2013 WW thread #4 - Crunchies' Challenge

[AddictedtoCrunchies]

Here we are, new shiny thread to use for the Crunchies Challenge. Starting 1 September and running to Christmas Eve. Let's compare notes, support each other and restore the camaraderie we had earlier in the year when the weight was falling off us.

I haven't done a spreadsheet as success is personal and I'm on my iPad and it's way too complicated. The link to the old spreadsheet with the points for the Hairy Dieters (HD) book is on thread #3. I bought the new HD book last week and will attempt to point it when I get chance.

Good luck and here's to looking slim and slinky this Christmas

Hi everyone. Crunchie I'm in.

I haven't been posting much but I have been reading all the posts.

I am so sick and ashamed of myself. I've been doing ww for 2 years at the end of September and yes I have stayed around my goal weight so you'd wonder what my problem is. Well I've got two, bloody chocolate and yoyo dieting. You'd think after all this time I would no longer be a yoyo dieter but I am. I still gain because I'm a pig and then have to work so hard to get it off again. I've eaten so much chocolate this week I daren't even admit on here how many ww bars I can eat in a day. So last night I decided if I can't be trusted with chocolate then I'm not allowing myself any. I still need to accommodate my sweet tooth so I'm eating reduced calories rich tea biscuits and tomorrow I'm off to buy meringue nests.

So yes Crunchie I am definitely in. Hoping to get back to the treadmill in September. (I'd decided to sell it this summer as I never use it) but I've decided to get back to it.

I've no idea how much I've gained this week but feel it will be a lot so I'll let you know by the weekend what my Christmas goal will be. It's a brilliant idea Crunchie and good luck to everyone. (welcome to the newbies too).

Poorpaws I feel your pain. I've completely lost control this part fortnight while on holiday and my sweet tooth has taken over. Worst thing is, I hate the way it makes me feel. Blobby and eugh. So from Monday I too will be going cold turkey. Fruit and veg all the way

Welcome aboard

Well I'm still eating like a pig, I can't believe myself the amount I can consume! I'm getting a little worried as we get closer to Crunchies Challenge, I need to find some very filling food before Monday.

Crunchie I agree with you about feeling blobby, my stomach feels enormous, its so depressing. I should have weighed in 45 mins ago but was too lethargic to be bothered to go and its sad because I've always looked forward to weigh night and meeting up with my friends. Got to get myself back on the road to good health, here's hoping I'll be posting next Friday in a better frame of mind.

Hope everyone else is feeling positive and not quite as worried as I am. I've decided to have a home weigh in on Sunday nights too before Crunchies Challenge Monday.

Positive vibes to everyone.

Don't beat yourself up poorpaws. Everyone has a wobble every now and then.

Well I get back from holiday Sunday night and then I'm drawing a Crunchie line (remember those Paws?). Monday is a new era.

I'm actually thinking of changing from a Monday home weigh in to a class weigh in on a Thursday so we could be weighing in almost at the same time. But by starting Monday I will hopefully shift a few before I join. If that's what I decide to do. Supposed to be going with a lady from work but she may decide not to go. We'll see. Am def starting Monday morning though.

I'm weighing in on Saturday morning (at home).

I find that it works for me because if I use my weeklies over the weekend I have time to balance out over the week without it affecting my weight loss and also it motivates me to keep going and not have a huge blow out!

Are you having a nice holiday crunchie ?

Hmm maybe that last point wasn't clear. I mean if I weigh myself on a Saturday morning and see I've lost weight I am more motivated to be 'good' that weekend!

April that's why I like to weigh on a Monday morning. It keeps me on the straight and narrow all weekend.

Having a lovely time but it's nearly over Two more days then back to reality. But I'm quite looking forward to some salad

Lost 3lb! Very pleased. Off to meal plan for next week while I'm feeling enthused!

Well done April

Give us an idea of your plan when you've done it?

Thank you! Am really really pleased. Didn't feel like I'd really suffered this week either apart from a few days where I was starving a bit before dinner.

My meal planning is an absolute disaster - I never manage to plan a full week, just a few meals!

So -
Hairy Dieters (new book) chicken chow mein (which I've worked out as 6 points)
HD (new book) egg fried rice (also 6 points) to which I will possibly add some king prawns.
I'll also have lasagne from the depths of the freezer (I pointed my normal "recipe" as 9, I'm sure there are plenty of lower point recipes about) with lots of salad.

I'd be really interested to see what everyone else is eating this week. I think boredom or lack of variety will be the undoing of me so I'd like to keep mixing it up.

