Got home from my convention last night... very busy, fun weekend! Got invited out for supper on Saturday night and of course supper was pizza, wings, and white chocolate!! I had thought this might happen so had brought a vegi platter for appetizers but decided to cave and ended up eating some of everything. (I day early from entering P4) I had forgotten my scale so weighed on my friends scale the first morning just so I could judge if I gained... sure enough Sunday morning showed a gain of over 2 pounds... I decided to do a steak day and it wasn't hard cause I was busy all day and then went out for a nice steak dinner with friends in the evening. I was curious to see what MY scale would say this morning and it was -1.8 from LIW!! Very happy... I probably didn't need to do the steak day... I thought the scale would read quite a bit higher.... I guess this stabilization thing works!

Now officially on P4 and crazy busy preparing for my hike... the food will be high carb cause carbs tend to weigh less in my pack and considering the calories we'll be burning we'll need the carbs... soon as I'm home I'll be back on P2... can't wait..

P.S. wore my killer heels on the weekend and although they really hurt my feet by the end of the day it was worth it... I love those heels!!

My weight has really stabilized! Its settling in around -.2 to -.4 from LIW.... Last week I went shopping with a friend looking for some clothes for this weekend's convention. I plan to keep losing so don't want to buy much but thought I should reward myself for my hard work and wear something that fits! The sales lady made a comment about me being slim.... I just stared at her and she was wondering if she'd offended me... I had to explain that it had been awhile since I'd heard THAT comment! Of course in my head and in reality I'm not slim yet, just less fat... but I'm feeling a lot more confident these days so that's nice.

On my way to my hair appointment today I had to walk by an ice cream store... it hit me how I didn't even have the smalles inkling to go in.... wow how times have changed!

Still walking every morning at 5am to train for my upcoming hike and then trying to roller blade or do something else in the evening... I'm feeling so much energy these days its truly amazing!!

Weight from LIW: -1.6

Was out of town yesterday and went for lunch with a friend. She recommended the chicken salad so I ordered it... turned out to have mayo in it but not a large portion so I didn't fret... also went out for supper and decided to have an appetizer... shrimp with lots of oil and some cheese but I made sure my main course was a 5 oz steak with only steamed vegis. I also hiked at 5am and went roller blading in the evening so I was happy to see the scale went down .2 this morning.

My body's metabolism seems to have leveled out now... I'm never hungry and the scale likes me every morning! Life is good!

applebottomblues: missed you! Great to hear from you.... yes I plan to wear what I call my 50 pound reward heels and walk past him a few times!! HA!!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Stayed totally off cheese & nuts yesterday, went for two walks and drank lots... result was that I'm now .8 below LIW.... very happy!

I'm sure it was water retention but was up exactly 2 pounds yesterday so did a steak day.... I figure whats the point of being on a plan if you don't follow it!! This morning I dropped exactly 2 pounds so we'll see what tomorrow brings. I got up and did my 5 am hike, now I'm off for my leisurely evening stroll.... I figure we have so little summer up here in the north pole that I really need to get outside and enjoy the weather before the snow flies again!

Feel I've eaten really well so hope the scale reflects that tomorrow....

TTFN

I'm glad to report that I'm back, my mom is fine and I didn't have to do any steak days while I was away!! I was pretty conscientious about following protocol..

Everyone stayed at my sister's place and it happened to be her convention time... her company was wall to wall people not including the RV's parked outside... crazy time... lots of food and I was a good girl!! Drove home today so I hope I'm not retaining too much water when I weigh in tomorrow morning.

Now I have to get back to training mode..... must get in shape!!

Today's loss: 2 pounds
+.6 from LIW

Steak day worked!!

