gardenerjoy: good job staying in the 99s

yangtzer: I'm not actually going low carb. I was just so high carb before that I've cut a lot of them out to try to balance my micronutrients. I still drink milk, but I've gone from drinking 3 gallons a week, down to a little over 1 gallon a week (that cut a lot of sugar right there). I still eat yogurt and cheese, definitely didn't cut out all dairy. I still eat bread, but I've gone from eating more than a loaf a week, down to about 1/3 of a loaf, mostly toasted. And almost all sweets cut completely, but I still have a square of chocolate (about the size of a Kiss) if I crave something sweet. I definitely still have a couple of potatoes a week. So not low carb, just substantially lowER carb and lower dairy than I was before. I also cut almost all salty snacks, like crackers, chips and pretzels. I still have a few chips on my tuna fish sandwich though. I like the crunch and can't stand pickles.

darius: Sounds like you have your ducks in a row and are getting good successes. Keep it up.

Unwanted37pounds: Congratulations on reaching your goal for the month. You are almost down to your final goal. Very exciting.

Fungirl: Glad you got to have a good time and were able to keep up and participate. And I see the sodium weight is already almost gone. Very nice.

Week Three
15: 229.0
16: 228.2
17: 227.0
18: 227.8
19: 226.6
20: 226.0
21:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Three:

So technically, that is my goal met for the month as well, so I am definitely still on track for my 199 by New Years goal. I have so much month left though, that I think my stretch goal of 223.4 might be reachable to move me down to Category 1 obese. Only another 2.6 pounds in 10 days. Should be doable.

I just typed up all my personals but lost it!! When I pressed the auto-saved content button it brought up my personals from yesterday, ugh!! I don't have time to re-create it but I hope that everyone is doing fantastic!!!

unwanted and lacerta - congrats on making goal this month!!!!

SW: 170.9
GW: 161.9

8/8 - 170.9
8/20- 168.5

Thank you everyone for your well wishes after I got sick. Here are my week three results:

Week Three
13: 184.6 lbs
14: 183.9 lbs
15: 185.2 lbs
16: 183.2 lbs
17: 181.9 lbs *sick
18: 183.2 lbs
19: 183.8 lbs
----------------------------------
Avg Weight for Week Three: 183.6 lbs
Total Loss for Week Three: 1.4 lbs

August Starting Weight: 185.3 lbs
Current Weight: 183.6 lbs
Total August Loss: 1.7 lbs

All that weight loss is definitely thanks to the stomach bug I got, causing that huge drop on the Friday, so while it's nice to see the weight loss I know not to celebrate prematurely. I've been feeling the onset of a cold coming on in the last couple of days, which is perfect timing after the stomach bug! I'm AWFUL when it comes to colds, because I just eat crap since I feel constantly hungry and also bored while I'm trying to rest. Anyway, week four isn't starting out so pretty, because I've been inactive all weekend due to sickness + eating junk because it was just easy and at hand. This morning I weighed 184.8 lbs, which is not surprising. Yesterday I had toast, a peanut butter sandwich, a slice of Costco pizza that was delivered to me, some Japanese candies and tofu stir fry. A lot of food needless to say, 4 slices of bread AND pizza AND rice - too many grains! Not to mention the grease/fat factor of the pizza slice. Anyway, I'm going to try and reset myself a bit even though I'm feeling crappy today as well. I won't be working out today, since I still feel head-coldy, but I'm not going to have more than 2 slices of bread.

On a personal note I was so relieved I didn't push myself to go on the trip, because I was super weak all weekend. I also told the friend who I was going to be surprising what we had planned and she said she was glad I didn't come because she didn't do much over the weekend. She said that when I visit she wants to make it special and plan it so we can visit loads of places, so even though she would have loved the surprise she would prefer it if we planned it together next time! That was a huge relief to hear since I felt so guilty about cancelling.

