Week 102, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1249 (gym day so I added two protein shakes)
Fat: 25g (19%)
Carbs: 79g (26%)
Protein: 171g (55%)
Weight this morning: 130.4 (One week ago: 130.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 248

Here's a photo of me with my runner's number for this year's race (May 17th). I'm so excited! Click it for a larger size.

I got a sort of compliment today from a random black guy ogling me as I walked home from the laundromat with my laundry cart in tow. It's a slight uphill grade the whole way back.

He said, "I can tell you have muscle." I just smiled and kept walking. He added, "You're small, but you got muscle." He might have said, "It's small," but I think it was "You're small." I said "thanks" and kept walking. Kinda creepy, but a compliment is a compliment. :) It feels weird being one of the few while girls in a primarily black and Hispanic city. The guys are always ogling me.

Anyway, now I'm "small" and have muscle. :)

Exercise was walking to the laundromat and back, and then from my apartment to the 7-Eleven by the bridge, then the last 10 minutes into work from the bus stop just past the airport. Walker Trackers says it's about 4.3 miles total and it took me just under 1 1/2 hours. :)

I want to give blood again now that my iron levels are where they should be. I talked to the Red Cross about their Saturday hours. They have shortened hours during May on Saturdays (closing at 2 pm), but beginning in June they will close at 3 pm. I need to wait until after the race to give blood anyway, so right now I'm thinking the first Saturday of June so Brad and I wouldn't have to leave church super early to get there.

Saturday is the best day because 1) It's my cheat day. I stuff myself with the bad snacks after giving blood. Giving blood and stuffing myself on Friday and then having a cheat day the next day is counterproductive. 2) I sometimes get lightheaded afterwords and don't want a repeat of the time I nearly passed out on the bus. If Brad is with me then I will be safe and have a ride home.

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

Week 102, Day 4

Calories eaten yesterday: 1191
Fat: 25g (19%)
Carbs: 77g (26%)
Protein: 165g (55%)
Weight this morning: 130.6 (One week ago: 131.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 359

I forgot to record this yesterday. I got a compliment from the Russian lady who works in the IT department downstairs. She said, "You are so tiny. Are you on a diet?" I said I am always on a diet and eat about 1200 calories a day. She asked if I count calories and I said yes, I use a food journal.

Anyway, someone called me "tiny"! :) I don't see myself that way, but I'll take the compliment anyway. :)

Speaking of which, a guy today at the gym (I finally made it to the gym today!) asked if I had lost weight. That's very sweet of him, but I said no, I haven't. I've been maintaining pretty consistently, but haven't lost any.

Yes, I finally made it to the gym today. Yay! The first time in about two weeks. Blah. I've definitely lost strength, but I pushed through my weights workout, going lighter when needed. I forgot my knee brace so I stuck with the elliptical for cardio - 30 minutes.

My Bay To Breakers number and timing tag arrived today! Yay! Now I'm all ready for the race. I pulled out the sucky Olympus camera last night. It's the best camera I own that's light enough to run with. It doesn't work well, but it's the best I have. Next time I buy any camera, new or used, I'm going with FujiFilm. I have yet to have a bad experience with a FujiFilm camera. Anyway, I'm giving the camera a sort of trial run today to see what it can do and plan to look over the instruction booklet I downloaded.

The belt clip I order with my iPod Touch is on it's way, but the actual iPod hasn't been sent yet. I've heard great things about it, but I want to try it myself! I hope it gets here soon!

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

I bought an iPod Touch!

Calories eaten yesterday: 1074
Fat: 25g (21%)
Carbs: 73g (27%)
Protein: 139g (52%)
Weight this morning: 132.6 (One week ago: 132.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 190

Went into San Francisco today to check on my P.O. box. It was reopened and there were two pieces of mail in it - a piece of junk mail, and my Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine, with a cover jacket saying it was my last issue.

I remembered paying for two years not too long ago so I went through my checkbook and sure enough, I sent a check in last November for two years. When I got to work I checked my bank account and discovered that the check never cleared. It was lost in the mail or tossed out, so this is indeed my last issue. I called the number provided and paid for two more years.

On my way to work I stopped at WalMart to see if they had a fanny pack I could use for the race, and for a few other items. (I found a nice fanny pack with water bottles.) While I shopped I got a phone call from the post office. It was a man saying that I had mailed my P.O. box check to the wrong post office. He said he would remail it to the right post office. So my box is open, but the check to pay for it is still out there. *sigh*

When I got to work I went to the Apple Website. The iPod Mini I sent in is still MIA. I decided to order the new iPod Touch. It's time for a new iPod anyway. I opted for the midrange one with 16GB memory, 3500 songs, 20,000 photos, and 20 hours of video ($300). I had to get a clip case for it so I can carry it on my belt ($40). Total cost for both with tax - $372.01.

To compare, my iPod Mini had 4GB memory and held 1000 songs. It did not support photos or video. It was $250 brand new. With the armband and tax it cost me about $300 out the door. The iPod Mini is no longer being made and seems to have been replaced by the Nano.

So now I am deeply in debt again, but ready for the race at least. I have a new fanny pack and my gel packs and Gatorade (I got the G2 lower sugar kind since the gel packs have quite enough), and my iPod Touch for music. Now I just need to set aside money for pizza the night before. :)

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

Race registration found!

