wow-that sounds good!

Thanks Angie. I might try that for a week and see how it goes. I am not sure how my body would react to a real low-carb diet but maybe its worth a try.

Last night I went to my boot camp even though I wasnt feeling my best. It was so hard!!! There are only four of us in the class and the other girls are definately more fit than me so its tough because I really have to push myself to keep up. I have always gone with someone I knew but nobody wanted to join with me this time so I am doing it alone so to speak.

Today I am feeling really good. I didnt get on the scale but my body feels good. I am sure its from my killer work out last night!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Joan

A couple of other tips for low-carb dieting - you should keep your maximum heart rate in the 60-70% zone when exercising to maximize fat burning (as opposed to muscle-burning). it takes approximately 3 days to get the excess carbs out of your system, so expect to feel cranky and ready to kill until day 3 (I didn't really have this, but many have). Water water water water water.

I feel good still. I had a few carbs on Saturday, so I had to regroup on Sunday (see cranky note above ) but all is back to being good. I am soooo not hungry, I need to make myself have the veggies that are required. We will see what fortunes the sclae holds for me on Friday.

Nicole - sooo glad that you and Bethy are OK - high speed accidents don't always end up that way. Sorry that the wheels are toast - but they are designed to keep you safe, so it did its job!

Class tonight with a presentation to give - argh.

Oh, made a yummy chicken dinner last night - herbs du provence, garlic, salt, pepper, a few dashes of hot sauce, mashed into a paste and rubbed onto the chicken breast. Quite yummy! Can't have BBQ sauce, so this was good!

I'm pretty stoked today, I went to my official weigh in and my Dr. moved me to phase 2 of my plan; that means...I GET TO EAT CARBS!!! Real ones! Only 2 per day (ie/ 2 slices of WW bread) but I also get some new veggies and fruit and dairy on my list -- I'm thrilled to pieces. I'm going to be very moderate with my change though, I really don't wan to slow down my losses.

Kim - Yum, your chicken sounds awesome!!

Joan - I love that feeling after a good workout - it always makes me feel healthy and proud of myself.

just thought i'd stop by and say hi really quick this morning. hope everyone is doing well!

Good morning everyone!

Angie-thanks so much for jump-start--i know I've only finished one day-but it went well, I feel great and I'm down a couple of pounds already.

Something clicked on Tuesday-I picked up my CPAP and the appt went great-I didn't freak out and the guy was impressed at how well I handled it. That coupled with the new diet plan (which seemed feasible), and what else I don't know-but my head just clicked into gear. Do you know what I mean? This always happens with me-I can't just set a date and start a new diet. The stars have to align or something with me. And I can never pin down just WHAT it was that did it either. weird.

So-even though I was just supposed to wear the CPAP for an hour every night while awake (reading, TV, etc) for the first week-it was going so well I decided to go for it. The first night I slept for 2 hrs at a time before I would wake up, rip it off, and readjust. I'd be awake for 20 minutes or so and try again. The hardest part is that i'm a stomach sleeper and I can't really do that with the mask. My back was KILLING me when I woke up-the side sleeping was putting pressure on my lower back.. Even though most people would call that a crummy night's sleep-that's fairly normal for me PLUS I actually slept great when I did sleep.

Yesterday was awesome-I wasn't tired, didn't fall asleep at my desk and was pretty darn cheerful all day.

Last night I tried arranging pillows so I'm sort of on my back and sort of on my side (put pillows behind me) so it relieved my back somewhat but it hurt other muscles. I woke up a couple of times to switch sides (quite the production!) but it went better than the first night. Though I was stiff and sore from not moving when I woke up. Once I worked that out I feel great again. Oh-and I woke up earlier than normal, totally awake. That hasn't happened in ages. Josie yells at me every morning to get moving. It's like I'm the teenager and she's the mom.

I'm all set with the exception of the CPAP compliance report which I'll get in about a month (they read the chip in the machine to make sure I'm using it and it's working)-then I should be able to meet with the surgeon and schedule a date! I think I'll have the weight lost by then too.

It's so nice to FEEL good again (at least mentally-but back is still messed up!). What a change when you don't stop breathing 40 times per hour at night!

Very happy for you JM! Breathing=good!

JM, I think you just may be on an upward spiral. More sleep means easier weight loss, which means less pain which means more sleep. The more I weight, the worse I snore, and I do wake myself up. My DH will actually put on ear plugs sometimes, and it is hard to not be embarassed by that. Another reason to lose weight and be alarmed that I regained.