Week Four
20: 184.8 lbs
21:
22:
23:
24:
25:
26:
----------------------------------
Avg Weight for Week Three: 183.6 lbs
Avg Weight for Week Four: 184.8 lbs
Total Loss for Week Four: -1.2 lbs

Lacerta - Mmm, pepperoni pizza is my favorite and my downfall! Glad to see you sneaking your way into the 220's! Wow, what an interesting discovery about sugar and PCOS. You do seem to be zooming down right about now, I bet that's why!

kfunk - Honestly? I wouldn't try a diet to fix your weight loss problems. Weight loss is a lifestyle change, the reason it's hard is because we've got to change sometimes years of bad habits. While diets are great for weight loss and can definitely reset our eating habits, it won't be long before those psychological reasons why we overeat come back. Really think about why it is you were binge eating and go from there I say If you ever need help figuring that out reach out and I will listen and help! Thank you for asking me how I'm doing, I appreciate it! We're opposites, I'm going to embrace the cold with open arms!

Cattails - I hope you enjoyed your time with your family, saying goodbye is always tough especially when you know it'll be a while before you'll see them again. Congrats on the loss!

yangzter - It was to visit a friend in New Jersey. We were going to surprise her!

Fungirl - You know I used to love theme parks but the older I get the more I think "nope!" I'm becoming such a wimp with age. Dipping dots are weird, my boyfriend loves them.

flower1 - What an amazing day you had on the mountain! Good on you for making it to the top!

45min swimming today. The pool was surprisingly crowded today even the kids are back to school.

lacerta and unwanted37 - congrats on meeting your goal this month!

Yangster: Yes, there is public transportation to Grouse Mountain. From the airport you would have to take the skytrain to downtown Vancouver to the end of the line at Waterfront Station. From there you would take the Seabus across the water (about 10 min) to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver and then a bus from the Quay to the bottom of Grouse Mountain (about 1/2 hr ride). You can only get to the top of the mountain by taking the skyride (gondola) or hiking to the top on one of 2 trails. One of the trails is the famous Grouse Grind and the other is called the BCMC. You are not allowed to hike down the Grouse Grind but you can hike down the BCMC. Some people hike up the Grouse Grind and then hike down the BCMC or take the skyride down. It takes about one and a half hours to two and half hours to hike either of the two trails. You can get your hike timed on the Grind but not on BCMC. If you take a look at the website for Grouse Mountain you will see that they record the best times. The Grouse Grind is usually open from May to about the end of September. In the winter you can ski or snow shoe on the mountain. The mountain is open all year long but you can only hike from about May to September

I have been studying for the last few days and I decided to make a cake. It’s been almost 3 months since I have baked. I make a coconut pineapple cake. It was so good. I used applesauce in place of the oil and for the frosting I used cool whip topping, mixed with sugar free vanilla pudding. So it wasn’t too bad. Lol

No I did not order a digital/smart scale. I ordered an manual scale with a big dial. I’m over the batteries always needing to be switched out.

I have scheduled an appointment for a Rolfing massage. 3 weeks was the soonest opening. Hoping this will help with the chronic headaches. The Hemp oil works. Within 30 minutes, I can feel the pressure easing up. I’m taking 250 mg, seems to work for about 3-4 hours and then I take it again. However, I want to find the root of the problem and correct it, if possible.

Week Three
15: 269.0
16: 268.6
17: 268.2
18: NWI
19: 270
20: 268.8
21: 267.6
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Three: -1.4lbs

Riestrella- Oh no, that's not fair that you are coming down with a cold after just recovering from a stomach bug. I hope that the cold passes quickly. How did your food intake go yesterday? I would love a listening ear from someone who understands!! I have often thought about why I have such a hard time with food and I can not come up with a reason. I remember overeating from a very early age, and I would often hide the wrappers and all evidence. When I was younger I overate because I liked the taste so much that I wanted more, but then in my late teens I started binging. I get so frustrated because I wonder why I have this problem.

joe- maybe not all schools are back yet? Hopefully the crowds will disperse soon!

sunshine- great job making healthier substitutions with your cake, that sounds yummy! I hope that studying is going well for you and that you can find the cause of your headaches.

flower and fungirl - hi!!!


SW: 170.9
GW: 161.9

8/8 - 170.9
8/20- 168.5
8/21- 167.2

kfunk: Nice drop today. I wish I had answers for you. But sending you :hugs:

Fungirl: Nice drop for you today too. The trip bump is all gone and took friends with it, I see.

