Dieting sucks. What a roller-coaster. I'm still down overall (3 pounds total lost since I started 12 days ago) but the scale shows I've gained weight both yesterday and today! I'm eating nothing but lean meat, vegetables, eggs and cheese - how is that possible? This is so frustrating. I gain weight just fine on my own - I don't need the South Beach Diet to help me do that.
Over the past 12 days, I have seen a pattern in the weight loss - I'll lose 2 or 3 days in a row and then have a no change day (or actually gain 1/2-1 pound one day). I've never seen 2 gain days in a row, though. I don't know what is going on. With just 4 days left in phase 1, I'm definitely not going to lose between 8-13 pounds during it like the diet promises, though.
I haven't cheated once (absoluntely no desire to) so I know it's not that. I've spent a few hundred dollars since I started on vegetables, lean meats, fish, safe snack foods, special oils to cook with, butter with no trans fat, water bottles... I'm feeling terribly discouraged.
I did a little research online and found a few things that might be causing this to happen. Not drinking enough water was mentioned most frequently. I'm drinking 60-80 ounces/day, though, and don't think that's the problem. An underactive thyroid could be the problem (no idea if that might be an issue for me). A few websites mentioned sodium intake (causing water retention) and not getting enough calories on a diet like this being the cause for weight gain or a stall in weight loss. I have not been keeping track of calories (one of the nice things, I thought, about the SBD) and can't imagine that that's the problem. Who knows, though. Maybe I'll try to find a caloric content chart online... Hate this!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Brokeback
Are we the last people on the planet to see the movie Brokeback Mountain? It'd beensitting on my kitchen counter for weeks (a la Netflix) but we just hadn't had a minute of free time to watch it. We made time last Saturday night. My husband was leery initially - uncomfortable at the thought of watching the whole "mounting" scene. Once whe got past that, though, he actually ended up really enjoying the story. We both did - tremendously. We, very quickly, stopped seeing the characters as "two dudes" and just started seeing them as "two people" - obviously connected and in-love yet completely unable to be together. We rooted for them and their love until the end. The scenery was just incredible - it was a beautiful movie - and everyone in it was amazing. I adored Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Jack, but Heath Ledger's portrayal of Ennis blew me away.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Mexican Chicken Soup
I was given this recipe by a friend who also is familiar with the South Beach Diet. I made it tonight (desperate for a change from the salad and BBQ steak/chicken I've been having for the past week!) and it was excellent and very easy.
Mexican Chicken Soup
1 T. canola oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, diced (I used 2 - we like things spicy)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I used 3)
2 t. ground cumin
5 c. lower-sodium chicken broth (I used 6)
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
2 c. mild refrigerated fresh salsa (I used 8 ozs. fresh pico de gallo because it's what I had)
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender - 5 minutes or so. Stir in garlic and cumin and cook 30 seconds longer. Add broth. Increase heat to high and bring to rapid simmer. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink - about 5 minutes. Stir in salsa and heat through. Makes 4 servings (2 1/4 c. each)
Per serving: 320 cal, 46 g. protein, 14 g. carbs, 8 g. fat, 1.5 g. sat fat, 100 mg. chol, 2 g. fiber, 680 mg sodium
Mexican Chicken Soup
1 T. canola oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, diced (I used 2 - we like things spicy)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I used 3)
2 t. ground cumin
5 c. lower-sodium chicken broth (I used 6)
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
2 c. mild refrigerated fresh salsa (I used 8 ozs. fresh pico de gallo because it's what I had)
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender - 5 minutes or so. Stir in garlic and cumin and cook 30 seconds longer. Add broth. Increase heat to high and bring to rapid simmer. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink - about 5 minutes. Stir in salsa and heat through. Makes 4 servings (2 1/4 c. each)
Per serving: 320 cal, 46 g. protein, 14 g. carbs, 8 g. fat, 1.5 g. sat fat, 100 mg. chol, 2 g. fiber, 680 mg sodium
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Another Good Morning
Down another 1/2 a pound today - that's -1 pound total so far (over 3 days).
Yesterday was a pretty decent day. I didn't have any real hunger pains. I'm not hungry at all, in fact and actually have to force myself to get the AM and PM snacks in. I think that knowing I can't have what I really want just makes me lose my appetite.
