I am ridiculously scared to write these numbers down. I don’t believe them. It feels like if I put them here on the website then I am saying “Yes, I reached this. Give me credit for it and expect more!”
Let me be clear that this was a Phase II week. The beginning of this week contained two days that were completely Phase I days. Yesterday, also, was mostly Phase I, but included a snack of Peanut Butter on Whole Wheat bread. All the other days I had Phase II meals; my diet this week included shamelessly eating bread brought to me at a steakhouse, rice pilaf, couscous and lots of other starches. I’m assuming those three days of eating Phase I foods almost entirely by accident account for this weigh-in.
The only other possibility I can think of is calorie shifting, which I’m not sure I really buy into. (Please note that I link to this article simply to explain what calorie shifting is, not to recommend it. Check out this article for the dangers of relying on a diet like that.) I haven’t been doing this on purpose because I’m on the South Beach Diet, not a calorie-shifting diet. But I did try a lot of new things this week (hence the post entitled “Trying New Things“) and varied up my diet quite a bit.
Is that enough of a disclaimer for you to believe that I had nothing to do with this?
Starting Weight: 226.5 lbs Last Weigh-In: 199.5 lbs Current Weight: 193 lbs Weight Lost This Week: 6.5 lbs Total Weight Lost: 33.5 lbs
Starting Waist: 45 in Last Weigh-In: 37.5 in Current Waist: 37 in Inches Lost This Week: 0.5 in Total Inches Lost: 8 in
Starting Hips: 47 in Last Weigh-In: 43.25 in Current Hips: 43 in Inches Lost This Week: 0.25 in Total Inches Lost: 4 in
So needless to say I’ve met my goal of 195 lbs. The next goal is 191 lbs. I’m afraid that this weigh-in is a false low (though I stepped on and off over and over in disbelief, and even moved the scale to a different room to see if it was just unbalanced) and that if I act as though it’s real I won’t give myself enough time to hit 191 lbs. But there’s this other part of me that says I should believe in myself. I have lost thirty pounds. Why do I still think I can’t lose weight?
So the next goal date is going to be August 6th. That way, even if I wake up tomorrow morning and weigh 196 lbs again, I should be able to meet it. Here’s to luck…
I weigh 197 lbs this morning, so I gained one yesterday.
I am kind of surprised about this. I was on all Phase I foods again yesterday. Unfortunately, I had some really fatty meat for dinner (parents wanted to go to a BBQ restaurant) so that was most likely the culprit. I did manage to order the only two non-carb side dishes they had and I physically wiped the BBQ sauce off my food, but I guess I just ate too much meat. I didn’t feel overly-stuffed though, so that’s good.
But it’s only two days into the weigh-in “week,” so I’m confident that I can lose some more and do fairly well by next Wednesday. I don’t think I’ll have any problem meeting the 195 lbs by July 23rd goal.
And now for a C25K update…
I haven’t been running at all this week. In fact, I haven’t even gone to the gym. I have been avoiding mentioning this (as some of you have probably recognized) until I came to some sort of decision. I have been thinking about whether or not I want to continue the program.
Now first, let me say that if I decide not to continue, I’m not going to be disappointed in myself. If I stop now, it’s not because I don’t think that I can do it; it’s not because the program has somehow beaten me. Honestly, if I decide to stop now, it’s because I don’t like running. I have never liked it, even when I was a fit little girl. It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me to try to sustain an exercise regimen that I know I will hate and possibly try to get out of when I could be exercising doing things I like: swimming, tennis, dancing, aerobics (never actually tried that, but I think I would like it) or even the elliptical machine. It just seems to make more sense to pick an exercise that I will enjoy – that way I can advance at it without hating my life.
And I had almost completely decided to quit C25K. I was thisclose to announcing the decision. But then yesterday my boss put a little brochure on my desk for a charity run our own company is having to benefit the community we work in, and do you know what it is? It’s a 5K. I couldn’t help but think that this came across my desk when it did for a reason. I couldn’t help but think that God was encouraging me to continue. And so I wrestled. “But I hate C25K!” I said.
But then it came to me – a moment of pure genius and absolute clairvoyance, a supernatural understanding: I can run/walk a 5K without going through the C25K program!
