year goal. And if you didn't make either goal, give yourself kudos (but no points) just for sticking with it when you didn't do as well as you had planned. No negative points this time!

Plus, of course, the regular challenges.

EXERCISE Remember that you'll double these points for December
Less than 500 minutes exercise/month = -100 points
501-599 minutes of exercise/month = 35 points (avg 17 min/day)
600-749 minutes of exercise/month = 40 points (avg 20 min/day)
750-999 minutes of exercise/month = 50 points (avg 25 min/day)
1000-1149 minutes of exercise/month = 65 points (avg 33 min/day)
1150-1249 minutes of exercise/month = 80 points (avg 38 min/day)
1250-1499 minutes of exercise/month = 95 points (avg 42 min/day)
1500+ minutes of exercise per month = 120 points (avg 50 min/day)

WEIGHT LOSS
Any weight GAIN = -5 points
1-4lbs lost per month = 4 points
5lbs lost per month = 5 points
6lbs lost per month = 6 points
7lbs lost per month = 7 points
8lbs lost per month = 8 points
9lbs lost per month = 9 points
10lbs lost per month = 10 points
11lbs lost per month = 11 points
12lbs lost per month = 12 points
13lbs lost per month = 13 points
14lbs lost per month = 14 points
15+lbs lost per month = 45 points

WATER consumption per month (in ounces)
Remember that you'll double these points for December
1983 ounces or less = -100 points (avg less than 64 oz/day)
1984-3100 ounces = 35 points (avg 64-100 oz/day)
3101-4340 ounces = 85 points (avg 101-140 oz/day)
4341+ ounces = 150 points (avg 141oz+/day)

MEASUREMENTS INCHES LOST
HALF-Inches lost per month (total ONLY from waist and hips (same for both men and women)) You are encouraged to measure more body parts for your own records but just the waist and hips will count during this challenge:

Add 10 points for every HALF-inch you lose (measured monthly) add hips and waist together for a combined total. If you choose to measure every three months, you will have to be on an individual challenge only. All team members are expected to measure and report their results on the last day of the month. (permanent challenge)

Deduct 20 points for every HALF-inch you gain from the prior month.

FURTHER ADDITIONS AND DEDUCTIONS:

Deduct 1 point for every can of diet pop that is not made with the Splenda Sweetner or another Atkins-approved sweetner. Example, saccharine is not good. (Even if it doesn't stall you). (permanent challenge) (hint: drink Diet Rite)

Deduct 1 point for every 12oz. you drink that is not caffeine free. (permanent challenge)

Deduct 30 points for going over YOUR monthly carb intake goal at all! (permanent challenge)

Don’t forget that posting is an ongoing challenge for the rest of the year. Give yourself 1 point for every day that you post on your team’s thread.

Have a great month!

maw

[simplemaw]

Happy December everyone! I got up way too early this morning to work on a paper, and when it was light enough to see outside it was snowing! What a great way to welcome the month! (Especially since it wasn't sticking on the roads and I don't have to go out in it today anyway except to walk Rocky!)

Scales didn't move today, but that's a good sign since I weighed earlier than usual and put lots of salt in my soup last night. Yummmmmmmm! It was so good! It was mostly leftovers - broth from boiling up the turkey carcass, some of the turkey meat, leftover canned pumpkin, cabbage, onion, liquid smoke, and other seasonings. Very rich tasting and delicious.

Got lots of schoolwork to do, so I'll quit here.

Have a great day and a great month, everyone!

maw

[spydersong]

December 1 already

Maw - I certainly wasn't meaning in this format lol - I think I'd lose my mind. More just an ongoing thread like the foxes do for general support, not points etc

Dawn - whats new with you??

Kelley - any more news on the houses

Lisa - um...I totally forgot what I was going to write, so...

Last day of teaching for me this week. My scale went up 2.5lbs overnight from water - I had a really salty chili last night so I earned the gain but I still have to hate it - it's the rules of weightloss for me When I look at how many are still here at the end of the year, it's actually pretty sad since I think there were almost 150 to start the challenge.

Time to head to the classroom - catch you all later

[KelleyG]

First off - congrats to us all for hanging in until the end
Like Lisa said we have seen people come and go - but it's great that we are finishing with a team of 5!

Cold is just about gone, think I'll wait a couple days to weigh again Weather is crisp here - some snow in the outlaying areas and the mountain passes. Houses are progressing, had one thing on inspection of old house that has to get fixed this week, only $150, so not bad. I am hoping that this will wrap up quickly and we maybe able to get into the new house before the 19th. The first thing my mom said when I told her about the new house was, "you're going to have to clean it", ok it is bigger, but when have I not cleaned my house?

