LuvTigger's Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired Journal (comments welcome!)

[LuvTigger]

Here I am finding myself at WISH again! I start, I stop, I start, I stop...now I have decided that THIS is it! I am getting back on the WISH bandwagon to get and stay healthy and fit, because this seems to be the best support system around!

Here are some of my stats:
starting weight: 194.5
height: 5' 3"
age: 35

My goal weight is 125. When I was in my early 20's, I hovered somewhere around 130-140, but I was always slightly overweight. Somehow over the years the pounds have crept on and stayed on. I think a lot of it is that I am not as physically active as I once was, since I used to rollerblade, go to the beach, shoot pool, etc.

Four-five months out of the year, my job gets REALLY hectic, and it truly is difficult to squeeze in exercise. However, I do walk around a lot just in the building (one day my pedometer reading showed up at about 14,000 steps, and I didn't even leave the building!), so that's a plus. The downside is because it's so crazy, I have often resorted to eating whatever food was around, rather than what's good for me.

I've been making excuses about starting my weight loss program because of social events, things going on at work, whatever. I decided that there really is no ideal time to start, so I might as well just do it now! I'm pretty much just sick and tired of being sick and tired. My clothes don't always fit well, I'm tired of my clothes getting more stretched out than they should be, I weigh more than my boyfriend, just about everyone at work is thinner than me, and I just want to be healthier.

I am actually in pretty good health, but I want to be proactive and go into prevention mode before anything happens. In my mid-30's, I feel I would be better off losing weight and preventing future health issues NOW, than if I waited.

As far as my program goes, it's not one of the more traditional ones, but I would consider it kind of a cross between South Beach and Atkins. It's moderate-calorie, moderate-carb, low-fat. In terms of exercise, it emphasizes "moving more", particularly in the form of walking. The goal is to walk 10,000 steps per day. I've done this before and lost up to 20 pounds on it, but I fell off the bandwagon.

I started again this past Monday, March 6, 2006. It kicks off with 3 days of only protein, to get the body into ketosis. From there, I can add in more variety of foods, and once a week is a protein day. After 4 weeks, there is a maintenance period of 2 weeks where the goal is simply to maintain the weight loss, not necessarily lose more, and carbs can be reintroduced. It's kind of a period to "retrain" the body to be able to consume foods without gaining weight, and to adjust to the weight loss. Then, after that, I can start the 6-week cycle again if I want to lose more.

Yesterday when I weighed myself I was down 2 pounds. No change this morning, but that's okay. Better than a gain. And like one of the posts said, 2 pounds is 8 sticks of butter!

So this time, no excuses, I'm sticking to this thing, and I look forward to motivation from the WISHers!!!

 

[kimwim8]

Welcome back to WISH journals!!

Sounds like you're on the right track & you have a GREAT plan in place!

Definitely keep up with posting on your journal...good or bad days. And read other journals, too. I've gotten a lot of inspiration by reading what others are going through.

 

[LuvTigger]

Thanks for your support, Kim!

Today's journal entry:
So I'm still down 2 pounds, for 192.5. A little disappointed that I haven't lost anything since the first day, but I'm glad not to have gained anything, and I feel a little thinner, particularly around my tummy.

I've been taking my vitamins regularly, and have been following my food plan. Today was the first day I was able to add fruits and vegetables into my diet. If I want, I can substitute a starch for fruit for breakfast, but I find that I don't do as well that way. So this morning I had cottage cheese mixed with blueberries for breakfast.

I also bought myself a new "health" journal last night. My program actually comes with a daily entry sheet, but I found them to be inconvenient since I had to photocopy them and put them in a binder, which I kept at home. Then, because it was home, if I forgot to jot on a notepaper what I had during the day, I would have problems entering things into my entry sheet! So, I decided, "to heck with the daily log sheets" and bought myself a notebook small enough for me to bring to work and in the car, but big enough to write in. It is now sitting on my desk in front of me as I write.