So that is my plan. I will return to the gym on Monday morning. I will do whatever I think I will enjoy there. And between now and September, I will be training my body how to run a 5K in ways that feel comfortable to me. If I can’t do the C25K intervals right now, that’s not what I will do. I will simply build up my stamina by running and walking, running and walking. Perhaps I won’t be able to run the entire 5K in September – I might still have to run a little and walk a little. But I am going to work on physical fitness as my goal, not on a 5K as my goal. And I will not force myself to follow a regimen I hate.
Yesterday I ate almost totally Phase I foods. I find this is really easy to do when you incorporate lots of beans, therefore: a three-bean salad for lunch! It wasn’t that great of a recipe, though (much too acidic for me) and I think I’ll be trying to jazz it up a bit with my own twists next time. If I’m successful, I’ll post the recipe here; otherwise, go find yourself a three-bean salad recipe! It’s worth it. And anyway, we went out to dinner and I had a fabulous salad, but I couldn’t control myself: I had half of a dinner roll with butter and a couple bites of Hubbo’s Mac ‘n Cheese.
Randomly, this morning I weighed in at 196 lbs. New low. Lost 3.5 lbs in one day. Even while cheating with rolls and cheesy pasta.
I really think my body was just holding onto some of my camping weight for a little while extra and finally decided to release it after a few days of mild torture. Maybe I hadn’t been drinking enough water. Who knows? I just hope the trend continues.
I am totally stunned. I stepped on and off the scale several times again this morning to verify, and the number didn’t change.
I guess there’s nothing else to say by way of introduction. Better to just let the numbers speak for themselves this week.
Starting Weight: 226.5 lbs Last Weigh-In: 204.5 lbs Current Weight: 200 lbs Weight Lost This Week: 4.5 lbs Total Weight Lost: 26.5 lbs
Starting Waist: 45 in Last Weigh-In: 39.5 in Current Waist: 39.5 in Inches Lost This Week: 0 in Total Inches Lost: 5.5 in
Starting Hips: 47 in Last Weigh-In: 44 in Current Hips: 43.5 in Inches Lost This Week: 0.5 in Total Inches Lost: 3.5 in
So just to sum up, total weight loss for the two weeks of Phase I (Part II): 11 lbs!
It boggles my mind that from Wednesday through Saturday I can lose absolutely nothing, and then suddenly, without changing any behavior at all, drop 4.5 lbs from Saturday to Wednesday. I really thought I had stalled at 204.5 lbs. I guess it just goes to show what a little perseverance can do.
Anyway, I expect to see a little bump up in the numbers tomorrow as this is the first day of Phase II (Part II). I am, however, reintroducing the carbs a lot slower this time. Last time I just started eating fruit and starches and everything at several meals on the first day. This time I think I’ve rationed it out a bit better to be a little more gradual with my system.
Phase I and the NBA Championship are officially over, and it is with great relief that I bid them farewell! (So sorry, Hubbo, but if I had to hear about another Celtics game this month I think I would have about had it.)
The scale said 201.5 lbs today. What?! I wasn’t expecting that. I got off and got back on several times, though, and it stayed the same. Another pound-and-a-half gone. Wow! I just really hope I don’t gain it back tomorrow. I want my weeklong low for weigh-in day (although it doesn’t usually work out like that).
I don’t know why, but I am still surprised whenever the scale jumps like that. I had almost convinced myself that it wasn’t worth it for me to do two weeks of Phase I – that the second week I never lose more than I would on Phase II anyway. Well, I guess I done got served.
Anyway, something I forgot to mention yesterday amid all the talk about rewards and goals and whatnot – I didn’t say what my next goal was going to be now that I’ve hit the 10% goal! I’ve set it for 199 lbs to break the 200 mark. And since yesterday I weighed 203, I gave myself three weeks to hit it – looks like I should be coming in a little early if things keep happening the way they are. But we’ll see… I don’t want to count my chickens, you know?
I guess I will leave you with that. I am in a fantastic mood today. Two months and two days after beginning, I have hit the 25 lb loss mark. Awesome!
