Gained 11.8 pounds

I went in to get my free metabolic test this morning and got some GREAT news. I have a fast metabolism. They pinch your nostrils shut and you breathe into a mouth tube for 10 minutes It showed that I can eat 1829 to 2375 calories a day, without exercising, and maintain my 183.0 pounds. To lose, I can eat between 1465 and 1829. I pretty much knew I had a fast metabolism from writing down my calories. Too bad about the big gain, but they were very nice to me about it. My size 14's are really too small, but I'm wearing them anyway, in teh hope that I will start losing. I'm really happy that I can eat 2,000 calories a day and maintain. Of course, lately I've been topping 3,000 every day.

Weight 171.2

I weighed in 2.4 pounds heavier yesterday, since my previous weigh-in two weeks ago. This week, Sunday through Saturday, I'm taking the SNAP (formerly called food stamps) Challenge, where you eat on $30 a week. I'm eating some cheap foods that I really enjoy, but usually don't eat because of the high calories, e.g., PBJ sandwiches (28 cents and 410 calories each; should really eat just peanut butter sandwiches for 18 cents and 310 calories; the jelly adds not one bit of nutrients, just calories and taste), Banquet TV dinners (got these on sale for 68 cents apiece! I always thought they were high in calories, but 4 of the 5 different ones I bought had 250 calories, the same as the Lean Cuisines I usually buy on sale for $2), and Ramen noodles (15 cents and 370 calories). It's not at all difficult to eat on $30 a week, although most of the people doing it are blogging about how difficult it is because they want their organic fruits and vegetables, soy milk, etc.

Weight 168.8

I lost 3.6 since last Thursday - I'm gonna start titling with my weight - I think that makes more sense now. It's OK with me if I just fluctuate between 165 and 170 for a while. I hope never to go over 170 again - but I know that probability is always lurking.

Total loss 72.4

Horrible news - I gained 4.4 in the past 9 days. I skipped my regular weigh-in Tuesday because I was busy at work. Today was my final appointment with the doctor. He was understandably disappointed and tried to impress on me how important it is in the next 5-6 weeks of maintenance to not eat the huge amounts of cookies and candy that I have been eating. I weighed 172.4.

He went over the results of my final labs versus my starting labs. My hemoglobin actually went down a little (11.9 down to 11.3), which only goes to show that I'm probably not going to be able to give blood at my Sept. 11 appointment. He said that was probably just normal for me. My lipids were basically the same - my good cholesterol actually went down from 53 to 43. That's because I'm on cholesterol medicine, so it was artificially good to start with. The one great thing was that my starting gluclose was 139. Normal is 70-105, and if you get 2 in a row over 125, that is a diagnosis of diabetes. It went down to 94.

Total loss 76.8

I lost 1.6; however, I weighed in at 8:00 a.m., because I was there for a blood draw. Naturally, you're gonna weigh less after a "12 hour fast." I weighed 168.0.

Total loss 75.6

I gained 2.2 pounds this week, weighing in at 169.6 yesterday. I was not happy about this, but there was some great comfort food awaiting me at Cracker Barrel where I met all three of my sisters and Lena and Natasha. I told someone at work that I gained 2.2 and she said, "Isn't that what you were losing?" Yes, 2.2 was a common loss number when I was on the liquid diet. Gotta get a hold of myself. Gotta taste how delicious those healthy foods are, like apples, bananas, grapes, and oatmeal. (Had all of that for breakfast this morning for 370 calories total). I counted 1295 calories at Cracker Barrel last night, which woulda been OK if I hadn't already had 960 before I got there and more after I left. Of that 1295, 630 was in the form of grilled sourdough with jelly. That stuff is so good! Well, I'm rambling. I'm embarrassed.

Total loss 77.8

I weighed exactly the same as last week, 167.4. YAY! I'm happy with that. This was my first week of sustaining. It will only be called sustaining for 4 of the 8 weeks I'm in it - they're revamping it to be called balance and some "tools" will change. But already it's free. I am required to go to class and clinic for another 7 weeks in order to become a lifetime sustainer or I guess balancer, and then I still get to go for free. I don't really understand what the advantages are of going for 8 weeks, except after that I don't have to go any more.

Total loss 77.8

I gained 1.8 pounds, so I'm now at 167.4. It's hard to lose those last couple of pounds when I'm eating so much. Let this be a wake-up call to me!

Total loss 79.6

I was incredibly lucky to have lost 0.2 of a pound in the past 5 days. I'm eating like crazy and not exercising, so this will not continue. I weighed 165.6 at the weigh-in.

