Wendy Chant Crack the Fat Loss Code for October 27th

[kelley17]

Originally Posted by Pat in Mich

I had 185 pounds to lose when I started this diet and I gained the second week, and then I quit weighing. I'm in week four and I'm totally commited to doing this for the 8 weeks as it is written. I did have one screw up, I think in week three...ate a ton of no bake cookies. The last time I weighed myself, I was down 9 pounds from when I started....I spent all last year losing and regaining 10 pounds so I'm sticking with this....if I need to tweak it so I don't have such bad carb up days, I'll do that on the next go around....hang in thre!

BRAVO TO YOU! I think one of the main obstacles to losing weight is our mind. We have to be mentally ready to make a change and it is not easy. I was fed up with looking at pictures of myself and cringing. Plus I have 2 little girls and I want to be a good role model for them. I researched many of the diets out there and tried more than my fair share and this one just felt right to me and made sense. It just clicked.

[Vladis]

Originally Posted by mammapo

Livinagain...

Hey, hon! Listen to this (it might help you):

Naomi

Naomi,
Thank you from all of us for this great insight and for your honesty and encouragement

Originally Posted by judyblue

This is my first time here and I am not even sure if this is where I should have started. Thanks for reading this. Any help or encouragement is greatly appriecated.
Judy

Judy and
You are in the right place. We are a very encouraging and caring bunch and we would love to have you with us. We struggle, persevere, brag and whine - but we do not quit and we are very optimistic. Come and join us

[Gracefully]

Originally Posted by carla70

Good Morning - just quick note for the day - I woke up this morning with a terrible migraine so I had to take some advil and go back to bed for a few hours then come to work.

I have been getting terrible charlie horses in my calves and feet when I am in bed.. last night was the worst. Has anyone else experienced this?

I didn't get my brocolli or salad in last night for supper or snack.. had to run with kids. Tonight I have to take my daughter to Grand Forks (1 hour away) for a concert, she found out yesterday she won tickets So while she and a friend are at concert I am going to go to Sam's club and stock up on Atkins ready made drinks and whatever else I can find. Might even go do some shopping for some "goal" pants..

Hello my name is Carla and I am a scaleaholic .. weighed in on monday as start of this WOL and on wednesday I weighed and this morning.. Maybe I need to move my scale to other part of house or to the garage..lol But I did like so far what it said. But I know when I start the carb cycling it will be not as nice to me. I need to stop doing that as I realized that I let the number on the scale dictate my life and mood.. bad number bad mood. I need to stop my addiction to it on a daily basis. Just get back to weighing just on Wednesday. But now should I weigh on Monday since that will be the start of Week 2?

Have a Wonderful Day.. hope I can catch up reading this thread by the end of the week.. lots of AWESOME inspirtation and advice.

TTFN

Originally Posted by kelley17

Naomi Excellent - Do you mind if I cut and past that to FAQ thread?
Wendy should have you help her write her next book! You summerized all that sciency mumbo jumbo in the book beautifully.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]BTW[/COLOR] - Those of you who skipped over those first few chapters to get right to the diet - PLEASE go back and read them now. They really do explain the science behind what is going on and what to expect. All of us who have been on this WOE for a while aren't making this stuff up, we are telling you what is in the book.

Two bits...
I think it's low pottasium that causes muscle cramps when low carbing- LC books write about this....

As for posting it on the FAQ- I was very impressed with Naomi's write up- I am jsut a bit worried about telling people they should lose 24 lbs the first time around- Kelly did, but many won't , and I am worried about discouraging people- also 21 lbs the second time, etc....- we are all different- some will lose lbs, and others inches, we will ALL gain from this WOE, but it's dangerous to put it into numbers.

Just my humble opinion...

[kelley17]

Originally Posted by judyblue

This is my first time here and I am not even sure if this is where I should have started. A friend of mine has been reading and following the Wendy Chant book and told me about it. I in turn bought the book and am in the process of reading it. Unlike other "diets or programs" I have tried, I am really reading this book because I want to FINALLY understand what I need to do and why. I have NO IDEA what I am in for yet and how to go about what it is I am going to have to do. I am hoping to get help and support here. A year ago I had the lap band surgery and am not really losing. I know now its because I am not eating enough food. The one good thing is I have at least stopped gaining weight. That is about the only good thing about my lap band surgery. I am glad I had the surgery for that reason, but I would be happier if I were losing weight and not just the fact I have stopped gaining.
Thanks for reading this. Any help or encouragement is greatly appriecated.
Judy

Judy and we are here for support and to listen. I wish you the best and hope you have found your way to a healthier you!

