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Weightloss week 12

2011-05-04T10:35:00.000+10:00

Weightloss wednesday - the last one!

Wow, well today is the last day. Can you believe its been 3 months since we started this journey together? Some of us have had great success, we worked hard and achieved our goal of losing 5 kilos, maybe a bit less or maybe a bit more, but we are better off and healthier for it.

We had winners along the way, LG and Beckie and we still have to announce the winner of the stamps prize for the best layout today.

And the winner is:

DALE.

Woohoo - congratulations! Your prize will be on its way shortly. Your layout is beautiful, we loved the swirl in it that caught our eye. Have a look everyone, here in the gallery.

OK, so this is the last time we will record our weightloss. How did you go this week? Leave your final link below.

We hope that everyone has learned something along the way, made some new friends and of course, lost some weight. And Karen and I wish wish you all the very best with any further weightloss you want to achieve. We thankyou for your encouragement for us also along the way in achieving our own 5 kilo loss goals. We are really happy we did this.

Big hugs from Karen & I.

Weightloss week 11

2011-04-27T08:25:00.000+10:00

ONLY 1 WEEK TO GO!

OK, so here we are at week 11 and today is weightloss wednesday .....so whose lost this week? I know it might have been a bit hard with the Easter bunny coming but wasn't Dale's tip so timely?

SO, this week, tell us how much you have lost to date as well as any weekly weightloss & let's see who has lost the most so far...

Here's the tally:
(I'll update this as everyone leaves their link).

Dale T:

Chris F: 2.3 kgs

Bridgette:

Beckie:

Nerrida:

Karen:

Who else?

A REMINDER!
If you'd like to be on the running for the stamp set valused at $45, don't forget to email me your layout. So far, we've got Dales and Beckie's entry in the gallery. I'm working on mine.

Leave you link below.

Nerrida's weekly tip 2

2011-04-21T09:13:00.001+10:00

Nerrida's Tip.

TIP: Understand the labels.

A product labelled with a fat-free claim does not mean that it is low in calories. Similarly a product labelled as low-sugar or low-carb does not mean it is low in fat or calories. Always read the nutrition label on the packaging. Anything with more than about 20 grams of sugar is not good, in fact I never go over 15grams. Check out some of those 'healthy' yoghurts.....

Weightloss week 10

2011-04-20T06:00:00.004+10:00

Weightloss Wednesday!

ONLY 2 WEEKS TO GO! ...before the competition ends and the very last prize of some scrumptious Websters Pages 'Spring Market' is up for grabs. Who will lose the most in this last 4 weeks?

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT:

Tell us how much you have lost in the last 2 weeks in total so we can see if you're in the running for the prize.

AND

What's your mini goal?

Leave your link to your blog post below.

Karen's weekly tip

2011-04-16T11:55:00.004+10:00

EXCERSIZE

Hmmm, yep, the E word !!! Love it or hate it, or like me, you are somewhere in between, you truly will not achieve long term weight loss without some regular excersize. Excercize has to become a part of your everyday life in order to maintain weight loss.

I find walking is the best form of excersize for me. And even walking for half an hour a day is enough to get those scales moving in the right direction. If your day is too busy for a full workout, break it down into a more manageable five minutes here, 10 minutes there. Take the stairs. Park at the far end of the car park. Keep walking shoes at your desk. Walk while you talk on the phone or while you think. Several short bursts of activity throughout the day really can help you burn calories and shed kilos.

PUMP IT UP, its a proven fact that muscle burns up more calories than fat, and the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism works. So get those weights out, and start pumping some iron :) . You dont need to spend a fortune on gym equipment, and expensive weights, a can of baked beans in each hand is enough to get those muscles working. Another great inexpensive piece of equipment is a 'resistance band' they only cost around $20.00 from any sports store, and usually come with an instruction DVD. I have one, and they are great.

My goal now that I have lost my weight, is to increase my muscle, therefore increase my metabolism, in the hope that I can keep the weight off forever.

Weightloss week 9

2011-04-13T09:36:00.000+10:00

Its WEDNESDAY! Weigh-in time.....

Week 1 of the final 4 weeks! So how did you go? Have you been spurred on to take advantage of this last 4 weeks. Well there's only 3 left!

Did you do last weeks assignment? Did you get out the tape measure?

Ok, sign in everyone and let us know how you went this week - any difference in the scales or in cms???? I know that there were a couple of weeks where I didn't seem to lose anything but then when the tape measure came out...oh, look at that, 2 cms gone! It feels good.

THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT:

Find a new weightloss website and tell us about it...leave a link on your blog post so we can check it out.

Leave the link to your post and news below.

Big Announcement

2011-04-07T20:31:00.000+10:00

We have a...

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

to make!

As you may have heard, Helen W has been declared the winner of the 3rd prize, losing a total of 5.7 kilos!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great effort! (Helen is one of our non-bloggers). A massive congratulations Helen - here's hoping it inspires you to keep losing more.

Officially, we now need a layout from everyone to go into our gallery on their weight loss journey so far............whether you have won a prize or not, please get onto this to be eligible for a Stampin' Up stamps prize worth $45!!!
We will have a poll to see who the winner is.

Email your layouts to gnmitch@internode.on.net

BUT.....

we have a little surprise for you.

Thanks to Websters Pages & Anna's Craft Cupboard, we have another prize up for offer and everyone is eligible as long as we have a up-to-date photo of your weight starting this week. So if you haven't posted a scales photo this week, hurry! Everyday you leave it, leaves less time to lose big. You can leave your link to your photo below.

THE RULES:

1. The competition will run for another 4 weeks with the finishing date being Wednesday May 4th.

2. In that time we will have 4 weigh-ins, each one on a Weight loss Wednesday as always. You MUST POST or email us a post, including on the fourth week (the final week).

3. Weight loss must be proved by photos of scales.

The person who has lost the total most weight from the start will win the prize pack.

Mark that date! This is your chance to give losing weight one more good go and succeed!

Leave your photo link here and you might like to spread the word.

Weightloss wednesday week 8

2011-04-06T11:26:00.000+10:00

Weightloss Wednesday...

WOW! 2 MONTHS!

Its been a whole 8 weeks since we started this journey...can you believe it? And many of us are all the better for it. And for others, who have joined us on this journey, its just the beginning of a new and better you.

So another celebration is in order...how much have you lost TO DATE? (whether its been just a few weeks or all 8)?

Let us know!

This weeks assignment:

Measure your waist, hips and thighs and write it down somewhere and keep it in a secret place for you to go back and check on in one months time - we will remind you and ask you how many centimetres you have lost. Its a very encouraging thing to do for yourself. Don't forget, or you'll miss out on the rewards of knowing how far you've come.

