Accountability for the Pleiades

[Pleiades]

I'm finally serious about losing all the weight I gained when I was pregnant with my son. It's been too long, and I've just been gaining since I had him. So anyway, here I am back on Atkins after having great success a few years ago. Everyone was so surprised (and proud) when I lost the weight before, and it's embarrassing to weigh more now than I did when I first started

So here I am, tired of wearing sweat pants and baggy shirts. I want to get back into those cute little jeans I was wearing four summers ago. I want to wear my bikini again. But mostly, I want to goof around with my kid for more than 5 minutes without getting winded.

I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.

I'm keeping a (paper) journal to track my food intake and exercise. I hate Fitday and never remember to enter my food there, especially after a week or two. So I'm not going to bother. I know what I should and shouldn't eat. I know about portion control. I don't always stick to what I know though.

Yesterday's menu

Brunch
2 cups of coffee (I take it with liquid saccharin and liquid non-dairy creamer)
2 eggs, fried in butter
5 oz breakfast sausage

Snack
2 oz pepper jack cheese
2 hb eggs

Dinner (approximate)
12 oz catfish with a topping from Linda Sue's site (this topping is incredible - would be great on chicken or pork)
6 oz roasted broccoli (I used Rachael Ray's chili-garlic recipe and did not like it - it was way too salty - so I dipped it in a little French onion dip)

Calories: 1587
Fat: 115 (67%)
Carbs: 20/5 fiber (4%)
Protein: 115 (30%)

I didn't get any water in yesterday. It's hard to drink water when it's cold. I had about 50 oz diet pop. Not great. I can't wait until it gets warmer so I can drink water better. I lose very well when I drink lots of water. But it's just too cold right now, so I'm not going to beat myself up.

My main form of exercise right now is the Gazelle. I have a goal to put 1000 miles on it this year. I did 3 yesterday, so decent start. I'd like to work up to 4 or 5 miles per day by the end of June. Then, I want to start training for the second annual Outer Banks Marathon. I think that takes place in November or December. We'll see.

In addition to the Gazelle, I have several DVDs - pilates, the Firm, Biggest Loser - to choose from when toys aren't scattered about. I'd like to do those 3 times a week. Gazelle daily.

We'll see how it goes

I thought of a couple more things I wanted to add to my introductory post. Pardon the edit.

Another big goals for this year is to resist the urge to make my own low carb goodies. I think, with the exception of flax muffins, I won't be making any low carb desserts. I end up overeating and that stalls my weight loss.

I also wanted to post my current playlist that I listen to while working out. I'm mainly doing this to see how my musical tastes change over the next year I hope to make changes every month.

Angel Opening Theme
Buffy Opening Theme
Charmed Opening Theme
Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
She's A Beauty - The Tubes
Since You've Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
No Easy Way Out - Robert Tepper
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Winner Takes It All - Sammy Hagar
You're The Best - Joe Esposito
Never - Heart
Crazy B*tch - Buckcherry
Long Way Down - Goo Goo Dolls
No Way Back - Foo Fighters
Yesterday - Staind
Girl Like You - Def Leppard
Twisted Transistor - Korn
The Final Countdown - Europe

[Pleiades]

Day 2 was going well until I decided to make some peanut butter flax cookies for my son. I ended up eating four of them. I bet if I cut the amount of Splenda in half, I wouldn't touch them. For the record, I used Paula Deen's Magical Peanut Butter Cookies recipe and just added 2 tablespoons of flax meal.

Yesterday's menu

Breakfast
3 cups of coffee with creamer
1 fried egg
2 oz sausage

Lunch
4 oz catfish
2 sausage links

Snack
1 hb egg

Dinner
10 oz (80/20) ground beef - I am positive I overestimated this
1.5 oz onions
3 oz green pepper

Snack
4 peanut butter cookies
1 oz polish sausage

On the positive side, I did get on the Gazelle yesterday and did my 3 miles. My time is about 45 minutes, give or take 20 seconds. It's only that slow because I've been watching Iron Chef America while I work out instead of listening to my music. If I work out to music, I can take my glasses off and just go, but when I watch TV, I don't like to sweat as much.

I'm attempting a chicken salad tonight, with avocado and a garlic-lime vinaigrette. I hope it turns out.

Oh, and I did manage to get some water in yesterday. Only four cups though, because I was too lazy to go out to my car and bring in the other case.

Here's to a better day.

[Pleiades]

Shoot - I forgot to add my totals to my previous post.

Calories: 2344
Fat: 173 (66%)
Carbs: 45/2 fiber (7%)
Protein: 155 (26%)

Not good.

[Pleiades]

Yesterday was better. No peanut butter cookies! I did, however, eat a bit too many turkey slices. Oh well.

