Not sure if anyone is even checking for new posts anymore.... I am gonna post anyway. Our end date is very near and I know that the whole experience got way off track. i have done my dammnedest to stay on the healthy path that I got started. So far so good. i have been recording and tracking my progress every week like we were supposed to and am very close to my goals. i hope that at least somebody has done the same. i would hate to finally get a chance to get into the office to do a final weigh in and a "how ya doing" just to be the winner by a washout. ( there is no challenge in that)

I thank you guys very much for your effort and agreement to take this challenge on. It has helped to motivate me better than anything else I have tried. I have to admit that I feel better than I have in about 10 years. So if nothing else I have gained that.

I hope that gary does not look like the baby shamoo that he didn't want to look like at his friends wedding and that Scott and krista can take satifaction in the fact that when they put their heads together they can do anything.

I would really like to meet with everyone in the office this friday afternoon if at all possible. Even just for a .... beer.

Sorry.... I can't resist anymore.
My status as of today:


129 pounds
23% body fat
13.5" off - 5 just from the hips

just to remind you why i am so pleased with myself I started at 152 pounds and 36 % body fat.


Now that I have gloated... I hope to see you all soon.

Derailed!!

Is it just me, or is our train completely off the track right now? I haven't made it to weigh in in three weeks (mainly because someone changed it to Friday's), but even if I had, it wouldn't be good. At our house, Scott and I have slipped back into the bad habits that made us the shape we are today. We haven't exercised. We eat junk - both the chips and candy kind and the fast food kind. I can't remember the last time I made the family a nice, balanced and nutritious meal.

I have good intentions everyday, and then the evil person on my shoulder reminds me how good Peanut Butter M&M's are... or how a couple of Lays Stax won't hurt... just have a couple more... might as well finish the tube. I have great plans to go to the gym or go running... but can't seem to wake up early in the morning or get my lard butt of the couch at the end of the day.

Any idea on how we get the train back on track?

P.S. since we now seem to be just doing weigh ins at home, please send me your results (even for the previous weeks) and I'll get them posted. Not that there's any doubt that Joyce is going to win or that I'm gonna come in dead last. *sigh*

Following the positive trail.....

Since it has been brought forward that our posts are no longer friendly I will be the first to dive in, WITHOUT any contradictions.

I took some pictures at the sprayer demo this morning and thougt that I would post them to show Scott's hard work is starting to pay off. The pictures definately sit somewhere in between the before pics and the almost to adulthood ones.

See I knew that I could say something positive. It was hard but I did it!!

And the Week # 9 Winner is...

GARY!!!

Gary lost 3.5lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #9 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Gary	-3.5	-1.47%
2	Scott	-2.0	-1.03%
3	Joyce	0.0	-0.00%
4	Krista	+0.5	+0.29%

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-15.0	-9.87%
2	Scott	-13.0	-6.31%
3	Gary	-8.0	-3.29%
4	Krista	-2.5	-1.42

Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Beautiful....

It seems that the level of support and enthusiasm around here has diminished quite dramatically in comparison to the first few weeks. Words of encouragement, healthy recipes, sharing of hunger pains were common place..... Now it's become a place filled with sabotage cookie recipes, flaunting of bragging rights, and low blows to those of us who were FORCED to endure those Beers & Hot Dogs at the Canucks games...... (mind you, poking fun of Gary is still permitted under Rule #47-2 Subsection 17B......) I propose a newly refocused Certa-Blog era of love and support for all of us who are starving and just want gorge ourselves at Fatburger all weekend. With this in mind, I am challenging all of you to lose 4 or more pounds in the following week. The winner(s) will be awarded with a home cooked meal at my house............ (of course, I get to chose the menu, HAHAHAHA)

PS - Sometimes I ask myself that same question Cole......I really do! But thank you for your support nonetheless. Enjoy the cookies your sister made, and I'll see if I can get Krista to pass along some more yummy recipes for you to share with your Mom...... (that I won't be eating of course!!)

