Sixers Holiday Challenge - Week 2

Ok I'm here!!! LOL

I weighed in on Wednesday instead of Tuesday...I forgot..hehe...and I was down 3 full pounds WOO HOO. I was excited especially because of thanksgiving. I'm still trudging forward...sorry I haven't been on much, life is super insane! Work is crazy, life is crazy...but I'll still trying to lose this weight darn it!

Kristin ~ SW 159 / GW 155 / CW 159 / Progress: 0
Cathy ~ SW 210.8 / GW 199 / CW 211.8 / Progress: +1
Deb ~ SW 201.4 / GW 197 / CW 199.6 / Progress -1.8
AmyLou ~ SW 155.6 / GW 150 / CW 156.4 / Progress: +0.8
Tammara ~ SW 224 / GW 214 / CW 220 / Progress -4.0
Allie ~ SW 178.4 / GW 171 / CW 177.6 / Progress -0.8
Rhiannon ~ SW 174.0 / GW 168.9 / CW 172.2 / Progress -1.8
Connie ~ SW 266 / GW 255 / CW 265 / Progress -1.0
Becky ~ SW151 / GW 141 / CW 150.2 / Progress -0.8
Shanell ~ SW 211 / GW 201 / CW 211.5 / Progress +0.5
Lauryn ~ SW 161 / GW 156-157 / CW 161 / Progress 0
Tan ~ SW 295 / GW 275 / CW 297 / Progress +2.0
Katy ~ SW 183.2 / GW 174 / CW 180.6 / Progress -2.6
Robin ~ SW 194 / GW 185 / CW 195 / Progress +1.0
Amy ~ SW 194 / GW 182.2 / CW 193 / Progress -1.0
Cass ~ SW 189.8 / GW 179.8 / CW 186.8 Progress -3.0

Andrea ~ SW 197 / GW 185
Katie ~ SW 211 / GW 199

Beautiful losses ladies!!!

YAY RHIANNON AND CASS!!!!!! Awesome job ladies!

Kristen, feel better, i've had a couple root canals and they are noooo fun!!

Okay just a quick hello, sorry but I think I"m with Katy and Deb and I don't know how much I will be able to write the next week or so. but i promise i'm reading and I will weigh in and everything when I am supposed to.

So my mom thinks I'm crazy but I told her i'm bringing my scale home for Christmas break because I am not using hers. It weighed be like 4 lbs. heavier!!! :noway: haha, thought i would share.

Okay you guys are so awesome! Sorry I have been MIA - I won't make that mistake again - you miss alot! Thanks for the encoraging words... I am dreading tomorrow! = )

Tamm - that is awful about your mom... but if she is as stubborn as my mom.. better tread lightly on the issue.

"He who angers you, conquers you." - That might be my new favorite saying that is AWESOME!!

So... no exercise today, the schedule was just a little fitzy, and I have a cake to do, so I went shopping instead of working out. But, I did great staying within my calories. I actually ate a different dinner than the rest of the family, because they were having veal parmesan, and I just didn't want to do that to myself. I've been struggling the last few days, seems like I go up a pound every day. I'm not freaking myself out about it, but it has really made me more conscious of all the licks and tastes I take. I have to remind myself as I'm tasting something that a few tastes is about a teaspoon, and 3 teaspoons equal a tablespoon, and 4 tablespoons is a quarter cup. A bite of something someone is eating and a taste of the sauce as it's cooking, and a noodle to see if it's done do add up. Admittedly, small at the time, unchecked, it could really add up.

Anyways, food for the day...
Breakfast
Kashi - Go Lean Cereal, 1 cup 140 cal
Jilberts - Fat Free Skim Milk With A &D, 0.5 cup 45 cal
Total for breakfast: 185 calories

Snack 1
Slimbody Matrix - Protein Shake Mix, 3 tbsp 140 cal
Blue Diamond - Almond Breeze - Original, 8 fl oz 60 cal
Libby's - Pumpkin, 1/4 cup 20 cal
Spices - Cinnamon, ground, 0.2 tsp 1 cal
Spices - Nutmeg, ground, 0.1 tsp 1 cal
Total for snack 1 222 calories

