~*Delicious for Christmas 2015 Challenge!*~
 

Guess what, you gorgeous gum drop penguin? Next week it will be 8 weeks until Christmas! Say whuuut? Time for another of my spread sheet challenges! For any newcomers - welcome! Please read the rules below to find out more about this challenge.

This challenge…is the hardest challenge of the year. To get to Christmas you have to face Halloween candy, Thanksgiving madness and Christmas treats galore. I know in my family the entire month of December is a treat yo’ self extravaganza, so please only join if you are going to be dedicated to staying accountable towards Christmas.

For this challenge, BE REALISTIC! Are you aiming to maintain or lose? Set your standards a little lower for this one, because it’s good to enjoy the holidays with family, but it’s also good to not go overboard and remember you have an overall goal in life to achieve! One helping of food is enough! So let’s support each other in these trying months and make sure we feel proud by the time 2015 is over and we can say hello to 2016 feeling confident and ready to face the new year!

Here’s the aim of the game…lose the most percentage of body weight by Christmas and sit in your living room on Christmas morning in your PJ's and feel healthier and happier than ever. The challenge will run from Monday 2nd November to Sunday 27th December, winners will be announced on Monday 28th December and awarded shiny badges to include in their forum signature! Check them out:

http://i65.tinypic.com/es6upy.jpghttp://i68.tinypic.com/2vcywib.jpghttp://i65.tinypic.com/jfiv0o.jpghttp://i67.tinypic.com/fc79mt.jpg

Let's Keep This Simple! Please Read These Rules!

• You can join this challenge at any time up until the final week of the challenge!!
• ~~>Click Here to view the Spreadsheet!<~~
• Enter your Username, Starting Weight (at the weight you are at NOW), which forum you're joining from (20-Somethings, Chicks up for a Challenge or 100 lb. Club) and scroll to the right and enter your Goal Weight.
• The rest is all filled out automatically by the spread sheet monkeys! Don't worry, they get plenty of bananas.
• Week by week enter your weight on any day you want between Monday and Sunday.
• Be sure to have your weekly weigh in on the spreadsheet by Sunday, because I make the charts on Monday. In the spreadsheet when the column is labelled "WK 1 8/31", that means the week BEGINS on the 31st August NOT the particular day you have to weigh in!
• Check back in to the thread and I'll publish a weekly chart to show who's dominating over us all.
• If you want to take a break from weighing in then right click the cell for that week and select "Insert Note" (definitely not a "comment" because these won't move with your username if new members join the spreadsheet!) and add your reason for not weighing in.
• If you don't weigh in for more than 2 weeks without a noted reason you will be moved to Standby. Come to the thread and opt back in if you want to re-enter the challenge.

Optional before and after measurements challenge! Read below:

• I've included a tab on the spreadsheet to enter your measurements! Measure yourself at the beginning of the challenge and at the end to see how much you shrink! -->Access this optional sheet here!<--

That's it!* A huge part of this challenge is the community support, so please use this thread to talk to each other and update us on your progress. It’s less about just saying “today I weigh ___” and more about actually communicating with fellow sexy candy panda’s and talking about your life and all its ups and downs. Think of this thread more like a chat thread rather than just a place to post weights. We're here for you on your road to awesomeness!!

*FAQ

• Can I change my Goal Weight once the challenge has begun? ~ Yes!
• There's a - mark in my cell for a week, but I know what I weighed! Can I change it? ~ Yes! The more information you can put in the better.
• My weight changed during the week but I already entered my weight, can I change it? ~ OF COURSE! I always like to use my lightest weight of the week and that's perfectly acceptable to change a weight as the week progresses.
• The chat thread for my forum is dead...can I talk in a different thread? ~ Absolutely! The 20-something thread is the most active in these challenges, please feel free to drop by no matter how old you are. We honestly wouldn't know the difference even if you're not in your 20's!

Count me in! I'm already doing a :hohoho: challenge but it doesn't hurt to do another and have that added layer of accountability and support! Thanks, Riestrella for setting up these challenges and keeping them fun and inspiring! That takes time and we all appreciate it :hug:

Welcome welcome! It certainly doesn't hurt to join multiple challenges! You're very welcome, I love running these challenges :)

Thanks for joining us over here! I changed your forum to "chicks up for a challenge" since this is one of three forums that's participating in this challenge :).

I am joining this challenge. I wished I would have joined the Halloween one, but I have never done any of the challenges before. This is my very first one!

