New Year's Eve

Calories eaten yesterday: 1103
Fat: 20g (16%)
Carbs: 107g (39%)
Protein: 122g (45%)
Weight this morning: 133.2
Calories burned in exercise today: 300


I finally weighed myself this morning. I'm up a couple of pounds from where I should be on a Wednesday but I did eat in the middle of the night so hopefully that's why. Still, I have a feeling it's not. My pants are unbearable today! I think I really have gained some weight over this holiday season. Tomorrow (after my cheat day today) I have to weigh myself to get a starting weight for the year.

Lots of walking a bad eating today. It's a cheat day since it's New Year's Eve. Back on plan and (hopefully) back to the gym tomorrow. I can't think of a better way to start the new year than to work out! :)

Today I walked to the laundromat and back, then up to the bank and health food store and back, then down to BART, then from my BART stop to work. About 1 hour 49 minutes. Tonight is champagne at home with Brad. I'm getting off two hours early tonight and Brad is going in two hours late tomorrow so Lisa will work 9 pm-9 am. I have to work my regular shift tomorrow.

Blood tests on Friday so I didn't take my Levothyroxine in the middle of the night and won't take it tomorrow either. I also stopped and bought a Larabar and a Clifbar. They are loaded with soy protein that should raise my TSH a bit. I have two soy patties left and will eat them tomorrow. I'm not buying anymore, but this is the perfect time to get rid of the last of them.

Technorati tagged: diet, New Year's, weight loss, health, exercise, 2009, overweight, fitness

Iron & Ferritin

Calories eaten yesterday: 1121
Fat: 18g (14%)
Carbs: 102g (37%)
Protein: 135g (49%)
Calories burned in exercise today: 167

Walked down the the BART station to go into the City, and walked from BART to work when I got back.

Doing a little better. The more I eat the Cream of Wheat the better I feel. I've been having more days where I feel energetic and I no longer feel totally wiped out after my long workouts. With the holidays and some overtime at work I have only been making it to the gym twice a week but I have done a buttload of walking almost every day.

Next doctor's appointment in one month. I'm going to get tests a week from Friday. This means going off my iron pill for a few days (also going to cut out the Cream of Wheat) and I've decided to stop my meds two nights before. Until I can get this doctor to consent to having my TSH around 1 at least. I'm only on Levothyroxine so two days shouldn't hurt me. Once the tests are over I'll restart all of them.

I'm having Quest send me the results so that's why I'm having it done so long before the appointment. They are kind of slow with the mailing. The doc ordered ferritin, TSH, and Free T3 and T4.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, hypothyroid, thyroid

Cardio and Calories

Calories eaten yesterday: 861 (no, that's not a typo)
Fat: 10g (11%)
Carbs: 105g (51%)
Protein: 76g (37%)
Calories burned in exercise today: 413

I've decided that I need to get my weight back under control. I know I have gained several pounds. I thought about doing just 30 minutes of weight training and 1 hour of cardio, but I like weight training too much so I settled for 45 minutes of each. I do the weights first because the cardio makes me too tired to do it last.

So today was my first day and I did 45 minutes of weight training followed by 20 minutes of running at 5 mph, 10 minutes at 5.2+ mph, and 15 minutes of walking at 3.5. Of course I walked to work from the BART station, 35 minutes.

Along with more cardio I am trying to cut calories to about 1200 a day, even on days I workout. I cut out my carb serving after my workouts and am only keeping the protein shake.

I went looking for liquid iron today. I checked the drugstore by the gym and the grocery store on my way to work. No luck either place. Tomorrow I'll try a couple places in San Francisco and check WalMart on my way to work.

The stuff I ordered from Amazon is coming in. The teas from Vitamin Shoppe arrived - yummy stuff. I also received four CDs with more on the way. And the used Olympus camera arrived. I tried it out, but it sucks batteries. I'm thinking about asking for a refund because it seems to be a piece of junk. The same batteries that it tells me are dead work fine in my other camera. Looks like I may need to spend some more money and get a used FujiFilm pocket camera. At least I know that's a good brand. Why oh why did I ever sell my used FujiFilm A101?!

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

No weigh-in this week due to Christmas

Thursday was Christmas so there was no way to count calories, and I broke down and ate a bunch of cookies and candies. :( I did the same on Saturday when everyone brought tons of sugary and fatty crap to church.

Calories eaten Friday: 1304
Fat: 13g (9%)
Carbs: 113g (36%)
Protein: 100g (32%)

Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 167
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 167
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0
Calories burned in exercise today: 309

I'm fat. I have gained not just weight, but actual fat. My jeans are tight, by belt is tight, even my thighs are bigger. I have sabotaged myself on Saturdays, and with the holidays and parties I have been off plan two days a week pretty much every week. And the day is fast coming when I will have to bite the bullet and weigh myself. :(

I'm going to have to cut back. No more carb snack after my workouts. Now I will just have my protein shake to protect my muscles. So the name of the game is how much can I go hungry to get my calories down?

I'm trying to find a liquid iron supplement - something I can take with few calories so I can stop eating all the Cream of Wheat, get my carbs down, and hopefully lose some weight if my carbs are so darn high. I found a couple online so now I have to go scour the stores. It looks promising in terms of carbs and calories - much fewer carbs and calories for the amount of iron than the Cream of Wheat. They are expensive, but I may be able to get them covered through my health assistance.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, binging, binge

Book review - Pulpit Crimes

Pulpit Crimes is by James White and is an excellent book. I found it a little hard to get started - the reading level seems fairly high and took me a while to adjust. After that the book flowed easily, as Dr. White uncovered one pulpit crime after another.

He doesn't name names in the book so that the book will be relevant to later generations, but I was able to pick out any number of "blab it and grab it" preachers, plus Rick Warren, Benny Hinn, and Harold Camping.

Dr. White tells it like it is and his book will warm the heart of anyone seeing the violence done to the Word of God each week in so many churches. I was gratified to not see these crimes being committed in my church.

After some introductory chapters, he get into the meat of the matter. The chapter titles are provocative:
Prostitution
Pandering to Pluralism
Cowardice under Fire
Entertainment with a License
Felonious Eisegesis
Cross Dressing
Body Count
Identity Theft
Warranty Fraud

As Dr. White rightly points out, if people just stuck to the Bible and what it says, most of these crimes would never happen.

And what can we do as laity? Two things - attend church regularly to come together with other believers, and not put so much on the pastor. If a job can be done by someone else, let that other person do it. Pastors and elders get stretched too thin when they are asked to be all things to the congregation. Congregates need to do their part too.

I only disagreed on a couple of points, such as having to dress up to be properly prepared to come into the presence of God. We don't dress up before coming into God's presence at bedtime prayers, do we? If someone wants to dress up, fine. But I don't feel it is necessary. But on the whole my issues were minor and more a matter of preference than Biblical disagreement.

