Thursday, August 31, 2006

It sucks being fat

16 days cheat freeWeight: 145.2
Calories eaten yesterday: 1887
Calories burned: 2165
Calorie deficit/overage: -278
Carbs: 49g
Fat: 87g
Calories burned in exercise: 307

Down again. This time I think it's the lack of pork rinds yesterday. The salt seems to really effect me, and yet they are the perfect snack of pure protein and fat - the macronurtrients our bodies need. I'll be up tomorrow because I did eat the pork rinds today.

I did an obscene amount of walking today to try to burn some more calories - nearly an hour total. First I walked down to the main street and then a ways along that street. Then I walked to work from the BART station, dropped my stuff, and just headed a bit further down the road to rack up more time and steps. FitDay says 173 calories, so not bad. I needed those calories so I could eat a bit more without exceeding what I burn.

Speaking of walking, I found this cool toy last night, signed up, and filled in my steps for the past 8 days. I'm going to see how long it takes me to get to 1 million steps. :) So far I'm at 85,813 steps since August 22, which the furthest back I could find near daily stats for.

Here's me. Be sure to click the profile/stats tab for the rest of me. ;) Here at my blog, you can find my tracker in the left hand column.

If you have a pedometer and like walking, don't miss Walker Tracker as a way to motivate you to walk more. It tracks steps each day, total steps, and averages. And it's free!

Tomorrow I am supposed to give blood. Pray for me that I pass all their screening tests!

I'll likely be weak afterwards, and there won't be time for exercise anyway, because I am making some eggplant lasagna after that. So no exercise tomorrow.

Walked over 10,000 steps yesterday. :)


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Organ and tissue donation

I have signed up with the Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry. Please join me in saving and enhancing the lives of thousands of people in need of your help. It took me only a few minutes to sign up -- minutes that could mean years of life for someone else.

To sign up or for more information, please visit http://www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org.

If you are not in California, visit the national Web site.

Of course, blood donation can be done while you're alive and healthy. :)

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006

I'm fat

15 days cheat freeWeight: 146.6
Calories eaten yesterday: 1900
Calories burned: 2022
Calorie deficit/overage: -122
Carbs: 57g
Fat: 88g
Calories burned in exercise: 151

Finished The Rapture yesterday. Yay! This was not one of the better books. I gave it 3 stars on Amazon. So much of it came across as just "filler," a way to take up space. Jerry Jenkins could have covered all the relavant stuff in less than half the space. I sincerely hope the next book is better and is the last. The series has really run its course. All good things should end before they go too far downhill and "jump the shark."

Well, after my large 8s getting dirty, I switched to my pair of medium 8s today. They were very hard to get into and so tight. Thankfully they are stretch jeans so I can wear them at least. Ug! I have GOT to get this weight off. I got rid of my 10s so I have nothing to wear if I keep gaining.

This next paragraph is gross, so if bathroom talk offends you, skip it. You've been warned! Yes, I was down a pound this morning, but I know why - it's because a good dump right before weighing really can make a huge difference on the scales, lol! And that's not something I'm able to do every morning, so I suspect I'll be back up tomorrow.

I'll just keep on keeping on because I know low-carb is the healthiest way to eat.

Went to the gym today and worked my butt off. I was tired because I got a bit less sleep today than usual. I did 20 minutes on the stairmaster, 15 on the treadclimber, and then 20 just walking. FitDay says 307 calories. Woohoo!

Got mentioned on Dr. Mary Vernon's blog today. She's helping to carry on the work Dr. Atkins started. Here's the entry about me, taken from a comment I made on another post. Low-carb has cured my acne, eczema, and cold sores. Who would have known that carbs caused these?

Walked over 10,000 steps yesterday. :)


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Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Week 2 Weigh-In

14 days cheat freeWeight: 147.6
Calories eaten yesterday: 1727
Calories burned: 1951
Calorie deficit/overage: -224
Carbs: 48g
Fat: 85g
Calories burned in exercise: 76

Week 1: 147.6
Week 2: 147.6

Total loss: 0

I expected to gain, so I'm pretty happy with no loss. To address the person who said I'm not losing because I'm gaining muscle: I wish! Unfortunately, my clothes are not looser; they are tighter. I have to wear my large and medium size 8s because the small and extra small pair are way too tight. My belt was once on the sixth hole; now it's back at five again. Additionally, I have not made any progress on my body fat percentage (as measured at the gym). In fact, I may have even gone backward! So no, I am not gaining muscle. :(

Oh whoosh fairy, where are you?

Grace - my whoosh fairy

The peanut butter seems to be helping with my appetite. Two tablespoons do more to take the edge off than 8 ounces of plain yogurt. Go figure! It's gotta be the fat content helping to satiate.

Set up an appointment this morning to give blood. I'm to go in at 1:30 on Friday afternoon. I wanted to set it later, but it takes an hour and they close at 3 (and you never know what might go wrong so an extra 30 minutes is good). Here's a thread I started about it on the low-carbers forum.

Giving blood?

Just a note, I'm having problems with spell check right now, so if you see things spelled wrong, that's why.

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Monday, August 28, 2006

Giving blood

13 days cheat freeCalories eaten yesterday: 1540
Calories burned: 1972
Calorie deficit/overage: -432
Carbs: 43g
Fat: 71g
Calories burned in exercise: 221

I know I'll show a gain for the week when I weigh-in tomorrow. *sigh* I'll just keep plugging along, doing the best I can, and see if some weight doesn't come off after a few more weeks. Even counting my sky high Saturdays I still burn more calories than I eat when you factor in the other six days. I should be losing.

This blog is now on the new Blogger Beta. So if things look a little different, that's why. They are still working out the bugs, so if you see anything that doesn't work, e-mail me so I'll know.

Brad brought to my attention that I never posted the pictures of the new bike like I promised. So here you go - pics of the new (used) exercise bike that Brad brought me.

the new bike Brad brought

instrument panel on new bike
Click to enlarge the pictures.

I'm thinking about giving blood. In The Protein Power LifePlan, the Eades' contend that it is not just a great civic thing to do, but that it is actually healthy. Most of us have too much iron, and giving blood is a great way to keep iron levels down. And so I am actually seriously considering the proposition for the first time in a long time. My only experience giving blood was about 20 years ago and I fainted afterwards. That took away any desire to give blood for a loooong time after that.

I looked up the Red Cross donation center closest to me (enter zip code on left), printed out their hours, and even plotted the bus route I'd need to take. When they took my blood before, they said my finger prick test revealed a low blood sugar and made me eat some crackers and wait 20 minutes, plenty of time to get more and more nervous. I think I will handle it better this time, and a Xanax beforehand wouldn't hurt either. ;)

I tried to give blood about 10 years ago after I screwed up my courage at a church drive. During the interview portion the man noticed I had an active cold sore and said I couldn't give blood with that. Now would be the perfect time because eating low-carb has made me healthier; I can't remember the last time I had a cold sore. (Pimples and eczema have gone away, too.) Of course, on low-carb I will have to turn down the juice or cookies afterward. I can bring something low-carb to eat to minimize the stress on my system.

I think Friday would be the best day; it would just mean not being able to work out that day, or working out very early.

Walked over 10,000 steps yesterday. :)


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Sunday, August 27, 2006

Busy weekend

12 days cheat freeI know I haven't been around in a few days, so let me give you the quick rundown.