Total loss 79.4

I went in to weigh this noon because on Tuesday at 5:30 I had practice for Standup! the Musical. Anyway, I LOST 3.6 since last week, when I posted a two-week gain of 2.6 from being in Costa Rica. The weird thing is that I had a horrible week, eating over 2,000 calories many days, including yesterday when late at night I had 2050 in mixed nuts alone, not to mention the stuff I had eaten during the day. I was shocked - I fully deserved and expected to have gained again. Don't know what to make of it, but I'm positive that if I continue to eat like I did this week I will quickly gain back all I've lost.

Total loss 75.8

So I gained 2.6 pounds during my fabulous Costa Rica vacation and now weigh 169.4. (THANKS ONE BILLION TO MY GENEROUS SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW!!!) It was worth it. I'm on Week 5 of 8 weeks of transitioning and then I have 8 weeks of sustaining until I'm on lifelong maintenance.

The greatest things about losing 75 pounds: 1) being able to walk through the airport almost as fast as the rest of the group, and 2) fitting into the airplane seat and seatbelt.

Total loss 78.4

I lost 2.0 and now weigh 166.8. Adrienne makes an incredible stir-fry with no oil (bok choy and red peppers or bok choy and onions). And an incredible dish of bean sprouts with less than a teaspoon of sesame oil with vinegar and a tiny bit of sugar. She puts out an amazing spread of food for under 200 calories. Thanks, A! This next week I'm supposed to have 2 shakes a day, 4 ounces of lean meat, 6 servings of vegetables, and 1 60-calorie serving of fruit. (Well, I had already added the fruit.) Then the next week (I'll miss class & clinic for being in Costa Rica), I go to 1 shake, 4 ounces of meat, 6 servings of vegatbles, 1 fruit, 2 starches (80 calories each - includes bread, potatoes, corn, rice, beans, etc.) and 1 40-calorie fat (which could be a teaspoon of oil or butter or peanut butter or 6 almonds, or 8 olives). Actually, I'll eat whatever I want in Costa Rica, just trying to stay under 1,000 a day.

Total loss 76.4

Loss of 0.6 - now weigh 168.8. In this, my second week of adapting, I get to add 1.5 to 3 cups of vegetables a day - of course, not just any vegetables, but non-starchy, cooked, "non-gassy" vegetables. So, no broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage, of which the c-vegetables are my favorites. Adrienne made me a delicious dish of green beans and onions. It was fantastic! I'm looking forward to some spinach and some bean sprouts. Also, my 4 ounces of meat has a much larger pool to choose from, including 8 egg whites, 4 ounces of cheese that contains less than 3 grams of fat per ounce, low fat hamburger, and some others.

Total loss 75.8

I lost 3.4 and weigh 169.4. Got my instructions for adding 4 ounces of chicken, fish, or turkey per day for the next 1 week. They call adapting 8 weeks, but it's really only 5. The last 4 weeks are all the same - you're on 0 shakes. It goes 3, 2, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0. Then, you're on sustaining for 8 weeks and that's where you can have 1 shake a day if you choose and you have to be weighed every week. After that, there's some type of lifelong sustaining where you have to be weighed every 3 months.

Total loss 72.4

So, I gained .8 at the weigh-in yesterday. I'm not surprised because I ate quite a few nuts last week. Since this is my final week of official full beverage, I'm going to do my best to stick to it for one week and do some exercise every day. On June 12, I will have been on this diet (more or less) for 6 months. A special thanks to my staunch supporters, Chris and Kate. And to Lena for the superb drawing which, if I knew how, I would scan and put on this site. It depicts me with a tiny A by my waist, B on my upper arm, and C at my mouth. The key reads A - shirt so big it needs to be tucked in, B - bulky muscles, C - smile of tryumphf. Also the other arm is lifted with a fist of tryumphf. It's on display at work - I love it!

Total loss 73.2

I weighed 172.0 today, a loss of 4.2 since last Tuesday. The look of that chicken neck skin is really annoying me.

Total loss 69.0

I showed a 1.2 loss at my meeting yesterday, so I weigh 176.2.

Total loss 67.8

I had my monthly doctor appointment today, just 2 days after my weekly meeting, and lost 2.4 in those 2 days. Now I wish I hadn't been so careful to wear the lightest possible clothing and shoes. I was afraid I would show a gain in those 2 days due to eating a few nuts. We discussed when to stop full liquid and decided I could wait until 2 weeks before going to Costa Rica and that it would then be okay for me to have meat, fruit, and vegetables there. So I actually have the rest of this Tuesday to Tuesday week, plus 3 more full weeks of full liquid until I start adapting on June 15.