Welcome!! We're glad to have you on board!!

I'm in. Thanks so much for setting it up Riestrella ..... Challenging time of year so I think its good to get focused ..... :)

You're welcome! Glad to have more people on board. We can do it!! Even if we just aim to maintain, that's a huge accomplishment.

I'm in!
 

Just added my info!
Thanks so much!

No problem! Welcome, welcome!

Back on board with this one too...got my butt into gear the last week or so...here we go!

Can't believe Christmas is so close!

You can do it! I know, it's crazy. I'm already buying Christmas presents to ship to family in England!

Its Funny, you are exactly where we almost went to live in 2009 but my job offer fell through and we ended up staying here :(

I loved doing the Halloween challenge, and I am excited for this Christmas one! Lots can happen in two months, especially these two months of holidays. I am looking forward to it, and thank you Riestrella for doing these! They have really kept me motivated as I've started my weight loss journey. :moo:

Threw my hands up in March and just quit!
Back at it....after gaining 30 pounds back! I've lost 10 and hoping to get as much of that 30 pounds back off, before Christmas, as I can!

I'm definitely in again!! Thanks so much for doing these, Riestrella!!

Week 1 is a-go!! Good luck to everyone and I hope you see the results you want to. Work hard, stay focused and you'll reach your goal!

So yesterday I did a crazy combination of a kickboxing lesson with the BF and a Strength workout. It was an experiment, but I didn't like it too much since I couldn't truly get into one or the other. Plus I felt sorry for the BF having to wait for me to do weights in between kickboxing rounds! I did get a great workout though.
That night the BF's sister and her boyfriend came around and we all had amazing BBQ food. I stupidly fasted for the meal, but this is always a bad idea. I eat WAY more than I should versus if I would just eat normally and eat a little "cheat" food. The scale was not happy with me this morning, but I hope after eating normally today it'll go back down!

I had an interview for a job this morning, it was a part time receptionist job at a small law firm (only 3 people work there + 1 adorable black lab!) and they were super friendly. I really hope I get the job! I really need the money, my personal funds are running low and I'd like to be able to treat myself again and not feel guilty!
I'm currently sat with cling film around my head since I'm dyeing my hair with henna. It's so messy but I needed the touch up! Just another 2.5 hours to go...

I just finished the crazy task of putting up the Haunting for Halloween challenge results! Phew, that took a while. Check them out and for those who won, enjoy your badges!

Koshinogi - Oh no! That sucks :(. Where abouts in Colorado were you going to live? What do you do for a living?

Minerva - You're welcome! I'm so happy to hear they keep you motivated!

Jb - Welcome back! You can do this!! Forgive yourself and kick some a$$ :D

Jesslan - Woohoo, glad to see you here!! Good luck!

Just finished the badges, check them out!

http://i65.tinypic.com/es6upy.jpg
http://i68.tinypic.com/2vcywib.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/jfiv0o.jpg
http://i67.tinypic.com/fc79mt.jpg

Count me in! I love the title of the challenge, because you do feel delicious with every lost pound. Thanks for starting this challenge Riestrella.:D

Love the new Christmas badges!! :D

Happy Friday everyone! What are you doing this weekend?

Hey everyone! Not much is new with me, been feeling a bit PMS-y this week! Craving soda like a crazy person. Thankfully there is none around the house. The BF's Mum is out of town which means I get to plan the meals - which means they get to be healthy! Woohoo. She has a horrible habit of always cooking red meat with a million sides slavered in mayonnaise or butter.

--------------------------------

workinglikeadog - Welcome!! Good luck!

Jesslan - Thanks! Glad you like them.

Rie, the badges are very nice. I can see you put a lot of thought and work into them. Thanks for everything you do for the challenges!

this time around my goal is to workout (walking) 90 min a day, weights every other day for 30 min. Let see what can come out of it :)

I was going to Colorado Springs. I am a Veterinary Nurse (15 years), but I am now half way through studying to be a regular human nurse ;D

This last week has been difficult, I maintained my wieght then managed to gain a lb (might be water weight) so will recheck later in the week. Had to go Dairy free for my baby as he may have CMPA but it is not a definate so have to trail it. Well milk protein is in everything so full dietry upheaval. oh well, seem to have it sorted now.

Riestrella, Please count me in. I joined the 4th so did not add a weight amount for 1/2(unless you want me to). I did weight in yesterday. Did I miss doing something?

katiam - You're welcome, I love running these challenges and seeing everyone's progress!

