Thanksgiving

Calories eaten yesterday: 1198
Fat: 25g (22%)
Carbs: 85g (33%)
Protein: 121g (45%)
Calories burned in exercise today: 0

The silliest thing was said to me yesterday in a Flickr photo comment. The person claims I "binge often (on CARBS) because you don't get enough whole grains." WTF? How did mankind exist before the advent of agriculture when there were no whole grains and any form of carbs were few and far between?

No, I binge because carbs are physically addictive and I am an addict. You don't give a drug addict more drugs so why do people push carb addicts to eat more carbs?

At any rate, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everybody!



Brad is sick and didn't want any Thanksgiving dinner. He bought two very anemic looking boneless, skinless chicken breast because he didn't want anything. Boneless skinless chicken breast holds about as much interest for me as the boneless skinless chicken breast I used to eat every day and am sick of. I eventually dug up some tilapia (a kind of fish) and had that along with the cauliflower potatoes and rum cake, alone at work.

Brad went back and forth with the time. I eventually started around noon today and will get off at 8 or 9 - not exactly sure yet.

Let's see, I guess I have to say what I'm thankful for. I am thankful for
God
having a job
my kitties Xena and Abby (the bestest kitties in the world!)
Brad's friendship

Have a good weekend everyone! I'll be posting a bit of Facebook while I am gone, and other than that I should be back with blog posts next Wednesday and a report on my trip. I may or may not have internet access while gone, but I should be able to post some updates to Facebook via my cell phone if you want to keep up with me.

Addiction

Calories eaten yesterday: 1468
Fat: 34g (23%)
Carbs: 77g (23%)
Protein: 178g (54%)
Weight this morning: 133.4
Calories burned in exercise today: 251

Same weight as yesterday. Bleh. My body wants to be fat. :(

Maybe I'm hitting ketosis today; the cravings are worse than yesterday and the hunger is really bad. I'm eating more calories, but less food because I'm getting more fat, and fat is higher in calories than carbs and protein combined. *sigh*

I am a carbohydrate addict. I want carbs; I crave carbs. My body react poorly to them. Most of us are addicted and don't even know it. Yes, carbs are physically addictive. Going on a low carb diet is like taking drugs away from a drug addict - you will experience physical symptoms. Craving for the addictive substance is just one of these symptoms. The more addicted you are, the worse the symptoms will be.

Today I walked down to the laundromat and back, then down toward the train, then turned and walked partway through Alameda. I finally found a bench where I could rest, then took the bus to Southshore and did some shopping at Safeway before coming in to work.

I'm tired. There is so much gunk going around right now I feel like I am always fighting something.

Tomorrow Brad and I are hitting Coscto. Saturday is church, and then Sunday it's back to work for me, as well as my weigh-in day.

Time For A Solid Plan

Calories eaten yesterday: 869
Fat: 18g (19%)
Carbs: 60g (28%)
Protein: 115g (53%)
Calories burned in exercise today: 402

I have got to get control of my eating. I am totally out of control. I think I need to do a more Atkins-type diet and stay away from the carbs even on Saturday. Eat just the peanuts on the snack table for example and stay away from the Cheese-It's and trail mix and fruit and nuts mix and cut back to just one granola bar. When I wake up in the middle of the night on Friday night, have a low-carb snack that I can reach for.

I suck and am gaining weight again. It's time to get back to basics and break this carb addition again!

So...

No more candies,
No more cakes,
No more sweets,
No more mistakes.

I went to the gym today and did one hour of weight training and 40 minutes on the crossramp elliptical. I walked into work from BART and stopped at the grocery store on the way for some salad. Tomorrow I plan to go into the City to check my mail.

We have new lockers at my gym. They closed the locker room all weekend and tore out the old metal lockers and in plastic lockers made to look like wood. Very solid and stylish. I like them. :)

There's an older guy at the gym named John who I sometimes chat with (old enough to be my father kind of old!). I told him I started Armour a week ago. He said I looked better, more energetic. I doubt that's really true, but I need to write it down anyway. Hopefully the T3 really is helping me.

