Day 112: Anxious

I am already a bit anxious about next week's weigh-in.  I really want to drop at least 2.5 pounds so I can get below that 200 mark.  However, I'm worried that I had such a great week this week because I was sick, and next week there could be a leveling-off, so to speak.  I'm so close to 200 pounds, I can almost taste it ... but, I won't because I don't know how many calories that would be :-)!!!

The best thing about being sick though is that massive hunger I was feeling last week is now gone.  I am back to my normal self.  I can stick to the 800 calories without freaking out.  I guess that flu came at a great time. A good reminder though to get your flu shot.  I am thankful I got mine.  I know I still had the flu, but it could have been much worse.  So, if you haven't already, go get your flu shot!

Week Sixteen

Today's Weigh in:

-5.4 pounds

Total Lost:
56.2

Current Weight:
202

Great weigh-in today!  I lost 5.4 pounds and am now just two pounds away from the 200 mark.  I don't think I've been below 200 pounds since the late 1990's.  Hopefully I'll get there next week!

Day 110: The Flu

Nothing like a bout of the flu to help move the diet along.  I apologize for not posting for a few days, I have been so sick I could barely get out of bed, much less go on the internet!

I was feeling great then Friday morning "BAM!".  I felt sick and it got worse throughout the day.  I attempted to go to work, but that lasted about two hours before I had to go home.  I've been in bed ever since.

Today is the first day since Friday that I've even felt like doing much of anything.  And frankly, that's not a whole lot.  I'm still in bed, but hopefully will be feeling much better by tomorrow.

Day 107: Outside Inspiration

If you're looking for other inspiration, check out "Does this blog make us look fat".  They created the above graphic, about bad diet buddies, which made me laugh.  I don't have a diet buddy right now, but I think I really could use one!

Another beautiful blog I enjoy is Can You Stay for Dinner.  Her photography is stunning and the blog is full of tasty looking recipes.  I think I'll put it on the back burner before I delve too deeply!





I also just found "Diary of an Aspiring Loser".  It's appealing to me since she's clearly a Bay Area gal.  I can't recommend it too much, since I've only just discovered the blog.

If you want to check out more blogs, scroll to the bottom of my page and you'll see a complete list.

More Good Reads

Every now and then I like to post articles that appeal to me relating to diet and exercise.  Since I'm blogging about my diet, this one particularly appealed to me.  It also includes some great tips from other bloggers.

Here are some of my favorite "before bed" tips:

Before bed

"At night, I often want something to nosh on, so I make trail mix: I spray air-popped popcorn with cooking spray and add low-sodium sea salt, dried cranberries, wasabi peas, a couple of baby pretzels and a few M&M's. It's only 120 calories! If I can have M&M's each day, I won't lose my mind." 
-- McRee

"If I really want something before I go to sleep, I pour myself a cup of chocolate-flavored almond milk from Trader Joe's. It tastes fantastic, and it's a smart snack because it has a protein kick to make you feel full." 
-- Adams

"For an evening snack, I make a sundae out of Greek yogurt, walnuts, a chopped banana and maybe a few dark-chocolate chips. It feels indulgent." 
-- Cammy Chapel, lost 100 pounds; tippytoediet.com

Day 106: Losing my Mojo

I feel like I'm losing my motivation.  I haven't cheated, but I feel like I'm on the verge of something very bad. I have been consistently hungry for the past week or so ... and now I keep thinking of food.  Real food.  The past few days my calorie count has gone up to around 900-1000.  Still not high, really, but higher than it should be for this diet.

It's frustrating because I still want to lose about 30 more pounds.  At a minimum I want to get below 200 pounds before I do anything else.  Must.  Keep.  Going.

This goes back to the problem I mentioned in yesterday's post.  I wish the program would deal with some of the underlying problems with overeating.  I feel like it's not addressing the root of the problem, only the symptom.  It would really be easy to go back to those bad eating habits.

As I write this I am thinking about my use of the word "bad".  I'm on the verge of something "bad", "bad" eating habits.  It's this very mindset that makes us think of food as "bad" or "good".  Yes, these days there are actual bad foods.  Soda, for instance.  Sure it tastes great, but there's nothing good (healthy) about it. But, it's interesting the labels we put on something we must do every day.  Eat.  Food for thought anyway. (Ha!)