I received a call from my mom last night and she is being booked for urgent surgery tomorrow so I am throwing some things in a bag and driving 5 hours so I can be there..... Yes, I'm packing my scale and I think I have a good game plan... I'll probably check in over the next few days as I'll be staying at my sisters and want to be accountable for my behavior... so knowing I have to report to you all is a good motivation!!

chow for now

+2.6 from LIW

Here we go... a steak day.... I thought I ate soooo good yesterday, just ate a chicken salad for supper and then only drank water & herb tea after that... but in retrospect I had melba tst and some cheese... I think I jumped the gun on those foods so supposing my steak day works I will have to swear off the dairy and melba for awhile longer. (yes, I know melba is a starch but thoght I'd try it!) If your reading this Terry, (Montana girl) your blog is keeping me inspired that I WILL stabilize!!!

I have also decided to track what I'm eating with WW points for a few days... sometimes a person is eating more than they realize.... then there's the exercise thing... I'm working out pretty hard trying to get ready for my hike and my muscles are sore... read somewhere that means your body is holding onto water... I'm greatful that I'm feeling quite determined and confident that I'll get this under control. I am 100% sure I'll succeed which is a nice feeling.

Thanks for the words of encouragement Michelle, it really helps!!

If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.

+1.8 from LIW.... YIKES!!!

Too close for comfort.. I do NOT want to do a steak day... too busy working out! I don't think I ate enough during the day yesterday so I was hungry last night... I had a few more handfulls of nuts then I should have and then experimented with coconut oil, stevia, vanilla & coacoa... it didn't taste right so I ended up going to the store and buying a sugar free chocolate bar..... won't do that again... didn't taste good anyway!

Today I'm trying to eat a little more during the day and hopefully lighten up on my calories tonight... I know I should wait till my weight stabilizes a little more but I just had 180 calories worth of cheese.... it was delish!! Hope I don't go over +2 tomorrow!!!!

What I've eaten today:

Health shake
chef salad with one egg & 80 grams of chicken, olive oil, squeezed lemon,
ground turkey breast soup
very small handfull of nuts
180 calories of cheese
3 melba tst (not sure I should eat the melba??)

Persistent people begin their success where others end in failure.-Edward Eggleston

+1.2 from LIW

Ate really good all day yesterday but my weight went up a little. I think my body is just trying to settle into the extra food I'm feeding it. As long as I'm exercising and eating right I won't fret... if it comes to doing a steak day so be it.

I've been enjoying mixing my vegis and having the odd small hand full of nuts. I'm going to wait till my weight stabilizes a little better before I introduce dairy. I have some cottage cheese waiting for me in the fridge!

So far today I've had:

Health shake with frozen blueberries, strawberries, rice protein powder, greens powder and salba seeds (good source of omega 3's)

Apple with a small handful of organic nuts
ground turkey breast soup with tomatoes, celery and onions

Hopefully the scale likes me tomorrow..... I've been exercising quite a bit too so my muscles could be holding onto a little water. My Jillian Michaels '30 day Shred' video came today so maybe I'll try it out tomorrow after my 5am power hike.

Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states. ~Carol Welch

+.8 from LIW

I went roller blading for over an hour last night and then drank a lot before bed. Didn't get up to pee in the night so I wasn't surprised that I gained... pretty sure its water. Starting some power walking today and now I'm off to make an omllet with green onion and peppers in it... looking forward to it! Since I couldn't face my measurements before starting round one I only have my measurements showing progress through round two.... here they are:

Thigh: 3.5 inches
Waiste: 5 inches
Bust: 4 inches
Hips: 5.25 inches
Calf: 1.5 inches

Interesting.... Dusty Rose mentioned that she lost more on her lower body than her bust... I ALWAYS lose more on my bust when dieting.... this time I lost more on my hips!! Yippeee!!

“The person determined to achieve maximum success learns the principle that progress is made one step at a time. A house is built one brick at a time. Football games are won a play at a time. A department store grows bigger one customer at a time. Every big accomplishment is a series of little accomplishments.” -David Joseph Schwartz

Today's Loss: 0
R2 Total Loss: -30.4
Total Loss: 54.8

Starting weight: 240.2
Now: 185.4

Starting sizes: bottom: 22 top: 20
Now: bottom: 16 top: 14

I'll give you my R2 measurements tomorrow.

