New Start

With our first week back in the saddle lets hope we can continue to lose weight or in some instances maintain our fantastic figures!!!

I think we need to set ourselves something to aim for, whether it be that bikini for the summer holidays or that dress / outfit for the girlie night out / wedding. We all need to work as a team and help each other in times of weakness.

I am sure Fran will thank Emma for talking her out of that bacon butty mid week - although at the time, it looked as if she wanted to hurl abuse at her.

I still say preparation is the key. Do your menu, you can plan for the whole family and stick to it. Not only will you eat healthier but you will save money on your weekly shop too!!

I will create a weight chart on XL and will plot our weekly / monthly weigh ins.

The biggest loser so far is ME!!! Vanessa, losing 1st 2lb - I cannot say its been easy, but with help from Emma, who has been my conscience and also Glyn, my Husband, who has also decided to get healthy, between them they have made it easier. It is also about making those decisions yourself, to only eat half a bag of chocolate raisins or in some instances not to eat them at all.It is all worth it!!!

Emma has lost 11lb, Fran 10lb, Bev 9lb, Ann 3lb and Claire 1lb. I know Claire won't thank me for disclosing that, but losing anything is better than gaining, and I know that this week when she gets on the scales it will be another loss!!!!

I am hoping to get the new scales this week and them with the rest of the money we can pick some horses to bet on, on the Grand National!!!

I still need Bev, Emma & Claire to sign up for the fun run!! Claire, you can enter Katie too as Elaine has entered Willow!! Its only 2 mile and we can all run together. Like I said, Dawson's pastys are the best!!! You know I wouldn't usually recommend unhealthy food, but after the run, we will all deserve one.

Good Luck for the rest of the week. xxxx

Facts
I have been reading about foods we really should avoid at all costs. Its obvious really but just reading it makes for a shocking find -

Some foods not only have no nutritional value, they also aren't worth the damage they do to your diet. You probably know that giving up certain foods can make you want them even more.

foods that we should be kissing goodbye to :

1. Doughnuts These are true diet busters because it’s loaded with sugar - and then deep-fried. One ring doughnut packs almost 240 calories and 13 grams of fat. Opt for some jaffa cakes or plain biscuits instead. At around 40 cals a pop, your waistline will thank you!

2. Real mayonnaise Thanks to the eggs and oil that comprise this favourite salad spread, just one tablespoon of the real stuff contains 11 grams of fat and 100 calories. The reduced-calorie version has half the calories and half the fat but you can go lighter still by spreading mustards, relishes, horseradish and low fat salad dressings on your sandwich.

3. Ciabatta Style Pizzas Ciabatta is a type of bread made with olive oil so it’s much higher in fat than your average pizza base. Add to this a topping of cheese and pepperoni and you could be approaching 1000 calories for just one little pizza! Choose thin-based pizzas and avoid stuffed crusts, deep pan style and pepperoni.

4. Hot dogs These bonfire night favourites can get up to 150 of their 180 calories from fat. It makes you wonder whether they qualify as meat at all. The nitrites contained in hot dogs have also been linked to increased rates of cancer in some studies. For a tasty, low-fat replacement, choose grilled veggie sausages or chicken kebabs instead.

5. Fizzy drinks While technically not a food, fizzy drinks are often included among the list of culprits in the nation’s increasing weight problem. With no nutritional value and as many as 12 teaspoons of sugar in each can, most nutritionists see no reason to keep them in your diet. If you can’t give them up, at least choose diet soft drinks, which are calorie free.

6. Cinema popcorn A super-size bag of this snack, typically popped in vegetable oil and doused in butter, is enough to turn your tummy into a double feature! Believe it or not, some sweets are actually less calorie- and fat-laden than popcorn. If you must munch at the movies, opt for liquorice or jellies (stick to one serving)!

7. Bacon Cheeseburgers Anything that combines two forms of meat with full-fat cheese is not likely to be diet friendly. This heart-stopping favourite at Burger King packs a whopping 400 calories and 22 grams of fat. A Bacon McDouble Cheeseburger from McD’s has 478 calories and 24 grams of fat.