Just over 4 months and over half way to my goal! :carrot:

I cut back to 8oz of meat per day from my 12oz and bumped my loss back up to 5lbs a week from 3.5 to 4. I am sure I just jinxed myself! :devil:

Good work buddy!

accgy,
my start weight was 337 and week 4 (28 days) was 303. Weigh in on Wednesday and tracking 296 (I hope!)

My coach has not mentioned a need or requirement to start the restricted in the future. Maybe thats coming but I'm fighting it until I loose at least another 45 pounds or so. As for feeling weak or tired.... If I do something strenuous outdoors in the heat I generally don't feel great. I'm a professional photographer and live in South Texas so I don't have the luxury of always staying inside. I went to the Circuit of the Americas Race Track this weekend and shot the V8 supercars from Australia. Even with hydration before and during the event, after 4 hours of walking and shooting, I was DONE! I was surprised that I recovered almost immediately once I had a protein pack soup in the car afterwords. To me, water is the magic pill. When I feel poor or have a dizzy spell, I push about 32 oz. of water and start feeling hydrated and better all around. It may be psychosomatic but it works for me! Even know coffee is a diuretic and I have to drink extra water to make up for the loss.. the caffeine boost has been a lifesaver for me.

Two of the things that seem to work for me fighting the heat and weakness (I also have MS which heat exacerbates also) is either a shot of pickle juice or PowerAde Zero. I prefer the PowerAde as I'm not a big pickle fan but both seem to fill the need for either sodium or electrolytes.

Living in S. Central TX means dealing with the heat and humidity and starting this time of year staying hydrated is extremely important.

Think how good 'skinny' taste!

Wife and I went to a wedding on Sunday, all the booze and beef tenderloin you could stuff yourself with. I too had a pity party, but when I stepped on that scale yesterday and only saw a tiny gain it was worth staying on plan.

Weighing in today, end of week 5. Hoping for 195, but not sure I'll get there. Still, I know I made progress this week.
For me, this is the 1/2 way point, and the real "go-time". My BP has already dropped an average of 10 pts since starting (still on meds), so I am already pretty excited. Go in for bloodwork Friday too, so next week will be like week one for me all over as far as focus. I haven't seen <195 in 13 years!
The next five weeks I hope to drop another 20 and think of moving to phase 2.
I am grateful that my coach is really working with me to get me to a target body fat% as part of my goal vs just weight and really concentrating on maintaining my water weight and muscle mass with me.

This has been an awesome learning experience, I am actually driving to understand foods that I never really liked much - green vegetables.

I am back in the saddle after a 3 week break to help my sister move and (hopefully) get over some of my stomach problems. Looking forward to getting into ketosis again and seeing the big losses.

Day 5 in the books. Don't really feel like I'm in ketosis or that I've lost any weight. Not feeling so motivated right now...I've stayed very true to the protocol. Got all my veggies, packets, oil, supplements, salt and snacks in. Something isn't clicking...

^ I felt that way my first week and then at weigh in was down 7.2 after 6 days

Powerade Zero is my fun drink. I need to watch it though the salt really makes me retain water! The smaller bottles do the trick. I just see the two for $3 on the big ones and usually buy two.

It works, keep working it buddy.

Had my WI yesterday, and made my first mini-goal!
Unfortunately, I had a hamburger patty and veggies as my dinner and didn't have a protein pack for dinner because I went to a concert with my daughter that got out at 11pm. The real unfortunate part is that in a moment of weakness, I grabbed a concession stand hot dog(no bun) as my snack.

And I was doing so well! I don't think this one will kill me, but it's bound to slow me a little. I am betting it was one of those Nathans dogs with 22g Carbs in it now that I looked it up. Arghh.

Someone tell me it's not that big of a deal (yeah right! :) )

No big dea. Don't get off track. Just move forward. It is in the rear view mirror now. Learn from it. I keep packets in my truck, back pack and at work.

mid way through week five and I'm absolutely starving, I thought last week was bad but this week has been even worse

Have you tried herbal teas like hibiscus or jasmine/green tea between meals?
I find that having one of those can buy me an hour or two when water just isn't cutting it and dinner is too far away.

I usually drink a couple cups of green tea in the morning, I guess I could try it in the evening as well