Cadbury Bunny Try-Outs...

This day 7 weeks it will be Easter Monday! SEVEN! In weight loss terms... that's half a stone if you lose a pound a week... and who doesn't want to lose that!?!? A silver 7 for Easter!?! Yes please! So... anyone fancy a quick challenge?!

Now... This one will work like the others, and please only sign up for it if you're committed to stick to it for seven weeks... For those not wanting to post their losses, I'll post up a blank chart you can print out and mark up yourself next Monday... I know everyone has a different weigh in day but this challenge will run on Mondays... so a post will go up on Monday with the words 'weigh in' in the title ... comment below on your weekly weight LOSS... cause NO BODY is going to be UP!!! The following Monday your weight will be on the weekly chart! I'll post it on my Facebook page and tweet it mid week too, to keep a bit of healthy competition going! It's only 7 weeks... and just think losing 2 lbs a week would be a stone! A STONE!!! C'mon people... who's in?! Just think you could be like this sassy young lady... 

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On the twelfth week to christmas my true love gave to me....

You sang it ... I know you did... So as promised, a final challenge to ring out 2014! I totally missed out on the Summer Challenge due to being poorly, so personally I'm really going for broke on this one! I'm on the edge of stone number 8 and I REALLY want half of another by Christmas! So its ALL focus in Camp Doll!

The challenge works as usual, every Friday there will be a post titled 'weigh in', just add your losses in the comments and the following week it's on the board! If you need a kick in the pants ask for it... I find the more we share and support the easier it is! So if you're struggling say so and watch the hugs, advice and good old willpower coming at ya! Plus a little competition is good for everyone so lets see who can lose the most... or be down every week... There may be some lil spot prizes to keep us all going! Fear not I'm not forgetting my fav holiday at all... Halloween will be getting a big mention! The chocolate and sweetie invasion is so close so there's tips aplenty coming... 

AND ... this challenge has some awesome surprises with guest bloggers who have all been there and done that and are still doing it, people I know you all follow and love are sharing their Christmas tips and stories to keep you rev'd you up till Christmas day!

In 12 weeks it is possible to lose a dress/pant size! Tonight go home and try on your fav little glitzy number, try on your fancy belt and count the notches and see just how snug it is... instead of pining in the shop windows in the weeks before Christmas, wishing 'if only' ... start today and you can pick up a sparkly number, feel confident and awesome! Plus you can have a good old boogie without worrying that you'll bust a seam! 

When the time comes to sit on Santas knee, you could be in a brand new rig out just losing 1lb a week between now and then... and we're always told that's the healthy way to lose it, 1 - 2 lbs a week, so it's very achievable... And be realistic, no one is going to lose two stone for Christmas!! Also if you're weight loss is slow and your near to goal, measure yourself, you can be losing inches off your thighs and arms and not even know it because your so focused on a number on the scales... so a quick measure now, and again in 12 weeks will surprise you if you stay on track! Think of poor Santas' knee too.. I mean he's no spring chicken! 

Think of how good you'd feel if you lost a half a stone by Christmas!?! That extra energy, feeling less lethargic, your skin glowing, people at the office party giving you a second glance thinking 'she's looking well!' ... and no one is saying you've got to be Norma No Mates till then, but careful planning, a little more exercise and WANTING IT SO BAD, you'll be rocking around the xmas tree not rolling around it! 

So if you're in and you really want it... I mean REALLY want it and are prepared to stick it out for the full 12 weeks... add your name in a comment below and note your weight this week for yourself and check in next week on Friday and post your loss! Simples!

If your weigh-in is early in the week you can DM me on twitter or FB and I'll add you! 

As my leader always says you can be a Christmas Turkey or a Christmas Cracker! 

The decision is up to you! 

Bring it Santa!!! 

Blank version to print out if you want to stick it on the fridge 

or don't fancy weighing in here... 

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Its all about numbers... WEIGH IN WEEK 1

Week 1 of the Bank Holiday Challenge! and its ALL about numbers...  

You know how I'm always saying it's not all about the number on the scales... I have so many non scale victories to shout about that the number on the scales is just one of the tools I have to show the world I'm getting healthy... but this week IS about numbers... just not the number on the scales ... Think about numbers OTHER than the one on the scale that can affect your body and your health... 

It's about how many litres of water you drink? Could you drink more? Finding it hard... try some sugar free cordial... a squeeze of lemon or lime... 

How long would it take you to prepare your lunch when you're stuck to the couch in the evening? 10 mins... salad in a box.. chop up some fruit... a yoghurt.. some leftover dinner to microwave... AND you're saving yourself money!

How many inches you've lost? How many do you want to lose? Measure yourself this week... and at the end we'll do it again... I know I bang on about it ... but... 

