Accountability Not Excuses - May 2008

[lcq]

Originally Posted by AngieC

I want to be in also...

I am 177 right now and I am 5'6" (almost) and I am 38...

Last year at this time i was down to 140 but could not maintain the 12 step program way of life and quit... thinking I could do it on my own..
but no.. so here I am making new friends on my own terms..

thanks ladies!!

(I have to post measurements later)

Angie....one thing I have come to realise is that...we will have to have a support system for life if we are to maintain any weight loss....so all of us (who are serious) will most probably be friends for a very long long time.....so we might as well have fun while on this journey


Hey Ok who was supposed to do the question for the last two days.....I guess this place is getting busy...I can hardly remember all the names...so here is the deal.....EACH PERSON has to post at least ONE question, joke, picture OR even a link to another thread, at LEAST ONCE per week.....that will keep this place lively and also pass the time while the dang scales decide to move

[lcq]

Originally Posted by Bramble

I....... and I'm 5'6 and a half... some days I'm 5'7... depends on whether or not I've brushed my hair.
.

will you please stop already...you are killing me,

[lcq]

Where is Teresa....get your butt in here and report girl.... as per rule #10. Will weigh and post weight (up or down) weekly....don't make me come and git ya

[cdn_gal]

Originally Posted by lcq

Hey Ok who was supposed to do the question for the last two days.....I guess this place is getting busy...I can hardly remember all the names...so here is the deal.....EACH PERSON has to post at least ONE question, joke, picture OR even a link to another thread, at LEAST ONCE per week.....that will keep this place lively and also pass the time while the dang scales decide to move

Bout time you started doing your job!
I was wondering that myself...
Some one plz amuse me, I have have finished all my inventory etc, and still have 2 hours left here..
*heading to the ML, if I'm not seen in an hour, come and get me*

[cdn_gal]

OMG Lisa!!
I just read the new thread post again..
I think I just peed my pants a little!
Some days you just feel like a chimmichunga, and some days, you just feel like the stuffing!

[AngieC]

Here is a great article to help keep us on our WOE!!

Refined carb diet increases risk of common diseases
Medical Studies/Trials
Published: Sunday, 9-Mar-2008 http://www.usyd.edu.au

Eating foods the body quickly converts into blood glucose - such as highly processed breakfast cereals and most white breads - leads to a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
In the world's first study of its kind, University of Sydney researchers have found conclusive evidence that diets with a high GI (Glycemic Index - a measure of how different foods affect your blood glucose levels) leads to a higher risk of common lifestyle diseases.

The study, conducted by Alan Barclay, Joanna McMillan Price, Professor Jennie Brand-Miller and colleagues, found high blood glucose led to high risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and is also linked to gall stones and some types of cancer.

In the study, published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Barclay and his colleagues looked at the diets of nearly two million (1,950,198) healthy men and women worldwide in a systematic analysis of 37 key studies.

"The key message from this study," says lead author Alan Barclay, "is that the GI of your diet is a powerful predictor of disease risk. Grandma was right, you are what you eat."

Because GI ranks carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose (sugar) levels, Barclay said it's not surprising to find a link between high GI diet and diabetes. "If you have constantly high blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels due to a high GI diet, you may literally 'wear out' your pancreas over time. Eventually it may lead to type 2 diabetes in older age."

He was more surprised by the "strong relationship" between GI and some of the other common diseases. "There's good evidence from the studies that have been done that high GI diets are linked to cancer as well. This is because constant spikes in blood glucose that cause the body to release more insulin also increase a related substance called 'insulin like growth factor one' (IGF-1).

"Both these hormones increase cell growth and decrease cell death, and have been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer.

"Other research shows that a high GI diet tends to reduce 'good' HDL cholesterol levels and raise triglycerides levels; bad news for cardiovascular diseases. And people with low HDL cholesterol and high triglyceride levels are more prone to gall stones. Up until now, people have considered fats and salt, not carbohydrates, to be the major contributor to heart disease.

"Low GI foods have benefits for everybody - they can keep you feeling full longer, help you maintain a healthy weight, and provide you and your brain with more consistent energy throughout the day. They can also have a major effect on whether or not you develop health problems."