Lunch
Fresh Vegetables - Avocado - Raw, by the Ounce, 2.5 oz 125 cal
Bear Creek - Soup - Tortilla, 2 cup 220 cal
Total for lunch 345 calories

Dinner
Generic - Center Cut Boneless Pork Chop, 3 oz 160 cal
Squash - Winter, spaghetti, cooked, boiled, drained, or baked, without salt, 1 cup 42 cal
Jilberts - Fat Free Skim Milk With A &D, 1 cup 90 cal
Pillsbury - Dinner Rolls - Butterflake, 1 roll 160 cal
Total for dinner 452 cal

Total calories consumed: 1,204
Your Daily Goal: 1,200
Remaining: -4

WAHOO!!! 147.4! A 2.8 loss this week. I needed that boost this morning.. Tonight is my holiday party... :mad: Lots of drinks and food there. So I'll happily get us started this morning!

Kristin ~ SW 159 / GW 155 / CW 159 / Progress: 0
Cathy ~ SW 210.8 / GW 199 / CW 211.8 / Progress: +1
Deb ~ SW 201.4 / GW 197 / CW 199.6 / Progress -1.8
AmyLou ~ SW 155.6 / GW 150 / CW 156.4 / Progress: +0.8
Tammara ~ SW 224 / GW 214 / CW 220 / Progress -4.0
Allie ~ SW 178.4 / GW 171 / CW 177.6 / Progress -0.8
Rhiannon ~ SW 174.0 / GW 168.9 / CW 172.2 / Progress -1.8
Connie ~ SW 266 / GW 255 / CW 265 / Progress -1.0
Becky ~ SW151 / GW 141 / CW 147.4 / Progress -3.6
Shanell ~ SW 211 / GW 201 / CW 211.5 / Progress +0.5
Lauryn ~ SW 161 / GW 156-157 / CW 161 / Progress 0
Tan ~ SW 295 / GW 275 / CW 297 / Progress +2.0
Katy ~ SW 183.2 / GW 174 / CW 180.6 / Progress -2.6
Robin ~ SW 194 / GW 185 / CW 195 / Progress +1.0
Amy ~ SW 194 / GW 182.2 / CW 193 / Progress -1.0
Cass ~ SW 189.8 / GW 179.8 / CW 186.8 Progress -3.0

Andrea ~ SW 197 / GW 185
Katie ~ SW 211 / GW 199

Morning ladies! Quck check in.....

Katy - I change my ticker on Fridays but that is kind of because it helps me to see it move so if I get to see it move, i'm definitely changing it! :bigsmile: I think Tuesdays are still the official challenge check-in though. Kristen is this right??

Well at any rate, I was STOKED this morning when I got on the scale (don't know the last time that happened) it's like something in my body clicked back on track after the holidays which is just awesome. I am down to 154.2 which is down 2.2 lbs. from Tuesday and down 1.4 lbs. from my low that I had before the holidays. I seriously weighed myself 5 times this morning to be sure I was seeing it correctly. haha. AHHHH!!!! Happy dance! :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

okay, I"m done. Have a good day girls I"ll check back if I can.

Morning ladies. I'm VERY sore this morning. No exercise last night and I won't have any today either...that makes 3 days in a row...how crummy!:grumble: Oh well. I will go to spinning tomorrow and Sunday so will be fine! But weighed in a little higher this morning...159.5. I blame it on TOM and lack of exercise the past two days. I'll be lower by Tuesday...I KNOW it!!!!!

Here's the plan so far today:

Breakfast
Old Orchard - Healthy Balance Pomegranate Cranberry, 8 FL OZ 29
One A Day - Womens Multi Vitamin, 1 tablet 0
Multi Grain Cheerios & Banana, 1 meal 255
Total breakfast 284

AM snacks
Kashi Tlc - Baked Apple Spice Cereal Bar, 1 Bar 110
Coffee - ground, 2 cup 0
Nestle Coffee Mate - Coffee Creamer (Sugar Free Vanilla Caramel), 2 tbsp 30
Total AM snacks 140

Lunch
Diet Coke - Soft Drink, 12 fl. oz. 0
Ae Yo-Lite Yogurt - Yogurt, 6 oz 80
HomeMade - Taco Bean Soup, 2 cup 200
Jell-O Instant Pudding - Sugar Free Fat Free Cheesecake, 1/2 Cup 25
Cool Whip - Sugar Free, 2 tbsp 20
Total lunch 325

Afternoon snacks
Grapes - Raw, 1 cup 62
Total afternoon snacks 62

Dinner
Not sure yet. My little brother (only 13) is in a band and has a gig tonight at 6:30, so it will be home from work and a quick dinner. There's left-over pasta in the fridge, but I will probably just make a big salad with some grilled chicken that I have in the fridge. We will see.

