MouseGal's Journey to the Magic

[MouseGal]

This is it...this has to be the final time I start this journey. Something clicked last night, and even though my medication (Topomax) says no ketogenic diet, this is the only thing that works for me, it's the only thing that's ever worked. So, I'm going to stay on top of my water, starting induction today, and whatever happens, happens.

I'm taking my measurements tonight, and weighing in the morning. One way or the other, this weight is coming off.

[MouseGal]

Ok, I've made a decision - I've been off my Synthroid for over a year now, and I think that's one of the reasons I lost my focus as well. But now that the migraines are under control, I understand how a doctor is supposed to solve these problems! So, I want to find a new endocrinologist, and start over.

After all my research, I really think that Synthroid wasn't right for me anyway...I want to try Armour, but I never felt comfortable asking my other endo, especially after I tried telling him that I was still cold a-l-l the time, and his answer was that my "test results were within range, thyroid gland was shrinking, you must just be cold natured". Um, hello, I weigh 300 pounds - cold natured??? It's July in Houston

So, I gave up, and went off the meds. Then last November I found a new family physician who helped me solve a 25 year plague...and just like that, my migraines are gone. After 25 years, I've had only 3 little headaches since November, and with Maxalt they're gone in an hour - no throwing up, no hours lost in a dark room. It's like having a new life.

So now I'm ready to try again.....gotta find an endo in Houston I can talk to!

[MouseGal]

Made it through the first day, no ketosis yet, but if I can stay really strict today, by tomorrow night I should be there. I've been busy reading, mostly for inspiration...I'm really bad about posting...I'm a good lurker

I'm going to try really hard to keep up with a Fitday journal this time...from reading the posts of very successful people, it seems to help. And I have SugarFreeSheila's workbook, so when DH gets home from his doctor's visit today, I'm going to have him help me measure, and I'm going to keep up with my measurements.

I would welcome any comments or suggestions...

[MouseGal]

Ketosis! Made it! Medium pink, and I know it's not because I've been eating too much fat this time, I've had the icky taste in my mouth all afternoon to go with it... My appetite isn't gone yet, and dinner was pretty small, so I think I'm going to make one of SugarFreeSheila's protein shakes and half half of it while I work on the computer. That will kill the hunger for sure.

I did measure today, had DH do it, and DS was here, so he had us measure him and DH as well. (They've been low-carbing for a couple of weeks now, and I think DS has lost around 15 pounds so far). He is going to London to school in August, and he really wants to lose as much as possible between now and then.

Ok, a question for anyone reading this thing...(is anyone reading this thing?):
Background: I've been planning a "back-to-school" shopping trip to the outlet stores in San Marcos (we're in Texas) for the end of July. I don't know how much I'll be down then, but I'll need clothes (I teach) and my youngest DD will be a senior this year, plus DS will be going to London, and I really want to get him set up...Anyway, today my husband asked me if I would like to go to San Antonio Monday night to spend Tuesday shopping... for my birthday....

It's so unlike him to suggest something like that, I hate to turn it down...should I go, and just buy one or two things, then we'll still go at the end of the month? Or should we just wait? I'm definitely not going to be in any new sizes next week, so I guess I could just look for shoes, purses, etc?

It's not like I'm made out of money either, so I can't really do two full-blown shopping trips in a month....hmmm, what to do?

[MouseGal]

So, it's been an interesting day. Slept in this morning, and when we got up, we decided to go to see Pirates 2. Now, I had decided to just get a bottle of water, since I forgot to take anything with me. I went on ahead and found our seats, and DH and DS went to get drinks. They show up with drinks, and popcorn.

At this point, I haven't had breakfast, the movie is 2.5 hours long, and I ate about 20 pieces. I put 1 cup into my fitday, because obviously I couldn't measure it....okay, I could have just said no. Hopefully it doesn't through me out of ketosis. I'm just going to eat clean the rest of the day, and go on.

Stupid pirates.

[MouseGal]

Ugh - why, why, why do I do this to myself? When I first discovered Atkins, I lost 40 pounds, I could have kept going, lost all the weight, and been done with this. Instead, I went off, went back to my old habits, binged and kept gaining. The headache I have now just reminds me that every time I go off this plan, I have to suffer through this all over again to get back on it.