Leave your link here:

Nerrida's weekly tip 1

2011-04-04T09:20:00.000+10:00

Nerrida's tip

TIP: Don't buy it in the first place!

Nope, don't! You can pick it up in the shop if you want, then read how bad it is, and then put it back and walk away.

If it's not in the house, then you can't eat it when your bored or craving something. Stock the pantry & frij with good but yummy choices so if you do eat extra, at least it's healthy.

Trina McClune had a fascinating converstaion with herself on her blog this week about her struggles with cravings - read more here.

Announcement

2011-04-01T16:44:00.000+11:00

We have another winner!

2nd prize goes to:

BECKIE

A big congratulations to Beckie, who actually didn't think she'd win because she was losing too slowly. Just goes to show you that slow and steady wins the race.

Here's you prize Beckie and it will be on its way shortly!

Weightloss tip 17

2011-04-01T16:14:00.000+11:00

Today's tip

Well this is your last daily tip. Starting form next week Karen & I will be offering 1 tip each per week. With nearly 20 tips to boot, you should be off to a great start. What a journey its been so far....

Many of us have lost some weight and are feeling good about ourselves, but after 7 weeks of it, it can get 'boring'. Oh oooh - there's that word that trips so many of us up.

Tip: A change is as good as a holiday.

Hmm, I can hear you thinking, that's a strange tip for losing weight. Yes, and no. Boredom and busy-ness are 2 major pitfalls to losing weight long-term. We give up because its all too hard, we are too busy and we're bored with the program.

SO...take a break.

Not for too long, just a couple of days, OR make a change. Do something completely different to what you have been doing. We need to keep ourselves interested and feeling keen. Life does get busy and stuff happens, but its OK as long as you keep focused on what your trying to achieve in the long run. You will get there....your on your way now.

What could you do differently this week?

Weightloss Wednesday week 7

2011-03-30T09:11:00.002+11:00

*** Sorry girls, I forgot the assignment for this week, I have added it - thx Beckie! ***

Weightloss Wednesday has arrived!

Wow, can you believe that next week will mark 2 months of weightloss! So how did you go this week? How much success did you have? Even a small success is a step in the right direction!

Last week we enjoyed the company of some newbies and their first week so we can't wait to hear from you all again! How did you go this week. Before you know it, you'll be celebrating your first month of weightloss - it comes around very quickly.... and it feels GREAT!

OK, so leave your link below and lets catch up. Leaving a comment on other's blogs can be very encouraging too.

This week assignment:
Go and visit at least 2 other blogs from this site and give some encouragement.

Remember:

weight loss tip #16

2011-03-27T16:00:00.006+11:00

BULK UP ON FIBRE RICH FOODS

When you choose "big" foods like fruits, vegetables, salads and soups, which are bulked up by fiber and water, you're eating a lot of food that fills you up, but not a lot of calories.

"Little" foods are foods packed with lots of calories , but are usually small, unsatisfying portions, these would include cheeses, sugar-rich snacks like chocolate and lollies, and dry foods like crackers, chips and biscuits. They are small in size but BIG in calories.

Studies show that hunger tends to be satisfied by a certain volume of food, about 2.2 kilos per day, for the average person. And it doesn't matter how many calories are packed into each kilo, once we're full, we stop eating. So the higher the calories in each gram of food, the more calories you will need to consume before you body says 'thats enough'.

Choose your foods wisely :)

Weight loss tip #15

2011-03-27T15:40:00.007+11:00

TIP: CONTROL YOUR PORTION SIZES

With the introduction of "super-size" meals at fast food places, and increasingly huge portions at restaurants, our concept of normal serving sizes is fast becoming a distant memory. I even think that plates and bowls seem to have doubled in size over the last few years. Sticking to these few simple rules will avoid you unconciously eating far more than your body needs.

1.Be mindful of the amounts of food you are eating in one sitting.
2.When you are eating out, divide your food in half and ask for a take home bag.
3.When you are at home, use a smaller sized plate, a bread and butter plate is a great serving size
for people trying to limit their calorie intake.
4. Dont get in the habit of finishing everything on you plate.
5.Eat slowly and pay attention to your hunger levels, and stop eating when you feel comfortably full, not stuffed.

Weightloss tip 14

2011-03-25T09:04:00.000+11:00

TODAY'S TIP

TIP: Don't starve yourself !

WHY?

Slows your metabolism - take calories too low and the body will respond by slowing down to conserve energy.

2. You'll lose in lean muscle mass which is your calorie burning engine.

3. It will intensify your obsession with food (Think about it - you're already thinking about food and you'll cave in and then over-eat).

We should be eating no less then 10 times our body weight in calories. Go here to work out your ideal calorie intake.

Weightloss tip 13

2011-03-24T13:29:00.000+11:00

TODAY'S TIP

OK, so we are all working hard to trim down but let's face it - it can be hard work some days. We need to remember that in real life, pretty much everybody needs a treat now and then.

TIP: Choose a low calorie treat and use it as a reward for your hard work.

I have discovered a little treat this week that I didn't know about before. Nestle Diet lite chocolate mousse (available at Woolworths). It has 60 calories, so it isn't too bad as an occasional treat. What little treats have you discovered? The healthier, the better of course. Mine isn't healthy really, but it doesn't have much sugar (so even I can have it) and its YUM! especially when others around me are having their dessert.

Ok, so leave us a comment and tell us about your little treat.

Weightloss Wednesday - week 6

2011-03-23T08:11:00.000+11:00

ITS WEIGHTLOSS WEDNESDAY AGAIN!

Woohoo - here's your chance to show us your stuff - how much have you lost this week? Come on, impress us (LOL). If not, how has your week been? Good, bad or, like mine, indifferent?

On your blog today, tell us how your mini challenge went for the week and if you achieved it, and maybe are setting a new one?

Here's a little 'funny' for those of you who need it this week.

You know the deal....leave a link to your post below so we can come and visit and check out how your going.

What Karen did to lose 50 kg's

2011-03-22T10:58:00.003+11:00

Hi fellow weight loss friends :) I posted this at the very beginning of our weight loss challenge, but since then I have had alot of people ask me what I did to lose 50kg's, so I thought I would post it again for those who have just recently joined us.

To begin with though, I really feel I need to mention that I am in NO WAY a weight loss professional, The diet I chose to follow isn't entirely what the 'professionals' would recommend, so if you decide to follow what I did, you need to be aware of that., and in some cases, even speak with your doctor prior to starting, which is reccomended with any weight loss programme.

