Super Exciting

Do you ever have news that you wanted to scream from the mountain tops but can't because you can't.  All the details aren't final and you don't want to show your hand unless you know that its for sure?  (No I am not pregnant - bite your tongue). 

I am days away from some big news.  Can't wait to share it.

I fit into the dress

So yesterday was a big deal at my work.  Everyone comes in all dressed up and usually in a new outfit.  I have committed not to buy anything new until I drop at least 20 - 30 lbs. (My motivation to lose)  Anyhoo, I bought a couple of dresses about a month ago that looked awful on my (way too tight) but they were a great deal (marked down to $10). 

Guess what I wore yesterday???

That is right I wore a dress that three weeks ago was waaaaay too tight.  And it looked good.  I wish I would have taken a picture.  I think I am going to try on the other dress to wear to a wedding on Saturday.

So far I am down 5.5 pounds.  So far I am loving Atkins.

Rocking This Week

It’s now been 7 full days since I have started my Atkins program. I am pleased to report that in 7 days I have lost 4 pounds. Honestly, it has been easy. The first two and a half days sucked and I had a raging headache for 36 hours but I woke up on day three and started feeling much better. Surprisingly better. (I must state that I have has a stupid cold for three weeks now but from all I read I believe the headache was the no-carb flu.)


I think I may begin to track my carbs with an online calculator (probably Daily Plate by Livestrong) to ensure not only am I staying within my carb range by also that I am not over or under doing it for calories and I am tracking my water. I imputed today’s menu and realized that I may be underestimating the carb count in many foods. If I am going to do this, I want to do it correctly.

In Atkins, they recommend if you have over 30 pounds to lose you (which I do) to begin in the Induction Phase which limits you to 20 carbs a day. This phase is to last a minimum of 2 weeks but if you like the results and do have a bit to lose to stay in it as you see fit. I am going to do at least one more week of Induction, maybe two. 20 carbs a day is challenging but it is not unreasonable. The program also dictates 15 of those carbs are makeup of the foundation vegetables so get nutrients and fiber into your system.

What I find the hardest is not being able to eat unlimited vegetable. But what that has taught me is that most times I am not that hungry. I don’t need to eat 2 cups of broccoli because I can. I am trying to eat to satisfy me, not to eat till I am stuffed. Another major drawback is not being able to have a large supply of snack foods. Snacks are non-existent at this point unless I want to eat Atkins processed food (which I don’t) or spend time making my own (again I do not). I want crunch. I want chips and salsa, pita chips and hummus - something that makes a sound when I eat it. I am in no way suffering because of this but it’s funny what we have trained our mine to want.

Trying Something New

I had taken out a bunch of library books about a month ago.  I received my notice that they were due for return and I had only finished reading one.  I went to renew them all automatically and discovered one of the books I had out had a hold on it so I could not renew it.  I decided to give the book a quick look through at least.

The book was Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It.  I picked it up on a whim the last time I was at the library as it was on the shelf staring at me.  The author Gary Taubes also wrote the book Good Calories, Bad Calories.  The book is just over 200 pages so needless to say I did not get a thorough read in but the book did help me make a decision.  I am going low carb. 

I am sick of being heavy and need something to jump start the weight loss.  Yes it maybe gimmicky but it is a new way for me to look at food.  The old way I see food is not helping me at all.  It makes sense not to eat white flour and sugar.  Cutting back on crappy carbs (okay not the good vegetable carbs but all the processed crap that we eat) makes sense.  My problem is that I still eat crappy carbs regardless of what meal plan I am on.  All plans include some 'cheats'.  I then let those cheats take over.  I know this about myself and want to try and retrain my mind not to continue on this pattern. 

Why We Get Fat explains what didn’t make us fat: prosperity leading to gluttony and sloth. Obesity has been common among populations who were poor beyond our imaginations, even among those who worked long hours at manual-labor jobs. The scientific research shows that exercise may be good for our overall health, but does little to help us shed excess body fat. And of course, low-calorie diets have an abysmal track record — even the obesity “experts” who promote them admit as much in private. In other words, after 200 years of our existence as a nation we didn’t — in one generation, mind you — become fatter because we decided that since we’re well-off now, we should start eating too much and moving too little.

I really liked the matter of factness about the book.  Most obese people hate being fat and have tried many times to lose weight. As Taubes points out, if shedding excess body fat were really as simple as cutting 100 calories per day, pretty much every fat person would do it. The trouble is, most of them have done it, only to find it didn’t work. Meanwhile, people who’ve never been fat and regularly eat until they’re full expect obese people to spend the rest of lives feeling half-starved so they can become lean.

The book made sense.  It made me think.  It helped me to decided to give low carb a try. If anyone has any thoughts, observations or experiences they would like to share I would love to hear them.

Got a Goal

I still feel all icky but have been trying to eat healthy.  It has been easy as I only want to eat soup and eggs. 

To help towards my goals, I have signed up for a half marathon.  It is in December but it in Vegas baby!!!  The Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon.

It going to be fun.  Me and my bestie. 

Mr. Elephant Please get off my chest

I have had a chest cold for about 6 days now.  I feel so very crappy.  I have a wonderful hacking cough and it feels like a gigantic weight on my chest.  I tried to go for a walk with the dog in the cold (I mean like -40 with wind) and came home in tears as my lungs hurt so bad.

Good news, the elephant that is sitting on my lungs is looking like it is lightening up a bit and my cough is starting to be accompanied by phlegm which always means an end is coming for the cough.

I am hoping this week with the warmer weather (knock on wood) that I can get out for some runs.  I need to get moving.  My legs are itching for some hurt.