Amber's Journal - Journey to Onderland (and good health)

[Potaty]

What kind of shakes do you drink? I bought the Atkins chocolate fudge, I hope they taste decent! We were out running errands all day too, hence the chili and higher carb bar. I haven't told you yet that we got a call from our builder on Monday and he overestimated our house by a mere $80k!!!! We are scrambling to find a new floorplan so we went to the Parade of Homes.

[AsmallerME]

Pish posh...80k??! Chump change! did you find a new floor plan? I like the mocha latte one and the cafe caramel one. Those are the only ones I've tried, so I imagine I'd like all of the Atkins shakes. My tips are to freeze in a cup and make it slushy or drink over ice with a straw. Oh, a dash of cream makes them better and richer if you want added fat and cals. I've also put coffee in my choc ones to make a really big protein/coffee drink. I can nurse it for hours. Delish!

So today was DD 2. Already easier. Had a shake (160), Atkins bar (160), and fat bomb (200). Went over again, but hopefully only by 50 this time. Never made the fat bombs but wanted choc and think fat is prob the better way to stay full, so I made a batch. Melted pb, coconut oil, and butter. Set it. Then topped with melted 90% choc with butter. I poured it all in like a med Pyrex dish, made 18 big pieces at roughly 250 cals each, 3 carbs, and a bijjioliion fat grams. Ate slightly over 1/2 a piece for my dinner.

[Potaty]

We found a floor plan we really like but we are in limbo right now trying to decide what to do. We may buy a cheap house that we could upgrade and sell for a profit in a couple years and then build the house we originally wanted. Ugh. Our land isn't going anywhere but it kind of stinks that I thought we would be building this month.

[AsmallerME]

The only downsides to the cheap house idea is that a) interest rates may raise, b) the costs for your dream house may increase, and c) you'd have to sell/move again. Although, if it's cheap enough to hold, maybe it could be a rental and make income for you all? Is it possible to build your dream house, but leave off a wing, leave the 2nd story unfinished, skip the hardwoods, or something that could get you in the house, on the land, and that you could add later on? We had the same debates buying this house. It's far from our dream house, but really awesome and is making us very happy. But I didn't put it on my land, so I could start over easier...

Scale went down this morning. I'm down 3 in three days with juddd. woke up hungry and wishing it was an UD, and then I remembered it was! Hah. Yay!

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by AsmallerME

Counting is hard on uds. Had 2 shakes (320), chicken breast w/ slice of cheese and mayo (300), peanuts (200), burger (700), peanut butter (200) = 1800ish. I could have eaten more but we were running errands all day. My goal is 1900-2000, so I did good. One of those shakes was breakfast and one was dessert.

I reread the book last week and for the first 2 weeks (at least) he says don't worry about counting on UDs. As long as you aren't bingeing or eating like a bazillion calories, you will still lose. I try to keep it to 3 meals and a maybe 2 healthy snacks. He also emphasizes the importance of choosing healthy meals and not looking at you UD as a free for all (which is hard for me sometimes). He says you should start counting your UD calories if the weight loss stops, as you are probably going over on the UDs and not creating the calorie deficit weekly.

Great job so far - 3 lbs in 3 days is awesome!!!

[AsmallerME]

Yeah, my problem is that I overeat by too much when I stop counting. I was extra hungry today and didn't count until just now. As a result, I went way over.

Coffee, cream, shake - 400
turkey rollups - 200
Chili -300
Fat bomb - 250
Nuts -600
hot dogs -400
Atkins bar - 200
---
2300+

I think I underestimated some stuff too. Ugh. Feel really full...

[Potaty]

I think that is what I was doing on regular LC, eating way too many calories and the scale wasn't budging as a result. What are your UD calorie limits?

Gracie~I'm thinking about getting the book. I will have to see if the library has it first.

[AsmallerME]

My self imposed limit is 2000. I think the calc gives me 2200, but I stopped losing at that number last time and lowered to 2000. Ive heard the book isn't great so def try to borrow it first.

Woke up with a sore throat. Wth?! Up 1, which I expected based on yesterday. Today is a new DD. Plan is a shake, turkey/cheese, and Atkins brownie. Should be right at 500.

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by Potaty

I think that is what I was doing on regular LC, eating way too many calories and the scale wasn't budging as a result. What are your UD calorie limits?

Gracie~I'm thinking about getting the book. I will have to see if the library has it first.

Definitely try the library first - I got mine on amazon. I liked the book - it gives me something to think about.

I believe he said that people tend to underestimate their calories on both UDs and DDs - hence no losses. That's why he suggests the premade shakes/bars so you know exactly how many calories you are getting. The diet is still based on a calorie deficit - so if you are overeating on your UDs, you aren't going to lose weight. But, you will still get the benefits of the every other day fasting. He also suggests to only weigh once a week after a DD so you can't see all of these fluctuations. He says that the scale can fluctuate 3-4 lbs. on any give UD/DD.

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by AsmallerME

My self imposed limit is 2000. I think the calc gives me 2200, but I stopped losing at that number last time and lowered to 2000. Ive heard the book isn't great so def try to borrow it first.