Calories eaten yesterday: 949
Fat: 20g (20%)
Carbs: 68g (29%)
Protein: 120g (51%)
Weight this morning: 133 (One week ago: 135)
Calories burned in exercise today: 175

I was soooo wiped out yesterday! I actually managed to sleep last night and feel better today. I must have slept at least 10 hours.

All I did for exercise today was the walk to the train station and then from the train station to work - about 3 miles and took about an hour.

I got a call from Amy at Bay To Breakers today and she said the packet had been sent back to them so they will send it back out to me. I haven't yet checked my P.O. box to make sure it has been reopened, so I am having them send it to work. Yay!

My iPod is still missing in transit and I am considering just buying a new one on credit. I need to check prices at the Apple store in San Francisco and consider what to get this time. I need my tunes for the race!

The iPod mini isn't being made anymore; I think the Nano replaces it. I think I'll just upgrade to the Classic ($250) or the cheapest Touch ($230).

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

Week 101 Weigh-In - Stick a fork in it, it's Dunn!

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 25: 137.6
Week 50: 138.4 - Week 75: 137.6
Week 100: 140 - Week 101: 138.4 (-1.6)
Total loss: -15.6

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1247
Fat: 25g (18%)
Carbs: 75g (24%)
Protein: 146g (46%)
Weight Thursday morning: 130.6 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 262

Calories eaten Friday: 1561 plus food samples at Costco
Fat: 22g (13%)
Carbs: 93g (25%)
Protein: 161g (43%)
Weight Friday morning: 130.4 (One week ago: 128.2)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 35

Weight Saturday morning: 132.4 (One week ago: 133)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 919 (no, that's not a typo)

Calories burned in exercise today: 0

I feel like I might be dehydrated and that's the reason for the loss this week. We will see how I do the rest of the week.

Saw the doctor on Friday. He seemed very preoccupied and busy and I might have seen him for a grand total of 5 minutes. He didn't do anything more than glance at my results and didn't say anything about the female hormone panel I had. He just said the ferritin was good so the iron issue is over.

I doubt he looked at my TSH so he didn't freak out over how low it is. I pointed out the T3 was still low. He said he wanted to add a T3 med. I said I didn't want Cytomel because of the cost. He asked if my insurance didn't cover it and I said insurance only helped. (I still have to pay some out of pocket and Cytomel is VERY pricey.)

I asked him if I could try Armour instead and he said sure. I told him I didn't want to start Armour NOW, but he wasn't listening and actually wrote out the prescription! I said "no no, let me give the levothyroxine one more try." I want to see if my T3 will come up if I take my iron later in the day. I go back in about two months after more blood tests to see the doctor. I told him how bad I felt at 112mcg. The doctor asked if it was too much medicine and I said I didn't know, but that I was tired all the time. I told him that I am back on 100mcg.

If my T3 doesn't improve by the next blood tests then I will ask for the Armour. He wrote out the tests wrong. He only wrote "T3" down and I had the front desk write "Free" after it to make sure the right test gets run. He also checked the box for "Total T3" and I had the front desk cross that off. So I will be getting TSH, Free T4, and Free T3.

Like I said, the doctor seemed really off his game. So for right now I'll stay on 100mcg generic levothyroxine, get more tests in 2 months, and go on Armour if the Free T3 doesn't improve.

After the doctor appointment I bought groceries. After Brad got off work we went to Costco to get my Xanax prescription refilled and buy a couple things.

Yesterday I actually had a good day - very energetic. My friend didn't get enough sleep the night before and I wore him out! After church we hiked for 3 1/2 hours and covered nearly 10 miles in Redwood Regional Park. It was great! One of the trails we hiked was the Dunn Trail, and we finished it, hence the title of this post. Dunn is now done. :)

Today's I'm working overtime - 11 am to 11 pm. I haven't had enough sleep in three nights now and am really tired. Strangely, I am not at all sore from the hike yesterday. I'm eating very light today because I am not hungry after stuffing myself last night.

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

Book review - The Signs and Wonders Movement--Exposed

The Signs and Wonders Movement - Exposed with Peter Glover (editor) (out of print but available at Amazon)

This was a good book. Even thought is primarily focuses on the so-called Toronto Blessing, and newer "moves of God" have since come along, I think the information is solid for all movements that engage in signs and wonders teachings.

Each of the four writers bring their own unique experiences to the book. Two are eyewitnesses and two are researchers. Mark Haville is a former Word-Faith minister who now speaks out against that movement. Chris Hand has seen the Vineyard revival first hand when it came to his church. He eventually had to leave that church. Philip Foster and Peter Glover have researched all sorts of "moves of God" and speak out to protect Christians from falling prey.

I recommend getting a used copy of this book and reading it. It may be about the Toronto Blessing but the information in it is applicable to all signs and wonders ministries operating today.

Technorati tagged: Benny Hinn, Toronto Blessing, signs and wonders, book review, religion, book, books, John Wimber

P.O. box and race registration update

Calories eaten yesterday: 1084
Fat: 22g (19%)
Carbs: 77g (29%)
Protein: 141g (52%)
Weight this morning: 130.6 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 262

Overtime this Sunday! Yay! I need all the money I can get. I'll miss hiking with Brad though. Maybe we can do a short hike on Saturday after church.

