Laurie's "Grand HCG Experiment"

[LAinSEA]

Day 53: I feel like I've been immersed in Surviver: High School and have made it through the first tribal council. (No, I'm really not a Surviver fan, but we are the Jaguars and our school is a bit of a suburban jungle with all the kids wearing camo on spirit days.)

The schedule changes continue to come in fast and furious; drops and adds and drops and adds. It's tough to get the classes working together as cohesive units when there is such a changeover from one day to the next. Thus far, I've lost a student who was on suicide watch to the alternative high school and another student who was on my list, but I had not laid eyes on him--with a violent reputation, was withdrawn today. A drop and two add to another class--one of the adds actually showed up while the other didn't. Other teachers are telling me they want revolving doors installed.

Ketosis: trace
Weight: back down to 184 (but still frustrated it's not down to 183)

Meals: breakfast--iced green/jasmine tea, lunch--romaine salad, leftover flank steak, apple, dinner--salmon in parchment (we used the alder plank in the over on it last night, but decided since it's raining not to grill portbello burgers tonight), asparagus, and strawberries.

I did not take cottage cheese for breakfast--nor was I hungry prior to lunch (or even at lunchtime), I started to get a little hungry right after school let out, but just kept drinking water (I'm still not getting enough fluids in my during work hours) and getting my lesson plans done. Still waiting for the oven to heat up for dinner and I'm hungry, but not ravenous.

Nothing yesterday or today (yet - it is pouring down rain, maybe after dinner, but we'll have to get to it in the rain sometime.)

No real weekend plans. Turn off the alarm and sleep in.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 54: No, we didn't walk last night, and not again this morning. It is soggy outside. The lawn is overly long (last window of opportunity was Thursday evening and neither of us were home and able to get out there and do it). Perhaps it will clear up enough on Monday to mow...perhaps. We have to bite the bullet and get used to walking in the rain for fall. DH has been ordered to; me, whether I walk or not, it isn't seeming to matter weightloss-wise. I know, that seems strange.

My sis called this morning and then put her husband on the line. He has started HCG plan now also; today was his first VLCD day after loading (i.e. eating like a pig) for two days after beginning the shots. He had tons of questions. His handbook is slightly different from my own and even different from "Pounds and Inches." For example, his says he can only eat iceberg lettuce! OMG, if that were the case, I'd starve. It's my least favorite green--tasteless, brittle, OK only in tacos and even then, there are other greens that make tacos better. I will scan the list of approved veggies from my handbook for him. The other difference is that I've been able to mix my veggies from the beginning. His says one choice per meal and one choice only. I talked him through the parchement method for cooking fish without oil and how I make mock caesar dressing (apparently my parents told my sis that they couldn't taste the difference and thought there was oil in my version.) He did say he felt like he had had some "hot flashes" in the afternoon and wondered if these were from the HCG. I've not experienced these (well at least from the HCG), but perhaps men react differently from a hormone associated most with pregnancy. He has 50 lbs to lose to goal weight. He could do it in 50 days as men tend to average 1 lb/day losses. (I sure wish that were the case for women.) BTW, the heavier you are and more you have to lose, the faster the weight comes off at first...all the more reason I wish my father would give it a try. He's still losing, but very slowly and I know that slow is not very motivating.

It's funny, these past three days at school, I've had very little reaction from staff members, but my former students have been coming by in droves and telling me how great I look and asking what my secret is. I've only shared with a few thus far--one came by during lunch and wanted to make sure I was eating "real food" and not drinking some kind of shake. (Her mom has done Medifast/Optifast in the past and then put all the weight back on nearly as fast as she lost it with those plans.) She told me my lunch looked "normal" to her and said she'd keep checking on me. I love "my" kids, since I have two periods instead of one when they are sophomores due to the combined English/Social Studies block class, they get so attached and I to them. Very few of my former students don't come by year after year and fill me in on what's happening in their lives. Our school works on the "relationship model" believing students will learn more and stay better connected to school if they feel connected to staff. I keep things professional, but I really work hard throughout the year to find out something unique about each of my new students so that I can find something in common with them and then find the time to have some one-on-one conversation about their interests. Some kids are ready to share and include you right away into their world, others I have to really work to get them to relax. It's those kids who I really had to work to come around who are the ones that come into see me before or after school or during lunch to check in with me even if they now into their senior year the most.

Ketosis: trace
Weight: down 1 lb to 183 (35 lbs gone! finally!)
Midriff measured 38" this morning, down 1" from the last time I spent time with the tape. (We are going to Cabella's this afternoon so that I can buy a smaller belt. Yeah, I like the one's from their men's department much better than women's belts.)