Sorry to have disappeared for the weekend. We had a fairly busy one what with Father’s Day being my grandfather’s 93rd birthday and all. (I had one bite of Hubbo’s piece of cake, by the way, and that was after I passed around the bread, potato salad, and fresh fruit without taking a scoop. It was so good I wanted to cry.) Anyway, to make it up to you, I’ve put up a new Rewards Page! This is where I’m listing the little celebratory things I will give myself when I hit certain goals. If I were smart, I would have done this a while back and included something for a 10% weight loss. Unfortunately, I would feel cheap listing a reward for a goal I’ve just hit – it doesn’t seem quite fair to add that into my self-contract late.
That’s right, I said I’ve hit it. Both yesterday and today I weighed in at 203 lbs. Over ten percent of my weight is gone. Woohoo! And I am so close to being under 200 lbs I can smell it. There is nothing special about breaking the 200 mark, I know, but it really is just going to feel so nice to know that the first number in my weight is a one. I’m going to feel like I really accomplished something there.
And I gotta tell ya: the end of Phase I (Part II) is coming, and I cannot wait. I don’t crave carbs, I’m just bored with the menu!
In the interests of honesty, I feel I have to tell you: I am getting so sick of salad!
The limitations on Phase I really do mean that you eat a lot of them. I really am a fan of salad in general – I’ve always liked them. I do miss my Ranch dressing, but it’s ok: I like vinaigrettes too. I’m just so sick of lettuce right now! Ugh. Keep plowing through.
However, I have made a new discovery to lighten the monotony of the egg breakfasts I eat every morning! Ok, so I didn’t actually “discover” it, and most of you have heard this a thousand times before (just like I had), but I never bought into it. Turkey sausage! We’re allowed to have Turkey Sausage/Bacon starting with Phase I, and even if you’re not on SBD, check it out! It is way lower in fat (blah blah blah, you all know this) but it really doesn’t taste that bad (maybe you didn’t know that!) It actually does taste very similar to pork sausage – at least, the Jennie O brand does. It’s missing a little bit of the spicy kick I like in sausage, and the meat is softer in texture, but otherwise it is just like sausage. I’m excited about this because you can only have eggs and canadian bacon so many different ways, and I’m not going to make an entire frittata when I’m the only one here to eat it.
Anyway, my mom did notice my weight loss unprompted last night, so that was nice. Also, I was good when we went out. We picked her up at the airport and went out to Applebee’s afterward. We had already eaten dinner, but my tummy was growling (had only had 800 calories all day long). I ordered a cup of Tortilla soup and spooned all the tortilla strips out onto the side of the plate. According to the nutrition info Hubbo found, it is pretty high in carbs – but that includes all the tortilla strips, so I think I’m good.
I’m down to 204.5 lbs again this morning, so it didn’t do any damage at least. But it seems I just can’t make it to that 10% loss mark… It’s always just out of my reach! Oh well, I’m sure I will get there before the next weigh-in. I mean, I have to lose something this week… Right?
Yesterday at the office I was called “The Incredible Shrinking Woman.” Teehee. I feel very silly admitting it, but I do like the positive attention. This is very strange to me, as I am usually one to avoid being the center of attention at all costs. I guess this is just an accomplishment I am actually proud of, whereas most of the other things I get complimented on I was always raised to downplay and shrug off. I like it better this way.
Anyway, here’s a little nugget for you. I found this on another blog this morning. It’s the trailer for a new documentary called “Simply Raw.” It’s over nine minutes long, but if you get a chance, give it a look. It’s about how a raw food diet can completely reverse the effects of insulin-dependent Type 2 Diabetes.
Now, South Beach is not a raw foods diet, but it has also been shown to reverse Type 2 Diabetes. Of course, nothing has been “proved” and the American Diabetes Association doesn’t buy it. But my mom was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes several years ago. She went on SBD, lost 50 lbs, and her blood sugar is completely under control when she follows the SBD guidelines. I’m not a doctor, but I’m just saying: give it a chance.
