R2 LM D14...

Up +0.6 above LIW! Sheesh! I ate ezekiel pasta with dinner last night. I don't usually eat carbs other than fruit for dinner, and last time I tried the ezekiel muffin at dinner I gained too. I also played volleyball last night for about 3 hours. And finally, I was running errands all morning and did not have my water. I ended up getting in all my water, but I did not start drinking it until 3pm. So not sure which one of those is the culprit, but it's probably a combination :)

Here is what I ate today:

fage with berries, macadamias, and coconut flakes

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

dill tuna with celery, 1/2 pear, muffin with cc, dark choc chips

1 oz cheddar, almonds, sf candy

double cheeseburger, diet coke

coconut almond bark

boring day. Did not do much. Felt a little sad, but don't know why.....

R2 LM D13...

Back to normal. -0.6 under LIW! This is more where I usually stay. I was just looking back over my weight loss charts and I am under LIW most of the month but for the week of ovulation and the week of TOM I tend to go above and hang out about a lb higher for about 5-7 days. Then it goes back down. I am very nervous about the surgery and gaining weight, also just gaining from having them put in. I won't weigh until all the swelling is gone and will just eat the way I should. Even though I know the gain will be legit and not fat, it will be hard to accept having to see a new number :)

Here is what I ate today:

protein shake

ezekiel english muffin butter and honey

double cheeseburger and diet coke

string cheese, 1/2 pear, muffin with cc, choc wafer stick

chicken, green beans, ezekiel pasta with butter

2 sf candies

Feeling full right now. I always think I have gained 5 lbs after dinner :)

R2 LM D12...

Not the 140's, but still -1.2 lbs under LIW! I knew it would be short lived! :) Thru out this process of losing 68 lbs this year, I have also managed to lose "the girls" completely! I told myself that if I reached my goals that I would make that my present to myself and have them "restored" :) I was not able to get into my doctor until March, but they called yesterday and I have a surgery date of Jan. 19!! I am so excited, but so nervous! That is only 3 weeks from today. Because of this I have decided to postpone my last round until after I have recovered. I think I will wait about 4-6 weeks after surgery to start. Man, a few more pounds off of the lower half, along with the few new added pounds on the top half, and I should be looking pretty good :)

Here is what I ate today:

2 eggs + 2 whites, cheddar

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

string cheese, almonds

fage with apple, berries, coconut flakes and macadamias

string cheese 1/3 coconut almond bar

red robin burger with avacado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and provolone

2 cantalope wedges

shared an oreo shake with the hubby :)

R2 LM D11...

-2.0 under LIW!! What the heck?? I weighed over and over and this was the highest I could get. I mostly got about .4 lower than this! I had to pee alot yesterday, so maybe I got rid of more water? I have never seen the 140's until this morning :) I am sure it will be short lived, but I will enjoy spending a day in the 140's...... you gotta love a program that you can eat an In-n-Out double cheeseburger and drop 2 lbs the next day!! :)

Here is what I ate today:

Fage with berries, macadamias and coconut flakes

ezekiel english muffin with almond butter and honey

1/4 pear, almonds, string cheese

dill tuna, 1/2 pear, muffin with cream cheese

1/4 pear, 1/2 coconut almond bar

taco salad with chicken, lettuce, cheddar, and olives with ranch

coconut almond bark, 1 sf truffle

I am noticing a pattern that when I eat sf candies I often get a bad headache right after...... hmmm.

R2 LM D10...

Yipee! Back to -0.4 under LIW! Thank You, Thank You steak day :) I really wanted to see what my body would get away with on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but both times TOM arrived the day of or the day after, so I could not tell if the food made me gain or just TOM. One thing that I noticed is how much of a role our habits play. I did not crave anything, but I could see how easy it would be to just fall into old habits. Eating because it was there, not because your hungry. Eating way more than you need to enjoy it. Eating for the feelings not the food. Using the holiday as an excuse to go overboard. I did not go crazy by any means, but it was weird to have all these thoughts and feelings that I used to have everyday. Even after 2 rounds and maintenance my body's tendencies are not all the way changed. I am guessing it will probably take a full year of being dedicated before it will really let go of the old thought processes.

