Oops. I forgot to respond to Purple -- no, I haven't talked to the instructor yet. Soon!

Law1
Lowcarb since July 2001
296/211/150

Hey guys! Sorry to have been incomunicado these last three days or so... We had guests in on Tuesday, and Wednesday and last night we had dinners out. This is the part that I find just impossible... the dinners out. On Weds we ate dinner at the home of our local office manager - we have eaten there before and they (grandmother, mother and son) have eaten at our place regularly so it is getting very comfortable - but not comfortable enough to say anything about what I do and don't eat. I mean come on, these three people are surviving on $600 a month (Tamuna is our office manager and lives with her son and her mom). When I know that Nana (the mom/grandmom) has stretched their food budget to serve us her wonderful meals, how can I possibly tell her that I don't want the bread, potatoes, rice salad, or 'special for you' dessert <<sigh>>. So I don't say anything except how exceptionally wonderful everything is... and we get from invitation to invitation eating on plan and just put plan aside for the evening because culturally it would be too difficult.

That being said, on Tuesday night I finished off the After Eight mints (no excuse there), on Wednesday I ate potatoes (a very few), bread and a strange dessert thing (full of sugar, I'm sure). On Thursday (yesterday) I had a piece of some merengue lemon/pear concoction, a homemade magdalena oh, and three tiny oatmeal cookies at lunch (one of the project wives hosted us) and for dinner I ate the spice cake with butter icing - the Director of our project's wife made. I could have avoided ALL of yesterday's temptations and am still not sure why I fell. I have a REAL problem with, 'well I've already blown it for the day so might as well indulge...

So I haven't tracked since Tuesday. I am back on the wagon today (Fri). I weighed in this am at the usual 144. I may actually have put a few pounds on during the binging but I drank last night (just 2 wines) enough to dehydrate me enough to weigh less in the mornings.

I feel crummy - not just physically (and irritated because my damn pants are still tight) - but because I so want to get this weight off and get losing again and I don't know why I get weak. I'm actually glad the mints are gone - no more temptations. grrrrrrrr

But enough about you...... << blush blush >>

Elyssa! Your numbers really look great - you do a great job at keeping the calories down too - I will be interested to know what results you have. I find that I lose in spurts. I may go a while eating really well (right) and lose nothing... then days later, the weight finally comes off and I never seem to drop it in .5 pound units - it's like weeks of nothing and then boom, 2 pounds. Good luck!

Judy, 137 <<sigh>> I dream of the day - your numbers are also fantastic. Are you firmly in maintenance or are you shooting to see 135 or less at some point?

Law - 222 - good for you... and regardless of whether you are tracking or not - to see results is such a great reinforcer!

Peg... how have you and DH been? And, since you have been focused on others lately, how are YOU?! Finding a little Peg-time once and a while to keep the sanity! My thoughts are with you.

We haven't seen travellost lately - I hope we get some 'losing' news!

hugs to all and I'll track and post numbers tonight....

Hugs,
Rachel
165/144/128
Haec trutina errat. (Latin for,"There is something wrong with this scale".)

[This message was edited by Rachel on 02-05-04 at 11:01 PM.]

Judy, thanks. I too love test days, I get to sit there and relax. But, then I have to sit down and grade all of them. Now, depending on the class, the grading is not so bad.

Law and Rachel, I guess it has worked! I am at a solid 143 this morning. YEA!! Now, I need to plan today before I even get started.

Rachel, eating at other people's houses is difficult for me as well. I had a get-together with some friends over christmas. We decided just have little snack foods. There was cheese, cheeseball, crackers, chips, and salsa. I went for the cheese, and luckily there were some cashews as well. Then, I brought a ranch dip and a cheesecake. They all really liked the cheesecake.

It's Friday. No classes today, but I am going to work and trying to get a few things done. Like make up three tests for next week. And possibly work on my notebook. I may have a student come in as well for some help.

220/142/135
7 to go!

Hi Guys!

I thought I posted last night, but I guess not. DH is MUCH better. A dry bandage this morning. First time in three weeks. I'm at work having just done a funeral. Going home now in the snow and feeezing rain. Supposed to go to a retreat in RI over the weekend. I want to go because it is "Peg-time" as Rachel says. It's with the women of the church, but it includes massage, reflexology and yoga among other things like shopping and napping. Oh, there's a program, but the rest of the time is pretty unstructured. I have myh own room with b/room (privileges of the "clergy" ) So, I hope it goes. We are supposed to have bad roads for the rest of the afternoon and evening. It's raining now, having snowed about 4 inches since before dawn.

Rachel. I know just what you mean about people serving your their "best, which they have sacrificed for." I run into that all the time. I just eat it, push the water and get back on plan when I can. I hear you, sister. I, too, have some stories about cultural differences. It's hard sometimes. But, also exciting.

Judy and Elyssa: You guys are doing SO well. Proud of you. Judy, don't leave us!! Just know that the two of you are working extra hard these days. Thinking about you.

