Okay, so I posted this within my journal, but wanted to aske everyone's opinion. Do you gals see any patterns that may be affecting my weight loss efforts? As many of you gals have said...sometimes it helps to look at the big picture

Week #1: 7/01/05 - 7/08/05

Starting Weight: 211.6

Total Cardio: 1 hour 35 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 3

Days I Did Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,459

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.86

Total Caloric Defecit: 5,518

Days I Drank 80 oz. Water: 2

Ending Weight: 206.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 5.0

Week #2: 7/09/05 - 7/15/05

Starting Weight: 206.6

Total Cardio: 3 hours 20 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 4

Days I Did Weight Training: 1

Average Daily Calories: 1,177

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.14

Total Caloric Defecit: 8,207

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 7

Ending Weight: 203.0

Total LBS Lost This Week: 3.6

Week #3: 7/16/05 - 7/22/05

Starting Weight: 203.0

Total Cardio: 4 hours 00 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 5

Days of Weight Training: 2

Average Daily Calories: 1,277

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 4.71

Total Caloric Defecit: 6,408

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 6

Ending Weight: 201.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.4

Week #4: 7/23/05 - 7/29/05

Starting Weight: 201.6

Total Cardio: 4 hours 20 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 6

Days of Weight Training: 1

Average Daily Calories: 964

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 5.29

Total Caloric Defecit: 9,420

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 7

Ending Weight: 197.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 4.0

Week #5: 7/30/05 - 8/05/05

Starting Weight: 197.6

Total Cardio: 3 hours 15 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 4

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 969

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 5.00

Total Caloric Defecit: 8,922

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 7

Ending Weight: 195.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 2.0

Week #6: 8/06/05 - 8/12/05

Starting Weight: 195.6

Total Cardio: 1 hour 30 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 2

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,172

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 5.29

Total Caloric Defecit: 8,203

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 7

Ending Weight: 193.0

Total LBS Lost This Week: 2.6

Week #7: 8/13/05 - 8/19/05

Starting Weight: 193.0

Total Cardio: 4 hours 00 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 4

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,071

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.43

Total Caloric Defecit: 7,815

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 3

Ending Weight: 189.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 3.4

Week #8: 8/20/05 - 8/26/05

Starting Weight: 189.6

Total Cardio: 1 hour 30 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 2

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,191

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.57

Total Caloric Defecit: 6,663

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 6

Ending Weight: 186.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 3.0

Week #9: 8/27/05 - 9/02/05

Starting Weight: 186.6

Total Cardio: 1 hour 30 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 2

Days of Weight Training: 1

Average Daily Calories: 1,251

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 5.14

Total Caloric Defecit: 6,005

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 6

Ending Weight: 184.8

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.8

Week #10: 9/03/05 - 9/09/05

Starting Weight: 184.8

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 1

Average Daily Calories: 1,304

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 4.29

Total Caloric Defecit: 5,362

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 1

Ending Weight: 182.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 2.2

Week #11: 9/10/05 - 9/16/05

Starting Weight: 182.6

Total Cardio: none

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,088

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.43

Total Caloric Defecit: 6,767

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 1

Ending Weight: 179.8

Total LBS Lost This Week: 2.8

Week #12: 9/17/05 - 9/23/05

Starting Weight: 179.8

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,387

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 4.14

Total Caloric Defecit: 4,592

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 1

Ending Weight: 178.2

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.6

Week #13: 9/24/05 - 9/30/05

Starting Weight: 178.2

Total Cardio: 1 hour

Days I Did Cardio: 1

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,479

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.86

Total Caloric Defecit: 3,916

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 6

Ending Weight: 176.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.6

Week #14:10/01/05 - 10/07/05

Starting Weight: 176.6

Total Cardio: 1 hour 30 minutes

Days I Did Cardio: 2

Days of Weight Training: 1

Average Daily Calories: 1,488

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 4.57

Total Caloric Defecit: 4,103

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 4

Ending Weight: 175.4

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.2

Week #15:10/08/05 - 10/14/05

Starting Weight: 175.4

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,140

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.57

Total Caloric Defecit: 6,133

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 4

Ending Weight: 172.8

Total LBS Lost This Week: 2.6

Week #16: 10/15/05 - 10/21/05

Starting Weight: 172.8

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,185

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 4.86

Total Caloric Defecit: 5,734

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 0

Ending Weight: 171.4

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.4

I will PM you.