It was very cool to think the holidays out, and make decisions. I knew that if I was going to indulge, then I would need to pay for that. I had a nice 2 days, and then I did my steak day. Very healthy, and loads of personal responsibility! No excuses :)

Here is what I ate today:

protein shake

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

1 oz cheddar, almonds

In-n-Out cheeseburger, diet coke

muffin with cream cheese, coconut almond bark

2 eggs + 2 whites, cheddar

1/2 cup fage with berries, apple, macadamias

coconut almond bark, 1 sf candy

Thats about it!

R2 LM D9...

Still up! +2.4 above LIW! Christmas morning I ate breakfast casserole, cinnamon roll, sausage in a crescent roll and orange juice. The rest of the day was left overs from Christmas Eve and of course a few treats too :) I guess +2.4 isn't so bad for 2 days of holiday eating and being on TOM. I am doing a steak day today. Hopefully it will still do the trick even though I waited to do it until today!

Here is what I ate today:

Tea with cream

2 huge chicken breasts

apple

1 oz cheese

Come on steak day..... work your magic :)

R2 LM D8...

Up +2.2 lbs! Tom arrived this morning :( I was pretty free at the party last night. Had bites of everything and some cookies. I thought I would be up higher. It is supposed to be a steak day today, but it's Christmas! So I took the day off and fully intend to pay the piper tomorrow and possibly the next :) I am planning a steak day tomorrow and then a few high protein days if necessary. Merry Christmas everyone :)

R2 LM D7...

Up +1.6 lbs! Not over the 2# mark so that is good. I am going to just have a great Christmas Eve and not think too much about it. I will for sure be over tomorrow which is a bummer to have to do a steak day on Christmas Day! Tomorrow is 28 days from last TOM. Last month it came the night of day 28! My low back is killing me.

Here is what I ate today so far:

protein shake

muffin with cream cheese

1 strip of bacon

2 sour gummy bears :)

apple, almonds, cheddar, muffin with cream cheese

1 mint candy

Let's see how the rest of the night goes...... maybe I should just let loose for the first time since August and enjoy the holiday food :) Impending steak day due to TOM anyway, why not?

R2 LM D6...

Oh for pete's sake! Now only +0.4! Which is good, but also means I could wake up tomorrow 3+ lbs due to TOM and have to do a steak day on Christmas eve!! That is the only day I did not want to do one :( I was sure I would be up over the 2# mark today. I can't decide wether I should do a high protein day today to try to bring down the weight to possibly avoid gaining over the 2# mark, or just eat a clean day again??? Usually when TOM comes, it doesn't matter what I do. I gain 3 lbs, do a steak day, it is gone the next morning and back under LIW. How annoying :(

Here is what I ate today:

2 eggs + 2 whites

2 sausages

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

cheddar, 1/2 apple, almonds

fage with berries, apple, macadamias and coconut flakes

muffin

muffin with cream cheese

red robin cobb salad, diet coke

1 sf candy

Please, Please, Please let me get thru Christmas before TOM arrives and the dreaded gain..... :)

R2 LM D5...

Up +1.4 lbs! Well, I am not sure if this is TOM coming or an eating issue. Yesterday the only thing I did differently was eat an ezekiel english muffin at dinner. I am guessing it would be more due to TOM. Anytime I have big movements in weight is has always ended up being TOM. I will try to eat a normal day and not have big carbs at dinner and see what happens. If it is TOM, then tomorrow I will probably be up the 2 lbs if not more, and I will either do a high protein or a steak day. I would prefer that so I can eat normally for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

Here is what I ate today:

protein shake

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

dill tuna with celery, 3/4 pear

1/4 pear, 1 oz cheddar, banana muffin

fage with berries, apple, coconut flakes and macadamias

banana muffin with cream cheese

Did a basic day that had no sf candies or late carbs. The banana muffins are the ones I have been eating since p3 with no issues. If I am up tomorrow it definitely has to be TOM. Steak day #3 here we come :)

R2 LM D4....

