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WEEK 1 - 8lb Challenge

So.. here is how this one will work..  Everyone has a flower with 8 petals (what its summer!) and by the end of the week you should have all changed your flower pink or even better be on your 2nd!



Note: Dotty is only 3 lbs away from goal so she's only got three petals to get but she's here to spur the rest of us on! YAY!

First mini challenge... PORTION control!!

Give yourself half and hour with the kitch scales and pack of cheap freezer bags from Lidl and WEIGH everything out... Put them somewhere you can see them when your cooking and learn what size you SHOULD be having.. the first time I did this I realised I was eating a full portion of pasta WHILST I was cooking.. just tasting it!!!! So weigh a portion of rice, pasta, cereal whatever you need to and bag em up and hold them so you know what they feel like and how generous you are being to yourself... Now.. weigh out another set and cook them! See a portion of pasta once its cooked, look into your favourite cereal bowl and see exactly where it should stop!  One of the biggest mistakes in weight loss is portion control... 'sure I'm having brown rice and thats good for me' you wail! But are you having enough brown rice to feed a small family! Bulking uo on the veg is good - yes.. bulking up on the carbs no matter how holy they are.. will just lead you down a merry path.. so I know Lidl and Aldi and most of the supermarkets have tehir own brands of freezer/sandwich bags.. and its an exercise you only have to do once.. Here's some of the other tips..


1• Don't leave a half-eaten birthday cake sitting on your kitchen counter. Wrap up cake and treats and send them home with your guests.

2• Doggie-bag it at restaurants. Their portions can sometimes be extra large. Ask that half of your meal be wrapped up to take home, I have yet to eat in a restaurant that hasn't obliged.

3• Consider ordering kiddie-sized meals at fast-food restaurants. You'll still get that fast food buzz but with a smaller portion.

4• Seek out starters and side dishes at restaurants that serve huge portions. Order two of the smaller dishes for a more reasonably sized meal. I'm a big fan of ordering two starters instead of a starter and main course.

5• Minimize bargain temptations. If you buy big tubs or bags of snack foods to save money, store them on a high shelf so they're not within arm's or your eyes reach. Or, immediately divide them into single serve portions and stash them away in a hard-to-reach place.

6• Learn to eyeball portion sizes, so it becomes second nature, you're homework this week will help with that! A 'normal' portion of chicken, about 3oz, for instance, equals the size of a deck of cards or your palm, NOT including your fingers.

7• Make your own "frozen" dinners. Store the leftovers in single serve containers for portion-controlled meals later on, or for lunch at work.

8• Don't leave the extra portions on the table in front of you..  if half a tray of lasagna stares you in the face while you eat dinner, you may be more likely to reach for seconds. Instead, serve yourself a portion and put the rest away. You can always go back for more, but this way, you may be less likely to.

9• Stock up on smaller plates. A half-empty 10-inch dinner plate spells deprivation; a salad plate filled to the edge seems like a huge meal.

10• Eat slowly! Research suggests that it takes approximately 20 minutes for your body to know that it's full. If you hoover down your food, seconds will be much more tempting.




I'll be first to log in and I'm down 2lbs this week! AND I got my 5% book and sticker (who knew a sticker could make me sooooo happy!!!) Post below and I'll update the board on Friday for those weighing in later in the week.. anyone else want to join in? the more the merrier!

Doll x

50 comments

  1. Down 1.5lb. Doll I love the little flowers. I'm off to steal sorry borrow my sisters kitchen scales.

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    1. Brilliant!! Let me know how you get on with the weighing... x

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  2. I was weighed last Thursday 14th June and lost 1lb (yay)! But not sure if I count this or does it start from my weigh in this coming Thursday??

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  3. I weighed in last thursday and i am a pound and half up eek but next week i a new weight in

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  4. I just weight in tonight and was down .5lbs. I think I have let my portions size get out of control a little so will keep an eye on them this week.

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    1. Its well worth taking the time to see just how far out you can be... my breakfast bowl was verging on Daddy Bear style a la The Three Bears!!! I was stunned... and even now when I'm not sure I just weigh out the odd thing to keep me on track! Well done the 0.5lb! Down is winning! xxx

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  5. Go you with your 5%. I'm down .5 considering the weekend I had, I'm happy out. Only this weekend to go then it's back on operation weight loss with a vengeance. Going to take no prisoners ;-)

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    1. Brilliant even with a 'fun' weekend.. at least you enjoyed it! Lifes too short!! YAY! xx

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  6. Well done on your loss doll, I weight in on a Thursday was down 0.5 lbs last Thursday if we want to start there thanks again love the flowers great idea

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  7. could i get involved in this have lost 9 so far but slow process and would love to challenge myself. The flowers are so cute :)

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    1. 9 brilliant!!! that's great! good to have you on board xxx

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  8. Any chance i could get in on this too? I had an awful weekend and seriously need the motivation to get back on track!I won't be weighting in till thursday evening :D

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    1. Great :D thanks so much! I was down half! better than up half i suppose!