Sunshine: Is there any pattern to when you get the headaches? I used to get migraines hormonally, related to my cycle, and I also get them if I eat any sort of sugar substitute (Aspertame, Saccharin, etc). I know other people who get headaches with certain types of food. Or if you've recently cut back on caffeine, they could be withdrawal headaches. My mom gets them when the barometric pressure is changing. I'd try keeping a journal of when you have them and then see if you can find any connections.

Riestrella: Ugh, hope your cold is mild and doesn't stay long. I have the same problem when I get sick, most of the time. I eat anything and everything. Every now and then, when I get sick, though, I don't want to eat anything at all. Never have figured out why it is sometimes one and sometimes the other. Usually, I eat all the snacks in the house when I'm sick. Popsicle are my favorite when I'm sick, and at least they have the side benefit of helping me stay hydrated.

Week Three
15: 229.0
16: 228.2
17: 227.0
18: 227.8
19: 226.6
20: 226.0
21: 226.0
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Three: 3.0

No change for me today, which is ok. It was a great week, and I have to have a stall day in the mix sometimes.

Yesterday didn't go quite as I'd hoped, I ended up starting the day with toast then having a PB sandwich for lunch as well. I also had a little snack attack on tortilla chips because I was craving some salt. However I think it goes to show just how much I was snacking/eating in the last few days because I lost weight this morning, down to 183.9 lbs, almost a 1 lb drop. It seems my body wants to level out in the 183's, which is great because I feel like the 183's mean progress?! It's weird how we can latch on to a certain range in weight like that!

I'm noticing on the days where I eat toast for breakfast I feel awful later in the morning. Almost like I'm nauseous but also extremely run down. It's just not nutritious enough to start my day, so I'm going to remember that whenever I crave it. Another "meal" that I had growing up that I haven't been able to shake, just like the PB sandwiches! Which will take a lot longer to ditch since I love them so much, haha. Baby steps!! This morning I had oatmeal with soy milk, since I wanted to cut down on my dairy intake as well. Definitely doesn't taste as good as with regular milk, but I'm determined to get used to it. I used to have soy milk in my oatmeal and dealt with it just fine.

Tomorrow I'm going to work out, it is decided! I've been inactive for 1 whole week, so I'm sure that I'll see a little gain this week since my muscles will probably protest. Having said that, I'm actually quite happy that my weight hasn't shot back up to 187 lbs. As you can tell, I'm in a weird state of mind where I'm coming to terms with my efforts are actually working! I may be losing weight at a snails pace, but I'm losing it nevertheless and that's something I should feel great about

Week Four
20: 184.8 lbs
21: 183.9 lbs
22:
23:
24:
25:
26:
----------------------------------
Avg Weight for Week Three: 183.6 lbs
Avg Weight for Week Four: 184.3 lbs
Total Loss for Week Four: - 0.7 lbs

kfunk - You know, sometimes the reason we overeat is because food is delicious! However it's important to educate ourselves that certain foods have caused an imbalance in our system, which is why we crave them so much more. Sugar for example; as soon as you up your intake, your body will have a hard time going back to a regular blood sugar level. There are all sorts of chemicals in junk food that affect our cravings too, which is why we like food that in reality is so horribly unhealthy. I understand that aspect of secret eating completely, I used to do it too. I would eat an extra packet of chips (they came in small bags in the UK, my mum would only let us have 1 a day) and bury the packet at the bottom of the trash can so no one would find out. When I got to Uni, I bought a multi-pack of chips, 6 bags in total and I ate them all in one sitting. It's like I was rebelling in some strange way!
Food can also be a form of control in our lives. If you ever feel like you're out of control of other aspects, eating can be a way to take that control back. Sometimes people channel that into healthy eating, but sometimes it can be the opposite, eating unhealthy is a way to take control over something in our lives to give us a release. I know someone who is vegan mainly because she wants to have something in her life that she and she alone has control over. Perhaps overweight people are the same way, eating unhealthily is almost like a way of saying "I'm unhappy with these aspects of my life, but for this moment when this food is in my life, I'm in control of my happiness."
To me, eating can be a very comforting act, and junk food releases chemicals in our brains that give a certain (albeit short) rush of pleasure. It's kind of like an addiction in a way, because when I see certain foods (chips, chocolate, soda) I immediately want them. I know that they're bad for me, I know that they're not nutritious, but it's like recovering from any addiction - sometimes it's easy to relapse, especially if you go cold turkey. I'm someone who believes in taking small, manageable steps towards a goal. Which is why I'm not rushing to quit bread altogether, because I know that will only make me want it more. I need to work on other areas in my life, take control, then slowly get rid of my bad habits.
Unfortunately I'm not a professional, so I'm not sure why you binge eat, but I'm sure with enough reflection then you can figure it out. If it's a super personal topic, feel free to PM me if you want!

