Laurie's "Grand HCG Experiment"

[LAinSEA]

Day 19: DH has been crabby (hence the warlock title). I think he's not eating enough food and he thinks he doing just fine eating what I'm eating for dinner. But I know he didn't get much, if any lunch, last week due to supervising training at work. We've had bad habits about dinner; no breakfast, lunch for me was a spa-style lean cuisine--for DH peanut butter or cheese crackers from his desk drawer if he couldn't come home, or leftovers if he could come home for lunch, and a much bigger dinner portion-wise, but low glycemic in nature. If he's been home with me during lunch, I try to fix him something too, but yesterday and today he said he wasn't hungry and didn't want me doing anything for him. Had to be dead honest with him tonight; attitude is downright nasty--EAT SOMETHING, please. Without the HCG metabolizing fat, he needs to eat some.

We finally got the bi-fold fir doors finished for the coat closet and got them installed today (touch-up painting needs to happen now--they were a tight fit up into the sliding thingy)--hence the "wardrobe." Still need to lightly sand and finish the new bathroom door and DH can finish installing the baseboard on the main-level of our home.

Our littlest "lioness," Sasha loves to spend time outside on the patio--even when it's 90+ degrees. The other two felines would rather sleep the day away upstairs in our bedroom. However, our patio kitties need to be supervised in the great outdoors--we feed birds and have swarms of goldfinch and hummingbirds coming right now to close in feeders and Sasha is a "top predator." The rule is "birdies are for watching, not for catching and eating." But she is, afterall, a cat and needs constant reminding of such. She also was a bit miffed at us because we left so early in afternoon to head to my parents yesterday (picking up sis and Charly on the way up north.) Sasha's "out" time was cut short. She made it clear this morning when we returned from our walk that "out" was a priority today. Hot or not, I found things to do that kept me close enough to keep an eye on her outside despite the heat.

Ketosis: trace
Weight: still 200 (no change)
Exercise: 45 minute walk this morning with DH
Weird places to lose weight: my upper arms are looking more defined and my skin is loose. (Not sure I like that part. Will it go back to "normal" weight skin?) Lost under my bustline too. Not that I'm complaining, but can't it come off my tummy first?

Meals: Breakfast-Iced green/black tea mix, trim cottage cheese and meds, Lunch-spinach salad with vinegar, left-over chicken tenders, granny smith apple, Dinner-DH made rockfish in his proven parchement pouches, mixed green salad, strawberries and water, water, and more water, but still not getting enough in me today. (I can I'm retaining it--my hands are swollen and rings tighter than usual.)

I'm hoping things will be cooler tomorrow. I really need to get some gardening done and also start lesson planning in earnest. I'd like to take my laptop outside and keep Sasha company on the patio in the afternoon to do it, but it's hard to think when it's so warm!

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 20: Parents, sis, and the neices leave for Hawaii this afternoon (for two weeks), and I could have gone as sis' DH backed out at the last minute if I could have afforded the plane ticket and the time away from my DH. I joined them on their Orlando trip this time of year two years ago, but had 8 months to plan and save for it. Doing that when cash is tight within a week is too much to ask. Not that I really need to go and experience hot weather, we've had way too much of that this summer. I will make do by pruning my own palms on the patio--they could use some tidying up.

Ketosis: trace again today, but a bit brighter towards the small side.
Weight: down 2 lbs to 198 (that's now officially 20 lbs gone)--finally in One-derland.

DH had the strangest question for me last night at dinner. He asked me what my goal weight was. Before I could give an answer, he pipped in that he didn't think I should go below 135. Anything lower would be too thin and unhealthy for me. Now I don't know where he's pulling this number from. Honestly, we didn't own a scale until our 4th or 5th year of marriage and I don't really know how much I weighed in April 1988 when we did get married--but my wedding dress was a size 12 with the waist taken in three times within that last week to 24 inches. I was in size 9 Levi 501s/29 waist men's 501s. Those jeans stayed in my closet until about 6 years ago when, in a fit of frustration, they went into the charity bag. I've regretted it ever since--loved those jeans. In high school, I was on the drill/dance team and we had strict weight limits we had to meet to perform. Mine was set at 122, the same as our former Dallas Cheerleader coach. I quickly fell comfortably and then almost dangerously below that after a strong case of the flu over Christmas. I came back in January at 107 and Ms. J through and ever-lovin fit and made me eat a cup of cottage cheese prior to practice each morning. Funny, that's exactly what I'm eating right now prior to my walk.

