Happy Thursday!!

[Terry]

Good Morning!!

No cats here to get me out of bed just a huge urge to run to the bathroom from yet another dream ending with me on a toilet. Am I the only one whe dreams of being in a different bathroom every night??

I am mall bound for a nice walk around for some exercise before checking out a few stores this morning. Momma needs a new pair of walking shoes. My daughter wants to treat me to lunch today so we will to go Applebees and get caesar salad. I really like their southwestern chicken salad but am not sure of the carb count. When I emailed them once they didnt give carb counts, just caloric and fat amounts aimed at low fat dieting.

Glad to see Elfish and Star back on posting. Finelly.... Got water in hand???

[Finelly]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Good morning. Allow me to process and "think aloud" by writing, because I have just weighed myself (gave in) and it was not good.

I am in the middle of week four and have lost a total of 5.5 lbs.

On the one hand, I am very disappointed because I have been assuming I was losing faster. This explains why I still can't really see a difference when I look in the mirror (though my kids and husband swear my legs and abs are thinner, and my face). If this was my first time around, i would quit right now.

But it's not my first time around.

So I'm going to look at what I've been doing. Carbs well under 20 every day. Working out every day (minimum 45 min cardio, plus weight training). Lots of energy. Happy. Enjoying the food. Calories are within 50 of my BMR every day. Not tempted more than once every few days, and then it's mild and easy to discipline. I'm pretty sure I am in ketosis.

I could be building muscle, but let's be honest, it takes about 6 weeks for that to happen. Could be my struggle with the water, though. I could be metabolically resistent this time around - but that, I think, decreases as you keep on going. (am I right about that?) NO foods or spices have ever stalled me - could they be doing so now? I dunno.

So I'm wavering between disappointment and resolve. I have no desire to quit. None. I enjoy the way I FEEL, just not the way I LOOK. (won't be measuring again until next Tuesday....)

Any thoughts? I particularly would like reassurance from people who have been here before.....but rest assured, this is not going to destroy my day, my week,or my woe!

[Terry]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

I was glad to see that last sentence........................... Dont let it ruin your day or take your resolve away. <hug>

I lost my first 63# with only walking for exercise. I joined Curves 8 months in and stopped COLD in my tracks on the scale. I only lost 2 more # in the following 5 months and I DID let it ruin my resolve. It tore me to shreds and I began my journey into dabbling in low carb the that eventually turned to screw it and began my old ways.

I am positive that it is the muscle building for me back then because although I stopped measuring everyone said I was losing all the time. But I let that scale get me and it was the beginning of my downfall. I do want to go back to Curves but will only do as reccomended and go 3 times a week. I was going 5 and 6 times loving it and thinking it would make the pounds fall right off. Then I got a repetitive injury in my shoulder so that was the end of my trips to Curves.

I typed this pretty fast as your post really got my heart going worrying that this was going to ruin it for you.

Try getting that water in and seeing if that makes a difference.

Dring Fin Drink!!!!

[elfish99]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Hi Fin, don't be discouraged. You think there might be something specific you're eating that might be stalling you?

You might just be having an off day. Remember that your weight will vary depending on alot of things. Who knows, if you had weighed yesterday or tomorrow, you might have seen 10 lbs lost... Hang in there

[Sarah1341]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Hi all - hope you are having a great Thursday!!

Finelly, hang in there! My first time around I lost something like 56 pounds. When I incorporated exercise, it definitely started coming off slower. You have been doing a MAJOR exercise routine. You have said yourself that you have lost in the nature of 16 INCHES! That is awesome!!! I would say that you are building muscle and that the whoosh fairy will be visiting you shortly. You are in your fourth week, so your body may still be getting used to the new way of eating and your exercise routine. As I have seen you tell many others, use that tape measure - the scale is evil!! Sending hugs your way!!!

[Sarah1341]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Oh, I forgot to mention Finelly, that this time around I am losing weight a lot slower than I did the first time around. Only down 12 pounds. Maybe this could be the same for you? It just gives us time to make sure that we are changing our habits for life, right?

[Finelly]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Thanks, guys! I'm in no danger of quitting. I like: the food, the companionship on this board, the way I feel (happy and energetic) and the health of this program. I'm sticking to it. I would do so even if I hadn't lost a pound!