[kelley17]

Originally Posted by carla70

Thanks Kelley - I need it. I am to go out to eat at a buffet (by myself and a book probably CTFLC) that has an awesome salad bar where I can make a very healthy salad and then have chicken breast and brocolli.. (i'm planning..lol)

I felt like I had a hangover this morning..lol

I will look into getting a supplement.. Thanks mammapo. I think there is a GNC there. We live in a very small town..so when we go to the "big" city I can stock up.

You should feel better and get the 'shift' in 2-3 days! You can make it. Advil and lots of water and EAT!

[Vladis]

Originally Posted by tamjlm

Two bits...
I think it's low pottasium that causes muscle cramps when low carbing- LC books write about this....

As for posting it on the FAQ- I was very impressed with Naomi's write up- I am jsut a bit worried about telling people they should lose 24 lbs the first time around- Kelly did, but many won't , and I am worried about discouraging people- also 21 lbs the second time, etc....- we are all different- some will lose lbs, and others inches, we will ALL gain from this WOE, but it's dangerous to put it into numbers.

Just my humble opinion...

I think it's the gist of what Naomi wrote that counts. We will all lose different amounts at different pace. I agree with her on all counts and we will all fill those ### blanks with our own numbers

[kelley17]

Originally Posted by mammapo

Go for it! I'm honored!!

Originally Posted by mammapo

I have a weakness for friends named 'kelly' so.... YES! lol. I'll be on your team.

(yay, you picked me! I'm used to being the one picked 'last' for the team...)

AAAAWWWWEEEE all around!

[Gracefully]

Originally Posted by kelley17

I did read about the wedding but is sounds like you threw out more food than you ate so I say you came out ahead. We had cookies today at work and I asked someone are the good? Just Ok - NOT WORTH IT! Love my NEW way of thinking. I think before I eat!

I DID gain a lb yesterday. (Aren't you frustrated you can't voodoo my scale??)- but taking it well.... I am soooo worried about next week. I expect a big loss, as there will be no excuses!!!!

Drinking alot of water this afternoon, and very soon will be able to have a hot cocoa shake!!! Yum!!!!

[Gracefully]

Originally Posted by Vladis

I think it's the gist of what Naomi wrote that counts. We will all lose different amounts at different pace. I agree with her on all counts and we will all fill those ### blanks with our own numbers

I agree wholeheartedly, as long as in the FAQs this is stressed!!! If I was sure I "should" lose so much, I would be outa here!!!
As a friend 4 years older than me said (he's 54), after not marrying yet" If I would live by "shoulda coulda woulda" I'd be a grandfather by now." Sad...


We just have to do our best!!!!

[kelley17]

Originally Posted by tamjlm

Two bits...
I think it's low pottasium that causes muscle cramps when low carbing- LC books write about this....

As for posting it on the FAQ- I was very impressed with Naomi's write up- I am jsut a bit worried about telling people they should lose 24 lbs the first time around- Kelly did, but many won't , and I am worried about discouraging people- also 21 lbs the second time, etc....- we are all different- some will lose lbs, and others inches, we will ALL gain from this WOE, but it's dangerous to put it into numbers.

Just my humble opinion...

I can change that part to 10-20 and 5-15 and so on!

[COLOR="Navy"]I have only lost 7 lbs so far for the second round and I'm in week 7. [/COLOR] Remember you don't have the carb deplete week so your weightloss won't be as great the second time through the cycles. [COLOR="Red"]DID EVERYBODY HERE THAT???? [/COLOR]I still feel great and OH SO HAPPY

[Vladis]

Originally Posted by tamjlm

I agree wholeheartedly, as long as in the FAQs this is stressed!!! If I was sure I "should" lose so much, I would be outa here!!!
As a friend 4 years older than me said (he's 54), after not marrying yet" If I would live by "shoulda coulda woulda" I'd be a grandfather by now." Sad...


We just have to do our best!!!!

Sad yet funny too - just like life itself

[Vladis]

Originally Posted by kelley17

I can change that part to 10-20 and 5-15 and so on!

[COLOR="Navy"]I have only lost 7 lbs so far for the second round and I'm in week 7. [/COLOR] Remember you don't have the carb deplete week so your weightloss won't be as great the second time through the cycles. [COLOR="Red"]DID EVERYBODY HERE THAT???? [/COLOR]I still feel great and OH SO HAPPY

Kelley,
Just out of curiosity - how much did you lose altogether the first time around?

BTW, I feel much better today. Getting ready to have my wholesome lunch - will load up on protein (tuna's on the menu) and put it on EX sesame bread. Yummy

[kelley17]

Originally Posted by Vladis

Kelley,
Just out of curiosity - how much did you lose altogether the first time around?

BTW, I feel much better today. Getting ready to have my wholesome lunch - will load up on protein (tuna's on the menu) and put it on EX sesame bread. Yummy

My stats reflect my FAT Loss for this WOE - I lost 20 lbs the first 8 weeks and then so far 7 more this second time through the cycles - My inches are more dramatic. I will try and find my tape measure and report on those soon!