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  9. Hey Doll - CONGRATULATIONS on 5%! I just love those ww stickers. Such a great feeling! I was -.5 today and got my 3rd stone so thrilled! :D

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    1. Hit the send button too soon! DOH! That's brilliant! 3 stones! So proud of you... you've got your portions well under control! xxx

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  10. 5% is great doll well done!!!!
    Had my WI and down 1lb - had a big loss of 3.5 last week so was worried i wouldnt lose this week but happily surprised ;-) only 1.5 til my 5th silver 7!

    Love the flower chart - very imaginative.

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    1. AWESOME!!! 5th silver 7!!! Brilliant and so worth it now yeah?1 xxx

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  11. I'm up 1.5lbs....I originally lost 49lbs and hit goal last October, but a new relationship and just generally WW laziness means I have put on 18lbs since Christmas that I am desperate to lose again. So a slap on the wrists has officially happened, I will be down 2lbs next week.

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    1. and you're back and that's a good thing.. we're onto you now.. no escape!!! Just think of halloween and Christmas this year.. indeed! gorgeous! x

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  12. I'm down 0.5lbs this week - I blame the heavy shoes! :(

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    1. I've weighed ALL my shoes! One pair of boots weighs 3 (YES THREE!!!) pounds! just saying... well done though.. x

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  13. Hi Doll i stayed same this week. Thankfully wasnt up as Was so bold only tracked some days i got lazy. Totally shows importance if it. Wont be making that mistake again.Want a loss next week!!! So close to goal.

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    1. Staying the same is maintenance.. so you're still making healthy food choices.. but keep focused.. you're SO close!!! You're my inspiration! x

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  14. Hey Doll like dotty I also stayed the same and was lucky not to be up! I hope to have a good loss next week and get some petals off my flower :)

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    1. Keeping my eye on the pair of you!! But like I said.. not being up means you're actually making good choices and realising when you're over indulging... focus now!! xxx

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  15. I'm the same this week! Challenge accepted to make it 2lbs for next week to make up for it ;)

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    1. You've put it in writing now!!! Not being up is still good.. making helathy choices without knowing it! x

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  16. Hi Doll
    I weighed in this morning and I am 1 pound down .

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    1. Great start! Healthy and on target.. go you! xxx

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  17. OMG over the moon, lost 3.5lbs this week which got me to my 4th silver seven, so happy, and so surprised at how well I am doing, but have to say am tracking everything and i think this is really what is making the difference for me. Yea :)

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    1. It really is the key.. no one wants to write 'half a pack of rich teas' on their tracker... well done.. brilliant loss! xxx

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  18. ANON3 - down 3 pounds ;) x

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  19. Is it too late to join this challenge if not how do I get a flower?

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    1. never too late.. I've added you.. xxx

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    2. Cheers thx a mill...I weigh in on Tuesday's at WW is that ok and do I just post my weight?
      Thx

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    3. Just one query...I see chicken fillet burger in Eddie rockets is 4pp I presume that's without the bun?

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    4. HI, Yes I put up a post every tuesday and do the tallies on a Friday when most have weighed in.. and sadly the burger is without the bun... :( xxx

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  20. I'm so disappointed in myself. I put on 3 pounds this week. I had been doing so well but this week saw 3 evenings of binging. Back on track now and am being positive!

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    1. Fresh start.. you can't change what's happened.. and there's no point feeling all sorry for yourself.. its done and gone... and its a fresh start.. email me if ya wanna chat... we have all done this.. and I've gained MORE than 3 after a bad week... so up and at em.. you are back and you're gonna rock it! I have total faith in you.. you've done great so far.. a minor blip.. ok? xxx

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    2. Thanks Doll! How do I email you? I have been out walking and being positive and my head is definitely back in the game!

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    3. I add a new post every tuesday evening and you just add your loss there and on Friday I update the chart! Good to have you back! xxx

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  21. Damn it, I hope i'm not too late to join this one....?

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  22. Down 5 llbs am so thrilled can't actually believe it altho was my first wk back at ww so I know it will slacken off next weigh in but am delighted ��

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