Slightly lower at +0.4 above LIW! I though I might be back under but oh well :) I get to work at the candy store for the next 3 days. I hope it is busy, but it should be since everyone wants to fill their stockings :)

Here is what I ate today:

fage with berries, coconut flakes and macadamias

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

string cheese, almonds

steak, cauliflower mashed potatoes, salad

sf truffle

2 eggs + 2 whites, cheddar and 2 sausages

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

sf truffle

Busy Busy Busy at work! Makes the time go by faster :) Tried having the ezekiel muffin twice today. We shall see..... :) TOM is supposed to be here sometime between the 25th and the 27th, so I guess I need to be prepared for my 3 lb gain and 3rd steak day!

R2 LM D3...

+0.6 above LIW! I knew I would be up :) But not too bad considering :)

Here is what I ate today:

fage with berries, coconut flakes, and macadamias

ezekiel muffin with butter and honey

muffin with cream cheese, string cheese, almonds

almonds, cheddar, 1 sf truffle

steak, cauliflower mashed potatoes, salad with ranch

a little nibble of the treats neighbors brought over. Took a little bite of all the ones I wanted to have.

Going to watch Four Christmases tonight.

R2 LM D2...

-0.2 under LIW! Got up and went walking this morning. Happy to see the late dinner did not do too much damage :)

Here is what I ate today:

fage with berries, coconut flakes and macadamias

ezekiel muffins with butter and honey

3 sf candies

2 eggs + 2 whites with cheddar

muffin with cc

1/2 apple

string cheese, almonds, coco almond bark

Cafe Rio beef tostada with black beans, diet coke, 1/4 tres leches

2 sf candies

Ate late, and doubled the meat in my salad so that I could get enough protein. Tried eating more of the beans this time. Shared a little of the hubbys tres leches. Very good :) Tried my new sf Amberlyn truffles. Wow, they put the old Russell Stovers to shame. Melt in your mouth good! I will probably be up tomorrow with 5 sugar free candies and the sodium levels :)

R2 Lifetime Mainenance Begins..... :)

-0.6 under LIW! Great way to start this new phase :)

fage with berries and coconut flakes

ezekiel english muffin with cream cheese

ezekiel pasta, chicken, pesto and sun-dried tomato

coconut almond bark, 1/2 muffin

red robin bacon cheese burger in lettuce, no fries, cantaloupe

about 1/2 cup gingerbread shake

Ate really late around 8:00 pm! Went to see the movie Avatar. It was really different, but really good.

R2 P4 D21..... LAST DAY OF P4!

Well, it is the last day of P4 and I am -0.8 under LIW! I played volleyball till midnight last night! So much fun! I have avoided cleaning the house so that is what I must do today :(

Here is what I ate today:

fage with berries, coconut flakes and macadamias

ezekiel english muffin with butter and honey

flax ball, string cheese

double cheeseburger, diet coke

coconut almond bark

2 eggs + 2 whites, cheddar

muffin with cream cheese

pear

flax ball, 2 sf candies

Busy day. Got lots done. I realize that here I am at the end of p4, but I have not really added back very much. I still don't really feel all that motivated to have too many carbs. I know if I did that, it would just start the cycle all over again. I love the food I am eating, and it is so nice to know that when I do splurge a little my body allows it without too much repercussion :) So lifetime maintenance starts tomorrow. I will just keep adding things here and there until next round. Still want to try oatmeal, larabars, kashi cereal, and some more beans.

R2 P4 D20...