Your lunch sounds yummy. I had broccoli soup and salad. Didn't have my protein but I had my snack about 1 1/2 before (oatmeal with strawberry protein shake) Thanks Alissa for that recommendation!

[alwaysdancing]

Welcome Judy! You found the right place. We are a bunch of "losers" here. Our pants are falling off, if not they are gonna be!

Nina please commit to the 8 weeks, they pass so quickly and you'll just hate that you didn't. Hang in there and you and Vladis will be bragging before you know it.

Judy, I have 3 friends that did the lap surgery and 2 are now too skinny, I worry about them. and the other is working hard on dieting to lose the rest, I'm gonna tell her about this because it will work and once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

We will take you through the 8 weeks and be there day by day and that is also the secret to achieving your goal.

[jkvetter]

Originally Posted by judyblue

This is my first time here and I am not even sure if this is where I should have started. A friend of mine has been reading and following the Wendy Chant book and told me about it. I in turn bought the book and am in the process of reading it. Unlike other "diets or programs" I have tried, I am really reading this book because I want to FINALLY understand what I need to do and why. I have NO IDEA what I am in for yet and how to go about what it is I am going to have to do. I am hoping to get help and support here. A year ago I had the lap band surgery and am not really losing. I know now its because I am not eating enough food. The one good thing is I have at least stopped gaining weight. That is about the only good thing about my lap band surgery. I am glad I had the surgery for that reason, but I would be happier if I were losing weight and not just the fact I have stopped gaining.
Thanks for reading this. Any help or encouragement is greatly appriecated.
Judy

Judy: I am like you, and usually jump right in to things, usually unsuccessfully. I took the time to read the full book this time, then started my plan on a Monday so I could be on the right time. I continue to go back and read and reread the book.

[QUOTE=mammapo;11064445]Sounds like you're deficient in Calcium or Magnesium

That's what I was going to say. Get a good, absorbable calcium

[livinagain]

Originally Posted by mammapo

Livinagain...

Hey, hon! Listen to this (it might help you):

When you've a lot of weight to lose, especially if you've had it for a long time, this is how your body copes with the sudden change (this is good to know and important to remember):

FIRST your body will shed any extra water weight you might have been carrying - alot of times we were carrying a lot of bloat due to a high sodium diet. Water is also the mechanism that our body uses to 'cool' down a stressed body - think of it like oil in a machine. We need to carry more water around when we're carrying around excess weight, chemicals, fat, and sugar - because our body would 'burn out' without the 'lubricant.' When we eat clean, this is the first to go.

THEN....
We start to lose actual fat. Now what happens here is tricky - First of all, losing the fat means that whatever toxins and hormones were stored in the fat (that's what the function of fat is, partially) are released into the bloodstream and sent to the kidneys for processing. Releasing extra hormones and toxins does what? -- you guessed it! - it stresses the body. This initially causes our bodies to add back a bit of that 'water weight' in order to help the 'machine' avoid burning out...

In addition, our bodies don't know what to do with the extra space that is created where fat used to be - particularly in the interior of our bodies, where it used to smush up all of our nice beautriful organs. Water rushes in to fill those spaces. THis is the body's way of readjusting where everything is supposed to go.

What does this mean? We slow down our weight/measurement loss and perhaps (if we had a really toxic coke-and-Hohos diet) even put a bit of weight on.

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS WATER WEIGHT. Think of digging a hole in the beach, right next to the ocean. The hole initially fills up with water, and then slowly drains away and becomes 'empty' - you're doing the same thing internally.


So what do you think happens next?

Once our body processes and excretes the extra toxins and hormones and once our body realizes that this is not a freaky accident and that those spaces are meant to be there....

THE BODY RELEASES THE WATER. Just like initially.

(Incidentally, this repition of water gain and loss in fat loss is healthy, as it allows us to be more 'elastic' - and go back to the shape we want to be. Larger losses than this result in the body's inability to 'shrink' - which is where you see a lot of people after something severe like gastric bypass, having to have massive surgeries to put organs in the proper place or remove excess skin...)


This big loss of water that happens is the 'whoosh fairy' that people talk about - where there are periods of no weight loss followed by a 'whoosh' of a large amount at once (say 3 or 4 pounds).

This is going to happen SEVERAL times as your body releases fat. You'll release it steadily, but you'll see the results in stops and starts. Some people have this happen more quickly than others, whose bodies seem to 'save up' the water for a longer wait time between losses.


If you're still experiencing TOM, this effect will be more extreme as the average woman can gain up to 10 pounds of WATER WEIGHT during the week before her cycle.

