NOT a good weigh in today. I was expecting a big loss because I got back to an ULC week after a full week of "eating normally." I only lost 1 lb.
I should be happy for a loss but there was a lot of sacrifice this week. I guess I should look at it in perspective: I am eating about 400 calories or more each day than I used to. And I'm learning to listen to my body. But this is how my experiment has gone:
week 1 (super strict week of ULC with one CarbNite): lost 5 lbs
week 2 (less strict week, more protein with one CarbNite): lost 4 more lbs
week 3 (same as week before but adding more calories): no loss or gain
week 4 (diet de-load week, had carbs every day and a few crazy days): gained back 6 lbs
week 5 (this week, back to what I was doing in week 3): lost 1 lb

So yeah, I have a net loss of 4 lbs. I should be happy. But Im like most people and want immediate results!! Jef keeps telling me that this is a way to figure out how to bump up my calories, figure out my thresholds for carbs & protein, and learn to listen to my body so I don't have to track. I must repeat this to myself daily!!

I KNOW that I need to start working out again. I did a show with Rachel Guy this week that I'm about to go edit and post. (SORRY for the foul language here and there btw, taking me a while to silence out some swear words) But it was a great show and I'm committed to getting back to strength training. Wish me luck!

You guys have a great week!! I am not in the running to win this challenge anymore but I log in as often as possible and scan through the posts. Love all the positive energy! And I am happy to have a place to share as well!!

Happy Saturday Folks! Very interesting result on the Glucose so far from yesterdays treat day. Will post more about it in the future. But for now finding that MY glucose levels may not be falling in the range of what I can find as normal. That being said they don't seem to be consistently or so far out of whack as to indicate a metabolic break down either. Like I said very interesting.
Being on old Army Master Fitness Trainer, and having helped a lot of troops keep themselves within Army Weight control Guidelines, I have long recognized that food is a tool, along with exercise, hydration, and sleep. The info we had in the 80's and the military mission necessitated training and diet methodologies I would not use today. But I have to say 17 years of doing that, really removed emotional attachment to most of the things other folks seem to get wound up about, *numbers on the scale, fitbit steps, etc) but this month marks the one year anniversary of a metabolic breakthrough for me, During my first whole 30 challenge, One year ago today I woke up and I wasn't hungry. BOOM, I had been hungry every minute of every day since I was a child. I was 58 years 7 months and 16 days old when I realized for the first time that I now had complete control of my metabolism and my intake. I COULD CONTROL MY HUNGER! FREEEEEDOM! I am not ashamed to say I cried. at the moment and still get a bit verclempt at the thought.
Since then I have been able to realign my goals, and not focus on intake or output calorie counting, but still use MFP and FITBIT as analytical tools. I weigh in my mind every meal and or snack as metabolic necessity or psychological benefit (think treat) and make a decision based on my whole person and not on a habit or automated response. This has been the most significant milestone on my journey back to good health that started 1 Jan 2011, when I weighed 357 lbs, and was too broken to put socks on my own two feet.
So the question of the day or week is What tools do you use? What has been a breakout moment for you?

For tools I use MFP and HRM . My breakthrough moments are when my body fat percentage dropped and I burn less calories doing the same amount of exercise. I know I'm on the right track even though my scale barely budge. My goal is to lower my body fat % , improve my endurance and strength. The weight loss will fall in place. I'm not even unhappy with the way I look now. I just want to be more fit.

Saturday. Great Taste of the Midwest. So not my typical day. Lots of beer. Lots of bacon on a stick.

howie6267 Understand about the hygiene part that is another whole story that really kicked the need to change in to gear.

heronh I use an HRM as well, I like the Mapmyfitness app as well.

Carol Net of 4lbs is a good loss Say it with your chin up and loud and proud. I also concur that you are at the point where body comp may be the more useful tool for you. The old Fat2fit site has some BF calculators that are reasonably accurate, Covert-bailey seems to be the best of them.

Keep up the good work folks, we are going to the top of the good health hill. We will meet every challenge on the trail and we will succeed.

Hammer Jammer 1 out.

Happy Sunday Folks! Today is Dead lift Day. We B Jammin!

Thank you guys so much for the feedback. Wow Markd, it takes you weeks to lose after a loss? Man, that puts it in perspective. I really need to look at the big picture and not day to day. And thanks everybody for the kind words and encouragement!

Hmrjmr: you are amazing! I love your reflection and the break through you had. I have had a two rare moments in my life when I was not hungry for any length of time. And I remember both of them. I have to say that eating lower carb does help. I'm not SUPER hungry all the time like I used to be. Now I am off and on throughout the day but I still miss that feeling of not being interested in food. It was SO much easier to use food as a tool when it isn't seducing you all the time. You and your 110lb loss… SO impressive!!

Heron: I might just need a new gadget to measure body fat. My iPhone camera is doing a pretty good job though. It is all about these thighs. I could really care less about how much muscle mass or body fat the gadgets show me. If I'm being completely honest, I just want less fat there. SO dang superficial, I know!! But maybe the gadget will give me motivation if I see numbers moving in the right direction. I need a superficial goal like this because as soon as I give up the pounds come back everywhere. Scary fast!

Keep up the greatness folks! I love reading about the uniqueness of everyone's journey!

Sunday! I'm here.... tired but here.....