Laurie's "Grand HCG Experiment"

[LAinSEA]

Day 102:

Should have known that going out to eat would play havoc with the scale even though I was very careful of what I had (scallups dredged in hazelnuts and grilled, roasted red pepper and asparagus, shared a small serving of blackberry lemon sorbet with DH--that probably put me over the top.)

ketosis: trace
weight: back up to 168

Meals: breakfast--iced green tea, lunch--chicken breast, broccoli, apple, so hungry when I came home I made myself a 1 egg/2 egg white omellette with chicken sausage and a small amount of low-fat cheese, then added macadamia nuts, 5 dried plums, a grissini, and was still starving when DH made dinner a couple of hours later. Dinner--flank steak (he tried teriaki marinade without the sugar, but the steak was too done), mixed frozen veggies most off plan--wax beans, snow pea pods, chestnuts but ate them anyway as I was so hungry, orange slices about half an orange.

No exercise; home later than I wanted to and the rain, rain, rain, came down, down, down along with the weather-induced sinus headache. The barometer was all over the place and my lower back felt like it wanted to split into two at the hips. I ended up using a heating pad to get loosened up enough to go to sleep.

Day 103:

ketosis: trace
weight: still 168--feet stiff like blocks of wood (retaining water?)

I was so tired this morning and DH beat me to the shower as he had to get to work early to drive up north to check out how another school district is using the same software program we are upgrading to. Funny, how most districts don't even try to communicate or cooperate with each other to make things easier and more efficient for all.

Today was a frustrating day in classes--I have students who just seem to think doing nothing is OK. They don't ask for clarification if they don't understand the task, they just sit and do nothing. I wrote up step-by-step instructions for the essay today and took them through the pre-writing for it together and still I had students sit by and do nothing. Some actually got out assignments for math, because it was due the next period (homework...), but hadn't done the homework for my class and I see them for 1/3 of their credits this year. Amazing! I subscribe to the behavioral psychology point of view; and by the time our district's students reach high school they don't understand that homework needs to be done at home prior to coming into class. They rarely see homework in elementary school, only honors classes seem to have it junior high, and in high school, they can't be bothered as it infringes upon their own time for gaming, face-booking, skateboarding, etc. In my parents district, all students from K-12 have mandatory homework. Once a week through the primary grades and three-times a week for the intermediate grades so that by the time students reach middle an high school, the habit is instilled. Athletics seems to be the only thing that is instilled in my district from early grades on.

Meals: breakfast--green tea, lunch--chicken breast, brussel sprouts, apple, snack--10 macadamia nuts, small amount of flank steak, 4 dried plums (so hungry again after school--much more hungry than I've been since beginning this diet), dinner--??? (glad I had the snack, because DH hasn't made up his mind about dinner yet, but the birdfeeders are now full outside.) I'm going to wash and slice the strawberries and maybe that will move him along in the right direction.

Should have walked tonight--clear and cold for now. Back is still sore as are my sinuses.

Good news--now I have one more judge for Daffodil and need a male perspective for a third. I will follow up with a couple more leads tomorrow morning. Still, only three of the candidates were there for speech practice--somehow mandatory hasn't soaked into their heads either. But some of the escorts showed up to give feedback -- at least they are involved.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 104:

ketosis: trace (but none late afternoon at all; the color has been so light, that I though I'd check after all I had was tea, water, chicken, brussel sprouts, and an apple for lunch, but alas nothing. So frustrating, it's like my body has just stopped metabolizing fat and I'm literally famished when I get home from school causing me to snack.)
weight: still 168

It seems to be a conspiracy among the students not to want to do any work on Wednesdays (the classes are too short, we can't get anything done, let's not do anything!). I agree about first period, we're down to 35 minutes for it and just 40 minutes for all others. Timing is off and it's hard to adjust lesson plans for a shorter class period (but actually 45 minutes isn't all that long either and that is what we had last year). The schedule adjustment came so that we as secondary teachers would get more collaboration time, but frankly, I'd rather go back to the same schedule. My colleagues don't collaborate well except the one I'm currently planning units with.

