**An Awesome April for MWL**

[irabeslim]

Originally Posted by eptexy

I'd take that 5 pound fat loss! What I've found is that with the Tanita scale, you have to think big picture. It goes up and down day to day but will be accurate somewhere in the middle. I have an old Tanita scale at home and it pretty much mimicked what the clinic said to me. My mom had skin tests done last week for fat % so I may take it to her house and see what the difference is. All I know is when I feel flabbier, the scale shows it and vice versa.

Speaking of the scale, mine is not moving. At all. But I'm still in ketosis. Which to me tells me basically I'm suffering in vain. lol

After week1 loss, my scale never moves during the second week regardless how strict I am - very frustrating, I know. You are doing everything right for a change and nothing. Especially on my N-th time around doing week 1s. The solution is to keep going and you will see the result eventually.

[Mommy-2-girls]

Hi everyone, I always forget to post on the main thread, just the topical threads! Oh well Down 50 pounds today in 12 weeks. Woohoo!

[Fit2010]

MOMMY-2-GIRLS - 50 lbs--congratulations!! It is incredible that we are all showing up here again. It helps to have the reliable support of friends who have been where I've been, walked the walk, and are now taking that journey again. We are making progress!

Hi Barb! The fat burner from Walgreens or Walmart was just green tea stuff, or I have bought it at a health food store in the past. I don't think I'll be using that for a while. My stomach is very torn up lately with 15 days of Doxycycline post tick bite trying to turn into Lymes disease and having been on Mobic for my shoulder tendonitis...I had to stop the Mobic and just got an injection in it today. I've been doing OTC Prilosec. Having sinus surgery two weeks from today -- needing prayers please! This body just seems to always complain about something....can I get a trade in?!! Perhaps a sleeker, more medically-sound model please?!

[lins]

Mommy-2-girls Congratulations, that is awesome!!!!

I hurt my ankle yesterday walking around Legoland. It was bothring me last night but I thought it would be fine by this morning. It has gotten worse throughout the day today. I have ice on it now. On a postive note I went to a MOPS meeting this morning and they had all kinds of yummy snacks, and I didn't eat any of it. They did have some cashews and I had 6 of them, and that's it! This afternoon I am feeling the need to snack, but I am avoiding it, and hoping it will go away. Thankfully I have nothing "bad" in the house anyway so it's not too hard.

I've also used Chia Seeds a lot in the past. I used them when I was training for my half marathon, because they help with dehydration. I should start using them again. I'll also get some benifiber, doesn't hurt to give it a try.

[Fit2010]

Mary and Lins - Let us know all the ways that you use Chia seeds. Aren't they kind of expensive? I'm just wondering.

[DreamWarrior]

Hi Everyone!! Its so wonderful to see you all again!!! Mommy-2, Fit2010, wow!! It's soo good to see you all!

I have to say, this was very difficult to do this time around. An attempt at a week1 again did not go as smoothly as the first time... I did not hit ketosis today... not surprised since I ate greens with my lunch. I wouldnt be surprised; however, if I lost some weight just by reducing my calorie intake so much, but the goal was to be in Ketosis by today... looks like if Im gonna stay one the plan Im gonna have to hit week 1 for a few more days. *sigh*

[DreamWarrior]

Originally Posted by Fit2010

...It helps to have the reliable support of friends who have been where I've been, walked the walk, and are now taking that journey again. We are making progress!

Love this!

[lins]

I don't remember the chia seeds being too expensive. I bought a small bag and they lasted me a long time. You really only use 1-2 tbsp a day. I used them in smoothies a lot when I was running. But you can really sprinkle them on anything. They don't really have a flavor. Or I use to put a tablespoon in about 1/2 a cup of water wait about 5 minutes and drink it. It's not good that way but it's doable. I took them everyday for about a year.

[Mary T8M]

Deb, my Chia seeds weren't expensive since a friend sent me a whole jar/tub FREE.....my favorite price! Do a search here on the main LCF board or google Chia seed uses, and you'll be able to pull up LCF somewhere down the line. I know a lot of people make a gel type thing with them, then use them. I mainly add them to shakes, but let it sit a few minutes, then blend it again.