So what is my goal weight? I think I put down 122 at the start of this journal. But when you are 100 lbs away from that goal, it's tough to focus on. At 10% goal would be approx. 22 lbs, so I'm 2 lbs away from meeting that. Next goal would be 44 lbs total gone (174), and the one that follows that would be 65 lbs gone (153). If I were to get down to drill team weight of 122, that would be about a 45% loss of 96 lbs total. I hate math--too overwhelming, way too far to go, (that's why I teach social studies and English.)

Meals: Breakfast-green/black tea, trim cottage cheese and meds, Lunch-mixed green salad with chicken tenders and apple, Dinner-DH's choice of planked salmon or grilled flank steak, green beans (not technically an official veggie choice, but I'm craving them) and strawberries.

Exercise: 45 to 60 minute walk depending on energy level while out there...which I should be doing right now!

Plans: 2nd edit of sis' paper for her Nursing Admin. class sometime before they leave for airport. I completed the first about an hour ago. Lesson planning and gardening.

 

[VernRDH]

YEAH Laurie!!!!! 198-you rock girlfriend!!!

The goal weight, yeah I know how hard it can be to determine, especially if you haven't seen those kind of numbers in a long time. My original goal weight was 115 (I am 4'11", small frame), but now I am aiming for 125 and see what it looks like. I haven't been that size in over 20 years, and with age and motherhood, I don't know what 125 will even look like. My MD says 125 is where he would like to see me, and again it depends on muscle mass/composition as well.

Cranky husbands must be an epidemic-I got one here on the east coast too. But his is work related, once school starts again he will calm right down (he is the IT guy at a middle school and summer is when he is his absolute busiest)

Keep up the good work!!

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica--my DH works in IT for our school district too as a business analyst; he's had to use those "Jack-of-all-trades" tech skills lately because they cut two tech positions (one from my high school! ouch! and he was fabulous). Taking time to go away during the summer, or even schedule school breaks, is really hard for him. He has the vacation time, but they won't let him leave when the major projects are going on--exactly when I'm not teaching! Here, I thought becoming an educator would allow us all this available time to do things--I used to have a job where I worked non-stop and out of town almost every other weekend from August through December. However, with both of us working for the district--but in different capacities, those weeks away together just haven't materialized. Please tell your DH that teachers really do appreciate what our technology folks do for us; it is so appreciated!

Ketosis: trace
Weight: still 198

And I'm lethargic this afternoon. I thought now that it has cooled down from the heat of last week, that I would be sleeping much better. Maybe I have been--but with weird dreams! Not restful at all. As a result, I was up too early to run to the bathroom (did well on the water consumption yesterday and that's the price I pay), then tried to fall back asleep. DH's alarm then goes off and I'm stirring (as are the cats--Tilda wants a tummy rub), then finally up for good about 8:30am. No HCG shot today, so took without food meds with my iced tea, then waited to eat my cottage cheese half hour later with ice water before my walk. Now, to be honest, 100 g of cottage cheese is not a great deal of food. But today, it looked like a mountain! I barely got through it--no appetite. (Tilda was pleased, I actually left her more than the crumbs today.) Got out for my walk and really pushed myself to keep going doing another upper circuit bringing it to 55 minutes. Stretched and more water and a long cool shower. After wrapping up in a towel, I just bonked. I wasn't sleepy, just bone tired. Sat and watched mindless HGTV or was it DIY? I don't really recall, I was that out of it.

Shook myself out of it to finally dry hair (or at least make an attempt at taming the frizz) and looked at the clock: time to make lunch. Not hungry at all. Waited another half hour, still not hungry, but pushing the water. An hour later, I figured I'd better eat. Again, barely finished my small salad with chicken and half my apples and I just wanted to lie down. Forced the rest of the apples down, slowly with more water. Then washed everything up and did the watering of all my container plants outside and started water on the poor heat-damaged lawn. Now I'm here and I really hope most of this is coherent; it's an effort to actually keyboard let alone think through the words.