In addition, if you don't drink enough, you trigger the body to store water....


remember: if you can lose or gain it in a day, it's probably WATER. If you are sticking with this program, and you really have 80 pounds to lose I can guarantee you're most likely losing a minimum of 2 pounds of actual FAT a week. You may find that it takes till week four or five to see the loss on the scale (remember your body is most likely compensating by adding water to flush out toxins and 'save the space' where the fat used to be).


Some strategies you can use to help move the water flushign along:

1) Drink water. Water flushes water weight. Try to drink an ounce for every 2 pounds you weigh a day plus an ounce for each pound you need to lose. Try to use something other than artificial sweeteners to flavor your water. Artificial Sweetners induce an insulin response (and a toxin-alert response *cringe*) which will cause your body to hang onto the water you're trying to flush.- I like flavored Celestial Seasonings iced teas as they come in a million flavors and sweeten with spoonable stevia packets as they taste best.

2) reduce sodium - processed foods have tons of hidden salt, and Americans tend to cook with tons too. Less sodium means more water flushing.

You can use half the sea salt as regular and have the same taste. This is the easiest to do.

You can cut the salt in half in any recipe and use regular salt. Also pull it from the table.

You can use juiced celery instead of salt.

Just some ideas...

3)Make sure to get a cup of tea or coffee a day in - a small amount of caffein is good for your mental health (intelligence, literally), mood, and metabolism and prompts a diuretic response. Too much, though, will trigger a water-bloat. 200-400 mg a day is considered ideal - that's one or two cups max of caffeinated or 2-4 cups max of decaffeinated.

On a personal note:

For you, frankly, I think the best strategy is to make a deal with yourself that you're only going to weigh twice - once at the beginning and once at the end of the eight weeks.

You are a results person and it sounds like you've got a set idea in your head - I need to lose 8 pounds a week for this to be a successful program, etc... Sometimes for those of us who are like this, it's better to concentrate on changing thinking patterns and behaviour and get away from 'seeing results' until the end. There are two reasons to do this:

1) It doesn't really address the issue.
If you're using daily or weekly numbers as an indicator of success, you're setting yourself up to use this like any other diet -- which means you'll drop it if it isn't working as fast as you like OR you'll drop it once you hit your goal.

The problem is that treating this as a 'diet' GUARANTEES that you'll go back to old thought patterns and eating habits when you're 'done' and you'll end up gaining the weight back (prolly plus some).

You need to think of this as a mental retraining program - teaching yourself to BE HEALTHIER.

Being thinner WILL happen as a natural side effect, but that's not the goal - the goal is to learn to move more, eat less, and stop using food to self-medicate. Unless you learn those lessons, no diet on earth will help you for more than a week or two...

2) Being a 'results person' - you're better off to give yourself a fighting chance to see actual results.

Let's be blunt - you see results week one, so you're elated. You don't see them week two, so you get depressed. What happens as you bounce all over the place in terms of losing, stalling, and even gaining a bit (OF WWATER, remember) -- you play random mind games with yourself.

Week 1 - "I lost 9 pounds. This works!"

Week 2 - "I gained three pounds. This doesn't work at all!"

Instead, breaking the 'results show' into longer periods allows you to get a good feel for what's REALLY happening. Here's how even breaking it into two week increments helps you gain perspective:

Combined results after two weeks of doing this: You lost 6 pounds!

Now if you had stepped on the scale for the FIRST time after 2 weeks and it showed a result of 6 pounds loss, you would have said "Woohooo! I lost!"

6 pounds isn't shabby - that's an average of THREE POUNDS PER WEEK!!! Which is the absolute max that it's physically safely possible to lose of actual fat in a week.

Now extrapolate that. Imagine if you don't weigh yourself until the eight weeks is up and you step on (at an average of three pounds of loss per week, averaged over the eight weeks, some weeks a pound gained, some 4 poudns lost etc): You'd have lost 24 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Let's get crazy for a moment:

It's not realistic to expect to lose 80 pounds in 2 months, I'll be honest. And if that's what you expect, you're sure to be disappointed.

But it is possible to lose ALL that weight before this time next year. Did you hear me on that? ALL of it. Imagine sitting down to Thanksgiving next year absolutely PERFECT in body and weight. You can do it....

You have eighty pounds to go. Let's say everyone averages, based on what I've seen from people here who have done the full program, about 2-3 pounds a week.

You have more to lose, so three pounds a week is probably reasonable for the first half (40 pounds) of your weight loss and two pounds for the second half:

So, by January (8 weeks) you should have lost about 24 pounds total - that's about 2 or 3 dress sizes!!!

By March (second 8 weeks) you should be down about 45 pounds total - another 2 or 3 dress sizes!

By April (third 8) you should be down another 20 pounds - one more dress size - for a total of 60 pounds

By July (last eight) you would be to goal, give or take 5 pounds - another dress size.