Law1 and Travellost: Good to hear from you from time to time.

I have weighed in pretty consistently at 174 this week. Eating on plan has been scanty. I've been pushing water, but not enough. I did endulge in a couple of doughnuts on Tuesday night after a meeting. That's a really bad pattern that I got into several years ago. Trying to avoid it, but Dunkin Donuts is right next door to the church and they have a drive through!!!!! Talk about needing will power! Geez!

Talk to you soon.
Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/174/165
5'8"

Peg, and Rachel,
I read your posts earlier today and have thought about your dilemma quite a bit. Have you considered moving from an Atkins type regime to more of a modified CAD system. It seems that both of you get caught up pretty often in situations that you can't control. Maybe if you eat in the CAD system (a "reward" meal eaten within one hour's time) you could more easily adjust to the social and cultural demands. It's been quite a while since I read that book, but it might be just the thing you need to be able to survive without feeling like you have blown the whole day. I'm sure there is lots of info on the web if you don't have the book. And, Ilse is a veteran of that plan. She might be able to help you figure out some adjustments.

Law, it's great to see you making progress again. You'll be ready for those lessons soon.

Elyssa, I haven't had the heart to grade today's tests yest. It's the basic supply and demand unit, and when we were reviewing today, they just sat and stared at me like I was speaking greek. I'm afraid to see how bad they are.

I gave up tracking today. I ate lots of random things earlier and then for dinner made a wonderful chicken noodle soup for DH. I plan to pick the noodles out of mine as much as possible, but I'm sure some will slip in. I wish I had taken up some for me before I cooked the noodles.

Have a good weekend everyone. Peg, I hope you got to make your trip. It sounds wonderful.

Judy

180/137.5/135-138
"Even if at first you do succeed, you still have to work hard to stay there." -- Richard C. Miller

Friday:
Total: 1263
Fat: 90 64%
Carbs: 59 10%
Fiber: 27
Protein: 83 26%

Planning the day ahead of time, instead of just eating then tracking was a good thing. And I can proudly report that this morning I am 142. Finally back to sig. It's only taken me a little over a month.

I made up two tests while at work yesterday. And attended a meeting, then helped a student. I also received a call from a former student that is currently taking a course under a part-time instructor that wants to drop that class and add mine. Apparently, this guy isn't teaching at all, he assigns homework without ever going over it and corrects himself several times in class. Since I have heard this from three different students, A students at that, you have to believe it.

When I got home yesterday, I graded two sets of homework papers, have one more to go. Now, I have to type up those tests I made out and make one more. Then, I will have time to work on my paperwork.

Oh yeah, it's snowing here! It snowed a little last night, but nothing was on the roads. Woke up this morning and looked out, the road is covered and it is still snowing. Glad it's the weekend.

220/142/135
7 to go!

Well Congratulations, Elyssa!! You deserve a happy dance for getting back to sig.

I just changed my sig weight to 137. It's hanging there more than at 137.5. Am I obsessive over .5? Oh well. Rachel, to answer your question from a couple of days ago, I do think I would like to get to 135. Right now I'm not really making a big push to lose it, but just seeing if it will drift there on it's on. There was a time in my life that I thought I could eat anything and stay at 135. Boy, was that a while back! I'm trying to get out of the losing mode and more into the maintaining mode. It's actually not as easy as it sounds.

So did I track today??? I got about as far as breakfast and then blew it off. Maybe tomorrow.

Judy

180/137/135-138
"Even if at first you do succeed, you still have to work hard to stay there." -- Richard C. Miller

Hi all! Great to read about your breaking the stall Elyssa! 142!! This is fantastic! Now you DO have 7 to go

Judy, it must be a tough to be motivated to track when you are basically at goal - I can understand that sentiment completely! Thanks for the heads up on CAD. I will look into that more this weekend. I have to do all my research on line since I have no way to hop down to the local bookstore and pick anything up.

I keep thinking that if I just got my head more firmly planted in the game I could be avoiding all this 'need' to indulge. And make those hard to avoid situations as few and far between as possible. << sigh >>

Peg... VERY glad that DH is much better. And I hope this RI trip is woooooonnnnnnddddderful and VERY relaxing - it sounds like this is something you are very ready for! Are you still dealing with the cold and precipitation?

Today is Sunday - a good day to stay in, eat right, work in the garden a little and get focused for the week... I will track today and post this evening - I must get back on track!!!

I guess the good news is that I am still at 144. At least I haven't put on too much.

Hugs,
Rachel
165/144/128
Haec trutina errat. (Latin for,"There is something wrong with this scale".)

Thanks Judy and Rachel! I am actually doing something right.
Drumroll, please. 141 this morning.

Total: 1433
Fat: 101 66%
Carbs: 44 10%
Fiber: 11
Protein: 86 25%

I need to go plan todays meals. That seems to be the key in keeping the protein at that 90 gram level. And, I don't sit around trying to figure out - now what do I want to eat.