Breakfast
3 cups of coffee w/ creamer
3 hb eggs, 1 yolk

Lunch
6 slices of Oscar Mayer turkey with mustard

Dinner
3 cups of salad veggies (green lettuce, cucumber, celery, and avocado)
3 tbs garlic lime vinaigrette (yuck)
fried chicken strips
1 oz pepper jack cheese

Calories: 1306
Fat: 71 (51%)
Carbs: 37/10 fiber (9%)
Protein: 125 (40%)

I did my 3 miles, drank half a gallon of water. Yay me!

I haven't been on the scale yet - I try to weigh only once a week - but DH has already lost at least 10 pounds, since Monday. I hate that he loses faster than I do. I know it's normal and I can't compare. But he thinks he's hot stuff now.

For dinner tonight, I'm making cubed steak with fresh veggies dipped in Dana Carpender's "Honey" Mustard dressing.

[SouthernBelleMama]

Hi Pleiades ! Just stopping by to wish you lots of success on your weightloss journey. Your menu looks really yummy...think we'll have to start sharing recipes with one another. I see your hubby is Lcing ith you...mine is too. Great job on working out on your Gazelle. I gotta get my treadmill in the house this weekend so I can get started myself with some form of exercise. From the looks of it your off to a wonderful start...don't sweat the cookies...it could've been worse. Nice to meet you and have a gr8 Thursday.

[Pleiades]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleMama

Hi Pleiades ! Just stopping by to wish you lots of success on your weightloss journey. Your menu looks really yummy...think we'll have to start sharing recipes with one another. I see your hubby is Lcing ith you...mine is too. Great job on working out on your Gazelle. I gotta get my treadmill in the house this weekend so I can get started myself with some form of exercise. From the looks of it your off to a wonderful start...don't sweat the cookies...it could've been worse. Nice to meet you and have a gr8 Thursday.

Thanks! I love swapping recipes! How's your DH's progress? Mine's still bragging But it's good because he motivates me to stay on plan!

[Pleiades]

Time to stop doing net carbs. I've only lost 4 pounds since Monday, which means I won't have more than a 5 pound loss for Induction. I never lose after the first week. Looking at my numbers, I can definitely see where I'm screwing up. The turkey and sausage are killing me. But I just get so hungry. I can only take so many hard boiled eggs. I'm so out of sorts about this today that I feel fatter. I'm seriously short of breath and unmotivated. I know it's all in my head, just a manifestation of my disappointment, so to combat it, I'm getting on the Gazelle early.

Yesterday:

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
2 hb eggs

Lunch
2 fried eggs
2 hamburger patties
1 slice cheese

Dinner
3 cups winter mix veggies
4 oz pork loin

Snacks
2 oz pork rinds
4 oz celery

Calories - 1780
Fat - 122
Carbs - 21
Protein - 109

I got my half gallon of water in and 3 miles on the Gazelle.

I'm dying for ketosis. I hate being hungry all the time.

[Pleiades]

Yesterday seriously sucked. I ate well and did my exercise, but I was incredibly unmotivated. I hope today is better.

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
2 hard boiled eggs

Lunch
3 oz pork
3 cups salad (iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, green pepper)
1.5 tbs "honey" mustard dressing

Dinner
8 oz boiled shrimp in butter seasoning

Snacks
1 cup coffee
3 flax muffins w/ butter

I tried a new version of flax muffins that have vital wheat gluten in them. They are ok, but I think I like them better without it.

Got in my 8 cups of water. I was really slow on my Gazelle time - 3.21 miles in 55 minutes. I have this rule that if I don't get in 3 miles in 45 minutes, I keep going for 60 minutes. But yesterday I had this strange compulsion to have an "even" total miles, so I stopped 5 minutes early. I will be adding some strength training exercises tomorrow, three times a week. I need to find something to do the other three days.

Calories - 1378
Fat - 104
Carbs - 20
Protein - 90

[Pleiades]

What a difference music makes!

All week, I have been watching TV while I am on the Gazelle, and I would get 3 miles in 45 minutes if I was lucky. I used my mp3 player today and did 4.5 miles in just under an hour! I should do that every day, even the 4.5 miles. Right now my goal is just 3, preferably in 45 minutes.

[Pleiades]

Yikes! I was way over on carbs yesterday but it was good veggies so I'm not going to worry much about it. I made the best spaghetti squash I'd ever made, so I had quite a bit for dinner. And as a snack later. Oh well.

I got on the scale and I'm down 5.5 pounds since last Monday. That's ok. I would be very surprised if I lose anything this week, unless I start severely restricting my calories. Maybe I should do a really, really strict induction. But I love my veggies!