Think about this. In LESS THAN A YEAR you could be your 'ideal weight'. And about 7 dress sizes smaller (If you're a 24, you could be a 10!!!!!)


Now think about this. If you quit, discouraged, because you weren't losing 'fast enough'....

Where will you be next July?


In America in Particular, we're an instant gratification society. We want to get rid of the bad instantly, with no discomfort, and we want our rewards before we do our work. This transfers to weight loss. We need to get away from instant results and move toward real health.

Did you try a new diet last year? Where are you now? Did you quit that one because you weren't losing at all or because you weren't losing 'fast enough'?

Quitting gets us exactly where we have always been.

It's the trying that gets us where we want to go.

And it's not about being perfect.

For crying out loud, I'm the poster child for restarts! But here I am and even with failures and restarts I weigh 4 pounds less than I did last July.

Last July, I started this WOE because I weighed MORE than I had in July 2007.

Hear me? Last year I had gained.

This year I weigh less. That's the important thing. I weigh LESS!

And next year I will weigh less. I've no idea how much. But I will weigh LESS. I will look better. I will FEEL better. I will have learned boundaries and how to use my food to feed my body instead of using my food as a god or drug or medication...

Now that's progress.

And it's something I truly believe you can achieve.


Naomi

Thanks for the note Naomi and I realize I would not lose 80 lbs in 8 weeks I am also the queen of restarts and know that 1 - 2 lbs weight loss a week is ideal. I am just cranky today, I havent given up.

Question in the plan a carb up day says two carbs with protein last two meals but in the food plan there is an example of carbs at breakfast lunch and supper a little confused.

Nina

[alwaysdancing]

ok not sure how i loaded two photos but they mean I Love you all for being there!
Anyone coming to Houston give me a call so we can visit. my email is lgc@pdq.net
713 294 5277 you feel desparate call and I'll talk you off the ledge. Unless I'm teaching class and you'll have to post pone your jump. I'm there for you!

[gemini0604]

[quote=jkvetter;11064695]Judy: I am like you, and usually jump right in to things, usually unsuccessfully. I took the time to read the full book this time, then started my plan on a Monday so I could be on the right time. I continue to go back and read and reread the book.

Originally Posted by judyblue

This is my first time here and I am not even sure if this is where I should have started. A friend of mine has been reading and following the Wendy Chant book and told me about it. I in turn bought the book and am in the process of reading it. Unlike other "diets or programs" I have tried, I am really reading this book because I want to FINALLY understand what I need to do and why. I have NO IDEA what I am in for yet and how to go about what it is I am going to have to do. I am hoping to get help and support here. A year ago I had the lap band surgery and am not really losing. I know now its because I am not eating enough food. The one good thing is I have at least stopped gaining weight. That is about the only good thing about my lap band surgery. I am glad I had the surgery for that reason, but I would be happier if I were losing weight and not just the fact I have stopped gaining.
Thanks for reading this. Any help or encouragement is greatly appriecated.
Judy

Hey Judy,

I started and quitted other diets forever. But when I read about this PLAN (not diet) and being fit forever, I had to get the book. I downloaded a digital copy of the book AND ordered a hard copy. I still continue to go back and reread the book. It's my other Bible. You will find a ton of help and encouragement on this board. All you have to do is just ask. Nice to have you here and good luck!

[carla70]

Quick note - I asked a couple of the RN's here at work about the cramping ( they don't know my eating) but they said it sounded like low calcium and potassium. Just as you all have said. They suggested a supplement or take two tums a day. That reminded me of when my husband was in the hospital last time for chemo he was starting to have charlie horses in his legs and they gave him tums for it. I have tums at home.. will take them before bed.

[jkvetter]

Soup, warm, yummy soup

Chicken soup with lentils, veggies, jalapeno, tomato paste and a pinch of cheddar cheese on top.

Ken said, OMG this is good! I thought so too. It's cold outside, the sun is shining and there is nothing better than soup!

[redhotbean]

Originally Posted by mammapo

Livinagain...

Hey, hon! Listen to this (it might help you):

When you've a lot of weight to lose, especially if you've had it for a long time, this is how your body copes with the sudden change (this is good to know and important to remember):

FIRST your body will shed any extra water weight you might have been carrying - alot of times we were carrying a lot of bloat due to a high sodium diet. Water is also the mechanism that our body uses to 'cool' down a stressed body - think of it like oil in a machine. We need to carry more water around when we're carrying around excess weight, chemicals, fat, and sugar - because our body would 'burn out' without the 'lubricant.' When we eat clean, this is the first to go.

THEN....
We start to lose actual fat. Now what happens here is tricky - First of all, losing the fat means that whatever toxins and hormones were stored in the fat (that's what the function of fat is, partially) are released into the bloodstream and sent to the kidneys for processing. Releasing extra hormones and toxins does what? -- you guessed it! - it stresses the body. This initially causes our bodies to add back a bit of that 'water weight' in order to help the 'machine' avoid burning out...