Day 2 of my fiber experiment went GREAT. I had leftovers for lunch today, so just mixed the Benefiber into about 4 oz of Crystal Light, and drank it down with my lunch. I was FULL all afternoon. We even went to a movie at 4:00 and while Bill had a small bag of popcorn, I wasn't even tempted! We didn't get home until after 7:00 and I was pretty hungry by then!

[Mary T8M]

OK here's some of what I found on LCF for Chia Seeds remember not all of these will be low fat, just low carb

Chia Recipes

Really enjoying Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Chia Seeds.. Wow !

Chia seeds

[barbwired]

Congrats Mommy-2-girls!! I hope you do something really nice for yourself. You've earned it!

Deb and Lins hope you are both feeling better soon!

We are roadtripping to VA tomorrow night, 12 hours in the car, ugh!! I have been stockpiling salad dressing, bars, turkey pepperoni, almond packs, etc. We're going to Colonial Williamsburg, so I have been checking menus and trying to plan ahead. From the looks of these menus, the colonists were not low-carb eaters, LOL. If anyone has suggestion for roadtrip/travel foods, I'd love to hear them. I might just hit the grocery store when we get there.

Before I hit the road I will be hitting the store for some benefiber and green tea fat burners. I will need all the help I can get!

Barb

[mrs_d]

Hello everyone! I have been reading everybody's posts the past couple of hours and I am very inspired to stick with the program.
I have my first weigh in tomorrow morning and I am curious to see how much(or how little) I have lost. I have 100 pounds to lose so I need to settle in for the long haul.

I have one question though: I work nights 12 hour shifts. Is that going to affect the rate of my weight loss much? I wish I can eat one meal at the beginning of my shift and be okay for the rest of the shift, but I really cannot survive 12 hours with just one meal.

Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!

[eptexy]

Mary, you have me convinced!!! Chia seeds sound very interesting and I've never heard of them! In that recipe thread, people are even using them in oopsie rolls to replace 1/2 the cream cheese?

Barb, can you take a mini cooler? Even one of those small ones with an ice pack? This is what I take on road trips: tuna packets with fat free mayo or vinegar, dill pickles, lunch meat, cheese sticks, 100 calorie beef jerky packs, 100 calorie almond packs, turkey pepperoni, Oscar Mayer rotisserie chicken, LOTS of water/powerade/caffeine free diet drinks. You could make some oopsie rolls also. 12 hours isn't that long - especially when you only eat 500 calories a day anyway. lol Grilled chicken at restaurants will get you by too. I'm sure others have some great ideas as well. Above all, have fun!!

Mrs_d really the above list can work for quick snacks on your 12 hour shifts. At my studio, we have a fridge but no microwave or anything so I get by most of the time on ham, cheese, tuna, chicken, and yogurt for lunches and snacks. You definitely should not wait 12 hours to eat. That sounds like torture!

[tydreamer]

I've seen the chia seeds before - and they all have a calorie total of between like 60 and 70 per tablespoon. Are there any lower than that? Trying to stay as low cal as possible, that's a hefty dose for such a small amount. And I've totally forgotten this - but do we deduct fiber grams from the carb total? I haven't done this in a while, I guess, and honestly don't remember that part. I keep turning things down that I know I ate last time because the carb count is so high (but so is the fiber) and I don't want to throw myself out of ketosis. Help?

[eptexy]

I've been deducting fiber from the carb count, Lea! I'm not sure you're supposed to but I haven't been thrown out of ketosis. I am not, however, losing weight fast this week at all...

Well shoot. I was thinking the Chia seeds were less calories than that. Still though, I would really like to add some to my simple smoothies of almond milk and walden farms syrup. Sometimes I'm desperate and ice doesn't really make it smooth. Just watery. They sound really nutritious at least. And a lower fat alternative to some things.

[tydreamer]

I was looking at my totals on Livestrong's My Plate the other day and I had ZERO fiber for the day. ZERO! Yikes. So I really do need to add something. Again, I hate the high calories total, but if it fills you up, adds much needed fiber plus a whole lot more, I'd be willing to give it a whirl.