Lacerta - Thankfully the cold seems to be dissipating! I tend to not want to eat if I have any sort of stomach problem, but any other sickness is gonna make me want to eat everything in sight!

Walked 3 miles with my dumbbell today.

Thank you Lacerta for the words of support
and congratulations on making your goal this month!

August 2018 Weight Loss Challenge
Goal: 11 lb

Date Weight Loss lb
-----------------------
8/1 314.2 lb START
8/3 314.6 lb
8/6 319.0 lb
8/7 317.0 lb
8/8 317.4 lb
8/9 313.4 lb
8/10 315.4 lb
8/17 308.5 lb
8/19 307.5 lb
8/21 304.8 lb

I believe my headaches are from an old (23years) injury, the weather definitely plays a part in it. I was Diagnosed with migraines as a young teen. But this is a constant headache. It eases up at times. I hate going to the doctor because they just want to give me pain pills and I don’t want to mask the problem. The Rolfing massage help me about 8 years ago. I was in so much pain, I almost gave in & was going to get a pain pump. I did 9 Rolfing treatments and I was out of pain! So, I’m hoping this will help me again.

Riestrella, I take Elderberry Extract when I get sick. It usually cures the sickness in a day or 2. I get it from the Health food store. Make sure it is not mixed with sweeteners. I do a tablespoon every 2 hours& wash it down with water. It taste like a VERY tart cherry and a earthly taste. I know it’s the last thing I want to taste when I’m sick!

Someone had committed on me fitting in a size 8 & they didn’t think they would ever be in the single digits (sorry, I couldn’t find the post on it, to get your name). Anyways... I use to be a size 22w. I NEVER thought I would be a size 8 either but it happened! So don’t give up.

Lacerta- Thank you!

Riestrella- Nice drop!! I love toast with peanut butter, it is so good, but 2 pieces isn't enough to keep me satisfied. Hopefully you feel better mid morning without it. That is so true about sugar increasing cravings. I also notice that when I don't feel good I want to "fix" it by eating and then I usually end up feeling worse, its a vicious cycle. That makes a lot of sense to me. I was thinking about it and my son is a lot like me. He will finish something yummy even if he is full, but my daughter will stop mid way through a cookie if she gets full. I wonder why my son and I are so different from my daughter. I wonder if the binge eating is a response to all the yo-yo dieting that I have done in my life. I have been on some sort of a diet since I was 10 years old. I didn't have a weight problem until I was 17, but was just bigger than my tiny friends and wanted to lose weight. I can relate to you rebelling in college with the chips. I did the same thing with fast food once I got my drivers license because fast food was something that we rarely were allowed to eat at home. This isn't a personal topic at all for me, but can see how it would be for others. I appreciate you listening to me try to figure it all out!

Joe- nice workout!!

Darius- The fitness camp is doing you good, that is one heck of a drop!!!

Sunshine- I agree with you about most doctors prescribing medication instead of finding the root problem, which is frustrating. What is a Rolfing massage?

Yesterday made 4 good days in a row for me! I can tell that my cravings for bad foods are getting much weaker! I even turned down soft serve icecream last night.

SW: 170.9
GW: 161.9

8/8 - 170.9
8/20- 168.5
8/21- 167.2
8/22- 166.7

This is so true to me. I overeat whenever I feel my life is out of control in some way. While eating/bingeing I feel so happy and safe. It is something that I recently discovered within the last year and it is something that I have to constantly fight against. I am still working on more positive and healthy way to deal with my emotions when I feel like that but I feel more in control of it now that I know why I do it and I am hyper aware of the moments when it happens. I do have slip ups from time to time but I have got those down to 1 meal session instead of a day or days of bingeing.