Day 105: Sugar, Fat, Salt

I haven't exactly been thrilled with my weekly group meetings on this diet plan.  I feel like the meetings are geared more towards basic nutrition facts than helping us get through this difficult eating plan.  It also never seems to touch on any sort of behavioral issues.  I have a real issue with that since a majority of people eat too much, not because they don't know what they should be eating, but because they can't control their eating.  There's some sort of mental block.  And helping dieters get over that part of the hurdle is a major part of the puzzle that isn't addressed in this program.

However, I will say I was fascinated by today's program.  We listened to an Authors@Google lecture from
David Kessler.  He's the author of The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite.  The hour long lecture is basically a synopsis of his book.  It covers how America's food industry uses sugar, fat and salt to essentially get Americans addicted to food.  Kessler's belief is that it's not a matter of willpower, our eating behavior has been conditioned.

Americans are heavier than ever.  Weights have steadily increased in the past 50 years.   Obesity rates are twice what they were in the 1970's. In the 1960's the average male weighed 168 pounds ... now the average is 180.  For women it's 143/155.  We also gain more over a lifetime than we have in the past.  We start out larger and end up even larger.

There are many reasons why this happens.  Kessler's view is that it has to do with what he calls "Conditioned Hypereating" ... which is a combination of how food, advertising and and lifestyle changes have short-circuited the body's self-regulating mechanisms which then ends up with reward-driven eating. A quote from Kessler "The most effective rewards are those that change the way we feel".  Food certainly does that. Highly palatable foods activate the reward centers in the brain which then leads to more overeating.

Kessler says the desire to eat (non-stop) is due to the presence of a combination of sugar, fat and salt.  In addition, he says', in the presence of a varied and limitless diet people tend to eat excessively.  Heck, look at how our portion sizes have grown in the past 30 years.  Super-size me, anyone?

He also says the power of food comes from the ability to anticipate the food.  To counteract this, look for your food cues.  What makes you eat?  What is your stimulus?

What you can do:

Reduce Your Chance of Being Stimulated:

• Avoid Eating Cues
• Avoid Being Primed (set up to eat)
• Avoid Being Deprived

Reduce Power of Stimulus:

• Develop Rules for Eating
• Plan/Structure your Eating

Change Value of Stimulus:

• Critical Perceptual Shift (prevent yourself from being manipulated)
• Alternate Rewards (instead of food)

Week Fifteen

Today's Weigh in:

-2.0 pounds

Total Lost:
50.8

Current Weight:
207.4

I hit the 50 pound mark!  Woo hoo!  It took 15 weeks for me to lose 50 pounds, not too bad.  I still have about 30 pounds to go, but I'm still plugging away.

Day 103: Just Because

Here's a new picture.  I thought I would post this since I thought the other one didn't really show the weight loss.  (At least not to me, I thought I looked pretty much the same!)

I have discovered that I really do need to start firming things up.  I was looking in the mirror and even though I'm thinner, I'm starting to look a bit flabby.  Time for some sit-ups or planks ... hmm... I should probably be doing both.

Day 101: The Problem with Nutrition Bars

I am beginning to think the nutrition bars may have been a mistake.  The past few days I have been hungrier than usual and the only thing that has changed in my diet has been the nutrition bars.  They're a nice change, and I love the fact that I actually have something to chew, however if it's increasing my hunger I'm going to have to cut back.
Yesterday I ate 900 calories, one of the few times I've gone over my allotted calorie budget.  Today, I'm on track to do the same.  I know 900 calories isn't a lot, but I want to continue my 2-4 pounds a week weight loss and I don't want it to be jeopardized by a nutrition bar.
I'll keep you posted.

Day 100: I Made it!

