Hi gembabe, welcome! Congrats on your amazing weight loss so far! :woohoo: I hope incorporating a cheat day into what you are already doing works well for you! And yes, it is MUCH better than the alternative of sabotaging your progress. You've come too far to turn back. Glad you're joining us! :cp:

Thanks Jacqui for your words of encouragement :hug: When I read them on my phone earlier I thought yes that is exactly what I'll do, then I got home and had a few bites of that cake and 3 shortbread cookies after walking in the mall for 3 hours with my sons (that was around 3:30ish). Later this evening picked my son up from his pre-college program and he had a cheese pizza so I ate a slice on the way to the gym. I think I'm doing what my Pastor said on Sunday and getting a few treats in before our church fast. I don't know what else to say my issue is. We did go to the gym and I did 4.16 miles on the treadmill burning 612 calories so that helped a little I hope. I ate my beans on the run so not sure what my sugar was. I'll have to focus more tomorrow.

Jacqui you are doing great :high: I'm so happy for you :)

Missy wow you are doing great also :high: I use low sodium chicken stock for most things. I have some Mrs. Dash seasonings but always forget to use them.

In the beginning with weight loss it's quicker/faster because of all of the water weight you lose. I loss 30lbs in 3.5 months in 2010 just waliking and eating right. I ate a frozen smart one or lean cuisine for dinner every day during that time and it definitely gave fantastic results. I got a big head when I got to 165 and started adding the wrong things to my diet stopped walking and gained all of the weight back plus a little … so here I go again. I think our losses all depend on us individually because what worked for me before is not gonna work this time. One because I can't eat all of those carbs in the frozen meals and I don't get to walk everyday like I want to. Back then we lived in a great area I was a SAHM and just had a lot of time to focus. I miss VA :) Ok back to reality ;)

Jacqui you are just great (re: your comment to Missy) :)

gembabe :welcome: to the thread :)

Well Jacqui I am back on plan tomorrow prayerfully, no cheat day on Saturday since I have already had two :nono:'s and I'll keep posting hopefully with no more slip-ups :crossed:

my stats since starting

12/08 ~ 178.2
12/09 ~ 178.6 (+0.4) TTOM
12/10 ~ 177.6 (-1.0) TTOM
12/11 ~ 177.6 (N/C) TTOM
12/12 ~ 177.4 (-0.2) lite TOM
12/13 ~ 176.8 (-0.6) lite TOM
12/14 ~ 176.2 (-0.4) Cheat Day

TOTAL 2lb lost for the week

12/15 ~ 177.2 (+1.0)
12/16 ~ 177.6 (+0.4)
12/17 ~ 176.8 (-0.6)
12/18 ~ 176.8 (N/C) unplanned Cheat
12/19 ~ 177.6 (+0.6) another unplanned Cheat
12/20 ~
12/21 ~

Good morning Ladies. it's lovely to see some new faces here. this thread is getting going!! Again a mad week in work and at home, but being busy stops me sitting around and thinking of food or snacks! I'm heading home to Ireland for 2 weeks tomorrow. lot's of partying about to begin. I will definitely try to stay on plan but I may not be able to be as good as I can when I'm preparing food at home. It's only 2 weeks and hopefully I won't sabotage my good work too much. cheat day tomorrow. I may hold it off until Sunday when I have a lunch date with some old friends. A couple of people in work are noticing I look a little slimmer and are interested in my eating plan. So in January we are starting a biggest loser in work. I will check in tomorrow after my weigh in. Last day in work before the holidays!! Happy Friday everyone.

TwoTots good to see you, sounds like through it all you are doing well. Enjoy your holiday adn I hope we all do well these last few days of 2013.

down .4 to 177.2 this morning … Hoping for a better day today

Welcome Gembabe!! I just joined this past week, and it is a great support mechanism and also a great way to share slow-carb diet ideas and I think maybe recipes too. We all recognize and accept that everyone has to do what works for them too, which is great.

Jacque thanks so much for you supportive words around the cookie. I did only end up eating 1.5 cookies, and it really has to do with the fact that I just absolutely adore chocolate chip cookies....the homemade ones that is. I think even though I couldn't stick with Atkins a few months ago, it did help me ween off the physical sugar cravings, hence why I didn't dive into the cookies anymore. I wonder also if the beans are helping with my sugar levels and that is how I also managed to resist the loaf of bakery Italian bread my daughters had bought?

Thanks Rennie! I used low sodium stock for the lentils and I may try that when cooking other dry beans because it adds great flavor. I was also tossing a little more stock in them when I reheat some for a serving and they were great. My boyfriend came over for dinner and had a second bowl of just the lentils later in the evening.

My good news is I lost 5 pounds in 3 days....and most importantly feel great! I know it is mostly water weight, but I'm so happy I don't feel as deprived on this diet because of the beans, and because I get to have some red wine at night.

I was chatting with my 19 year old daughter this morning about it. She is 5' 9" and probably about 230. She admitted she needs to decrease her sugar cravings. I think if I can help her incorporate just some of the concepts of the diet she would do really well because she is young with a better metabolism. But...it's hard to discuss these things with daughters because I want her to always know I already think she is perfect. I emphasized the health benefits I read and how people with high blood pressure, diabetes, etc have had amazing results on their health.
Any more suggestions to encourage her without hurting her feelings...? Teenage girls are so prone to poor body image that I don't want to add to it...

