Exercise: none, planned rest day

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2206 calories (34% fat, 31% carbs, 34% protein)

Breakfast: egg/egg substitute omelet with cheese, 12-grain bread, orange (468)

AM Snack: almonds (164)

Lunch: beef mushroom barley soup, smoked back bacon, apple (449)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts (224)

Dinner: grilled lamb, broccoli, butter, salad w/dressing (638)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (264)

I think that’s it for the evening.  I’ve got the fire going again tonight so I think I’m going to go back and sit in front of it.

Well, I’m really surprised this morning. I’m not that surprised by the weigh-in, it’s 320.4, which is down exactly 2.0 pounds since last week. I’m surprised as it’s the start of my period this morning and that’s usually preceded by at least a couple of pounds of water gain. It never really bothers me because I know afterwards it’s followed by those same pounds coming off. I don’t know if the change in routine has changed my weight loss. I expected with the increase in calories that I would stall for a while. I know most of the women using the lifting guide usually hold steady (or even gain) for at least a month or so. I decided that if this happened I would not freak out, since I understand that phase is followed by a good weight loss phase. Perhaps it’s because I started with so much extra weight that it’s different for me. Anyway, I don’t know if it’s the weights, or being hunched over in the crawl space doing the transplanting, or the start of TOM, but boy does my lower back hurt today. I think a little time with the heating pad might not be a bad thing.

I almost forgot - Happy Easter!!!

My mother tried to give me a few easter eggs this morning, but wasn’t upset when I gave them back. She said that she thought I might but bought them last week when buying something for a friend. I explained that I’d decided earlier in the week that I just didn’t want to have any this year. Maybe next year I’ll be in a better place, but not today. See, I knew that I would open the package just intending to take one of the three eggs, but would end up eating all three. And at 340 calories, it just wasn’t something I wanted to do. I even considered taking one and giving her the other two, but decided I’d rather have my almonds in a little bit than one single (tiny) chocolate egg.