Total loss 65.4

I can't believe my good fortune - I lost 2.0 pounds this week despite 2 days that I ate 1/2 pound of mixed nuts (1370 calories each of those days for the nuts plus 1 shake for 210)! This is my last full week of full beverage, to get ready for Costa Rica. I weigh 179.8.

Total Loss 63.4

I was incredibly lucky to lose 2.2 pounds this week, despite a big binge on mixed nuts and shredded cheddar cheese over the weekend, and not doing my exercises. I've only got 2 or 3 more weeks of full beverage before I start on adapting in preparation for eating fruit in Costa Rica. Current weight 181.8.

Total loss 61.2

4.0 pound loss tonight, so I'm at 184.0. It was week 20 (they take blood every four weeks, which is the only time they tell you what week you're on), so I'm still on course for 3 pounds a week. So, YAY!

Total loss 57.2

So, yeah, only .6 of a pound in a week, at the Tuesday, April 27, 2010 weigh-in.

Total loss 56.6

Yesterday I posted a 2.0 loss, so I'm now at 188.6. OK for only 5 days. I made an appointment with Leigh the trainer for May 29, which was as soon as I could get in, for an upper body workout demo and plan, not that I've been doing the lower body one she gave me a few weeks back. I went to Target and bought an exercise mat, but didn't make use of it last night. I hope tonight. I did ride Adrienne's exercise bike for 15 minutes.

Total loss 54.6

YAY! I lost 6.0 since last week (in 9 days, as this was my monthly dr. appt.; I skipped my Tuesday meeting), or 5.8 since 2 weeks ago. I weigh 190.6. Some portion of the 6.0 is due to lighter shoes and clothing than I was wearing last week. It was my 18th week, so I should have lost 54. I'm quite happy about it. Don't tell anyone, but on my way back to work I had to stop at Walgreen's for a small dose of magnesium the dr. prescribed (250 mg/day) and I got myself a 110-calorie pack of Peeps that was on sale. Some would say I need to find a better way of celebrating, but I think 110 calories (28 grams of carbs) is quite permissible on the rare occasion of having lost 50 pounds. Anyway, last week I got myself a pair of 18 jeans and a pair of 16 jeans at the Lutheran resale for $2 each. 18 fits perfectly - didn't try on the 16. I hope when I get to my goal loss of 80 pounds that I will be in a 14 and stay there. If all goes according to plan, this should occur on June 15.

Total loss 48.6

Somehow I gained .2 over the past 7 days. I did eat two delicious pieces of ham at the Beez's on Sunday. But I lied to the people at New Directions because I know they would pounce on that and say that's why I posted a gain. Which I do not believe. When a person is eating only 640 calories a day (and even on Sunday I doubt I had more than 800 - I only had 2 shakes that day), there is no reason to gain weight. It probably has something to do with my elimination system on less fiber. All of a sudden about a week ago, I did not like the taste of that chocolate with fiber and I've been using only 1 of those a day and 2 puddings. She asked me when was my last poop, and I have no idea. I don't write those down. She tried to blame it on the fact that I don't drink any pure water. But I drink plenty of liquids in the form of diet pop and decaf coffee. So it's depressing. I deserve a very large loss next week.

Total Loss 48.8

I lost 2.8 since last Thursday, so I now weigh 196.4. I should get to a loss of 50 next week. I made an appointment with the fitness person for Thursday 6:00 to 7:00.

Total Loss 46.0

In 9 days I lost 2.4 pounds - kinda lame. No cheating. Tracey said I need to start exercising or my loss will keep decreasing. I did get slightly under 200 - 199.2. I went to Aldi's after class and noticed some pickles that said a serving had 0 calories, so I bought them. That's not cheating to me. I'm sure to them it would be.

Total Loss 43.6

I posted a 2.8 loss, so I'm at 201.6. Unless someping goes horribly ascrew, I should get under 200 next week.

Total loss 40.8

I went to my monthly dr. appt. and weighed in at 204.4, so I lost 1.2 puonds in 2 days and have reached the halfway point of this diet! YAY!! I started on Saturday, December 12, so tomorrow will be 3 months. Saturday will be exactly 13 weeks, so I'm on track for the 3 pounds/week a female is supposed to lose.

He said he was glad I failed to give blood on Saturday (even though I passed the iron at 13.0 vs. the 12.5 needed, they couldn't get it to come out) because it would be too much of a burden on my system. He said it had never come up in the 6 years he's been doing this diet, so he hadn't thought about putting it in the materials.