Day 100.  Nothing special really, except that I have made it through 100 days of dieting.  800 calories a day for 100 days.
The photo below is a photo taken today, after a visit to the gym.  It's getting close to time for me to buy some new gym clothes.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but the clothes I'm wearing are actually baggy.  And I say that with a smile!  :-)

January 17, 2014

Current Stats:

Weight: 209

Bust: 39 1/2"

Waist: 34"

Hips:  46"

Thigh:  25.5"

Arm:  12"

Neck:  15"

And... just a reminder where I began ... 100 days ago.

I have decided I am going to continue with the program until the end of February.  I will re-evaluate at that time, but I should lose another (hopefully) 15 pounds by the end of February.  Overall my ultimate goal is to get to 170 pounds, that still leaves me with 39 pounds to go.   At this point that seems a bit overwhelming. Logically I know it's not that much, especially considering I have already lost 49 pounds in just 100 days.  I will stick with this for a little while longer and, as always, keep you updated on my progress.

Day 98: The Joy of Nutrition Bars

I have discovered something lovely.  The nutrition bar.   Just about every "modified fast" diet plan has their version.  This week I asked if I could get on the bar bandwagon and I bought a box of "chocolate". Compared to real chocolate bars, these are complete crap.  However, compared to what I've been eating the past few months - these are freakin' awesome!

Mmmm, chocolate.

The key to adding the bars to the fast is moderation.  They're a nice way to get added fiber and to give yourself something to actually chew.  Ah, how I miss the chewing!  They're also pretty high in calories.  It depends on what you're using, but most are around 150-170 calories.  Significantly more than one of the packets of shake or soup mix.

I've been rationing the bars throughout the day.  I usually break off 1/3 or 1/2 of the bar and eat it when I get hungry and want something yummy.  I then eat the rest at the end of the day.  It really just depends on my mood.  The bars are also excellent when you're traveling and want something quick and easy to fix.  It's a lot easier to eat a nutrition bar instead of mixing up some soup or the Nacho Cheese Pasta!

Oh and let's be clear these are nutrition bars.  I had to laugh during group this week.  One of the other dieters kept referring to them as "candy" bars.  Every time he did, the group leader would correct him and say "nutrition", but he just kept right on calling them "candy" bars.  She pointed out the importance of not thinking of them as candy bars and thinking of them as a separate food/meal.

Week Fourteen

Today's Weigh in:

-3.2 pounds

Total Lost:
48.8

Current Weight:
209.4

What a week!

I hit another milestone, of sorts, today.  I now weigh less than 210 pounds!!   AND I'm only 1.2 pounds away from the 50 pound mark.    All in just 14 weeks.   Awesome!

Day 95: One of Those Days

I'm having one of those days, you know, the days where you are hungry.  All. The. Time.  I have eaten more than I usually have by this time of day, and I am still hungry!

Here's what my day has looked like so far:

Breakfast:

• Hot Cocoa w/ Coffee: 75 Calories
• Egg Subsitute w/ Chicken Soup Mix: 155 Calories

Lunch:

• Homestyle Chicken Soup: 70 Calories
• OptiFast Bar: 170 Calories

Dinner:

• Nacho Cheese Pasta: 260 Calories

Oh ... and about a gallon or two of water!  For a grand total of 730 calories.  And, I am still HUNGRY! I have at least four more hours until bedtime and I am almost out of calories for the day.  I really wish I knew what caused the body to be hungrier than usual.  It would really solve a lot of problems.  Even now, I could still eat something.  I am going to fight the hunger though ... and wait until I get home to have my second cup of cocoa.   Grrrr.

Day 94: Contemplation

I am considering a change to my diet.  I haven't made up my mind yet, but I am thinking about what I will do once I drop below 200 pounds.  I'm pretty close, less than 13 pounds away.

I wonder what would happen to my diet if I allowed myself to eat regular food just once a week?  Could I still stick with the diet, or would it make me hungrier than usual and eventually be my downfall?

I would sure be nice to be able to go out to dinner with a friend.  It might also help fight this intense feeling of deprivation I have been battling for weeks now.  Hmmm.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but this might be a way to stick with the diet, but still allow myself to have a bit of a life.

Food for thought, anyway.  (Pun intended!)

Day 93: More to Lose

It's so nice to hear people tell me how great I look.   However, I always laugh when I tell people I still have about 35-40 pounds left to lose and they say "No, that's not possible, where is it going to come from?".  I'm sure it's just something they feel they have to say, but it's still amusing, 'cause I still have a lot to lose!