An anonymous person posted a comment on yesterday blog entry and asked why I binged. It's actually a very good question and worth putting some serious thought into. A great part of it is how much I restrict during the week. By the time Friday rolls around I'm starved. But if I eat more during the week I can't lose weight. :(

The real problem is a true physical addiction to carbs and that addiction has to be faced and broken. So I have decided that if I get into a hungry binge mode I will eat fat and/or protein, but not carbs.

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

Week 97 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)
Total loss since starting low-fat: -14.2

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.
Calories eaten Thursday: 1326
Fat: 22g (15%)
Carbs: 74g (22%)
Protein: 169g (51%)
Weight Thursday morning: 131
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 131

Calories eaten Friday: 1503
Fat: 26g (16%)
Carbs: 84g (23%)
Protein: 150g (41%)
Weight Friday morning: 131.2
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 127

Weight Saturday morning: 133.4
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 268

I am so fat and bloated today. I look like the Pillsbury Dough Girl.

I got the blood tests Friday. I'm having so many tests run that they took four vials. I'm having the results mailed to me, so it will be about two weeks to get them.

After the blood tests I went to Safeway I got some cottage cheese for my breakfast and bought a few groceries since I was there. Then I went home and put the groceries away, then went to my local Safeway for the rest of the stuff I need. I put those away, washed and cut a bunch of zuchini, got dinners packed for this coming week, scooped the cat's litter box, and swept the floor. Then I saw the chiropractor and came home.

Brad got his car back, so we took off for WalMart and bought some stuff, plus got refills on all the meds I buy there.

Saturday I ate horribly at church and after. I ate way too much of Becky's enchiladas and ate too many granola bars. I am such an addict!

We went of the Japanese place up the street for sake (Brad had the plum wine), then Geraldo's for super burritos (they were kind of rushing us because we got there so late and Brad had no money so didn't eat), then Starbucks and I had a short skinny latte, a mini chocolate chip cookie, and a chocolate banana Vivanno, and finally Applebee's. Brad bought wine for himself and a Mochatini for me; I bought one Mochatini for myself and also had the caramel apple dessert shooter. I didn't need anymore.

The bartender knows us and gave us a mucho size Mudslide (photo of a previous one). I didn't want it (1100 calories - there's a reason I don't order them!), but Brad helped me drink it. I had the whipped cream and part of the drink, though. :( I know the bartender was just being nice, but it wasn't needed or wanted.

I went home and ate two single serve containers of plain yogurt, one with a scoop of Muscle Milk Light mixed in, and a cup of cottage cheese. *sigh* I suck. Of course I am not hungry today.

I need to learn how to become anorexic, but still get some protein in. :-p

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

Food-wise failure and my weekend

Calories eaten Thursday: 1082
Fat: 14g (12%)
Carbs: 102g (40%)
Protein: 120g (47%)
Weight Thursday morning: 135.8 (One week ago: 131.2)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 219

Calories eaten Friday: 1473
Fat: 28g (18%)
Carbs: 84g (23%)
Protein: 135g (38%)
Weight Friday morning: 135.8 (One week ago: 129.8)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 82

Weight Saturday morning: 135.8 (One week ago: 131.8)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories eaten yesterday: 885 (no, that's not a typo; I pigged out Saturday, so ate very light on Sunday)
Fat: 16g (16%)
Carbs: 78g (36%)
Protein: 105g (48%)
Weight Sunday morning: n/a (One week ago: 138.6)
Calories burned in exercise Sunday: 0

Weight this morning: n/a (One week ago: 133)
Calories burned in exercise today: 328

Settle in with some hot cocoa. I have a lot to update so this is going to be long.

No weigh-in this week. Saturday was an absolute and utter failure.

Friday I did what grocery shopping I could in the afternoon. Brad came and picked me up and we hit WalMart. Then we went to Petco and got pet hair rollers (for removing pet hair from clothes). We were going to get a new scratching pad for Xena, but a customer in front of me at the register gave us a tip that Trader Joe's had them cheaper. I wanted to go to Trader Joe's anyway for a couple bottles of Two Buck Chuck.