No exercise again today (I didn't leave school until 5:15 and it was dark when I got home although still dry). My back is still tender and I'm wondering if it isn't the start of another kidney stone instead of a sore muscle. The diagnostics didn't see it last time, so going to a doctor isn't going to be helpful as I don't have the time for tests and more tests. I have some pain meds and if it gets bad, I'll go and take them.

Meals: breakfast--green tea, lunch--chicken breast, brussel sprouts, apple, snack--1 oz low-fat havarti, 10 macadamia nuts, the last four dried plums (not buying more as I can't leave them alone), and the crumbled remains of a grissini, dinner--grilled flat iron steak over portabello mushroom with grilled onions and peppers, asparagus, raspberries and blackberries. Trying to get caught up with my water intake and losing.

I made calls this morning and tried to round up at least one more judge (civil declines followed) and emailed the brother of our one of assistant principals who is the same at a cross-town junior high school--calling favors. I have to make up the judges notebooks before leaving school tomorrow. One more candidate has her speech written and edited for time with two more to go. I need to figure out where to order flowers--at least the tiara arrived in the mail.

 

[VernRDH]

Just checking in to see if you are surviving I look forward to hearing your updates!!

 

[LAinSEA]

Thanks, Veronica for keeping my journal up on the front page of the board... I surely appreciate it.

Let's just say it has been rather hectic around here and leave it at that...

Thursday night was football game night and senior night besides. The stands were nearly empty, but it was the best game the boys played all season long. One more to go against a non-conference opponent this Thursday night and we're done shivering in the cold and sitting on a hard bench for the year (however, the girls soccer team is in the playoffs and ranked first in state, so maybe we'll have to endure more bench time.) My husband goes with me--and it's hard to believe the kids know you're there in those nearly empty stands. But Friday, I had player after player come and talk football with me and say, "did you see..." and I can honestly answer, "I did."

My weight has continued to go up and down and up again and then finally drop a pound, but it's not the 2-3 pounds per week I'm used to even with the HCG with B12 added. In addition, I'm losing more hair in the shower in the morning than is normal for me and I'm a bit freaked out to say the least. The other issue is that I'm hungry, I mean really ravenously hungry, in the afternoons after school--but I'm nauseated if I try to eat something first thing in the morning. My eyes are also very dry and I've got this "brain fog" that is just not me. All these symptoms drove me to schedule a body composition test on Saturday and hopefully see the nurse/doctor at the clinic and get some answers. Unfortunately, the flu took both out of the clinic right after arrived for my appointment and I've been playing phone tag ever since.

So not to go over the ups and downs, I'll just post where I am today and we'll take it from there...

ketosis: trace (has been none or back and forth for days)
weight: up 1 lb this morning to 167 (was so excited to see 166 yesterday and that lost pound found me this morning).

I didn't sleep well (too much stress and probably caffeine--I had a breve yesterday on my way to Pro Cert meeting in Tacoma and it kept me awake and alert for the meeting--so boring!--but it also kept me awake most of the night too.) It is also interim progress report time again and I must post grades tomorrow (I'm mostly ready and figured out a way to use the other half of my gradebook to use for IPRs). My sophomores are preparing for a Mock Trial (begins Friday and goes through Monday): the progressives vs. the industrialists as their unit review. I need to write the unit test tomorrow afternoon. Thursday is Daffodil meeting and then out to dinner with moms and candidates before going to another school's selection. Friday is their formal pictures after school. I'm exhausted just thinking about all of it. Still without a male judge, but I lost a candidate on Friday, so I'm down to five and six escorts (but I really do need the six so our returning princess/queen can be escorted as well.) Next week is looking just as busy as this week with our visit to city council on Tuesday night and then we're just a week away from the Judges' Tea and two weeks from selection night. I will sleep when it is over. We have conferences scheduled for the evening of the 12th for our advisees. Just doesn't stop!

Exercise--other than pushing the laptop computer carts around the hallways and re-arranging the desks into a courtroom, I haven't had much exercise and my fitness level is dropping. I asked if the lack of exercise is what is stalling my weightloss and was told no, some folks never do exercise on this program and still lose. But I know that I would feel better if I could get out there and just do it.

Meals: except for the Reese peanut butter cup on Halloween (and it was just one!), I've been totally on plan. I even have avoided the dried plums (out of them and not buying more), the macadamia nuts (although I ate 10 this afternoon), and have been careful with portions and worked on getting more water in me too. I think DH used too much salt in the chicken curry yesterday though and I was retaining water this morning (is that where the pound came from?)