I also tried on some of the regular size 14s in my closet this morning as my 18s are to baggy even with a belt, my womens size 16s are too, my regular 16s are very lose with a belt but not clown-like (my two pair of women's 14 linen capris are a joke right now--yet dressy enough for work. I'll have to find something similar next spring to replace them.) I only have one other pair of women's 14--a green-khaki pair of dressy capris and they fit well, but the waist gaps in the back. So I tried on some regular size 14s. OK, I can pull them on and lay down on the bed and get them buttoned and zipped, but they are still too tight in the waistband to wear comfortably. However, they are loose around my thighs and fit my hips. If this darn tummy would just go away next! Hopefully, with two or three weeks, I will be into those size 14s and I won't have to worry about shopping for something in the interim to wear. Why is that my belly fat can't go away first?

Meals today: breakfast--ice water, lunch--1 egg/2 egg white omellette with two slices of turkey bacon and apple, dinner plan--sirloin burgers on portabello mushrooms, green salad, and strawberries.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 55: thunder, lightning, downpours and a cat who believes that on weekends someone should take her outside on the patio for fresh air and bird watching...poor Sasha. Not to mention the soggy grass; it seems to be growing an inch an hour. What a chore when it is finally dry enough to mow.

Two days of sleeping in has been wonderful after the stress of getting back into the classroom. One more day and then it will be the abrupt back to reality on Tuesday.

I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure today despite not really feeling like I'd done anything to really deserve it. (No exercise...nada, nyet.) Wow does it feel amazing to sit back and have someone else take care of you for an hour. However, I've already put "dents" into a couple of fingers and I stayed a good 30 minutes after the ladies were done. Oh well - I go mostly for my feet. Aw!

Ketosis: trace
Weight: down 1 lb to 182 (two days in a row with a loss! Here's hoping that it will keep it up for a week. I had the plateau weeks where the weight doesn't want to go down, but sometimes actually heads backwards.)

Meal Plans: Breakfast--ice water, Lunch--romain salad, flank steak and apple (oh and one half of one drying plum to test the dehydrator we bought yesterday at Cabellas--the Italian prune in our backyard are plentiful, too many to eat and there are several families with them on the block, so giving them away is difficult. I love dried fruit for a snack. So dehydrating is the answer for now to save them for when I can eat some.) Dinner--either salmon or lamb chops (will have to really trim the visible fat before grilling), aparagus or salad, and strawberries.

DH is making salsa to take to work on Tuesday. He offered to let me take some to my advisory at school, but I'm not ready to be tempted by corn chips yet. I don't think I could leave them alone. Not that I've ever hungry in the morning, but his salsa is really good!

I suppose I should lesson plan...maybe tomorrow. Just like, I know I should throw on some rain gear and walk. Tomorrow's another day...

 

[momof2minnies]

Laurie,
Your work sounds very rewarding.

Good luck to your BIL. At least he has you as a great resource.

Those jeans will fit in no time- yeah the rotten tummy!It is no fair that the men can lose the way they do.

Keep up the great work!

ps we raft once a year a group of us from work- the wives of 2 of the guys decided last minute they could not go!

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 56: woke up to sun streaming through the windows and it was appearing to be shaping up to be a much drier day! Not that I believe in astrology, but my star report said "to make time for some exercise." How true! And with sun up in the sky, how could I not? Still it was nice to sleep in again this morning (until 8:30am) and get moving slowly. The lawn so needed mowing--but it was so wet from yesterday's rain. A few miles to east of us, up on the Enumclaw plateau, there was actually a tornado that formed and did a bit of damage. What, a tornado in Western Washington?!!! Yes, really, a tornado. What is the world coming to. Still, so much calmer today.

About 11:30 am, after reviewing the President's speech to students, I went to the weather page a saw that the doppler was active to the southeast and moving this way pretty quickly. I told DH, it was now or never for the mower to come out and we hurried to get it done. As it was, he had to take over for me when the rain started coming down with his longer legs. Once we'd just finished, the floodgates opened up and it just poured buckets. It even chased the persistent goldfinch babies away from the feeders. Now that it's a constant drizzle, they're back stuffing themselves silly with thistle again.

Ketosis: trace
Weight: still 182

Meal Plan: breakfast--ice water then 1 oz low fat cheese and two forbidden dried plums from the dehydrator (had to check for doness), lunch--mixed green salad, chicken tenders, apple (used a bit of unsweetened non-fat greek yogurt mixed with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar to make a "creamy" salad dressing), dinner--grilled lamb, salad, strawberries is the plan. The lamb will be something new for us on this plan and it will be tough to measure the amount of protein prior to cooking because the chops are bone-in. We'll trim as much fat as possible before they go on the grill.