DH called right before lunch and he thinks the antibiotics are causing the issue. I have just 2 more doses to go, so done after breakfast tomorrow. Hopefully, that's the problem because my energy level had been coming up as my (psychological) hunger disappeared.

Dinner tonight will be either grilled flank steak or more yummy coho salmon. DH prepared it last night in a foil pouch on the grill in the way he's been doing white fish in parchment in the oven. He cuts up onion, and either lemon or orange slices, and minces some fresh herbs (used dill on the salmon, italian parsley/tarragon on the halibut or snapper). He puts onion slices on the bottom to the fish is elevated, layers herbs and more chopped onions on top followed by the lemon or orange slices. Last he puts an ice cube in the pouch right before putting it in the oven at 400 degrees or on the grill. Depending upon the thickness of the fish, it cooks in 12 to 18 minutes. No oil necessary, the fish doesn't stick to the parchment or foil and while I don't consume the onions, DH does, the flavor of the fish is phenonmenal. Learning to cook without any oil has been interesting, but it's getting much easier. I sure with I wasn't allergic to coconut; the MCT oil or even just plain coconut oil to use to keep food from sticking has been said to be very good for weight loss.

So much to do, so I guess I'd best make a start on something. Either that or I'm going to nap and get nothing accomplished.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 22: I'm so tired, despite waking up pretty early and staying up, OK it was 7:30, but that's at least an hour earlier than usual for summer. Got the pre-food meds out of the way and went back to bed to snuggle with cats.

Ketosis: back into brighter "small" range.
Weight: down 1 to 197.

Forced myself to eat my cottage cheese serving and get ready for my walk. Walked in a trance--just kept going, but really didn't notice anything. It's a very grey, cool day and I felt grey too while walking. I was surprised that when I returned to the house that I'd been out for 65 minutes. Got some water, read the paper with cat help. Luckily there was their favorite Big 5 Sports ad to tunnel under included today, otherwise I give up the sports section.

It nearing lunchtime now, and honestly, I just don't want a cold salad, cold chicken, cold apples. This is terrible! I've gone from fretting that I wouldn't have enough food to eat on this plan to not wanting to really eat at all. (I was hungry by dinner last night--but dinner was much too late--8pm. I was starting to get hungry by 6:30pm, but DH was still puttering around.) I'm thinking what I really need is to make a 1 egg, 2 egg white omellette instead of salad etc. That's OK on plan, sort of. It's not ideal to swap egg carbs for green veggie carbs even if it is mostly protein. I'm also feeling very worn out again today; like yesterday. I did take my last Bactrin this morning, so perhaps maybe this lethargy will lift soon.

So here's the plan: Meals--breakfast-mix green/black tea with meds, cottage cheese and water with food required meds, lunch-1 egg, 2 egg white omellette with mushroom & tomato inside, apple, snack-Stash chai green tea with 1 tsp half & half, dinner-planked salmon, green salad, & strawberries.

Exercise: 65 minute walk

Vacuum bedroom, stairs, and mainfloor (upsetting cats), lesson planning.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 23: I spiked a fever yesterday afternoon. I was fine after my walk, but sore in my lower back and hips despite slow, gentle stretching before and after. I took a slightly warmer shower than usual--it's turned downright cool outside especially compared to the heat of last week--we didn't even reach 70 yesterday! At lunch I just didn't want to eat--nothing sounded good and finally made my omelette but skipped the apples. It felt good to eat something warm, but I could barely finish it. I kept pushing the water as much as I could--it actually began to make me feel a little nauseated each time I took a drink of cold water--so I switched to no-ice and let it warm up a bit. (Weird--I don't like non-ice cold water.) By the time I was headed out to water my container plants, I had to sit down right there and then on the floor. I was so dizzy, and achy and freezing cold! When I got my head together I went upstairs and found a sweatshirt and tried to run the vacuum instead of going outdoors and the movement along the woodfloor made my head spin. OK, down on the couch for the count. My body temp is always lower than normal--more in the 97.2 range than 98.6. DH came home around five and grabbed the thermometer--I was 99.9. No wonder I feel terrible--low-grade temp, but enough to upset the balance. He got me some tylenol and a blanket. I wasn't hungry for anything. He finally talked me into warm food; salmon, broccolini, and some strawberries about 8pm. More tylenol (pm this time) before bed and I slept pretty good until my bladder alarm went off about 7am. He took my temp this morning and it was 98.4, I decided against more tylenol for the time being. Hopefully, it was must a minor cold/flu/or something related to the antibiotics (I'm done with them now.) Still DH would like me to call if the fever creeps back in and see if they want to do another UA test--make sure that UTI is gone because that will cause those symptoms too.

