I know I'm a little behind, but I so want one of those Vegetti things. I would so make pasta with zucchini and squash all summer if I could get away with it. My husband is coming around to my veggie kick; he ate cauliflower breadsticks last week!

Official weigh-in ('cause it's Thursday): 158.5 lbs
Today's exercise: 25 minutes on the treadmill, but I'm pushing myself to run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute. I'm kind of there
Still snacking on broccoli and hummus (I really like hummus)

Yesterday, my father-in-law made baked mac n cheese with sausage for dinner and everyone at the table looked at me, like "What are you going to eat?" The thing is, I made a pot of kale and chickpea soup (from the Reader's Digest Diet) earlier in the week in case this ever happened and I only need 1.5 cups to fill up. And it's only 258 calories. So they all ate the heavy mac and cheese while I slurped up healthy greens.

It made me feel better about myself.

3/1/15 - 149.8
3/2/15 - 149.2
3/3/15 - 149.2
3/4/15 - 149.4
3/5/15 - 149.4 (arrrrgh!!!!!)

3/1: 133.4
3/2: 134
3/3: 132.4
3/4: 131.4
3/5: 131.4

Re carbs and the scale, it's likely water weight. From LIVESTRONG:

After your body converts carbs into glucose, any leftover fuel gets converted into a polysaccharide carbohydrate called glycogen. Your liver and muscles store glycogen as energy and quickly turn it back into glucose as needed. The issue is that glycogen tends to make muscle tissues hold on to extra water, ultimately making the number on the scale go up. This is why when you severely cut back on carbs, you might lose weight rather quickly. You’re just using up all of your glycogen storage, forcing your body to release extra water weight

This is actually part of the reason some athletes like to carb-load before a big event like a marathon. The water retention from all the carbs helps prevent dehydration.

It's also why you lose so quickly in the first few days of a low-carb diet (and why my little loss over the past few days will likely disappear after I go out tomorrow night! :()

Hi! It is an elliptical they are the exact same thing I'm pretty sure, just different names. I have simply grown accustomed to calling them crosstrainer because some people don't actually know what I'm talking about when I say elliptical hehe.

I will say this though, the one I got is a front wheel machine which has a different feel to the rear wheel machines I have personally used at gyms. (Also I was told by someone at a fitness store that front wheel machines target different muscles but I don't really think so. As long as I'm getting fitter!)

It's actually the best thing I've ever bought because now I've gone from a typical no-exercise kind of day, to exercise everyday! Big or small. So I am thrilled.

Plus I have started Optislim shakes and have been replacing my lunch with one of those a day which has really helped me - someone who can't just eat fish and salad for lunch without going on a snack binge.

I'll figure out how to get back to regular lunches later, I just need to focus on getting all this weight off first!

oops sort of trailed off from the crosstrainer discussion didn't I.. But yes the excercise is really helping me reach my goals :)

3/4: 135
3/5: 135 <- back on moderate/low carb diet
3/6: 134.25

3/1/15 - 149.8
3/2/15 - 149.2
3/3/15 - 149.2
3/4/15 - 149.4
3/5/15 - 149.4
5/6/15 - 147.4 (thank goodness!)

3/1: 133.4
3/2: 134
3/3: 132.4
3/4: 131.4
3/5: 131.4
3/6: 131

Going out tonight, so probably a bump up tomorrow. :( Ran 7 miles + ~2 miles walking -- hopefully that will help!

Happy Friday, Feathers!