We went out to dinner with friends last night (a steakhouse) and it was very nice. But for the bread/butter I was dying to have before dinner and the beautiful pieces of garlic toast with butter that came with our shrimp and hot sauce appetizer, I didn't have any cravings or temptations. I'm really proud of myself. Having never dieted before, I didn't know if I'd be one of those "cheaters" or not. I haven't even really been tempted. This is too much work and too difficult for me to even think about just blowing one night on a piece of bread!
Breakfast: 1 cup decaf lemon tea with no sweetener, scrambled eggs with sliced mushrooms, fresh thyme and feta cheese
AM Snack: celery stick, 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Lunch: hamburger (lean ground beef) with lettuce, a slice of tomato, a slice of cheese, a slice of red onion and dill pickles
PM Snack: pistachios
Dinner: small amount of BBQ pork and greek salad
Water: almost 3 liters
Yesterday was a pretty decent day. I didn't have any real hunger pains. I'm not hungry at all, in fact and actually have to force myself to get the AM and PM snacks in. I think that knowing I can't have what I really want just makes me lose my appetite.
We went out to dinner with friends last night (a steakhouse) and it was very nice. But for the bread/butter I was dying to have before dinner and the beautiful pieces of garlic toast with butter that came with our shrimp and hot sauce appetizer, I didn't have any cravings or temptations. I'm really proud of myself. Having never dieted before, I didn't know if I'd be one of those "cheaters" or not. I haven't even really been tempted. This is too much work and too difficult for me to even think about just blowing one night on a piece of bread!
Breakfast: 1 cup decaf lemon tea with no sweetener, scrambled eggs with sliced mushrooms, fresh thyme and feta cheese
AM Snack: celery stick, 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Lunch: hamburger (lean ground beef) with lettuce, a slice of tomato, a slice of cheese, a slice of red onion and dill pickles
PM Snack: pistachios
Dinner: small amount of BBQ pork and greek salad
Water: almost 3 liters
Friday, April 21, 2006
Food Ramblings
Well, according to this mornings' scale, I've lost 2.5 pounds since yesterday morning so I'm down 1/2 a pound (net) from where I started 2 days ago. They say that it's typical to lose between 8-13 pounds during phase 1 of the SBD - we'll see... I'm definitely happier than I was yesterday morning!
The only thing I'm really missing is my Starbucks - I think about not having my morning coffee from morning until bedtime. I've been a fan for 8 years and have had one/day for the past 7 so giving that up has been tough. The headaches I had over the past 2 days (caffeine withdrawal?) seem to be subsiding - I haven't had any today.
Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg with salt and pepper, 2 strips lean turkey bacon, small glass of tomato juice
AM Snack: 2 mini kosher dill pickles, 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Lunch: greek salad (tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumbers, red onion, olive oil and salt and pepper)
PM Snack: handful of pistachios
Dinner: 2 shrimp with hot sauce, salad (lettuce, chickpeas, cucumber, 2 cherry tomatoes and oil/vinegar on the side), cooked broccoli/squash, sirloin steak (we went out with friends to Hungry Hunter)
Water: almost 3 liters
The only thing I'm really missing is my Starbucks - I think about not having my morning coffee from morning until bedtime. I've been a fan for 8 years and have had one/day for the past 7 so giving that up has been tough. The headaches I had over the past 2 days (caffeine withdrawal?) seem to be subsiding - I haven't had any today.
Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg with salt and pepper, 2 strips lean turkey bacon, small glass of tomato juice
AM Snack: 2 mini kosher dill pickles, 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Lunch: greek salad (tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumbers, red onion, olive oil and salt and pepper)
PM Snack: handful of pistachios
Dinner: 2 shrimp with hot sauce, salad (lettuce, chickpeas, cucumber, 2 cherry tomatoes and oil/vinegar on the side), cooked broccoli/squash, sirloin steak (we went out with friends to Hungry Hunter)
Water: almost 3 liters
Columbine Remembered
I can't believe it's been 7 years... I also can't believe that I didn't see anything about the anniversary of the massacre mentioned on television yesterday!
My husband and I were living in Colorado at the time it happened. I was 7 months pregnant with my first child and lived about 15 minutes from Littleton High School. I'll never forget what that afternoon was like - I was glued to the television - stunned at the events unfolding before me.
I think about what happened and the families affected by it periodically. I can only hope that time has helped to ease their grief.
My husband and I were living in Colorado at the time it happened. I was 7 months pregnant with my first child and lived about 15 minutes from Littleton High School. I'll never forget what that afternoon was like - I was glued to the television - stunned at the events unfolding before me.
