Wednesday, March 31, 2010

R3 P4 D7...

Up to +0.4 above LIW. Not too shabby considering that I finished my weights workout last night at 9pm! I was going to put it off, but told myself that I needed to find the time. If it is 9pm, then that is what it will have to be. My butt and hamstrings are so sore :) I am going into work for the first time today to just go over things. Then I will be working Thursday and Monday. I think Helderheid will be there this morning so that should be fun!! Today's workout will be volleyball tonight for about 2.5 hours. If I get some time I will try to walk on the treadmill as well.

Here is what I ate today:

choc mini muffin w/ cc
tea

protein shake
ezekeil english muffin with cc and fruit spread

string cheese

cheeseburger(no bun), diet coke, 1/2 apple

jerky, 1/2 trio bar, piece of cocoa crack

cobb salad, 1/2 oreo shake! Couldn't help it :)

string cheese, 1 sf candy

Ate out both meals today. Between that and volleyball till midnight tonight I fully expect to be up tomorrow morning! If only my arms were not sore from my workouts. I need my killer serve :)

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

R3 P4 D6...

Up slightly at +0.2 above LIW! Can't believe how stable it has become. I did some baking yesterday, so I thought I might be in trouble :) Today I have to work my last day for the chiropractor and then will try to get my weights workout in later this afternoon.

I also read a really good article on how the current information about the "low fat, high carb" recommendations are finally being proven to be false. It can be found at: http://www.slate.com/id/2248754

There is also a study out by Princeton that proves that high fructose corn syrup causes more weight gain than other sugars across the board!

Let me know what you think! Good stuff!

Here is what I ate today:

1 egg + 3 whites, bacon and 1/2oz cheddar
1/2 apple
ezekiel english muffin with cc and fruit spread

1/2 jerky stick, 1/2 string cheese, nut cluster

cottage cheese, 1/2 diced apple
6oz broccoli, ranch
2 mini zucchini choc chip muffins

1/2 jerky stick, 1/2 string cheese, nut cluster

double double protein style, diet coke, 1/2 apple
mini choc muffin with cc

1/2 serving of coco crack with coconut flakes

Did my weights workout late!! Got done at 9pm. Always so nice to know that my hot tub is waiting for me when I get done :)

Monday, March 29, 2010

R3 P4 D5...

At LIW exactly! :) Gotta love that! I was a little worried about Cheesecake Factory yesterday, but I did not over do it. Still no TOM, but I have had several people tell me that after their round they were 2 weeks off schedule! So I guess I will just have to wait and see. I start work on Thursday and am pretty excited about that :

Here is what I ate today:

hot choc, choc muffin

cottage cheese, strawberries
ezekiel english muffin, cc and fruit spread

can of tuna with celery sticks, orange and strawberry slices

chicken, mushrooms, and onions with cabbage

protein shake with fage and berries and coconut flakes

Those were the main meals..... in between were about 6 mini zucchini choc chip muffins, and one regular sized blueberry one, that I baked today!! For petes sake have some control! Went to dance class to try to undo the damage :)

Sunday, March 28, 2010

R3 P4 D4...

I wasn't going to get on the scale today after my first real sugar yesterday! But I did, and was down -0.4! That puts me at -0.2 under LIW!! Unbelievable :) I am so happy the sun has been out the last few days. This morning I am going to the trail to go walking with the hubby!

Here is what I ate today:

scrambled eggs with veggies, bacon, and cheddar
ezekiel english muffin with cc and fruit spread
orange and strawberry slices

string cheese
1/2 trio bar

Cheesecake Factory:
1/3 corn tamale appetizer
cobb salad
1/2 lemoncello torte

almond flour muffin

5oz chicken with onions and mushrooms, broccoli with ranch

3 sf candies.

Our walk was gorgeous, and it was about an hour and fifteen minutes. Later in the day, we played volleyball for about 30 minutes.


Saturday, March 27, 2010

R3 P4 D3...