Must remember to re-set the alarm for tomorrow morning. It's back to work. I just hope my students will be ready for pace to quicken for the real work to begin.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 57:

Ketosis: trace
Weight: still 182 and seeming to budge, but at least it didn't go up. Goofed up, thought lamb was an approved protein. Nope, not on the list and discovered it after a wonderful meal of lamb chops on Monday night...so good!

Classes went well, except for the late buses. Kinks not worked out after first week and student arriving 10-20-even 30 minutes late for the start of the first period of the day. Most kids came with supplies in hand ready to learn. I do my first journal check on Friday. I am also my school's Daffodil festival princess coordinator, having inherited the job from my retiring mentor teacher. Our princess was crowned Queen last year and interest is high now among the senior ladies. I had to prepare packets for our interest meeting on Thursday and find all the information for the theme and other rule changes in addition to my usual lesson planning.

DH and I did manage to find the time to walk for 35 minutes tonight before dinner. The weather was great for a walk--not too cool, not too hot, not too humid.

Meals yesterday: breakfast--iced green/jasmine tea, lunch--flank steak, green salad, apple, dinner--chicken tenders, romaine salad with mock bleu cheese dressing (made with Greek yoghurt and a bit of blue cheese, lemon juice & apple cider vinegar), strawberries.

Day 58: Official clinic weigh-in day (and I wish I was weighing in during the morning hours).

Ketosis: trace
Weight: still 182 (on home scale)

Still it is a challenge to get enough fluids into me while at school due the fact I can't just up and leave my class to get to the ladies room. My hydration level was down today as was my protein levels.

Official Stats:
Weight: 185 (down 33 lbs from 218)
Neck: still 14" (down 1" from 15)
Chest: 45" (down 3.5 from 48.5)
Upper Arm: 12.5" (down 1.5 from 14)
Midriff: 39" (down 6 from 45)
Hips: 44" (down 4 from 48)
Thigh: 24" (down 1 from 25)

total inches lost: 17"

The other morning, my midriff measured 38" at home--not sure why clothes and the afternoon makes such a difference in measurement today, but still I'm please with the progress. I'm losing just over .5 lbs/day since starting this program 8 weeks ago.

Issues: I still appear to be needing more protein on a daily basis and was scolded for not eating breakfast. I shouldn't add more to lunch and dinner, but make sure to eat 1 egg/2 egg whites or trim cottage cheese within a half hour to hour after waking up. I also need to make sure I get a full 16 oz of water in me before leaving home in the morning and make sure to drink more water all day long. We discussed the kidney stone issue, and the nurse practitioner also didn't believe it was diet related, however, she recommended getting more trace minerals, potassium and magnessium, especially in my diet or through supplements. She also told me limit my intake of red meat, even though we do eat more meals of fish and chicken than beef, but uric acid stones are related to goat. If they were calcium, to watch those dark greens (broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, etc.). The gall stone issue she didn't believe would be a problem--apparently with the fat metabolized by the HCG, there have been very few reports of gall stones. However, I have been cleared to follow my FP's advice to incorporate a few macadamia nuts into an afternoon snack with some protein two to three times a week depending upon weight loss. I've been cleared to continue--it does not appear that I've become immune as yet as my average weight loss over these 8 weeks has been just over .5 lbs. The nurse also believes that the reason my tummy isn't disappearing is stress--I need to find a way to manage it better and lower cortisol levels (good luck on that.)

Meals: breakfast--iced green/jasmine tea, lunch--half chicken/half flanksteak leftovers, green salad, apple, dinner--grilled sirloin burger over portabello mushroom with crumble of feta, romaine salad with vinegar dressing, strawberries. (10 macadamia nuts prior to 35 minute walk with DH.)

thanks Linda for stopping by...I must have been posting about the time you were...or have been totally out of it, probably the latter.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 59: The class periods are flying by this week, yet I wish the week was already over. I am so tired! I held the princess info meeting today after school and had only four girls show, but gave out 3 information packets to those who stopped by but couldn't make the meeting. I am surprised, since our princess was selected queen last year and there had been so much interest last spring. I made sure to have the posters for the meeting up for an entire week and asked that staff with senior advisories make the announcement and put up meeting notices in their classrooms, but without the ability to make an announcement using the school TV systems (not up until next week) or use the PA system (discouraged), I'm sure there were girls who just spaced. However, my "playbook" says I need to have the candidates selected by a week from today and then there is only 8 weeks until the selection night and so much work to be done. The ladies that did come are amazing and truth be told, I'd rather not put it up to a student vote. I have room for 8 ladies to participate, and if I get 9, I will ask the principal for permission to add one more. (The playbook from the organization says I can go up to 10, but that makes for a very long evening for judges tea and speech/question night.)