I felt well enough to walk this morning; I did another 65 minutes today, but did the big hill twice. My hips/lower back are still stiff, but I wasn't in enough discomfort to cut the walk short. I made sure the stretch before and after again. When I went out, it looked like the cloud layer was going to burn off, patches of light and blue sky, but it quickly thickened up instead. Another very cool weather day for us--but still no rain.

Meal Plan: breakfast-green/black iced tea with non-food meds, water & trim cottage cheese with vitamins, lunch-still haven't made up my mind--the omelette idea sounds good again today, but really should have a salad or some butter lettuce roll ups, with apple, dinner-DH choice of either more salmon (we have at least one more portion left from the side of coho) or left-over flank steak, salad and strawberries. Late afternoon snack-Stash chai green tea with 1 tsp half & half (really liked this addition yesterday! and it warmed me up in my fevered-state.)

Ketosis: small range
Weight: down 2 to 195

Plans: water containers (done!), vacuum, lesson planning

 

[VernRDH]

Sorry you are feverish and feeling poorly. Hope things clear up soon.

Good job on 195-you are really doing well!!

When does school start for you again? We don't start back until the 9th of September.

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica: For the first time in years, our district is actually starting school before Labor Day weekend; our first day back is September 2nd! My first on-the-clock day is August 25th. Where did this summer go? In a way, I wish we began school on the same schedule as my nieces. They start August 19 and are finished May 28th. (It would work out better for our students taking AP classes too--since the tests are held across the nation in May and our kid's miss out on almost a month of preparation compared to others who begin school earlier.) Sometimes, with the addition of weather make-up days (snow and flooding), we haven't been out until the last week in June! However, with the pre-Labor Day weekend start this year, I'm wondering just how many students will show up the first week (it's when we have our four day counts for state funding). I'm the type of teacher who likes to hit the ground running and have students begin work on Day #1.

Last night, DH chose to grill up some Ahi tuna for dinner with aspargus and strawberries. That tuna was worth being on a low calorie diet for! I made some fresh wasabi paste (OK on plan) and it tasted so good. If I can only have 100 g of protein each meal, that's the kind of protein that makes every gram count.

Ketosis: pinker than small, but not quite medium in range
Weight: still 195, but I can tell that I'm retaining water--my fingers are swollen this morning. (Too much salt on the veggies?)

Meals today: breakfast--iced tea with non-food meds, cottage cheese with vitamins, lunch--1 egg/2 egg white omelette with tomato, mushrooms and small amount of flank steak, apple, dinner--salmon, salad, & strawberries. (I didn't get to my afternoon snack yesterday as DH actually got home earlier than normal and we ate dinner earlier too. However, I was hungry prior to bed this way, but didn't give in.)

Exercise: 60 minute walk (did big hill twice again today).

Plans: more lesson planning--spun wheels yesterday. Wish I could talk DH into seeing anothe movie--the Julia Child one looks really interesting for my "foodie DH."

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 25: I was really hoping for a drop this morning, but, alas, it did not happen despite my rings telling me that I'm not as bloated as I was the days prior.

Ketosis: small range
Weight: still 195--I was so hoping for 25 lb gone in 25 days, but that's not in the cards. I'm supposed to be averaging about a .5 lb loss each day now, but the scale is so sporadic.