Total: 811
Your Daily Goal: 1,200
Remaining: 389

Hoping that I can stay within my limit...will do my best with no exercise. Just in a blah mood!

Cass...so happy to see you on here girl! And thanks to EVERYONE for the kind words! I'll BBL!

Hey everyone. :flowerforyou: Congrats to everyone on their Friday losses. I went down a little myself. I lost 1.5 since Tues. But I'll gain it back by this next Tues. I did that last week. I weighed in at 209.5 last Friday and went up to 211.5 by Tues. official weigh in. Oh, well. It's probably the weekends. I do sometimes slack because there is no times for me like when I work. So sometimes I skip breakfast and sometimes lunch so when dinner would come around I would be starving and vegg out. Trying not to do that though.

Anywho. Now I'm working cleaning and moving my furniture around to put up our Christmas Tree. Now I have to go up into the attic and grab the boxes. Ughh.:grumble:

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful day today. I know I will. I love being off work while kids are at school. It's so peaceful and I can do whatever I want. :laugh:

Later,
Shanell

Well I am now 264. 2 lbs down so far. I wish it was more. But I will take what i can get.

Connie

Hello y'all! Greetings from the frozen tundra. Of course, Pedal might be colder, I'm not sure how far north in Canada you are. It was 3 degrees here this morning! Brrrrr.... The dog is going crazy, because I have the fireplace going, so it's hot in here, so she wants out, but it's too cold out there, so she wants in. I'm getting my exercise just walking to and from the door to let her in and out.

So... Not entirely sure on my weight... I stepped on the scale and it said 194. I always double check, because it does depend on where I stand on it, so I stepped on again and it said 195.5 (after flashing at me that the battery was low). Third time, 194.5. So, I'm going to go with the 194.5, which puts me down a half pound from Tuesday. Of course, that half pound is also a half pound up from where I started, but at least the scale is starting to go in the right direction.

I'll pop on later to post my foods. I have to get started on the cake I'm doing for tomorrow afternoon.


*edit This is what I'm hoping it will turn out like... lol

Hey ladies.

writing a paper, ugh! but forgot to post the little update thinger so here it is.

Kristin ~ SW 159 / GW 155 / CW 159 / Progress: 0
Cathy ~ SW 210.8 / GW 199 / CW 211.8 / Progress: +1
Deb ~ SW 201.4 / GW 197 / CW 199.6 / Progress -1.8
AmyLou ~ SW 155.6 / GW 150 / CW 154.2 / Progress: -1.2
Tammara ~ SW 224 / GW 214 / CW 220 / Progress -4.0
Allie ~ SW 178.4 / GW 171 / CW 177.6 / Progress -0.8
Rhiannon ~ SW 174.0 / GW 168.9 / CW 172.2 / Progress -1.8
Connie ~ SW 266 / GW 255 / CW 265 / Progress -1.0
Becky ~ SW151 / GW 141 / CW 147.4 / Progress -3.6
Shanell ~ SW 211 / GW 201 / CW 211.5 / Progress +0.5
Lauryn ~ SW 161 / GW 156-157 / CW 161 / Progress 0
Tan ~ SW 295 / GW 275 / CW 297 / Progress +2.0
Katy ~ SW 183.2 / GW 174 / CW 180.6 / Progress -2.6
Robin ~ SW 194 / GW 185 / CW 195 / Progress +1.0
Amy ~ SW 194 / GW 182.2 / CW 193 / Progress -1.0
Cass ~ SW 189.8 / GW 179.8 / CW 185.2 Progress -4.6

Andrea ~ SW 197 / GW 185
Katie ~ SW 211 / GW 199


Robyn--mmmmmmm CAKE!!! looks good!