Today: breakfast--iced tea, lunch--flank steak, green beans, apple, snack--four melba snacks (equals one melba toast) with 1 oz light havarti and 10 macadamia nuts, dinner--??? DH has called or come home yet and I have no idea what he has in mind or I'd prep it. I found some more fresh--small-sized strawberries at the store and that will be desert.

Truth be told, I'm just so tired. I'm ready for a break from everything and Thanksgiving weekend just can't come fast enough. I was ready to just tell the clinic I wanted a break from the HCG and the diet too, but frankly I'm afraid that I will just put on weight even with following the stabilization plan/maintenance plan. They have a new Naturepath on staff and I'm hoping to schedule an appointment in the late afternoon or maybe Veterans' day if they are open to get a handle on what is going on. I still have about 40 lbs more to lose and don't want to ruin this as it is the only thing that has worked for me.

So, back to work for me...if you're thinking about becoming a teacher, don't choose to teach any English---too much grading.

 

[VernRDH]

Laurie

Hoping that you can find some answers at the clinic for your hungriness and fatigue. Don't give up-you have done so well and your journey is not yet over.

The Red Robin thing-I do love going there, but the sodium is killer. I use the customizer on their website to "build" my burger and see the calorie content. I discovered if I had chosen the chicken instead of the burger, I would have saved an additional 150 calories and a boatload of fat. So next time I think I will get the chicken with lettuce, tomato, onion and guacamole. Something like 210 cals and 7g of fat. Then I won't feel so bad about the fries

Thanks for the encouragement on DD and her spelling-like I say I think it is genetic as DH cannot spell to save his life. I find that having her write words 3 times each every day helps immensely. Next is working on our cursive........

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 110 - another "wacky Wednesday" -- I really don't like the late arrival schedule and I hope they change it back to early release next year. Our staff meeting this morning was a complete waste of time and the info could have been diseminated via email for all the "training" on Cornell notes (which I teach my students during the first two weeks of class.) Could have used that time to collaborate with colleagues instead of the whole school biz...(the rant is just beginning, so if you're not prepared for negativity, head somewhere else until I get to another day.)

ketosis: none
weight: back down to 166

I didn't sleep well last night, awake at 2am, awake again at 4:30am then nearly slept through my alarm at 5:35am--unconscientious hit snooze and woke with a late start at 5:50am. Then I'm in a rush and I feel rushed all day. My sophomore classes had to go to training in the library for a new electronnic portfolio system. Then the other period (I have them twice in a row on Wednesdays for about 80 minutes total instead of the one class with 90 minutes) was supposed to be used to work on Mock Trial prep. Nearly half the class couldn't get logged on to the laptops and I couldn't reset passwords. The three old and slow computers apparently won't save to the network folders nor print--finally solved the problems by having student paste work in the bodies of email and send it to me for formatting. Still, the witness statements were supposed to have been completed and word processed before class today and have 2 in the honors class and about half in the regular class who didn't turn in anything. I can just not accept them for grading, but to not do the work hurts their teams. I've never had this many students who haven't completed this work for Mock Trial, honors or regular. This cohort seems to have problems with accountability to self, to peers, and to teachers. Worse, confronting them didn't get them off the stick and started on word processing. "I don't have enough time--the class period is too short." So just be aware, you parents out there, when your son or daughter is still living under your roof at age 40 (and probably has a few grandkids your supporting too), it's because he or she told the boss that there just wasn't enough time in the day to do the job and the boss said, "OK, why don't you take the rest of your life off, and I'll find someone who will get the work done ontime, under budget, and right the first time around." But please don't blame the teacher, she told you so.

Meals: breakfast--iced tea, lunch--chicken tenders, green beans, apple, snack--(my downfall at 4:45pm)--1 oz light havarti, 4 melba snacks, handful of black berries and raspberries, 10 macadamia nuts, and 50 g of bbq pork, 2 glasses of water--still hungry--two grissini--still hungry, but dinner is in the oven. Dinner--pork chop, salad, strawberries. I feel like I've just binged and binged big time; then why am I still raveous?

