I think you are doing great Jacqui! I mean, when I look at your stats it shows you have already lost 2.5 pds in less than a week....and it's not like you are at the beginning of your diet where we all lose alot quickly. Very impressive I say!!! Ironically yesterday I was reading a section in Tim's book where he talks about TOM weight fluctuations for women. I'm in the office now and don't have the book on me, but I think he said that is why measuring is such an important tool over weighing oneself. But I'm like you and am impatient and want to see the scale results every morning. lol

Welcome Gary! Sounds like you have a solid plan. I am aiming to lose 20 pds and am hoping I don't need to go as strict as you though towards the end....but if I do, I can see myself using your tactic for sure. I'm not sure how successful I'll really be if I follow his principle in the book where he says to eat until I'm full. I can eat a lot! You sound like you have the most experience with the slow carb diet so please share any tips on how to make quick and yummy meals that fit the plan that you may have?

My fast yesterday (following cheat day) didn't provide the results I had hoped. I was hoping to lose the 2.5 pd gain from cheat day asap. This morning it appears I still have 1.5 pds from cheat day to lose. I did eat a lot of pork, sauerkraut and mock mash last night though and hadn't worked out in two days. And oddly this morning I really am losing a lot of water weight. I wonder if it just takes our bodies a couple of days to release the water weight....especially for women?

My question to everyone is.....how many pounds do you typically gain from cheat day, and how long does it typically take to lose? I'm curious to see the averages....

Jacqui, I'm not sure if the way I ate today will fit in either, though I didn't eat anything bad at all. Yay me … I can actually say I'm so stuck on weighing daily it's crazy. I use to weigh multiple times a day, I'm glad I got out of that habit. I personally think you do great when you eat out. The sodium monster may get you though I hope your throat feels better soon

Missy sounds like you're getting healthy, having fun and enjoying yourself which are all great attibutes, keep up the great work Missy when I did Jacqui's modified version correctly I believe I only gained a pound if that after cheat day. It's on here though.

Gary and the thread

TOM has been lurking the last two days. Like you Jacqui it's hit or miss. I'll be 48 in April and these last 5 months have been really interesting with TOM not coming or coming for a few days, so idk. Weight was up this morning to 180.4 not good but I expect for all of this to be gone within the week. I am confident that I will make my Holiday goal weight of 175 possibly in January, since I didn't make it in November or December

B ~ 2 egg salad, yogurt, shake
S ~ cheese stick, pistachios
L ~ celery with hummus, collards, n/s grapefruit
D ~ tbsp pb, peanuts, pinto beans, soy chili sauce

I have the worse headache coming on …

01/01 ~ 179.0
01/02 ~ 180.4 (+1.4)

Hi Gary! It's so good to have you join us! Congrats on your successful weight loss and maintenance! Fantastic!

Thanks Missy! I typically gain 2 lbs after cheat day, sometimes it's been more, sometimes less, and usually within 2-3 days, it comes back off. So if Saturday is cheat day, often by Tuesday, it's gone and I am losing again. Of course, hormones and those stubborn set points every 20 or so lbs cause fluctuations, but yeah, usually within a couple of days, the water weight is back off for me. (Knock on wood, lol!)

Rennie, I am so proud of you for the way you ate today! I have been thinking about adding yogurt (and blueberries) in moderation myself. And you already know that I add a little cheese to my salads. My daughter has modified her Slow Carb Diet by adding a little bit of dairy, so great job! I'm so sorry you are getting a headache. I always get those right before the start of TOM.

Thanks Jacqui, I eat the yogurt mainly to take my medicine, otherwise it makes me nauseous. I started a new job on Monday and getting up earlier than before and not being able to nap is taking a toll on me for sure. I did lay down for bit after that post and my head is a little better. Thanks but I am definitely going to have my hinny in bed by 9:30 tonight. I'll see you all tomorrow … for good numbers on the scale in the morning

Congrats on the new job! Yep, get to bed girlie! Early to bed, early to rise, makes Rennie skinny, healthy, and wise!

Quick post down 3lbs to 177.4. Be back later. Have a great day

Rennie, congrats on the great weigh-in!!!

I am down a half lb today to 171.5!

You know I've been calling this Week 22 because I started keeping track of my progress two weeks into my diet, but I think I'm going to start calling it Week 24 because it really is the 24th week of my being on the Slow Carb Diet (my version of it). Since the new number reflects all the weeks I've been on the diet, I think that's less confusing. So...

Week 24: High 174.5, Low 171.5
12/28: 174.5
12/29: 173.5
12/30: 172.5 TOM
12/31: 172
1/1: 172
1/2: 172
1/3: 171.5

Tomorrow is my cheat day, the first one since Christmas Day! It's only 2 degrees outside but I need to go to the store and get some fruit in the house! I'm sure I'll have my usual mint chocolate treat, but I really want some oatmeal with blueberries and a banana!