Firefighter Cookies

2 ¼ cups Brown Sugar
2 ¼ cups Sugar
1 lb Butter
5 Eggs
1 tbsp Vanilla
1 1/8 tsp Salt
2 ½ tsp Baking Soda
4 ½ cups Flour
4 ½ cups Oats
1 ½ bags Smarties


Preheat oven to 375° F
Mix Flour, Baking Soda, Salt
Cream Eggs, Sugars, Butter & Vanilla
Add dry ingredients, except Oats
Mix well
Stir in Smarties & Oats
Bake for 8 – 10 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet
Freeze unused dough

Makes Approx 8 dozen cookies

Taking back the credit

While that was a lovely post by Joyce and very supportive, I have to tell the truth...

Scott didn't resist the McDonalds due to willpower, he resisted because he was too tired to walk back to McDonalds.

Though the fact that he walked to the grocery store in the first place, and ordered something healthy while there does deserve some kudos.

Well done!

Giving credit when credit is due....

I have to say that today I saw that Scott either has great willpower or he just doesn't want me to have the power to say anything.

While working at the McDonald's job today we became more and more hungry as the smells wafted out of the restaurant. We tried to distract ourselves with the view around us, only to see Starbucks and a fish-n-chips restaurant. The hungrier we got, the more we talked about foods that we miss. As a solution to our problem we thought that we would walk over to the IGA Marketplace and get something healthy to eat so that we wouldn't think about food so much.

On our arrival we could only smell the fresh baked goodies in the bakery. We looked at our choices, veggie,turkey or ham sandwiches with a good healthy vegetable soup or doughnuts and muffins or sausage rolls and cheese cake. After much drooling and wishful thinking ( How can I eat turn those doughnuts into a fat free lunch? ) I approached the counter and was about to order a veggie sandwich when Scott asked me... " Are you really going to order something from here?" while he looked longingly out the window at the McDonald's. Much to his dismay I said yes.

Then to my surprise as much as his he ordered a turkey sandwich on whole wheat without any mayo.

Congratulations Scott you deserve credit for your tremendous task today.

Commentary on the Last Two Weeks

I've been pretty absent from posting the last couple of weeks (sorry about the delay in posting Week#7) and I try not to comment on the results post, so here's my thoughts on the last couple of weeks...

• Hockey is not good for dieting!! Especially going to the hockey game and consuming vast quantities of hot dogs, popcorn, and most importantly beer!!
• It's a little hard to give Joyce a hard time about gaining 4 lbs in week # 6, when she loses 6lbs in week # 7. (I'm trying really hard not to swear or resort to name calling)
• I think Gary should have to pay $20 for every weigh in he misses and if he drops out of the competition should have to put in $200.
• Now that I'm in LAST PLACE!!! I guess I should try to get a bit more serious about my WL attempts. I can't let GARY beat me. (I'm really just lulling you all in to a false sense of security and will win it all in the end... hahahaha, okay I could even type that before breaking into hysterical laughter)
• I think I'm going to actually have to start exercising *sigh*
• Regular grocery shopping goes a long way to eating healthy.
• Vending machine breakfasts are not good
• You have to actually drink water, if you want to avoid the side effects of severe dehydration. *sigh*

*SIGH* I want to eat cookies!

And the Week # 8 Winner is...

JOYCE!!!

Joyce lost 6lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #8 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-6.0	-4.20%
2	Scott	+1.0	+0.52%
3	Gary	+2.0	+0.85%
4	Krista	+1.5	+0.87%

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-15.0	-9.87%
2	Scott	-11.0	-5.34%
3	Gary	-4.5	-1.85%
4	Gary	-3	-1.70%

And the Week # 7 Winner is...

SCOTT!!!

Scott lost 3lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #7 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Scott	-3.0	-1.52%
2	Krista	+1.5	+0.88%
3	Joyce	+4.0	+2.88%
4	Gary	-----	------

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Scott	-12.0	-5.83%
2	Joyce	-9.0	-5.92%
3	Gary	-6.5	-2.67%
4	Krista	-4.5	-2.56%

and the winner for week # 7 is......

Nobody knows......thanks to Gary's unwillingness to step on the scale. From the sounds of it, Scott won and I am astonished that nobody took great pleasure in posting my 4 pound gain.

