Sue's Journey to FINALLY getting this weight off!

[seb]

Today is day 23 of being on plan and staying on plan for life.

I have been LCing since May, 2002, but have lost and re-gained so much weight during this time that I had begun to wonder if LC was for me.

After gaining 25 pounds since the spring of 2006, I have put aside all excuses and am going to lose this weight THIS year!

As a 46 year old woman on BCPs to control perimenopausal symptoms, it may not come off fast. But if I stick to it, it will come off! I am determined.

I am living by Dr. Atkins original diet and for the first time in all these years have experienced the joys of having no hunger whatsoever! I don't crave extras because I'm just not hungry. Ketosis is a wonderful thing.

You can do this, Susan!

[sjl330]

Hi Sue,
You go girl, I know you can do it, I hear the determination in your post so I know your head's in the right place. And 23 days behind you is awesome!!

I missed you when you stopped posting on EFGT so I just wanted to pop in and say hi too.

[seb]

Hi sjl330. EFGT just got too complicated for me always trying to figure out the percentages. And I didn't lose on it. I'm enjoying Atkins 72 so much. Yes, I am determined!

[seb]

At my official weigh-in today, I was 189.5!

[seb]

For the first time in almost 5 years, my appetite is under control. It is amazing. I could barely choke down dinner, and hadn't eaten a bite since lunch at 11:30. Amazing.

I am loving Atkins 72. It is so simple to follow, and I am very satisfied with the food. I've looked at the plan before and thought it was too restrictive, but because of the levels of fat allowed, the restrictiveness doesn't bother me now.

One day at a time............

[seb]

I have never shared my weight-loss journey fully, and thought I would since I have my our journal now.

I was never a skinny kid, but not fat either. I thought I was overweight in high school, but when I look back on pictures, I was quite thin at 5'6" and 125. How could I have thought I was fat?

My freshman year of college I gained 20 pounds, and there began my problem with weight. I went up and down as I was living in the dorm, then returning home in the summer. At home the weight would just drop off.

After graduating and moving to Alaska for a job, I got up to 160. I was horrified by my tight 14s, and went to the bookstore to find a weight-loss book. I came across Fit or Fat by Covert Bailey, and for the next 13 years lived by his theories.

I lost 23 pounds in about 7 weeks, and was quite pleased with how I looked, although I thought I wanted to get down to 125 again.

After getting married I started putting weight on, and by the time my third child was born I was over 200 pounds. I was miserable with myself and didn't have much motivation to go on another diet.

I did find a low cal, low fat diet that I went on in 1999, and lost 55 pounds in 6 months. I felt like a new person, and pretty much was able to keep the weight off for a couple years, but I could not longer stand the constant hunger that went along with low-fat dieting.

In 2002, DH and I decided to try Atkins, and I have pretty much eaten low-carb since then. But, after going off in the spring of 2006, I gained 25 pounds. How could it have come on so quickly?

I have never really had a lot of success losing with low-carb, but I was able to maintain my weight, around 175, without any problem.

What I want now is success with losing weight. I've got to get this off for my own health. I have three children than need their Mom healthy, and a husband that would like to be more active outdoors with me, but I'm just so out of shape.

It is time to get back to a normal weight, get in shape, and quit being lazy about my health. At 46, I can't afford to be lazy anymore!

I'm excited to see what 2007 holds for me. I know I can do this. I just have to be careful not to let the scale drive my moods, not get discouraged if things go slow and just eat right every single day.

[seb]

Today's menu

B~2 Jimmy Dean sausages and 2 eggs, 2 mugs of coffee, cream
L~chopped pork chop sand with RR
S~Grande SF vanilla breve latte - not on plan but it was good
D~4 meat balls and 4 cauliflower florets fried in olive oil

water~80 oz

[seb]

I'm feeling good today. I was down to 188.5.

I think I will spend time in the kitchen today making up a bunch of lc foods for the weekend. Don't want to get caught busy without anything to eat.

I am feeling better physically and mentally, just knowing that the weight is coming off, and I'm not fighting for each pound.

Once again, I love Atkins 72!

[seb]

Walked yesterday with L. It wasn't a long walk, but at least we got out.

Today I walked a little longer. Maybe when I take A to baseball today I will walk around the track at the park. Not trying to push the walking, not power walking, just putting one foot in front of the other and getting some fresh air.

[seb]

Yesterday's menu

B~2 eggs scrambled with sausage, coffee, cream
L~chopped pork sand on RR with mayo and lettuce
D~2 BBQ chicken wings and cabbage fried with bacon and butter

I am hoping for another 3 pound loss this week. I don't want to obsess over the scale though, so am trying not to weigh so much. This is difficult. I know my body isn't a machine, and I can't force it to lose on my schedule, so don't want to be upset when it doesn't. We'll see..........

[crazyredhead]

Hi Sue. I found your journal... thanks for posting in mine. I think you're doing a great job . Don't let the scale get to you... just remember if you keep on doing what you're doing it will go down

[seb]

Thanks crazyredhead. I agree that it will go down, I just have to be presistent!

[seb]

Boy, have I had cravings today. Don't know why because I have been craving free for a couple weeks. I'm wondering if it is adding more veggies the last few days. I may have to cut them out. I was hoping to add 5 carbs a week, but not if I feel like I did today.