I think I'm doing pretty well in terms of the food and nutrition, and also with drinking water. What I'd like to improve on is increasing my daily steps (I wear a pedometer), and try to squeeze in more exercise, particulary cardio. On day 1 I got 10,000 steps, but day 2 was 8,800, and day 3 went down to 7,200. I find that walking out to town during lunch on the days I have time helps me get to 10,000, but unfortunately, it is POURING here today! I'll have to be creative in getting steps, maybe walking around the building a bit.

Hoping for a small bit of weight loss at tomorrow's weigh in.

 

[LuvTigger]

Still no weight loss, but I'm okay with it. I'm thinking of getting a new scale. I have a digital right now, and it's a pretty good one, but it only goes to the .5 pound. Not that I need anything more specific than that, but I think it would be motivating even to see .1 of a pound gone. Also, my scale kind of ticks me off because when I first step on, it looks like it's going to tell me one weight (for example, it looked like it was going to tell me 191 this morning), but then it skips back up to the weight I've been at since Monday! So the darned thing psyches me out for a second!

In any case, as I said before, I'm just glad I've been able to maintain the 2 pounds I lost since Monday, and I haven't cheated on the eating. I haven't even really been that tempted to, but we'll see how it is since it's the weekend now and I'm still in my first week.

I've been eating mostly salads, although last night I made a pork tenderloin with spinach and mushrooms on the side, and a tossed salad. And an orange. Tonight I might go to Ruby Tuesdays if it's not too crowded. They have a very good selection of entrees I can eat. I'm kind of craving a warm meal since I've been eating so many salads.

My water intake has been pretty good, and I've been faithful with my vitamins since Monday, which is a very big step for me since I'm usually sporadic with them. My major downfall so far is the exercise. My step count on my pedometer has been going down everyday. I need to make time to get more steps in and get to at least 10,000 steps each day.

My main goal for next week is to increase my steps and to make 10,000 steps at least 5 of the 7 days. I'm hoping to lose another 2 pounds next week. Monday is a strictly protein day, so I'm hoping that'll trigger another whoosh!

I've been thinking of long term goals too, which I really need to write down in my health log. I learned that "what is written improves." So one of the things I'm looking forward to doing when I get near my weight loss goal is to buy some nice lingerie! All I've ever owned are plain old cotton undies and plain bras (sorry if it's TMI -- I figure the majority of the DISers on WISH are women, so I'm sure you can relate!). I want to be able to walk into Victoria Secret and buy something really nice!

 

[KathyFP]

I understand the on again off again cycle. I have just re joined WISH recently.

Good Luck - Keep motivated and you will be successful this time

 

[LuvTigger]

Kathy, thank you for your words of support! That's why I love WISH and am never afraid to return (except this time I will be here for good!)!

Still no weight loss. I admit that I'm a little frustrated at that, but I've gone into solution mode and am trying to figure out why. Usually on my program, the first week results in a larger amount of weight loss, but I only lost weight after the first day. I've spent quite a bit of time this weekend at book stores reading up on various weight loss topics, and came across an interesting book that I think was called, "Living a Low Carb Lifestyle." What was neat about that book was that it had brief summaries of most of the low-moderate carb "diets" (I really don't like that word) out there. The most interesting part of it for me was the FAQ in the back, which was pretty substantial. It also offered a possible solution to my problem. It says that while weight loss can stall for numerous reasons (water retention, muscle increase, etc.), the author truly believes that dairy products, cheese in particular, could stall weight loss. And guess what I've been eating as a protein snack every day since day 2??? I actually haven't relied on cheese as a snack when I've done this program before, and never had this kind of a stall in weight loss so early on in the program, and this may be the answer.

I've also been eating cottage cheese for breakfast, but I don't think that's the problem since I've eaten it before and have still lost weight. I think the problem may be the Babybel cheese I've been eating as a snack. So I'm going to stop eating it for at least a few days and see if there's any difference.