I just didn't feel like eating anything this morning--so after my meds and iced tea, DH and I just went for the walk. We walked for an hour and did the big hill twice (but his knees are hurting him now.) Afterwards, I mowed the lawn and he edged out front and took the propane torch to the weeds growing on the paver patio (something I'd been after him to do for a few weeks now--funny how the 3 month Roundup only seems to last 2 months.) Now that it is much cooler weather, we are trying to green up the lawn (after the intense heat and dry). Still no rain...it's just not normal for the Pacific NW.

Lunch was leftover flank steak, small salad and granny smith apple. DH has gone down to see if there are some scallops at the store for dinner to go with salad and stawberries for dinner.

No grand plans for the weekend except more clean up, finishing the door (if DH moves it where I can work on it), and laundry.

 

[LAinSEA]

Ketosis: small range
Weight: 195 (still)

Didn't get up and walk this morning (maybe later this evening or this will be my day off from walking). Weather is unsettled and so are my sinuses--painfully unsettled.

DH and I went to shop at a new Asian food market; found organic light soy sauce, baby bok choy, and some "miracle" noodles--no net carbs--3 g soluable fiber--made from yam fiber. We also picked up some sashimi grade salmon, tuna, and yellow tail (had that for lunch with mixed green salad and strawberries) and some Kumamoto oysters and prawns for later tonight, and some coho salmon for tomorrow. The produce there was beautiful! I sure wish that I could have fresh peaches, blueberries, or cherries right now.

Been working through the laundry as I didn't get to it yesterday or the day prior. I'm not sure what it was that I got wrapped up with, but whatever it was, it was a time-waster yesterday.

I did not have cottage cheese again for breakfast today--trying to break this stall. Come to think about it, before my large weight gain in May/June, that is probably what I was weighing. My plan guide says that when you get to a weight that you maintained for awhile, you may plateau for several days. Still I would like to be 25 lbs down by this Wednesday's weigh-in at the clinic.

I'm more tired today also (lack of excercise today?) or just the weather. Sure wish it would rain (finally) and get this low pressure thing over with.

 

[LAinSEA]

Ketosis: solidly in medium (less veggies yesterday overall)
Weight: down 1 lb to 194

Finally, movement on the scale. Last night, DH did both oysters for appetizers, and grilled prawns (so slightly over the 100 g protein allotment), but the baby bok choy steamed up to a less than handful amount. We split a large apple for our fruit. This is probably why I'm higher than I ought to be for ketosis. Funny, we didn't get in a walk at all yesterday and I would have expected another stalled day on the scale without the exercise. But this plan is funny that way--at least that is what my on-line smurfing is tellingme.

Was already to walk this morning and found that Niko had tossed a big, crunchie-laden furbar into my walking shoes. They are now drying; had to scrub, pull out insoles and scrub somemore. He knows he's on my "list" right now and literally pussing footing around. Why if he has to toss his cookies does it always have to be on something I need or care about? Cats!?! So no walk as yet today.

The other setback this morning was not having enough HCG in the vial to do my shot today. I've measured very closely, so I shouldn't have run out. A call to the clinic had them do up a syringe for me to pick, but I still have to wait until Wednesday for official weigh-in and to pick up more supplies. It's far enough away that I would have like to consolidate the trips. So I'm back over again Wednesday. I need to see what it would take to get me to Saturday appointments once the school year starts.

DH decided to use some comp time this afternoon and is home early. I'm not sure what he's got on the agenda.

Meals: Breakfast-iced green/black tea, non-food meds, Lunch-1 egg/2 egg white omellette with tomato & mushrooms, small apple, snack-stash chai green tea with tsp half & half, dinner-salmon, green salad, strawberries.

Exercise: walk later with DH (hopefully)

Keeping fingers crossed for another lb down by Wednesday to make it 25 lb total loss.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 28:

Ketosis: small
Weight: down 1 lb to 193 (25 lb total loss putting my BMI to 33.6 down from 38; 10% goal met, 20% goal 174/44 lbs)

This is a no shot day for me, so after getting up at 6 am to run to the bathroom, I went back to sleep. But I didn't expect to sleep until 10:30! I guess with the weather change, and my resulting headache, maybe I needed the rest. (The headache is still here...)