Down -0.4 is morning. Only +0.2 above LIW. Still no TOM, and its been 35 days. But my body feels like it wants to start so bad. I am headed off to dance this morning. It is definitely the highlight of my week :)

Here is what I ate today:

tea
protein shake w/ berries and fage
1 ezekiel english muffin with cc and fruit spread

170g cottage cheese
150g strawberries
7g coconut flakes
4oz broccoli, 1/2 tbsp ranch
chocolate coconut macadamia mini muffin

jerky, string cheese, 7g dk choc chips

Red Robin:
bacon cheeseburger with avocado wrapped in lettuce, cantalope
1/2 oreo shake:)

string cheese, choc mini muffin

Well I went ahead and tried actual sugar with my oreo shake today :) It was very good. The ezekiel seems to have been fine so far.

Friday, March 26, 2010

R3 P4 D2...

Up 0.2 from yesterday. That is +0.6 above LIW. Keep feeling signs of TOM, but it has not started yet. I was a little emotional yesterday and kept wanting to eat all of my carrot cake muffins.... :) Today will be a weight lifting day. I can't wait until the "I'm so sore" phase is over :)

Here is what I ate today:

tea
1 egg+2 whites,onion,mush,spin,pep,jalapeno
1/2 ezekiel english muffin w 1/2 T butter, 9g fruit spread
100g strawberries

chocolate, coconut, macadamia mini muffin
1/2 T cc

5oz chicken,75g onion,50g mush,1T teryaki
3oz broccoli, 20g ranch
100g strawberries
1/2 carrot cake muffin

string cheese
fruit crisps
1 sq dark choc

In-and-Out double-double protein style, diet coke

2 choc coco mini muffins
1/2c hot choc

Had a good workout today, and played a little volleyball in the back yard for about 20 minutes. I really want spring to arrive and say goodbye to the cold for a long while.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

R3 P4 D1....

Today is the beginning of P4. I think I will have some ezekiel bread this morning :) I am up +0.4 this morning which does not surprise me in the least. I did an intense weight workout, and played volleyball for 2.5 hours until midnight last night! So fun, but so sore today :( One thing about when I gave blood was they took my blood pressure. I have always been borderline or high. Have even had times I have been on meds for it. Well, it was a perfect 120/80! Even when I was extremely nervous. I do not like needles. Now thats progress!

Here is what I ate today:

tea
ezekiel english muffin, 1 egg + 1 white, 1oz turkey bacon, 1/2 oz cheddar, 1 tbsp mayo

1/4 apple, 1/2 carrot cake muffin, 1 tbsp cc

1/2 stick jerky
113g cottage cheese, 150g strawberries
3oz broccoli, 1.5oz zucchini, 1tbsp ranch
almond flour cookie

string cheese, freeze dried pear crisps, 1 square dk choc

1 egg + 4 whites, 14g bacon, 1/2oz cheddar, spinach
150g strawberries
1/2 carrot cake muffin w 1tbsp cc

string cheese, 1/4 apple, 2 sf candies

Went to hip hop class and wow that was hard when I was already sore to begin with!! I was hungry today. I felt a little emotional, wanted sweets, tender in the chest region. Can you say PMS! I wish my body would just start already so I can get back to feeling like myself:)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

R3 P3 D21....

That's funny. As I typed the title to this post it just dawned on me that this is the last day of P3! I don't add much in p4 so I am never looking forward to it. I am completely baffled by TOM. Day 32 since last TOM. I keep expecting to wake up 2-3lbs over, but instead I lost the 1.4 I gained and am back to my new LIW of 147.2 exactly. Don't get me wrong, I am happy about that, but really when is it going to come???

Here is what I ate today:

tea
1 egg + 2 whites, peppers, jalapenos, 1oz turkey bacon
carrot cake muffin with 1 tbsp cc

1/2 stick jerky
113g cottage cheese, 90g diced apple, 7g coconut flakes
3oz broc, 1.5oz zuc, 1tbsp ranch
almond flour cookie

90g apple, string cheese, 11g macadamias

6oz chicken, 75g onions, 50g mushrooms, 1 tbsp teriyaki
154g mashed cauliflower

1/2 carrot cake muffin w 1tbsp cc
2 sf candies

string cheese

Did my weights work out this morning, and am off to play volleyball tonight!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

R3 P3 D20...

Well I fully expected to be way up today, but I am the same as yesterday. Maybe I sweated off any more possible TOM water gain at dance class last night before it could register on the scale :) Today is 31 days since last TOM, and the longest I have gone is 33. Feeling a little crampy so we will see. I made the carrot cake from the almond flour cookbook last night, but made them into muffins. Let me just say WOW! They are soooooo good. Little bit of cream cheese and you are in heaven!!