We didn't see the cat scratchers at the store, but we asked at the register when getting the wine and they pointed to where they were against a wall, so we got that, too.

Then we hit Safeway so Brad could pick up something for dinner and I could get garlic vinegar (hard to find at my store, especially the large size). They had it on sale so I bought three large bottles.

By this time it was dusk and Sabbath so we went home. Brad portioned the salad bought earlier in the week and washed the cucumbers I'd bought earlier. I portioned out my vitamins and meds for the week in my pill organizer.

Saturday we went to church. I forgot the bulletins and my Bible so I could take any sermon notes. It's a pity because pastor always says stuff worth writing down. I ate horribly and ended up eating five (yes five) granola bars, split between the two different kinds the church has for snacks.

Brad and I left church little early. Brad had some lunch and I had a little lunch and did some cleaning up. At home Brad helped me color my hair. We dyed it red, but since I haven't used shampoo on it yet, it is currently burgundy, but will get lighter over the next few shampoos.

Saturday evening we went to Dublin to see Coraline in 3D. It was a good movie and well worth seeing, but I'm not sure the 3D was worth the extra price. At any rate, it's a good movie about being content with the life you have. Paul says much the same thing in Philippians 4:11.

I'd give the movie 7 out of 10 stars. See it, but don't bother with the 3D. It's rated PG, but not suitable for children under 10 due to how dark and creepy it is. So parents be warned! Little ones could get nightmares from this.

Food-wise, before the movie we went to Starbuck's and I got a biscotti and short skinny vanilla latte. Then we went to Applebee's and Brad and I shared an appetizer and had drinks. I also had the strawberry cheesecake dessert shooter (photo on right). During the movie we had popcorn (medium); I ate most of it. After the movie we drove to the Alameda Applebee's for dinner. I ate horribly. The Mochatini and wine weren't bad, but I got the Quesadilla burger with fries, and then ordered their brownie and vanilla ice cream dessert (shared with Brad of course). I am so addicted to sugar and I hate it!

Sunday I ended up setting the alarm for a later time and then deciding not to go to the gym at all and sleep in. Brad and I couldn't even get any walking it because it was raining. I was so bloated that I didn't get on the scale.

Today I dragged myself to the gym and did one hour of upper body weight training and 30 minutes cardio. I wanted to use the elliptical (didn't feel like the treadmill), but the kind with the moving arms were all being used, so I had to settle for the crossramp elliptical. It stopped raining so I walked to work from BART.

Tomorrow I am doing my mail run into the City. The property check should be there so I will cash it and turn it over to Brad to buy me stuff at Costco - I need Alli, two cases of Diet Rock Star, one case of Diet Coke, and cat litter. I hope $200 is enough for all that.

My tummy is sticking out and I'm trying to determine the cause. So this week I am cutting back on diet soda and seltzer water to see if the carbonation isn't contributing. I also have a Parastroy cleanse kit so I am doing that. Can't hurt, might help.

About my apartment situation - Friday night the woman next door dropped by to tell Brad and I about the guy in apartment B being broken into. He had a bunch of stuff stolen and ended up moving out. I already knew about it, but in the course of the conversation, the woman mentioned that she had been broken into four times! Not recently, but still that's scary. She now has bars on her back windows.

It's also scary that I almost moved into apartment B. I didn't get it because it was taken when I decided to move to this building. Apartment D was open (and more expensive) so I took that.

The postscript to all this is that I saw the owner today going into apartment B. I asked him about my rent check and the break in. He showed me the back bathroom window they were supposed to have entered from. He showed me the window and there was so sign of forced entry so he thinks the tenant must have left the window unlocked. I am not sure but I hope it was something as simple as that.

The building is not secure and the back alley between our building and the one next door is a prime place for criminals to break in. Brad said to leave my front blinds and the front door blinds open. If someone breaks in (most likely from the back), they wouldn't want to be seen. He said to leave the TV and one light on, and to hide my computer. The apartment has a some hidden places that Brad and I didn't discover until I moved in, so I chose one of those for the computer. It's a laptop and easily stowed.