The study is published in the latest edition American Journal of Clinical Nutrition March.

Glycemic Index explained

High GI foods are carbohydrate foods (sugars or starches) that break down quickly during digestion, causing blood glucose levels to increase quickly, and stay higher for longer. Examples include most breakfast cereals, smooth-textured bread, short-grain rice, potatoes and most biscuits and crackers.

Low GI foods are carbohydrates that breaks down slowly during digestion, releasing glucose gradually into the bloodstream. Examples include some grainy breads, natural muesli and most fresh fruit and some starchy vegetables.


University of Sydney, Australia. Teaching and research excellence, international reputation, community leadership, postgraduate research, postgraduate and undergraduate coursework study.

[Bramble]

What the heck is a chimmichunga?
And where is this cheat if you wanna challenge... I can't find it...
Cool article Angie and hi

[cdn_gal]

Originally Posted by Bramble

What the heck is a chimmichunga?
And where is this cheat if you wanna challenge... I can't find it...
Cool article Angie and hi

Don't you even think about it!


A chimmichunga is one of those deep fried roll things, (Mexican food) with beans, chicken/beef, cheese in them... Real yummy, but extremely fattening!

Angie~ Thanks for sharing that! Very good information and eye opening at the same time...

[Bramble]

Originally Posted by cdn_gal

A chimmichunga is one of those deep fried roll things, (Mexican food) with beans, chicken/beef, cheese in them... Real yummy, but extremely fattening!

Ah... sounds good. If you're bored... you could always do my report for me

[cdn_gal]

Originally Posted by Bramble

Ah... sounds good. If your bored... you could always do my report for me

Sorry, did someone say something?

[Bramble]

Originally Posted by cdn_gal

Sorry, did someone say something?

It was worth a try! Right I really am going now, lol I have to be awake in 5 hours and I still haven't done half of this stupid thing. ARGH!

Night night everyone, don't let the bed bugs bite!

[cdn_gal]

Okay, was bored so I checked it out...

Nutrition Facts
Calories 370(Kilojoules 1547)

% DV**
Total Fat 24 g 37%
Sat. Fat 10 g 50%
Cholesterol 45 mg 15%
Sodium 560 mg 23%
Total Carbs. 32 g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1 g 4%
Sugars 2 g
Protein 7 g
Calcium 20 mg

Most people eat 2 of them at a time...That would be like 64 carbs! (and I also used to eat rice that normally goes with it)
May as well just sit on it, cause it's gonna go straight to your a$$ anyways...

Night Bramble, sweet dreams!

[heythatsfun]

I just cheated. I won't say what it was or describe it because I don't want to romanticise it or trigger cravings for anyone else. But I will say that it was a "low carb product" of some sort, along with peanut butter. I think I was just discouraged by the gain of inches; but that doesn't justify it either. Oh, I'm gaining weight, so I'll cheat; yeah that'll solve things. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! I am so mad at meself! I'm just one of those people.... I will never weigh meself or measure meself again. I can't do it! If that means I can't be part of the challenge (breaking rules 10 and 11), I totally understand. But, I am being accountable and not making excuses for me actions, so that is progress I guess. Better luck to everyone else today!

[Teresa123]

Originally Posted by heythatsfun

I just cheated. I won't say what it was or describe it because I don't want to romanticise it or trigger cravings for anyone else. But I will say that it was a "low carb product" of some sort, along with peanut butter. I think I was just discouraged by the gain of inches; but that doesn't justify it either. Oh, I'm gaining weight, so I'll cheat; yeah that'll solve things. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! I am so mad at meself! I'm just one of those people.... I will never weigh meself or measure meself again. I can't do it! If that means I can't be part of the challenge (breaking rules 10 and 11), I totally understand. But, I am being accountable and not making excuses for me actions, so that is progress I guess. Better luck to everyone else today!

I can totally relate. Stay off the scales and away from the tape now. You may feel differently next week, you may not, but when and if you feel like you want to use them as a tool, and not a way to judge yourself, you'll know. In the mean time, get rid of whatever the offending low carb product was or get it out of sight and just get back to what you have been doing--which by the way you have been doing excellent! Also, I have no idea why your measurements are up--but I can say that I have found the tape measure to be about as reliable as the scale---in the big picture it can give us overall progress when you're talking about over a long period of time or if you are losing a substantial amount of fat. But in the day to day or even week to week (or month to month when you have such a small amount to lose) it doesn't always show the true story of progress or lack there of. My jeans on the other hand, they tell the whole story!

