Bella's Life by the Sea Journal

[BellaHMB]

July 14th

Sorry I missed yesterday, I was knee deep in Prius buying! It took ALOT of focus to make it happen in 2 days, but we have a new lovely blue Prius in the driveway. YAY! To match my new "look".

I feel so good contributing in a positive way to the environment. I loved my bmw, no doubt about it. But Im a very earth conscious gal and I needed to walk my talk. Im sure I will sometimes miss the purrr of the German car though, but the Prius is a gem

Weight wise, Im doing ok. Im still way below goal and trying to stabilize by adding more carbs. Im up to 30-35 a day with a goal of about 50-60. Hope to keep my weight down with that plan! I finish my 6th month of lowcarbing tomorrow and Im feeling pretty good about my results.

One thing I do find though is that I tend to snack. I did so even when I was losing, so I think it's a habit and Im going to pay some attention to it. I do feel that it got me into trouble before!

Today's quote: When you're tired, take a nap!
(that's what I did today!)

Bella

[BellaHMB]

Trying to get here each day but....

Im at a new low of 139 and not trying to lose
anymore. I imagine I will be bouncing from 135-140
as my goal weight, and I can live with that!

Bella

[BellaHMB]

Sunday is here, I have a day off!

Thought I would post my current maintenance menu:

Breakfast: Coffee 1 cup, 1/2 flax muffin, 1/2 cup cottage cheese
with strawberries or plum slice.
Lunch: A variety which include grilled chicken salad or 3 ounce hamburger,
salad.
Snacks: 10 almonds, dannon lowcarb yogurt cup, 1/4 cup cooked oatmeal
(my current favorite), mozarella cheese stick. I usually a couple from this list a day unless Im really hungry and then all of them. Maybe the other half of the flax muffin!
Dinner: 3-4 ounces protein, veggies.

Ive added in summer squash every couple of weeks, still no potatoes
or bread!

Oh and I do make Southbeach mini quiches which are great! They only have 1.5 carb per quiche.

My quantities are larger than before and my calories are closer to 1200
than 700/800 during my losing phase.

Im still exercising 5-6 days a week and loving it.

Not nearly so hungry!

Today's quote: Keep it up and you will reach your goals!

Bella

[BellaHMB]

Saw Harry Potter today, loved it~ Im even considering reading the 6th and
7th books!

I was pretty darn hungry today which I think has to do with eating higher carbs than before, so not as much appetite suppression. But I do need to eat more carbs, Im at about 30 a day now and still losing a little here and there.
My clothes are still adjusting too, as I wore my jeans out today! I am wearing pants all the time and skirts very little. When I was +71 I wore alot of skirts as they were comfie and I thought they hid my weight (which of course wasnt true)

Today's quote: Im not invisible anymore!

Bella

[jtinker]

Hi Bella

just popped in to say hi, glad to hear all is going well with you. take care Joan

[BellaHMB]

Joan, so sweet of you to check in with me!

I am doing well, and havent been keeping up with my journal.

I have recently had to pull out of a couple of threads which I
really used to enjoy, but I found that once I hit maintenance
I didnt get much feedback from anyone, becoming pretty
much invisible. That was disappointing, but I guess if Im
not losing, then Im not one of the gang.

Still reading my Atkins 72 thread, great gals there. And
I did find a new thread at Mel's recommendation so Im
checking that out now. Kimkins stuff has become so
entangled that Im avoiding it even though my nosey side
does like to see what's happening

My son is considering starting graphic arts studies
at a local college which is SO wonderful! I hope
he does decide to pursue it as he is a very talented
artist.

That's it for now, I will try to type more!

Bella

[jtinker]

Hi again

sorry to hear you had to pull out of threads that you enjoyed,
But I dont think its a matter of you being invisible. I think it may more be a matter of most people who are far from goal cant understand what you going thought. most people think if I hit goal all will be so great. and that goal is the end of this journey . where we both know its the start of a new one. and Maintenance can be just as hard as losing and you still need the same support as you did before. So dont let it get you down. instead celebrate the fact that you have come so far , so far that a lot of people here cant understand where you are. so keep up the great job you have done. take care . Joan. P.S hope I didn't babble on to much....