Congrats Judy! on the 137. I think if my scale weighed in .5, I would possibly be obsessive over them too. Thank goodness. And you are doing good with the maintaining.

Rachel, hope you day goes well. Sounds as though you have a nice relaxing afternoon ahead of you.

I plan on staying in. It snowed off and on all day yesterday and some during the night. Although, there is no snow on the road - the best kind of snow. I just know it's cold out there. Plus, I have lots of work to do. I typed one test yesterday, so need to type the other two today. Other than that, it's just working on my notebook.

220/142/135
7 to go!

Absolutely huge congratulations Elyssa!!! It's really cool when the home stretch gets in sight.

Today's counts for me....
Weight: 138 -- maybe I changed the sig too soon
Calories: 1633
Fat:123(68%)
Carbs: 81-27= 54 net(13%)
Protein:80(19%)
Water: not even close to enough--- again

Judy

180/137/135-138
"Even if at first you do succeed, you still have to work hard to stay there." -- Richard C. Miller

Sunday:
Total: 1135
Fat: 77 61%
Carbs: 41 12%
Fiber: 7
Protein: 74 27%

this morning: 141

Sorry to hear about your bounce Judy. Maybe it's something you ate yesterday and it will be gone tomorrow. Just get a little more water.

220/142/135
7 to go!

Hi all!
Back from my retreat yesterday am, then taught confirmation in the pm. Off to Boston for an appt this am, and now having the rest of my day off.

I ate bad, bad, bad at the retreat. Wondering to myself why I did that. It's the first time that I have really been ashamed of myself. At the same time that I was reaching for dessert, I was plotting how I could get more! I j ust didn't seem to have any will power. I had garlic bread, other bread, and dessert with every meal. The slips are too numerous and terrible to enumerate!

I came home yesterday feeling tired, bloated and pretty disgusted with me. Then went to the church last night and ate three big pieces of the desserts left over from the morning worship! Geez! What is going on???

I've never been a big sweets eater!! Honestly!! That's what has me baffled. Before this WOL I could have eaten a whole loaf of french bread, or a package of crackers, or a variety of other salty things. But sweets just didn't get it.

I wonder if the stress of the last three weeks is catching up with me and I am unconsciously (pretty consciously now, huh?) eating emotionally. I suspect that's it.

Anyway, after my MacDonalds lunch today I'll have an lc dinner. I weighed in at 176 this morning, which is only two pounds over what I was when I left. I was surprised. I expected to have gained 10 pounds!! (Sigh)

Send me some positive energy and thoughts, will you? I'm going to need it to get over this sweets craving. I know I have to white knuckle it. I just don't know if I have the gumption to do it!

Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/176/165
5'8"

Ok, here it is.........


Now go back and read Monday's thread...... you can get up again. I'm sure your reaction is much like mine in stress situations. I can hold it all together as long as necessary, but then when no longer required to be strong, I fall apart. My observations was that you gave yourself a "fall apart" timeout. Since this is a lifetime WOE and therefore WOL, all you have to do is get right with things tomorrow. Go back a day or so on this thread and look at my recommendation to you and Rachel about switching to CAD -- that may solve lots of problems for you.

Today for me:
Weight: 138 -- again
Calories: 1386
Fat:93(61%)
Carbs: 92-28= 64 net(19%)
Protein:68(20%)
Water: not enough during the day so I tried to make up some tonight -- bet I'll be up 2 or 3 times.

Judy

180/137/135-138
"Even if at first you do succeed, you still have to work hard to stay there." -- Richard C. Miller

Peg, I second Judy's postive engery being sent your way. You have had a lot going on lately - the stress factor may have reared its ugly head.


Monday:
Total: 1129
Fat: 75 61%
Carbs: 39 7%
Fiber: 20
Protein: 88 32%

water: not so great as well and I even gave a test today.

I already have my menu for tomorrow planned as well.

220/142/135
7 to go!

Peg -- I am so sorry that you have had a bad fall off the lowcarb wagon! I know exactly how you feel. If I could practice what I preach, I could give you some advice. All I can say is to hang in there. You have had great success and know how to get back on track. I wonder if your blood sugar got low and that's why you were craving the sweets.

Way to Go Elyssa! You are really making progress. 7 pounds to go -- that sounds like a lucky number!

Judy -- I agree with Elyssa that it's likely just a bounce.

I am still holding at 222. I bounced up a pound, but then came back down. A couple of glasses of wine and too many lowcarb treats caused the bump up. I have been doing well today. I have been drinking a lot of water and trying to eat more at lunch so I don't get the evening cravings.

Two people told me I look great and slimmer in the last few days. That sure felt good. Given how much I have to lose, 9 or 10 pounds never seems like much of a difference. It must make a difference, though, since people have noticed.

Law1
Lowcarb since July 2001
296/211/150