Lisa - how is the knee?
Maw - happy snow. At least you have homework to keep you busy. Broth sounds perfect for this kind of day.
Katie - how's that sweet puppy doing? Do you have a break from teaching over the holiday or does it continue.
Dawn - and your puppy? Did you see the final show for Biggest Loser?

I best get going to the post office and store - they are calling for trace to 2" of snow today, and I guess life stops here for something like that.
I'll check in later.

[LFTS]

Wow, strange to be reading about *snow* from a couple of you. Trust me, it'll be rare when you see me post about it snowing here!

Kelley, the knee's doing pretty well. I've been walking 45-60 minutes a day this week, and last night was the only night I had to apply heat because of soreness. That's progress! I can't quite jog on it yet, but I'm hoping that will happen in the months to come.

Maw, that soup sounds wonderful! I ate our remaining turkey as part of meat fast, so no soup here. There's a great LC chili cooking in the crock right now, but I won't have any until tomorrow, since I'm sticking with the fast until then.

Katie, I love salt. Salt, salt, salt. Salt hates me. I sympathise.

Dawn! Hope everything's going great in your neck o' the country.

Everything's going good here; food, water, supplements, exercise are all on target, and I'm down 7.5 lbs of water for the week. Ahhhh. My joints aren't screaming nearly as much as they were on Monday.

Off of here to do some more work.

[simplemaw]

Hi everyone! Had my last class of the next to the last week of class today! Hurray!

I think I've figured out why my knees are so sore lately. I've been spending a lot of time in front of the computer, and my feet don't quite touch the floor. So I've been been pointing my toes and applying lots of pressure. I've got a box under my feet now. We'll see if that helps.

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be spending mine working on (ugh!) computer stuff.

maw

[LV2BFUNY]

<<comes in quietly>>

Hello Everyone...

Been in a bit of a funk... can't really explain it, but haven't felt like posting and whinning about it. I've been reading and staying caught up just don't have anything to add. I plan on spending the weekend readjusting my attitude... Everytime I walk by a mirror I have to say something positive to myself... this won't be easy.. I have alot of mirrors in my house and since I drink so much water I'm usually in the bathroom most of the day... so hopefully this will work.

I'm off to start my weekend so hopefully everyone's weekend will be better than mine... to Everyone!!!

[spydersong]

Lisa - thats great on the knee!

Dawn - Being nice to yourself it's a bad thing! You'll be out of the funk fast I hope

maw - Yay! Classes are starting to wind down. How tall are you that your feet don't touch the ground?

Kelley - Hope things are going well

Bailey is doing great, got a new kitten and her name is Molly. I'll post pics of my babies over the weekend.

I finally started dating again - met a few but so far only past the 1st date with one. So tonight it's our 3rd date. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had a 3rd date so yay me!

Going to finish getting ready for it - have a great night!

[KelleyG]

Hi all - thought I posted earlier when I read but must have closed it before I hit send. The day had been long, lots of paperwork, some xmas shopping and went to dinner with family. Looking to relax, stress eating is showing again, we are going down to the new house, going to do some measurements for blinds of the rooms and some planning for where furniture will go - Fun Stuff!!

Ohhh - Katie - I want a kitty too! Can't wait to see the photos. Hope you had fun on your date.
Dawn - can understand the re-adjustment - last year a friend and I wrote down every negative thought about yourself that came in to your head for 24 hours. It was amazing, some stuff you know is going on and some was a surprise. THEN, you write a positive statement, turn it around...positive present tense.
Maw - any ideas for cooking this week?
Lisa - wow, sounds like the knee is doing much better. And the meat fast is going well.

Anyone have any special traditions they do with the family over the holidays?

[simplemaw]

Dawn, what are friends for if not to share your funks with you? Hope you get over it this weekend.

Way to go on the dating scene, Katie! Glad you got a new kitten. I'm 5'3".

Kelley ideas for food this week, Kelley? Let's see. Last night I made a scrumptuos (sp?) fish soup with catfish and mushrooms and tomatoes and onion and garlic and thyme. Mostly I'm eating leftovers a while. I have lots of leftover fish soup and still have a couple of servings of leftover turkey soup. Cut the stress eating before it gets out of hand, my friend!

Hi Lisa! Hope all is well.

Went for a long walk with Rocky this morning.

Did you folks see that not only are we in the top 3 teams points-wise, but we're number 1 again? Yay for us!

Have a great weekend.

maw

[simplemaw]

Rocky is out of town today, so now walking him. Which is just as well, because I was planning to say I couldn't walk him anyway.

Food is going well. I have a "buddy" on another board and I told her that I wanted to use her for accountability - I would pm her before I ate and would only eat what I told her. The first week or so (Thanksgiving week) I was a bit sloppy with it, but I have been very strict about it this week. 5 days of strict accountability! And 3 days of taking my supplements as scheduled! I'm back on track. I didn't ever get exactly off program, but I did get very lazy and sloppy, and that's not good. But I'm back now! I want to be totally on track and with it (and at a lower weight) when I got to my brother's for Christmas. Too many tempations there to start out wrong!

