Beth's Real Life Journey to Success

[seb]

You are sooooo close to being in the 40 POUND CLUB!!!! How exciting. I might have to start following your menu. The scale is just not budging for me.

[seb]

Have a great trip. I'm sure your family will be blown away by how great you look.

[Edwards20]

Originally Posted by Low Carb Mommy

Candy~Just get them not to bring the biscuits to the table!

Uhm that's the hard part

Ok, I am sooooo proud of your accomplishments. You are rawking it now sister. I hope that you have a safe trip. You are gonna WOW the family.

I won't be here Saturday either, I will check in on you Sunday.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks Candy and Sue! You guys are awesome cheerleaders! 40 pound club here I come!!!

I had a really good weekend with my family. I got to see both grandmothers, several aunts and uncles and some 1st and 2nd cousins. There was no eating off plan either! We ate out mostly, so I could control what I ate. I also made sure that I carried some snacks with me. Although I didn't eat much of those. My aunt that has lost 75 pounds looks great. She has a lot more to go but I could see a real difference. Everyone was bragging on me and asking what I was eating. Several people said that they were going to have to get the book and start it themselves.

I got on my aunts scales over the weekend. She said that they were set to her doctor's scales. They were real fancy. I should have written down the name of them. On Saturday, I weighed 136! Then, yesterday I weighed 136.4. We had eaten seafood the night before so I wasn't that alarmed. Of course, I get on my scales this morning and I am still at 137. Anyway....I just recorded my week at 137 to be safe. That gives me a 2.4 weight loss for this week. Tomorrow will be the month weigh in. I go from the 1st to the 1st. It looks like that I will have a pretty good month. I am going to be real careful today. I am so close to my next goal...135!!

I don't feel like posting all my menus from the weekend. I will just start tomorrow posting again. I didn't let them get over like 25 this weekend.

Well, I have a busy day ahead of me. I have to get everything back in order from the weekend. Plus, we have an open house at a school that we are looking at for our boys. I really want to get some exercise in today, so I will have to do some planning to make sure it happens.

Have a wonderful day!

[seb]

Beth~sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with your family. Sounds like you might have some converts to Atkins. The way things are going for you, you'll be at 135 in no time. And, good job staying on plan over the weekend. It's a great feeling to know that we can stay strong, even when we're away from home. Glad you're back.

[Edwards20]

I am glad you had a great trip. I have NO doubts that you will be in the 40lb club VERY SOON! Keep up the good work sister .

[Low Carb Mommy]

Well, I am aggravated! I didn't expect to end the month going up a pound! I weighed several times this morning and it all said 138! Grrrr! Today was the day I recorded for the month! I know it is water weight and that is what makes it so frustrating. And I am sure weighing on my aunt's scales and seeing 136 is making it even worse! My weight loss for this month was 4 pounds. I know that is good....

I have put this deadline on myself to be 125 by the last week in June. I may have to realize that it might not happen. I am very disappointed right now. It is so silly of me I know, but it is just how I feel at this moment! Mark said to me, "Would it be so horrible if you were 130 at convention?". No, it wouldn't be, but what is the reason for setting a goal if you can't reach it? Has anyone got any suggestions on how I can get there? Or should I just accept it? Give it to me straight now!

I think we have found a school for our boys. The Christian school they have been attending is having problems financially. We don't even know for sure if they will be open next year. Our boys have gone there since they were 3 and 4 yrs. old. I hate to see it close. The church they are affliated with could no longer make up the difference in running it, so they have separated from the school. No one will let us know for sure what is going to happen, so we have to make plans for our children. We really liked the new school we visited yesterday. It is not far from our business. They will have so many more opportunities there too. Pray that we will hear God's voice on what to do. Thanks.

I didn't get any exercise in yesterday. We had some drama at our house. I had some gentlemen show up at my house that own the land behind us. Apparently, when we put in the basketball court the concrete company dumped all the grading dirt in the woods back on our property lines. Well, there was a fence there that got torn down. There are acres of land behind us and there are cows in that pasture. It sounds like we live out in the country, but we really don't. We live in a subdivision that is adjacent to that pasture. (OK I can hear someone laughing right now!) I rarely see or hear the cows. Anyway, the men were upset and demanded that we fix their fence. So, there were lots of calls etc. that had to be made on top of preparing for last night. Crazy!! (How is that an excuse for not exercising???)