I think that Gary's penalty for last week should be a double payment..... if you don't want to compete anynore gary, (even though I heard a rumour that you are very competetive and that your warn off anybody foolish enough to compete against you ) just let us know. Leave your $100 fine off with Veronica and we will update you once in awhile about who is winning.

The explanation is.........

Guilty pleasure.

I went to Fat Burger today, had a japanese feast and a couple of beers last night, a couple of Starbucks Lattes and coconut cream pie (in bed to boot)......

After reading Scott's last post I had to step on the scale, because he just can't beat me ( Krista beating me I can live with, but not Scott and especially not Gary).....

The result was down 7 pounds and a trip to the mall to buy a new pair of size 7 jeans ( the old ones won't stay up anymore, even with a belt.) There is no logical sense to this so common sense says that it has something to do with the weight of guilt laying on your shoulders. Extra weight always helps in your workouts they say.



Since my goal is an 8 pound loss for this week I am doing all 3 of my pilates videos tonight and going skiing for the last time this season tomorrow and then going to Casa Bella's to eat a big huge plate of pasta smothered in a very fattening cream sauce. I am also planning to wash it all down with an ice cold beer. And no I don't feel guilty about skiing since Krista is going to kick everyone's asses since she is about to start boot camp. But I am sure I will feel guilty about the meal I enjoy afterward.

GUILTY PLEASURES.... the secret to success!!!!

Tricks of the Trade...

I have discovered the secret to losing weight. And in the spirit of teamwork I will share it with my fellow Losers.....Here it is:

"GO TO CANUCK HOCKEY GAMES, THEN EAT AND DRINK LIKE A PIG"

4 Smokies, 7 Beers, 2 bags of Popcorn, 1 Churo, and a McDonalds visit in between.....and I am down 3 more pounds.......Explain how this happens please? Someone? Anyone?

Scott

And the Week # 6 Winner is...

JOYCE!!!

Joyce lost 3.5lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #6 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-3.5	-2.46%
2	Krista	-1.0	-0.58%
3	Scott	0.0	+0.00%
4	Gary	+0.5	+0.21%

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-13.0	-8.55%
2	Scott	-9.0	-4.37%
3	Krista	-6.0	-3.41%
4	Gary	-6.5	-2.67%

Problem Solved.....

Just mix with water...... 2 parts water to one part beer.....and voila! Beer Water!!! A light, refreshing low calorie beverage!!!!

You're gonna beat me over the head with one soon aren't you Joyce???

Now I need a beer solution!!!!

Since discussing having a beer all afternoon at work the temptation was too much, when an old collegue of mine retired from his job after 20 years invited me to have a beer for "old time sake."

Now not only do I need to know how too make a fat free burger, NOW I NEED TO KNOW....

"HOW DO YOU MAKE BEER FAT FREE???????"

Thanks for the great conversations that we have at work, SCOTT! I am so showing up on Monday with $5 in hand.....

Burger Solutions???

There are some days when there is nothing better than a big, fat, juicy burger.....

There are also days when you enjoy working for someone that is fair and intelligent.....

So how is it that when I asked my intelligent boss how to make that big, fat, juicy burger fat free he told me.....

" Leave out the bun, meat, cheese and condiments. "

How fair of a solution is that??!!!

So much for the intelligent boss theory..... the burger was great though!!!!!!!!!

Things I Think now that I'm starving....

1) Do skinny people simply NOT eat anything that tastes good? Ever?

2) Why don't they make Slurpees with Diet pop? Why God? Why?

3) Why won't Krista believe me when I tell her that Sex burns 1000 calories per minute? she responds by informing me she would only burn 500 calories.........I don't really understand what she means by that though.........

4) Why is it that when you drink less than a pound of water, I immediately gain 2 pounds?

5) After eating all that freeze-dried tasteless spacefood, do Astronauts binge when they get back on earth?

6) With all the wonderful drugs these days, the flu is actually sounding good....I'd get to lie in bed and sleep for few days, AND I'd probably drop 5-6 pounds at the same time......

7) Shoot me, or feed me, I don't care which, just do it quickly.

8) The only time it's safe for me to go grocery shopping is IMMEDIATELY after dinner.

9) Costco is a bad place to go, even if I resist all the sample tables laced strategically throughout, I CANNOT get past the pizza, hotdogs, and chicken calzones near the exit.......impossible.