Right now I weigh around 212 pounds.  By all the medical charts I am out of the "Obese" category, but I am still very much in the "Overweight" range.  My BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29.6.  Anything over 30 is considered obese.

My ideal body weight ranges from 155-189 depending on which calculator you use or which doctor you talk to.  I am aiming for somewhere in the middle ... 170 pounds.  Frankly, I will be thrilled to get below 200 pounds.  I haven't been below 200 in a decade!

Bottom line, I look much better, but I am still overweight.  I wear a size 14.  Which is kind of depressing in a sense.  I've lost 45 pounds and only two dress sizes.  While I realize that is only a technicality ... there is a big difference between a Women's Size 18 ... where I began ... and a Missy 18.  It still seems odd to be (in numbers only) wearing a 14 now.  To clarify my point, Women's plus sizes are cut VERY generously.  I work a Women's 18 (sometimes even a 20) while I couldn't even zip up a Missy 20 when I began.  I am now a Missy 14.  I was planning on waiting until I got to my goal weight to buy new clothes, but I've had to cave in ... when I can easily pull my (buttoned!) jeans off over my booty, it's time for some new pants!

I have no end-game for sizes.  I am not desperate to be a size 8 or 6.  I just want to look and feel good.  If I'm wearing a 10 or 12, so be it.  Sizes aren't really worth much anymore.  Some brands make clothes bigger to make us women feel better while we're trying them on (check out Eileen Fisher, I am a medium in her clothes!) while others make clothes so small hardly anyone can fit into a large (yes, Abercrombie & Fitch, I am talking about you!).

Day 92: A Good Read

I always thought I’d be fat, interesting article on Salon.com about one man's weight loss journey.  Check it out.

Day 91: Three months already?!?

As I'm sitting down to write this blog post today I realized I have reached 91 days.  Amazing!  It's hard to believe I've been on this diet for 91 days.  A full 3-months.  I am very close reaching 100 days!  Some members of my group have decided they are going to stick with the plan until the 100 day mark.  I will continue past that point, but I'm not sure how much further I can go.

Below is a picture of me now, 45 1/2 pounds lighter.  (You'd think my selfie skills would have improved by now.)

January 8, 2014

It's interesting where I have lost the most weight.  A significant amount is in my upper body.  You can really see it in my face and neck.

January 8, 2014

Here are the latest stats:

Bust: 4"
Waist: 5"
Hips: 4"
Arm: 2"
Thigh: 1.5"

It all began on October 8th, 2013.  That's where I learned about this crazy 800 calorie a day diet that could help me get back to my fighting weight ... and I said "Count me in!".

October 8, 2013

I still have quite a way to go, but I am more than halfway to my goal weight of 170 pounds.  That's 42(ish) more pounds to go.  At this rate I should reach 170 sometime in March, if I make it that far.
This is a grueling diet.  It's certainly makes for quick weight loss, but it consumes your life.  I feel like everything revolves around my diet right now.  My friends and family have even been forced to adjust their eating around me and what I can and cannot eat.
I plan to stick with it through the end of February, at least.  Stick with me and see what happens!

Day 90: New Challenge

I hit a challenge today at my weekly weigh-in.  Here's how it works:  You go into the WMP (Weight Management Program) office and check in at the front desk.  This is when you pay the monthly fee (first week of the month only) and then turn in a sheet with the food items you are going to purchase checked off.

Here's where the problem began today.  They were out of the Nacho Cheese Pasta.  I have been using this as a staple, of sorts, for the last few weeks.  It's the one food that isn't liquid and has some actual structure. You don't realize just how much you miss chewing until you don't do it for several weeks. Anyway, I had to purchase all shakes and soups today.  Yikes.

It makes me a bit nervous about how I'm going to handle the next few days.  Luckily, I am working, so I can focus on that and distract myself. When I'm on my weekend, it's harder to stay focused.  The two times I have strayed from the WMP food were both days off.  Maybe I'll just go for a walk during my lunch break. Usually I go home and fix the pasta, but perhaps the walk will be good for me.  Both a distraction and a workout.