Menu from yesterday:

Breakfast~2 Revolution Rolls(2) made into pancakes w/ 1/2 oz of cream cheese(1) & 1/8 cup of SF syrup(0)=3

Lunch~2 pieces of LC pizza(4)=4

Snack~1 cube of cheese, 1 bite of Atkins bar, coffee=1

Dinner~Chopped sirloin steak w/ mushrooms(1), Salad w/ toppings(3), ranch(2)=6

Total: 19

[seb]

Beth~Goal setting has set me up for failure in the past. Even my goal to lose 6 pounds a month has been frustrating because I realize now my body will do what it wants to do. I am no longer setting weight goals, just eating and exercise goals. Four pounds is great. Just think how you'd feel if you were four pounds heavier????

Sorry about the drama with the neighbors yesterday. Not fun. Glad you were able to find a school for your boys. How old are they again? Are they the older kids?

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks Sue! I know that I am being very hard on myself! My husband reminded me that I have lost 20% of my body weight. It is hard to get those kinds of figures in my mind. He is a "number guy". I went to the bathroom (sorry TMI)a while ago, so I am hoping that was some of my problem. I am going to pick up some more yogurt today. I was doing much better eating it.

My boys are 14, 12(13 in June), 4. I don't know what we will do with my four year old. He has been going half a day to preschool. He really enjoys it. We have a couple of choices on him but we will have to look at finances.

[seb]

My DSs are 14 and 12 They are soooo sweet. My 14 year old is 6'1" and the size of a man, although a very thin man. I'm always amazed to look up at my kids. DD is 5'10" and when she wears heels she also towers over me.

Yes, we are both probably being too hard on ourselves. It is hard to get into the mindset that this is not a diet but a way of life. My DH is a numbers person also (he's an engineer) and he charts our loss by percentages in inches lost.

[Awannabeloser]

I hope I am not intruding by chiming in here...I don't want to intrude on anyone's journal but was reading another post and saw this link....
That numbers game we play with ourselves is so hard!! I'm like that too! I started out thinking that I would be close to goal by June because it is our 10th anniversary and we decided that, since neither my DH nor I had ever been to Vegas, we are planning a trip there to celebrate. Neither of us drink or gamble (except for an occasional scratch ticket here and there) but since we have never been in the US for vacation, we thought it might be fun. I have been at a stand still for the last 3 weeks...have lost and gained the same 2 pounds day in and day out for 3 weeks. I think I many try starting induction again for 2 weeks to get a kick start again. Is this something you have tried? Will it make a difference? I guess I will try and find out- nothing ventured nothing "gained" (or lost). Good luck Beth and try not to let the numbers stress you...sounds like you have a lot on your plate already from the sounds of yesterday.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Oh, Nelia I am so glad you came to visit my journal! You are welcome here any time!

Thanks for the advice. I have thought about getting back to induction myself to see if I can drop some pounds quicker. If I were stalled, I would definitely get back to the basics. I have also tried to start exercising on a regular basis. I haven't been that successful with it yet but I am giving it a good effort.

I set my goal based on a business convention we are going to the last week in June. I know that sounds silly. I can't make my body lose the weight other than be faithful to my plan. I am going to have to back off myself for a little while. I could get too stressed out about it and not lose for stressing! What a vicious cycle!

[Edwards20]

If you have added more reg. exercise, maybe that is some water retention for you. You know I am the queen of retention. I have set mini goals for my challenge and I am not gonna make it. But, it my mind I just take it 5lbs at a time. NO time frame. I have decided stress does NOT help with weight loss.

Sorry about the trouble with the neighbor. Keep walking to check on the status of the fence, or help build it and you will get some exercise
(Just trying to make you smile).

Sorry things didn't work out with the school that the boys have been attending. Praying that God will guide you to the "right" school for them.

Beth, I do hope you have a better Wednesday.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Candy~Thanks for your support! Your words are encouraging. I think I am going to have to be more realistic with this process. I am missing the joys of being where I am now! It is the difference in looking through critical or positive glasses. I need to change my glasses! I don't mind the muscle water retention from exercise. I do feel so much better when I have done it. I feel so accomplished. I know it will balance out soon!

