Ange, I'm not going to flame you about the soup diet, but do you find you regain that weight? I fear with anything that is not sustainable, a bounce-back is inevitable, but that might just be me and my old-lady body.
Well, i last did this in April, and i haven't put the weight back on since then, but i haven't really lost any since then either.
And i'm 42 which isn't all that spring-chick-like!
So no, i don't put the weight back on, but i'm motivated to be fairly good for a week or so after finishing because i'm feeling thinner which would contribute to maintaining the loss, and after that i'm back to my normal routine.
Therefore i find that to maintain 56kg takes pretty much the same diet/exercise as to maintain 57kg, therefore it seems to work for me. (In the range 55kg-58kg this seems true for me but i do struggle to maintain 54kg and under without really being much stricter on my diet)
Totally realise that it's not a great idea, and i'm not recommending it at all, as it's much better to diet 'properly'! And yes it would be easy to regain the weight if you let yourself.
Wow, this board is lively. Well, no miracles in the plateau department today (not like I was expecting one), but I think I'm going to take everyone's advice and try to "change up" my routine. I've been pretty consistently doing 3 weight-training days a week (per the advice of the NROL4W book that I'm following), with ~2 days per week of 20 min. HIIT on either the treadmill or elliptical. I think I'll drop to 2 lifting days, and up the HIIT to 30 min 4 days/week for awhile. I really like the idea of alternating HIIT and weights in a circuit-training way; I just have to figure out what my system is going to be (the cardio equipment is in a different room from the free weights I use). I'm also going to calorie-cycle (1100 one day, 1500 the next) and see where that gets me.
I think it's wierd that several of us are constipated at the same time (though for me, it's more like an all-the-time issue). Chelsea, for me it's the opposite of you though- the "cleaner" I eat, the worse it is. I swear that too much protein and fiber just plugs me right up. And, Changed, Mag citrate is great but you can't use it day in and day out- it is unfortunately just as "habit forming" for the bowels as other laxatives, just less irritating.
I haven't been on here for right at a year... "ShrinkingAmy" has since become "ExpandingAmy" and it's past time to start doing something aboout it. This time last year I was in Grand Cayman sporting a bikini at 130lbs (not perfect, but not embarrassing either) and now I woudln't be caught dead in a one-piece with a skirt! My number one goal is to have more energy... I've been sooo legthargic lately - going to bed at 9:30 is a late night for me. Number two is to get down to bikini status by June 10th (going to Disney World, baby! lol) Over the last couple months, I've been way down to the low 120's and I'd guess up in the mid 140s currently (will weight in tomorrow). But I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis a couple months ago and a "flair up" kept me from eating anything for several days (thus the 120s). The weeks the flair was going on, once I was able to eat I wasn't supposed to eat whole grains, roughage, nuts, anything I would normally think would be "good for you" so I ate a lot of white breads and crackers, and other random junk that woudn't worsen my problem. So I got used to this and even though I'm in remission, I haven't gone back to whole grains and fruits & veggies - and I was on predisone for a while which didn't help either. I've decided to run on Saturdays and Sundays (week days it's too dark when I leave for work and when I get home) and work out to a video twice during the week - that's not a lot, but it's more than I have been doing, which is nothing.
I hope you ladies will help me to get on track and in line... I love the idea of the "red line" and am looking forward to getting to a point where I have a red line too. My goal is 125.
Last edited by ShrinkingAmy; 11-06-2010 at 10:16 AM.
worse it is. I swear that too much protein and fiber just plugs me right up. And, Changed, Mag citrate is great but you can't use it day in and day out- it is unfortunately just as "habit forming" for the bowels as other laxatives, just less irritating.
No kiddin? I stopped using it after I gave birth last time and never had any trouble but I'll just count myself as lucky!
I got a kenalong-40 shot on Wed and no side effects but some flushed cheeks which my derm says will go away soon BUT I am suddenly losing weight CRAZY fast. I mean, we're all trying to lose weight but I'm at about a pound a day this week. I hope it's not related and I'm not sure if I should be concerned. But hey, I'll take 123!!!!!!!!
So, two little NSVs to report
My school cafeteria doesn't offer breakfast on Saturdays (they provide a brunch at 11:30 and dinner later), but they offered a special "continental breakfast" due to a conference we're holding. The breakfast was to be served in the basement of our chapel building, which is a quarter mile from my dorm (the far other side of my tiny campus).