I have to go fix myself a shake now.  I was counting on the pasta for dinner.  Oh well.  I'll have to buy several boxes next week, just so I have back-up available!

Week Thirteen

Today's Weigh in:

-2.6 pounds

Total Lost:
45.6

Current Weight:
212.6

A decent weigh-in this week.  I have officially crossed the 45 pound mark!  It took just 13 weeks to lose 45.6 pounds.  I still have a good 35-40 pounds to lose, but I'm hanging in there.

I am now looking forward to getting below the 200 pound mark. I should be able to reach that by the end of the month, or at least the first weigh-in in February. 

Day 89: Changes

I'm now at the point in my weight loss where people are really starting to notice.  I met up with some friends I haven't seen in a while and they were full of compliments.  Heck, my dry-cleaner even noticed.  Today she said I don't even look like the same person.  I think that's a bit of a stretch, but it's true, you can really notice the weight loss in my face.

It's one of the blessings of losing weight - once you get to the point where people notice, it's much easier to stay motivated.  Now that everyone can tell I've lost weight, I don't want to gain it back.  I think I would be so embarrassed and that's VERY motivating!  I think (hope, really) it's one of the things that will help me keep the weight off once I'm done dieting.

Day 88: Measurements

Today's Measurements:

Bust: 39 3/4"

Waist: 34 1/4"

Hips:  46"

Thigh:  26"

Arm:  12"

Neck:  15"

December 23:

Bust:  40"

Waist:  35"

Hips:  46.5"

Thigh:  26.5"

Arm:  12"

Neck:  15.25"

Starting Measurements:

October 9:  

258 Pounds

Bust:   43 1/2"

Arm:   14"

Waist: 39"

Hips:   50"

Thigh:  27"

Day 86: Intermittent Fasting

I found this article on Intermittent Fasting today on the Huffington Post.  A lot of people are talking about IF right now, including me.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am considering a lifestyle diet to include intermittent fasting when I have reached my goal weight.  It seems like a simple way to lose weight, or just keep the weight off.

Here's a brief excerpt from the article (click on the link to read the full post):

The basic premise of IF is to enjoy better health via repeatedly fasting for longer periods than is typical on a daily breakfast-lunch-dinner schedule. Variations are endless. Some proponents skip breakfast; others, dinner. Others fast all day every other day, every third day, once per week, or once per month. A friend I know who travels for work six to eight times annually always fasts on the first and last days of his trips, reasoning that airline food is awful anyway. (Fasting, it should be pointed out, means abstaining from solid food; all sensible IF plans allow hydration with water, tea or other no- or low-calorie beverages.) 

The positive effects of IF have been chronicled in a variety of animal and human studies, starting with a seminal experiment in 1946, when University of Chicago researchers discovered that denying food every third day boosted rats' lifespans by 20 percent in males, 15 percent in females. A 2007 review by University of California, Berkeley, researchers concluded that alternate-day fasting may:

• Decrease cardiovascular disease risk.

• Decrease cancer risk.

• Lower diabetes risk (at least in animals, data on humans were less clear, possibly because the trial periods in the studies were not long enough to show an effect).

• Improve cognitive function.

• Protect against some effects of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Apparently IF is the talk of the internet today.  Here's another BBC Article that came out today on the subject.   It's the third in a series.  You can also check out the other two:  Fasting for Science and Enduring the Hunger Pangs.

Day 85: Motivation

Getting motivated to lose weight is important.  As we start the new year, lots of people will make resolutions to lose weight.  Many of those people will not succeed.  Year after year I have been part of both groups. I've had big plans and very little follow through.

I can't really define what changed for me in the past few months.  I have been surprised, heck, more than surprise really, but my willpower and determination.  So what changed in the past few months?  I can't really answer that definitively.  Part of it had to do with looking at my parents' health as they get older.  I want to be healthier as I age with fewer weight related issues.  Part of it has to do with the desire to finally settle down.  As I get older, it seems like I am getting further and further away from a long-term relationship.  I figure my weight was holding me back from pursuing relationships and a healthy lifestyle.