Here is what I ate today:

tea
carrot cake muffin w 1/2 tbsp cc
113g fage with 63g berries, and 7g coconut flakes

1/2 apple, 113g cottage cheese

jerky
string cheese
3oz broccoli, 1.5 oz zucchini, w 1 tbsp ranch
almond flour cookie

1/2 apple, nutball

6oz chicken, 120g cabbage, 1 tbsp teriyaki, onions

3 sf candies, string cheese

Still no TOM as of tonight. I was going to do my weights work out, but I went and donated blood today without realizing that I was not allowed to do anything for the rest of the day that would make me "get hot" or sweat! Man, you try to do the right thing, but have to miss out on the work out. I was really bummed. But I am sure I will be blessed by the universe right?? :)

Monday, March 22, 2010

R3 P3 D19...

First of all I have changed my LIW to 147.2 since that is where I seemed to have stabilized since adding the workouts. Second it has been 30 days since TOM! Today I am up +1.4 above my new LIW. That is very consistent. If I look back at previous rounds I gain about 1.4, then the next day I am up about 2.8, I do a steak day, and then TOM comes within 24-48 hours. Also in the 3-4 days before TOM starts I can't go to the restroom period. Doesn't matter what I do (smooth move etc). This would be day 3 with that issue! So lets see if the pattern continues :)

Here is what I ate today:

flaxball, tea
1 egg + 2 whites, 1oz turkey bacon, peppers, jalepenos
banana walnut flax muffin, 1/2 tbsp cc

rr chicken sandwich
2 cantalope wedges

1/2 apple, 1 TBSP peanut butter
almond flour cookie
string cheese

5oz chicken,120g cabbage,1 tbsp teryaki,onions
1/2 apple

carrot cake muffin, 1tbsp cream cheese- OMG!!

Went to lunch with a friend,and had a great time. Went to dance class for an hour.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

R3 P3 D18...

I am beginning to think there is something wrong with my scale :) Exactly the same again at 147.2! It has been 29 days since last TOM, but still no sign yet. It is kind of funny because when I set out on my weight loss journey last Jan, I set an ultimate goal weight of 145. Well if you take off the weight for the "girls", I am settled at 144.7!

I am so excited about the new job. I love working and always have. I love being challenged and learning new things. But one thing I have always loved is teaching other people. I have researched and been involved with health, exercise and nutrition for so many years. I have wanted to make a career of it for as long as I can remember. But I could never quit keep the weight off, and thought that no one would want to listen to someone who could not "walk the walk". I have wanted my personal trainer and nutrition certifications for probably the last 14 years. People have always come to me for advice and help in these areas even though I wasn't perfect. Then I found HCG, and finally things started to match up :)

I have been looking at career options really hard over the last 3 months. I kept going round and round about what I wanted to do. I still had a little voice inside my head saying I was too old for my trainer stuff. Then when I started working out again, I walked past the personal trainer office and there was one of the trainers sitting at her desk. She was about 55, and while not a "swimsuit" model she was in great shape. So I sat down and asked her questions and realized right then and there that I had been making excuses for not following my dreams. Health and fitness are attainable at any age, shape, or size. People need help with this in all phases of life and not just from "Barbie or Ken" :)

So I made a decision to get my certification by the end of this year, but that still left me wanting something now. I spend all day on HCG stuff. Answering questions, emails, blogs, neighbors, family and friends. My husband said to me, you need to find a job doing this. This is what you do everyday and you love it. And it would go hand in hand with your training stuff for lifetime maintenance. I loved the idea, but did not know how to make it happen. Should I start an HCG coaching company? Then Helderheid posts out of nowhere, and here we are today. I feel like everything over the last 14 years is coming together all at the right time, in such a beautiful way.
Sorry so long, but between the working out, the good food, feeling good in my clothes, finding direction, and an awesome new found opportunity, I feel on top of the world......

Here is what I ate today:

tea w cream, flaxball

1 egg + 2 whites, peppers, jalapenos, 1/2 oz cheddar
muffin with 1/2 tbsp cc

1/4 apple, string cheese

113g cottage cheese, 1/2 diced apple, 60g sf applsauce,8g macadamias,7g coconut flakes
3oz broccoli, 1.5g zucchini, 1 tbsp ranch
almond flour cookie

1/4 apple, nutball

bacon cheeseburger in lettuce, side of veggies

3 sf candies

tea, 115g fage, 63g berries, 3g coconut flakes

Saturday, March 20, 2010

R3 P3 D17...