Still no exercise other than pushing the computer carts around the hallways. I wish grading burned more calories. My mind feels like it had a workout--do you know that sophomores forget to paragraph when writing biographical statements? Again, what do they teach these kids in junior high school? Even my poor grandmother with alzheimer's remembers to paragraph (can't remember what she ate for lunch, but the writing skills are solid.)

Oh, and the capper to the perfect day: when I went down to use the copy machine (built a "cornell notes" template for taking notes during Mock Trial for students--see the meeting this morning did brainwash me into cooperating, it just took 7 hours to sink in), it was kaput (again) with the magenta sticky note (don't attempt to fix--copy machine surgeon contacted and will show up whenever...)

Oh, well, as Scarlet O'Hara always said, "Tomorrow's another day" (Gone With the Wind, 1938).

 

[VernRDH]

Laurie, should you decide to leave the teaching profession, you would do well with comedy!! I know it is not funny to you, but I got a good chuckle out of your post.

I don't understand why the kids don't do the work-we ride DD like crazy to get homework done, and even classwork that she did not finish. I would hope that by the time she gets to high school she will have learned that the work has to be done and on time, but I will still make sure it gets done.

Did you get an appointment with the clinic yet? Let me know how you make out.

 

[LAinSEA]

They call it a weekend, but really I believe the term is an oxymoron. It's not the end of a week, but simply a continuation of things left undone to be piled on to the list for the next week. The only thing good about weekends is not having to wake up at the crack of o'dark thirty (a reminder to turn on the alarm clock again before pretending to sleep tonight.) Yes, there should be a break mid-week for Veterans' Day, but for me it will be about catching up on grading (unit tests on Tuesday and honors' novel projects, preparing food for student-led conference night on Thursday...did I forget? I did, must supervise escorts and Daffodil candidates down at the city council meeting on Tuesday night and head to the florist's on Monday afternoon to order boutineers and bouquets for selection night.

It's time to order that organizer from Pottery Barn--perhaps I can just say it's my birthday present from DH when he asks about the charge on the credit card. We've been without a calendar in the kitchen since we began the remodel two years ago. (Yes, it's been that long and there are still unfinished projects piling onto of the daily grind.)

Veronica - comedy eh? hmmm? never thought of that, but I've been working out the plot to a psychological thriller novel for about 20 years now. I keep saying this is the summer I'll write it. Then summer comes, goes, and the storyline is still inside my head and not on my laptop. Just another thing on the list. But please, stay on DD--she will thank you later on. The fact I had to stay on top of school work from K through 12 helped me survive college and definitely kept me employed all but 18 months out of my teen years through present. But, I sure wish there were more hours in the day and that I wouldn't try to solve problems while I sleep. (My father does it too, must be genetic.)

The past three mornings I've been out of ketosis and in and then out (glass of red wine with dinner last night and didn't skip the berries.) Weight is down to 165 the past two mornings and hoping it won't yo-yo up through the week this week.

Meals have been (mostly) on plan; DH has come up with a stuffed pork chop receipe that is to die for! (No pork, even lean pork, isn't on plan, but calorie, fat, protein-wise it is better than flank steak, but not as good as chicken numbers-wise.) He buys thick-cut loin chops, slices a pocket into the center and stuffs it with a little gorgonzola (lowest fat of the blue cheeses) and adds a sun dried tomato or two and then pins it shut. He bakes it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and it comes out so moist and tender and tasty. We've also tried to have more salads the last three nights as I read that broccoli and brussel sprouts can cause stalls. So I'm trying to mix the veggies more and definitely have at least one meal with greens. I'm still having to find a snack in the late afternoon (or I begin to bonk physically and mentally). So my need must not be totally related to frustration eating after school. I was just doing laundry yesterday and some low-key unit planning and bonked badly at 4pm yesterday (after having a late lunch of an omellette). I was craving sugar and had to make do with melba snacks with low-fat havarti.

Exercise still none, unless dashing across the parking lot to avoid rain while searching for the elusive fulvic minerals (what I need to find for the hair loss). I also lost DH at the grocery store this afternoon and did several laps before I found him. He didn't hear me say I was heading down an aisle to grab something and then he decided to hit the head and just left the cart in some random spot. A little upped pulse has got to the be same thing as walking a mile or two, right?