In addition, our bodies don't know what to do with the extra space that is created where fat used to be - particularly in the interior of our bodies, where it used to smush up all of our nice beautriful organs. Water rushes in to fill those spaces. THis is the body's way of readjusting where everything is supposed to go.

What does this mean? We slow down our weight/measurement loss and perhaps (if we had a really toxic coke-and-Hohos diet) even put a bit of weight on.

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS WATER WEIGHT. Think of digging a hole in the beach, right next to the ocean. The hole initially fills up with water, and then slowly drains away and becomes 'empty' - you're doing the same thing internally.


So what do you think happens next?

Once our body processes and excretes the extra toxins and hormones and once our body realizes that this is not a freaky accident and that those spaces are meant to be there....

THE BODY RELEASES THE WATER. Just like initially.

(Incidentally, this repition of water gain and loss in fat loss is healthy, as it allows us to be more 'elastic' - and go back to the shape we want to be. Larger losses than this result in the body's inability to 'shrink' - which is where you see a lot of people after something severe like gastric bypass, having to have massive surgeries to put organs in the proper place or remove excess skin...)


This big loss of water that happens is the 'whoosh fairy' that people talk about - where there are periods of no weight loss followed by a 'whoosh' of a large amount at once (say 3 or 4 pounds).

This is going to happen SEVERAL times as your body releases fat. You'll release it steadily, but you'll see the results in stops and starts. Some people have this happen more quickly than others, whose bodies seem to 'save up' the water for a longer wait time between losses.


If you're still experiencing TOM, this effect will be more extreme as the average woman can gain up to 10 pounds of WATER WEIGHT during the week before her cycle.

In addition, if you don't drink enough, you trigger the body to store water....


remember: if you can lose or gain it in a day, it's probably WATER. If you are sticking with this program, and you really have 80 pounds to lose I can guarantee you're most likely losing a minimum of 2 pounds of actual FAT a week. You may find that it takes till week four or five to see the loss on the scale (remember your body is most likely compensating by adding water to flush out toxins and 'save the space' where the fat used to be).


Some strategies you can use to help move the water flushign along:

1) Drink water. Water flushes water weight. Try to drink an ounce for every 2 pounds you weigh a day plus an ounce for each pound you need to lose. Try to use something other than artificial sweeteners to flavor your water. Artificial Sweetners induce an insulin response (and a toxin-alert response *cringe*) which will cause your body to hang onto the water you're trying to flush.- I like flavored Celestial Seasonings iced teas as they come in a million flavors and sweeten with spoonable stevia packets as they taste best.

2) reduce sodium - processed foods have tons of hidden salt, and Americans tend to cook with tons too. Less sodium means more water flushing.

You can use half the sea salt as regular and have the same taste. This is the easiest to do.

You can cut the salt in half in any recipe and use regular salt. Also pull it from the table.

You can use juiced celery instead of salt.

Just some ideas...

3)Make sure to get a cup of tea or coffee a day in - a small amount of caffein is good for your mental health (intelligence, literally), mood, and metabolism and prompts a diuretic response. Too much, though, will trigger a water-bloat. 200-400 mg a day is considered ideal - that's one or two cups max of caffeinated or 2-4 cups max of decaffeinated.

On a personal note:

For you, frankly, I think the best strategy is to make a deal with yourself that you're only going to weigh twice - once at the beginning and once at the end of the eight weeks.

You are a results person and it sounds like you've got a set idea in your head - I need to lose 8 pounds a week for this to be a successful program, etc... Sometimes for those of us who are like this, it's better to concentrate on changing thinking patterns and behaviour and get away from 'seeing results' until the end. There are two reasons to do this:

1) It doesn't really address the issue.
If you're using daily or weekly numbers as an indicator of success, you're setting yourself up to use this like any other diet -- which means you'll drop it if it isn't working as fast as you like OR you'll drop it once you hit your goal.

The problem is that treating this as a 'diet' GUARANTEES that you'll go back to old thought patterns and eating habits when you're 'done' and you'll end up gaining the weight back (prolly plus some).

You need to think of this as a mental retraining program - teaching yourself to BE HEALTHIER.

Being thinner WILL happen as a natural side effect, but that's not the goal - the goal is to learn to move more, eat less, and stop using food to self-medicate. Unless you learn those lessons, no diet on earth will help you for more than a week or two...

2) Being a 'results person' - you're better off to give yourself a fighting chance to see actual results.

Let's be blunt - you see results week one, so you're elated. You don't see them week two, so you get depressed. What happens as you bounce all over the place in terms of losing, stalling, and even gaining a bit (OF WWATER, remember) -- you play random mind games with yourself.