Ketosis: trace
Weight: still 182 (that's a five day stall--I'm not happy)

I still didn't get any breakfast into me this morning; woke up feeling kind of nauseated and even water didn't feel good going down. Lunch--leftover burger over portobello mushroom, apple (no salad--forgot to fix night before or put together some green beans), 1 oz low-fat havarti prior to walk, dinner--crab and romaine salad, strawberries.

DH and I walked for 40 minutes tonight and with good weather in the forecast for tomorrow and Saturday, we should increase our time and distance. I didn't feel as sluggish tonight--perhaps that B12 shot I received yesterday is helping, but it isn't helping the overall fatigue.

Still way behind on water for the day, but I'm not wanting to run to the bathroom all night either. I must find a way to plan better.

 

[momof2minnies]

Hey Laurie,
I think we have your rain- could you take it back please??? HAHA!

Plateaus can be the pits.I do think you should try to eat breakfast- that jump starts the metabolism for the day- I am sure you heard that before.

I know what you mean about getting your water only to be up at night to go.I have stopped drinking after 7pm.It has worked.

Keep up the great work- by now all the teachers must be commenting and not just the students right? If not it is envy I am sure!!!

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Linda--I'm not sure about the staff noticing anything. We are all so busy just trying to get our students' names learned and keep our heads above water planning-wise, that I'm sure that when I drop a bit more, someone will say something. However, the students are amazingly observant and supportive.It's a good feeling.


Day 60:
Ketosis-trace
Weight-still 182---drat! I did feel bloated again this morning and that isn't helping with the scale. It must be the not enough water thing because I'm watching my sodium intake. Or this is where I must have maintained weight for a longer period of time. Still it's frustrating.

One of my students (for the first week--but was transferred because he doesn't need the special class to pass his exit exam), dropped by yesterday afternoon to ask me to where his football jersey today and at the game (the away jersey and it's a home game); it's a real honor for staff to be asked to where the senior's jerseys. I was flattered but weary that it would even fit. I knew the top would, no pads so it would fit my bust line but then these jerseys taper to a very tight waist and he's a very slim athletic build player. When he brought it to me this morning, I just put it on and it wasn't even tight over my t-shirt. It felt good all the way around and my sophomore student players certainly treated me with some kind of awe throughout the day. Again, it's a real honor for a staff member to where a senior player's jersey. Sometimes it takes awhile for my sophomores to realize that I know upperclassmen, let alone get along with them or interact with them. Sophomores are very ego-centric

Meal plans: didn't get moving early enough for breakfast and still feeling kind of nauseated first thing, so it was just cold tea when I got to school. Lunch was romaine salad, chicken tenders, and apples, snack--1 oz low fat havarti, 10 macadamia nuts, and (bad, bad, bad) 2 dried plums. DH just made oysters in a little panceta appetizers and I'm drinking a glass of red wine. (I guess he figures if I'm stalled, there might as well be a reason for it.) Dinner is a surprise he said (but I've peaked, and it's lobster tails), some kind of veggie or salad, and strawberries.

We'll get out and walk in a bit (or not, DH says...he spent another 2 hours fighting the pharmacy and coodinating between the cardiologist office and the pharmacy to get his new meds, no wonder I'm eating oysters and lobster tails tonight--he was held captive in a grocery store with a pharmacy and he's a frustrated gourmet eater, not just a frustration eater) I'm hoping I won't be up 10 lbs tomorrow. Our state fair is on in our community--started today, and the stadium where the kids play is next to the fairgrounds. We may be walking 4 miles there and 4 miles home tomorrow evening to get to and from the game.

