Sue's Journey to FINALLY getting this weight off!

[seb]

Beth~the pain is on the right side below the belly button. I've had this twice before in the past 5 years, have gone to the hospital for testing, and they never found out what the problem was. DH was about ready to take me in again because of the severe pain/nausea, but I overruled him. I'm almost back to normal now. DH did a lot of research on Saturday night on the internet and came up with a couple ideas for what it might be.

I use fitday sometimes, but maybe only once a week. I'm pretty good at counting carbs/calories after so many year of dieting, and usually keep my total carbs around 15-19 per day. I'm going to up them again with more veggie carbs, because both DH and I think I need more fiber in my diet.

[Low Carb Mommy]

I know that I used to hurt in that area when I was having problems with my ovaries. I had fibroids and they hurt just like you are describing. Have you had a check up in that department in a while?

I can't wait until I don't have to look everything up. I think increasing veggies is good. I will be glad when I get finished with all my weight loss and can eat more. I apparently have a high resistance since it is coming off slowly for me.

[seb]

I just had my "yearly" and everything was fine. I think it is diverticulitis and need to do some research on it. The first time I was tested in 2002 the doc said I did have it, but he didn't think that's what was causing the pain. Well, in research that DH and I have done, it is a symptom of it.

I need to go read the stuff DH printed off for me.....that would make him happy.

I know I have a high resistance to loss, but my problem has been years of yo-yo dieting. You are only 17 pounds from goal. That's great! I think if you take it off too fast, you may not be prepared for the maintenance lifestyle, which I KNOW is much harder than the dieting part. I have lost all this weight three times, and always start gaining right away. Not this time!

[crazyredhead]

Sue: Sorry to hear you were in so much pain but glad you are feeling better now. Did you mention that your son was baptized? I think I read that... if so congrats (is it Ok to congragulate someone on a baptism? , not sure of the etiquette). Also think you mentioned something about another funeral... sorry

[seb]

Hillary~yes, it's o.k. to congratulate on his baptism. It was a fun day with family over for lunch afterwards.

Another funeral...my Dad's oldest brother (10 kids in the family). But, this death was expected for quite a while.

[Edwards20]

Hi Sue -- just wanted to thank you for the compliment you left in my journal. Feel free to come over anytime.

Originally Posted by seb

The only real difference between this and the newer version is that I count full carbs.

I noticed that you are doing A72. I have both books, and haven't completed reading DANDR yet. I was wondering what the differences were. I am not really counting net carbs either. It doesn't seem to work for me. While for others the subtracted carbs might be something that doesn't affect them, but I think they affect me.

I was curious about your experiences with flax. You were eating too much ? Is it not a good thing ? I have experimented with the muffins this week.

[seb]

Candy~the real difference between the two plans is that there is no net carbing in A72. You start out the diet with only two cups of salad greens in the first week, but then add 5 carbs a week to the plan, and there is no order in which to add them. He says to add whatever you have missed most. I have added more veggies so far. Back then he also didn't have the LC products, and I think those things kill weight loss. What I have found with this plan is that I am rarely hungry, and don't crave foods like I have on the later plan. Hope that helps. On a side note, I don't think I'm losing any faster on this plan, just less hungry.

I really can't figure out the flax thing. I read about how good it is for you and it has the omega-3s in it, but I never seem to lose when I add it to my diet. I'm hoping to add it in later on, because there are so many good health benefits associated with it, but not until I'm close to maintenance.

[seb]

I ate way too much yesterday. Let's see....I had almost a cup of peanuts, a protein shake and a RR as a snack after lunch. It will be interesting what the scale says this morning. I'm also really hungry, and it's only 5:22 a.m.

I don't think a high carb day is bad every once in a while, if they are not bad carbs, but it makes me feel out of control, which I don't like.

Today is another day. It's a busy one, also, so less chance of eating too much.

[crazyredhead]

Good morning Sue. I posted the shrimp bisque recipe for you over in my journal in case you wanted. Sorry to sound so dense about the baptism. I figured people say "congrats" - that makes sense - but I wasn't sure what exactly the customary thing to say was. Mention a bar or bat mitzvah... and I know a lot more . By the way, I count full carbs too. I don't eat sugar alcohols so that isn't an issue but I don't discount fiber. Then again, I don't really count carbs either exactly, just a general idea of what range I am in. Too much math makes my head hurt . I think you'll be fine with a higher carb day every once in a while... some people even see that it jump starts a loss for them.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Hope the scales agree with you today Sue! You have really challenged me with this not counting net carbs. Which veggies do you eat the most of? How do you count a salad? That has bee the hardest for me. All the extras on a salad. If you go out to eat, how much would you count the salad? Anyway, I was extra hungry yesterday too. And I don't think that when you are that you need to deprive yourself. Shocking your body seems good sometimes. Have a wonderful day!

[seb]

I'm not eating huge salads, but maybe 1.5 cups of loosely packed greens and veggies. I count that as about 5-7 carbs, depending on how many extra veggies I add. I am using really low-carb veggies right now like celery, cukes, cabbage, greens and green beans, with cauliflower and broccoli occaisionally. Most of my 15-18 carbs a day come from those veggies.

[seb]

O.K., so I've decided to post my menu each day with the carb count. Hillary and Beth are my idols and after seeing them do it, I want to also.

Today was a left-over day as it was my volunteer day.