I chose to lose the weight the fastest way possible. I was 50 kg's overweight, and I didn't want my weight to take 2 years to come off, I wanted it FAST. So I set myself a calorie limit of around 900 calories a day ( again, be aware that this is less than the weight loss professionals recommend) I bought a calorie counter book, and went from there. Please note, that because I am eating such limited calories, I also take a multivitamin, and a calcium tablet daily.

I have been on just about every diet known to man, and then some, so I took bits and pieces from each, and kind of formulated my own plan... One really good diet I was on once upon a time was 'ultra lite' It was a very low calorie, low carb diet, and I started my weight loss by following along with their plan to a degree. Then as the months went on, I changed things around to suit me.

I have chosen to avoid most carbs, especially pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, and most cereals other than porridge, and light cruskit biscuits.

A typical day for me would go something like this:

Breakfast: 4 cruskit biscuits ( the light, lower fat ones) topped with low fat packaged turkey breast and about 100 grams of flavoured cottage cheese. ( I like the chive and onion one, and the gherkin one isn't too bad either) I would love to say i don't drink coffee, but, umm, I do have 1 cup in the morning, with saccharine, and skim milk. If I'm still hungry, some days I will have a low fat fruit yoghurt too. ( I buy the nestle diet brand)

or:I will sometimes have porridge for breakfast as a change, about 1 cup, cooked, with skim milk. But do prefer the cottage cheese and cruskits, as its a good source of protein. sometimes I will have 2 eggs for a change also. Just remember not to have the toast with them :) but you can have a small amount of trimmed bacon ( fat cut off LOL)

Lunch: about 100 g of a low fat protein source. Chicken breast, turkey, fish, tuna, prawns, egg.....I try to avoid processed deli meat as much as possible ( other than my turkey slices) I have that with a salad of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, mushrooms, carrot. (any salad veggies are OK) I dont use salad dressing as most of them are full of fat, but sometimes will have a tiny bit of 97% fat free mayonaise. balsamic vinegar is a good dressing when trying to lose weight, but I dont like it :)

Dinner: again, I would have about 100g serve of protein. steak, fish, etc, with around 100-150 g veggies, or salad. again remembering to avoid the high carb ones such as potato
(pumpkin, peas and corn are also quite high in carbs) I also try to avoid sauces and gravies, as these are high in calories.

Snacks: I try to keep these to a minimum. But if I really want something, or am feeling like my blood glucose is a bit low, I will have a little tub of weight watchers fruit, of a tub of yoghurt. Another favorite is stewed apple, I don't add sugar when cooking it, I use 'sprite' DIET lemonade ( make sure its the diet one) too cook my apple in. It give me the sweetness I sometimes crave, without any of the calories. yum !! and for an extra treat, I will have a little bit of 'nestle' diet yoghurt on the top....

If I am out, I usually take some cruskits and a little tin of tuna with me ( make sure its not in oil) but if Im stuck, and have nothing with me I will have a "Subway" wrap, with one of the 6g of fat or less fillings, with lots of salad. yum !!!

Drink: usually I just drink water. ( I try to have 2.5 ltrs per day) But sometimes, I will have a 'coke zero' as a bit of a treat. Oh, and my coffee in the morning :)

Ok, thats enough info for now... Hopefully I have answered some of your questions. There's nothing magical about this diet, unfortunately, I wish there was. Some days its hard not eating the foods I love. Some days I get so tired of fish and salad :) But, I want to be thin, and healthy, and finally realised, this is the only way I can do that. My heath is more important to me than a chocolate bar, or an icecream :)

I will be back in the next little while to share some of my recipes with you all. Take care my friends,

Karen

Weightloss tip 12

2011-03-21T09:04:00.000+11:00

LIST OF SYMPTOMS:

Sorry girls if you have trouble reading that last chart. Here's a list of the symptoms:

Extreme thirst
Hunger (insatiable)
Headache/migraine
Going to the bathroom frequently
Blurred vision
Dry skin
Feeling sick in the stomach
Weakness or drowsiness

Weightloss tip 12

2011-03-21T08:42:00.000+11:00

TODAY'S TIP.

Do you have bad blood sugar?

Do you suffer some or all of these symptoms?

I myself have HYPOglaecemia. (This is not to be confused with HYPERglaecemia - Type 2 diabetes). Mine was caused from eating too much sugar & white flour as a teen. Fortunately, with the help of a good nutritionist, diabetes was avoided before it was too late. I have to keep my blood sugar stable by eating regular meals, wholewheat & low sugar products, or suffer the consequences (including weight gain).

TIP: Lower your sugar intake by swapping something sugary for a lower-sugar alternative.

You don't have to go without, just choose another brand or use honey instead. I cook all my children's birthday cakes & muffins with honey instead of sugar - you just replace the sugar with it. You can also use Stevia - a natural sweetener, available from Health food stores.

What can you swap this week?

Weightloss tip 11

2011-03-19T09:26:00.001+11:00

TODAY'S TIP

Sugar - where is it hiding?

Ok, so now we've established in last week's tips that white flour is hidden in mnay breads and wholemeal crackers. So is it the same with sugar?

The answer is a resounding YES!

TIP: Cut back on your sugar intake.

Anything that ends in the letters 'in', 'one' 'ol' or 'ose' is just another name for sugar. You are probably familiar with some of the more common ones like Fructose and sucrose, sorbitol. Just as with bread, the trickery is there. Many packages will say 'sugar-free' but are they really. You need to check if you want your diet to be truly healthy.

Watch out for is Palm sugar & corn syrup - also two of the very worst kinds.

Remember:

Sugars and syrups, regardless of how they are named, raise your blood sugar to a rapid spike that is followed by a rapid drop. This is what I call the “roller coaster effect” and it will cause you to gain weight and wear your pancreas out!

If you're interested, you might like to take this sugar detox challenge by Dr. Oz.

Weightloss tip 10

2011-03-18T09:00:00.002+11:00

TODAY'S TIP

So yesterday we explored the idea that maybe the snacks you're eating aren't as healthy as you thought because they contains weight-gain promoting white flour.

So how about bread?

We have also learned that wholemeal bread is the way to go and white bread is about as good for you as slowly poisoning yourself. I'm sorry to tell you that exactly the same applies with breads as crackers. Not all wholemeal breads are good for you. Many contain WHITE FLOUR.

TIP: CHECK YOUR BREAD INGREDIENTS.

