Ginley Journal

[Ginley]

Thought I would get this thing started even tho I dont have much to post.
Today has gone well.... hope I keep this up during the evening too. I have such a hard time once the kids and husband come home. I also get huge cravings for something sweet to eat at night. Tried these Russel stover pecan delights... ended up eating more than I wanted and got sooo sick off them. I believe Im cured of them
Tonight I will finaly sit down and make goals. There is part of me that doesnt want the weight off... Its "protected" me for so long.... a wall to keep people out. I cant do this anymore... my health is much more important to me.

[Mel78]

You can absoutely do this... We have the same start weight and with lots of hard work and committment 4-months into this I'm 1/2 way to goal!!! You CAN and WILL do this and I for one will be here to cheer you along

[Ginley]

Thanks for the encouragement

[Ginley]

Had a Atkins shake for breakfast and drank 8 oz of water.... think my tummy going into shock or something
Feel very depressed this morning.... want to go to gym... Been having this love/ hate relationship with it. Its the last thing I want to be doing... *throws a tantrum* But once I get there I push myself .. sometimes cry the whole time thru. Everyone probably thinks Im psycho... I dont care... I feel glad afterwards and thank God Im done.
Made some goals last night... Start going to the gym at least 3X a week
(to start) and drink as much water as possible. I hope I start liking it better.. dont think I will... Ive had water with every fruit imaginable and still dont like it. At least my acne has cleared up =*)
Need to cut back on avacados and olives... they taste so good but feel they slow down the process

uuuughghghghggghhhhh........ losing weight hurts... never should've put it on in the first place

[Mel78]

You're doing really good! You are knocking on the door of the 100s and will be there in no time flat!!! I hope you don't mind me saying, but just be careful of the shakes, bars and processed "low-carb" foods. It may not be the avacados & olives slowing you down it may be the processed stuff. BTW, olives can cause water retention because they are high in sodium... So any extra fluids you can drink will help flush out the water retention!

KUTGW!!!

[Ginley]

Didnt stop to think about the shakes. At first when I was really craving the chocolate I would eat low carb power bars and feel a little better but was still hungry afterwards. Ive also started back up on the Pill due to "issues" It may make things harder for me... I have the hardest time losing weight as it is. Im up to the challenge this time.... Im not giving up.

[Ginley]

Hopes to look good as Mel one day! =)

[Ginley]

Ive been stuck in the 195-96 range for awhile now. Drank tons of water yesterday + diet pepsi and coffee. Would like to give both up but if I had to choose the soda would go first. Not bad considering not too long ago alls I would eat is candy bars and soda all day plus one meal that was LOADED with carbs.
Note to self* check out if regular coffee matters as much. Dont really want to switch to de-caf

[Mel78]

There I go again... bustin' into your thread!

Decaf vs. Caff - My $0.02 is that it doesn't not matter. Carb wise, I always count 1-12oz cup of coffee as 1-carb in and of itself anyway. Soooo the real debate is whether caffine causes cravings. For me personally, it does not. I actually went to 0-coffee and 0-sodas for the first two months to test this out. Then I added back in coffee as a 'treat'. Coffee actually quenches my cravings because I view it as a treat - not just a free-liquid. If You have to be sure to count the sweetners and cream in your coffee too. So every time I have a 12oz cup, I know that's 3-carbs for me. So, 3 cups of coffee a day is 9 carbs. The real question is can I spare 9 carbs for a drink? Depending on my day, I may say "yes" and have all 3 cups, other days I may say "no" and only have 2 cups, or what have you. My point being, every single thing you put in your mouth has a consequence! Even this s/f gum I'm chewing has 2g carbs (sugar alcohols, but they need to be counted as I count all carbs, not just "net").

Sorry to bust in... Hope you don't mind

[Ginley]

~ Mel
Gotta few questions for ya... First, Im realizing that low- carb and Atkins are not the same yes? As you were saying about the gum... you haved to count total carbs and not just net? For instance these shakes Ive been drinking have 6 carbs but Ive subtracted the 4 - dietary fiber. If I was on your diet then I would haved to count all 6? I would like some info or even if you could suggest a good book on the specific diet plan you are on.

[Ginley]

3/25/06 220
4/7/06 204 <----April was an awful month for me.. B-days and EASTER candy =(
4/21/06 201
5/5/ 06 200
5/11/06 196

[Mel78]

Actually, I am doing a "Melissa-fied" version of Atkins, which is much closer to their original 1972 release (plus artificial sweetner). The new Atkins books have allowed so many processed foods for MARKETING purposes, that it's impossible to figure things out. (In my opinion - and I stress MY opinion!)

Basically, here are my personal "rules":

- No processed products (shakes, bars, etc.)
- Count ALL carbs (no deductions for fiber or SA)
- Keep carbs between 20-30 per day (This is a personal range where I lose best.)
- Use sauces and sweetners sparingly
- The majority of carbs should come from veggies (broccoli & spinach are my favs)
- Dairy is limited to about 6oz per day (usually cheese & cream)

Really, it's basic Atkins, minus all the extra allowances the new books give for "NET CARBS" and the meal replacements. Also, as with most plans the alotted carbs should be "used for good, not evil" .

I learned a lot when I lost in 2001 and basically learned what worked for "me" and went from there.

[Ginley]

Thank you! Thank you!

