Beth's Real Life Journey to Success

[Low Carb Mommy]

I wish I could say this morning that my magical new scales gave me a really low new number, but they didn't (weight: 133.6). My new scales are just consistent with what I have been weighing the last 4 months (130-135). I guess I shouldn't complain since the number I saw this morning is at least lower than the number my crazy scales have been showing me.

I do believe that I am retaining some water after last night's dinner. My water percentage on the scales said 46.7%. I was reading the book this morning about the numbers and it said that the average total body water percentage ranges for a healthy female adult is between 45-60%. It also said that your water levels can be affected by sleep, physical activity, eating and drinking (caffeine or alcohol), illness and medications, bathing patterns, and urination. It even had a special paper for women. I thought this was interesting:

"Women experience a much greater change in hydration levels throughout their menstrual cycle. Therefore, female users should be aware of their monthly cycles when establishing a baseline for body fat and afterward during their regular monitoring program. Hormonal changes due to menopause may also cause water retention and variations in measuring. By nature, a woman's body is developed to protect her and a potential fetus. As a result, women have more enzymes for storing fat and fewer enzymes for burning fat."

I think that this scale should help me mentally with seeing the water in relationship to my weight. The first of the month is just around the corner for me and you guys know what happens then. I won't be able to post my body fat percentages until the next day since they advise you to check that number in the early evening.

Menu from yesterday:

B~Flaxseed muffin w/ Cream cheese & 1 tsp. of pb=5.2
L~Wendy's-Grilled chicken caesar salad(4), 1 pk. ceasar dressing(1)=5
S~2 squares of lindt chocolate=2.5
D~Homemade chili w/ cheese & sour cream=12?
S~1 cup CCD milk=4

T~28.7

Ketone stick this morning: trace
Water intake: lost count...maybe 48oz.
Exercise: just running errands and taking care of children....by the time I had time I was just too tired.


I really have a hard time with my portions on things like chili. I tried a recipe close to Linda Sue's recipe. I should have written down everything I put in the pot and keep up with the carb count but I was in a hurry to get something on the table. I ended up eating two bowls. I just went off her counts and added some more. Who really knows though. All I know is that it was REALLY good!

[seb]

Your weight was great and better than the other scales.

I love chili and have a hard time with portion control when I eat it also. It's soooooo good with cheese and sour cream.

Have a great day. I'm off and running in a few minutes.

[godsbeloved79]

Morning Beth !

Thanks so much for stopping by my journal and noticing my stats change. I'm excited as my major concern to losing the weight now, is the fact that we are TTC and having a healthy body is a major priority in my book .

I really wish my scale would read 133.6, but I understand what you mean. You have been at this for awhile and you have accomplished ALOT and you are truly an inspiration to me and others. You will get there .

[monet0329]

Hey Bethy... congrats on the new scale.. .. sorry it wasn't as low as you thought it may be... but you will get there..I just know it !!..

cool about the clothes.. you will get into those as well.. good measuring tool ..

talk to you later.. oh.. I hope DD's shots went well and she didn't get any germs form the other kiddos in there .. I hate to even take Kayden into Walgreen's or somewhere.. people getting their perscriptions when they are sick.. KWIM?..

have a good night..

[seb]

I just read your post in the ML. I would do a lot of research on this before you lower your fat. From everything that I've read, cholesterol in food does not make an impact on our blood cholesterol. There are so many things involved, including heredity. Please don't worry, but do your research. I just got the book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes, and I'm close to the point in the book where he addresses this. If I learn more I'll let you know.

[Low Carb Mommy]

I don't have much time this morning so I will make this quick. If you haven't read already in the ML, I got some bad news yesterday from my doctor. I am very upset about it! They told me that my cholesterol came back high. It was 277! My LDL was high too...can't remember the number. I haven't picked up the paper yet because they said they had a few more test (hormones) that they were waiting on to come back. At this point they want to see if I can change it through diet and exercise. I need every one's help to try to figure out from what I am eating what I need to change. Obviously, I am going to have to start watching my fat intake. I just need some input please.

My weight went down this morning....133. My water % was 46.6 and my fat % 32.9. I wasn't able to check the body fat yesterday evening. I was gone all day. I will try to check it this evening to see if there is a difference.

Menu from yesterday:

B~Protein shake=3
L~salad(4), ranch(2), chicken(0), squash casserole(4)=10
S~1/2 of sm. diet lemonade(Chickfila)=2
D~Longhorns-Seafood dip w/ celery(5), salad(3), ranch(2), 1/2 rib-eye steak(0), asparagus(2)=12
S~1 square of lindt w/ 1 tsp. peanut butter=1.8

T~28.8

Ketone stick this morning: trace
Water yesterday: 50 oz.
Exercise: walked for hours at the mall

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks Sue ...just discovered your post. I want to talk to you more about it. I will be back this afternoon....gotta run now.

[seb]

I'll be gone all morning and maybe part of the afternoon, so will talk to you later, friend.

[DaisyGG]

Originally Posted by Low Carb Mommy

They told me that my cholesterol came back high.

Aaaaah Beth! We'll figure it out. Does it run in your family?

[Livywilltim-mom]

Dear Beth,

Don't dump the fat yet! Sue is onto something. I am about 1/6 of the way into Good Calories, Bad Calories, and it is AMAZING stuff. The beginning is all about the cholesterol "myths" out there.

Stay tuned, I will share more when I get more reading done.

Hugs Honey!

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks everyone. Yes, my parents have had high cholesterol before and so has my brother. I think now everyone has it under control though. No one is on medication for it....they just changed their diets. They have all been on low fat diets though. Both of my parents have Type 2 Diabetes that they control with their diets. My mom is overweight and my dad is not. This is all a part of why I started LC.