3/6: 128

I am starting to see big chunks of fat gone....:carrot:

Do I qualify as featherweight at 40ish lbs to lose?
Start:193.6
Goal:188

3/1: 194
3/2: 193.6
3/3: 192.8
3/4: 191.2! I may hit 180s next week!
3/5: 192.4. Potluck at work last night..i did better than usual, but..there were doritos ...my arch nemesis.
3/6: 191.6
3/7:
3/8:
3/9:
3/10:
3/11:
3/12:
3/13:
3/14:
3/15:
3/20:
3/21:
3/22:
3/23:
3/24:
3/25:
3/26:
3/27:
3/28:
3/29:
3/30:
3/31:

ugh I'm late, but I know my weight so far this month :D

I'm trying to get to 135 by March 31st....which is also the day I'm getting married/eloping! :D

3/1 : 139.9
3/2: 138.9
3/3: 137.8
3/4: 138.9
3/5: 138.9
3/6: 138.7
3/7: 138.9
3/8: 138.5

Jen - You wrote: "3/6/15 119.8 lbs ?? I have no idea why my weight is going down." All that exercise is catching up with you! :running:

vabs - looks like moderate/low carb is working! :broc:

CrunchyMama - Cauliflower Bread Sticks sound delicious! How do you make them?

I love that your planning defeated even a sausage, mac, and cheese challenge - wow! :encore:

Fresh Feeling - Glad to hear the crosstrainer is making such a positive difference! You really conveyed the change in attitude it's brought about well - your happiness shines through! :)

Alexis - Yay, you! It's funny that there are so many ways to compliment someone on weight loss that sound kind of "iffy," but I hope they also bring a smile: "You are on a steady decline." :hug:

TS7P - Your body cannot deny a calorie deficit. Good going - that was quite a workout! ;)

Dynxagain - I just have to repost what you wrote: "I am starting to see big chunks of fat gone...." :goodscale:

Nickilaughs - So glad you're here! I see your brightening up other areas of 3fc with encouragement, and am super happy you're joining the Fine Feathered Friends. :wel3fc: Love that you call Doritos your "arch nemesis," lol. Way to go with the weight loss!

Kisskiss - Omigosh, congrats on the upcoming marraige/elopement!! :congrat: What exciting news! And it looks like you're well on your way to meeting your goal. :)

Hit Milestone of 30-pound Loss!
 

What the Scientific Method Diet (ScMD) has taught me this week is it's time for a change - again!

Although I did make weight, it was, again, by the skin of my teeth. I had to exercise, on the Official Weigh Day, for 3 & 1/2 hours on Friday AND do a total fast (except for one cup of coffee with one tablespoon heavy cream) on Thursday to make my half-pound goal of 111.0. It actually ended up being 110.8, which is beyond bizarre and like living in a whole different country for me. It's amazing! I was in the 111s for so long, I thought I'd never get out of there. :dunno:

BUT...I do not want to work out like a maniac on the Official Weigh Day if I don't have to. AND I don't want to literally fast (not an intermittent fast) one day a week, though I will if I have to to make the half-pound loss for the week. SO...this week, I started my workouts on Monday, March 2. Next week, I'm starting my workouts on Sunday, March 8. Starting a day early may make a difference. Workouts are normally warming up for 15 minutes, jogging/walking or dancing or an exercise class or crosstrainer for 45 minutes or an hour, then a 15 minute cooldown.

AND...I found out that, because I now weigh less, I don't need to take in as many calories during the week as I did previously. I was on a 1200 x 7 = 8400 calories a week diet. Now I'm going to be on a 1100 x 7 = 7700 calories a week diet!

Truth be told, I don't know how many calories I eat on the weekends. I rely on what could be considered intermittent fasting five days a week (like a 23/24, lol) to get the half pound loss - and now have to add exercise for sure and certain, consairnit! I used to be able to hit it without exercising at all.

It's getting VERY, VERY difficult to lose weight, I must say. But the payoff is definitely worth it! And they - the weightloss payoffs/the hit goals - will no doubt just keep getting better and better all the way up to a safe BMI of 18.5! :broc: Thanks so much to everyone for their kind support - you are seriously helping to make this possible. :hug:

Weight: Official last Feb weigh-in: Friday, 2/27/15 - 111.4

3/01/15 - 117; 3/02 - 116.6; 3/03 - 114.3

3/4 - 113.6; 3/5 - 112.6

Official Weigh Day - Friday, March 6: 110.8

Measurement History

1/29/15

Chest: 34.25
Waist: 31
Hips: 35.5

2/20?/15

Chest: 33.5
Waist: 28.75
Hips: 34.5

For future fat calculation: Forearm: 8.25; wrist: 5.75

Still not sure of my fat percentage, but one reading said I hadn't changed at all, and still had a body fat percentage of 31%.