Well, back to the grind. My internet project is pretty much finished. In fact, I could hand it in as is if necessary, but I want to find some prictures to pretty it up a bit, and to give it a final proofing. Then I have to do another computer project that I haven't even begun. And a friend invited me over for lunch and a movie. She said she's serving meat and veggies and cheesecake. Hope that the meat and veggies will be ok, but I'll skip the cheesecake unless it's low carb, which I doubt.

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

maw

[LFTS]

Hi, all! You know I'm normally not around on Sunday, but I'm back here burning Christmas CD's for DD. That's part of our traditions around here--lots of different kinds of Christmas music. We've got everything from Harry Connick to hammered dulcimers, Celtic music, and brass choirs playing classical (as in hundreds of years old) Christmas music. DD loves all of them. Good for her, she likes a wide variety of music and keeps an open mind about them. Just like Mom.

Maw, is the box helping? I have an old tackle box that sits under my desk, and I rest my feet on it. Life's a challenge when you're short, eh? I confess, you have an inch on me! You tall chick you!

Katie, congrats on the dating! And the kitty. It sounds like things are really going good for you right now.

Dawn, I'm glad you posted about feeling down. All of us have been there, and I can identify with not feeling motivated to post when I'm feeling down. I hope you get that *upside* soon.

Kelley, more traditions... yanno, I guess I don't think about them much. Since DH's family is *very* large (extended family, that is) and they're very close and always want to hog holidays (I think that's a Southern thing!), we made the vow to each other, especially when DD was born, that Christmas would always be spent *at home*. Period. No if's, and's, or but's. And we've pretty much stuck to that since she came along.

DD reads " 'Twas The Night Before Christmas" aloud every Christmas Eve. I have kept DH in line every year, for the last 22 years, by depositing undies either in a gift or in his stocking. I've never missed a year. It's usually something embarassing, and he's always on alert for it--it's been everything from long underwear to thong underwear from Frederick's that have "yes" and "no" written on them, and "yes" glows in the dark.

I can't think of anything else at the moment... we used to Christmas Carol our neighbors, but we scared them too badly. <snicker>

[simplemaw]

Hi everyone! I got up before the crack of dawn to do homework, and so far I have made a quiche, made two meatloafs (meatloaves?), done a load of laundry, washed some dishes, and talked to people on the internet. Got to get to the homework eventually!

No particular traditions in my family, Kelley. We're spread out so far and we seldom all get together for Christmas (we've done a lot better about that lately - at least getting some of us together) that each family does it's own thing. The one constant is that we open our packages on Christmas morning, and we almost always have stockings! (One year we were going to have Christmas at my brother's, and SIL said something about "There WILL be stockings this year or no Christmas!", so the issue hasn't come up since.)

Yes, the box is helping, Lisa. Part of the problem is that the chair is really a bit too high, though I should really be up higher to be ergonomically correct with my arms. Or else cut the legs off the table, which isn't practical.

Hope you're all having a great December, and great week and a great day!

maw

[LV2BFUNY]

Morning Everyone...

Well figured out my funk... My very nasty, house guest TOM arrived on saturday night. Just in time to ruin my week.

Woke up yesterday with a huge headache and just not feeling good at all so curled up in my chair and watched chick flicks... cried some and that seemed to take away alot of the pressure so I started to feel better late inthe day. And today I'm pretty much back to normal...whatever that is.

One of our traditions for Christmas is making Tamales. We did that this past saturday night...everyone gets together and pitches in. I think we made around 25 dozen. We then freeze them and have them for Christmas Eve dinner. DH doesn't really have any family and mine are spread out all over so We spend Christmas Eve with really good friends so I guess that tradition listed above is theirs. We have Christmas day at our house... open presents and spend the rest of the day cooking and watching the kids enjoy their stuff. Oh and we always have Prime Rib for Christmas dinner. So does any of that count... hahaha

Lisa glad to hear that the knee is doing great....

Maw...I've always wanted to be short...I'm 5'9" and always hated it.

Katie...Good for you dating Have fun with the kitty too!!

Kelley...Yeah... new house stuff!!! I love decorating!!!

You all have a good day..I'm trying to stay positive....

[spydersong]

fly by posting

[LFTS]

Coming in quickly to say hi...

Dawn, good to see you posting again! Yeah, TOM will put me into 1st gear deep funk mode. Thank God it only lasts a few days.

Maw, you do so much cooking! And everything sounds so marvellous!

Waving at Kelley and Katie...

I actually jogged yesterday. Woohoo! 15 seconds of every 5 minutes for an hour. It's not much, but at least it's a start and I can build back up again.