[eptexy]

I wasn't much better. 2 whopping grams for the whole day. All of that from almond milk. How much fat are you eating? Mine is nearly half of my daily calories. :/

Ooo ooo oo just thought of another road trip and 12 hour shift goody. The chocolate EAS shakes! The low carb ones. Can't remember the name.

[lins]

My clinic told me to take the fiber count out of the carbs. I did it last time and it was never an issue. I was also told by my clinic to use the Chia seeds kind of like a vitamin, and don't count the calories. I did that last time, and it never affected my weight loss.

[eptexy]

Really, Lins? So how much did you eat? That was when you were running though right? I'm not doing anything right now exercise-wise but maybe some walking and floor exercises.

[Mary T8M]

Well, while the benefiber (2 teaspoons once a day) is helping keep me full, I haven't lost anything for a few days. I'm not surprised and don't really think it's the fiber.....I tend to "stall" easier than most.
My chia container says it is 50 calories per scoop (which I measure out as 1.5 tablespoons). It has 6 grams of carbs, and 6 grams of fiber per scoop. My center said to subtract fiber, from carbs, so that would be zero carbs.
I think what I miss most is the MIC shots and the fat burner. My fat distribution has shifted back to some "unwanted" places.....this happened even before I regained any weight but no longer had access to the fat burners and MIC shots.

[tydreamer]

So for SURE on the carbs - if I pick something that has 6 carbs, 3 of which are fiber, I'm only counting that as 3 carbs? FOR SURE?!

Cause I seriously have not been doing that this time around, and I'd really love to add some more choices.

[tydreamer]

Mary, I posted at the same time you clarifed. So THANK YOU! I'm going to add a few new things!

[LTinNC]

week 2 weigh in...down .9. yes that is a POINT 9 on the scale... trying to stay positive....down 2.6 in fat....total of 7.5 in the 2 weeks.

[losing in Ftm]

Well shoot. I was thinking the Chia seeds were less calories than that. Still though, I would really like to add some to my simple smoothies of almond milk and walden farms syrup. Sometimes I'm desperate and ice doesn't really make it smooth. Just watery.
When I want a 'thicker shake' I add about 1/2tsp of xanthum gum to mine. I like the thickness but my friend doesn't so it is a personal preference thing. Also has anyone tried the PB and chocolate it is great in a shake.

[lins]

When I was running I did 1 TBSP in the morning and in the evening, but when I wasn't running I just did 1 tbsp with lunch and it still wasn't a problem, and my clinic still said to not count those calories. Even if you do it's 50 calories, so it puts you at 550 for the day, still not bad. And it's worth the nutrients in it.

[eptexy]

Cool, Lins. Will definitely have to try!

Question. I'm making a grocery list and came upon a low carb tuna casserole made with heavy cream. Do you think I could substitute fat free half and half for that or would that be a big mistake? Calls for 3/4c heavy cream in a casserole that serves 6.

[Jessica1129]

Hi all! As for the carbs, my clinic says to subtract fiber, and sugar alcohols. I asked at my week 3 weigh in exactly how to count my carbs and that's what they said.

[barbwired]

Originally Posted by eptexy

I wasn't much better. 2 whopping grams for the whole day. All of that from almond milk. How much fat are you eating? Mine is nearly half of my daily calories. :/

Ooo ooo oo just thought of another road trip and 12 hour shift goody. The chocolate EAS shakes! The low carb ones. Can't remember the name.

Thanks for the suggestions! I went out and got some pure protein bottled shakes. The are not even refridgerated so I can keep them in the room until I need them.

[tydreamer]

Originally Posted by eptexy

I wasn't much better. 2 whopping grams for the whole day. All of that from almond milk. How much fat are you eating? Mine is nearly half of my daily calories. :/

A LOT. Not on purpose, but some days I'm seeing like 40 or 50 percent from fat. (pork rinds!)

[eptexy]

Well I weighed this morning and no lie - it took me a full week to lose the 2 lbs I gained from Easter dinner. And I didn't even indulge THAT much at all... ugh. Trying to remember that this is week 2 and losses are naturally slow anyway. DH just said - "omg well don't ever eat pizza again!" Boo.

Barb - how many carbs do the pure protein shakes have? Curious.