Thursday night--the candidates, their moms and I went to the rival high school's princess selection. It was enlightening, and my girls feel better about their speeches (they're more original!) I survived Red Robin with the Baja chicken platter, but they didn't have good vinegar for the salad, just the type for fish and chips. Friday's photo shoot went well and the tiara that seemed small, looked amazing on all candidates. I did get some planning done, some pro cert homework done (not all but a good start and hoping they post exemplars this week.) Laundry is done and kitchen is clean except for floor. (Vacuum after work tomorrow). Cats nails are cut (they won't use the pedipaws thing), not too much blood was spilled. All in all, I should feel OK and not buried, but there is still so much to do. The neice of our neighbors has agreed to judge for me (she would be number 3), but is also looking for a gentleman judge also. I'm just thrilled for the warm body at this point, but I know she will be fantastic!

Now off to re-set the alarm and continue on to the next "weekend."

 

[LAinSEA]

Frustration has definitely set in (as DH cooks up the layered nacho dips for my advisory's conference night and I can't have any of it). I had an appointment with the Naturepath at the HCG clinic today and he ran some tests--some I've never had before. I've not been in ketosis for a week now and have only lost one pound and only 5 over the past five weeks. This is not right for this plan. He did feel my thyroid and said it was irregular and larger on the left than the right side, but is going to wait for labs to try me on any other supplements or meds. For now, I'm staying on the HCG with B12, adding fulvic minerals (supposed to stop and reverse the hair loss and fatigue), a different kind of fiber with meals (glucomannan), and going back to the original 100 g of protein at each meal with an extra portion of protein when I'm hungry in the afternoon. I'm to drop all fruit and have no more grissini or melba toast until I'm back into ketosis (and not macadamia nuts!) He wants to avoid any wheat (even if I do get back into ketosis) and all dairy. He found that my joints were swollen and wants to see if it is an alergy to dairy (I know that I am sensistive to wheat and corn).

Weight today was 165 this morning and 167 fully dressed at the clinic. I'm down 51 lbs officially there. The body comp test said my metabolism had slowed from burning just over 1500 calories/day to just under 1400. This is not good. He agrees something is going on, but we can't add too many things (or take away too many things) too quickly. If there is no improvement in 2 weeks, we'll add a thyroid supplment (thyroid plus) to the regiment.

He got on me about the exercise (lack therof) too. I've got to walk at least 3x a week or more. It is nice out today, so I'll get out in a bit.

Hopefully, this will reduce the fatigue and aches/pains and re-start the weight loss. I need to reduce stress too --no real advice to follow there.

My daffodil candidates and 4 or 6 escorts were recognized by the city council last night. All had to tell the assembled group about their future plans and all did great (even the guys who haven't practiced). I've got book projects to grade, but have a video scheduled for tomorrow and Friday that will allow me to get some of it done during classes. Candidates have practice after chool again and then the advisory conferences are scheduled for 7pm (I'll need to be there at 6:00-6:30).

 

[momof2minnies]

Laurie,
Just catching up here.Sorry to hear about all the things going on with you.Maybe you have a sluggish thyroid.I swear that is my issue since I had 1/2 removed in 2003.My labs are always good though so I have nothing to base it on except my metabolism decrease.It could also explain the hair loss.

Your weight loss is awesome.Getting out for a walk sounds like a great idea,it can only help.

Keep up the great work and good luck with your labs.

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Linda: thanks for the encouragement. My sis found a nurse practitioner that treated her hostically instead of just looking at the thyroid labs and she's been taking Armour and feeling better than she has in years. I can't seem to find the same kind of doctor here though. What is normal? and who defined it? My eyebrows have all but disappeared over the past 20 years and with the weight loss you can see my thyroid--not just feel, but see it. I'm hoping that I get news that helps me get started on feeling better soon.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday...since giving up the fruit, and the dairy, and the nuts, I'm actually down 4 lbs - 161! Who'd have thunk it! I'm back in the pinker side of trace for ketosis and allowed myself some apples with my protein snack this afternoon, but probably won't indulge at dinner. I'm into a pair of 14 petite jeans (button fly from Eddie Bauer long ago) and I didn't have to lay down on the bed to button them.