Thursday, August 24:
Weight: 147.8
Calories eaten: 1821
Calories burned: 1978
Calorie deficit/overage: -157
Carbs: 47g
Fat: 83g
Calories burned in exercise: 99

Friday, August 25:
Weight: 147.8
Calories eaten: 1968
Calories burned: 2118
Calorie deficit/overage: -150
Carbs: 54g (too high)
Fat: 75g (too low)
Calories burned in exercise: 261

Sabbath, August 26:
Weight: 147.8

How can I gain when I am being so good?!? This is so depressing. :-p My body truly does hate me and wants to be fat. I have a calorie deficit every day and I gain. Do I need to eat even less? I'm already hungry most of the time trying to keep the calories in the 1800 range.

I did have one good thing happen. Pastor Tim was mowing the lawn and his morning appointment had arrived. He hadn't noticed so I ran after him. He asked me if I was at my goal yet and I said no, and he said I looked slender. Me. Slender. Damn, that felt good. :)

Sunday, August 27:
I won't start my cheat-free count over, but I was a bad girl yesterday and binged on low-carb foods. I'm somewhat sick today and feel awful about what I did. I wasn't even hungry! I just had to keep stuffing my face and I wasn't even hungry! Argh.

I'm also dehydrated from not drinking enough water and I've gained weight yet again. Yesterday I was up a pound and I was too afraid to even get on the scale this morning.

I was going to work out extra long and hard at the gym, but I left my gym bag on the bus and ended up taking the train all around trying to catch up with the bus. Down to West Oakland - watched the bus drive off. Back on the train and down to Fruitvale. Beat the bus that time and as soon as he pulled in I jumped on looking for my bag. It was stashed behind the driver's seat. Someone had found it and NOT stolen it - amazing for where I live.

So (thank You, God!) I got my bag back and then headed to the gym, arriving an hour late. Needless to say, my workout was very short. I decided I needed cardio more than weights, so I did a half hour of intervals on the treadclimber and then headed to work. Because I didn't do weights I skipped my post-workout protein shake.

After waiting for the bus for a while I decided I had time to walk the last leg to work, so I did that and racked up 27 minutes for a total of 221 calories and I'm already at over 10,000 steps for the day. At least I got honked at some times during my walk. Of course, the fact that I was still wearing my gym clothes (bicycle pants and a tank top) might have helped. ;)

I changed into my jeans at work and even the largest size 8s I have are tight. I must get this weight off since I got rid of my 10s!

Plan for the day - drink lots and lots of water and try to keep my calories down as much as possible.

I'm making fast progress on the latest Left Behind book. The print is large and the margins are wide, and all chapter have to start on the right hand page, making for plenty of blank pages - so, yeah, fast read.

The rapture happens about halfway through, but the vivid descriptions of heaven (using Irene as the POV character) are a bit off-putting. Looking through the book it looks like that silliness continues for quite some time. While I love the LB series, the quality has gone down.

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Thursday, August 24, 2006

Day 9

9 days cheat freeWeight: 147.6 (fourth day in a row)
Calories eaten yesterday: 1770
Calories burned: 1988
Calorie deficit/overage: -218
Carbs: 49g
Fat: 73g
Calories burned in exercise: 111

9 days cheat free and still spinning my wheels. *sigh* I wouldn't be in this position if I hadn't had the glucose tolerance test. Stupid GTT!

Some good news today at least: Guess what? Today is the 10th anniversary of my baptism! I'd post pictures, but I didn't have a digital camera back then and don't know where the pictures are anyway. :-p Hopefully someday.

I was saved in May of 1996, but didn't get baptized until August 24. It also happens to be my sister's birthday, though that was just by accident. August 24 fell on a Saturday in 1996 and that was the best day for my InterVarsity leader to dunk me as we had a fall kickoff planning meeting that day, it was at his parents' house, and they had a backyard pool.

I wrote a poem that day while sitting by the pool in the sunshine. Check it out!
Cleansing Waters

Today was grocery day and I was a bad girl. I picked up low-carb ice cream and sugar free Hershey's syrup for my Saturday treat. Also got some blueberries and plan to pig out on those on Saturday. I love blueberries and now that I've gotten sugar out of my diet, berries taste sweet again.

Brad is supposed to bring over the bike tomorrow and he wants to bring some chili (without beans) to put over pork rinds with some cheese. Not sure how low-carb it will be though, even without beans. Besides, it's hard to find chili without beans.

Still raging hungry today. I'm looking forward to eating my fill on Saturday. I like low-carb food - love it even - but I just feel like I never get enough to eat, even though I'm getting more than enough calories and keeping my carbs down.

Walked over 10,000 steps yesterday, even though it wasn't a gym day.


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Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Day 8

8 days cheat freeWeight: 147.6 (third day in a row)
Calories eaten yesterday: 1852
Calories burned: 2125
Calorie deficit/overage: -273
Carbs: 45g
Fat: 81g
Calories burned in exercise: 271

Really hungry today even though I ate a respectable amount yesterday. I keep hoping that if I follow strictly for three weeks my body might let go of the excess water I know I'm carrying. *sigh* Just gotta keep following the program, even if there's no loss. Ug...I want liposuction to get rid of this fat!

Came up with a way to lower protein a bit and raise my fat - get rid of the yogurt all together (make it a weekend treat) and sub in celery with peanut butter. :) It's at least worth a try.

Low-fat plain yogurt (8 oz.): 150 calories, 3.5g fat, 4g carbs, 13g protein.
One serving = 8 oz.

Peanut butter (2 tbls.): 210 calories, 16g fat, 4g carbs, 8g protein.
One serving = 2 celery sticks with 2 tbls. peanut butter

That's only about 60 calories difference (the celery would add a few more calories) but can much improve the amount of fat I get - 12.5g more fat and 5g less protein. It's swapping a complete protein for an incomplete one, but I get enough complete protein from meat and cheese so I'm not worried about that.

We'll see if the extra fat helps diminish my appetite at all. Most of the time I find it easy not to eat if I'm not hungry. The only exception is the weekends when I'm home more and likely to be bored.

Took pictures on my old bike today, so you can see what I currently have. Pictures of the new (used) bike to follow later. :)

my current exercise bike

my current exercise bike
Click on pictures for full size with notes.

Walked over 10,000 steps yesterday. Woohoo! My pedometer says 5.83 miles.


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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Week 1 Weigh-In

7 days cheat freeWeight: 147.6 :(
Calories eaten yesterday: 1990
Calories burned: 2128
Calorie deficit/overage: -138
Carbs: 49g
Fat: 101g
Calories burned in exercise: 275

Week 0: n/a
Week 1: 147.6

My goal: To lose the weight and/or lose body fat (even if the scale stays the same).

Since I didn't take my weight last Tuesday, this is as close as I come to a starting weight for the challenge. I don't like it, but my body resists losing weight and holds onto fat jealously. I'm hoping that as I use up the low-fat foods in the house and incorporate more fat and a little less protein, that might change. I can't wait to rid my house of low-fat junk! I must be eating too much protein to lose. I am not sure how to get that down, though.

Today is only day 7 instead of day 8 because my first day doing this challenge was last Wednesday. And so I begin again, now 10.6 pounds above goal (instead of 0.5 pounds like I was!) and way more body fat than I should have. I suck. Why won't my body lose weight? I am eating less calories than I burn! *sob* Not losing is so depressing.