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
2 flax muffins

Lunch
3 fried eggs

Dinner
1 oz onion
3 oz green pepper
2.5 cups spaghetti squash w/ 1 tbs butter
5 oz roasted venison

Snack
2 cups spaghetti squash
4 oz green pepper
1/4 cup SF pudding (leftovers from DS -weight loss hazard, he is)

Good workout yesterday, and I got in 12 cups of water.

[Pleiades]

Here is what I am starting with. 2 sets of 12 for each, 3 times a week.

wall pushups
crunches
hip flexor
dumbell shrugs
modified pushups
triceps dips
bridge ups
calf rocks
forward lunges

My goal for the month is to work up to 2 sets of 15. Next month I will start with 3 sets of 12. When I reach a month of 3 sets of 15, I will change the lineup.

[Pleiades]

I think ketosis is kicking in. I'm slowly losing my appetite. I didn't get hungry after dinner and the thought of eating this morning makes me heave. I'll probably have an egg later.

Brunch
2 cups coffee
2 flax muffins
4 small sausage patties

Dinner
4 oz celery
4 oz cucubmer
8 oz fried chicken (I am sure I overestimated this)
1 tbs "honey" mustard dip

Snack (pre-workout)
1.5 oz pepper jack cheese
2.5 oz venison

96 ounces of water, 45 minutes on the Gazelle in addition to the strength training I did. My chest and shoulders are a bit sore, but it's a good sore!

Leftovers today.

[Pleiades]

Yesterday was kind of blah. I worked out, drank my water, but my mind was elsewhere.

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
2 flax muffins w/butter

Lunch
4 oz ground beef

Dinner
5 oz venison
2 slices turkey

Snack
3 flax muffins w/ butter

Calories - 1479
Fat - 126
Carbs - 11
Protein - 77

[Pleiades]

My funk extended into yesterday, too. I worked out first thing in the morning, and it's a good thing I did. I was so off my game that I wanted to quit in the middle of my workout. If I'd waited, I wouldn't have done it. So I am proud to say that I did 3.25 miles in 60 minutes and my 9 strength training exercises. I also got my water in.

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
3 hb eggs

Lunch
6 oz ground beef
1.5 tbs sour cream

Dinner
2 oz chicken thigh
1 bacon ranch grilled chicken salad w/ ranch from McDonald's

Snack
2 oz pork rinds

Calories - 1528
Fat - 106
Carbs -26
Protein - 114

This happened the first time I did Atkins - I'm starting to feel guilty when I eat, especially if it's a snack. Ketosis hasn't kicked in like I thought. I need to refocus on leaner meats, but darn it, that chicken skin tastes good! I'm actually surprised I haven't been eating cream cheese. That's a huge deal for me because I love it. I miss jalapeno poppers and cheese sauces. I miss mashed cauliflower. I could certainly have them, but I am one of the unlucky who really does need to watch calories. I haven't been doing very well in that department.

I really want to get on the scale tomorrow morning. Thank goodness I keep it fairly inaccessible. The shirt I'm wearing today feels looser than usual, but that's probably just in my head. It's only been 10 days.

Strength training is really a PITA. Calisthenics are a lot harder than I thought. My triceps suck I have to rest halfway through each set of 12. But that's ok. I end up with 4 sets of 6 instead of 2 of 12. And it's fun because my little guy tries to do all the exercises too. If I can keep this up, maybe I can keep him on a healthy path that he can take into adulthood.

[Pleiades]

Today was a good day. I put in 70 minutes on the Gazelle and covered 5.1 miles. I only stopped because my water bottle was empty and I had to pee from the last three bottles of water. I hope to do this again, at least once a week. It was very invigorating!

Breakfast
1/2 small sausage patty
2 cups coffee

Lunch
Flax cracker

Dinner
Chicken soup with a cream broth and broccoli/cauliflower mix

Snack
3 oz cheddar cheese
1/2 serving flax pancakes

Calories - 1356
Fat - 95
Carbs - 27
Protein - 95

[Pleiades]

Yesterday was a good day, IMO. I ate well, did my cardio and strength training, and drank my water. I only did 3 miles in 45 minutes, which is my minimum, but I think I was a bit tired from Thursday's cardio. I'm not disappointed, really, but a tiny part of me wishes I'd thrown in another 15 minutes.

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
1/2 serving of flax pancakes

Lunch
1 serving of a different recipe of flax pancakes

Dinner
3 scrambled eggs
2 oz onion
2 oz breakfast sausage
3 oz cheddar cheese

Calories - 1263
Fat - 98
Carbs - 18
Protein - 78

Big test today. My aunt is taking us to Outback Steakhouse. I think I'll get the Queensland Salad. I'll have to double check the chicken dishes.