[simplemaw]

Fly by posting by me, too!

maw

[spydersong]

I have been busy with work and not posting much anywhere - things are going good though - I should be back more active as of Friday - at least I hope so

[LV2BFUNY]

ok TOM still in town and will be until the weekend.. Grrrrrr!!!! I threw out my back Monday night so having a hard time walking and anything else I need to do... bought some of those Icy/Hot patches for my back ...lets see if that helps.

Decided to start the meat fast today...Plan on doing it through at least friday...we'll see what happens after that.

Lisa...glad to see things are getting back to normal for you... wtg on the jogging!!!

I see the holidays and everyday life is keeping everyone busy...

<<Waving Hello>> Kelley, Katie, MAW!!!!!!

[simplemaw]

All is well here. We're supposed to have 4-8 inches of snow today. Should make driving to school tomorrow fun. I was going to run errands yesterday (like to the post office and Christmas shopping) but was lazy and put it off til today. Will at least get to the post office, don't know about the rest. Depends on when the snow comes.

Nothing much going on around here. I did my "little" project that's due tomorrow yesterday, and will finish up my "big" project that's due tomorrow today, and then I'll be all done for the semester! Well, except for showing up at class tomorrow.

Have lots of things that I should do over this month or so I have off from classes. It'll be interesting to see how many of them actually get done!

DawnMarie, hope you're feeling better! Backs are awful things to hurt. How did the patch work?

Kelley, hope you're feeling better, too. How are the houses coming?

Way to go on the jogging, Lisa! But don't overdo!

I keep remembering how bored you were a year ago with not enough to do at work, Katie. I guess it's true about being careful what you wish for!

Have a great day everyone, and a great weekend in case I don't talk to you before then.

maw





Well, off to do stuff.

[spydersong]

Still crazy here - will slow down after next week and be slow for a while I think...maybe anyways

[LV2BFUNY]

flyby... on my way out to go buy a new out fit for my celebration tomorrow!!!!! see you later!!!

[KelleyG]

Checking in - things have been VERY crazy this week. Looks like everything is in and done for the closing of our house tomorrow. Needless to say they have been driving me crazy with their requests for reciepts and such for things done in the past to the house - all in crates in some warehouse here in Seattle, so I have been calling companies to get copies and such. The new house is moving along - walk thru in the morning and then we head off to Boise for 6 days. We'll be back on Wednesday morning - I'll try to check in.

Thanks for your traditions...I figure without family around it's the perfect time to start a few new ones.
Maw - finishing food in the fridge, then on the road for 6 days, then moving 4 days later. Think I will keep food simple. Great job on the accountablility.
Wave to everyone.

[LFTS]

Dawn, sorry to hear about the back... what was your impression of the Icy Hot patches? I bought several of the ones that fit like a stocking for my knee after surgery, and to be honest, the only thing I noticed was the smell. I can't remember the name of the brand, but the patches that have those lumpy things in them seem to do a much better job heating up, and last a lot longer. I must have missed reading about the celebration--what's it for? Anniversary? Christmas party? Because it's Saturday?

Katie, I hope your schedule eases up a bit. You need some quality time with that new kitty. <prrrrrr>

Kelley, good luck with the closing. Geez, I don't envy you having to sign your name four gazillion times.

Maw, did you get the snow? We were supposed to get snow yesterday, and didn't. I'm really glad, since they went ahead and held school here. They've been known to call it off before a flake even falls, but I can't blame them; the school district covers something like 5,000 square miles of rural road, and they just can't risk get busses (and kids) stuck somewhere. Today, though, it was 14 degrees. Still is. This is VERY unusual for Arkansas, especially in December! We're lucky to see temps like that maybe once a year, and I hope this fulfills the quota!

As for me... I haven't gotten to jog since Monday, but that's okay; I've been working the knee joints on elliptical and water jogging in the gym pool, both of which were recommended by the physical therapist. I've done stuff in addition to that, but both those will specifically help me get back into a jogging routine.

Food's been good--this is Day 5 of a meat fast this week. I'm heading to TOM so weight is levelling out, but I'm happy with the progress.

[LV2BFUNY]

Yeah it's friday!!! I'm in such a good mood!!!! My kids gave me this for my birthday http://www.avenue.com/webapp/wcs/sto...kURL=Calculate

In a size 22.... and it fit!!!! that's a big difference from my last birthday (28 - 30/32)

Glad to see everyone is doing so well!!! Kelley I just know the house will all be worth it in the end!!!

Have a good weekend everyone!!!

[simplemaw]

I'm in a funk for some reason. Aren't I supposed to be excited now that school is out for the semester? I'm not. I'm just blah about it. Could be the ibuprofin. I shoveled the driveway when I got back from school this afternoon, and then took ibuprofin to head off the aches that I could feel developing. My neighbor slow-blowered (