Monday, June 8, 2015

Houseguests, Baseball and Graduation

It's been one heck of a time over here! My father in law came to visit for close to a month. This way he could see the last bit of his grandson's high school baseball career as well as his high school graduation. We typically have a lot of snacks on hand for him. Due to chemo etc, he has had a difficult time gaining and keeping weight on. Lots of snacks for him, along with his favorite ice cream that he is unable to get at home. 

The baseball season went longer than anyone expected! They just kept winning. They won District, they won Region and went on to play at the State Tournament for the first time in 15 years! There was a LOT of baseball to be had, which meant lots of concession stands and dining out while on the road. Add to that TOM came to visit, then SIL from Vegas came to visit as well. Lots and lots of dining out, then GRADUATION!  

With all that going on, it's no wonder I gained. While I did try to make good choices MOST of the time, I did consume bites of this and bites of that; which were full on carby goodness that I had no business consuming! 

So my LDW was 217.4, I maintained at about 219-222 give or take, which I was okay with.

No worries, it will be gone before I know it! I'd like to break into ONE-derland this round, but we'll see. To just get under 200 would be magickal.

Round 2 P2 VLCD 0 - 224.2

Monday, May 25, 2015

WTF?! I have a BLOG??? Time to catch up!

So... it's been just over a year since I have been on here. Nice. Clearly, I am not a blog for money kind of gal!

In any case. To catch up; new roof is nice, Rambo is home, kids have aged another year 21 and 19. The boy graduates from high school in just a couple weeks. The daughter is home from one out of state college with degree and will begin in state in the fall. My weight is well...still an issue. :/

April 2014 I was at my lowest since January 2014 when I got down to 201.6. By March I was 212 and April I was back down to a somewhat respectable 205.2. You know, as respectable as 200 plus can be on me. I know I won't ever be a skinny mini; in fact I have no desire to be. I do however expect to get down to 175-180. There, I will be quite content.

After April my weight made the steady climb up to 245 by February of 2015. DING DING DING!!! My new all time high score!

It was then I made the choice to do the HCG Diet. I started April 1st and by May 20th I have been able to get down to 217.4 as my LDW (last dosage weight).

I did some research and watched numerous videos. HCGChica is one of my faves by far! She did the injections and her site as well as her youtube is a treasure trove of info! I chose to do pellets. 4 pellets 3x/day. Easy enough!

HAH! If only it were that easy! Following Phase 2 (P2) Dr Simeons Protocol of 500 calories a day with your hcg is not for the weak or faint of heart. It's a pretty serious thing. Rambo wondered how I was doing it and I wasn't wanting to kill everyone. Hcg is a funny little thing. You really are not hungry, even with only taking in a measley 500 calories a day. The results make it worth every second of it!!! Seriously. The first week I lost just over 11 pounds.

Feeling all kinds of big I decided that a little cheat wouldn't hurt. Wrongo-bongo! With hcg you lose fast, but you know what? You also GAIN fast! That one meal set me back 2.4 pounds...from ONE MEAL! It took me 3 days I think to lose that again. Lesson learned, and I found out for myself just what a 'little' cheat would do. I liked that I did it, because this way I wasn't taking someone else's word for it, I lived it.

So here I am in the first week of Phase 3 (P3) and a wacky first couple of days determining my macros and I am stabilizing well at my LDW. After P2 and all the strict rules, entering P3 left me flapping in the wind! Silly wild and loose rules like no starches and no sugar, other than that "eat until fullness". What kind of madness is this my mind thought?!

Having eaten low carb I know the basics of it and can do it quite well. However, I like having a number in mind of what to not go over etc. Some people are good with 15-20% carbs, I know my body and I know that is far too many for me. I have set my macros at 10% carbs, 65% fat and 25% proteins. Which seems about right so far. I plan to stabilize in P3 for a couple weeks or so then begin my second round. I am planning for my loading days to fall right around my son's graduation. I know he will be choosing one of our fave places to eat and I want to be able to EAT. :)

If I do as well on R2 as I did on R1 I will be happy. My R1 was really long, like 50 days. I believe I have 2 more rounds left to complete for a total of 3 rounds until I will be at goal. Whether those will belong or short rounds will depend on our schedule.