Good morning! I did get some exercise in last night. My sons and I went for a run/walk around the neighborhood. It is so close to a mile that I will just say it was a mile. My #2 son is so awesome. He is like a trainer for me. He pushed me to get around in a certain time. We cut our time in half from last time. Hey, in stretching I could touch my fingers to the floor and hold them there for a few seconds! I didn't know I could do that again! Another thing that I did yesterday was get back to drinking my water. I have been so bad with that lately...more tea than water. So, I am really going to work on it!

We measured again this morning. We were going from Tues-Tues., but we forgot yesterday. I was down in my measurements! Most areas I lost 1/4 inch....my hips got bigger...what the heck! My thighs were down a lot! My waist stayed the same, but my abs lost 1/2 inch! So, I am totally sold on the measurements. It helped me emotionally from the weight gain I have had these last few days. You really need someone to help you though. You can't get real good measurements trying to do it yourself. Mark's were down in some areas too.

The scales are starting to go back down. I was 137.4. I am trying to be positive here.....

Mark is struggling lately. He has seen a gain lately. I think it is his knee though. He is having trouble with it again....it is swollen. That doesn't help his emotions though. I hope it will change for him soon. I yelled at him this morning because of his attitude about it (like I had any room to talk). I told him, "Well, go back to eating hamburgers and pizza for all I care!". He is cool...just wanted to vent about it!

Our friends that we are in business with are starting to make some changes in their diets. My girlfriend ask me to look at the size of the outfit yesterday. She had dropped some sizes. I was so proud of her. Her husband has been resisting this change so bad! She just started doing it without him (like I did). It is starting to effect him though because when we went out the other day, he reported to me that he had eaten a salad for lunch. Then, at dinner I noticed that he didn't eat any carbs. Peer pressure can be a good thing! We are all going to convention in June. They had made the statement a month ago that they had better get with it, or they were going to be the fat couple at convention, and we were going to be the skinny couple! Us skinny ....that sounds soooo good!!!


Menu from yesterday:

Breakfast~2 revolution rolls (pancakes)(2) w/ SF syrup(0), coffee w/SF creamer(2)=4

Snack~nuts(1)=1

Lunch~Salmon pack w/topping(SC, Parm, mayo)=1.5

Snack~stupid sweet treat(2)=2

Dinner~1/2 Zaxby's grilled chicken salad(3.5), ranch(2.5), naked chicken wings(0)=6

Total: 14.5
+1 mile walk/run

The reason I put stupid sweet treat was because I while bored searching the recipe room I found this recipe. The treat that I made was with cream cheese, peanut butter,davinci's carmel syrup, and cocoa. It didn't taste all that good. The person said that it tasted like a snickers! I added cream to it to see if that would make it better. Then, I ate some more. I didn't end up eating it all and threw it out. It was a waste of carbs. Then, I had to feel guilty for eating it. I really need to stay out of the recipe catagories that are "sweets".

[seb]

Beth~I avoid the recipe room and recipe help and suggestions forum because it gets me to thinking about foods that are not on my plan right now.

Congrats on the inches you have lost. It is encouraging to see a drop in measurements! Someone from my Atkins 72 thread quoted from the book saying that the inches will drop faster than the scale when doing Atkins. I think this is very true. I know people that have gotten to goal said they are thinner than they thought they would be at goal weight.

I hope DH doesn't get too discouraged. Does he have a lot to lose?

[Low Carb Mommy]

Bad recipe room!! I think that I am going to have to visit the Atkins 72 thread more. The basics are so important. I am still trying to find the old book.

DH has a lot of lose (according to him). He has lost so much already. I think his body is just trying to catch up. I am going to get him to call his doctor today and see if they will give him a fluid pill. He would feel so much better I think. His knee is holding a lot of fluid.

[Awannabeloser]

Great job on the 1 mile walk/run yesterday It was raining here so I did not go out for a walk or do any yard work either. I did crafts at the kitchen table with the kids instead ( how is this exercise...it's not)
My husband has been trying to follow low carb eating too (not truly Atkin's but alot less carbs than he was eating before) as he too has abut 25-30 lbs that he would like to lose. He gets gout in his knee about twice a year which causes great pain and inflammation in the joint. Being a Registered Nurse I hate to admit this but naturopathic medicine works much better for him in getting rid of the flare up than does conventional medications. This involves drinking 1-2 litres a day of "black cherry juice" (32 carbs for 8 oz) for a few days to completely get rid of the pain and swelling. Unfortunately he woke up this morning with a gout flare up in his knee so there goes his low carb plan for this week

Hope you have a great "on track" day! KUTGW

[Low Carb Mommy]

Nelia~So glad to see you back on here! DH also does the black cherry. He gets his in the form of capsules at GNC. That has helped him for years! He has never tried the juice. Of course, now that would not be an option. He also takes the Move Free tablets. I hope your DH gets through it soon.