Another possible cause is that I might not be eating enough protein. Besides the limited portions of proteins with each meal, I am also supposed to be eating at least 3 protein snacks per day, one between each meal. However, the first couple of days I didn't have anything after dinner. Believe it or not, people on my program who eat more protein snacks lose more weight!

Tomorrow is a protein only day, so I'm definitely expecting some kind of weight loss by Tuesday.

Another thing I've been noticing about my body and it's functions (***TMI alert!***) is that my excrement has been extremely dark. I have read a lot about digestive function in the past and I think this is a sign that my body is kind of detoxifying and getting rid of unnecessary junk that has been stored. My program focuses a lot on produce, so I've been eating lots of vegetables and fruits, mostly raw, so I think in addition to helping with weight loss, it is just helping me to become healthier overall. I would guess that it's also helping to put lots of oxygen into my system too.

I have still managed to stick to my program without cheating. I was a little concerned about the weekend since that's when I tend to splurge most, and not that I wasn't tempted, but I kept reminding myself of the reasons I am doing this, and that eventually I will be able to indulge from time to time, in moderation.

Tomorrow, time permitting (might be a very busy day at work), I will post my stats including weight, and I think I will include my measurements this time too. It will help me to keep all of these thoughts and information in one place, and it might help others who might be of a similar build to track my progress.

 

[LuvTigger]

STILL no more weight loss! I just don't get it! I'm going to have to reevaluate what I've been doing and see if there's something I need to tighten up on. I know one thing is that I need to find a way to get more steps in.

The good news is that unless I totally screwed up measuring, I've lost inches!

This is what I started at:
chest: 44 1/2"
hips: 46 3/4"
waist: 37"
abs: 46 3/4"
thigh: 27"
arm: 13 3/4"

On day 8:
chest: 43 3/4" (-3/4")
hips: 46" (-3/4")
waist: 35 3/4" (-1 1/4")
abs: 42 1/4" (-4 1/2") Wow!!
thigh: 26 1/2" (-1/2")
arm: 13 1/2" (-1/4")

I've felt from last week that my ab (the little pouch area below the belly button) had reduced, but over 4 inches?? So even though the pounds haven't been shedding much yet, I'm very encouraged by the measurements and that my clothes aren't as tight as they were getting for a while. I was actually going to start looking for new (bigger) pants, and I decided that instead of getting clothes to fit me, I'm going to fit my clothes. Pants are still a little snug, but much more comfortable than they were.

So, I'm going to keep trudging along and stick to my plan. I know that eventually the weight has to come off. My carbs and calories have been reduced, I'm eating healthier, I think it's just a matter of time before I HAVE to lose pounds, even if it takes longer than I thought.

 

[LuvTigger]

Well, woo hoo! I finally got the whoosh I was waiting for!

I'm down 2 pounds today, for a total of 4 since I started last Monday. I know I've been whining about having to wait so long for the scale to show the loss, but I'm really happy to be down 4 pounds in just 10 days. I guess in some ways it's nice to lose a bulk of it all at once instead of incrementally, although I've had moments where I was ready to throw my scale out the window!

Lots to do today, so I'll have to end here.

 

[LuvTigger]

Okay, I'm a little behind, but I'm still on track!

I'm at 189.5. These are my measurements for today:
chest: 43 1/4" (- 1/2" from last week, - 1 1/4" total)
hips: 45" (-1" from last week, -1 3/4" total)
waist: 35" (-3/4" from last week, -2" total)
abs: 44 3/4" (+2 1/2" from last week, -2" total: I swear I must've screwed up my measurements for this one last week!)
l. thigh: 26" (-1/2" from last week, -1" total)
l. arm: 13 1/4" (-1/4" from last week, -1/2" total)

One of my new goals is that once I reach a new bracket of weight (i.e. 180's, 170's, etc.), I will NOT go up to the previous bracket! Although I know I have to allow for things like TOM, which is coming up soon.