Right now I could not be happier about my experience on HCG. The results are worth the effort.

In 6.5 weeks I lost 27.2 pounds and I lost 20.75 inches!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Talk DERBY to Me!!!

Hahahah!  That used to be a Derby slogan a few years back.

It's MAY...and the first Saturday in May is always the Kentucky Derby.  Which means the first Friday is Oaks Day...the phillies run for the lillies.  We have never been to either of these horse races and are not really into it. Neither Rambo nor myself are from here originally. Some of the locals go all out Derby Weekend, others leave town and get the heck out! Lots of tourists and celebrities fly in for the KY Derby.  All the local radio and TV stations are Derby this and Derby that.  I will be glad when it clams down a bit.  

May also brings our son's birthday.  Our Cinco de Mayo baby! This year my baby boy turns 18!!!  Wholly cow, where does the time go?!?  I thought it was bad when our daughter turned 20 this past January, but this is my baby...the youngest...TURNING 18!  You know that this momma will be having a margarita or three on that day.  :)

Whew!!! What a week. This whole insurance claim thing for the roof is pretty stressing. Much of it is a hurry up and wait thing. I hate waiting!   Finally heard back from the insurance co about our roof. The mortgage co finally did their part with the first check and now I'm hoping that the roofing co will be able to begin work shortly. I also plan on hiring someone to repair and paint at least 2 ceilings in the house and more than likely paint the ceilings in the stairways. I'm a clutz  and it would just be bad, bad, bad me falling down the stairs with a roller full of paint. hahahahah

As for my weight loss; I have managed to maintain this week, which I will take as a victory.  Stressing out about things that I have no control over is silly and I try not to do it as much as possible.  Sometimes this whole being a responsible adult thing really stinks.  It stinks even more when I am doing it solo.  Rambo is off doing his thing and I am here holding down the fort, and trying to make sure that the roof of said fort does not cave in on us.  

Ahhhh, no rest for the wicked......Wicked Stitch that is!  :D



Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Numbers are Moving!

FINALLY!!!  After literally M O N T HS of hanging out at or around the same weight, the numbers have started to budge.  Wholly cow!

In January, right before my birthday on the 2nd, I was at my lowest in years, I was so close to getting under 200 I could smell it.  Then it just escaped me.  After doing so well all through the holidays I was stalled.  It stayed the same for weeks, then a small gain.  Well drats!  As the pending deployment got closer we began dining out more.  We like it.  We get to spend time together and I don't have to be stuck in the kitchen when I would rather be spending time with Rambo before he leaves.  Then came the flat out self sabotage, with all that dining out, who wants to watch carbs when I'm not seeing results?  In my Gotta Get a Grip post I talked about that!

"It's official...I've got to get a grip!  Gained weight...gee how odd!?!? *smacks head*  Dining out far too much on the road the past couple of weeks and eating far too many carbs!  Not even hidden ones, flat out consuming french fries and damn dunkin donuts munchkins!  Self sabotage sucks.  I lost almost 40# and now I think I can eat whatever I please?  WTH self?  What are you thinking?!?!?  You clearly do NOT know how to be a grown up, stop trying and follow your eating plan!!!  Got to get a grip.  Step away from the tater tots and the M&Ms you jackass! "

I'm not a sugar coating kind of gal.  My self talk amuses me.  :)
Sometimes a good swift kick in the pants is what it takes...even if it comes from yourself!  

