Round 2 – Phase 3

Weight: 168.5

It sure was nice seeing my weight come back down!

For the most part, my low-carb menu felt really good; I always do well with a low-carb diet.

Breakfast:

• two eggs and a piece of Colby Jack cheese on top

Snack:

• low-fat plain Greek yogurt

Lunch:

• tuna salad, with real mayonnaise and dill, on top of a huge pile of lettuce with cucumbers, zucchini, and tomato.

Afternoon meeting:

• one small piece of chocolate candy with filling inside, from the box that was being passed around.  I initially resisted; when I finally had the piece I realized it didn't really taste very good.

Dinner:

• grilled 6 oz ground bison mixed with onion, topped with Colby cheese
• large salad with tomato and cheese dressing

Dessert:

• low carb ice cream bar
• low-fat vanilla Greek yogurt
• After dinner cocktail

I can see where I can make some improvements in choosing snacks, and my calorie count really reflects that.  It would be nice if I could get 2 pounds below my LIW, although I figure that won’t happen.  I can’t figure out how people can’t get their calories in during P2, or up afterwards, but for me, I’ve got to watch that trend!

Off to do errands today….

Round 2 Phase 3 - Officially

Weight: 169

I was a little relieved to see 169 this morning, partly because I'm still really full and I have that association with my weight being up.  After seeing 171 on the scale yesterday, I realized that I quickly embraced this lower weight range; the number seven is not one that I want to see in my weight!

Also, I think that I'm having a little bit of a hard time accepting success.  I don't know about you, but when someone exclaims that I am "skinny", my first response is to deny it.  Part of that has to do with knowing where the fat is on my body that they're not looking at, but also my belief that "skinny" isn't exactly healthy.

Then, too, being a big person has been such an integrated part of my identity.  Even as a thin child, I was taller and bigger than everyone else, and by comparison I felt "big as a cow".

As a strong, young, adult, I eventually embraced being large.  I have always had a hard time associating smallness with strength, even though ants have the highest strength ratio.  I have to keep in mind there are different types of strength, and physical strength is only one of those.

The cool thing is, I can change, I have changed, and I will continue to work on this concept.

R2P2D24 – 170.5

Weight: 170.5

Shocking!  But not unbelievable.  I ate dinner last night at Baja Fresh before going to a community education class.  I ordered the Mango Chipotle Chicken Salad….and I ate the WHOLE THING!

I was reading my textbook for the other class I’m in and didn’t truly pay attention.  I remember feeling full, thinking I should stop, but then didn’t.  I woke up this morning still stuffed!

Along with eating out, I had forgotten my water bottle so I didn’t get much water, and the end of the night. I was pretty dry.  It was a no-brainer to work on drinking more water today; I need to flush out the sodium!

There are some good lessons here:

• First, pay attention when you are eating, so you only eat until you’re comfortable.
• Second, I have grown fond of not being in the 170’s.
• Last, but  not least, my world did not fall apart because I weighed 2-2.5 pounds more.  The large shirt was still large; but I need to take care of business so that it doesn’t start to fit.

One of the problems with eating too much is that it can start a cycle of craving those foods, and today I had cravings for more, sweet, food, even though I started out so darn full.  I’m going to have to work on how to handle that urge, especially when it’s coupled with stress, to a satisfactory resolution.

R2P2D23 – 168.5

Weight: 168.5

I totally stress ate yesterday, including 3 glasses of wine!  Considering how far off protocol I went, I think only a .5 increase is a blessing!

Today was much better,  under control, although I'm transitioning into P3 earlier than the 3 days off shots.  I'm doing that partly because I was hungry the last few days of P2 and partly due to the stress and just not wanting to deal with it .

For dinner I went to Baja Fresh and had their Mango Chipotle Chicken Salad.  Problem was that I ate the whole thing!  I need to learn to stop when I'm full, not when the plate is clean.  I'll probably pay for that tomorrow....

R2P2D22 – 168

Weight: 168

I ate more calories last night than I should have again, as I’ve winding down on this round, mentally, so this is a good weight.

Hmmm…I “could’ve” been even less, if I’d eaten fewer calories, huh?  Oh, well.  .5 pounds is not world peace…!

My biggest challenge at this point is to focus on stabilizing on Phase 3 for the next three weeks.  One step at a time….

R2P2D21 – 168.5

Weight: 168.5

I can’t say I’m displeased with this weight, especially in view of having cheated the past few days.  The protocol says to stabilize within 2 pounds of your LIW (last injection weight) which is today.  So, I could even get rid of 2 more pounds and be stabilized, and I have a feeling that may happen.

I am definitely ready for Phase 3!

R2P2D20 – 168.5

Weight: 168.5

Whew!  I dodged a bullet, I didn’t gain.  I cheated again yesterday, again with more calories, had a couple of handfuls of Quaker Oat Squares, peanut butter and later, grilled pork chops.  Sigh.  Will I never learn to control myself?

On the bright side, I’ve lost 39 pounds since April 15th.  Here’s hoping I can make it total 40 in the next couple of days.