[Ginley]

I should just start reading your journal ha! also, what do you suggest as far as nuts? I started eating almonds and switch to peanuts since they cost less.... way less.

[Mel78]

Originally Posted by Ginley

I should just start reading your journal ha! also, what do you suggest as far as nuts? I started eating almonds and switch to peanuts since they cost less.... way less.

The quick answer would be try to do without them. For someone who deducts fiber they are good, but for someone who does not (me) they are an easy trap. I usually only have those on the rare ocassion when I'm at a party or something and they are the only "legal" food surrounding me...

It's something you'll have to try to ginley-fy for you!!! If you can add them for a few days a week and you still come out with a loss (with that being the only thing you change) then you're probably OK for the ocassional treat. But if you don't get as good results, they should probably be limited to emergencies only.

[Ginley]

Im going to see what happens when I go on a water fast today. Probably still drink coffee, a soda and some broth or something...
Saw a cheesecake receipe *drools*

[Ginley]

Ok... so didnt fast today but stayed on plan and.... ended up making that cheesecake for tomorrow... its soooo good... its almost like cheating..

5-12~
Break- ham - coffee
lunch- small salad and string cheese
snack- pork ri and cream cheese
dinner- chicken with 3/4 c. strawberries

Dont plan on having strawberries all the time they are just rewards
Didnt go to the gym today instead I count yard and house work. I usualy end up sweating more at home than the gym anyways.
I sooo want to be down 10lbs (186) by memorial weekend but that just a wish ...I will probably only lose 5 or 6... I can live with that.

Went down the pastry isle today. The smell was intoxicating.... usualy would load up on a doz donuts for the family - and eat half of them myself. Not this time.... Im giving donuts the *finger* I keep telling myself that for the past 28 years Ive been eating them... I know what they taste like... I dont feel good afterwards and it brings me no joy. There is more joy knowing I can start feeling healthy .... I honestly cant remember when the last time that was.

[Ginley]

5-13

Break- ham and eggs w/ cream cheese
lunch- string cheese and 4 strawberries
snack- beef stick and a handful of peanuts
dinner- chicken tenders w/ cream cheese


Took a bite of the cheese cake but I think I did something wrong because now it tastes really really bad!
Worked out today... eleptical kicked my booty! I only could stand 15 mins then spent some time in hot tub ... ohh so good.
I hate the gym scale because it makes me 3 lbs heavier. I also have clothes and shoes tho... but still....
Want soo much to get under 195!

[Ginley]

Break- sick
lunch- sick
snack- String cheese
Dinner- crab with salad... itsy bit of watermelon

still trying to down as much water as possible

[Ginley]

I can tell right where Im losing the weight ....in my arms and butt and little tummy... guess my face has slimmed down too. I keep looking at my hands I love that they are thinner and that my wedding ring slides off just that little bit more easier. My butt is already flat =( maybe I should do some weight lifting in that area. Also need to do more crunches.
I learned on Saturday that you cant go overboard with exercise. I really paid physically.. I hurt all over and was sick most of Sunday. 20 should work for a few weeks then I will add more time.

[Mel78]

Hey there... Glad to see you are still doing so well. It's all those great feelings and reminders that you are doing so great that will keep you motivated when you're faced with all the tough food choices. I was SOOO glad to hear you didn't do the water fast. You are just getting up the momentum for losing doing regular low-carb and I find that if you switch to something that's so strict, it can knock you off track for a while because you can gain back the weight if you aren't careful with adding back in regular foods...

But (other than the watermelon) your menus looks great. Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well over the weekend. When I started exercising I had to work my way back up too. I started with 15 minutes 3-4 times a week for one week. The next week was 20 minutes, and finally 25, 30 and 45 the following weeks. Took me a month or more to really get to where I felt I was getting the workout that was worth it... but you need to get your body used to it!!! WTG on getting out there though! That's awesome!!!

KUTGW

[Ginley]

5-15

Break- low carb yogurt.. actualy didnt taste too bad, coffee
lunch- toppings off a pizza and small salad
snack- string cheese
Diner- hamburger w/ cheese, small salad w/ tomatoe wedge... bite of hot italian sausage..whoa

[Ginley]

~5-16
Break- 2 boiled eggs
Snack coffee
Lunch- shake <-- taking out of my diet
snack- string cheese, beef stick
Dinner- pork chop, cauli w/ cheese
Turkey e

Workout today - tread & arms/ abs

[Mel78]

One more pound and you will be at 30 POUNDS LOST!!! I'm rootin for ya!!!

[Ginley]

I still cant believe it. Ive been on a lot of diets and this is the most Ive lost. *grins*

[Ginley]

Its been eating at me... why does every freakin scale tell me a different weight? I know I haved to consider what time of day and what Im wearing. The scale I have now is a couple years old and... has been jumped on often by a couple kids so... went to the store and bought a new one. Its agrees more with the gyms scale Im back up a few lbs.... This time Im keeping this scale to myself

[Ginley]

Break- 1 egg
snack- cheese stick
Lunch- salad w/ pepperoni
Dinner- cheese burger

Did my exercise for today

[Mel78]

I'm a firm believer in ONLY weighing first thing in the morning, before you have anything to drink or eat, after you've gone potty and you must be completely nekkid ... If any one of these factors have been compromised, the whole weighing is invalidated!!!

(Seriously though... that's how I do it!!!)