SJ

Hey Amanda,

You may not want to hear this but:

I'm actually kind of concerned about how few calories you're eating. Everything I've ever read or heard says that under 1200 is too few and will send your body into starvation mode. You put little frownies after every week where you went over 1200. Your body NEEDS that fuel, especially when you're working out!

Frankly I don't think there's anything wrong with the rate at which you're losing weight. 1-2 lbs per week is a very respectable loss! Don't listen to whoever or whatever is telling you to lose more. I hate shows like the biggest loser or fad diets that promise to you'll lose 30 pounds in 30 days or whatever because they're SO misleading. You want to lose weight in a healthy way, by making changes that will stick with you after you're done losing. It's about health, not just weight.

Good luck.

If you eat less than 1200 calories a day, you're going to lose muscle before you ever start losing fat. Then, you'll lose weight more slowly, because the more muscle you have, the faster you lose weight. You might be seeing results on the scale, but are you seeing results in inches?

There is nothing affecting your weight loss efforts! YOU ARE STILL LOSING WEIGHT! There isn't a week where you don't! Don't get down on yourself when you lose less than you want to! I lose at about 1lb a month and I'm ecstatic about that most months!

You will find your weight loss will slow as you get closer to goal. You are doing great, don't be so hard on yourself. I think you're doing great, spesh with your dodgy thyroid thingy!

Megan - You're absolutely right! 1-2 lbs a week is a good rate of loss. I guess I was just being hard on myself. As far as my calorie level goes, I know you're new and don't know my medical history. Many people don't, although I have gone about explaining it several times. It's hard to know who has read my previous posts in regards to it, and who hasn't. I have a specific type of thyroid disease that causes my immune system to continuously attack my thyroid/hormones as if they were a virus. Because of this my doctor recommended I have a daily intake of no more than 800 calories. My metabolism is different than yours, and therefore the rules that apply to you do not necessarily pertain to me. I appreciate your input though, and I still agree with you that I have been way to hard on myself. Oh yeah, and you also mentioned that I needed the fuel for exercise...but just so you know, I haven't hardly exercised at all in quite some time. It's been sporadic, and I need to work on it.

WinterWonder - I almost always agree with what you say, but this time we have a slight difference of opinion. I have read a lot of exercise and nutrition literature as well, studying it for years in my spare time. I do agree that when someone eats way too few calories that they will lose muscle. However, they will lose fat too...at the exact same time. In someone who is clinically obese the fat loss will far outweigh the muscle loss, as it takes time for the body to break down muscle tissue for use as fuel. As the person gets closer to their ideal weight the fat loss will slow, and the muscle loss will remain nearly consistant (this is the case with those who are not doing any exercise). But, as I told Megan, this does not apply to me in the same manner as it applies to you, or anyone else with a normal metabolic system. If I ate 1,200 calories a day, every day...I would GAIN weight. I know it goes against a lot of what you've read, but there are those of us out there that happen to be exceptions to the rule. According to my doctor the only thing I'm still doing wrong is eating TOO MUCH. Go figure, trust me...it's no fun!

2Frustrated - Hey girl! I didn't mean it like that...I was just wondering if anyone could see any patterns in what I'm doing that maybe I was missing. A second set of eyes can always help! And thank you, yes I do agree that I have been too hard on myself, but I'm going to change that. Good luck on your weight loss chick!!!

Well, these thing certainly affect your weight loss efforts (remember, you asked! ):

Your drinking while using the medications you take is a dangerous and scary thing, IMO. Skipping the medication for an evening of drinking does not make it safe or reasonable, let alone healthty and it *does* impact your weight loss (taking medication intermittently and drinking alcohol).

I really wish you would eat vegetables and fruits instead of " a sip" of this and "5 bites" of that for your calories, you'd get much more fiber, bulk, nutrients and so on.