Total loss 39.6

Yesterday I posted a 1.6 loss, and now weigh 205.6. I have my monthly dr. appt. on Thursday, so possibly I'll reach 40.0 then. I got a good talking-to by Linda, the nurse who 2 weeks ago seemed to be saying that my cheating was OK and they would not force me to switch to Outlook (the 1250 or 1300 diet that includes 2 shakes plus food). Apparently, she took my sheepish admission to cheating to mean that I was repentent and would be getting back to shakes only. So, now I have to give up my daily treats. I had just found out how great Kroger Private Selection mesquite turkey is: 4 ounces has 100 calories, 0 fat, 0 carbs, 22 grams protein. I still had 8 ounces at home, so I ate that last night. Yum! Today it'll be nothing but 2 chocolate with fibers and 1 pudding, plus all the coffee, tea, and diet Kroger lemon-lime I can drink. I've got Pepsi 0 at home, too. So, we'll see.

Total loss 38.0

So I lost 2.4, to arrive at 207.2. I should have some celebrations coming up fairly soon. When I lose 40 pounds, that will be halfway to my goal. When I lose 45.2, I'll get under 200. When I lose 50 pounds, I'll have lost 50 pounds.

I'm in the groove now of 2 chocolate with fibers and 1 chocolate pudding per day, plus a protein cheat of under 200 calories, usually a can of tuna or chicken. I already had my can of chicken today, plus 4 cheetos (well, that's even more of a cheat), but only 1 beverage. I gotta get another beverage and a pudding in now.

Total loss 35.6

Despite copious cheating, I lost 2.2 (my most common loss number by far) and am now at 209.6. I told the nurse about my cheating and her response was if it's hard for me not to eat now I should move on to program where you eat and drink beverage. But she's not forcing me, so I'm very happy to know that I can cheat and get away with it!

Bad news yesterday when I went to my regular doctor (the one who gives me my prescriptions). They measured me and I was 5'3"! Oh, no, I've been 5'4" all my life! Now I'm the shortest sister and the fattest sister! Plus that inch probably represents a good 8 to 10 pounds on the weight chart.

Total loss 33.4

Yesterday I posted a 1.4 loss in 5 days, so now I weigh 211.8. Had myself a little 0-carb cheat last night of 1/2 can of smoked kippered herring (thanks to the Beez) - 65 calories - I could have eaten the whole thing, but I really didn't intend to go over 40, but I did. Tasted mighty good. Rachel & Jacob got to split the other half.

Total Loss 32.0

Went for my second monthly appointment with Dr. Miller. Lost 1.6 pounds in the two days since Tuesday.

Total Loss 30.4

So, I only lost 0.8 in the last 5 days. Oh, well.

Total Loss 29.6

Skipped my meeting Tuesday, so I went in today to get my beverage and get weighed. I lost 5.2 in 9 days, which would be equivalent to 4.0 for 7 days, so I'm very happy. Of course, I'll only have 5 days of loss for my next weigh-in.

Total Loss 24.4

Another 2.2 loss, so I'm at 220.8. Kinda disappointing. Yeah, I did have the little cheating day last Friday, but the total cheat was less than 100 calories, so that made 710 calories for that day, at most. The other 6 days were 600 + 5 or 10 for 1 or 2 boullions.

Total Loss 22.2

Lost 2.2 pounds - now at 223.0.

Total Loss 20.0

I know I shouldn't be so happy because of numbers on a scale, but I was thrilled when I went to my monthly doctor appointment this afternoon to find I had lost 3.8 pounds IN 2 DAYS! Two factors involved here: 1) it's warmer and I was wearing only a shirt and no jacket like I was on Tuesday, but mainly: 2) I had to get up to go to the bathroom 2 or 3 times each of the past two nights and my ankles lost the swelling they had on Tuesday. So, YAY! From a starting weight of 245.2 to 225.2.

Total Loss 16.2

Yep, that means I only lost 2.2 pounds in a whole week. Kinda disappointing. Guess I'm gonna have to try to make myself do some exercise. On the plus side, they gave me 24 cups with lids that will become Mrs. Poorbelly's Portable Potion Cups for Lena's Harry Potter party on Jan. 24.

Total Loss 14.0

Well, Tracey weighed me and said I had lost 3.2 pounds, for a total loss of 14.0. Now I see that that doesn't jive with what I was told (or mis-heard) last week. Or mis-heard this week. Guess it doesn't matter that much.

My class was on exercise. (There are only 3 possible topics: exercise, nutrition, or behavior.) What I think I learned: People who diet without exercising lose 75% fat and 25% muscle. One pound of muscle uses 50 calories a day, while one pound of fat uses 2 calories a day.