Don't get me wrong. I feel better on low-carb and my health issues clear up. That alone is reason enough to stick with it. But damn. Why is my body hanging on so tenaciously to these last 10 pounds?!?

My calories were higher yesterday because I was so darn hungry after eating so little the day before. It's okay. I still burned more than I ate. The fat was so high because I bought peanuts from the vending machine and those have 34g of fat in a single serving.

My legs are sore today and I am bone-weary tired. Three straight days of working out (because that's just the way things fell this week) is exhausting. And my lower-than-normal carb intake isn't making those workouts any easier.

Brad found me an old exercise bike - for free! It's an old, green Schwinn. And this one is in better shape than my current one - the speedometer and odometer actually work! Woohoo! Now I can track how fast I am riding and how far I go. :) I'll take and post pictures of both when I can. Brad showed me the bike today, will drop it off Friday evening, and will help me get the old one downstairs to the dumpster area. It's a pretty crappy bike, but better than the one I have and that's big! Yippee!

For now, here's pictures of a similar bike (except it's brown) that I found on ebay.

exercise bike

exercise bike panel
Click on the picture for the Flickr photo with notes.

Walked over 10,000 steps yesterday (easy on gym days). I discovered today that exactly 10,000 steps for me is 4.41 miles. However, I never calibrated this pedometer. Something I definitely should do.


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10 things I love about myself that have nothing to do with my appearance

1) I'm not afraid to go against the flow. So many people think low-carb diets are bad and that I'm messing up my health. Oh well.

2) I enjoy reading and have learned quite a lot about nutrition from reading books and magazines. (My Mom sat me down when I was 3 and started teaching me to read.)

3) Once I decide to do something, I follow through. I'm strong-willed, and once I make up my mind to do something, I do it.

4) I can write. I've even been paid for some of my writing, so I can actually claim I'm professional.

5) I'm smart. I got all A's and B's in high school, and mostly A's and B's in college.

6) Working out isn't hard. I actually enjoy it. The endorphine rush is awesome!


7) I took in a feral momcat and her six kittens. I ended up adopting momcat. (Love you, Abby!)

8) I now love veggies. Isn't that weird? I didn't used to, but my tastes have changed the longer I've stayed on my diet.

9) I'm a Christian. Yes, I do like that about myself because it means I'm going to heaven! :)

10) I'm physically fit! I'm in better shape at my age of 35 than I was when I was 25 or even 15! :)

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Monday, August 21, 2006

Day 6

6 days cheat freeWeight: 147.6
Calories eaten yesterday: 1443 (yay!)
Calories burned: 2083
Calorie deficit/overage: -640
Carbs: 41g
Fat: 56g
Calories burned in exercise: 239

Took my weight this morning. *sigh* 147.6. Bleh.

After eating so little yesterday (and having my usual light breakfast this morning) I felt week by 4:30 today and needed to eat lunch. (My normal lunch time is 3, but I can sometimes postpone it until 6.) I swear I could feel my blood sugar dropping, so I went and warmed up lunch real fast. Once I got a few carbs into me (in the form of veggies) and protein (beef) with which to make glucose, my blood sugar went up a bit and evened out. Whew.

After yesterday's really low day I'm hungry today. And I forgot to pack the pork rinds this morning! I bought nuts from the vending machine downstairs. My carbs are too high today, but I will do better tomorrow!

Finished The Protein Power LifePlan today. Now I can start in on the newest Left Behind book.

There were two cakes at work today for birthdays. I had one bite of each, and then Lynn offered to take the cakes out of the room so I wouldn't have to stare at them for my shift. I thanked her. I don't need the temptation.

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Sunday, August 20, 2006

Day 5

5 days cheat freeSaw Mom and Bill again today. They picked me up and we went to my gym. I had to do a slightly abbreviated workout, but FitDay still says I burned 239 calories.

Yesterday I felt like I was way overeating so I jumped on my exercise bike for 35 minutes. FitDay says 139 calories burned. All the fat I ate yesterday did seem to blunt my appetite so I didn't eat after 8 p.m. and went to bed around midnight.

Mom and Bill went out to lunch at Denny's. I could have asked them to bring me back something but after not being able to count calories or carbs for the last two days I wanted to get back on plan and eat the lunch I packed (veggies and beef). I asked them to bring me back a black coffee from Starbucks, though. :) My workout tired me out and I needed the caffeine to perk me up.

As soon as all my low fat food is gone I'm going to try to incorporate more fat into my diet with 10% fat ground beef and full fat yogurt. I know these foods have more calories, so I'm not sure how that will work out. My calories have been pretty respectable on the days I can count, though, so there might be room for some leeway.

Dad will be down next weekend so that will mean more than one day next weekend that I won't be able to count. And Dad's a diabetic who makes the absolute worst food choices! The ADA diet is carbs and more carbs and he's now to the point where he thinks that blood sugar of 175 (fasting, with insulin injections) is pretty good. Thanks ADA! I'm going to whip up a lot of Atkins-friendly food for when we get together on Christmas, even though I'll have to do all the cooking myself.

At any rate, even with Dad in town and nothing but carbs all around I will make good food choices even if I have to carry food with me at all times.

I am committed to this challenge! I know the only way I could lose 30 pounds in 30 weeks would be to starve myself, but I just hope to lose something on most weeks at least. Alternatively, I could deal with no weight loss if my body fat went down. It was 24% at last check, though I think the water weight I carried at the time might have skewed the results high since it was 22.5% on the test before that when I had no bloat, and I know I am getting stronger because I can curl the 20 pound dumbbells now. I'd really like to get down to 21%, but that may not be possible.

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Saturday, August 19, 2006

Day 4

4 days cheat freePigged out on peanuts at church today. Sabbath is the only day I eat nuts; I love them too much to keep them around the house. I become a peanut-eating monster when they are around. But they tasted good and are low-carb. I'm trying to eat more fat anyway, right? A little overboard one day won't hurt. :)

At the potluck I picked the cranberries out of Jane's salad to reduce the sugar content. Then while everyone else was eating warm apple crisp with ice cream I went in to the kitchen to clean up to keep from being tempted. I had Carb Smart ice cream with sugar free Hershey's syrup when I got home.

Tomorrow I am taking Mom and Bill to my gym so I will get some sort of workout.

Here are pictures from yesterday's lunch at Quinn's Lighthouse. Sorry they are washed out. I forgot to turn the flash on and had to try to lighten them as best as I could. Click to enlarge them.

Mom & I
Mom and I

Mom, Bill, & I
Bill, Mom, & I

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Friday, August 18, 2006

Day 3

3 days cheat freeCalories eaten yesterday: 1592 (yay!)
Calories burned: 1964
Calorie deficit/overage: -372
Carbs: 39g (yay!)
Fat: 61g
Calories burned in exercise: 102

I'm trying to keep my carbs 40g or less to help me lose. I don't feel my best at that level, but at 60g (where I feel good) I can't lose weight.

Went out to lunch with my Mom and Bill (her husband) today, but I was a good girl. I had a New York steak (with no condiments because they are full of sugar) with a double helping of veggies instead of veggies and starch. Also some Merlot wine. :) I had two bites of bread, one spoonful each of Mom and Bill's soups, and one bite of the toast that came with the soup. Oh...one bite of the chocolate cake that Mom and Bill had for dessert. "Bites" keep me from feeling deprived of my favorite foods. Plus, now that I know what those foods do to my body it's much easier to pass them up.

