Saturday, March 28, 2009

Meh...

I wasn't feeling good yesterday and forgot to check in. The protein day worked. I lost exactly the 1.4 I had gained, bringing me back to 135.4. This morning I'm up a little at 135.6.

Remember when I was complaining about being stuck at 133.6? I'm an idiot.

I'll get there again.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Grrrr...

I'm growling because I had planned to eat clean yesterday (and by clean I mean meat and veggies). But I was still exhausted from my trip, and I had my kid's club last night. I ate fine all day, but I was so tired and so hungry when I got home that I had to eat something. I didn't have any meat ready to eat, so I had celery and peanut butter.

I weigh 136.8 this morning. I'd say I shouldn't have peanut butter. What do you think? I did not want to introduce new foods yesterday, but when I'm that tired and hungry, I don't care about anything.

This calls for a steak day, but my exercise is intense enough that I don't want to go hungry all day. And after that weight, I didn't want to skip my exercise this morning. So I'll do a protein day. All meat and eggs. If this doesn't work, I'll do a steak day tomorrow and won't exercise.

My goal is suddenly looking very far away. *Sigh*

P.S. I just saw your comment from yesterday. I still think I'm stable--in theory. But I must be sensitive or allergic to peanuts. That's a whopping gain from 1-2 Tbsp of peanut butter.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Home again

After Monday's post, I had to fly to get ready to leave. My dad was in the ER with chest pains (nothing new) and they were going to transfer him to a hospital an hour and a half away. That's the closest hospital that does angiograms. He was going by ambulance, and he didn't want my mom to have to make the drive alone, so I went with.

I packed a taco salad the first day for lunch, and I packed almonds and coconut oil for snacks. Other than that I had to rely on the hospital cafeteria for food. For supper that night they had pot roast and vegetables. The pot roast was very salty, and who knows what else they put in it. The vegetables were orange and yellow carrots--nothing else. I'd still been avoiding root vegetables, but this was my only option.

I had 3 eggs and 3 sausage for breakfast yesterday, and lunch was a chicken stir fry. I passed on the rice they served with it. But again, there was some sort of sauce with the meat and I'm sure there was something in it I shouldn't have had. But for being called away from home at the last minute, things didn't turn out too bad. I was home again for supper, where my wonderful husband had steaks thawed.

The worst part was water. I didn't have a water bottle with me, and I had limited access to water. I couldn't sit and sip all day like I do at home. I could grab a small cup here and there. Plus, the meat servings weren't as big as what I'd have at home. I always felt hungry. Almonds can't make up for that.

We did nothing but sit and wait. Things move so slowly in a hospital. The only reason we had to spend the night was that they got my dad in for the angiogram so late. But we were prepared. Then, he should have been released first thing in the morning, but we had to sit and wait for the doctor's final word until 2 in the afternoon.

Bottom line, I'm up to 135.4 this morning. I'm so dehydrated! I'm going to eat clean and drink lots of water today. And exercise! Wow, I missed it those two days.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Quick post

Yesterday I was up a little to 134.6. Today I'm the same. My period started this morning, so I've added more bloat to the bloat that was there.

I gotta run now, and I'm not sure I'll be able to post tomorrow.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Down a little

I lost .6 for a weight of 134.2 today. Better.

Friday, March 20, 2009

I don't like PMS

I'm up another 0.2 overnight. The only good thing about PMS gains is that I know they'll pass in several days. That is, if the cravings for energy foods don't get the best of me. Time to repeat: My body is more important than food. My goals are more important than a temporary craving.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Not good

overnight: +1.0
weight: 134.6
0.6 over LDW

Two possibilities: 1. PMS caused the gain; 2. Fruit caused the gain.

I was sick yesterday. A touch of the stomach flu, but no throwing up. Splitting headache, no energy. After supper everything in me was craving fruit. My no fruit during P3 rule was self-imposed, and yesterday was my last day of P3 anyway. So I had some blueberries. Less than half a cup. The energy from the fruit did make me feel better for the evening. But fruit isn't worth a pound gain.

I'm also PMSing, though. This morning I feel very bloated. I'm hoping that's the real cause. In any case, I'll wait a few days before having fruit again.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Again

No need for stats. My weight is still 133.6 and you know what that means by now.