Down to -0.4 under LIW! Back where I usually am. Don't know what triggered that, but I will take it :) My friend is taking me out for a late birthday lunch today. I will have to try something new that I have not tried before....

Here is what I ate today:

flax ball

fage with berries and coconut flakes

english muffin with butter and honey

RR sour cream ranch chicken sandwich, no bun, no fries

fried zucchini with most breading removed

flax ball

2 eggs + 2 whites and cheddar

muffin with cc

apple

coconut almond bark

I was going to branch out and try something new at lunch.... but I chickened out and just ate the usual :)

R2 P4 D19...

+0.4 above LIW! Same as yesterday :)

Went to work and then went to dinner with some family that was in town.

Here is what I ate today:

2 eggs + 2 whites

ezekiel english muffin with butter and drizzle of honey

flax ball, string cheese

dill tuna on celery sticks, muffin with cc, 1 peppermint cream

2 flax balls

Cafe Rio chicken and beef tostada, diet coke

1/2 cup fage with berries

Went to dinner and had black beans for the first time. I did not have too many. Had a bite or two of the corn tortilla on the bottom. I was worried about not having enough protein at dinner so I had the yogurt when I got home. Let's see the scale tomorrow :)

R2 P4 D18...

+0.4 above LIW! So maybe it wasn't the best idea to eat out twice, have sf candies, and try actual sugar for the first time, on the day I finally go back under LIW :) For all that I did yesterday, I am totally fine with being .4 above. That gingerbread shake was really good. Definitely need to stay away from that :) I realized that that was the first real sugar I have had since August. I have always made a sugar free alternative, or now things with agave. I wonder if I can make gingerbread ice cream legally somehow...... :)

Here is what I ate today:

protein shake

muffin with cream cheese

string cheese, flax ball, 1/2 apple

fage with berries, apple, macadamias

coco almond bark

steak, cauliflower mashed potatoes

Party: orange slices, veggies with dip, small scoop chicken salad, small slice agave cheesecake I brought from home.

Had a great time at the party. Did not feet tempted to eat anything I shouldn't. I brought my own treats and had a great time with family and friends.

R2 P4 D17....

-0.2 under LIW! It's about time :) Feels good to be back under. I always have this panicky feeling when I go above LIW that my weight is just going to keep climbing no matter what I do. I need to just trust the process and eat right. If I do that it will take care of itself. I now have learned that I gain 3 lbs right before my TOM starts and have to do a steak day the day before. And that I have about a pound gain that hangs around for 3-4 days around ovulation. Oh, the joys of being a woman.... not!

Here is what I ate today:

2 eggs + 2 whites and cheddar

muffin with cream cheese

burger, diet coke

string cheese, 3 sf candies

cobb salad, about 1/3 cup gingerbread shake

coconut almond flax ball

R2 P4 D16...

+0.6 above LIW! Okay so it is back up a tad. Maybe it was not so much ovulation, as it is the fact that adding new things in p4 bumps things up a little. Not crazy, but some. Someone on the forum reminded me that when we start adding new things the body is going to retain some water and that some fluctuation is going to be expected. I am okay with that. I will just need to be smart and keep an eye on things.

I wanted to take a little moment here to give a huge shout out to my husband. He is the best. I am so lucky to have him. He has been my biggest supporter and is always there for me no matter what. I have lost and gained weight a billion times over the years and he always is there to cheer me on. And although he loves me no matter what size I am, I can tell he is really loving this new me :) He tells me he loves me and how beautiful I am every single day! We were just talking in the living room the other day and he said " so what's it like to be able to put on cute clothes and look this hot everyday??" I could have jumped him right there on the spot! Here are a few recent pictures we took up in the canyon. I love you Gabe!!

Here is what I ate today:

2 eggs + 2 whites with cheddar

ezekiel english muffin with butter

fage with berries, pear, and macadamias

muffin with cc

string cheese, 1/2 apple, flax ball

dill tuna in lettuce leaves, 1/4 apple, muffin with cc

coconut almond bark

R2 P4 D15...