I'm trying to get more fat and less protein in my diet, so yesterday when I bought meat, I bought the 10% fat beef instead of the 7% like I have been getting. Cooked it up last night as burgers; when I cook it as ground beef a lot of the fat cooks out. I'm hoping that by consuming more fat my appetite will be blunted because high protein alone isn't doing it and I'm tired of being hungry. We'll see if higher fat works.

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Thursday, August 17, 2006

Day 2 of my new start

2 days cheat freeCalories eaten yesterday: 1433 (yay!)
Calories burned: 2095
Calorie deficit/overage: -662
Carbs: 38g (yay!)
Fat: 57g
Calories burned in exercise: 269

I went grocery shopping today and was reminded again of America's obesity problem when I saw the guy ahead of me in line. He was morbidly obese and in his cart was Gatorade (sugar), regular soda (sugar), a ton of potato chips (starch and fat), and as he passed through the register he grabbed some Twix bars (more sugar). There was no protein in his cart and he's likely severely malnourished from his soda, chips, and candy bar diet. I have come to believe that most overweight people are malnourished; they are not eating the right foods and stuffing themselves with crap that doesn't give their bodies what they need to function well.

What was in my cart, you ask? This was a smaller shopping trip than usual since I went grocery shopping earlier this week, but I got salad, meat (beef), cheese, lunchmeat, Hansen's diet soda, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a muscle and fitness magazine for women.

So far the cats are doing well on the Innova Evo, though Brad opened a bag of Purina One cat food while I was gone so we're back to high carb again for now. On the Innova their coats seem even softer than on the Eukanuba. They like the food alright, but prefer the Purina - given a choice they eat the kitty junk food full of carbs. Just like how we as humans go for the carbs over healthy food. I stopped by the pet store and bought a 15 lb. bag of the Innova, plus cat grass for Abby since she loves it so much.

I'm trying to cut back both calories and carbs to get this weight off. Calories do count, perhaps more than many low-carbers recognize.

Mom is here this weekend, so I'm eating out tomorrow and can't count calories. Eleanor suggested Quinn's Lighthouse, which is doable (Eleanor took me there for my birthday in January) as long as I get the burger without the bun and have a side salad instead of fries. And they have wine. :) Mom also wants to see me on Sunday, but I think she and Bill can buy a one day guest pass to my club so I won't miss my workout. I will miss my workout tomorrow though. Bleh.

Walked over 10,000 steps yesterday (easy on gym days), and am on target to do the same today though I didn't make it to the gym.


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Get to know your friends

My sister sent this to me. Here's my answers.

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Welcome to the 2006 edition of getting to know your friends. What you are supposed to do is copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste it onto a new e-mail that you'll send. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to a whole bunch of people including the person who sent it to you. Put your name in the subject line. The
theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends, if you did not know them already.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 9:30 - the same as all weekday mornings.

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The DaVinci Code

4. What is your favorite TV show? Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Forensic Files, American Justice - basically anything dealing with true crime

5. What did you have for breakfast? Three fried eggs.

6. What is your middle name? Sheri April

7. What is you favorite cuisine? Whatever I feel like, mostly American and Mexican

8. What foods do you dislike? White bread, anything with high fructose corn syrup, all organ meats

9. Your favorite potato chip? I don't eat potato chips.

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? All the stuff on my iPod. Mostly lite Christian rock, and some secular stuff.

11. What kind of car do you drive? I don't drive. I take public transit.

12. Favorite sandwich? Peanut butter and jelly, anything with meat and cheese.

13. What characteristics do you despise? Meanness and wielding power because you disagree with the other person and can.

14. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans and a t-shirt/sweatshirt.

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would/wouldn't you go? Bahamas. I wouldn't want to go to Machu Pichu.

16. Favorite brand of clothing? Old Navy

17. Where would you want to retire? I don't care. Anywhere is fine as long as I'm happy.

18. Favorite time of day? Time to go to the gym.

19. Where were you born? San Francisco

20. What is your favorite sport to watch? Sports teams should be shot.

21. Who do you think will not send this back? Everyone but me.

22. Person you expect to send it back first? N/A

23. Pepsi or Coke? Diet Coke

24. Beavers or ducks? Beavers.

25. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Morning.

26. Pedicure or manicure? Pedicure, but I can't have one until the foot doctor is done treating my feet. :(

27. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? I've lost 65 pounds and am at the lowest weight of my adult life. Woohoo!

28. What did you want to be when you were little? Writer/journalist.

29. What is your best childhood memory? Car trips with the family all over USA.

30. Piercing? One in each ear.

31. Ever been to Africa? No.

32. Ever been toilet papering? No.

33. Been in car accident? Hasn't everybody?

34. Favorite day of the week? Saturday, since I get to go to church and relax and not so any work. :)

35. Favorite restaurant? I don't eat out much.

36. Favorite flower? Anything really.

37. Favorite ice cream? Rocky Road

38. Favorite fast food restaurant? Carl's Jr. has the best low-carb menu.

39. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Never taken one.

40. From whom did you get your last e-mail? Work.

41. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? I wouldn't do that, but I enjoy shopping online low-carb stores.

42. Bedtime? 1:30 a.m. (I work second shift.)

43. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? No one in particular.

44. Last person you went to dinner with? Brad (co-worker) at Applebees.

45. What are you listening to right now? I'm at work monitoring the station I work for.

46. What is your favorite color? Blue.

47. How many tattoos do you have? None.

49. Favorite Book Read? The Bible of course! Also the Eades' Protein Power books, and Philip Yancey's Disappointment With God.

50. Favorite magazine? Anything dealing with health/fitness/low-carb.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Starting Over - Day 1

1 day cheat freeToday is the first day of my new start! I'm back from vacation and can now totally focus on getting this excess fat off.

I signed up for the 30-in-30 Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge. Unlike most weight loss challenges that are for people on any weight loss plan, this is specifically for low-carbers, which means only healthy food is allowed - no sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or junk food. Anyone else up for it? I know I am!

Check out the new 30-in-30 blog.

I'm joining late, but it started right before I left on vacation. Weigh-in days are Tuesdays. I know I can't lose a pound a week, but I'll be happy with losing anything each week. I've gained weight so it's time to try to get it off. My first official weigh-in will be next Tuesday since I'm afraid to get on a scale right now, lol! I'll change my ticker above then whether my weight is above or below the 147 on the ticker right now.

I didn't exercise at all while on vacation, so that counts as my rest period and now I'm ready to throw myself back into exercise and diet. I made it to the gym today and did a half hour of weights, a half hour cardio on the treadclimber, and 20 minutes walking on the treadmill. Whew! That wiped me out and I needed a sugar free energy drink to perk up again.

Viva la low-carb and viva la Atkins!

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Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Conference pictures are up!

Conference pictures are up! The same photos are up in two places. Some were taken with my good dogital camera, and some were taken with my cell phone camera. Most of the "bad" pictures are from the cell phone camera.

My "Vacations & Events" page (lower quality but faster loading):
http://vacations2002.home.mindspring.com/Conf2006/conf2006.html

And my Flickr page (higher quality but slower loading):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/newbirth/sets/72157594237020588/
Click on the first photo and then use the set on the right hand side to navigate the rest of the photos.

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Sunday, August 13, 2006

Conference Journal, Day 8

Homeward Bound
Day 8
Sunday


Woke up about five minutes before my alarm at 5:05 a.m. At 5:40, true to their work, they had a car to take us and our bags to the student center. The bus didn't arrive to pick us up until 6 a.m. and between the people and the baggage it was really crowded. I sat next to John Rasmussan.