Koshinogi - What made you want to switch from animals to humans?

workinglikeadog - Hey there, so you weighed in for week 2. The charts above are week 1 weights, so you didn't get counted because you essentially skipped week 1. If you know your weight from week 1, then you're encouraged to enter the weights (so you can get a Finisher badge at the end of the challenge!), but it's entirely up to you.

workinglikeadog - Hey there, so you weighed in for week 2. The charts above are week 1 weights, so you didn't get counted because you essentially skipped week 1. If you know your weight from week 1, then you're encouraged to enter the weights (so you can get a Finisher badge at the end of the challenge!), but it's entirely up to you.[/QUOTE]


Thanks for clearing that up for me:) Have added weight for last Sunday.

So...I completely fell off the wagon yesterday.

I had Good Times for lunch (double bacon cheeseburger, fries and Coke).

I had a LOT of peanuts thinking it was going to be my dinner.

But then leftover pizza was put in front of me and I ate 2 slices.

I know, right? What a bad day!! Stepped on the scale this morning expecting a 2 lb gain or worse. NOTHING! No gain whatsoever. Whaaaat?! I was baffled! How do I consume around 2700 calories, not workout and not gain anything? My body confuses me big time. Needless to say, I'm not taking any risks, I'm going to get back on the wagon today and do a workout.

:exercise::exercise::exercise:
Got on the scale and was reminded that exercise is good. I knew this, yet I resist and my good habits get put on the backburner all too often. Gonna log off now cause I choose to exercise this morning.;)

How is everyone's week going?

I've found myself working 3 film editing jobs which is great, but I've gotten into a lazy routine with working out!! I need to move around more in general since I'm finding myself napping in the day. Oops.

Home with a sick kiddo this morning so no gym. Maybe I can get there in the morning. I usually don't go on the weekend as it's family time but I wanted to get 5 days in this week! I have a charity craft show that I'll be going to on Saturday so maybe I can at least squeeze in a quick trip to the gym.

I have been with animals for a long time and I love it, I managed to work my way into being hte manager of a referral practice but I didn't like the paper pushing and lack of hands on. There was no real way for me to specialise and the wages are pretty rubbish considering the level of qualification and expertise I had. I needed something more challenging and I generally like the nursing so I thought I would change for the wider range of skills I can gain.

What do you do?

Also I had a good(ish week) started to be really careful, and now I am dairy free and seem to be on top of it, I have found a few special treats I can have that are soy based but also low sugar and delicious, nom nom. 3lb down so this made me happy

Took it easy exercise wise yesterday, so was happy to get in a 30 min lifting routine in this a.m. :D


Riestrella, With three jobs I would need a nap too, lol.;) How about walking after dinner, either inside or out? I sometimes even walk in the p.m. while watching tv, but must feel the motivation :kickbutt: to do that.

Jill, Did you get in you 5 days of exercise this week Hope you kiddo is feeling better. Nice to have a weekly exercise goal.

Koshi, You must be doing something right to be 3 pounds down. I hope you are encouraged to continue to be careful. :cp:

Hope everyone is doing well, have a great weekend!

Hi everyone! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week.

I haven't been contributing to this thread so much lately because I have been on vacation. I got back last night and had been gone since the 5th. I was very worried to get on the scale this morning, because I was not watching what I was eating while gone. However, I apparently did ok because I lost about 4 pounds. I was shocked when I saw the number on the scale. :moo:

Anyways, I am back and I am going to keep working on reaching my goals. :jig:

Koshi - Yeah, I hear veterinary nurses don't get paid that much...:( What's going to be your specialty for nursing? I'm a freelance film editor, right now I've got 3 projects on the go which is kinda crazy, but 2 deadlines are in the next couple of weeks then I'll get to sink my teeth into the 3rd one - which is a feature length film. Congrats on 3 lbs down!

working - I try and get up and move once an hour since I have to work on a computer all day. I've also put into my schedule a 30 minute walking break outside to get some fresh air! I think it'll help my work. Great job on the exercise!

Nope, we had to repair a chicken coop, lay mulch in both coops (due to excessive rain the last couple of weeks), haul firewood and watch a donkey that we believe is miscarrying her first baby. Oh well!

I'll got in 4 days this week and hope to do the same this coming week. I am going on a weekend trip with some family and that will shoot the diet in the head.....dinner show, eating out and no working out for the weekend. UGH!

How is everyone doing?! :)