I decided to go because I'm out of oatmeal and only had a little bit of fruit in my room. I walked all the way across campus in 30-something degree weather for that breakfast, only to see coffee, apple juice, and not-freshly-squeezed (cheap, from concentrate) orange juice--none of which I like--and packages of muffins. Not just any muffins, mind you, but packages of 2 muffins which combined would weigh in at 400 calories and 20 or 22 (depending on which kind you got) grams of fat. I glanced at it, turned on my heel, and marched back to my dorm.
So my breakfast of an apple, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, an orange, and 1/4 cup of craisins and dried cherries (mixed) was not terribly exciting, but I'm under 500 calories so far and full of HEALTHY food, rather than the junk they had on that table.
Plus, a little tiny bit of extra exercise never hurt a soul.
The NSV mainly is that I wasn't even the slightest bit tempted. I don't want to eat cake (which is essentially what muffins are) for breakfast. I even looked at some of the snack machines we have and said no to donuts, poptarts, sugary granola bars, and host of other needless foods. I just don't want it anymore!
Secondly, I was doing practicum (going into schools for observation; I'm studying to be a teacher) yesterday and the lunch offered was Papa Johns pizza. I chose 3 slices of a wonderful thin-crust veggie pizza and a fudgecicle. Not a nutritionists dream lunch by any stretch, but because I ate healthy at breakfast and dinner my macronutrient range stayed decent (a little low on protein and high on carbs, but better that than high in fat) and my calories stayed under 2100.
Oh, and I exercised every day so far this week! So I guess that's three NSVs!
I am wavering between 130 and 129, so this month I am going to try to dig really deep and go running more. I have been successfully cutting back on sodas--I am not drinking it at work or for breakfast like I used to.
I want to get to 125ish this month and I am kicking off this weekend with a run. I would like to run every day until my birhtday in December, but I need someone to hold me accountable for it. Hmmm...anyone looking for an email-workout-check-in buddy?
Congrats to all of you who have had little victories this past month. To those of us who have not quite reahed our goal, lets put the pedal to the metal!c
Last edited by kwinkle; 11-06-2010 at 11:20 AM.
Reason: lots o' typos
Hang in there, ShrinkingAmy! I know how frustrating it is to get motivated..... I work night shifts, and I feel like they are just sucking the energy and wellness out of me. It can feel impossible to get yourself going and really push.
But, I think with some planning and enough rest, we can get back on track!
Good job resisting the muffins, oneoftwelve! That can be a toughie when you're starving.
Kwinkle, have you tried signing up for a 5k or some other length of road race? It helped me to get myself out running more... keep it going!
Hope everyone has a productive and healthy Saturday,
FatpantsSkinnyjeans
Guess who's wearing a size smaller jeans today? Why, that would be me!
I haven't weighed myself today, but I could tell that something had changed since earlier in the week. I was at a work event this morning and put on a pair of dress pants that I thought were 10s. They were feeling looser than they have in years, to the point where when I got home and took my shoes off, I was practically walking on the cuffs. Well, I checked the label and lo and behold, they were actually 8s. Because 8s were actually loose (which has not been the case recently!), I went into my guest room closet where I keep off season and all my "aspirational" pants from before I gained weight. I left all the 3s and 4s in the closet--no need to torture myself, after all!--and tried on a pile of 5s and 6s. This pair is actually a juniors 5/6 and while not roomy on my or anything, they fit, aren't uncomfortably snug, and, if I do say so myself, they make my rear end look positively adorable.
I am SO EXCITED, people! This is like finding out that I've just gotten about ten free pairs of pants!
Good luck Amy! It sounds like something that just happened and you couldn't control it. Good for you for getting in charge before it got out of hand!
Oneof12, congrats on resisting! that's the ultimate sign you are doing well to not even be tempted
Kat, that is so awesome about the pants!! I wish I hadn't thrown out my smaller sizes because now I have to go shopping for new pants today! I wish I could just go shopping in my closet. It sucks to spend money on things that will only fit for a few months!
I weighed in at 144.4 this morning. Can't wait to see the 130's. I probably have 2 months left until I see 139.x ugh!! But I will see it, and that's what matters! Yes, and I too have "going problems." I always have, but I never affected how I felt, it was just normal for me to go every 3-4 days. Now that I'm eating a LOT of fiber, it's gotten worse oddly enough. I've always drank a lot of water, I have never eaten healthier, but I still have issues. I know it affects my weight loss and it drives me crazy! Glad to know I'm not the only one, and I am thankful that it's not like IBS or something, because that seems to be just torture
Last edited by pinkflower; 11-06-2010 at 02:38 PM.