I would recommend this book to both pastors/elders and laity. Pastors and elders to make sure they are not falling into these traps (and encourage them if they are not), and laity to get a clearer picture of what they should be looking for in a church and what the role of pastor/elder is really about.

I liked this book a lot and may read other books by Dr. White.

Technorati tagged: heresy, church, heretics, pulpit, James White, Pulpit Crimes, book review, religion, book, books

2008 book list

Seductive Poison by Deborah Layton

You: On A Diet by Mehmet C. Oz & Michael F. Roizen

Unification Church by J. Isamu Yamaoto

In the Shadow of the Moons: My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family by Nansook Hong

Pulpit Crimes: The Criminal Mishandling of God's Word by James White

Technorati tagged: book, books, reading, diet, low carb, weight loss, health, Jesus, God, faith, 2008

Christmas Day

Calories eaten yesterday: 1169
Fat: 20g (16%)
Carbs: 123g (43%)
Protein: 118g (41%)
Calories burned in exercise today: 167

I don't remember the last time my carbs were higher than my protein. Not good, but it's the Kombucha putting me over. I've been drinking one a day as part of my detox this week.

I broke down and had oatmeal for breakfast. It wasn't very good or satisfying. I regret now that I craved it. I also got up early and was hungry and had some toast with Walden Farms jelly, and cottage cheese. Also a little of the cauliflower potatoes for Christmas dinner with Brad at work. I made myself coffee with sugar-free hot chocolate ("poor man's mocha"), and plain hot chocolate.

As for my sugar addiction, *sigh*. I dived into the cookies and candies sitting out at work. Blech. I must do better. I must break this addiction! I managed to send Brad home with the rest of the cookies that were sitting out (I had eaten the rest of the candy!) so I wouldn't eat any more. Bad, bad Victoria!

Brad didn't buy egg nog because the health food store was closed when he got there yesterday. I was very upset since I allow myself store bought egg nog just once a year, at Christmas. He thought I only wanted that kind so didn't get anything else. :-p I sent him out to get it. Thank God his Safeway was open. I noticed when I walked to work from BART that Pac N Save was closed. I had him get a quart of light egg nog since it has less fat and calories. My annual treat. :) I arrived at work about an hour early so Brad clocked out to get the egg nog and I clocked in early.

This weekend I will do Brad's annual treat - homemade low-carb egg nog made with heavy whipping cream and whole eggs (and Splenda). Very high in fat, but it's just once a year. Brad would like it more often, but I have to watch my fat.

For Christmas dinner we had lamb, cauliflower potatoes (made with low-fat cheese and fat-free cream cheese), oatmeal cookies (homemade with my healthy recipe), egg nog, and Perrier. It was yummy, but combined with all my treats - well, I am stuffed.

Dinner tonight will be the rest of the oatmeal cookies, some peanuts from the vending machine downstairs, and a turkey and cheese sandwich I made this morning. Maybe some Ritz crackers Ray gave me. Possibly some left over salad I brought from home.

I opened all my Christmas gifts including my whole Vicki box, but that will have to wait for another post about the cool stuff I got. I also opened a couple presents last night and got some cool stuff.

I'm working this weekend. 3 pm-7 pm tomorrow and 7 pm-11 pm Saturday night. Then back to my regular schedule Sunday. I might drop a post, or not. Ah well. I need the overtime badly.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, addiction, holiday, Christmas

Merry CHRISTmas!

Happy Jesus Day everyone!
Technorati tagged: holiday, Christmas

10 Million Steps!

Calories eaten yesterday: 1236
Fat: 18g (14%)
Carbs: 124g (41%)
Protein: 137g (45%)
Calories burned in exercise today: 319

My pants are fitting a bit better so that's a good sign. I'm still steering clear of the scale. With tomorrow being Christmas - forget it!

I made 10 million steps today! Yay me! Please take a look at my Walker Tracker stats in my sidebar. :)

I've been keeping a close eye on my numbers and thankfully the rain has mostly held off so I could get in plenty of walking the last few days. Today I walked up to the bank, down to the laundromat, back up to my apartment, back down to the BART station, and from my BART stop to work.

I stopped at the fruit stand for their bag of mixed fruit for a treat tomorrow. I also bought a double tall skinny vanilla latte at Starbucks and a petite cheese croissant for tomorrow. Today I'm being good and just ordered tea.

Mom's Christmas check yesterday along with the money my employer set aside for me. I deposited those. I had already done a bunch of shopping on Amazon so after I put the checks in I hit a few buttons and put the order through for the new camera, used camera, and a bunch of used CDs.

My Vicki box came today! :) She sent it late and paid a ton of money to get it here on time. A box from Amazon also arrived. I knew the cat calendar I wanted was in there because I noticed it missing from my wish list, but the CD of worship music was a nice surprise. :) I have so much music on my wish list that I would never notice one CD missing.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, Christmas, overweight, fitness

The day before the day before Christmas

Calories eaten Sunday: 929 (no, that's not a typo; after binging on Saturday I just wasn't very hungry)
Fat: 19g (17%)
Carbs: 49g (20%)
Protein: 150g (62%)

Calories eaten yesterday: 1242
Fat: 18g (13%)
Carbs: 125g (41%)
Protein: 137g (45%)
Calories burned in exercise yesterday: 347
Calories burned in exercise today: 384

I'm fat. Those two days of binging took it's toll. I'm afraid to step on the scale, and I'm busting out of my jeans. I have undone months of hard work. :( I feel horrible that I am at this place. God only knows how long it will take to undo those two days.

Yesterday and today I went to the gym, same basic workout - one hour of weight training, 31-35 minutes cardio, and walking to work from the train station. Today I was early so I also did a 20 minutes walk around the area where I work.

My Flickr book arrived! It came last Friday, but I didn't see it until I came in for my half shift on Saturday. My photograph made the A Message For Obama book. Here's the Guardian article, the Flickr group. The photo is on the right. Clicking it will take you to the Flickr photo page. Also check out pages 8/9 at this link; I'm on the bottom left of page 9.

Bay To Breakers opened early registration for people who receive the newsletter. It was $8 off the regular price. As soon as I got paid last week I sat down and registered. I know the race is still six months off, but I do plan to participate barring any unforeseen circumstance. So I am now registered and will hopefully get my lowest number ever. :)

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, Barack, exercise, race, Bay To Breakers, Obama

Breaking the Sabbath, Breaking My Camera

I'll catch up on diet stuff tomorrow, but today I want to post one of my occasional posts on religion and faith.

My really nice camera that's less than a year old is broken. I put it in my bag before church along with a Kombucha drink. The drink was unopened, with the seal still on the cap. Somehow, somewhere it got open. The bag is watertight so I didn't discover it until I reached into my bag to get something after the service. The top of the bottle had become loose and flooded my bag and everything in it.