I think about what happened and the families affected by it periodically. I can only hope that time has helped to ease their grief.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
We're hooked
I refused to start watching Grey's Anatomy when it began. I am addicted to so many television shows as it is - I just didn't want to get hooked on another... I managed to stay away (ignore) the hype from it for over a season but the whole "code black" thing, hyped up during the Super Bowl this year, sucked me in. We watched that episode and were intrigued. The show was part 1 of 2 so, obviously, we had to tune in to the following week to see how the storyline ended. We then watched the next weeks' episode and knew that we couldn't stop. I went out the day after Valentine's Day to buy the season 1 DVD as we had so many questions about the characters and their relationships... We managed to watch all 9 episodes from season 1 over a 3-day period and absolutely loved it.
My husband and I both are now tormented Mer/Der fans and we can't wait for Sunday nights at 10 PM!
My husband and I both are now tormented Mer/Der fans and we can't wait for Sunday nights at 10 PM!
2 Pounds!?
I had an awful day yesterday. It was filled with headaches, feeling hungry, eating things I didn't want because the diet said I "had to", bitchiness and feelings of resentment towards those around me who were stuffing their faces with whatever they wanted to... I sure hope this gets easier!
I couldn't believe it this morning when I stepped on the scale only to find that I had GAINED 2 pounds in the 24 hours since I last weighed! I stood in my bathroom and cried. I have no idea how to explain that. I feel incredibly defeated and discouraged but I am determined to stick with this for at least 2 more weeks (the recommended length of phase 1 on the South Beach Diet).
Exercise: nothing but errand running and working in the kids' classrooms
Breakfast: 1 fried egg with salt and pepper
AM Snack: none
Lunch: low-carb $6 Burger from Carl's Jr. (hamburger patty, lettuce, onions, 1 slice cheese, 1 slice tomato, pickles, catsup, no mayo)
PM Snack: 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Dinner: beef & broccoli - no rice (went out for Asian food)
Water: 2 liters
I couldn't believe it this morning when I stepped on the scale only to find that I had GAINED 2 pounds in the 24 hours since I last weighed! I stood in my bathroom and cried. I have no idea how to explain that. I feel incredibly defeated and discouraged but I am determined to stick with this for at least 2 more weeks (the recommended length of phase 1 on the South Beach Diet).
Exercise: nothing but errand running and working in the kids' classrooms
Breakfast: 1 fried egg with salt and pepper
AM Snack: none
Lunch: low-carb $6 Burger from Carl's Jr. (hamburger patty, lettuce, onions, 1 slice cheese, 1 slice tomato, pickles, catsup, no mayo)
PM Snack: 1 low-fat mozarella string cheese
Dinner: beef & broccoli - no rice (went out for Asian food)
Water: 2 liters
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
D-I-E-T
I have never dieted in my 35 years - until now.
Up until the time I was in college, I was always thin - 5'6" and maybe 105-110 pounds. I was one of those annoying people who could eat whatever they wanted and not seem to gain weight. Unfortunately, that all changed when I was in my mid-late 20's. My weight began to s-l-o-w-l-y climb (most obvious around my mid-section) and then 4 pregnancies and 2 full-term births throughout 1998-2000 certainly didn't help my situation.
Although charts (online and in my physician's office) say that my weight is "within normal range" for someone my height, I am at the high end of that range. I joined a Curves last January and lost 10 pounds in the first 3 months before hitting a wall. Weight loss was my main reason for going (exercising, in general, isn't something that I do just "for fun") and once the pounds stopped dropping, I was not motivated.
I managed to keep those 10 pounds off (even without exercising) for 6 months but decided in January of this year that I wanted to be more active. I'm very unhappy with my body currently and am desperate to do something about it. I started shopping around for another gym in February and joined one that is just for women (like Curves but full-service with cardio machines, free weights, classes, a pool etc.). I am very, very happy there. Except for a few weeks (when I had a sick child or was on vacation out of town), I have gone at least 3 - sometimes 4 - times every week yet, over the past 3 months, I have not lost an ounce. My weight can fluctuate 3-5 pounds based on the time of the month but I am, in general, still between 15-20 pounds away from what I consider my ideal weight.
My Mother and sister both had luck, initially, with Atkins and I've read a lot about it. It just isn't right for me, though. I'm a person who loves her carbs and I know right now that starting a diet that restricts them so severely would, without a doubt, set me up for failure and disappointment. I've read about Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig and actually know a dozen or so women who have joined a Jenny Craig center that just opened up here recently and who have done really well. For a number of reasons, though, I don't think either of those programs are right for me.