Did the laundry today, then called the post office where my P.O. box is and talked to the supervisor. She said that the previous person had really screwed up the P.O. boxes, which is why I never got a notice to pay. She said she believed me that I have proof that I paid September 2007 through August 2008. She said to send a check in for September 2008 through August 2009 and she would make sure I get a notice to pay in August. She said she could not take payment over the phone.

She said the box would be opened right away and that if there was any mail sitting around for me that it would be put in my box. I wrote the check out this afternoon and it will go out tomorrow morning. I will make a special trip to check the box next week. To make sure I had enough money in my account to cover the $86 charge I charged $100 to my Discover card and put it into my bank account.

I got a call back from Amy at Bay To Breakers. She said the packet probably went out in the first batch and to call back next week to see if it was returned. She gave me her direct number. If it's still at the post office it should be put in my box. So there's nothing I can do on the packet until next week.

The iPod is still missing in transit and has not showed up at Apple headquarters.

Dr. appointment tomorrow to discuss my thyroid meds. I'm going to ask about Armour if my Free T3 doesn't come up.

After I talked about my bruises disappearing earlier this week, of course they were back the very next day. I have a nice large one on my right thigh. *sigh* If I could just get my thyroid levels stabilized I know they would go away.

I stopped at GNC when I was in the City yesterday and bought four PowerBar carbohydrate gel packets for the Bay to Breakers run next month. That's 440 calories of carbohydrate to fuel the 7.5 mile run. This is the brand I bought last year so I know it's palatable. Now I just need a bottle of Gatorade.

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

They took my P.O. box away & my iPod is lost!

Calories eaten yesterday: 1053
Fat: 20g (17%)
Carbs: 73g (28%)
Protein: 141g (54%)
Weight this morning: 131.6 (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise today: 175

I hit 5,000 miles on Walker Tracker yesterday! Yay me!

I went into San Francisco today to check my P.O. Box. When I opened it, it was empty and there was a piece of cardboard on the other side blocking it. I went to a teller and asked them about it. He said they had no record of it being paid since August of 2007! WTH?!? I was getting mail up to two weeks ago when I last checked.

To get my box back I would have to pay all the back rent on it (to August of 2007). He told me I needed to speak with his supervisor who, of course, turned out not to be in at the moment. He took my number and said he would have them call me (no call was received so I will call them tomorrow).

I called the company who sends me the property checks to get my address changed to my work address. Then I went to the bank to see if they could find anything proving payment. They did find a check dated September of 2007 paying for one year of my box. It is quite likely I owe rent going back to September 2008 since I haven't seen a notice requesting payment in quite some time. At any rate, all mail will be returned to the sender until I can get this straightened out. :(

To top it all off, my iPod may have been lost in the mail. Apple hasn't received it and no one thought to send it with a tracking number. Apple headquarters are close to where I live so it should have arrived by now and may be gone forever which means buying a new one on credit. :(

I am unhappy and stressed out! I also eat when I get stressed out and really don't want to binge. Food isn't going to make things better.

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

Exercise blues

Calories eaten yesterday: 1217
Fat: 27g (21%)
Carbs: 92g (31%)
Protein: 144g (48%)
Weight this morning: 132.2 (One week ago: 132.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 190

Here's a recent photo of Xena. She's so cute and the close-up came out so well that I wanted to share. Click the photo to open a new page with a larger size.

After the overtime yesterday I slept in, then walked to the train station, then from my stop to work stopping at WalMart on the way (about 1 hour total). Still hotter than heck today, but it's supposed to cool down starting tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will do my biweekly mail run into the City that I was supposed to do today. I owe money for the blood tests done a few weeks ago; I have the money in cash, but need to deposit it and write a check. I also need to deposit a check I have so I can cover basic food expenses.

I won't make it to the gym at all this week - Sunday I hiked with Brad, Monday I worked overtime, today I slept in to recover from the overtime, tomorrow I'm going into San Francisco, Thursday is laundry, Friday is a doctor's appointment followed by Costco and groceries, and Saturday is church and possibly a hike with Brad. *sigh* For what it's worth, I am getting in about an hour of walking everyday, which also saves me bus fare.

April called me last night from Dad's new nursing home in Oregon. He doesn't like being there and still thinks he can care for himself. He doesn't believe April and I when we tell him he needs to be there. Plus it is very hard to talk to him with his hearing loss.

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

Overtime, and more on thyroid

Calories eaten yesterday: 888
Fat: 12g (12%)
Carbs: 105g (47%)
Protein: 92g (41%)
Weight this morning: 135 (One week ago: 135.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 175

I was offered overtime at the last minute last night so I didn't make it to the gym today. Brad is sick so I am working half of his shift plus my own. I need the money so I am not complaining! I did get about an hour of walking in, though, from my apartment to the train station, and then from my train stop to work - about 1 hour. I'll be eating a bit more today due to the long shift. I get so hungry working an extra four hours and need a little more food.

My bruising on my legs seem to be getting better - again. I hope we get the right dose of thyroid meds soon because I'm tired of the on again/off again bruising. I know the bruising is a symptom of thyroid disease and I just want it gone for good. I see the doctor on Friday. I'm going to ask to stay on 100mcg levothyroxine and ask him his views on Armour if I can't get my T3 up.