A troubling thing is happening with my 3rd/4th period block classes and it's something I was anticipating being a problem. I taught two honors sections last year and one honors and one regular section the year prior. Administration and the counseling department know that I expect the same of my students with or without the H, but I do pair down the volume somewhat for my regular kids. Well, last year we had a pilot of AP U.S. history/honors sophomore English for one block section. By semester, both my classes and the other honors teacher classes were overrun by students getting out of the AP course (too much work for some--well several sophomores). This year there are three sections of this AP U.S. history for sophomores block and here come the drops and the honors sections are bulging at the seems. They are now transferring these kids who should go into an honors section to me and my regular classes. Not that I mind having these really bright kids, but I also have 6 to 7 mainstreamed special education students in each of these blocks and kids who don't have the best work ethic (yet--we'll work on it). Still these kids want the H on their transcripts and I don't blame them. We don't offer the "H" in a regular class despite my arguing for it for three years now. I believe any student should be able to earn honors in any course if they want to push themselves to a higher level. I'll see just how many more of these honors students I get and then go fight the good fight.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 61: After the indulgence of last night (lobster tail, broccoli, raspberry reduction sauce for the lobster, and 2 1/2 glasses of red wine), I expected to be well out of ketosis this morning and I was. I also expected to be up in weight, but I was not. I actually, finally, lost that stubborn pound and I'm at 181 today. Still, indulging should be just that, an indulgence, and not something for everyday or once a week or once every other week - but I believe once a month might keep me sane from here on out as long as we avoid the refined carbs.

We got in an hour's walk - 3 miles and kept the pace at 3 mph. The weather is unseasonably warm, but the wind was cool and says there is just a bite of fall in it. It should be good for tonight's first home game.

Meal plans: breakfast--iced Americano with half and half and two packets of stevia, lunch--1 egg, 2 egg white omellete with cracked crab and mushrooms, dinner--coho salmon, aparagus, strawberries.

My feet and calves are a little cramped up after walking at mid-day, but I'm pushing the water and hope to get ahead on it prior to leaving for the game tonight. We will need to get started on dinner soon and eat prior to heading downtown and fighting for a parking space (as the fair is also going on.) DH threatened to make it another walk, but I think parking west of the stadium with a mile would be better than walking the 3-4 miles down the hill and then knowing we will need to do the same home at 10pm tonight.

We've finally been able to get the powder room door back outside to get more finish on it (after last week's rain) and are making some progress. Cats have been out on the patio while we work and I've read the Epic of Gilgamesh in the dreadful senior literature text in preparation for building the reading COE questions for it and the flood story in Genesis for my students. Life, today, is good.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 61: After the indulgence of last night (lobster tail, broccoli, raspberry reduction sauce for the lobster, and 2 1/2 glasses of red wine), I expected to be well out of ketosis this morning and I was. I also expected to be up in weight, but I was not. I actually, finally, lost that stubborn pound and I'm at 181 today. Still, indulging should be just that, an indulgence, and not something for everyday or once a week or once every other week - but I believe once a month might keep me sane from here on out as long as we avoid the refined carbs.

We got in an hour's walk - 3 miles and kept the pace at 3 mph. The weather is unseasonably warm, but the wind was cool and says there is just a bite of fall in it. It should be good for tonight's first home game.

Meal plans: breakfast--iced Americano with half and half and two packets of stevia, lunch--1 egg, 2 egg white omellete with cracked crab and mushrooms, dinner--coho salmon, aparagus, strawberries.

My feet and calves are a little cramped up after walking at mid-day, but I'm pushing the water and hope to get ahead on it prior to leaving for the game tonight. We will need to get started on dinner soon and eat prior to heading downtown and fighting for a parking space (as the fair is also going on.) DH threatened to make it another walk, but I think parking west of the stadium with a mile would be better than walking the 3-4 miles down the hill and then knowing we will need to do the same home at 10pm tonight.

We've finally been able to get the powder room door back outside to get more finish on it (after last week's rain) and are making some progress. Cats have been out on the patio while we work and I've read the Epic of Gilgamesh in the dreadful senior literature text in preparation for building the reading COE questions for it and the flood story in Genesis for my students. Life, today, is good.

 

[VernRDH]

Laurie-Boy do you sound like a busy bee!! I was tired reading about all your goings on!!

Good for you on the indulgence-it will keep you sane and it did not seem to cause you any ill effects as of yet.

I know its hard but you really have to try to get the water in. It will help you so much. I know its hard to get to the bathroom, I have the same issue. Hard to stop in the middle of a patient, deglove and mask, go to the bathroom and come back, reglove and mask etc. And my schedule is a patient every half hour, so I am really pressed for time sometimes. But I do drink 80 oz of water each day at work (afternoon is worse, because I drink 40 oz at lunch).

Keep on goin girl, you are doing super!!

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica - if you can get your water in with patients to see, I really should be able to do it on with classes going on. I think once students are back into the grove of some independent work, then I can flag down another teacher to look in or a para to oversee. It's a trust factor with me--the majority of students would be fine--my honors students last year at this time were fine, but despite these groups good-naturedness, there are a few wingnuts with that wildcard behavior. I'm fussy too--I expect my students to act like mature young adults with awesome manners. Some come to me that way, for others the road to gentlemanhood or ladyhood is a difficult transition.