+0.4 above LIW! Okay going back down. Man, I have to gain with TOM and ovulation! At least the ovulation is not quite as dramatic and usually stays within the 2 lb limit, but still annoying! Hopefully that means it will slowly go back down, the way it went up :)

Here is what I ate today:

protein shake

2 slices ezekiel bread with butter

double cheeseburger, diet coke, 1 sf candy

string cheese, 10 almonds, 1/2 apple

taco salad, 1/2 pear

2 sf candies, couple bites of cheesecake :)

R2 P4 D14...

Up +0.8 above LIW! Wrong direction, wrong direction :) I just counted and I am exactly 14 days since last TOM. Should be ovulating as I type :) Ovulation always gives me a gain. I know I am only .8 above LIW, but for me I am usually about .6 under. So, this more like +1.4! I will give it a day or two more and if it does not correct is self then I will force the issue with my own correction! :)

Here is what I ate today:

2 eggs + 2 whites

2 slices ezekiel bread with butter

can of tuna with mayo and dill on celery sticks

1/2 apple

1 sf mint patty

string cheese

1/2 apple

steak and salad with ranch

sm piece of agave cheesecake

tea with cream

Busy day. If you guys saw what I do at work you would die :) I am cutting fudge all day and stocking shelves full of candy! I pack my food everyday and never even think about it anymore. People always ask me how I stay so skinny and work there. Funny to think that I have lost 68lbs since I started!! LOL!

Agave Cheesecake Recipe...

Here is the recipe for the Agave Cheesecake. You can also do the variation for Pumpkin Cheesecake:

Crust:

1 cup pecans

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

3 tbsp splenda granular or sweetener of your choice

1/2 stick butter melted

Filling:

4 blocks of cream cheese (8oz each)

3/4 cup organic blue agave nectar

1/4 cup flour

5 eggs

1/3 cup heavy cream

1 tbsp vanilla

(** Pumpkin cheesecake: add 1 15 0z can of pumpkin and 1-2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a spring form pan with nonstick cooking spray.

For crust: put all ingredients except the butter into the food processor and chop fine. Put into a bowl, add the melted butter and mix together. Press mixture into the bottom of the spring form pan. Place in oven for 10 minutes and remove.

For filling: put cream cheese and agave nectar into the food processor. Mix until smooth, making sure to stop and scrap the sides as needed. Add 1/4 cup flour and mix until smooth, scraping as needed. With the food processor on, add the eggs one at a time, allowing each to mix in before adding the next. Add the heavy cream and vanilla, and mix until smooth one final time. (** Add pumpkin and spices right before adding the flour. Mix well.)

Baking: pour into the spring form pan over the just baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Lower the temperature to 200 degrees and continue to bake for 1.5 hours. Turn off the oven and open the door slightly and leave in the oven for an hour. Remove from oven, cover, and put into the fridge overnight. It won't look totally done when you remove from the oven but it will set firm in the fridge. Top with berries and homemade whip cream! YUM!

R2 P4 D13...

+0.2 above LIW! Wow, that is the first time I have been above LIW since the start of P4. No big deal. I should be ovulating right about now, so that makes sense. It did the same thing last month. Not a big jump, but went up about a pound for 3 days. I also have been struggling to get the water in over the last 3 days so I am sure that doesn't help :)

Here is what I ate today:

2 eggs + 2 whites and cheddar

ezekiel muffin with butter and sf jam

1/2 pear, almonds, string cheese

hamburger stuff, celery, 1/2 pear

double cheeseburger, 10 fries, diet coke

agave cheesecake with berries and whipcream

Today was my birthday. I had to work, but afterwards my family and I went to my favorite: In-n-Out Burger and then had my homemade sugar free cheesecake! It was awesome. I will post the recipe. Now I am going to sit in the hottub and then spend the night playing volleyball! Good day!