They gave us bags for breakfast with an apple, banana (or orange), two pop tarts, apple juice, and a muffin. Another person and I shared our breakfasts with John since he didn't get one and had two days of busses ahead of him to get back to Colorado.

Checking bags and getting through security at the airport was a breeze, even with the new regulations. The bag check at the gate was more obnoxious, taking much more than just liquids and gels from people. I checked all around and read up on the new regulations, and deodorant was never mentioned, not once! And it's a solid! Yet the...er...woman at the gate gleefully took it away and I will now have to stop at one more store and put out more money to rebuy it. It was practically brand new, too, having only been used a few times. I hope she has fun using already used deodorant (they get to take all that stuff home). Is that gross or what?

If they would have told me I would have checked it, but God forbid - that would be the right thing to do and we can't have that! I swear I hate TSA now. I have heard stories and now been the recipient. TSA sucks. They are God in the airports, and who can police God?

It is their fault since I checked more than one source and deodorant wasn't listed anywhere. I'm surprised they didn't take away my gum and empty coffee cup, too. Damn them all. I feel so violated to have someone pawing through my stuff, taking whatever they please. I'm thrilled to know I won't have to fly again until Christmas.

TSA also won't let you take non-prescription medication with you, but the airlines also can't give it out on the plane. Migraines or cramps? You're SOL. One person from Conference on the plane did have some they didn't confiscate (probably didn't find it), so at least I got my headache taken care of.

I can sneak past pepper spray shortly after 9-11, but deodorant is a terrorist tool. Tell me what's wrong with this picture. There cautious and there's ridiculous. This is ridiculous.

The plane took off pretty much on time for the hour forty minute hop to Chicago. The flight home will be faster since I don't have to go 100s of miles out of my way to Dallas.

We landed on time - even early - in Chicago. I went to my gate, but it had been changed. I walked to the new gate, and the plane was delayed, but only by about a half hour. No one pawed through my belongings at this airport. Soon we were on our way for the longest leg of my trek home.

Brad was waiting just past the security checkpoint when I arrived and we took BART home. He had no cash for the bus, so I had to give him money. I unpacked and then we went out for Chinese takeout and I pigged out.

It's been a really long day with the time difference and I am dead on my feet. I think I must be going on pure adrenaline right now.

Left Houghton Dorm: about 5:30 a.m. EDT
Arrive home: about 6 p.m. PDT
Total travel time: about 15 1/2 hours

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Saturday, August 12, 2006

Conference Journal, Day 7

Finally Awake...
Day 7
Sabbath


Today's the first day all week I've felt rested. Of course, that's probably because I accidentally overslept. My alarm didn't go off. Breakfast was from 7:30-8:30 and I had my alarm set for 7:30. I woke up at about 8:23 or something. You have never seen anyone get dressed so fast, though I must have messed with my over-the-head dress for a good two minutes. I didn't even have time to brush my hair or put on my headcovering; I had to do that at breakfast. Then I put on my sandals with about 2 inch heels and ran (as best as I could in 2 inch heels) over to the student center where the cafeteria is. I got breakfast and Diet Pepsi to drink (their coffee is worthless and I also needed something to take my pills with). When I turned around the gate was already down signaling the end of serving.

So I was able to get a good high protein breakfast. If I had been late I would have made due with fruit (carbs) to get me through until lunch.

I had only a few minutes to eat before Sabbath School, and then rushed off to that. After Sabbath School was Sabbath morning worship - the "big" service of the week with the largest attendance.

When lunch came around I wasn't really hungry, so I dawdled until almost the end of lunch and then just had a small bit to eat so I wouldn't starve before dinner. Instead of going to the children's program I dawdled some more and just hung out talking to people. I'm not the least bit tired and don't need a nap.

I caught the end of the children's program and the beginning of Miami's Praise Dance Team, and then went back to my room to start packing since I have to leave so early tomorrow morning.

Then it was time for dinner, and while I stuck to just one dessert (a little chocolate peanut butter ice cream with tons of toppings - more toppings than ice cream), I also grabbed a bunch of carby stuff for tomorrow's breakfast since there won't be time for breakfast before the bus leaves.

They promised us some kind of breakfast on the bus, but it will be fruit and such and if I'm going to eat carbs, I want them to be junky carbs! It's become tradition over the last couple years to fall off plan on the last day of Conference. I grabbed three small slices of pizza, a chicken sandwich on a bun of super refined flour, and four chocolate chip cookies. Plus anything they give us on the bus. I would take an apple or mini muffin. I'll be on the go all day, so I'll need enough food for all day.

I've used up all my digital camera pictures, so now I'm down to my cell phone camera if I want to take anymore.

I fly home tomorrow and am looking forward to seeing my cats! I haven't missed my nightly glass of wine here, but I sure have missed my babies. God willing, I'll land in San Francisco at about 3:20 p.m. Pacific time.

I'm posting this entry early today because I am going back to my room and to bed as soon as the new president installation is over. I set both my alarm clock and my cell phone alarm for 5:10 a.m. tomorrow morning. That will give me a half hour to get upstairs to the bridge to the street. I'm mostly packed. I already brushed my teeth for today and packed the brush and mouthwash.

BTW, we got to 10,000 hits today since I installed my new hit counter November 10 last year! Scroll down to the very bottom to see the counter. :)

God bless! Pray I have a good flight home.

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Friday, August 11, 2006

Conference Journal, Day 6

Finished!
Day 6
Friday


Erev Shabbat!

After breakfast was the Bible study on...what else?...Bible study! lol Then the morning business session. I was really surprised that there was no discussion over whether there should be a vote of churches on the BJC issue. There were some "nos" during the vote, but no one came forward during the discussion time to voice an opinion. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out next year when the vote is taken. The last vote by churches was nearly 20 years ago in 1987 (I think).

Anyway, with that issue NOT being a big one, business was done for the year and they called the conference business to a close! Yippee! That gave us the rest of the day as more or less free time and then tomorrow is Sabbath with lots of activities.

After business was over I took a shower and then had lunch. After lunch was a nap and then dinner and finally Sabbath Eve worship. Tonight's sermon was on freedom from oppression through Jesus. Even though the text was Luke 4:18, Pastor Mattison spent most of his sermon on Adam and Eve and their fall from the freedom they enjoyed in the garden into the oppression of sin, and how Jesus is the "second Adam," setting us free from sin. :)

The service concluded with one of my favorite songs, "Shout to the North." After the service I got a snack at the student center and as soon as I post this I'm headed to bed.

I found out my bus to the airport will be getting me at my dorm at 5:40 a.m. Sunday. Yick! And that's the late bus. The early bus is leaving at 3 a.m.

I'm fat fat fat. I think I've gained weight this week just from the sheer number of calories I ate. Bleh.

Conference next year will be held in Oregon, but a week early, starting in late July and ending August 4.

Good night, and remember that God truly loves you. :)

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Thursday, August 10, 2006

Conference Journal, Day 5

Once I Was Blind
Day 5
Thursday


Last night as soon as I had posted my entry here, I went upstairs in the student center to see what was for snack. All they had were cookies! I inquired about it, asking what people with blood sugar issues were supposed to eat. Couldn't there be a veggie platter or something? The guy said that was yesterday. He finally offered to get me a small plate of vegetables and came back with some celery and carrot sticks. (The carrots tasted nasty and weren't sweet, by the way.)

