Wake up for weight loss............

I just wanted to share with all of you my experience last week. After reading about Joanne and Paula's weight loss after only having protein shakes (for Joanne) and yogurt (both for Paula), I thought I'd try to do the same for four days. I started Tuesday and ended Friday. I lost 8.5 pounds. This was amazing, especially since I've been fighting the same 4 pounds since the end of November. I knew I wouldn't be able to handle having only protein shakes and yogurt, so I also had cottage cheese each day. I made sure I got all my protein grams in and my vitamins. I also drank at least 64 ounces of water each day. I did have coffee in the mornings with a little 2% milk and sweet-n-low and tea in the evenings with equal. The most amazing thing happened that I was not expecting. This morning, I made bacon and grits for the family (yes....grits....we live in the south!) and I had only two pieces of bacon and was stuffed! So I thought, okay, this must just be my imagination. But at lunch, I made a tuna wrap and tried to eat half. Couldn't get it all in. I'm thinking that my pouch might have gotten smaller because of the past four days. Maybe I gave it a rest? Who knows. I did not realize just how much I was taking in before Tuesday. This whole experiment has made me realize that I was really eating more than I should be. Duh....I guess that's why I was fighting 4 pounds for 3 months! Any who... I'm hoping this is the beginning of some steady weight loss. I don't plan on doing this again any time in the near future, but do plan on really taking advantage of my pouch being smaller and the realization that I can, in fact, still lose weight. Yea!!!! I was really beginning to wonder if this was it for me. I'll let you all know if I gain any back or if I keep on losing. Hopefully, I'll be able to post the latter. Everyone have a great weekend! Wanda 256/174/145

Wanda.....That's great. I have kept the weight off thus far. I was worried that part of the loss was water weight that would come back when I started to eat again. Nope. I didn't connect the two, but I am getting full pretty quickly now also. Well, the dogs love it that they get so many meals from my excess! That would be great if our pouches did shrink a little by underfilling them during the "protein feast". Have you found you no longer crave carbs? That is wonderful side effect for me. I am not snacking during the evening TV shows! I have continued the protein shake at night before bed. It keeps me satisfied all night. I have a bad, bad habit of eating whenever the dogs need to go at night. I'm not doing that now. Knock on wood. Hopefully these changes will stay and those bad habits will leave - and get lost for good. Good riddensl!!! I am so thankful that Joanne shared her plan with us. Her timing was perfect to help me over a hump leading to maintenance.. Congrats on your weight loss. Wanda, when did you eat the cottage cheese, and did you also have the yogurt too. Paula

Hey Paula, I'm so glad to hear you've kept your loss off. So far, my loss is the same. I too was worried about gaining some of the water loss back. I havn't craved carbs either. I read somewhere a long time ago (I think the Atkins book) that once you rid your body of a lot of carbs, it doesn't crave them anymore. I did have a headache Wednesday and I think it was my body's way of telling me to eat some carbs. But by Thursday, it was gone. I also noticed that by Friday, I was not hungry at all. I know what you mean about the dogs loving us not eating as much. I have a Brittany Spaniel that has put on a pound or two since my surgery. She knows who to sit next to during meals. I have stopped giving her scraps and so many treats. We also go for more walks since the weather is warming up. She's so cute.... she know that when I start putting on a certain pair of tennis shoes, we're fixing to go for a walk. She starts whining and runs to the front door. I find that I can't go the evenings without having something, so that's when I would eat my cottage cheese. I can hold about a cup of it. For some added flavor, I added a tablespoon of Italian Dressing to it. That was really good, especially after having only protein shakes and yogurt all day. Thanks to you and Joanne for sharing your experiences with me. I find that reading this message board and the main one really helps me to stay focused. Wanda

Wanda, Thanks for sharing. I'm thinking about doing the protein shake thing too in a couple of weeks. This week I'm battling a virus with heavy duty meds so know it won't be a good idea for me right away. I want to get more weight off and go back basics to kick start it. Mary

Hope you get to feeling better soon, Mary. Wanda

Wanda, Thank you. I am doing better but still recovering. So glad the sore throat and earaches are gone. Now if I could just stop sneezing and blowing my nose!!! I'll look like Rudolph soon ... LOL Mary