10) I get great joy out the three chocolate chips that they put into the choclate chip-caramel rice cakes Krista has me eating......AND I get depressed once I get the third one and still have to eat half a rice cake....

11) Most disturbingly of all.......I am beginning to understand how cannibilism could become an option if I'm ever stranded on an island.

And the Week # 5 Winner is...

GARY!!!

Gary lost 5.5lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #5 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Gary	-5.5	-2.30%
2	Joyce	-2.0	-1.38%
3	Krista	-0.5	-0.29%
4	Scott	0.0	+0.00%

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-9.5	-6.25%
2	Scott	-9.0	-4.37%
3	Gary	-9.0	-3.70%
4	Krista	-5.0	-2.84%

And the Week # 4 Winner is...

SCOTT!!!

Scott lost 1.5lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #4 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Scott	-1.5	-0.76%
2	Gary	-1.5	-0.62%
3	Krista	-0.5	-0.29%
4	Joyce	+0.5	+0.35%

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-7.5	-4.93%
2	Scott	-9.0	-4.37%
3	Krista	-4.5	-2.56%
4	Gary	-3.5	-1.44%

Creative excuses

After seeing how Eric wears his googles over his ears when he skis, we have decided that we need to go more often. Since his ears could cause him to fly in a windstorm, we can save money on plastic surgery by skiing lots. The band of his goggles pin his ears back, thus training his ears to stay pressed against his head. No surgery needed!!

Since this explaination makes perfect sense you will all agree that skiing is not cheating in our competition.

Saving Scott's Sanity

I found a recipe, in the new weight watchers cookbook that I just bought, that I thought that you would really enjoy. Sorry Krista i don't know what any of your favorites are. I do know that Scott has Whined many times about not being able to eat this favorite.


NACHOS GRANDE

1 tsp canola oil
1 cup cooked or rinsed drained canned red kidney beans
1/4 lb lean ground turkey breast
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes with chillies
2 tsp mexican seasoning mix
1/4 tsp salt
6 oz reduced fat restaurant style tortilla chips
3/4 c shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
12 pitted small black olives, sliced
1/4 c sliced pickled jalapeno peppers, drained
1/2 c fat free sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 4508F. Spray baking sheet with non stick spray.

2. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Stir in the beans, turkey and onion. Cook, stirring to break up the meat, 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, mexican seasoningg, and salt: cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm.

3. Spread the tortilla chips on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with the sheese, olives and jalapeno peppers. Bake until the cheese just melts, about 5 min. Transfer the nachos to serving platter. Top with the turkey mixture and sour cream and serve at once.

Per serving ( 1 1/4 cups) 204 cal, 4 g Fat,2 g Sat Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 17 mg Sod, 29 g carb, 4 g Fiber, 13 g Protein, 141 mg calcium
POINTS value: 4


Hopefully you enjoy!!!

Recipes for Joyce - Chicken & Vegetable Packets

Ingredients:

• Four 4-oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 1/2 c. sliced mushrooms
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1" strips
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced1 onion, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 c. + 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 c. hot cooked brown rice

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• Place each chicken breast in the center of a piece of tinfoil.
• Top with mushrooms, pepper, zucchini & onion
• In a small bowl, combine the BBQ sauce and garlic.
• Spoon evenly over chicken & vegetables. Close the tinfoil, leaving room for the packets to expand.
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.
• Open the packets carefully, as steam will escape
• Place 1 c. of rice on each plate, spoon contents of 1 packet over each portion.