I decided to look at my intake.  My calories were low since I do not exercise much; I'm just not a fan.  I don't like to sweat, never have.  Every now and again I will hop on the treadmill and walk a few miles an swing my kettlebell 2-3 times a week but nothing super regular.  If I feel like it, I will do it.  If my plantar fasciitis isn't killing me, I will walk longer.  If it's taking me down like a rhino with a dart gun, then there is NO WAY any walking is happening.  So calories were not my issue.  I looked at how I had my percentages broke down between fat, protein and carbs.  I lowered my carbs and upped the fat.  Thus the FAT BOMBS post that was before this one.  I also bought some ketone sticks.  Lo and behold, the weight began to drop!  Wheeeee!  It's about time.  

I am enjoying watching the numbers drop after having them remain static for so long.  While I am not under the magical 200 yet, I am closer than I have been since January 2nd, and that's good by me.



Saturday, April 12, 2014

Fat Bombs...Who Knew?

I made these little fat bombs last night, and wholly cow :yummy: they are so good!!!  If you are doing keto or need to up your fat intake fat bombs are such a treat and way tastier than eating a spoonful of straight coconut oil.   And I LOVE anything coconut!  They are especially great if you are a fan of almond joy candy bars.  I have found other recipes with peanut butter, but I am just not a fan of pb.  It always has a way of burping back up on me, not cool pb, not cool at all!

http://lowcarbbetterhealth.blogspot.com/2012/07/fat-bombs.html?m=1
Nutritional info for one Fat Bomb:
145 calories
14.7g fat (91.2%)
1.53g protein (4.2%)
1.67g carbs (4.6%)

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Hanging On

While the weight may just be hanging on, waiting for me to up my activity, or perhaps just getting used to being here at this lighter weight for a bit before it continues on it's journey; I've noticed there have been changes other than weight loss as a result of my low carb way of life.

Less creaking of the stairs when I go up and down them.
Less creaking of ME in general. :)
Far less joint pain.
Stronger nails.
Brighter and younger looking complexion.
Less breakouts.
Better sleep.
Wake up actually refreshed and not like the walking dead.
Less migraines.

Since I am not one for doctors, I am sure that whatever levels they test are also in a far better range. Although, when I did go to my weight loss place, my cholesterol was always in the preferred range as was my heart rate. If it ain't broke don't fix it is my way of thinking when it comes to drs. Not always a popular choice when others find out about how I don't go. It's usually followed by "you should get checked for this or that, just a check up to make sure you're doing okay." I'm doing super okay. If I felt as if something was seriously wrong I would get it checked out, but I am no hypochondriac. I am not going to have some pill pushing dr just look around until he/she finds something potentially wrong. I've done the test lab guinea pig route a couple times in my life and I now choose to stay far from that, thank you very much.

Others who follow the low carb way also notice changes other than weight loss. Here is a list is from Wifezilla's Way.

I know that I function better when I am following a low carb way of life. Now if I could just stop all the carby treats from directing their siren song toward me...

Monday, February 10, 2014

Motivation

Or the lack of in my case. It's been a while since I have done any intentional moving. The scale on the other hand, is having a grand time moving in the wrong direction. My little lime FitBit Zip hasn't been able to show me a great step day...because I've been a lazy sloth. We are prepping for another deployment and it always takes a lot out of me mentally, which makes for a sloth like and depressed Wicked Stitch. This pre-deployment has been THE most unorganized we've ever experienced. I am not a fan.

One of my weight loss friends whom I have never met, she lives on the other side of the continent showed off her cute Polar FT4 heart rate monitor. I have never had one and quite honestly had no idea what my 'zone' even was! I still had some money left on the Amazon gift card Rambo gave me for xmas...so I got one! Lime green of course to go with my FitBit Zip. 


Today I strapped that bad boy on and hopped on the treadmill for an hour.  It tells me I burned 405 calories my average rate was 130 and max was 146; also I was in zone apparently for 54:28 of my hour.  I think that's good.  :/  I really need to read up on this thing and see what's what.