* * * * *

The best brands are:

Bakers Delight wholemeal (now 100% wholemeal)

Brumby's wholemeal

Moores

Holsoms wholemeal

Mountain bread rice wraps

Bills organic stoneground bread

Not so good: (all contain wheat flour and less than 50% wholemeal)

Abbotts village

Sunblest

Tip Top

Coles

Woolworths

Homebrand

(most generic brands)

(Helgas? - the jury is still out. They used to be wholemeal but I have heard they are changing possibly??? If anyone knows, please leave a comment).

Sure, if you have trouble changing over after being on white for so long, then some of these brands are OK for a while until you get used to 100%, but I highly recommend Bakers Delight or Brumby's - they do bread rolls too and a yummy cape-seed loaf which is a great snack.

And remember, wholemeal bread will keep you feeling full for longer because its more slowly digested.

Stay tuned for Monday's tip...its a sweet one.

Weightloss tip 9

2011-03-17T16:23:00.001+11:00

Today's Tip:

So....what am I REALLY eating and it is REALLY healthy?

Have you really looks at what you are eating? Do you know what was in your dinner last night? What I am really asking is....did any part of it come out of a packet?

If you answered yes, then chances are, you don't really know what you ate? Lets take Vitaweat biscuits...better yet...wholemeal vitaweats.....it says so on the front of the packet.

OK, only 520 kilojoules per 4 crackers...great - a good snack right? WRONG!

Look at the ingredients (and companies are required by law to list them in order of most down to least).

1st ingredient...wheat flour (WHAT!? - that's white flour!)

2nd ingredient - wholemeal flour

hmmm...... feeling a little ripped off?

My Mum likes to coat her chicken in some Country-style crumbs. When I read the back of the packet....hmmm..... not healthy at all, in fact I wouldn't eat it nor give it to my family. She THINKS her pantry contents are healthy but when I visit, I have trouble finding something to eat.

TIP: Check the ingredients

Its possible that you are unknowingly eating things you think are 'healthy' that are actually adding weight, and fast.

Some better alternatives:

Arnotts Cruskits - RYE
Sakata Plain rice crackers
Sun rice - rice rounds
Real Foods Corn thins - plain
Eskal gluten-free crackers

There are others too. Each time you go shopping, just take a minute try and discover a new healthy food and drop a not-so-healthy one from your diet.

Weightloss wednesday week 5

2011-03-16T10:08:00.000+11:00

Weightloss Wednesday

OK, where's all the slackers? (LOL).

We are down to just 6 lovely ladies reporting in last week. Who needs help? Remember, we are in this together.

Many of your tips last week were about having goals. So in your post this week, besides and fabulous weightloss you have to report, we ask you to think of a MINI GOAL for this next week that you can aim to achieve for next week.

Remember these suggestions:

Eat at least 2 pieces of fruit per day
Cut down on sugar - no cookies for morning tea (have a piece of fruit instead)
Don't eat after 8pm
Take the stairs instead of the lift
Discover a new salad recipe & add it to your weekly meal plan
Cut white bread & try wholemeal
Take advantage of frozen packet meals such as Healthy Choice
Discover & use a new soup recipe
Drink water instead of juice.

You might like one of these or maybe have your own?

OK, so, leave your mini goal below in comments & leave your link to this week's post.

Weightloss tip 8

2011-03-15T17:31:00.000+11:00

TODAYS TIP:

OK, so you know now that white 'refined' flour is just like sugar to your pancreas, which produces insulin and eventaully wears it out.....diabetes results.

What's this got to do with me losing weight, you say?

Here's your next tip:

Insulin promotes the storage of fat, making way for rapid weight gain.

Yep, that's right....if you are eating sugar and/or white flour, you are paving the way for weight gain and will find it much harder to lose weight if you don't make some changes to your shopping list.

So what to do next....

See Thursdays tip.

Weightloss tip 7

2011-03-14T11:56:00.000+11:00

TODAYS TIP:

This one is a beauty so make sure you read it all!

This week we are getting a little more serious.....about your health. We want to remind you WHY you are trying to lose weight.

On Saturday my Mum was issued with an Accucheck blood sugar monitor...yes, it looks like she has been diagnosed with diabetes. On the same day, my father walked into the doctors reception area to find her passed out and surrounded by onlookers and helpers.

What happened....... & how did she get it?

She is, and always has been slim. She eats more than 1 cup of veges everyday, plus fresh fruit, salads, a 'good' breakfast and rarely indulges. Her digestive system has a very low tolerance of fat so she avoids junk food. She walks and has always been quite active. In her eyes, she eats very well & makes healthy choices for every meal.

SO...what went wrong?

The answer may shock you................. IGNORANCE.

That's right! She doesn't know how her body works or how to care for it. She lacks any understanding of what sugar does to the body over time. And when I say sugar, this includes anything that the pancreas, (the major organ in the body that controls your blood sugar), sees as sugar.

And what makes it worse....she doesn't WANT to know.

WHY? Its all too hard.

Well life just became a whole lot harder for her and I'm afraid she has no-one but herself to blame. (Now, I'm not trying to be mean here, I love my Mum, but sometimes the truth hurts).

This week, I hope to give you some tips that will spell out what it is that your body needs to be fit and healthy. Diabetes is at epidemic levels and it no use saying "I won't get it" because that's what my Mum, and indeed my Dad, other friends and family of mine have said in the past ....then its too late. Now you already know sugar is bad for you, don't you? So lets move on.....

So here is your first tip for this week:

WHITE FLOUR (which is processed) is exactly the same to your pancreas as sugar. Eat 100% wholemeal.

It is 'refined' - yes, pretty, soft and white - it looks good, but it is BAD. The more refined food you eat, the more insulin your pancreas must generate to manage it. IT WILL WEAR YOUR PANCREAS OUT and sooner or later, cause diabetes.

* * * * * *

Tomorrow's tip will reveal even more about sugar...stayed tuned! It may even solve many of your weight problems....

Weightloss tip

2011-03-11T10:38:00.000+11:00

TIP OF THE DAY:
A few girls have reported no weight loss this week, so perhaps today's tip may help?

TIP: Keep a food journal every day for a week. Review the results daily and see where you are eating foods that are keeping you from losing weight.

Here is an easy-reference calorie counter - you might like to just make sure that what you are eating really does add up to the right amount for you.

Remember:

You must eat less kilojoules than you use in energy in order to lose weight.

Weightloss tip 5

2011-03-10T11:27:00.000+11:00

TIP OF THE DAY:

We've been talking about goal setting this week and how to achieve them. This means making some changes but doing it at an achievable pace.

TIP: When making changes towards your weightloss goals, don't become overwhelmed by trying to do too many new things at once. Make a new change every 7 days & give complete focus to that. This way you will be compiling a new healthier lifestyle that will become 2nd nature over the long-term.

