I can't wait to get the new book... but I'll need to wait until my hubby is no longer unemployeed. LOL. Priorities you know. ;-)

This week I'm focusing on getting back into exercising on a routine, and am working on my eating habits. Sigh, It is so hard to break a bad habit cycle, and get back into what I KNOW works for me. I'm so thankful that the weather is warming up, and that veggies/salads taste so much better now. Yea!!!

I had a really crappy run this morning.. it was preempted by an impending asthma attack. I slacked off and went home way early because I forgot to use my inhaler before going... and didn't bring it with me in case I needed it. Crap. So, I made up for the lack of calories with a nice afternoon walk with my hubby. Wish I could do more today, but I don't have the time.

I'm finally starting to get back into the swing of things. The last two days were pretty good low carb days. Today is a High carb day... and tomorrow is funday. I'm finding that I'm hungry a whole lot on LC days now... I'm not sure if that is because I'm use to eating bigger quantities of food, I'm exercising more, or if it is just cravings that I'm battling. We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out over the next week or so.

How is your week going??

You are just full of AWESOME! What a great idea!!! I should do that too!!!

Today is Sunday Funday for me. That means the only exercise I will get, if any, will be a gentle walk. And... oh the food... yummy food! LOL. I've already planned out my meals... so if you want to take a gander just head on over to my diary and take a look. LOL.

My first few weeks of CTL (last june) was just with hand size measurements... without any tracking at all. Later on, I started tracking, only what I was eating, and realized that I was having a hard time hitting my calories (I was on the low side). At this point, I'm not really sure how I did that... LOL. In any case, I upped my food, and have been real careful about my food quantities... but tried to stay in the 1200/1500 calorie range that he lists in the book. After several weeks of this, I found that it was really hard to actually consume only that number of calories, while still eating the quantities that he asks for in the book. So, in November I raised my calories.

By the end of 2012 I was getting frustrated. My weight loss was slowing down, my energy levels were plummeting... Well, actually I'm not sure if the energy levels were going down, or if I was just trying to do to much on the energy I had. LOL. I was training for my very first 5k after all.

In any case, I took a full 2 week break around Christmas/NewYears. I got back on track, and stayed mostly on plan through the end of January. In February & March I did a fitness/eating challenge, that in combination with CTL was a bad mix for me. I scrapped CTL by the end of it, and didn't really follow it most days. Coupled with the 3 weeks at the end of April being on vacation, I found myself 10 lbs up from my lowest weight. Some of this I'm sure is water retention... and I'm trying to get back on track. However, I'm finding that it is really easy to backslide, and harder to get back to doing what I know I need to do.

What the plan is at this point, is to get back to the basics. Eat 5 meals a day, every 3 hours. Using Chris's hand guidelines as a start. I'm trying to stay between 1200-1500 calories on LC days (when I exercise, I'm letting myself eat more). On HC days the range is 1500-1800. If I go over, it will be because of added veggies... not added anything else.

What I have learned so far, is that the nutrition of CTL is a very good thing. I'm eating better, and more cleanly than ever before, when I'm following the plan. I feel good to. I do also know that on LC days my energy level is lower than on HC days. Therefore, in order to reach the fitness goals I have set for myself, I'm going to switch to the Fit plan (HC, HC, LC, HC, HC, LC, funday) after I'm back down to my previous low. Until then, I'm going to try to do the Turbo cycle, which is 2 LC days, followed by a HC day. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be back down to my complete 50 lb loss.

That's the plan anyway. We'll just have to see how it all works out.


Re Protein Powder: I use Melaleuca - Proflex20 Protein Shake Mix. It comes in vanilla or chocolate. I really enjoy it, and the price is reasonable... although not as low as some others on the market. Melaleuca is a direct sales company, so you have to pay shipping as well to get the product... so it might not be the best plan for you. Read your labels, and be ready to try a couple different brands. If you can get a protein count of 18-20g or better per serving it is a good thing.

My go to breakfast shake is: 1 serving vanilla protein mix, 1/2 c skim milk, 1c water, 1 c mixed tropical fruit (Papaya, Mango, Pineapple, Strawberries).

My favorite HC day pm shake (desert): is chocolate protein mix, 1/2c skim milk, 1c water, 1c strawberries

On a LC day, my pm shake is: chocolate protein mix, 1/2c coconut milk (unsweetened), 1c water, 1 tbsp natural, salt free peanutbutter.


I do not use almond milk, because I feel funny when I drink it. On my first several weeks of CTL I was at my Mom's house, and I did use almond milk for the first 2 weeks... until one morning when I really did feel sick afterwards. I compared the label of the almond milk w/ skim milk, and I didn't see too much difference in the macros, so I made the switch. I do use coconut milk on LC days, because the carb content is lower.


Good Luck!