Same as yesterday :) 147.2! Going to the HCG clinic this morning to see about a job!

**Update** We got the job!! Big thanks to Helderheid!! I start on April 1st. So excited to now get paid for something I love and that I do all day anyway :)

Here is what I ate today:

tea w/cream

100g almond flour pancakes w/ 1 tbsp peanut butter & sf syrup
115g fage, 63g berries, 7g coconut flakes

1/4 apple, string cheese

5oz chicken,120g cabbage,1 tbsp teriyaki,onions,mushrooms,2g butter
1/2 apple
almond flour cookie

1/4 apple, nutball

Red Robin bacon cheese burger in lettuce, cantaloupe wedges.

3 sf candies at the movies

Going out with the hubby for dinner and a movie. So excited about the new job and so happy to see the sunshine today! Took about an hour walk.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Body Fat Testing and Resting Metabolic Rates!

So everyone, I went to the University of Utah's exercise science division (Peak Academy) and had my body fat and resting metabolic rate tested today! They use the Bod Pod, which is the gold standard of body fat measurement and is equal or better than underwater testing. You wear a swimsuit or lycra shorts and a sports bra, and put your hair in a cap. Then you step into what looks like a large egg, and have a seat. They run the test 2-3 times and it take about a minute each time. I was a little nervous. I did underwater testing like 14 years ago, and have had the electrical done several times over the years. In all of these I was 38-42% !! Horrible. The best I got was about 33% once after losing a bunch of weight. I just kept hoping it would be 30% or less, since I knew that even though I had lost a lot of weight, I had gotten pretty soft. I was pleasantly surprised to learn I was at 27% The categories were very lean, lean, moderate, poor, and very poor. I am smack dab in the middle of moderate. Not too bad. I have to drop 3%, to enter the "lean" category! So can you guess what my new goal is :)
Then they had me sit in a chair next to a machine with a long tube attached to it, with a mouth piece at the other end. You put your mouth around the piece and they put a clamp on your nose. Then you just sit there and breath for about 10 minutes. We finished the test and my RMR was 2100 calories just sitting there! That did not include normal activity or exercise. He said that was very high. So we ran the test again to be sure. This time it still came back high at 1858 before normal activity and exercise. So according to this with normal activity and 30 minutes of exercise per day (I average more) my daily caloric intake to maintain is 2606! I was pretty shocked. He asked what I felt, and I explained that for the last 4 months before my last round I maintained my LIW and ate whatever I wanted and never counted a calorie. He said that sounds about right ;) So it says that I should eat 1858-2413 to maintain, and 1488 to 1858 to lose. I have been eating right around 1900 and have lost twice on that. If I eat closer to 2000-2100 then I was the same weight. Sounds like it is in the ballpark. Very interesting stuff!!

R3 P3 D16...

Down -0.4 lbs to 147.2! I think I am officially stabilizing :) I have been roughly at this weight for the last 5 days. This also tells me I was correct in my theory. Big jumps in weight overnight are usually due to overeating carbs, but not necessarily calories. So you do a steak day and the weight comes off. But if you are gaining in small increments consistently, the odds are you are overeating. You do steak days and not a lot happens. So I went and found out what my caloric needs were based on the level of exercise I am doing. It came back at 2100 cals per day. I started eating that way and immediately my weight started sticking, and even coming back down. I have been averaging around 1900 cals. Last night I felt a little bit hungry at bedtime, so it made me wonder if I might lose today, and I did. This leads me to believe that I should be able to up that closer to the 2100 and I should just maintain. My TOM was due today, but whenever I come off of HCG it tends to mess up the schedule. After my first round it was 5 days late. So some time in the next few days I should see a big jump happen right before I start.