So, here's a few suggestions but remember, just one at a time:

Eat at least 2 pieces of fruit per day
Cut down on sugar - no cookies for morning tea (have a piece of fruit instead)
Don't eat after 8pm
Take the stairs instead of the lift
Discover a new salad recipe & add it to your weekly meal plan
Cut white bread & try wholemeal
Take advantage of frozen packet meals such as Healthy Choice
Discover & use a new soup recipe
Drink water instead of juice.

Can you come up with any others? Leave us your suggestion.

Weightloss Wednesday

2011-03-09T10:56:00.000+11:00

ITS A CELEBRATION!

OK, its Weightloss Wednesday again and did you realise that it is one whole month since we started this journey together?

How much have you lost all together over the 4 weeks?

When you look back, you should be proud that you've started the new you....but you don't want to ever return to the old you now, do you? So this week, we have a little assigment for you:

ASSIGNMENT:

PRINT OUT A PHOTO of the 'old you' and stick it on your fridge to remind you of what you don't want to be and how hard you've worked to get this far

OR

you can print out a photo of what you would like to look like so it reminds you of what you are working towards.

Remember this:

and this....

Can you believe its the same woman!? It could be you too! So....

HOW DID YOU GET OVERWEIGHT?

To help you avoid gaining weight again, you need to analyse how you got that way in the first place....so in your blog post, tell us, how did you get overweight? What factors contributed? I know for me it was having children and a slow change in our eating habits - it got too easy to get take-away and to throw chips in the oven. I also got hungrier whilst breastfeeding a baby so it was quick to grab a glass of full fat milk (even in the middle of the night). There were other factors too which I will share in my post this week.

Leave your link back to your blog post below and tell us 'WHY' you got overweight? (Oh... and how much weight you've lost to date!)

Let's celebrate!

Oh, we'd also like to hear from some of our followers. We know Julie Winks has lost some weight just from following along.

Add you comments & link below:

Weightloss tip 4

2011-03-08T11:14:00.000+11:00

TIP OF THE DAY:

This tip is a good one to followon from yesterday's about having a long term plan.

TIP: Set small achievable goals that build momentum. While long term goals are important, short term goals give you mini successes throughout your journey to get in shape.

SO...what mini goal can you set yourself? Maybe join a tennis group & play once a week, or buy yourself a pedometer and set a goal of walking 5000 steps per day, or even to lose 500gms in a week. And don't forget to reward yourself - this is important too with a massage or a new hairstyle maybe - it doesn't have to be food. If you're not sure what goal to set - ask someone for help or to set it for you (making sure its realistic).

REMEMBER:

A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step.

Have a healthy day!

Weightloss tip 3

2011-03-07T07:42:00.000+11:00

TIP OF THE DAY:
Sorry you didn't get your tips over the weekend girls - computer troubles again ..... but here's today's tip sent off bright and early. It's a good one to start the new week off.

Quote from The Biggest Loser trainer: "If you fail to plan, you pretty much plan to fail....."
TIP: Have a long-term plan. Don't tell yourself, I must do this today and I must do that this week... Get real!..... Plan your menu, write a shopping list each week so you have healthy snacks on hand in case the hungries hit, and get moving...walk, vacuum (LOL), run to the letter box 10 times & get the letters one at a time - anything but sit in that computer chair. Start a new habit that gets you moving every day.

Have some fun with it!

If you have any tips, leave us a comment here on the blog & remember, this week we are celebrating one month of the new you - make it a good one!

ANNOUNCEMENT

2011-03-04T20:56:00.000+11:00

WE HAVE A WINNER!

A big congratulations to:

* * * LG Belarmino * * *

LG has lost a total of 6.3 kilos in just over 3 weeks - WOW! Read her story here.

LG your Prima "MADELINE' prize pack will be on its way. Enjoy! You've earned it.

Now, don't be dismayed girls, there are 2 more fabulous prizes up for grabs. Don't give up now!

A little inspiration

2011-03-03T10:07:00.004+11:00

I was wandering the internet a while back, and stumbled on some really great inspirational quotes that have helped me along my weight loss journey. I wanted to share a couple with you today.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Thomas A Eddison

**********

Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip.
Arnold H. Glasgow

**********

"The greatest thing you have is the 24 hours in front
of you.
The past is gone; the future is distant.
Today you CAN succeed.
Set a goal you can achieve in the next 24 hours."

**********

I wake up every day with the realization that this is it, that there's only one shot at this life and I can either enjoy the ride and live it to its fullest and to my highest potential or I can stay the way I am.

**********

I hope these help some of you like they have me along the way.

To encourage you....

2011-03-03T09:09:00.000+11:00

TODAYS TIP

Each day, we will post a weightloss tip here to encourage you along the way with your weightloss journey. Here's our first tip for you.

TIP:

Don't think of you failing yourself if you eat something you shouldn't have. Remember, you've already lost some weight, and if you stick with your long-term goals, you will lose more...so don't beat yourself up over 1 slip-up. Keep that image of the new slim you in your head.

Now, off you go...get up out of that chair and get active!

Weightloss Wednesday - week 3

2011-03-02T12:37:00.003+11:00

ITS ALL ABOUT MODIFICATIONS REALLY....

Ok, girls...yes its Weightloss Wednesday.

This is the third week of our challenge, so that means next week will be ONE MONTH - woohoo! One month of the newer, better healthier you. So lets give it a really big effort this next week so we can celebrate that one month milestone together.

I was reading some weightloss tips this week and one of them struck me as quite good because its not so restrictive but rather about modifications. The tip was....

"Don't feel you have to miss out on some of your favourite foods just because you're trying to lose weight - just modify them to a healthier - light weight version".

So...this weeks assignment is, what is one of your absolute favourite foods and how can you modify it to make it lower in calories?

I know mine is take-away Pizza (and we did indulge this week) but when I rang up to order it, I ordered the gluten-free base which is made of rice & potato flour and other better ingredients then your average white flour-fatty-drippy pizza base. I also asked for Vegetarian and half the usual cheese. I also ordered a smaller size.

I got to indulge but felt much better about it.

Leave the link to your post below and tell us any weight you've lost plus one of your favourite foods and how you could MODIFY it?

And remember:

* * This week we'll be sending you a daily tip to help you put in a big effort this week. * *

Its that time again....

2011-02-23T09:17:00.000+11:00

WEIGHTLOSS WEDNESDAY is here!

OK, so how is everyone going? I notice we've had a few drop-offs. Well maybe you need a little push.....