Measurements at last official weigh-in for February, 2/27/15:

Chest: 33.25
Waist: 29
Hips: 33 & 7/8 (33.87?)

3/6:

Chest: ~33.5
Waist: ~29
Hips: ~34.75

I think I must be varying where I measure slightly each time.

For posterity, when I feel like calculating a fat percentage: Forearm: 8.5; wrist: 5.5

Hunger, the breadsticks are probably very similar to your cauliflower pizza crust, just put mozzerella and cheddar cheeses on top with Italian seasoning instead of pizza toppings. Dipping it in marinara sauce is delicious.

I paired the sticks with portabella mushroom pizza (I'm in love with portabellas)

We went out to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday last night; we went to Warren's Seafood in Kittery, Maine. I was good and did the salad bar with shrimp cocktail, nothing fancy with heavy sauces, nothing fried.

And I weighed 158 this morning. Plus I had to pull my belt tighter on my blue jeans, so I must be losing inches somewhere. I just hope it's fat.

3/1: 133.4
3/2: 134
3/3: 132.4
3/4: 131.4
3/5: 131.4
3/6: 131
3/7: 131

NSV: didn't eat (binge) when I got home from being out with friends.

Welcome to everyone who has joined the thread in the last couple days!

Kisskiss -- how exciting! I eloped, too. :)

Morning weigh in: 157.5

This is good because I went off Phase 1 last night. My father-in-law made pasta carbonara last night; when he went out for ingredients, he bought whole wheat pasta and made a small portion just for me. So I ate a serving size of my whole wheat pasta carbonara with a large serving of salad. And my weight went down about 1/2 a pound since yesterday, so yay!

Today I plan on going shopping for snacks for the week. I'm buying almond butter, granny smith apples, cheddar cheese, a veggie, and possibly almond milk for my coffee.

Goal for March- 120 lbs on my higher scale/20-25 miles per week
(118-122 lb)
Lower Scale- 1 lb less

3/1/15 121.2 lbs (LS)
3/2/15 121.8 lbs ran 4 miles, walked 1
3/3/15 121.7 lbs
3/4/15 121.8 lbs ran 5 miles, walked 1
3/5/15 120.5 lbs shoveled snow
3/6/15 119.8 lbs ?? I have no idea why my weight is going down
3/7/15 120.8 lbs (LS) ran 4 miles
3/8/15 121.4 lbs (LS) ran 4 miles
3/9/15 122.4 lbs
3/10/15 122.4 lbs I hope this is time of the month stuff!

I have no idea why my weight is going up...who knows. Agh! :)

Good work, everyone!

Thanks, CrunchyMama. Love me some portabellas, too! :T

Congrats on the continuing "downward spiral"! And on your "non-scale victory [NSV]." I didn't know what that was until today.

You really have a nice F-I-L - very thoughtful, same as your approach to this weight loss. :)

That maintaining was a great payoff for your self control, if I may say so, TS7. Do you mind if I ask what the difference is between coming home and eating and coming home and binging? It seems an important distinction in several different areas: What causes one and not the other, for example. I'm going to sound like a nosy Parker, but did you have something to eat before you came home? Please feel free to ignore my questions completely. ;)

And you eloped, also - scandalous! :D

My first day of the week weight went up an entire pound from last week. Since I don't count calories on my two Up Days, I don't know what made the difference. It could have been the cookies for breakfast, or the doughnut, or the tuna sub with mayo.. anything, really! :cookie:

3/1: 133.4
3/2: 134
3/3: 132.4
3/4: 131.4
3/5: 131.4
3/6: 131
3/7: 131
3/8: 131.8 well that's a bummer

HW, I guess what I meant was that it was a victory that I neither ate more nor binged when I got home. I'd gone out to dinner with my friends and had plenty to eat, but it was all bites and scoops of shared plates, and that kind of eating -- "a little of this, a little of that" -- often leaves me unsatisfied (even though it adds up to plenty of food). I guess I just like the idea of a defined entree or "meal" better than bites. Add a couple glasses of wine, and when I come home I often go looking for more to eat -- sometimes just a little, but sometimes waaaay too much.