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

Week 100 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) - Week 90: 142 (+2.6)
Week 91: 135.6 (-6.4) - Week 92: 140 (+4.4)
Week 93: 138.8 (-1.2) - Week 94: 138.6 (-0.2)
Week 95: 137.2 (-1.4) - Week 96: 137.6 (+0.6)
Week 97: 139.8 (+2.2) - Week 98: 139.6 (-0.2)
Week 99: 141.4 (+1.8) - Week 100: 140 (-1.4)
Total loss: -14

After this week I won't include all the weeks anymore. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do, but most will be removed to shorten the list.

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1363
Fat: 21g (15%)
Carbs: 99g (31%)
Protein: 142g (43%)
Weight Thursday morning: 129.2 (One week ago: 131.2)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 120

Calories eaten Friday: 1433
Fat: 24g (15%)
Carbs: 73g (21%)
Protein: 151g (43%)
Weight Friday morning: 128.2 (One week ago: 129.4)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 102

Weight Saturday morning: 133 (One week ago: 133.2)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 648

I got home from work Friday morning shortly after 3 am. By the time I showered, had my bedtime snack, and settled down to sleep with the TV off it was nearly 5. I slept until about 2 pm and didn't get out of the house until almost 3:30 to do the laundry. Brad came over later and we went to Safeway for groceries but my local one didn't have the cottage cheese I eat, so we went to the Safeway close to his house for that. I made up two packages of Atkins brownies for Saturday breakfast and to share at church.

Saturday I ate too many of the Atkins brownies and had cramps (sugar alcohols will do that!). I ate some lunch, but Brad and I left early so I didn't wash lunch dishes like I usually do. We had burritos late Saturday night for dinner (I had a chicken super burrito and Brad gave me one of his soft tacos), plus some of my lightly sweet chocolate pudding made from plain yogurt and Muscle Milk Light protein powder. Sooo delicious, and healthy too!

Today we went hiking in Anthony Chabot Regional Park. It's hotter than heck today and our loop ended up being a lot longer than we expected because we never saw our turn off and ended up going way out of our way. We hiked for 2 1/2 hours and were both a bit dehydrated when we got back. I love hiking with Brad, but I had to keep an eye on the time because I'm working today.

Brad had warm water in his backpack and neither of us wanted that. Went we got back we went to a liquor store and Brad got a Cherry Dr. Pepper and I got a bottle of water and a Diet Cherry Coke. FitDay says 648 calories burned, but I think that's a high estimation. A good hike either way though. :)

After the 260 calories and 69g of sugar in the Cherry Dr. Pepper, Brad went to Starbucks and got a Grande (medium) Caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream (380 calories, 57g carbs including 48g of sugar). That drink has only 6g of protein. My 250 calorie Chocolate Banana Vivanno has 44g of carbs including 28g of sugar, but has 21g of protein.

I've decided to do a liquid fast today so I'm having a nonfat chocolate banana Vivanno (like a chocolate banana smoothie, 250 calories) from Starbucks, and later I'll have a tall skinny vanilla latte (nonfat, sugar-free, 90 calories) from Starbucks. Yummo! I also brought a couple whey protein shakes with me if I get really hungry. I'm still full from eating too much yesterday so I'm not very hungry right now.

Tomorrow I need to go to the bank and hit the gym if I'm not too tired.

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

Overtime, Day 2

Calories eaten yesterday: 1310
Fat: 24g (17%)
Carbs: 100g (32%)
Protein: 163g (51%)
Weight this morning: 129.2 (One week ago: 131.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 120

Yay! Finally saw the 120s again today. :) I guess working out two days in a row really helped.

Today I'm just plain tired. I worked a 12 hour shift yesterday, didn't sleep well last night, and am now back for another 12 hour shift. I'm here at work until 3 a.m. :-p But God knows that without the money from Dad I need all the overtime I can get. I don't even have money for groceries this week so I'll have to pull out the credit card since I need cottage cheese and salad (I'm almost out), plus veggies and Jello if they are still on sale.

Exercise was walking from my apartment to the 7-Eleven by the bridge. I bought bottled water there and caught the bus into work.

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

Overtime, Day 1

Calories eaten yesterday: 1117
Fat: 21g (17%)
Carbs: 81g (30%)
Protein: 142g (53%)
Weight this morning: 131 (One week ago: 130.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 306

I felt pretty good yesterday for the first time in a long time. Well, I also felt pretty good Saturday during the hike Brad and I took. Hopefully the lower dose of my thyroid meds is taking effect.

Speaking of thyroid meds, I'm moving things around to space out my iron from my meds a bit more. I can't easily avoid the calcium before bed that might hinder absorption, but I can take my B-50 with iron later in the day, and take the B-50 in my vitamin packet (that I had been giving to Brad) in the morning. We'll see if that change gets the Free T3 levels up at all.

I keep forgetting to mention a compliment I got on Easter Sunday. Dale and her husband (don't recall his name) drove up just to come to St. Paul's on Easter Sunday. They says it is their spiritual home even though they now live out of the area. Anyway, during the passing of the peace they see me and say hi. The husband says something like, "You just look better every year." :o) I'm not any thinner or more toned than last year, but I'll take it. :) Here's a photo of what I looked like Easter Sunday.