B~ground beef and cabbage fried with mexican spices 6
1 mug of tea and 1 mocha 4

L~ham sandwich on a RR with mayo and pickle 2

D~zuchinni, egg and cheddar cheese dish 7.2
small hamburger patty mixed in with it 0

Total~19.2

[Edwards20]

Thanks Sue. That's what I gathered about the difference in the plans, I have learned for me, I have to count ALL carbs.

DH eats peanuts all day long, along with his food. I have no idea what his carb count is, he just consumes all you can eat acceptable foods
However it must work for him because he is now down 32lbs. But, he has always had what he calls REAL food, one meal on the weekend. Then he is fairly strict during the week. He even has beer ocassionally on the weekends.

Your veggies are pretty similar to the ones I eat ... with the excpetion of cukes and cauliflower. I could NEVER eat cukes as they don't agree with me, and I must try another cauliflower recipe to see what I think.

Hope you have a good evening.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Your menu looks fantastic! I have got to find ways to change mine up. I am getting bored. You will give me some good ideas! It is funny how our taste change and we start having stuff like cabbage for breakfast! Thanks for the info on the salads. Good job on adding the veggies...doesn't that make you feel so healthy?!

[seb]

We were posting to eachother at the same time. I am loving the veggies. It is funny how our tastes change. I crave veggies, especially frozen whole green beans fried in olive oil, more than I crave sweets. And cabbage for breakfast??? It was yummy. I was making a mexicali hamburger casserole where I fried the hamburger with cabbage, added the spices, then put in in a dish with eggs and cheese to bake. I loved just the hamb and cabbage part of it, so made some extra of that just to have.

[seb]

Candy~what cauliflower recipes have you tried? I love the one with bacon, cheese, cream cheese, green onions and mashed cauliflower! I'm not making that right now because of the cheeses in it. I can't stay out of it when I make it.

[seb]

I am getting tired of the 180s. But, I won't let my impatience derail my progress so far. That nut fest a couple days ago did nothing to help me get out of the 180s either.

I was really craving something sweet and off plan last night. That was different, but I think it might have been because of the peanuts the day before. I really have to ban those things from the house from now on, or have DH hide them from me. I don't feel like they are a cheat, because compared to other things, they are quite healthy, but they do lead to cravings.

NO MORE PEANUTS FOR SUE FOR A LONG TIME.

[crazyredhead]

Originally Posted by seb

O.K., so I've decided to post my menu each day with the carb count. Hillary and Beth are my idols and after seeing them do it, I want to also.

Aw, shucks . I really think this has helped me more than I can say this time. I generally post both my planned meal for the day (because planning is essential and helps me stay on track) and what I actually ate (cause that can sometimes vary from what was planned). I know that on more than one occasion, I stopped myself from eating something I would later regret, simply because I would have had to write it down afterwards ... and didn't want to have to do that. And, yes, it's also good for seeing patterns like when too many peanuts or too much peanut butter have had their toll (you know me and the peanut butter... my worst enemy... so I can totally relate about the peanuts). By the way... you've got a yummy menu! I may just have to steal some of your ideas . - H.

[seb]

Hillary~I've been keeping a written journal, and I know that it has helped me tremendously. But, writing it online will also help stay more accountable and honest with myself.

[Edwards20]

Originally Posted by seb

Candy~what cauliflower recipes have you tried? I love the one with bacon, cheese, cream cheese, green onions and mashed cauliflower! I'm not making that right now because of the cheeses in it. I can't stay out of it when I make it.

I heard that was the good one. I just made the mock potatoes

Originally Posted by seb

NO MORE PEANUTS FOR SUE FOR A LONG TIME.

Yeah, I have this issue with cashews ....

Hope you are having a wonderful evening ......

[seb]

Candy, did you have to mention cashews??? They are my all time fav. I can make myself sick off those puppies.

[seb]

Wednesday's menu:

B~2 eggs, 2 low sodium bacons 1.2
mocha 4

L~ham sand on RR with mayo, mustard & pickle 2
radishes and celery 2
5 olives 1

D~egg and zuchinni scramble with bacon & onions 9.8

Total - 20

Water - 100 oz

I have been so hungry all day. I ate early at 4:00 because I've been so hungry. Hope my stomach settles down.

[Edwards20]

Must be something in the air today. I was so craving french fries ......

[seb]

Candy~I ended up going to a scrimage game for youngest DS, so that helped to be out of the house. Drank a diet coke and tried to forget the growling stomach. Still have it, but maybe this means I'll be down some tomorrow. French fries, huh? Have you tried alternatives like turnips or jicima? I haven't, but heard they are good fried.

[seb]

I was hungry all evening. Hope I don't have another day like that. I will get on fitday and plug in the numbers to see what could have caused it.

Scale has been bouncing around for the past 2-3 days, but I'm just waiting it out.

We are looking forward to out trip to the coast tomorrow. Need to do some prep work as far as food goes. I don't want to be caught without something to eat.

[seb]

I haven't been hungry today like I was yesterday. Don't know what that was all about. I plugged my numbers into fitday and they looked just right. I guess it was just one of those days.

We're having ham tonight. I usually avoid ham because it makes me retain water, but I found such a good deal on it today, so I'm cooking it right now. We'll see how the scale reacts to ham in the morning. It sure smells good.

I had a sf vanilla breve latte this morning. Boy, did it clean out my pipes. It was so good. I haven't had one for a couple months, but decided to splurge today.

[Edwards20]

That's a good thing you were not hungry, right ?? Let me know how you do with the ham. That ranks right up there with pork rinds .... hangs out around my ankles