Exercising daily is the best thing you could introduce. Consistency is key.

Best of luck as you continue to lose weight. Which thyroid disorder is it that you have? Your son sure is a cutie

Week #17: 10/22/05 - 10/28/05

Starting Weight: 171.4

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,223

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 3.57

Total Caloric Defecit: 5,440

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 3

Ending Weight: 169.8

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.6

Yogini - I'm sorry Yogini. We posted at about the same time, and I got off my computer as soon as I left my post, so I didn't see yours. In reply to your very kind post:

1. I did not skip my medication for just 1 night in order to have a night of drinking. I had not had my meds in 3 days, which means that all of the medication was out of my system.

2. Phentermine is not a drug like a replacement hormone or such. After speaking with my doctor I discovered that you can take it as frequently as you want (up to once per day), and as infrequently as you want (a few times per week, if that is all you need). I do not want to, nor do I need to, take it every day.

3. As far as fruits and veggies go...I know, and I'm trying to fit more in. I have been eating a little, trying to get acclimated to the taste, but it's taking me some time. I was not raised eating healthy foods, and I'm finding it a pretty hard habit to break. I am, however, going to make a more concentrated effort starting November 1st, but I need accountability to help me stick to it. If you check my journal hopefully you will see a change during the next month.

4. Exercise...I hate it, but I need it. I am going to be posting my own November challenge within my journal which will begin November 1st. I will be concentrating on it a lot more next month.

So, sorry there was a mix up, but keep in mind that there is frequently a time delay on these boards. I would never ignore your, or anyone else's post!

Week #18: 10/29/05 - 11/04/05

Starting Weight: 169.2

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,329

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 4.43

Total Caloric Defecit: 4,941

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 2

Ending Weight: 167.4

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.8

Week #19: 11/05/05 - 11/11/05

Starting Weight: 167.4

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: 1,514

Average Meals Eaten Daily: 4.00

Total Caloric Defecit: -3,227

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: 7

Ending Weight: 165.0

Total LBS Lost This Week: 2.4

I know it was sarcastic, but no, all-nighters does not burn extra calories In fact, getting too little sleep can actually make it harder for you to lose weight.

Also, I'd just like to point out that in the week where you had an average of 1514 calories per day instead of 1200 or less, you lost 2.4 pounds, whereas you only lost 1.8 pounds when your average was only 1329, and only 1.6 pounds when your average was 1223. Hmm...maybe there's something to these crazy theories about INCREASING your calories to lese weight

Jill - Isn't it funny? 2.4 lbs with more calories. Hey, I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth, but personally I think it's a fluke. So I'll keep it up (actually, I have been) and we'll see what happens next week. As of this morning (Tuesday) I am up to 166...so I'm officialy up a pound from where I was on Friday...depressing! But let's wait and see. Maybe the phentermine has upped my metabolism to the point where I'm actually burning a normal amount of calories...wonders never cease So, until next week...

Week #20: 11/12/05 - 11/18/05

Starting Weight: 165.0

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: ?

Average Meals Eaten Daily: ?

Total Caloric Defecit: ?

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: ?

Ending Weight: 163.4

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.6

Week #21: 11/19/05 - 11/25/05

Starting Weight: 163.4

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: ?

Average Meals Eaten Daily: ?

Total Caloric Defecit: ?

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: ?

Ending Weight: 161.0

Total LBS Lost This Week: 2.4

Week #22: 11/26/05 - 12/02/05

Starting Weight: 161.0

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 1

Average Daily Calories: ?

Average Meals Eaten Daily: ?

Total Caloric Defecit: ?

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: ?

Ending Weight: 159.2

Total LBS Lost This Week: 1.8

Week #23: 12/03/05 - 12/09/05

Starting Weight: 159.2

Total Cardio: None

Days I Did Cardio: 0

Days of Weight Training: 0

Average Daily Calories: ?

Average Meals Eaten Daily: ?

Total Caloric Defecit: ?

Days I Drank 80 oz. of Water: ?

Ending Weight: 154.6

Total LBS Lost This Week: 4.6 *Broken Heart*