Yesterday I had something strange happen where I had a little bit of spotting. It's very unusual for me since I am on BC. It went away, and today it's back again. I've been trying to read up on it to see if changing my diet could have anything to do with it. I am not alarmed (yet) since it has been in very small amounts. I don't notice anything else different with my body. Has anyone else had this occur with weight loss or change in diet? I did read one site that mentioned that they beef and chicken have extra estrogen pumped into them, but that was admittedly theory on the part of the author. I will consult with my OB at, if not before, my annual exam.

In any case, I'm feeling great, and I keep reminding myself that I've lost a small rice bag full of weight! (Being from Hawaii, we eat tons of rice, and most people buy 20 lb. bags, so a 5 lb. bag is considered "small".) Today is a protein day for me, so I hope to show some weight reduction in the next couple of days. Next week is TOM, so we'll see how that affects me.

One thing I've learned to do is be creative when I go out to eat. One of my weaknesses is ramen, and I've had to stay away from the ramen shops since they really don't offer anything that I can eat. I have to say that I don't really miss it that much that I'm willing to cheat for it, but it is one of the first things I'd like to have as soon as my program allows!

Last Friday I went to Chili's, and fortunately they have lots of sides to choose from, so I got a steak with broccoli as one side, and the mushroom/onion/pepper mix for the other. I gave BF the garlic bread (which I LOVE, btw! Along w/ their chicken enchilada soup...mmmm!). I only ate about half, and took the rest home, which was my lunch the next day.

Two weeks from now I will enter a phase in my program where I can start increasing portions and introducing grains back into my diet, which is supposed to retrain my body to be able to accept them and metabolize them properly. It's a two week period, and it's not meant to be a period of weight loss, but simply weight maintenance. I can go within 1 1/2 pounds of whatever I weigh when I start that phase. If I go over 1 1/2, then I will have to adjust accordingly.

I think that's about it for now.

 

[LuvTigger]

I'm down to 188, so I've lost 6.5 lbs. over a period of 3 weeks. Although I'll admit I was hoping for a little more, maybe 8-9 pounds, I am still very happy with the amount I've lost since it's an average of about 2 lbs per week. I'm hoping to lose at least another 1.5 pounds before I start the maintenance portion of my program next week.

I weigh myself daily, and I take my measurements once a week, so this is what it looks like:

chest: 43" (down 1/4" from last week, 1 1/2" total)
waist: 35" (same as last week, 2" total)
hips: 45 1/2" (up 1/2" from last week, 1 1/4" total)
abs: 41" (down 3 3/4" from last week, 5 3/4" total)
l. thigh: 26" (same as last week, 1" total)
l. arm: 13 1/2" (up 1/4" from last week, 1/4" total)

There is some fluctuation with my measurements, but still down in total. I'm sure that I am not completely accurate with measuring, but I know that when I get up to the 15-20 pound range in weight loss that the measurements should be noticably different and I won't be getting up to this size again.

I have to confess that I cheated last night and had some noodles. I did take some carb blockers, which at least seems to inhibit weight gain, although from past experience I've learned that I usually do not lose weight if I use carb blockers. Today is a protein day, so that should counter any "damage" I've done with the noodles.

I'm really bummed because my pedometer broke, so I haven't been able to keep track of my steps. I even had a never-used alternate pedometer, and that broke the first day! The displays on both still work, but it's just that they don't register any steps. I'm going to see if maybe it's the battery.

Other than the noodle encounter last night, I've been really good about eating "legal" foods. My challenge has been to eat the right quantities, and also to eat everything I'm supposed to be eating (protein, veggie, lettuce, fruit) since sometimes I skip one thing or another.

Next week is TOM, so we'll see how that affects my weight loss.

 

[goldcupmom]

You're doing FANTASTIC!

Keep up the awesome work.

Have a good week!