I get bogged down in semantics -- to me, a binge involves a whole lot of food consumed in a short period of time. Sometimes I binge, but more often I engage in what I think of as "compulsive eating" -- like buying something at the supermarket (donut, cookies) that I really shouldn't be eating, eating it in the car in the parking lot, and throwing away the wrapper before I go home -- which to me is not a binge due to the lower volume, but is clearly a weird, unhealthy thing to do.

I think a binge is where you aren't controlled. Its more about your emotions and accomodating them as opposed to accomodating your health. Its a mental shift. I had a big binge issue. I would call myself in recovery of binging right now. Part of it was changing jobs. 8 hour shifts are infinitely better than 12s and a healthier work environment. The other part....I dont have words other than paying attention to myself. As moms, spouses, and all the other roles we have we focus on all those relationships but never our relationship with ourselves.

3/1: 194*
3/2: 193.6
3/3: 192.8
3/4: 191.2! I may hit 180s next week!
3/5: 192.4. Potluck at work last night..i did better than usual, but..there were doritos ...my arch nemesis.*
3/6: 191.6
3/7: 190.6
3/8: 189.8

It was certainly a major victory, over both old habits and appetite. I don't blame you for still being hungry. Although tapas is a great way to try different things, it would no doubt leave me wanting more after it was over. There's something about sitting down and eating one solid meal until I'm satisfied...

Thank you for sharing your definitions. I wonder what kind of things would give you the same result, without the after-effects you're trying to avoid? Obviously there's a payoff - lots of good taste, and, if you're like me, happiness in that - but we don't want what goes along with it e. g., calories, guilt. Just thinking out loud. We all wonder, here at 3fc, the same thing, I guess. There's no doubt more than one answer, and different things for different people.

Maybe one reason to ask these questions is that when this type of thing happens to me, it all seems to "subconscious," or whatever. If we enter into the process, and examine it and where it comes from, or at least attempt to investigate, I think that can have a positive effect.

Glad you're in a better place now. Sounds like you've done a lot of work to get there! And we do need to take care of ourselves. It's like when we fly on a plane - they tell you to grab the oxygen mask for yourself, because you won't be able to continue if you can't breath!

Congrats on the continuing loss! :broc:

back to the weekday grind

3/4: 135
3/5: 135 <- back on moderate/low carb diet
3/6: 134.25
3/7: 134
3/8: 134.25 <- I should maybe watch my salt intake a bit more lol
3/9: 133.75

Up to 158 this morning, but I think it was the burger that I had last night. Even without the bun on it, it felt very heavy in my stomach.

Officially, I entered Phase 2 of SB today and ate a proper portion of my whole wheat carbonara pasta with zucchini mixed in for lunch. I'm probably going to have carrots and hummus for a snack later.

3/1: 133.4
3/2: 134
3/3: 132.4
3/4: 131.4
3/5: 131.4
3/6: 131
3/7: 131
3/8: 131.8 well that's a bummer
3/9: 132.2 not enjoying this trend


Nickilaughs, you are so right that bingeing is a state of mind.

Crunchymama, beef always bumps me up on the scale the next day.

3/1/15 - 149.8
3/2/15 - 149.2
3/3/15 - 149.2
3/4/15 - 149.4
3/5/15 - 149.4
5/6/15 - 147.4
5/7/15 - 149.2
5/8/15 - xxx.x
5/9/15 - xxx.x

Ugggghhh - terrible weekend! An attack of the out of control emotions.... Need to be accountable, though. Next time, I will write before I stuff my face... Draw a line and move on.

CrunchyMama - love your new avatar!
 