I dried everything as best as I could and later that day Brad used some alcohol to clean the camera as best as he could. But it still won't work right. It sometimes turns on when you hit the button and sometimes doesn't. Same with turning it off - sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it turns itself on when no one is around it.

I believe the broken camera is a chastisement from God, so let me explain.

I have become very lax in keeping the Sabbath - not spending money that day, etc. I regularly spend money and this past Sabbath was no exception and, if anything, worse than usual.

Every time I don't do something that I know God expects me to do, something bad happens. On the couple of occasions where I have withheld my tithe because money was so tight something happens that ends up costing my more money than the tithe would have been. Last time my purse was snatched the very next day. It's to the point that I partly out of fear of what will happen if I don't and not totally out of love. (I know that's not good so no need to tell me. I'm just stating the facts, right or wrong.)

So I believe that God allowed the cap of the bottle to come loose and destroy my camera. If I can spend money on the Sabbath, then I can spend money on a new camera.

I talked to Gary downstairs today to see how much money I have saved. I have $40 taken out of every paycheck and set aside, and the amount currently saved is $210 including the entire month of December. I found a camera similar to my old one (slightly upgraded) for $174 on Amazon.

I would also like to buy a small digital camera that I can just slip in my pocket, so a lot of expenses and I will have to see how much money my Mom sends me (she said she's sending a check instead of an Amazon gift certificate) and how much money I have set aside here.

Technorati tagged: Jesus, religion, faith, Bible, God, Sabbath

More binging

Staff dinner on Thursday, so there was no way to count calories, and I binged)
Weight Thursday morning: 132 (One week ago: 128.8)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 264

Calories eaten Friday: 763 (no, that's not a typo; I more or less fasted today because of yesterday's binge)
Fat: 6g (7%)
Carbs: 55g (28%)
Protein: 35g (18%)
Weight Friday morning: n/a (One week ago: 127.8)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 108

Weight Saturday morning: n/a (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 304

No, weigh-in today. Yesterday was my last hurrah binging on sugar. I ate everything bad that I could get my hands on. I am re-addicted and have to put an end to it. I feel like crap today from all the crap I ate yesterday. I haven't binged like that in a while! Wow.

So starting today I am cutting out most sugar. I'll allow myself a little bit on Christmas because I allow myself to have egg nog once a year, and a little on Saturdays. The cookies I made for Christmas are sugar-free except for the applesauce I used in place of butter.

My body is going through fits with the binge on Thursday, eating very light (almost fasting) on Friday, then hugely binging on Saturday, then eating very light (almost fasting) today. I know I gained a huge amount of weight and am afraid to step on the scale. I can't get my ring on so I am not wearing it.

Today it's raining (it's forecast to rain all week), but not hard, so Brad and I went for a long walk in the woods (somewhat paved, not very muddy, and the trees give protection from the wind and rain). We had umbrellas. I feel too sick to go to the gym, but I have to get steps from being so low the last two days, and need to start burning off all the carbs I ate yesterday.

Today is meat only, except that I had two pieces of low-carb bread to settle my tummy. Tomorrow I will add back in the veggies, salads, Cream of Wheat, and cottage cheese. I'm not very hungry today anyway. I stuffed myself to the gills yesterday and ate probably some huge amount like 7000 calories or something.

I'm redoing last week's cleanse. I have another cleanse kit. Today is the last day of the previous cleanse so I will start it again tomorrow.

My camera broke this weekend and I will have to buy a new one. I will have to write another post to explain it, though, so hopefully I can get that up.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, binging, binge

Staff Christmas dinner & mini-binging

Calories eaten yesterday: 1296
Fat: 21g (15%)
Carbs: 128g (41%)
Protein: 138g (44%)
Weight this morning: 132 (One week ago: 128.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 264

Did laundry. Walked to the laundromat and back. I had a larger breakfast since I am off plan today - one serving of Cream of Wheat and a cup of cottage cheese. I also had five peanut M&M's from the candy machine at the laundromat.

After walking to BART, I then walked to work from my stop. I stopped at Burger King and got a dry (no mayo) grilled chicken sandwich. It was good, but the bun had a slightly sweet taste to it - very odd.

Then I stopped at Starbacks of a double tall egg nog latte with nonfat milk instead of 2%. It's my one egg nog latte for the year. I also had three petite vanilla scones. I love them and haven't had one in a few weeks.

At work I had some candy - all very high in fat and sugar, *sigh.* I also ate another serving of Cream of Wheat and some leftover salad of Brad's from last weekend. I found some cake down the hall and, sad to say, ate several bites. :( I also ate way too much candy today. The IT department always has tons of fatty candy laying around.

We had our annual staff Christmas dinner today at Quinn's Lighthouse. All the part-timers begged out for various reasons so it was just the full time "core group" of L., Brad, me, and our supervisor J. Our part-timers S., P., and Y., did not show up.

I had seltzer water to drink, a side salad with fat free honey mustard dressing, a steak with no butter, and veggies. I also had too much garlic bread, a small dessert (very tiny), and some of Brad's bread pudding.

On the way back Brad and I stopped at Starbucks and I got a chocolate banana Vivanno with light syrup and nonfat milk. I asked Brad to split a cranberry bliss bar with me because I have never had one so we did. Now I won't have to buy it again now that I know what it tastes like.

When we got back I kind of pigged out on some raisin bread Ray brought, and peanuts plus peanut M&Ms from the vending machine downstairs. :-p I totally failed today.

Must do better until my birthday!

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

Week 90, Day 4

Calories eaten yesterday: 1163
Fat: 18g (14%)
Carbs: 111g (40%)
Protein: 127g (45%)
Weight this morning: 131.4 (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise today: 332

Kinda tired today and didn't have much strength at the gym. I need three days off between workouts and I only had two days so I was still sore and couldn't lift as well. I struggled through the whole thing. I did 30 minutes of the stairmaster for cardio but stayed between levels 4 and 5. Just too tired today to push myself more. My final exercise was walking to work from BART.

The cold is making my hards really dry and causing my eczema to flare up. It always gets worse in winter. Last night I smeared anti-bacterial ointment on my knuckles before bed and wore plastic gloves all night. This is the only non-prescription treatment that I have found works. This morning I massaged a bunch of lotion into my hands. I'm trying to wear my winter gloves when outside since keeping my hands warm seems to help control the dryness and cracking.