Day 62--

Ketosis: small
Weight: down 1 lb to 180 (and down to 179 after walking and mowing the lawn, but I'm not counting that pound yet...I was pretty dehydrated despite getting some water in me.)

DH and I walked for 55 minutes at a 2.8 mph pace instead of 3.0 and we skipped the 2nd trip up the big hill. He's getting used to new meds and was really feeling cramped up in his calves and stomach about 2/3rd the way through today. I was feeling a tightness around my right kidney again and hope it was muscle related, but I could have gone further, but not any faster today.

Meals today: breakfast--ice water and string cheese and 2 dried plums (I know, bad, bad, bad on the plums, but they're so good!), lunch--chicken tenders/left over mini sirloin burger to make a full portion of protein, leftover asparagus, apple, snack--1 oz low fat havarti and 2 more plums, dinner--flank steak, salad, strawberries. (It seems that if I eat breakfast, I'm much more hungry all day long. If I don't, I'm not hungry at lunch time and less prone to wanting a snack in the afternoon.) I've push the water all day today.

My father wanted us to meet he and my mom at Red Robin for dinner (each drive half the distance), but DH is still feeling cramped up and he's making progress on the last spray laquor coats on the door. I made the store run for apples, lemons, and chicken tenders to grill up for this week's lunches. But I'm sure dad will be disappointed--we were going to try to get together over last weekend, but the weather was horrid. This week's nice weather has us working outside instead.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 63:

Ketosis: trace
Weight: back up to 182! Ouch! what did I do wrong? Can feel that I'm retaining water, but this is ridiculous!

Not moving all that fast this morning; Niko wanted a snuggle just before my alarm went off and that's an automatic snooze alarm. When a maine coon mix puts his full length and body weight against you, it's difficult to move. I'm glad that my lunch was nearly put together, or I wouldn't have gotten out of the house before 6:50 this morning.

Good news, I only had 8 senior ladies apply for the Daffodil court and that way I don't have to do a ballot and exclude anyone. I do have to do a ballot apparently for the escorts--all senior men with a GPA above a 3.2 are eligible. Poor guys, it's a thankless job all for the honor of being recognized for their academics and good citizenship and there is no scholarship in it for them. Most will get their girlfriend's nose out of joint because they are escorting the court to other school's selections and presenting them with flowers the day of the selection. Regardless, I had to put together the escort ballots and get them into staff mailboxes after school today and do the notifications for the girls so there is no stress for them tomorrow.

My students were a bit lethargic today too...if you have teens, please do us teachers a favor and find a place to plug the cell phones into a charger away from their bedrooms. Their friends text them all night long and no sustained sleep is happening. If you won't take my word for it, just get ahold of their text logs and see how many are coming in between 11pm and 4am. It will floor you!

DH and I went for our walk once I got home (after 6pm). We walked for 75 minutes and got in 3.67 miles. At one point we were doing a 3.3 mph pace. Not too shabby with the hills in the neighborhood. (My feet are a bit worse for wear now.) I did weigh myself before and after walking; 181 prior, 180 after and I didn't feel overly dehydrated after. I'm getting water in me tonight--48 oz thus far.

Meals: breakfast--iced green/jasmine tea, lunch--green salad, curried chicken tenders, apple, dinner--salmon in parchement, green beans with a bit of turkey bacon for flavor, and strawberries. (No snacks, no breakfast, and not enough water during the school day even though I tried, I really tried.)

Will try to get to sleep earlier tonight--headed that way now, but then it's Leno's first night...maybe by 11pm.

 

[jordansmomma]

Hi I went to a clinic in Spokane today to find out more info on this. I was just wondering if maybe your clinic was the same as the one I am going to? They have 4 offices around the area.

Friday will be my first day.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 66: OK, strange - was sure I'd posted yesterday...but it didn't take. I apologize if, in my sleepy state, I added to one of your journals instead. Must be "old-teachers-disease" or something.

Jordansmomma - I PM'd you - but in case you check here first; the franchise is called HCGslimagain.com or HCG SlimXpress on their business cards. The prices are more than if you mail order with places that have mix your own HCG for injection, but I feel that access to the doctors, nurses, and nutritionist is worth it and I'm not comfortable mixing up my own and ordering insulin syringes.

The past few days I've been at the trace range for ketosis, but my weight has see-sawed. Weird because my pants are nearly falling off and really baggy--tummy is measuring at 36.5 inches even at the end of the day. My weight was at 179 this morning, but I know that I'm still retaining water weight as I've not had enough to drink throughout the day. It's better, but not OK yet.