We ignored the housework and other stuff staring us in the face today and went shopping (It's my birthday on Monday.) The goal was to check out some things at Pottery Barn (I like to look before ordering online). But, they didn't have the daily calendar system in the store as a sample. We did buy too much at William Sonoma--and ordered a new non-stick french fry pan--as our older pan is sticking and the coating appears to be coming off. Those non-stick pans don't last forever even if you always follow the rules (low heat and hand-wash). Can't ignor the chores again tomorrow or the planning for the Judges' tea or writing the script for Selection night.

Meals today: brunch--leftover corned beef and cabbage, snack--flank steak and apple, dinner--grilled lean hamburger over portabello mushroom cap, salad.

Exercise: walked the mall, but didn't get out and walk the neighborhood. I was stuck at work both Thursday and Friday well after it got dark. Hopefully the rain will hold off and we can walk tomorrow am. We had our first frost this morning (later than normal). It stayed chilly all day long.

 

[VernRDH]

I *knew* there was a reason I liked you so much!!! Your birthday is monday, mine is Wednesday!!! Us Scorpio girls stick together, eh??

Good for you on the weight loss, how teriffic to get going again!! Hope things continue to go in the right direction and that you get some answers with your thyroid.

Wish I could report my weight loss was going as well, unfortunately it is not currently, but I am sure it will get going again soon.

Keep up the good work, you are an inspiration!!!

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 

[momof2minnies]

Congrats on the 4 lbs and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Linda & Veronica - you are going to laugh at this one...my mother sent me a card wishing me a happy 44th (I'm going to be 46!); she's a scorpio too and in charge of math olympiad for 4th graders at her school. I gave her all kinds of grief this afternoon. (Parents are a bit sniffy about not getting together to go out for my birthday this weekend, but with getting ready for this week's commitments and my eating plan, they will just have to wait...) DH say's he'll make me a lobster tail for birthday dinner and they're on sale for 7.99 for 5 oz tails at the grocery store this week. I'll pick up two when I get the flowers tomorrow for the tea on Tuesday night.

Ketosis: trace to small this morning (despite having an apple yesterday)
Weight: still at 161

Because of the ketosis level and a headache that wouldn't go away last evening and throughout the night, I asked DH to get me a breve this morning. Headache dulled slightly for awhile, but is back in force tonight. Sinus pressure and a string of low pressure storms rolling in is going to make this week pretty painful. It has my joints - especially my hips and low back all stiff and painful too.

We have a plan for catering the tea on Tuesday night and have picked up most of the food needed (DH will pick up shrimp and sliced baggettes tomorrow evening while I get the flowers.) It's funny - there are deals on deli trays at the local groceries, but it is still cheaper at Costco to get things and do a bit more prep work and I think it will work out better portion-wise. It's not so much a "tea" but a light supper with big Caesar salad, meats/cheeses with the sliced french baggettes, fruit, and tinned cookies. We'll serve sparkling cider, bottled water, and have a thing of decaf Starbucks' coffee on hand. The candidates bring their families - so it could be 15 to 25 people including judges. We picked up some large white platters at Costco too that will work with my home dishes for other events. I'm glad DH is willing to help. I'm so behind on all the other things necessary to get accomplished that I'm in that paralysis way of thinking right now and the headache isn't helping. I'd best just get the school laptop out and get moving...

 

[momof2minnies]

WOW thank you Mom! My Dad seems not to remember exactly how old I am either- you would think the moms would never forget the day-HA!HA!

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 122 - Monday after a very stormy night. The wind blew so terribly bad that it sent more of my larger pots flying--right now I've got a palm and a 10 foot bay tree laying over on their sides and they're too heavy for me to tilt up by myself. Sleep went by the wayside, but oh, the weird dreams a windstorm produces! No rest, just REM. I hope, and prayed, that the power would be out at school and we'd be two hours late, but alas, it was not to be. We didn't even lose power last night--rare for us in an area with so many trees in 30-55 mph winds! It could get bad again tonight after the warm, driving rain all day. I'm looking forward to some sleep, but it might not materialized tonight either.

ketosis: trace
weight: still 161 (that breve may have stalled me out, again)