Tomorrow is laundry and then the bi-annual staff dinner. Michael from downstairs will fill in for me at work while I am at the dinner (everyone gets paid for being there). I am hoping to stick to plan except for the dinner and one or two treats. I want to order the steak with extra veggies instead of potatoes. I'll let you all know how it goes and watch my Flickr photostream for photos in a few days.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

Week 90, Day 3

Calories eaten yesterday: 1293
Fat: 22g (15%)
Carbs: 126g (40%)
Protein: 138g (44%)
Weight this morning: 130.6 (One week ago: 132.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 181

Went into the City today for my mail. Got the property check and cashed it. I walked from my apartment to the train station and when I came back from the City I walked from my station to work. Tomorrow I hope to go to the gym again.

I realized Brad and I can't go the movies this Saturday. I have to work 7-11 pm. And next week is even worse - I'm working seven days. On my days off I am working two half shifts - 3-7 pm Friday and 7-11 pm Saturday. So no moviegoing for a while. :(

As Brad mentioned in yesterday's comment section, I completed the fridge defrost. It's one of those small office/dorm type fridges and sits on a counter to make it more accessible. He had simple turned the refrigerator off and let the upper freezer compartment drip. It pooled on the counter next to it and was making quite the mess. I knew I didn't have enough paper towels to soak it up, so I eventually started prying huge chunks of ice out. Once I got the drip drawer underneath the freezer part out I was able to reach underneath and pry there.

Eventually I was able to pry all the pieces out and dispose of them in the bathroom sink down the hall. The trash was full of wet paper towels at that point, so I took it out. Not fun, but I was bored last night so what the heck. Better than doing it on a busy day. Brad promised me stuff in that comment (wine and cheese) for what I did but there is no need for that. We all have to pull our weight at work.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

Started body cleanse

Calories eaten yesterday: 973 (no, that's not a typo)
Fat: 16g (15%)
Carbs: 94g (39%)
Protein: 111g (46%)
Weight this morning: 133.4 (One week ago: 135)
Calories burned in exercise today: 395

I feel better today. I went to the gym and ended up spending an hour and a half on weight training. I needed to make up for yesterday and include some leg work, plus I had the energy. After that I did a half hour of cardio. I missed the last train to get to work on time, so I was a few minutes late. I did, however, walk in from the train station for the exercise.

Tomorrow I have to run into the City to check my P.O. box. I'm expecting a check. I need to buy more Diet Rock Star. It's the only thing that gets me through my workouts. I hope it doesn't rain. It rained all day yesterday and has been off and on today.

I started the GNC body cleanse today so I am trying to cut back on soda and drink more seltzer water instead. I'm also drinking unsweetened green tea. Other than that I am not changing my diet much.

The cleanse consists of a high fiber drink in the morning (35 calories), plus a lot of pills morning and evening. I haven't done any sort of cleanse in ages so it is time.

Technorati tagged: diet, cleanse, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

Week 89 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58: 139.4 (+2.8)
Week 59: 136.6 (-2.8) - Week 60: 134.6 (-2)
Week 61: 137 (+2.4) - Week 62: 138.6 (+1.6)
Week 63: 137 (-1.6) - Week 64: 137 (-0)
Week 65: 141.8 (+4.8) - Week 66: 135.4 (-6.4)
Week 67: 136 (+0.6) - Week 68: 139.2 (+3.2)
Week 69: 137.2 (-2) - Week 70: 138.2 (+1)
Week 71: 136.4 (-1.8) - Week 72: 140 (+3.6)
Week 73: 139.4 (-0.6) - Week 74: 140 (+0.6)
Week 75: 137.6 (-2.4) - Week 76: 141.6 (+4)
Week 77: 136.4 (-5.2) - Week 78: 139 (+2.6)
Week 79: 138.2 (-0.8) - Week 80: 139.2 (+1)
Week 81: 139.4 (+0.2) - Week 82: 137.6 (-1.8)
Week 83: 137.8 (+0.2) - Week 84: 137.2 (-0.6)
Week 85: 137.2 (-0) - Week 86: 136.2 (-1)
Week 87: 140.6 (+4.4) - Week 88: 138.8 (-1.8)
Week 89: 139.4 (+0.6)
Total loss: -14.6

Body fat on Tanita scale:
Year start: 26.6%
Last month: 25.1%
This month: 23.6%

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.
Calories eaten Thursday: 1385
Fat: 23g (15%)
Carbs: 123g (36%)
Protein: 125g (37%)
Weight Thursday morning: 128.8 (One week ago: 132)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 264

Calories eaten Friday: 1443
Fat: 20g (13%)
Carbs: 108g (31%)
Protein: 120g (35%)
Weight Friday morning: 127.8 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 242

Weight Saturday morning: 131 (One week ago: 130.2)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 146

Well, I totally failed again and am showing another gain this week. I suck and my body wants to be fat. Plus there is a staff dinner this Thursday so I won't be on plan that day. I will need to eat lightly to make up for it.

Friday I did grocery shopping so Brad just had to whiz by Safeway to get my salad and pick up some fruit for us to munch on Saturday (bananas/apples). Then we went to Costco for Diet Coke and then to WalMart to get some stuff that they have cheaper than Safeway.

Saturday morning I made the chocolate molten cakes. I won't be buying anymore since they contain soy protein. After church Brad was tired so we didn't stay for lunch. We went home briefly, but then went out. I wanted Starbucks for my weekly treat. This time I got a chocolate banana Vivanno. We split a mint chocolate brownie and I got a gingerbread biscotti since they were out of the chocolate ones and didn't have any of the petite vanilla scones that I love so much.

We also stopped at the health food store for Kombucha, and Kragen for Brad to check something. While he was checking I ran over to a small liquor store where I saw these little packs of Quaker oatmeal mini cookies. I also saw the lady selling bags of cut up fruit on the corner there. I have always wanted to buy one of the mixed bags so I did. So I pigged out on fruit when I got home.

Somewhere in this busy Saturday mess we stopped at the health food store that carries the Walden Farms jams and I picked up a jar so I could have toast and jam. Brad had buttered toast Friday night with his dinner and it looked so good. I'm not big on butter, but I do like jam. I had some when we got home.

In the evening I made the soy protein pizza crust and loaded them with topping. I cooked them up on the spot rather than ahead of time and they tasted much better. I stuffed myself too much and had a tummy ache. Ibuprofen worked great to take the pain away.

Then before bed I pigged out again - two more slices of toast with jam, some soy cereal with milk (need to use up the soy I have, but I won't buy more), and my last Starbucks breakfast sandwich. I have one more package of the soy pizza crusts and some of the cereal and that will be it.

I also drank too much alcohol yesterday - wine, beer, and a little vodka and rum (in mixed drinks).

So too much food and alcohol and too many calories so of course my body takes it all and stores it as fat. I'm eating light so far today. I'm just not very hungry.