[BellaHMB]

Joan
Thankyou so much, it means alot! And I do think it's true that folks
just dont understand about reaching goal and staying there!

Bella

[jtinker]

Your welcome.
And I know there are some on here that do understand, So maybe you can find that group. I have been in both places so I know what your going thought. and when your thin people can be cruel and not realize it. I think we are the same height ( 5"7 ) and I was 134 and boy did I get ribbing . " OMG your so thin. Your just bones. Are your just going to disappear? " and on and on. they just didn't realize how hard it was to try and stay at a point and not lose. But I know you'll find some who do understand, I do so if you need someone to talk to please feel free. Take care and have a great weekend. Joan..

[gettenthere]

B E L L A!!!!!!!! I found you I just found the 72 thread and then you and cheryl and the whole gang left except Sheila. I don't know you and you me. I was so inspired by all your posts If I ha'dnt spent reading all of them I would have may be found you earlier.Then poof both you and Cheryl dispeared. I did find you on the support unlimited I used to be there when it was the 45 challenge.This is just great I sure need this thread, I'm so thankful to you for starting it knowing what an active and busy life you have.
you have done great and I'm hummbled by both you and cheryl how you each go out of your way to help us. I was destined to find you I think congrats for not giving up and living and sharing each day

[BellaHMB]

Thanks for finding me! I think Cheryl also posts on the Kimkins threads.

Im finished my 7th month on lowcarb and am now in month 8! No cheats!

While I was in Yosemite I stayed true to low carb and lost a pound. I think I
reduced my carbs alot in order to stay strict which really worked. Now that
Im home, Im trying to decide if I want to hit 135 and have that as my goal
weight with a 135-140 range. Maybe....

More later!

Bella

[BellaHMB]

Kodakgallery.com*Slideshow

Link to my Yosemite photos!

Bella

[gettenthere]

WOW WOW WOW Bella, and Shelia just got home, stuck to my WOE and even managed to add 15-30Min of WATP I 'm feeling great have energy!!! I feel I must be on the right track again to feel this good.The photos are awesome, I'd be so happy if I were you size Shelia Bella I always wanted to visit yosemite you have fulfilled half my dreams thanks again. I'll be pm-ing you soon.have a great day.

[jtinker]

Hi Bella
Hope all is well. hope your dog is doing good. take care Joan

[BellaHMB]

Joan, Thanks so much. My Rosie is ok, but I will have to monitor her now with
twice yearly xrays and exams.

Im still maintaining but havent been posting as much.

Maybe today I will!

Bella

[BellaHMB]

Per requests.....

PRIZEWINNING FLAX MUFFIN RECIPE

2 cups Flaxmeal
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup granulated Splenda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 TB extract such as almond, vanilla, banana
1/2 cup DaVinci SF syrup (can use slightly less according to taste)
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs, beaten

Mix all together and place in 12 cupcake liners/pan
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

193 calories
17 fat
6 protein
6 carbs/4 fiber

Freezes well!

[BellaHMB]

Been a long time since I posted much....

Its been going very well until today, and while I didnt cheat,
I did mildly veer off plan in that I ate the inside of part of a Calzone
which I agreed to order for dinner. I took a few spoonfuls
on a plate and had a chicken salad with it. That doesnt bother
me too much, but I ate it because I had a rough day with
my dh and wanted comfort food. I did know what I was doing,
and even said it outloud but it wasnt enough to send me
to the fridge to eat protein!

We had a big argument today, and all afternoon I was grazing
in and out of the kitchen. All legal foods until the Calzone,
but def. eating less consciously than usual.

A good reminder isnt it! Im 7.5 months into my plan with no cheats
and one could be just a fraction away at any moment!

Thanks for listening,

Bella

[mstamika]

Originally Posted by BellaHMB

I also reduced my fat which at times left me very hungry but my loss was on average 3 per week so you know what? I dealt with it. I drank water, Good Earth Tea, and posted online a lot.