The size 12 charter club jeans I'm in today felt baggy by about 11 am today. I sure wish my tummy would lose some more inches and I'd be in other size 12s stashed in my closet and have the excuse to spend some of the cash I received through the mail for my birthday on clothes. I'm so reluctant to buy anything new--the last stuff I bought was "big girl" tops and shorts to get through the summer and new bras, which I'm swimming in now, but haven't wanted to cough up the cash to buy more. I'm in some ratty old ones that are almost as stretched out to the big sizes I bought. I won't be able to fake wearing them soon, hiding about in big sweaters helps for work. I'm not much of a clothes horse--never really cared about shopping (except in high school, when I did much more window shopping with friends than buying.) I'm glad that styles have moved from low rise and high tops to more "normal" styles. Still, even if I got down to what I weighed in high school, I wouldn't fit into those skinny jeans. I've always had too much thigh!

Meals today: breakfast--iced green/mint tea, lunch--flank steak, green salad, half an apple, snack--90 g grilled chicken tenders, dinner--lobster tail, aparagus, maybe some strawberries, or if DH if able to find a small tenderloin steak to split, we'll add steak too. The scary thing is that I'm still hungry after eating the chicken snack--I'm pounding down water and hoping that will help. I still don't get enough water in me on week days.

I was so disappointed with my sophomores today; few did the homework over the weekend and it was in my lesson plan to review it, peer score it, and reflect upon it to set new goals for this unit. Only 7 honors students did the work and brought it in. About half of the regular students did--12 or 13 total. So what did the kids who didn't do the work do while the others went through the exercise? They sat and didn't even try to complete what they should have over the weekend. No shame in them at all. My seniors seemed to feel the necessity of behaving like they were in pre-school today too--wiggly and wanting to mess with each other's hair or clothing. Weird! We got through less than what was planned in the Iliad also. (BTW, they only have to read excerpts, not the whole thing! I had to read both the Iliad and the Odyssey as a 7th grader for social studies and English block. So much for raising the bar for education over the last 20-30 years!)

 

[LAinSEA]

Oh so tired! I'm ready to try to nap. It's been nothing but one storm after another this week and I've had little real rest. We live on a greenbelt and the high winds through the trees in the back sound like a freight train all night long punctuated by the cracks of limbs breaking and garbage cans pounding against garage doors. I just could not work in a war zone and understand completely why those who do have to live with explosions going off all around them become just a little sensitive to all noises and dive for cover with exceptionally loud ones.

With all the low pressure, the students have been just squirrely all week long. My mom has this theory that behavior is worse during low pressure (worse than with the full or new moon); she sees it and her 1st/2nd graders have had a tough week too. But high school students should be able to overcome their impulses. It's like they day before a holiday weekend everyday right now; and yes, we still have a full day of school on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It doesn't help that our advisory system seems to be one constant party and kids are being allowed out and about and into other advisories gorging on the food and drink they've brought in. Fridays are supposed to be academic days in advisory--a quiet study hall and it's become party central instead. If you, as the teacher, try to enforce the rules, then you're the evil witch. Most teachers appear to be letting the inmates run the asylum.

The judges tea for the daffodil candidates went well (no fathers attended and we had plenty of food left over--too much food left over. We've been eating shrimp all week long.) The judges were expecting at least one stand out candidate; they got five and the competition is completely up in the air. That is what I hoped for. The selection night in next Tuesday and I'm still waiting for information from an escort and the stage crew.

This week, I've been still avoiding fruit until I just can't stand it; I've had about 2 apples total for the week. I've stayed in "Trace" ketosis despite other temptations (Danish butter cookies are not a good thing to have in the house for me and DH wouldn't just let me take them into my advisory yet--also leftovers from the tea.) I know four only have about 140 calories, still I'm not allowed the fat and the sugar, and, yes, I've been sneaking a few hear and there. I've also resorted to macadamia nuts after school the past two days. I was still so hungry after eating a protein snack, I felt like I wanted to bonk--lightheaded even. A little sugar and the nuts stops that symptom, but there has to be another solution.

My weight has bounced up and down between 161 and 162 and then this morning I was down to 159. My joints are very swollen in the morning when I wake up also - painful, I thought avoiding dairy is supposed to have help with this symptom, but no change. I'm still losing hair--maybe not quite as much as last week, but still much more than I'm comfortable with. There are no thin spots (I can see), but it's very noticable to me and my barrettes are slipping when I try to wear them. The pain in my lower back is worse this week; kidney stones again coming on?