Woke up with a sore throat. Wth?! Up 1, which I expected based on yesterday. Today is a new DD. Plan is a shake, turkey/cheese, and Atkins brownie. Should be right at 500.

Hope your throat feels better! My daughter was saying hers hurt last night too

I wanted to tell you - on the Daily Weigh Thread I think you're still using September dates Time flies when you're having fun!!!

[Potaty]

Amber~Get some of the vitamin D3, seriously! any health food store should have it and liquid is best bc you can get 1,000ius in one drop as opposed to swallowing the equivalent in capsules! hope you feel better soon! Where do you get atkins brownies? are they good and what AS used? I have to be careful with malitol and such since I am nursing, don't want Austen super gassy and having blowouts!

[AsmallerME]

Gracie - haha, I swear I know it's october!

Katy - I found the brownies at walmart this past weekend. They are good, but small. They are malitol sweetened, 10g of sugar alcohol. Avoiding blowouts is a great plan!

Ate 500ish today. Shake (160), bar (170), and turkey/cheese. Lots of water and diet coke.

[AsmallerME]

Originally Posted by Gracie514

He also suggests to only weigh once a week after a DD so you can't see all of these fluctuations. He says that the scale can fluctuate 3-4 lbs. on any give UD/DD.

I think knowing to expect fluctuations makes them tolerable. I cannot not weigh. Every time I try to convince myself that it's a good idea, I gain.

[AsmallerME]

Blah. Ate a perfect DD and scale barely went down. No biggie, but I want to get skinnier NOW!

[Potaty]

hang in there, Amber! It sucks when you don't lose after a DD, but a whoosh is just around the corner!

[AsmallerME]

Thanks! I hope so.

I overate again today. I blew 900 cals before lunch. Shake, some sunflower seeds, and a fat bomb. Bam. My plan is to treat my uds like my DDs, and be very careful and plan in advance. No more free eating. Tomorrow is a DD and I have a lunch at a steakhouse. Will fast till then and after. Steak and veggies will prob be over 500 cals, but hopefully under 1000 or so. Maybe it'll be a md and then friday will be a DD. Blah.

[Potaty]

I have been trying to reply to your email but gmail is being weird. I will get back to you soon on that front!

Do you know what steakhouse you are eating at? Could you get a kabob or a steak topped salad? I was just trying to figure out how to get you more veggies and less meat without calling attention to yourself. Or what about tilapia or salmon, those are usually steakhouse choices.

What do you think about eliminating the shakes on your UDs? I don't know about you, but I'd rather spend 160 cals on something I can actually chew and enjoy, KWIM?

[AsmallerME]

It's a local place. I will def do the kabob and sub the potato for an extra veggie kabob. Mmmmm.

My new plan, after struggling to fall asleep last night, is to ditch the products and dairy starting tomorrow. I'm going to prob just have a md or UD, and do a DD tomorrow clean. I'm not going to go stillmans low, but I may go lower fat. The fat bomb is too much for me.

[Gracie514]

What's a fat bomb?

If it were me, I would sip coffee/water/tea all day and then eat dinner at the steakhouse. I'd get steak and sauteed mushrooms You can eat 8-10 ounces of steak and mushrooms and stay close to your DD numbers. Plus the fasting is good for you too. If you can't make it all day, eat an apple somewhere around or after lunch. You should be fine

[AsmallerME]

An apple is almost as bad as real pizza for me in my craving response. But you're right, I could have done it.

Today is a DD, and I'm trying the no or low fat route now.

[Potaty]

Have a good DD, know that I am suffering with you! We can do this!

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by AsmallerME

An apple is almost as bad as real pizza for me in my craving response. But you're right, I could have done it.

Today is a DD, and I'm trying the no or low fat route now.

Originally Posted by Potaty

Have a good DD, know that I am suffering with you! We can do this!

DD for me too Misery loves company

[DesertGurl]

Hang in there honey! I know you'll find your groove again and the weight will come flying off.

[AsmallerME]

Today was the easiest DD I've had yet. Hopefully you all had easy days too.

Dani - I'm glad you're back on track.

[Gracie514]

Hi Amber!

[DesertGurl]

Originally Posted by AsmallerME

Today was the easiest DD I've had yet. Hopefully you all had easy days too.

Dani - I'm glad you're back on track.

Thanks hon! I HAVE to be back on track. Feeling like I'm gonna keel over at any second is no fun. Glad you have found your footing again, you got this!

[Gracie514]

Hi Amber! Hope you are having a great day!

[ellgee]

Where's my friend?

[AsmallerME]

Life as always keeps getting in the way. I started a new job this week. We celebrated DS's 3rd birthday last week. Had family visit the week prior. Halloween the week before that. Lots of excuses.

I'll be back on track on Monday. Hope everyone has a great T-day with their family.

[DesertGurl]

Mercy me, I thought you went and fell off the side of the planet. So good to see you

Have a wonderful holiday, we'll all be here waitin for ya next week!