Remember this.....the prize! Its on its way to my place ready for the announcement of out first weightloss winner. Ooooh...its yummy! (and very low calorie! LOL)

Ok, so whose gulity? (LOL). Whose been slacking off? Are you game to dob yourself in?

Karen tells me that she was guilty of this sometimes (and have to admit, I've had my days too). Sometimes we need a bit of a push. I have heard on the grapevine that Sue, one of our non-bloggers, is doing really well and may be in contention for first prize? She wants that Prima pack!

TIP: Don't let midnight or late night snacks be your downfall, have them but just make sure they are healthy.

OK, so it time to share:

In your blog post this week, we want you to share either:

next week's menu plan or
a recipe or
snack idea.

And don't forget to tell us if you've lost any more weight! Even if you haven't, we want to know.....maybe we can help you win that Prima pack.

Leave your blog post link here:

smart snack ideas

2011-02-22T09:18:00.002+11:00

Hi ladies :)

How are you all doing this week?? Only 1 more day till our next weigh in. I wonder who will be 'the biggest loser' for this week.

I thought I d share a few ideas Ive used over the last 12 months, for those times when the 'snacking monster' strikes. I start looking for something to eat around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, then again in the evening while watching TV with hubby. Alot of the time in the evening, when I start wanting something to eat, I will go in to my scraproom, and start playing in there for a while, to distract myself. But if I really do 'need' something, I will always make sure I grab something healthy. My absolute biggest problem, pre weight loss, was eating icecream in the evening, I avoid that like the plague now, and dont even have it in the house :) And believe it or not, I actually enjoy a tub of low fat fruit yoghurt as much now as I used to enjoy my icecream.

Here are few ideas I use when I want a snack

1. my all time favorite is fruit yoghurt, I LOVE 'nestle peach and mango'
2. 2 crackers ( I eat light cruskits) with a slice of turkey and some low fat cottage cheese
3. I cut up heaps of fruits that are in season, put it in a container in the fridge, so its always there as a quick and easy snack, my kids love this too
4. occasionally I have a 'nestle weight watchers chocolate mousse' they arent alot of calories, and definately satisfy the sweet craving

Some other ideas

one for the sweet tooth

Pineapple with ricotta ( about 170 calories)
quarter of a cup of crushed pineapple (in juice)
quarter od a cup of low fat ricotta cheese
half teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon ( or equivilant) sugar substitute ( I use 1 sugarine)
2 cruskits

mix all ingredients ( other that cruskits) in a small bowl and serve on top of the cruskits......
***************
and one for the savory lover

Parmesan popcorn ( about 80 calories for the whole lot)
2 cups popped popcorn
2 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese
season with black pepper

pop the popcorn ( I use the plain microwave type, with NO BUTTER)
as soon as its done, and still hot, toss through the parmesan and pepper
**************

I will be back soon with a few more ideas....
see you all tomorrow :)

Its weightloss Wednesday!

2011-02-16T09:46:00.000+11:00

Its Weightloss Wednesday...

So how much did YOU lose? but first....

OUR 1st INSPIRATIONAL WEIGHTLOSS SCRAPPER!

Hi everyone,

I have a treat for you today. The beautiful and talented Trina McClune is our featured scrapper for this week and I'm sure you will love her story.

Trina has been featured for her scrapping ability on many websites such as The Dusty Attic, Addicted To Craft and Prima. And now she has a very inspirational weightloss story to tell you about and has also made a gorgeous mini album (using Prima) to celebrate the journey and achievement. She is a fantastic lady and I am thrilled to have her as our first inspiration.

This was Trina after having her twins and another baby not long after...

then she went on a 12 week challenge with amazing results.

Please go here to her blog to see how she looks now & read all about it.

Now its your turn....

Share with us how your week has been...good, bad or indifferent, we want to know so we can draw on inspiration and give it to one another. Have you lost any weight or centimetres? What changes have you made to try and achieve your goals? Are you struggling and need some help?

Leave the link to your blog post here with Mr Linky.

(Remember to click on your post to get a direct link first).

Can't wait to read your stories and don't forget to leave a comment so we can chat!

NEXT WEEK:

Menus & Recipes - share yours!

Off and racing!

2011-02-09T10:38:00.000+11:00

WEIGHTLOSS WEDNESDAY - Off and racing!

Hello Ladies! Nerrida here. So how is everyone going? Did you get off to a good start or a not-so-good start?

I know for me it wasn't the best. In fact it was a down-right non-event!

The week started with a bit of a spinal injury from jumping in the shallow end of the pool - not one of my best ever choices but I was playing with the kids so I wasn't really thinking at all when I jumped (LOL). So no Zumba or treadmill for me for a few days. But at least I have managed to stick to the eating plan mostly having smoothies for breakfast, salad wrap with a little cheese for lunch and some low-fat dinners.

One of my favourites has been a beef salad packed with salad goodies picked from our organic garden with some beef strips cooked in a reduced chicken stock and just a little low-fat sour cream and seeded mustard - YUM! Now my mouth is watering (LOL).

SO...how has you first few days been? Please share and tell us how it all went (or didn't go) for you. We won't ask for a blog post today (unless you really want to do one) but just leave a comment under this post so we can all catch up and maybe hand-out some encouragement for those who need some.

Remember this:

D DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-07T05:22:00.003+11:00

OK ladies.... Today is the day.... Are we all ready??

I know I am. I have been a bit slack the last week or so, and not been really vigalent with what I eat, and getting enough excersise, and I have come way to far to allow myself to slack off.

I just wanted to post a few little food ideas that I use, for quick, simple and yummy foods. This first link is a really nice fish I would eat 3 nights a week, its yummy, and is only about 180 calories per serve. My favorite is the 'Lemon and parsley'. click here . You can buy them in any supermarket.

Next is a really quick and easy recipe I use for lunch.

Cauliflower and fetta soup....
all you need is 100g cauli, steamed, and around 40g of low fat fetta cheese.
crumble the cheese into the cauli, season with some cracked pepper, and give it a wizz with a stick blender. Its that easy !!!! serve with some cruskits, or another really low calorie cracker.... sounds a bit weird, but its YUMMO !!!! Just give it a try.

Have a great first day everyone.

HUGS Karen x

24 hours to go!

2011-02-06T10:07:00.000+11:00

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON.....

Yes, ladies, it's just 24 hours till the start of a new improved & healthier you. And its not too late to join.

So, here's your reminder of what you need to do to be in the running for one of these fabulous prizes:

Prima surprise.

Summery and soft.

Stamp away.