Nutritional Info:

Per serving: 388 Calories, 4g Total Fat, 1g Saturated Fat, 66mg Cholesterol, 278 mg Sodium, 54g Total Carbohydrates, 5g Dietary Fiber, 33g Protein, 53 mg Calcium.
Serving provides: 2 breads, 1 fruit/vegetable, 3 protein/milk
Pts per serving: 7

Recipes for Joyce - Twice Baked Garlic Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 1 garlic bulb (unless you really really like garlic, I'd probably use half a bulb next time)
• 1/2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 c. nonfat sour cream
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 c. grated parmesan cheesePaprika

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425F
• Pierce potatoes several times with a fork; place on a baking sheet.
• Wrap the garlic in foil and place along side the potatoes.
• Bake until potatoes are tender and the garlic is browned and softened, 50 - 60 minutes.
• Let cool until comfortable to handle, about 15 minutes.
• Halve the potatoes lenghtwise; scoop the pulp into a large bowl, leaving the skins intact.
• Cut the garlic bulb in half and squeeze out the pulp and add to the potato.
• Add the broth, sour cream and pepper; stir and mash to the desired texture.
• Spoon the stuffing back into the potato skins, sprinkle wiht the cheese and paprika.
• Return the potatoes to the baking sheet and bake until heated through and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
  

Nutritional Info per serving (1/2 potato):
153 Calories, 1 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 2 mg Cholesterol, 73 mg Sodium, 31 g Total Carbohydrat, 3 g Dietary Fibre, 5 g Protein, 73 mg Calcium
Serving provides: 1 bread
Points per serving: 3 pts

A quick laugh...

I wasn't going to post about this, 'cause it's kinda mean. But then I remembered, I am kinda mean, so I might as well post.

I made Scott do yoga with me last night.

Some men are not meant to do yoga. (Though I think it would be really funny to see Gary trying to do yoga).

Downward Facing dog looks more like a scared cat.

And when you're supposed to extend on leg in the downward facing dog position. Scott looks more like a dog cocking a leg over a fire hydrant. It was not pretty.

But, I have to give him credit for trying.

And the Week # 3 Winner is...

JOYCE!!!

Joyce lost 3lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #3 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-3.0	-2.37%
2	Gary	-1.5	-0.62%
3	Scott	-1.0	-0.50%
4	Krista	-0.5	-0.29%

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-8.0	-5.26%
2	Scott	-7.5	-3.64%
3	Krista	-4.0	-2.27%
4	Gary	-2.0	-0.82%

Fines & Penalties

I am starting to wonder how interested Gary really is... maybe a fine for non-participation ( not willing to step on scale because he had a bad week/weekend) should be levied. We need to find some kind of motivation to get this guy going because harrassment and teasing isn't working and just taking his money is not as much fun as I thought it would be.

Maybe he needs to imagine a size 50 tuxedo, sweat pouring down his face due to his extra weight in the heat, ruining what could be a very beautiful moment at his good friend's wedding.

Or we could do some research and find pics of a man his size in a speedo on the beach somewhere and see if that vision is appealling to him.

I don't know but we need to motivate him.... for his health of course.

once you get going and the pounds start coming off you will feel so much better.... it has done wonders for me and I haven't even lost that much yet.

Think about it Gary!!!! Jump on board it isn't all that bad!!!!

And the Week #2 Winner is...

JOYCE!!!

Joyce lost 2lbs!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Week #2 Results

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Joyce	-2.0	-1.34%
2	Scott	-2.5	-1.24%
3	Krista	-1.5	-0.86%
4	Gary	-1.5	-0.61%

The Race is on!! Here are the cumulative results...

Results to Date

Place	Competitor	lbs Lost	% Lost
1	Scott	-6.5	-3.16%
2	Joyce	-4.5	-2.96%
3	Krista	-3.5	-1.99%
4	Gary	-0.5	+0.21%

What I have learned since becoming a loser.

I didn't want to be left out, so I am adding to the list of things learned.

1. Living with someone that has a metabolism that works faster than Ben Johnson on steroids...SUCKS!!!

2. Learning what is and isn't healthy ( for real ) and actually eating that way is alot harder than I thought.

3. Coffee that doesn't have 1/4 cup of french vanilla cream in it tastes awful. Probably why I only drink 2 cups a day now.

4. Drinking water is still gross.

5. Exercise at 6am with your daugher can be very entertaining.

6. Losing weight and feeling healthier is extremely gratifying.

7. The biggest thing that I have learned so far......

Drew knows everything about eating healthy and will tell you how at the drop of a dime!!! Looking at his temple of glory is testiment of this alone. I can't believe I didn't realize this the first time I met him!!!!

8. Last but not least... Scott and Krista have a great marraige. Their sense of humor makes me giggle everytime I log on.