Becky...here's some that I'm making:

Pecan Cookies
1 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Tablespoons Quick Cooking Oats
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Fat Free Margarine Spread
2 3/4 oz. Finely Chopped Pecans
1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Fat Free Milk
Powdered Sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375 degree. In a large bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, oats and cinnamon. Cut in the margarine using a fork and mix well. Add the pecans and brown sugar; mix well. Stir in the milk and mix until you have a stiff paste. Turn onto a floured surface; knead lightly until smooth. Place a piece of foil onto a baking sheet (dull side up) and spray with butter flavored cooking spray. Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough, roll it into a ball and then place it on the baking sheet. Space each ball about 2 inches apart. Spray the bottom of a glass with non-stick cooking spray and then dip into flour. Smash out each ball with the glass until they're about 1/4 inch thick. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Serves: 26
Per Serving: 72 Calories; 2g Fat (26.4% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; trace Cholesterol; 48mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain (Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates. WWP: 1 (www.AimeesAdventures.com)

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Choco Cane Marshmallows
16 Large Marshmallows
6 Miniature Candy Canes
4 ounces Chocolate Flavored Bark Coating

Place a piece of wax paper onto a cookie sheet and set aside. Crush the candy canes into very small pieces and place into a small bowl. Melt chocolate in microwave according to package directions. Insert a toothpick into a marshmallow and dip the sides and bottom (leave the top uncovered so that you can pull the toothpick out without getting chocolate on your fingers). Shake off as much as the chocolate as you can, and then sprinkle crushed candy cane over the chocolate. Place onto wax paper and repeat until all marshmallows are covered. Using the back of your spoon, dip into chocolate and lightly brush the top of each marshmallow to cover. Sprinkle any leftover candy cane on top. Allow to set at room temperature until the chocolate is hard, then store in an airtight container. Tip: Use fresh marshmallows and refrigerate them before starting, this will help them keep their shape better. I drop one of these into my hot chocolate sometimes and stir it until it melts for a special treat.

Serves: 16 (1 Marshmallow Each)
Per Serving: 61 Calories; 2g Fat (25.3% calories from fat); trace Protein; 13g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 8mg Cholesterol; 4mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.
WWP: 1 (www.AimeesAdventures.com)

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
6 oz. Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Fat Free Evaporated Milk
1/8 Cup Confectioners Sugar or Cocoa Powder

Place the chocolate chips in a medium microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 45 seconds. Stir with a spoon and microwave for another 45 seconds. Stir in peanut butter then whisk in the evaporated milk until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until the chocolate has become firm enough to roll into balls.
Using a level tablespoon, scoop the mixture and form into balls. (It will be a bit messy, but I found washing my hands every few minutes helped keep too much from sticking to my hands). Roll each ball in confectioner's sugar or cocoa powder (I prefer the sugar). Refrigerate for 1 hour or more.
Serves: 12 (2 Each)
Per Serving: 132 Calories; 8g Fat (47.4% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 15g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 76mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.
WWP: 3 (www.AimeesAdventures.com)

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Chocolate Meringue Cookies
2 Egg Whites
1/8 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
2 Tablespoons Sugar
4 Tablespoons Splenda Granular
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
Butter Flavored Non-Stick Spray

Pre-heat oven to 240 degrees. Whip egg white and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add Sugar and Splenda a little at a time until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla and cocoa powder. Place a piece of foil dull side up on a cookie sheet. Spray with butter flavored non-stick spray. Place mixture by the teaspoon on the cookie sheet, or use a pastry bag, and make drops the size of Hershey kisses. The smaller you make them, the more you'll get. Bake for 40 minutes, and then turn the oven off keeping the door closed, and let the cookies sit for at least 1 hour to allow the insides to dry out. The longer you let them sit, the better. When they're done, just peel them off of the foil. Store in an airtight container. You can make any flavor of meringue cookies you like just by changing the flavor of the extract, but if you omit the cocoa powder, you'll also be omitting the fiber so you'll need to re-figure the nutritional information.