Oh, I did tell my daughter about the cheat day and she said that sounded awesome. Maybe after the holidays I can help her get on it!

Two Tots, so glad to see you! Now, don't give yourself free reign to eat all the yummy treats you come across in the next week or two! Try your best to stay on plan, but if you do slip up, don't beat yourself up about it. The good news is that we will all be getting a fresh new start with the New Year! Just do the best you can do! Have a wonderful and safe trip and a very Merry Christmas!

Rennie, you are so sweet! :hug: I know that you are struggling with the temptation of carbs right now and I so feel for you. It really is a physiological pull, but you can do this! You really can! And you are worth the fight! Here's the mantra: "I can have it on cheat day! I can have it on cheat day! I can have it on cheat day!" (Aren't we so lucky to be on a diet with a cheat day?!) You can do this! And the good news is that you are still in the mid-170's, so onward and downward! :cheer:

Missy, I think Atkins is a good plan. It's too bad that so many people misunderstand it, because I think it could benefit a lot of people who won't try it because they've heard negative hype about it. I personally like the Slow Carb Diet better because it's a better fit for me. I love having a cheat day built in. It keeps me from feeling deprived and that keeps me on plan. However, for those who want to go low carb and would be triggered by a cheat day, I think Atkins would be ideal for them. As for daughters and diets, yes, that can be tricky! But I think you are doing it right! Good job, Mom! You have focused on the health benefits and not on the weight loss and that's exactly how I believe you should handle it. If and when she is ready to start the diet, that's when you should help her get started, because we both know anyone who goes on a diet has to be ready! :yes: And congrats on the 5 lbs you've lost! Woohoo! :carrot: :broc: :cb:

I weigh 173.5 again today, so the new low is sticking! :cp: Of course today is cheat day, but I am so happy to be starting it this low! :D

Week 20: High-175.5, Low-173.5
12/14: 174 Cheat Day
12/15: 175.5
12/16: 174.5
12/17: 175.5
12/18: 174
12/19: 173.5
12/20: 173.5 Cheat Day

Today's meals:
Breakfast: a boiled egg with hot pepper jelly, a piece of fudge, a chocolate chip cookie, a teapot of green tea, Mio water
Lunch: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, 3 potato chips (I had more on my plate but they didn't taste as good as I thought they would), a kiwi, a chocolate chip cookie, Mio water
Snacks: 3 pieces of fudge at different times during the day
Dinner: chicken, scalloped potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, a roll with butter, pumpkin pie, Diet Dr. Pepper

Whew, that was quite a cheat day!

Thank you all for the warm welcome..I appreciate it! I think each of you are so amazing and kind. I'm off to the post office...but I wanted to take a moment to say hey to all...I know the line at the post office will be oooohhh so long lol.

Wooopsy, I had an error in the paragraph I wrote regarding my daughter. I corrected it just now, but what I was trying to say was "But...it's hard to discuss these things with daughters because I want her to always know I already think she is perfect." :-)

gembabe, hope you survive the post office! :lol:

Misty, we knew what you meant! :yes:

Good morning! I am up to 176 today! This is the second time I've gained 2.5 lbs after a cheat day. Not surprising though! I ate a BUNCH yesterday. It's that time of year! Between my hubby's homemade fudge and chocolate chip cookies and having a big dinner out with a group of friends, I'm a little surprised I'm not back up to 177, lol! Oh, but I might be soon with Christmas around the corner! :hohoho:

Week 21:
2/21: 176
2/22:
2/23:
2/24:
2/25: Christmas-Cheat Day
2/26:
2/27:

Today's Meals:
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, a teapot of green tea, Mio water
Lunch: chicken salad, a handful of walnuts, Mio water
Dinner: 8 plain chicken wings, half a can of black olives, cottage cheese, a teapot of green tea, Mio water

Jacqui you'll be back down and to your low before you know it :)

I did well yesterday until last night no cheating I was loyal to myself for a change … I am up 1.6lbs today to 178.8. We got home late (after 10) and my son made ⅓ lb burgers and it took forever for them to cook (it seemed) I had planned to eat just the burger but that didn't happen. (I didn't get a burger at all last night) My other son made fries so guess what I ate? He over salted them and I know this up is mostly sodium so it should be gone in a couple of days :)

12/15 ~ 177.2 (+1.0)
12/16 ~ 177.6 (+0.4)
12/17 ~ 176.8 (-0.6)
12/18 ~ 176.8 (N/C) unplanned Cheat
12/19 ~ 177.6 (+0.6) another unplanned Cheat
12/20 ~ 177.2 (-0.4)
12/21 ~ 178.8 (+1.6)

this week ends with a 1.lb gain

I hear ya Jacque and Rennie. I was pretty good until last night we met up with friends and I had 3 glasses of wine, and then came home and ate a pretty large sum of black beans. So went up two pounds this morning it seems. I feel like I'm retaining water so I think hitting the gym will help and I've done low carbs thus far today and will have the slow carb beans at dinner as I'm making chili.

Two steps forward and one step back, eh? :-)

Missy thanks for the reminder :) Sometimes I think I'm losing my mind. I have a whole pot of beans in the fridge and completely forgot about them. So tah dah there's lunch :)

Hi
 

Hello

I like to start the SCD after x-mas... Should I get the book to figure out what I need to buy?

Thanks

Joe