I woke up a bit hungover and couldn't face a gym workout. Brad and I decided to walk, but it was and is raining. We decided on a partly paved, non-muddy wooded area where the trees gave us some protection from the rain and wind. I took my big umbrella and we had a nice 1 hour walk and I stayed dry. We tried to do more walking in another area, but the wind was kicking up and without the trees the rain was too heavy. It wasn't fun anymore so we nixed that. We ended up at Starbucks. I got a Venti hot tea (Tazo Calm) with sugar free vanilla syrup and Brad got an Americano. He swears they taste better than regular coffee.

I'm bloated today. Not sure if the soy could effect me that much or not, but yesterday was a high soy day. I actually took extra thyroid medication to counteract all the soy. At any rate, I think it is time for a body cleanse. I haven't done one in ages and I have two GNC body cleanse kits at home (a one week program of mostly pills). I'll look over the info tonight and start tomorrow.

I'll also need to see what I can do to eat healthier during this time. Perhaps I could force myself to cut back on soda and drink more unsweetened green tea.

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Calories, money, & a little bit more on soy

Calories eaten yesterday: 1272
Fat: 21g (15%)
Carbs: 126g (40%)
Protein: 138g (44%)
Weight this morning: 128.8 (One week ago: 132)
Calories burned in exercise today: 264

I'm crazy hungry today. I hate it when this happens. My calories are way too high today. Before leaving home I was so hungry that I ate a cup of sugar-free Jello. Then at the laundromat I had two handfuls of peanut M&Ms from the candy machine - a total of 12 pieces. I looked it up on FitDay when I got home and those 12 pieces have 123 calories! Yike! I put it in my journal but I think I will stop eating those things. 10 calories per piece?!? Way too high to justify.

I did manage to get in an hour and a half of walking, including the trip to and from the laundromat. I walked down to BART, then over the bridge to Alameda and down to Central St. At that point it was getting late and I had to catch the bus. Hopefully all that walking (4.4 miles according to Walker Tracker) helped burn off all those M&Ms.

No money from Dad yet. I hope it comes today or tomorrow because I need to buy groceries if I want to eat next week. :-p As soon as I get it I am running to the bank and then the grocery store. I called Dad a couple days ago just to say hi since I never got ahold of him on Thanksgiving. I didn't even ask about the check, but he said it was in the mail.

Brad and I decided to see the 3-D Bolt movie next week when I will have more money (right after payday and the property check should be in my P.O. box). We almost never go to the movies, but we don't want to pass up something in 3-D.

I'm closing in on 10 million steps (see my badge near the top of the sidebar) and would like to make that goal by the end of the year. I did some calculations and have to walk an average of approximately 9500 steps per day, so it is indeed possible. My daily goal is higher than that so if I don't make it by the end of the month I won't have met my monthly step goal either.

Weekend plans are up in the air. We may or may not walk on Friday and Saturday. Rain is forecast all weekend. We also need to buy groceries at some point, as well as more diet soda from either WalMart or Costco. We can't do this until I get that darn check!

I'm using up some of the soy products in my kitchen, getting rid of the evil stuff. I'll make the little chocolate cakes on Saturday morning for breakfast, and make soy pizza crusts Saturday night. I told Brad to bring shredded low-fat cheese and turkey pepperoni. I'll furnish the crusts and the sauce.

As far as soy stuff that will leave just one more package of soy pizza crusts. I can't wait to get rid of it all. I'll take a little extra of my thyroid meds to make up for what soy does to the thyroid and cellular uptake. This thyroid connection is why I am cutting it out.

Soy is not safe and I urge all my readers to stop eating it. I am using what I have in my house and not buying anymore.

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Week 89, Day 4

Calories eaten yesterday: 1202
Fat: 19g (15%)
Carbs: 108g (37%)
Protein: 139g (48%)
Weight this morning: 131 (One week ago: 130)
Calories burned in exercise today: 332

Went to the gym and did one hour of weight training and 30 minutes on the stairmaster and levels 5 and 6. I walked to work from the train station.

I forgot my towel and figured I'd just buy one since I could use another one anyway. I tried to use Easy Pay through my membership card (I get 10% off this way), but it wouldn't go through. Turns out I hadn't changed it from the old card to my new one! So they did that and then I was able to get the towel.

Tomorrow is laundry and hopefully Dad's check will be here by then and I can buy some groceries Friday.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

The 10 Commandments of Saturday "Cheats" (take 2)

Calories eaten yesterday: 1292
Fat: 21g (15%)
Carbs: 129g (41%)
Protein: 140g (44%)
Weight this morning: 132.4 (One week ago: 133.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 181

Slept in today. Walked down the the BART station, and then from my stop to work. I made a pit stop at WalMart to reorder my prescriptions, check on earplugs, and buy some diet soda. Tomorrow (hopefully) I'll be back in the gym.

I rewrote my 10 Commandments of Saturday "Cheats". They haven't hung in my kitchen since my move and needed to be updated for my current issues and how I want to accomplish my goals. So here is the new updated version I wrote yesterday.

The 10 Commandments of Saturday "Cheats"

YOU ARE FAT! Therefore -

At church:
1) No snacking before church. There will be plenty of time to snack afterwards. If this is a temptation, chew sugar-free gum until the service is over.
2) One mini cups of peanuts and one mini cup of Cheese-Its during break. One mini cup of any other treat. No more than three granola bars.
3) No lunch. You just ate a HUGE snack and aren’t actually hungry. Clean up the kitchen.
4) No snacking after church or taking granola bars to eat in the car. You will have another chance to have them next Saturday.

At home:
5) Eat only until full at breakfast.
6) Only one breakfast entrée, take your pick. Two is too many.
7) If you are not hungry, don't eat! Period! Brush your teeth or chew sugar-free gum.
8) No desserts, including eating out!
9) No McDonald’s, Burger King, or other fast food! No junk food at a convenience store.
10) This is not the last chance you will have to eat! Just 6 more days and you will be able to have the treats again. So don’t overeat. There’s no reason to.

I am definitely addicted to sugar.I must get my sugar addiction under control! I must break it again! I must exercise some self-control and stop hitting fast food restaurants almost every week. Eesh. I'm terrible.

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Crazy Busy

Calories eaten yesterday: 1232
Fat: 22g (16%)
Carbs: 123g (40%)
Protein: 133g (44%)
Weight this morning: 135 (One week ago: 134.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 296

Brad crashed at my house last night and I came home to a bit of a mess and had to clean up before I could even start on my usual nighttime stuff. I got to bed kind of late, and had trouble sleeping. Then Brad woke me up when he got up this morning. I took it easy at the gym and after weight training I just walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I also did the 30 minute walk to work from BART.

It's been crazy busy at work tonight - Murphy's Law - everything that can go wrong has. Dalet fill music that S. didn't switch back to regular programming, Dalet time, Conex switching problems, plus the usual assortment of various calls about what's happening out in the field. Why did they have to switch WFSI to a new transmitter (and alarm system) today? Brad also gave me another tutorial on how to read the programming schedule and compare it with Dalet. I just can't "get it" no matter how many times it's explained.