Serves: 1
Per Serving: 186 Calories; 1g Fat (6.5% calories from fat); 9g Protein; 38g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 112mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain (Starch); 1 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 0 Fat; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrates. WWP: 3 (www.AimeesAdventures.com)

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Candy Cane Sugar Cookie Recipe
Children young and old alike enjoy rolling out these festive candy cane cookies. Adults should be in charge of adding in the food coloring to avoid any major messes. For additional decoration, crushed peppermint candies can be sprinkled onto of the cookies as they are removed from the oven. Makes three dozen.
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened to room temp
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tsp peppermint extract
½ tsp vanilla
approximately ¼ tsp red food coloring
Directions:
1.Mix together flour and salt.
2.In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add egg and flavoring extracts. Gradually add in dry ingredients until well combined.
3.Separate dough in half. Wrap one portion in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours until dough becomes firm.
4.Add food coloring to remaining dough and mix until desired color is achieved. Wrap newly dyed dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
5.To shape cookies, take spoonful of white and red dough each. Roll into 5" long ropes and coil together to create a candy-cane shape. Gently press down dough to flatten.
6.Place on parchment paper and bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10-12 minutes.

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Holiday Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup stick butter
1 cup Equal Sugar Lite
1 med. egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg. Sugar Free Fruit Flavored Gelatin
Preparation:
Beat butter and Equal in medium-sized bowl on medium speed of mixer until well combined. Mix in egg and vanilla until blended. Add combined flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until blended.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheets sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Flatten slightly using a spoon. Sprinkle with sugar-free fruit flavored gelatin.
Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven 10-12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely on wire rack. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
For rolled sugar cookies: wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Work with half of the dough at a time, keep the remaining dough in the refrigerator. Roll on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with desired cookie cutters. Sprinkle with sugar-free gelatin. Bake in preheated 350 F oven 8-10 minutes. Proceed as recipe directs.
Nutrition informationPer serving:
Calories 87
Total fat 4 g
Saturated fat 1 g
Cholesterol 21 mg
Sodium 50 mg
Total carbohydrate 10 g
Dietary fiber 0 g
Sugars 2 g
Protein 1 g
Exchanges per serving: 1/2 Carbohydrate 1 Fat
Recipe reprinted with permission from the American Diabetes Association, Western NY Office, 315 Alberta Drive, Suite 102, Amherst, NY 14226
Number of servings: 21
Serving size: 2 cookies

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Whole-Grain Gingersnaps
From Good Housekeeping
triple-tested at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute
Try our guilt-free treats. Many are low calorie; others are nonfat or made with whole grains and good-for-you ingredients like dried fruit and antioxidant-rich nuts.
1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon(s) ground ginger
1 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
1/2 cup(s) sugar
6 tablespoon(s) trans fat-free vegetable oil spread
1 large egg
1/2 cup(s) dark molasses
Nonpareils or round white sprinkles (optional)
1.On sheet of waxed paper, combine whole wheat and white flours, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
2.In large bowl, with mixer on low speed, beat sugar and vegetable oil spread until blended. Increase speed to high; beat until light and creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in egg and molasses. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture just until blended. Cover dough in bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until easier to handle (dough will still be slightly sticky).
3.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. With lightly greased hands, shape dough by heaping measuring teaspoons into 1-inch balls. If you like, dip top half of each ball in nonpareils. Place balls, 2 1/2 inches apart, on ungreased cookie sheet.
4.Bake cookies 9 to 11 minutes, or until tops are slightly cracked. (Cookies will be very soft.) Cool cookies on cookie sheet on wire rack 1 minute. With thin metal spatula, transfer cookies to rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
5.Store cookies in tightly covered container at room temperature up to 3 days or in freezer up to 1 month.
Serving size = 1 cookie

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (per serving)
Calories 55
Total Fat 2g
Saturated Fat --
Cholesterol 5mg
Sodium 75mg
Total Carbohydrate 9g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugars --
Protein 1g
Calcium --

I have a few others but don't have the recipes with me. The candy cane cookies don't have nutritional info and I haven't figured yet, but they are ones that my mom always made every year as I grew up so I'm carrying that tradition on. Enjoy! And I'll share more when I have them!