DH and I walked for just 30 minutes last night about 8pm. My insoles were still not dry, so I decided to use my cross-trainer/day hikers instead. However, I haven't worn them much for walking and decided that a slower pace and less mileage would be better for my feet until these are broken in. These are more water proof than my walking shoes and have better wet pavement traction too, so I really need to get them broken in well before fall/winter. It was strange to walk in the rain. The air is much much fresher. However, I'm hoping for not a downpour when I do go today. Drizzle is OK, pounding rain like early this morning is not for walking IMHO.

Planned meals for today: breakfast-iced tea with non-food meds, trim cottage cheese before walk, lunch-flank steak, green salad, apple, dinner-chicken butter lettuce rollups, strawberries (if that is what DH has in mind).

Other plans--must get to lesson planning, but feel so dull mentally! Need to talk to clinic tomorrow about that dull feeling.

Exercise: 45 to 60 minute walk.

 

[VernRDH]

Hurray for you, 25 lbs lost!!! Go Laurie!!

The shoe issue is tough, once you are used to walking in one using a different one just doesn't feel right. And I hear ya on the rain, hate running in the pouring rain. Drizzle I can handle, but not downpours.

Wish I could report that I was doing as well with weight loss, but with my training, it just isnt happening, but I am okay with it. Running the half marathon has been a goal, one that I will achieve in a mere 5 weeks from this sunday. So if I have to wait before I can drop more pounds, then so be it.

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica - it does feel so good to have 25 lbs gone! Still a lot more to go, but my fitness is coming up too and that's more important than weight (I think). I've never fit into "skinny jeans" even when I was 115 lbs and dancing 20 hours a week. My thighs just don't get that small. Thanks again for your support.

Day 29: just back from my 2nd follow-up appointment at the clinic. Here are the official stats:

Weight: 196.4 (down 22 from 218.4--weighing with clothes on)
Neck: 14" (down 1 from 15)
Chest: 46" (down 2.5 from 48.5)
Midriff: 40" (down 5 from 45)
Hips: 46" (down 2 from 48)
Thigh: 25.5" (down .5 from 25)
Upper Arm: 13" (down 1 from 14)
Fat %: 40.5 (down 1.5 from 42%)

Total of about 12 measured inches change in four weeks. (This doesn't include places they don't measure; my rings are looser, wrists and ankles much smaller, bra band looser, etc. In addition to cheek bones, I now have collar bones showing prominently too.)

I was cleared to add 1 oz to my protein portions (started with 100 g or 3.5 oz portions) and to have an extra protein snack, if needed in either afternoon or before bed depending upon hunger or activity level. My body composition showed muscle gain and better hydration levels. I still need to watch carb and fat intake carefully. I was cleared to continue for four more weeks and have enough (hopefully) for four weeks of shots before next clinic check. I also did another B12 shot today to up the energy levels--should really do these weekly, but they only give them at the clinic and won't send them home for personal use (size of needle is different.)

Morning stats (sans clothes):
Ketosis: small
Weight: 193 (no change from yesterday)

I haven't walked yet today; it was raining steadily this morning, so maybe DH will walk with me this evening and hopefully the weather will cooperate. (I'm not complaining, really, we need the rain as it's been so dry for so long--not normal for us at all!) I still haven't shaken this weather-related sinus headache; although I slept much better last night than I had been sleeping.

I need to get to lesson planning and chores. Yes, I really do. Here's hoping that B12 shot kicks me into gear.

Meal plans: breakfast-iced black tea, ice water, lunch-flank steak, green salad, apple, snack-stash chai green tea with tps half & half (if I can remember before 4pm), appetizers-sashi (salmon, ahi tuna, yellowtail), dinner-salmon, steamed baby bok choy, small green salad, strawberries.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 30: After that horrid heat, you'd think that I wouldn't be complaining about the cool, wetter weather; after all we actually had to put off the walk last night and mow the lawn instead. We haven't had to mow the lawn mid-week since early May. Wow, what a difference rain, cool, and a little fertilizer will bring. The neighbors are envious--their mats of straw just aren't rebounding. (I'm sure the water bill from those high heat weeks will not be pleasant, but our "inch a week" philosophy keep it alive, even if it looked about as dead as the rest of the street.)