I am interested in learning more about the slow loss. What's the pattern in people losing this slowly? Does it speed up eventually? Does it stay this way? (that wouldn't bother me very much, it's just important for me to know)

As for foods that stall me, I dunno. I eat less meat than most (though more this time around than before) so I have more dairy and way more eggs than some people. Since I keep kosher and kosher meat is very expensive, it's not an option for me to change that. Plus, it certainly didn't slow me before. I don't think I am willing to experiment with that right now, though I might in the future. I'm verycomfortable with my menu and that's important to me during the summer, when blueberries (my favorite) and melon and other yummy things are in the store and I need to stay happy with my menu to avoid temptation!

This forum is the BEST. I was going to post this stuff in the extended induction forum, but realized I wanted to share it with my buddies here instead! You guys ROCK!

[Sarah1341]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

I'm not sure if it will speed up or not. It did the first time around. This time I have been exercising from day 1 and I truly believe that this has influenced the slow loss. So, even though the loss is slow, I know that I am making a happier, healthier me.

So happy exercising and happy low carbing we will go.

[Kathi22]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Finelly-


First let me say YOU are my motivation. Your post hit me pretty hard this AM. We are only human to step on the scale every now and then, but don't let those results hurt you. 5.5 pounds in 4 weeks is still 5.5 pounds less then you were before. You WILL lose weight the way you exercise and eat - so keep up that positive head of yours and stay focused on your true goal. I have been told you lose less the STA; try searching for threads on here that talk more about this.

I have a confession to make. I got on the scale yesterday. I was OK with my results, but I lost 2# more the FTA in the first week. This was my menu yesterday after stepping off the scale:

Breakfast
1 scrambled egg with cheese
2 fried slices of pork roll

Lunch
1.5 cups of romaine
3 oz of grilled chicken breast
1 TBSP of LC caesar dressing
2 oz. of fried pepperoni (in the micro) topped with mozz. cheese

Snack
4 slices of pickle
4 large olives

Dinner
8 oz steak
1/4 cup of mushrooms and onions

So I wanted to see if the mushrooms and onions were the problem. I weighed in this AM to check, and I had a 2# loss from yesterday. Everytime I eat steak with no side veggies I lose more. May I suggest weighing yourself in the mornings for the next few days to see what could be the culprit, and what could be the pusher? I still will stay off the scale, sometimes I check after 1 week to see if I am doing OK or I need to change around some foods.

Either way, you are doing amazing. Your attitude alone is remarkable.

[Kathi22]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Oh yeah, you are Kosher and that meat is expensive. I think having more protein than fat slows down the loss, but you still lose. I have no worries that you will succeed. In fact, I bet you go back to teach at the end of the summer you will get a lot of "WOW, you look great!!!" It's the people that don't see you much who recognize the loss immediately!

[Finelly]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Kathi - thanks! I may try weighing more often, not as a measure of success, but out of interest to see if there are certain foods or times of eating that help me. That's a good idea.

THe other thing is, this is not a crash diet for me. I'm committed for the long haul....so I will take whatever I can get!!!!

I'm glad that my posts are such a great motivator for others!

[Kathi22]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

I agree with weighing to measure what foods help or hurt rather than measure it as success! Yet again, great attitude!

[Finelly]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

I just got back from the beach, where I took a 50 minute brisk walk. My legs were KILLING me within 3 minutes, but I pushed on. Walking in the sand and having to curl my toes for leverage MUST be good for those leg muscles!

I've spent a lot of time today mulling over this slow weight-loss thing. Can't figure it out. Don't know that I ever will. <shrug> It bothers me, obviously, or I wouldn't keep thinking about it. Luckily, the bothersomeness doesn't make me want to eat icecream or anything!

Going to the movies tonight with my dh. (another nice thing for me this week!)

[MorningGlory]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Finelly I bet you're just having an off day. You're doing everything right, it's just one of those funny days.

[Terry]

Re: Happy Thursday!!

Dont you hate it when something gets just under the radar like that and you cant get rid of it.

Hang in there Finelly. You are doing great!!