Woke up at 7 and had breakfast like most other days this week. The morning Bible study was on fasting. The kinds of things that happen in the beginning stages of fasting have many similarities to low-carb dieting - headaches (especially when cutting out caffeine), lightheadedness, and bad breath (ketone breath). After 7-10 days the person's energy will return and they will feel better than ever. I personally believe this is because the person has detoxed from the addictive nature of grains. These things naturally occur anytime carbohydrates are cut or severely restricted and the body uses up stored glycogen and switches to burning body fat. In fasting, some muscle would also be lost as the body uses protein to make the glucose it needs. With a low-carb diet there is sufficient dietary protein to prevent this.

After that was the SCSC (Summer Christian Service Corps) presentation, more business (including a partial report from the Reference and Counsel committee that I'm a part of, and finally more committee works since we hadn't finished.

We did finish just before lunch. (Yay!) After lunch was the young adult program. I missed it to start this post. Then some boring business followed, and then the Thursday seminar. I had it narrowed down to two, but one was cancelled ("Lone Sabbathkeeping"), so I went to the one on tithing.

Then dinner and evening worship. The sermon tonight was on "Sight to the Blind." Jesus didn't just come to physically heal people of blindness and other ailments, although He certainly did that. He came to heal people spiritually - people like you and me. I was once blind, but now I see. Everyone unsaved is still blind. I need to be more faithful in prayer for them - people like my Dad, Mom, Mom's husband Bill, my sister April and brother Rob, and my sister's husband Renato, and people I meet online such as Ambrosia and Wolf. They are all blind and need Jesus to see, just as I once did. I was blind, but now I see. Lord, help them to see, too, and remove their blindness.

And that's it for today. Crazy, crazy day and I am bushed and ready for bed. I'll just run upstairs to see what they have to eat for snack and then hit the sack. I think I had too much ice cream after dinner and it was more sugar than I'm used to. I need to remember from now on that a small scoop and toppings is all my body can handle.

Nighty night all!

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Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Conference Journal, Day 4

So Tired...
Day 4
Wednesday


I'm so tired. The different time zone and early morning schedule is messing with me. It's the equivalent of getting up 4 1/2 hours earlier than usual every day, so even though I'm going to bed earlier, I never feel refreshed.

After breakfast (boy, was I hungry!) and morning Bible study - today's was on prayer - I went back to my room and slept until lunch. After a lighter-than-usual lunch there was some business and then committee meetings. Reference and Counsel referred the BJC issue to subcommittee to hammer out the language to help save everyone else's time. We'll all still have to agree on it, but will cause less work for everyone else.

Between my cell phone and digital camera I'll have a lot of pictures to share when I get back.

Doing okay on my diet. I'm eating way too much, but am eating low-carb. I even avoided the french toast this morning and I love french toast. The lunch desserts aren't exciting except for the ice cream, so it's not hard to turn them down and wait until dinner. I asked about something sugar free and they provided Jello topped with tiny fruit pieces, and I have been eating a lot of that (including the fruit pieces since it is vacation).

Let's see. Basic facts. I'm in Lambein Hall, room 303, but the "ground floor" with the bridge to the street is fourth, so I have to go down a level to my room. So far no roommate (YAY!). I sleep so much better without someone snoring. Two rooms share a sink and there is no one next door so I have the sink to myself.

Last Conference I was in East Hall, with has now been renamed Gilette.

Tonight's dinner was a picnic dinner outside. It exceedingly sucked for anyone doing low-carb. The "salads" were all starch or sugar based. I finally got desperate and started picking the broccoli and cheese pieces out of the pasta salad, and the sausages were cooked with sauteed bell peppers and onions and I scraped together a bunch of that. I did not want an all meat meal! What is it with America's love affair with carbohydrates, the one thing our bodies don't need?!

The most interesting part was the guy who cooked up kangaroo and let anyone who wanted some a small piece to try. It wasn't bad, really.

Worship tonight was Pastor Bill Burks preaching on the part in Luke 4 about setting the captives free. He's a good speaker, but he went on for an hour and my attention span ran out at about 45 minutes. The remaining 15 took an act of will to stay focused.

The weather here is driving me crazy. It was freezing this morning - sweatshirt weather - and then it got so hot that I had to leave my committee meeting to change my shirt into something cooler.

"See" you tomorrow and God bless!

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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Conference Journal, Day 3

Finally Feeling Fine
Day 3
Tuesday


I awoke just before my alarm went off at 7. I had breakfast, missed Bible study to take a shower, and attended a couple of counsel reports. Then I went to the Reference and Counsel committee to listen to the debate about Seventh Day Baptists as a denomination remaining part of the Baptist Joint Committee (BJC). There are legitimate concerns. Welcome to the "work" side of General Conference!

After lunch I attended the "Introduction to Deliverance" workshop. I'm not sure I agree with a lot of the sentiments. The presenter made some good points, some of which I agree with, and some I don't know enough about to have an informed opinion, but the ignorance of some of the attendees (ok, one man in particular, and I assume others agree with him) - well, it's painfully obvious to someone like me who has been there. Witches cursing the Harry Potter novels so that children will read them? Puh-leeze! There's no conspiracy, people!

As Christians we need to not be afraid of Witches, even if we profoundly disagree on just about everything. We fear what we don't understand, or worse, we fear what we think we understand when we actually don't. Ok, rant over. That was one voice out of many, but one that really disturbed me.

There was more Reference and Counsel stuff after this about the BJC issue, and then we had a short break before dinner (except for the choir who had practice).

I've been pretty good so far on my diet. They had sugar free Jello out at lunch, and I cheated with one chocolate chip cookie. I can't help it. TOM is making me crave chocolate. After dinner I had a small scoop of chocolate peanut butter ice cream with chocolate toppings. Sucks I can't kill the cravings with something sugar free because I'm not craving the sugar, just the chocolate.

It's a lot cooler than four years ago when I was here. I find I need to wear jeans and socks and a t-shirt and sometimes my jeans jacket instead of shorts and skimpy shirts.

I've often said that Conference is a time for me to get my head screwed on straight in a spiritual sense. It helps me to refocus from the things that have occupied my time (diet, weight loss) and focus on the source of all my power - God.

I bought a new ring today to replace the broken cross ring. This one is sterling silver with a thorn design around it. I need to remember again that I am "married" to God. Just because the first ring broke doesn't mean that the promise I made that night ended. He is my "Husband," and I need to be faithful to Him.

I have failed. I have spent so much time focused on getting healthy, eating right, and losing weight that I have neglected Him. Weight loss has become a god, salvation being measured by numbers on a scale or body fat test. Getting healthy is not bad. Neglecting God because of it is.

Tonight I was convicted of my need to release Kathi - make a choice to forgive her, a decision of the will, not the heart. Forgiveness is for myself. Releasing Kathi is for myself. Not for her. She has nothing to do with the equation. I release her and give her to God.

I was also convicted that I often look down on those who are obese and overweight because I had my moment of truth and changed my life and they haven't. But who's to say that I am not the spiritually poor one for my pride and that they aren't the ones with an intimate relationship with God? Being proud of my accomplishment is not wrong; looking down on those who are still overweight is. And I am guilty.