Everyone told me how much better this neighborhood is, but it's not, and the lack of a secure building makes it more so. I asked the owner today about getting bars for my back door and windows. He said he would do it, but I take that with a grain of salt. He hasn't followed through the on the heater problem I mentioned (the black soot that coats things), so I don't know if he will follow through on this.

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

Horrible weekend and stress binging

Calories eaten Thursday: 1447
Fat: 21g (14%)
Carbs: 118g (34%)
Protein: 148g (42%)
Weight Thursday morning: 131.2 (One week ago: 132.8)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 292

Calories eaten Friday: 1495
Fat: 26g (16%)
Carbs: 99g (27%)
Protein: 123g (35%)
Weight Friday morning: 130.4 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 73

Weight Saturday morning: 131.4 (One week ago: 132.6)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories eaten yesterday: 1105
Fat: 20g (17%)
Carbs: 114g (43%)
Protein: 103g (39%)
Weight this morning: 138 (One week ago: 135.4)
Calories burned in Sunday: 56
Calories burned in exercise today: 184

It was a long, horrible weekend. I didn't weigh-in yesterday and felt so horrible I decided not to post at all. This week will count as week 94 (again).

As most of you know, I try not to eat as I please on Saturday, but I allow myself some treats. To my shame, I got really depressed this past Saturday and ate every bad thing in sight. :( I sometimes stress eat and carb binge when things get really bad.

I didn't feel any less stressed out on Sunday and just tried to convince myself to NOT order pizza and run to the gas station for cupcakes. For the most part I try to keep my eating under control on Saturday and just allow myself more food and calories but still eat healthy. I don't care about mashed or baked potatoes, or rice, but I do love hash browns and french fries.

I felt horrible yesterday with an upset stomach. I slept until noon and had two slices of plain (low-carb) toast for breakfast. At work I continued sipping my black coffee (with a little sugar-free caramel syrup in it). I stopped at Safeway for some Diet 7-Up to help settle my tummy.

Brad and I had a big fight Saturday night (that left me in tears) and I ended up drinking too much and pigging out on cake and candy not once, but twice. First at Safeway and then later at 7-11. I bought ice cream, cake, and candy.

So I was hungover and didn't make it to the gym. I felt fat and bloated on top of it all, and feel the same way today. *sigh* I won't even talk about the hash browns and breakfast sandwich I had before church and the humongous cinnamon roll I had after.

I have a serious sugar problem. I've tried to address it, but fail. I am an addict. If it weren't for needing the Cream of Wheat and liquid iron I could get my carbs down much lower. And I always end up binging on Saturday either because I feel so deprived during the week or because I get stressed. Between the Cream of Wheat, liquid iron, and (especially) the binges I am out of control and gaining.

I'm fat again and must get this under control. I also realize my metabolism is extremely slow and I probably need less than 1200 to maintain even with exercise. I did a basal metabolism test where you plug in your weight and height and age and my number came out to just 1155. The Thyroid Diet book says this should be my calorie target.

Going by this level and the "rule" in the book about getting at least 25% of your daily calories from breakfast, my breakfasts should be just under 290 calories.

Tomorrow is mail and then I might make it to the gym once this week on Wednesday.

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

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

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

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.

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

Week 51 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)
Total loss: -15.2

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1386
Fat: 26g (17%)
Carbs: 111g (33%)
Protein: 131g (39%)
Weight Thursday morning: 128.6 (One week ago: 129.4)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 85

Woot! A new low! :) I did drink a lot of liquid yesterday, so I bet that helped.

Calories eaten Friday: 1486
Fat: 29g (18%)
Carbs: 97g (27%)
Protein: 126g (34%)
Weight Friday morning: 128.8 (One week ago: 130.4)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 247

Weight Saturday morning: 130.6 (One week ago: 131.4)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 154

Calories burned in exercise today: 364

Busy weekend here.

Friday Brad and I went walking - 1 hour 45 minutes, about 5 miles.