I've been just kind of hanging out at about the same number on the scale since I started weighing myself. Thought about it and decided that I have to cut down on the amount we are eating out. I think it is too easy to underestimate the calories when you can't measure it. Plus it is really super hard to find anything that is not a just a lot of points. If the scale has still not moved by the first of October then I'll reevaluate.

JM - I know exactly what you mean; I've been wanting to get my own butt into gear for some time but couldn't seem to get started. I've had a referral to the metabolic specialist (my diet Dr) since December, but I only called to make the appt in Auugst! All of a sudden it was a priority and I felt motivated and driven. I couldn't make it happen, it had to just 'happen'. I'm so glad the CPAP is working for you!

My day was so busy I've been on the go since 6:15 a.m. and just got home now.

Definition of a bad idea (aka the bad news): On your first day of eating carbs and dairy after 6 weeks of practically zero carbs and dairy; go out for dinner to an Italian restaurant, eat foccacia bread with olive oil & balsamic vinegar, and half a plate of risotto. Let's just say my body did not appreciate the sudden change. Also, at the time this feeling hit me we were through with dinner and watching a show at the comedy club. Although I was DYING with stomach pains, I refused to get up in the middle of the show to use the washroom...I didn't want to be a subject in the show!

Now, the good news out of all this excitement for my poor digestive tract; I just weighed myself and I weigh less now than I did this morning! I hope it sticks overnight.... Plus, I had a ball at the comedy club...it felt great to laugh for almost 2 hour straight.

I hope you guys had a super day.

Angie and JM, It is strange how you can struggle with really getting started and then just one day something shifts and you are READY to do it. Unfortunately then I do it and have decent results only to have a time when the weight loss slows down and I get frustrated and go back to my bad habits because "its not working for me". Stupid move... Like whatever I lost I get to keep no matter what I eat. So not true. I don't know how many times I have to regain weight to get over that feeling that whatever is lost is gone for good, since it is not... It only gets easier to gain it back as you get older. And my pounds are friendly, they seem to go out and recruit friends to join them every time I send them away.

Did someone mention the low carb "crankies"? Cuz I'm about to rip people's heads off about now. Especially heads made of grilled cheese sandwiches or pancakes or mmmmmmm . .wait, what were we talking about?

Almost done with day 3 of Angie's plan (you did this for 6 weeks? You go girl!). . . not always sticking to the low sodium part but otherwise pretty good. Hopefully my mood changes soon! And the cravings go away . .

Today I'm cooking scrumptious on plan food -- chicken & veg soup on the stove, pork tenderloin in the slow cooker, and our side dish tonight will be a spinach, mushroom and artichoke casserole. I loooove cooking!

Barbara -- I usually do the same, but this time I'm forcing myself to be more determined. I know that staying on plan and keeping myself moving WILL work eventually, and obviously going off plan doesn't work -- so I'm trying to keep my mind thinking logically this time and not as emotionally as I normally would. So far so good, but please remind me of this if I need it in the next weeks!

JM -- If you can find some high fibre crispbread you can have a piece every 4 hours. I used to eat it with ultra low fat cream cheese and it felt like a cracker so helped with the carb crazies.

OK. lost my previous post darnit!

Carb cranky today. Low grade headache. I did it to myself - with a little assistance from SIL, who for last night b-day dinner for FIL served chicken cordon carb, mashed carbs, carby veggies, and freshly baked carbs. Ugh! Up until now I have been fastidious about researching the best dining choices when we go out. Never did I expect her to have ) options for dinner. My bad.

Lost 4 lbs last week, very happy! Up 1 today thanks to happy carbday dinner, but will have that gone by tomorrow.

Morning! Wow I need to get back on track after my weekend. Last Thursday I found out that one of my staff was stealing from me so I fired her. Friday I had an audit! Saturday I went to a hockey game with a friend who is going thru depression and last night I went to my sons hockey game that didnt end until 11pm. It's been a few crazy days for me.
To top everything off, I am trying very hard to avoid being sick. I feel the sniffles and little coughs coming my way. I started pumping the medication on Saturday morning but its still trying to get to me. I cant quite shew this cold away yet!
Its going to be quite a week as I am so short staffed in my office. I am praying that I find a new employee quick!!!
Well I should run as I have many resumes to go thru......

Joan