Anyway, here’s the trailer:
I guess I’m posting this here because it’s so relevant to me. My grandmother, my mom, and my dad all have Type 2 Diabetes. Combine that with what I weighed at my last doctor’s visit on April 7th – 230 lbs! – and there was very little chance of me escaping the disease even at 22 years of age. All these studies give me hope. We don’t have to eat crap, people! I mean, there’s a lot of crap out there to eat, but there is good stuff, too! I know it might be a little more expensive, but it’s totally worth it to eat food the way God made it instead of out of a box or in freeze-dried powder form. Our bodies were designed to eat pure foods, so it’s no wonder they don’t function great when we fill them up with processed junk.
Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. I know most of you are not here for a lecture, so here’s what you’ve been waiting for: my weight is 205.5 lbs today. Gained a pound from yesterday but it’s fine; I’m sure it’s just normal fluctuations.
I’m also going to see my mom tonight for the first time in several weeks (over a month?) as she’s been out of state. I hope she notices that I am smaller.
So, since this is measurement day and all, I feel it’s appropriate to tell you: I’ve lost a cup size! (Also, I find it interesting to note that I find it “appropriate” to share that information with the outside world ever, but this being a diet blog and all…) Yesterday, after several days of noticing that my bust size was perceivably smaller, I decided to measure. I had been fighting this because the way my bras were fitting made me think they were too small, despite what I visually noticed in my body. Turns out I was wearing a band size too small and a cup size too large – no wonder they didn’t fit right! This is a major NSV for me. Bra-shopping has always been one of my worst enemies, just because it was so difficult to find anything that fit that wasn’t made for a granny. Even if my band size still makes it difficult to shop for bras, that won’t be the case for long. I am losing and it is making a difference.
It is nice to finally lose a size in something. It’s kind of disappointing to me that I’ve lost over 20 lbs and still wear the same pants size. Unfortunately, that’s what happens to people who don’t own up to their weight gain and continue wearing sizes too small for them (we’re talking major muffin-top issues here) like me. Now that my pants actually do fit, I probably have lost a pants-size. I just haven’t gotten to celebrate by needing to buy new pants.
Anyway, onto today’s stats!
Starting Weight: 226.5 lbs Last Weigh-In: 211 lbs Current Weight: 204.5 lbs Weight Lost This Week: 6.5 lbs Total Weight Lost: 22 lbs
Starting Waist: 45 in Last Weigh-In: 40.5 in Current Waist: 39.5 in Inches Lost This Week: 1 in Total Inches Lost: 5.5 in
Starting Hips: 47 in Last Weigh-In: 44.5 in Current Hips: 44 in Inches Lost This Week: 0.5 in Total Inches Lost: 3 in
I’m pretty excited that I will definitely be hitting another of my important goals this week even though I didn’t actually set a date for it. I am days – maybe one day – away from hitting 204 lbs: loss of 10% of my weight. I already technically lost all the weight I gained over the past year – April 07 to April 08 – when I hit 205 lbs yesterday, even though I lumped those two together in the Goals page. Woohoo! Finally hitting that big 10% is important to me. Apparently, it greatly improves your health to lose 10% of your body weight even if you’re still overweight.
Well, that’s all folks. One more week of Phase I (Part II) to go.
Yesterday I made some homemade hummus and thought you all might be interested in the recipe. Now, I know that some of you out there are thinking, “No, why would I make it when I can buy it?” And honestly, I felt the same way. Actually, I’m not even a huge hummus fan. But! Hear me out…
When Hubbo and I were on vacation, we went to a fabulous Italian restaurant. (Yes, I did gain 4.5 lbs in a week, shut up.) But something interesting about this restaurant is that they don’t just bring you bread and butter before your meal, or even bread and olive oil. They bring you bread with White Bean Hummus.
It was to die for. So delicious!
So of course, knowing that I’m allowed hummus even on Phase I, and that I can have all types of beans, I decided to get a recipe for it. Now honestly, after tasting it, I think this recipe could do with quite a bit less lemon juice – it really overpowers the bean flavor. But altering that, I think it’s a great recipe. Thus, I link to it! On Phase II, this would be fabulous on Pita or almost any type of bread. On Phase I, I will eat it with fresh veggies. Yum!
In other news, the scale said 205 lbs today, so another pound down. Honestly, I’m looking forward to measuring tomorrow more than anything else. I’m not so good at keeping myself from weighing in every day, but measuring I really do only once a week. Hopefully that will make the difference seem a little more dramatic.