I'm also hungrier tonight than I have been. So I did just have an ounce of low-fat cheese. Still not eating a breakfast--just the thought makes me kind of nauseated right now. Again, stress is probably an issue. I had eaten prior to going out for our walks.

Meal plan today: breakfast-iced green/jasmine tea, lunch-flank steak, romaine salad, apple, dinner-halibut cooked in parchement, asparagus, strawberries and snack-low fat havarti.

No walk tonight (did last night, but only for 35 minutes as both DH and I got home later than we wanted for work and he's still having to work tonight--payroll goes tomorrow and we teachers want to be paid. Hopefully, HR and Accounting will now have a better process for doing the contract roll-ups next year since he's putting in so much effort making them more efficient and the process repeatable.) However, my feet are really hurting despite where very sensible shoes yesterday and today at school. I wonder if I've lost off my feet (again) too--I did the first two weeks I began this program.

I met with my senior ladies running for the Daffodil princess for our school; WOW! amazing young women and despite the extra work, this will be a highlight of my weeks. So much energy! I sent out the notifications for the senior men escort winners (staff votes) and I hope all will RSVP and I won't have to go to my alternates. Rarely the guys turn down the "honor," but it also is an imposition on their time. I sure wish they were eligible for scholarships from the festival too. (Our princess who took queen last spring made $25,000 in scholarships from her involvement in the festival thus far with opportunities for more through community scholarships.)

I also had another former student visit today (3 in a week). He will finish his AA in December, goes to basic training in the Air Force in January and they will pay for him to complete his bachelors degree and masters while he serves! He was one of my summer school students who felt like a failure after two attempts at his exit exams. He passed after I worked with him with a much higher score than he anticipated and I convinced him he was college-material. I was in tears today when he shared his plans and success. It was a good day today. But the icing on the cake was when my remedial seniors actually showed interest in the ancient Mesopotamian literature in addition to Genesis and actually asked if I would write an assessment for the excerpts from the Egyptian book of the dead. (Really, who replaced my troubled-ones with Stefford children?) My colleague next door looked at me like I'd lost it this afternoon when I shared with her their request (she just finished with Gilgamesh and she said it felt like giving a root canal with no anesthetic to her seniors.) I told her she just had to walk like an Egyptian (yeah, I really did it to get them laughing first thing in the class period; it brought back memories from when they were first exposed to the ancient Egyptians back in elementary school--most admitted they'd walked that way too.)

Time for bed, listen to Clapton on Leno and beddie-bye.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 67:

ketosis--trace
weight--still 179

Tired and achy is how I woke up, but no fever. Students were fairly good today except that many advisories had had parties and students then carted half bags of chips and large soda bottles into class and were proceeding to munch. Let's just say that their privilege to eat something discreetly is now gone for 3rd/4th period.

My principal came by during 2nd today and told me he wants to open another honors section of American Studies (I taught two honors sections last year and one of each the year prior.) He knows I get attached to my students quickly, but he needs to get the honors class sizes down fast -- the exodus from the Sophomore AP U.S. history classes is adding to the problems as I figured it would since my last three transfers in have come from the those sections. I agreed to do what he needs done, but have asked that some of my "regular" students have the opportunity to become part of the new honors section. Truly, there is not much different in the ability of the "honors" and "regular" students--except belief in their abilities or work ethic. It's some of the students who have not learned to focus on learning or are more into pushing buttons that make most students head for the honors classes.

Meals today: no breakfast and out of iced tea, lunch--curry chicken tenders, asparagus, apple, after school snack--flank steak portion, dried plums, and macadamia nuts (the dried plums are off plan, but I felt I needed the surgar), dinner--DH choice halibut or salmon, green salad, strawberries.

We are supposed to go walk, but as I sit here, my throat is tightening up and feeling very raw, my aches are getting worse, and I'm actually feeling very cold in a home that was overly sun-warmed when I go home (temp inside right now is about 78 degrees--I shouldn't feel cold). I suppose we'd best get on it before I just crawl into bed and forget about everything.

I met with the stage crew and the senior who is the lighting and staging whiz kid for Daffodil selection night plans. She had some excellent ideas, the drama teacher came in and added his, then one of my former students (who I hoped would participate in the selection of princess, but opted out) said she'd like to help design the carousel horses for the set--she's an amazing artist. The will have built the catwalk stage out for le Miserables by our selection night and this will take care of my pet peeve of the ladies and their escorts climbing up these steep stairs (at least 2 of the girls always catch their dress with their shoes and the result is not glamourous). I had only one escort RSVP today and he put in a request for a candidate to escort--I believe I can arrange it as long as the heights are good across the board for all the others. He was genuinely excited to be chosen. Perhaps tradition is on our side afterall--the whole festival process for royalty is a bit out of the fifties honestly, white gloves and all.