Hey everyone else, be back in a minute...

[Teresa123]

Wow, lots going on here and some more new members! Hey Angie--welcome aboard!

I am once again in a rush, I don't know if everyone in my world got together and decided to bombard me at once with both work and social things--but it seems like the last few days have been more out of control than usual! I have skimmed the posts but honestly haven't had time to really read. I'm excited to get back here Saturday (don't worry Lisa, I promise I will be here for a quick minute tomorrow to post ) so that I can really read and get to know everyone a bit better!

stats--158.8 which means that I pretty much GAINED a pound for each week in April--not my most shining month for sure.
measurements---41,33,38 now, ask me about the upper and lower abs and I can tell you those have gone up ---and my jeans confirm this.

b: 2 hb eggs and pumpkin muffin
l: tuna salad, celery and bell pepper strips, lemon yocheese
d: hamburger, cottage cheese, green bean casserole, jello fluff w/strawberries

I'm pooped and ready to go to bed! Happy Friday everyone!

[Coconutty]

Originally Posted by lcq

Well I am down a pound from yesterday so I guess that peanut butter from the last two weeks really did a number on my stats.....anyway as Lei keeps saying and I am trying to convince myself of," IT IS NOT A RACE"...but DANG MAN!!!....this sucks!!!

On the plus side I am also down a few inches....

That's great about the inch loss. Focus on that, the pounds will follow.

Originally Posted by cdn_gal

Oh yeah, and pic's...Who idea was this anyways?!

This was taken about 3 months ago...

ETA~ oh my gosh... That's huge!! Sorry bout that..

You look very pretty and SLIM!!!!!

Originally Posted by heythatsfun

That is really discouraging, and I don't know what to do! I must admit that I feel like a puffy mess today just from the psychological part of knowing that I gained 1-2 inches EVERYWHERE........ except for the one place I might actually want to gain some: me chest! But oh well, we can't always have what we want now can we... What would you all do? Stick to it or try something different? Me calories are at about 1400, me carbs are always less than 20 grams TOTAL, and I exercise as much as I can. Then again, I have lost POUNDS, so maybe something is working??? Oh jeeze, I'm so confused! lol

Is it possible you measured yourself differently last time (different location or holding the tape tighter)? Did you eat or drink before measuring? You've lost pounds, so it doesn't seem like your measurements should be bigger. How do your clothes feel? Maybe you're a bit bloated, I wouldn't worry too much about this.

Originally Posted by munchin missy

Here are my pics! Thanks Lucy!

WOW!! You look GOOD girl!!! You can really see the difference in your face!

Originally Posted by LoraJR72

I'm in!

Originally Posted by cdn_gal

For posting nekkid pics, or for the challenge?

......but you know what??? I think that might actually be liberating.

Originally Posted by lcq

what is wrong with you people ...you will scare all the new peeps away

I must say we have a lot of HAWT BEAUTIES showing here......keep the pics coming........i'm thinking if we get 12 peeps on board, we can do a calendar when we get to goal and sell it to a mens magazine......the money we make can pay for all of us to take a cruise......well one can dream can't she

But then again....maybe it's not such a bad idea, we sure got a lotta hotties in here!!

Originally Posted by Bramble

Well. I gained 2lbs since Sunday *I am not amused*. Back up to 197.
I *almost* gave up already and nearly bought chocolate and crisps and decided I was getting a taxi to work instead of walking... BUT I didn't.
I'm still in Ketosis according to the Ketostix so I don't get it.




Does this count as a face pic?

That gain is probably just normal fluctuations. Trust me I've been through that and know how frustrating it is, but it is just another indication of how the scale is an EVIL, EVIL thing. I remember a great old post about that. I'm gonna see if I can did it up.
BTW, Whatcha drinking in that pic? Looks yummy!

Originally Posted by AngieC

I want to be in also...

I am 177 right now and I am 5'6" (almost) and I am 38...