I've decided, after much research, to give the South Beach Diet a try. I know - I mentioned that carbs are an issue for me - and, although the first phase restricts them on the SBD, during phases 2 and 3, they are re-introduced (sensibly). I've been to the grocery store and have printed off a few recipes. We'll see how the next 2 weeks go - if I can stick with it and if it'll work for me!
Today:
Exercise: 25 minutes on stationary bike, 100 sit-ups on sit-up machine, 4 upper body machines (lat pull-down etc.) 3 sets of 10 reps each (10-30 pounds of weight, depending on machine)
Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg with salt and pepper and a few sips of a horrible tall decaf coffee (no milk and 3 Splenda packets) from Starbucks (giving up caffe mochas and caramel macchiattos is going to be very difficult!)
AM Snack: 3 mini kosher dill pickles, 1 celery stick and 5 Laughing Cow Light Gourmet Mini Swiss Cheese Bites
Lunch: asparagus and mushrooms sauteed in olive oil and topped with mozarella cheese
PM Snack: none
Dinner: chicken caesar salad (at Dodger Stadium - thank heavens they had something I could have - it didn't make up for not being able to have nachos, a Dodger Dog and a coke - but at least I didn't have to sit there with nothing and watch everyone else eat!)
Water: 1 liter
Up until the time I was in college, I was always thin - 5'6" and maybe 105-110 pounds. I was one of those annoying people who could eat whatever they wanted and not seem to gain weight. Unfortunately, that all changed when I was in my mid-late 20's. My weight began to s-l-o-w-l-y climb (most obvious around my mid-section) and then 4 pregnancies and 2 full-term births throughout 1998-2000 certainly didn't help my situation.
Although charts (online and in my physician's office) say that my weight is "within normal range" for someone my height, I am at the high end of that range. I joined a Curves last January and lost 10 pounds in the first 3 months before hitting a wall. Weight loss was my main reason for going (exercising, in general, isn't something that I do just "for fun") and once the pounds stopped dropping, I was not motivated.
I managed to keep those 10 pounds off (even without exercising) for 6 months but decided in January of this year that I wanted to be more active. I'm very unhappy with my body currently and am desperate to do something about it. I started shopping around for another gym in February and joined one that is just for women (like Curves but full-service with cardio machines, free weights, classes, a pool etc.). I am very, very happy there. Except for a few weeks (when I had a sick child or was on vacation out of town), I have gone at least 3 - sometimes 4 - times every week yet, over the past 3 months, I have not lost an ounce. My weight can fluctuate 3-5 pounds based on the time of the month but I am, in general, still between 15-20 pounds away from what I consider my ideal weight.
My Mother and sister both had luck, initially, with Atkins and I've read a lot about it. It just isn't right for me, though. I'm a person who loves her carbs and I know right now that starting a diet that restricts them so severely would, without a doubt, set me up for failure and disappointment. I've read about Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig and actually know a dozen or so women who have joined a Jenny Craig center that just opened up here recently and who have done really well. For a number of reasons, though, I don't think either of those programs are right for me.
I've decided, after much research, to give the South Beach Diet a try. I know - I mentioned that carbs are an issue for me - and, although the first phase restricts them on the SBD, during phases 2 and 3, they are re-introduced (sensibly). I've been to the grocery store and have printed off a few recipes. We'll see how the next 2 weeks go - if I can stick with it and if it'll work for me!
Today:
Exercise: 25 minutes on stationary bike, 100 sit-ups on sit-up machine, 4 upper body machines (lat pull-down etc.) 3 sets of 10 reps each (10-30 pounds of weight, depending on machine)
Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg with salt and pepper and a few sips of a horrible tall decaf coffee (no milk and 3 Splenda packets) from Starbucks (giving up caffe mochas and caramel macchiattos is going to be very difficult!)
AM Snack: 3 mini kosher dill pickles, 1 celery stick and 5 Laughing Cow Light Gourmet Mini Swiss Cheese Bites
Lunch: asparagus and mushrooms sauteed in olive oil and topped with mozarella cheese
PM Snack: none
Dinner: chicken caesar salad (at Dodger Stadium - thank heavens they had something I could have - it didn't make up for not being able to have nachos, a Dodger Dog and a coke - but at least I didn't have to sit there with nothing and watch everyone else eat!)
Water: 1 liter
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