Weight: Official last Feb weigh-in: Friday, 2/27/15 - 111.4

3/01/15 - 117; 3/02 - 116.6; 3/03 - 114.3

3/4 - 113.6; 3/5 - 112.6

Official Weigh Day - Friday, March 6: 110.8

3/8 - 118.1 (over a pound above last Sunday's post Up Days weight); 3/9 - 115.9; 3/10 - 114.8 (half a pound above last Tuesday's weight).

3/1: 133.4
3/2: 134
3/3: 132.4
3/4: 131.4
3/5: 131.4
3/6: 131
3/7: 131
3/8: 131.8 well that's a bummer
3/9: 132.2 not enjoying this trend
3/10: 132

I really need to start counting calories again but I just. can't. make. myself.

3/4: 135
3/5: 135 <- back on moderate/low carb diet
3/6: 134.25
3/7: 134
3/8: 134.25 <- I should maybe watch my salt intake a bit more lol
3/9: 133.75
3/10: 133.5
3/11: 133.5

3/1/15 - 149.8
3/2/15 - 149.2
3/3/15 - 149.2
3/4/15 - 149.4
3/5/15 - 149.4
5/6/15 - 147.4
5/7/15 - 149.2
5/8/15 - xxx.x
5/9/15 - xxx.x
5/10/15 - xxx.x
5/11/15 - 149.2

3/10: 158.5 (we had steak for dinner the night before)
3/11: 157

I've been working better carbs and sugars back into my diet. I did really well on Monday when I had one slice of artisan garlic bread. Bread is a weakness for me. I'll go back again and again for bread and before I realize, I've had about 5 or 6 pieces.

I love my avatar too, Hunger. It's my sister and I about the time I lost weight the first time. She's a fashion major and had taken me out to find some new wardrobe pieces; not to buy, just to prove that I fit in a different size!

It's good motivation

That's so sweet! And you both look great. :)

I made some muy low-carb bread yesterday. It was a lovely color, and held together and cut very well. But to me it smelled...weird. But hubby, who watches his carbs like a hawk because of the sugar, thought it was..."hearty...good," lol. Seven carbs per slice. I'll keep trying different recipes, I guess. :D

An alert Feather was wondering how I gain so much weight so quickly, and then lose it in a week. I appreciate the question, and here was my answer:


I can frickin' EAT! I am a very big eater, and that's why I have to have such a strict diet plan. I eat a large amount of high-fat, high-protein foods on my two up days. The up days are usually back-to-back, on the weekend.

So it's not in a day [that I gain the eight pounds]. I'm going to try and remember what I ate this last two up days. There was a huge bowl (three servings) of oatmeal with walnuts, frozen cherries and half and half, and heavy cream, a giant steak (I actually figured out the calories: 629!), Bare Naked cereal with half and half, frozen raspberries and cream, apple slices with peanut butter, three egg omelet with a massive amount of cheese, a 6" Subway tuna sub with double tuna and mayo, with a side of limon potato chips, six chocolate chip cookies for breakfast Saturday, with heavy cream on the side, a can of corn with butter on it, Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream...you get the idea. And I've probably left some things out!

Jeepers, I'm even shocking myself! But this is how I used to eat daily. I like feeling full, but I can't do it every day any longer. I now, even though I'm getting all the medically-recommended calories for the week, am hungry most of the time. But I make up for it on the weekend!

So maybe I gain four pounds in a day, then eight over the two up days. I won't be posting much in the next week, but maybe I can weigh myself after that first up day and see what the damage is, at some point.