Today I went to the gym again. I wanted to make it twice this week even if it's two days in a row. 1 hour of weight training, 1 hour walking on the treadmill (3.6 miles).

I'll be eating extra today. I'll be at work until 3 a.m. and that means hunger. L. is taking time off to see New Kids on the Block. I brought some celery to eat.

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

Update on Dad

Calories eaten yesterday: 935
Fat: 20g (20%)
Carbs: 69g (30%)
Protein: 115g (50%)
Weight this morning: 132.8 (One week ago: 131.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 306

Went to the gym, did one hour of weight training. I usually do 30 minutes of cardio and then walk from the train station to work for another 30 minutes, but it is VERY windy out and the wind cuts right through my jacket, so I walked on the treadmill at the gym for one hour and took the bus into work from the train. Total walking distance - 3.7 miles.

Update on my Dad - my sister took him back to the Seattle area with her after visiting him at the nursing home in Oregon. He's now in a nursing home near her. He has been diagnosed as having had Parkinson's disease for at least four years and has been put on medication for it. He is never going home to his house in Oregon again. April and I will clean it out at some point. She says she can only do four day weekends. I have a total of two weeks of vacation time.

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

Interpretation of my blood tests

Calories eaten yesterday: 642
Fat: 8g (12%)
Carbs: 81g (54%)
Protein: 53g (34%)
Weight this morning: 135.4 (One week ago: 132.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 190

Slept in to recover from getting up so early the last two days and not being able to sleep in on Friday. I walked down to BART, took it one stop, then walked from there to work. I stopped at WalMart for more sugar-free Hawaiian Punch packets. Tomorrow I may be able to hit the gym.

I will do better this week!

Leslie from the thyroid forum had some thoughts on my blood test results. I asked her about the possibility that I am changing T4 into Reverse T4 and that's why my Free T3 levels are low.

Her words below are copy and pasted from her forum posts to me.

From Leslie:
You're making estrogen and it's not in the menopausal range at all. Your low LH and FSH may be saying there's enough estrogen, so no need to rise up and ask for more. I wouldn't jump on a pituitary problem just yet. You've also lost a great deal of body fat in the last few years and estrogen is both stored and made in body fat.

The reason you've been feeling lousy lately is that your T3 level is below range. I wonder if the iron supplement you're taking is blocking thyroid hormones? Even taking it many hours apart, your ferritin went from really low to 90, which means your iron levels are higher. Your doc may freak out at the low TSH but point out the FT4/FT3 levels.

Once the prescription iron runs out, you could test thyroid and ferritin again. With so many types of iron supplements, this is what might be blocking T4 to T3 conversion, at least in part. Read that long article I gave you the link for and maybe you'll find other things interfering with T4 to T3 conversion.

The LH and FSH levels are like TSH.... when low, it means the pituitary is satisfied with the level of hormones you have. You're not in menopause because your estrogen levels are not anywhere near postmenopausal levels and menopause would cause LH and FSH to rise significantly as estrogen goes down. I don't know why you're not having periods except to say that loss of body fat might be involved. I'm not saying you're underweight... what I'm saying is that you lost a lot of stored estrogen as your weight went down.

A pituitary problem is associated with low pituitary hormones and low endocrine hormones. If your estrogen was in the menopausal range and LH/FSH were inappropriately low, then you might be looking at a pituitary problem. A hypopituitary disorder can have one or more deficiencies, so sorting them out takes a lot of special testing.

-----
My endo has been keeping an eye on my reverse T3 for the last year. I just got my blood tests back and it's higher than ever but my FT4 and FT3 are at the top of the range, so obviously, despite RT3 being high, I also have enough FT3 to run things. I believe it's an expensive test, but I have no idea how much it costs because my insurance pays for all my testing. Call your local lab and ask the cost.

If your estrogen were rock bottom, I'd say you'd need more testing but it's way above the menopausal range. As for the phases of the menstrual cycle, it's a bit impossible to tell where your body is in the cycle. Yes, you still have ups and down every month (even women beyond menopause have cyclic hormone bursts) but apparently not enough estrogen and progesterone to ovulate and have a period. You might consider getting your progesterone levels checked. However, there's nothing wrong with no periods as long as you're healthy otherwise. One thing you could do, but again expensive, is a uterine ultrasound to make sure your uterine lining isn't thick.

With your T3 below the range now, and below the range when you were diagnosed, I think that it's very possible that some of your T4 is making RT3 and the FT3 is being used up by the body, as it should be. Your FT4 level is good, which means the supply is there. Your exercise routine should help convert T4 to T3. Did you read through the article about things that block T4 to T3 conversion? I found a lot of clues to my own situation reading that article.

Hypothyroidism causes menstrual changes, including having no periods at all... same with hyperthyroidism.