However, the continued low pressure systems coming in are making it difficult to concentrate, sleep, or otherwise just get moving for me. Here is it nearly noon, and I haven't gone out and walked yet--and I really need to before the sky opens up with the t-storms we are due to get today. No, not even the B12 shot I got yesterday seems to be helping with in the energy or motivation department. The to do list in my head isn't helping either; procrastination has set in. Maybe the reality of summer coming rapidly to a close is the culprit and I'm dragging my feet because DH said "No Way!" to getting away next week and heading back to the cabin (near Yellowstone) even for a longer weekend. (11 hours of driving on either end is a bigger deal than it should be...not quite worth only 2-3-4 days there, but to me, it's my "Tara"--touchstone.)

Ketosis: trace (tried a 0 cal, 0 fat, 0 carb salad dressing from Walden Farms last two days--however, it has the banned Sucralose/Splenda as an ingredient. The Caesar was OK, the Blue Cheese was awful!, but I did get a headache after eating lunch yesterday and since it was the only wild card, I'm blaming it for the lower ketosis level too. Experiment over; I'm obviously more sensitive than I thought to the Splenda.)

Weight: still 193 (Edit after walk: 192! down 1 lb)

The sashi appetizers and the salmon last night were really good. The extra protein really held off any hunger, but we put off dinner probably way too long last night--sashi about 6pm, the mowed the heavy lawn, dinner was then about 8:45pm. Totally off plan when you are supposed to be done eating by 7pm.

Meal plan: breakfast--iced black tea, lunch--chicken, green salad with vinegar dressing, apple, snack--stash chai green tea with tsp half & half (no Stevia today--tried it yesterday and even a tad is way too sweet!), dinner--lobster tails (really), steamed baby bok choy (we didn't have it last night), small green salad, strawberries.

Exercise: yes, I'm heading out now for a 45 to 60 minute walk; I really am. (Edit: 60 minute walk done and sun is breaking through, hurray!)

Lesson planning has to take a priority today!

Family should be back into town early tomorrow morning after their red-eye flight from Kauii. Hopefully we can visit with my sis and the neices before they fly home on Sunday or Monday.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 31: We sure had ourselves a major thunderstorm yesterday afternoon--I'm glad I got off my duff and walked mid-day. We probably had over an inch of rain within an hour and the lightning hit quite close to home. Took hours to get the cats to come up from under the bed.

Ketosis: trace
Weight: down 1lb to 191 (love those consistent daily drops, but (knock on wood) it probably won't do that daily.

I got my walk in between 10:15 and 11:05 this morning and then my father called to set up a way to meet up with my sis and the neices before they are dropped off at the airport to fly home to Provo. Red Robin (yum, but what will I eat?). This will be a really big test for me. I'm thinking about the "low carb" burger wrapped in lettuce if they still have that on the menu or ordering one without the bun with knife and fork with a plain salad and vinegar on the side for dressing (if they have it). Since I'm meeting them at 3:30pm, I just did a flank steak protein portion for my lunch--I didn't have any cottage cheese prior to walking today (I know, against nutritionist's orders), but I just wasn't hungry. I'm more worried about having too much fat, because I know I can forego the fries (please, Lord, let me forego the fries.)

If all goes well, I'll just have some leftover chicken and a small salad for a later dinner with my apple or strawberries.

It is majorly encouraging to have daily movement on the scale. I really would love to be down to 185 or even 180 by the first day of school, Sept. 1st. But that would be over the .5 lb/day loss that is the average now that I'm past the first two weeks. I'm hoping that the muscle I'm building while walking will help speed up the weightloss; the muscle mass is why men tend to lose 1 lb/day (or more) over women on this plan.

Hoping for good vibes for my first try eating out on plan.

 

[VernRDH]

Hoping your trip to Red Robin was good and you were able to resist the fries. I just can't eat them anymore. Good job on the continued loss, you can probably get to 185 by the time school starts. Either way, you are still healthier than when school ended right?