Week 1 - "I lost 9 pounds. This works!"

Week 2 - "I gained three pounds. This doesn't work at all!"

Instead, breaking the 'results show' into longer periods allows you to get a good feel for what's REALLY happening. Here's how even breaking it into two week increments helps you gain perspective:

Combined results after two weeks of doing this: You lost 6 pounds!

Now if you had stepped on the scale for the FIRST time after 2 weeks and it showed a result of 6 pounds loss, you would have said "Woohooo! I lost!"

6 pounds isn't shabby - that's an average of THREE POUNDS PER WEEK!!! Which is the absolute max that it's physically safely possible to lose of actual fat in a week.

Now extrapolate that. Imagine if you don't weigh yourself until the eight weeks is up and you step on (at an average of three pounds of loss per week, averaged over the eight weeks, some weeks a pound gained, some 4 poudns lost etc): You'd have lost 24 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Let's get crazy for a moment:

It's not realistic to expect to lose 80 pounds in 2 months, I'll be honest. And if that's what you expect, you're sure to be disappointed.

But it is possible to lose ALL that weight before this time next year. Did you hear me on that? ALL of it. Imagine sitting down to Thanksgiving next year absolutely PERFECT in body and weight. You can do it....

You have eighty pounds to go. Let's say everyone averages, based on what I've seen from people here who have done the full program, about 2-3 pounds a week.

You have more to lose, so three pounds a week is probably reasonable for the first half (40 pounds) of your weight loss and two pounds for the second half:

So, by January (8 weeks) you should have lost about 24 pounds total - that's about 2 or 3 dress sizes!!!

By March (second 8 weeks) you should be down about 45 pounds total - another 2 or 3 dress sizes!

By April (third 8) you should be down another 20 pounds - one more dress size - for a total of 60 pounds

By July (last eight) you would be to goal, give or take 5 pounds - another dress size.

Think about this. In LESS THAN A YEAR you could be your 'ideal weight'. And about 7 dress sizes smaller (If you're a 24, you could be a 10!!!!!)


Now think about this. If you quit, discouraged, because you weren't losing 'fast enough'....

Where will you be next July?


In America in Particular, we're an instant gratification society. We want to get rid of the bad instantly, with no discomfort, and we want our rewards before we do our work. This transfers to weight loss. We need to get away from instant results and move toward real health.

Did you try a new diet last year? Where are you now? Did you quit that one because you weren't losing at all or because you weren't losing 'fast enough'?

Quitting gets us exactly where we have always been.

It's the trying that gets us where we want to go.

And it's not about being perfect.

For crying out loud, I'm the poster child for restarts! But here I am and even with failures and restarts I weigh 4 pounds less than I did last July.

Last July, I started this WOE because I weighed MORE than I had in July 2007.

Hear me? Last year I had gained.

This year I weigh less. That's the important thing. I weigh LESS!

And next year I will weigh less. I've no idea how much. But I will weigh LESS. I will look better. I will FEEL better. I will have learned boundaries and how to use my food to feed my body instead of using my food as a god or drug or medication...

Now that's progress.

And it's something I truly believe you can achieve.

Naomi

Wow good info and very informative. So everyone hide those scales!!

Kim

[Molly_1010]

Got a question:

If I just had my carb-up day yesterday, but have a dinner invitation tomorrow that makes me want to change my Saturday carbup to Friday, do I do a carbdown today or a baseline? I'm assuming carbdown, but just wasn't sure.

[gemini0604]

Originally Posted by jkvetter

Soup, warm, yummy soup

Chicken soup with lentils, veggies, jalapeno, tomato paste and a pinch of cheddar cheese on top.

Ken said, OMG this is good! I thought so too. It's cold outside, the sun is shining and there is nothing better than soup!

Cold here too. That looks so good. I hope you post this recipe too.

[jkvetter]

Originally Posted by gemini0604

Cold here too. That looks so good. I hope you post this recipe too.

I make things up all the time, so I wrote this one down as I added things. I'll put it in the recipe thread.

[Vladis]

Originally Posted by kelley17

My stats reflect my FAT Loss for this WOE - I lost 20 lbs the first 8 weeks and then so far 7 more this second time through the cycles - My inches are more dramatic. I will try and find my tape measure and report on those soon!

Your lunch sounds yummy. I had broccoli soup and salad. Didn't have my protein but I had my snack about 1 1/2 before (oatmeal with strawberry protein shake) Thanks Alissa for that recommendation!

Thanks, Kelley. Wow! What a great success No wonder you are so passionate about this WOE and you have every right to be

I listened to you before and now I am going to get a few Q-tips so that I could hear you even better

Originally Posted by alwaysdancing

ok not sure how i loaded two photos but they mean I Love you all for being there!
Anyone coming to Houston give me a call so we can visit. my email is lgc@pdq.net
713 294 5277 you feel desparate call and I'll talk you off the ledge. Unless I'm teaching class and you'll have to post pone your jump. I'm there for you!