I'm going today to Books a Million to see if they have that book. I'm not planning on going on a no fat diet (for goodness sakes...NO!).....just going to watch my saturated fats. I think I found one of my culprits today....Lindt Chocolate....9 grams of saturated fat for 4 squares! I can't believe it....really upset about it. That chocolate has been my saving grace. Now I will have to find another alternative.

I'm sure we will all figure this out. I am going to do a lot of research!

[monet0329]

I;m at work.. but I wnated to give you a hug .. everything will be ok.. love ya

[seb]

Did you find the book? I got mine at Amazon and with the super saver savings (I also got a book for DD to get the price up to $25.00) it was a good deal. It did take a week to get, but now I need to find the time to read it.

Did you get the numbers today?

[Low Carb Mommy]

OK, I picked up my numbers from the doctor. Here they are....let me know what you think.

Total Cholesterol-277 ...... Over 200 is high
Triglyceride-116 ...... Normal 30-149
HDL Chol-67 ...... Normal 40-59
Direct LDL Chol-190 ....... Over 130 is high

[seb]

Did they give you a ratio of the HDL and LDL?

[seb]

I wasn't sure how to calculate the ratio, but it looks like yours is good according to Betty on the ML. So really, I wouldn't worry, Beth. But, do your research. It will make you feel better about the whole thing.

I'm just getting to the cholesterol part of the book, but if there is anything interesting to share, I will.

[monet0329]

Good morning Beth.. I hope you get this all takin care of and understand it better .. I don't know much about all this.. guess I need to huh.. everyone does.. hope you find the book huh.. don't let this get you down.. I know your worried.. but it will all pan out.. you've came a long way ..

[Low Carb Mommy]

I read the post in my thread in the ML. I am starting to feel better about my it. Also, getting my numbers back and seeing that my HDL was high. There is so much to learn.

Fawn responded and said what we need to watch is the hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. So that is what I am going to concentrate on. I can't live without my fat. Also, I don't want to get so strict with this WOE that I find myself giving into sugar. I am really just praying and asking the Lord to show me where I need to still improve with my eating. He knows my body and will help me discover what is best for it. I know I have to live in this world.....and sometimes I am going to eat things that aren't all that great for me. My hope is that I can do the very best I can and the Lord will help me with the best.

We are going to be heading out soon to do something fun with the kids. We have been so busy lately that I really just miss getting to have fun with them. My weight went down some more this morning. I weighed 132.6. My water % was 46.6 this morning (same as yesterday) and fat % 32.8(down .1). I'm pleased. I was able to get some time on my treadmill yesterday. I did 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after dinner. I think it may work better for me by splitting it up rather than trying to take it on all at once when I don't have much time. In the past if I didn't have 30 min. I would end up just not doing anything. I am going to work on doing the amount I can when I can...better than nothing, right?!

Menu from yesterday:

B~Protein shake=3
L~Salad(3) w/ light ranch(3)=6
S~Nuts(4)=4
D~Wild Wings Cafe'-10 wings(10), celery(1), ranch(2)=13
D~Atkins bar(2)=2

T~28

Ketone stick this morning: small
Water yesterday: 48oz (maybe more)
Exercise yesterday: 1.5 miles on treadmill

[monet0329]

..thats the good mood I love so well .. have fun with the kiddos.. ..

[Livywilltim-mom]

Happy Monday Beth!

Hope you had a great weekend! I totally agree with breaking up your work outs...some is better than none!

Peace friend,

[monet0329]

Good morning Good morning Good morning.. .. have a great day!

[seb]

Hope you had a good outing with the kids on Saturday.

I read a post in the ML about drinking tea to help appetite control, and I think I'm going to go get some new herbal teas and try that. I used to drink herbal tea years ago when I wanted to snack, and it really worked for me, but I got sick of the teas. I'm going to go searching for good teas today.

[godsbeloved79]

Hi Beth,

Just stopping by to say hello and wish you well this week !

[Low Carb Mommy]

I'm sorry I was absent the last couple of days. Missed all of you but I was just too ashamed to show my face around here....

We had a great time Saturday with the kids. My eating Saturday went down the toilet though. I really didn't have much to eat until around 4 pm and I think that really hurt me. We went to Olive Garden for dinner Sat. night. DH got some appetizers (fried zucchini, stuffed mushrooms, & fried calamari) and then there were the bread sticks (which usually don't get me but they did that night). I only had a little of the appet. and one bread stick but that was enough to start a carb fest. At the movies, I had popcorn and 1 & 1/2 Atkins bars! I was totally disgusted with myself.

As if all that wasn't enough Sunday after church we went to eat Thai. I totally blame this on DH. He gave into our oldest who has been asking for months to go eat there. I ate a couple of egg rolls (they are really skinny), coconut milk soup, duck w/ veggies (no rice). Well, that was even worse with the cravings. That afternoon, I had lindt chocolate w/ peanut butter, 3 minute chocolate cake, and more lindt melted with pb and oatmeal! I just couldn't get enough. My mood the last two days has bordered on depression. All for some carbs!!! My weight went up(134.2) and then back down (133) but I am fully expecting it to possibly show up all week. I think the only reason it went back down was because I worked out on the treadmill and got rid of some of the fluid.

So, there is my confession. I can honestly say though that I have been fully on plan today with no real cravings. I did make some PMS chocolate candies this afternoon. I think that TOM is around the corner....well, of course it is....it is almost the first of the month.

Gotta run tonight.....getting the kids ready for bed. Just wanted to make an entry. I HATE BAD CARBS!!!!

[godsbeloved79]

Hi Beth,

Things happen, and btw you have come along way.

I know that is not an excuse, but you have reached a point in your journey, where you should be able to eat a meal that's not on plan.

Just my opinion . It's over and you are back to plan .