Last year at this time i was down to 140 but could not maintain the 12 step program way of life and quit... thinking I could do it on my own..
but no.. so here I am making new friends on my own terms..

thanks ladies!!

(I have to post measurements later)

Angie. I'm glad you found us.

Originally Posted by Bramble

I am a triangle with legs and a head... and I'm 5'6 and a half... some days I'm 5'7... depends on whether or not I've brushed my hair.

Originally Posted by heythatsfun

I just cheated. I won't say what it was or describe it because I don't want to romanticise it or trigger cravings for anyone else. But I will say that it was a "low carb product" of some sort, along with peanut butter. I think I was just discouraged by the gain of inches; but that doesn't justify it either. Oh, I'm gaining weight, so I'll cheat; yeah that'll solve things. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! I am so mad at meself! I'm just one of those people.... I will never weigh meself or measure meself again. I can't do it! If that means I can't be part of the challenge (breaking rules 10 and 11), I totally understand. But, I am being accountable and not making excuses for me actions, so that is progress I guess. Better luck to everyone else today!

Get back on the horse, and try not to beat yourself up about this. Remember that this is a journey and not about a particular number at any point in time. As we know, these numbers are constantly in flux, but the most important this is how you do over a period of time, weeks and months. And if you stick with it, the numbers will eventually go down and stay down provided that you stick to your plan. Maybe it's best that you don't weigh and measure regularly. Perhaps you have an article of clothing, like a pair of tight or skinny jeans, to gauge your progress. Maybe put them on every other week or so, and see how you look and feel in them.

Today's menu:
b. 4 sausage links, 2 hb eggs, coffee
l. ham, cheddar cheese, lettuce, & tomato, coffee
s. 6 pieces of small buffalo wings, 1 oopsie roll
d. creamy cauliflower thing, small slice deep dish pizza a al Linda Sue
Water: 2 liters so far
Exercise: T-Tapp

OK... Here's my mug shot:

[Coconutty]

This is from an old post I found on the board.

WHY THE SCALES CAN LIE:

We've been told over and over again that daily weighing is unnecessary, yet many of us can’t resist peeking at that number every morning. If you just cant bring yourself to toss the scale in the trash, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the factors that influence its reading. From water retention to glycogen storage and changes in lean body mass, daily weight fluctuations are normal. They are not indicators of your success or failure. Once you understand how these mechanisms work, you can free yourself from the daily battle with the bathroom scale.

Water makes up about 60% of total body mass. Normal fluctuations in the body’s water content can send scale-watchers into a tailspin if they don’t understand what’s happening. Two factors influencing water retention are water consumption and salt intake. Strange as it sounds, the less water you drink the more of it your body retains. If you are even slightly dehydrated your body will hang onto its water supplies with a vengeance, possibly causing the number on the scale to inch upward. The solution is to drink plenty of water.

A biologist at Berkeley shared something very revealing on the low-carb BBS system about 4 years ago that helps us all through the erratic weight fluctuations you invariably encounter:
“Fat cells are resilient, stubborn little creatures that do not want to give up their actual cell volume. Over a period of weeks, maybe months of “proper dieting”, each of your fat cells may have actually lost a good percentage of the actual fat contained in those cells. But the fat cells themselves, stubborn little guys, replace that lost fat with water to retain their size. That is, instead of shrinking to match the reduced amount of fat in the cell, they stay the same size! Result – you weigh the same, look the same, maybe even gained some scale weight, even though you have actually lost some serious fat.”

This is what we have been telling folks. You lose inches but not pounds because your body plumps the fat cells. I tell them it is a complicated biochemical process that your body replaces the fat molecules with water and fluids until you exceed your bodies predetermined fluid level. Then your body will release a chemical that releases all this stored water and you get sudden overnight loss of several pounds. Then the cycle starts over again with inches gone and the scales lag behind.

The good news is that this water replacement is temporary. It’s a defensive measure to keep your body from changing too rapidly. It allows the fat cell to counter the rapid change in cell composition, allowing for a slow, gradual reduction in cell size. The problem is, most people are frustrated with their apparent lack of success, assume they have lost nothing, and stop dieting. However, if you give those fat cells some time, and ignore the scale weight fluctuations, your real weight/shape will slowly begin to show.