Just fortified myself with egg whites and a heap broccoli before going out for the afternoon/evening.... hoping this will keep me from getting ravenous and making bad dinner decisions!
How long did it take you all to see results when you began your dietary changes? (i.e., eliminating binge snacking, portion control or calorie counting, etc). I'm on week 3-ish and I feel impatient. hahaha
Pinkflower: It's nice to be able to shop in my own closet, yes, but I have to say some of the styles have gone out of favor a little bit. At least you get to start fresh and have an excuse to go shopping! ;D
Fatpantsskinnyjeans: It took me about two months of diligent eating changes to notice significant weight loss that showed up on the scale. My fat-to-muscle ratio was getting better by the end of the first month, though.
Pinkflower: It's nice to be able to shop in my own closet, yes, but I have to say some of the styles have gone out of favor a little bit. At least you get to start fresh and have an excuse to go shopping! ;D
Fatpantsskinnyjeans: It took me about two months of diligent eating changes to notice significant weight loss that showed up on the scale. My fat-to-muscle ratio was getting better by the end of the first month, though.
Ahhh, good to know. That makes me think I should fixate less on the numbers, and more on my habits.
Thanks!
P.S.
Did my first real 5K today.... came in at # 392 out of 1105 people in my age group.... not bad! Great inspiration to keep improving, stay positive, and keep making progress
I've been away for 7 days and already there are 70 posts on here.
I won't go through all your achievements of which there are many but will comment as they next come up. I've read all the posts and well done.
Actually just one comment for neurodoc I know how disconcerting plateaus can be. I started October at 126.2 and ending it on 126.8 even though I was mostly on plan. Have you considered zigzag calories, there's a nifty calculator here - they're known for beating plateaus.
Well personally I have some good and bad news. The bad is that I broke up with my boyfriend on Monday. He's still at uni (he's doing his master's) and he's president of a few societies. Therefore when I'm busy he's free and visa versa. It was very emotional but it's all for the best as it was beginning to turn a bit sour, so now there's only good memories.
So as I just pointed out to neurodoc I didn't (technically) lose at all over October as I gained 0.6. Since the break-up I've been off my food. I'll try to eat but after a few bites I'll just drop my cutlery and give it up. Anyway I'm 3 pounds down to 123.6, and that's with two days of eating returned to normal. I also think it has to do with a post-TOM whoosh.
Anyway I've tried to jump on the low weight band-wagon and I've been going to the gym a lot as well. 4 times this week. I need to prepare myself for if and when I get the need for a break-up binge. But i really really hope to be at 120 by 1st December. must. keep. focused.
Sorry I'll be checking in more now. I've just been a bit sadface... and when I'm here I always want to be
DoraUK, hope you feel better soon. Breakups are never, ever easy.
Fatpantsskinnyjeans, great work on the 5k!
kat999, Juniors' 5/6?! That's amazing! I'm still wearing juniors' 9s though they are slightly looser than ideal.
pinkflower, I AM IN THE SAME SITUATION AS YOU! My boyfriend and some of my friends are urging me to see a doctor about it. It's weird because I don't feel particularly bloated or any pain - I just don't go for 5-6 days. Very disconcerting.
kwinkle, we are the same height/weight! I am also looking to hit 125 by the end of November (may be a pipe dream but hey) and run more.
ShrinkingAmy, good luck with the running! It is really frustrating having it get dark so early. Japan doesn't even have daylight savings time and the early darkness is already eating into my schedule.
thesame7lbs, I am thinking May or thereabouts for hiking Fuji-san. Haven't been on any other climbs since the last one in mid-October though.
***
Well, this weekend was a total failure. Friday night I went to a friend's to cook and wouldn't you know it, we ended up making deep fried burgers (not even kidding), two different kinds of oily sweet potato fries, and a peanut butter pie with Oreo crust that should be illegal. It was all absolutely marvelous, but obviously I went way over. Saturday was OK except for leftover pie for breakfast, and today I kept calories under 1600.
I'm somewhat relieved to see so many other Featherweights are constipated - I think I might go to a doctor this week to see what's up; I've never been a "once a day" type but this is just ridiculous. Once or twice a week is not enough.