As far as losing it, you can tell from my records that it is lost at about a rate of a pound a day. But that is food/water, not fat. I don't lose more than a half a pound a week, usually. And I lose it by only eating 600 very healthy calories a day until that half pound is gone. That's 600 calories Sunday, 600 calories Monday, 600 calories Tuesday, etc., until I hit the half-pound loss, which seems to be happening on Friday these days. It used to happen on Wednesday or Thursday - a couple of times, it happened on Tuesday! Those days, sadly, seem to be gone. And it also is taking more and more exercise to reach that goal. AND a total fast day (except for one cup of coffee)! :fr:

I'm glad you asked, at any rate, and feel free to ask any type of diet question. My approach is my own, and I don't suggest it for anyone else. But it's the only one that ever worked - in a long-run type of way - for me. :)

Weight: Official last Feb weigh-in: Friday, 2/27/15 - 111.4

3/01/15 - 117; 3/02 - 116.6; 3/03 - 114.3

3/4 - 113.6; 3/5 - 112.6

Official Weigh Day - Friday, March 6: 110.8

3/8 - 118.1 (over a pound above last Sunday's post Up Days weight); 3/9 - 115.9; 3/10 - 114.8 (half a pound above last Tuesday's weight). 3/11 - 113 (point six pounds down from the same time last week); 3/12 - 112.6 (same as same time last week).

So...today I'm at the same point I was this time last week, when I should be one-half pound lower. Which means it's going to be even more difficult to get to goal - 110.5 - by tomorrow. Emergency measures are needed - again! Fasting today, with one cup of coffee, AND - bringing in the big guns - doing a Richard Simmons video today! :broc:

I am bound and determined to lose this measly half pound a week. ;)

HW - Looking at your signature, you've come so far! Here's hoping for your .5 lb loss. (lol at the Richard Simmons tape... Hey, whatever works!)

3/1/15 - 149.8
3/2/15 - 149.2
3/3/15 - 149.2
3/4/15 - 149.4
3/5/15 - 149.4
5/6/15 - 147.4
5/7/15 - 149.2
5/8/15 - xxx.x
5/9/15 - xxx.x
5/10/15 - xxx.x
5/11/15 - 149.2
5/12/15 - 149.4

3/5: 158.5
3/12 (Thursday is an OFFICIAL weigh-in day): 157

Oh my gosh, I remember Richard Simmons videos. Not to make you feel old or anything Hunger, but I remember my mom doing these when I was around 10.

When I look at my weight loss week to week, I feel a lot better. The scale hasn't moved a lot since Monday, but I have to remind myself that in phase 2, I will go back to 1-2 lbs a week instead of 4-5lbs. At Phase 1 got me past that plateau of 166/165

Thanks so much! I'm so hungry now, but I'm telling myself "This is what skinny feels like." ;)

I ended up not doing the Richard Simmons workout because it seemed too mild. Instead, I did the Jillian Michaels' "Fitness Ultimatum 2010" AND Kathy Smith's "Fat Burning Breakthrough"! Here's hoping that I don't have to exercise at all in the morning. Not sure I can after all that! :D

What makes me feel old is the fact that it's a VCR tape, lol! :p But I probably bought it in the last 10 years or so.

Week-to-week is how I look at my losses, too. It would be an emotional rollercoaster if I paid too much attention to the daily gains and losses. My gains can be, erm, pretty high! :o

Congrats on the weigh-in!

Goal for March- 120 lbs on my higher scale/20-25 miles per week
(118-122 lb)
Lower Scale- 1 lb less

3/1/15 121.2 lbs (LS)
3/2/15 121.8 lbs ran 4 miles, walked 1
3/3/15 121.7 lbs
3/4/15 121.8 lbs ran 5 miles, walked 1
3/5/15 120.5 lbs shoveled snow
3/6/15 119.8 lbs ?? I have no idea why my weight is going down
3/7/15 120.8 lbs (LS) ran 4 miles
3/8/15 121.4 lbs (LS) ran 4 miles
3/9/15 122.4 lbs
3/10/15 122.4 lbs
3/11/15 121.7 lbs
3/12/15 121.7 lbs
3/13/15 121.5 lbs
3/14/15 121.2 lbs (LS)
3/15/15 120.6 lbs (LS) ran 5.5 miles
3/16/15 122.1 lbs
3/17/15 121.6 lbs TENURE!! Whoo!!
3/18/15 120.9 lbs
3/19/15 121.2 lbs