Linda, you are just too good Thank you from all of us!

[QUOTE=gemini0604;11064817]

Hi Gemini!
I didn't realize (or forgot) you are week-2er. How are you doing? How was your first baseline day. Kelly (carbaddict) and I had a bit of a starch crash yesterday. How did you do?

[Vladis]

[COLOR=seagreen]Girls, can we have hummus and pesto?[/COLOR]

[wildcat1842]

Originally Posted by carla70

Quick note - I asked a couple of the RN's here at work about the cramping ( they don't know my eating) but they said it sounded like low calcium and potassium. Just as you all have said. They suggested a supplement or take two tums a day. That reminded me of when my husband was in the hospital last time for chemo he was starting to have charlie horses in his legs and they gave him tums for it. I have tums at home.. will take them before bed.

Thank you for sharing that. I am also having leg cramps. Does Tums have suagr? Maybe I'll Google that . I'm depleting and have to be very careful!

[Vladis]

Well, I think the problem yesterday was the lack of food. I just had a very nice lunch - side salad with cucs, radishes, tomatoes and a great tuna salad sandwich (on EZ) reinforced with a shaved hard boiled egg. And I feel - GREAT! Please enjoy this happy beaver performance - me, thanking you all for your support and doing some callanetics while I am at it

P.S. I just hope it works (have to idea how to post it)

YouTube - beaver dance

[jmprgrl74]

Originally Posted by livinagain

week 2 day 4
Good morning everyone
I need to vent I am cranky and unsure of this plan I did great the first week almost 9 lbs. Which happens to me on any plan I start. Now I have gained three lbs back in week two. I know I know throw the scale out but........ I have to have a reduction in the scale I need to lose 80lbs not just 10 or 20. I cant turn 80lbs to muscle the scale has to go down. (I am not very patient lol ) I am worried that I will do this plan for weeks and not see any results. How many of you have gained weight the first few weeks that have 60 plus pounds to lose. How did you cope with it It is freakin me out. I could cope with staying the same for week two but I am not coping at all with gaining.
Everyone is so positive on here sorrrrrry for being negative but this is how I am feeling. I am sure other ppl may have this feelilng as well or have had this feeling is the past.
I want to be a believer but struggling today.
I havent went off the plan but I am teetering the slippery slope.
Nina

I want to chime in too! I'm also with Vladis, Kelly and you at week 2 day 4. I am a naturally pessimistic person. I truly do try very hard to change that outlook, even listening to books on tape on positive attitude and so forth. But dieting is one thing that it's hard to believe in. I've NEVER had a diet succeed since I was a teenager! Even back then, I only lost weight because I became anorexic. So I've had issues with my weight and food for a long time. So I tend to start out these things feeling very afraid of being hopeful for something different. I don't want to disappoint myself right? But that kind of attitude is what's keeping me from succeeding. I think, "What the heck, I might as well eat/drink that because it's not going to work anyway." Now that I'm watching for those kinds of thoughts I try to immediately stop them. Think about other times in your life you've done something you thought was hard or weren't sure if you could do but you did. We are immensely stronger than we give ourselves credit for sometimes and with support like we have here, we CAN do this! It's impossible for you to eat in this healthy way and NOT lose...IMPOSSIBLE!

Just commit to 8 weeks. Do 8 weeks as straight as you can so you'll have the real view if it will work or not. Don't look at the 80 pounds, look at that 10-20. You'd be AMAZED at what a difference that will make! Then when you are feeling pumped up with energy, excitement, belief in the possibilities and are used to this WOE...the rest will be a breeze!

I promise not to give up if you promise.

Pam

[gemini0604]

[quote=Vladis;11064890]Thanks, Kelley. Wow! What a great success No wonder you are so passionate about this WOE and you have every right to be

I listened to you before and now I am going to get a few Q-tips so that I could hear you even better



Linda, you are just too good Thank you from all of us!

Originally Posted by gemini0604

Hi Gemini!
I didn't realize (or forgot) you are week-2er. How are you doing? How was your first baseline day. Kelly (carbaddict) and I had a bit of a starch crash yesterday. How did you do?

I did OK. Had Wendy's crepe in the AM and for lunch my starch was the EZ bread. But when I was cooking dinner I was craving pretzels. I have these thin wheat pretzels and I wanted to rip the bag open. It didn't help that my son & daughter (who popped in for dinner) were standing in the kitchen just snacking away while waiting to be fed. And of all times, my husband came home with fresh corn on the cob. Even though it was the end of the season, they said it was the best they had all year. poo on them!