Keep up the good work girlfriend. You are doing great!!

 

[LAinSEA]

I did well at Red Robin; my sis steered me towards here favorite-the baja chicken platter and I ordered it without cheese and tortilla strips on the salad with just bottle of vinegar. I only used the salsa dipping sauce (sparringly because I wasn't sure what was included in it) and shared the second chicken breast with my father to keep my protein portion under control. Still there was probably too much oil used in the grilling process, but I couldn't follow them into the kitchen and supervise. All in all, it was very good and I'd order it again--Red Robin is a typical place the staff will head to for meeting day lunches and now I have a dish I can order without too much worry. Yes, I avoided the fries!

Ketosis: trace
Weight: 191 (scared me; I weighed 192 when I got up, but down to 191 after the walk.

DH and I walked for 55 minutes - the same route that usually takes me 60-65 minutes. Now I'm going to add distance to stay within the 60 minute time.

Meal plan for today: breakfast-iced black tea, lunch-chicken, green salad, apple, dinner-salmon, green salad, strawberries.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 33:

Ketosis: trace (but I wonder if the strips are getting old--they take forever for a color change)
Weight: down another lb after walk to 190

DH and I walked the loop again in 50 minutes today, the same that took me 60-65 minutes a week ago. I will add distance tomorrow to get back to an hour. My shins started to ach a little before we did the hill for the second time, slowing down made the pain go a way.

Meal plans/options for today--really haven't settled on lunch or dinner right now; I'm not hungry. Breakfast-DH went to get iced coffees this morning. I haven't had a latte or coffee drink since beginning this program. I had an 16 oz iced Americana with 2 shots of espresso and one shot of half & half with a packet of stevia sweetener. Wow, what a treat (and it got my rather backed up system moving again. A little coffee now and again if a good thing.) Lunch--probably a small salad with either chicken or left-over salmon & apple. Dinner-options include hambuger patty over portabello mushroom and small green salad & strawberries or grilled flank steak. I'm leaning towards the burger...but will need to figure out what lunches will be this week if we don't grill the flank steak. Perhaps I will get some shrimp out to thaw or run to the store to get more chicken tenders to grill.

This has been a good week for losing, which kind of scares me. I'm bound to plateau again soon and the scale won't move for a few days. Again, my hopes are to be 180-185 by September 1 and begin the school year down approximately 35 lbs from where I finished last June. My size 16 W pants are so loose right now, I have to wear them with a belt. My size 18 reg. shorts are all baggy, but still stay up without the belt. I comfortably sat through a movie last night in size 16 reg. capris and didn't need a belt to hold the lowrise waistband on my hips. I can get into my size 14 w capris, but they are still tighter than I like to wear. My size 1x tops, despite my bustline losing the least of all, are very roomy right now--but that is OK, I don't like things tight. I am hoping that I can get through the month of September (usually warm weather) without having to hit the store for clothes and not purchase anything until I'm down to size large tops and size 12-14 pants. DH tells me that he's noticing my body change shape; this didn't really happen the last time I had anything success with losing weight. This time my body is turning more hourglass shaped and where I lose, I seem to tone up much quicker. Must be the HCG--they told me that it would "recontour" as I lose. Again, I'm losing my skepticism. And 500 calories a day? No, honestly, I'm rarely hungry, especially in the morming through early afternoon. It's only when dinner is too late that I get cranky now.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 34: I feel like a "snufalufagus"--my head is full and I'm sneezing, eyes watering and down right miserable with alergies. I vacuumed the bedroom prior to walking, but it just seemed to stir whatever it is that I'm alergic too up. Still, I got out and walked, but did not add distance today like I should have. Perhaps I can get DH to go for another round tonight.

Ketosis: trace to small (not quite as pink as small, but brighter than trace.)
Weight: down another lb after my walk to 189.

Meal Plans--
Breakfast: hot green/white tea
Lunch: shrimp, salad & apple
Dinner: grilled flank steak, salad & strawberries
Need to up the water intake--I've been lax this weekend.

Today plans--more housecleaning, lesson planning or going on scouting mission to school to see if I can get in and start arranging my classroom.