I hope yesterday's impatience didn't sound like ingratitude. I'm so very grateful to have stabilized so well. Five days of being at the same weight--with one little upward blip in the middle--you can't get more stable than that. I set a goal for myself that I'll be at my ideal weight by June, just in time for swimsuit season. As long as I keep working at it, my body will respond when it's ready. That gives me just over 10 weeks to lose 8.6 pounds. Doable.

I was mistaken when I said my lean mass is still below what it should be. My fat scale says so, but the accurate calipers say I've regained every ounce of lean mass I lost. The fat scale can really only be used as a guideline, not an absolute fact.

I'm thrilled that I've lost just as much fat during P3 as during P2. The inches don't come out that way, but I guess I lost it where the calipers count. My energy is much improved, as is my mood. I'm very grateful for where I'm at.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

This seems to be my new number

overnight: 0
weight: 133.6
0.4 under LDW

Tomorrow is my last day of P3. Not that it will make any difference to me, food-wise. But it's still a sense of accomplishment that I've made it this far with no steak day. I've stabilized just below my last dose weight.

Of course, I'm working my butt off with exercise, so I'll be ready to start losing weight any day now. My lean mass has been staying the same, although I'm still down from when I started the round. I was hoping my fat would continue to go down, but it's staying the same, too. By the way, the calipers read the same as they did last week-- 19.6% fat. Compare that to the 24% in the sidebar. This is a healthy percent of fat.

The only unhealthy reading I have left is my waist--31 inches compared to hips that are 36.75. A ratio of .844, when it should be under .8.

But that fat percentage is great. Truly, I'm happy with the way things are. There's just something psychological about continuing to see the number on the scale go down. And I'm still 8.6 pounds from my ultimate goal. I'll get there, though. I guess now is a time for my body to adjust.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Back down

overnight: -0.4
weight: 133.6
0.4 under LDW

Sunday, March 15, 2009

P3 D17

overnight: +0.4
weight: 134
at LDW

A slight gain. There may not be a reason for it. But I did do more vigorous exercise than normal. My husband and I went snowshoeing in the woods. A lot of it was uphill, plus wearing heavy boots and snowshoes. I also didn't drink as much water as I'm used to. Either way, this is my LDW, so it's not a big deal.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

P3 D16

overnight: 0
weight: 133.6
0.4 under LDW

This is the first time I've maintained a weight in this P3. And this is a good one to maintain. It proves that yesterday's big loss wasn't a fluke.

Friday, March 13, 2009

P3 D15

overnight: -0.6
weight: 133.6
.4 under LDW

I didn't do anything special yesterday and my weight came down. I felt good all day yesterday. Plenty of energy and my mood was up. I mean up. I used the energy to do some cleaning. The loss is going to stick this time, I know it. I'll keep losing until I reach my ideal weight, then maintain for life.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Two weeks of P3 and going strong

overnight: -0.2
weight: 134.2
0.2 over LDW

Last round I thought I was a failure. I thought HCG worked for everyone but me. On this day last round I was 139.4, which was 6.6 pounds over LDW. I never recovered from Thanksgiving. I just kept going downhill and ended up at 141.2 on my last day of P3.

My two weeks of going even stricter than Atkin's Induction are over. Today I'm introducing almonds. I want to wait at least another week before I have fruit. I suppose I'll eat it if I really feel the need for it. I was craving fruit last night, but it went away after I had coconut oil. But I think keeping my blood sugar more stable has been good for me.

I'll go slow with introducing one food at a time. Despite my strict eating, I'm amazed at how well I'm stabilizing. I want things to stay this way.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

P3 D 13

overnight: +0.2
weight: 134.4
0.4 over LDW

Steady as she goes. This is wonderful. I'm continuing to release fat. I measured myself yesterday and I'm a bit thinner than most of the measurements in the side bar. My calipers told me I dropped so much fat I don't quite believe it. I'll post what it was next week if it holds true.

Hard work and dedication pay off in P3. I haven't had any food cravings, but once in a while something looks good. When that happens I tell myself, my body is more important than food.

I keep forgetting to take pictures. I'll take some as soon as possible and get them posted. I've got a ways to go, but I'm sure there's noticeable progress to be seen.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

WooHoo!

overnight: -1.6
weight: 134.2
.2 over LDW

Snoopy dance, Snoopy dance. I wanted to be sure I wouldn't have to do a steak day today, so yesterday I did a protein day. Thanks for the suggestion. Even though (I think) you were suggesting it as a replacement for a steak day, I used it this way. I can't believe how well it worked.