Things often calm down after 7 pm so we will see.

Ok, bathroom talk ahead so skip the next paragraph if this offends you! You have been warned! My upset stomach on Saturday has been expanded to spending a lot of time in the bathroom yesterday and today! Loose stools galore - not fun. I know Brad and I were farting more from the sugar alcohols in the Atkins brownies we had for breakfast Saturday, but I don't know if that also upset my stomach and caused the loose stools for the last two days.

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Week 88 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58: 139.4 (+2.8)
Week 59: 136.6 (-2.8) - Week 60: 134.6 (-2)
Week 61: 137 (+2.4) - Week 62: 138.6 (+1.6)
Week 63: 137 (-1.6) - Week 64: 137 (-0)
Week 65: 141.8 (+4.8) - Week 66: 135.4 (-6.4)
Week 67: 136 (+0.6) - Week 68: 139.2 (+3.2)
Week 69: 137.2 (-2) - Week 70: 138.2 (+1)
Week 71: 136.4 (-1.8) - Week 72: 140 (+3.6)
Week 73: 139.4 (-0.6) - Week 74: 140 (+0.6)
Week 75: 137.6 (-2.4) - Week 76: 141.6 (+4)
Week 77: 136.4 (-5.2) - Week 78: 139 (+2.6)
Week 79: 138.2 (-0.8) - Week 80: 139.2 (+1)
Week 81: 139.4 (+0.2) - Week 82: 137.6 (-1.8)
Week 83: 137.8 (+0.2) - Week 84: 137.2 (-0.6)
Week 85: 137.2 (-0) - Week 86: 136.2 (-1)
Week 87: 140.6 (+4.4) - Week 88: 138.8 (-1.8)
Total loss: -15.2

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.
Calories eaten Thursday: 1247
Fat: 17g (13%)
Carbs: 110g (36%)
Protein: 121g (39%)
Weight Thursday morning: 132 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 194

Calories eaten Friday: 1480
Fat: 20g (12%)
Carbs: 119g (33%)
Protein: 121g (34%)
Weight Friday morning: 129.2 (One week ago: 133.2)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 49

Weight Saturday morning: 130.2 (One week ago: 133.8)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 371

I forgot to take my body fat when I weighed this morning so I will do it next week.

This is a long post and more for me so I know what happened than for anyone else, so feel free to skip this post.

It was a crazy weekend. As you know if you read here regularly, I recently cut back my anti-depressant from 60mg to what I used to be on, 40mg. It was raised to 60mg because my thyroid meds made me edgy and I would cry easily. Well, I wound up in tears at the grocery store on Friday night and knew I needed to up the dose again. Evidently I still haven't adjusted to the thyroid meds yet. *sigh* I took an extra 1/2 pill Friday night and am now taking 60mg a day - 1 1/2 pills every morning.

Brad picked me up late on Friday - around 4:30. I wanted a nice skinny vanilla Venti latte with four shots for Saturday morning. Brad drives crazy and I didn't want it to spill, so we got it and took it straight home. By now it was getting dark.

Then we went to Safeway. We went to his in Alameda because it has the 48 oz. salads I use. They were out. I looked at their cucumbers (no other veggies were on sale) and they had been well picked over also. I walked out of the store mad.

I wanted to go to Trader Joe's because I'm running low on wine. I picked up a couple bottles of the "Two Buck Chuck" to tide me over until I can afford a case. Then I realized that his Safeway had a few other items that mine might not have, such as large paper platters. So we went back to pick up just those items. It turned into a full shopping spree. I ended up with a 24 oz. bag a salad to tide me over until I could get a 48 oz. bag, and opted for green beans for my veggie even though they weren't on sale.

At the checkout my total came to less than I expected and thought we could run to WalMart to get a few things there. But then I punched in my PIN number instead of the amount of cash I wanted back. I won't say the exact amount I got back because that would give away my number, but I'll say that it was between $70 and $80 - way more cash back than I wanted and more money than I could afford. I only had $99 to spend on groceries! They couldn't undo it. At this point I was in tears.

We took the money to my bank (there's a branch in the shopping center) and deposited it. Then I remembered that I needed to use my commuter checks for bus and BART passes so we went back to Safeway for those. After that I was in no mood for walking and it was getting late so we went home.

Brad had bought a $27 bottle of wine to share with me - WOW!. It said Merlot, but it didn't taste fruity. Indeed, it tasted more like Cabernet and was very strong. I said I could feel myself getting to my "happy place" after just one small glass. It usually takes more than that. Brad wondered what the alcohol content was. I got up and checked the bottle and it said 16%! Most wines are around 12%! Wow. Between us, we finished the bottle. Brad had a little more than half.

Saturday after church we relaxed a bit. I got Brad to put some Christmas lights around the walls of my room while I did stuff around the house. (There's no room for a tree this year, but I want something a bit festive.) I the evening we went out to dinner as I had promised way back in July. But first we went to Applebee's. Brad bought me two Mochatinis because I was buying him dinner late. The female bartender on Saturday night now knows me as "the Mochatini lady."

Then we went to New Zealander and bought an appetizer (a cheese plate), dinner, drinks, and dessert. I got adventurous and ordered a Kiwi Martini. Too strong for me, but interesting. I got the White Lady special made with lamb and no bun. This dish includes not just cheese on the burger, but a fried egg, a piece of beet, and tomato. I had the chocolate mousse cake for dessert. The bill was $90 and after we paid Brad got another beer from the bar. Since he had contributed to the tip I gave him $10 to cover the beer and part of the tip.

After that I lost my mind. We went to McDonald's because I wanted a chocolate dipped cone. I also got a small fry, and I paid for Brad's McFlurry. Then I was still craving so we went to Burger King for their "two double cheeseburgers for $2." I paid for those and gave Brad one. Then (as if all that wasn't too much) I asked to go to 7-11. I wanted cupcakes and I also bought a Diet Coke. At home I ate a low-fat Starbucks breakfast sandwich before crashing out. I've got to get my Saturday eating under control or the weight will never come off! :(

Today Brad drove me to the nice High Street gym. I can't get there by bus, so I can only go when Brad drives me, even though it's closer to where I live than the gym I normally go to! I did one hour of weight training - upper body and core - and ran for 32 minutes on the treadmill. I felt good so I went for 5k, 3.11 miles. I had to finish out the last minute so I actually ran 3.13. I had to up the speed at the end to finish it in only two extra minutes. Whew!

We had a little extra time before I had to be at work so Brad and I went for a short walk in a park near work.