Add a post to your blog (if you haven't already) and include your current weight with a photo of scales showing a record of this, and a short paragraph on how you plan to lose the weight. Add a link back to Mr Linky on the http://www.5kilosscrappers.blogspot.com/ and start racing!

REMEMBER:

We'll be keeping an eye out for our first featured weight loss inspiration story - it could be you!

Karen's Diet

2011-02-03T20:39:00.000+11:00

Ok, a lot of you have asked me what I actually did to lose 48 kg's. So I thought I'd share a few of the foods I have have enjoyed over the last 9 or 10 months.

To begin with though, I really feel I need to mention that I am in NO WAY a weight loss professional, The diet I chose to follow isn't entirely what the 'professionals' would recommend, so if you decide to follow what I did, you need to be aware of that.

I chose to lose the weight the fastest way possible. I was 50 kg's overweight, and I didn't want my weight to take 2 years to come off, I wanted it FAST. So I set myself a calorie limit of around 900 calories a day ( again, be aware that this is less than the weight loss professionals recommend) I bought a calorie counter book, and went from there.

I have been on just about every diet known to man, and then some, so I took bits and pieces from each, and kind of formulated my own plan... One really good diet I was on once upon a time was 'ultra lite' It was a very low calorie, low carb diet, and I started my weight loss by following along with their plan to a degree. Then as the months went on, I changed things around to suit me.

I have chosen to avoid most carbs, especially pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, and most cereals other than porridge, and cruskit biscuits.

A typical day for me would go something like this:

Breakfast: 4 cruskit biscuits ( the light, lower fat ones) topped with low fat packaged turkey breast and about 100 grams of flavoured cottage cheese. ( I like the chive and onion one, and the gherkin one isn't too bad either) I would love to say i don't drink coffee, but, umm, I do have 1 cup in the morning, with saccharine, and skim milk. If I'm still hungry, some days I will have a low fat fruit yoghurt too. ( I buy the nestle diet brand)

or:I will sometimes have porridge for breakfast as a change, about 1 cup, cooked, with skim milk. But do prefer the cottage cheese and cruskits, as its a good source of protein. sometimes I will have 2 eggs for a change also. Just remember not to have the toast with them :)

Lunch: about 100 g of a low fat protein source. Chicken breast, turkey, fish, tuna, prawns, egg.....I try to avoid processed deli meat as much as possible. with a salad of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, mushrooms, carrot. (any salad veggies are OK) I dont use salad dressing as most of them are full of fat, but sometimes will have a tiny bit of 97% fat free mayonaise. balsamic vinegar is a good dressing when trying to lose weight, but I dont like it :)

Dinner: again, I would have about 100g serve of protein. steak, fish, etc, with around 100-150 g veggies, or salad. again remembering to avoid the high carb ones such as potato. I also try to avoid sauces and gravies, as these are high in calories.

Snacks: I try to keep these to a minimum. But if I really want something, or am feeling like my blood glucose is a bit low, I will have a little tub of weight watchers fruit, of a tub of yoghurt. Another favorite is stewed apple, I don't add sugar when cooking it, I use 'sprite' DIET lemonade ( make sure its the diet one) too cook my apple in. I give me the sweetness I sometimes crave, without any of the calories. yum !! and for an extra treat, I will have a little bit of 'nestle' diet yoghurt on the top....

SO WHAT DID KAREN EAT?

If I am out, and have nothing with me to eat, I will have a "Subway" wrap, with one of the 6g of fat or less fillings. I would probably do this once a week. :)

Drink: usually I just drink water. ( I try to have 2.5 ltrs per day) But sometimes, I will have a 'coke zero' a bit of a treat. Oh, and my coffee in the morning :)

I will be back in the next little while to share some of my recipes with you all. Take care my friends,

Karen

Are you ready to lose 5 kilos?

2011-02-02T08:25:00.001+11:00

So... are you ready to achieve your goal of losing 5 kilos (or maybe more?). We thought, just to help you get started, we'd share some of the tips that have helped us.

Feel free to add your own tips in the comments section below - you never know just how much they may help someone else.

Here's Nerrida's TIPS:

Count calories just occasionally - if I have to count calories every meal I'd go nuts and give up. I took half an hour to count the calories of what I usually eat (and got a shock that it was too many!). So I figured out what to put in my morning smoothie, cut back on cheeses and snack dips and now my calorie intake should be around 1200 instead of over 1500. I didn't realise how bad some of the things I was eating were for calories.

Reduce your serving size - I have found that I can be part-way through a meal and starting to feel full, but then because the food is in front of me, I want to finish it. I was taught by my parents to empty my plate (which may not have been such a good thing after all?) I am learning to put lesson my plate to start with to avoid temptation.

Cut white sugar and white flour - I was forced to learn this one when I ate so much sugary junk food as a teen and young adult that I ended up damaging my pancreas. The sugar can be converted, by the body, into fat because it is un-used fuel for energy. White flour also does exactly the same thing. Wholemeal and brown sugar (or no sugar) are much better choices and give you longer lasting energy so you won't get hungry as often.

(Bakers Delight are one of the few stores in Australia that make 100% wholemeal bread & bread rolls and its yum!)

Shop for groceries online - If I shop online, not only am I avoiding all the impulse buying of junk food when I walk down those tempting isles, but I am also saving money. Things just don't look as tempting online and I can stick to a list. I can also delete things things from the cart at the end and feel good about it. If icecream or chocolate is not in the house then how can I eat it?

Juice puts on weight - When I was doing a Gloria Marshall program years ago, they couldn't understand why I had stopped losing weight when I seemed to be following the diet to the letter. Then they discovered, that instead of water, I had been drinking full-strength juice (grape juice). As soon as I stopped, the weight started falling off again. Water-down your juice 50% or have none at all. Eating the whole fruit is much better.

Sluggish livers stop you losing weight - My DH (darling husband) had trouble losing weight although eating the same diet as me (and he was getting more exercise). He had the classic 'muffin-top' shape. The nutritionist told him he had a sluggish liver. The chiropractor confirmed this. Once this was cleared (using liver cleanse vitamins), the weight came off.

Dancing can knock those kilos off - I am currently trying out 'Zumba'. When I was a young adult, and was still carrying an unwanted pot belly, my friend got me dancing and it made all the difference. My body became more toned.

Be practical about your menu - trying to count calories everyday and follow strict diets are hard (and I have had to do it when I was so sick with the Epstein barr virus years ago) but you are more likely to succeed if its easier then that. I am choosing to follow the http://www.lightneasy.com.au/ menu plans. I don't have to think what to cook, I just make up a shopping list from the plans and follow them - easy (especially when I'm so busy scrapping and raising kids!). You can find their dinner menus here and their breakfast/lunch menus here.