Hope you're all having lovely weekends!

aprilmay, 3lbs is a great start.

I've just finished meal planning

Breakfasts - an orange with either Weetabix and milk or porridge, banana, a pecan and 1/2tsp maple syrup

Lunches - ham and cheese with rye bread; turkey, brie and cranberry sandwich; smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels (all with salad)

Dinner - fishcakes; turkey burger; jerk chicken; lamb, potato and spinach curry (HB); pasta bolognese, chicken fajita, tuna

Snacks - pancake; scones; banana loaf; fruit; yogurt with roasted oats, seeds, nuts and maple syrup

Lost another 2lbs this week so that's an average of 2lbs a week since 10th January. I find 2lbs a week is a good target when I had more than a few pounds to lose. If I had aimed for 1lb per week I think I would have found loosing the weight I needed to lose very daunting and overwhelming. Of course it's more difficult getting nearer goal and I don't expect to continue losing 2lb for very much longer.

My week will mainly involve porridge for breakfast, soup and fruit for lunch and something with salad for tea (chicken, fishcakes etc).

Dull but I've eaten out every day for the last two weeks so I need to reel myself back in.

Need to train hard too as have my 2nd of 3 autumn half marathons two weeks today.

STIDW would you mind sharing your banana loaf recipe?

Sending positive vibes for the week ahead to everyone!

Soooo it will soon be Monday morning (eeekk). I've had a fabulous day of eating out (bacon baguette at MacDonalds for breakfast), Hunters chicken, chips, salad, coleslaw for lunch followed by brandy baskets three scoops of ice cream, clotted cream and chocolate sauce (was to die for) and now I'm having my last chocolate bar for a very very long time. You still with me on the giving up chocolate Crunchie? I need a good friend for that one.

Crunchie line drawn (yes Crunchie I remember the line very well). Positive thinking all the way from now on.

TOMORROW more salads, longer dog walks and a little treadmill work. Going to eat that last choc bar now. GOOD LUCK to all, we can ALL do this.

Paws I'm with you. Am having a chocolate free September. Alcohol free too except for next Sunday when I go to Hyde Park for the Radio 2 concert.

Just weighed in and in the course of a two week holiday, I have gained an impressive 10lbs . So here's my Crunchie line

..and I'm focused. Have logged today's points. Porridge, soup and fishcakes and salad for tea. Have a fitness test tonight then two hours of netball training so I'm off and running.

April great loss on Saturday, how much is that overall?

Planned my week's menus, put them on my tracker and been to Sainsbury's to buy it all. Am saving my entire 49 pp for Sunday's trip to Party in Hyde Park.

I have been at target weight for 3 years, but right at the top end of target, I am ready to try and get to bottom end if possible, would love to lose another stone, but I have been doing the same things so long, would like some more meal ideas please xxx

So sorry, I would love to join your group, if you would have me, I just barged in there really sorry x

3lb is my first week loss crunchie. I'm restarting after two years off the wagon!

Lasagne in the oven, salad ready to go.

Hi Dragoon you're very welcome to join us. I've been cooking loads from the Hairy Dieter's book and I bought their second one last week. Our last thread has all the first book converted to pp if you fancy it?

Hi rightsaidthread I'm increasing my exercise too but have a fitness test in 45 minutes which wasn't part of my plan. Not looking forward to it at all..

Thanks very much Crunchie, I will enjoy brousing through x

aprilmay, here is the banana loaf recipe;

5 large bananas
1 egg
90g mild agave* syrup (or 175g soft brown sugar)
100g sultanas
225g wholemeal flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Oven Gas Mark 4/180C or fan 160C

1. Mash the bananas in a bowl with a potato masher. Add the egg, agave (or sugar) and sultanas. Stir in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.

1. Transfer the mixture to a prepared tin and level the surface. (I use a 20cm lined loose bottom square tin because it is easier to cut into portions but you can use a 1kg loaf tin.) Bake for 60-70 minutes.

1. Cool in the tin for 10 min before removing and cooling on a rack.

Using sugar the recipe makes 16 portions at 3pp. If you use agave it will make 12 portions at 3pp.

*I use agave in baking because it sweetens things without having a strong flavour like other natural sugar substitutes such as honey and maple syrup. Although it has the same calories as sugar you typically need about 33-50% less. Because it is a syrup less liquid may be required in recipes. If I was using sugar I would use a large egg or add a little milk rather than just a medium egg.

Hi
I have gone from 11st 4 to 9st 13 and hoping to get down to 8st 10. Am on 26 pp a day but have to earn activity points as I am finding it tough going.