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Keeping a Promise

Calories eaten yesterday: 1222
Fat: 21g (16%)
Carbs: 118g (40%)
Protein: 134g (45%)
Weight this morning: 132 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 194

My weight is up again today. *sigh* I will never get this Thanksgiving weight off. :( I've cut way back on calories this week and the weight just isn't moving. I have a completely non-existent metabolism.

Did laundry today, walked there and back. When I got back from the laundromat I was shaky. I tested my blood sugar and it was 73. I needed to eat something but didn't have any calories to play with so I settled for a cup of sugar-free Jello and that seemed to help. Then I walked down to BART, but caught the bus as I felt weak from lack of food and didn't want to walk the 1.5 miles from my stop into work.

I think the Cream of Wheat is helping. I haven't felt as wiped out after my workouts this week. Yay for more energy! About 6 more weeks to go until my iron retesting.

I had big plans for tomorrow of all the stuff I need to buy but I had a ton of bills all come due at the same time, and PG&E is up right now because it's winter. So I have enough money to buy food for the coming week and that's about it. :( Don't know what I will do for groceries next week if Dad's check doesn't arrive. And I still have Christmas presents to mail...

Speaking of money, since I told Brad what I'm going to do this Saturday I can post it here. The money I got from my comp time is set aside and I'm going to finally take Brad out to dinner at the New Zealander, one of his favorite restaurants (and I like it a lot, too).

I promised him this way back in July when he cleaned my old apartment for me from top to bottom. He did a great job and saved me a lot of time and aggravation. I promised I would take him out to dinner, but never had the money. So I finally just cashed in the comp time so I can fulfill this promise. With the economy the way it is we go out to eat a lot less so this will be a special treat. I told him he could order anything he wanted.

Tomorrow we are buying groceries and walking around the lake because it's lit so we can walk after dark. Saturday we won't get any walking in because we have a special church meeting; that's why we are walking Friday. Then Saturday night Brad is driving me to Applebee's for Mochatinis and then we are having dinner at the New Zealander.

Technorati tagged: diet, money, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

New Pullman

Calories eaten yesterday: 1070
Fat: 20g (17%)
Carbs: 102g (38%)
Protein: 117g (44%)
Weight this morning: 130 (One week ago: 130.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 310

Calories were good again yesterday, though I admit to waking up very hungry last night. I managed to get back to sleep though. I gained so much over Thanksgiving that this calorie level has to be done even though i am very hungry. I'm drinking lots of diet soda and chewing gum to keep my mouth occupied.

Considered going back to sleep when my alarm went off, but I go up and went to the gym. I did an hour of weight training, but decided to take it easy on cardio and just walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Then I walked to work from the train station.

My Pullman backpack has finally died. I noticed this morning that one of the wheels is missing. All that is left is the "rim." So I stopped at WalMart and bought a Jeep brand Pullman ($44), not a backpack unfortunately, with "all-terrain" wheels. We will see how long those wheels last. I do a lot of walking pulling these things behind me so they get a workout.

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Week 88, Day 3

Calories eaten yesterday: 1230
Fat: 22g (16%)
Carbs: 122g (40%)
Protein: 133g (44%)
Weight this morning: 133.8 (One week ago: 132.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 181

Disappointing weigh-in. :( I am working on it, though. Another good day calorie-wise yesterday considering that I went to the gym and worked out hard.

Today was my bi-monthly mail run into the City. I walked to the train station to go into the City, then walked from the train to work when I came back. Tomorrow I hope to go back to the gym.

I cashed in a couple of comp days and got the check today. Now I can enact my plan. I can't write about it right now, but I'll let everybody know what I did after it's over.

Since the check came I told Brad that we are eating at New Zealander this Saturday night. That means I have to be good Saturday morning and at church to save room for a good dinner there. I would be happy with pizza and ice cream at Costco, but I must stop that! It doesn't do my diet any good to be eating pizza and ice cream every week. Eesh!

The annual staff Christmas dinner is set. We (the Net Control department) are eating at Quinn's Lighthouse on December 18. I'm happy that we are not doing Mexican. Quinn's is much easier for my diet.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

Week 88, Day 2

Calories eaten yesterday: 1259
Fat: 22g (16%)
Carbs: 125g (40%)
Protein: 136g (44%)
Weight this morning: 134.2 (One week ago: 131.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 332

I'm pretty happy with my calories yesterday given that I exercised so much. I need to stay under 1300 on gym days and under 1200 on non-workout days if I want to ever get this weight off. The thyroid meds don't seem to have helped my metabolism one iota.

I've felt reasonably well the last couple of days. I was wiped out after my workout yesterday but as the day progressed I felt better and while I am tired from my workout today I don't feel totally wiped out. I know the biggest problem is low ferritin which I am working on getting up. I think that if I can get my ferritin up my energy would be much better.

Today I went to the gym and did lower body and ab weight training for one hour, then hopped on the elliptical for 30 minutes. I walked to work from BART.

Tomorrow is my mail run into the City.

My current food before and after my workouts goes like this:
Breakfast is one scoop of whey protein mixed with water, and one serving of Cream of Wheat. After my gym workout I have another scoop of whey protein mixed with water, plus a 100 Calorie Pack, usually the Barnum's Animals Choco Crackers (my fave!). Then I walk to work from the train station. I'm going to see how that works out for me.

I got a compliment from this lady I see at the gym sometimes. She is overweight and seems to look up to me simply because I can do things she can't. Today she said that I was "advanced," though in truth I have seen women lift much heavier weights than I can, and do things (like pull-ups) that I can only dream of. She also said I have a "nice figure." Now that kind of compliment I like to hear. :)

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness

Week 87 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58: 139.4 (+2.8)
Week 59: 136.6 (-2.8) - Week 60: 134.6 (-2)
Week 61: 137 (+2.4) - Week 62: 138.6 (+1.6)
Week 63: 137 (-1.6) - Week 64: 137 (-0)
Week 65: 141.8 (+4.8) - Week 66: 135.4 (-6.4)
Week 67: 136 (+0.6) - Week 68: 139.2 (+3.2)
Week 69: 137.2 (-2) - Week 70: 138.2 (+1)
Week 71: 136.4 (-1.8) - Week 72: 140 (+3.6)
Week 73: 139.4 (-0.6) - Week 74: 140 (+0.6)
Week 75: 137.6 (-2.4) - Week 76: 141.6 (+4)
Week 77: 136.4 (-5.2) - Week 78: 139 (+2.6)
Week 79: 138.2 (-0.8) - Week 80: 139.2 (+1)
Week 81: 139.4 (+0.2) - Week 82: 137.6 (-1.8)
Week 83: 137.8 (+0.2) - Week 84: 137.2 (-0.6)
Week 85: 137.2 (-0) - Week 86: 136.2 (-1)
Week 87: 140.6 (+4.4)
Total loss: -13.4

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Thursday was Thanksgiving so no calorie counting.
Weight Thursday morning: 129.2 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 332

Calories eaten Friday: 1050
Fat: 8g (7%)
Carbs: 86g (34%)
Protein: 76g (30%)
Weight Friday morning: 133.2 (One week ago: 128.6)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 69

Weight Saturday morning: 133.8 (One week ago: 130.2)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 241

Calories burned in exercise today: 482

So I gained 4 1/2 pounds this week and am back over 140 again. Darn Thanksgiving! I went a little bonkers - okay, I spent both Thursday and Saturday going a lot bonkers. I'm totally ashamed. I hate my body and it hates me back. I'm re-addicted to sugar and have to do something about that. :-p I wish I could just almost totally stop eating and just have a little protein and carbs before and after my workout. I'm either not going to get this extra weight off ever or have to starve myself. I can't just cut 500 calories and lose a pound of week because I am already eating so few calories.