 

[momof2minnies]

Laurie feel better- any chance of the swine flu?

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 68: After coming down with a low-grade fever, aches, sore throat, and congestion last night (and feeling light-headed), I was sure I was getting the flu and went up to bed instead of heading out for a walk. DH woke me up to get some dinner in me (he made sole-wrapped crab with brussel sprouts and strawberries and not much of each because he was worried I wouldn't keep it down.) After eating, I took two tylenol PM and fell back asleep. By this morning, it was pretty clear it wasn't the flu, but a really nasty cold. Still have much of the same symptoms, but my temperature is not up much. My nose is running like a seive.

Linda--thanks for the concern, but I think I've dodged the Swine (for now). I've had one student out for the better part of two week and she was hospitalized for 48 hours--no word if it was H1N1 or not yet. I had another three leave school on Thursday with flu-like symptoms and another in addition to those out on Friday (but he's a senior in a sophomore class because he failed the subject the first time around...his attendance isn't great as it is.) We are still waiting on vaccines for Swine in our area, but the regular flu shots are available. We tried to get one today at the pharmacy in the grocery store, but they won't give to those with a cold. I have to wait until the cold is gone. DH is starting to get the symptoms I had last night right now. He's blaming me. Hey, I work around kids!

Ketosis: trace
Weight: still 179 and I could feel the water weight this morning--my fingers were swollen.

Meals: breakfast--DH went to pick me up an Americana with a shot of half and half and two pack stevia, lunch--not hungry, but I ate portion of leftover flank steak and an apple (didn't want scratchy salad on my throat), snack as I was hungry at 4pm--1 oz non-fat cheese & 10 macadamia nuts, dinner plans--salmon, salad, strawberries. (Although I'd much rather have hot and sour soup!--I've got to figure out how to do medicinal foods on this plan.) Edit: Decided on the hot and sour soup after looking up a receipe on AllReceipes.com. We adated it by using the shiraki (miracle) noodles instead of tofu and didn't use corn starch as a thickener. All other ingredients were on plan and I added a bit of Thai chili sauce to get it up to medicinal levels. DH grilled some lean pork chops and we poured the soup over thin slices. It was really good--I was surprised; we did good. Neither one of us could finish our portion, so we can re-heat it for lunch tomorrow and continue trying to ward off the cold. Instead of strawberries, I had a three dried plums--can't resist them, they're like candy and not really on plan.

Despite the cold; we shopped for more apples, veggies, and iced teas. Picked up cat litter and crunchies, and found DH a hard-to-find battery before heading home to finish up the laundry. Still, I feel exhausted and I don't think a walk is in the cards. Just bending over makes my head fill and the room spins a little. I hate these colds that attack my sinuses! Hopefully, I will be up for walking tomorrow and we need to mow the lawn too.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 69: I feel like I've been in the fight of my life to lose this last pound. It's been a slow two weeks for weightloss and I feel like I need to cut out any extras or indulgences to kick-start the losses again. And no more skipping my walks even if my head feels like it wants to explode (actually exploding right now may bring untold relief!)

Ketosis: trace
Weight: 178 (down 1 lb) - that 40 lbs total loss.

Waist measurement was 36.5" this morning (down 8.5 from 45)
Hip measurement was 42" (down 6 from 48)

I did get out and mow the lawn (that's about 35 minutes of walking slowly) and kept going despite the full, dizzy inducing head. My sinuses are majorly blocked, but I don't have a fever, so I know this is just a nasty cold for sure now. DH has it also and said he's also light-headed. We are both pushing the water as fast as we can. The Hot and Sour Soup last night really helped to make me feel like I could rest last night, but I slept propped up. My throat was very full and sore this morning from the drainage. I'm hoping I feel well enough to walk around the neighborhood this evening.

Meal plans: Breakfast--iced coffee with half and half, lunch--leftover crab-stuffed sole and apple, dinner--salmon, salad & strawberries. I'm trying hard to avoid any snacks, but I'm actually feeling more hungry than I have been in weeks. Probably the cold talking and not real hunger. Hopefully getting hydrated and staying that way will help with the hunger pangs.

The goal is to be able to get to sleep early tonight--I need to get to work and beat the line at the copy machine tomorrow morning to run off the essay prompts for my sophomores and see if I can sequester a laptop cart for my seniors.