Week 4 Day 2

This morning, our DD had a soccer game. Then we decided to go to the mall afterwards to look at stuff to take on our trip and the get haircuts. All three of us needed them. But I didn't plan very well. I had brought a shake to the game, but didn't bring a back up for after the game, because the games last less than an hour. Didn't plan on going to the mall afterwards. But between the shopping and 3 haircuts, it was 1:30 before we got home, time for my third shake of the day without having had the 2nd one....

So I had a bar as soon as we walked in the door because I was very hungry. So was our DD and I knew that if I started to make her lunch without getting something else for me first, then I would be tempted to snitch. Did fairly well. Then made one of the soups. But I had gotten so hungry, that even doubling up like that didn't satisfy or satiate. So I ended up having a diet soda and a piece of gum.

Spent most of the afternoon not really sure what to do. Kinda wondered from thing to thing, with a lot of time spent on the computer. Kinda still in that post tax season daze of feeling like I need to be working, when I don't have to, but not really sure what I need to do. So cleaned up the kitchen and the office as well.

I told DD that we would work out together after she finished her dinner. Well, got sidetracked and was getting her ready for bed when she piped up that we forgot my workout. So, even though this was really a 3 year olds delay tactic to not go to bed yet, I set up the workout on the Wii Active and we got to it. She did very well considering it was a 45 min workout. She kinda quit after 25 min or so, but that was incredible for a 3 year old. I nearly quit at the 35 min mark, but I knew that there were only 5 more exercise sections left, and that I could do this. So finished, but by then I was very hungry again. Put DD daughter to bed and then sucked down that 5th shake so fast. I hate it when I do that, because I find myself looking for something more. I do much better when I make a serving last for a good 20 minutes or so. So twice today I ate fast, so kind of a not very satisfying day. Finally did end up eating a celery stalk, because I remember the doc mentioning once that another of his patients used celery as a stopgap when he needed something more. I think that I might need to do that as well. There are times when I just need a little something more, between scheduled shakes. But I still need to work on the need to eat because I am bored or lonely, etc, rather than the need to eat because I am hungry. Sometimes it is hard to tell if I am searching for something more because I am hungry, or emotional... Wonder how I conquer that?

Week 4

So today wasn't so great. Work was relaxed and didn't get much work done. But no worries. It is the day after the season ends. Nobody gets anything done....

After work I went to the pool and did 20 laps in 35 minutes. Don't know how fast that is, but was pretty happy with myself. My right knee is acting up. Sigh. It never hurt before this summer and working out with a trainer. It is definitely time to get this extra weight off...

So then went to DH's work where he is a chef. Took DD with me and she ate pasta. But the problem was that the waiter brought a plate of bread. So should have had him take it away. They are small slices, and homemade. & very yummy. But I couldn't resist. I had a full 1/2 slice of one kind and 2 bites of another slice. *sigh* And then I came home and was very hungry (I had coffee at the restaurant). But I really wasn't in the mood for a shake. So I had a diet soda and a bar. But I kept going to the kitchen to look for something to snack. I made DD a quick snack before bed, since she needed more than just pasta. So got her a yogurt & peaches and I cheated with 2 bites of yogurt & 1 slice of peach. And then I had like 5 crackers. Stop already!!!! Oh my goodness I can't believe I ate all that. I just ate stuff b/c I was bored. Also there is a bit of tax season let down. I am wandering around with all this free time all of a sudden and I haven't yet gotten back to what I normally do, so I fill like I have all these hours to fill.

So I was looking for more journeys for inspiration. I found this site: http://stopitsscrappintime.blogspot.com. She looks amazing. She started about the same time I did one year earlier. So is very inspirational to see the drastic changes. She does a video blog and she also does a lot of scrapbooking blogging, so you kinda have to look for the entires. But it is like, if she can do it and looks GREAT after 1 year, then so can I. The videos are great so the changes are very visual. She lost 49 lbs in 8 weeks. I am so amazed and impressed. I don't think I will have those grand of losses, but I am very pleased with my 12 lbs in 3 weeks.

Tomorrow is a new day and I have to not cheat again.

So my goals this week are to work out at least an hour a day. I also have to start and finish 4 placemats for my in-laws for Christmas. We will be going to visit them a week from tomorrow, so I wanted to take the Christmas gifts with us. I also need to clean out my car and clean the kitchen. I think these are do-able things to do this week.

End of Week 3

So I lost 3 pounds this week! After the hectic stress filled week, this is fantastic. Especially since I really could only work out 2 days this week. And I stopped my hall walking & going down to the first floor to use the restroom so I would climb the stairs 3-5 times per day.