So the number on the scale can stay the same but you've still changed! You're muscles are more toned... you've swapped fat for muscle and although it weighs the same ... it takes up less space so you are physically smaller!


How far you can walk/run?  How fast you can walk/run 5k/10k? Time yourself around the block or on your usual walk this week and note it down... in 8 weeks we'll do it again and watch the improvements! 

What size you are now and what size you want to be when you get to goal? Got a pair of jeans that are a bit 'snug'? hang em up on your bed room door... last thing to see at night... first thing in the morning... 8 weeks time... they'll fit!

If you've walked once last week... walk twice this week... make a point to walk at lunchtime at least once this week... just 'pop out' to the bank link.. bring your phone and walk for your favourite song and then turn around... 

Bring a fancy glass to work and promise yourself to fill it at least 6-8 times... I've got this fab glass that a friend bought me years ago... 

I have no idea what I've been saving it for.. but for this challenge it's getting used... every day... at my desk... I'll be tweeting/instagramming it full of cordial, smoothies and water like a mad thing over the next few weeks! Its the one thing I'm really bad at over winter...

Weigh out your portions... we all eat with our eyes... and it only takes a few minutes with some freezer bags from Aldi or Lidl to have your portions done for the week... and it can make the difference between staying the same and being down a pound, 10 minutes tops out of your week!

If you're tracking your food... track it everyday.. EVERY day! and remember you're only fooling yourself if you lie on your tracker! Track your water and exercise... have somewhere you can SEE all the positive numbers your earning!

The other important numbers you need this week... phone numbers... your partner... best friend... siblings... those cheering on team 'you'... txt them... call them when you need them... There's no shame in saying 'I'm struggling this week' ... they want you to be happy in your body too! No harm in asking them to meet you after work for a half an hour to walk... sure isn't there always gossip to catch up on... 

Numbers don't define you... but watching your heart rate come down... your BMI... knowing you're working towards a healthier body with low blood pressure as you get older... going that extra mile... walking for another 10 minutes ... knowing your walking is giving you stronger bone density ... fitting into those jeans ... all these numbers add up ... to a happier healthier you... 

Chart below ... and separate single chart for those wanting to do it at home.. stick it on your fridge/desk and let me know how you're doing! 

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Move More... WEEK 2

Exercising is so difficult 

when you have to 

& so easy when you want to...

That's it really... put one foot in front of the other... and do it more often... 

If you're starting at the very beginning... then just leave the house.. walk for 10 mins and  turn around and come back... there's your 20 mins! Now do it every day and just watch how you go a little further... feel less breathless... and feel like upping it to 15 mins each way... trust me before you know it.. you'll be filling an hour and feeling so good... 
No one knows your body better than you.. so no super heroes... if you've got a so knee, bad back, asthma... you are in control.. but don't use those as excuses to not go at all!

Drag a pal with you.. nothing like a good gossip as you pound around the park and you suddenly realised you've done three laps! 

Keep challenging yourself.. if you can walk a mile .... then aim for 2! If you can run 5k.. then sign up for a 10k and do it! 

I swim 4 times a week... the days I plod along.. are the days I don't feel as good as I know I should.. the days I really go for it.. my arms hurt, my legs hurt... I look like a human beetroot getting out of the pool and I then have to sprint to the changing rooms (the Leinster Rugby team train in my pool! EEK!) but I feel amazing... 

Try something different.. just once.. it might not be for you.. but if you don't  try you'll never know... grab one of the kids bikes and off to the end of the street... anyone spots you just say you're fixing a puncture.. they'll be dead impressed by that alone!

The one thing I know for sure about exercise is .. if you love doing it.. then you'll stick with it.. I wouldn't run unless I was being chased by zombies and then, knowing me..  I'd probably chat and try to negotiate with em...  it ain't my thing... but I have friends who love it and run all over the shop... and really get a kick out of it... that happens to me in the pool counting and timing lengths... its all relative.. but if you enjoy it.. then go for it.. kickboxing, running, hockey, swimming, running, jogging, hiking, squash, tennis, cycling, aqua fit, aerobics, gym workouts, yoga, pilates... there really is something for everyone... so no excuses... and if you're going to play the ' I can't afford it' card.. the majority of these are free... walking is just one foot in front of the other... step aerobics only needs a step.. we've all got one at home... 

Ask Santa for some work out DVDs... when you get the place to yourself .. go all Jane Fonda or 'Fame' depending on your vintage! Hell even turning on some tunes in the house and dancing for 10 mins will get your heart rate up... a few 80s tunes people, the house will be rocking!!! 