Watch out for sugar withdrawal - Just like nicotine, if your body is used to having something, it will want more if it doesn't get it. You can get headaches, feel lazy & lethargic, just plain YUK, because your body is craving sugar. Recognise it for what it is and try to get past it. It'll get easier and it can happen every quickly in some cases. I look at a sugary bun these days and feel nothing - I just don't want it. (Potato chips on the other hand, is a different matter -LOL - but I don't crave them at least).

Healthy can be fattening - I thought because I was adding almond meal and organic coconut milk, full cream milk, wheatmeal and honey to my banana smoothie that it must be healthy and ok, but it added up to over 600 calories (half my daily allowance). I was adding too much honey & almond meal & not using reduced-fat coconut milk and cow's milk. I reduced all of them and added protein powder instead. Also, we were eating too much pasta - it was wholemeal but still too much.

Use online tools - I used this website to figure out my BMI (body mass index), how much I should be eating and how much exercise I should be doing. It also has a calorie counter if you want one.

Walk 45 minutes - 1 hour if you can - Walking (or any exercise) stirs up toxins in your body. The first part of your walk can feel slow but after about 45 minutes, endorphins start to kick in and its like a sudden body shift, you start to feel good, like you could keep on going another 45 minutes or even go faster. Endorphins destroy toxins.

_______________________-

And some TIPS from Karen:

My absolute number one TIP would have to be Don't give up... No one is perfect, and we WILL have days that we totally lose track of our goal. That's OK, everyone does it from time to time, BUT, the important thing is to 'get up, dust yourself off, and get right back into it the next day.

Another very important thing is to learn to eat slowly. The experts say that it takes at least 20 minutes from when you first start to eat for you body to register its had enough. If you gulp you food down in a few minutes, you body wont have a chance to realise its full, and wont have time to tell you to stop..... you will most definitely overeat !!

Another idea I found great was to eat from a bread and butter plate. It tricks the brain into thinking you are eating more than you actually are, because your plate looks full.

Don't compare yourself to others. We will all loose weight at different speeds, depending on our metabolism, and more importantly, how much weight we need to loose. Someone who has more weight to lose, will lose it quicker than someone who only has a couple of kilos to lose.

Measure yourself weekly. A lot of the time, as we get further into the weight loss, there may be weeks that we don't actually lose any weight, but by measuring yourself too, you may find you have lost cm's even if you haven't lost weight. You will also find that if you are excersising more than you are used to, you might start to gain muscle, which is a great thing, but, because muscle is heavier than fat, you may stop losing weight for a while, even though you are still losing fat.

Always keep healthy low fat snacks on hand, things like yoghurt, home made fruit salad, or little snack tubs of fruit, for those moments when you really want something to eat. You will be tempted to grab a packet of chips or chocolate bar for a quick snack if there is nothing healthy readily available.

Move more, park your car further away from the shopping centre, use the stairs rather than the lift, walk the kids to school. Anything that gets you up and moving will help shed the weight faster.

Drink, drink, drink, at least 8 big glasses of water a day. I aim for 2.5 litres ever day.

If you absolutely HAVE to have something that you know is not the best choice, then have it, but only have a small amount. ie: if you love chocolate (like I do) and you absolutely NEED one, have one of those little fun sized bars, and eat it really slowly, you will probably find this is enough to satisfy the want !!

WELCOME!

2011-01-26T09:03:00.033+11:00

Losing weight isnt easy. If it was, we would all look like Liz Hurley LOL. Most of us are Mums, and as we know, we Mums tend to put ourselves, and our needs, after everyone else in the family. Thats what happened to Karen, who has 5 children, and who slowly over the years managed to gain a lot of weight, until she was almost 50 kg overweight. She has manageed to lose all but about 5 kgs of her excess weight, and is struggling to lose it . So Karen and her friend Nerrida, decided to set a bit of a challenge for each other. We decided to have a race to see who could lose 5 kg's first. Then we figured theres probably lots of people out there, just the same as us, who might be thinking about losing weight, but just struggling with the motivation to get started.

We invite you to join us for this weight loss journey. It is so much easier to do when you are not alone. We are all here to offer support and encouragement , PLUS, there's the added bonus of having the chance to win a gorgeous 'scrappy' prize. It really is a win-win situation, you cant lose (except for the kilos!). You will lose weight, be healthier, feel better about yourself, and win some great prizes along the way. There's a prize for the person who loses 5 kg's first, plus there's a prize for 2nd and 3rd. There is also a 'best layout' prize which will be awarded from your votes at the end of the challenge.

Just look at these prizes!

IST PRIZE:
Prima mystery box (from CHA)
(sponsored by Anna's Craft Cupboard).

Here's a little sneak peak just to get you interested.

2ND PRIZE:
Mystery box worth over $40

Sneak peak.

3RD PRIZE:
Mystery box worth over $30

Sorry, no sneaky on this one.

BEST LAYOUT PRIZE:

Stampin' Up 'Merci' stamps (set of 6).

As voted by you! (We'll take a poll after the 3rd prize is claimed).

* * * * * * * *

Here's how:

1.Take a photo:

Take a photo of your scales while standing on them (like this one below) – or some kind of proof of what you weigh now (if you are not sure, email us here and we’ll ok it).

2. Do a post on you blog:
List briefly how you are going to do it.

(eg: Eat 1200 kilojoules a day, walk treadmill 45 mins or do Zumba on the xbox) and include the photo you just took. (see here for a sample post).
NO BLOG? (see our 'How to join' page)

3. Join Mr Linky.

Do a post on your blog about the '5 kilo scrappers challenge' (there's a badge in our sidebar) and link your post to us here using the Mr Linky using form below. (Don't forget to get a clear link, you will need to click on your own post on your blog and copy the address from the top address bar.).

4. Scrap a page about this journey.

You can scrap a 'before' and an 'after' page if you wish.
(There will be a chance to show off your achievement at the end if you want - for a prize to the value of $45).

* * * * * * * *

Each Wednesday, you'll get a reminder (so don't forget to become a follower**) so you can post on your blog about how you are going, any weight lost and whatever you want to tell us.

We'll run this competiton till 3 people lose 5 kilos and win the prizes.

**(Please note: if you don't have a Blogger blog, please let us know your email address so we can email you updates).

So... are you up for the challenge?

START DATE:

Monday February 7th, 2011

* * * * * * * *

Sign up here once you have done your own blog post.

* REMINDER - click on your post to get a unique address before you add your link here! *