[seb]

Today's menu

B~2 eggs scrambled with 2 bacon slices, coffee, cream
L~hamburger on RR with mayo and lettuce
S~protein shake (1/2 scoop PP, 1 T coconut oil, little cream, coffee)
D~hamburger patty

Going to cut the veggies tonight in hopes of staving off the cravings again. The shake did do the job, but it was nasty. That CO is gross.

[seb]

After counting my calories yesterday at over 1700, I decided today to eat less! So, today I will try to eat around 1400 and see how that goes. I don't want to count calories, but I also want to lose this weight, and will lose it slower on 1700 a day.

I don't need to add so much mayo to things, and I don't really need bacon or sausage at breakfast. Two eggs will do me just fine.

On a good note, my carbs were at 12, which I thought was good for all those calories.

[seb]

Things are going well and I'm feeling strong. Not needing snacks and meals are right on target.

This is the 28th day that I have been cheat-free. It's amazing how after getting all these days under my belt makes it so much easier.

Now, I need to just keep plugging away day after day, week after week and month after month to get this off. It doesn't matter how long it takes; what matters is eating right and not wavering from my goals.

[seb]

29th day cheat free!

Went grocery shopping today and got lots of good meat and veggies. What to make for dinner?????

I made chicken patties today with a chicken breat put in the food processor with onion, added 1 egg and mayo, then fried in olive oil. It is one of my favorites recently. I'm so sick of grilled or baked chicken breasts, so this livens them up and adds so much more flavor.

Bought another bottle of flax oil today, and the flavor is great. The last bottle was rancid, I think. It was yummy on salad with romano cheese on top. I think that adding this in the WOE is going to make it more healthy.

No weight loss for about 5 days, but feeling good. I measure next Saturday, so that will be enlightening.

[seb]

30th day cheat free!

Still no loss on the scale, but as I was getting ready for Bible Study last night I could tell that I have slimmed down! That is what I am looking for. The scale doesn't accurately measure fat loss, but the clothes sure do. I can also see a difference in my face.

I feel like I'm really in a groove now, and am going to do this for the long haul. No self-sabotage! One day at a time.

[crazyredhead]

Sue: you are doing great! I agree... how our clothes fit is the best indicator, but hopefully we will both see a whoosh as well on the scale soon . The chicken patties sound good... I actually just bought some fresh salmon... froze it for now, but next week am going to poach it and then make salmon patties. If you are looking for other things to do with chicken, you can always coat them in parmesan cheese (I fry until crisp then finish cooking in the oven - the parm makes it very tasty). Can also make chicken parmigiana with a little sauce and some fresh mozarella or chicken cacciatore (I make mine with mushrooms, onions, zucchini and either some canned tomatoes or some marinara). I personally hate plain chicken so can't make it unless there is some twist to it.

[seb]

Crazyreadhead~I love dipping thin slices of chicken breast in egg, parm cheese and then frying in olive oil. I do this also with tilapia. Yum. I made something similar to the chicken parmigiana for the family last night, but added pepperoni to the chicken. The kids love pep, so I call it pepperoni chicken. Added parm cheese last night, but sometimes I add mozzerella cheese.

[seb]

31 days cheat free!

We went out to eat last night and I woke up puffy today. I also ate more carbs than I usually do, but they were all good carbs (fried onions, green beans), so not to worry.

No sure what the day will hold eating wise. I had an egg sandwich for breakfast with RRs and it was good. I hope I don't overuse them, but they are so good, and it's nice to have a sandwich. I guess with mostly egg and mayo in them, they are pretty harmless for Atkins 72. What a treat they are. Why didn't I make them earlier in this LC WOE? DD thinks I'm crazy for making and eating them. Ah well, she's just a teenager.

[seb]

Ed died today.

Even while gone I was able to stay on plan. I know the next few days will be busy, and I'll be going a lot, but will cook ahead to make sure that I'll always have good food on hand. Need to make another batch of RR today.

Will not cheat even though I am feeling so sad over this loss.

[crazyredhead]

Sue: I don't know who Ed is but I am very sorry for your loss and hope you are doing Ok

[seb]

Hi Crazyredhead~Ed is my BIL. He lost his battle with brain cancer. Thank you!

[seb]

35 days cheat free!

I haven't been home much since Wednesday, but have stayed on plan with deviation, and am proud of myself for that.

No loss on the scale, but I'm assuming this is a post-induction stall and will just wait it out. Hope I don't have to wait too long!

Had another one of those "talks" with my Mom about LC. She is so negative about it, and no matter what I say all she can reply back is "Does that mean you aren't going to eat the lasagna tomorrow?" or "you're not eating the fruit salad tonight?" "Fruit is good for you, aren't you ever going to eat fruit?"

Get used to it Susan.

She will never understand, but when the weight is lost and I'm healthier, maybe she will stop dissing LC.

[Yolande]

I made chicken patties today with a chicken breat put in the food processor with onion, added 1 egg and mayo, then fried in olive oil. It is one of my favorites recently. I'm so sick of grilled or baked chicken breasts, so this livens them up and adds so much more flavor

I just happened on you Journal and saw that recipe. I am in love with RR and this will go well in my next one. I cannot believe that I went on induction before without them.
How tough was that?
Thank you for the chicken idea. Today is the first day of my new induction.

[seb]

Yolande~I've been LCing for years and I also can't believe I never made Revolution Rolls. I guess I've looked at the recipe, but just couldn't imagine how it would work. Just had a ground chicken sandwich with RR today! It was yummy. Good luck on Induction.