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Week 99 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) - Week 90: 142 (+2.6)
Week 91: 135.6 (-6.4) - Week 92: 140 (+4.4)
Week 93: 138.8 (-1.2) - Week 94: 138.6 (-0.2)
Week 95: 137.2 (-1.4) - Week 96: 137.6 (+0.6)
Week 97: 139.8 (+2.2) - Week 98: 139.6 (-0.2)
Week 99: 141.4 (+1.8)
Total loss: -12.6

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1295
Fat: 23g (16%)
Carbs: 86g (27%)
Protein: 143g (45%)
Weight Thursday morning: 131.2 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 277

Calories eaten Friday: 2521 (no, that unfortunately is not a typo)
Fat: 44g (17%)
Carbs: 264g (44%)
Protein: 165g (27%)
Weight Friday morning: 129.4 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 0

Weight Saturday morning: 133.2 (One week ago: 131.8)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 357

Calories burned in exercise today: 148

Yes, I gained a lot of weight. I spent both Friday and Saturday overeating and am paying for it today. I guess I'm pretty much fasting today since I am not very hungry and need to make penance for the last two days. I did have a double tall skinny hazelnut latte though (90 calories), since it is Easter. :)

Easter is over now and I'm heading into week 100, so I will do better!

I haven't done a cat photo in a while, so here's a photo of Xena taken last week on her 7th birthday. Click the photo for a larger size.

Ok, now onto my weekend.

Friday I attended Good Friday services. I came home and then Brad and I went to Costco for Diet Coke, Diet Rock Star, laundry detergent, cat litter, Airborne, and I bought a huge package of Ziploc sandwich bags and Ziploc quart bags. Then we went to Safeway for groceries.

My eating got out of control that night. I couldn't sleep and woke up shortly after falling asleep and pigged out. Curse those Cadbury eggs! I'd bought a package of four and alas, I ate all four. :(

I bought hot cross buns on Saturday morning to take to church and ended up eating most of them myself. They were not very popular I guess because so much of the icing came off and stuck to the package. :(

Saturday we left church after eating (I didn't stay to clean up like I usually do). I pigged out at church on rice, pizza, soup, and apple pie. I had a second piece of pie even though I wasn't hungry just because it tasted so good. :(

We went home and I quickly cut up some veggies to snack on this week. Then we went for a long walk (two hours to two and a half hours) in Anthony Chabot Regional Park starting at Bort Meadow and did a nice little loop. It was a bigger loop than we expected because we took a wrong turn, but the walk was still shorter than I would have liked.

Today we went to Easter Sunday services. We left afterwords and, since I was wearing my Easter dress, we took a short, flat walk up the Stream Trail in Redwood Regional Park to the point where it starts to go up. It was still a little muddy from the rain last week.

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poem: Thorns and Scarlet

Have a great Easter everyone and remember what we are celebrating! Today is Good Friday so I am going to church for the traditional three hour service (noon to 3 pm). Here's a link that explains, from a medical perspective, what Jesus went through on the cross - Medical Aspects of the Crucifixion.

And here's a poem I wrote several years ago for Good Friday. I hope you enjoy it. :)

Thorns and Scarlet

Out of slavery, out of sin, out of Egypt, enter in.
You our God and You our stay, You our Savior light the way.
Blood of lambs upon our door, that the wrath of God won't pour
On our homes, but rather save, redeem us when we were a slave.

And then You came and taught in love, the glories of the One above.
You came rebuked, reproved, and taught, and wept with sorrow as You sought
All the lost, too numb too feel; show them love that You may heal
Their hurts and failings of the past, as You put death to death at last.

So thorns and scarlet wrap around, You let Your hands and wrists be bound,
Beaten, spat on, mocked that day, the Son of God our crimes did pay.
I cannot fathom love that fierce, love that would His own hands pierce.
God let His anger fall on His Son, until He cried out, "It is done!"

All glory to God and God alone, the God who loved and did atone
For things that we should have to pay, but for us in love did lay
Down His life that we may live, through the Son He did forgive
All we've caused, pain and strife, and gave instead eternal life!


(With thanks to Shantyman magazine for the title.)

Food and calories

Calories eaten yesterday: 1080
Fat: 19g (16%)
Carbs: 79g (30%)
Protein: 140g (53%)
Weight this morning: 131.2 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise today: 277

Up a pound today even though I behaved yesterday. *sigh* No matter how little I eat I can still gain weight. My body wants to be fat.

I'm SO hungry today so I am eating more calories, but I got in an hour and a half of walking so that will help make up for it. I walked to the laundromat and back, down to BART, took BART, and then from BART to work. Walker Tracker says that's about 4.8 miles and FitDay says I burned 277 calories.

I am very proud of myself! I did not take one single mini peanut butter cup from the candy the guys in the IT department always have. Not one single piece all week! :)

I am treating myself to one Cadbury Cream Egg (150 calories) this Saturday (my cheat day) and a double tall skinny vanilla latte (90 calories) on Sunday because it's Easter. But that's it for Easter treats. No chocolate bunnies or peeps for me.

It's so frigging cold here! I hope it warms up again soon! I want summer.

Have a great Easter weekend! Look for a Good Friday post that will be up tomorrow. :)

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Blood tests results are back...

Calories eaten yesterday: 1024
Fat: 21g (19%)
Carbs: 74g (29%)
Protein: 135g (52%)
Weight this morning: 130.2 (One week ago n/a)
Calories burned in exercise today: 311

Did good with my calories the last couple of days, under 1100. My metabolism is so slow that I can't lose at 1200 calories. :( I am trying to learn to like the embrace the "empty" feeling and think of it as something desirable. My medication makes me hungry enough to eat a house!

I woke up late! I had set my alarm an hour early. When it went off I reset it to the correct time and went back to bed, but I forgot to turn it back on! Grrr. I somehow made it out of the house in record time and managed to catch my normal bus to the gym.