Today's Meals:
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, a teapot of green tea, Mio water
Lunch: tunafish (with mayo and egg) on celery stalks, Mio water
Dinner: meatballs in bbq sauce, a teapot of green tea, Mio water

Thats awesome to be dropping those pounds coming off new years wow!

i ballooned up cookies, pie's, whisky, not good


1/1 184.8 1200 cals
1/2 183.4 1400 cals
1/3 181.4

the last two days combined i have ate,
1 1/2 lb chicken breast
1/2 lb spinach
1 lb broccoli
1 1/2 cups of in shell pistahio's
1/2 lb of cook lentils
and a few oz's or ranch dressing
1/2 gallon of water each day

I have had some craving's but have kept full so they have not been to bad
so far so good!

i will settle back in quickly to 179-178, which has been my consitant weight over the last couple of years.. getting below that and not bounce back up. is what im am going to break this winter, i have flirted with low 170's but always settle right back in to the 178ish range. this time it is going to be different,

I turned 50 a few weeks ago, 2014 i'm going to be my lightess since a freshman in HS! 165 come on!

Congrats on the new job and the weight loss Rennie!

And Jacqui you always impress me. You deserve your cheat day. Sounds like you are also keeping it healthy too during cheat day with the fruit and oatmeal.

Gary I am taking your approach and counting my calories too now. I guess when we are older and female it's a little harder for us than Tim Ferriss to lose these pounds.

I'm only a 1/2 pd down this morning, so am still one pound from cheat day. Before cheat day I did lose 4-5 pds in three days and I think it was because I worked out more and ate a little less. I'm going to make sure my net calories don't exceed 1200 too, but I'm also starting a new muscle building program. So I'm going to get a measuring tape and measure too. I would like to lose fat and gain some more muscle! Ya know?

I decided I can't be that naughty on my too soon cheat day during the Eagles game tomorrow. Off diet, but not outrageous.....unfortunately. Lol

Gary, way to go! Look at those numbers dropping! You are doing so well! Keep it up and you'll be back at 165 before you know it!

Missy, oh, I'll have enough junk on cheat day, I'm sure, lol, but I just really miss some of the healthier quick-burning carbs I used to eat. I did get the blueberries and bananas and I'm just going to use Quaker Instant Oatmeal that I have on hand. Yum!

Thanks Jacqui … I got in the bed but couldn't fall asleep, smh. I sure hope it'll make me skinny ... the boys needed to clean the kitchen so I had to get up to remind them, smh. So glad school starts back on Monday for the last 3, one went back this morning

Jacqui 171, YOU GO LADY

gfc781, Nice weigh in I need to get some spinach, I keep forgetting, I love the stuff Happy Belated Birthday


Thanks Missy I think you've got your cheat day under control, enjoy

I was so proud this morning when I looked down at the scale. I knew it would be down but not 3lbs. I know the carbs are just no good for me and I felt pretty good this morning also. I'm also more rested today, eventhough I think I didn't actually fall asleep until after 11pm. A tree fell this morning so our power went out just before 5a.m. My son woke me to tell me the power was off at first I was mad but had he not I would have probably been late for work so it worked out.

B ~ 2 egg salad, yogurt, shake
S ~ peanuts
L ~ pinto beans with soy chili sauce, collards, n/s grapefruit
D ~ idk what I want … it we go to the gym I'll get one of their low carb shakes so good if not probably more beans and greens

Thanks Rennie! And your menu is SO much better! It's no wonder you dropped 3 lbs! You're working with your body instead of against it. Keep it up!

Oh how miserable to find out in the morning that you have no power, but especially at 5:00 in the morning! I sure hope with the bad weather expected here in the next few days that we don't lose power!

Thanks Jacqui, I had the low carb shake for dinner with a few forks of greens before I left for the gym. It was interesting, it's been a while since we've dealt with the power going out. It use to happen so much in Virginia we got use to it

I walked 4 miles, burned 589 calories and I am feeling good. I've got to work on meeting my calorie goals. I made some vegetable soup without potatoes or corn. I think I had mentioned that I bought a can of lentil soup and a can of barley soup to try. I know the sodium in both will be a killer but I figure if I try a serving early in the day I should be ok. I can flush the sodium out with water. I've got to add to my menu so that I don't get bord. I won't be having a cheat day until after February 2nd. No bread, no pasta, no potatoes, no sweets, no soda, no rice, no coffee, no cereal w/ or w/o milk, no pancakes, no grits but maybe some oat bran (I don't particularily like it so I can't even eat a serving), no chips, no popcorn. Wish me luck everyone.

Week 1 of 5
01/01 ~ 179.0
01/02 ~ 180.4 (+1.4)
01/03 ~ 177.4 (-3.0)

Wow. I have been reading through these posts over the course of my day here at work. Almost took the whole 8 hours. I have been on and off almost every diet including Atkins. I have considered doing my own kind of Low Carb diet that I can tolerate and not give me headaches, low energy and feel like i'm going crazy only eating meat. I love beans, and cottage cheese and I used to have a cheat day back when I did weight watchers in 2006 and it kept me afloat for 3 months!

I want to join you guys but include my own variation as well, because I love cream cheese and almond milk and avocado amongst other things. I think I will start the 6th on Monday, because I am traveling for 20 hours this weekend so I may start, and just not be too by the "said" book. Thanks for the fast food ideas, should help a lot! Resisting having some drinks with my dad will be the tough part.