If I'm preaching to the converted... then up your game, improve your technique, wear a pedometer and challenge yourself to a higher total every week, set yourself a monthly target and OVERACHIEVE! Just looking at your total steps and trying to reach a certain number of steps per day can be very motivating. 

The key is to just do SOMETHING. Get up and move daily. And it's a good idea to pick something you enjoy (or have the potential to enjoy once your body gets in shape). 

If you want to be by yourself, check out sites like Done Deal for a second hand treadmill or elliptical. 

If you've got fluffy people you have NO excuse! Walking is their socializing! Don't deny them! 

And I bet there's a few hubbys and boyfriends who could do with a good walk... bargain with them... they can watch footie and you can watch the bake off but 2 evenings a week we stalk the neighbourhood for an hour! 

Take the stairs instead of the lift... (sick of hearing that one yet?)

Park the furthest you can from the shops... (or this?)

A girl in my WW class brings each piece of laundry up the stairs.. ONE PIECE AT A TIME! She has amazing legs from it! Another does step ups during the ads on her fav soaps! 

If you are downstairs, use your upstairs loo, and vice versa.

Wash the car... don't rinse it .. sponges out.. music on.. get scrubbing..

Play with your kids... don't direct them with a cup of tea in your hand.. hide, chase and roly poly with em...

Housework... Vacuuming, dusting, mopping the floors, squats at the washing machine... put the music on and go for it..

It all adds up! This week... try something new... Lunge to the kettle and do squats whilst you're on the phone... 

Revised chart below, look at all those losses... skinny minnies!! I hope I've got everyone, shout if I've missed you... add weight losses for week two below... next week there's no chart, I'm off gallivanting but a post will go up thanks to the magic of schedules so leave your weight losses there and I'll get to them!!!

Doing fantastic everyone... 18.5lbs for the first weigh in... and two gold stars for biggest losers this week @nikkiblueeyes and @misty, both losing 3.5lbs! Santa will be very impressed!

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Tis the season (Part 2)

Yep... this time I do mean Christmas... there... I've said it... The 'C' word! Tesco is full of it... even Pennys have the reindeer jumpers out on display! So time to jump on the bandwagon and have a challenge to get into those LBDs! Less stuffed turkey and more HOT chicks! 

There will be a theme to each week... just to try to keep myself focussed... There will be a weekly chart (except 2 weeks when I'm away!) but I'll catch up... so no excuses for you lot not keeping it up! 

There will be a post every Thurs/Fri to post your losses, leave the chart to me! I think it really helps, let me know what you think... Seeing the 1 and 1/2 pounds all the way along really remind me that I'm consistently losing... less likely to jump ship!

So... since it will be 14 weeks to Christmas... the title writes itself! 14 by 14!

14lbs by 2014 is a dress or pant size! Imagine New Years Eve people?!? Fabliss!!! Pant dropping indeed! 

Half a pound a week is a silver 7! Who doesn't love a bit of bling for Christmas!
1 pound a week is a stone!
2 pounds is two stone... you get the idea.. 

Now, no one go aiming for 6 stone by Christmas... we all know thats a set up for failure! 2lbs a week is the max... anything else is a bonus! A loss is a loss ... so no moaning 'I only lost.. ' your down... tiaras off and give over! 

There will be tougher weeks than others... Halloween is one to prepare for... all those feckin' treats... I swear I'm asking em to do tricks this year! The Christmas lunches and parties won't be far behind... but if you want it bad enough... no preaching here... you know the rest!

Next week is the first weigh in.. so for this week.. check your weight and your inches... and report a loss on the post next week! If you're happier to just download the top graphic with the weekly dates and do it on your own... then do... and keep me posted on how you're getting on.. if you want to just tweet your losses and not have a record of them on here.. you know where I am! But remember why you're doing it... and there's no public flogging on here! yet! LOL

Happy Bubble gal, a regular on here lost 17.5 inches in six weeks on her personal challenge >>> HERE<<< ... so no moaning 'I've stayed the same..' when your pants are falling down! I'm not having that muscle V fat argument again!

So who's up for it... and I mean committing to the full 14 weeks... I'm aiming for 2 lbs a week... that's 2 stone lighter by the time Santa arrives and I've still got holidays to get through... somebody hold me!!! 

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WEEK 8 - Weigh in

Still a no show here at Doll Towers.. the lack of exercise on doctors orders till this chest infection is gone means I'm on stand still.. a bit crap but at least I'm not gaining weight! Yeah?!  News this week... Miss JoJo got into the bridesmaid dress and is thrilled skinny with herself! AND Mr. Q received his 50lb loss cert in class... AMAZING losses... I'd have given up long ago without you all!

Lots of new posts in the pipeline.. one for all you bakers out there too!

Doll x

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