Last, on a ranting note, I take umbrage with the speaker tonight that all physical disease has a spiritual component. If only it were true. I wish it were, but the Fall means that we will have genetic abnormalities that make us susceptible to various diseases, and that has nothing to do with God. He can heal, sure. He can do anything. But I don't believe that He does very often. Why? Because they are true physical diseases without a spiritual cause. They are just another fact of life in a fallen world. Things with a spiritual cause have a spiritual fix - getting right with God; things with a physical cause have a physical fix - getting on the right medication.

And on that note, it's time to get ready for bed. God willing, I'll "talk" to you all tomorrow!

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Monday, August 07, 2006

Conference Journal, Days 1 & 2

Of Planes and Thunderstorms
Day 1
Sunday


Sunday was long. I got picked up from my apartment by airporter van at 7 a.m. (PDT). My first flight from San Francisco to Dallas went well, but in Dallas we were delayed by a thunderstorm for about 90 minutes. I finally reached Buffalo about 10 p.m. (EDT).

We got lost on the way to the Conference site, getting in around 1. By the time I'd unpacked and made my bed, it was 2. It took me a while to fall asleep, and then the fire alarm went off at 6:45 a.m.! I got about 4 hours sleep and am not amused. Saturday night I got about 6 hours and I was also short on sleep Friday night.

"Fire!" in a Crowded Theater
Day 2
Monday


After breakfast I went back to bed, and slept until lunch.

TOM has arrived (finally!) and I am in a lot of pain. So after lunch I cam back to me room, took some Ibuprofen, and laid down again. I'd drifted off when the fire alarm went off again. That's two fire alarms within the first 12 hours of my stay here. I specifically said on my registration form that I did not want to be in the high tolerance dorm because I need quiet to sleep. So they put me in a building with a malfunctioning fire alarm! I hope this vacation gets better because this has been a shitty start.

Diet-wise I'm doing okay. I've avoided sweets so far. I asked about sugar free stuff and they said they would look into it. So many Baptists are overweight. I think it has to do with how we can't do anything without food.

I have to leave for evening worship now. Talk to you all later!

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Sunday, August 06, 2006

Bye!

Ok, I've leaving everyone! Bye! I hope to check in here from time to time and maybe even do an audioblog if my cell phone works where I'm going (it didn't last time).

Love you all. Mwah!

For now, enjoy these really dark photos from my last trip to Houghton College four years ago (before I learned how to work my camera better). I promise the pics this year will be much better.

Houghton College, 2002

Friday, August 04, 2006

Getting ready for my trip!

18 days cheat freeWeight: 143.2
Calories eaten yesterday: 1700
Calories burned: 1961
Calorie deficit/overage: -261
Carbs: 56g
Fat: 56g
Calories burned in exercise: 93

Did laundry last night. Today I began to pack. I also bleached the hair that had grown out and dyed my hair blue. I vacuumed the rug and swept the bathroom and took out all the trash and some of the recycling. Whew! Busy day. Dying my hair made a big mess and stained the bathtub, sink, and part of the counter with blue. Whew! What a big clean up. I didn't get it all out, but it looks a little better at least.

Regina Wilshire got back to me on the Dangers of a Low Carb Diet article on MySpace. She tackles ten of the most common myths. This is worth the read!

Here's her e-mail to me regarding the MySpace article:

It's just more of the same old same old myths being put out there again and again - seen it all before.

Some of the myths in this one I've tackled from another article:

Weight of the Evidence: Manipulating Evidence

Hope that helps!

Honestly - it's not really worth the time to go point by point with this guys analysis - he's wrong and can only use cherry-picked references to back himself up.....biggest glaring thing - stale references and nothing is primary research data!

Regina


Jimmy Moore also got back to me and said he might tackle it, but it will have to wait a couple days. If he does tackle the article, I'll post it here when I get back from vacation.

I experimented with sending a picture to the "post by e-mail" Blogger address from my camera phone, but no luck. So I guess pictures will have to wait until I get back. I tried.

I have church tomorrow and then I get picked up by an airporter van about 7 a.m. Sunday.

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Thursday, August 03, 2006

More anti-low-carb nonsense

From a MySpace.com forum on health.

Dangers of a Low Carb Diet
By: Greg Landry

Low carb (carbohydrate), high protein diets are the latest dieting craze. However, before you jump on the band wagon, you may want to consider a few things:

1. Low carb (ketogenic) diets deplete the healthy glycogen (the storage form of glucose) stores in your muscles and liver. When you deplete glycogen stores, you also dehydrate, often causing the scale to drop significantly in the first week or two of the diet. This is usually interpreted as fat loss when it's actually mostly from dehydration and muscle loss. By the way, this is one of the reasons that low carb diets are so popular at the moment - there is a quick initial, but deceptive drop in scale weight.


Muscle loss? LOL! I've gone from 37.8% body fat to 24%. I've actually gained muscle and can lift much heavier weights than before.

And I've lost 60 pounds. Is that all water?

2. Depletion of muscle glycogen causes you to fatigue easily, and makes exercise and movement uncomfortable. Research indicates that muscle fatigue increases in almost direct proportion to the rate of depletion of muscle glycogen. Bottom line is that you don't feel energetic and you exercise and move less (often without realizing it) which is not good for caloric expenditure and basal metabolic rate (metabolism).

You'll have to tell the trainer I fatigue easily because he told me I was overtraining and needed to CUT BACK on the cardio I was doing. I have tons of energy and feel great!

3. Depletion of muscle glycogen leads to muscle atrophy (loss of muscle). This happens because muscle glycogen (broken down to glucose) is the fuel of choice for the muscle during movement. There is always a fuel mix, but without muscle glycogen, the muscle fibers that contract, even at rest to maintain muscle tone, contract less when glycogen is not immediately available in the muscle. Depletion of muscle glycogen also causes you to exercise and move less than normal which leads to muscle loss and the inability to maintain adequate muscle tone.

Where does he get this stuff? I am much more toned than before. In fact, a couple people at work have commented how toned I look. What are muscles made of after all? Protein, right? So a high-protein diet PRESERVES muscle mass.

Also, in the absence of adequate carbohydrate for fuel, the body initially uses protein (muscle) and fat. the (sic) initial phase of muscle depletion is rapid, caused by the use of easily accessed muscle protein for direct metabolism or for conversion to glucose (gluconeogenesis) for fuel. Eating excess protein does not prevent this because there is a caloric deficit.

With enough dietary protein, your body does not need to use its muscles for protein. A caloric deficit does NOT equal a protein deficit. There are other sources of fuel for the body besides protein.

When insulin levels are chronically too low as they may be in very low carb diets, catabolism (breakdown) of muscle protein increases, and protein synthesis stops.

My insulin levels are fine and my doctor is not concerned. As I said, in the presence of dietary protein (as on a high-protein diet), your body will not go after its own muscle. Only in cases of starvation (with no dietary protein) does the body go after its own muscle.

4. Loss of muscle causes a decrease in your basal metabolic rate (metabolism). Metabolism happens in the muscle. Less muscle and muscle tone means a slower metabolism which means fewer calories burned 24 hours-a-day.

Metabolic rate goes down on all diets because you're smaller. In take fewer calories to maintain 145 pounds of body weight than 206 pounds. And as I said, I've GAINED muscle.

5. Your muscles and skin lack tone and are saggy. Saggy muscles don't look good, cause saggy skin, and cause you to lose a healthy, vibrant look (even if you've also lost fat).

I have saggy skin (only on my tummy) because I've lost 60 pounds. Lack of skin tone...HA. My acne went away so my skin looks better than ever before.