I may have lost some of that anyway, but I don't think I'd have gone lower than 135 on my own. Now I have a feeling of being able to control things somewhat. I mean, I've been stabilizing just fine. But this way if I get too close to the line I know there's something I can do about it.

Monday, March 9, 2009

P3 D11

Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. Saturday night I didn't get home from the youth banquet until 11:20, and didn't get to bed until midnight. Turn the clock ahead an hour and that's 1 a.m. Then I was gone all day yesterday, too. Today, I'm wiped.

I had two busy days in a row, away from home where it's harder to drink water all day. I was able to keep my eating in line, but I didn't take in enough water.

Sunday:
+.4 = 135.4
1.4 over LDW

Today:
overnight: +.4
weight: 135.8
1.8 over LDW

I'm confident I can turn that around with a day at home with no stress and plenty of water to drink. The scale still says that's all lean weight gain and I'm losing fat. So even if I gain enough tomorrow to have to do a steak day, it's not the end of the world.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

All is well

overnight: -0.6
weight: 135
1 pound over LDW

I'm so relieved I lost again instead of gaining. No steak day worries today.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Too close to the line

overnight: +0.6
weight: 135.6
1.6 over LDW

Yipe! I know that's lean weight, but I still have to follow the rules and do a steak day if I go over 136. I'm only another .6 away from a steak day. And tomorrow would be a horrible day for one. I'll be very busy and away from home for supper.

About the lean versus fat... Today's results tell me I've lost .6 in fat since my last low calorie day (8 days ago), and gained exactly 4 pounds of lean mass. I like that ratio. But like I said, that doesn't exempt me from a steak day.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

P3 D7

overnight: +0.2
weight: 135
1 pound above LDW

All right, that wasn't much of a gain, but I'm ready to see a loss again just to prove it's still possible. I'm not overly worried, but I enjoy seeing the scale go the other way. On the other hand, it's so nice to see and feel my muscles coming back.

Something else funny is happening. In my dreams, my body has always been accurate at whatever weight I'm at. So if I'm in a swimsuit, or the dreaded in-my-underwear-in-public dreams, I'm trying to hide my body. Since I've been back in the 130s, I've had a flat stomach in my dreams. In reality, I don't have a flat stomach--not even close--but if I'm seeing myself that way in my dreams, my self-image has shifted to the positive.

Last night I dreamed I was standing on a dock in a bikini top and cut off jeans. I was feeling a bit self-conscious at the time because someone was video taping the scene. But when I saw a playback of the video, I had a flat stomach with good muscle definition. What a fun dream! I can't wait until it's reality.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

P3 D6

overnight: +0.4
weight: 134.8
0.8 over LDW

I'm gonna have ups and downs. I won't sweat it.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

P3 D5

overnight: +0.4
weight: 134.4
0.4 over LDW

Not bad. While I'd like to stay under my LDW, just .4 over is nice stabilization. I'm back to my normal exercise, and I'm really enjoying it. Elliptical 6 days a week, resistance training 3 days a week. For now, the resistance training is only body weight. I'll move to something more challenging after about a month.

Monday, March 2, 2009

At last!!

Lets just say I took some fiber, things moved.

overnight: -0.8
weight: 134
At LDW

It finally happened. I lost weight on P3 without a steak day! I was beginning to think it wasn't possible for me. I'm eating nothing but meat and vegetables and a little bit of coconut oil. If I can't stabilize on that, I can't stabilize. The only thing I could take away is the coconut oil.

But today's loss gives me hope. Maybe I can stabilize, despite having more lean mass to gain back. Snoopy dance!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

P3 D3

overnight: +1.2
weight: 134.8
.8 above LDW

I don't like that. Most of that was lean weight gain, but not all of it. I gained .3 in fat. Now, a scale can't measure fat absolutely accurately--it gives more of a guideline. But if I'm going to believe it when it says I lost fat, I have to believe it when it says I gained.

It could be as simple as the fact that I haven't had a good BM since I've been eating full calories. They've stayed small as if I'm still staying under 500 calories. So I'm no doubt a little backed up. That might also affect the fat % reading.

Or it could be that I ate cooked vegetables for the first time last night. I made stew. My body doesn't like cooked vegetables while on HCG, so I avoided them. My body could be reacting to reintroducing them. But I simply can't have all my vegetables raw. I get too sick of them.

I won't worry yet. I'm still not over 136 where I'd have to do a steak day. Last round on this day I gained 1.6, so I'm still doing much better this time.