I did an hour of weight training. I was too tired to run so I ended up just walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes - covered 1.8 miles. I took the train to my stop and walked into work from there - 30 minutes, 1.5 miles.

I got my blood test results back. The news is mostly bad, with some good. I had a thyroid panel, iron panel, and female hormone panels done.

These tests were done fasting on March 27, at 10:30 a.m.

First, the thyroid panel. I was taking 112mcg of generic Levoxyl at the time. No missed doses, but I didn't take my pill the morning of the test (I never do). I felt horrible at 112mcg and have since gone back to my old dose of 100 where I felt better. I am still waiting to feel better though.

TSH: 0.07 (0.4-4.5)
Free T3: 205 (230-420)
Free T4: 1.3 (0.8-1.8)

So my T4 has gone up just fine and is in a good place but the T3 remains low. This is NOT good. I also don't know how my doctor will react to the TSH being low. The TSH doesn't worry me (I'm more concerned with the T3), but I don't know about the doctor. I don't want to have to take T3 meds or switch to Armour - they are much more expensive than what I now take.

Ok, the good news - the iron panel came back awesome! The prescription iron plus the liquid iron is working and my body is doing exactly what it should with excess - putting it into storage as ferritin.

Iron: 102 (40-175)
TIBC: 350 (250-450)
Transferrin: 264 (188-341)
Trasnferrin saturation: 29% (15-50%)
Ferritin: 90 (10-154)

Thank you Dr. Turns for giving me the prescription iron! My ferritin is where it should be without pushing any other number out of range. Yay! This is after two months of prescription iron, so I should be able to give blood once after I finish the whole cycle. :)

Hormone results. First, I am 38 and have not had periods for a few years now, but have no menopausal symptoms of hot flashes or night sweats or anything. I feel like I always have - I just don't have periods.

Estrogen: 252
--> Early follicular phase: 70-400
--> Late follicular phase: 100-900
--> Luteal phase: 70-700
--> Postmenopausal: 130 or less

Prolactin: 5.3
--> Non-pregnant adult female: 3.0-30.0

Testosterone, Total: 49 (20-76)

Luteinizing hormone: <0.2
--> Follicular phase: 1.9-12.5
--> Mid-cycle peak: 8.7-76.3
--> Luteal phase: 0.5-16.9
--> Postmenopausal: 5.0-52.3

This is low no matter which range is looked at.

FSH: 2.6
--> Follicular phase: 2.5-10.2
--> Mid-cycle peak: 3.1-17.7
--> Luteal phase: 1.5-9.1
--> Postmenopausal: 23.0-116.3

I don't know what to make of the hormone results, but I have asked advice from someone who knows and waiting on a response.

Tomorrow is laundry and payday. Friday I have to go grocery shopping and then prep enough veggies for next week.

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Dad is not doing well...

Calories eaten yesterday: 1006
Fat: 21g (19%)
Carbs: 69g (27%)
Protein: 137g (54%)
Weight this morning: 131.6 (One week ago: 132.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 93

I tried to call my Dad today at the nursing home. He was in pretty bad shape. He was mumbling so badly that I couldn't understand anything he said. All I was able to understand is that people are dying around him (pretty normal for a nursing home, right?) and I feel he is worried he's going to die. I've never known his speech to be so poor. I feel April and I will be cleaning out his home by summer. There's no way he's in any shape to go home, ever.

This also means no more money for me from him. That's $200 less per month so I'll be skimping to make ends meet.

Xena and Abby enjoyed their tuna last night. Here's a photo of Xena eating hers. Click it for a larger photo.

Went into the City to get my mail. Had to take the bus down to BART because it was raining, but it stopped when I got back so I was able to walk from BART into work. I have a cold sore and stopped at Pac N Save and bought Abreva and Airborne.

I feel so fat. *sigh* Gotta lay off on the diet sodas. They seem to bloat me. Hopefully tomorrow I can go to the gym.

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Happy birthday Xena!

Calories eaten yesterday: 564
Fat: 10g (16%)
Carbs: 58g (41%)
Protein: 62g (43%)
Weight this morning: 132.6 (One week ago: 135)
Calories burned in exercise today: 146

Today is Xena's birthday (or as close as I can guess)! Xena and Abby will get tuna tonight for dinner. :) I won't get the photos I took of Xena this morning up for a day or two, but to the right is the most recent photo I have of her, taken Saturday. Click it for a larger size. She is 7 years old, which officially makes her a senior cat. :)

I've become active on Facebook again. Feel free to add me if you know me! Here's the start page for me. My Facebook name is "Victoria Shephard" - my real name.

After my 24 hour fast I dropped 7 pounds yesterday! Wow that was a lot of water weight I was retaining! Today I'm doing more normal eating. It's not an eating disorder to fast after eating 2+ days worth of calories.

Today's exercise was walking to the 7-Eleven by the bridge, taking the bus to just past the airport, and then walking the remaining distance into work. I didn't make it to the gym. I was just too tired from the weekend and needed to recover.

Tomorrow I need to go into the City and get my mail.