6. Some proponents of low carb diets recommend avoiding carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potatoes, carrots, etc. because of they are high on the glycemic index - causing a sharp rise in insulin. Certain carbohydrates have always been, and will always be the bad guys: candy, cookies, baked goods with added sugar, sugared drinks, processed / refined white breads, pastas, and rice, and any foods with added sugar. These are not good for health or weight loss. However, carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grain breads and pastas, and brown rice are good for health and weight loss. Just like with proteins and fats, these carbohydrates should be eaten in moderation. Large volumes of any proteins, fats or carbohydrates are not conducive to weight loss and health.

I eat the way God designed us to eat - the way the Paleolithic people ate. They didn't have bread and grains. They had vegetables, berries, nuts, some fruit, and lots and lots of meat.

7. Much of the weight loss on a low carb, high protein diet, especially in the first few weeks, is actually because of dehydration and muscle loss.

More like excess water and fat. I never realized how bloated I was before. Yike!

8. The percentage of people that re-gain the weight they've lost with most methods of weight loss is high, but it's even higher with low carb, high protein diets. This is primarily due to three factors:

Where's the evidence for this? The rate for regain on all diets is about the same. People don't want to change their lifestyle; they want a quick fix.

A. You have lost muscle. With that comes a slower metabolism which means fewer calories are burned 24 hours-a-day. A loss of muscle during the process of losing weight is almost a guarantee for re-gaining the lost weight, and more.

This person REALLY needs to get their facts straight because this is untrue.

B. You re-gain the healthy fluid lost because of glycogen depletion.

It's not healthy fluid; it's bloating. And you don't regain it if low-carb is a lifestyle.

C. It's difficult to maintain that type of diet long-term.

2.5 years and counting for me. Why would I stop? There's so much delicious food to eat!

D. You have not made a change to a long-term healthy lifestyle.

I have. The way I used to eat is quite simply, crap, and I will never go back. I feel better. Going back means losing all those health benefits.

9. Eating too much fat is just not healthy. I know you've heard of people whose blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides have decreased while on a low carb, high protein diet. This often happens with weight loss, but it doesn't continue when you're on a diet high in fat. There are literally reams of research over decades that clearly indicates that an increase in consumption of animal products and/or saturated fat leads to increased incidence of heart disease, strokes, gall stones, kidney stones, arthritic symptoms, certain cancers, etc. For example, in comparing countries with varying levels of meat consumption, there is a direct relationship between the volume of meat consumption in a country and the incidence of digestive cancers (stomach, intestines, rectal, etc.).

My cholesterol is fine. I have it tested every summer. Three tests so far and still great results.

And that stuff about kindey stones and everything. I'd like to see PROOF because it isn't true.

Fat is certainly necessary, and desirable in your diet, but they should be mostly healthy fats and in moderation. Manufactured / synthetic "low fat" foods with lots of added sugar are not the answer. Neither are manufactured / synthetic "low carb" foods with artificial sweeteners or added fat. By the way, use of artificial sweeteners has never been shown to aid in weight loss and they may pose health problems. According to Dr. Keith-Thomas Ayoob of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, "In my experience, unless you're willing to throw out decades of research, you cannot ignore that diets chronically high in saturated fats are linked to heart disease, " Dr. Ayoob is also a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association and says that low carb, high protein diets are an attempt at a quick fix and not a long-term lifestyle change.

The only unhealthy fat is trans-fat. God gave us the rest and I use what He gave.

10. As someone recently told me, "it must work - people are losing weight". People that are truly losing fat on low carb, high protein diets, are doing so because they are eating fewer calories - that's the bottom line. There is no magic - the same can be done on a healthy diet.

Low-carb IS healthy, lol!

11. Low carb diets are lacking in fiber. Every plant-based food has some fiber. All animal products have no fiber. A lack of fiber increases your risk for cancers of the digestive track (because transit time is lengthened) and cardiovascular disease (because of fibers effect on fat and cholesterol). It also puts you at a higher risk for constipation and other bowel disorders.

I'm regular for the first time ever. I eat about a pound of fruits and veggies a day, so trust me, I get plenty of fiber.

12. Low carb diets lack sufficient quantities of the the many nutrients / phytonutrients / antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, necessary for health and aiding in prevention of cancer and heart disease. In fact, you need these nutrients even more so when you're consuming too much fat as is often the case on a low carb high protein diet.

Not according to FitDay. I am getting just about all I need from food, as well as taking a multi-vitamin (which I feel all people should).

And since when do we not eat fruits and vegetables and legumes? Peanuts are a legume and I eat them, and I eat plenty of fruits and veggies. So really, this person needs to read a book on the topic because he doesn't know what he's talking about. All low-carb diets stress fruits and veggies.

13. Amercans (sic) already consume more than twice the amount of protein needed. Add to that a high protein diet and you have far too much protein consumption. By the way, most people don't realize that all fruits, all vegetables, all whole grains, and all legumes also contain protein. Animal products contain larger quantities of protein, but that may not be a good thing. Excess dietary protein puts you at a higher risk for many health problems: gout (painful joints from high purine foods which are usually high protein foods), kidney disease, kidney stones, osteoporosis (excess dietary protein causes leeching (sic) of calcium from the bones). By the way, countries with lower, healthier intakes of protein also have a decreased incidence of osteoporosis.

So on the one hand are muscles are wasting away, but on the other, we eat too much protein. Which is it? You can't have both since muscle is MADE of protein.

14. Low carb, high protein diets cause an unhealthy physiological state called ketosis, a type of metabolic acidosis. You may have heard the phrase, "fat burns in the flame of carbohydrate". Excess acetyl CoA cannot enter the Krebs Cycle (you remember the old Krebs Cycle) due to insufficient OAA. In other words, for fat to burn efficiently and without production of excess toxic ketones, sufficient carbohydrate must be available. Ketosis can lead to many health problems and can be very serious at it's extreme.

Ketosis is not dangerous. He's confusing it with ketacidosis, which is high blood sugar in diabetics. Low-carber don't have high blood sugar so it's impossible for that to happen to us. Ketosis happens to almost everyone every night when we fast for 8 hours while we sleep. Ketones are not toxic and I challenge anyone to show that they are (excepting diabetics, who are in ketoacidosis).

15. Bad breath. Often called "keto breath" or "acetone breath", it's caused by production of acetones in a state of ketosis.

And his point is...? Besides, not everyone has this side effect. I didn't.

So why the low carb, high protein craze? I believe there are several reasons.
A. Weight loss (mostly muscle and muscle fluid) is often rapid during the first few weeks. This causes people to think they're losing fat rapidly.


I have lost fat and that's a scientific FACT.

B. It gives you "permission" to eat the "bad foods": bacon, eggs, burgers, steak, cheese, etc., and lots of fat.

And fruits and vegetables. He keeps forgetting that.

C. Many see it as the new "magic" they've been looking for, although it's been around, in various forms, since the 1960's.

It's been around since the 1800s. A guy named Banting wrote the first book after his doctor put him on a low-carb diet and it worked. That book is available for free online today.

If anyone wants to know the TRUTH, I'm willing to talk and recommend book by medical doctors and nutritionists who know what low-carb is really about. But this no fruit or veggies and all meat and fat is just plain WRONG. Read a low-carb book. Any book. Challenge your biases. I dare you. It will prove this person wrong in a heartbeat.

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