Here is what I ate today:

flaxball, tea

2 eggs, 1oz turkey bacon, 1oz cheddar, peppers and jalepenos
banana walnut muffin with 1/2 tbsp cc

orange, string cheese, jerky

113g cottage cheese, 60g sf applesauce,almond cookie

3oz broccoli, 1.5oz zucchini, 1tbsp ranch
mini cheesecake

5oz chicken, onions, 120g cabbage, 2gms butter, 1tbsp ls teriyaki

2 squares dark choc, 1/2c fage, 63g berries, 7g coconut flakes

Busy day. Got the body fat tested. See new post on that. Did a lower body weights work out. Got a call to interview for a job at a new HCG clinic thanks to helderheid! Will let you know :)



Thursday, March 18, 2010

R3 P3 D15...

Same as yesterday!! 147.6! Maybe it is finally going to settle in. Of course my TOM is due tomorrow, and I always gain about 3 lbs the day before or the day it starts. So I will just keep doing what I am doing and let the scale do what it wants. Very sore today. I will probably take it easy today and just take a walk this afternoon. :)

Here is what I ate today:

flaxball, tea, 1/2 tbsp cream

1 egg + 2 whites, 1 slice turkey bacon, peppers and jalepenos
1/2 oz cheddar
banana walnut flax muffin with 1/2 tbsp cream cheese

1/4 pear, string cheese

1/2 pear, 6 oz chicken, 3oz broccoli, 1.5oz zucchini, 1 tbsp ranch
almond flour cookie

1/4 pear, nutball

5oz tilapia, 3 oz brussel sprouts in 2gm butter
sample of mini cheesecake

mini cheesecake, 1cup coconut milk, 1 tbsp cocoa, stevia

Walked for about an hour. Cals right about 1900. Life is good :)


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

R3 P3 D14...

So guess what?? I am +3.2 above LIW and absolutely thrilled :) I lost .2 this morning which is nice, but I feel awesome. I can't begin to explain what working out has done for me. I have so much energy and I FEEL GOOD! I took my measurements this morning and things are right on, and I have even lost on my waist. My abs are tight and everything is starting to firm up. I really think I looked better in my bikini this morning than I did 14 days ago. My eating yesterday was exactly how I want to eat. All good food, nothing processed or out of a box. Healthy treats with no sense of deprivation! If this is what life can be like, then sign me up! :) I am pretty sure I will switch over to once a week weigh ins soon. There is no reason to put a "stain" on my day, when I feel this good!

Here is what I ate today:

flaxball, tea

2 eggs + 2 whites with veggies and 1/2 oz cheddar in 2gms butter
banana walnut flax muffin with 1/2 tbsp cream cheese

6 oz chicken, 120g cabbage, 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
124g pear with 1 tbsp cream cheese
almond flour cookie

nutball, string cheese

115g fage, 63g berries
2oz turkey bacon
4.5oz broccoli with 1 tbsp ranch

1cup coconut milk, 1 tbsp cocoa, stevia
2 sf candies

Went for a 45 minute walk and am going to play volleyball for 2-3 hours tonight. Can't wait. Todays food is right about 1900 cals. Yummy! :)

**Came home from volleyball starving so I ate 1.5oz chicken, 3 bites of pear, and a piece of coco crack. Probably added about 100 cals :)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

R3 P3 D13...

Up +0.6! After eating high protein and probably less than 1000 calories! WTH??? I did go to a 7:15pm dance class and sweated my guts out, but sheesh!! This is where I really just want to toss the scale. I feel great. I look fine. I ate perfectly (too little though) and yet I feel bad because the scale does not agree. What is more important? How I feel and look or what the scale says?? Of course it is the how I feel, but it is so hard not to let the scale win. Back to regular eating today, no more trying to manipulate things to make the scale say what I want. Weight workout too :) Take that you stupid scale...... ;)

Here is what I ate today:

flaxball, tea

2 eggs + 2 whites, 1/2 oz cheddar, peppers
banana walnut flax muffin, 1 tbsp cream cheese

1/4 apple, string cheese

6oz chicken, 1/2 apple, broccoli and zucchini, 1 tbsp ranch
1 almond flour cookie

1/4 apple, 3 dried apricot halves, nutball

4oz tilapia, 3oz brussel sprouts

1/2 c fage, 63g berries, 14g coconut flakes
1 sf mint patty

Today was great. Sunshine :) I walked for 30 minutes with a friend, and did a 45 minute upper body weights routine. I was very specific with my eating and it represents 1860.5 calories. I would like to be able to eat 1800-2000 and maintain my current weight with working out.