Christmas Challenge
Ladies (and Gents) ....... I am sooooooo impressed by soooooooo many of you and the response to this years Christmas Challenge.
You are focused
You are positive
And you are approaching this in just the right manner by taking one day at a time and really thinking about the goals you set.
The good news is we have cash to win so if you haven't taken part yet then you can do so this week ,you have to be in it to win it!
Fact :
3 weeks until the Christmas Party (just under!)
6 more weigh ins
7 weeks until Christmas
We now have 6 more weeks of classes until we close for Christmas.
Will you make use of that time,
or waste it?
Will you achieve something in that month,
or give up without trying?
You can have whatever you want, but you have to work for it.
You choose what you are going to look like this Christmas!
Make the most of this beautiful day and get out and about today ,clear your mind and burn some calories.The 3rd load of washing is blowing on the line, I've had a quick tidy up in the garden and have made up a batch of chicken soup ready for lunch on the stove .
Don't think i'm going to be winning the scarf in the morning as had a bit of an indulgent day yesterday away with family but that doesn't stop me from getting straight back on track today!
Let's not undo all our good work during the weekend. How many more days until Weigh in ? What can you achieve between now and then ?
We had a great week with the weight losses this week would love to see the same again next week please.
| Christmas Party- Coming up fast! |
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I can't believe it is under 3 weeks until the Christmas party. I've finished drawing up the table plans now. Getting excited now!!
We can achieve a lot in 3 weeks! |
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Walmer Parish hall have their annual Christmas market on Friday 15th November if you would like to go along and support them.St Mary's church,St Clares road,Walmer. 5.00-8.00pm
There will be various stalls and The Downs school choir. Entry costs £2 which includes a glass of mulleed wine and a mince pie.
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Weight losses and achievements
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Loving the snowman challenge for making you all work harder to lose weight! As a club last week we managed to lose 77lbs which works out to be 5 and a half stone, well done everybody,let's keep this going through November.
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Ways to protect your family from the flu
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With so many coughs and colds around at the moment I thought it might be a good time to look at boosting the immune system.
Influenza or ‘the flu’ is caused by a virus and includes symptoms of chills, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, fatigue or weakness and coughing. Do some of those symptoms ring true for your latest cold? Colds and ‘flus are similar, but colds tend to hit you from the head up. The flu tends to be felt all over and usually involve a fever.
The flu spreads like wave at a baseball game. Coughs and sneezes send the virus particles into the air, ready for you or your kids to catch it and in turn cough and splutter on the next unassuming victim. Be vigilant washing your hands and work areas, as this is the first line of defense of flu fighting.
Fight the Flu
Especially with sick kids around, all the hand washing in the world won’t save you you from exposure to the virus. But following these tips below might help:
Take vitamin D. Many studies show the importance of vitamin D to boost the immune system as well as lifting moods.
Vitamin D can be found in Oily fish, egg yolks, cheese, mushrooms, Tofu and fortified in breakfast cereals.
Eat Garlic and Ginger. As the cold weather sets in, I start adding extra garlic and ginger to everything I cook. These flavorful herbs have potent anti-inflammatory properties and garlic has strong antiviral properties. Both garlic and ginger work well in soups, stir-fries, vegetable sautés and stews.Ginger also works well in your smoothies.
Take and Eat Vitamin C. Ramp up the vitamin C.(citrus fruits, kiwi, red peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) ..If taking a Vitamin C in a supplement make sure it is sustained release or you may find you are just flushing it through when you go to the toilet at it is water soluble.
Supplement with Probiotics. Our gut, not our respiratory tract, is actually the point of entry for many pathogens that come aboard food, fingers and toys that go into little mouths.A healthy gut environment is a must for all sorts of reasons, E.g better nights sleep, improved moods, help with weight loss and improved immune system.
Consume Chicken Stock: An age-old remedy that really works. It has been proven to thin mucus secretions and when used in a chicken noodle and vegetable soup, it offers carbohydrate for energy, protein from chicken to fuel the immune system and vitamins from the veggies.
Whenever I roast a chicken, I make stock. I sometimes make a point of roasting a chicken for dinner so I can make stock and use the leftovers for chicken noodle soup. If you’re usually pressed for time, start collecting bones and scraps of vegetables in a bag or container in your freezer. Use the scraps and bones when you have time to prepare the recipe below.
Homemade Chicken Stock
Servings: 8 cups (2 L)
2 lb (1 kg) chicken bones, necks and wing tips (for best flavour, roast bones in oven before making stock)
2 onions (unpeeled), roughly chopped with skins on
2 large stalks celery (with leaves), chopped
1 carrot, chopped
3 cloves garlic smashed
6 sprigs fresh parsley
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp whole peppercorns
In stockpot, combine chicken, onions, celery, carrot, and garlic, parsley, thyme, bay leaves and peppercorns. Pour in 14 cups (3.5 L) water; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, skimming occasionally, for about 4 hours.
Discard chicken bones. Strain stock with a sieve into large bowl, pressing vegetables to extract liquid. Cool and refrigerate overnight to set the fat on the surface. Skim off and discard. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
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Stir it up Sunday 24th November - Get ready for it.
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Traditionally, Christmas puddings were always made on Stir-up Sunday. (2 weeks today,
the last Sunday before Advent). All the family took a turn to stir the pudding and make a secret wish whilst they stirred. The pudding was always stirred from East to West to represent the journey that the three wise men who visited baby Jesus made.
A silver sixpence coin was put into the mixture (With Health and Safety in mind you might want to wrap it in greaseproof paper). This custom was believed to bring health and wealth to the lucky finder!
I make this every year with the kids and all my family love it!
Our low fat version !
Low-Fat Christmas Pudding
Serves 10. Per serving: 280 KCAL / 2.5g fat
Ingredients
3oz (75g) currants
3 oz (75g) sultanas
3 oz (75g) raisins
4 tablespoons brandy or rum
3 oz (75g) glace cherries, halved
3 oz (75 g) plain or self-raising flour
1 teaspoon mixed spice
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 oz (50g) fresh breadcrumbs
2 oz (50g) Muscovado or caster sugar 2 tsp gravy browning
Zest of ½ lemon
Zest of ½ orange
4 oz (100g) grated apple
4 oz (100g) grated carrot
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 eggs
4 tablespoons skimmed milk
2 tablespoons molasses or cane sugar syrup
4 tablespoons brandy for reheating.
Method
Soak the currants, sultanas and raisins in the rum or brandy and leave overnight. When ready to make the pudding, shake the cherries gently in the flour, and then add the spices, breadcrumbs, sugar and gravy browning. Mix in the lemon and orange zest, grated apple and carrot and the lemon juice. Add the soaked fruit. Beat the eggs with the milk and molasses and slowly add to the mixture, stirring well. Mix together gently and thoroughly.
Place in a 2-pint (1.2 litre) ovenproof basin. If you are going to microwave the pudding, place an upturned plate over the basin and microwave on High for 5 minutes. If steaming the pudding, cover with foil or a pudding clothe, and then steam gently for 3 hours (this makes a moister pudding).
After cooking, allow the pudding to cool, then wrap it in aluminium foil and leave in a cool, dry place until required.
To reheat, pierce the pudding several times with a fork and pour some more brandy (or you could use rum) over the top. Steam for 1-2 hours. |
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Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
See you in class
Love Lisa
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