I took this bit to heart and it has been helping me, Thank you. Not so much the reducing the fat but working on overall reducing my calories. Lately I've been drinking Vanilla Chai Tea and using Atkins Vanilla Shake as creamer and a couple of equal to sweeten it. This has helped with not eating as mush at each meal.

I had a question about the hunger thing... My understanding is that you need/want to eat regularly to keep your metabolism high, going hungry seems a little counter-intuitive to that statement.

Can you give me your thoughts please?

[BellaHMB]

Thanks for asking....and your question is getting me back to my journal!

I think a certain amount of hunger is necessary in order to lose weight. That doesnt
mean that you need to starve yourself, or wait long periods in between eating.
But it does mean that when you eat, you eat protein and good carbs rather than junk!

I was hungry alot of the time during my losing phase. And there are times now in my maintenance program where I am hungry too! But I watch whether I am emotionally needing food, or whether I am physically needing food. Here is an important distinction.

So in answer to your question, a little hunger is not a bad thing!

Bella

[BellaHMB]

Good morning!

Im now nearing the end of month 8 in my program and it feels good to have my
"sea legs" in terms of eating. I cant say that it is second nature to me yet.
I do have to watch what I eat and put it on fitday. But Im probably not as
stringent with fats for example which is why my calories are higher and Im
not losing now.

One thing I am working on is my body image. I dont think I yet see myself clearly!
I was thinking of posting some photos so I could look at them and see the difference!
I did put a pre weight loss photo on my office board so I would be reminded of where I came from.....maybe that's a good project for me today (to get some photos up here!).

Today's thought: Patience my dear ones, patience!

[seb]

Hi Bella. I'm beginning to wonder if I need to go hungry in order to finish out losing this weight. I haven't gone hungry so far, but as you know, my weight loss has come to a complete halt. I hate to lower calories and go hungry, because then I'm afraid I'll start eating things I shouldn't. Just bearing my thoughts here.

You really have done such a wonderful job losing and maintaining. So proud of you!!!

I'd love to see those pics.

[BellaHMB]

Originally Posted by seb

Hi Bella. I'm beginning to wonder if I need to go hungry in order to finish out losing this weight. I haven't gone hungry so far, but as you know, my weight loss has come to a complete halt. I hate to lower calories and go hungry, because then I'm afraid I'll start eating things I shouldn't. Just bearing my thoughts here.

You really have done such a wonderful job losing and maintaining. So proud of you!!!

I'd love to see those pics.

Sue, Im really happy to hear you asking yourself these questions!
If your weight loss has totally slowed, then you are either eating too many calories or too many carbs. Id be happy to look at your menu if you want to post it here. I think you will feel better if you jump start your loss again!!

FYI, I have found that I can eat more calories IF I keep my carbs low.


Bella

[seb]

I've become a little complacent about keeping track of everything in the past two months, mostly because of the hectic/crazy schedule I've had and all the happenings in my life. But I need to really get back on track with keeping track.

I think I need to start over from the beginning and slowly move up again. To be honest, though, I hate going through the constipation problems that I have during that low level or carbs.

You can check out my journal if you want to wade through it to see what I've eaten. Don't look at yesterday's though, because I rarely eat Dreamfield's pasta and did have it. I also bought Carb Countdown Chocolate milk, and when I got it home it said 5 carbs per cup????? I was thinking it had three. Well, I'll let the boys and my DH drink it. Too many carbs for me.

Yes, I need to lower my carbs! Thanks for your help.

[BellaHMB]

Here is the link to my photo gallery which has before and after photos:

Kodakgallery.com*Slideshow

[BellaHMB]

Happy to look Sue but where is it???



Bella
aka Victoria

[seb]

Sue's Journey to FINALLY getting this weight off!

Great pics. I love the one of you at Yosemite. You look great.

[BellaHMB]

Hi Sue,

I would carefully track what you are eating for a few days to see how many calories and carbs you are ingesting. T