Saturday, March 5

Can't believe I'm first in today!  Scale is back down to 113.  Off to work for a very short shift. My hours are drying up there so not sure how much longer I'll last. Not sure what's next - maybe full retirement. Only time will tell. 

Uh oh! Where is everybody? 

Well, no 195 for me this week. Not for lack of trying. However, I did have two slightly difficult food days this week. I have been a little freer overall this week. For example, yesterday I had 2 Hershey mini special dark chocolates. 40 calories a pop. Not sure what has caused this minor change in decision making. I need to sit and think about that a bit. I only have 8 pounds to lose to get to my first major goal. I wonder if that has something to do with it? I must dedicate myself to getting back my focus.

To help me get back my focus, I'm going to be 100% honest with you all. I already know that getting to 188 is a total bull**** goal. I'm not going to be satisfied/happy/content/et****il I'm under 180. To be absolutely frank I want to be in the 173-178 range. So there you have it. I will happily celebrate 188 as my "white jean weight", but I know I will need to continue down to be at the below 180 mark which is really important to me.

There's my # goal, Linda!

Back in the 196 range today. Here's my weirdness - I'm so used to thinking in terms of tenths, e.g. 196.1, 197.5, etc... that I'm having a hard time with typing 196 (because today it's 196.7). Using the number without the tenths feels for some reason as if I'm not being 100% truthful. Odd little hang up, no? 

Blood tests have all come back in the normal range. I'm seeing some trend downward, but from what I understand variations within the normal range are okay. Albumin and prealbumin levels good, vitamin B12 >1000, ferritin mid range, calcium mid range, blah, blah, blah.... 

Lipid panel made me oh so happy! Total Cholesterol is 166, HDL back up to 45 (I struggle with HDL #s), LDL down to 105, and triglycerides at 78. Granted I'm on a statin (entry level simvistatin), but compared to my #s (Total-185, HDL-38(that on 6 fish pills per day!), LDL -128, Triglycerides-94) I'm pleased because the only change I've made is diet and exercise- no change to the med. 

Made another batch of yogurt over night. It's now draining in the fridge. I did 8 1/2 hours last night and the flavor is quite good. I'm thinking, Michele, this may be the magic number! 

I have only one client dog to groom today at 10:00. Then I'm free! So excited to have a weekend day to do with as I please. I'm planning a cardio session at the gym. It is stormy here today, so no bike ride. 

Bonnie, you have some thinking to do. I had a thought last night while reading through one of your blog posts. You have an anti-diet feeling I think, sort of they way I do. It's sort of an emotional level thing.  I was wondering if instead of thinking about having to diet, if you could think about it with a more positive spin, like "This is my plan for getting back to the weight I love being"? I'd suggest writing down the things you are happy to do to get back to your coveted 152 - 154 range. Maybe a protein forward breakfast? Pretty easy. Maybe taking filling snacks to the office? Maybe designate casual drinking and wine nights to specific days? Those sorts of things can go a long way in helping without feeling like you're being punitive or depriving yourself. Just my thoughts. (Remember, I write from my own experience and what I often need to hear myself - so no preaching! I'm doing the very same things today!)

Happy Saturday all! 

I'm super glad to hear you're not freaking about the 'no 195' thing. The scale will reward you for the work you've been doing - guaranteed! The important thing is doing the work. 

Yup, it's all good. All I can do is control what goes down the hatch. It will come off as long as I keep putting the days together. And, as I said, I was not as tight this week as I have been lately. It happens and I'm so beyond the beating up myself stage. Just gotta roll with the flow. Damn, I'm zen today! 

Wow Devon, < 180! That is quite the goal! I think it is wise to make the mini goals to get you there.

I made yogurt last night too - just short of 8 hours and not quite tart enough. I don't think I would like it plain at all. I've been adding blueberries and nuts and truvia and then it is pretty yummy. I only needed to drain mine for about 6 hours and it is quite thick. I use fat free milk - might taste better with a higher fat milk but I don't want the added calories and nobody fatted milk at my house!

Hi Guys!

I always worry that if it looks like I am the first to post that someone else will post just before me and then there will be TWO separate posts and I just can't have that.  So, I have been lurking.  Linda, thank goodness you piped up!

121.4 today, no wrap.  I SHOULD have a wrap on and DID have a wrap on.  But, I could tell that if I took the wrap off that I would drop into the 121's which I have never been as an adult and who knows when as a kid. So, I took the wrap off.

121 is the very bottom of 1st stab at a weight range so I will add some calories back.  I know from my Dexa that there is no need to be lower. My current thinking is to try to stay around 122-124 when I am not retaining fluid.

My problem with adding calories is that volume triggers me, thinking about menus triggers me and food prep triggers me.   And LORDY does the feeling of full trigger me.  I have to find a new term for "full" because it has nothing to do with satiety.  Avoiding full is my number one goal.

Honestly, cutting back calories to help drop into the bottom of range was comforting to me.  

But, I need to move on to more calories.  I'm thinking small meals/snacks are in order with calories increased by adding nuts/avocados, etc.  I think I will err on eating too often, risking grazing for now, rather than getting to the evening realizing that I need more calories than usual and end up triggering myself in some fashion.  I have lots of terrific, portioned choices already prepped in the freezer which helps tremendously. 

Kairk, I have used 8.5 hrs for yogurt as well.  You are right, it might be the ideal sweet/tang spot.  I find the flavors of slightly shorter times fit nicely in with the way I usually eat yogurt:  somewhat dessert-like with cherries, toasted coconut granola and few peanuts thrown in.  But, the 9 hours is also delicious.  

No matter the time, I usually let it drain for about 12 hours but this is driven partly from just the logistics of life.  I don't know at what point it it is simply done draining.  I love it super thick and figure if I over-drain that I can always mix some whey back in.  I haven't needed to any back, yet. 

  This week I have been enjoying a fabulous IP red bean/paprika stew with some chicken sausage thrown in.  I am proud that I made the recipe work even tho it wasn't designed for a pressure cooker.  I was worried about the carb load but it hasn't negatively affected me tho I have had it every day.  Of course, a dollop of 9 hour yogurt on top makes it perfect.  

Have a wonderful day! Shel  

A nice handful of almonds or a good chunk of Brie will add 200 calories. That's all it takes!

yes, i overthink....that is part of he problem, too!  Simple is better!

Yup these 150-200 'drive by' low volume calories make a great late afternoon or evening addition. The other advantage of adding them this way is they're easy calories to remove if you need to cut back at some point.

In time, you may naturally eat higher calorie meals with added sauces, condiments, higher fat meat choices, etc. 

Lol Shel! Two started posts on the same day wouldn't be the end of the world! Don't let that stop you from posting early!

I am having a hard time figuring out my perfect daily calorie intake and am coming to the conclusion that there may not be one. I went up to 1,500 but was gaining a little too fast and then down to 1,200 and lost a little too fast (though I had the scoping prep in there). I think my new plan might be to eat up to 1,500 calories on the days I exercise (which is most days) and dial it back to 1,200 on the days I don't get the exercise in. I wish I could just stay in a 124-126 lb. range but I seem to be 121-127 the last few weeks (which shouldn't stress me out since I am still within my range - at least on the high end, but for some reason it does stress me out). I feel I have to constantly tweak and I just want to be at a steady state instead of adjusting all the time! I usually stayed within a few pounds when I was fat, why can't I now?