Saturday we also went walking around the lake - 1 hour 5 minutes and just over 3 miles.

I failed at food on Saturday. The pastor's wife brought bread to church. Not just any bread, but homemade, freshly-ground-from-the-wheat-berry and fresh baked 100% whole wheat bread, some with cinnamon swirl, all done by hand. I had three or four huge slices of the cinnamon swirl bread and two huge slices of the plain wheat bread. I honestly lost count of how many slices I ate, but it was probably half a loaf in total. :o

Then my friend and I went out to drinks Saturday night. I had two Irish coffees (with Splenda instead of simple syrup for sweetener), and we split a cheese and cracker plate. I drank way too much wine and one light beer at home. Dinner was Dreamfield's pasta with sugar-free pasta sauce with shrimp. I also threw in a bunch of stir fry veggies from a bag. A pretty healthy meal.

Needless to say, I showed a 1/2 pound gain over last week at my weigh-in this morning. :( I stand at 138.8.

I am back on the straight and narrow today. I nearly didn't make it to the gym because of the time change. Thank God I woke up an hour early and realized it's Daylight Saving! I had a half cup cottage cheese with whey protein powder for breakfast, and the same for my post-workout snack, except that I also have a carb serving post-workout.

I did one hour of upper body and core stuff, starting with free weights and moving to machines, per the advice of M&F Hers magazine. Then I got on the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes - 5.5-6.0 mph, about 2.86 miles covered. I did not walk to work from BART because I have my laptop with me and it's heavy.

Assessment: I'm a bit hungover from too much to drink yesterday, and a bit tired from the time change. It was hard to get moving at the gym. I had a sugar-free Rock Star energy drink like always and that helped perk me up a bit.

Tomorrow is my bi-monthly mail run into the City, so no gym. I plan to go back to the gym on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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

Why low-fat diets don't work

Quite simply, they don't work because

1) You feel deprived; fat tastes good and our bodies crave it because it is necessary to life.

2) You feel hungry. Protein and fat satiate - they keep you full longer than carbohydrates ever could, no matter how "complex" they may be. Any diet that restricts fat is likely going to make up those calories with carbs, which leave you with swinging blood sugars and constant hunger.

3) Low-fat diets don't address the carb addiction most people have, and therefore don't take away the cravings. Yes, carbohydrates are addictive. Grains trigger the pleasure center in the brain the same way drugs do.

Here's what prompted my post, an example I came across on the blog of a low-fat dieter. (All spelling mistakes are in the original.)

The picture of the fried chicken sandwich on the billboard screamed, "Look at me, FB...I'm DELICIOUS!!! come on...you want me...you KNOW you want me..."
"Oooh" said my Eyes. "You DO look delicious. I didn't have much to eat for breakfast today, so..."

"WAIT!!" yelled my Brain, "You are on a diet!!!!! you'll be sorry if you eat it - keep looking at the road! isn't that a cute little baby over there in the carriage?"

By this time I had passed the humungous picture tempting me and things began to quiet down when my Mouth chimed in with, "I'm beginning to salivate. I want to feel that juicy, crunchy chicken tantilizing my tongue and I want to feel it NOW, do you hear me, Ears?"

"NO!!!" said my Brain, "Don't listen to Mouth!!!!" Aren't you happy that you lost the weight that you did?! you may gain if you have it!!! You're doing better these days!!!! Don't you WANT to be thin?!!!!!"

"Oh God, I want that sandwich," said my unrelenting Mouth that was salivating even more than before.

At the red light my Eyes gazed down at my Stomach and said, "Your clothes will get tighter and you'll feel depressed if you give in."

"I don't CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!" growled my Stomach, and the light then turned to green. "Neither do I," said my Eyes as if this whole thing weren't their fault in the first place.

I began to steer the car in the direction of the restaurant, much to the immense relief of Touch and Taste as they cheered the others on.

See what I mean? Who wants to live with cravings like that?

Technorati tagged: atkins, diet, atkins diet, low carb, weight loss, obesity, obese, overweight, fat, exercise, fitness, Weight Watchers, low fat