Well.... I stayed the same today... not happy! I was hoping to get to 55 pounds for my LIW but it wasn't to be. Since I didn't lose anything today I've decided not to inject... no point! Yesterday will be my LIW. I will follow VLCD till Sunday, then I will start P3 trying to stabilize my weight.

Now I have to change gears and really rev up the exercise. I've ordered the Shred video by Jillian Michaels and will by trying to exercise twice a day. One harder session and one fun session like roller blading or something. Have to prepare my poor soft muscles for the job ahead of them... one month till hiking day!!

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Today's Loss: -.6
R2 Total: -30.4

I was so convinced I'd lose a pound a day for a few days before my LIW... I can be glad I haven't stalled I guess. After mentioning my jean situation yesterday, I went into my closet and pulled out the size 16's... they all fit! Some are almost loose. Tomorrow's the big day.... I'm just hoping for another .6 at this point.

I'm surprised this time. I thought I'd be soooo ready to get off P2 but I really don't mind it. I like not having to think about what I'm going to eat. I'll have to plan my meals more while on P3.

Have a good day!

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”

Today's Loss: -.6
R2 Total: -29.8

Count down is on.... two more weigh ins till LIW so I'll have lost over 30 pounds this round. For those who read my 'jeans' story way back in April... they are now way too big! I can still wear them for yard work but I just look like one of those teenagers with the major baggy pants. (crap catchers) so I'll be retiring them soon. I'm down to two pairs of 80's style jeans but don't really want to do much shopping till I'm at my goal.

I'm starting to get into P3 mode thinking about my training program for my hike and what I'm going to cook... I'm going to miss seeing the scale go down so much every day but will enjoy building some muscle. I always feel so good when I'm exercising.

Accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory. -George S. Patton

Today's Loss: -.4
R2 Total: -29.2

I'm truly disappointed this morning, I was so sure I'd see a bigger loss, especially since I was such a good girl while my roomie was baking last night... I guess I'll take what I can get....

Sometimes I think my Japanese room mate is trying to torture me. Last week she made my favorite flavour of pie (rhubarb) Last night I was sitting there finishing my organic apple, not hungry at all, minding my own business and then this smell started permeating through the entire house... she made a chocolate cake... of all things.. CHOCOLATE CAKE.. being a self proclaimed chocoholic the smell was pure torture!!! I suddenly felt hungry! I just kept telling myself that I only have four more weigh ins till my LIW... I was NOT going to cave so I drank another huge glass of water.... I won't say it made me feel better, but there was something in my stomach anyway! I've heard that when you see or smell certain foods, your body will respond releasing the appropriate hormones, insulin etc... getting your body ready to eat.. slows your metabolism down.. maybe that's what happened????

Women who don't eat breakfast are four and a half times more likely to be obese than women who do. - Jillian Michaels, Master Your Metabolism

Two Days Loss: -.6
R2 Total: -28.8

Went out of town Saturday night but brought my scale with me. Stayed in my sister's RV but I think the floor had some give cause it said I'd lost almost two pounds... thankfully I didn't have my hopes up since I'm right in the middle of my period. Came home and as of this morning I have only lost .6 in two days... things should pick up tomorrow. (I hope!)

More camp fires, more junk food flowing. They even cooked bacon on the grate over the fire... smelled wonderful but I had absolutely no problems staying away from the junk. Yay! Four more injections, seven more days (including today) of VLCD. I'm determined to be smarter on P3 this time around... introduce calories and other foods more slowly. I allowed myself a few carbs too soon on P3 and was +3 from LIW when I started R2... not this time... every ounce counts when your lugging a pack up a mountain!

“I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.”