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Week 98 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) - Week 90: 142 (+2.6)
Week 91: 135.6 (-6.4) - Week 92: 140 (+4.4)
Week 93: 138.8 (-1.2) - Week 94: 138.6 (-0.2)
Week 95: 137.2 (-1.4) - Week 96: 137.6 (+0.6)
Week 97: 139.8 (+2.2) - Week 98: 139.6 (-0.2)
Total loss: -14.4

Body fat on Tanita scale:
This month: 26.7%

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 300
Fat: 0.2g (1%)
Carbs: 35g (47%)
Protein: 2g (2%)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 277

Calories eaten Friday: 1252
Fat: 19g (14%)
Carbs: 71g (24%)
Protein: 112g (37%)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 76

Weight Saturday morning: 131.8 (One week ago: 133.4)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 230

Calories burned in exercise today: 171

I ended up fasting for 36 hours on Thursday/Friday instead of 24 because someone challenged me to 36. It was hard sleeping when I was so hungry and I didn't feel too great after 36 hours. I think I need to keep fasts to 24 hours.

Friday I bought very few groceries because so much food was left over from last week.

Saturday someone brought chocolate cake to the church potluck. My compulsive eating got the best of me and I ate several pieces (the pieces were small).

To help make up for it Brad and I walked in Point Pinole Regional Shoreline for 1 1/2 hours. The photo is me at Point Pinole. Click it for a larger size.

For dinner Brad and I made up one of the last two soy pizza crusts. I will be glad when they are gone now that I know how bad soy is. We topped it with turkey pepperoni and low-fat shredded cheese and had that for dinner. Of course I couldn't stop eating after that, even when I finally felt full. I full scale disaster though the food was generally healthy.

I am fasting today to make up for yesterday - just a 24 hour fast so I will eat something when I get home from work. My last food before bed was around midnight. All I've had to eat today was communion, one bite of cheese, and one bite of cookie.

Brad and I went to Palm Sunday services at the Episcopal church by the lake this morning, then went for a hike on a nearby trail. We'd been waiting to do it, but it's been too muddy. Today it was dry. We only managed a little over an hour walking in Anthony Chabot Regional Park starting at the Big Bear Staging Area. I was hoping for at least two hours and Brad wanted three! Oh well. It's the beginning of Holy Week so things will be a little crazy until Easter is over.

I'm barely hovering under 140, but oh well. It will come off. I am deciding whether to fast Friday or not, as least for most of the day. It's Good Friday so it would be traditional and help me lose weight. :)

Tomorrow I hope to go to the gym.

I'm replacing my "10 Commandments for Saturday Cheats," with just a couple simple rules. I may add on later.

Rule #1 - Skip breakfast 6 days a week unless I go to the gym. Then have a protein shake before and after. (I like the weight room and need the protein.)
Rule #2 - Saturday breakfast will be 2 scoops of Muscle Milk Light and nothing else, or nothing at all.

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Fasting

Calories eaten yesterday: 438
Fat: 7g (13%)
Carbs: 44g (40%)
Protein: 52g (47%)
Calories burned in exercise today: 295

My calories were so low because I'm never hungry after a binge and have been toying to eating very light for weight loss.

I got a compliment from the woman down the hall today that my stomach was so flat. Um...no, though it is quite a bit flatter when I haven't eaten. I'm trying to fast today but may or may not make it. If not, I have some protein shakes, cottage cheese, and chicken breast in the fridge here at work.

It's weird...I'm SO hungry, yet my empty stomach feels good. Anyone else experience that? It's odd. It also feels good to control the food instead of it controlling me. I am so done with a cookie (or any food) having control over my life! Don't worry about me. I have a ton of body fat to live off of and this is just one day. :)

Someone commented on my blog that every photo they have seen of me I looked great. Well here's a photo I took just yesterday. My tummy was relaxed in this photo but I was not pushing it out. Not such a great photo right? That's why I need to get really serious about getting this off. Click the photo for a larger size.

Exercise today was walking to the laundromat and back, then down to BART, then from BART to work.

See you all Sunday with a full report on the rest of today and my weekend.

Don't forget - Sunday is Palm Sunday! Glory, laud, and honor to the King of Kings!

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I binged, and my Dad

Calories burned in exercise today: 318

Walked to work from my apartment. About 5.4 miles according to Walker Tracker.

I binged yesterday and ate way too much. I felt horrible. I tried Brad's warm salt water mixture so I could throw up and feel better, but it didn't work. It only made me more sick. I guess I'd had too much time to digest before I used it.

So today I am really bloated (I will have picture proof soon) and I really do look like the Pillsbury Dough Girl. I am pretty much fasting today - not hard since I'm not hungry after stuffing myself yesterday. I brought a couple servings of protein shake with me if I get hungry later. I didn't bring any other food with me.

I might as well face it - I am a compulsive overeater. Once I start I can't stop. I'll do really well for a while and then BOOM I'm stuffing my face with anything I can get my hands on. :( I've done some research and this seems to fit me the best.

Things are stressful. My sister called me this morning about Dad. He is still in the nursing home. They want to be paid and April is not sure if she should pay the bill or try to get Medicaid/Medicare to do it. Dad is worse. He now has a urinary tract infection and so far the doctor hasn't come to see him. The infection is effecting him mentally. He thinks the nursing home is kidnapping him and trying to poison him. This is not the Dad I know! He tried to stand up. He has had only one leg for the past 40 years! Of course it didn't go well and he fell to the floor.

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