At first, I was actually disappointed about 3 lbs. Disappointed! Am I crazy? This is 3 pounds we are talking about. I got to thinking, and the entire time at WW, I think I might have lost 3 lbs in one week like 1 maybe 2 times. & I was with WW for over a year. So this is fantastic. My average so far is 4 lbs per week - 12 lbs in 3 weeks. Very excited!

Our meetings seem to go long. Apparently we all like to talk. & our facilitator always starts the meeting with asking each of us how our week went. It is great to talk like this. I feel like I almost get more from other people's experiences than the set topic. It is nice that there are only 4 of us. Next week, another person will return. Apparently he went out of town for a couple of weeks and then got sick. So he has been gone for 3 weeks...

I am still skeptical of drinking a shake at the prescribed time even if you are not hungry. But I guess I can understand the cumulative effect, because I am only feeding my body 800 calories per day. So even if I am not hungry, my body needs the fuel. Wonder how this will translate over to when I go back to food?....

I am finding that how hungry I am during the day depends a lot on when I eat breakfast. For the days that I went into work early and had breakfast like 6:30 or 7, then I felt hungry all day long. For the days that I "slept in" a bit and didn't get to work until 7:30 or later and had my first shake of the day around 8a or 8:30, then I felt full all day long and was stuffing in the 4th & 5th shakes just because I should. So I wonder if this is a good thing or a bad thing, to eat earlier to jump start my metabolism? Or to wait so that I feel more full throughout the day? *shrug*

One thing we did talk about in tonights meeting was another Optifast graduate who has a blogspot. It is http://gjoptifast.blogspot.com/

Week 3 Day 6

So this is the final deadline for taxes. Thursday is it! Finally! But as a consequence, we have a LOT of food around the office - brownies, cookies, donuts, candy, chocolate. I have resisted! I keep this mantra going in my head that this food is not worth it. That my getting healthier and thinner is worth so much more than the taste of some, albeit yummy, food. So I have stayed strong. Just 2 more days - today & tomorrow. I can do this!

Week 3, Day 3

So I am 3 days into week three and things are going better. I am trying to stay more relaxed and less stressed. Final tax deadline is in 4 days, so my stress level will drastically decrease after that. I am getting more sleep, thanks to benadryl (the PM part of Tylonal PM). I have also worked out twice already. Friday I took the stairs at work 4 times, took 2 walks around the parking lot, then came home and took DD for walk to the local Duck Pond and then we raced around it - as much as you can race with a 3 year old... :)

Today we all went as a family to trail by the river. It is quite nice and peaceful and very beautiful. The colors are changing, so the scenery was very picturesque. We walked for about 90 minutes and I am beat....

I also got to start with the bars and soup this week. Was kinda funny when I actually had lunch with a spoon! Still a powder you mix with hot water, but surprisingly good. The bars are a life saver. I am still frequently looking to chew something, so after 2 weeks of drinking meals, there is great satisfaction in actually chewing something! Never thought I would be so happy with this little change in diet. I have also picked up some Diet Rite which is made with Splenda, so doesn't taste as nasty as other diet sodas. I blend it with ice and the shake powder for a nice evening meal. I am chewing less gum these days, which is nice. In the 2 1/2 weeks I have been doing this, I have gone through 4 or 5 packs of gum. Helps with the desire to chew something.

I am very happy that I am not as hungry anymore. Also, I started my first week only having 4 shakes a day and was reprimanded. I should have 5 servings a day. That was also something the doc mentioned at the end of week 2 - that I was having my last shake at 8:30 or 9 at night. He recommended spacing it better in the day so that my last one of the day is at 6:30 or 7p. Will see how these changes reflect on the scale this coming week.

We are going to visit DH's family in 2 weeks so this should be interesting. I will have to pack all my "food" for the entire week, so am trying to stockpile to make sure I have enough product to last. My DD is very excited - it will be her first time on a plane. Hope things go well!

Week 2

So, the second week was harder. I ate a few more than 2 bites a day. In fact, on Sunday, I had 1/2 a slice of pizza and on Tuesday I had a caramel macchiato. I was also very stressed at work and didn't sleep well any night. And I only got to work out 3 days during the week rather than the 6 I did the week before. So, at weigh-in I didn't gain or lose anything. At least it wasn't a gain... But still.... So it was very frustrating. I am trying to be upbeat.... but it is hard. So week 3 I am going to do better.

At the meeting, we had a physiologist come do the discussion. We talked about metabolism. Most of it was what you pick up here and there, but was a nice refresher. They have this test that can measure your individual resting metobolic rate. I think I want to try that. Will have to check that out.

Day Seven

So I skipped yesterday. Nothing seemed to go as planned yesterday. Oh well. The diet went fine, just everything else went haywire.

So today was weigh-in. I lost 9 pounds! WooHoo!!!!

Lots to say about meeting, but my head is too full. Will have to write more tomorrow when I am not so tired.