I think it is great that you are doing crafts with the kids. It is so important to spend time with them. I don't know if you read it or not, but I stay home with my two little ones...2 & 4. I also have two big ones...12 &14. Maybe the weather will be better soon. We are in much need of rain...send some our way!

[Awannabeloser]

Thanks Beth-- I should have known they would have capsules of the black cherry extract. We even have a GNC store not too far from where we live so I will pick him up some tonight (along with the "move free" tabs if I can find them). What a coincidence about the black cherry juice/extract. I had never heard about this until he started researching gout on the internet when expensive prescription meds weren't helping. He's only 37 yrs old but when he gets the flare ups, he walks like an 90 yr old (no offense to any perky 90 yr olds). I'm glad I joined in here yesterday!
It's so nice to hear too that in this hustle and bustle world of today, that people are deciding to stay home to be with their children...I really applaude you for doing that. My DH has decided to change his career at this point in his life so is going to school and apprenticiing full time so I have to work full time to keep up with the morgage payments and such. I am very blessed though, I do have my mother who lives 5 minutes away who drives my DD to school and watches my DS while I work. I don't know what we would do without the support of my wonderful parents.
BTW... here's sending rain your way....

[Edwards20]

Beth, you are welcome for the encouragement and support.

As far as the advice goes, I wish I could take my own advice.

I am thinking that perhaps my body is just regulating now with me getting back on the meds. Having some major hot flashes, then I get nauseated (sp?). I think it might still be my sinues draining, but it does not explain the hot flashes. Also, I am in small ketosis. So, I think as long as I feel that I have not "cheated" and show some pink on the stick, I will try to not get discouraged. I think maybe a lb or 2 a week is all I can hope for or even a few lbs a month. I have debated on going back to induction levels. (Hmmm, I might copy this and paste into my journal.)

Thanks for the heads up on the snickers treat. I don't visit the recipe room often though, mostly just Linda Sue's site. I haven't really made anything new lately. But, I would like to know your thoughts on the revolution rolls.

I hope that DH doesn't get discouraged. I have a bad knee and back, so it makes exercise hard. But, I have read so many times on here the success from others who were not able to exercise, so I pray that it will still work for me, with my random exercise habits.

Good news on your friends as well. Looking forward to you having a good time and being the "skinny ones" at your convention.

Much love dear .

[seb]

Good morning Beth.

[Low Carb Mommy]

I wish I could say good morning and mean it, but it hasn't been for me! I don't know what I have done, but I think I may have knocked myself out of ketosis. My scales were up a full pound today. I weighed 138.4! I just tested for ketosis a few minutes ago, and I couldn't tell whether it was a trace or none. Either way it is barely there. I usually test darker in the mornings than in the evenings, so I am in trouble!

I felt very bloated and crampy last night. I was also very hungry. I realized when I did my carb total that I was a little higher than normal. Here I will let you see....

Menu:

Breakfast~2 eggs(1.2), 3 turkey sausage links(2)=3.2
Snack~cheesestick(1), coffee w/ HC(.8)&D(0)=1.8
Lunch~Skillet pizza(5), small salad(3), ranch(1)=9
Snack~coffee w/ HC(.8)&D(0)=.8
Dinner~2 1/2 cups of Hamburger Cabbage(5.5/9.5), 1 T. sour cream(.5)=6N/10F
Dessert~LC Strawberry Yogurt(3N) w/reddi whipped cream(1)=4

Total: 24.8/28.8

Well, I guess I had too much cheese, cream, & cabbage. I never thought that would knock me out though.

I had thought about doing one of those Atkins Shake Routines. I had read a thread on it and the girl was dropping weight good. She drinks the shakes morning, lunch, and then eats a meal at dinner. I started today with a shake. I have had only that and one cup of coffee with no cream/ only davinici's. I am scared now. I don't know whether to do that or just go back to eating Atkins 72' style....meat and 2 cups of salad. I would love some advice! I can't start gaining weight! HELP!!!