[Pleiades]

Outback wasn't a great success, but it could have been worse. I'm not even going to try to calculate my calories for yesterday. But I am going to admit what I ate yesterday.

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
1 slice American cheese

Snacks
2 hb eggs
2 oz polish sausage

Dinner
1/5 Bloomin' Onion
4 oz bread w/ butter
2/3 Queensland salad with ranch dressing

It could have been a lot, lot worse. I could have gotten potatoes or rice, on top of the onion and bread, so all in all, I don't think I messed myself up much. I did work out extra hard twice this week, with 4.5 miles yesterday. My goal for today is 5 miles, just so I have an even 50 for the first two weeks. I also got all my water in yesterday. Today I feel a little guilt and a little bloat, but nothing I'm going to really beat myself up over. I'm sure I'll feel great after my cardio.

[Pleiades]

I'm incredibly disappointed. I'm only down half a pound since last week. I should probably be more strict about my intake. I really didn't think I was doing that badly. I burned 3200 calories last week. Outback must have messed me up more than I though

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
2 hb eggs

Lunch
1 slice American cheese

Dinner
Garlic onion green beans
5 oz broiled venison

Snack
1 Dobie flax muffin w/1 tsp butter

Calories - 816
Fat - 46
Carbs - 25
Protein - 76

I got in my water, and a bit more, and did 5 miles on the Gazelle. I slightly pulled something halfway through, so my time sucked. But I was determined.

Obviously, I haven't been hungry. I need to try to eat more than a slice of cheese though.

[Pleiades]

I really need to change when I do my workout. If my son doesn't take a nap, I feel guilty for exercising during the day. So, I guess I'll have to start waking up when DH leaves for work and getting it in then. I've also discovered that I really need to do my cardio first. I was dragging today after strength training. I'd rather have higher intensity cardio every day and take the strength training/pilates slower afterward. Between my sore leg and just being tired, my cardio suffered today. But I still did 3.6 miles in 60 minutes, so that's not horrible. Just not as good as I'd like.

Breakfast
2 cups coffe
2 hb eggs

Lunch
1 slice American cheese
1 Dobie muffin

Dinner
2 slices flax crust pizza - this was fantastic! I put hamburger, onion, green pepper, and black olives on it, with cheese. YUM!

Calories - 1053
Fat - 83
Carbs - 22
Protein - 56

Got my water in, too

[doublepointgirl]

Hi Becky! I just had to say hello when I saw that you have Buffy and Angel on your play list! I am a huge Buffy fan!!! I, like you, also have a resistent metabolism and I have to watch those calories. I can't get away w/ eating as much bacon and such as some can. Cool journal! Best wishes to you!

[Pleiades]

Thank you, Sarah! I really miss Buffy. I still cry when I watch "The Gift"

[Pleiades]

Yesterday was good. I worked out first thing in the morning. I managed 4 miles in 60 minutes. Then I did 10 minutes of pilates. I found a short program that focuses on the back, and I'm doing that to try to fix my posture. Drank all my water early. I think I ate well, but probably not enough. I am just not hungry. I really had to force myself to eat breakfast.

Breakfast
1 Dobie muffing

Lunch
2 hb eggs

Dinner
1 servings of flax crust pizza
2 ox ground venison

Snack
1 slice American cheese
3 cups coffee

Calories - 887
Fat - 64
Carbs - 16
Protein - 57

I am unmotivated today, but I know I'll get my workout in. I still need to watch Monday's episodes of 24, so I will have a more leisurely Gazelle workout.

[Pleiades]

Yesterday sucked. I ate well and did my workout, but it was so half-hearted. I only did 3 miles on the Gazelle (50 minutes) and it took me about an hour to get through my strength training. It also took all day to drink my water. I had a large coffee at McDonald's and used quite a bit of Splenda, so my carb count is a bit high.

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
1 Dobie muffing

Lunch
2 hb eggs

Dinner
3 oz roasted turkey
1.5 cups cheesy tangy trees

Snack
Large McD's coffee with Splenda

Calories - 1130
Fat - 89
Carbs - 23
Protein - 55

I did hop on the scale and I'm down to 182.5, but nothing is official until Monday's weigh in.

[Pleiades]

Yesterday sucked too. I was once again incredibly unmotivated. But I did my workout and stayed on plan.

Breakfast
2 cups coffee
2 hb egg

Lunch
1 slice cheese
2 oz roasted turkey

Dinner
2 cups green beans
9 oz turkey with cream sauce and onions

Calories - 1205
Fat - 66
Carbs - 31
Protein - 118