OK everyone, we have 6 full weeks before Christmas. During that time we could lose 6 - 12lbs each to add to our already fabulous losses. There may be difficulties as we try to fit in Christmas shopping or go to early parties but we can overcome them.

We will still be doing the weekly results posts but I thought it would be nice to have a special motivation post to share tips and strategies and for everyone to get advice when needed.

This post is for everyone in the team challenge - members who are posting results and those who are taking a break. Everyone else, feel free to pop in and see what we are up to.

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As we add up the losses, I will add decorations to the tree.

What a fabby idea, Bookhunter! I like it a lot!! I've been soooooooo bad recently but tomorrow I start my clean sheet! 6 weeks - I'm aiming to get under that 13st mark!

I have been thinking about what I am going to wear at Christmas. I have a Per Una skirt that just fits and it should be comfortable by Christmas. I need to get something to go with it so I will have to have a look next time I go to M & S. I don't want to leave it until the last minute. Some years I've had to rush round trying to find something only to find it's too tight or it doesn't look right.

Has anyone else thought about clothes yet?

This week's challenge

Post details of one of your favourite comforting winter snacks / meals (something you don't need to save checks for )

I think that I will leave clothes until the end of November. Although I have been having a little look online. I have seen a lovely pencil dress but I don't think it's really going to suit me. So I'm going to keep my options open for a few more weeks! I like satin and sequins and general festive sparkles for Christmas time.xx

I normally don't wear red but I do like sparkly jumpers and silk blouses for Christmas. It just feels more festive.

Carly, I was in New Look with my daughter yesterday and saw one of the shop assistants trying on a sequined waist coat! Looked great - comes in silver and black. Great for dressing up and dressing down!! Win, win, I'd say!

http://www.newlook.co.uk/1808292/180829201...uctDetails.aspx

Oooh I really like that. I also really like those sequin tshirt dresses - I really want one of those too! Will take a little trip to New Look at lunchtime I think! xx

The total loss so far is 9lbs (this doesn't include gains or penalties).

At this time of year it is good to be prepared for if you get ill - I've just had a cold and I was very glad I'd just done some shopping. So what would you want to have in the cupboard for emergencies?

My list is

1. Orange juice (for vitamin C - to drink at the first sign of a cold)
2. Orange barley water (I only normally drink this during Wimbledon as it's 2 checks a glass but it's good if you don't feel like eating)
3. Rice crispies and cornflakes

Mine is heinz tomato soup and low sugar ribena light. Sure fire cold cures! x

We are doing extremely well so far. The tree only shows losses not gains or penalties - it about celebrating our success.

Let's keep this going.

New challenge

Create your own graze box - grazing on different foods throughout the day can stop cravings so why not put together one of your own?

Start by add 1 or 2 portions of fruit from your EDB - grapes are perfect but you could use satsuma segments or sliced apple.

If you wish you can add some no-check veg - tomatoes (plum or cherry), carrot sticks or whatever you like.

Now add some healthy treats - dried fruit, nuts, cereal - whatever you like to snack on (at the moment, I love Fruit Flakes yoghurt fruit - 3 - 5 checks per bag.

You can snack on you box throughout the day and you will have only used a small number of checks.

If anyone has any ideas for challenges / missions, please PM me - I will try to post one a day during December - a sort of advent calendar.

My pre-holiday WI result..........5lbs off

"See" you all in December

Excellent Audrey. Have a great holiday!

I will add up later and post a new tree.

I thought it would be nice to start posting recipes and food ideas for over Christmas. This can be low check or treats.

I love pain au chocolat at Christmas and I got some from Tesco (Cafe Continentale) that are individually wrapped and can be frozen so you can defrost one at a time. This means they are not wasted and you are not tempted to eat more to use them up. They are 7 checks.

Has anyone ever made hot apple juice with cinnamon? I was thinking of trying it.

A wee 1lb off for me this week.

Whats everyone else doing for Xmas weigh ins? I am going to weigh on Boxing Day as usual I think?

Flick, well done!

If anyone want to post Christmas weigh ins on here, there are welcome to but everyone needs to post a total on the first post of the new year which will be 4th January.

I am tempted to increase the weigh ins over Christmas so I can keep an eye on how I'm doing. I realised yesterday I need to fit a lot of gym sessions in next week (including the personal trainer session on Christmas Eve) so that will help. I need to complete the full 10 sessions to get back the £40 deposit which I want for new gym clothes or maybe the Yoga game so that should be an incentive.

How is everyone?

I've not weighed today. I ate out as there was just me and I had to do some shopping - Ella is sorted thank goodness with a Dance like a Flower Fairy DVD. As I normally get weighed before I decided to wait a day or two to get a more accurate reading.

I didn't go to the gym today - it was 15 degrees this morning and I've been wheezing all day so it would have been a bad idea. I need to do a full session with the Personal Trainer on Christmas Eve.

I'll probably be hopping on and off the scales over Christmas to be honest. I like to know I'm doing ok, especially with increased food consumption. I think I'll be going to the gym as much as possible as well and going on some hikes if the weather holds up! x

Happy Christmas to all the team!

I didn't get to the gym yesterday. I babysat on Wednesday and my brother and his girlfriend got stuck in Harrogate - no taxis were running and the station master got snowed in and the station couldn't open until they got a spare key.

It was after 11:00 in the morning when they got back so I just stayed there until the party. I was dreading that the girls would wake up and be upset when they found their daddy wasn't there but they were fine and very well behaved.

Morning all

Hope you all had a lovely Xmas.

I managed to stick to the PEP yesterday although I will be having a day off today- homemade steak pie with roasties, then choccy cake.

Pleased to report a 3lbs loss this morning

. Heading off to the gym shortly as will really need to work hard this week with being at home with the kids and all the temptations they recieved. Although today they will be shut in a black box so I can't see them.

Have a good week everyone.
Laura xx

Well done, Flick!

I ate a lot yesterday but most of it was veg and I had a good breakfast - cornflakes with hot milk and a skinny latte.

I am going to get the Wii Fit out soon. There will be 16 people here for dinner - most are having chilli so I am having mine early (I hate the smell). I'm making bolognese with wholemeal pasta and low fat cheese. I was thinking about making some soup but with 3 extra guests, I don't think I've got enough ingredients.