The plan is to sleep in this weekend. I have about an hour of grading to do and the Pro Cert assignments that I should have completed last weekend. (Still no examples posted of what the work should look like.)

I have a coupon for a free Birthday Burger at Red Robin and thought I'd try and talk DH into going out at some point this weekend. I can't enjoy it on a bun or with fries, but just a mushroom swiss burger on lettuce sounds good right now.

 

[LAinSEA]

Day 127

Ketosis: none (revenge of the Danish butter cookies--no, no, no more!)
Weight: still 159 lbs

It's been awhile since I've taken the time to measure, and since I could use the affirmation, I decided to do it today.

Beginning Stats: 11/21/09
Weight: 218.4 lbs 159 lbs
Bust: 48.5 41.25"
Waist: 45 33.5"
Hips: 48 39"
Thigh: 25 22"
Neck: 15 13"
Size: 16 W or 1X 12/14 regular depending upon the brand

Total inches lost: 32.75
Total weight lost: 59.4
I've averaged .46 lbs per day on this plan. BMI is now 27.7.

I still need to lose another 1.5" from my waist to be in that healthy area for women of 32". And I need to lose another 16 lbs to be just within a normal BMI.

 

[VernRDH]

OMG Laurie-you are shrinking so well!!! How amazing the results of your measurements!! Good for you, keep up the good work.

I too got the birthday burger coupon for Red Robin, but don't know that I am going to used it. We went to the chinese buffet tonight with my brother, sis in law and niece. I didn't eat very much, just wasn't that hungry. Not feeling very well at the moment, hoping some water and rest will set me right.

I look forward to reading about your progress each day, it inspires me to keep going too. You should post some pictures at some point too.

 

[LAinSEA]

Way too busy from Saturday evening through Friday afternoon...

The Daffodil Princess went off quite well on Tuesday evening--the judges had the toughest of decisions to make and it took them longer than any other selection evening. In the end, we have a fabulous princess--but any one of the ladies would have been equally up to the task. I just hope that the winner can keep a balance between the festival responsibilities and her own life.

My weight bounced up and down all week: DH made me chopino on Monday evening and thought the carb count and sodium count would not be a problem based upon the base (comes in a jar and is yummy to be certain.) On Tuesday am, I was not only out of ketosis, but up 5 lbs to 164! With the stress of Tuesday and getting through Wednesday complete nuttiness on the part of students before a holiday weekend, I was a wreck. I managed to eat on plan at my parents yesterday for Thanksgiving (just turkey, some green beans with mushrooms, and salad--only treat was two Tbs of cranberry sauce.) With eggs for breakfast, I was back to 159 lbs this morning and back into ketosis finally. We go over to DH's dad's house today for Thanksgiving part deux and I'm already trying to find polite comments about food that gets me out of eating it.

I had another appointment with the naturepath at the clinic on Wednesday, he added the Thyroid plus supplement (just one capsule each morning) and a new type of multivitamin that I take 3 with lunch and 3 with dinner. I can taste the B vitamins in it almost as soon as I swallow them. We also upped the HCG from 150 to 200 for the shots. I'd only lost 4.5 lbs in 4 weeks and that is way below target (even with some cheating...I've been diligent about no cheese and no fruit the past two weeks even with an occasional cookie.) The doctor told me they expect to see some cheating, but they've not seen so little loss even when folks are reporting a trip to Olive Garden once a week. I've not been much over my allowed intake of calories. They comped me a "buckshot" which helps to detox the liver and rev up metabolism and didn't charge for the doctor's visit. I will follow this for the next two weeks and see if it re-starts the weightloss and diminishes the hair loss with another follow up again.

Running around in high heels Tuesday night made my mid-back seize up big time. I've been hitting the heating pad night and morning and it's tender to stand, sit, lay, breathe. I've not done any pain meds except Advil and it didn't touch it. Today, I'm still tender, but must put a smile on and head out.

Veronica--thanks so much for your support. These last 30 may be my undoing...thanks for helping me see the big picture (I'm not sure if I've got any good before or after photos as I tend to avoid being in any photograph if I can help it.)