Dear God, why would I ever go off plan? I will make it through tonight, and I know that one more day of cleaning out my system should do it - I'll be past the headaches....please God.

[MouseGal]

Oh I made it through last night, survived the headache, and I feel so much better this morning! Sure enough, the scale continues to drop today....I know this works!

Part of me kept trying to say, "You have a headache because you're not eating enough, just get up and go eat something", but the other part of me knows that if I can tough it out, I'll "detox" from the carbs and feel so much better....

It's a good day so far.

[MouseGal]

Well, fitday makes this an interesting process, doesn't it? I can definitely see "calorie-creep" over the last two days, even if my carbs are low...so, if the scale is not down tomorrow, then I'll know that I need to keep my carbs below 20 and my calories under 1000? That isn't going to be much "fun", but right now, I want to lose fast more than I want to have fun. I'll adapt later.

I do know that I need to add more water...especially since I'm trying to avoid the Topamax consequences here....

I decided to go to San Antonio after all, so it's time to take this journey on the road...I'm pretty sure I can handle dinners - we'll just eat at the Tower of the Americas one night, and Old San Francisco Steakhouse the other. I know I can low-carb both places without a problem. Lunches might be a little harder. We'll be at NorthStar mall - guess I'll try the food court, and hope for the best....

[MouseGal]

Ok, it's the 3rd day, and I'm still at the same 320.75. But I'm in ketosis, not hungry, not snacking, so what am I doing wrong? I do feel like I'm retaining water, and I know that TOM will be here any day, so that could be it...I'm going to try limiting the fatty meats, and drinking plenty of water today and see what happens. I won't be able to weigh until Wednesday afternoon, so maybe by then, the scale will be moving again.

[MouseGal]

Well, so far, a good 39th birthday!

We went to Texas Land and Cattle last night - that wasn't so great. They couldn't get my steak done right - first it was rare, then well done, but I ate it anyway!

This morning, went to Denny's for breakfast...I had the meatlover's scramble w/out the side dishes. Just the eggs and meat. It was pretty good - especially with a little salsa on it

Then, shopping at the mall! You know how sometimes, everything just works out? Yep, it was one of those days! I found some really cute stuff, on sale, and had to get some smaller sizes!

Lunch at the Cheesecake Factory - the best Cobb Salad ever! They made it for me with no blue cheese and ranch dressing instead of viniagrette. I love the shredded lettuce they use....And for dessert, we split the 6 carb cheesecake made with Splenda. (I'm still trying to figure out how to put that in my fitday...)

We came downtown to check in at the Gunter Hotel, and got an upgrade! I love Starwood Hotels!

Dinner tonight at the Tower of the Americas...can't wait!

[MouseGal]

But the scale is moving again, so that's ok. I'm just sticking with this, no matter what, and it's working! I'm not going to think about how far I have to go, right now I'm just going to get to 299 as fast as I can, then set the next goal. I think that will work for me.

Took the second set of measurements yesterday, and I actually have lost measureable, well, not inches, but 1/8th's of inches already!

Simple foods, simple plans, my favorite goals - that is what I'm sticking to.

[MouseGal]

I can't believe it....this is actually working. Two more pounds, and I will have lost 20 pounds from my highest weight. It's a little hard to get used to the "pauses"... when the scale doesn't drop every day it's so disappointing, even though it's been dropping every two or three days without fail. I really, really, really want to get under 300, then I think I'll feel better. Of course, once I get under 300, I'm sure I'll be pushing for 275, and then 250....

My clothes are getting looser, probably noticeable only to me, but I can foresee the day when I will actually be able to buy smaller clothes... It's coming, I know it.

So, since I started July 5th, I keep telling myself that I am losing fast enough... and then I see posts from others who've lost 10 pounds in a week... ugh. I know there are several who've lost over 100 pounds in less than a year... does anyone know if their weight loss patterns were similar - that is, some days it's a pound or more, then 2 or 3 days without a loss?