None of these were really new issues for me, but something shifted last October.  I heard about the Optifast program at Kaiser and was so disappointed when the dates didn't work out for me.  I was determined to go on a similar diet plan and looked until I found one that fit into my schedule.  At that point I was steadfast in my plans to lose weight and I haven't looked back since.

Weight loss is a long process.  It didn't take weeks to gain those (ahem) 75 extra pounds, so what can be done to keep the motivation going?   It all depends on you and your personality.  Are you an action = rewards kind of person?  Are you dependent on the reactions of others?  Are you an addictive personality?

Here are some ideas that can help:

• For many food is an addiction.  I have an uncle who says to get over an addiction you must trade it for another.  Trade that food addiction for something positive like exercise.  Lots of endorphins and good feelings there.  It works for some, but not for everyone.  Give it a shot.
• Tell everyone you are going on a diet.  You'll force yourself to stick to it.  This has worked well for me.  Almost everyone I know is aware I am on this diet plan.  Many check in with me constantly for a status update.  This keeps me on track because I don't want all those people to know I failed to stick to the diet.  Truly a great motivator!
• Give yourself rewards.  Not food!  This is important, find something you love and reward yourself when you reach those goals.  I set mini-goals for myself and if I meet them I treat myself.  For instance, if I reach my goal next week, I am going to buy myself a planner from my new favorite website, Erin Condren.  If I don't reach the goal, I set a new one and wait until I reach it.  My goal this week is to get to yoga class three times!

Erin Condren

• Make sure your goals are reachable.  Keep them small and manageable.  A goal of losing 75 pounds, for instance, is great, but set smaller goals to reach along the way.
• Find your inspiration.  What gets you going?  Read blogs (like this one!), find people who can inspire you and help you on your way.
• Get support.  This is a big one.  As I mentioned, I told everyone I know about my weight loss plan. Not only that, I made a special effort to tell people I believed would offer me support and inspiration along the way.  Some of my friends are athletes and they are some of my biggest cheerleaders. Family is also important.  My family keeps track of my weight loss and give me motivation to keep going.
• Make your plan so easy that it's hard to fail.  For me, this was going on a diet where most of the choices were taken away.  As long as I eat only the food given to me, I will lose weight.  Taking away that choice has helped me stick to the diet plan.  It's obvious when I cheat.  Plans like Weight Watchers work for a lot of people, for me, there were too many options and it was too easy to eat too much of the wrong foods.
• Schedule.  Put your exercise routine on a calendar.  Plan your eating.  I am to the point where I eat pretty much the same thing every day.  Is it boring? Sure, but who cares?  I am losing weight and it's simple.  Do whatever works for you to make it so easy you can't quit.
• Don't give up!  If you get off track, get right back on.  I have made mistakes, but I owned up to those mistakes and went right back on the diet.  Don't let those minor (or even major) setbacks keep you from reaching your goals.
• Remember, you can do it!   Everyone has it in them.  Everyone can lose weight, or exercise more, or do whatever it is you want to do.  No matter how long it takes, all you need to do is head in the right direction and you'll eventually get there.

Day 84: Hello 2014

Happy New Year!  2014 is going to be a banner year for me.  I am setting some healthy goals for myself and I am going to share them with you.

• I will continue with my diet and lose an additional 45 pounds.  My goal is 170 pounds.
• I will exercise 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week (minimum).
• I will get on the path to a healthier lifestyle, both mentally and physically.  This means not only the above two goals, but also ultimately to simply be happy with myself.
• I will strengthen my relationships.  I have some wonderful friends who I haven't spent nearly enough time with.  I want to enjoy my life and that includes my friendships.

If you still need some ideas for your New Year's Resolutions, check out this blog.  Here are a few of my favorites from the list:

5. Stop beating yourself up for skipping the gym on days you truly didn’t have time. But also, stop skipping the gym on days you had plenty of time to go.
13. Stop hating yourself for eating dessert. A piece of birthday cake is a right, not a privilege.
18. Turn off your smartphone at dinner.

There is also a good list of healthy resolutions everyone needs to make.  Check it out on the Huffington Post.