I'm committed to being on plan until the bi-annual department staff dinner. That will be sometime in December and I will order something healthy such as a cheeseburger with no bun and a side salad or steak with veggies or something. After that is Christmas Day - will do a healthy dinner with Brad at work since we both have to work, and then New Year's Eve. After that is my b-day and THEN the holidays will be officially over.

But I am kicking myself over two days going overboard and gaining 4 1/2 pounds. It would have been worse, but I pounded the liquids. I feel so fat!

Got in some exercise this weekend at least. Walked with Brad for over an hour and a half yesterday on some local trails. Today I went to the gym and did an hour of weight training, then got on the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes (2.92 miles covered). Then Brad and I walked for over an hour in a local park. I'm wiped out and even a strong Venti Starbucks coffee did very little!

For breakfast this morning I did a protein shake (120 calories) and a serving of Cream of Wheat (124 calories including the Splenda). It seemed to help and I got through my workout well. If I have to eat Cream of Wheat for the iron, before a workout is great and the carbs actually get burned off.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness, weigh-in

Book review - In the Shadow of the Moons

In the Shadow of the Moons: My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family by Nansook Hong.

This was a good book. The last book I read Unification Church covered just theology from a Christian perspective. This book does cover some theology, but it is primarily the story of one woman's life in the Unification Church.

Ms. Hong was raised in the cult from the time she was born and new no other way of life. The Rev. Moon chose Ms. Hong to marry his eldest son. The eldest son turned out to be an abusive womanizer strung out on drugs and alcohol. Nevertheless, Ms. Hong felt it was her lot in life to live the way she did and did not seek to escape for 14 years and after having five children.

She talks about Mr. and Mrs. Moon, their lavish lifestyles, and how church donations were handled. Sun Myung Moon was even convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The Moons felt they were above everybody else and lorded it over them. They neglected their own children, religious work being "more important." They were not the picture of sinless people, the "True Parents."

This is a very good book and I highly recommend it for anyone who's interested in an insider's view of the Unification Church.

Technorati tagged: cult, church, faith, Unification Church, Sun Myung Moon, Divine Principle, book review, Moonies, book, books

My Thanksgiving - Working Out, Then Working

Calories eaten yesterday: 1230
Fat: 22g (17%)
Carbs: 119g (39%)
Protein: 134g (44%)
Weight this morning: 129.2 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 332

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope yours was a great one!

Here's what I am thankful for:

1) God's salvation.
2) God's Word, the Bible.
3) my friend Brad.
4) a job in this poor economy. My employer laid off a bunch of people just this past week right before the holidays. So I am thankful that I still have work.
5) my two cats Xena and Abby.

Yesterday was the first truly cold and rainy day of the season. It was freezing. I actually took hot tea with me on the bus, and had three cups of hot tea at work. Today it was 60 degrees like yesterday, but felt warmer.

I had a ton more energy today because I ate more. Breakfast was some of the veggie casserole I made, plus coffee with milk and Splenda, two of my healthy homemade oatmeal cookies (plus I ate one last night and one in the middle of the night), about a cup of unsweetened applesauce, and a small apple.

We live in a graceless world. I walked up to the Starbucks inside Safeway this morning and this one woman insisted that I had cut in front of her. I don't know if I did or not, but since that one minute was just so important to her I let her go ahead. As I said, a graceless world. The unsaved don't even know what graciousness really is. And I was the one on the tight schedule and working today. She was just picking up items for Thanksgiving dinner with her family. Gee, wish I could have Thanksgiving at home with my family. At the Starbucks I got a tall non-fat, sugar-free Cinnamon Dulce latte, a small bar of dark chocolate, and one petite vanilla scone.

I'm not sure that Starbucks got my latte order right (I wanted two shots), but I was too busy to check every detail. Then the bus didn't come. I had let the first one pass so I could get go up to Starbucks and get coffee, but the next one didn't show up. That made me late getting to the gym because the next bus didn't come for an hour. I wish I would have taken the first bus.

So I had a crappy morning, but things got better once I got to the gym. Like Emo Phillips said, "Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps."

The gym was busy this morning. It was open in the morning, but they were shutting down at 2 pm. When I came in a little before noon there were a ton of people in both and cardio and weight rooms. I had to do my weight training as machines were available. I did some leg work with my arms as I didn't get a leg day this week.

For cardio I did the pedal-type Stairmaster for 30 minutes. Sweat was literally dripping off me. :) I tried to wear my heart rate monitor so I could work hard enough to keep my heart rate up, but the Stairmaster doesn't have a heart rate feature on it! :-p

Brad and I had Thanksgiving dinner here at work. Turkey of course, and veggie casserole with coffee afterwords and homemade oatmeal cookies for dessert. I did eat bad on the way here. I walked to work from the train station. Burger King was open and I tried to assuage my chicken sandwich craving with chicken nuggets. Didn't work. I bought the six pack of cheesy tater tots. They were only so-so, so when I got panhandled outside I gave the woman the remaining three. I also got a crispy chicken sandwich, but with no mayo (dry sandwich). It was what I was craving and hit the spot. At the convenience store I bought a Snickers bar (was craving that, too), and a small bag of Doritos, but I split those with Brad.

So I didn't do as well as I could have food-wise, but things could have been much worse. My weight will majorly rebound tomorrow. :(

A word on my diet for those who don't know:
I am no longer doing a strict low-carb diet. As some of you may know, my calories were going too high so I had to switch to a low-fat diet to keep the calories down. I still watch my carbs. I don't like how the Cream of Wheat runs my carbs up higher than I'd like, but it's the lowest calorie way to get my iron up.

With my fat low and my carbs controlled, the rest of my calories come from protein. As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of protein and feel pretty good on a high protein diet. I try to get about 1g of protein for every pound I weigh. When I don't get the normal amount of protein my body is used to I start craving it.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, obesity, overweight, fitness