Excess salt (sodium) can also play a big role in water retention. A single teaspoon of salt contains over 2,000 mg of sodium. Generally, we should only eat between 1,000 and 3,000 mg of sodium a day, so it’s easy to go overboard. Sodium is a sneaky substance. You would expect it to be most highly concentrated in salty chips, nuts and crackers. However, a food doesn’t have to taste salty to be loaded with sodium. A half cup of instant pudding actually contains nearly four times as much sodium as an ounce of salted nuts, 460 mg in the pudding versus 123 mg in the nuts. The more highly processed a food is, the more likely it is to have high sodium content. That’s why, when it comes to eating, it’s wise to stick mainly to the basics: fruits, vegetables, lean meat, beans, and whole grains. Be sure to read the labels on canned foods, boxed mixes, and frozen dinners.

Women may also retain several pounds of water prior to Tom. This is very common and the weight will likely disappear as quickly as it arrives. Pre-menstrual water-weight gain can be minimized by drinking plenty of water, maintaining an exercise program, and keeping high sodium processed foods to a minimum.

Another factor that can influence the scale is glycogen. Think of glycogen as a fuel tank full of stored carbohydrate. Some glycogen is stored in the liver and some is stored in the muscles themselves. This energy reserve weighs more than a pound and its packages with 3-4 pounds of water when it’s stored. Your glycogen supply will shrink during the day if you fail to take in enough carbohydrates. As the glycogen supply shrinks you will experience a small imperceptible increase in appetite and your body will restore this fuel reserve along with its associated water. It’s normal to experience glycogen and water weight shifts of up to 2 pounds per day even with no changes in your calorie intake or activity level. These fluctuations have nothing to do with fat loss, although they can make for some unnecessarily dramatic weigh-ins if you’re prone to obsessing over the number on the scale.

Otherwise rational people also tend to forget about the actual weight of the food they eat. For this reason, it’s wise to weigh yourself first thing in the morning before you have had anything to eat or drink. Swallowing a bunch of food before you step on the scale is no different that putting a bunch of rocks in your pocket. The 5 pounds that you gain right after a huge dinner in not fat. It’s the actual weight of everything you have had to eat and drink. The added weight of meal will be gone several hours later when you have finished digesting it.

Exercise physiologists tell us that in order to store one pound of fat, you need to eat 3,500 calories more than your body is able to burn. In other words, to actually store the above dinner as 5 pounds of fat, it would have to contain a whopping 17,500 calories. This is not likely; in fast it is not humanly possible. So when the scale goes up 3 – 4 pounds overnight, rest easy, it’s likely to be water, glycogen, and the weight of your dinner. Keep in mind that the 3,500 calories rule works in reverse also. In order to lose one pound of fat you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in. Generally, it’s only possible to lose 1-2 pounds of fat per week. When you follow a very low calorie diet that causes your weight to drop 10 pounds in 7
days, it’s physically impossible for all of that to be fat. What you are really losing is water, glycogen, and muscle.

This brings us to the scales sneakiest attribute. It doesn’t just weigh fat. It weighs muscle, bone, water, internal organs and all. When you lose “weight,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have lost fat. In fact, the scale has no way of telling you what you have lost (or gained). Losing muscle is nothing to celebrate. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue. The more muscle you have the more calories your body burns, even when you are just sitting around. That’s one reason why a fit, active person is able to eat considerably more food than the dieter who is unwittingly destroying muscle tissue.

Robin Landis, author or “Body Fueling,” compares fat and muscles to feathers and gold. One pound of fat is like a big fluffy, lumpy bunch of feathers, and one pound of muscle is small and valuable like a piece of gold. Obviously, you want to lose the dumpy, bulky feathers and keep the sleek beautiful gold. The problem with the scale is that is doesn’t differentiate between the two. It can’t tell you how much of your total body weight is lean tissue and how much is fat. There are several other measuring techniques that can accomplish this, although they vary in convenience, accuracy, and cost. Skin-fold calipers pinch and measure fat folds at various locations on the body, hydrostatic (or underwater) weighing involves exhaling all of the air from your lungs before being lowered into a take of water, and bioelectrical
impedance measures the degree to